Category Archives: Travel

May 15 2013
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I (almost) met Bethenny Frankel

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Good morning Loves,

Well, I am back from my trip to New York City and as always I am a little bit sad. NYC is such a great city and I am always sad to leave. I try to visit NYC as often as my schedule – and my budget – permits because there is just so much to do and no two trips are ever the same.

What is the one city that you just can’t live without?

This time I went to NYC for SELF Workout in the Park.  It was a full day fitness event with classes by Crunch gym and lots and lots of healthy living swag.  In between yoga, dance and sexy stretching classes I snacked on salads and enjoyed a facial and massage from Garnier.  I came home with Victoria’s Secret workout gear, snacks from and of course the new issue of SELF magazine.

My favourite workout was the 90’s dance cardio routine with 2 Fly. These two white girls can really work it out – and to Bell Biv Devoe.  It was the perfect end to an awesome day at SELF Workout in the Park.

What was the best part of SELF Workout in the Park?

Bethenny Frankel made a guest appearance and for the entire 45 seconds of her speech I was in total awe.  Technically I have never met Bethenny, but for some reason I feel like I know her. I have watched Bethenny grow her business from being on The Apprentice with Martha Stewart to having it all with Bethenny Ever After. Personal Confession: I never liked this Jason either!

Bethenny’s signature brand Skinnygirl Daily had a booth at the event and the lovely ladies in red were handing out energizing snacks. It was great to actually see her in person and hear her speak.  Just in case you are wondering – Yes! She is really THAT skinny in real life.

PS – Bethenny if you are reading this (LOL) I am not a crazy stalker, I am just a huge fan!

Check out some pics from my day at SELF Workout in the Park:

 

 

Love Always,

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Jan 19 2013
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Friday Faves: The top 4 attractions in Las Vegas

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The primary reason for my trip to Las Vegas was to escape the cold Canadian winter because I had a little bit of time off while in between jobs.  But as an added bonus I went to a media/blogging conference while I was out there. Oh and I saw Dennis Rodman at Planet Hollywood…score!

If you follow me on Twitter – and I’m sure you do because you are awesome – you know that I had a great time in Vegas and you have already seen some of my pictures.  But for those of you who don’t (yet) follow me on Twitter or may have missed my tweet pics here you go!

Have a great weekend everyone; be sure to check My Diary on Monday for tips about how to feel skinner before you go to bed.

My 4 favorite things to do in Las Vegas:

1. The Shark Reef aquarium at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.  The cost is $18 for admission but it is totally worth it.  There are sharks, exotic fish, sting rays (which you can touch) and jellyfish.  There is even a komodo dragon and an anaconda to see.  You get to walk through an underground tunnel (yes just like the scene in Jaws 3 at Sea World) as the sharks swim over you and all around you.  It should definitely a must do on your Las Vegas list.

2. Peep Show at Planet Hollywood.  This is a Las Vegas show that turns your favourite fairy tales into a musical.  Little Bo Peep takes a journey through her dream as she is on a quest to find the perfect man.  With a little guidance from red riding hood and the three little pigs Little Bo Peep gets the confidence (and sexiness) she needs to find the man of her dreams.

This show stars Coco from the reality TV show Ice Loves Coco and Josh Strickland from the reality TV show Holly’s world.  PS – I sent Josh a tweet after the show and he actually tweeted me back! Tickets for this show usually start at $80 but I purchased mine for only $45 with Tix for Tonight. So I saw an amazing show at half price, thank you Las Vegas.  There is some partial nudity in Peep Show so brace yourself for that – it was a total shock to me!

3. Eli Roth’s Goretorium.  I went to this Las Vegas style haunted house because all conference attendees were offered a free ticket.  To my surprise it was really fun, of course it was scary but I had a good time as I screamed all the way through it.  The Goretorium is an interactive haunted house with live actors, a tour guide and news breaking real life Vegas story to set it all off.  The tour through the multi-storey haunted house takes approximately 30 minutes and I believe that the regular ticket price is $30.

4. The roller coaster at New York New York Hotel and Casino. This was a new attraction last time I was in Las Vegas and unfortunately I did not get a chance to ride it so this time I made a point to buy a ticket. It costs $14 to ride the roller coaster and if you want to ride it a second time in the same day the ticket is half price.  You have not seen Las Vegas until you have seen it from 1000 feet in the air. Good times!

Love Always.

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Jan 7 2013
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I’m in Vegas Baby

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I am in sunny Las Vegas for the Blog World new media expo conference.  The blog conference is only a few days but I decided to extend my stay for 6 days in an effort to escape the cold winter weather and take advantage of everything that the west coast has to offer.  I am definitely looking forward to having dinner with friends and spending some relaxing time by the pool.

