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Being an avid traveler, I am always on the lookout for best vacation destinations. Since I live way up north, I always find an excuse to travel during the winter time. to someplace warm.

If you live on the East Coast, you know how harsh the winters can be. What best time to get out and enjoy some vacay time

Well, during my last few traveling expeditions, I liked some spots better than others. Factors that added to my likes and dislikes may have been anything from weather, food, travel, living conditions or anything in general. Anyhow, I have listed the 5 best places to vacation in January that I loved to travel and can be there again in a heartbeat.

1. Dominican Republic.

“Dominican Republic has been ranked as No.1 tourist spot by Americans“, according to South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Dominican Republic has been hailed as a land of contrasts, physical kind and the metaphorical kind. It covers everything from highest peak to lowest point in Caribbean, including the rural villages that are short drive away. DR is also famous for the large all-inclusive resorts that dominate much of the country’s prime beachfront real estate. They have some spectacular beaches on its north coast. It boasts fantastic soft-sand and is easily one of the best beach vacations in January. The weather in the Dominican Republic in January is excellent.

2. Bangkok, Thailand.

I love visiting Thailand because of the serene beaches, exotic food and lively markets. It has always been such a great experience. You can explore these beautiful places like explore destinations like Pattaya, Phuket, Bangkok, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai. Bangkok weather in Thailand in January is awesome with not much rain and less heat intensity otherwise felt in other months. Farther north, the weather is bright and crisp in Chiang Mai, just perfect for walking in the hills. It is always a wonderful opportunity to explore its breathtaking natural beauty, exotic beaches and inspiring Buddhist temples and stupas.

3. Mexico.

Mexico is another great destination for vacation in January February time period. Weather is pleasant all year long, but in January February, it ranges between mid 80s during the day and around 60s at night. It can get windy in Cancun sometimes but most of the times it is pleasant. If you are a beach person, you should visit South Cancun to avoid the windy weather. Mexico city’s night life is huge, You can select from enormous selection of venues from restaurants, cafes, clubs and bars.

4. Havana, Cuba

Visiting Cuba is always an adventure. With a week to spare, make sure to spend a few days in Havana. You will love the unique combination of crumbling colonial architecture and newly restored buildings. Don’t put up in a resort, they can isolated and bland, and you can find better beach hotels elsewhere. You can find a wide range of accommodations, from the simplest hotel to the most luxurious tourist complex.

5. New York, New York

If you love the outdoors and don’t mind the temps in 30s, you will definitely love New York as another great destination for vacations in winters. When someone mentions New York, first things come to mind are high skyscrapers, bars, clubs and traffic. But there are plenty of spots you can thoroughly enjoy with your family. You can visit Rockefeller center to see the huge Christmas Tree or go skating in the Ice Skating Rink. You can also visit Empire State and ski or snowboard in the Adirondacks and Catskills and you can also go tubing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, and even ice fishing.

These are the best places to vacation in January February months for me. What are yours?

Feel free to post your favorite destinations!

Incoming search terms:

• warm vacation spots in january

Love is in the air. With 14th February, Valentine’s Day approaching fast, are you worried or concerned about what special things to do with your loved one? Well, don’t worry. There are many things you can do together and make this a special and memorable day for each other.

Make breakfast, serve it with rose and a love note. This is the most romantic gesture a man can do for his girl. Women love romantic temptations. You can also include a lunch or dinner ticket to a romantic restaurant for that evening.

Buy special and memorable gifts. You can gift your woman platinum solitaire pendant, heart shaped gold chain or diamond accent earrings Jewelry and handbags make perfect gift for women.

Plan a special outdoor activity just for you two. It could be something that interests your partner. Dance lessons, beach walk, mountain climbing, hiking or biking are some of the activities that couples can enjoy together.

Rent a movie, cuddle up and watch. You can rent a movie of your valentine’s choice. It could be a chick flick or a romantic comedy. As long as you two are enjoying each others company and good laughs, that is all that matters.

Go to spa and get massage. This is an intimate and personal gift. There are massage oils that come in different flavors. Some are extremely relaxing. Lay on satin sheets, put on their favorite music. light some scented candles and turn the lights down.

