December 9, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 3 DAYS

Travel Frustrations and Best of W2GW

Hello Friends,

I had a LATE night - not insomnia - I just don't feel like going to sleep! 
Plus I was working out the details of our Colorado Ski Trip in my head. Not sure if I've mentioned, but my reservations for the first week+ in Vail seemed to have gone awry.

Being that I don't work off of any calendar other than my own, I usually try to avoid the masses (whenever I can) when I travel. That being said I tend to forget about the smaller school holidays and extended weekends. And I tend to do this each and every year! Ugh

So what does that mean - it means that the demand is super high (as are the rates) when I'm booking certain ski trips.
And yes, of course I've done that again this time around.
Now if I were only talking hotel rooms here of course the same higher rates would apply - but when I do a trip like this (and especially with the kids) I prefer to have a kitchen, so I aim for a condo/villa/etc.. I generally put in my requests online and just wait until I get a confirmation or I put in a call to a broker and wait until I get a confirmation. 
However...I sometimes forget to confirm that I have been confirmed.
This is sort of the case now. 

And as of last night I noticed that I was being offered 2 different locations, but neither of which were EXACTLY the location I had requested.

So I pondered, and although both locations had their pluses, I still pondered. And then I decided to gamble and finally go to bed.

Of course this morning when I woke up it was the first thing on my mind!
I immediately went to see it they were still available. One was. One was not.
The one that I preferred was still available! 

So I pondered - should I take it?
(The only reason that I preferred this one was because the other one was in Breckenridge - where we are already going to be during the 2nd week. it was even a ski in/out property!)
And then as I was about to finally confirm - my computer FROZE and I needed to reboot.
And now its GONE - someone else obviously pulled the trigger faster than I (with all of my dumb pondering) and knew how lovely it actually was. Woe, is me.

One thing that I am quite stoked and excited about was a tour that I found for this coming weekend:
An Olive Oil Tour in Ojai!!! I love Olive Oil...
Can you tell that I can't wait?!

Much much much online shopping was done yesterday - it was quite productive!

Dominic did very well with his promotion to the Advanced class - the professor was very happy that we could get him there for it. This class begins at 6p, which based on traffic is very tough to make it to the academy on time. But we will continue to do our best.

With the 4 performances that these kids had over the past week and with us spending the weekend in San Diego, I think the kiddos are quite happy to have a week without call times and being on stage.

Next up are triple-header performances next weekend, and then the last of the holiday shows will be on December 22nd! Tis the season of performing and sharing peace and love.

And in the spirit of W2GW I brought up the discussion last night as to which of the local holiday events the kids and Dave are interested in attending. 

Hailed as “one of the top ten holiday happenings in the nation” by the New York Times:

107th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights

Beautiful multi-million dollar yachts, kayaks, canoes and other small boats will light up the harbor as a dazzling array of holiday lights and music fill the air at the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Many of the boats will be richly decorated with animated Christmas scenes accompanied by music and costumed carolers.
​Some boat owners in the past have spent over $50,000 to decorate their vessels for the event.
The Christmas floats will wind their way some 14 miles around the harbor to give viewers in restaurants, yacht clubs, on public beaches, and in private homes an incredible sight that has delighted millions of people for a century.
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, is truly a magical holiday tradition for all ages. The parade continues to be a premier event during the holiday season in Southern California that brings joy and happiness to all that view it.
For more info CLICK HERE

Winning Top Honors as America’s Best Public Lights Display in USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice contest:
​
Riverside's Festival of Lights

Enjoy more than 4 million dazzling holiday lights, appearances by Santa Claus, the world’s largest manmade mistletoe measuring 12’ x 8’, horse-drawn carriage rides, freshly fallen snow, an elaborately decorated Christmas tree in the hotel lobby, and much more.
The Mission Inn’s Festival of Lights is an annual gift to the community from property Owners Duane and Kelly Roberts who saved the historic landmark from destruction in 1992. The City of Riverside has adopted The Mission Inn’s Festival of Lights as a citywide initiative with a vision of a Dickensian holiday spectacle featuring lights and decorations throughout downtown Riverside, an outdoor ice-skating rink on the Main Street pedestrian mall, holiday vendors and family-friendly entertainment.
For more info CLICK HERE

​And finally...ACCORDING to CBS.com one of the best neighborhoods for Christmas Lights in Orange County is:

