Soroptimist Salad Luncheon March 22, 2012

Soroptimist is an international organization of business and professional women working to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.  I have the honor of being the President of my local club, Soroptimist International of Oceanside-Carlsbad.  Next week, we are hosting our 32nd annual Salad Luncheon at the Oceanside Beach Community Center.  This luncheon features home made salads and desserts, served by Celebrity Servers from our local community.  Tickets are just $15, and proceeds benefit women and girls in Oceanside, Carlsbad and Camp Pendleton. If you are in the area, please consider joining is for lunch and support our club.

Please support Rancho Buena Vista Little League

Youth sports shape our future by teaching our kids kindness, teamwork, responsibility, confidence, leadership and so much more.  I am proud to be involved with Rancho Buena Vista Little League and I feel we are truly the premier league in North County. 

If you are a local business, we would LOVE your support - a financial sponsorship would be great!  You will gain exposure to hundreds of families!  We are also asking for donations of gift certificates or items for our  annual Dinner Dance and Auction.  Please contact me with your donation - no amount too small!

Adele 
RBVLLSponsorships@gmail.com

Jan. 11, 2012 - National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Not a topic I typically write about, but I hope you will take a few minutes to read and share this important information!  I belong to a non-profit group Soroptimist International, the Oceanside-Carlsbad club.  We are a group of business and professional women working to improve the lives of women and girls locally and globally.  January 11th has been designated as National Human Trafficking Awareness, and I am dedicating my blog to increasing this awareness.

Wikipedia defines Human Trafficking as the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery.  This has become an increasing problem and every year, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world, and here in the United States.  Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world, second only to illegal drugs.

There are many misconceptions about Human Trafficking in the US; That it is human smuggling, that it only involves non-US or foreign nationals, that it only happens in border states, that Human Trafficking victims are probably better off in the US than in their home country and that this could never happen to me on anyone I know.  THESE ARE ALL FALSE!  There is not a consistent type or profile of a trafficking victim.  Victims are men or women, adults or children, and foreign nationals or U.S. citizens.  Some are well-educated, while others have no formal education.  Some immigrant victims are currently in the U.S. legally, and others are undocumented.  Some form of vulnerability tends to be the common thread amongst all different trafficking victims. Trafficking is happening in your state, your city and many times right in your backyard without you knowing it!

One of the largest growing segments of Human Trafficking, is the enslavement of women and girls for the commercial sex-trade industry.  Statistics vary slightly, but about  80% of the victims trafficked are for use in the sex-trade industry, and almost 80% of those are women and girls.  Sex slavery is caused by gender inequality that allows the demand for sex slaves to flourish—the belief that there is no harm to purchasing the bodies of women and girls.  Girls as young as 12 and 13 years old are being forced into sexual slavery and prostitution.  Here is another short video: http://youtu.be/ZOIPd5a5UaQ

What's next?  What can you do?  First off, take another look at how you view the commercial sex-trade industry and prostitution - it is NOT a victimless crime.  These girls do NOT want to do this, they are NOT better off with all that money and they are NOT in it by choice!  Secondly, educate yourself about the signs of trafficked victims, and have The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline handy 1-888-3737-888.   Finally, get the word out, share with others, talk to your kids and grand kids and help them recognize the signs of slavery and trafficking, join a local organization like Soroptimist International, or Amnesty International.  We can take back our country, even if it is by saving one person at a time.

Travel is about the experience and the memories!

I am fortunate to be in an industry of selling fun, thrill, enrichment, relaxation, and more all in 1 bundle.  But at the end of the day, no matter where you go, who you go with, what you see, what the pillows or sheets are like, my goal is to ensure that you take those experiences; the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, memories home with you with you forever!  So, next time you are thinking about a vacation, start to plan for the experience you want - make that your primary goal in picking a destination, time of year, cruise ship, etc, and be sure to provide your experiential expectations and goals with your Travel Consultant! 

Here is one of my goals: Las Caletas Beach Hideaway just outside of Puerto Vallarta.  I'll be there in February - what experiences will I come home with?

