If you are thinking about planters...

I used to love to garden, it would be fair to say I still do but I don't make enough time for it. I do have a window box planter but it's one that could use some TLC and some more plants. Right now it's more weeds than plants, though at least I can argue that some of the weeds are kind of pretty. Many weeds don't look like weeds, or at least that's the story I'm sticking with at this point. :-)

There are an amazing number of different styles of outdoor planters out there of almost every price range. Which makes it fun to dream online about which type I'd like to have for the new house since the porch there is huge and is the perfect type to have garden planters and who knows, maybe a fountain...That would be even easier to maintain.

Things I envision...

While we are still early in our house renovation project, a girl can still dream, which I do often when it comes to things inside and outside of the house that we will live in after the work is done. The yard at the house is three times larger than the one we have now, which has made me think about conflicting dreams, gazebos, Asian themes or keeping with my goal of the house as it was first built in 1905 (color wise I'm not going back to no heat and outhouses).

I can imagine what type of garden the house would have had, as I debate that versus trying to have plants and flowers that are native to this area. Of course it will probably be years before we get to the landscaping, but when we do? By then I will have decided...It is fun however to dream...

A picture does say a thousand words...

At times I'll come across a picture of a place and it sticks with me to the point where I wish there was some magical wand to wave to take me there. Take this picture of St. Thomas as an example:



It's really hard after looking at that picture to not want to find the first available spot at one of the many St. Thomas villa rentals and fly away to sit by that beach with a drink in hand...However for now? I'll have to satisfy myself by gazing at the picture for just a while longer.

Other vacation spots to think about...

Those of you who don't get a chance to check out my local blog may not know that Monday night I'm heading out west for a little over a week. My oldest daughter took a job near San Jose so my best friend Holly and I are making the drive out there with her and then we'll fly home after she gets settled.

This has been kind of a dream vacation planning experience since Holly & I have talked about escaping from our husbands and children for several years now. Who knows, since we are making out to California, perhaps that dream spot of North Padre Island rentals could still come true or the trip to Tuscany...

One way to be enlightened online, shopping for lights...

As most of you know, I do almost all of my shopping online, and I also spend some time looking at various websites to "dream shop". Being found of unique style lighting, Farrey's is one of my favorite places to visit since they have a huge designer selection. I can always find a collection that appeals to me, whether it's the Romance collection by minka lavery or the Maison De Ville Collection from murray feiss I always find a few lighting fixtures that I'd want to have adorn my dream home.

Most of the lights you will not find in your local home improvement store, the huge selection almost guarantees you will find just the right fixture along with some really unique collections such as the Del Prato - Misted Bronze Collection from sea gull lighting. Many of the lighting fixtures cost much less than you would expect given the designer name, they also offer volume discounts as well as always have a certain number of lights on sale each month.

If I could escape...

With as stressful as things have been here recently thinking about all inclusive resorts is an appealing thought. I've been to the Caribbean before and we had a great time, though right now the idea of a family vacation is less appealing than a solo trip. Or maybe with my husband...but that's debatable right now (smile).

When we have traveled in the past we have really enjoyed resorts that are all inclusive, which would mean that an all inclusive jamaica vacation would be my first preference. Considering all of the snow on ground right now, even rainy days in the Caribbean would be preferable to Toledo's weather.

For now, I can spend a few moments fantasizing about what it would be like to spend my upcoming birthday at an all inclusive jamaica resort.

Just the sound of it is appealing...

I'm in one of those "I want to escape" type moods right now so when I see something that catches my eye it makes me think. Take the name Sea Pines rentals as an example, it makes me think about a dream vacation escape. Even when I can't actually get away taking some time visiting vacation spots online is my form of a virtual escape. A "Calgon take me away moment" without the bathtub or the bubbles...

:-)

Surf's Up!

You may think that here in Ohio, the topic of Surfing or Surfboard Bags wouldn't be one that I'd know anything about. Here in this house two of my daughters are surfing fans, they love their yearly trips to Florida to be able to surf and one dreams of being able to move to California so she can surf. When they are near an ocean, they look for waves and then a place to rent a surfboard.

Surfing the waves of the Great Lakes isn't really what most people would call surfing, but here in Ohio my bunch consoles themselves with using the smaller body boards but they spend many a hour looking at boards and the huge number of fins are available. With the snow flakes starting to fall in this area, the topic of the desire to move out West is sure to increase and along with that, the Surf's up dream as well as the shopping for the perfect board and the perfect bag.

