CoCo Key Water Resort has five dollar tickets in all of their resorts this Monday only. For the price of a backyard inflatable pool you can actually take your whole family to a water park!
Note - you can get this $5 DAY PASS deal only for Monday, July 6, 2009 and only when purchased online while supplies last. Good on up to five tickets. Valid at any CoCo Key Water Resort - see the locations in the picture below.
Purchase tickets here and enter code: JULYFBT to get the deal.
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Exactly 11 years ago at this moment I was walking down the aisle standing in the front of a judge in Enterprise, Alabama, getting ready to say “I do”.
There is one picture of our wedding day in the anniversary post I wrote two years ago, but can you believe that last year, on my 10th wedding anniversary my blog post was titled “I Think I’ll Live”? And there was no hint of irony there… My biggest celebration of that day was that I was able to speak & walk five steps & brush my teeth myself, and had hope that I will see my 11th wedding anniversary.
We didn’t really care that we didn’t have a big wedding (I still don’t have any regrets). My family & friends were in Finland, Matt’s in Texas, and having a wedding in either of those places would have left one of us feeling out of place and not knowing anyone. We were getting married to spend the rest of our lives together, I didn’t care for anything else. While I understand the feeling of wanting to shout it down from the rooftops when you are so ultimately in love with someone, but love had hit me so suddenly and getting married felt really intimate and independent decision to me.
Of course there were the factors that my parents hadn’t even met Matt, my friends thought I was crazy, and many of them thought I was “wasting my life” by moving to the other side of the world. While my friends back in Europe thought my decision of getting married to an American soldier was the craziest thing I had ever done, to me it was the decision that felt the most right than any other decision I had ever done in my life. I still think that way.
We got married on a lunch break. The court house was not open during the weekends, and Matt was in the military flight school, unable to even get a whole day off. My mom had made me a dress, but my parents weren’t even there for the 5 minute ceremony, Matt’s family had driven in from Texas the day before. Our witnesses were Matt’s classmates, dressed in army uniforms and green flight suits. My mother-in-law-to-be bought me flowers, which I hadn’t even thought of getting, and we forgot to even get a wedding cake, but got one the night before from grocery story (and of all places I think it was Walmart, if I can remember correctly!). Only things I had really thought of getting to celebrate the day were new lingerie and a bottle of champagne!
So since I don’t have a picture story of our wedding, I figured I will share some other pictures from the past. This is the first 6 years of our marriage….
Of course, since we have lived the skimbaco lifestyle before I even made up the word, this photo collage isn’t even close to describe our life.. like how we moved to Germany after being married for a year, but I went to Finland to have our first baby, while Matt was deployed in Kosovo. Or how we had another baby in Germany, moved to the US when she was two months old, lived in Alabama again, took girls to DisneyWorld. Magically I was pregnant again.. and we bought our first house in New York, lived a while at Virginia Beach, sold the house in New York, Matt got out of army, flew TV news helicopter in Cleveland, Ohio… and we built our dream house in Nashville, Tennessee, but moved to be ski bums, pro moms and rescue helicopter pilots at the Rocky Mountains. Last year travelled 2 months, now we live outside New York City…
And I feel that this is just the beginning. Only thing that has changed since the day we got married is that I don’t care for the lingerie anymore. Today I just want champagne.
Oh, and one more thing. I really love you Matt.
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It’s Monday afternoon in the sunny New York City. The street in the front of the Plaza Hotel is busy with people gathering to see a glimpse of Mariah Carey. Most people don’t even know what is going on or who is the high profile celebrity why the street in the front of the Plaza is closed. Several security men are trying to keep the people off the street and away from the front door of the Plaza. There are lights, and camera ready, all people are craving is the action.
And then suddenly… there she is. Mariah Carey steps outside of the Plaza, poses for photos and smiles, and you can almost hear the crowds to sigh. Cameras are clicking, and for a short minute seems like everyone is happy, like there is more magic on the air than on the Christmas morning. Then the reality hits, and the security guards start pushing people away and reminding not to use flash cameras and the film crew gets ready to film the action.
Mariah is wearing a tight little black dress and gorgeous black platform shoes that strap around her golden tone ankles. Mariah walks to the corner of street in the front of the Plaza, and gets one last hair and makeup check. The cameras are still clicking, but she is already focused on the upcoming scene.
And then it’s time for action.
