Girls’ Trips, and why you need one!

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 / Denise Smith / 2 Comments

For about eight years, I have attempted to organize and take a girls’ trip. We have been successful MOST years, and we have done a few different things – including staying in Eleuthera, Bahamas multiple times and taking a cruise. Our numbers have ranged from 4 of us to 11 so far. In 2020, we are going to our first all inclusive in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and for this trip, we are up to 28 ladies!!! It should be an amazing week.

Before I begin, let me start off by saying this isn’t about dad-bashing and why moms/women are the only ones that deserve a “break”. Dads and father figures TOTALLY deserve a break and I encourage that! But since I am a woman, I can really only speak from that perspective, so while it may seem like I am saying moms need a break because we do so much more than dads, that’s not totally true – although some DO do more than their significant others – or just DIFFERENT things. When it comes down to it, it is typically the men at home holding down the fort so the moms CAN go away – so for that and so many other things, I am truly grateful.

But let’s face it! Women do a lot! I have a wonderful husband and I praise God every day for him. But when it comes to the running of our home and keeping everything in smooth working order, that falls mostly on me. I am the shopper, planner, chef, banker, appointment maker and taker, housekeeper (for the things my children do not do for chores), gardener, business owner, secretary and more. I don’t resent this lot I have willingly accepted, but I do get tired of feeling like I do “everything”. I am sure a lot of it has to do with my Type-A personality and things having to be a certain way (my way), but that is the way of it and I either embrace it or it breaks me. Enter the girls’ trip!

I am so lucky to have a wonderful group of friends that truly care about one another and each other’s lives. These ladies are people I can count on when the going gets rough and if you live in the real world, the going gets rough sometimes! Relationships, marriages, raising kids, work, self-worth…these are all things women deal with and they are hard. Many talks have been had at sunrise on the beach in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera about feelings of shortcomings as wives, mothers, daughters and friends. Beach therapy has saved some of those relationships and continues to work to preserve others. The opportunity to spend precious time with other people who can relate to our most personal experiences on some level is priceless.

But it does cost. Our girls’ trips have been kept at around $1000-$1200 each for a week. So many women have said, “Oh I wish I could go but I just can’t afford it.” And for some, that is true. People who raise a family on one salary, are still paying college loans, have had extra bills lately or unexpected expenses. I get it. But some people say they can’t afford it but really what they mean is, it isn’t necessary in their lives. Rather, they would prefer to spend the $45 every two weeks on their nails or buy a new iPhone every time it comes out, or get Starbucks four days a week or whatever it is they CHOOSE to spend money on. And that’s cool – for those people, those expenditures might have the same soothing effect as my once a year girls’ trip. But for me, I want to go someplace (almost any place) where the only person I have to tend to is me. I only have to pack for me; make sure I put on sunscreen and not everyone; skip a meal if I want; read in bed until 10am if I want; only do my own laundry and not have to clean up after anyone! To me, that is worth the $20ish I have to save per week to go on my girls’ trip every year.

Every year, the ladies that are able to attend changes slightly, but I have some steadfast girls’ trippers and I am thankful for them and the close relationships we have formed on the beaches of the Caribbean. I look to these ladies for help, guidance, celebration and they make up the core of my village. These are also relationships that have taken work and as I have experienced with so many other relationships, it is worth the time and effort for those we care about.

I hope you get the chance to take that friends getaway – that time of rejuvenation, reflection, growth, self-evaluation and a little indulgence. When you return to your families, you will do so with a fuller heart and a patient soul – ready to take on the world like the wonder woman that you are! Here are a few photos taken on some Girls’ trips so far – most of the photos we take are group selfies so these are just some of the picturesque places to preserve the privacy of my friends.

Storm clouds following the island. Lighthouse Beach, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Queen’s Bath, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Sunsets on Eleuthera are the most stunning ever! Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Lighthouse Beach, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Glass Window Bridge – where the “Caribbean” meets the Atlantic, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Harbour Island – ACTUAL pink sand!!!

The stillness of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Throw Back Thursday….Growing up Disney

June 13, 2019June 6, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

If you know me in real life, you now that if you start talking about Disney World, my eyes light up, my voice raises an octave and I talk 100 miles per minute because I LOVE DISNEY!!!!! I know people who hate Disney and I am not sure they are human or believe in magic 😊 Seriously, though…I think you either love Disney or you do not…there aren’t many wishy washy Disney people out there!

