You're Making Me Blush!

Well, you've all gone and done it again!  Another big milestone hit in bloggy land - 1,000 blog views here at my little slice of the internet.  I appreciate your visits, your clicks, your comments - they are little pieces of encouragement to keep the posts coming!

Thanks for being readers of my blog!

Until next time, travel on...

Maggie

My First Blog-eo

I know, I know...all the cool kids call video blog posts "vlogs," but I'm thinking I like the sound of "blog-eo" much better.  I did this with just one take, so please excuse the shaky camera, the run-on thoughts, and the complete overuse of um.  Anyway, with that, here is my first try at a "blog-eo."

  

Thanks for watching and feel free to share your favorite travel tips below!

Until next time, travel on...
Maggie

Keep Your Routine and Travel On...

It's 6:00am.  You wake up to the repetitious hum, hum, hum of your cell phone alarm, feel the balminess of the 5-degrees-too-warm room, pull back the overly-crisp white sheets, and put on your flip flops that you strategically placed at the side of your bed last night so as to ensure you never, ever step on the orange/black/maroon/brown colored burr-burr carpet below you.

Welcome to another day on the road.

Mornings are usually not my favorite part of the day, especially when I'm not waking up in my own bed with a good morning kiss from the hubby and a brief cuddle session with the pup.  Away from home, I usually have the multiple layers of hotel curtains drawn so tight that not even a single ray of sunshine can come through.  This, of course, is due to the fact that I had to shut them the night before to block out the bright sports stadium-esque lights that are all seemingly positioned outside just my window in the hotel parking lot.

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When you live a significant portion of your life on the road for work, mornings like the one I described above can be a real morale killer.  After multiple seasons of being on the road from September through November for my job, I realized that I would have to change a few things so I could stay positive and frankly, less grumpy.

Do you have morning routines that you enjoy?  When I'm at home, I always turn on the Keurig, gather some snacks for the day, make my coffee, and try to take just a little time, even 5 minutes to sit down and watch the news, read a few pages of a book, or just enjoy our back deck while taking in the frosted morning light.

So, as I recently prepared to leave for a week of travel, I packed some of my favorite granola bars, a recently-borrowed library book, and an actual coffee mug.  By leaving my travel mug behind, I'm hoping to make time to actually enjoy sipping away at my morning caffeine boost in my room instead of taking gulps in the car while looking at the GPS, checking the traffic report, oh, and singing along to that annoying-but-oh-so-catchy Taylor Swift song (bonus points if you know what song I'm thinking of...).

Until next time, travel on...
Maggie

Blog Shout Out!

Our recent photo contest winner, Holly Austin, was so kind as to feature this blog in one of her recent posts - thanks Holly! 

Check out her post to learn how we know each other from many years ago and to see more of her work.  She even admits in the post that she was hoping that submitting a picture of one of her four-legged-friends would win me, the contest judge, over!

Of course, her pup can't help but make you smile, but in the end, it was her great eye for detail in her photography and her ability to catch moments that most others tend to miss that won me over.

So go on, sit back, and enjoy some reading and great picture viewing at Woodswoman Extraordinaire.

Travel Season #5

It is official, I have wrapped up the first day of my 5th fall travel season!  Outside of what I'm hoping to accomplish for my job by traveling, I have a few goals this year for myself personally.  I'm determined to make this one of the healthiest travel seasons yet. 

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It can be tempting when you are away from home to splurge on calories a little bit more than you normally would. Fancy latte coffee and pastry in the morning?  Creamy bowl of soup for lunch?  Tasty, stick-to-your-ribs dinner?  It can be tough to turn these options down!  So, you are my witnesses - I'm going to make better food choices this time around.  Today, I subbed out french fries at lunch for a side of fruit and added avocado to a sandwich instead of mayo.  Every little step helps!

I'm also hoping to make more of an effort to exercise.  In the past, I have blamed small hotel gyms for my laziness and just assumed that since they only have one treadmill and one elliptical, they must already be taken.  I will also pack sneakers and workout gear for each trip and make sure to use them, no matter how tired I am on the road.  Even just a small workout can give me such a big boost of energy, I'm sure I will forget about feeling tired soon enough.

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I also want to keep tabs on my stress levels this year and take some time to enjoy the fact that I'm lucky to have a job that allows me to stretch my legs and get away from my desk.  The fall is my favorite season and I love the feel of crispy morning air and the sight of blooming mums at every garden shop.  The sound of fall leaves crunching on the ground makes me want to rake up a big enough pile to jump into over and over until I'm tired and go inside with rosy cheeks to a warmed mug of cider.  I hope to use my fall travels to enjoy the season.

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What do you do to stay healthy, both physically and mentally, while traveling?  How do you enjoy being on the road, even though you are away from home?

Until next time, travel on...
Maggie

Descriptors Decoded

The wise traveler looks up a hotel's website and reviews before even leaving home to make sure they know what to expect from their upcoming reservation. The trick is to find the true meaning behind all of the artfully crafted paragraphs that highlight every minute detail on the property.

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Somewhere, a marketing intern is typing up copy for a hotel website. Suddenly, a comfortable bed turns into a sumptuous haven of crisp cotton that engulfs guests in comfort, thank you very much right mouse click, insert synonym.

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I'm here to un-"right mouse click" all of these words for you so you can know what to really expect when you get to your next destination.  Enjoy.  Or should I say relish in the delightful warmth of happiness?  Ew.

Serene Getaway - Welcome to the middle of nowhere.

Family Friendly - Get ready for some cannonballs in the pool.

Garden View - Enjoy looking at the parking lot.

