Big Sky in the Big Apple

As some of you may know, my husband and I made some bad credit choices when we were younger and have spent a good deal of time trying to repair our credit. Thankfully, our efforts are finally paying off and we were recently able to negotiate our mortgage and received a better rate! So, those of you who have bad credit, don’t give up as credit repair is possible, it just takes some time and effort. You really just have to start making the right choices one day, and usually that means stopping excessive spending and only using credit cards when absolutely necessary. People who are deep in debt may need to consider a consolidation loan, which I know has helped many folks who otherwise would have had to declare bankruptcy. I know some people think working on their credit is not worth it, but I have to disagree as once you are in a good place financially and able to receive the loan an mortgage rates you deserve, the financial parts of life really do become a lot simpler.

My favorite time of year to visit Orlando is in the fall. That’s because while the weather is becoming cold, rainy, and just plain miserable here in Vancouver, BC, Canada I know it’s always warm in sunny Florida. There is just something special about getting on a plane in a place with cold weather and heading somewhere fun and warm! Of course, while I love the weather in Orlando (and Florida in general - heck I like anyplace warm), the main draw in going there for my family is Disney World. To put it lightly, my kids are Disney obsessed and will always pick Disney World as their vacation destination of choice.

My husband and I really love Disney World as well, because we grew up watching classic Disney movies and every time we go it reminds of us our childhoods. It’s also wonderful to see our children enjoying the same Disney magic that we did. We all agree that the Magic Kingdom is our favorite park, as there is truly something there for everybody. The older kids love to go on the rides, while the younger ones always have their heart set on meeting Minnie and Micky Mouse. I love taking them to meet the characters as the photos are special to all of us and we can treasure them for many years.

Now, of course, like any family on a budget we want to save a little money while we travel. So, for that we are thankful for websites like OrlandoFunTickets.com. At OrlandoFunTickets.com there are a variety of tickets to different Orlando based attractions and events, and you can bet that they’re at the best prices around. It’s a great place to save on Disney Tickets, as well as tickets to other major attractions such as Sea World and Busch Gardens!

I had quite an experience getting car insurance for the first time,  because I thought I had gotten quite a good deal, but a few weeks later I found out that my friends had paid hundreds less for similar very similar policies! Boy was that a lesson learned about doing comparison shopping before choosing a car insurance company and policy! My parents thought the situation was kind of funny (and more so a good lesson), but I never quite agreed. Now I am always careful to get multiple quotes in order to find the best price on a comprehensive policy that meets my needs.

I am planning to do some travelling this year, going to destinations such as Hawaii and Tel Aviv, and after doing some research I came across a great company called NetSpend that can help me keep my cash safe while I travel. You see, it’s easy to get cards such as Prepaid debit or Prepaid Visa Mastercard from NetSpend and it’s certainly a better idea than carrying a large amount of cash around in my wallet. I like this option because the NetSpend prepaid cards are not hard to aquire, unlike traditional bank and credit cards that you need to qualify for. If you’re also interested in getting a prepaid credit or debit card from NetSpend, you can find them on the web at Netspend.com.

I was recently reading about microphlebectomy Phoenix and have to say that it’s a procedure that I am definitely considering having a some point in my life. If you’re unfamiliar with the procedure (as I was before I started reading about it), it’s a varicose vein removal technique which uses very small incisions and a hook shaped device to gently take out small varicose veins. It’s a lot less invasive than some other methods, and generally no stitches are required (there is also a much lower risk of scarring than with some other methods).

The procedure is available at the Southwest Vein and Laser Institute and if you visit their website (which is located at swveinlaser.com) you can find out more about it, including a list of frequently asked questions as well as photos that better illustrate the procedure. The Southwest Vein & Laser Institute also offers other procedure options for those who are dealing with spider and varicose veins, so you can read about your options and consider which one is best for your situation. Personally, I always knew that I would have trouble with varicose veins as both my Grandmother and Mother have had them for as long as I can remember. I just feel fortunate that these days there are so many options for removing them!

I am one of those people that have absolutely always loved Disney World. It was the first place I remember going on vacation to as a kid, and when my children are a few years older it will also be the first real vacation that they go on (besides local camping trips and that kind of thing). In fact, my son and daughter are so cute as they are already planning our Disney vacation, and even know which rides they want to go on first! It’s actually a very fun process to start organizing a trip to Disney World as the kids get so excited and you can see that their imaginations really start to run wild.

However, I think the best moment will be when we finally arrive at the park and my husband and I get to see the looks on their little faces when they see just how amazing it is. And heck, the warm Florida weather won’t hurt either!!! Of course, right now the kids are planning to go on every ride there, but it will be interesting to see how brave they remain when they see how large and fast certain rides actually are. I hope they’re game though because I’d hate for them to miss out on my two favorite rides: space mountain and splash mountain. I also really want to try out Expedition Everest which is a newer ride that I’ve never had the pleasure of going on before.

The one thing that can put folks off of a Disney trip is of course the price of admission. However, I found a great website called orlandofuntickets.com, which offers discount Disney tickets that make the park much more affordable, and can help you to save some money (maybe that money could even be put toward future Disney trips).

One of the best vacations I ever took was to Myrtle Beach South Carolina with my parents. I think what made it such a great trip was the awesome beaches, great weather and huge range of things to do in myrtle beach (the amusement parks were my favorite at the time). I suggest seeking out some myrtle beach hotels, finding one that suites you, and jetting down to myrtle beach for a quick getaway!

It never ceases to amaze me how many people overlook the simple importance of good hygiene. While I’m married and a have a great smelling husband (thanks honey!), I have a single friend who recently had a bad dating experience. The fellow she went out with was handsome enough, funny and successful but there was one thing wrong with him - he had a B.O. like odor! While she enjoyed chatting with him she didn’t really want to get much closer than that, and as funny as it sounds she had to stop seeing him as she didn’t want to hurt his feelings by letting him know of his odor problem. Personally, I think she should have mentioned it to the poor guy as even if things didn’t work out with them it would have no doubt helped this gentleman in the future.

Of course, us ladies know the importance of smelling good and my girlfriends and I are always finding great deals on various body washes and soaps online. I even know a lady who makes custom soaps (different shapes, sizes and smells) and gives them out as gifts. Also never forget to keep your home smelling good, as there’s few things that can turn off guests like walking into a stinky house! If you like to shop online, and are looking for a scent diffuser or other options to keep your house smelling good I’d check out Sabon as they have some good stuff. Oh, and another good idea is to put a dryer sheet in any stinky shoes you have in your house as that can help to make them a little more fresh smelling.