Liebster 2015 Award Nomination

I'm so excited . . . beyond excited to announce that I have been nominated for the Liebster 2015 Award. Now at this very moment you're probably asking yourself what the Liebster Award is? The Liebster Award is handed out by bloggers to other bloggers. It's a way to promote new or smaller blogs in order to get them more recognition throughout the blogging community.

 The meaning of Liebster in German means " sweetest, kindest, lovely, endearing and sweetheart". I want to give a HUGE thanks to Ryan Webster at A Backpack and a Boarding Pass for nominating me!! I was so excited when I heard that The World At My Feet  was being nominated and couldn't believe. I had to tell everyone I could!! As part of the nomination I have to ask the following questions that were given to me by Ryan. In return I have to nominated 10 small blogs, who in turn will answer the questions I give them. I hope you guys learn something new about me and without further ado:

1. What are 11 fun facts about you?

~ I'm a huge animal lover
~ I'm a homeowner
~ In addition to writing on my blog, I'm a full time worker and a part time student
~ I have moved nine times so far in my life ( 4 of which were cross country)
~ I went to camp as a child and loved every minute of it. It taught me so much and I met people from around the world
~ I have lived in four states and moved back to two of them at one point
~ It took me until my 21st year on this earth to travel internationally
~ I have toe that grows crooked
~ I love DIY projects
~ I love to write stories
~ Reading is my favorite pastime

2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

This is a really hard question to answer! After I read the question I had three places immediately pop into my head. They were Norway, Ireland and Scotland. Out of those three countries I have only visited Ireland (so far) and I was enchanted with the incredible natural beauty. I would definitely have to live somewhere that has natural beauty and outdoor activities.

3. What is your favorite travel destination and why? And what is your least favorite?

So far Ireland was my favorite destination, although London ranks close! I love Ireland because of it's beauty. The natural beauty of the country and the beauty of it's people. It's astonishing how friendly people are and their willingness to go out of their way to help a stranger. That's uncommon here in the states and it was quite refreshing to come across. At the moment I don't have a least favorite destination. I've enjoyed everywhere I have visited.

4. Do you have any crazy or scary travel stories?

I'm not sure if this really falls under crazy or scary . . . maybe weird, creepy, or crazy. I recently returned from a trip to Chicago, where I met up with my best friend from high school. We were taking the train from Chicago to the suburb we were staying in. Toward the end of the trip a guy got on and sat across from us. Did I mention that he was tweaking out on some sort of drugs and acting really odd? We decided to move to the stairs to disembark, because we were approaching our stop. While standing on the stairs a ticket collector joined us and stood across from us. He accidently (I'm assuming/ hoping) bumped his arm into me. Which happens . . . except he turns and looks at me, touches my arm and said "It was a pleasure touching you. I'll always remember it". 

5. What is your favorite dish from abroad? What is your favorite dish from your country?

My favorite dish from abroad at the moment is Filipino pancit and lumpia. So incredibly yummy. My favorite dish from my country is pizza. I could eat pizza all day every day!!

6. Which Blog post are you most proud of?

The blog post that I am most proud of is My Travel Wishlist. This is a continually changing list of places I want to visit and experiences that I want to have. I think this list helps to keep me grounded and it's something I look forward to doing. The more places you visit and see the more things come into focus for me.

7. What type of traveler are you (Backpacker/Budget, Luxury, Business, etc.) ?

I would say that I'm a mixture between a budget and luxury traveler leaning more towards budget. I'm always looking to save money (hey that's more to go towards another trip), but who wouldn't want some luxury in their life? I will never sacrifice my safety for money though.



8. What is the most useful or important thing that you have learned from your travels?

I love this question! I have learned so much from my travels that I can't just list one. Throughout my travels I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned that it's ok to be alone and you don't have to always be surrounded by people. I have learned to have more confidence in myself and to rely on myself. I have learned that while there aren't good people in the world not everyone is out to get you. I discovered that its good for the soul to get outside your comfort zone everyone once in a while!