When we plan our Disney trips (we go every 12-18 months), we start getting pretty psyched about a year out! We start with the WHEN (we never go during school vacations or holidays), then move to the WHERE (we have stayed at Saratoga Springs, Bay Lake Towers, Animal Kingdom Resort, Coronado Springs, Old Key West, Art of Animation and the Polynesian). We plan out which parks we will be at which days based on crowd projections, plan our dining experiences and fast passes when the time is right. And then we wait – probably not so patiently – for our vacation to begin!!

I love helping my clients do all this planning as well! It is a labor of love – as not all agents take on Disney, but I know it well and love to help bring the magic to others! Every new trip presents a new point of view and new experience! I have enjoyed this ritual trip with my family and have enjoyed how, at each stage of my kids’ lives, Disney brings another level of wonder and growth along with the crazy joy that is Disney!

Here are some of my favorite memories from some of our trips at Disney over the years. This succession of memories are so precious to me! They are experiences my kids will always remember as times spent with their parents, family and friends. I hope as they become adults, they will also enjoy bringing their families to Disney and have the same fond remembrances that I do of my own childhood at Disney with my mom. What an awesome gift!

PS – we ALWAYS wear matching/themed shirts and always will! That is part of the fun!!

I have a picture of my kids doing this SAME thing in London in 2013. It is fun to recreate special moments in different locations! EPCOT 2019

Beef hot dogs. OK – well…what can I say?! We were at Disneyland Paris and needed a pick me up!!! 2019

From the other side!!! Disneyland Paris 2019

Finding Eva and Wally – pure joy!!!! Disneyland Paris 2019

Gusteau’s!!! Disneyland Paris 2019

Germany/EPCOT 2018

Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train, Magic Kingdom 2018

Cousin’s Trip – Animal Kingdom 2016

Magical Christmas – EVERY year!

Magic Kingdom 2017 – mom and dad’s second trip to Disney without kids!!!!

France/EPCOT

Sunset from the Contemporary 2019

Our first trip to Disney as family. Magic Kingdom 2006

Magic Kingdom 2006

Magic Kingdom 2009

Magic Kingdom 2009

Polynesian Luau 2013

Morocco/EPCOT 2015

Hollywood Studios 2015

Hollywood Studios 2015 (our favorite time of year to go to Disney is during the Holidays!

Notre Dame

June 11, 2019June 4, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

In April, while I was traveling to the American south west, I learned about the tragic fire that destroyed the wooden spire and 700+ year old roof of Notre Dame in Paris. I certainly won’t get into the social implications of the fire; the costs to rebuild and the controversy that surrounds all the donations coming forth, but I wanted to share my own experiences with this amazing place and some of my favorite personal pictures.

I first visited Notre Dame in 2013 with my family as a part of a month-long European Adventure. We went in March during the off season and enjoy fewer lines and more exploring! My kids were 6 (almost 7) and 10. They did great! We spent 4 nights in Paris and saw all the must-see sights! As soon as we arrived (even after traveling overnight), we unloaded our luggage and headed to Notre Dame! It was right around the corner from where we were staying in the Latin Quarter and we loved it!

I can really appreciate this site on many levels – as a Christian, I appreciate the devotion of the followers who, for years, poured their lives into building this masterpiece as an outward expression of their faith. I appreciate the significance of this holy place to Catholics all around the world and marvel in its beauty and divine mission.

As a historian, I appreciate the place this building holds in history – the advancements in architecture and science it took to build; the priceless artifacts that are preserved in this building; the craftsmanship that went in to the carvings, the stained glass and masonry and how this place has witnessed so very much over time. If those walls could talk!

As a humanitarian, I appreciate the grief and joy this place has housed; the turning point for so many on their journey of faith and life and the hard times that have brought people to its huge doors. I image how many people brought their sorrows to the alter – how many marriages and deaths were observed over the past 700+ years and the unfathomable amounts of history that took place within these walls built by men.

This past January, my daughter and I had the joy of seeing this beautiful site once more. We saw the outside of the cathedral three or four times and went inside once. We visited in the snow and made a small snowman in the park in front of the cathedral. We visited on our final day and fed the pigeons there. We have made many memories of this place and I feel eternally blessed and thankful that I have had an opportunity to visit a place that embodies history and humanity. My hope is that, however it is arranged, this place is restored and reopened expeditiously for countless people that journey to Paris just to see this holy place. I hope you get to see it, too!

Snowfall at Notre Dame, January 2019

What do you do with fresh snow in Paris? Build a French snowman at Notre Dame!

