How amazing is it to see your family take in all the beauty and excitement while on vacation?? Why not capture what they are feeling?? Sure you can create still shots with fancy cameras but try to take it an extra step further with journaling.
Since I was a little girl I've been a journal / diary writer and I find it so interesting to go back and read what I was thinking and feeling at certain stages in life.
My boys are finally getting old enough to where I feel 110% confident in taking them outside of the hotels & resorts to explore historical and adventurous sites. Sites such as a helicopter ride over an active volcano in Hawaii or taking a tour of the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan.
My dear friend Anne Patron of 500 Place With Kids is the one who inspired me to invest in some Moleskine journals for my boys to write and color in while we go on our adventures. You can read more about her experiences on journaling with kids HERE. I absolutely love the picture below her little one drew of the Chichen Itza Pyramid (known as one of the 7 Natural wonders of the World).
I'm excited to see what comes of this new project! I encourage you to give it a try for it may just be something you will treasure forever.
Today our youngest turns 5 years old. It doesn't seem that long ago when I was rocking his cuddly baby body to sleep. To celebrate we decided to have lunch with family at his favorite restaurant, The String Bean.
Chocolate, chocolate chip birthday cake made by my most talented sister-in-law! I won't tell you how many slices I have had today.
Cousins
Our Nana and more cousins
v The boys checking out the cake with Papa.
My hunkie hubbie. ♥!!!
Birthday wishes
Whenever in doubt for a boy's present, Hot Wheels are always a smart choice.
The Azul Sensatori was a PERFECT match for my family and I. In fact, I can not imagine a family not being able to have an amazing vacation there.
Location It is nestled right on the gorgeous Puerto Morelos beach which is just 20 minutes south of the Cancun airport.
Check-In The check-in was smooth and smartly done. They first offer you a drink and a small damp towel that smells amazing. The kids even have their own section at the check-in desk with Fisher Price goodness to keep them occupied and happy. Brilliant.
Full-service Concierge We were then led to our concierge who was going to be taking care of us during our stay. In the concierge office they had plenty more Fisher Price toys and shelves of DVD movies and books to be checked out by guests. She was so incredibly sweet and asked us things like "Which one of these aromatherapy scents would you like the maid service to put in your room during your stay?" As she sprays a few different kinds on strips of paper my husband and I chuckle because we honestly would be happy with any one of them. We decided on the "Caribbean Spice" I believe it was. She then handed our boys a menu of Fisher Price toys that they could pick to have delivered to our suite. Ever since the hotel opened in 2008 I have been hearing people in the industry rave about the resort's Adult Only restaurant Le Chique so I was so excited to make our reservations there. Since it fills up quickly I wanted to do this right after check-in. Hubbie and I decided to make the reservations for our last night there. More about that evening later. We were then given our room keys and taken to our room which was clean, chic and just beautiful.
Accommodations Every room at the Azul Sensatori have features like a jacuzzi, minibar, iPod docking station, double sinks, vanity mirror and deluxe bathrobes for use during your stay. There are several room categories at the resort. To name a few: Family Jacuzzi Suites, Connecting Family Jacuzzi Suites (sleeps up to 6!) and Swim Up Jacuzzi Suites. We were blessed to be in the Premium Swim Up Jacuzzi Suite. The boys loved being able to just jump in the water from our patio.
The Food & Drinks Azul Sensatori is part of the amazing hotel brand called Karisma. Karisma is known for a lot of their achievements in excellence and service but the first thing that comes to my mind is FOOD. There is not another all-inclusive resort chain that can beat the gourmet food that you devour when staying at their resorts. Of course the Azul Sensatori did not disappoint. The 24 hour room service food? Delicious. The buffet? Scrumptious! All of the 6 restaurants were beyond impressive. The signature drinks at each bar was also a nice touch.
Children and Teenagers The Azulitos Kid's Club (ages 4- 12) is open from 9 am to 9:30 pm! While we spent most time together on the beach, playing games or going to eat our boys (ages 4 and 8) were constantly wanting to go back and play with their friends at the kid's club. It is by far the most wonderful kid's club I have seen yet. While I have seen many draw-dropping kids clubs with plenty of bells and whistles, if the staff and children are not having a good time... then it is no bueno in my book. There was never a dull moment at the Azulitos at Azul Sensatori I can tell you that much. The ladies who work in that department were extraordinary. The Azul hotels have a contract with Fisher Price and MyGym so every child is sure to have a wonderful time. Azulitos also have activities throughout the week that involve the parents to ensure family togetherness which is one of Karisma'a main focuses. While we were there we had an Ice Cream Party with the Little People, a water balloon fight (parents vs. kids) and a Talent Show. Dylan ended up winning the Talent Show with his mean break dancing moves. He won a T-Shirt which he wears proudly every chance he gets. The kids not only enjoy the Azulitos kids club but also the kid's pool with water slide, splash park and playground.