9. What are your favorite third-party sites when planning a trip abroad?

I have several third-party sites I use whenever I'm planning a trip. Believe it or not Pinterest is my first go to site! I can find so much stuff to do by just typing my destination in, and I can organize it on my boards so I always have it. My second site is Tripadvisor. I almost always check their site for reviews on things I want to do and places I'm looking at staying at.

10. What are your travel essentials?

I have a list of things that I always have to take with me on a trip. I have to have my passport (international travel)/ id, credit cards (always alert the companies), lotion, hand sanitizer, my ipad mini; a book (or three), chapstick, and sunglasses. Oh and you can't forget a scarf!

11. What inspired you to create a blog?

My first international trip. It takes so much work to plan a trip yourself. There is so much that goes into it. Should I stay here? Should I rent a car, take a plane, a ferry, a train? Is this attraction worth my time and money? How can I save money without being too cheap and still have fun? I wanted a place that people could come to and read reviews about places I have been and the answers to all the above questions. It's an overwhelming process that I wanted to help people with. I also wanted to inspire people to travel and prove that you can travel no matter what. I work full time, go to school and travel. I have also have responsibilities like being a homeowner and taking care of my dog . . . and I still travel. If there is a will, there is a way.

I nominate the following blogs . . .

~ Cathy Merrifield: Roarloud
~ Karlie: Miss Wanderlust
~ Hannah: Postcards from Hannah
~ Ginger: One Year, My Dear
~ Maggie: The Woven Whim
~ Melissa: A Broken Backpack
~ Mimi: The Atlas Heart
~ Melissa: KC Girl Travels
~ Jessica: Journey's with Jessica

Nominees now you need to:

~ Now you need to create a post answering the questions I have for you (listed below).
~In your post make sure to link it back to ME with a thank you!
~ After answering the questions, nominated 11 other blogs with under 200 followers. You will need to provide them with 11 of your own questions, and provide them with the same instructions.
~ You will need to notify your nominees and provide them with the link back to your post, so they know what to do
~ When everything is completed, come back to my blog, comment on this post with a link back your post. I can't wait to see everyone's answers!!

Questions for the Nominees:

1. What are 11 random facts about you?

2. What is your travel style (luxury, business, budget, ect)?

3. If you had to choose between make-up or shampoo, which would you choose?

4. What can ruin a good travel person?

5. Why do you travel?

6. What inspired you start a blog and how long have you been blogging?

7. Do you have pets? Tell us about them and how you travel with that responsibility.

8. How do you deal with culture shock/homesickness?

9.  When and where was your first trip?

10. What is the most unusual experience you have had while travelling?

11. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I can't wait to read everyone's posts!!

Feature Friday: A Backpack and a Boarding Pass

 Welcome to our second week of Friday Features! This week we are featuring A Backpack and a Boarding Pass. This blog was created by Ryan and she has some fabulous posts about Italy and travel tips. I highly recommend everyone to stop over to her blog and show it some love. Italy is a country I have yet to visit, but her posts make me want to board the next plane to Italy.

A Backpack and a Bording Pass

The post we are featuring today from A Backpack and a Boarding Pass is Tips for First Time Solo Traveling. This is a great post for male and females alike who are looking to go on their first solo trip. Ryan provides great advice for first time solo travelers who aren't sure what to expect or nervous/scared about their upcoming trips. I know I was about my first solo trip and then again my first international trip. This is also a great reminder post to those who travel more frequently. Female solo travel has been on the rise in recent years. Yay! I think that every female should travel solo at least once in their lives and keep these tips in mind.

Tips for first time solo traveling

 

 

 

 

Feature Friday: Roarloud

We are introducing a new blog post series called Feature Friday. This series will introduce a post from other travel blogs that I believe will resonate with our readers. It's a way to introduce our readers to blogs that they may enjoy reading.

Our very first Feature Friday post is to introduce a post written by Cathy of Roarloud. The post I chose to feature is titled How to Make Time. I chose this post because I think this is something that we all need to remember at times. Sometimes we just need to make time to disconnect for a little while. You can check the post out here:

http://roarloud.net/2015/06/24/how-to-make-time/

picture courtesy of Cathy  @ http://roarloud.net/

Don't forget to check out their facebook page and follow them at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RoarLoud/798552366881677?fref=ts

This is a great blog for travelers who love to hike and be out in nature. I love that about this blog! Go check them out!!