Incoming search terms:

• what to do on valentine\s day if your under 18

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. If you haven’t yet bought a gift for your mother, it’s about time you get to work. It can be a bit of struggle to find out what she would like on this special day of hers. Well, you can make out a lot from her personality. If she is into fashion, she may like the latest trends clothes and jewelry; if she is a good homemaker, she may like appliances. Also make sure to keep your ears and eyes open since she might be dropping a hints here and there about her choices. Here are a few gift ideas to make sure you get covered on her special day. She would appreciate the hard work and effort you put in to make it well, a special day for her.

Loves Fashion – If your mom loves the word shopping and her closet is full of latest trends clothes and shoes, she sure knows a lot about fashion. She would be a fun person to shop for, but first you need to make sure you know what she would like. She may enjoy designer wallets & purses, cashmere shawls & cardigans, cosmetic collection.

Loves Chocolate. Does your mother have sweet tooth? Besides flowers, chocolates are the next most popular gift idea for mother’s day. Decadent truffles and chocolate covered strawberry are a great gifts your mother will cherish. Check out gift basket of chocolate and wine, or a fondue set. Fresh fruit dipped in a melted chocolate? What else can a chocolate lover ask for?

Loves music. Does your mother have a better collection of MP3s than you do? Has she attended more concerts than you have? If so, she would be a great candidate for this years latest hits. Concert tickets are another great idea and experience that your mom would not forget. You can also gift her iPod to save all the latest and great music audios.

Loves reading. If your mother is fond of curling up in the covers with a good read, chances are she would love a book as a gift. If you know what kind of books she loves to read you can get her the latest one. If you know that there was a movie that she likes and it was based on a book, you can buy her that book. Check out the some books from best selling authors.

Loves Jewelry. Jewelry lover moms can be easy to find gift for. You just need to know her style. If she likes little sparkles and accessories with her clothes, you can get her dangling earrings, drop necklaces, chokers or bracelets. One great thing about jewelry moms is that she cannot have too many accessories.

Remember, this is your mother’s day and you should make her feel special. Make her appreciate by putting in the efforts that she very well deserves.

Father’s Day is very special for me. I am very close to my dad and dedicate all my success to him. He has been a great role model for me and still inspires me to keep going, when at times I feel like giving up.

Father’s Day is just around the corner. The bond between father and children never fades, no matter how much the time and trends change.

Father’s Day is a special family event with father being the focus point. This is a special day children can thank their dad in a special way for standing by their side and offering their support at all times. Honor your dad this father’s day with any of the ideas listed below or think of something creative and surprise him.

• Cool gift Cards for dads. Check out the special deals on Amazon or eBay. Most of the gifts are more than 25% off. You can offer him a coupon or gift cards from these sites or ask him to select a gift of his choice and order it for him.
• Lunch or Dinner Certificates. What more fun than going out with family for lunch or dinner and spoil your dad with all the attention he can get. Read reviews about local restaurants in your area. Some require advanced booking so make sure you have all your corners covered. Make sure they server the meals he is especially fond of.
• Football or BaseBall Tickets. Men are fond of sports, it is like their second love after their partner. Buy tickets for your father to go see a sport event in or around your area. If he is into sports, he will truly love you more for making it more than special event for him, plus you two get to bond and chat with each other.
• Cool Video Games. Wii and Xbox are still popular among households. If they have nice company to play with, they will go ahead and keep playing video games until they can. Spend quality time with your dad, winning and losing at the same time.

Always remember how much he supported you and took care of you while you were growing up.

Make this Father’s Day a special one for him. I know, I will

Incoming search terms:

• for making it more than

Thinking about what to gift your girlfriend for her special occasion? First off, kudos to even remember her day. Second, don’t despair. Here are some cool gift ideas for your girlfriend that can consider while shopping for your loved one. Always remember, it’s the thoughts that count.