What do YOU look for in a cruise expert? Read, IF YOU DARE!

Before you read this blog, I want to forewarn you, I am tooting my own horn with this one.  Feel free to stop reading now if you don't give 2 cents!

Expert is a word thrown around by sales and marketing people to try and get their audience to believe in them.  Wikipedia says that an expert is a person with extensive knowledge or ability based on research, experience, or occupation and in a particular area of study.

Happy Halloween!

Well, today I decided to count the number of nights I have spent on a cruise ship since I started selling leisure travel.  Any guesses???  181 nights (and I'm sure I have missed counting a few along the way)!  That is almost 26 weeks of cruising, and none of these have been over 8 nights.  I have sailed on over 20 different ships across the fleet of 6 different cruise lines.  In addition to actually sleeping in the cabins, I have toured countless ships from all the major cruise lines.  I am going to go out on a limb here and say than, in many areas of cruise sales, I am an expert!

I am also very fortunate to be in a profession that I LOVE.  My mission is to help turn your Vacation Dreams in to Reality.  And, to ensure that you come home with the experiences and memories to last a life time.

Here is my question for you?  What are you an expert at?  Toot your own horn, tell the world about your accomplishments, be proud of your expertise!!!  Leave a comment to this blog post - there are prizes involved  :)  

See, now aren't you glad you read the whole thing?

Is there really such thing as a Free Vacation?

Are all of these contests just gimmicks, can I really win a free vacation?  I know, if it sounds too go to be true, it probably is, right?  But not this time.  As part of our marketing efforts to gain new fans and clients, we actually do give away One free vacation per quarter.  All you have to do is click here, answer a few questions, and you are entered to win. 

Legendary World, specializes in vacation travel and offers cruises and land packages that are available exclusively via email. We cut through the clutter and send you the specific offers tailored to your interests. We will keep you advised of last minute deals and time sensitive offers as soon as they become available.  And, at any time, you can change your preferences to receive more or less of the types of vacation offers that interest you most. 

If you already receive our great offers my email, you can still enter to win the vacation - just follow the links!

GOOD LUCK!

iPad2, Kindle Fire, Starbucks - will it be a techie Christmas???

HUH?  What do iPad, Kindle and Starbucks have in common?  Read below for more details...

So many new products are available to help make our lives easier and more efficient.  The way we get our news, the way we play and how we organize our lives has all changed in the past few years, and it continues moving forward at a swift pace.  I am a super nerd/techie at heart and I LOVE IT!!!

How soon before the desktop computer will be obsolete like the VCR and rotary dial phone?  OK, so I am a GEN-X'er, these were the inventions from my childhood that are now practically obsolete, is the desktop computer headed there soon as well?  The new iPad (which I really really want by the way) comes in at about 500 bucks and the new Kindle Fire is only 200 bucks - decisions, decisions...  Which are you considering - if any at all...

I am a Mac user at heart, but a Kindle might be in the plan for Travis.  Instead of lugging Harry Potter's 20th book in the series (which is bound to be as big as a desktop computer) maybe a tablet makes more sense???  Well for me, I envision lazy afternoons, lounging by the Lido Deck pool, sipping a tropical concoction with an umbrella, fully immersed in the latest Sandra Brown novel... oh, back to reality... 

Anyway, if you are set and ready to get the new iPad 2 OR the Kindle Fire DO ME A HUGE FAVOR and click my banner ad to the right for your purchase, then send me an email.  There may even be a Starbucks gift card in your future if you do :)

Happy October!

21 years and counting...

I've heard of the 7 year itch in a marriage - guess we made it past that one... 3 times now.  Today we celebrate 21 years of marriage.   Thanks to my loving husband Steve for all the memories, both good and bad that have made me into the wife, mother, friend, volunteer, woman that I am today.

Cruise with me for my birthday, Feb. 18, 2012?

I just booked my next cruise, Holland America's beautiful ms Oosterdam sailing 7 nights to the Mexican Riviera.  Holland America's ships are known for their elegant and classy decor, along with white glove service.  The ms Oosterdam is no exception to the fleet.  I have sailed on the Oosterdam twice before, but only on shorter 4 night sailings, so I am looking forward to this week long adventure.

