Our recent vacations have featured free or majorly discounted hotels courtesy of B's membership in the Starpoints program from Starwood hotels. We've stayed in Paris, Nice, Venice, Florence, Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Frankfurt, and Salzburg for nearly 40 nights (over 4 trips) and paid a song for it all. Times were good.
Our upcoming trip to the Canadian Rockies will be a relative hardship compared to the golden times of the past, though. The only Starwood hotels in the Rockies are in Calgary, and we're not flying all the way to Calgary to actually stay there (no offense, Calgary).
The current hotel plan involves only 2 nights in Starwood hotels, in fact. We'll stay in one near our local airport for the night before we leave--and can't even use points to pay for it because you "can't combine promotions" (stupid)--and one near the Calgary airport for the night before we fly home. We will have to pay cash money for the remaining 13 nights of the trip.
And even though I threatened/hoped to book some of our nights at one of the glamorous Fairmont hotels in the area (specifically the Fairmont Banff Springs or the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise--ooh la la), I just couldn't bring myself to pay $400--even if it's $400 CAD--for a night in a teeny tiny room. The exchange rate, while favorable for the US dollar, isn't that good.
As of right now--barring an amazing sale courtesy of Fairmont, a proposition that is not out of the question--there will be no castle experience on our trip. However, we have found no bargains when it comes to hotels for Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper.
There are a limited number of hotels, and an even more limited number in the areas that we want to stay in. They can and do command steep prices. I have booked all of our hotels and gasped a little when I added up the total cost for all of them. It was a small comfort to know that the number will be reduced slightly when CAD is converted to USD. Here's hoping the dollar continues its current rally well into next year.
Our hotels, while pricier than what we're used to (though what isn't, when you're accustomed to "free"), offer a nice mix of accommodations. Our very own log cabin, in one instance. Part of a chalet in another. A one-bedroom suite with laundry in the unit and a full kitchen. A more traditional hotel that's smack in the middle of the action in Banff. All of the places have onsite laundry and most have their own kitchens, so we won't have to dine out for every meal.
And--this is an important distinction--we chose the hotels ourselves. With Starwood hotels, we have a choice of maybe 2 or 3 hotels in any given city, and even then, we usually opt for the lower-category hotel, since they cost fewer points. Whether reviews are good or bad, we have to live with the hotel because it's our only option. For the Canadian hotels, I scoured the guidebook and tripadvisor and compared prices and amenities and locations and everything that I don't have to think about when I book a Starwood hotel. The planning process involved more work but I feel like I was able to choose hotels that suit us and our vacation style.
However, paying for hotels is not and never will be awesome. I protest.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Abused by Mother Nature
This morning, I received my daily weather forecast, as usual, from The Weather Channel. Once upon a time, I wanted to become a meteorologist and work for TWC. My career aspirations changed and oriented themselves toward a path that was more suited to my natural abilities, but my interest in weather has not waned.
I look forward to the daily forecast, even if it brings only bad news. I especially like the severe-weather alerts (though if you sign up for them, prepare yourself for being on the receiving end of a high volume of emails whenever a storm is a-brewin'). Today's forecast looked unlike anything I had ever seen.
Sun! Sun for the foreseeable future, with barely a cloud in sight! Did I mention the lack of precipitation? We still have snow on the ground from the last 2 "weather events," and receiving snow upon snow is enough to make you want to pack up and move south.
There was a catch, though. (Isn't there always.) Check out the temperatures that accompany this "fabulous" weather. While not quite single digits, we'll be dangerously close to them on several days. We might not see any new snow, but our old snow isn't going anywhere.
Oh, New England. You could have at least waited until winter arrived to deliver this frostiness to us.
I look forward to the daily forecast, even if it brings only bad news. I especially like the severe-weather alerts (though if you sign up for them, prepare yourself for being on the receiving end of a high volume of emails whenever a storm is a-brewin'). Today's forecast looked unlike anything I had ever seen.
Sun! Sun for the foreseeable future, with barely a cloud in sight! Did I mention the lack of precipitation? We still have snow on the ground from the last 2 "weather events," and receiving snow upon snow is enough to make you want to pack up and move south.
