Back at it...

Four years of wild change since I've last blogged. Is "blogged" even the correct word for this? Do blogs still exist? I think so! Just like everyone asks "Do travel agents still exist?" (spoiler alert: they do!)

Strolling the streets
of Athens, Greece
2023

COVID19 certainly changed our worlds forever and I certainly do have COVID-brain, just like most of the rest of the world. 

The C-days were perhaps extra challenging for our household because we both work in travel and travel halted faster than any other industry. It was scary, stressful and perhaps filled with some resent as neighbors were "taking long leisurely walks and playing outside, dabbling in new recipes and binge-watching Tiger King" while we were working 12-hour days while homeschooling and worrying about if our paychecks were going to be still in the mail and did not even have a Netflix account. As a travel agent, I get paid AFTER clients travel...so you can imagine my check was NOT in the mail in 2020 and most of 2021.

But...we can do hard things. 

And flexing that muscle of hope, flexibility and hard work makes us stronger, grow closer and persevere!

Since 2020:

• We switched schools for our girls to be at a smaller, private and religious school.
• "Travel Revenge" became a real thing and our Indy travel agency has thrived with double-digit growth year over year.
• We finished our basement with our personal design and lots of labor of love!
• Celebrated 40 for both of us since then - eeek!
• J became a VP with his company
• 🏌Golf leagues for both J and myself!
• We bought a boat with lots of fun memories...which we are now selling because...
• ...We put in a pool in our backyard!
• Our cat of 16 years passed away in his old age
• We adopted a mini goldendoodle, Rory (McIlroy)
• We have taken countless vacations (#obvs) but J and I have especially loved our trips to Italy, Spain and Greece. 

I've said it before - writing is therapeutic for me. So...I'm here and hoping to be here more often. Mostly for me and my memories.

#9 - #12 Days of Gratitude

#9 - What place are you grateful for?

Turks + Caicos

I wrote this on the flight on my first trip to this beautiful island and have kept it on my phone ever since...

11/30/2016

The extreme joy I am feeling as I overlook the deep blues of the Atlantic Ocean,
comfortably seated in first class with the love of my life.
We are about to embark on a bucket list item...visiting Turks and Caicos for the first time.
I am ready!
I am ready to see this beautiful gift from God.
I am ready for the start of something great.

I miss my girlies like crazy but I know they are in safe, loving hands...I know that our hugs will be embraced extra strong when we get back home.

I truly feel like this profession was my calling and feel blessed beyond belief.

#10 - What taste are you grateful for today?

Vino!


#11 - What holiday are you grateful for today?

Christmas is most definitely my favorite holiday.


#12 - What texture are you grateful for?

My children's locks of hair.

Burden Time: 3 Hours

It's official - the L family has booked an escape from the subzero frozen tundra. This getaway to Rivera Maya, Mexico happens to be scheduled in the near future...so we quickly came to the realization that lil' Miss L needs a passport! (didn't factor in THAT expense into vacation plans!) So, we research and research the requirements, fees, expediting stuff, etc...and decide we need to act NOW!

I printed the paperwork and was working on the application part...which at the top states "Time of Burden: 85 minutes." The U.S. government has determined it may take approximately 85 minutes to collect any necessary documentation, photo, review paperwork and complete the application.

I have news for them...the Time of Burden when preparing an application and photo for a toddler is over twice their suggestion!!

J spent a good hour, trying to review past photo files for a pic that "could" be used...Strike One!

Then, we decided to take our own photo - this would be at least 90 minutes of sitting her in the bumbo with a white sheet behind her on the couch. The lighting was poor. Strike Two! So then we tried doing this on the stairwell with better light; meanwhile, bribing her with animal crackers!

So off we go to the Passport Services counter at our local governement building with our photo in hand of Miss L with a neutral expression, with a light background. The kind lady informed us that our sheet is a bit wrinkled and not really white and the photo would likely be rejected. Strike Three!

We are forced to pay the $9.99 for their staff to take a picture. I thought to myself "Alright, let's see THEM take a decent photo of this wiggle worm!" I'll show them.

They put her on a chair, put a white blanket behind her and on the first attempt - DONE! A nice, clean photo just what was needed. You have to be kidding me? We spent 3 hours trying to save $10!

