And who are YOU???

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!

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

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

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

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)