STAY: TownePlace Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings

[My stay and this post come to you c/o TownePlace Suites by Marriott. While there are sponsor links throughout, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the businesses that support this blog!]

A little over a month ago, I was approached to be a part of partnership opportunity with TownePlace Suites by Marriott for their 2016 "Military Spouse Squad" Blogger Ambassador Program. D and I have been Marriott Rewards Points travelers since living abroad with the military, so I felt the partnership to be quite the serendipitous one...especially with our pending cross-country move this summer!

Being a military family, we're no strangers to traveling, staying in numerous hotels for long periods of time, and trying to make the most of locations we aren't familiar with. Thankfully, extended-stay hotels like TownePlace Suites exist to help make our travels with the military (and for fun!) so much easier. For our Orlando adventure last weekend, we were visiting Walt Disney World for one last jaunt around the parks before we're no longer Florida residents. Sad!! 

While we love staying on Disney property, sometimes we like to opt for more space, amenities, and a lower price point without straying too far from the parks. When we heard TownePlace Suites had just opened a new hotel outside Disney's West Entrance this past February (making it a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel), it was a no-brainer! With amenities like free HOT breakfast, plush bedding, and speedy on-line check in, we felt right at home with Towneplace Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings for our 2-night stay. 

Upon arriving, we were highly pleased with the beautiful, modern design and the overall layout of the room. Plenty of space for our luggage and room to move around without feeling cramped. We always love having an in-room fridge to store snacks and bottled water, so having a FULL KITCHEN at our disposal was even more of a bonus! D was quite impressed with the amount of closet space our Studio King room had. He's big on hanging up his clothes to avoid wrinkles while we travel (that military boy). Happily there was also a iron and ironing board in our room.

As for me, a fluffy bed with lots of pillows is always my favorite part of a hotel stay. TownePlace Suites made this 6-month pregnant lady very happy by having extra pillows on hand for my finicky sleep habits. Needless to say, we were happy campers all around.

Perks of staying at TownePlace Suites:

• FREE Wifi in rooms and throughout hotel
• FREE Continental Hot Breakfast (ours had giant Mickey waffles!)
• Customizable elfa closet system through their partnership with The Container Store.
• Fully equipped kitchen (plates, cups, bowls, pots, cooking utensils, full-size fridge etc.)
• Spacious Suites with more than enough room for luggage and a few family members.
• Giant TowneMap of local area in lobby with neighborhood tips for dining. Local area brochure guides in room (in participating locations).
• Pool and outdoor green space available.
• Laundry facilities and fitness center on site.
• Pet-Friendly!!

With a large portion of TownePlace Suites located near military bases (and attractions that appeal to military and civilian families alike), this extended-stay brand is dedicated to supporting the military community and making life away from home a little easier. Now that we've had a taste of the good life, D and I looking forward to a handful of TownePlace Suites stays in cities across the USA during our Florida to California road trip next month! Stay tuned!

Connect with TownePlace Suites via Facebook and Twitter!

Top 10 Places in the World with EAT All Over the World

My Top Ten Places in the World

I am a small town girl that wants to explore the world one memory at a time. After I got married I was blessed with the initials EAT, so there the idea for my blog. EAT All Over The World is all about our adventures, packing up, exploring, and learning other cultures. I have been really lucky to get to get to go to some amazing adventures in the last ten years, so here is my top ten list. My motto for life is "Make Memories" so here is some of by best places to make memories.

Roatan, Honduras

Cinque Terre, Italy

(I learned the hard way to back up my computer, every picture I had before 2006 I lost. Back your pictures up)

Hwy. 1 , U.S.A.

Siem Reep, Cambodia

Queenstown, New Zealand

Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Virgin Islands

Salzburg, Austria

Niagara Falls, Canada

Home

This list was really hard to make. I have been lucky to travel around Central America, U.S.A., Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. As you can see only one place on my list is an actual city. I am not a real city person. I love being outdoors and getting to enjoy life  I love exploring the world, making memories, and enjoying life. Like what you see? Check out my blog, www.eatallovertheworld.com 

What cities would make your list?

