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Oh snap!  The pot has grown bigger!  When we started promoting this giveaway a few weeks ago we said the winnings would be $500.  And whoop, there it is… it’s now $600 big ones!  Yep!  One lucky winner will win $500 CASH and two others will receive $50 each.  Are you in?

Welcome to the $600 I ♥ Cash Giveaway!

Hosted by Giveaway Promote.

We’ve teamed up with a great group of bloggers to bring you this fabulous giveaway. Three newly enriched people will win cash! One grand prize of $500 and two other $50 cash prizes are up for grabs.

Enter to win $500 or $50 cash via PayPal.

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway. Refer your friends using your unique link to earn even more chances to win.

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Bloggers, we’d love for you to join an awesome group giveaway event like this one! Sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Giveaway Promote.

I ♥ Cash Giveaway is Finally Here!

One Lucky Winner Will Win a

“Lapgear Platinum Series 500 Lapdesk”

Value $27.99-Ships Direct

Hosted By Oh! My Heartsie

Starts 1/30 to 2/13

This Giveaway is Open To US and Canada Residents!!

Abundant Journeys staff is very familiar with LapGear. We all have one since we travel so much. The cushiony soft side keeps the heat from steaming up your legs. And the hard surface keeps your iPad, MadBook or Laptop, what-have-you in place.

Oh! My Heartsie Review
The LapGear Oh! My Heartsie received for her review came from the Designer and Custom category and is in the Platinum Series  it is 17.3 Inches and is very lightweight, she chose a purple one and it is great. It fits in her lap perfectly, is curved which fits snugly against her lap as you can see in the photo and holds my laptop in place as there is a bar that keeps her computer from moving.  As you can see there in the picture the Lapdesks comes in some great colors.
                                  

My LapGear is made of durable fabric on the bottom with a thick padding of soft foam, on the top it has a smooth surface for writing and drawing. It also has a carrying handle for transport. There are many models to choose from, including jumbo student desks,

DELUXE SMART-E® LAP DESK and more

The  LapGear™ “Platinum Series” 500 Lapdesk™ delivers solid performance with heat dispersion, which protects your lap and keeps it cooler to work. The Lapdesk is great for work, school and students dorms, kids for playing games or even for eating while watching TV and would make a great gift for anyone that needs a solid surface to work while being comfortable. Cost is $27.99

Surface Material	PVC/MDF
Lap Pad(s) Material	Air-mesh
Lap Pad(s) Filling	Soft-foam
Product UPC	052162485027
Product HTS Code	4421.90.9740
Patent Number	Patents Pending
Product Number	48502-EA

 

You can find them on these social media:

Like LapGear on Facebook

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Disclosure

For prize distribution, it is the responsibility of the companies to direct ship to winner 

by notification or Oh! My Heartsie once winner is confirmed

 

Bookmark Abundant Journeys for more giveaways!

Lapgear Lapdesk Giveaway is open to USA and Canada

We all know about the typical locations that are shoehorned into the ‘perfect for a romantic break’ for a couples getaway.  Paris, New York City, and Athens are among the usual suspects in this regard, but what about the destinations that aren’t generally thought of as being a great place for a couple to retreat and lose themselves in one other?

Although Mexico is a very popular destination for many demographics, it doesn’t tend to be classed as the sort of place one would head for love and romance on a couples getaway. We set about proving this theory wrong, and aim to demonstrate exactly why Mexico is a perfect location for couples to getaway, picking out some of the most luxurious and exclusive retreats throughout country.

Zoetry – Los Cabos
Courtesy Travel Impressions

Los Cabos

Los Cabos is situated at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, and offers much for the couple looking to escape to a life of luxury. The area itself is similar to tourism-dominated towns such as Las Vegas; such is the glitz and glamour that is so obvious from the moment you arrive.

However, many of the hotels in Los Cabos do a masterful job of making you feel like they exist in your own bubble. Regardless of the hustle and busy nature of the streets outside, once you are inside the accommodation you feel like you have stepped into a detached, tranquil universe where nothing can bother you.

The whole area remains very busy, and although tourism is the main economic factor there are still many local fishermen who head out into the Pacific on a daily basis, supplying fresh seafood to the classy restaurants that populate the streets of Los Cabos.

