Belle Hopping

Here We Go Again!!!

2012-01-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since we have blogged as the "Belles" but we are refreshed, rejuvinated and revived! So HERE WE GO AGAIN!

The Belles are at it again -- hitting the road -- well actually the skies to attend the Sundance Film Festival. Excitement is in the air and our texting and facebook messaging is out of control! There is of course a lot to discuss -- whether or not to bring furs, how many movies can be seen, what is the weight limit for a checked bag, who is daring to be seen in a bathing suit, etc. We are of course first and foremost women and the important things must be addressed.

As we address the real "important" issues :) how do we, as belles, keep the details of the trip together?

Here are some tips that really help us.

1. Most all reservations can me made online these days and the belles certainly take advantage of this. This means that everything arrives through email for the most part with our confirmations. Keep a file in your email system labeled by trip and drop all of your emails that pertain to the trip into that virtual folder. This keeps everything in one place and you have quick access.

2. Desinate one person to be the "organizer or detail keeper". For the belles that's me, Leslie. Truthfully, I'm a bit of a control freak. I would keep copies of everything anyway if someone else was the detail person.

3. Have some sort of binder, notebook, or file folder with paper copies when you leave for your trip. I use a file portfolio and label the tabs: airlines, hotel, activities, meals, etc. I find that having a paper copy has saved me many times when my iphone can't access my email because of no wifi and such. I am the cental file keeper for everyone in our group!

4. When we travel we like to gather info -- cards of people we meet, a brochure of a great activity, a name of a fabulous restaurant or a website to a great store we found. Use a purse size journal to keep all of the info you gather together for the trip. I find that this journal becomes a memory book of such and when people ask us about trips we have great info at our fingertips to give out.

5. Photos can be hard to organize for a group trip. Our trick is to take a laptop with us and everyone hands over their memory card to download once or twice on the trip before we leave. This is very important if you want to share pictures! You will never get everyone's pictures if you don't make an effort to do it while on the trip. The great part about this is that we have access for everyone by loading to a share site, facebook or our blog. We also LOVE to make photo books of our trips and this makes it much easier.

So, the belles are so ready for some great time with each other, seeing some old friends, and of course seeing as many movies as possible. We are busy talking to each other about the loves of the travelling but thanks to our tricks we aren't burdened with the details!

Make sure and follow us on facebook at our bellehopping page, twitter (yes this is a new one for us :) and our blog -- best place to see some great pics! We want to share it all with you!

I am not lost , just crazy busy......

2010-08-25T04:55:00.000-07:00

As all of us know, the summer is BUSY!!!!! I haven't posted anything for a long time and I have had some wonderful experiences. This has been an unbelievable year of travel for me. When I was in college I just knew I was going to be this great business women and travel the world! I explained some of this in my bio earlier. Well plans change and my career was and still is raising a family with some side jobs (the wellness and fitness director of the YMCA, church callings, etc..) But little did I realize how fast the time would go by. I still can not believe I have a 16 year old, 14 year old and an 11 year old almost 12!

This year started off with an amazing trip to Park City, Utah for the Sundance Festival. In March, my husband and I took our 16 year old Megan to New York City!! One of my oldest and dearest friends who is like a sister to me and who has been to New York hundreds of times, took off work and was our tour guide! Then this same friend, Jill, just moved to San Fransico 2 weeks ago. Megan, the 16 year old, drove from Washington, D.C. with Jill to San Fransico! I flew out 2 weeks ago and stayed 5 days and got to see some of CA!! Now, it wasn't with the belles, but being a part of the belles has given me this great desire to see the world and experience new things. I feel that part of being a belle is to share. Be it with your daughter, husband or friend. The belles want all to take time for themselves and hopefully take the time to enrich their lives.

More to come on what I saw and did.

SO.... who do you think YOU are?"

2010-07-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess that question has been asked of me a FEW times in my life, and usually, I have to answer with a smile... "well, that depends". You see, I kind of "morph" a bit, depending on the context and situation. Firstly, I am a believer, I am a mom, a wife, business person, filmmaker, artist, budding runner and most consistently.... a dreamer. None actually "claim" hold over me, but they all fight for first place in line. My first priority, however, is to my God and then my family.

I am the "big picture" belle of the group, love me or leave me, I have enough "quirks" to fill a dump truck, but love life and my friends even more!

I have just hit the "prime" of my life, turning 41 this February. It has brought about a lot of change in my thought processes that are probably a little bit different than the "younger" belles in our group. I find myself constantly asking myself, now..... " how is this going to effect my family, my friends.... the world". Now, I know that may sound a little "cheesey" and for those of you who know me well, a little un"blingy".... but I have come to a place, where I realize life is short..... VERY short, and what I leave behind, is ALL of me there will be when I am gone. What I leave my children with (dreams, beliefs, moral compasses) that is the only way to leave my thumbprint, if you will on the generations to come. I look at the world (USA) as it is now, and frequently have to apologize for what we will be leaving my kids to deal with.

I have a HUGE heart for Africa. I have a friend who is part of a ministry to street kids in Uganda, hopefully I will be able to take my oldest kid, Blake jr. next summer over there so he can see how "the rest of the world" lives, and have his heart pricked enough to do more for the helpless than I ever could.

I LOVE U2, and every lyric that has ever been scribbled down by the hand of Bono. ( I saw them twice last year - Barcelona, Raleigh.

I am a STAUNCH Constitutionalist in the most Jeffersonian use of the word. I believe in the idea of freedom for ALL people as a God given right. I believe in free enterprise and capitalism, I HATE SOCIALISM on any level. I believe in working HARD for what you have, and even HARDER to get what you don't. I don't believe in "handouts", but "hand-ups". I am a bootstrap girl who came from a family that had not much, according to American standards, and have worked hard everyday of my adult life to give my children more.... BUT also, to teach them the value of work and the dollar. Nothing good comes free.

I teach my children to ALWAYS stop, face the flag and put their hands over their hearts, EVERY TIME the National Anthem is played.... NO EXCEPTIONS. We frequently talk about what people have given up, even today, for that flag, and it WILL be respected. ( I tear up, even now, just writing these words :))

I love my friends. Not much more to say about that, but if you are one, you know I love you and would do ANYTHING to defend you..... I have offered to kick many a bottoms for my friends, whether they were right or wrong, I will always be on your side.

I love to travel. I hope when I am 90 I will still be out climbing up the Rock of Gilbraltar, or seeing a bullfight (I am sure they will by hijacked by the politically correct by then though), or attending a rally for members of a country that are not yet free (shout out to my Iranian friends in Athens). I hope I will always live life to the fullest.... as Bono (my only "idol" here on earth) says in the song KITE, "I'm not afraid to die.....I'm not afraid to live.....And when I'm flat on my back...I hope to feel like I did".

My kids are my life. I have 4. Blake, 12, Drew-Davis, 10, Stuart, 8, and Benson, 4. We are SUPER busy and have a hectic life, but I would not change a minute of it.... NOT ONE MINUTE. Two of my boys have AD/HD pretty intensely, and that is not easy....so if you have a kid who is "different" believe me, I can relate. BUT, I have found, these are the kids that God gave us for a REASON.... and it's not my job to question that, but to embrace it and cultivate it, the best I can.

My husband, Blake, is my stability. I knew when I shook his hand, he was the one..... He told me he loved me on day 2 and asked me to marry him on day 3..... 15 years later, I love him more than the first time I saw him, singing on stage in some smokey bar in Norfolk, VA. He lets me run, as far and fast as I can.... or until the money runs out!! :)) He is my soul-mate.

It has taken me a long time to realize that I am the LEAST perfect person in the world.... it is truly a wonder how the people around me love me and put up with me. I act before I think, I say what I should censor, and I spend more than I make..... but somehow, facing your imperfections help you to accept who you are, and work on being better, not believing you have it all figured out, and helps you to accept there is a plan.... you won't know what it is, till you are past it, but it IS a plan, and you just have to keep walking thru it.

Meet Elyse

2010-07-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am excited to tell everyone a little about myself!

Name: Elyse Giles

Personal: I am the youngest, but married the longest to Doug Giles for 17 roller coaster years! We have 3 wonderful children, Megan 16, Douglas 14 and Madelyn 11. I know this is information about me, but my family is a large part of who I am and I am so grateful to have a supporting, loving husband and children.

Quote: "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves." I will explain why I love this quote later on.

I am not a Georgia native, but moved here to Athens at the worst possible time in a teenagers life, 16!!! I have now lived here 21 years (if you do the math you guys will know how old I am!) A short 4 years later I was happily married and on the way to starting our beautiful family!

My piece of the pie in this Belle group, is FITNESS!! When my husband was in chiropractic school we could not afford a gym membership. I was 50 pounds overweight after having 3 children in less than 5 years. When our youngest was one, I was on our bed and realized that I had just eaten an entire pan of magic bars and I knew I needed to change. I had been active before and I am a happy, love to talk to people, energetic and thought "Hey, I could be a fitness instructor." Get paid to workout! And that was the start of my love for exercise. I am seen almost always in my workout garb. Black. So I hope you recognize me in the Belle pictures. It is going on 11 years, and I have taught almost everything there is fitness wise to teach. I am living another dream right now and that is The YMCA's Wellness and Fitness Director. Another huge bonus to me teaching is I LOVE to cook, bake and eat! My favorite shows are Top Chef, The Next Food Network Star and Biggest Loser. Need I say more??

My connection to the rest of the Belles is of course Shannon! I am her friend and trainer. Leslie and Angela mentioned Las Vegas in their bio's. That was the starting race of this magical group. We have done 2 AWESOME trips! When I was in college, and before I was married I really thought I was going to be an International Business Woman! I had 4 years of French and just knew I would be traveling to France to do big deals! Well, that wasn't the plan then. But, dreams really do come true. You might not know when they will happen, but I guarantee if you set a goal, focus and are constantly positive you will be amazed at the opportunities that will come to you. That is why I love my quote "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves." Make your destiny and fulfill it BIG!

And who are YOU???

2010-06-29T16:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Terrific Tuesday! On the theme of getting to know the Belles...today is my turn to tell you all about MOI! And in turn I am looking forward to reading about my fellow Belles and maybe learning a new thing or two about them!

Name: Angela Walters

Personal: Married to Keith for 16 years and proud Mommy of three children...Austin age 14, Reagan age 12 and Maison Belle age 6. My children are the joys of my life and my husband is a wonderful man who can do everything...and at fatherhood he is AMAZING!!

I am a Georgia native and a true Southern Belle who loves all things "Gone with the Wind", sweet tea, crossword puzzles, the beach and the GEORGIA BULLDOGS!!! I am usually seen wearing a pair of sunglasses, drinking a diet Coke through a straw and toting an US Weekly magazine. As everyone knows me will tell you, I love to remember the days of my youth and am always using the phrase "remember when??" I love singing, dancing, all genres of music, going to concerts and reality television. In fact I have been in love with broadcasting and a microphone since the age of five. My daddy worked for a radio station and from that age I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. My first job at the age of sixteen was working as the weekend disc jockey for the local radio station. After obtaining my Associate of Arts Degree from Young Harris College, I continued my education at the University of Georgia in which I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism.