As part of the celebratory festivities, I am hosting an open bar cocktail party and lunch for 2 in the Pinnacle Grill - specialty dining restaurant.  Click HERE for details on the cruise, and be sure to let me know if you are able to come along and join in the celebration!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!

Happy Birthday Stevie!  I am proud to be your wife and look forward to our anniversary next month.

The Great Alaska Adventure part 2

Friday morning we sailed in very close waters up through the Inside Passage of Alaska.  We spotted bald eagles, Dahl’s porpoises and Orca and humpback whales.  Our 1:00pm arrival in Juneau was greeted with 7 bald eagles flying no farther than 50 yards off of our balcony.  What a sight!

So off the boat we go.  There was some rain in the air, and after gathering a good portion of our group together, several of us purchased tickets off of the pier and took a bus to Mendenhall Glacier.  Instead of an escorted tour, we purchased bus tickets for $16 per person from a kiosk on the pier.  This gave us the flexibility to spend as much or as little time as we wanted at Mendenall.  Admission into the Visitor’s Center is $3, but instead we decided to take a couple of the walking paths and found ourselves on a deserted beach with a beautiful view of the glacier behind.  The lake was still pretty frozen over, but we were able to pick up a piece of frozen glacier and revel in the crystalline formation of the ice – truly amazing.  At this point, Travis was starting to feel a little under the weather, so the Mac’s hopped the bus back to town while the rest of the group remained at Mendenhall a while longer.  A trip to Juneau is not complete without stopping at the Red Dog Saloon for a brew and some local culinary favorites.  Today we were entertained by a very funny man playing sing along songs on the old piano and telling jokes.  Quite a treat!  Whenever a new person would walk through the old saloon swinging doors, the whole place would stop and say “WELCOME, WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU”.  Fun, audience participation, sing along, cold Alaskan Amber Ale and good food.  Poor Travis was really feeling bad and starting to get a fever, so we hopped a cab for the 1 mile ride back to the ship.  Others in our group headed up the Mt. Robert’s Tramway to the top of Mt. Robert’s.  The cost is about $20 or $25 per person and the views are GREAT.  They even spotted 3 bears frolicking in the woods from the Visitor’s Center at the top.  I was disappointed that we did not get to do the tram, but hey, there is always next time, right?

Saturday we arrived in Skagway to a GORGEOUS sun shining morning.  This day we had planned to rent Jeeps and drive in to the Yukon area of Canada.  We were greeted at the pier by our guide from Alaska Green Jeep Tours and taken to the office to fill out paperwork, etc.  Once we picked up the Jeeps, the rest of our gang and a quick stop at the grocery store for Road Trip Munchies and drinks, we were on our way.  We were provided with an audio CD describing our route, some history of the town, and things to look for along the way.  We had 2 Jeeps in our group and communicated by CB radio.   The route were were taking was from Skagway to Carcross along the old Chilkoot Trail.  Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site protects the historic gateway to the Yukon once tread by Tlingit First Nation traders and Klondike gold rush prospectors. The Chilkoot Trail was designated a national historic site because of the role it played in the mass movement of people to the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. The Chilkoot Trail has been officially designated by Canada and the United States as a component of the Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park.  We stopped along the way at Canada’s Log Cabin Historic Site.  The adults and kids found this to be a great place for a snowball fight.  And what fun they had!  We never discovered the significance of the log cabin, but the snowball fight was worth the stop!  We continued along and our intended destination was Carcross and the World’s Smallest Desert.  The scenery was beautiful, frozen lakes that glittered blue, green and lots of other colors surrounded by pristine white snow.  We decided to stop at a boat ramp to Tutshi Lake to admire the view.  (This is about 50 miles from Skagway where our ship is docked) After a short stop and some photos, my loving husband Steve though it a good idea to drive our Jeep over a small patch of snow on the boat ramp – we ended up high centered.  Long story short – after an hour of trying to dig the Jeep out, some lovely folks Bob and Sandi from Whitehorse, Canada stopped and had a chain, which we used to free our stuck Jeep from the snow.  Steve’s new nickname for the rest of the cruise???  Snow Cone!  With out hour delay, and Mamma (me) getting antsy to get back to the ship, we skipped our intended destination of Carcross and headed back to Skagway.  Of course we HAD to stop at Skagway Brewing Company for a couple of brews and …  more food.  Skagway is one of my favorite ports to visit.  The town has old world charm, and I just get the feeling that I am back in the Gold Rush era.  Ahh, but alas, we must re-board our ship for the next adventure…