Taking the Road Less Traveled in Paris with Belle Brita [& a Giveaway!]

Bonjour, y'all! My name is Brita, and I blog at the Christian feminist lifestyle blog Belle Brita. Once upon a time, I lived in France, but I fell in love with an American. We recently moved from Ohio to Georgia, so now I'm exploring a whole new state! At Belle Brita, I blog about a little bit of everything, but mostly relationship advice and feminism. Oh, and you might have seen me on The Huffington Post! In my pre-blogging life, I lived and worked in France for the better part of two years, first as a live-in au pair and then as an English Teaching Assistant. These jobs gave me plenty of time to explore Paris and to discover some of the lesser-known highlights of the most beautiful city in the world. Are you planning a trip to Paris? Do you want to see more than the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa? Consider visiting the following lesser-known Parisian attractions!

Musée Marmottan Monet

See the painting that launched Impressionism

If visiting l'Orangerie and the Musée d'Orsay doesn't quench your thirst for Monet and other Impressionist artists, then you must visit the Musée Marmottan Monet. This museum owns the largest collection of Monet paintings in the world. As a huge fan of Impressionism, I particularly enjoyed finally seeing the Monet work that gave name to the movement. Early Impressionists weren't exactly appreciated during their time. One art critic reviewed a show that included Impression, Soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise) and works by Degas and Renoir, among others. In his mocking review, he called the show Exposition des Impressionnistes (The Exhibition of the Impressionists). The name stuck!

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Discover a natural oasis amidst the city of Paris

I spent countless Saturdays exploring the lush green landscape of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Other lazy Saturdays involved a picnic, a book, and a best friend by my side. Features include the Temple de la Sibylle, a grotto and waterfall, and beautiful bridges. Views from the temple are incredible! You could easily spend an entire day here and not get bored. If you're in a hurry to see everything in Paris, this is a great place to stop for a picnic lunch for just an hour or two.

Canal Saint-Martin

Enjoy a romantic stroll

I didn't actually have a romantic stroll along Canal Saint-Martin when I lived in France. I was very much single during those two years, so all strolls were just with good friends. Still, visiting Canal Saint-Martin is a great alternative to walking along the Seine with all the other tourists. Canal Saint-Martin is home to quirky boutiques, fun bars and restaurants, public gardens, and charming bridges. It's also another great location for picnics.

Rue Mouffetard

Shop at one of France's famous outdoor markets

Rue Mouffetard is a charming French street in the Latin Quarter. Many of the shops are basically expanded market stalls. The fresh market is open six days a week, closed Sunday afternoon and all day Monday. If you've never visited a French market, you're in for a treat! An amazing selection of cheeses, a huge variety of produce, both raw and salted meats, roasted chickens--any fresh food item your heart desires. Rue Mouffetard also features a variety of bars, cafés, and restaurants. My friends and I spent many a cold winter afternoon nursing drinks at Student Bar, which boasts a generous happy hour.

Musée de Cluny

Admire the famous unicorn tapestries

I couldn't resist including just one more museum. Museums are among my favorite Parisian attractions, but most of them are too famous for this list. La Dame à la licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn) is a series of six tapestries on display at the Musée de Cluny in Paris. Sure, the museum displays all sorts of other cool medieval art, but the tapestries are my favorite.

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 Have you ever been to Paris? What were the highlights of your trip? I would love to hear what other people love about my favorite city! As a big MERCI to Casey's readers for making it this far, I'm giving away 2 months of ad space on my blog, plus $10 in PayPal cash. Bonne chance! P.S. Even if you don't feel like entering the giveaway, you can keep up with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Bloglovin!

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Baking with GlobeIn Artisan Box

[The following is a sponsored post featuring products c/o GlobeIn, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that support this blog!]