Of course, it was hard finding a job in that field but finally I did...I began my career and got married all within 3 weeks of each other. I was the weather anchor for a television station in south Georgia and I loved it! Fast forward and here I am today...a stay at home mother of 14 years. I love what I do now but I will never forget the opportunity that I once had and getting to pursue my passion!

Being a part of the Belles has allowed me to find a new passion in my life...travel! I have always enjoyed going and doing and seeing new places...there is so much of the world out there and I love experiencing it! Life is so short and when opportunity presents itself you have to just take it and GO! I am the one in our group who loves to make people laugh. I love making people smile and being a good friend is so important to me! I also love all things pop culture and being aware of the latest fashion trends. I am super organized and tend to be a bit of a neat freak...and I really like to clean! I like to check into seeing all that might be going on where we are going and some of the fun things to do once we get there. I am the one who must have her lipstick on wherever we go and I love to accessorize. After all, a girl can never have too many pairs of shoes or purses! Shannon was the common thread that linked our group together but in doing so I have gotten to know and become friends with these four other awesome women. We have created memories that we will cherish forever. Getting the opportunity to go and see so many unique places has given me treasured experiences and when I return I am a much better person because I come back renewed and full of energy.

Life is such a short journey in the grand scheme of things. I think about that more and more when I look at my children and realize how quickly they are growing up. I never knew when I was holding my son as a baby that in the blink of an eye he would be a teenager. Which leads me to this...we need to ENJOY each and every day that is given to us. Traveling is enabling me to do just that, not only with the Belles but my own family as well. I am thankful my children have been able to go places more so than I ever did as a kid. Now as a grown-up, I am finally getting the chance to see places I always wanted to. You have to love to live and live to love...have fun and most of all, be the best YOU that YOU can be!

2010-06-28T11:18:00.001-07:00

This week we have decided to re-introduce ourselves to our blog followers. Since many of you know maybe one or two of us but most don't know us all we thought it would be fun to give you a little background info. Enjoy getting to know each of us as we have enjoyed getting to know each of you!

Name: Leslie Maddox

Married: yes to Josh for 16 blissful years!

Age: not the oldest and not the youngest!!!

Children: Garrett(15), Paige (13) and Morgan (12)

Dream Belle Trip: Greek Isles if trip is abroad and California wine country stateside

Motto to live by: If you don't try you won't ever know!

I always hate those times when you are asked to describe yourself with one adjective! The reason being is that I can never do that! You know when you take those aptitude test that tell you what side of the brain you use most in order to decide if you are creative, analytical, calculating, etc? Well, I always score right down the middle!!! So I guess that makes me the organized creative one in the group! The girls often make fun of my compulsive desire to organize every detail but let it be said I am ALWAYS the one they go to for answers about what we are doing!

A native of Augusta, Georgia, I have always loved to travel. My husband, children and I love the idea of adventure and often take excursions instead of vacations so that we can explore the unknown! I have an undergraduate degree in history and have always dreamed of visiting all the places that I have studied! My idea of a perfect trip is one where I can find the off beaten path that only the locals know. If I can become a part of the town for the time I'm there and really get a flavor for how it is to live there I am happy. If I can make a friend to stay connected to the place forever -- even better!

How did I become a belle? As my children have grown out of the "playdate" mode I realized that I was missing the presence of girlfriends in my life. Enter the bellehopping group! As we all traveled to Las Vegas for Shannon's birthday it was obvious that we had found something that we all were craving! Friends and fellowship!!! I look forward to each outing, event or trip because it gives me the opportunity to spend time with these wonderful women who each add to my life and my enjoyment of the group!

Each of us brings something different to the group. All a part of a whole. I am the one who handles all the details, reads the fine print, makes the schedules, puts in the calls. I organize the trips! I most likely fell into this position because I'm a little bit of a control freak :) but honestly I LOVE being in the know. Good with surprises -- that's not me! I need to know that everything is worked out and the details are handled and then I can sit back and relax! I am also of a closet artist and love to use my creative side so if we have a party I handle the decorations and theme -- just cause it makes me happy and makes the belles happy!

Being a belle has given me the opportunity to make new friends, build on established friendships, step out of my box and take chances. I was always the rule follower and that's not a bad thing but I am learning that it's ok to take chances and try new things. I love seeing new places. I love that I can be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend because I am doing things that make me happy! I want to inspire my children to dance through life and enjoy the moment. For me it is part of what defines me -- gives me fresh air and just makes me smile!

Cruising PART 3

2010-06-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

Well, tonight, I will finish up with 5, 7 and 8. These all have to do with getting on and off the ship, and what you can expect to pay for.

Well, when we got ready to check in to board the ship we thought we were doing GREAT by getting there at 1:30pm (you could check in at 1:00pm)..... so we flashed our passports and entered this HUGE holding tank, where they gave us all numbers and told us to wait..... well, WAIT is what we did! We ended up being the LAST group to make it on the ship. WHY? you ask.... well, it seems, groups take longer AND we had not run off the copies of our online boarding passes, so we had to fill out ALL of the forms all over again..... Lesson learned : go on line, fill out your pre-boarding info and MAKE COPIES of the boarding passes. AND show up early and prepare to wait. I think we have talked about the advantage to leaving the night before and driving down and staying at a cheap hotel.... then boarding as early as possible..... I am researching this because I met a couple from Port Canaveral and they said several motels near the docks give you FREE PARKING if you stay one night with them..... it will be worth it in the money you save on parking!

Also, try to bring as few bags as you can. I suggest packing everything into a carry-on. You do NOT have to pay extra money for extra bags, but you will have to check them in and they attendants will bring them to your room, and you are expected to tip them $2-$3 per bag (each way). Also, your room is not very big, so consider the space they will take up. They will have bags delivered sometime on the day you depart, but do NOT guarantee to have them there by dinner (and you cannot wear shorts or jeans to dinner) so wear something appropriate for dinner when you embark... you can pack your swim suit and cover-up in your carry-on.

Now, for the extra $$$ you will pay on-board. That is pretty much up to you. It will be for drinks, gambling, or souvenirs.... other than that, you can keep your money in your pocket. Also, you will want to count on taxi fares etc for when you get to the island.

Now for dis-embarking, you will have to have your bags packed and outside your cabin by 12 midnight the night before, if you have checked bags. (If you have only a carry-on you do not have to do this) Then, they will assign you a number and a place to meet... you wait till they call your number then the WHOLE group leaves at the same time..... this is very time consuming and will take atleast 1-2 hours total. Then you will end up in a warehouse where you find your bags, go thru customs and then exit...... remember there are limits to how much you can bring back into the country, so read up if you are thinking of buying a watch!

Cruising is an AWESOME value and you will leave feeling like a queen!! I look forward to cruising with all of you!

Tip of the day :

on-line check in - https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/boardingDocuments.do;jsessionid=0000bYaNnzRQJ1eUJ4wSIZDFCwN:12hdhu6tq

SMART CRUISING - Part 2

2010-06-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

Now for part 2 of the Girlfriends Guide to SMART Cruising .......Ok... so here is a re-cap of a few things I will cover over the next blogs that you will need to know/ think about for out cruise : 1. clothing to bring (or NOT bring), 2. How to plan your day, 3. Things you WON'T have in your room, 4. Dinner options and what to expect, 5. going ashore/excursions, 6. participating in the "activities" on board, 7. Things you need to be prepared to PAY FOR, 8. Getting on and off the ship (what to bring and time expectations) and what happens to your bags.

So, I've already touched on 1&3, so today I will hit 2, 4 & 6. All of these deal with your "day" on the ship, which will either really make it or BREAK it, according to how you spend your time on your relatively short vacation.

Time is precious.... and COSTLY! Remember... even though this cruise was SUPER cheap.... you still spent PRECIOUS $$$ for it! Every minute is paid for and you should make the most of it! Now, don't misunderstand me, you don't have to be running from shuffleboard, to climbing wall to casino, to shuffleboard again every minute of the day. BUT, they will put a schedule under your door every night (and it will be in your room on the day you arrive) and it will list ALL available activities and the times they all occur..... this way, you don't have to miss out on ANYTHING! (or you can decide to just relax and miss it all, the choice is yours!) Here is one important piece of advise when traveling with your girlfriends..... remember, it's FUN to do stuff in a group, push yourself to stay connected, even when you feel like you want to just veg out.... do it with someone else! BUT it is also important for all of the girls in your group to understand and respect each others preferences...... (example: I will be spending some time in the casino, Elyse will not, she doesn't gamble, or particularly care for it.... so I won't be pressuring her to join me, but, she may decide to come watch me win my millions for a few minutes, just to show her support) We don't have to all love the same things to have a great time, and usually, if you stretch yourself, you may find you like something you have never thought you'd try.... like rock climbing, or wave surfing, or KARAOKE!!!! Which brings me to my next thought....

Let me tell you, I am not usually a "game player" with a bunch of strangers.... I want to stay in my little circle and hang with my friends.... BUT, on my recent trip to Bermuda my entire family mandated that we all go to these silly contests (trivia night, karaoke, newly wed game, scavanger hunt...etc) WELL, much to my surprise, it was one of the FUNNEST parts of the trip! I STRONGLY suggest getting your "teams" together and showing up for these activities on board.... you will meet new people and have a GREAT time to boot!! (we will try to put out a schedule where Bellehopping is going to compete in these and then get everyone to join in)

Lastly.... dinner. Well, I haven't gotten the details yet from Lois, but I will have all of us on the same dinner and hopefully all at the same tables. (the largest is a 10 top) Expect excellent service and LOTS of food!!! You can order as much off of the menu as you want (my brother-in-law often had 3 entrees at dinner!) The dress for dinner is pretty nice, and I suggest, again, one of those maxi dresses.... they don't get wrinkled and look great! There will be one formal night and we will try to schedule a time for the ENTIRE group to photograph together in the lobby. This also means we will all have the same "show" schedule. REMEMBER... cut loose and have a great time. And brush up on your karaoke and trivia!

CRUISE TIME #1

2010-06-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

WELL.... I just got back off of the most WONDERFUL vacation ever! "WHAT could be that great?" I'm sure you're wondering.... well, let me tell you, it will take probably 5 blogs for me to give you all of the great details and check lists, so check back regularly with pen and paper in hand to create your own "to do" list for our "Girlfriend's Cruise" over the Labor Day weekend.

So, you may have guessed from that last line, I went on a cruise! It was a celebration for my in-laws for their 50th wedding anniversary and they paid for all of us (including the kids / cousins) to go (so BIG THANKS to Grammy!!) Here are a few things I will cover over the next blogs that you will need to know/ think about for out cruise : 1. clothing to bring (or NOT bring), 2. How to plan your day, 3. Things you WON'T have in your room, 4. Dinner options and what to expect, 5. going ashore/excursions, 6. participating in the "activities" on board, 7. Things you need to be prepared to PAY FOR, 8. Getting on and off the ship (what to bring and time expectations) and what happens to your bags.

Also, I will be talking to Lois and get her too book all of us at the same dinner seating and show times for the OPTIMAL good time!!

