Halfway through the month of October and things are picking up for me.

I booked a Caribbean cruise for hubby and I for the new year. Yeah!
I've been researching and day dreaming about this cruise for a long time. Finally found a price that I couldn't pass up. I put a deposit and have a month to pay it off. We are calling it our Valentine Cruise! We had been traveling in November to celebrate our anniversary but that wasn't possible this year.

I have to recommend the boards and forum at www.cruisecritic.com . There is a wealth of information there about cruise ships, the cruiselines and activities on board. Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about cruises can be found there.

Hubby paid for the airfare. Yeah! It's my birthday, anniversary, Christmas and Valentines gift. LOL.
Hubby insisted we travel a day early. He is concerned about missing the boat. He also didn't want to fly into Fort Lauderdale which was the cheaper airport. sigh! So I found  a direct flight from SFO to Miami. My concern about flying is comfort. Hubby is well over 6 foot 6 inches and he needs legroom. We aren't in a position at this time in our life to afford first class tickets but I have learned to upgrade to the "premium" seats which have a little bit more leg room.

Check out the website www.seatguru.com for recommendations about what seats are good. You have to know what type of aircraft you are flying on but when the make a reservation online it will show what type of plane the flight is.

Next on my list was getting a hotel and transportation to and from the port.
The cruiseline had some pre and post cruise hotel packages. I had booked through an agency and they said I could add the hotel. Since hubby and I would be in Miami for 24 hours before and a night after I thought it would be nice to visit or stay in the South Beach area. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Beach

Bottom line. It's expensive. Cruise line wanted a total of $685 for one day pre and one day post cruise including transportation to and from port. It didn't include transportation from airport.
So I looked up same hotel online. Hotels in the South Beach area start at $325 a night and go up. Marriot was about $550 a night.  Sigh!

It might be possible to stay one night in South Beach, either before or after but not both. I'll have to look into that. Anyway, I did find a small hotel, the Hyatt Place near the airport in Doral area which will pick us up at airport, and transport  us to the cruise port and includes buffet breakfast for $179 night. The hotel will also pick us up after the cruise for $12 pp. I have points for the Hyatt so I can get one of the two nights we need FREE!. So this is the deal we are going with. I guess after we get there, we can figure out how to visit South Beach if we even feel like it. After the cruise we will probably be so tired or broke that we won't want to do anything but get on the flight home.

The only thing left to do is pack. I start packing the moment a trip is booked and have begun sorting through my closet already and considering options. I've finally figured out that the best thing to do is pack everything that I want to. When I went to Hawaii two years ago, I had a huge suitcase set out that I began packing months in advance. As the trip approached, hubby decided he didn't want to wait for luggage so we had to use carryon size duffle. So, I cut down on what I wanted to take and ended up not having half of what I wanted or needed to wear.

Next trip was the cruise and again I didn't take everything I wanted. I had most of what I wanted but there was a little set that I didn't take that I wished I had. So now even though I am 4 months out, I am carefully considering what I would like to take. Initially, I wasn't going to buy anything but that idea has gone out the window.

I've found this great website called www.polyvore.com where you can put together collages of items. Making collages is one of my all time favorite activities. It's really easy and fun. The collages can resemble magazine layouts and I am using them as dream boards and packing lists.
See some of my layouts below or on polyvore.


Now that I have gotten the cruise details under way and Thanksgiving is handled. We are going to visit my mother in law and daughter.

I'm making my Christmas shopping lists and plans for Christmas. Yeah!

My favorite month ~ October!

My favorite month of the year is well under way. The kids are back in school and we've all settled into our routines for the 2012-2013 year. Fall is the time when I like to spend a little time, energy and money on myself before the holiday season.

 

 

As my birthday approaches I've decided to pamper myself. Actually, I just needed a makeover.
I started with a trip last Sunday to the nail salon. I treated myself to a manicure pedicure. It became even more special because I tried something new. Purple nail polish. It's the gel type so it's super shiny and it's supposed to last until it grows out. So far I am super excited and happy with it. Usually I go with a soft pink or neutral color so this is a big change. Woo Hoo!

Monday, I took myself on a shopping spree for some, "Trying Not to Look So Old" new clothes.
I purchased up a few pieces that are definitely different from my usual long skirts and oversize blouses. I got two pairs of skinny jeans. Squeeal! One pair is a purple with a waxy coating to look like leather. Yes, purple is my new favorite color this season. And the other pair is a dark red with a subtle python print.

I also purchased a black leather jacket. I've been wanting one for soooooo long. It looks super cute with the jeans as well as with the skirts that I already had. I could almost see myself on the fashion makeover show "What Not to Wear" when the hosts Clinton Kelly and Stacy London encourage guest to try something new on.

I put some hair color into my hair last night to cover the little bit of gray on my temples and have an appointment on Friday with my stylist for new look. Still on my wish list are some false eyelashes but after that bad experience two Christmas' ago I'm afraid of the false eyelashes. I just need to find the right person to apply, for the right price, in the right length.

Now that I've got my its my birthday and I'm getting old but don't want to look it makeover almost complete, I have to arrange some sort of party for myself and my family. Anyway....

I'm also working on an internal makeover.

I've been listening to a number of webinars and investigating career coaching, personal improvement and growth workshops and online sessions.

I recently listened to Tara Sophie Mohr "Playing Big" webinar. It sounded interesting. It's a 6 month course where participants interact online to develop courage to do what they have been yearning to do. The price was $964 or so for the course. I really was considering it but I couldn't identify with the women calling in. Plus I could spend the on a vacation or cruise which am dreaming about. www.taramohr.com/playingbig/ 

I listened to another webinar today put on by three women promoting their online course. It was entitled. Find Your Calling: Awaken Your Life Purpose, Clarify Your Vision & Do Your Soul's Work with Martha Beck, Lissa Rankin & Amy Ahlers www.findyourcallingnow.com.
That workshop didn't really speak to me. It is a four week course with a number of modules, conference calls and worksheets. I've got three or four things going on right now that I feel are my life purpose... I just need to get going on them. Taking a course would just be one more thing on the list.

I've been reading a blog by Kimberley Wilson at www.tranquilitydujour.com every day and I love her philosophy and musing. Something on her website lead me to a book entitled The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle La Porte. I decided to invest in this book. I'll write a review later.

Still looking for other sources to sharpen the saw and feed my soul.

 

 

I'm dreaming about another cruise with my hubby. Really, I can't stop thinking about it. I've mentioned it a few times and he is definitely on board. It's up to me to make it happen.

 

 

We had such a good time last November when we renewed our vows.

 

 

This year as much as we wanted to go to Hawaii with all the kids for the holiday I couldn't figure out how to make it happen. Our big girl can't travel with us cause she's only got a short break from school and she is working a retail job and an internship and has to be back at work the day after Thanksgiving for the start of the shopping season. Sigh!

So we will just go visit her at college and make a mini vacation trip. It wouldn't be a family trip without her.


My goal is to take a cruise with just hubby and I next February if not sooner, when the younger kids are out of school. No, they wouldn't be traveling with us this time but they could stay with their grandparents or aunts/uncles and cousins for the week. I've been trying to save the money for the cruise and have faith that it will come. There were only three cabins left in the category I want the last time I checked.

I won't be able to take any time off from work after February as my work gets very busy from the Spring through the Summer so I want to do something special trip with hubby. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, I'll be able to take a cruise and family vacation soon.

I'm very fortunate that everything else is going well for me this month and I am able to do my makeover stuff.