We pop out of the metro and the phone comes out!!!

The arrival!!!!

TBT…The Best Cruise Ever, Part II – my husband’s pictures!!

June 6, 2019June 4, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

Last week I shared with you a photo journal of our dream cruise of the Mediterranean in May 2015. Here are some other pictures of that fabulous journey and the stories behind them!

On a 15 night cruise, one collects A LOT of towel creatures!

Cadiz, Spain. Churros and chocolate!!!! AMAZING!

Like a garden of Eden – Malaga, Spain

I *think* this was in Marseilles, France…but I could be wrong!

Scooting in Cinque Terre, Italy.

The Roman Colosseum

Villa-France-sur-Mer, France – this is where we moored and was the port for Nice and Monaco. The town of Villa-France itself is stunning and quintessential Mediterranean. I am itching to go back!

On board the Anthem of the Seas, moored off the coast of Nice, France.

Barcelona, Spain – On one of the main promenades. I love how Kelton is fussing with his sister’s hair!

We always find critters – Barcelona, Spain

The construction continues at Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Anthem after dark

Gibraltar – long lost cousins? Oh and behind Kelton in the distance? AFRICA!!!!!

In the mountains of Gibraltar

ME! Flying in the iFLY – aboard the Anthem of the Seas

Suspended in the North Star – a fabulous way to see the Anthem!

Throw Back Thursday…the best cruise EVER!

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

When I turned 40, I said to my husband that I would love to go on a Mediterranean cruise. At that point in my life, I had been to northern and central France, England and Scotland and really had the Europe bug (I still do!)! I wanted to see more and the best way to do that, is on a cruise!!! Think about it – you only have to unpack once, your hotel goes with you, your meals are already set and you can see multiple countries in a short period of time. It was SPECTACULAR!!!!

We chose Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas – this was in 2015 and she was brand new!!! This was her first REAL voyage (not the quick, work-out-the-kinks 3 or 4 night turn around) and we were beside yourselves with joy. This was my kids’ first cruise and it was a 16 night out of Southampton, England. We departed in early May and hit Gibraltar, Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz, Villa-France-sur-Mer (Nice/Monaco), Marseilles, La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Lisbon.

Words cannot describe how awesome this cruise was, so I picked SOME of my favorite pictures to share so you get the idea. The Mediterranean in spring is something wonderful to behold and I hope you get a chance to see it someday, too!!! Wanna go next spring?

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Barcelona cathedral rooftop. Spain

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Sagrada Familia – needs no introduction!

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Kelton posing in Barcelona.

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We rented scooters in La Spezia, Italy and toured Cinque Terre. It was absolutely incredible!!!

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Cinque Terre

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Cinque Terre

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Malaga, Spain is one of the most gorgeous cities we have ever seen!

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Malaga – breathtaking!

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Malaga

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View of the Med from Alcazaba fortress, Malaga

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Gardens in Malaga

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Char and Sable on a Segway tour of the city – in Europe, kids can do many things they aren’t “allowed” to do in the US.

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View of the Anthem of the Seas from Alcazaba

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Moor doorway at Alcazaba – the architecture was stunning!

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Marseilles Cathedral! Marseilles, France

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Plaza in Marseilles

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Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, Marseilles

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Jeronimos Monastery, Lisbon, Portugal

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Atop the battlements of Castelo de Sao Jorge (St. George Castle)

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Outside of Jeronimos Monastery

We made so many memories on this trip and talk about it today! These times with my kids were and are priceless! I wouldn’t trade them for the world!

Desert in Bloom

April 29, 2019April 23, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

The desert has always had a special pull for me. It is probably because it is such an unusual landscape – living the majority of my life in the Northeast. The idea of few trees and mostly small ones at that, rugged geography of sand or hard-packed red earth and little visible life seems so foreign to me that it is intriguing! The seeming solitude of this place misrepresents itself – as easily as we do. It can appear bleak and desolate – with little good going on – but below the surface lies an abundance of treasure if only we know how to look it!

I was amazed by how many minerals and gems were discovered in them thar hills! Below the stark and lonely desert, where it seems nothing of use or value can be found, some of the greatest strikes in mining history were made! In fact, the southwest cut its teeth on gold mines, copper mines, gem strikes and silver. Who thought, “Hey. Let’s start digging here in the middle of the desert!”?

Another gold mine is spring in the desert. We visited the Desert Museum in Tuscon and were greeted with a beautiful display of cactus blooms and desert flowers. April is a fabulous time to see the desert come to life – and there was so much of it!