There was a catch, though. (Isn't there always.) Check out the temperatures that accompany this "fabulous" weather. While not quite single digits, we'll be dangerously close to them on several days. We might not see any new snow, but our old snow isn't going anywhere.
Oh, New England. You could have at least waited until winter arrived to deliver this frostiness to us.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Setting the bar too high?
Despite my recent brave trip to Sephora, I've never been much of a make-up person. Or, more accurately, I never really learned how to put on make-up.
But I have to wear it because when I don't, people ask me if I'm feeling ok.
I feel fine. I'm just pale, people.
So a little blush is always required to avoid people's sympathy. And while I'm at it, perhaps some powder to balance out the shine from my (SPF 15, which contributes to the paleness issue) moisturizer.
And recently I've been using some mineral makeup, which seems lower maintenance than the liquid foundation that I used to use.
Is it possible for an item of make-up to be called low-maintenance? What if it is replacing a less expensive type of make-up?
We'll leave those questions unanswered for now. Feel free to answer to yourself at home and make fun of me.
So powder and blush are usually the extent of my morning efforts, and I spend approximately a minute and a half on that part of my morning routine.
Sometimes I'll spend an extra 15 seconds applying a lip gloss. I usually eat it off when I have my morning yogurt, and I don't bother reapplying. But I still feel like I went above and beyond that day. Bravo me.
Some days, when I'm feeling particularly plucky, I'll apply eyeliner. A few years ago when I was working at the-company-that-shall-not-be-named, one of my harmlessly flirtatious coworkers (he was older and from South America, so it seemed normal, if that makes any sense) asked me, "M, why are you so beautiful today?"
It was the eyeliner. I realized that perhaps I was setting the bar too high with my eyeliner efforts, so I put the pencil in the back of my make-up box (a plastic Q-tip holder). I can't have people expecting me to put a full 5 minutes into my make-up routine on a daily basis. Next thing you know, they'll expect me to wear mascara. The last time I wore mascara was on my wedding day, and that was over 2 years ago. (Note to self: Perhaps it's time to throw out that mascara.)
But (there is a point) I bought some new eyeliner at Sephora earlier in the week, and it's amazingly easy to apply, so much better than the stuff from Target, that I've actually worn it several times this week. No one has asked me why I look so beautiful--that compliment likely won't come my way ever again--but I am coming around to the idea of setting the bar a little higher for myself.
But I have to wear it because when I don't, people ask me if I'm feeling ok.
I feel fine. I'm just pale, people.
So a little blush is always required to avoid people's sympathy. And while I'm at it, perhaps some powder to balance out the shine from my (SPF 15, which contributes to the paleness issue) moisturizer.
And recently I've been using some mineral makeup, which seems lower maintenance than the liquid foundation that I used to use.
Is it possible for an item of make-up to be called low-maintenance? What if it is replacing a less expensive type of make-up?
We'll leave those questions unanswered for now. Feel free to answer to yourself at home and make fun of me.
So powder and blush are usually the extent of my morning efforts, and I spend approximately a minute and a half on that part of my morning routine.
Sometimes I'll spend an extra 15 seconds applying a lip gloss. I usually eat it off when I have my morning yogurt, and I don't bother reapplying. But I still feel like I went above and beyond that day. Bravo me.
Some days, when I'm feeling particularly plucky, I'll apply eyeliner. A few years ago when I was working at the-company-that-shall-not-be-named, one of my harmlessly flirtatious coworkers (he was older and from South America, so it seemed normal, if that makes any sense) asked me, "M, why are you so beautiful today?"
It was the eyeliner. I realized that perhaps I was setting the bar too high with my eyeliner efforts, so I put the pencil in the back of my make-up box (a plastic Q-tip holder). I can't have people expecting me to put a full 5 minutes into my make-up routine on a daily basis. Next thing you know, they'll expect me to wear mascara. The last time I wore mascara was on my wedding day, and that was over 2 years ago. (Note to self: Perhaps it's time to throw out that mascara.)
But (there is a point) I bought some new eyeliner at Sephora earlier in the week, and it's amazingly easy to apply, so much better than the stuff from Target, that I've actually worn it several times this week. No one has asked me why I look so beautiful--that compliment likely won't come my way ever again--but I am coming around to the idea of setting the bar a little higher for myself.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Conquering your fears: My visit to Sephora
Today I took a day off to tackle a few of the items on my to-do list. Conveniently, all of my tasks could be accomplished in one location--the mall.
