Wordless Wednesday - Animal Kingdom

One of the GREATEST places on EARTH to go on vacation is Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I took this picture on the way into the ANIMAL KINGDOM park a few years ago!

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Enjoy your day,

Melissa

Wordless Wednesday - Singer Island, FL

The early morning Sunrise starting the morning for the beach rentals at

the Hilton on Singer Island, FL

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Enjoy the day,

Melissa

Wordless Wedneday - 9/10/08

A few years ago we went back home to visit my family in Kentucky and stopped for a "historical" visit to Abraham Lincoln's birthplace.

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Melissa

Wordless Wednesday - WOW!

This weekend we went away to Sanibel and Captiva Island. While driving around Captiva we saw this house (house just seems too small of a word for this place) being built right on the Gulf! Spectacular, isn't it?

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Enjoy the Journey,

Melissa

Wordless Wednesday - 8/27/08

Inside the St. Augustine Lighthouse

in St. Augustine, FL

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Melissa

Wordless Wednesday - Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat ride at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL

When my kids were younger this used to be one of their favorite rides at Universal Studios...now, that they are older rides like the Hulk and Spiderman are more their speed!

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5 Minutes for Mom!

Melissa

Lookout Mountain, TN

This picture is taken from Lookout Mountain in Tennessee!

(Unfortunately mom and dad weren't with the kids on this trip or I am sure we would have been nervous as all get out while they stood there.)

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Melissa

Wordless Wednesday - The Venetian

The Venetian (Las Vegas)

This picture is from last summer (check the date/time), and even at that time of night is was still 104 degrees, what's up with that?

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Wordless Wednesday - 7/23/08

Last summer we went to The Grand Canyon and to Las Vegas for our vacation...while driving up to the Grand Canyon we pulled over to see "Montezuma's Castle".

Check it out...it is so cool (well...no, not really, it was like 110 degrees that day, we walked by, took pictures, then ran back to the car for the a/c) to see it up close!

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Happy Trails,

Planning

Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn
PLANNING

I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.

If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much.

The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don't have it well designed.

The guy says, "When you work where I work, by the time you get home, it's late. You've got to have a bite to eat, watch a little TV, relax and get to bed. You can't sit up half the night planning, planning, planning." And he's the same guy who is behind on his car payment!
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Vitamins for the Mind is a weekly sampling of original quotes, on a specific topic, taken from The Treasury of Quotes by Jim Rohn (TTOQ). TTOQ, a beautiful, burgundy hardbound book with gold foil lettering, is a collection of over 365 quotes on 60 topics gathered from Jim's personal journals, seminars and books spanning over 39 years. To order the TTOQ by Jim Rohn or Excerpts from TTOQ by Jim Rohn or Brian Tracy, please go to Jim Rohn's Online Catalog

Wordless Wednesday - 7/16/08

My sister just landed in Ireland this morning, so in honor of her DREAM vacation here's a picture of the beautiful Irish coast.

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Make it a Great day!

9-Day Vacation

Just last month we took a 9-day vacation to Orlando and I have had quite a few people ask me how we did it and where did we stay...

Here are a few pictures from the resort we stayed at;

This was our building, we stayed on the 5th floor, so this is from our front balcony.


Here is a picture from the master bedroom...check out that jacuzzi tub!



Here's a picture from the kids suite (not a kids suite as in Nickelodeon Studios, but where the kids stayed).


Here's the view from the porch outside the master suite...that space needle thing is actually Sea World in Orlando and every night there was an AMAZING fireworks show that was clear as day from our porch!

Out at the second pool they have this little walkway that goes out to this cute little gazebo...it makes for a great "thinking" spot.

Here's the main pool, the waterfall is my favorite part!

Here's the view from our chairs...as you can see the storms were blowing in and people were leaving the pool deck quickly.

This is always one of my favorite spots...right next to the waterfall, facing the tower clock, and close to the hot tub!

Loving the Vacation Life,

YTB's Statue of Liberty (update 7/7/08)

If you haven't heard about this yet, check it out...it's only 3 1/2 minutes and well worth your time!

NOW IS THE TIME...

Is that cool or what?

See you at Convention,

Travel Tips & Ideas #2

When going on vacation one of the ways that our family saves some serious money is by going straight to the local grocery store as soon as we unpack. It is the very first thing we do after we get settled into the resort.

We like to stay at the resorts (with a full kitchen) or a hotel that has a mini kitchen in it so we can stock up the refrigerator with family favorites (of course) but also with waters, drinks, and breakfast items.