Life finds a way where it persists; where it finds ways to adapt and embrace its environment. We would do well to learn from the desert!

A flowering barrel cactus, Sierra Vista, AZ

The largest rose bush (tree) in the world – planted in Tombstone, AZ in the late 1800s – started from a rose twig sent from Scotland to a homesick new bride.

The blooming of the largest rose bush in the world, Tombstone, AZ

Driving through the desert – we were enamored by the saguaro cacti all around! Tuscon, AZ

Saguaro cactus, Tuscon, AZ

These little yellow flowers were popped up everywhere we looked. They blanketed hillsides and sprung out of rocks. This is a bunch in Tuscon, AZ

There are a lot of thorns in the desert. This thorny fellow ended with lovely red flowers! Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ

Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ

Prickly Pear blossom – so many foods are made from prickly pear – candies, licorice, jams and jellys, beer…you name it! But look at those thorns!!! Tuscon, AZ

I don’t know which kind of cactus this was, but is was one of my favorites.

Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ

Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ

Throw Back Thursday – Italy 2016

April 25, 2019April 25, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

Sunset in Sorrento, Italy reflected in Aperol Spritz.

Looking down…..Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy

San Gimignano towers through the window of our tower bedroom.

Countryside view from Volterra, Italy

Photo from the top of one of the towers – San Gimignano, Italy

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

San Gimignano in rain

Zurich, Switzerland – these are our “Polish faces” – my sister in law is Polish, and she said Americans smile too big in pictures – so this is how we imagine the Poles smile!

In April 2016, my husband and I took our first week long vacation without our children! They went to visit their grandparents on the West Coast (their first time traveling unaccompanied) and we took a long week to Italy! Let me start off by saying it was everything I thought it would be and I loved every minute.

In a nut shell, we flew into Zurich, picked up a rental and drove to Rimini on the eastern coast of Italy, sitting nicely on the Adriatic Sea. We spent our first night there and had the most wonderful seafood dinner ever! The next morning, we headed towards Sorrento – but first we visited the micro country of San Marino and took time to stick our toes in the Adriatic.

We spent four nights in Sorrento and toured the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii and Naples. We had our most expensive meal ever (the kind of place that doesn’t have prices on the LADIES’ menu!!) and also the best pizza in Naples!

We drove to Tuscany and spent another four nights in San Gimignano and toured that lovely hill town, Volterra, a winery, Florence and ate WAY too much!!!!

Finally, we spent a night in Zurich before we left the next day to return home, just ahead of our kids. It was amazing and filled with wonderful surprises, character building struggles and joyful experiences that deepened the bond I have with my hubby. Traveling does all those things for you and it is the main reason we enjoy traveling….it brings us together and challenges us!

Above are some of my favorite pictures from this fabulous journey!

Post Vacation Reboot! Getting my brain to reengage.

April 8, 2019April 5, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

So, it’s hard to get back into the swing of things after vacation. My brain still wants to be on vacation! And yet, I know I need to start writing again because it keeps my mind flowing! So if my brain is still on vacation, I guess I should write about vacation! Here’s an overview – details to follow in other posts!

This February, we departed the great North East during my kids’ February vacation with thousands of others and headed to a much warmer climate!! We spent 4 days in Florida at the Happiest Place on Earth and then went on a 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the amazing Symphony of the Seas – Royal Caribbean’s newest marvel! We had the best time!! Let me highlight each day with my favorite photo from that day!

We are members of Disney Vacation Club and this was our first stay at Bay Lake Towers. We love staying on the monorail line and being able to walk to the Magic Kingdom is wonderful!!!

I cannot help but get a little teary eyed when the opening music plays at Magic Kingdom. It brings back memories that I cherish and makes me feel like a kid!

To me, this photo says, “Follow your dreams.” What greater lessons can we learn from a man and a mouse?

EPCOT is cool for so many reasons! My hubby was definitely rocking this Wreck It Ralph pose!!!

I have a picture of my kids doing this SAME thing in London in 2013. It is fun to recreate special moments in different locations!

Our boarding day on Symphony of the Seas – she blew me away! I marveled every day at her size, how smoothly she sailed, all of her wonderful amenities and how I felt at home on the giantess of the seas!! I cannot wait to go back!

A day at sea means we get to play at sea! Ten stories above the Boardwalk, I zip-lined across a cruise ship!!!! How cool is that?

Symphony After Dark! Stunning!