Eagle Hills Christmas Lights

More than 100 homes participate in the holiday light display in the Eagle Hills neighborhood in Brea, and the popular location during the holidays is a great walk or drive to enjoy the lights, decorations, music and nativity scene in the Orange County area. Some homes even decorate the inside of their homes and allow visitors to take a look. The holiday season is alive and the joy is evident in this neighborhood in Brea.
​For more info CLICK HERE

You'll find us having a blast at each of the above events! Stop by and say "Hi" :)

As for the 5 BEST NEIGHBORHOODS TO SEE HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY...check out this list complied by Redfin.com:

1. Dyker Heights – Brooklyn, NY
2. “Christmas Town” – McAdenville, NC
3. Interlochen – Arlington, TX
4. “Miracle on 34th Street” – Baltimore, MD
5. Peacock Lane – Portland, OR

Well based on schedule complications we didn't quite make it to the stables yesterday, so we're pretty much heading out the door right about now!

I wish you a fabulous day and I hope to see you back here again tomorrow :)
​-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 9 DAYS

W2GW: Child-Friendly NYC Christmas Season Events

Hey there!

Mid-week is here already!  I have to tell you, I am very impressed with myself and my efficiency!

Last night, I went to Walgreens.com and designed my Christmas card.  It really didn't take long at all. I selected a template and then uploaded a number of pictures.  

After submitting the order, I was amazed that the cards would be done in an hour!! So, first thing this morning, I picked up my cards, after school drop off and within an hour, I had them all addressed and ready to go!  Voila!!

On my end I have a pretty busy week on the horizon...
* The kids have their Christmas boutique this Friday, where they get to "go shopping" and buy gifts for everyone in the family.

* Saturday is our regular riding day at the barn, which will be filled with lots of practice for the Christmas Show on Sunday.  I'll be decorating the arena for the big event!

* Next Monday is Gianna's school band concert.  This will be her 4th year playing the clarinet for the school band.  She is getting very good, though I do wish she would practice just a big more.

* Next Wednesday is Kelsey's School Christmas Concert, which she is getting super stoked about!!

* Next Thursday is Gianna's School Christmas show.

* Next Friday - we leave for Florida!!

So, all in all we have a fun-filled, busy 9 days ahead of us.

Let's take a look at some kid-friendly holiday events happening around New York City over the coming weeks here on W2GW (Where to Go Wednesday)  
 
Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall
Still time to get tickets to this timeless show!
Ticket Prices range from $46 to $115.
Click Here for special pricing offer.

Elf the Musical at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden
Based on the movie by the same name, Elf is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy's enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Ticket Prices range from $50 to $99.
Click Here for special pricing offer.

A Christmas Carol at Players Theatre
Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, New York
The Players Theatre company present this lively musical stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' timeless Christmas story. Ebenezer Scrooge, the grumpy old miser, is given a second chance to become a generous, kind human being through the help of four ghosts who visit him one Christmas Eve.  
Ticket Price: $42.00
Click Here for special pricing offer

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas In Concert at Feinstein's/54 Below - 254 West 54th Street, New York
Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is a beloved Muppets holiday special dating back to 1977, with original songs written by the acclaimed Paul Williams ("Rainbow Connection," "Rainy Days and Mondays").
This holiday season, Broadway supper club 54 Below welcomes Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas In Concert, the story of Emmet and his friends who are trying to win a talent contest so Ma Otter can receive a piano for Christmas. Based on the charming TV movie and new songs written just for this live stage version by Williams.
​
Ticket Price: $40.00
Click Here for special pricing offer

Carnival of the Animals
Miller Theatre, Columbia University - 2960 Broadway, New York
Miller Theater is presenting a production this year of a popular classical work that salutes the animal kingdom in festive style. Their performance of Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals (which you may recognize from Disney's Fantasia) combines music, puppetry, dance and imaginative scenery. This short orchestral work is one of the composer's most popular, and a favorite with young audiences for its musical portrayal of different animals, including lions, elephants, kangaroos, birds and more. The ensemble will also play other short pieces, including Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and "The Little Drummer Boy."

Ticket Prices: $24.00 to $40.00
​Click Here for special pricing offer

We welcome hearing from you if you visit any of the suggestions we make here on Travelin' Cousins!!

Today, I'm still nursing my poor Gianna who really got clobbered with a bad cold this week (insert sad face).

The good news is, she is keeping up with her school work. 

Back to my nursing duties.  
Enjoy your day!!

-E
xoxo