We have a pre-made grocery list (I know, I know, we are weird that way) that we take with us so that we don't forget the things that we like to have on hand, specifically bottled water, which can cost you up to $2 each at the resort.

We also try to eat breakfast in the room, and more often than not we eat our lunch in the room as well. For four of us to eat breakfast out it will cost us anywhere from $15-20 for a drive through type place and even higher if we go out for a sit down breakfast. Lunch, as you know, tends to be a little more expensive and can run you anywhere from $20-30 for drive through, and up to $50 for a sit down lunch (for four).

The main thing is to get things at the grocery that can keep while you are there, that can be used for multiple meals/snacks, and that make you happy.

Our last vacation was 9-days at a resort in Orlando, we went to the grocery and picked up $150 worth of groceries (I have two teenage sons), but it lasted us all 9-days and we didn't have a lot left over. The bonus is that we ate breakfast (let's say $15/per day for 9 days would have cost us $135) and lunch (let's say $20/per day for 9 days would have cost us $180) at the resort every day and so even though we spent $150 for the groceries, we saved $165 on meals. Just by going to the grocery! Now that's what I call a money saving opportunity!

Happy Traveling,

PS - If you have any money saving traveling tips please email me at Mashburn Travel and I'll share them with everyone in another Travel Tips & Ideas post.

Wordless Wednesday - 7/9/08

Think Vacation, Think Bora-Bora, Think "RIGHT NOW would be nice!"

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Relaxing,

Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn

Perseverance/Persistence

It takes time to build a corporate work of art. It takes time to build a life. And it takes time to develop and grow. So give yourself, your enterprise, and your family the time they deserve and the time they require.

Americans are incredibly impatient. Someone once said that the shortest period of time in America is the time between when the light turns green and when you hear the first horn honk.

The twin killers of success are impatience and greed.

How long should you try? Until.

Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you've signed up for a season, see it through. You don't have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through.
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Vitamins for the Mind is a weekly sampling of original quotes, on a specific topic, taken from The Treasury of Quotes by Jim Rohn (TTOQ). TTOQ, a beautiful, burgundy hardbound book with gold foil lettering, is a collection of over 365 quotes on 60 topics gathered from Jim's personal journals, seminars and books spanning over 39 years. To order the TTOQ by Jim Rohn or Excerpts from TTOQ by Jim Rohn or Brian Tracy, please go to Jim Rohn's Online Catalog

Happy 4th of July

From our family to yours...Happy 4th of July!

Celebrating America Together,

Wordless Wednesday - 7/2/08

Universal Studios Orlando newest attraction - The Simpons "Krustyland" - just opened this summer!

If you've ever been to this theme park you'll know that this was formerly the "Back to the Future" ride and is actually set up the same way and same type of ride on the inside...so if you get motion sickness, beware!

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5 Minutes for Mom!

Back from Vacation,

YTB is reaching towards #1

YTB Ranked #26 In Travel Weekly Power List! Not Bad considering 5 years ago no one even knew who we were.

While we know that most of the BIG NEWS is being saved for the National Convention in August the Travel Weekly Power List is out and YTB is Ranked #26 overall, and tied for the LARGEST GAIN of everyone on the Power list with $414.5 Million in Travel Sales.

Watch us continue to grow...why don't you come and join us?

Travel Tips & Ideas #1

Travel Within Your State

With the economy like it is right now and gas prices on the rise one way you can save money this summer season is to TRAVEL WITHIN YOUR STATE.

Every state/location has some fascinating adventures within hours of you. Do a little research online to find interesting facts, tours, and activities for you and your family.

Each and every state has a web page that has a link for “tourist activities” or a “things to do” section. Click away and find new things to explore.

We like to get away from where we live, but most of the time we only travel between 2-5 hours to go to our destinations. This saves on gas, travel time, and also allows us to show the kids cool and exciting things in our beautiful state.

It is a great way to show your family that time away is important, and also allows you to be creative about what you are doing. Go to some parks, beaches, outdoor adventures, historical monuments, and other points of interest.

Getting away doesn’t always mean traveling long distances…sometimes the best get-aways are in your own neck of the woods.

Check back every week as we seek out some new Travel Tips and Ideas here in Mel’s World Travel Biz.

If you have any great travel tips or ideas that you would like to share with us drop a comment here or send me an email at mashburntravel@bellsouth.net and we see how you were creative with your travel adventures.

Enjoy the Journey,

If you are looking to book your Summer Travel click on Mashburn Travel to go directly to our booking engine...check it out and see if we can save you the most money this summer!