Good Afternoon Dear Reader:

Happy Labor Day! It is my wish that neither you nor I actually labor today. Hats off to the employers who have the same value system. I am always interested in the annual list of the best 100 companies in America for whom to work. The values of those employers are focused not just on competitive salaries, safe workplaces and good employment practices, but nurturing their employees and supporting them to the extent that many provide not only onsite fitness facilities, but day care as well.

Those same companies also provide leave for the father as well as the mother when there is a birth or an adoption. Maybe one day, all employers will realize that perks like these build huge loyalty from employees and lead to a satisfied, stable and productive workforce.

Take care of your SELF…

I am a regular subscriber to SELF Magazine because it is filled with really great information on health, fitness and emotional well-being with a fashion forward look. There are always success stories of women who have overcome health challenges. In the September issue, there is an excellent feature about young healthy, active women whose lives were changed by heart disease, “My heart broke”, page 146, by Marisa Cohen.

These symptoms of heart disease should send you running to your doctor:

Heart Attack:

• Tightness, pain in center of chest
• Pain in shoulders, arms, back, neck, teeth, jaw or abdomen
• Shortness of breath
• Anxiety, dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting or both
• Unexplained or unusual fatigue

Stroke:

• Numbness/weakness in face, arm or leg (esp. one side)
  

  Visit The American Heart Association, www.heart.org

• Trouble speaking/understanding
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Dizziness, nausea, loss of coordination
• Severe headache
• Chest pain/breathlessness

Aneurysm:

• Sudden and severe headache/pain above/behind the eye
• Weakness/paralysis on one side of the face
• Dilated pupils/changes in vision, including light sensitivity
• Nausea/vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Loss of consciousness or disorientation

Many of these symptoms are present with all three conditions. Know them and don’t take a chance.

This month’s Consumer Reports, October 2010, also has an excellent article, “Surviving a heart attack”, page 38, which includes information about aspirin for your heart. According to Dr. Steven Nissen, of the Cleveland Clinic, your best response, in addition to getting to an emergency room is to swallow an uncoated 325-milligram aspirin tablet during a heart attack or suspected one. Not a bad addition to our make-up bag.

I am a long-time subscriber to Consumer Reports and never make a major purchase without consulting either their annual yearbook you get with your subscription or their online resource. Their repair record for almost all auto makes and models goes back five or more years so when purchasing a used car, you know where to look for trouble spots.

The October issues features a guide to saving energy and one tip I think most parents can use is to turn off devices that draw power when they are in a standby mode. Video games are a major offender. Turning them completely off can save as much as $125 a year. A one-year subscription which gets you online access as well is only $29.

Join us for Christmas Markets!

If you can slip away, come join me for our wonderful Girlfriends’ European Christmas Market Tour, Dec. 1-9 to Austria, Germany and Switzerland. We have 29 fun ladies from ages 30 to 78 and would love to have you come, too! If you have frequent flyer miles you may be able to use those as well and knock about $900 off the price of the trip. For details, click on TRIPS at the left!

Have a wonderful Labor Day!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

Finally, it’s Friday! The rain that was forecast never materialized and the steam heat is still with us. I have to remind myself that this humidity is really fabulous for my skin, but I really can’t see it for all the SWEAT!

Trip drastically reduced!

Drastically Reduced (not me, I wish!)

Pardon my raving about the China trip yesterday. Can you tell I am excited? Last night I received an alert that the 12-day Imperial Jewels of China trip with Viking has dropped from over $3200 to $2499. That is 3 days in Beijing, 3 days in Shanghai, and a 6 day river cruise. The hotels are the Ritz-Carltons. Wow!

Weekend Movie Alert!

You know I have been anxious to see Eat Pray Love after reading the book by Elizabeth Gilbert last year. The movie is out today and the review in theHouston Chronicle is a bit lukewarm. The author, Mick LaSalle,  found the love affair with James Franco obligatory ( please obligate me), and the section of the book where Elizabeth goes to India to deepen her studies of meditation and yoga to be pretty boring.