For more pictures, visit: My Travel Site

The Great Alaska Adventure part 1

The Alaska Experience:

So I took my first Alaska cruise in the summer of 2009.  At that time I traveled with my in-laws and left my husband and son at home.  WHAT A MISTAKE!  I knew at first look of the Great Land that I had to make another voyage and bring them back.  Fast forward to May 2011 – and the whole Mac-n-family is off to Alaska.  This time, we are traveling with our best friends, the Harps and the Brownzellers!

This is a special cruise, 6 nights, departing Vancouver and ending in Seattle.  We chose to go in May, and although the weather was expected to be cold and rainy, I found it to be about the same as when I sailed to Alaska in July of 2009.

For this vacation, we flew to Seattle, stayed in the Executive Pacific Hotel, downtown.  The Executive Pacific is situated about 2 blocks from the Lite Rail station, and is next to some of the trendiest and most upscale hotels in Seattle.  Across the street was the Monaco, next door was the W, and 1 block away was the Farimont.  So our rooms were on the small side, and the hotel is REALLY old, the staff was friendly, beds comfy, and the doorman was exceptional.  When checking in, he discovered that we needed to get to King Street Station (Amtrak)  the following morning, so he called and arranged for 2 vans to meet us at the hotel the next day.  Total cost for 15 people and a TON of luggage from hotel to King Street Station…  $30.  Such a deal.

That night, we walked about 5 blocks to Rock Bottom restaurant.  Fun place for the ids, good food and decent prices.  Seattle is such a walking friendly city – and SO CLEAN!!!  We did not have time to get out to the Space Needle, but I would definitely come back and spend time in this wonderful city.

The following day, up bright and early, the 15 of us headed to the rail station to board Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver.  It is about 4 hours from Seattle to Vancouver, and beautiful every mile along the way.  The seating was comfy, café car served breakfast AND cocktails, so both kids and adults were happy.  The kids got a chance to unwind, do a little homework, play some games, and just watch the world go by.  In these days of hustle and bustle, … where is seems like everyone is on a tight schedule, rushing from her to there and everywhere it was sort of nice to just kick back a little and watch the countryside pass by.

We arrived in Vancouver, took a few cabs to Canada Place Pier and our cruise adventure began.  Strangely, we cleared Canadian customs at the rail station, went to the cruise terminal, then cleared US customs before boarding the boat.  So, we were in Canada for less than an hour before clearing back in US Customs – kind of strange, but since out cruise has only US Ports, it was better to clear US Customs in Vancouver, than wasting time clearing in our first port of Juneau.

The first full day at sea was cool and crisp.  There are 3 of our cabins all together on deck 8, and we asked Carnival to open the balcony dividers between the rooms so we have 1 big balcony.  This is fun for the kids to be able to go back and forth between cabins, and nice for the adults to be able to socialize.  Plus, with the balcony dividers opened up, it make the rooms seem a lot bigger.  We spent the day hanging with friends, enjoying the ship’s activities and watching the breathtaking scenery pass by.  This evening was formal night and I made reservations for the 6 adults to dine in the Nouveau Supper Club, Carnival’s upscale steakhouse.  So we got all gussied up and headed for dinner.   The quality and presentation of the food was pristine.  The Sommelier was over the top exceptional.  The food service staff however was less than great.  I have had MUCH better service and attentiveness from the Supper Club staff on previous cruises, so I was disappointed, especially since I was picking up the tab for the 6 of us.   