So, here goes 1 & 3 Clothes ETC

So, for this 5 night cruise, I REALLY overpacked! I packed 3 pair of dress pants, 6 nice shirts, 2 half decent cover ups, 1 swim suit, 2 pair of jeans, 3 bras, 6 pair of undies, 4 pair of shoes and OH!! I left my hanging bag at home (in the bathroom floor - another blog) with all of our formal stuff in it, so I borrowed 2 long maxi style dresses from my sis-in-law. ALL OF THIS for 6 days/ 5 night! I am here to tell you, I could have had just as great a time with half of this in a carry-on!

Here are the essential clothing items you NEED(as pictured above)!!! 3 maxi dresses (you know, the kind they sell for 19 $$ at TJ MAXX that are strapless or have thin straps, made out of light cotton or spandex and they could be a cover up or a dress) This is a MUST.... there are NO irons in your room, you can not get them, and you can not bring them, so, bring something that does not wrinkle, but dries fast. WHY?? well, I found, I did not want to keep going up and down the stairs to my room to change for meals.....so, I just put my suit on and thru the cute coverup over it and I was set.... All of the resturants let me in and then I just took it off for the pool. I wore it all day till it was time to go get ready for dinner/ show. My problem was I only had 2, so I had to re-wear it over and over.... so, bring 3 and you are set for every day..... ALSO, You could wear it to dinner too.... my sister - in law wore a really beautiful one for the formal night!! SO, You could bring 4 or 5 and need nothing else! ( I am still bringing my formal gown, though, because it is sooo much fun to dress up!)

Next, shoes...... COMFORT is key! Here is the deal, the ship WILL rock.... you WILL sway, and heels don't really work when you are trying just to stand up straight.... so, FLIP FLOPS! Go to Belk and buy a GREAT pair of Yellow Box flips for around $25 and it will be THE BEST $$ you spend! I would just pick one pair,something neutral, maybe silver sequins or something, so it could be dressy for dinner, and you are SET. (then pack one pair of dress shoes for formal night... but Yellow Box sells higher stacked heels too, so that would be the BEST option for comfort and stability)

Now for the suit... You need 2! I only brought one and that was a mistake.... I always had to put it on wet, every AM... so, bring something you can switch out. Maybe I can talk Lise into doing a blog on " HOW to find the PERFECT bathing suit for you body" with some links to different companies....I'll get on that! But, no matter what you bring, it will fit in.... I saw a little bit of everything (except thongs)

You will still need the required number of undies, but you really only need one bra, if you go with the maxi-dress swim suit combo. And just a side note while we are on this topic, remember your PJ's!! I forgot mine, but my roommate didn't mind :) yours most probably will!!!

Jewelry - for ANGELA - I did bring 3 rings and 2 bracelets, but only wore one set, on formal night. There are safes in all of the cabins, so if you want to bring more, it will be safe... it may just be more stuff to keep up with, and minimalistic thinking is key for this trip! Here is a nice little tip : really nice, expensive jewelry like Movado, Tag, Rolex and Cartier all all sold on the island for around 30% off.... so, if you save your $$, you may want to get a GREAT souvenir for a GREAT deal. ( I will deal with customs in a different blog)

How much Money should I bring??? Well, It is really all dependent on your budget, and what you like to bring home as a souvenir ( I like jewelry!) But, if you are not a gambler, or drinker, you really don't need any money for the ship, except for something at the spa or gift shop.... everything else is ALREADY paid.... (Also, remember, this is a cashless ship, so they will not except anything to pay for drinks, etc, except your room key. You can load this key with $$ if you want and you can go on line with your confirmation # and prepay for colas, H2o and wine.... we did the cola thing for the kids and it was WAY cheaper!! Def a MUST if you are addicted to diet coke!) Then on the island, you will have to pay for taxi/ ferry to the beach or Atlantis or where ever, so at least $20 for that (but you can split the fare). Now I love to gamble (we won $310 playing craps and blackjack on this trip!) and I will hopefully be able to set up a "class" in the casino when we get there for anyone wanting to learn... But I usually set a limit that I am willing to "lose" and when it's gone, it's gone. My limit is usually $25 a day..... but you know yours, so plan accordingly.

Now, the MOST important item to pack, is YOUR PASSPORT..... DO NOT FORGET IT!!! Also, make a couple of copies of your inside picture page and a couple of copies of your driver's license and give one set to your roommate and you carry a copy.... then put the real things in your safe in the room and ONLY take it out when you are going ashore, or home. We thought we had almost lost my daughter's passport and that would have RUINED the trip!

If I missed something, please comment on the blog and let's get a dialogue going!!!

"Jetsetting on the Cheap" advise for the day : Shop for your maxi dresses ON LINE at Amazon.com and Overstock.com you will look VERY hip and current for half the $$. If you aren't into shopping online, go to Loehman's on North Druid Hills Rd in ATL and I bought my satin Calvin Klein black formal there for $25 on sale! And here is the link to buy the Yellow Box on line at Belks... they are having a 70% off sale NOW... so hurry!!!! BELKS (just click here)

Everyone is a Belle this time!!!

2010-05-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

Sex and The City 2 premieres this Thursday, May 27th! It is true I am a HUGE fan of the show and the first movie so I am of course VERY excited about the second movie coming out! I can't wait to go see the movie and celebrate the girls! While the movie is already being reviewed as wonderful I have to honestly say that it is only part of the reason I can not wait for the release. The other reason is that we have created a Belle event centered around it!!!

Now you may wonder why??? Why would a travel group decide to celebrate a movie release? Are we all HUGE fans? Not at all! Do we all secretly identify with Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, or Miranda? Probably but we wouldn't necessarily admit to it ;) Are we all dying to wear a fabulous pair of stilettos? I for one am not!!! Then what is the draw?

SATC2 is about celebrating women and their relationships with each other...and this movie centers around an amazing girl trip!!! Do you see the picture? It is the Belle motto after all -- great women, great times and a great trip!!! When we had our last outing I was going on and on about the movie ( did I mention I am a fan:) and as always with the Belles as fabulous idea occurred! LET'S THROW A PARTY!!!! We have been wanting to do a one day Belle trip lately after all!!!

So the idea was born and the planning began! As with any other Belle trip Shannon took to the fb page and put the idea and word out (even before all Belles were on board -- ha,ha )! Although this isn't an away trip the planning has been the same ... details go to Leslie .... style goes to Lise .... reservations go to Elyse (we are pulling her kicking a screaming this time but as always she is a good sport) ... and celebrity coverage to Angela of course! We started talking to friends and a major event that will revival the official New York premiere is underway!

Eight sponsors later we have an amazing location, gifts for the guests that would thrill any celeb and will definitely pamper our gals, a fabulous themed buffet of appetizers and a drink list that will leave everyone talking ;), and a look that will have us feeling like we were on the movie set!!! Remember -- the champagne taste of the Belles!!! We have pulled of an amazing feat and can't wait for our friends to join us!

So, this Friday, May 28th at 7pm join us at HighWire Lounge on Clayton St. in Athens. The backroom is the VIP lounge and THE PLACE TO BE!!! Come dressed as Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda, Big, Aidan or just YOU!!! Come party with the Belles and enjoy what we enjoy -- time to celebrate who we are, why we are worth it, and what wonderful friends we have that love us no matter what! Everyone is a Belle this time and we can't wait to see you!

FRIENDS

2010-05-21T04:34:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind few months. I am making time to blog and grateful to the rest of the belles who have continued to keep the blog running. We have bought a house and are selling our house (no bites yet) all the while still homeschooling, training, working, getting kids to all kinds of practices, keeping the house clean, making dinner,keeping my husband happy and MOVING! Just another day.....I have to remind myself how blessed I am in love,home, family and friends. I had a conversation with my sister the other day ( she and her family are finally moving back home after being gone for over 1o years!) about having the belles as friends. My sister was venting about a supposed friend who talks about her behind her back. She had gone on a weekend girl trip and said they had a blast! Now that they are home the snide remarks come out. At first I was thinking that I really don't have one true friend, and then I stopped and said "I have the Belles". I am now 37 and know that even though the belles don't see each other every day or even talk every day, the friendship and commitment we have formed is strong. We are 5 strong, beautiful women who have realized the importance of women friends. Who else is there that understands how much we do with kids, homes, and families? Other women. So I am publicly saying thank you to my Belles for loving me and caring about me while I have been swamped with everyday life. I want women everywhere to have the same. It takes time and commitment but aren't all good things worth it?

What to "carry-on" when you can only bring a "carry-on"!!

2010-05-18T05:11:00.001-07:00

And they said it couldn't be done!! Well guess what??? I, the Queen of Packing WAY too much did it!! Did what you might ask?? I achieved something that I literally have stressed about for 8 months! I packed for 4 days in nothing but a carry-on suitcase.
That's right...you heard correctly...EVERYTHING!! Toiletries, travel rollers for my massive hair, shoes and outfits...and let us not forget the ever important ACCESSORIES!!! I even packed the cute red hat I purchased in Park City, Utah at Mary Janes. Might I say it looked pretty fab the morning I wore it to meet Lady Liberty!
Last week I traveled to the big city...NEW YORK CITY...with my son's 8th grade gifted class. About 45 of us went...including students, two teachers and moms and dads as chaperones. This trip had been in the works since these kiddos were 7th graders and we have been planning and paying for it all year long. Finally the week arrived for our big journey. We flew out of Atlanta last Tuesday morning at nine. Nothing like going through security with a bunch of teenagers...but it all went off without a single problem.
In the planning process, we were told that to avoid extra charges as well as the headache of checking in baggage, that we could only bring a carry on. NO checked baggage. Well, as my Belles know, this chick has a little bit of a problem when it comes to the packing department. I never quite know how I will FEEL on a certain day so I like to pack options in the outfits department. Thus lies the stressful issue at hand for me...how to pack, what to pack and knowing that whatever I pack its a one a day choice...no options!!
Since I knew we would be doing lots of walking, shoes for the first time in my LIFE, were not a deal breaker. I wore sneakers the entire time...shameless plug here...Reebok Easytones ROCK! Seriously, if you are wanting an athletic shoe that works your legs AND looks good these are an awesome choice! I LOVE THEM!! I brought one other pair to wear...fashionable grey ones for one other option...and that is it! You heard it folks...two pairs of shoes! I won't even go into detail how hard it was for me to not wear heels in the city of fashion. I mean WWCT??? What would Carrie think?? (I am sure you know who I am talking about here and can I say EVERYWHERE around NYC there are billboards, sides of buses and signs promoting the new movie. One of my most favorite shows ever and I cannot wait until the movie comes out!)
Now onto the clothes...I knew it would be on the chilly side so I wore layers. Those yummy wraps that you see in all the stores are absolutely perfect for such a thing. I adore Ann Taylor Loft and I found some cute things there for the trip. Everything was lightweight, didn't wrinkle and easy to pack. Add some cute jewelry and even with the sneakers, the outfits looked cute if I do say so myself.
When it came to the toiletries I went with the bare minimum. And since you all know how I love my aerosal hairspray, I was able to pack a 2 ounce can and it worked just fine. Plus one of those days I wore a hat...no spray needed! I even was able to pack my make-up and I refuse to not go without that!!
Before my trip I did go to TJ Maxx...I LOVE that store...and bought a really cute and chic leopard print carry-on suitcase that met airplane regulations. It was perfect and as soon as everyone saw it they all had to say they totally knew who that suitcase belonged to! Hmmmm...I wonder why???
I am really proud of myself for being able to get it all in a carry-on. I know that this is so easy for so many of my friends out there, but it is a big deal to me. Added bonus...being able to get off the plane and just go! No need to wait around at baggage claim and I loved not having to spend a dime to take my stuff on my trip!
One last thought, New York City was amazing! I so loved experiencing it with my oldest child. This was his last big middle school moment before heading to highschool in the fall (sniff, sniff!). We created so many wonderful memories, our days were crammed full from sun-up to late at night and we saw and did EVERYTHING! Even got to see "The Lion King" on Broadway which was spectacular!! I will have to post another blog just to talk about all the fabulous things we did and saw. Just remember, if this Belle can pack it all in one bag, so can you! It can be done and just think about the money you will save not checking in your luggage. More money for you to shop and have fun!!

