Sunday, December 27, 2009

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

St Charles, MO Historic South Main St.
 
 

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Historic South Main
 
 

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN ST. CHARLES, MO

More Christmas Tradition Photos
 
 

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN ST. CHARLES, MO

Historic South Main Street Photos

HISTORIC ST CHARLES CHRISTMAS

We live in the historic town of St. Charles, MO.
Every Christmas season the quaint shops on
the brick-lined streets are decorated in white
twinkle lights, boughs of evergreen garlands
and red bows.  There are a lot of people
Christmas shopping and stopping by
Granny's Cookies (est. 1976) for one of
the fresh homemade snickerdoodles, chocolate
chips or peanut butter cookies served with warm
apple cider.  This Saturday was the last day of
the historic South Main Street's old-fashioned
Christmas complete with a Santa Parade and
rides on the Trolley.  We spent the afternoon
videotaping and photographing the Santas
from Around the World, the storybook characters
and the Victorian Carolers singing those familiar
holiday songs.
 
If you missed the Christmas festivities don't miss
the Fete de Glace (Festival of Ice) on 1/30/2010.
There will be professional ice carvers in the juried
show and they will be judged for best of show.
Stop by one of the fire pits for hot coffee and cocoa.
 
 
 

DOT THREE-HOUR TARMAC DELAY RULE

DOT - Dept. of Transportation announced the new rules governing length
of time for airline tarmac delays.  There will be a three-hour limit for
domestic flights, unless airport operations would be disrupted, safety-
related or security-related impediments would occur.
 
International flights length of tarmac delay is determined by the
individual carrier for a set number of hours.
 
The airline will assure passengers have adequate food, water and
functioning bathrooms no later than two hours after the airplane leaves
the gate or touches down.  Adequate medical treatment will be made
available if needed. 
 
Failure to follow the new guidelines would result in a fine for the
airlines in the amount of $27,500 per passenger for each violation
of the three-hour limit.  The rule takes effect in approximately
100 days into 2010.
 
After sitting in a plane on a tarmac for six hours we can
appreciate the new rules.  Thank you.
 
 

Saturday, December 26, 2009

FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPE

Here is one of my favorite holiday treats to make.
Recipe by Sue McCarthy
 
HUNGARIAN PASTRY
CRUST
Mix together:  1/2 lb. butter, 1 c. sugar,
3 egg yolks, 3 c. flour, 1 tsp baking soda,
1 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp salt,
3/4 tsp vanilla (or almond flavoring).
Mixture will be crumbly.  Spread on
cookie sheet.
 
TOPPING
Spread 1 c. of your favorite jam
(I use apricot jam).  Beat 3 egg whites.
Spread over the jam.  Sprinkle with
2 TBS sugar and chopped nuts.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Serves 12 - 15
 

Monday, December 21, 2009

A HOT Deal for the cold weather

I was doing my Christmas shopping at the Galleria Mall in St. Louis when I walked by a kiosk and heard "let me show you something". This is when I usually turn and run in the other direction.
 
But Roy got my attention by saying "go ahead click the little coin in this pouch, just click it and see what happens".  In Missouri this is too close to "I bet'cha ain't never seen nothing like this before" so I "clicked" the coin and I was sold!
 
The liquid in the plastic pouch in my hand looked like a tsunami was taking place within it and suddenly my hand felt a gentle warmth that would last for more than an hour. I had just experienced the Helios Heater.
 
The Helios Heater comes in various shapes and sizes such as a hand warmer, pocket warmer, lower back heater and shoulder/neck heater.
 
There are no batteries or cords because the Helios Heater does not use electricity. It is non-toxic, non-allergenic, and environmentally safe.  Helios Heaters are reusable and have a lifetime warranty.
 
Helios Heaters should sooth all your aching muscles, keep you warm in cold weather and could also be used to warm a baby bottle. I plan to use them to keep our camera and recorder batteries warm when we visit Quebec City for their Winter Carnival.
 
Helios Heaters are also available on-line at heliosheaters.net

Saturday, December 19, 2009

NCL Jade Mediterranean Cruise

One of our regular travel guests, Cassie Eckard,
and her husband Jim returned from a two week
cruise on the NCL Jade.  The Mediterranean
cruise started in Barcelona, and continued on
to Rome, Turkey, Egypt and Malta.  To read
Cassie's travel blog and photos of the destinations
 
Cassie was on the Travel Planners Radio Show 12/19/09.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Fox News Channel 2

Sue's appearance on Channel 2 on
Friday, December 18th at 7:50am central

LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY TRAVEL GIFTS

1. Safe Skies TSA Lock $9.95
www.safeskieslocks.com
Complimentary lifetime lost and
found return service.
Available locally at Walgreens and
Walmart

2. Lush Products $2.95 - $10.95
www.lushusa.com
Solid soaps, deoderants and
shampoos. Unusual scents
and spices, preservative free.
Available locally at Macy's
West County Center at a kiosk
at St. Louis Galleria.