1. Calvin Klein OBSESSION Eau de Parfum Spray. Obsession perfume by Calvin Klein is a mixture essence of mandarin, bergamot, and peach with hints of lemon, jasmine and oak moss. For a flavorful experience, combine this fragrance with the shower gel, body lotion, deodorant and talc.
2. 10k White Gold Diamond 3-Stone Heart Pendant. This 10k white gold diamond 3-stone heart pendant chain is really thin and tangles easily. This is for your girlfriend if she likes light and dainty piece of jewelry. This can also make a great Valentine’s Day gift.
3. 14k Yellow and White Gold Crossover Hoop Earrings. These hoop earrings feature tubes of yellow and white gold that crossover one another. The contrasting colors are a perfect balance between opposing forces–one frames the other so it becomes more startling. Both fun and elegant, these 14k gold earrings are perfect for any occasion.
4. Yellow Gold Plated Sterling Silver Multi-Gemstone Flower Bracelet. This multi-gemstone flower bracelet is a colorful garland for your girlfriend’s wrist. Fashioned in shiny gold-dipped sterling silver, it links bright flower shapes with petals made from six popular gemstones: deep red garnet, sky blue topaz, golden citrine, purple amethyst, smoky quartz, and light green peridot.
5. Multicolor Swarovski Crystal Sterling Silver Ankle Bracelet. This is a multi color Swarovski Crystal anklet and is 9 Inch to 10 inch in length and totally adjustable. It has sterling silver lobster clasp. Length of this anklet can be adjusted.

Recently a friend of mine had to move to Greater Toronto Area, since her husband got a great opportunity that was hard to let go. The move was sudden and she was short on time.

She was moving from Arizona, so basically she had zero knowledge on what to look for, which area would be the best, good schools and good neighborhood. As always, she turned to me for help.

Even I had no idea where to start, but I managed to do some good research. As a result, I was able to narrow down resources for her, so that she could find the perfect fit.

Here is the list in case, you or someone you know move to Toronto and looking for useful resources to gain efficient leads;

1. LocalCityRentals. This online community portal is great for potential landlords or tenants. It is available in few major cities like Toronto (GTA), Ottawa (Gatineau), Victoria, Winnipeg etc. You can post a Free Ad if you are a landlord looking to rent your property, or if you are a tenant looking for your next place. I love the search and general interface. You can narrow down your search as much as possible, giving you the ability to find the perfect place you can call your home.

Click Here to Post Free Property Listing

2. Apartment Info. This is an informative site that lists mix of individual Toronto apartment buildings, property management companies that have vacant apartments in Toronto, and general apartment rental listing sites. You will be able to find web sites that list rental information for only one specific apartment building, the nearest major intersection.

3. Toronto We Are Network. This is a comprehensive directory of all Toronto Rentals and Real Estate Listings. As you explore through, you will also find each online portal with the map and corresponding neighborhood. You will be able to find the best local information for Toronto, Ontario and other neighboring cities.

4. Toronto Real Estate and Rentals. Find the list of Toronto Rental Properties as well as Toronto Real Estate Listings in GTA area. You can also post Free Ads to list your property for rent as well as search for the property of your choice in your favorite location. You can contact the landlord free of charge. Search for apartments for rent, commercial or office space for lease, real estate for sale and much more.

5. Craigslist Toronto. If you have enough time and patience to search through long listings of properties in your area, this is the site you should be visiting. This site has huge number of property listings in your area (whichever area is that!). Even if you filter or narrow down your search criteria, you will still end up with long list of listings. And you will be guaranteed to find the place you have been looking for.

6. City Data Forums Toronto. If you find yourself in a situation where you are looking for a place in Toronto, but also looking for people reviews or their opinions of the location and neighborhood, then city data forums provides you exactly that. People on this forum originate from different locations in Canada and express their honest views on what they think about particular location, schools, grocery stores, transportation system, weather, job situation and lot of other important information. I had too many questions about the places that I found online, this is the place where I verified if my information was correct or not. Not bad, eh?

When I was looking for a place in Toronto / GTA area, I was referred to most of these resources by friends and colleagues. If you can find your next apartment using any of the sources above, I will be glad I could help.

Ciao for Now

Incoming search terms:

• for rent as well as search

This weekend as I went out for a cup of coffee with my friends, Kerri started narrating an incident at her work. Basically, one of her co-workers got a nice raise this quarter, even though she is not getting along types. Kerri thinks this coworkers should not have gotten the raise because she does not agree with most people, argues about every proposed change to the system and basically make huge deal out of insignificant issues. She mostly argues about how a project should proceed or what should be the guidelines.

This had me thinking, Do Mean People Really Make More Money?

At the time I just advised Kerri not to overreact to the situation, but after coming home I researched the topic. I was surprised to find so much has been covered on the topic.

