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Just when you thought you had heard of all the lesser known holidays, someone invents another one. While you likely won’t find any cards at your local Hallmark, there are a few people out there who celebrate National Cookie Day. This obscure cookie holiday occurs every year on December 4. In deference to the cookie, here is a little history on this venerable dessert treat.

The English word “cookie” is derived from the Dutch word “koekje,” which means little cake. Bakers used to place a small amount of cake batter in the oven to test the temperature. They soon discovered that these little bits of cooked batter were quite tasty on their own, and the cookie was born!

The humble cookie has evolved a lot since then, and now there are hundreds of varieties baked across the world every day, from the classic chocolate chip to more exotic offerings with caramel, macadamia nuts, dried fruits and more. Cookies can be broadly classified into 3 categories. First are “drop” cookies. These are aptly named because the batter is dropped onto the cookie sheet. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin are all examples of drop cookies. Second are “rolled” cookies. Rolled cookies are rolled out like pie dough, and then cut-out using a cutter. Sugar cookies are the most popular rolled cookies, followed closely by gingerbread. Rolled cookies may also be “rolled up” into a cylinder and then sliced off and baked. Rolled cookies bake up firmer and flatter than drop cookies, and are therefore ideal for personalizing with icing and other toppings. Third are pressed cookies. For pressed cookies, the dough is loaded into a cookie press, and then extruded, typically using various dies to create interesting shapes. Spritz cookies are the most common pressed cookie variety. Some also consider bars and brownies as a fourth cookie variety, since the ingredients are very similar, and the resultant treats are typically cut into single serving sizes.

Cookies are a multi-billion dollar industry in the US, ranging from packaged cookies at the grocery store to fresh-baked cookies at the mall, and even Internet bakeries that ship direct to your or your gift recipients. So this year when December 4 comes around, remember this humble little cake by munching on one or by sending a cookie gift to your loved ones.

Bill Smith is the owner of http://www.gourmet-cookie-bouquets.com which offers fresh-baked cookies arranged in bouquets, tins and baskets for any occasion or holiday.

The Internet is an ideal resource for travel planning. It lets shoppers compare and research the easy way, and ensure all arrangements are secure. From popular travel resources such as Travelocity to direct airline and hospitality websites, customers find ideal flight and hotel information, and have the ability to book everything online. Whether an avid traveler or someone who wants that freedom, TravelWize by Gullivers Travels has introduced the ideal discount program.

Gloria, a Texas native, wishes she’d found TravelWize years ago. “I’ve flown 18 flight segments and was upgraded to first class 12 times at no cost to me,” she states. “When I rented a mid-sized car, I was offered a Lincoln Town Car for just $28.00 a day. I have stayed in many different hotels including the Le Meridian in Beverly Hills to the Marriott in San Antonio, and with my Travel Credentials, I always get 50 percent off the regular rate. “

Gulliver’s Travels Expands

Before you understand TravelWize, you need to know its background. Gulliver’s Travels is an ARC-appointed (Airline Reporting Corporations), full-service travel agency located in Sarasota Florida. It has serviced the Sarasota community since 1969 fulfilling reservations for leisure, corporate, cruises, groups and tours.

Gulliver’s Travel recently expanded business to include independent, outside travel agents working from home, referring business to their GRTA website booking engine or to Gulliver’s reservation specialists at their hi-tech call center. Each Gulliver’s reservation specialist has an average of 15 years experience in the travel industry to assure superior service and offer excellent travel advice.

Based on exceptional service and outstanding customer service satisfaction Gulliver’s Travels has received several awards including Sarasota Herald-Tribune “Readers Choice Award” and Sarasota Magazine’s “Best Travel Agency” for the last seven years.

The company is a member of industry associations including ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents), CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agency Network) and Ensemble Travel. With growing purchasing power, they’re expanding their preferred status with many vendors to develop higher commission to outside agents and special pricing for customers.

TravelWize - Sell and Earn

To assist travelers even more, Gulliver’s Travels introduced the TravelWize program, making it possible to enjoy air travel, resorts, cruises, hotels and car rentals for the lowest possible price. When you become a Gulliver’s Independent Referring Travel Agent (GRTA), you earn full or part-time income in the travel industry and real travel savings. You’re able to book travel through a personal website any time. It’s a business that you can own and operate right out of your own home. Did you know:

–The travel industry is $3.7 trillion strong.

–The travel industry grows 23 percent each year.

–Tourism accounts for 10.9 percent of all consumer spending.

