November 15, 2016 - Lancaster, PA AND Sedona, AZ

Elisa's Daily Blog
NEXT TRIP DEPARTING IN: STILL DECIDING​

 Lancaster, PA - A Good Idea

HEY GUYS!

Sorry for being MIA yesterday.  I had two little sick kiddies home and in addition to my scheduled doctor appointment and usual Monday morning chores, I had to tend to these monkeys.

​Anyway, I was extremely productive - a trip to the supermarket, post office, bank, Staples (we are always out of ink) and CVS (yet again!) - this time for some Epsom salt.

Did you know that epsom salt is actually Magnesium Sulfate and it has dozens of uses!!
From health, beauty, wellness, fitness and even crafts and gardening!!

I like to have it in the house for soaks and baths, especially for the girls with all the strain that the horse back riding puts on their little bodies.

If you don't use this natural product, you might be interested in knowing that it soothes muscle pain and aches, providing itch relief from sunburn and poison ivy, helps in the removal of splinters, and a great cure for decreasing swelling.

Epsom Salt (credit: doctoroz.com)

What's more, according to epsomsaltcouncil.org, it aids in getting rid of colds and flu,

"This naturally-occurring mineral will ease muscle aches and help you get a good night’s rest, so you can recover faster. Some doctors say it will even speed healing by detoxifying your body and increasing your white blood cell count."

OOPS...
I realized that I never posted my pictures of my "Dream Boards" the other day!!  So, here is one.  I did this one a few years ago and as you can tell it's a mix of several things I'd like to make realities instead of dreams:

TRAVEL! of course. Now, since making this boards, I've made it to Italy, and although I haven't spent an entire summer aboard (as I indicated wanting to do on here), I did manage to spend an entire month in my homeland (Italy) in the summer of 2014.

Paris, Disney (which we had been to many times and getting in shape ("Fitness") have been achieved.

Still on my list is Greece, Spain, China and Hawaii.  As you can see, I also have a picture of a lovely barn stable - yes, that is on my list of long-term dreams!

My Dream Board (circa 2011) (c)travelincousins.com

Close up of the barn/Stables that I hope to own someday! (circa 2011) (c)travelincousins.com

I'm currently working on my new boards - actually, this time I will do two.  One will be all about my "personal" dreams and desires, while the other will feature the "professional" goals I've set out for myself over the next 3 years.

Here is my "Personal" Dream Board, work in progress...

My new Dream Board - work in progress (c)travelincousins.com

My Dream Board work station (c)travelincousins.com

My little Kelsey is working on her Dream Board (c)travelincousins.com

With it being Travelin' Tuesday, I thought I should try to figure out my travel plans for the balance of the year.  

Here's my dilemma -- I thought originally, it would be nice to reschedule my previously cancelled trip to Florida (due to Hurricane Matthew back in October) for either Thanksgiving or Christmas week.

Thanksgiving didn't work out because my mom and dad decided to leave New York for their snow bird winter later than usual and since the whole family would be together, I decided that time frame would not work.

Then I was thinking of Christmas week, which would have been a blast to both visit Disney World and then spend some time in Boca Raton with my parents.  Have I told you guys just how much I LOVE Boca!!!

In the midst of trying to work this out, I found out that a dear, old friend, that just moved back to Florida was up for a get together during my next trip to the Sunshine state. 

But, as fate would have it, she is not available Christmas week (UGH!!!), but would be available in January. I had hoped I could combine this trip with both Disney, Boca AND getting together  with my friend.  This is clearly not going to work.

Now, one of my thoughts was to just throw caution to the wind -- book my trip to Orlando & Boca for Christmas week and take a weekend in January (just me!!) to hang with my friend.  

Do you understand my conundrum now?  This is why my heading keeps saying "Still Deciding."

Big Ben at night (c)travelincousins.com

However, what is definitive is our Spring trip, 
Gianna's 13th Birthday Trip to London with the Cousins.
​If I calculate the days till that trip it would be 147!

2017 will mark the year that me and my beautiful daughters get our butts moving again and start doing some traveling!