There is also the opportunity to visit picturesque landscapes across the peninsula, and the coastal town of La Paz is accessible via a two-hour, leisurely drive.

Los Cabos’ eclectic mix of busy bars and restaurants, along with the ‘escape factor’ facilitated by the resorts’ top hotels, make this a definite go-to destination for a couples getaway.

The Four Seasons – Mexico City
Courtesy Travel Impressions

Mexico City

A delightful couples getaway location despite being situated miles away from the coast – what one would ordinarily associate with Mexico – the country’s capital is superb for a romantic city break with a difference, and would surely become a global favorite with a more favorable reputation.

Mexico City stands simply as one of the most breath-taking locations in the whole world, and although it is beautiful by day, it is night-time when the city truly comes alive and one can appreciate the majesty of the place.

Although the city center boasts a number of romantic hotels and excellent restaurants, the opportunities for traveling outside of Mexico City make it a true standout location.

Within an hour of the city are three beautiful national parks featuring thick forests and nature trails that are perfect for a relaxing and romantic walk. All feature stunning scenery, too, with snow-topped peaks and volcanoes among the photo opportunities outside of the city’s southern boundaries.

To the north of Mexico City, the huge archaeological site at Teotihuacan is a must visit for any couples in the area. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most popular tourist attraction in the country and thousands of years ago was once one of the largest cities in the world.

The centerpiece of this site is unquestionably the Pyramid of the Sun, a massive complex that stands at the heart of the ancient city. Teotihuacan gives couples surreal, haunting, and romantic feelings all at once in this remarkable location.

The Ritz Carlton – Cancun
Courtesy Travel Impressions

Cancun

Cancun is one of Mexico’s most popular vacation destinations, and despite this status, it still remains ideal for a couples getaway, whether as a honeymoon or as a regular break.

Why is it so popular? The answer surely lies in the sheer variety of things one can experience here. For couples who want to relax and soak up the sun for the duration of their stay, there are dozens of luxury hotels that will wait on you hand and foot as you lounge around by the swimming pool spending quality time with your loved one.

Those who want to explore the beachfront will find some of the very best bars and restaurants on the planet, serving refreshing drinks and fresh seafood within minutes of fishermen bringing in their catch. Thrill seekers can don a scuba suit and, with the help of a qualified guide, check out the sea life in many of the clear lagoons and coves that surround Cancun and the local area.

Nature and history lovers are even catered for here, with Mayan ruins a prominent feature of the city, while nature reserves feature further ruins alongside rare birds and plant life. Whatever your definition of a romantic break, Cancun can deliver on all fronts for your next couples getaway.

Where to Go?

There is no doubt that all three locations that we have identified offer something unique for a couples getaway, and are all romantic in their own way.

Los Cabos is perhaps the most luxurious and exclusive of the three, as it is still emerging as a real tourist industry force yet can deliver a quality experience no matter what you want to do. It is also the quietest, by far, enabling you to check out a part of Mexico that many of your friends and relatives probably haven’t even heard of!

For those that love city life, then Mexico City is a great choice, with sights in and around the city that are great experiences at day and night. While many coastal areas will be out of range, the capital provides an excellent ‘base camp’ for those looking to explore beyond the city boundaries and head out into the Mexican countryside.

In terms of tourism, Cancun is the undisputed king, and if you are unsure what you are looking for from your Mexican break, is definitely the best choice as it offers so much, for couples of all tastes. Perhaps the only thing to be wary of is that, if you are looking for an ‘adult’ break, it is hugely popular with families as well as couples.

This article is written by Transfercar, a car rental Australia service, providing travelers free transport for major cities in Australia.

Mexico’s Best Destinations for Love and Romance

Should You Decide To Purchase From Maggie Bags Receive:

Discount Code: Heartsie15  This code is for our readers and gives 15% off Maggie Bags 

Premier Line until Feb. 28, 2013. This code is case-sensitive.