I can’t imagine how you would film someone really meditating and make it exciting. I don’t think meditation is exciting, if it was we would all be doing it and Elizabeth would not have had to go to India to do it.

LaSalle found the film’s spiritual insight superficial. It is superficial. It’s a movie. He says her journey toward self-acceptance, “arguably borders on solipsism.” Frankly, I was thinking the same thing about Mick, except I wasn’t quite sure what solipsism was. I don’t remember covering it in my 365 New Words a Year calendar. After much research, what he really wanted to say was that she was guilty of self-absorption. Yes, she was. Her life was turned upside down in a terrible divorce, her spouse took most of her money and her home, and her self-esteems was shot.

He does herald the arrival of Javier Bardem, hot fiance of Penelope Cruz, in Bali. He credits Julia Roberts with never being so relaxed and at home with herself. “She is a nice travel partner.”  For those of us who enjoyed the book or who are Julia Roberts fans, who love a great travelogue, or who want to escape with James Franco and Javiar, it sounds like 2 hours well spent.

This is what love looks like!

I saw Dinner for Schmucks and even though I love, love Steve Carrell, the premise is sad–making fun at the expense of people who are very different ( a blind artist/fencer, a woman who speaks to dead pets, and Steve who creates dioramas with dead mice). Paul Rudd is simply wonderful. Wait for the DVD.

For my money, the movie to see is The Kids are Alright with Julianne Moore and Annette Benning, sure to be Oscar-nominated, especially Benning. It is about a gay couple, Moore and Benning who have one child each with a sperm donor (unknown) and when the children reach 18, decide they want to meet their father (Mark Ruffalo). He enters their life and reeks havoc. He is a motorcycle-riding health-food chef and they are all changed by him. It brings to mind the following quote:

“Remember as far as anyone knows we are a nice, normal family.”– Unknown

Have a splendid weekend and come back on Monday!!

Diane–check out those TRIPS!!! (left on the page)

Good Morning Dear Reader:

Life is back to normal or whatever that might be. Athough I am still trying to re-distribute the contents of my suitcase which miraculously doubled in New York. No, I did not shop until I dropped, in fact, quite the contrary. My only real tangible purchase was a pair of flip flops I bought because my “comfortable, but dressy tennies” had rubbed giant blisters on my heels. Obviously, the breaking-in of them was insufficient. They are still cute, but will be worn in short increments of time, with big wads of cotton stuffed in the heels leaving them looking not quite so cute after all.

Look what I did…

I want you to carefully observe the photo to my right. Not only is it of some beautiful coleus I grew, but there are actually 3 zinnias in there as evidence that some plants are determined to survive no matter how you treat them! The other thing I would like you to notice is the clever photo editing, the softening of my photo, the text on the picture and the borders. No, I have not mastered PhotoShop, and possibly never will. However, thanks to a wonderful seminar at BlogHer, I discovered the fantastic photo site, Picnik.com. It is free to use and easy to use. I mastered the basics in 10 seconds, so you know even your beagle can learn to use it. The basic services are free, but there is an upgrade for about $2 per month that allows you to get really, really fancy. For most of us, this is plenty. Try it, have fun!!

Quick, buy this issue! It is life-changing! Buy one for a friend!

Oprah really is brilliant

If you don’t subscribe to Oprah Magazine, run, don’t walk to the store and buy a copy of the September issue. I will not recycle it. I will not loan it. I will keep it forever. It has the best collection of articles to inspire and improve how we live our lives. Every article is spot on.

Even Dr. Phil, who at times I must admit, gets on my nerves (at least on TV). His column, Give Yourself a Mental Makeover, is powerful. In fact, the entire magazine is devoted to “Makeover Your Look, Your Luck, Your Life”. I started turning over corners of all the articles I found helpful and pretty soon I realized I had dog-eared more than half the magazine. I am going to share some excerpts, but you owe it to yourself to have your own copy because I can’t do justice to it because there is so much great content!

