Parrot on a PorchA Journey Toward the Little Mansion Dream

Whoever thought of and designed this Itsa beach towel is a genius!

It may be a little too early to plan for summer outings but the extraordinary hot temperature in our country as early as January will probably make people to start planning out their summer getaways the soonest. In fact, my sisters and I just booked a resort for our family outing on April. I’ve just also blogged recently about the new rash guard set I bought for my son the other day. Talk about being excited. I really am. And I got even more ecstatic when I saw this brilliant beach bag that can be turned into a beach towel or a sun lounger cover.

This is absolutely cool and just perfect for our beach getaway. I like how it comes handy, functional and stylish. With such, I have some place to put on my sun protection lotion, a book, my sunglass, my iPod and even a few of my toddler’s small beach trinkets and toys. Then, on the beach, I have an instant towel or mat to use. It comes at a reasonable price (as low as $14.95) in different vibrant and beach colors and made from a high quality material.

It’s a great beach companion, indeed. Simply, itsa-mazing. I guess I have to contact my friend in the US right away to place an order for me just in time for our April swimming.

It seems that every time I blog in the afternoon, I can’t think of any blurb but about this unforgiving and scorching Pre-Summer heat we’re already having here in my neck of the woods. It really is too much that I can’t take a nap because I can feel the heat seemingly roasting me even though the fan’s blowing steadily my way. These are the times when I’m longing that I’m elsewhere like in the pristine white sands of Maldives, Phuket or Boracay. The cool breeze of the sea would be enough.

Yesterday’s temperature was the worst, for me, so far and to think it’s not officially summer yet. Sometimes I joke to my friends living in the northern hemisphere to send us even just a little amount of snow to cool us here. It’s funny that while they complain about the cold weather, here we are in the part of the world complaining too about the heat. I wonder where in the world is the equilibrium point. Since we’re talking about snow, there are other places aside from beaches that I’m dreaming to be in at this very moment: Ski resorts! Since it’s impossible that I get to any such place now, I’ll be contented browsing and reading about Skiline.co.uk. Skiline is an independent travel agency that offers a wide range of alpine skiing chalet holidays all over in the northern hemisphere: in America, Canada and Europe including France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. They can arrange all aspects of your skiing holiday from accommodation search, catering, actvities, skiing tutorials to even finding a ski buddy. Best of all, all of their workers are expert skiers so they just know the perfect experience to plan for a clueless ski tourist.

:sigh: Someday, I really wish that I get to experience that kind of ski holiday.

I have just browsed my favorite travel booking site and I’m convinced that a Caribbean all inclusive family vacation is what I want for me and my son’s birthday this coming March. Well, more of a dream, actually. With our ongoing house construction project and future expenses in “stuffing” the new house, monthly loan amortizations and everything, it’s just impossible that we can afford such lavish vacations for now. Have you seen the marvelous and breathtaking pictures of the white sand beaches of Riviera Maya and the paradise haven offered in each of the Karisma hotels? Beach beds, hot tubs and hammocks, and swim-up rooms with fabulous ocean view, prompt and courteous service of a dedicated full-time butler, five-star dining in signature restaurants, pampering spa treatments, relaxing and homey luxurious suites…I don’t think there’s more to ask from this paradise on earth. :sigh: But nothing can stop me from wishing and I will continue to dream. It’s free to dream and besides, who knows, we’ll be given a way to achieve this dream, maybe not now, but in the future. My lottery numbers are ready for betting tomorrow!

Traveling with the family spells indeed a whole lot of fun. In fact, it is encouraged that every family takes time to spend vacation together to bond and relax once in a while. Traveling with kids should not be stressful for parents because they can actually research online for family-friendly destinations, resorts and travel deals around the world. For example, take a look at the Family Vacation packages exclusively offered by the Karisma Group of Hotels.

The Azul Sensatori Hotel which is located in Puerto Morelos, Mexico caters the needs of children and teens and makes sure that they have fun by providing a whole array of incredibly exciting and fun activities. For kids and babies, they have the Azulito’s Kids Club where they can play toys, equipment and programs by Fisher-Price® and My Gym®. It also has a kid’s pool, water slide, splash park and playground. They have baby toys and equipment like monitor, stroller, bottle warmer, baby bathtub for the vacationing babies so mommies need not lug baby gears anymore. For teens, they have the Breeze Teen Club where they can hang out and play interactive games like Wii, CD mixing classes, beach volleyball tournaments and tennis clinics. And of course, they are known for their luxurious and cozy family-oriented suites. Family-friendly vacations such as these veers away the stress in planning your dream family vacation.

Watching the Travel Channel on TV is a favorite relaxing activity of mine or while I lull the little one to nap in the afternoon. Cable TV is really a blessing..I get to watch interesting channels such as travel and leisure stations. They only not entertain me but they seemingly tour me in the destinations worldwide that they feature. Just yesterday, they featured everything about New York. And wasn’t it just yesterday when I blogged about my great New York dream? It only makes my yearning intensified that I literally want to fly to The Big Apple now.

I took down notes yesterday while they featured tips in exploring NYC. The emphasis is to visit the well known city attractions such as the Downtown area, amusement parks, museums and observatory parks. They also suggest to travel in groups aboard a New York Bus Charter. They mention in passing about NYC Bus Charters and it prompted me to read more about them on the web. I came to know that they have been in the transportation industry specializing in travel tours for nearly 30 years. They are based in New York and offer an online service 24 hour customer assistance and utilizes environment-friendly and well-maintained coaches. They employ friendly staff and their service are always on time. Of course, a tourist wants to maximize the limited time that he has when touring so late coaches are a no-no. I’ll take note of their site so if ever I get to The Big Apple, I know which charter bus company to contact.

Last year, the husband got an onshore assignment offer at work. He was supposedly designated at their Chicago office for a period of one year. The great thing about this offer is that he can bring me with him (family status) and enjoy all the corresponding onshore benefits like free lodging on the first few months, free airfare and all other relocation assistance. Unfortunately, he had to decline the offer in as much as he wanted to accept because one, I was about to give birth that time. In fact, I was in my 9th month of pregnancy. And two, I was still employed then so resignation was something we could not just rush. We felt bad for passing that great opportunity up but we didn’t have a choice. We just hope and pray that same offer will be given soon and be able to pursue the supposed itinerary I cooked up. Yeah, I was really that excited.

Aside from visiting our relatives in California, an exhilirating New York Sightseeing activity was on my list. I dreamed (and I still do) of experiencing the exciting Brooklyn Tour that CitySights NY takes pride of in their site and their clients greatly rave about. A friend recently toured New York City’s attractions, neighborhoods and places of interest in a double decker bus and that experience exactly made me envious. I hope by the time comes when our great American dream come true, their slashed down tour prices for as low as $39/pax on their current hot deals page would still be offered or it would be cool, if they’d be cheaper so we can avail as much tours as we want to. For those of you who are bound to New York soon or who will spend the Holidays in the city, do check out the irresistible offers on their site.