Visit My Travel Site for pictures and more 

PLAY BALL!

Even though these past couple of week have been cool, I am ready for Little League season to begin.  I have to say that the past year or so since Travis has been playing, I am really liking not only the good that baseball has done for Travis, but the friendships and camaraderie among the parents as well.  As with any good organization, you begin to feel like family!

Travis will again me on the RBVLL Mets and has a few returning players on his team.  Opening day is March 5th, and I hope to see some of you at the fields!

Happy Birthday to my little man!

Today my little boy turns 9, I am so proud of him and the GREAT KID he has become.  I just LOVE being a mom.  Happy Birthday Travis.  XOXO

Where will 2011 take you?

New Year for me means New Opportunities.  New chances to live life to it's fullest, new places to go, people to meet, memories to make, experiences to enjoy.  With that said however, I do have to remind myself to stop and truly enjoy life's blessings!

My current travel calendar includes completing a half marathon in Palm Springs in February, cruising to Alaska in May (wanna go with me?) , Laughlin, NV in July, and lots of river trips with my family and friends!

Whatever your goals, wherever your travels, make 2011 a reason to enjoy life!

This pic was taken 1/1/11 from the top of a mountain overlooking the lower Colorado River.  We were out Geocaching (one of my hobbies)  with friends and family.

It's Cruise Time - Again!

This cruise has been in the planning stages for over a year.  Tonight, I board the Carnival Spirit with about 25 women for a 4 night cruise to Cabo San Lucas.  This is an all girls trip (ok, we did let 1 boy come along) celebrating a whole bunch of October birthdays.  Some of the girls have never been on a cruise before, and I am committed to ensuring their fun!  Bring on the Champagne and Chocolate Melting Cake!!!

Help Casita Center win a $25,000 playground

Hi Friends,

I rarely make appeals like this, but here goes. 

My son's school Casita Center for Technology, Science and Math is one of the top 10 finalists to receive a $25,000 "Imagination Playground in a Box". There will be 3 top prizes awarded so we have a GREAT chance at winning.  Please take a moment to click here , register at the kaboom.org website with your name and email, and vote DAILY for Casita Elementary. 

Casita Center is a Magnet school in Vista Unified School District.  A Magnet school offers a specialized, hands on, project based learning approach to teaching while maintaining instruction in the required Core Curriculum.   Casita is located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, yet with the specialized Magnet approach to learning, Casita continues to excel and post high test scores among all sub-groups of students.

This Imagination Playground in a Box will further enhance and stimulate the hands on learning approach already in use at Casita.  So please take just a moment of your day for the next couple weeks to vote and help our much deserving school.  You can vote once per 24 hours and voting ends 10/15/2010.  Click here to vote http://parents.kaboom.org/voting/elections/parents

Thanks so much for your support, you are helping Travis, Casita Center and the youth of Vista!

It's Cruise Time - FINALLY

I am on a plane bound for Tampa, FL.  Tomorrow, I board the Carnival Inspiration with my best-est bud Scott as we escort about 150 fans of the XL106.7 Johnny and Jayde Morning Show on a 4 night cruise to Cozumel.  It's been over a year since my last cruise, and I am SOO looking forward to the great food and good times.  I'll post pics when I get back!

Happy Anniversary to me!

Wedding Day 9/8/1990

Twenty years of marital bliss with my beloved husband Steve.  Thanks for making me the woman I am today, and for your love and support all these many years.  I love you Sweetie!

Alaska Bound!!!

I am so excited!  I just booked my Alaska cruise for next summer.  I cruise to Alaska in the summer of 2009, and this time I am thrilled to be bringing my son and husband along for the adventure.  Alaska has so many amazing sights; from million year old glaciers, to bald eagles to whales.  You can experience this from your world class floating resort. 

I was able to secure group rates from as low as $571 per person plus tax.  Book by 9/1/2010 and save $50 per person, plus I'll throw in a $100 per cabin on board credit.  I want all of my friends and family to join us on this adventure to the Great Land of Alaska.  Click Here for the details.