Tomorrow, I will highlight some of the articles I found to be so powerful–truly, road maps (with clear directions) for getting to where you and I want to be in our lives.

Have a great hair day anytime!

Another thing about this issue that I think is great, Oprah is wearing a darling wig. She looks fabulous and I think younger as well. I am all for wearing what I like to call “party hair”. I don’t care how fabulous your hair is, there are just days when fab is hard to find. Traveling is hard on the hair. Looking good from dawn til’ disco might be easy for some, but for the rest of us, there is not enough hair product in the world to give us good hair after 9 p.m. on a big day. That is when you pull out your “party hair” (wig) or your clip on hairpiece. Today, the wigs are light weight and very natural and the clip-ons, like Jessica Simpson’s are available in many color matches (at Ulta).

I have had great success finding my great party hair at Sherry’s Wig’s on 1960 at I-45 in Houston. If you know of other great stores, let me know and I will share.

Have a simply wonderful day!!!

Diane

Don”t forget to check out our Girlfriends’ European Christmas Market Tour of Austria, Germany and Switzerland, Dec.  1-9. We already have some absolutely fun women going and we’d love you and your bestie to join us!!! Click on TRIPS at the left for details!

Good Morning Dear Reader:

I just might be a centerfold with a mustache!

Yes, I did eat my way through New York!

Sadly, I have been forced to come back to earth after a very exciting visit to the really big city of New York. The blogging convention was inspiring. Seeing 2400 women toting laptops, some with babies, pushing strollers, all with a passion for sharing bits of information that might somehow help someone else.

The blogging topics were endless, but there are some huge blog groups out there. The biggest one is probably the mommy bloggers group. They likely need the adult  human outlet the most. I couldn’t believe the number of brave women who toted an infant with them to New York. I am guessing for some, it was the only way they could come. The national group, BlogHer, provided not only childcare rooms for meetings, but a Lactation Suite. Probably we won’t see either of those at male-run conferences, but it was a welcome sight.

Possibly the world's tiniest jogger

The first morning I came down to pick up my registration materials, I met an elevator full of women in jogging clothes and tutus. Turns out there was a fun run through Central Park to support a charity sponsored by BlogHer. Amazingly enough, some of the ladies were still sporting their tutus at lunch. Obviously, they were very comfortable.

I wish I had packed my tutu!

New York is a place where all your senses are hyped up to a new level. Yes, it is probably noisier than where you live, but the compensation is how much better it probably smells.

The aromas on the street of the food make you want to stop every block and eat. I don’t know why New Yorkers don’t all weigh 300 pounds apiece. Yes, I do. They walk and walk and walk. Aside from the thousands of restaurants and bakeries, the street food–the food trucks and kiosks have fantastic, delicous food–giant, fresh pretzels, meaty hot dogs, Italian ices, and the falafals and Middle Eastern food. There was a food cart across from the hotel that had lines at night of up to 50+ people at all times. It was insane. But even at midnight, the people were there.

The Naked Cowgirl (Granny) as viewed by a Boy Scout troop (with leaders) studying for sex ed badge

The food truck business is booming and yummy!

The vast majority of people I saw in New York were just like you and me, working people who reside there and visiting families on summer vacation. And then there were the strange ones.

The two strangest, and you may have heard or seen them, were the Naked Cowboy and the Naked Cowgirl, who I have renamed the Naked Granny because when viewed from the front, parts of her anatomy are clearly headed into granny territory.

Costumed character are common and fun–Mickey Mouse, Elmo, Cookies Monster, Sponge Bob, all hoping to make a buck if you have your photo taken with them. Then there are the street musicians who create incredible sounds with two paint buckets and a few pots and pans.