According to the study titled “Do Nice Guys and Gals Really Finish Last”?, men who disagreed far greater make 18% or $9,772 annually more in salary than those who agree, and women who disagreed make 5% or $1,828 than those who agree more.

Reports published by The Wall Street Journal suggests that the more agreeable you are, the less income you’re likely to make. The difference is particularly significant for men.

The study contained data from over 20 years from three different surveys, and interviewed 10,000 workers from a wide range of fields. The researchers found that men “earn a substantial premium” for being disagreeable while the same behavior has a negligible effect for women.

So, basically this study suggests that the “disagreeable” behavior does not effect women much. What do you think?

Do you experience any such disagreement at work and think mean people are getting rewarded for being not so pleasant with other people?

According to a new study (yes, there has been another study) people are happiest when they are having sex, working out or visiting a theatre. This study is based on iPhone users regularly posting updates of their levels of contentment via an app.

Well, I understand the sex and the working out part, but what it this all about being happy when visiting theatre? I am not a keen theatre fan and do not have many friends who visit theatre frequently, but whatever I watch on TV or reality shows, people do not look super thrilled when they are exiting out of the big halls. I am not sure what this study has been based on, but it does not add up.

Also, Christmas day is the happiest day of the year with contentment levels peaking at 1.50pm. This is understandable since the happy hormones are on the high after opening all the surprise gifts received.

Everyone has happy moments. I can count the moments when I am happiest. Let’s see. I am happiest when,

• I watch the sun rise early in the morning,
• I am done exercising (there you go),
• Commuting back from work, listening to my favorite music,
• Watch a movie with happy ending,
• My favorite show is about to start,
• I find that the shoes I have been drooling over are on sale,
• Same with clothes, outfits
• The day is warm and cozy,
• I talk to my long lost childhood friend,
• hmmm ….. maybe more.

I will keep adding as I think of more.

How about you? When do you feel happiest? What day of the time do you feel most relaxed?

Please do share

Photo Credit: SHINEZ

I love finding best deals online. Money saved from these discounted priced items is like money earned. CyberMonday 2011 is here and as I go surfing online buying the stuff to check off my list, I am sharing the deals I found interesting and useful.

Now get this, consumers are expected to spend over $1 billion this CyberMonday 2011. You can expect to see people surfing online and buying their favorite gadgets, electronic items and clothing from their favorite stores.

Here is the list of popular stores with CyberMonday 2011 best deals.

BestBuy CyberMonday 2011 Deals:

Free $10 gift card when you make purchases over $100 or more with store pick up. This is all you have to do. Place an order of $100 or more on Sunday, November 27 or Monday, November 28. Use Store Pickup. The egift card code will be emailed to you 2 to 4 days after your order has been picked up. Redeem your e-gift card in store or online.

• Samsung – 46″ Class/ LED / 1080p / 120Hz / HDTV – Sale Price: $897.99. Original Price: $1299.99. You save: $402.00
• Apple iPod touch 32GB* MP3 Player (4th Generation – Latest Model). Sale Price: $269.99. Original Price: $299. You save: $30
•  Garmin – nüvi 1450LMT GPS. Sale Price: $129.99. Original Price: $239.99. You save: $110
• Sony Cyber-Shot W570 16.1 Megapixel Camera for $99.99-Save $60
• Buy any Sims 3 base, expansion, or stuff pack, get the second Sims item free!

Walmart CyberMonday 2011 Deals:

Walmart’s CyberMonday 2011 deals run from November 27th to December 2nd. They are offering free shipping to home on orders of $45 or more on all Cyber Week specials as well as free shipping with Site to Store.

• Xbox 360 Kinect Family Fun Bundle for $348
• Samsung 32″ Class LCD 720p 60Hz HDTV for $278
• Philips Norelco SensoTouch PLUS $30 eGift Card Value Bundle for $149.97
• Canon EOS Rebel T3 Black 12.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit for $479.00
• Backyard Discovery Monticello Cedar Swing Set for $499.00
• Brother Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine for $350

If you are shopping online, make sure to password protect your smartphone. Since majority of people are out shopping online, scammers are also out there looking for personal and financial information from potential targets.

Incoming search terms:

• 2011 is here