What's A Belle to Do?

2010-05-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I LOVE hanging out with the belles! That has to be obvious right? Anyway, since we are five different women with five different lives it takes a LOT of work to get us together. That usually means that we can't do a "belle" event on the whim. So what do you do when something great is going on and you want to attend and the belles aren't all available? You grab a friend and go!

The purpose of us deciding to be a travel group was to encourage each other to try new things, take on challenges, and develop strong friendships that will stand the test of time. As a belle we never want to discourage each other because we can't all get together and share the adventure. We also realize that while we are GREAT friends we aren't our ONLY friends!

This past weekend the chance to see Lady Antebellum and Tim McGraw in concert was too tempting! I grabbed a four pack of tickets from Ticketmaster and called a "girls night out!" Shannon was the belle available and I talked my sister and her friend Sara into joining us! We had a blast! Who can resist a girls night out that starts at noon???

Shannon and I headed up to Atlanta and hit one of my favorite spots: Vintage Village on Scenic Highway in Snellville. Love to rummage through little haunts that haven't figured that they could raise the prices about 3x's and they still would be offering bargains! I did mention I was with Shannon right? So, next stop of course -- TJMaxx! New shoes, new dress and a surprise for Angela all in about 30 minutes! On to my sis' to pick up the rest of the group and off to see the show!

We arrived in time to tailgate -- girl style of course. We dined on edamame salad, sushi, western salsa, hummus and london broil. We each enjoyed our favorite beverage of choice and enjoyed the scenery.

The concert was amazing! Lady Antebellum hold a special place in the heart of any Augusta girl like me. Tim McGraw was AWESOME as usual! Did I mention that he provides eye candy for no extra charge?

As great as everything was I realized that the experience of sharing time with friends and family was what I loved most! The belles have inspired me! Before becoming a belle I would have only thought about taking the day for myself. I have become empowered to celebrate the things I love. I have become challenged to make time for myself and my friends so that my relationships of all kinds remain solid. Finally, I have become aware that I am important and worth the expense (big or in this case little) and that I am worth it!

Lise recently did a girls weekend to Savannah with some of her friends and I realized that she too came back a different person. Angela just returned from New York with her son -- a dream come true! The belles may not be together all the time but we work hard at living vicariously through each other and encouraging each other to GO FOR IT!!!

Thanks girls!!! (oh, don't forget -- Next weekend Belle trip ;)

DOWN TIME

2010-04-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

Ok,..... so it seems we have ALL been taking some much needed "down time" here on our blog.... well... nap time is over! We have a newspaper article, a magazine article (hopefully with the cover of us!!), the Peach Tree Road Race training/ race, a possible summer weekend trip to the beach and the Bellhopping Labor Day Girlfriends Cruise to get ready for. But I wanted to kick start this new wind with some ideas about the importance of taking a break from your girlfriend group, to get perspective. As women, we LOVE, well, really NEED the interaction we get from our close girlfriends. It's something guys still don't "get" and probably never will. But, sometimes we lose our perspective on important things, such as kids, husbands, households and jobs when we invest ALL of our time planning our next GREAT ADVENTURE. Now, hear me say, there is NOTHING wrong with planning that next big trip and getting everyone excited, but remember.... everyone includes ALL of the people on your support team as well.... the one's who WON'T be going.

I bring this up for us to all remember WHO it is that makes it possible for all of us moms, wives and worker-bees to go. Yes, you may be able to wiggle your way into one, maybe two trips without the blessings of your family and boss, BUT the fun will stop there.

Take some time to plan your trip, but in the down time, between the great big check marks on your bucket list, remember to play a lot more, enjoy the carpool line a little bit ( I KNOW it's hard), cook more favorite meals, and put a spring in your step at work.... this lets all of those "little people" know how much you love, respect and appreciate them.... and that YOU are a better person for them!!

What Makes A Good "Belle"

2010-03-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

When trying to decide who you want to travel with, I think it is important to keep in mind the traits of any good relationship. Blake, Shannon's husband sent us this link saying that he thought "belles" should be the kind of person who would be in a healthy relationship. Although this is talking about relationships and one might think it would mean of opposite sex it also can be applied to ALL relationships! Take a look at this article and see what we consider to be qualities fit for a belle!

Not long ago, I published an article about six qualities to admire in others, and the response was extraordinary. I prefaced the article by saying that the six I mentioned were by far not an exhaustive list, but included those traits that seemed especially hard to find. In reading all of the comments, however, I was inspired to write a follow-up list that covers some of the other qualities that I, as well as others, believe to be important when looking for friendships and relationships with others.

Our relationships are vital to our mental well-being. However, toxic relationships can really do a number on our happiness and outlook on life. As a result, it is important to look for individuals who possess qualities that allow for healthyrelationships. Although, once again, not an exhaustive list, the qualities listed below are those that should be at the very heart of a healthy relationship. And, just as you would expect your friend, family member or loved one to display these qualities, it is just as important to reciprocate.

Loyalty: Whether it's in friendships or in family, loyalty is truly important to maintain a healthy relationship. All of us are guilty, at one time or another, of making mistakes, having ups and downs, and even displaying some behavior that we may not always be proud of. When we find friends or loved ones who can forgive us and stand by us…even during our worst moments…we should be especially grateful. That said, loyalty should never be taken for granted and we should always be deeply appreciative when it comes our way.
Respect: I once knew an individual who was very opinionated about political topics. She would talk down to people who disagreed with her and would be very disrespectful. Not only did she make people feel stomped on, but she left many disinterested in friendship. Treating others with kindness and the respect they deserve is important in gaining the respect that WE desire. It never feels good to be taken for granted, judged or used and it doesn’t feel good to be talked down to or treated rudely or inappropriately. There will be times that we may not always have full agreement with our friends or loved ones, but respecting them along the way is a must.
Unconditionally There: There is nothing worse than having someone always resurface in your life when they are in need, are looking for something or need a favor. In a culture of “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours,” it is somewhat rare to find those “who just scratch your back,” period. Finding individuals who want you in their lives just because…and not because they want something in return is refreshing and worth holding on to. Those who are generous of heart are to be treasured!
Trustworthy: I once worked with a woman who, within my first week on the job, felt the need to tell me all of the intimate details of the various extra-marital affairs that had occurred with the management of the firm. She was supposedly friends with these people and I have no doubt, was told this information in the most strictest of confidences. How she felt it was appropriate to divulge this information to a new-hire like me, I still have no idea. But, it was her nature to gossip about everyone and everything. If you share something in confidence, you should be able to trust that the information will remain that way.
A Genuine Sounding Board: Taking a genuine interest in what others have to say and really listening to someone is important in developing solid relationships. Letting go of the “me, me, me” and focusing on the other person not only makes the other person feel valued and appreciated, but they feel that they can really talk to someone who cares. Those who take the time to really listen to our thoughts and feelings, and then help us work through difficult times and situations, share our lives at a much deeper level than those who don’t. These are individuals worth hanging on to.
Dependability and Following Through: I had a friend who frequently would RSVP to small gatherings and then would never show. They never explained…never brought it up…and never apologized. Although this example is somewhat trivial, it still makes the point. Obviously there are times when things come up that prevent individuals from following through on what they promise, but if a friend, co-worker or family member perpetually drops the ball, they may be sending you a message. If a friend says they are going to do something or be somewhere, you should be able to count on them. And, in reciprocation, they you.

What traits do you look for in a friend or partner? Are your relationships healthy?

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT !

2010-03-09T15:06:00.000-08:00

So, I have an iphone... and let me tell you, I don't know HOW I ever lived without it! Really, I don't WANT to remember. I can Facebook, surf and play Mancala during all the "downtime" in my life. Who could ask for more? Well, just when you thought it couldn't get any better.... I found BRAND NEW APPs, and they are just for travel!! I will tell you, I have only tested these, but I am sure they will really come in handy on my next trip to Europe or the Caribbean. All of these cost less than $3 a piece, and some of them were FREE!
Here's what I got : eCurrency (it is a currency converter for any place you may travel.... this is updated DAILY so you can make sure you are getting enough Euro for your Buck), Translate It! (a translator in 14+ languages), TripDeck ( an organizer for all of your trips and info that can link you directly to your airline to check in on your phone or connect with your hotel or rental car... really amazing!), The New York Subway Map, Eat-a-Rama ( which locates you and then all of the places to eat around you), Measures (converts American to metric measurements), AAA Discounts (just what it says), Urbanspoon( "local" joints off the beaten path), Vicinity (locates you and then sends you to Wikipedia to tell you something about the place, history, pubs, cafes, banks etc where you are standing.... it uses GPS... very cool!).

These things, in my opinion are a MUST and I am on the look out for more! Let me know if you you have AWESOME travel apps that I can add to my list.

Five Meals for Five Days Away

2010-02-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

Why try? This is a great dish for entertaining or for a weeknight meal because you can make it ahead before baking and then refrigerate or freeze it to bake right before serving. If you freeze it, make sure to use a freezer-safe dish and allow it to thaw completely before baking.

Ingredients

6 cups pulled white chicken meat
24 ounces Mexican blend shredded cheese, divided in half
2 bunches green onions, tops only, chopped, divided in half
2 – 10 3/4 ounce cans cream of chicken soup
1 – 4 ounce can green chilies, chopped
3 cups sour cream
1 cup pitted black olives, sliced
12 – 6 inch flour tortillas

Preparation

1
Preheat oven to 350°F.
2
Combine half the cheese, half the green onions, cream of chicken soup, chilies, sour cream, and olive. Set aside 2 cups of this mixture for the topping. Add the chicken to the remainder for filling and mix well.
3
Put 2 heaping tablespoons on each tortilla and roll up tightly. Arrange seam-side down in a single layer in a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
4
Spread reserved topping, sprinkle over second half of cheese and green onions. Refrigerate overnight or freeze.
5
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until hot, golden, and bubbling. Serve.

New favorite from the Food Channel -- great and the kids love it!

When it weighs more, you pay more!