Just glad this cowboy is not in Texas!

The crowds in Times Square just blew me away, especially when around here, at 10 p.m. someone is out rolling up the sidewalk. Walking around after the theater (Promises, Promises–fantastic!) there were thousands of people out strolling and eating and just hanging out.  In Times Square and other New York locations, the half-price ticket booths for same-day performances of on and off Broadway shows is possibly the best bargain anywhere.

Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) & Kristin Chenoweth-great!

There were a lot of people in Times Square!

It’s hard coming back to earth after a great trip. However, I think doing the laundry and attacking the gargantuan weeds in my yard will do the trick.

Have a fantastic day!

Diane

Good Afternoon Dear Reader:

One of the beauty spots of NY, 850 acres of Central Park

One of my goals when I  began this blog was to share information that would be helpful to others, make their lives better, to save time and money and find something fun to share. My husband tells me that in the interest of saving you money and time, I have expended quite a bit of my own, and possibly his as well. I told him you are worth every cent and as long as I am able to lift my handbag and carry my own suitcase, I will continue to blaze more trails, find more sales and pass them on to you.

New York is waiting…

This week I am in New York with 2400 other women bloggers at BlogHer ‘10. I have managed to find time to see some of the wonderful things this city has to offer. If you have not visited New York recently I advise you to think about planning a trip. I would suggest that October might be a great month and much cooler. The leaves should be changing and that should be a sight to see.

Some fascinating things I have learned since arriving here:

1. I have never seen so many restaurants and eaten so much good food. In fact, in New York, there are 28,000 restaurants. That is not a typo.

2. New Yorkers like coffee (me, too!). In addition to all the neighborhood coffee shops, there are 250 Starbucks locations. Macy’s has 4 inside. Yes, everyone is caffeinated here. And I like that.

3. They like their sweets. Most blocks have a bakery of some type and there are 1000 Dunkin Donut locations.

4. There are only 11 service stations in all of Manhatten.

5. There is only one grocery store with a parking lot.

6. Fast food is alive and well. There are 350 MacDonald’s locations.

7. Brooklyn has the largest high school in the area with 20,000 students.

8.  There is a rivalry between The Magnolia Bakery of Sex and the City fame and Crumbs, the other big cupcake bakery. The key lime cheesecake at Magnolia Bakery will win Best in Show anywhere for my money. The cupcakes weren’t bad either. I will eat anything to find only the best for you.

Magnolia Bakery's Key Lime Cheesecake--Yum, Yum

9.  The most expensive piece of real estate in the city is underneath a hot dog cart where the tiny space it sits on rents for $10,000 a month.

10. Grayline ’s double-decker hop on hop off tours are a splendid and cheap way to see the city and many major attractions.

Do not rush out and buy this outfit!

In addition to the fabulous art, music, theater, architecture and of course, shopping experience, there is the people watching which is just as entertaining as anything you’ve ever seen on TV.

I have seen too many candidates for “What not to wear“, but have not met one single person who wasn’t polite or helpful.

Don’t wait, plan your trip, but diet first because I can tell you that you”ll be bringing some memorable pounds. Yes, the diet begins on Monday.

Have a just wonderful weekend! Come back Monday!

Diane

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for our Girlfriends’ European Christmas Market Tour–Austria, Germany and Switzerland, Dec. 1-9, fun, fun, fun. Click on TRIPS at the left

Good Evening Dear Reader:

Hello New York!

I have flown the coop! I am in New York City hanging out with women bloggers from around the country at BlogHer ‘10, the national conference for women bloggers.

There are mommy bloggers, business bloggers, fashion bloggers and women talking about just about every topic you can imagine. I’m here to learn and make my blog better and more entertaining and informative for you!

