Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Great Girlfriend Getaways - Daytime TV Show

Looking for some fun, unique and unforgettable Girlfriend Getaway ideas?

Watch this Daytime TV Show travel segment for ideas from Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Saks Shoe Event - Don't Delay!

I am not a huge outlet shopper, but I do love the deals I can find on current fashions at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH!!  Did you know you can enjoy fresh new designer shoe styles and sizes during the Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH shoe event that starts today and ends August 30th?

New shipments include gorgeous colors and textures from Stuart Weitzman, Kate Spade Sam Edelman, UGG, Cole Haan, 548, as well as our own Saks 5th Avenue brand made in Italy.  These styles include Boots, Booties, Pumps, Flats...a shoe to fit your lifestyle!  Included in this event is the shoe locator exclusively for clients that have our Free Discount Card, the More Card. Call Laura or Nya at (941) 729-5600 to purchase your size in your favorite brand.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

National TV Show Travel Correspondent Hosts “Leave Your Baggage at Home” Florida Girlfriend Getaway Weekend

What is it like to travel with a TV Travel Correspondent?  As The Getaway Girl®, Casey Wohl, launches “The Getaway Girl Foundation,” a non-profit dedicated to empowering women and girls through travel, she plans to kick off the Foundation with the inaugural “Leave Your Baggage at Home®” Getaway to Seaside, FL September 27-30, 2012 with limited space for a few lucky ladies to join.

Why Seaside?  This is where the idea for Foundation started when The Getaway Girl® took Sondra and two of her girlfriends on a getaway.  Sondra’s only son died of cancer and, then two weeks after the funeral, her husband left her.  With her birthday approaching, Sondra needed a new lease on life and that’s when the value of life-changing travel was discovered during a trip to Seaside, FL with Sondra, two of her friends and The Getaway Girl® Casey Wohl.  This idyllic community is situated in Northwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico along scenic highway 30A and amidst the white sand beaches of South Walton County. It is charming and romantic, beautiful and graceful, diverse and eclectic, authentic and unpretentious, alive and vibrant. You may even recognize it as the set for the 1998 Jim Carrey movie “The Truman Show.”  The dream for Seaside was the dream for life itself. Simplicity, grace, elegance, and what is truly real and significant in life.  A simple connection to family and friends and the beauty that abounds in this special corner of the world.

How To Register?  Registration for this weekend includes private tours, culinary demonstration by Celebrity Chef Tim Creehan, fashion lunch, pilates/yoga session, YOLO demonstration, reception, dinners and a cocktail hour (one at the famous Bud and Alley’s Restaurant), as well as participation in the sessions.  Early, discounted registration for $275 can be done online at www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net.  Accommodations and travel to Seaside must be booked separately.  For accommodations, please contact The Getaway Girl Foundation’s Seaside Lodging Partner, the Cottage Rental Agency, directly (use Group ID 703 for a 30% discount and free one-day bicycle rental) at (866) 976-7990 or www.CottageRentalAgency.com.

Watch The Getaway Girl® on TV: Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl® , will be featured on the nationally-syndicated television show, Daytime, on Thursday, August 23 speaking about her favorite Girlfriend Getaways.  To locate channels and times in your area, visit www.DaytimeOnline.tv.  

For more information, Frequently Asked Questions and trip details, visit www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net

Congrats to the Back to School Getaway Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Angela K. of Bremerton, WA who won the Back to School Getaway Giveaway.  From July 20-August 20, The Getaway Girl® gave fans a chance to win a Back-to-School Getaway Giveaway to San Antonio, Texas on behalf of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau by registering online at www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net.



Angela and her family won:

A 3-night/4-day stay at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Rivercenter Area Plus passes for four people to:  Alamo Trolley Tours, Alamo IMAX Theatre Rivercenter, Enchanted Springs Ranch Laser Legend, Ripley's Believe It or Not! & Louis Tussaud's Wax Works, Tower of the Americas 4-D Theater Ride and Witte Museum.

For visitor information: VisitSanAntonio.com or call at 1-800-447-3372. Follow San Antonio, Texas on Facebook at Facebook.com/VisitSanAntonio or Twitter at @VisitSanAntonio

Friday, August 17, 2012

No Excuses! Are You Focused on You??

I hear from women all the time “I’d love to go on a Girls Getaway with you” or “you have the best life” or “next time you go on a Girls Getaway I want to go.”

For all of you women out there, I planned a Girls Getaway to Seaside, FL for Sept. 27-30 with the intent of inviting anyone and everyone (well, no men).  Now I am chatting with those ladies who made the previously stated comments and they all have one excuse after another for not being able to join me on this getaway.  I started wondering, why don’t women make themselves a priority?  After all, they work so hard for everyone else in their lives (kids, husband, boyfriend, boss, family, etc), but when it comes to taking care of themselves there seems to be a million excuses.  Face it, thousands of women have confessed to “letting themselves go” and not making themselves a priority in their own life.  So what’s the first step to re-focusing on you?