Robert in North Carolina uses his benefits to take the family vacations they could never afford: “In my first month with TravelWize I saved over $320 dollars in Travel and Theme Park tickets! This is something every family should be doing.”

Extensive Travel Resources

In addition to offering competitive travel booking services, TravelWize is a comprehensive travel resource.

Flight Tracker - Track a flight by airline name and flight number, or by city and arrival/departure times

Map Address - Maps are great for getting around, but online maps could be a lot better

Travel Warnings - Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country

State Dept Travel - Travel and Living Abroad

What to Pack - An educational site that teaches ordinary people how to travel lightly

State Tourism - Contact numbers for tourist organizations

Intl ATM Locator - Provides an online search platform to locate an ATM anywhere in the world

World Weather - The world’s leading and most respected commercial weather service company

Currency Converter - You can perform interactive foreign exchange rate calculations, using live, up-to-the-minute currency rates

Traveler’s Health - Travel health warnings and precautions for international travel

US Customs - The US Customs and Border Protection website

Time Zones - Current local times around the world

Become an Agent: Make Money - Save Money

Being a full or part-time travel agent has its rewards. For some, it means a broader, more expansive world to discover. For others, it makes their existing travel much less expensive. TravelWize.com, Your personalized Internet web site will enable your clients, friends, and family to book travel whenever they like 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

As a referring travel agent you can now travel for even less with major airline, car rental and hotel companies at TravelWize.com. In addition, when you book travel online you earn commissions on every booking.

Sandy in Minnesota considers TravelWize the best kept secret in the industry: “I joined TravelWize.com because of my passion for travel. I love to travel, and I also love to help people save and make money. We’ve already saved well over $7,000 in seven months with our Travel Agent credentials, and I’ve made over $7,000 just by sharing with others how they can save and make money. I am living my dreams and you can too.”

To learn more, join the program or just save money on your next travel adventure, visit TravelWize.com.

Gary W. Griffin, Ph.D. is a researcher and an entrepreneur. He is also an authorized travel agent, and he loves to travel. This article is brought to you by e-Travel FAQs. For all your travel information needs, visit us at http://www.e-TravelFAQs.com

A busy lifestyle often makes it difficult to fit in everything you want to read. Often we do not notice that long journeys and other activities take up enormous portions of our time. Working, dealing with children or looking after your house all cut down the free time available to spend on your hobbies. If you are an avid reader who is finding it difficult to fit it in, commuting might be the ideal opportunity to enjoy listening to an audio-book. Thanks to media files, you can enjoy Good Grief by Lolly Winston available from Download Audio Book Online, or audio-books told beautifully by David Baldacci without flipping a page. Multi-tasking is becoming a way of life in the modern world. Audiobooks such as Til Death Do Us Part by Kate White available from Download Audio Book Online make greater use of of the dead minutes everyday, it may be waiting at the dental surgery or perhaps grocery shopping. Audio books are now in stock to download as audio data files suited for computers, laptops and media players for instance Pimsleur Thai I Part 2 by Dr. Paul Pimsleur, so if you’ve got an iPod or another mp3 player and headphones you have the opportunity to listen to a bestseller or a great novel, like audio titles by Martin Dugard without carting a cumbersome book around.

Audiobooks provide various advantages like hiring or purchasing the book which interests you and savoring it at your leisure. Interested in learning Polish? Try audio-books! Possibly innovative sales techniques matter to you, or you can enjoy mulling over modern opinions about religion or spirituality. Audible books exist in a massive assortment of titles and writing styles. It really doesn’t matter if you are a film devotee, or you are nuts about horror even interested in health and fitness, many can be downloaded right away. Numerous programs are available; it’s easy to subscribe to a rental service or instead purchase what interests you.

Reading will invariably have its place, however audio books offer a wonderful alternative. Some narratives, for instance audio-books narrated by John Stewart, can be even better when performed by the writer or a well-known actor. Reading a book is not the same as enjoying audio titles performed by Elizabeth von Arnim, with refinements of an actual rendition. Your reading experience will be enhanced by listening to an audiobook such as Herzog by Saul Bellow and often can mean much more to you than the written word. So next time whenever you are thinking of purchasing a volume you will in all probability not get around to reading, think of audio-books as a better alternative.

We do recommend you inspect this vast webpage for http://www.audiofrombooks.com hints!