Construction underway at Ground Zero for Museum & Memorial

I have to say that New York is cleaner and much more beautiful than I remembered. And there is there is definitely evidence that 9/11 has changed this town. As you probably know,  Ground Zero is now being transformed into a a memorial, a national tribute to all who perished in the attacks. There will also be a 1776 foot Freedom Tower, which is under construction.

There are two impressive temporary memorials here now, one is the Tribute WTC Visitor Center and the other is in St. Paul’s Chapel, a church built in 1766 which was across the street from the Twin Towers.

St. Paul's Chapel built in 1766 sheltered 9/11 volunteers

Miraculously, other than some debris and a sycamore tree which was destroyed, the church did not even lose a window. It became a headquarters for volunteers and recovery workers offering food, cots, and comfort from September 2001 to May 2002.

Everywhere in the little church are tributes from people around the world to the victims. Of special meaning were chains of origami peace cranes made by survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasacki.

Tributes from around the world to victims

Some of the fire and police department volunteer's badges from around the world

The spirit of patriotism is so evident in this city that has suffered so greatly. I hope if you have a chance to visit New York soon, you will ! More of my city tour tomorrow.

Times Square is as noisy and vibrant as ever!

Have a lovely evening,

Diane

–Don’t forget to check out the European Christmas Market tour, click on Trips at left!

Good Morning Dear Reader:

Could it have been something I ate? 3 cream-based soups perhaps?

I probably have not told you about my new fitness program necessitated by the strange phenomena of my zippers quite suddenly not meeting. It was almost as if it happened overnight. One minute I am breathing perfectly normal while shoving great quantities of delicious food into my mouth and the next looking for some discreet location to unbutton anything not visible to innocent bystanders.

I blame the whole problem on travel, which I do love. However, when removed a sufficient distance from my safe and relatively empty refrigerator and confronted by meal choices that sound way better than low-fat boiled turkey, what’s a person to do? Most restaurants I visit have no really unappetizing choices. The Weight Watcher specials might be there but they are hidden by the deep fried, the honey crispy and the well-sauced entres. Did I mention I have no will power? The only real answer for me is going to have to be exercise, as painful as it is.

May tone calves, thighs & rear or may lead to hospitalization

I had started walking around my neighborhood, more of a stroll really. Then my husband decided to join me. If you remember, I bought a pair of the Sketcher Shape-Ups, the walking shoes with boats for soles. My stride in them was not quite perfected when he decided we should add trekking poles to our walk. He has watched the training video, studied the technique on the Internet and has it perfected.

As for me, did you ever see Elaine dance on Seinfeld? That’s about my form. I am sort of an accident in slow motion, not quite colliding with anything, but just on the verge. I am sure with my husband’s coaching I will be excellent in no time or one of us will be in traction. It’s a dangerous sport. If you see us on the walking trail just get out of the way.

Some good health news…

The new Consumer Reports is out for September and it is an excellent issue. It addresses the issue of multivitamins and supplements. There has been so much in the press lately about their safety and questions of whether we should even be taking them. Their research confirms that most are perfectly safe and that price is not a real factor in purchasing quality. There is also a list of safe and unsafe supplements that is very helpful. (Complete article, page 21) The article also suggests that we really should be taking our vitamins in the form of healthy food!

In an abbreviated list, the top multivitamins are:

Adults (the children’s list is almost all the same brands, plus Flinstones as costliest)

Kirkland Signature (Costco)

Equate Complete (Walmart)

Up and Up (Target)

Centrum

One A Day Maximum

Among recommended supplements:

Calcium (fights osteoporosis), Cranberry (fends off urinary infections), Fish Oil (decreases risk of heart attack), Glucosamine Sulfate (slows arthritis of knee), Lactase (combats lactose intollerance), Acidophilus ( prevents diarrhea when taking antibiotics) , Psyllium( helps lower cholesterol/mild laxative) , Pygeum (may reduce systems of enlarged prostrate), SAMe (may reduce depression/fight osteoarthritis), St. John’s Wort (helps with depression), Vitamin D (compliments calcium)

Finally, a cookbook with me in mind!