2010-02-27T11:24:00.000-08:00

One thing I am learning about traveling via airplane is that the glamorous days of flying have become a thing of the past. Getting to experience a true "fun" time of flying is not what it used to be...case in point...the paying of your luggage! Checking in your luggage can be a total nightmare! Suitcases can only weigh a specific amount and anything over that limit is subjected to an increase in money due...and this isn't paid just when flying your suitcase to your destination...on the contrary...you have to pay it to get it back home too! You also pay per piece of each bag you check in...as of February 1st...some airlines are now charging 25 dollars per bag under 50 pounds. If you go over the weight limit, you are looking at 40 to 50 dollars just for that one piece! Let me tell you, it is hard to get that bag under 50 pounds! Especially when you are traveling to cold destinations where you are having to pack boots, coats and bulky items. Unfortunately, I don't think this will be going away anytime soon. But I am not a fan at all of this...I mean, its like an extra 50 bucks just to fly your luggage! On top of the 200 dollar airline ticket you just bought....and don't even think about anything "extra" on the plane. Blankets and pillows aren't free for use anymore and all meals have to be bought. You do however get a drink for free....isn't that special?? So the one thing I am really noticing now is that people are taking carry-ons instead of checking in their luggage. That is free and if you can pack light and not worry about taking with you any aerosols or big bottles of makeup then you have it made! My next blog is going to focus on the art of packing lightly. Something I am learning with each and every Belle trip I take. There are WAY too many other things I would like to spend my 50 bucks on...and it isn't flying my suitcase! Especially now that I have to BUY a NEW suitcase for my next trip since the lovely airline ruined my suitcase on our Sundance journey! I still haven't gotten over that! Flying though is still the best way to get to your destination...not having to spend all your time driving is so worth it! Having to deal with all the little nuances of the flying experience is just something we as travelers will have to do...whether we like it or not!

Jet Setting on the "CHEAP"... FOR REAL??

2010-02-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

So, I guess by now you are thinking to yourself.... "yeah, those trips sound great, I'd LOVE to do something like that"......"but that's not something I can afford.... that's for RICH people". Well, I'm here to tell you, YOU can afford it.... it's NOT just for RICH people.... Lord knows none of us are! So, let me tell you HOW to do it. There are 3 main ideas you need to embrace in order to start your worldly travels with your girlfriends.

The first is TALK. You need to start talking to everyone involved in your trip planning process, especially your support network. Your support network is the KEY link in this whole process. They will be the ones who pick up your kids from school, do homework, and put them to sleep at night. They will manage the household duties that you usually perform. So, it is important to talk to them and help them understand the importance of girlfriends hanging out and bonding ALONE for a few days, here and there. It's important to let them know you need to keep/find your identity as a woman, not JUST a mom, wife and daughter.

Next is PLAN. Planning is KEY (see Leslie's post). It will enable you and your friends make the best / cheapest decisions well in advance. When I took the Belles to Vegas for my 40th birthday, I had to make the RIGHT decisions to get as many people there for the lowest amount of money.... I used Hotwire for my FABULOUS rooms at the Wynn and my rental car.... and I checked airfares daily! Ultimately I sent myself and 4 other girls to Vegas in a 5 start hotel for 3 nights (including airfare) for less than $1000. That was a result of early and intense planning.

Thirdly is SAVE. This is the most important part for those pinching pennies. I am not suggesting that any one "break the bank" on this one. In fact, I am suggesting just the opposite. There are two ways to go about this.... the first is to set up your own bank account and be dedicated to add to it every WEEK. Why do I say week? Well, it's because it is HARDLY NOTICEABLE from the family finances if you are careful about how you save AND you cut back on small things every week. For example.... one way I saved money was to cut two trips to McDonald's out a week (that saved $25 a week!!!) SO, then you live up to your "cutbacks" go directly to the bank and deposit it there. Now, the second way, and what I am trying to implement for The Belles, is PAYPAL. I suggest setting up a Paypal account that all of the travelers have access to and decide on an amount ($20-25 a week) that is good for all the girls. Just know that if you choose too low of an amount, it may not be taken too seriously, so STRETCH yourselves… it will increase your dedication to the trip AND your friends.( 425/week = $100/month which means 2 “bigger “ trips a year!) Why Paypal? Well, it is not only easy access (we all use our computers constantly), but it keeps everyone "onboard" and motivated because they all can see who has contributed and how much.... sometimes peer-pressure is not so bad.

So, make the cut-backs (5 Starbucks = $25) so if you combine 2 Starbucks + 1 McDonald's trip....Voila... You'll be Jet Setting in NO TIME!!

Everything but the kitchen sink

2010-02-22T14:41:00.001-08:00

I am a little bit of a control freak when I am traveling. I think the idea of being in a new place without my necessities puts me over the edge. Whatever the cause I needed a cure when I started traveling with the belles. I have found that my carry on is my security blanket, my pacifier, my teddy bear -- you get the picture! So, what's in my carry on that makes me feel so safe? Take a look inside my bag to see what I can't live without.

1. I always carry an emergency set of clothes. I admit it, I am always afraid that my luggage will not arrive with me to my destination, so I always carry that most comfortable pair of black pants and black pull over that can get me from sight seeing to cocktails in a pinch. I find matte Jersey is a great material to pack -- light weight, won't wrinkle, stuffable in a side pocket and looks great dressed down or dressed up!

2. All my meds that I might need while away are packed safe and secure with me on the plane. More than once I have suffered from a tension headache while traveling only to find that my Excedrin was neatly packed away in the belly of the plane. Since airlines now charge more than a hospital for a motrin having my meds within grasp is extremely important. Also, I feel much more at ease for the unforeseen emergency if I have my meds listed on an index card in a ziploc with the bottles if ever anyone needed to know what I was taking and why. You just never know and better safe than sorry!

3. Travel size cosmetics -- remember the airlines have strict rules about the size of liquids that can be taken onto the plane. I for one think this is one of the few airline rules that makes perfect sense. Too many times we have read about how liquids and cosmetics were used to harm. Besides, travel sizes are available for everything these days. If my trip is long or if I am leaving very early in the morning I don't bother with make up before boarding. I do however want to arrive at my destination ready to take on the world. So, neatly packed into a quart size ziploc you will find my travel size tooth brush, toothpaste, lotion, mineral makeup, lipstick and hairspray. The total makeover package!

4. Any jewelry that I am taking. Probably do not even need to defend this one. Just better safe than sorry! Just so many of you are at ease -- I don't take all my valuable jewelry with me but still anything chosen rides safely with me the whole time!

5. Book,magazines, and ipod. These have become my staples for my flying time. Lots of the belles choose to sleep while flying -- I'm not great at that, so having entertainment does wonders. I find the plane is the perfect place to start/finish the latest book choice. As for my ipod -- relatively new for me but great since I can load it with new music, movies, and tv shows that I haven't had the chance to watch. Perfect time to put on the ear phones and lose myself until we arrive.

6. Expandable folder with all my printed reservations, tickets, and travel plans. What good is my rental car reservation info packed in my suitcase? You never know when you are going to need your hotel number because your plane is late and you need a later check in. What about the numbers of your guide to let them know that you are on the way? Perfect place for all of this is of course the carry on.

7. Pillow and blanket. American Airlines just announced that due to the economy they are now going to charge a rental fee for the use of blankets and pillows! This is absurd!!! Besides, I can't stand the thought of who was using it last, when it was washed and where it was stored -- I know a little on the OCD side -- so I take my own. Problem solved!

8. Netbook or laptop and digital camera. I personally carry my netbook when traveling. It is more light weight and smaller. Also, I know when I travel I just need basic operating software and the netbook is perfect for that. I can stay in touch with internet via fb, email and such and I can open the basic pdf if I need to and review it. If you know you are going to be needing lots of files and specific software applications like photoshop then you will want your laptop. Either way, don't regret packing it and then something happening to it! My camera also travels in my carry on. When I travel I go for a slimline camera that fits neatly into my carry on.

9. I always pack a light snack. Unless you are on international flights these days or traveling first class you won't be offered a "free" meal. The cost for a sandwich or for cheese and crackers is outrageous. Most airlines allow you to pack an unopened snack in your carry on. I find a great trail mix, pack of crackers, or granola bar is a life saver when the snack cart starts tempting me!

10. Lightweight jacket or sweater. Often times you leave one climate and enter another. Always be prepared (Yes, I was a girl scout!). That early evening breeze might leave you chilly when you arrive and are waiting for your cab or shuttle bus. Plus, why take the chance that you might go over the 5olb rule by packing it in your suitcase.

Bottom line is I carry anything I might need to get from my departure sight to my arrival sight without opening my suitcase in my carry on. I always choose a carry one with wheels and a handle that maneuvers easily through the airport. Although I have packed for my entire trip in a carry on before that is not my objective in most cases. Generally I fly but I definitely think the same rules apply for a road trip. The carry on bag needs to be easily accessible with your essentials and fundamentals at your finger tips!

Since I often pack in a hurry to make sure that I have everything I need I keep a laminated list inside the pocket of my carry on. It makes gathering up and packing a snap!

One note -- you will notice that I did not include my purse in my carry on. I don't pack my purse -- I always have it with me. In addition, I don't pack money, passport, boarding passes, or cell phone. Almost everyone takes a carry on and many will look just like yours. Why take the chance with someone accidentally walking off with your and leaving you completely stranded!

AA (Airport Aerobics)

2010-02-21T15:02:00.000-08:00

When I travel, I have a VERY hard time because it requires a lot of sitting. Sitting in the car to get to the airport, sitting in the chairs waiting to board and sitting in the plane waiting to arrive. And that can be hours. So, one thing I really like to do is walk around while I am waiting to board the airplane. Now I am not a stroller, I like to move. People do look at me as I am pumping my arms walking briskly up and down the airport halls! It really makes me feel better and every little activity helps to keep my spirits up. When you are on the plane, it is harder to move around. I carry my ipod and listen to some high energy music and dance in my seat. Yes, I am sure I look silly, but it is definitely fun! Unfortunately, I like to sing too. I tap my toe, I rock side to side and yep, I even squeeze the glutes. The singing part works my face muscles! Quietly of course. I haven't tried to do squats yet but that is a great option. I think I look silly enough singing and dancing in my seat, but hey, movin' and grovin' keeps us healthy and strong.

I Want to Travel Like a Belle

2010-02-15T06:46:00.000-08:00

So many of you have stopped me and said, "I want to travel like the belles," or, "It must be nice to be able to jetset away for the week - wish I could!" To those of you who know me personally the comments have been more like, "How can YOU afford to take trips to Vegas and Sundance?" Believe me, if I were you I would be making the same comments!

I am here to tell you that traveling like the belles is a possibility for anyone! We are a group of five women that are mothers (17 kids between us) who live on budgets just like everyone else. The difference is that we have made our "belle trips" a priority in our lives! The key to "belle travel" is planning, preparing and prioritizing.

As with any activity planning is key! When we started getting together and realizing that we NEED time with our friends and that we weren't interested in another book club or mommy play group we set out a plan on how to make this work. Key to our plan was being realistic about when we could travel, where we could go and how we were going to pay for the trips! We have found that after Christmas -- January/February has been a great time of the year for us to plan trips. Rates are low after the holiday boom, kids activities are at a minimum and for the most part our husband's jobs seem calmer this time of year. We are open to other times of the year but for the past couple of years looking at our calendars this has worked for us! Next on our planning is where we can go - our motto is be open to anything! When we are together we "dream" together of places to go and they all go on to a list. Then when we see a great deal available or a great event taking place in one of our "dream" spots we put the gears in motion. This year for example was Sundance -- dream trip for me and Angela -- perfect time of the year (January) -- available condo (thanks to Shannon's RCI points) and the trip was born!!!

