Tuesday, September 30, 2008

New Header!

I'm so proud of myself! I found Scrapblog through a friend's blog, so I decided to try it out. Hope you enjoy the new look! You can also check out my new banner/store header for my Etsy site. Very fun!

Savannah, Georgia

There's nothing like a great book to spark your need for travel. I just finished "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," and the book made me want to vacation in Savannah. It's a semi-non-fiction account of a 1981 murder. I picture Savannah as the true "Old South" with its mansions and architecture. I strongly suggest the read, and I've been told it's also a movie. Happy Travels!


Monday, September 29, 2008

Travel Tips

This is a great skit! Just don't ask Judy Grimes to plan your next trip!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Reduce Abuse Campaign

As many of you know, when I'm not traveling I do a bit of freelance work. Well, right now I'm working on a cause marketing campaign for Beauty Brands Salon, and I would like to spread the word.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Beauty Brands locations nationwide raise money for local domestic violence shelters through the Reduce Abuse program. As you may know, people often confide very personal things to their stylists, so stylists may learn about the abuse.

Beginning Sept. 29 through Oct. 26 Beauty Brands is selling its Redken Guts product for $6.98 (regularly $14.95), and 100% of proceeds will be donated to the local shelters of each location. Beauty Brands are in 11 states including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas.

Be sure to find your nearest location and help stop domestic violence in your community!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Shopping Safari

I hate to brag, (not really) but look what I found yesterday while shopping with my mom yesterday. The total price for this purchase was .... (drum roll) ... $8!! It's not a travel post, but I couldn't help myself!



Sunday, September 14, 2008

My Etsy Store is Open!!

I'm open for business! Take a look at some of my jewelry and purses, and be sure to pass along my site to friends and family. Go to http://finishingtouckc.etsy.com/ to view the entire selection of goods.

If you have any special requests, ask away! Check back periodcally for new merchandise. Enjoy!

Be sure to bookmark http://finishingtouchkc.etsy.com/!



Monday, September 01, 2008

Northwest wonders

I now will make my way back to Kansas City on Sunday. I'll be visiting my friend Lisa in Denver, and from there, I'll get on a plane to Kansas City. Using a pre-booked GrandLuxe flight, I only had to pay for changing the ticket, no additional airfare. So it wasn't too painful.


The GrandLuxe Express is now owned by the bank and is making its way down to San Francisco tomorrow so it will have a frost-free winter and hopefully be bought up by some multi-billion dollar investor. I'm not holding my breath.


As for my trips through the Northwest, they were magnificent. The Northwest beauty is more my speed. I absolutely love all the mountains and trees. Grand Tetons will always be one of my favorite parks, but there are some definite rivals.
During these trips we went through the north entrance of Yellowstone, and I have to say it's my favorite. This is a photo of the falls at Artist's Point, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

A day in the Red Jammer Buses. My first trip through Glacier National Park in mid-August it was 42 degrees. Very cold in a convertible top! A week later, it was in the 70s. Fall comes quick in the mountains!

Mt. Rainier National Park - Spring came late, so we were still enjoying wildflowers in August.

Kylie, a fellow tour leader, and I ride the carousel in Missoula with our guests. If I were to live in Montana, it would be in Missoula. It has the necessities, but it's a clean, fun and artsy town that's minutes from the mountains.

Mt. Rainier from my Tacoma hotel.

The train going over the trestles of Montana.



Mt. Moran reflecting in Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park.

The train rolling through the mountains. I believe we're in Montana, near Three Forks. This is where the Gallitan, Madison and Jefferson Rivers converge to form the Missouri River.

Kylie, Michele and I's last day as tour leaders for GrandLuxe Rail. You can tell that we haven't heard the news! It was a lot of fun working with these gals!