I was fortunate enough to have the kind folks a GlobeIn message me and ask if I would review another Artisan Box for them. Of course, because I LOVED the last one so much, I jumped at the chance to be able to get another beautifully curated box on my doorstep! Just like my previous box, this month's package was chock full of valuable goodies from all over the world. And not just samples, full size product! Not many subscription boxes can provide that. I was already wowed and I hadn't even tried any of the items yet!

Just to get you quickly up to speed, each month GlobeIn delivers “the globe in a box” - a themed collection of artisan-made products from around the world (usually 5 or 6 little items) to it's monthly subscribers. GlobeIn introduces you to products that you can feel good about purchasing -- they are often organic, fair trade, and they support artisans and farmers from over around the world. Each box also includes short stories on the country of origin for each product as well as the heartfelt stories of the artisans and farmers themselves, so you know exactly how a product is sourced and/or made and can put a face to who you're supporting. Not to mention, these boxes are insanely ADORABLE. All of the items are packaged neatly into a colorful palm leaf basket that is a whole other gift in itself.

Here's how the Artisan Box subscription works: you can score your monthly Artisan Box for as low as $30 a month for a six-month subscription. It’s $35 dollars for a month-by-month subscription and shipping is FREE in the United States! Don't live in the USA? No problem...they ship to Canada for $12 and $15 internationally. Thanks to GlobeIn and the Artisan box, now everyone can try new products & support artisans from all over the world!

The theme of May's Artisan Box was "BAKE"...more goodies to use in the kitchen! Inside the colorful basket was:

-Big Dipper Wax Works 100% Beeswax Birthday Candles from Canada-
-Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Samples from Sri Lanka-
-2 Organic Cotton/Jute Toockie's Scrub Cloths from India-
-Alter Eco Mascobado Cane Sugar from the Philippines-
-Just Good Chocolate Organic/Fair Trade "Better World" Dark Chocolate Brownies from Peru-

I was a little skeptical about how good the brownies would actually taste. I baked up a batch and used some of the Lafaza Madagascar Bourbon vanilla bean paste from my February Artisan Box (and added in a few dark chocolate chips, because I'm a chocoholic). When I tell you that these are some of the richest, most decadent brownies I've ever tasted…I'm not kidding! D has already eaten half the pan and immediately asked how we could get more mix (all Artisan Box products are for sale on their website, FYI). I'd say those brownies are a total winner and reason enough to snag your own "Bake" themed Artisan Box ASAP! I also really loved coconut oil (who doesn't love good coconut oil?) and the beeswax candles...cute colors AND they're compostable! GlobeIn, once again, provided me with a box filled with items I'll actually use. I seriously love that.

For those who love to travel, live well, and support small farmers and budding artisans in other countries, the Artisan Box is the perfect answer to your monthly box subscription desires. Be sure to visit the GlobeIn website to learn more about this amazing company!

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

Want to a piece of the globe straight to your mailbox?

Use code WTRLT to get 25% OFF 3 month subscriptions or gifts for the GlobeIn Artisan Box!

Favorite Travel Photos with Laugh Anyway (& a GIVEAWAY!)

Greetings from Seoul! Casey has been kind enough to let me take over her blog for the day, so I'm going to introduce myself and keep it short and sweet! I'm Yalanda and I'm the voice behind Laugh Anyway. I write about the things and places I love....and that gives me a lot to talk about! I happen to be one of those people who has 10,000 favorites and rarely enjoys making decisions when I have to choose one of anything. That said, I've enlisted my husband to help me narrow down 3 favorite travel photos from my most recent posts.

Yangmingshan National Park // Taipei

Click for our Taipei Three Day Itinerary

Boseong Tea Fields // South Korea

Click for 11 Photos That Will Put Korea On Your Bucketlist

Fushimi Inari Shrine // Kyoto

Click for 5 Reasons To Travel Kyoto, Japan 

I hope you've enjoyed your mini tour around Asia! When we aren't scooting around Seoul, squeezing short lived international trips into long weekends, or teaching the most adorable children in the world {seriously, these kids are totes adorbs...so much so that an annoying phrase is the only way I can describe it}, we tend to enjoy low key time at home. You know, Netflix, reading, painting...well Jason's painting, not me. You see, we also happen to have an Etsy shop. I convinced Jason that one lucky reader should absolutely be the recipient of one of his custom watercolor illustrations. I didn't even have to twist his arm!