Also in this issue:

The best running shoes

The best laptops and printers

Surviving worst case scenarios

There is still more—saving money on cell phone bills and smart phones & the latest 3D TV’s!

It is a magazine that pays for itself every month.

Have a lovely Monday!

Diane—P.S . Tell your buds about our Girlfriends’ European Christmas Market Tour–deadline for great price is Aug. 13, click on TRIPS at left.

Good Afternoon Dear Reader:

Sometimes that darn spell-checker just blows it and lets a typo slip through, however if you find errors today it will be because I am zooming down I-10 across the state of Louisiana at 65 or so miles an hour. I know you will be relieved to know that I am not the one driving! Every time we hit a bump or a dip in the road, my little laptop bounces up and down so I hope you appreciate the dedication with which I am attempting this post.

After being on the road for more than a week, our car looks like one of those gypsy wagons where you can buy everything from pots and pans to jewelry and get your fortune told to boot. We have beach noodles, a beach umbrella, ice chests, suitcases, boxes of vegetables from my sister’s garden, a huge bucket filled with her gorgeous zinnias and about 25 books and magazines. Did I mention two grocery bags of snacks? You just never know where you will be able to find decent snacks on I-10.

About the fortune telling part, you will not believe this. I use MSN.com for news, and of course to see if Heidi Klum has had another baby. I just want to know who carries them for her? No one has four children and looks like she does. Life is just not fair.

Okay, back to the fortune telling. MSN.com has a new feature where you can check your daily horoscope. You are not going to believe this, but the gypsy fortune teller’s name is Madame Blanco. I think this is clearly some type of intellectual property violation because I am pretty sure I am Madame Blanco and I have not given anyone permission to put me on MSN.com, without properly compensating me, of course. Besides the character looks exactly like Bill Murray in a wig and headscarf. At the very least, they could have used Ryan Secrest.

Yesterday, I had such a thrill. I am a huge fan of Kathy L. Patrick, author of The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life. She is not only a book-loving literary expert, former publisher’s representative, hairdresser extraordinaire, but the founder of 319 Pulpwood Queen Book Clubs (We are organizing #317 in Kingwood). Authors adore her and flock to her shop, Beauty and the Book, in Jefferson, Texas for signings and of course, to get their hair done.

January 13 through 16, 2011, Kathy Patrick will hold her 11th Anniversary Girlfriend’s Weekend in Jefferson, Texas and we are invited! Not only will you have an opportunity to meet Kathy, you will be in the company of some of your favorite authors. In fact, there is an author’s dinner which is prepared by the authors themselves and served by them. Last year, the great Pat Conroy (Prince of Tides is one of my favorite, favorites!) served the iced tea and will be returning this year with his wife author Cassandra King.

There will also be a play written by and acted in by the guest authors. The highlight of the event is the Big Ball of Hair Ball, where you get to dress up and have really big hair. For some of us that will be a challenge. I am going to have to either rent or buy some hair because this little fuzz on my head will never qualify as ‘big” under any circumstances. Just ask my hairdresser Sylvia.  She cries every time she does my hair.

Lipstick Digest will be setting up camp in Jefferson hoping to rub shoulders with authors whose work inspires us. A complete list of authors attending and details about Girlfriend Weekend at Kathy’s Website, www.Beautyand the Book.com., click on Girlfriend’s Weekend. Hurry, attendance is limited!