If you*re like me, the holidays always have a way of sneaking in. And - like an unexpected visitor who shows up the week I haven’t cleaned my home - I’m caught in a frenzy, desperate to scrape up the tumbleweeds of cat fur and make the place look presentable. For me at least, it’s easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas and Thanksgiving. Time is short and usually so is patience. So this year, all this got me to thinking: How can one neutralize the stress and get more enjoyment from the holidays true intention? Read on for this girl’s remedies.

Finding Grace:

When meditating on the true meaning of this season, three ideas came to my mind: grace, gratitude and random acts of kindness. At first I wasn’t sure why. Grace? I mean, how could I afford this? It’s been a rough year full of deadlines, long hours and a whole lot of doing. Who’s got time for grace? And therein is the answer: so often the business of life far overshadows its true excitement; the thrill of living in the moment, the anticipation of events yet to come.

How to get back to this state of childlike wonder?

My #1 RX: Motivational Tapes

When I’m feeling frazzled there’s nothing that gets me centered faster than hearing the voice of my favorite authors. And over the years I’ve built an extensive collection of tapes just for this purpose. This can work for you, too. I think you’ll find when you need a portal to peace and guidance,it’s almost instantaneous.

Feel free to try some of my favorites:

Dr. Wayne Dyer - There Is A Spiritual Solution To Every Problem Neale Donald Walsch: Conversations with God, Book One Iyanala Vanzant: Live! Audio: Piece of Mind (all available from your favorite bookstore or Amazon.com)

How do motivational tapes work? In my assessment, they provide comfort. They calm the mind and center the emotions. Then, when the stress of modern-day life comes along, the mind draws forth the inspirational words into the consciousness like a helpful data base. Moreover, I believe this exercise, when practiced consistently, can provoke a state of grace.

Need grace this holiday season? I invite you to use my method. In doing so here’s what evolves:

Gratitude:

The reward for seeking grace? Gratitude. What is gratitude? I would say it*s an instrument of faith. Here*s an example. Often during stressful times, I ask for guidance: During a vulnerable moment this holiday season, I received an angry email from a critical reader (calling me unmentionable names). And so I ask: *Please help me understand and make peace with this.*

In the act of asking and placing faith in the universe I soon received the answer: forgive. And for me, this process of grace and forgiveness is solidified in gratitude. Gratitude gives me the faith to (as one of my favorite authors Thoreau once quoted) *move confidently in the direction of ones dreams.*

Therefore, when I am grateful for what I have and trust that I am moving in my own particular direction (regardless of what others - perhaps having a rough and stressful day tell me), I find my truest treasure: joy.

An Exercise In Gratitude:

Each day (especially during this time of year) I*ve committed to taking a long look around myself. In doing so, I find everything I can to be grateful for: a kind and loving family, my health, my passion for writing. Soon I am overwhelmed with gratitude for what I have been given and every ounce of negativity has fallen away.

With this, I say “Thank You!” aloud, in praise of the gift I have received. When I have taken the time to do this (which often involves sitting down with pen and paper in hand) I continue to be offered more in the way of positive experience.

Now I invite you to try this exercise for yourself. Ask: What do I have to be grateful for right now? Take the time to notice, make a list and say *Thank You!* I truly believe if one continues offering positive statements forward to the universe: the pathway to beautiful joyful experience is opened. We are then in a state of co-creation.

Random Acts of Kindness:

The completion to the circle comes when we have reached some measure of emotional and spiritual equilibrium. When I have reached this place of balance with my (or what I perceive to be) problems and stress, I have followed what Philosopher Joseph Campbell calls *bliss.* Are we ever truly in bliss? Well, this is real life after all. However, when I*ve taken the time to become more grateful and accepting of where I am right now there is a way I can continue to expand my gratitude. How?

By sharing it. I*ve noticed, if I continue to give away what I have in earnest, it expands. Therefore, If I choose to create more joy in my life, I can do so by causing another to feel joy. How? Here*s my favorite way: random acts of kindness. Perhaps I may sound certifiable to some. But, I invite you to try this exercise for yourself. Need some ideas to spread the love? Here*s my method.

Usually I begin by asking myself *How is it I may serve?* Can I give a few extra dollars to charity in this holiday season? Can I send a card and a short message to someone who I haven*t seen in awhile? Can I send flowers to my mom *just because?*

If you look around, it is not hard to find ways to share a loving thought or message. For a small amount of time, effort and money it*s easy to cause an earthquake of joy. Furthermore, In these times of war and fear, every moment and thought of joy and love counts.