A recent research study unveiled a vital component of wellness and happiness - vacations. The survey “The Takeaways from Getaways” found that more than 9 out of 10 Americans reported feeling happier after taking a vacation and 77% believed that their overall health improved. So why aren’t you taking your much-needed Girls Getaway? Here are some of the most popular excuses and why they just don’t work:

1) I have so much to do.  I just don’t have time. 
The science of productivity is pretty clear that anything from a coffee break to a two-week vacation can make us more productive by replenishing our energy and attention and allowing our brains to make new connections that are obscured in the daily grind. So making “me time” will ensure you are more efficient at home and at work. 

2) I feel guilty leaving family and work.
If you're stressed and busy, a vacation may seem like yet another thing to do....time is spent planning and when you get back to everyday life you might think you will be more overwhelmed.  However, you may be doing more long-term harm than you realize.  Studies show you will be healthier for taking that getaway. 
  • One 2005 study found that women who don't take regular vacations were two to three times more likely to be depressed compared to women who take regular vacations.
  • Researchers found an 8x higher risk of heart attack and death among women who rarely took vacations compared to women who took at least one vacation every 2-5 years.
3) We just took a family vacation.
A family vacation is NOT a vacation for Mom!  While you do get away from work and home, you are still a mom, which is not always relaxing and reenergizing.  While I’m sure you love vacationing with the family, these vacations don’t allow you to recharge, refresh and unwind.

4) I’d love a Girls Getaway, but I just can’t afford it.
The ironic thing about this excuse is that a Girls Getaway is one of the most economical ways to travel.  The group can split accommodations, gas money, meals, etc.  If you really want to go, you will find a way to save money...do you really need those new pair of shoes or the $4 lattes every day?  The secret to successful travel budgeting is as much about priorities as it is about the money.  Deciding where to spend dollars is a no-brainer: NO to stuff. YES to experience.  Americans are more connected to memories than mementos: 82% say their happiest life moments came from vacation experiences.  Those shoes will be outdated next season, but your memories will last a lifetime.

5) I’m the boss (at home and/or work) and things will fall apart if I leave.
Your team (whether at home or work) can survive without you.  Follow these tips to make sure they succeed while you're away, and they will make your vacation more enjoyable.
  • Delegate. Make sure your family/team feels empowered to carry on and step up without you. Delegate responsibilities, and make sure everyone knows who is responsible for what. This will not only ensure nothing goes unnoticed, but it will empower people to take more initiative--when you're gone and after you return.
  • Leave them a schedule. Let them know where you will be and how to reach you in case of an emergency.  For home, make sure the kids schedule is written down and easy to follow.
  • Allow for mistakes. Everyone drops the ball at some point, but even that is a learning experience. Allow for mistakes to happen when you're away. It won't be the end of the world.
"Vacations are not trivial," says Frank Farley, PhD, a leading clinical psychologist, professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, and former president of the American Psychological Association. "In this workaholic America, we have to treat them as precious stuff ... keep alive the good feelings and relaxing times."

With all of this in mind, will you put the excuses aside and join us for a fabulous Girls Getaway to Seaside, FL on September 27-30??  I promise you will have a wonderful time and return home refreshed, healthier (mind, body & spirit) and more focused on you.  For more details, visit www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Win A Getaway! The "Back to School" Getaway Giveaway



As summer draws to a close, it’s almost time to head back to school.  To enjoy one more summer vacation, The Getaway Girl® is offering fans a chance to win a Back-to-School Getaway Giveaway to San Antonio, Texas.

Enter to win a trip to San Antonio, Texas on behalf of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau by visiting www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net by August 20, 2012.

  Here are the getaway details:


  • A Three Night/Four Day Stay at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Rivercenter Area
  • Passes for four people to:
Alamo Trolley Tours
    • 
Alamo IMAX Theatre 
    • Rivercenter 
Enchanted Springs Ranch
    • 
Laser Legend

    • Ripley's Believe It or Not! & Louis Tussaud's Wax Works
    • 
Tower of the Americas 4-D Theater Ride

    • Witte Museum
Some rules/restrictions apply.  For visitor information: VisitSanAntonio.com or call at 1-800-447-3372. Follow San Antonio, Texas on Facebook at Facebook.com/VisitSanAntonio or Twitter at @VisitSanAntonio

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Leave Your Baggage at Home® Girls Getaway to Seaside, FL



As The Getaway Girl®, Casey Wohl, launches “The Getaway Girl Foundation,” a non-profit dedicated to empowering women and girls in need through travel, she plans to kick off the Foundation with the inaugural “Leave Your Baggage at Home®” Getaway to Seaside, FL September 27-30, 2012 with limited space for a few lucky ladies to join.

Why Seaside? 
This is where the idea for Foundation started when The Getaway Girl® took Sondra and two of her girlfriends on a getaway.  Sondra’s only son died of cancer and, then two weeks after the funeral, her husband left her.  With her birthday approaching, Sondra needed a new lease on life and that’s when the value of life-changing travel was discovered during a trip to Seaside, FL with Sondra, two of her friends and The Getaway Girl® Casey Wohl.