Photo Courtsey of Cathy @ http://roarloud.net/

Travel Wishlist:

Everyone has that one place they always dream of visiting. I was bit with the travel bug when I was young (I think it started with our moves across the country). I have a never ending list of places that I would like to visit. The following is my never-ending, always adding destinations I would like to visit and experience I would like do:

North America:

- Take a Civil War Road Trip
- Visit British Colombia
- Visit all the Florida State Parks
- Visit Colonial Williamsburg
- Visit Asheville, NC
- Take a railroad trip throughout Canada
- Take a cross country train ride with Amtrak
- Hike in Oregon
- Visit all 50 states



- Stand with the Redwoods
- Gaze into the Grand Canyon
- Go to Yosemite!!
- Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Visit the haunted Alcatraz
- Banff National Park
- Niagara Falls
- Yellowstone Park
- The Fingers Lake, NY
-  Visit Wrigley Field  (July 2015)
- Visit Boston
- Fenway Park

South America:

- Visit Machu Picchu  (September 2015)
- Take a Amazon River Cruise
- Iguazu Falls
- Patagonia
- Costa Rica
- Canopy Tour in Costa Rica

Europe:

- Visit Scotland (Isle of Sky, Edinburgh, the whole country)
- Stonehenge
- Road trip across England
- See the Black Sea
- Count Dracula's Castle
- Petra, Jordan
- Visit Norway
-Visit Ireland
- Visit Romania
-Chase and see the Northern Lights



- Visit Iceland

Middle East:

- Petra

Artic:

- Visit the Falkland Islands
- See Polar Bears in their natural habitat

 

Asia:

- Shicheng, China
- Visit a Temple
- Great Wall of China
- Samurai Culture in Japan
- Kyoto Japan
- Mount Fuji

Africa:

- Visit Kuger National Park
-  Go on a safari
- Go on a night safari
- Visit Victoria Falls
-  Ride Camels in the Sahara Desert

Personal:

- Go to as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as possible (3)
- See Moose in their natural habitat




- Get my scuba diving license
- Cage diving with sharks
- Ride in a Helicopter
- Ride in a hot air balloon
- Step foot on all 7 continents (3/7)
- Whale Watching
- Try a food native to every country I visit
- Swim with Dolphins (2013)
- Snorkel with Manatees
- Volunteer at an Elephant Sanctuary

U.S.S North Carolina Battleship

Driving into Wilmington this is one of the first things that you will see. This huge towering battleship. The second I saw it I knew I had to see it. I didn't do a lot of research for this trip and seeing the battleship was a nice surprise. The U.S.S North Carolina was commissioned on April 9, 1941 and was the first of 10 battleships to join the American fleet in World War II. She is 728 feet long. HUGE! I felt like an ant standing on the deck of this ship. I love visiting pieces of American history and this was my first time visiting a battleship. As a visitor you have almost complete freedom of the ship to roam through. There are some parts, such as, the watch towers that have restricted access or doors that have been welded shut. Unfortunately, the gift shop closes before the ship does and we didn't know this.

Feeling like an ant

 

The grandfather of the Kitchenaid mixer

Eating and sleeping quarters (for some)

This is a great attraction for anyone (families, solo travelers, history buffs). It would also be a great location for a wedding. We were able to see a wedding in progress while we were there. If you plan on seeing most of the ship allow yourself a couple of hours. I believe we spent over two hours and had to leave, because they were closing.During the summer months they are open from 8:00am-8:00-pm (check for their holiday hours!) During the winter months they are open 8:00am-5:00pm.
      
                      Admission Prices:
Children 5 and under: free
Children 6-11: $ 6.00
Military (including spouses and children): $10.00
Seniors (65 and up): $10.00
ages 12 and up: $12.00

For more information you can visit http://www.battleshipnc.com/

September's Destination . . .

It was the morning of March 4, 2015. My brother came into my work and told me that he and his fiancée had decided against going to Dominican Republic for their next trip. I was vaguely interested in this until his next sentence. We decided on Machu Picchu instead. I may have whipped my head around so fast that it caused whiplash. See, Machu Picchu is on my Ultimate Travel Bucket List and I've always wanted to go there. I mean it's Machu Picchu. How could you not want to go to this beautiful New World Wonder?