Mariah Carey is shooting a music video Obsessed and the scene is her going to the Plaza carrying Bergdorf Goodman shopping bags. Mariah is first walking, looking back, and then starting to run, like someone was chasing her. Nobody is, except the cameraman, but I am sure the scene will make more sense once we see the music video.
They shoot the same scene a few more times, and then it’s a wrap. Mariah disappears inside the Plaza, and the crew starts taking down the lights. The crowd is still waiting and standing, obsessed with Mariah’s beauty - maybe she will come back.
I won’t stay waiting, I have seen enough. Instead I cross the street and visit Bergdorf Goodman, hoping that maybe I could find Mariah’s shoes, I got quite obsessed with the black high platforms she was wearing.
I wouldn’t go as far as calling it my lucky day, but I do find Mariah Carey’s black platforms at Bergdorf Goodman, and they are even on sale. The Gucci Iman Sandals normally run for $1,275 but now are a steal for $854. I decide to pay my car payment instead.
Here is Obsessed without a music video, from Mariah Carey’s upcoming album Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel (now for pre-order, release date August 25), the rumor goes that the video is out already sometime in July.
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Start sharing now! Click the share button and get the code and you can post the show at your site!
I have exciting news!
I am hosting my First Ever Interactive LIVE Multimedia Snazl show TODAY on Tuesday June 30, at 2PM EST!
The show is part of e.l.f. Cosmetics BlogHer stories series, done by Snazl.com, and can be seen at both of those sites and here at SkimbacoLifestyle.com - heck, you can even embed it to your site! That’s the beauty of Snazl - same show live on multiple sites.
In fact - if you do want to show it LIVE on your site and be part of hosting it, I would totally love it! I will raffle $25 e.l.f. Cosmetics gift cards, and one will be raffled among those bloggers who are hosting the show on their sites.
Part of the show is a video of Snazl interviewing me about my fashion tips at the e.l.f. Cosmetics headquarters in New York last week. Speaking of New York… I saw a Super Star in NYC yesterday, a true fashion icon! Find out WHO and see the picture I snapped at 2 EST in the live Snazl.com show.
The first $25 e.l.f. Gift Card will go to the person who guesses WHO I saw! Be here at 2 EST sharp and I will start dropping hints.
Everyone can join the show by signing up at Snazl.com and anyone can host the show at their sites - just be sure to be here at 2EST to get the code. If you will be hosting the show, leave your link below to enter the giveaway! And everyone being part of the show at ANY site will have a chance to win the remaining 4 gift cards.
I am testing a new linking system, MckLinky, so leave your link here if you are hosting LIVE show on Tuesday at 2 EST at your blog!
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Our family is all about road trips and traveling with kids - last year we even drove from Colorado to New York! The key to traveling with kids is keeping them entertained and this giveaway prize is perfect for that.
Disney Family.com is offering an “On the Road With Family.com” kit to one lucky Skimbaco Lifestyle reader! The kit promises to keep children comfortably entertained during car or plane trips this summer and will put an end to the dreaded “Are we there yet?” questions while allowing families to share their favorite family vacation destinations.
The travel kit includes a plush kid size travel pillow, a copy of Dr. Seuss’s There’s a Map in My Lap, a travel game kit, notepad and pen and adorable tote bag (a $30 value).
Also, make sure to visit Disney Family.com Travel to help with all your vacation planning needs as the site provides a unique resource for parents providing a combination of expert reviews, parent recommendations, and age-appropriate points of interest for family-friendly destinations on any budget.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
Comment with your favorite family vacation destination spot and leave a way to contact you.
DEADLINE: Thursday, July 2, 2009 midnight EST.
Thanks for Mom Generations for hooking us up with this giveaway.
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Big news: we are not moving anywhere this summer.
It seems like it was just yesterday when we moved here in New York, rented this temporary apartment and kids started school. School is almost out - two more half days left - and we already got a notice we should either renew our rent lease in two months or move out. We’ve been in New York for almost ten months already - where did the time go? On the other hand I feel so at home here that seems impossible it’s only been ten months - did the life in Europe, then traveling across the US and living in Colorado really even exist?
We have moved almost every year the past 7 years we have lived in the US. Out of the past 7 years we have lived in hotels or furnished temporary apartments for total of over a year. It may not seen that much out of my life, but that’s over 15% of my kids’ entire lives. You know those 100 days projects kids do at school - my kids do world maps and “100 places I’ve been” on those days.