3. Ellen Sirot Hand Perfection
www.handperfection.com
Hydrates hands while flying with
a rich creamy lotion 1.7 fl oz.
$30
Nail & Cuticle Treatment
$22 (combo $42)
Omega-3 fatty acids and hydrators

4. Travel Pillow By TravelRest $26.95
HiGear Design - Inflates for comfort
for head and body.
www.travelrest.net

5. LugBuddy $15
www.lugbuddy.com
Small, lightweight, easy
to store and it secures
your coat or small bag
on top of your suitcase.

6. Dr. Scholl's Compression Socks
for Men Under $5
Great for traveler to help
prevent DVT, helps reduce
swelling of feet and ankles.
Available at most local stores

7. White River Fingerless Fleece
Gloves $5
Reduces heat loss from
hands while it provides
finger dexterity for using
camera or for outdoor sports.
Available at Bass Pro

8. Toshiba Mini Computer Netbook
$300
Weighs 2-1/2 lbs. Pack lighter.
Available at local computer stores.

TRAVEL PLANNERS RADIO SHOW 12/19/2009

Guests Include:

HOUR 1
Cassie Eckard
Mediterranean Cruise including
Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Barcelona
Rome

Sue and Kevin talk about those
LAST MINUTE TRAVEL GIFTS

Kevin - Travel News
Sue - Travel Tips

HOUR 2
Tom Parsons
www.bestfares.com

Kat Burnside
Director of Public Relations
State of Californis
Snow and general travel
for January and February
and California 5's
www.visitcalifornia.com
www.californiafives.com

TRAVEL PLANNERS RADIO SHOW 12/12

Guests included:
 
HOUR 1
Uri Steinberg,
Consul, Director of Midwest Region
Israel Tourism
12 Unesco World Heritage Sites
 
Dan Thornton
Thornton Photography, Godfrey IL
Eagle Photography Safari
 
Kevin with Travel News
Sue with Travel Tips
 
HOUR 2
Tom Parsons
 
Jake Duhaime
Stratton Mountain Resort
Stratton Mountain, VT
Ski season is open
 
Michelle Newman
Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
 

TRAVEL PLANNERS RADIO 12/5

Hour 1 Guests Included:
 
Stan and Sandra Posner
Authors of "Drive I-95"
 
Max Hartshorne
New Zealand
 
Kent St. John
Papua New Guinea
 

Monday, December 14, 2009

Grandkids Wayne and Dori

Wayne and Dori Have A Fun Day With Grandma
at the St Louis Science Center

DINOSAURS IN ST. LOUIS

A Special Exhibition Dinosaurs Unearthed
 
When the 2 - 4 year old grandkids come to visit I try
to find activities to entertain them.  St. Louis Science Center
offered just the place to go.  Both Dori (2) and Wayne (4)
know more names of Dinosaurs than I do since they are avid
watchers of the PBS show Dino Train.  The exhibit will
be there through March 28, 2010 and makes the perfect
family activity while the kids are off school for the
holidays and family comes to town to visit.  A special
thanks to Beth at the St. Louis Science Center for
helping make our visit an enjoyable and memorable
fun day with the grandkids.  Have you ever seen a
62-foot long Omeisaurus?  Animatronics let the kids
push a button and make the dinosaurs move their heads
and tails.   www.slsc.org

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Travel Planners show now available 24/7 at KMOX.COM

Good news! The Travel Planners show segments are now available 24/7 at http://www.kmox.com/

Siimply hover over "shows" and click on "Travel Planners" to listen to individual segments from our weekly nationally syndicated Travel Planners Radio Shows.

You may also download these segmenta and/or subscribe to an RSS feed at this site.

We are proud to be associated with CBS's KMOX Radio, "The Voice of St. Louis"

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Travel Planners Radio Broadcast

Travel Planners Radio Broadcast
Saturday, November 28
 
HOUR 1
Jeannine Sherman
CVB - Holiday talk
 
Cassandra, Chicago Travel Agent
Riviera Maya, Karisma Resorts
Weddings
 
Kevin - Travel News
Sue - Travel Tips
 
HOUR 2
 
Tom Parsons
 
Rafaela
Riveria Maya, Karisma Resort
Weddings
 
Sabrina Phileto
Riveria Maya, Karisma Resorts
Eldorado Royal
Seaside Suites, Maroma Boutique Hotels
Azul