Can you really resist this view?

I think he was purposely building up the suspense to see my reaction. It's no secret how much I've wanted to go there. They invited me along to go with them!! The trip was booked by 4pm that afternoon. Woot Woot! This will be my first trip to South America, a whole new continent! I'm so excited. We booked this trip on Groupon through Gate 1. I had researched Gate 1 several months ago when I was putting my feelers out for planning a trip to Machu Picchu. I'm a pretty independent traveler, so I prefer not to travel with a travel groups. I feel like I can see and do more on my own, I can spend as much time as I want at a destination, and I have the flexibility to change my itinerary. Those options aren't necessarily available to you through a tour group, but I'm willing to give it a try.

It's a five day trip with airfare, hotels and most meals are included. This trip cost me right around $1000 with the additional tours we chose to add on. We will spend a full day at Machu Picchu. We chose to visit several of the markets and we chose to do a Peruvian cooking class with the foods we purchase at the markets. We also chose to eat dinner in a Peruvian home, visit some ancient sites.

Peru looks like a beautiful and diverse country. I really can't wait, and there is so much more to this country than just Machu Picchu. Unfortantely, we won't have time to visit more of the country. However, I plan to keep Peru on my list and one day visit the rest of the country.

Move over life, its planning time

It's seems like such a long time since I have been on a trip, when in reality I went to LA last month. There are so many places we can travel to, does anyone else find it hard to pick a destination? Alas, despite the difficulties we have our travel plans for the year (so far). Here is our travel destinations for 2015:

February: Orlando
March: Wilmington, NC
May: Bahamas
June: Des Moines, IA
July:Chicago        
September: Peru-Machu Picchu       
October: Des Moines, IA                                          
November: Belize & Mexico

My may trip will be a family trip that I'm really looking forward to. I was the only traveler in my family and my brother and parents have followed suit. My parents are even branching out and traveling to St. Croix by themselves in April. Yay for family travels!

 I'm especially looking forward to my trip to Chicago. It's a city I have always wanted to explore and now I'm going to. Making it even better is the fact that my best friend from high school will be meeting me there!!

I love mountains! I could live in the mountains. Ashville is such a great destination, with a lot to offer. I love outdoor activities and Ashville has it all. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, white water rafting, national parks, and a great night life.

I look forward to bringing all the advice and tips back that I can for all my readers. Where are you looking at visiting in 2015?

Belkin Mini Travel Surge Protector

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! In my last post I gathered items that would make great Christmas gifts for the traveler in your life. I asked for some of those items for myself, because they are so great. I did receive some of the gadgets I asked for and some unique ones for my travel. In this post I will be reviewing the Belkin Mini Travel Surge protector. You can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-3-Outlet-Charger-Protector-Charging/dp/B0015DYMVO.


Quite honestly I love this item! We had our family Christmas early as we were leaving for California and would be there over Christmas. This mini surge protector is lightweight, small and compact. It has three plug ins and two usb ports. It has a swivel plug in, making this item more versatile for you. It takes up a very small space in your suitcase or carry on. I used my Belkin Mini Surge Protector to charge all of my electronics while we were in Los Angeles. It is wide enough that I was able to set my iphone on top of it while it was charging. This is great in case it's plugged in where there isn't a table, bed or nightstand available. I think this is a great item for any traveler to add to their gadgets, and it can fit into everyone's budget. This item costs $11.88 on Amazon.com!