In Closure:

When I become stressed-out and unfocused, I always try to remind myself: it*s all in the attitude. If I think it’s raining outside, dark, cold, and lifeless, this is the life I create. Yet, if I face my obstacles with grace, love and gratitude, I create more of that. By giving love and kindness - there*s just that much more to go around.

About The Author

Laura Turner is a writer and author. She publishes the bi-weekly New Body News and Wellness Letter, The Online Magazine Healthy People Read. ( http://www.new-body-news.com )

Her latest book: Spiritual Fitness: The 7-Steps to Living Well is currently available. Learn more here: http://www.new-body-news.com/Spiritual_Fitness.htm

Royal Vegas Casino

On the assumption you have not caught on to gambling house gambling, then make sure to read the following —

Generally speaking a casino is a house that organizes gambling. At such a place, visitors may wager handling slot-machines or trying out plenty of other games. Gambling saloon games routinely have logically determined percentages incorporated that maintain that the gaming company keeps up its lead versus the guests.

Countless gaming room games can goad you into being dependent quickly. By way of example, consider the time-honored one armed bandit, a coin operated machine with three, sometimes more discs that rotate once a lever attached to it is pulled. The appliance generally settles with reference to a distribution of images asvisible on the display of the gadget. Deplorably, betting house games suggest the misconception of supremacy, thereby hoodwinking the gamer — the participant is passed choices, but actually they cannot really match up the customer’s longterm odds. This is induced by the gaming hall never refunding the full wager as hoped for. This systematic method is repeatedly found in well known casino games like Texas hold’em poker, dice, roulette or blackjack.

Five-card stud is a very an incredibly popular casino game. The betting devotees, meticulously guarding their partially concealed cards, make bets in the pot which is then granted to the winning gamester holding the winning hand. (And yes, the shameless bluffer may well prevail too!)

Analogous to seven card stud poker, blackjack is likewise an immensely fashionable casino game. Most of its celebrity is caused by the mix of luck and knowledge & choice making, and a trick named card counting. The aforementioned is a skill by which players will significantly reverse the probabilities of the card game in their favor both by betting & fundamental opetations according to the cards deployed.

Craps is a famous casino pastime making use of the throw of dice. Craps buffs are placing bets on the score of one spin, or on a sequence of rolls on two dice. Contrary to blackjack, there’s no proven bona fide winning betting system people can make capital of to boost the chances.

Roulette is another insanely popular casino based gambling pastime — a croupier twirls a roulette wheel accomodating a set of precisely 37 (classical roulette) or, respectively thirty-eight (American roulette) uniquely tagged pockets in which a white ball will settle, revealing the winning number and the other chances that will always go along with it. Assuming that the punter bets on a number and makes it, which is to say it’s their lucky day, the guaranteed premium will be 35:1, the pledge itself is paid back. Therefore in total the pledge itself is increased by thirty-six.

Do your best to stay very wary as well for these casino gambling pastimes can be massively addictive. Many lives have regrettably been demolished as a result of inordinate gambling + even if it feels entertaining, please do endeavor to exert moderation.

Your printer cartridge is an essential component of a printer, since they contain the necessary ink that is spread on the paper during the printing process. A good quality printer ink toner or cartridge ensures you always get good quality images.

Workings of Your Print Cartridges

Most printers, including Canon and HP, use thermal inkjet while printers manufactured by Epson use Piezoelectric Inkjets. The purpose of both types of is to ensure the smooth supply of ink
In thermal inkjet printer cartridges, each ink reservoir partition contains a heating element that responds to the signals provided by the printer by warming up. However, if the ink in the Printer Ink toners and cartridges is not is substandard, the print will not produce a smooth result. The ink in the printer inkjet cartridges also acts as a coolant for the heating elements. If it dries up, this can result in damage to the printer head.

Types and Pricing of Print Inkjet Cartridges

Although most printer manufacturers recommend their own inkjet printer cartridges, several cheaper options are available. Inkjet cartridges manufactured by these OEMs are generally quite costly, so many users prefer to use cheaper versions that are not only compatible with their printers but also provide good quality printing.

The cheaper inkjet printer cartridges are brand new products, with new components, and deliver the same quality as do OEM products. Another option is the professionally remanufactured inkjet printer cartridges that have been used once, emptied, cleaned and refilled to match OEM standards.

The roaring 20’s were a wild time. What better way to celebrate a special event than by having a 20’s themed party? Make it a costume affair for even more fun and entertainment for the night. A 20’s theme party can be used for corporate events, an anniversary party or to celebrate a birthday.