Preparing started in August, so you can see that we had lots of time to find great airfare, eating establishments, register for tickets, and look for great activities with discounts. We also start saving for the trip as soon as we decide on where to go so that we aren't robbing our family budgets and also so we can pay for as much as possible before we arrive. A tip that many of the belles use is to save monthly -- set aside $50 into a savings account -- most often it isn't missed but there to spend when you need it. We find that budgeting is a key part of our preparation. It gives everyone a realistic view of the trip. We are very mindful of making sure that we aren't over the top with expenses and try and find deals in every possible way. We also prepare our families -- find sitters, plan meals, move appointments so that our travel isn't a burden on our husbands and children.

Once we enter the planning stage the prioritizing becomes very important! We want to include everyone's wants and desires in our trip so that no one is left wishing they hadn't come with us. Communication is key here -- speak now or forever hold your peace!!! We pull all the desires of the trip together and look and see what we can realistically afford to do. We dream big so when we score a great deal on ski lessons for example we add it to the trip. When we find a great dinner spot liked Snowed Inn we book it and find the coupons that make it more affordable. Knowing that shopping is a passion not a hobby for most of us we search for the best local boutiques and make finding them a must! We also decide what is the primary reason for the trip -- in the case of Park City it was to see movies so we bought as many tickets as possible to movies before we went and were able to see 17 movies in one week!

Gathering information about where we are going is key to the preparation, planning and prioritizing stages! We search all over the internet, join facebook pages, send for travel brochures, and ask, ask and ask questions of anyone we can find that has been before us!

Jetsetting with the belles is a pleasure but it is also necessary. We find that spending time together as friends rejuvenates us and revives our relationships with each other and our families. We don't take these trips lightly -- we plan, we prepare and we prioritize. Keep these steps in mind and "belle" trips will be in your future!

The Importance of Women Friends

2010-02-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in our society, women are portrayed as back-stabbing, jealous, gossipy busy queens, with out real friends. I can honestly say I am grateful for this friendship the belles have together. It is true, that we only had one common denominator when we started this wonderful adventure, Shannon. But as our wise leader noted, we came together for a purpose. That purpose binds us 5 different, opinionated, loving women and shows all women it can be done. As Leslie posted earlier it is about compromises. We are there for each other, to build each other up and to learn how to be a better friend. I want my daughters to see how wonderful and meaningful it is to have true women friends! To see the comradeship, the laughter, the silliness, the work it takes to get along. There are times when only another women knows what you are going through. That connection that is there from being a wife, a mom, a sister, a daughter, a friend , a women. I give a loud HALLELUJAH for all the true friendship that have survived through time and distance. It is hard. I know I have lost some along the way, but I have wonderful memories and I have a hope that there will be a reconnection one day. I also have those who have been with me for years and will always be there. I have been blessed in my life with all different women friends. I meet new ones everyday. I learn from every single one. I say to all women out there," WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER" and that would be surviving true friendship. I will have these belles with me forever!

RE......think.

2010-02-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

So I thought that I would blog a little bit about the "theme" of Sundance this year... REBEL. It is something, that I am sure many of you find, not a bit surprising, that I am an expert in!! Well, I have to say, I am glad to see Sundance heading back into the original direction it was in when I first started attending the festival, almost 10 years ago. Back in the day, and even before.... Sundance was a festival committed to bringing new artist, directors, writer, actors together, exposing the broader public to a grittier, somehow more "real", raw, gorilia style of film making. It was an artistic endevour for all "small fish in a VERY big pond" filmmakers to have their film even considered for the festival, even greater to get in! I have seen some genius films in the past, made for very little money ($25,000 or so) and being SO happy for the director when he / she stands up in the crowd to accept the accolades of the cheering film aficionados and shyly answer intriguing questions at the Q&A..... But then, something changed, around 2004 or '05.... films started appearing on the roster that were already "picked-up" by MAJOR labels.... no more of the "poor filmmaker, 'I put it all on my credit card'", kind of stories. Instead, they were all "tapped" by the institute (Sundance Institute). They all "knew the right people".....

So, why go to an "independent" film festival, if it's "corporate"?? I think that must be the question many people began to ask not only themselves, but Sundance, as well..... When you have to be bothered by hoping traffic is not cut off because Brittany Spears is coming down the sidewalk with an entourage, you know it's gotten WAY TOO TRENDY. Trendy is NOT independent!

This year, though, was a breath of fresh air. Maybe it was because of the recession, and only people who really WANTED to watch movies came. Or maybe it was the selection of very indie feeling, gritty films about rebellion, rock & roll and freedom movements that kept the weaker away..... THANK GOODNESS! This year, the theme was "rebel" but it was also "re _____" in general.... you know, rethink, renew, redux, reveal...etc... you get the picture. Basically, rethink what you know, what you do, who you see and make it all better, more original, more.... REal.

Shannon

Gazing at the Stars...and I don't mean the ones in the sky!

2010-02-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

Well after spending the last week, okay maybe two, in a state of SWD...or Sundance Withdrawal Depression...I am now ready to write (type) my little fingers off about the Belles wonderful trip. What an experience...one that I have wanted to have for SO long...thank you Shannon for asking me every year and for allowing it to happen this time!
When the Belles talked about seeing films...I mean, thats why you go to Sundance...never in my wildest dreams did I envision seeing as many as we did. I figured we would probably see one a day...ummmm....that would be a negative! We saw movies from sun up to sun down...factor in also the times we waited in line to get tickets to those movies we didn't already have tickets to and you can say our days and nights revolved around seeing amazing films. Not to mention the question and answer sessions after each movie. I had heard about these but I was blown away when the actual actors would come out and talk to the audience.
I am a pop culture junkie...and I love celebrity news. I am a faithful and loyal subscriber to US Weekly and watch the "news" every evening on the E channel. But nothing truly prepared me for actually seeing with my own two eyes actual movie stars walking beside me, in stores, in restaurants and in the various theaters where we viewed the films. Of course Shannon informed me I had to act cool and not take pictures or gawk at them...and I did...but the wonderful memories I have of seeing them, being next to them on a shuttle bus or get this...having them sit behind me in the theater...and YES...this happened... are all memories I will cherish!
Orlando Bloom was probably one of the biggest stars we saw....others were Mark Ruffalo, Juliette Lewis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Josh Radnor, Parker Posey, Jason Ritter...just to name a few. We also saw the actors and directors from many of the foreign films and documentaries we saw and a few times you could even see a celebrity while you were waiting to get in the theater. James Franco anyone?? And for all you reality television show viewers out there....I saw Constantine from American Idol fame and in the fur boutique I was standing next to Gretchen from the Real Housewives of Orange County. Jon Gosselin was also there that week but much to my dismay I didn't get to run into him~rats!!!
Yes, I did indeed have stars in my eyes...I will never forget being that close to some of Hollywood's finest. For this Southern Belle it was a dream come true!

Sundance shopping: Main Street in Park City offers a bounty of stylish boutiques - Salt Lake Tribune

2010-02-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

Sundance shopping: Main Street in Park City offers a bounty of stylish boutiques - Salt Lake Tribune

So if you read my post below about the great deals I researched online before I went you will see that I should be a professional shopper. Check out the article link above and look how their picks match mine!!!

Keep the Belles Hopping

2010-02-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Traveling with friends can either strengthen the friendship or break it. As belles we find it important to remember to take precautions to make traveling together enjoyable and fun! When traveling with friends make sure to keep these things in mind: flexibility, patience and selflessness and compromise.

Flexibility is key when traveling. We are five different belles with five different personalities and interests. Without flexibility our belle hopping escapades would quickly come to an end. I think it is important to meet, email, talk on the phone before the trip and state each person's expectations before leaving. It is best to put this in writing so that it can be referred to during the planning of activities before arrival. Often you may want to try something new, like skiing on our Sundance trip and everyone agrees to this activity, but there might also be an activity that you just aren't interested in that you might want to sit out such as a movie that you just aren't interested in seeing. Remember that when you are on a trip with friends there will be activities that you should all do together so you should be flexible but at the same time you should express what you want out of the trip and have that heard and included in the plans. For the Sundance trip we planned many together activities like the Snowed Inn dinner, shopping, movie watching and skiing. This was the result of listening and planning based on everyones' wants! By being flexible we were all able to enjoy activities that we wanted.

Patience is a virtue! How true that statement is -- especially with the belles! Remember that not everyone is like you and that usually is a good thing because it takes all kinds to make the world go round right??? So, when you are traveling with that friend that has the need to take a picture of EVERYTHING be patient! When you are all ready to go and one friend needs to apply that last layer of hairspray for the perfect touch -- be patient!! When you are a light sleeper and go to bed early and your friends need to pass by you for a glass of water, shower, etc -- be patient!!! Try to keep in mind that most likely if you are being patient with your friends they are most likely being patient with your need to look up everything and be two hours early just in case :)

Selflessness and compromise make traveling with the belles a success! I can honestly say that we wouldn't work as a group if any one of us had to have our way all the time. It is all about compromise and giving of self. Sometimes you want to do it your way -- we are all like that! There are those that naturally seem to insert their thoughts and tend to lead the group in one direction but remember to be honest about your feelings. Remember to give and take with your friends. Treat everyone as you would want to be treated. The golden rule is imperative!

So, traveling with friends is about building relationships, sharing in fun times and trying something new! It is important to check your egos at the door of the plane. Remember that you are with your friends because you love them and want to spend time with them. Most of all, remember that the trip is about strengthening the relationships with others and not tearing them apart. Be like the belles and try traveling with friends keeping these ideas in mind.

2010-02-01T19:30:00.003-08:00

Well, I suppose I should give you a break down on movies etc.... and will do so soon, but I am still trying to process everything I saw and figure out the best way to present all of my critiques. SO, for now, I figured it would be helpful out there to talk about visiting places that only ONE person in the group has been. In Vegas, last year, I was the only "experienced" traveler to Sin City and it was fun but exhausting for me, since I had that "tour guide" mentality..... Well, this trip was probably amplified 50%. Why?? Well, we had, not only the belles, but also 3 hubbies along for the fun. Sundance is "my thing" since I spent 12 years working in "the business" and have been going to the Sundance Film Festival off and on for the past 10 years. So, my expectations for the experience are pretty high, and I feel obligated to provide the highest standard of experience for the belles traveling with me.

BUSES:

Well, the buses NEVER ran on time, and since it is just about the ONLY means of transportation for the festival, it sometimes became stressful getting the whole gang on and off of buses on time and in the right place for all of our many, and I mean MANY movies. At times, I just felt like walking, and the first night we did!

DINNING:

Dinning was a little less stressful, but trying to celeb site and find an affordable lunch / dinner can be a challenge. I just took them to the old tried and trues Pizza & Noodles on Main and Bankok Thai on Main.... both a sure bet for Celebrities and in the $15-25 range.

MOVIE WAIT LISTING/VIEWING:

Well, this was the part of the experience that is hard to convey the IMPORTANCE of pre-registering and pre-buying as many tickets as possible BEFORE you get to the festival. We only had 3 people get a pre-buying time slot, so we were VERY limited in the tickets we had going into the festival...... who cares, right? Well, everyone, except me (since I had a pass) had to get in line at 6am for a 8:30 movie..... in the freezing cold! Luckily I had a rental car, so I could drop them off and get them sausage biscuits and hot chocolate, but it was quite a morning! My suggestion to anyone interested in attending this festival is to buy as much upfront as possible... if you can swing it, buy a pass, any pass... just get something that ensures you will have SOMETHING in hand and won't have to wait list everything you want to see.