Holiday Gifts for your Travelers

It's that time of the year . . . we are now less than a month away from Christmas. It's the time when people start their holiday shopping. I have a list of presents for the traveler in your life. Some of the items are incredibly practical and some are things you wouldn't necessarily think of. Without further ado check out the list:

-Books: every travelers has down time. Whether it's waiting for your train, flight or layovers a good book is a must.
-Journal: I love writing about my travels and being able to look back and relive my adventures.
-Luggage tags: I see these all over the internet. Some websites, such as, www.shutterfly.com allow you to personalize your own.
-Guidebooks: Know their next travel destination? Give them a guidebook to help them decide how to spend their time at that destination!
-Scarves: Your mind may not have automatically gone here, but one scarf can change an entire outfit and be multifunctioning.
-Rosetta Stone: Give them the gift of learning another language. This can come quite handy if you are in a country that doesn't speak your native language.
-Tablet/Ipad: I take my mini ipad with me every time I travel. It has now replaced my laptop. I can read books, get on the internet, blog, edit my photos and stay connected with my friends and family. One of my all time travel accessories.
                              Travel Gear:
-Luggage: For my birthday in 2013 I received a whole luggage set. They have gone on many many travels and are still going strong. My current set is American Tourist brand.
-Weekender Bags: These are great for quick trips. https://www.etsy.com/ offers some really nice ones with many different designs and the options to personalize them.

 

-Converter/Adapter: It may not seem like a big deal, but all the little things you need for trip add up. This will take care of your traveler's electronics.
-Toiletry Bags: A girl has to keep her make up and everyday items somewhere. I love mine from L.L Bean. I can fit my make up, shampoo/conditioner, razor, shaving cream, ect in it. It also has a mirror on the inside, has a hanger and takes up minimal space in my suitcase.
-Travel Size: toiletries, hair dryer and straightener. Most places have a hair dryer, but some people like to take their own.
-Passport Cover: Keeps their passport safe and most provide slots for credit cards, ect
-Mini Travel Size Surge Protector w/ USB plug: Im asking for one for Christmas this year. It seems like there are never enough plugs in your room.

Belkin Mini Travel Size Surge Protector w/ USB Plug

 - External Battery: These are awesome. Charge the night before and take it with you. Your traveler will no longer need to fight for a spot at a charging stations. They come in multiple sizes.
*Expedition Wanderlust Tip: Check out the Jackery Brand *

-Packing Cubes: These provide more space in your travelers luggage. Check out www.ebags.com (they are currently 20% off.

                       Gift Cards:
-Airline Gift Cards: Check with each airline. Delta and American Airlines offer gift cards.
-Hotel Gift Cards: Does your traveler prefer a particular hotel? Get them a gift card. Always check with the hotel chain. Marriott and Hilton both offer gift cards.
-Visa Gift Cards: Can be used on anything from gas, accommodation, food, and other travel expenses.
-If you know the destination you can purchase gift cards to attractions, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, plays, musicals, ect.

                  Check out for more ideas:
My pinterest page: https://www.pinterest.com/exwanderlust/
My facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/expedwanderlust?ref=hl

What do you buy for the traveler in your life? If your a traveler what would you like for Christmas? As always leave your comments and ideas below!

Take Nothing but Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints

I have recently decided it's high time I start discovering all my state has to offer. I'm excited to start Take Nothing but Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints "campaign".  I foresee visits to state parks, theme parks, and state beaches in my future. While I'm unable to travel full time, I'm hoping to travel locally in between my international trips. I chose to refer to my Florida travels as, Take Nothing but Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints, because I think it sends an important message. It's important to me that we take care of our surroundings and nature in general. Ecotourism is on the rise and there are so many beautiful places in the world to travel to. However, they wont survive over time if we don't take care of them. I'm always amazed when I hike and experience nature and traveling.

By traveling around my state I'm hoping to bring a locals perspective to anyone visiting Florida, recommendations and tried and true tips. Keep a look out for upcoming posts for Tampa and Orlando! Anywhere you would like me to visit in Florida? Leave a comment below.

Welcome to Social Media . . .

Expedition: Wanderlust has made it's debut on Social Media!!! We now have a Facebook page and our own Pinterest!

                     



Please visit and like our facebook page if you would like to follow our travels and receive travel tips! Our Pinterest page is everything travel related, gifts, tips and inspiration!

Here is the link to our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/expedwanderlust?ref=hl
And the link to our Pinterest page: http://www.pinterest.com/exwanderlust/

Labor Day Deals

Happy Labor Day Weekend Everyone!!

I have some great labor deals for anyone who loves to travel. Whether you are travelling currently or have future plans here are deals for travel and travel accessories.

