Travel Tips on Tesh Tuesday

Tricks for Getting a Travel Upgrade

Remember when getting a travel upgrade was as easy as walking up to the ticket counter with your biggest smile? Not so much anymore. Here’s the reality of travel upgrades from Money magazine. They’re not impossible – but they’re rare – and we have some tricks to help you get one.

• Let’s start with your flight. Want to get bumped to first class? Your chances are about one in 100. That’s because there are fewer flights. To increase your odds of landing a first class seat, choose your plane wisely. For instance, a Boeing 757 has 14 more first class seats than an Airbus – so your chances are better. Scope out the seats before check-in by going to the airline’s website and plugging in your flight info. If there are first class seats available – go ahead and ask. You’ll have a better chance of scoring one on a Saturday – when fewer business and elite passengers fly.

• Want an upgrade on your rental car? Your chances are better: One in 20 people get one.The usual scenario is that if the car you reserved is unavailable, they’ll give you a nicer one. If you want to increase the odds that that will happen – book a midsize car. That’s the class most in demand. You’re most likely to get an upgrade on Friday afternoon or Monday morning. Those are the two peak rental times – so the car you booked is likely unavailable. Here’s a freebie for you: At Alamo Rental cars, you can get a free upgrade from a compact to a midsize if you book through their website until December 31st. Go to Alamo.com.

• So what about an upgrade a hotel? Your chances are very good: One in five! Occupancy rates for the first half of 2010 were at only 56%. That means almost half the rooms available weren’t booked. For your best chance at an upgraded room, stay at a business hotel on the weekends. Also, call the front desk and say, “We’re celebrating a special event, any chance of an upgrade?” Or arrive at the hotel after 7pm, long after most people have checked in. The front desk will know which rooms are vacant and available for an upgrade.

tesh.com

Tear-Jerker

I thought everyone might need a good afternoon cry.  Here is Carrie Underwood's new video for "Mama's Song".


Love you Mom- I know you will cry as soon as the video comes on!

(Turn off my music player at the bottom of the blog)

H&M Finds

As promised... Here are my H&M finds.  I can't wait until the weather cools down and I can actually wear them!! 

                                                         THE Poncho 

                                                     Sweater Vest


                                                    Leopard Cardigan
                                      

Horsin Around

I am so excited for the start of the World Equestrian Games this weekend.  It is such an honor for Lexington to host the first games held outside of Europe.

For those of you who have never heard of the World Equestrian Games, it's equivalent to the Olympics for horses.  There will be people and horses from all over the world visiting our city for the next two weeks and I cannot wait for the fun to begin.

 I  couldn't be more proud of Michael and his efforts to make the games exciting and entertaining!


 Check out a preview of the World Equestrian Games on the Today Show.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Fall Flicks

There are so many movies coming out this fall that I am dying to see!

Micheal and I went to see The Last Exorcism last weekend and it scared the bejeezus out of me. Which was totally fine because I LOVE scary movies!!

Here my list of most anticipated Fall Flicks.

Wall Street - Money Never Sleeps

The Social Network

Waiting for Superman

Scream 4

Paranormal Activity 2

Devil

Case 39

The Town

Easy A

Google Me?

UM Really?

Oh No Kim. You should have stopped with Tardy for the Party.

(I actually liked that song)

Tar-Jay on Tesh Tuesday

Here's What to Put on And Take off Your Target Shopping List

Attention, Target shoppers! You can score some great steals, but know this, not everything is a deal. We’ve got the latest intel from Yahoo Finance on what you want to put on, and leave off your shopping list.

First, here’s what to leave off your list:

• Furniture: Kathryn Finney of the website Budget Fashionista says you can get comparable quality for less from Ikea. Ikea’s bookshelves, chairs, and kitchen tables tend to offer better value than those at Target.

• Movies and Music, Target can’t beat Amazon or WalMart. For example, a Katy Perry CD at Target costs $14, which is $4 more than what WalMart charges for the exact same CD.

Here’s what experts say you want to add to your next Target shopping trip:

• The Kindle. Most e-readers are only available online, but Target is the only national brick-and-mortar retailer to carry it, and for the same online price. Even better: shopping for the Kindle in person means you can play around with a test model, and have an employee walk you through it before you shell out your money.

• Green cleaning products. Target stocks more green cleaning products than any other big-box store. They also carry niche brands of natural cleaning products and hard-to-find, green versions of mainstream products like Tide Coldwater Free.

• Groceries. They’re rolling out an expanded grocery section as part of their effort to bounce back from the recession. Experts say they have 70% of the things you’d find in a full grocery store, and the prices are 20% cheaper. You can save even more money when you sign up on Target’s weekly coupon site. You simply go to Target.com and check off which coupons you’d like to receive, and every time your favorite brand of cereal or make-up goes on sale, you get an email or text message alert.