Final solution: it may be easier to visit places that no one has gone...... I know the next belle trip will be that way.

Home

2010-01-30T14:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I got home Wednesday around 1am and am finally able to blog. I missed finishing the trip with the belles, but I had a Sweet Sixteen party to throw for my first born. I am not a big movie buff, but I loved everything we did! Doug and I were the last ones to arrive in Salt Lake. We had a nice 4 hour layover in Dallas and arrived in Salt Lake in a blizzard! Well, compared to what we get in Georgia it was!! After we got our mac daddy black all wheel drive Suburban, we headed out to meet the rest of the gang. Thanks Shannon for getting our dinner! First stop was getting the guys their ski gear for the weekend of fun! The belles left them to their own, and we set out to get to the condo before the pass ticket place closed. We had a great one bedroom condo with 2 beds and one murphy bed and one couch. Thank you Angela! I hope your neck feels better.

The guys went night skiing and we went and got tickets for some of the movies. Saturday was so much fun! I have never skied and all the belles signed up for the Never Beginner Ski class! I love to learn new things and test my athletic abilities. I went thinking I would not like to ski, but ended up almost loving it!! I will definitely do it again!! We had so much fun and I was the only one to fall 3 times! So much for my athletic abilities! Sunday Doug and I went snow tubing, but at the wrong place! It was not one I recommend, but one we got laughs out of. While I was there, I noticed the air was so crisp! You could not help but love to walk and observe all the different scenes. What a wonderful trip and the next one we take I will be there until the end!

Belle"shopping"

2010-01-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

So, a belle's gotta do what a belle's gotta do -- and that means SHOPPING!!! We are of course away from home and we just have to see what the local scene has to offer. What we found is Main Street in Park City is THE place to shop!

I think it is important on trips to not look for the chain stores that you love for home but rather to patron the local merchants. This is definitely the best way to get the local flavor and style. You know me however, and I am the "bargain" belle so before hitting Main St. I did a little research and planning of course :) Once again I used my favorite website on this trip: www.parkcityinfo.com because it offers a tab for shopping. I had a list in hand before we even set out!

Mary Jane's was my top pick!!! This is a totally chic boutique right in the middle of Main St. and all the action during Sundance but you would never know it! The prices are totally affordable and the look is unique and defined. The perfect place for a great accessory or two and it won't break the budget. I found an adorable hat ( a necessity for the weather) and a great pair of fashion sunglasses and my total was $36. WOW!!! They also have a great website and facebook page so check it out at www.maryjaneshoes.com -- You are gonna love it!

Ok, so the other big part of my plan was to go vintage! This is a favorite past time for all the belles and a great way to save money! Two great places again right on Main St. in Park City: Changing Hands (580 Main Street, Galleria Mall) was a great find and The Xchange (350 1/2 Main St.) was another fabulous treasure! Changing Hands owner Paula Etherington had an infectious personality and was great at welcoming us to Park City. Lise found the most amazing outfit -- purse, hat, and coat -- I on the other hand found a great vintage turquoise necklace that is going to be a lasting memento of the trip! At the Xchange, Angela got into the act with a great blue fur (not a typo :)) and I found a Coach purse and North Face jacket for my daughter all for under $60. The great thing about both of these stores was that they specialized in ski wear, accessories and trendy styles. They both were well organized and up to date styles only with great timeless accessories that you could afford! At the Xchange there were lots of vintage furs also -- a love of the belles if you haven't noticed. If you visit make sure and check these out!

You can't attend the Sundance Festival and not take home a great token. My advice is to buy early and not wait! On Main Street there is a Festival store (a few others at certain theatres also) -- merchandise is brought in for this week only and in limited quantities. We all went for shirts, hats, and pullovers! Everything is themed around the Festival theme this year of Rebel -- great look and pretty good prices but quality is great! Remember that purchasing festival merchandise is contributing to the a nonprofit -- making a contribution and no tax! If you want to look at any of the merchandise go to www.sundance.org and it will link you to the online store. Check out the pictures from our group as they are posted and you will spot many of the items!

So, to say we had fun shopping is an understatement! As always when shopping with friends we shared lots of good laughs and great memories. This day was one of my favorites and know it was for all the belles!

SUNDANCE 2010 - Snowed Inn

2010-01-27T11:03:00.001-08:00

Ok..... It has taken me a couple of days to get on here and give everyone the low down on our AWESOME experience at Snowed Inn, on the mountain at Park City Mountain Resort, but I finally have gotten enough sleep to string more than three words together in a cohesive way.

So, after our ski class (which was awesome but exhausting) we made our way to the pick up spot for the horse and sleigh that we took half way up the mountain (now they did have a big blanket to cover up with, but you still definitely want to dress for the cold, not necessarily fashion) to the overlook and then to the cabin where we would chow down.... our sleigh driver Kelly was hilarious! When we got there, there was a roaring fire and homemade cider waiting on us. They had a live guitarist, who played all of the Waylon & Willie we could come up with. I had the prime rib with mashed potatoes, sirloin chili and salad.... DELICIOUS! Then triple chocolate brownies with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. After much karoke and fun, it was back down the mountain, where we placed our lives in Lise Marie's able hands, as she was allowed to drive the team of horses down the mountain (narrowly missing a post and flipping the whole 8 of us out on the snow).

It was a fab experience, a little pricey at $79 per person, but over all worth it!

www.snowedinnsleigh.com

All of my film critiques will be next.... so tune in!!!

The Belles Have Landed

2010-01-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

Park City, Utah may never be the same again! THE BELLES HAVE ARRIVED!!! True some of us brought our husbands out for the weekend and some of us took different flights that worked with our schedules but as of today all belles are together! Did I mention we are having so much fun?

We have seen movies, skied, shopped, dined and celebrity watched! Wow and we still have four days to go!!!

I have found that organization has been key! True, I am the "go to" belle but I think everyone has appreciated the steps we took before we got here to put together a plan and organize this trip. Before I left I printed out all our reservations, confirmations, and trip planners. I also made sure that all numbers were handy as well as a master schedule for the Sundance Film Festival. I put everything together in an expandable file folder and made sure that I kept this with me on the plane. This made finding flights, car rental, hotel reservations and ticket confirmation easy and saved lots of time.

As for organizing our days it was a snap once we put everything onto our calendar and plugged in the events. It is important to not put too many things down for one day. You want to enjoy yourself and go at a relaxed pace. You don't want your vacation to seem like work. Because of this we made sure to plan lots for "free time" for all the belles.

When you have five "belles" with five different personalities it is important to try and make everyone happy! We made sure to plan some group activities such as skiing and a sleigh ride dinner but then we also planned some flexibility for alternate activities. Remember this year we chose a film festival that is hosted by an amazing city and we wanted to make sure that we allowed everyone time to get to know Park City.

Although, I tend to be the go to belle it has been Shannon who has kept us on track. She is a seasoned festival attender and really knows the bus system and the ins and outs of the movies. She has been wonderful and I think it is a good idea when planning a group event like this to make sure you either have someone who has visited or hire a guide for the experience. It makes everything easier!

Looking forward to the rest of the week there are about fifteen more movies that we will see and lots more fun adventures to be had. I personally can't wait! Knowing that we even planned time to sit and catch up has made all the early mornings and late nights worth while. Spending quality time with the belles has been so much fun and I can't wait for the rest of the week!

2010-01-18T13:49:00.001-08:00

So...I am FINALLY putting my thoughts down for all to enjoy! I am new to the blogging thing but everyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to talk...so I truly feel that once I start blogging about my wonderful BELLE moments, I will have tons to say!

I can hardly believe that SUNDANCE 2010 is literally right around the corner. I am so excited to finally venture to that part of the country and see REAL snow! Being a true Southern Belle, we don't see alot of the powdery stuff around here...and so I know skiing will be amazing on slopes where it snows all the time!

I am looking forward to trying the slopes out...I may be on the bunny slopes the entire time but I cannot go all the way out there and not do it! I have to at least try and say that I did! I definitely think I will at least "look" like I know what I am doing and I must look fashionable on the slopes!

The hardest part for me right now is the packing! As the Belles know, I am NOT a light packer!

I really stink at the whole packing for an airplane trip! For our Vegas trip I brought TWO...yes TWO suitcases...both checked in...and had no idea you had to pay for your luggage now! Then I find out not only did I have to pay to fly it out there but I had to pay it AGAIN to get it back home! My problem in the packing is that I truly am an accessory and shoe person. So for this trip...and I am putting this in writing...I, Angela, promise to NOT bring dozens of necklaces, rings and earrings on this adventure! That's right folks...I said it and I mean it! I am also not bringing tons of shoes. Two...maybe three at the most...all boots of course. I am trying and I am ONLY checking in one bag. I can think of many other uses of my money than paying for a suitcase to fly!

Speaking of boots, I found a great deal on the snow boots I ordered. I have been looking online for weeks to find the right one I wanted. I seriously love the two pairs of Uggs I already own, so I thought I might look into some snow boot type Uggs. After checking on their website I find the pair I wanted...but really didn't want to spend that much money on them. After doing some research online I found a website...cozyboots.com...which sells Uggs. Low and behold they had THE pair I wanted...in the color I wanted and they had three sizes left...one of which was MY size! Even better, they were fifty dollars less..with free shipping and no sales tax. Uggs are very rarely discounted or put on sale so this just made my day! But beware....there are SO many websites that say they sell Uggs and they are actually selling fakes. Make sure you get them from a site that is an authorized dealer of the Australian boots! On Uggs official website I actually went to the page that listed all their online authorized dealers and cozyboots was one of them. I love finding a great shopping deal...and I never try to pay full price for anything. Always take advantage of free shipping too! It is awesome! I can't wait to be sporting them in Park City!

ACTION PLAN

2010-01-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

So, as you can tell from my blogs I really like a plan of action! That is not to say that I can't go with the flow, but if I at least have ideas about what options are available I am happier. :)

That being said, I find that the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureaus in most places are an invaluable resource. Park City is no exception. They have a site www.parkcityinfo.com that really gives great info out for the visitor! One of the things that I LOVE is that they have a "trip planner" so when you see something that interests you all you have to do is click "add to my trip" and it creates a planner for you. This is such a great tool -- since the site is broken down into entertainment, shopping, recreation, food, etc. you can compile everything that interest you in one place. Then all you have to do is email or print the planner. I do both! I like to have the paper schedule to show the girls and the email tool is great to open on my phone when I am out and about. Everything you need for the locations and points of interest is at my fingertips. I have a map, phone number, address, hours of operation, and website constantly at my service. Gone are the days of picking up hundreds of brochures and aimless wandering! YEAH!