My girl makes friends wherever she goes and this beautiful fellow wanted to stick around!

T-Rex, know affectionately as “Rexy” in our family, made an appearance our last day at sea. We may or may not have a few videos of this!

Sunset in the Caribbean. Do I need to say more?

Sunrises and Sunsets…iconic views of travel.

March 28, 2019March 27, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

I have a thing for sunrises and sunsets. They signify the beginning and the end. They are an invitation to start anew and force us to put things behind us. I have found great joy in witnessing these celestial spectacles and even though some of them happened years and years ago, they recall memories that I may have otherwise forgotten.

November 2018. A sunrise in my backyard with freshly fallen snow.

March 2013. Argenton-sur-Creuse. This was sunrise out the window of our charming 16 century townhouse at the end of the bridge.

Summer 2018. Naples, Maine. Sunset on Long Lake.

Summer 2016. Naples, Maine. Tubing at sunset on Long Lake.

November 2015. Sunset over Monterey Bay, California.

Fall 2012. Sunset on the amazing island of Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Unknown date. Sunrise on my street.

December 2013. Sunrise over Mount Baker, Washington State.

Sunset. Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Sunset. Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Summer 2017. Sunset over Balch Lake, Maine.

February 2019 aboard the Symphony of the Seas. Sunset while docked off the coast of St. Marteen.

February 2019. Man-made sunset on the Savanna in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

February 2019. Sunset over the lake from our room in Bay Lake Towers, Disney World.

June 2018. Sorrento, Italy. Sunset over Vesuvius.

June 2018. Shortly after sunrise over Vatican City.

September 2014. Sunset in Eleuthera, Bahamas.

April 2016. Sunset in Sorrento, Italy reflected in Aperol Spritz.

Sea Lions, Sea Urchins and Rays, Oh My!!!

March 19, 2019 / Denise Smith / Leave a comment

While visiting the beautiful island of St. Thomas, my daughter and I went to a local marine reserve and enjoyed a fabulous Sea Lion encounter. We not only got up close and personal with some adorable sea lions, we also learned a lot about how these animals ended up in St. Thomas, how they were affected by the hurricane 18 months ago and how that has changed their approach to care. Here are some fabulous photos of the Coral World facilities graciously provided by Coral World.

We planned our sea lion adventure about two months out – I love to do research about our ports of call and find unusual and unique experiences that really make a memory. Our sea lion adventure was about 30 minutes away from our cruise ship port. We simply disembarked and sought a taxi! We headed to Coral World and along with our sea lion encounter, we got to enjoy other aquatic life including urchins and star fish in a touch pool, a ray pool, an underwater viewing area, a huge indoor coral reef and an aviary where we could feed birds from the US Virgin Islands. We also became intimately acquainted with some natives….iguanas!!! They wanted our lunch, but don’t worry – we didn’t feed them!

Now on to the encounter. I won’t say this was an inexpensive experience – it cost just under $200 per person, but I have to say it was worth it! There was a small group of 10 of us – some people off cruises ships and some who were vacationing on the island. We were first introduced to a lovie of a sea lion named Omar. We learned about his diet, how he is taught “tricks” and how he is cared for and loved. We gave this gorgeous fellow a nice rub down, got our picture with him and saw him smile, wave and clap!

After meeting Omar, we headed up to the pool area where we met another handsome fellow name Romy (Romulo). He was considered the handsomest of the 3 males at the marine reserve – although I thought they were all pretty adorable! Half of us jumped into Romy’s pool to enjoy a few swim-bys while the other half got a sweet picture taken with Romy to treasure! This experience was so wonderful – to be up close and personal with such a loving and fantastic creature is a memory that my daughter and I will not soon forget! I encourage you to engage in such experiences and share them with your families! Char and I have this memory forever and I am so thankful for it!

Keep an eye out for more posts about my most recent family vacation aboard the Symphony of the Seas and Disney World! My brain is still on vacation but I’m getting around to it:)

Mrs. Smith Travels

One Woman, One World, One Adventure at a Time!

Memories

Girls’ Trips, and why you need one!

Throw Back Thursday….Growing up Disney

Notre Dame

TBT…The Best Cruise Ever, Part II – my husband’s pictures!!

Throw Back Thursday…the best cruise EVER!

Desert in Bloom

Throw Back Thursday – Italy 2016

Post Vacation Reboot! Getting my brain to reengage.

Sunrises and Sunsets…iconic views of travel.

Sea Lions, Sea Urchins and Rays, Oh My!!!