I'll admit it. I have a problem. I could go to Target everyday and find something that I "NEED". There should be a Tar-Jay Anonymous Program.

tesh.com

Dancing Queen

Since Big Brother has wrapped up, I have been anxiously awaiting my other guilty pleasure... Dancing with the Stars! I am really hoping this season is a worthwhile watch- but- even if it isn't, I'm sure I'll tune in. Who do you think will take home the Mirror Ball Trophy?

I am crossing my fingers for Bristol Pailn, Troy Aikman or Michael Bolton. Weird combo, huh?

Speaking of Big Brother... Did you hear that Britney's Arkansas house burnt? Read the full story at TMZ. Click HERE!

Happy Friday!

Hope y'all have Fantastic weekend!

Time for some fun.

Check out Pink Preppy Lilly Lover's Blog for an Amazing giveaway!!

Every girl needs a new watch!

Poncho Problem

I have been nothing short of obsessed with this stupid poncho. Every time this commercial comes on I scream, then throw whatever I'm holding at the TV because I want the darn thing so bad.



The problem- I do not live anywhere near H&M and they are SOLD OUT everywhere. (Or so I thought)

Unbeknownst to me they just put a H&M in my hometown mall (1 hour away). As I was scouring the H&M website I saw the name of my hometown. I immediately called up there and the sweet sales boy informed me they had one black poncho left on the mannequin and he could hold it for me until I arrived. YES - Sweet Victory.

I also picked up a GREAT vest and cardigan while I was there! (pics to follow)

After my shopping excursion, I ran in the house held it up and Michael just stared.

I said "LOOK- I got it! Can you believe it?"

He said - "Oh yeah, that thing you've been screaming about."

That thing?! Really?

Proof

I am SO excited to share with you the custom design proof that Ashley Brooke created for me! I feel like she followed me around for a week (a la "What Not To Wear") and included all my favorite things in the design. She is so unbelievably talented and I can't wait for all my goodies to come in the mail.

Drum roll please.....

Click to Enlarge

Go check out more of her fabulous work at www.ashleybrookedesigns.com

Obsessed!

Have Y'all tried these? OMG.

Hershey Kisses in ...

Candy Corn

Pumpkin Spice

Caramel Apple

They are HEAVENLY!! Hurry and get some before they are gone.

Boo!

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was so convinced the White House was haunted that she kept a vial of holy water on her nightstand.

Credit

clap clap clap

A big thanks to Jeannie @ Que Sera Sera for the Versatile Blogger Award!

Here we go...

What has been your favorite vacation?

I think any of my trips to Vegas would qualify as my favorite!

My aunt got married there, my parents took me there for graduation, Michael and I went for my 25th birthday and the ACM's and we are planning our wedding there. I just love it! My family has a lot of special memories there.

What is your favorite meal to cook for company?

My favorite go-to meal is Easy Enchiladas!

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1646491

What is your favorite fashion accessory?

Right now I love scarves! I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Alexander McQueen scarf.

and I LOVE my Louboutins that Michael got me :)

What is your favorite room in your house?

My Kitchen for sure! I spend a lot of time in it and it is quirky.

(Picture of large wooden place setting on the wall)

If you could go back to college (for fun) what would you study?

I would choose my minor (theatre) as my major!

What is one skill/talent you wished you possessed or were better at?

I really wish I could sew. My dad bought me a fantastic sewing machine and I need to put it to good use.

What is your favorite thing to give as a gift?

I love giving hand painted girly wine glasses (esp. for birthdays). I think it is one of those things that you want, but would never buy for yourself.

Dogs Know Best- Tesh Tuesday

Important Lessons We Can Learn From Dogs

Dogs are good for our mental and physical health, but they can also teach us a lot about life. Here are five important life lessons we can learn from dogs, courtesy of the man who knows them best, TV’s Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan:

• Live in the moment. Cesar says dogs don’t stress out about their past, or hold on to hurt feelings, they appreciate what’s happening right now. Humans tend to dwell on bad experiences which can lead to depression and anxiety. Cesar says focusing on the present will allow you to have a much richer and more satisfying life, right now.

• Exercise, affection and discipline. We all know the benefits of exercise and love, but a study from Stanford University found the people who are disciplined and delay gratification tend to have higher test scores, go to better colleges and have healthier relationships overall. Discipline isn’t about punishment; it’s about living by rules and structure.

• Go with your gut. Dogs are instinctive and can sense what’s happening beneath the surface. Cesar says, we humans have lost this ability and depend too much on words. So start paying attention to non-verbal cues like body language and energy and you’ll get a lot more out of every conversation.

• Don’t hold grudges. According to Cesar there aren’t that many conflicts in a dog pack. Why? Because if there’s a disagreement, they deal with it and move on. He says we humans hold on to negative feelings, and stuff them down until we explode. Instead, confront any issues before they blow up, then get over it and move on.

• Live with a purpose. Cesar says when dogs have nothing to do they develop behavioral issues and anxiety, but when you give a dog a way to contribute to the pack’s wellbeing, their issues clear up almost instantly. It’s no different with people. We’re all born with a need to stay occupied and contribute. So, if you’re feeling down ask yourself how you can do more for the people around you.

tesh.com