Now you see why I had to take a day off from work for these tasks. If you've been to a shopping mall on a weekend in December, you have probably sworn never to do it again. After we got stuck in gridlock in a mall parking lot for an hour a few years ago, we avoid it on Saturdays and Sundays.
But I figured a Monday was a safe time to go, and I was correct. The mall was more crowded than I expected--though it's always good to see people spending money--but I found a parking space without a problem and was off and running with my to-do list.
My first stop was the camera store to print our PR photos and to inquire about a digital SLR. I love my little point-and-shoot camera but I think the Canadian Rockies might be worthy of something more sophisticated. I'm a Nikon girl and am eyeing the D3000, which is their entry-level model. I love photography but I'm not a sophisticated photographer, so I'm looking for something that's easy to use and that will shoot good-quality photographs without my having to know too much about aperture and other technical talk. A purchase like a digital SLR shouldn't be impulsive, though, so I'm going to hold off, watch prices, and see if I can convince B that a camera is a better purchase than a computer, flat-screen television, and new water heater. (That last one will be a tough sell.)
After the camera store, I went to Sephora. Well, first I walked past it because I was scared to go in. But I convinced myself to go back. They had sent me a coupon for $15 off a $35 purchase, and I had never ventured into the store and wanted to pick up a few makeup items.
Sephora is an intimidating store. I always feel like I should have better hair and more make-up to be able to enter. But I tiptoed in and saw that there were other normal-looking women there and decided to stick around.
The store was mobbed. If you're feeling bad about the economy, just hit up your local Sephora to be reassured that all is well. There are also lots of helpful associates around (I think at least 5 asked how I was doing).
I wanted to buy blush and eyeliner. My blush is so old I don't remember when I bought it, and ditto with my eyeliner. I think you're supposed to replace every 6 months, but at Sephora prices, I think I'll hold on to the stuff for as long as I can.
The store organizes items by brand rather than type, so you can't just walk up to a display of all eyeliners to compare all of them. You have to walk from display to display, find the eyeliner, try to figure out from the sample whether it's what you want, and then hope it's in stock.
After about 15 minutes, I was ready to give up, but I couldn't leave because I had not yet found $35 worth of items. When the next associate asked if I needed help, I said (with more than a hint of desperation), "I need eyeliner and I'm overwhelmed!"
She looked sympathetic and asked if it was my first time in the store. I said it was and she gave me a little tour and took me over to another display (with cheaper eyeliner than what I was looking at) and used the samples to draw on her hand and show me how the liner looked. I chose the brown option, thanked her for her help, and hopped into the line.
She told me that Sephora associates do not work on commission, so they won't steer you to the brand that will make them the most money. Having never worked on commission, it never occurs to me to wonder if someone who is helping me is making their money that way, but I'm glad to know that their associates are offering bias-free assistance.
For my purchase, I was rewarded with a free sample and could choose from 3. There were 2 moisturizers and 1 lip gloss. I have a history of never using moisturizer samples so I went with the gloss. A girl can never have too many glosses, right?
Overall, my Sephora visit went all right, and I now know that the first thing I should do upon entering is ask for help.
Now you see why I had to take a day off from work for these tasks. If you've been to a shopping mall on a weekend in December, you have probably sworn never to do it again. After we got stuck in gridlock in a mall parking lot for an hour a few years ago, we avoid it on Saturdays and Sundays.
But I figured a Monday was a safe time to go, and I was correct. The mall was more crowded than I expected--though it's always good to see people spending money--but I found a parking space without a problem and was off and running with my to-do list.
My first stop was the camera store to print our PR photos and to inquire about a digital SLR. I love my little point-and-shoot camera but I think the Canadian Rockies might be worthy of something more sophisticated. I'm a Nikon girl and am eyeing the D3000, which is their entry-level model. I love photography but I'm not a sophisticated photographer, so I'm looking for something that's easy to use and that will shoot good-quality photographs without my having to know too much about aperture and other technical talk. A purchase like a digital SLR shouldn't be impulsive, though, so I'm going to hold off, watch prices, and see if I can convince B that a camera is a better purchase than a computer, flat-screen television, and new water heater. (That last one will be a tough sell.)
