Wiregrass Travel

As most of you remember from a previous post, Jeremy has started a travel agency with Cruise Planners. The name of his business is Wiregrass Travel. Not only can he book cruises, he can book any vacation you might have in mind as he is a full service agent.
Please check out the website at http://www.getawaywiregrass.com/ We are going to be updating the site with some blogs about vacations we have taken, as well as information regarding specific travel destinations, so keep checking back! Be sure to sign up for the mailing list too. The phone line is being installed on Wednesday (I think) and will be up and running by Thursday hopefully.
We would both greatly appreciate you letting Jeremy help plan your next vacation. Spread the word to your family and friends too! Thanks so much!

ps- Nothing to do with travel, but The White House (which is downtown on Morgan St.) is having an open house on Tuesday from 10-7 or 8ish. The owner is our reading coach at school. She has such cute stuff and great deals. And I think she said she will have some things on sale for the open house. I am also pretty sure there will be refreshments too, so go check it out!

Wiregrass Christian Family

If you haven't picked up a copy of this magazine, you need to find one. I'm not sure how long it has been published (I am thinking within the last couple of years). Our church has copies (probably because one of the publishers goes to FBC), as do probably most churches in this area. Many local businesses (such as The White House) have copies as well. And did I mention that they are free?
The November/December issue has some wonderful articles. Dana McCain wrote a great piece on Christmas music. Nathan Lumbatis (who is a counselor with Dothan Behavioral Medicine) has an article about teaching children to be selfless this time of year. These are just two of several articles that I have read today.
So when you are out and about shopping this week or at your church, see if you can find this magazine and pick yourself up a copy. I promise you will be glad you did!

This time of year....

is when all I want to do is stay in my pj's or lounging clothes all day, covered in a blanket and watch movies or read a good book. Especially now that it is super cold outside! I just love the holiday season and all that goes along with it. Except for maybe the financial aspect. Which, really should not be the focus I know. Anyway, what is it though that makes me want to do nothing, but what I listed above (along with spending time with family and friends) right now? I don't know if I am doing a good job conveying what I am thinking and feeling right now. But if you get what I am trying to say or happen to feel the same way, let me know!

ps- I did it again today. I was flipping through the radio stations and heard Mariah Carey singing "Oh Holy Night". I had to listen; I had no choice. It is one of my all time favorites.

Well, I am doing exactly what I said I would not do....

I am listening to Christmas music before the Thanksgiving holidays have passed! I love Christmas music just as much as the next person, perhaps even more. But I just have this thing about not listening to it until after Thanksgiving. And when at the beginning of November, a FL radio station started playing all Christmas music all the time, I was a bit peeved. Too soon people!
But today, I have done it. I bought The Christmas Sessions by Mercy Me (on sale of course!) today at Lifeway and have been listening to it while cleaning. I have really enjoyed listening to it. They have an original song called "Joseph's Lullaby" that is just beautiful.
In my defense though, I went with my SIL and nephew to watch Santa's arrival at the mall last night (which seems soon too). And today I went with her and my niece and nephew to story time and Barnes and Noble to listen to a condensed version of The Nutcracker. The dancers from SEADAC also performed a few dances from their upcoming performance. They were so good! And not to mention the fact that Christmas decorations, clothes, books, etc. have been displayed for a few weeks now. So it's hard not to listen to the music, watch the movies, and decorate! (read Ann Marie's blog for more on decorating!)
I guess I just feel like that Thanksgiving gets the shaft sometimes. And I love Thanksgiving! I love being with my family, eating way too much food, watching the Macy's parade, and remembering that I really do have much to be thankful for.

So, ya'll know I love a good deal right?

I am pretty sure I have posted before on finding good deals. And I am pretty sure that I have also told ya'll that Jeremy says, "It's not a good deal if you don't need it." Typical male response. Anyway, I just wanted to share a few bargains I have come across recently. There are so many good sales right now and will be probably through the holidays. So please feel free to share with me your good finds.
First, I found on clearance at Target these adorable, flouncy skirts (I got the other in black. And I promise, it is not an obnoxious print in person like it is on the screen!) for $3.24 a piece! I was so excited. Of course they were regularly only $12.99, but still. You cannot beat three dollars and twenty four cents.
At Barnes and Noble, I found this The Polar Express gift set which contained the book (hardback might I add), the jingle bell from Santa's sleigh, a both a cassette and CD reading of the story all for $9.98! Again, I could not pass this up. (I also got the DVD at Target on sale for $12.99 for my niece and nephew. It is the 3-D version with 4 pair of glasses. It has the original theatrical version too.)
New York and Company always does a great sale. (Does anybody else still say Lerner? And have I asked this question before?) I got a cute sweater on clearance for $7.99 that was originally $36.95 I think. I probably didn't need it, but I bought it anyway.
And finally at The Limited, I bought a cami on sale for $9.99. I love to wear their camis under some of my shirts, but I refuse to pay $24.50 for one of them! So I get excited when they go on sale. But it's only certain colors and styles. So this time I got the red tank.
Well, I hope you all have enjoyed reading about my deals. And sorry I had nothing better to blog about! Actually, I have several topics in my head and have for months. But every time I sit down to blog, this kind of stuff is all I can manage to get out!

Bon Voyage!

If ya'll thought that the title of this blog was a sarcastic or witty comment about our nation then you are wrong! (although I have said my fair share and more of my opinion today). Anyway, this blog is actually going to be informative in nature and to share with you about my husband Jeremy's new business venture as a travel agent. I will definitely keep you updated with information as things progress (like when his website is up and running), but for now I am just going to copy and paste for you what he wrote this morning. So please consider Jeremy for your next vacation and spread the word! Thanks guys!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am starting up a new travel agency later this month! I have to go to Ft Lauderdale for some training and take care of several things before I am full bore. Initially it will be run out of my home to keep costs down. I will have a web site and, obviously, phones. I will rely heavily on self promotion and word of mouth, so if you could help me spread the word to EVERYONE you know I would be ever grateful. It will be a full service agency to book cruises, Disney, flights, all-inclusives, you get the pic. If its travel I can take care of you! I have done alot of research over the last several weeks b/c I was worried that I would not be competitive with the large search engines(travelocity, expedia, priceline). This is not the case at all, I have purchased a franchise rated 1 by Entrepreneur magazine in this field. This means that I have purchasing power as large or larger than the guys listed above. Still not convinced, I had my company priced several different types of vacations and flights and compared them to the popular sites. I found out every time that we either beat their deal or was the same! That's when I knew this would work b/c most people would much rather do business with a familiar name and some one local they can call with questions and concerns. Thank you very much for all your support and if you know of anyone looking to travel in the next year either as a couple or group(senior trip, churches, reunions) please tell them to email me or call me later this month. I will post another bulletin with all company info hopefully before Thanksgiving!
Jeremy

Shout Out

So, I just wanted to give a shout out to my friend Lauren who made this adorably cute apron for my birthday! Isn't she talented? She is to me because I cannot make things such as this.

This was one of my birthday gifts from my mama and daddy.

Several little girls at school have asked where I got it. Isn't that cute and funny? I think so.

Btw, my birthday was in August. I'm just now posting this. So please do not feel that you have to tell me Happy Birthday.