Free vacation rental listings

Thanks to the internet it's easier than ever if you are interested in taking advantage of Free vacation rental listings either as a person looking for a place to rent or someone who has a home you'd like to rent out as a vacation home. The advantage of Tiny Surfer is you can get quite a bit of information on these vacation rental spots as well as see pictures and be able to deal with the owner directly.

I was surprised to see an awesome rental unit in Saigon, the pictures shared there were amazing and then if you are interested in something just a bit closer to home, check out this Telluride vacation rental.

They have an additional section for Free condo rental listings so if you have a condo vacation home that you'd like to rent out or if you are looking for a vacation rental in a condo unit at places from Africa to South America, Tiny Surfer is the place to go.

I'd love to escape after the elections...

It's been a difficult task keeping up with reporting on local politics with the upcoming election and doing the rest of my blogging as well as the real life duties that come with being a wife and mother. At times it's been so stressful that I sit and day dream for a moment or two about escaping to a Bed and Breakfast. Sometimes I'm dreaming I'm alone...once in a while I include my husband in these dream getaway moments...

:-)

Balding Brothers show dreams can come true..

One of the first things I do whenever I visit a website is to see if there is an "about" page and try to learn more about the company, which is what led me to finding out more about Wilmington, NC cabinets made by the Balding Brothers.

Reading how the brothers took their own unique talents and ended up with a successful custom cabinet making company shows the type of dreams that can come true in this country. When you look at some of the beautiful custom work they have done, as well as some of their renovation projects, it's easy to see why people are discovering that their philosophy of providing un-matched craftsmanship and service is becoming a hit in the Wilmington area. I spent quite a bit of time looking at the pictures of the work that they've done and they can make even a utility room look amazing...

Stargazing in St. Lucia...

The island of St. Lucia is named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse and Lucy means "light", which made me think of lights at night...stars...Due to the weather conditions in St. Lucia, most nights are clear which means they would be perfect for stargazing. For near perfect results when it comes to enjoying the night time sky, you need to be away from the lights of the city, this makes some of the beaches on St. Lucia, especially those on the Atlantic Ocean that due to the choppier waves are not as visited, the opportunity for a more secluded viewing spot.

Another great opportunity for stargazing would be to take advantage of the many fishing and chartering boat operations to arrange for a night time sail. Whether you are a late night person like me or an early riser, this St. Lucia travel guide would help you plan the exact vacation you desire.

Get a smooch and more...

Looking for a 100% free dating site with no hidden charges to be able to access certain features? Then you'll want to Click here to go to Smooch.com. It has all of the full features that you'd expect from a popular dating website such as the ability to upload photos, a "who's online" feature and the ability to chat in private. Where it is different though is Smooch doesn't promise a free profile only to have you later discover you have to pay a fee to actually be able to "meet" people interested in hooking up with you. When you join, it's very easy to see who's online from your state and if there are any members that meet the geographical area you have selected to search from. I created a test membership to fully review the site and it is very easy to join as well as to navigate the site.

How the topic of Hawaii Real Estate started...

The other day I was riding the bus from my home to downtown Toledo to meet a friend for coffee at my favorite coffee house. I take the bus often and sometimes the bus drivers are the more surly type and sometimes they are more friendly. The bus driver I had was very chatty and when the topic turned to how long he had been a bus driver he shared he had a few years left to go then he planned to move from this area. He stated he had already started looking at Hawaii real estate and that was where he was going to spend his retirement years.

It was obvious in talking to him that he had spent quite a bit of time doing his research on the real estate aspect of his dream retirement home. He knew exactly what he wanted. He did not however seem very net savvy so I gave him some general tips and advice and told him that he might find reading a real estate blog or two very helpful in helping him with his search. So, not only was it a fun bus ride downtown, but I helped someone learn a bit more about how the internet could help him not only find his true dream home but get relocation tips and more.

History and Culture of Dominican Republican alluring...

With part of my husband's family living just one island over in Puerto Rico, the idea of visiting the Dominican Republic has been one that is on my list of places I'd love to go. The differences in the culture of the Dominican Republic compared to other islands in the Caribbean is very intriguing, while all share some Spanish influence most of these islands, including the Dominican Republic have managed to keep some of their individuality when it comes to tradition.