After the camera store, I went to Sephora. Well, first I walked past it because I was scared to go in. But I convinced myself to go back. They had sent me a coupon for $15 off a $35 purchase, and I had never ventured into the store and wanted to pick up a few makeup items.
Sephora is an intimidating store. I always feel like I should have better hair and more make-up to be able to enter. But I tiptoed in and saw that there were other normal-looking women there and decided to stick around.
The store was mobbed. If you're feeling bad about the economy, just hit up your local Sephora to be reassured that all is well. There are also lots of helpful associates around (I think at least 5 asked how I was doing).
I wanted to buy blush and eyeliner. My blush is so old I don't remember when I bought it, and ditto with my eyeliner. I think you're supposed to replace every 6 months, but at Sephora prices, I think I'll hold on to the stuff for as long as I can.
The store organizes items by brand rather than type, so you can't just walk up to a display of all eyeliners to compare all of them. You have to walk from display to display, find the eyeliner, try to figure out from the sample whether it's what you want, and then hope it's in stock.
After about 15 minutes, I was ready to give up, but I couldn't leave because I had not yet found $35 worth of items. When the next associate asked if I needed help, I said (with more than a hint of desperation), "I need eyeliner and I'm overwhelmed!"
She looked sympathetic and asked if it was my first time in the store. I said it was and she gave me a little tour and took me over to another display (with cheaper eyeliner than what I was looking at) and used the samples to draw on her hand and show me how the liner looked. I chose the brown option, thanked her for her help, and hopped into the line.
She told me that Sephora associates do not work on commission, so they won't steer you to the brand that will make them the most money. Having never worked on commission, it never occurs to me to wonder if someone who is helping me is making their money that way, but I'm glad to know that their associates are offering bias-free assistance.
For my purchase, I was rewarded with a free sample and could choose from 3. There were 2 moisturizers and 1 lip gloss. I have a history of never using moisturizer samples so I went with the gloss. A girl can never have too many glosses, right?
Overall, my Sephora visit went all right, and I now know that the first thing I should do upon entering is ask for help.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Failure
To celebrate her eighth birthday, my car failed her annual inspection. Perhaps it was a passive-aggressive reminder that she's not getting any younger (though who of us is).
I try to take care of her as best as I can. I take her in for regular checkups when she starts making funny noises or running oddly. I get her oil changed more frequently than the recommended 5,000 miles.
I am somewhat remiss with taking care of her outside, though. The hail damage lives on and will never be fixed--not under my watch, anyway. I never get her washed in the winter unless my windows get so salty that I can't see through them. I never wax her exterior, and now there are some sticky-like patches and the occasional small rust spot dotting her exterior. But she's an eight-year-old car, and these things will happen.
Before inspection, we warm her up, and we take her to the place that doesn't seem to look too closely when they perform the inspection. But they still failed her. Her emissions were fine--phew--but the guy said that she was missing a tie rod. I didn't know what a tie rod was but I felt certain that my mechanic would.
And he did. He also said that tie rods can't be missing, or a car won't steer. This particular tie rod was just a bit worn and needed to be replaced, which it was.
And today she passed inspection with flying colors, and the big red R sticker has been replaced with a sticker that indicates she's good to go for another year.
Another interesting note--if your car fails inspection in November and you bring it back for reinspection in December, you still get a sticker for November. I was hoping to skip ahead a month, but I guess that's not how it's done.
I try to take care of her as best as I can. I take her in for regular checkups when she starts making funny noises or running oddly. I get her oil changed more frequently than the recommended 5,000 miles.
I am somewhat remiss with taking care of her outside, though. The hail damage lives on and will never be fixed--not under my watch, anyway. I never get her washed in the winter unless my windows get so salty that I can't see through them. I never wax her exterior, and now there are some sticky-like patches and the occasional small rust spot dotting her exterior. But she's an eight-year-old car, and these things will happen.
Before inspection, we warm her up, and we take her to the place that doesn't seem to look too closely when they perform the inspection. But they still failed her. Her emissions were fine--phew--but the guy said that she was missing a tie rod. I didn't know what a tie rod was but I felt certain that my mechanic would.