Oh My Heartsie received the Maggie Butterfly Bag in pink and brown and she was was amazed to find our how well constructed the bag was. It will work well for traveling, it has many pockets inside to store things like cosmetics and traveling essentials. Read More  Maggie Bags Review

 

Sibu Omega 7 Truffles

 

“Oh My Heartsie has been working with Sibu now for a while and was offered to try their Sibu Mega 7 Chocolates Truffles. There are 16 pieces in each box with 2 as a serving. There are two flavors one in Dark Chocolate and the other Milk Chocolate. The chocolate are individually wrapped/branded chocolate truffles. They are a custom made with a special proprietary Belgian liquor chocolate blended with 240 mg of Omega-7-rich sea buckthorn oil in each truffles. 
Read More Omega 7 Chocolate Review

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The Maggie Bag and Sibu Omega 7 Chocolates Giveaway

To complement your upcoming vacation plans, Abundant Journeys is participating in a number of giveaways to give you the chance to win free travel swag! Here is another opportunity for you:

One Lucky Winner Will Win a 

“Lapgear Platinum Series 500 Lapdesk”Value $27.99

Hosted By Oh! My Heartsie

Starts 1/30 to 2/13

Free Blog Event! Signup Here ➣ Bloggers Wanted Sign Up Here

Product Review Here

Lapdesk By LapGear Giveaway Starts 1/30

How NOT To Ask a Travel Agent to Assist You

This post was inspired by David Spark of Spark Minute and Michael Zhang of PetaPixel, neither of whom I have met personally.  I am just a fan of the way they value their professional expertise.

As we move forward with 2013, we are opening the door to partnering with other travel & lifestyle businesses through product and location reviews, interviews, giveaways and other marketing opportunities.  These new ventures will give us more information to educate our clients on travel destinations, products, activities and more.  We are hoping all of this information will arm our clientele with valuable tools to curtail some of the ‘time freebies’ many would-be travelers request of our vacation planners.

Source: pikaland.com

What are ‘time freebies’ you ask?

A ‘time freebie’ is asking any professional to perform work on your behalf without due compensation.  Most importantly, it is not only requesting the professional to give you free professional advice and time, but feeling entitled to such information without having to compensate for it.

Can you give us an example?

Sure. Let’s take a common request we receive:

Would-be Traveler: “Hey <travel agent), can you quote me a 4 or 5 day Hawaiian cruise around 03/16-3/24?”

Vacation Planner Response: “Sure. I would love to quote you.  Would you mind completing our trip request to get started in the planning process? Here is the link: <link>”

Would-be Traveler: “No problem.”

Would-be traveler happily clicks the link to complete our Getting Started form which explicitly states we will NOT provide any quotes without our Plan to Go fee, etc. and of course, the would-be traveler (in our experience) clicks our terms and conditions agreeing to such.

We proceed with our complimentary consultation to gather details, give some insights on the prospective vacation and determine whether or not to proceed with actual researching and quoting the would-be traveler’s trip.  We end with reviewing our service levels and insuring they read our terms & conditions.

Would-be Traveler: “Thank you.  I hadn’t considered the timing of flights, possibly staying in LA a night to enjoy sunny California and the fact our cruise duration may be too short for Hawaii.  You’ve given us a lot of valuable information already, can you give me a quote and maybe a few other options?”

Vacation Planner Response: “Of course!  Would you like for us to quote you on the basic vacation planning of getting there, where to stay and getting around or would you like our bespoke planning service which includes basic vacation planning plus your daily itinerary with activities, dining and much more?”

Would-be Traveler: “Um, we just want to wing it once we are there, so just the basic vacation planning service is just fine.”

Vacation Planner Response: “Sounds great.  Ok. For our vacation planning service we just need to collect our $25 plan to go fee which we will apply to your final balance when you book through us.  Would you like to cover the non-refundable deposit on your AMEX today?” (We would direct client to take 60 seconds to complete our client agreement also)

Would-be Traveler: “Oh. Um. Well, bummer. Since hubby is still in military the March trip is still maybe because his leave may not get approved. Doesn’t make sense to pay if March is still a maybe.”

Hmmm!  Do you detect a problem with this scenario?  And trust me, we get these types of requests all day, every day.

Let Us Break This Down

Clarification – for the vacation planning service, we request a modest plan to go fee… a whopping $25 for up to 4 travelers…  which is just a non-refundable deposit.  It is not an extra expense.  We apply it to your final balance.  So, guess what that means?  It means, the would-be traveler is NOT paying us.  They are just placing a deposit.