If you have a child under the age of 4 they have you covered as well. In Azulitos they have an entire section for playtime that is geared for babies and toddlers. They even have morning stroller jogs with mommies and babies.
If your child is a pre-teen or teenager they also have an exciting Teens Club. They will enjoy the interactive game room, beach volleyball, nightclub and DJ contests.
Entertainment At night, there is an entertainment show at the Rooftop Garden Lounge for the whole family, followed by dancing. Listen and dance to the live music in the evenings in the Lounge or on the beach. The fire dancing and acrobatic performances were our personal favorites!
Spa The spa here is very spacious and inviting. They even have an adorable kids spa menu for the ones who want to have a mommy and me day. I decided to surprise hubbie by purchasing us a 1-hour couples massage on the beach. It took place in a palapa right over the beach area. The smell, the sight breeze from the ocean and sounds of the waves made it a perfect choice to have our Couples Massage.
Adult time If you do not have children or you are looking forward to having some alone time without the children there are plenty of options as well. The resort has an adults-only section that includes adult-only suites, a separate pool with an immaculate swim-up bar and lounge area. Hubbie and I thoroughly enjoyed our 8 course meal at the adults-only Le Chique Restaurant on our last night. They also have a 12 course option but we had kiddos to pick up by 9:30 PM. The laughing kept on getting stronger as the wine glasses kept getting refilled. Excellent food, service and chic decor made this evening at Le Chique a memory we will keep forever.
Click the play button below to see a slide show of pictures:
Who is this resort for? Families, groups, wedding parties, those who may have Gluten Allergies (they offer Gluten-Free on their gourmet menus), Food Enthusiasts
If you are ready for your Azul Sensatori vacation be sure and call your favorite Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant. I hope your choice would be yours truly. ♥! Feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!
There is a place in the heart Texas where you can feel like you are on an adventuresome African safari. It is a place where you are able to get up close and feed endangered animals, learn all about these amazing creatures and have a bite to eat overlooking some of the best views of Texas. This place is called Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and it is an extraordinary experience for all ages.
Fossil Rim is located in Glen Rose, Texas which is about 75 miles from downtown Dallas. Once you get there you will first go inside the Admissions Gate where you can purchase tickets, feed and any drinks or snacks that you may want for the 9.5 mile scenic drive. They will also give you a resourceful guide to take onward with you. Now it's time to roll down the windows and get on with the show.
You will immediately notice that their 2,700 acres of countryside is nothing but unspoiled beauty. While driving along scenic wildlife drive, you will discover many exotic animals and endangered species. One of the first animals you will see are the ostriches. Their beaks are BIG and while their legs move slow, their heads move FAST so be careful to not let them stick their heads in and eat all of your food! Through the safari you will also have the privilege of seeing and feeding rhino, cheetah, herds of deer, antelope and about 60 other varieties of animals. Our personal favorites were the zebras and the giraffes! They were so fascinating and downright beautiful. Their colors, stripes and spots were so perfectly placed as if God were painting masterpieces when creating them. Cheesy I know. But, oh so true. ;-)
Since the tour may take up to 4 hours there is a stopping point halfway through called the Overlook. From up there you get a dominating view of the magnificent Giraffe Savannah. Once there you can have lunch at the OverLook Cafe, find some really cool things in the gift store, check out the children's petting zoo and/or go for a little hike on the walking trail.
Overall, Texas is genuinely fortunate to have such a smart and beautiful establishment such as the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Where else in the Southern U.S. can you see nature at it's best like this?
I have been excited to take my boys to Fossil Rim for years. Now that my youngest is four and we all had a day off from school and work on Monday for the Holiday, we decided to take the hour and half road trip to Glen Rose, Texas. There is so much to do in Glen Rose and the surrounding area so be sure an check out some of the other things to do while visiting Fossil Rim:
First of all I think it is apparent that you know that I live in a house full of males. That being said, I feel as the woman of the house I deserve my own little space to help us stay organized (sane) and to get my work done (blog hop and facebook). About a year and half ago I decided to transform our small dining room into my office/library. We are not the type to eat in a dining room. In fact we only used it for Texas Hold 'em parties so it was decided. And it was done. ♥
AllPosters.com had a big sale so I finally ordered the World Map I had been wanting then had a local framer frame it in a beautiful gold, textured frame. Carpet from Home Depot. Curtains and curtain rod from Target. The desk and bookshelves are all from IKEA and I was inspired to get this particular set from the genius Nicole of Making It Lovely from her post back in 2007.