And he did. He also said that tie rods can't be missing, or a car won't steer. This particular tie rod was just a bit worn and needed to be replaced, which it was.
And today she passed inspection with flying colors, and the big red R sticker has been replaced with a sticker that indicates she's good to go for another year.
Another interesting note--if your car fails inspection in November and you bring it back for reinspection in December, you still get a sticker for November. I was hoping to skip ahead a month, but I guess that's not how it's done.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Not so sweet charity
This weekend, I learned a valuable lesson about charitable donations.
Ever since we cancelled cable and started watching more public television, I've been meaning to donate. Every year, they have their big campaigns and I think, I ought to donate. I enjoy a lot of programs on PBS and it's a great go-to station when nothing else is on.
(C-SPAN is another oft-overlooked but surprisingly entertaining network. Seriously, check it out some time. I watched it almonst nonstop the weekend of Kennedy's funeral and was very pleased with the coverage.)
However, I had yet to donate--until this weekend. Rick Steve's European Christmas episode was on, and it brought back great memories of our trip to Germany and Austria a year ago, and I grabbed my laptop and wallet and decided that there was to be no more dillydallying. The season of giving is upon us, so it was time to give.
But I let selfishness creep into the situation. The good feeling that you get after making a donaton wasn't enough. PBS offers great thank-you gifts and I figured, well, why not get something back for my donation? Rather than just become a member ($40), I kicked up my donation a notch to $150. In exchange, I'd receive 9 (!) seasons of Rick Steves' Europe shows. What a fabulous thank-you gift! Who could resist?
People with sense, that's who. I received my confirmation email, thanking me for my donation and informing me of the "fair market value" of my thank-you "gift." Their assessment of the value of the DVDs? $105.90. That means that we can claim a donation of only $44.10 on our tax return.
If you think that $105.90 seems steep for the value of the DVDs, you're not alone. I checked out their going rate on Amazon. They're currently selling for less than $63.
It's calculator time, boys and girls. Had I bought the DVDs straight out from Amazon and donated the remaining funds from the $150 allocation, my donation would be close to $87. Same cost to me but my deductible donation would be nearly doubled. The obvious downside to this proposition is that PBS would end up with less money, and shouldn't this donation be about PBS and not me?
Yes, yes it should, and that's why I didn't cancel my donation and reorchestrate this whole deal. But I have learned a valuable lesson to just buy the darned "free gift" outright. Donater beware.
Ever since we cancelled cable and started watching more public television, I've been meaning to donate. Every year, they have their big campaigns and I think, I ought to donate. I enjoy a lot of programs on PBS and it's a great go-to station when nothing else is on.
(C-SPAN is another oft-overlooked but surprisingly entertaining network. Seriously, check it out some time. I watched it almonst nonstop the weekend of Kennedy's funeral and was very pleased with the coverage.)
However, I had yet to donate--until this weekend. Rick Steve's European Christmas episode was on, and it brought back great memories of our trip to Germany and Austria a year ago, and I grabbed my laptop and wallet and decided that there was to be no more dillydallying. The season of giving is upon us, so it was time to give.
But I let selfishness creep into the situation. The good feeling that you get after making a donaton wasn't enough. PBS offers great thank-you gifts and I figured, well, why not get something back for my donation? Rather than just become a member ($40), I kicked up my donation a notch to $150. In exchange, I'd receive 9 (!) seasons of Rick Steves' Europe shows. What a fabulous thank-you gift! Who could resist?
People with sense, that's who. I received my confirmation email, thanking me for my donation and informing me of the "fair market value" of my thank-you "gift." Their assessment of the value of the DVDs? $105.90. That means that we can claim a donation of only $44.10 on our tax return.
If you think that $105.90 seems steep for the value of the DVDs, you're not alone. I checked out their going rate on Amazon. They're currently selling for less than $63.
It's calculator time, boys and girls. Had I bought the DVDs straight out from Amazon and donated the remaining funds from the $150 allocation, my donation would be close to $87. Same cost to me but my deductible donation would be nearly doubled. The obvious downside to this proposition is that PBS would end up with less money, and shouldn't this donation be about PBS and not me?
Yes, yes it should, and that's why I didn't cancel my donation and reorchestrate this whole deal. But I have learned a valuable lesson to just buy the darned "free gift" outright. Donater beware.
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