The flapper girls and the gangsters are the most famous from the 20’s. Use party supplies copied after them such as fringe dresses, suits, roadsters or the number 20’s itself. Specialty party stores will have items to match your theme including wall hangings, personalized items and decorations. If you are serving food, plates, cups, napkins and tablecloths can be found in many colors to match the theme.

Since dancing was so big in the 20’s, try and rent a hall or make a large room seem like dance hall. Hold a dance a thon like they did back then and have real winners. Bring in a dance teacher and teach famous dances of the twenties like the Charleston, the Shimmy, the Fox Trot and the Black Bottom. Let them dance all night (they used to drop from exhaustion) or simply who has the best style. Personalized trophies can serve as favors for the winners.

Games to play with a 20’s theme in mind include trivia. Name the inventions of the 20’s, famous people, famous companies and events of the era. Set a time limit and the person with the most correct answers wins.

Have a menu true to the time period also. There were not many processed foods, so everything was close to homemade. Challenge each guest to bring an authentic dish from the era. Prohibition was in the early years, so try a homemade alcohol recipe too. Make it an adults only party first!

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. More ideas, games, favors, decorations and 20s Party Supplies at the Party Supplies Hut for a roaring good time.

While traveling on the Metroliner from a wonderful and relaxing trip seeing friends in Washington, DC, I realized how difficult it is for some many business owners and executives to take a vacation. Is the thought of a relaxing vacation an impossible dream?

As a sole practioner, I have learned that if I do not stop and smell the roses, enjoy my family and have some fun, I will be sabotaging not only my career but also my life.

Vacations and days off are an important part of any career plan. They allow you to think a bit differently and find that balance you need. Colleagues and clients also perceive you as a person who not only recognizes a need for balance but also is not a control freak.

I believe it’s really possible to leave the office both mentally and physically. It just takes a bit of planning and some very deep breathing.

Be Prepared

Look at your schedule for upcoming projects and deadlines. Try to take care of as much as you can before your trip and allow for emergencies when you get back. Schedule upcoming meetings and projects on your calendar early, so that you are not rushed when you return. I often create a To Do List and use different folders so that when I return from a trip, things are as organized as they can be. By being prepared, you will be able to put your project’s aside and enjoy your trip.

Delegate

Determine well in advance who will be taking care of your responsibilities while you are away. Ensure he or she has the information needed to answer questions and that if decisions must be made, what the appropriate comfort level is. For me, I have an administrative office that handles any emergencies for me. It’s a lifesaver. I know that my clients are speaking to real people who can help move the issue toward a successful resolution. If you don’t have an administrative office, speak to a few call centers in your area. If nothing else, your clients will hear a real voice and know that the message will be taken.

Notify Your Clients

Tell your clients in advance that you will be traveling. If you normally respond to email and phone messages within an hour, your clients need to know that you will not be readily available. If they know when you will be back and who to contact, emergencies are not as drastic and they will be able to gauge the level of importance. Be sure to give the same information on vacation emails and voicemails (office and cell.)

Extra Protection

If you are able to schedule a quiet day in the office for yourself, before your official return, do so. By telling clients that you will be back on Tuesday, when you will really be in the office Monday, allows you to answer those emails and return some of your calls without the stress of being rushed.

Being Connected

If you must be connected and check in with your office, either by phone or email, I suggest taking care of things every few days and in the morning or very late afternoon. Remember, you are on vacation and balance is important.

Relax & Day Dream

Bring books and magazines that are not related to your business. Vacations allow us to think about things we never would have dream of. Last December, while on vacation sitting in the sun in Bonaire, I thought of a fabulous idea for my business. After a few short minutes of thought, I decided to give it a try. I credit the success of that idea and successes in my business to the fact I was on vacation.

I wish you all a wonderful and relaxing summer vacation!

Beth Silver has been providing marketing and business strategies (http://www.doubetllc.com/services) to entrepreneurs and small business owner for over 10 years. For more great tips and to sign up for Doubet’s free monthly newsletter, The Target Advocate (http://www.doubetllc.com/newsroom), please visit http://www.doubetllc.com

It’s the beginning of spring break, and we’re heading south. That’s all we know.

Our family is greatly anticipating what may be our last road trip for a long, long time. There’s a lot of excitement in our house right now as we are shifting into a whole new phase for each of us.