For your own knowledge, passports for tiny people cost just as much as big people.
$80 for the passport + $25 to the county for a processing fee + $10 (optional) photo + $60 (optional) expediting fee

Thank GOODNESS she still flies for free and also will eat free for the week at this all-inclusive resort.

Also, she just got a cute cover-up sent her from one of her grandmas...which got all of us excited for vacay!!

Below is a photo of the little eskimo barbie this morning:

Refreshed & Recharged

Last weekend, J and I were fortunate to getaway for about 4 days filled with leisure fun and professional fulfillment in Fabulous Las Vegas. Miss L was fortunate to have 4 days of bonding time with one of her grandmas.

Just as my previous post said, we drank a couple of cocktails on our Southwest flight out west. This, combined with numerous episodes of The League, that Jeremy uploaded to the ipad...and we laughed our butts off all the way there!

Shortly after arrival, we dined at Olives, a Todd English restaurant overlooking Lake Bellagio. This was a great suggestion from my boss, who suggested I go there to do some "market research." The view of the fountains was great, the ambiance-very romantic, and the food was divine! 


J's dish was a masterpiece of scallops atop mashed potatoes atop shredded short rib beef-
as well as avocados, beets and tons of other stuff!
Olives

Bellagio fountains

 

Of course, I could sit there and watch the Bellagio fountains for hours. We also went to a Cirque show, Ka, at MGM...which was an incredible and jaw-dropping performance. This was followed by lots of fun gambling until about 3am. We spent a couple of hours at the same roulette table, making friends and making memories! We were up for nearly 22 hours straight! I couldn't believe it.

Our favorite past-time of vacationing out west is getting up on Sunday morning to watch football while belly up at a bar - enjoying a breakfast and cocktail. So we did just that...at Emeril's Sports Stadium. Breakfast menu had ceased by the time we got there...but we did find this amazingly large and delicious pretzel with cheddar beer dip - to hold us over until we went to our favorite fast food joint In-n-Out!

Mmm...In-n-Out Burger

My private club marketing conference started Sunday eve, at a resort in Lake Las Vegas...check out the view from our room...

The rest of the trip included lots of professional development for me...and J golfed 18 holes (shot a 34 on the front 9) and happened to be partnered up with the Madame of Rosie's Brothel...yep, funny stuff! He gambled more and just enjoyed some leisure time away from a very stressful work life right now.

LOVED the Fall decor throughout each casino!

Lobster tacos at Koi at Planet Hollywood -
delicious, but I should have ordered a double!!

All-in-all, it was the perfect time away from Miss L. We missed her, but not too much. And we knew she was doing well and in great care.

After our return, I felt so refreshed as a mom and wife, and recharged as a professional. It really was perfect! Oh, and I felt very blessed to come home to a clean house and happy baby!

Puttin' on the Ritz

I don't know about you, but I love staying in hotels. In fact, I think I'm the only person in this household who actually loved it when we relo'd to Indy, and "lived" in the Residence Inn downtown on the canal for just over 3 months. Honestly, who wouldn't love a housekeeper to make your bed daily, load/unload the dishwasher and a huge breakfast assortment to pick from every day.

With every hotel stay, we usually bring home the sample-sized goodies from the room. Then, we have them displayed in a basket for our guests that come to stay with us. We love having housesguests, so I guess you could call it part of our Irish hospitality we offer here at "the L."

Besides...some hotels provide really nice smelling sets of products [specifically Tahiti Village in Vegas...and the Ritz Kapalua, Maui}, and why should these barely used bath products be left behind for the housekeeper to toss!

Well, earlier this month, Jeremy took this habit into nth degree - basically bringing home a weeks worth of hotel suite products - or perhaps he robbed the housekeeping cart at the Ritz Orlando! In Jeremy fashion, he assembled the products below and THEN showed me...which made me laugh outloud for quite some time!! :)

You see the triangle-shaped tall boxes on the left - coffee creamer/sugar kits...behind that - about 5 things of coffee, in front of that - a nice assortment of teas. This is awesome, since we are not coffee drinkers, I can brew just what we need for a houseguest!

Yes, that is shoe horn!! And a nice cloth for shining your shoes...and mints, chocolates, shower caps and more!

I think we have about 4-5 of each shampoo, conditoner, body soap, lotions, mouthwash, etc.

Quite the assortment...thanks babe! Maybe my "frugalista" actions are wearing off on him! :)