                    Travel Gear and Accessories:

REI- up to 30% off August 22- Sept 1 at http://www.rei.com/s/deals
Merrell- Up to 50% off with free shipping. Visit the site at http://www.merrell.com/US/en/Clearance
Dicks's Sporting Goods- up to 75% off summer sale at http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/home/index.jsp
Ebags: 70% off backpacks and luggage. Expires September 1 at http://www.ebags.com/
Backcountry: Up to 50% off all fall outdoor gear and clothing. Expires September 2 at http://www.backcountry.com/
North Face: Free shipping with a minimum of $50 purchase at http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/index.html
Sierra Trading Post- 25-30% off at http://www.sierratradingpost.com/
Amazon: 70% off. Expires September 1. Visit at http://www.amazon.com/.
Walmart: 40% off items. http://www.walmart.com/
Books a million: up to 50% off summer sale.
Barnes & Nobles: Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook $179. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Books a Million: Up to 50% off summer sale. Books are great travel companions. http://www.booksamillion.com/
Shutterfly: 40% off everything. Promo code: LABORDAY40. Free shipping on orders of $39 or more. Code: SHIP39.

                   Travel Deals:

Travelocity: $50 off participating hotels. Promo code: GO50 ends 8/31
Hotel.com: up to 30% off

                    Clothing:

Macy: 20% off entire purchase. Free shipping on orders of $75 or more. http://www1.macys.com/
Eddie Bauer: up to 50% off on order. Free shipping on orders $99 or more. http://www.eddiebauer.com/
Lands End: 25% off order. http://www.landsend.com/
Sports Authority: $10 off $50 or more, $20 off $100 or more. Up to 75% off and free shipping on orders of $49 or more. http://www.sportsauthority.com/home/index.jsp
L.L Bean: 10% off entire purchase. Code: LABOR DAY. http://www.llbean.com/

                  Footwear:

Payless Shoes: 15% off shoes. http://www.payless.com/
Famous Footwear: buy one get one 1/2 off. http://www.famousfootwear.com/

Travel Cord Cases

I just had to share these adorable charge and cord cases from Neiman Marcus. They would make the perfect gift for travel lovers or for yourself. I'm always frustrated with all my cords and chargers when I travel. I have never found anything that works for me and I usually end up stuffing them into a ziplock bag and putting it inside my carry on. When I take them out they are all tangled!

This just may be the solution for me. What do you use to carry your chargers and cords when you travel?

Go check it out: http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Charger-Cord-Case-luggage/prod139350125___/p.prod?icid=&searchType=MAIN&rte=%252Fsearch.jsp%253FNo%253D60%2526Ntt%253Dluggage%2526_requestid%253D16069%2526N%253D0&eItemId=prod139350125&cmCat=searcH 

Kylemore Abbey

Hey Everyone! I can't believe my Ireland/London trip was six months ago. Time sure does flies!! This was an amazing experience and it was the first time out of the U.S for my friend and I. We definitely enjoyed it, although there was hiccups along the way. I will be splitting the reviews for this trip up into a series. This was a 12 day trip and I want to make sure I can get into details. We landed in Dublin at 4:52am on 3 hours of sleep, and we left the airport around 7am. Collecting the car turned out to a little bit of a mess, but it all turned out ok. We began the two drive to our B&B in Galway.

Our hostess was so kind and offered us tea and coffee while we waited on our rooms. Rebecca actually fell asleep while we waited! We decided to drive up to Kylemore Abbey. It would be the only opportunity for us and it came highly recommended. Let me mention that my dad lived in Ireland for a couple of years and was able to give us great advice on what to visit. The drive through Connemara was so beautiful. The landscape was wild, rugged and dramatic. Much different then most of the Irish countryside. I seem to prefer the more wild and rugged landscape. There is just something so intriguing about it.

                                                                              Connemara

It was an experience driving through Connemara. At one point we almost went over a cliff into a lake! At our first glance of Kylemore I remember thinking how striking it was against the landscape. I would recommend visiting to anyone who has the opportunity. One thing I did learn is that student cards are golden! I was able to get discounts off of every attraction we visited on our trip.