Cozy - Hope you packed light!

Rustic - Expect stuffed deer/moose/bears to adorn your room.

New Lobby - We don't have enough money to update the rooms,

so we just did the entrance instead.

Off Season Discount - Take the money you're saving to buy either

hurricane travel insurance or at least a poncho.

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Walking distance to... - Better bring your power-walking gear!

Convenient highway location - You're so close, it is as

if you are merging onto Rt. 81 as you sleep!

Classic Colonial Styling - Bring your parasol and read Jane Eyre
as you relax on your bed covered in a lace duvet cover.

Superior Guest Room - Same as all the rest of the rooms.

Deluxe Continental Breakfast - Still the same 'ol salty eggs and mucky oatmeal.

Mini-Bar - Empty wallet.

Business Center - 1996 Compaq computer and ink-jet printer out of ink.

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Simple Decor - Bed, lamp, carpet. Nuff said.

Safe Location - Don't worry, the barbed wire keeps all the riff raff out!

Luxury Experience - Your wallet looks too full, can we help lessen the load for you?

The Hottest Place To Stay - Justin Timberlake stayed here once in 1997.

Quaint B&B with Country Decor - Welcome to our home,

do you want to learn about our porcelain doll collection?

 

 

Until next time, travel on...

Maggie

3, 2, 1....Say Cheese! Photo Contest Results

Thank you all for sending me pictures from your travel experiences - it was tough to determine best pictures for each category and of course, the best picture overall and our prize winner.  Anyway, enough talking, let's get on to those photos!

Best Candid Shot

Submitted by: Nikki Belmonte

Description: A "baba" selling peppers in a market in Macedonia. You don't usually see the babas smiling like this, they usual look like they're really angry with you!

 

Best Miscellaneous Shot

Submitted by: Anonymous

Description: Dusk Steeple

Best Picture of Culture

Submitted by: Jennifer Ehalt

Description: Coachella 2012

Best Picture of Architecture/Lines

Submitted by: Peter Terry

Description: "The Rocks" at Provincial Park in New Brunswick near the Bay of Fundy.

Overall Best Picture

Submitted by: Holly K Austin - blog author of Woodswoman Extraordinaire

Description: Simon the Basset Hound loving some Dad time in a hammock on a trip
to the St. Regis Canoe Area within the Adirondacks.

Holly is the lucky and talented winner of the contest and
will receive a passport cover from the generous Rachel at LolaJeans!

Until next time, travel on...
Maggie

Thank You's Are In Order

Today, I'm feeling particularly excited about a few things in life that seemed share-worthy.  So here we go!

First off, I was lucky enough to be selected as a giveaway winner on one of my favorite blogs to read, yourwishcake.com, written by the wonderful Kerri.  Her writing is so honest and often times leaves me saying, "Ohmygosh, that happens to you too?" after reading her posts.  Outside of being a great blog writer, she also has an etsy shop where she shares all of her crafty goodness.  I am so excited to be receiving a set of beautiful gift tags from her recent giveaway that will spice up the next few gifts that I deliver.  Thanks Kerri!

 

Second up - this little blog of mine hit a big milestone today by getting over 500 views in just the few weeks that it has been in existence.  I started this with the intention of keeping my creative energy flowing after finishing up some DIY wedding projects and to take more time to enjoy the travel I get to do for fun and for work.  It turns out that there are at least a few of you out there who have been following me on this new bloggy adventure and I thank you!  Hurray for the readers - you guys are the best!

Last, but not least, our wedding video was released to us by the amazing team that goes by MKD Films based near Boston, MA.  We couldn't be happier with the experience we had working with them before our big day and during the wedding itself (not to mention the actual final product is nothing like I could have imagined).  Shout out to Mike, Kate, Tony, and Ben for this masterpiece which already has almost 200 views!  Check it out here!

Until next time, travel on...
Maggie

Travel Tools Featuring LolaJeans

Does this scene sound familiar?  You are making your way through the security line at the airport, holding out your boarding pass and ID to be checked by the TSA employee and taking the last few gulps from your water bottle before you have to dump it out. 

You pull out your quart-sized Ziploc baggie filled with various one ounce necessities and drop them in a tub along with your other belongings.  You frantically empty your pockets of absolutely everything, even papers and coins, and kick off your travel-friendly flats and prepare to walk through the new x-ray machine that requires you to freeze in jumping-jack position for 10 seconds. 

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You make it through with no problem and now wait at the other side for what seems like five minutes because you feel naked without your shoes and jacket.  Finally, your carry-on rolls down the little conveyor belt and you get ready to head to your gate.

Quick - where is your passport?

Rachel, the face behind LolaJeans, has crafted a great passport holder that will help make sure you know right where your passport, money, and other important things are at all times.  Her Etsy shop is filled with fun and funky items that are perfect for travelers. 

When I first came across her shop, I fell in love with her passport covers that are embroidered with "KEEP CALM & TRAVEL ON." What a perfect find! I love that the covers not only hold your passport, but that they also have spots to hold money, I.D.s, and more. They are also made of durable canvas to last through all of your adventures, wherever they may take you.

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Rachel is generously going to be giving the winner of my photo contest their choice of a passport cover from her shop.  What is great about most Etsy shop owners is that they are willing to make custom orders so that you are able to be completely happy with your purchase.  Once the winner of the contest is declared, she will be in touch to help you pick out the perfect passport cover for you!

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Be sure to check out her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/LolaJeans and don't forget to submit a picture to shekeepscalmandtravelson@gmail.com for the contest by Saturday, September 8th!

 

Until next time, travel on...
Maggie