We have decided just stop and breathe and enjoy life right here where we are. While it is tempting to move again, find a nicer place (we have tried, no such luck finding anything), maybe even closer to the city, but kids like their school in our little town and have gotten some friends. And the pool season just started and I finally found my way to the free gym we have in our club house. I miss owning my own home, renovating, painting and ripping of the carpets and installing wood floors. Maybe there will be a day that we can buy a house again but as of now our kids won’t have a “childhood home”, they just have a childhood of adventures, new experiences and they are getting different kind of tools for life with the lifestyle we have.
I do feel we deprive our children things - like their grandparents. One set lives in Texas, other set lives in Finland, and we live right in the middle, New York, and equally far away from both. The thought being away from family and my parents not seeing my kids to grow is killing me. My father said a few years ago they’ll come and visit us when we “settle down” and our life is “normal”. I hope he’ll change his mind some day, because I do not seek “normal life” and settling down, I seek living in the moment and experiencing every bit of life I can.
While our life may seem too chaotic and crazy and even totally not stable, the traveling and moving around isn’t the only thing we do differently in our family. On the other words: I am not a soccer mom. Since we travel and move so often, I want our every day life to be as low key and calm as possible. Kids don’t do soccer, nor baseball or take any other classes after school. If we are not doing something skimbaco, adventurous and exciting, we lead pretty boring life. You need to balance it, you know. We don’t do many play dates, don’t go to movies or hang out at the mall on Saturdays. We don’t have babysitters, we never do anything without the kids. Think of it - the way we move around and travel, if our every day life was the typical suburban busy family life with baseball games, sleepovers, date nights for parents- our life would be so busy that I would never have time to actually get to know my own kids.
This summer, the summer when we are not moving anywhere, our kids are also not going to summer camps, and we haven’t even planned a big family vacation. This summer we are having a “Summer Camp At Home”, we have set rules for activities like reading and TV and list of fun activities kids want to learn and do. I will keep you posted how it goes - because after all, while the kids are on summer vacation, I will be running business as usual while organizing all the summer fun for the kids.
Ask me after two months if this was a good idea.
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I hope you enjoyed my review of the Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa in Pennsylvania. I highly recommend it for a weekend getaway, and wanted to share a few special rates they have going on. Remember that one night stay includes three meals, and all the classes and activities. You will have to pay extra for alcoholic drinks and spa treatments (unless you get a package with spa treatments). Make sure to use these amazing offers - $299 a night is a steal!
- Mid-week Magic You can stay mid-week in the Veranda Deluxe accommodations through July 9, 2009 with rates starting from $299 (normally $475) per person, double occupancy or $399 (normally $585) per person, single occupancy.
- Weekend Renewal Weekend rates now start at $380 per person, double occupancy and $480 per person, single occupancy.
- Credit Bonus On top of these exceptional mid-week and weekend rates, now through June 30, 2009, The Lodge is offering a booking bonus of $50 per person per night for mid-week stays, to be used for spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, boutique purchases, personal training sessions and more.
- Free for the Holiday Stay three or more consecutive nights on select holidays in 2009 and the holiday night is complimentary, think Independence Day (Jul 4), Labor Day (Sep 7), Columbus Day (Oct 12), Halloween (Oct 31), Thanksgiving (Nov 26), and Christmas (Dec 25). Complimentary night does not include spa treatment allowance.
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The Dashing Diva girls’ night out was just a little warm up for enjoying spas, the Girlfriends Spa Getaway was my recent trip to The Lodge at Woodloch luxury destination spa in Pennsylvania. The Lodge at Woodloch is in the perfect driving distance of NYC (or Philadelphia) and I had a Girlfriend Getaway there with some of my blogging friends: Amy of Long Island Parent Source, Kim, the Traveling Mom and Amy, the Selfish Mom. A special thanks to Maria Bailey for telling us about the spa.
Read the review after the pictures.
Destination Spa
The Lodge at Woodloch is a destination spa. Destination spas are a bit different than resort spas - in resort spas you can enjoy spa treatments, and take classes and pay as you go and according to your wishes, but at destination spa your meals, the use of spa and fitness center and taking the classes are all included in the price. You can also get packages that include the spa treatments in the price, or you can take additional treatments that are not included. I like the destination spa approach better, because you are more likely to try new things like drumming or kayaking when it is included in your price.