I have been to Las Vegas many times but I have never been to Vegas with friends or on my own.  I went to Las Vegas with my parents and I went to Vegas with my dad on my 21st birthday…but that was 11 years ago. So I think that I’m due to check out all of the new sights and attractions that Las Vegas has to offer.

This time I am staying on Freemont Street which is in downtown Las Vegas that will be a new experience for me because my entire Vegas experience has always been confined to the strip.  If you have a favourite restaurant, shopping spot or a favourite something to do in Las Vegas send me a Tweet because I’d love to hear about it.  I have a mini to do list but there is always room for more.

My Las Vegas To Do List:

- Ride the roller coaster at the New York New York hotel

- Go to L.A. for a day and visit Universal Studios (it’s only a 4 hour bus ride from Las Vegas)

- Check out the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

- Do a little shopping at the Miracle Mile shops (Barnes and Noble, Sephora and of course American Eagle)

- Gamble a little bit (You will find me at the craps table or playing black jack)

- Stay tuned for lots and lots of pics from my trip to Las Vegas.

Love Always.

Photo by danquella

 

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Sep 12 2012
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26 Days Later…I Ate Pizza

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It was absolutely worth the wait.

Last month I decided to give up eating pizza for one year in honour of next year’s BlogHer conference being held in Chicago.  I have always wanted to visit Chicago and I also have a nasty little habit of eating pizza a couple of (sometimes even several) times throughout any given week.  Therefore in anticipation of eating some of the best pizza in the continental U.S. next summer I decided to give up eating pizza until I visit Chicago for the BlogHer conference. The first two weeks of my no pizza mission was definitely difficult because pizza is an easy meal to eat on the go; between work and school I am always on the go.

By some miraculous event brought on by the pizza gods themselves, this past weekend I found myself in Chicago and I couldn’t resist the temptation to finally eat a Chicago deep dish pizza.  On Sunday night my return flight from Denver, Colorado to Montreal was overbooked, and I was in turn booked on a connecting flight through the city of Chicago.  I had one and a half hours at the Chicago airport; in this short period of time I managed to eat a Chicago hot (veggie) dog from America’s Dog and a deep dish pizza from Reggio’s Pizza.  Let me tell you that food never tasted so good.

Now that I know how great Chicago deep dish pizza actually tastes, I have something else to look forward to when I visit Chicago next summer for BlogHer.  I don’t feel bad about breaking my “no pizza mission” because my goal was to give up pizza for one year until next summer when I visit Chicago.  Since I was able to visit Chicago 11 months early I decided not to wait.

Due to the fact that I am really excited about visiting Chicago next summer and thanks to the wonders of Social Media, I found a Chicago restaurant owner named Billy Dec on Twitter and I asked him where to find the best deep dish pizza in Chicago. He re-tweeted my question to his 28,000+ Tweeps and it seems like there are two must-eat restaurants for deep dish pizza in Chicago;  Gino’s East and Lou Malnati’s I will see you both next summer.

In an effort to make healthier food choices and in an effort to actually finish something that I started, I have decided to continue with my “no pizza mission” until next summer.  I also added a few things to my list; in addition to not eating pizza for a year I have also given up eating French fries and ice cream.

Keep reading My Diary Entry for updates on my “no pizza, no French fries, and no ice cream mission.” A little side note – I am already having cravings for ice cream and it’s only been three days.

If you want to see more pics from my Denver/Chicago trip check out my album on Facebook (Tahnya Kristina).  I promise to accept your friend request.

Love Always,

 

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Sep 6 2012
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I am on my way to Denver, Colorado

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Good Morning. As you read this post I am off to Denver, Colorado for a work-vacation.  I am taking a four day vacation to Denver, Colorado to attend my second official blogging conference.  You may remember that last month I went to NYC to attend BlogHer.  I loved the experience so much that I have decided to do it again.  For the next three days I will be in Denver learning how to use my blog writing to further my career as a hopeful author and how to get my blogging noticed by the main stream media.  I have never been to Colorado and I am excited to spend the next four days learning about blogging and exploring the city of Denver.  My travel book for this trip is White Girl Problems by Babe Walker, it’s supposed to be very funny…I’ll let you know.

I will post lots of pics next week.  If you have been to Denver send me a tweet @TKBlogs and let me know where I should go/eat/shop in Denver.