My suggestion is to look up information on a destination as soon as you decide to travel. When we decided on Park City I did a general search for: "things to do," "free and Park City," and "travel specials." By doing this I was able to register for a free travel planner to be sent to me well in advance of my trip. I also was able to the travel book with the belles at our dinner recently! I like being able to look at events going on while I am going to be there such as art shows, sporting events, and festivals -- often these are free or at a very low price and I am able to really get a feel for the local lifestyle and not just tourist attractions. Finally, I also have deals emailed to me as they become available and this keeps me updated of any new values that are being offered. This really helps me with my budget planning!

Another great tool for when you are traveling is facebook. Yes, you heard me correctly...facebook! Why? Because most cities have a facebook page. I LOVE this!!! I am able to see what "real" people think of where I am visiting. Often advertisements are written by professionals that are paid to make you want to visit, shop or eat at a destination. I find that it is often much more helpful to hear from someone who has visited there recently. This is how you find the great "local" restaurant that has the best entertainment and "to die for" food. Each facebook page has fans and links and this helps me find a great locally owned bookstore, coffee house, or vintage clothing store. I am able to post a question and get a "real" answer. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!

So, now that we are in the packing phase for the trip I am compiling everything! Since I like to travel light (last trip I only took a carryon and saved on the checked baggage fee :) I will organize my info into my note app on my phone and carry all coupons, vouchers, and passes in a small index card organizer or coupon organizer that fits perfectly into my purse or carryon. The organizer is great also for making sure you stay on budget because I either attach the money budgeted for each event or jot down the amount to help me stay on track if using a credit or debit card. I include a "treat myself" section with wish ideas and any extra money goes there -- almost like a game. On the last trip I "treated" myself to a massage with my extra money!

Happy packing .. 3 days till takeoff!

2010-01-16T20:06:00.000-08:00

SO, here's what I think is the best deal for the guys with the whole skiing thing..... We should book in advance and get the 20% off of gear for them and ourselves (guys fri-sunday) and us just sat.... skiis are only $9.80 for the beginner ones! Then the guys should get the 2 out of 7 day pass for Park City Resorts at the Salt Lake Valley location of Ski N' See.... ( we will have to map quest that ) and stop there on the way up from the airport. The price goes down from $170 to $118!!! (and that's for 2 day lift tickets, which is all they need anyways if they ski for free on Friday.) I am still looking for info on the ski classes we should all get in. I am planning on getting settled on Friday and picking up my pass and tickets and then walking around a bit.... no night skiing for me on Friday... too scary!
http://www.skinsee.com/tickets.html

2010-01-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

belles at N9Ne, vegas '09

Yes, the count down is on track! I have been gathering all the essentials for my first ski trip! Ski jacket: check, ski boots: check, ski goggles: check, warm underwear! check, the belles: check and double check! And of course our husbands this round! I am not familiar with the layout of Park City and were we will be, but I know I will make sure that we all get plenty of exercise! There is the skiing and of course the walking everywhere. One of the goals when you travel is to enjoy different sites, food and weather. Just because you are traveling, does not mean you can't enjoy the food! I love food as much as I love to exercise. There are smart ways to do both. So, as we embark on our second trip together, I can not wait to share with all my family, friends and world the creative ways to enjoy food AND fitness!!

SUNDANCE 2007

2010-01-15T22:31:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all...Here's an old picture I found from Sundance 2007, in front of the Egyptian Theater. This is the year our Asbury Alumni Peter Hutchens, was one of the DP's (director of photography) for a AWARD WINNING documentary War Dance.... it later went on that year to be nominated for an ACADEMY AWARD! Peter is middle row last guy on left (no hat). I'm in the middle with the big rabbit scarf.

Here is Peter's IMDb link. : http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2386927/

COUNTDOWN WEEK

2010-01-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

bells in vegas '09

OK, Y'all..... so dinner with everyone... including the hubbies was a success! It was great for everyone to get to meet each other before the trip. (we really wish you were coming Keith!) Now on to the really tricky stuff.... buying tickets and scheduling movies. For me this is THE REASON why I go. I would see 5 movies a day, if it worked out right. (time slots match up and allowing time between movies to catch the bus) As it turns out, we will probably see only 3-4 movies a day with the except on possibly Wed. We have 4 tickets already purchased, but the new Robert Duval movie Get Low is playing in the middle of the day, but, it is sold out and we will have to stand in line for that one, so ..... who knows! (hint: if going to Sundance, be prepared to stand in line at least 1.5 hours in advance to get a number .... just to see if you can get into a "sold out" show.)

See, the reason so many films are "sold out" is.... they are REALLY not sold out. They have to leave enough seats open for festival "pass holders", like myself, so there is enough seating if those people so chose to show up.... then 15 mins before the show starts they start selling off the remainig seats..... so bring cash money! ( I bought the Adrenaline Pass with lets me see ANY movie of my choice from 8-11AM and 11-midnight, it is for the crazy people! But it is the cheapest pass you can buy... $400)

Start Packing Your Bags!!!

2010-01-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

Tickets have been selected and purchased for our movies!!! Shannon and I spent the afternoon prebuying movie tickets for the trip. I definitely think this is a smart way to go unless you can afford to buy a pass :) Anyway, everyone sent in their choices and then we compiled the list and prioritized the movies. It does look like we will have to stand in line for most of the weekend movies but for Tuesday through Thursday the movie choices have been made and the tickets have been bought! Lots of pressure off of me as far as figuring out when to do what and where we will be going -- I'm a little neurotic about those things as the "belles" know! Also, buying tickets in advance really helps you keep to a budget. Much less money needed on the trip -- for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday my only need will be food and the occasional treat:)

So far the line up is as stands:

Friday -- Fly out of Atlanta and arrive in Salt Lake City

FREE skiing (use your ticket voucher) all afternoon

Dinner with friends :)

Late Night Movie

Saturday -- early morning movie

Shopping, ski lessons, sight seeing, exercising -- you pick ;)

Lunch on the run

Afternoon movie

More activity time

Dinner

Late Night Movie

Sunday -- early morning movie

mid morning movie

lunch

afternoon free time

dinner with whole group -- Sleigh ride to Snowed Inn

late night movie

Monday -- early morning movie

take hubbies back to airport

celebrate with cocktails and lunch -- Girls Week Away!!!

afternoon activity -- find the celebs :)

dinner

late night movie

Tuesday -- Thursday

Movie marathon (at least 4 movies a day!!!)

eat on the go

crash and start again :)

Friday -- one last early morning movie ..... then fly home~

Saturday -- pass out!!!

Sunday -- start planning next trip!!!

Getting Ready

2010-01-10T16:20:00.000-08:00

elyse & shannon @ beatles love '09

We had our meeting on Friday to go over the plans for the big Sundance trip! I can not wait to see and be seen! Walking or probably running to stay warm, to get places. A great way to burn those calories. I am looking forward to snow skiing for the first time in my life. I have a new ski jacket coming of course, as well as goggles so I will be styling. Bunny slopes here I COME!!!!!!!

Time to start reserving the fun!

2009-12-28T16:42:00.000-08:00

Ok, girls! I have spent the past couple of hours reading about and making a list of what movies I want to see. There are 271 movies being shown at the festival -- why can't we stay longer!?! Anyway, now that Christmas is over and we are less than one month away from our next adventure we have to get busy!

First on the agenda is reservations at Snowed Inn -- private Inn on a mountain that we have to ride a sleigh to -- see previous posts! Please let me know if you want Saturday or Sunday evening so I can get this set up -- slots are filling quickly!

Second on the list -- where to ski, shop, and sight see!

Third -- start getting lists together for movies -- if you use your log in info on the sundance site you can create a calendar for yourself -- very helpful! This will help us organize our time and plan our budget :)

I need any requests and recommendations! Start blogging!

2009-12-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

leslie, elyse, laurie & angela (shannon of course taking the picture!) death valley '09

Ok, so about a month to go before we leave for Utah! I have been so busy getting ready for Christmas that I didn't realize that the trip was creeping up on me so fast! I got a flyer in the mail the other day telling me that there is 24 inches of new snow in Park City. I don't know if I have ever been in 24 inches of REAL snow...I'm so excited! I am going to try and really focus on making our arrangements this week. So girls, who is in for the sleigh ride dinner? Need count ASAP!!! Also, who is planning on skiing and who wants to find something else to do during that time? Finally, I got my individual ticket purchase time for January 13th at 2pm -- do we have a better time? Lots of questions...lots to do -- let's get going!!!

Heres hoping that each of you have a Merry Christmas and find lots of travel goodies under your tree!!!

Finally On...

2009-11-19T05:16:00.000-08:00

For those who don't know me well yet, I do a lot of things great! Figuring out how to work a blog is not one of them! I would rather be in the gym! So, now that I finally DID figure this new blog thing out, here I go! YES! We are getting ready to go! I can not wait to see Utah again. It has been 18 years since I was there last. Never to Park City though. I can not wait to walk around, see new things and have a FABULOUS time with the BELLES!

2009-11-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

Ladies, please sign up online to get your individual tickets in January BEFORE we leave. They are VERY hard to buy once we get there and will require you to stand in line for 2 hours prior to the show time. Also, passes are STILL available if you are interested in that! Here's the link : http://festival.sundance.org/2010/boxoffice/individual_tickets/?src=em-091117b

2009-11-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

PARK CITY.... or BUST!!

Ok, Ladies.... Finally I have the tickets for Park City booked! Whew, it took about 2 hours of figuring it all out, but I was able to book INCREDIBLE deals for round trip travel... $186 total including fees and taxes. Here's how I did it: 1. Watched fares on Hotwire for about 2 months (usually they drop around the Holidays but get snapped up quickly) 2. You have to be ready to buy at the "drop of a hat" (once you start buying on Hotwire, you never know when they will run out of tickets, and we had to buy in 3 rounds) 3. Be prepared to have a layover if necessary. (Layovers suck but saved us $150 PER TICKET!!)

Next task is to book the rental car.... that will have to wait till I get another GREAT deal sent to me.... WE NEED AN SUV.

Snowed Inn is a must!

2009-11-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

So, I've started looking for great things to do in Park City. I found a restaurant that you can only get to on a horse drawn carriage -- loving it!!! http://www.snowedinnsleigh.com/auto/index.asp The cost is a little steep for dinner but it includes the ride up and back so I think it's a deal. Also, there is a coupon for paying cash when you arrive - you know me - loving the coupons.

What do you belles think? Are we up for the challenge?

Just imagine us in our fur coats riding into the evening in a horse drawn sleigh to the top of a beautiful mountain. When we arrive we are seated in a cozy restaurant at a table by a warm fire. Music is playing courtesy of a local musician with a guitar. Nice choice of appetizers and cocktails. Dinner has many wonderful options -- all look delicious! We can toast our adventure with a warm cider or a great bottle of bubbly. Can you see it? I'm wishing we were there now!

2009-11-10T15:36:00.001-08:00

Ok, so we have decided our next trip!!! Park City, Utah here we come! I can't believe we are headed to the Sundance Film Festival. A dream come true!!!

Now the work begins -- taking our wish lists and making them come true in the most affordable way! Nothing like a challenge. I know we want sking, art exhibits, movies, great food, and of course shopping! Let the hunt begin!

I think I will start with skiing! Mission -- to find a way to ski for the least amount of money -- remember biggest bang for your buck! I'll let you know what I find. Send any ideas, suggestions or bargains that you know about -- I'm always on the lookout and always appreciative for any help :)

Leslie