Kylmore's history began with Henry Mitchell who took his new bride to Connemara for their honeymoon. It is said that Margaret fell in love with the area. When Henry came into a sizeable fortune he bought the land Kylemore is built on. Construction on the house began in 1867 and took four years to complete. In the mid 1870's Margaret died due to a fever she contracted on a visit to Egypt. A couple years later their daughter was killed in a accident involving a horse. Henry went back to England and sold the property to the Duke of Manchester, who resided there for a couple years before selling it. They were forced to sell it to pay off increasing gambling debts.

In the 1920's Kylmore and some its surrounding lands were purchased by Benedictine Nuns were converted it into a abbey. The nuns opened Kylmore Abbey as an international boarding school and day school for local girls (who were able to get a free education). There were some famous pupils that attending this school, American actress Angelica Heuston and some Indian Princesses. Due to a decrease in enrollment number the school had to close. The last students attending school sat for their exams in June of 2010.

In addition to the abbey there is also a church, mausoleum (Henry Mitchell and his wife are buried here), informal gardens, and gift store/ restaurant. We arrived just in time for lunch. I had a chicken wrap and I was disappointed in it. The chicken was bland and dry, but Rebecca enjoyed her food.  You can only tour the 1st floor of the abbey. I was a little disappointed, but I have discovered that is how it is with a lot of historic buildings. The grounds and trails were lovely to walk, even in the dizzily rain. It's costs 12.50 euros for an adult, 9.00 euros for a senior, 9.00 euros for a student. Children under the age of 10 get in free. Also, if you buy your tickets from the website (http://www.kylemoreabbeytourism.ie/) you will receive 10% off your ticket!

                                                                              Kylemore

 

 

                                                                                 The Church

 

 

The formal gardens were pretty. There is a shuttle available if you prefer not to walk. This is the only part of the grounds were this was available, so be prepared to walk!

                                                           Flower Gardens

                                                     Vegetable Gardens

We toured as much as we could before we were hit by some serious jetlag. We were in bed by 6pm and we were fully recovered by 8am the next morning. A long day on just 3 hours of sleep!

                                                                  I fell asleep on the way back :)

Last Trip of the Summer

This summer has gone by so fast for me. This was my first summer since starting college that I didn't take any classes. I have packed as much as I could into this summer and it seemed to fly by. My first trip was to Ireland and England for two weeks, my second trip was a week in Big Bear, California and my most recent and last trip was to Des Moines, Iowa (my hometown). I just went for the weekend Friday- Monday. The last time I was in Des Moines was for my birthday and it was freezing and snowing out. I love summer and fall time in Des Moines. It's such a great city with so much to offer. If they didn't have freezing weather I may still be living there. I spent most of the weekend shopping and spending time with my best friend Meghan. Where I live the closest place to shop is Tampa International Mall and that still doesn't have all the stores I go to.

I save my money so whenever I go to Des Moines I can go shopping! I don't generally like to shop I like to save my money. However, Des Moines honestly has some good shopping. They have several adorable boutiques I shopped at in West Glen. One was a resale shop that had some pretty good deals and you would never had guessed that the clothes weren't brand new. Their purses and shoes were a little pricy (I thought) for being used. Some of the coach purses I could have bought brand new at a Coach outlet, here, in Florida. I bought a cute red skirt for work with a black flower design, a necklace and a blue and white Michael Kors top for work or casual.

I also shopped at Gordmans. This is my favorite place to shop for picture frames. They have a huge variety for great prices. I bought some really cute dog themed picture frames to put pictures of Gunner in. I bought one frame for the start of my Europe pictures. I'm slowly starting to decorate my home and I can't wait to share the process with all of my readers.

I don't usually shop at Valley West Mall. However they are the only mall in Des Moines that has a Limited. I love to shop at Limited for my work and casual clothes. They are always have some sort of sale and they are reasonably priced. Everywhere I shopped at on this trip had sales!! The one good thing about Florida is you can where summer clothes year round! This time at Limited they most of their stuff was on sale with an additional 40% off and the other sale items were buy one get one 50% off.