Have a spectacular day! Don’t forget to sign up for Lipstick Digest’s European Christmas Market Tour, see Trips at the left!  Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

I'm back in Mississippi, on the farm

I hope this Monday finds you in a good place physically, and mentally! With Mondays, that isn’t always the case! I woke up in a great place, my sister and brother-in-law’s home in north Mississippi. They have horses, cats and a great boxer, Sugar Ray, who has a fantastic repertoire of tricks, one of which involves a hula hoop. They live on a beautiful lake, where I understand Sugar Ray also is fond of fishing. I will have to see this to believe it. More later…

Saturday night I found myself channel surfing and for some reason I stopped at C-Span where General Stanley McCrystal was giving his farewell speech at his retirement ceremony in Washington. I was really saddened to see such a good, dedicated soldier brought down by a Rolling Stone reporter looking for a big scoop. Sure, McCrystal should have realized that he could not be candid in the presence of the media, but I think over the course of a month, in a war zone, with lives on the line every single day, being guarded in his speech was his last concern.

I didn’t know what to expect of his speech, but was curious none the less. What I saw was a man with a great deprecating sense of humor–forgiving, humble and grateful for 38 years of service to his country. He acknowledged he had no idea about his future, but he said he and his wonderful wife, from whom he had spent years apart because of his service, were focused on getting to know each other again. He said she had a fondness for Italian shoes and had amassed an extensive collection of them. He acknowledeged trying to use her buying power to get the Italians to send more troops to Afghanistan, but had been unsuccessful.

He reminisced about the night she opened the door to their home in her nightgown to find a crowd of paratroopers gathered for a party he had organized at their home after a jump, without bothering to tell her. She kindly invited them in and started preparing food. He talked about the real strength of a nation being the wives and families back at home who allow their loved ones to leave them and serve their countries. If you know any military families, you know just how true this statement is.

General McCrystal will be offered a wonderful job with some powerful American corporation, write a best selling book and make a ton of money on the speaking circuit.  His wife will be able to buy all the Italian shoes she wants. No matter what he does in his life, the Rolling Stone reporter will always be remembered as the man who wrote the expose that led to the firing of a great soldier and a really good man.

Sweetie Pies' triple threat!

You know I can’t miss pass up a place called Sweetie Pies!

Before leaving Gulf Shores, my sister and I stumbled upon a bake shop called, Sweetie Pies. Of course, we had to stop. Well, if you have ever seen taller meringue anywhere, I want to hear about it. While they serve delicious sandwiches, soups and salads, the piece de resistance is the dessert selection! Oh Momma! I am pretty sure after we left, they had to clean our drool off the bakery cases. We went from lemon to chocolate to coconut ( which was proclaimed to be the local favorite), to chess and finally to the fruit varieties.

Don't you just want to fall in?

We wound up with an enormous bread pudding which we begrudgingly shared. I still wanted Chocolate pie, but Janet said no. What a spoil sport she can be. Southern Living wrote glowingly about the rapture that is their pecan pie, which comes in six varieties, including white chocolate. Check them out in Pelican Place, Gulf Shores and on Facebook, www.sweetiepiespelicanplace.com. Tell Tammy I sent you!

Please click on TRIPS, on the left of the page, and join me for the First Annual Girlfriend’s European Christmas Market, Dec. 1-9! And invite your buds! Hurry, the deadline is August 13!

You have a sweet day today!!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

I do not usually post to my blog on the weekend, but I am so excited about this upcoming trip that I cannot wait one minute longer to tell you about it. Every year I take a group to Europe, usually a combination of couples and singles, but this year I have something very special planned, just for the ladies! The First Annual European Christmas Market Tour will be December 1-9 and I am hoping you and your friends will join me!!! It will be so much fun and what great photo opportunities!  We have a very short window to fill this trip. Our deadline  is August 13, so we have to hurry. Please share will all your friends who may want to go. And what a great idea for husbands to give to their wives–no Christmas shopping agony!

Join Kingwood Travel and Lipstick Digest for the

First Annual Girlfriends’European Christmas Market Tour of Austria, Germany & Switzerland

December 1-9, 2010

$2650, per person, includes airfare, hotels, travel insurance, 7 buffet breakfasts, 3-three course dinners plus Farewell dinner with wine in Lucerne, plus pre-trip party to meet, greet and swap packing ideas

Yes, there will be dancing!