One reader will receive a custom watercolor portrait! It doesn't have to be a couples photo...love your dog? That's fine too. Have a great photo of you and your friends from vacation? Done and done! Good luck and thanks for reading!

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I'd love to have you tag along on our adventures. Here are a few other places you can find me! 

Bloglovin // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest    

GlobeIn Artisan Box: The Globe Straight to Your Mailbox!

[The following is a sponsored post featuring products c/o GlobeIn, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that support this blog!]

Every few months I get approached by a handful of monthly box subscription companies asking me review their boxes on my blog. Most of the time, I decline. I'm not a huge fan of monthly subscription-type things (mostly because I like to save my money for Target shopping splurges, let's be honest). However, when I was approached by the kind people of GlobeIn about reviewing their Artisan Box, I absolutely couldn't say no. Why, you ask? A number of reasons pop into mind...

Each month, GlobeIn delivers “the globe in a box” - a themed collection of artisan-made products from around the world. GlobeIn introduces you to products that you can feel good about purchasing -- they are often organic, fair trade, and they support artisans and farmers from all around the world. Each box also includes stories on the country of origin of each product as well as the stories of the artisans and farmers themselves, so you know exactly how a product is sourced and/or made and who you're supporting. Not to mention, these boxes are ADORABLE. All of the items are packaged neatly into a colorful weaved basket that you can use for all kinds of things. My basket is currently a gorgeous piece of decor in my home office! See why I couldn't say no? ;)

You can score your monthly subscription for The Artisan Box for as low as $30 a month for a six-month subscription. It’s $35 dollars for a month-by-month subscription and shipping is FREE in the United States! Don't live in the USA? No problem...they ship to Canada for $12 and $15 internationally. Thanks to GlobeIn and the Artisan box, now everyone can try new products & support artisans from all over the world!

The theme of February's Artisan Box was "World Kitchen"...right up my alley! Inside the 

colorful basket was:

- A package of Nicaraguan Fair Trade Ground Coffee by Boca Java in Nicaragua 

- Inkasalt Fair Trade Fine Pink Salt by Natierra in Sacred Valley of Peru

- Packets of Coconut Palm Sugar by Big Tree Farms in Java, Indonesia

-Madagascar Bourbon Pure Ground Vanilla by Lafaza in Madagascar

- A hand thrown & painted mini-tagine by Le Souk Ceramique in Nabeul, Tunisia

- A gorgeous fair trade cotton kitchen towel by El Tun in Antigua, Guatemala

Right off the bat, I was impressed. So many goodies that I would actually use! D and I dove right into the coffee, brewing up a hot pot and lusting over the aroma. It was bold, but not bitter...exactly how I like my morning cup. The hand towel is beautifully made, soft, and I love the yellow stitching. The tagine was probably my favorite item. Such a cute (and useful) piece that's now sitting by my spice rack in the kitchen! Reminds me of my visit to Morocco every time I look at it. I also can't wait to bake with the vanilla bean paste. I imagine the vanilla flavor will be so much bolder than typical vanilla extract. YUM!

It's safe to say I instantly fell in love with GlobeIn's unique take on the monthly box subscription. I loved reading about where each of the items were from and how each artisan runs their small business and cultivates their products. For the worldly traveler, or for those looking to support farmers and artisans in other countries, the Artisan box is perfect curated for you. I look forward to seeing what global treasures future months bring! 

Want to a piece of the globe straight to your mailbox?

Use code WTRLT to get 25% OFF 3 month subscriptions or gifts for the GlobeIn Artisan Box!