As a matter of fact, I just got an email from one of my absolute favorite B&B's in Lititz, PA. As you may recall, Gianna and I spent a lovely Columbus Day weekend there last year and boy, would I love to make a trip to Lancaster County again!

The World's Largest Lightbulb at The Thomas Edison Memorial Tower and Menlo Park Museum (c)travelincousins.com

During our "Food & Amusement Park Road Trip" we not only did our fair share of eating, but, it was a trip filled with relaxation and new "discoveries."

This weekend adventure included a stop in New Jersey along the way at the  The Thomas Edison Memorial Tower and Menlo Park Museum, the Julius Sturgis Prezel Bakery and s'mores making at The Swiss Woods Bed and Breakfast. ​
​

(c)travelincousins.com

Swiss Woods proprietor, Deb Mostmann (c)travelincousins.com

Swiss Woods breakfast area where Gianna & I enjoyed yummy eats! (c)travelincousins.com

I can only imagine how lovely it would be to take the girls for a weekend during the winter months and sit by the lovely fireplace at the Swiss Woods, eating up all the delicious home-made breakfasts and baked goodies!!

See the links below for a re-cap of the weekend!

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

​On these links, there are also two of our 15 for 2015 Lists all about LANCASTER, PA as well as LITITZ, PA.  

I really couldn't think of anything nicer than to hang at a B&B in the middle of the woods, me and my girls, surfing the web, taking pictures of our surroundings and EATING.

And if you look at the itinerary for the trip, there were a few "food-related" places we never made it to.  We were having way too much fun relaxing and eating on the premises and in the town of Lititz!

But, our next trip, we will include the Turkey Hill Experience for some ice cream making (and tasting!) and the Herr's Snack Factory Tour. 

​Never a dull moment in Lancaster!!

The kiddies are home, yet again.  There was still some coughing and sniffling, so I decided it was not a good idea to send them back on a day with torrential rain fall here on Long Island. 

I hope you stay dry. 
Till tomorrow, toodles,
-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Blog
CURRENTLY TRAVELING TO: SEDONA

On the Road Again

WELL HELLO HELLO!

It's Travelin' Tuesday and guess what...

Hmmm - I'm TRAVELIN'! WooHoo

Yup it's just me and my girly on a road trip to Sedona, Arizona.

We left just on time and then about a few blocks away Cosette informed me that she forgot her sneakers! 
Luckily we weren't all that far and we turned around to go pick them up.

Right about now we are taking an itty bitty short wifi break just outside of the Arizona border and I'm stopping in to say "Hi"!

Yesterday was uber packed full of things to do and little by little I checked everything off mom my list. Boy does that feel good!

Last night was a productive board meeting at IPC, and there are lots of performances and events on the calendar for us to look forward to - but still no performances over the weekend of December 9th.

Soooo I'm thinking that I will book something for us up in San Francisco that is free to cancel, just in case something comes up - otherwise there will be yet one more trip on our 2016 calendar!

2016 has been filled with 17 vacations (this one included) and as long as things work out for San Francisco - that will be 18 vacations for 2016.

During the month of December, I'll be giving you a review of this amazing year. I experienced it all and still can't wait to relive it during sharing it with you!

As far as what in store for us on the rest of this glorious day, upon our arrival to Sedona we are going to visit Montezuma Castle National Monument and Bell Rock before checking in.

Montezuma Castle National Monument protects a set of well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings near the town of Camp Verde, Arizona. The dwellings were built and used by the Sinagua people, a pre-Columbian culture closely related to the Hohokam and other indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States, between approximately 1100 and 1425 AD. The main structure comprises five stories and twenty rooms, and was built over the course of three centuries.

Bell Rock is a popular tourist attraction just north of the Village of Oak Creek, Arizona, south of Sedona in Yavapai County. With an elevation at its summit of 4,919 feet (1,499 m), it is just west of Courthouse Butte.

Climbing Bell Rock in 2014 (c)travelincousins.com

Well folks, we've gotta get back on the road!

See ya tomorrow from Sedona!!!

Ciao,
​-T