I really cashed in  here. I bought two pairs of dress pants (capri style) that had the additional 40% off, another pair of dress pants and an orange sheer top that were in the buy one get one 50% off, a pair of yellow skinny jeans and a pair of mint (with a zebra pattern), they were also buy one get one 50% off. I bought a cobalt blue top that was on sale and a pair of earrings that were on sale. My mom and I pooled our stuff together because on top of all that I receive a discount for being a student!

At Jordan Creek we shopped at Francesca's Boutique. I bought a dress, belt and two pair of earrings. I don't believe any of that was on sale. I also visited the Loft where they had a pair of mint jeans that were original $55 on sale for $25. Another favorite of mine is Banana Republic, but they are pretty expensive (they also offer student discounts). I bought a cute top there that was on sale for $15.

My all time favorite place to shop is Barnes and Nobles, and Des Moines has a beautiful two story one that I always visit when I'm in the city. I was lucky enough to be armed with gift cards for this part. I always say I'm not to be trusted with a credit card in Barnes and Nobles.

Any time Meghan and I get together we bake. We both love to bake! This time we decided on cookies (last time was cupcakes). Meghan did most of the baking and I did most of the decorating. It's relaxing for me to decorate cookies and cupcakes. I tend to be a perfectionist though. I'm really proud of how the cookies turned out. The frosting on the bats was pretty thick so they were a little messier.

                       All the cookies we made. It took awhile to decorate them!

Palm Trees and Feet. I think the Palm Trees and Tulips are my Favorite,

 

                                                           The base ball bats
Stay tuned for my next post on student discounts. I love student discounts and use them whenever I can! Where is your favorite place to shop at?

Back to Reality

Hello Everyone!!!

It's so nice to be back. I apologize for my long absence. I went on my trip to Ireland and England for two weeks and I'm just starting to get back into the groove of things. It was such a blast and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will definitely start blogging about the trip. I have so many pictures, I went through 3 memory cards and have over 1,000 pictures to sort through. I can't believe it's already June. Father's day is just around the corner and then I leave for another trip. Destination: California! It will be nice to just be home for awhile. I missed Gunner while I was gone, especially towards the end of the trip. I think from now on I will do one country at a time and a week max. Twelve days was a long time to be away. However, my brother, who was watching Gunner; was kind enough to facetime with me on our iphones so I could see him!

He was interested at first

Then he got bored

 

I took him to the vet today and he now weighs a whopping 70lbs! He is growing so fast! Stay tune . . . I will tell you all about my trip and show you a nice present to give the father in your life!

 

Learn All About Me

                     Hey there everyone! I'm so glad you could join me. My name is Amber and I'm excited to start my own blog. I'm sure you're all curious about me so feel free to ask questions! I work full time and go to college. I have a german shepherd puppy that keeps me busy. I got him on Father's Day last June at 7 weeks old. His first birthday is coming up here on April 28, which just happens to be my mom's birthday also!

Gunner the day I got him (Father's Day)

He is the sweetest dog ever. This is my first time owning a German Shepherd, I mostly grew up with labs and Pit Bulls. I'm very impressed by this breed. He is so gentle, docile, and protective. He is a little headstrong, but we have a trainer that we work with. Recently, my older brother, his cat and pit bull moved in with me. Ruger (his dog) keeps Gunner busy and that helps a lot with his energy level.



Here is a more recent picture of him, so you can see his size. He is even bigger now.
 

He grew up so fast! I have always heard German Shepherds were smart and boy is that the truth! He has learned to operate the water and ice buttons on the fridge when he gets thirsty. We had to disconnect the water because he was making such a mess!

As you can probably tell Gunner is a huge part of my life. I dont have any children yet, so he is my child. My family and friends are extremely important to me. I love to work, in fact I can't stand not doing anything. I have learned that a lot of people my age don't like to work, and I find that really sad. I get enjoyment out of accomplishing something. I'm also the manager of my co-ed softball team. We play fall and spring seasons. It's too hot in Florida for a summer season. So I'm kept pretty busy. I love to travel! I LOVE it! I'm leaving in 11 days to go to Ireland and England with my best friend for 12 days. It will be the first time out of this country for the both of us and we can't wait! I also like to bake, make crafts, and read. Feel free to ask any questions!