Tomorrow is the first My Diary Entry giveaway in a series of several giveaways throughout the month of September.  I won’t tell you what it is, but I will tell you that it’s totally awesome.

OK I know the excitement is killing you so I will give you three hints.  If you guess what it is you will be entered to win.

Friday Giveaway Hint #1: It can be used by yourself or with “a friend”.

Friday Giveaway Hint #2: It can be used over and over again.

Friday Giveaway Hint #3: I discovered this company and these products on my recent trip to NYC at BlogHer. 

BONUS HINT:If we are friends on Facebook check out my pics from BlogHer, if we are not yet friends on Facebook then send me a request (I promise to accept).

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think it is.  All comments will be entered to win. Be sure to check out tomorrow’s post to see if you guessed it right.

Love Always,

Photo by Loco Steve

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Aug 9 2012
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4 Tips For Your Next Business Trip

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Last weekend I attended the annual BlogHer conference in New York City; I had a wonderful time and I want to share my experience with others.  I met some amazing people, I discovered some great new products, and I learned a lot about treating my blog as a business and branding myself as a professional writer.

In the past I have attended several business conferences for my regular 9 to 5 job in personal finance, but those conferences were always very structured with a fixed schedule; I have never attended a freelance conference like BlogHer before last weekend.

I learned a lot about blogging and about branding myself at BlogHer, but I also learned a lot about attending a conference as an individual as oppose to as an employee.

Keep these 4 Tips in Mind on your next Business Trip

1. Set Personal Goals.  Why are you going to the conference or trade show and what do you want to achieve while you are there?  At BlogHer I wanted to make connections with people who could be potential resources or employers.  I also wanted to learn about branding myself and using my blog as a new business.

2. Dress Comfortably.  Conferences and Trade Shows are 3-4 days of absolute chaos.  The hectic schedule is definitely worth the networking opportunities, but it’s chaos nevertheless.  The key to surviving 3 days of conference learning, smiling, hand-shaking, and note-taking is to dress comfortably.  Dress professionally, but comfortably at the same time.  Flat shoes with a nice summer dress, jeans with a blazer, or your favourite skirt with a cardigan are all professional and comfortable outfits.  Men can wear polo shirts and slacks or a darker shade of jeans.

3. Always Bring Enough Business Cards.  It was surprising to me how many people ran out of business cards by the third day of BlogHer.  When you are attending a conference or trade show you should always have tons of business cards with you at all times.  It’s better to bring too many business cards rather than not have enough to last until the end of the conference.  Always keep them close and easily accessible because you will be handing them out left and right.  After all you are at the conference to make contacts.

4. Make Some Time to Enjoy the Location.  For some people the only time that they get the chance to travel throughout the year is to attend a conference or a trade show, this is why it’s important to take some time to relax and enjoy or explore the conference location.  This year BlogHer was in New York City, but next year it’s in Chicago. I am so excited to visit Chicago because I have never been and I have always wanted to go.

Love Always,

Photo by vizzual

 

 

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Aug 7 2012
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3000 Bloggers Invade New York City

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This past weekend I travelled to New York City to attend BlogHer’12.  BlogHer is an organization that promotes, influences, and encourages women in the blogging business. In addition to their annual BlogHer conference, they host several other conferences throughout the year including BlogHer Food and BlogHer Entrepreneurs.

BlogHer is a three-day event where women (and men) come together to share their own experiences about blogging and learn about the business of blogging from blogging professionals.

Why I went to BlogHer

My relationship with blogging is unique in the sense that blogging is my most recent career endeavour.  Usually people start blogging and their careers in a particular niche develop from here, however my blogging experience is just the opposite.  I have been a financial planner and a professional in the financial services industry for many years and I have always enjoyed creative writing.  When the market crashed a few years ago I needed to start supplementing my income so I started working as a freelance financial writer.

I started booking contracts to write product brochures and web content for financial institutions and insurance companies; however this work was all contract based.  I needed a more steady income stream and that is why I started applying for blogging jobs, because it is continuous work. Over the past three years I have been writing for various financial blogs and I started my own personal blog just over a year ago.

I went to BlogHer to make business contacts in blogging and financial industries as well as to promote my personal writing services. But more importantly, I went to BlogHer because I wanted to learn how to make my blogging jobs work for me.  I wanted to know how my blogging can help me achieve my personal career goals, I want my personal blogging experience to be more than just a creative outlet, I want it to help advance my career as a writer.  It was an added benefit that BlogHer was being held in New York City this year, if you are a regular Dinks reader you know that I absolutely love NYC.