Now let’s flip the script.  Let’s take your profession.  Let’s say you are a doctor, lawyer, plumber, accountant, hair stylist… anything.

When you meet with most professionals, you will receive a complimentary consultation… but not all.  A plumber may charge a trip charge just to come out.  Regardless, you usually receive a consultation – at no charge.  Beyond the consultation, how many professionals would you expect to do any further work for free?  Honestly, think about it.  You expect to pay for their professional expertise, knowledge, time and materials after you have consulted with them and chosen to proceed.  Correct?

A travel agent should not be the exception to the rule.   We need food, clothing and shelter just like everyone else.  Right?

A Comparable Scenario

You are new to a city and you need a new hair stylist.  You receive some recommendations from co-workers and start setting appointments.  The hair stylist will want to consult with you to determine the health of your hair and understand your needs as a client.  You schedule your consultation with the hair stylist.  It is customary this consultation usually turns into an appointment unless you just don’t like the vibe you are getting from the stylist.

So you mosey over to the hair stylist.  You take a seat in her chair.  She ask you to complete her client profile while she examines the state of your hair all the while asking you qualifying questions (a bit of conversation).  You want a color and new cut for a new look.  The hair stylist is happy you have decided to proceed with the appointment and gives you the price for the color and cut you want.  And then you halt the process… “what I have to pay? I mean after all, I can do my own hair.  Just give me a bottle of your color (for free), a video demo of how to do the cut myself (no I am not paying for the equipment, time it takes to film or your professional expertise teaching me the cut) and I will be on my merry way.”

The Bottom Line

That is the equivalent of what you are saying to a travel agent when you halt the process at deposit/fee time to be able to quote you.  The travel agent takes the time to research your trip, possibly reaching out to general managers of resorts to give you extra service, devising an itinerary for you and calling in favors from partners in the industry to give you extra special service.  Depending on the complexities of your trip request, it can take considerable time to put the details in place for you.  Of course, you can do this on your own just the same as doing your own hair, cutting your own grass, selling your own house, doing your own taxes and much more.  However, when you seek out professional service you should expect to compensate the professional for their time.  Pretend it’s you…

Respect and value the work of travel professionals.  We value our clients immensely and thus would rather not spend our days working for free for those who do not value our time.  We would love to quote you that trip… would you like to cover your deposit with your AMEX?

This message brought to you by Abundant Journeys Editor-in-Chief, Shonda Gibson.

What? You Want Me To Work For Free?

For visitors to Israel, the “City of Kabbalah” — Safed — is a must-see stop on the itinerary. There are guided tours of Safed but travelers can easily make their way around the Old Jewish Quarter on their own to experience the historical, religious and cultural sites of the city.

Safed’s history dates back thousands of years but it became a prominent Jewish center — one of Judaism’s Four Holy Cities — in the 1500s when some of the era’s greatest Kabbalistic rabbis, fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, settled in Safed. The mountaintop town is located in the Galilee, in the area in which the 2^nd century C.E. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai wrote The Zohar, the text which serves as the foundation of Kabbalah study. The 16^th century rabbis who lived in Safed expanded on Rabbi Bar Yochai’s writings to allow for a more thorough understanding of Jewish mysticism

Following Safed’s Golden Age of the 16^th century the Jewish population experienced subsequent difficulties. By the early 20^th century the population, which had once numbered 15,000 people, was reduced to 2,000. After Israel’s independence in 1948 Safed again began to expand, with new neighborhoods circling the original Jewish Quarter. Tourism expands as new interest in Kabbalah study brings visitors to the spiritual center of the study of Jewish mysticism.

Synagogues

There are four old synagogues that are open during weekday hours in which tourists can visit. Other synagogues, including many old historic synagogues, only open on the Sabbath or on holidays. Visits to the synagogues are free but donations are appreciated and are used to help maintain the synagogues. Men are requested to wear head-coverings and women are requested to have coverings for their knees and shoulders. The synagogues offer scarves and shawls (free) for this purpose.