Best For Girlfriend Getaway
The Lodge at Woodloch destination spa is a perfect for a girlfriend getaway, a mother-daughter bonding trip or a relaxing getaway with your spouse. Half of the visitors there are couples, but since you can not enjoy the sauna or steam room with your husband, part of the experience can not be shared together, thus the Woodloch is the best for girlfriend getaways in my opinion. Children under 18 are not allowed, this is an adult only retreat.
Easy Drive & Easy to Find
The Lodge at Woodloch destination spa was easy to find (with a help of a GPS navigator, but there were also signs on the side of the roads), even thought it is in the middle of “nowhere” in the beautiful Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania. The drive alone is relaxing once you get out of the city and it takes a little over 2 hours from New York City. I recommend driving yourself, and not depending on public transportation. The best of course, if you can drive with your girlfriends and start having fun already on the way there!
Luxury Starts with Hello
Once you arrive to your destination, the spa hotel is behind a security gate and the security guard lets you drive in the front of the beautiful resort building, where a friendly valet is waiting and welcoming you. You can just step out and check in to the luxury spa resort and start enjoying your vacation immediately. Three large crystal drums welcome you in the foyer like a sculpture - the crystal drums are called “Chakra bowls” and once you tap the side of one, the melodies and vibrations fill the air. According to the Eastern philosophies the combination of the sound and vibration balances your body’s energies. The stunning 34 foot cathedral ceiling in the foyer and the architecture of the building is giving me an instant rejuvenation.
The Rooms & Surroundings
The rooms are generously sized and the whole resort building is build around nature and you can not escape the feeling of nature. There view is amazing - you have the lake on the other side and the beautiful water sculpture on the other side of the building, and the forest surrounding it all. There are enough trails to run or go for a power walk, and the lake is perfect for kayaking or fishing. There is a relaxing cool room off the steam room and sauna to enjoy the scenery while staying cool even on the hottest days of the summer. The architecture of the building is a perfect marriage of a luxury resort and a mountain side or waterfront lodge with natural elements like black river rocks on the shower floors and natural wood casings, mixed with high ceilings, large windows and marble flooring. Little details like luxurious soaps (I absolutely loved the rosemary shampoo), flowers and a pitcher of tea and a tray of gourmet cookies make the experience even better.
Spa Treatments, Pool & Ultimate Relaxation
The first 30 minutes of my stay I’m carrying my iPhone and trying to get a signal - no such luck. Amy (from Long Island) brought the Verizon network with her and had no problem connecting while, but even Amy couldn’t change the Woodloch spa rule- no cell phones allowed in public areas. At first the rule seems cruel for social media addicts like moi, but after an hour I am really liking this rule, the missing AT&T network feels like a blessing and I feel happy to leave the phone in my room and truly start relaxing. We are taken for a tour around the spa and once I see the pool, the waterfalls, the jacuzzis (indoor and outdoor), the sauna and the steam room I am feeling relaxed just from the thought of dipping into the pool or enjoying the eucalyptus steam room.
Every guest receives a water bottle and a canvas bag when checking in, and a white bath robe waits me in my room. I swear not to get out in public wearing the robe like the other guests, whom I saw even eating lunch wearing their robes. Little did I know that once you truly let go and start relaxing, walking around in your bath robe is no biggie.
I had one spa treatment, the awakening the senses facial , a mixture of aromatherapy, chromatherapy (color therapy), healing sound, choreographed two disc stone massage and a deep facial. The 75-minute-long treatment left me looking red as a cooked lobster, and my skin singing everything but hallelujah, and I probably wouldn’t do it again, but my skin is over sensitive, and I was assured that most guests like it.
Programs & Activities
There are so many different programs and activities for you to choose from! Plenty of relaxation programs from different type of yogas and Pilates to high tempo activities from different type of dance classes to kayaking and trail biking. I recommend trying something new you normally wouldn’t try, like we did. We wanted to try Drums Alive, and I imagined it being peaceful drumming with musical instruments, but little did I know - it was a high tempo aerobic experience with fitness balls and drum sticks, and it was so much fun - and a great workout! We also learned some cooking tips and recipes at a cooking class with the spa chef, and spent an evening class with a medium to learn how to connect better with our intuition.
Over all I think one day trip was too short, next time I will stay for two nights! But even one day at The Lodge at Woodloch felt so relaxing and I felt like a whole another woman when driving back home. Make sure to see the little video (on the top) of The Lodge at Woodloch for more pictures and Skimbaco Home for interior pictures of the Lodge.
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