My BlogHer experience

To say that my BlogHer experience was overwhelming would be an understatement.  I was among 3000 other bloggers who, just like myself, were there to learn how to follow your dreams, start your own business, and brand yourself as a professional blogger.  Some of the Keynote Speakers included Martha Stewart and Katie Couric.

I absolutely loved my first BlogHer experience and I am looking forward to attending the conference next year in Chicago. I met some great people, I got some great advice and I learned about some great new products.

I also came home with lots of swag so keep reading My Diary Entry for new product reviews and great giveaways.

Love Always,

This post was originally published on Dinks Finance

Photo by Anastassia

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Jan 3 2012
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New York City is Not the Same, but I Still Love It.

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My recent trip to NYC was definitely an eye opener on just how sever the global economic crisis has affected New York City.  My trip to NYC was primarily a business trip because I had to open a US Bank Account in order to receive payments from my new Freelance Employers .  I absolutely didn’t mind having to book a last minute trip to New York right before the holidays because I always have time in my life for New York City.

I have never been to New York City before Christmas.  I have been to the city for New Years Eve, but never during the madness that leads up to the holidays.  The city was packed with people and the streets were very busy all the way from Canal to Broadway.  There were line ups everywhere and every single store was packed with holiday shoppers who were trying to get the best deals for everyone on their Christmas List.  And let me tell you, boy did we get some great deals.

Although retailers on the non mainstream streets like Canal in Chinatown have significantly increased their prices for accessories, the major retailers have dropped their prices in order to be affordable for everyone.  I bought $48 sweaters at American Eagle and Aeropostal for only $12!  I am not sure if the major discounts were because of the holiday season or if they are because a discounted $12 is better than $0 for retail stores who are struggling through these tough economic times.

It wasn’t the massive crowds that were the biggest surprise for me during this trip to New York; it was definitely how much the vibe of NYC has changed over the past 3 years. New York will always have a special place in my heart and I still hope to live their some day.  However, the crisis that the American people have suffered through over the past few years has definitely taken its toll on the vibrant life of the city that never sleeps.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn near Wall Street in the Financial District of Downtown Manhattan, which we purchased at a discount rate through Priceline.  This was the perfect location for our stay because it was close to the subway, it was close to restaurants, and it was also close to the major discount store Century 21.  I absolutely love shopping for accessories at Century 21.

Staying in Manhattans Financial District also means that we were close the construction site of the new World Trade Center. There are 3 new towers being built on the World Trade Center construction site, and there is also a new memorial museum which is currently open for business.  The rebuilding of the World Trade Center in New York City shows exactly how the American people can come together and stand strong during the time of a crisis.  Let’s hope that the American people will come together next November when they visit the polls to re-elect the President of the United States of America.

Check Out Some Pics From My Recent Trip to NYC:

Macy’s was absolutely gorgeous

Great Shopping Deals!

More to Come on My Experience with TD Bank

 

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Dec 16 2011
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On My Way to NYC!

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Good Morning Everyone.  As you read this blog post I am on my to New York City.  It is one of my life dreams to live in New York and since this year has been about making my dreams come true I have decided to take a quick weekend trip to NYC.  This trip will help me decompress from my hectic work schedule and take a break from my busy life for a weekend.

This trip is primarily a business trip, but I will definitely find some time to fit in my normal New York routine of shopping at Victoria’s Secret, eating a slice of Red Velvet Cheesecake at Junior’s in Brooklyn, and visiting my favourite DJ’s to buy some new Mix Tapes.

New York just feels like home to me. I feel a little bit sad every time I wake up in the morning and I am not in New York City, I also get really depressed every single time I come back home after a trip to NYC.  My life in Montreal is not terrible, and I don’t know that my life in New York will be any better; all I know is that I have to try.

Whenever I think about moving to New York my OCD common sense and my anal planning habits shift into high gear.  I think about what I am going to do with all of my furniture, would I take it with me, would I sell it, or would I leave it for my boyfriend? That is another thing; my boyfriend (of a very very long time) does not share my same passion for New York City.  He has made it very clear that he will not be joining me if I decide to move to the big apple.

I am 31 years old and if I move to New York I will be starting my whole life over again.  I would have to start a new job and I would have to make new friends.  Is 31 too old to start over? I don’t think so as long as the new change will make me happy.  I hate the rain, but every time it rains I think to myself rain in New York wouldn’t be so bad.

I would love to move to New York and pursue my dream of being a fiction novelist.  However I would also like to work for a financial institution writing their client information and product materials.  Basically I just want to write, and I feel that living in New York City would give me the opportunity to follow my dreams.

Have a great weekend everyone.