This idyllic community is situated in Northwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico along scenic highway 30A and amidst the white sand beaches of South Walton County. This region is known throughout the world for beautifully pristine waters framed by unspoiled coastal lands. Thirty years ago the town of Seaside was carefully planned and established.  It is charming and romantic, beautiful and graceful, diverse and eclectic, authentic and unpretentious, alive and vibrant. You may even recognize it as the set for the 1998 Jim Carrey movie “The Truman Show.”  The dream for Seaside was the dream for life itself. Simplicity, grace, elegance. The town reminds so many people of what is truly real in life. What is truly significant. A simple connection to family and friends and the beauty that abounds in this special corner of the world.
Seaside is not a cookie cutter beach resort. The town has pools and tennis courts and other beach resort amenities, but Seaside is more. It is an experience. It is an experience that not only changes the way a vacation is lived, it changes the way a life is lived. Seaside helps us all live a dream of a simple, beautiful life.  And isn’t that what a “Leave Your Baggage at Home®” weekend is all about?

What’s Happening in Seaside?
  • Town Center features over 50 boutique-style shops, cafés and bistros
  • Beachside shopping features open-air market, fine and casual dining
  • Ruskin Place Artist Colony features fine and folk art
This inaugural getaway will take place Sept. 27-30, 2012 in Seaside, FL.  Spaces are limited with a maximum of 50 women.  Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, September 27:
TBD         Check-In & Welcome Event

Friday, September 28:
            Breakfast on Your Own
8:30 AM     Baggage Busters - Welcome & Introductions
9:30 AM    Coffee Talk - Casual Conversations with Extraordinary Women Over Coffee
Noon        Fashion Show & Lunch
2:00 PM    Get to Know Seaside:
  • Exclusive, Private Bicycle Tours - Seaside was developed in the 1980s by developer Robert Davis as a modern Victorian town with narrow streets, picket fences and pastel-hued dwellings. It quickly revolutionized town planning across the U.S.  On this tour, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at the ingeniously planning that went into planning this ideal town that was the backdrop for the 1998 Jim Carey movie, The Truman Show.
  • 'I Heart Art' Stroll - From art galleries to fashion boutiques to interior decorating and home decor stores to jewelry designers, get a VIP tour of the eclectic style that makes Seaside a unique art destination.   
7:00 PM    Flip Flop Dining Crawl & Progressive Dinner

Saturday, September 29:
            Breakfast on Your Own
8:30 AM    Beach Yoga & Farmers Market Stroll
10:30 AM    YOLO Demonstration
Noon-2:00     Culinary Demonstration Lunch with Celebrity Chef Tim Creehan
2:00        On Your Own: Relax & Rejuvenation Afternoon - Beach, Shopping, Spa, YOLO
TBD        Sensational Sunset Cocktail Hour
TBD        Bodacious Baggage Buster Dinner

Sunday, September, 30:

Breakfast on Your Own
Enjoy Seaside, the beach during free time.  Depart as necessary.

Accommodations
The official lodging partner is the Cottage Rental Agency (CRA) that is offering 30% off regular rates if you mention you are with “The Getaway Girl’s” group.  In addition, each registered guests of CRA will receive complimentary one-day use of a bicycle.  As the provider of the best Seaside rentals for decades, CRA represents an amazing collection of 240 rental cottages, townhomes, an inn and penthouse suites. Each rental is individually owned and represents the tastes, personal preferences and style of the owner. Sizes vary from cozy beachfront honeymoon cottages to spacious homes that sleep up to 22. From quiet, wooded areas to beachfront and town center properties, guests have a wide variety of options.  As the premier on-site rental provider in Seaside, guests of CRA receive the following with their stay:
  • Complimentary access to three swimming pools, tennis courts and fitness center
  • Complimentary bottle of wine upon arrival
  • Welcome beach tote with souvenirs
  • Complimentary DVD rentals
  • 15% discount on all bicycle rentals
  • Complimentary business center with Internet access
  • On-site check-in and management services
  • On-site housekeeping services available
  • Concierge to assist you planning your day
To book a fabulous vacation home for the Leave Your Baggage at Home® Girls Getaway to Seaside, please contact the CRA directly (use Group ID 703) at (866) 976-7990 or www.CottageRentalAgency.com.  Your registration for the weekend events and travel to Seaside must be booked separately.

Registration
Your registration for this weekend will include two private tours, a culinary demonstration/lunch, fashion show/lunch, pilates session, YOLO demonstration, welcome reception, two dinners and a cocktail hour, as well as participation in the Coffee Talk sessions.  Your accommodations and travel to Seaside must be booked separately.

Register by September 1: $275/person
Register September 2-20: $295/person
Registration ends September 20.

Ready to register???  Click here!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Daytime TV Show: Back to School Getaways

On Daytime TV Show set with Hosts Cyndi Edwards & Lindsay MacDonald.
Looking for one more round of family travel fun before everyone heads back to school?

From history to river cruises to fun scientific learning, check out these recommendations from The Getaway Girl, Casey Wohl.  To watch the segment, click here.