The Free Disney Dining Plan is going on again at Disney World! The dining plan is SO incredibly worth it and I always suggest getting it to make sure your vacation is extra 'magical.' Cheesy I know.
Book early to save on your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation.
Purchase a 4-night, 5-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Company room and ticket package at a select Disney Moderate Resort and get a FREE Disney Dining Plan.
The "small print" stuff: When you purchase a 4-night, 5-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes accommodations for four nights at a select Disney Moderate Resort and a 5-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket, they'll get the Disney Dining Plan free.
*Price based on 2 Adults, 1 Junior and 1 Child. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same package. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required.
**Excludes gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Children ages 3 – 9 must order from children’s menu if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.
For example:
$1,751 for a family of four*, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Moderate Resort most nights Aug. 19, 2011 - Sept. 29, 2011. That's like paying $88 per person, per day!
Booking and Travel Window:
Booking Window: Aug. 16 – Dec. 20, 2010
Travel Window: Valid for arrivals most nights Aug. 19, 2011 - Sept. 29, 2011 Ask for other great rates for arrivals most nights Oct. 1-7, Oct. 22-28, Nov. 12-18, Nov. 27 – Dec. 2 and Dec. 10-21, 2010, and Jan. 1-5, Jan. 9-13, Jan. 21 – Feb. 3, Feb. 11-17, Feb. 25 – March 3 and May 27 – June 2, 2011
How to book: Call or email our office to be put in touch with a certified Disney Specialist Toll-free: 1-866-329-7157 Travel@LegacyTravel.com
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Artwork for this post provided to you today by: The Dylanmeister
This week has been a big week in our household. My hunkie hubbie has decided to get his degree and started college classes on Monday. Also on Monday was my baby boy's first day to preschool. Him and I both are adjusting but it will all be for the best and we will be fine. ;-) My social butterfly, the Dylanmeister, started 2nd grade on Monday as well. His teacher is a young, beautiful woman who he 'hears is the best teacher in the school.' I'm happy to see him loving 2nd grade so much.
My men. ♥
Dylanmeister
The Hudsonater
On another good note, Texas is finally gettin' a cold front this week! Instead of the 107 degree weather we got a high of 97 today. Cheers to that!
I'm a travelin' savvy mama of 2 animal-like boys and we share a passion to see and explore the world. My hunky hubbie is also a good traveler and his other passion in life is cars ~ working on them, buying & selling them, washing them and of course talking about them. We met and fell head over heels for one another in high school. He is my rock, soul mate, favorite auto mechanic and my best friend. ♥
I travel 3-6 times a year to check out hotels and destinations... the good, the bad and the ugly to help others get the best vacations possible.
I often hear people say things like "Must be nice" or "Can I have your life?" and to be honest those comments are not as flattering as one may think. I have worked hard, taken plenty of sacrifices and risks and saved as much money as I can to build this life for myself and my family. Would I go back and change anything? No.
Next to being a mother being a travel consultant is my biggest passion and joy in life. While our travel agency can help with destinations all across the globe I personally specialize in vacation planning to Disney, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and the South Pacific but have a strong focus on family travel, destination weddings and honeymoons. Our travel agency is Legacy Travel and we would love to help with your vacation planning! It is what we do best.
How can you contact Legacy Travel? Phone: 1-866-329-7157 or by email: travel@legacytravel.com
I am currently available for guest blog posts as well so feel free to contact me at Terrah@LegacyTravel.com
Love THIS post that Nomadic Matt wrote about the most amazing festivals from all over the world. Have you been to any of the ones he mentions yet?? I know a few of them have been added to my 'bucket list.'
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Jasmine Star is a photog whose blog I've been following for quite some time now. She is funny and incredibly talented. When I saw that they had her featured on Style Me Pretty's blog this week I was so excited and as always, her photos were a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Check it out HERE.
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Casa Cullen did a lovely post on her Top 10 Design and Accent books. There are some on there that I must add to my collection.
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Check out THIS stunning before and after of an antique settee chair.
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One day when I have my own house my garden will be very chill and will look something like THIS.
And that's my Sunday Sampler of favorite posts from the last week. And because every post is better with a picture or two, I leave you with some shots of my stud muffin Hudson from this weekend:
I'm a proud Texas mom of 2 active boys and a loving wifey to my hunk of a man. My other full-time job is being a passionate Travel Consultant with Legacy Travel.
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