Ari Ashkanazi

One of the synagogues that many visitors enjoy visiting is the ARI Ashkanazi synagogue. The ARI Ashkanazi was built in the early 1500s by a group of Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity by the Spanish Inquisition. These people fled Spain to the Greek isle of Girigos and subsequently made their way to Safed. During those years such Jews were regarded with suspicion by Jewish communities throughout the world and the Girigos Jews were not immediately accepted by the existing Safed Jewish community. The Girigos Jews built their synagogue on the then-edge of the Jewish Quarter.

In 1570 Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as the ARI — the Lion — arrived in Safed. He was recognized as one of the greatest Kabbalistic scholars of the era….perhaps since Rabbi Bar Yochai. The ARI developed a tradition of initiating the Sabbath with songs, hymns and psalms which he would sing with his students in a field next to the Girigos synagogue. This practice evolved into the “Kabbalat Shabbat” service which has become integrated into Jewish synagogues and temples throughout the world. After the ARI’s death the Girigos Jews were re-integrated into the Jewish community and their synagogue was renamed the ARI Ashkanazi synagogue.

The ARI Ashkanazi features an exquisitely-hand-carved Ark of the Torah which is the centerpiece of the synagogue. The synagogue is laid out in the Sepharadi — Mediterranean/North African — tradition, with the bima — the podium — in the middle of the synagogue and the benches for the congregants surrounding the bima.

Yosef Caro Synagogue

The Yosef Caro synagogue was built over the cave where, according to tradition, Rabbi Yosef Caro sat with an angel and wrote the massive Code of Jewish Law — the Shulhan Aruch. In the years following the Spanish Expulsion, Jews had dispersed to far-flung regions and didn’t have access to rabbinic leadership in matters of proper practice of the Jewish laws. Rabbi Caro wanted to compile the laws in one easy-to-access volume to facilitate adherence to the laws. Rabbi Caro sat with the Maggid — angel — in a small cave in the Old Jewish Quarter and wrote the Code which is, today, used by Jews throughout the world.

The original cave can be entered underneath the synagogue  — visitors can walk a little further down the street from the synagogue and descend the stairs that take them to the cave where Rabbi Caro sat. Inside the synagogue itself, a large bookshelf along the southern wall holds texts that are hundreds of years old

ARI Sepharadi Synagogue

The Ari Sepharadi synagogue was called the “Eliyahu HaNavi” — Elijah the Prophet — synagogue when Rabbi Isaac Luria arrived in 1570. Rabbi Luria — the ARI — prayed and studied Kabbalah in the synagogue with, according to legend, Elijah the Prophet. The synagogue is located on the lower road of the Old Jewish Quarter, above the cemetery, and visitors can still see the small cave-room where the ARI studied and prayed

Abuhav Synagogue

The Abuhav synagogue was built, according to legend, by Rabbi Abuhav, a great Spanish Kabbalistic scholar, in Spain. The tradition continues that he transferred it, through Kabbalistic incantations, to Safed when the Inquisition threatened to destroy it. (An alternate version of the story states that Rabbi Abuhav planned the synagogue in Spain and built it in Safed).

The Abuhav is probably the most popular synagogue in Safed. Its blue décor is a Kabbala hue and the entire design of the synagogue, including the seven steps which lead to the “bima” — podium — are guided by Kabbalistic imagry.   The entire domed ceiling is framed by paintings of nature.

The Abuhav Synagogue houses two ancient Torah scrolls which were written by 16^th century Kabbalists. The synagogue Ark that houses these scrolls was mysteriously saved from two earthquakes that devastated the rest of Safed in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The scrolls are still used today, on holidays.

General Information

Visitors to Safed should be aware that the city shuts down for the Sabbath, so anyone who arrives for a Friday afternoon or Saturday visit should not expect any of the sites or galleries to be open. There are no restaurants open on the Sabbath either, though eateries do reopen Saturday night.

A smartphone tour is available. The tour is free and can be accessed by PC for viewing as well.

Visit Israel: A Lifetime Experience

Valentine’s Day is coming faster than you think.  Abundant Journeys just loves to bring you fun travel swag to take on your getaways – whether they are staycations or international – swag is a must.  Check out this giveaway we’ve joined below… mark your calendars to enter on 1/23/2013.

Maggie Bag and Sibu Truffle Giveaway 1/23