Call up your gal pals and experience a Christmas shopping experience like no other. Visit the traditional Christmas markets of Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Innsbruck, Zurich and Lucerne. See Europe decked out for the holidays in picture postcard splendor. Camera bugs will have a field day! Yes, this is your chance to wear that fur in your closet!

We will fly British Airways to Vienna (returning from Zurich) to begin our adventure with the services of a full-time Trafalgar guide and multi-lingual speaker traveling on a luxury coach with 30+ fun-loving women. Diane Blanco, author of Lipstick Digest.com and frequent European travel host, will be our tour director. In addition to shopping in the traditional Christmas markets and shops, we will see some of the most amazing scenery, landmarks and highlights of each city. King Ludwig’s castle in Neuschwanstein will literally take your breath away.

We will possibly overdose on laughter and fun, but that is the price of traveling with friends. This tour will fill quickly so if you wish to join us, and believe me, you do, sign up ASAP. Our deadline for this amazing price is August 13, 2010. To sign up, call Ann Chamberlain at Kingwood Travel, 281-359-5464 or e-mail diane@lipstickdigest.com.

You'll make new friends & enjoy great good

Our Itinerary:

Day 1 – Depart USA

Overnight flight to Vienna.

Day 2 – Arrive Vienna (2 nights)
Welcome to the Austrian capital city, Vienna, at this festive time. There is time to relax before enjoying a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Hotel: Hilton Danube (SF)

Day 3 – Vienna sightseeing and Christmas markets
Our sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a drive along the Ringstrasse with views of the Hofburg, the Parliament, City Hall and the State Opera House. Then there is time to visit Vienna’s ‘Christkindlmarkt’ in traditional decorated wooden huts which display handmade wooden toys, local gingerbread and warming ‘Glühwein’. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 4 – Vienna – Salzburg – Munich (2 nights)
A scenic drive along the Danube Valley brings us to Mozart’s Salzburg, where the Christmas markets are held in and around the ancient Cathedral. Our guided walking tour shows us the Mirabell Gardens, Mozart’s birthplace and the Old City. Then we drive through fairy-tale Christmas landscapes to the Bavarian capital of Munich, with its festive Christmas markets and bustling beer-halls. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

We can always nap on our deluxe motorcoach

Hotel: Hilton Munich City (SF)

Day 5 – Munich orientation and at leisure
Our orientation shows us the Hofbräuhaus, the Marienplatz and the ornate Glockenspiel on the impressive town hall. Then time at leisure to browse through the stalls at the Christmas market and maybe visit one of the famous beer halls of this hospitable and charming city. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 6 – Munich – Neuschwanstein Castle – Oberammergau – Innsbruck
This morning, with views of snowcapped mountains, we drive to visit Neuschwanstein, the most extravagant of King Ludwig’s castles. Then to Oberammergau, where the Passion Play was performed in 2010, and on to Innsbruck, where, after an orientation tour, we have time to enjoy the Christmas Market in the Old Town Square. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Grauer Bär (F)

Day 7 – Innsbruck – Liechtenstein – Zurich Christmas market – Lucerne (2 nights)
We head westwards to Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, before entering Switzerland and reaching Zurich the financial capital. Time to visit the lively indoor Christmas market before continuing on to lakeside Lucerne in central Switzerland where we spend the next two nights. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

We will always stop for coffee & chocolate!

Hotel: Schiller (F)

Day 8 – Lucerne orientation and at leisure
This morning our Tour Director shows us the poignant Lion Monument, the covered wooden Chapel Bridge and the Jesuit Church, before there is time to shop for Swiss watches and chocolate. Tonight, we all enjoy a festive Farewell Dinner with wine together with our Tour Director and new found friends. (Buffet Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Day 9 – Lucerne – Zurich – USA
Morning transfer to Zurich airport. (Buffet Breakfast)