The United States has been involved in the political history of the Dominican Republic from time to time since 1916. It was because of the United States political influence that Rafael Trujillo ended up being placed in a position where he became a dictator. Tourism has been one of the factors related to helping this area even during past political upheavals. One of the major attractions to the Dominican Republic is almost 800 miles of beaches. I'm one of those who like to head off in the path of the not so touristy spot, which makes Barahona, the "Pearl of the South", sound like a very appealing location. Who knows, someday in the near future I could be live blogging from Barahona...

:-)

Viva Las Vegas!

One of the trips my father and I mentally planned but were never able to do before he died was a trip to Las Vegas. He had gone to Vegas many times and enjoyed his stays there, and he and I agreed the idea of me escaping from my five children with him to have a few fun filled days staying somewhere like the Caesars Palace would be an enjoyable adventure. It's still something I think about from time to time and would love to do, knowing that I was visiting some of his favorite haunts there...

Get some Geek Love...

Live in more of a world where it's not breast size but the size of your harddrive that matters? Does brain matter to you so much more than brawn to the point where the only perl you care about doesn't come from the sea? Then my dear tech friends looking for relationships might want to check out Geek 2 Geek - Geek dating. Something I found especially neat about the site is their Top 10 Reasons Why Geeks Make the Best Catch. Creating a profile is free, so for those looking to make a Geek connection? The person of your dreams could be within wireless range...

A junket to Jamaica...

Ever since I watched the movie "Cool Runnings" about the Jamaican bobsled team, I've always wondered what it would be like to actually visit Jamaica. For me when I watch a movie about a location I wonder, is it really like that? From a political junkie standpoint, the political history of Jamaica has also been of interest to me, the islanders have endured quite a few moments of upheaval and change yet have been able to still try to maintain their economy through tourism.

When I was reading more in the Jamaica Guide I couldn't help but notice that the movie I mentioned above that increased my interest in Jamaica is also mentioned under the culture of Jamaica section of the guide. Apparently I'm not the only one who has had dreams of what it would really be like to visit there and I also had to admit Rastafari intrigues me, it would be awesome to meet someone there and be able to talk with them about this religion. Then of course I'd want to spend time on the beaches...All politics/religion and no play would be an impossible task given how amazing the island looks in pictures.

Apartment hunting in the Big Apple...

Years ago when I was 18 or so I dreamed of living in New York City, now my 18 year old daughter is experiencing that same wish. The difference between now and then was back when I was searching for Apartments in New York from here in Toledo, it was a much more involved process. You'd have to go to the one store in town that sold newspapers from New York City, then pour through the classifieds to see the price range and location of apartments.

Today with companies like Innovative Apartments, it's a much easier process. You simply visit their website and instantly see Apartments in New York of every size from studios on up, in every price range, from $900 and up and just about every location, all 5 boroughs and even some apartments in New Jersey. It's that simple...

When I looked at some of the pictures of apartments currently available, I instantly flashed back to my New York dream moments, look at that color and the fire escape. I could imagine sitting there looking out the window on to the bustle of the street below. All of the apartments that I saw in their listings had character and looked like the type of apartments you'd want to show off to visitors from back home that made the trek out to the Big Apple to see you. Another great thing about Innovative Apartments is they do not charge a broker fee for any of their apartments and they offer other great services to make renting an apartment as easy of an experience for you as possible. So, no matter if you are already living in New York and looking for a different apartment or you are somewhere else dreaming of making it big on Broadway, or longing to live near Central Park, Innovative Apartments just might have the perfect apartment for you.

Bermuda's history is what allures me...

My list of fantasy places I'd love to visit that my father as a pilot was able to venture to, includes the island of Bermuda. I have many pictures of his trips there, and because of his tales of adventure when visiting, the history of Bermuda has been a topic of interest for me. The history is in some ways similar to what other parts of the south and Caribbean experienced with numerous take overs from outside governments with the end result being a mix of a unique culture of it's own. What separates Bermuda from some of it's neighbors though is related to it's culture. Bermuda has a much larger British influence that is still in evidence today. According to my father, Bermuda was more "proper" and it appears in reading resource information found on the Bermuda Guide, they concur with that, stating as an example, stockings and heels for women are worn even given the more warm climate and men wear ties and jackets.

Which even though I'm not a fan of stockings, I'd still love to be able to visit Bermuda some day...

:-)