My husband is launching a new business. I am writing a book. Our 17-year-old daughter is preparing for college in Nova Scotia in September. Our 16-year-old daughter is heading to Brazil for a year-long Rotary Exchange in July. Our 14-year-old daughter is playing a sport for the first time in her life. Our 13-year-old daughter is considering transferring to an arts magnet school in order to immerse herself in her passiondance.

This is the end of an era. In a few months, we will never have all four of them living at home again. The next year will bring all kinds of changes, and we feel we need to grab this chance to hit the road together in our trusty, dusty minivan.

It’s time for our favorite kind of vacationthe make-it-up-as-you-go meander through undiscovered (to us, anyway) territory. We’ll get up really early, jump in the van, and just go. No reservations. No schedule. No destination in mind.

We love this no-goal travel. We learned years ago that the happiest times we spend together are those in which we are free to experience each moment as it comes without planning the next.

Back in 1998, we decided in one day to pack up the kids and take off to India and Nepal for three months. It’s not as though we simply quit our jobs and left. That would have been far easier.

We had plenty of responsibilitieswe owned two small retail businesses, an import/export company, an old commercial building with a leaky roof, and a house we had just finished remodeling.

We felt restless and ready for adventure, and making the choice to go was instantaneous and unanimous.

We sold one business, liquidated another, put the third in a coma. We found someone to take care of the leaky roof, and another to stay in our house. We yanked the kids out of school and within six weeks of making our decision boarded a planesix excited travelers carrying six small backpacks.

The girls were 7, 8, 10 and 11. People thought we were insane.

The first two months we spent in India visiting the former host families my husband had lived with during his own Rotary Exchange when he was 16. The third month we had reserved for Nepal. We planned to fly into Kathmandu and spend four weeks on our own. We had no agenda, no reservations, no contacts. We weren’t the least bit concerned about it.

From the very first day, it was clear this was going to be a really special experience for our family. We found a clean, friendly hotel, the Red Planet, with a room big enough for six of us. It was $15 a night. Our window faced the rear of a nightclub, and we giggled ourselves to sleep as Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson were blasted from the speakers outside. One of our daughters became quite adept at unclogging the toilet and bathtub drain.

We wandered the curving streets, marveling at the sights and sounds. Each meal was an adventure as we made it a point to invite single diners to join us. We met fascinating people of all ages from around the world.

Highlights include dashing into a tiny Italian restaurant during our first two hours in Kathmandu as we were caught in a torrential downpourour first rain since leaving Oregon. A hilarious but fairly sleepless night sharing a tea house room with rats. Children, especially young boys, trailing us everywhere we trekked. Breakfast on our roof with a breathtaking view of the Annapurnas. Ducking to avoid spider webs dripping with dew while riding elephants in the early morning. Exploring richly scented temples. Spontaneous dancing in the streets.

We have never, ever laughed more than we did on that trip. I had to use an asthma inhalernot for any allergies, but because I laughed so hard that I started wheezing! Every single day was full of absolute joy and discovery. It didn’t matter in the slightest what we were doing. We were together, we were exploring, and we were having the time of our lives.

Granted, a road trip to southern Oregon isn’t nearly as exotic. Still, what we learned in Nepal is the magic of being in the moment. Our kids discovered the power of being present and open to whatever the day may bring.

It’s a priceless lesson we feel fortunate to have learned early. That trip was a gift that keeps on giving. It provided a shining example of true mindfulness for our growing daughters.

We’re heading south. Our intention? To be together. To explore. And to laugh our heads off.

I’ll bring my inhaler.

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com

Chamonix France is located at the base of the magnificent Monte Bianco in the European Alps and is often regarded as the climbing and extreme snowboarding capital of Europe. The town has long been known as a veritable area for extreme activities during both winter and summer. The town was home to the 1st Olympics back in 1924 - however it is also an area of brilliant beauty offering a lot to the adventurous mountaineer and vacationer.

Differing from most up to date skiing towns the town of Chamonix is not a new ski town and has been mostly preserved from the brutalist architecture that scars a majority of the French resorts. Chamonix Mont Blanc is blessed with not only a world renowned ski domain moreover a classic and energetic centre.

The resort is big enough to ensure that there’s plenty enough for the non-skier to do and see. However you choose to enjoy your vacation theres an activity to please the whole group. There is an impressive swimming and sports area, beauty salons, husky sledding and local market; and a plethora of shops, luxury chalets, cafes and night-clubs, Chamonix privides a mix of mountaineering, old town atmosphere and aprs ski, that not many skiing resorts can equal. Go on and book that ski trip straight away.