Orlando is the top tourist destination for Brazilians!

 Orlando is the top tourist destination for Brazilians!

(Did you know that?)

"You can spot Brazilian tourists in Florida by their matching T-shirts and large tour buses."

Brazilian tourists shop the bargains at a local mall.

Photo Credit:  John Couwel/CNN

     Visit Disneyworld or Universal Studios and you will see many large groups of tourists, all sporting their tourist/travel company t-shirts, and carrying the Brazilian flag. 

     Last year, especially, I noticed that the Brazilian groups were more noticeable than ever.  "They must REALLY love Orlando theme parks," I thought to myself.

     No, it was explained to me, our US exchange rate is so low, that they come here to do two things:  1) go to theme parks and 2) go shopping!   And we are very happy to welcome all Brazilian tourists for both reasons! 

      Here is how it works, and this is a direct quote from an article on the CNN Travel website from 2012:

"On a recent afternoon at the Orlando Premium Outlets near Disney World, one of the hottest-selling items among the Brazilian tourists is luggage. They buy the suitcases, then stuff them with recently purchased shoes, clothing, bags and electronics until the luggage is almost bursting at the seams."

"As a result, Disney hired 54 Portuguese-speaking "Super Greeters," most of them from Brazil, to assist Brazilian tour groups throughout Disney's parks."

"As a result, SeaWorld recently launched a website in Portuguese, and Frey says the company is looking to expand its Portuguese-speaking employees."

By John Couwels, CNN

updated 9:51 AM EST, Tue January 24, 2012

Here is the link to the entire article by John Couwels. 

Now is the time to learn Portuguese, if you want to meet and greet our Brazilian tourists!  Welcome to Orlando, friends!

Brazilian Carnival Going On Now...See Pictures and Article

Happy Mardi Gras today, Fat Tuesday! Click link to today's parades in New Orleans!

Need help getting your "stuff" organized and simplified? Click this link!

Click this link to see my latest pinterest interests, and you'll get some great ideas...

 



My Horoscope, Scorpio, Says "Get Out Of Town Soon"

My Horoscope, Scorpio, Says "Get Out Of Town Soon"

Photo Credit:  www.abovetopsecret.com

"You may be drawn to a romantic notion of getting away from it all, yet this kind of escape might sound better than it really is. Nevertheless, a well-planned trip makes sense now. There's no need to be impulsive about it, but the sooner you get out of town for some rest and relaxation, the better. If possible, invite someone else along on your adventure, since the energy you receive from others on your upcoming excursion can fuel your enthusiasm."

Horoscope by Rick Levine, Tarot.com, on www.HuffingtonPost.com February 10, 2014

     Although I am proud to have Scorpio as my birth sign, I rarely check my horoscope these days.  However, today I took a peek and realized that I must get out of town very soon!

     Sooooooooooo, tomorrow I will make the effort to decide just when I will actually make travel plans and purchase that plane ticket to London. 

     According to the Orlando Sentinel, our local newspaper, either crime or a traffic accident will mow me down before I get my suitcase packed. 

     I've had my new passport for many, many months, so what am I waiting for?  Nothing.  I seem to be permanently in a state of suspended animation since I retired.  Even my horoscope is tired of me sitting around, so I guess I will definitely get out of town soon!

Photo Credit:  www.uscis.gov

     Although I hate cold weather, I love London, so I'll just have to pack clothes suitable for the frigid and damp English winter weather.  Wish me luck.  But wait...aren't all the Brits spending their winter holidays in Orlando? 

Why don't you check out my organizational blog here? You might get some ideas for downsizing your "stuff."

Click this link to see my latest pinterest interests. 

If you can believe this, I'm even on Facebook now. No. Really. Click here.

Surprise! Click here to see my twitter madness.

 







Been Retired 3 Months Now---What's New?

Been Retired 3 Months Now--

What's New?

This book may be of some help...

Photo Credit:  www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

     Nothing new has miraculously changed about my life after retirement.  In fact, I find myself sitting absolutely still, in front of my computer, for most of the day.  What?  That's not supposed to happen!

     I wrote faithfully about all of the opportunities and activities that would await me upon retirement, if I chose.  I retired on a Thursday, stayed home that Friday, and haven't really explored much since November 1.

     Here are the three activities I did pursue:

     1.  Purchased the business name for my Professional Organizing business:  Simplify Your Lifestyle.  Signed up with www.findyourorganizer.com .  Had lovely business cards printed.

     2.  Drove 1000 miles round-trip to Alabama to visit a dear friend at Thanksgiving, stayed one night, and came back the next day. 

     3.  Went to visit my family (all of us, including 5 grandchildren) at Christmas.  Experienced some family drama, and couldn't wait to get back home.

     Spent all of January looking at my empty calendar for the month, and rarely got dressed.  Something about retirement isn't going as planned. 

Get the idea?

Photo Credit:  www.singlemindedwomen.com

     Saw an interesting website on "Ellen" about dating sites, and one caught my interest:  www.farmersonly.com  so I joined.  I dropped out after one day, because it caused me to miss my horse and ranch in Fort Myers...Here's the clip from Ellen's segment.

Ellen DeGeneres talks dating sites.

     Watched the Southwest Eagle Cam videos as two eggs were laid, chicks hatched, then one suddenly died last week for no apparent reason.  Here's a tribute video to little E3.  E4 is still thriving.  Tribute to E3 Eaglet--Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, by urdognu



  And during all of these three months, I wouldn't and couldn't think of anything positive or uplifting to write about my newfound "retirement life."

Yep.  This is what I look like every day now, except I'm usually wearing pajamas.

Photo Credit: www.dailymail.co.uk

Photo Credit:  www.pramshow.blogspot.com

     To get this day, now half over, off to a better start, here is one of my newest favorite videos, by Pharrell Williams, called "Happy."  So I plan on doing some dancing and singing today to chase away that black dog for a bit. 

Go ahead: Sing and dance to "Happy," by Pharrell Williams. 

Follow my recent pinterest interests here. Enjoy!

(For some reason, half of this blog is underlined and most of the links aren't working...I've been gone from here too long.)

    



I'm Retired--And Not Working Is Exhausting!

I'm Retired--And Not Working Is Exhausting!

November 8, 2013

 

This is what I thought I would look like after being retired for a whole week!

Photo Credit:  www.alzsmiles.com

 

This is what I actually look like now, after being retired for a whole week!

Photo Credit:  Unknown, Google Images

 

     Yes, it's been 7 whole days of no work, no alarm clock, no driving to work, no stress, and no problems.  This blog is titled, "Idle At Last," but I haven't been idle yet!

 

     Here is the list of my retirement activities, some fun, some not:

1.      Finished loading my car on my last day of work last Thursday.
2.      Unpacked my car after getting home on my last day of work, then put everything away.
3.      Spent my first day of retirement, last Friday, going through all of my unwanted possessions, cleaning them, pricing them, making signs, putting out the signs, and preparing for a neighborhood yard sale.
4.      Saturday, 7am, put all of the stuff in my carport for the 8am yard sale.  Enjoyed 4 hours of meeting people and selling some stuff.  Fun!
5.      Put all of the yard sale stuff that didn't sell back in the house.
6.      Drove around and took down all the signs, then returned the sign holders to the owner.
7.      Hauled home 4 heavy antique dining chairs, unloading them, and cleaning/polishing them.
8.      Put all of the yard sale stuff back in various rooms, but there are still boxes of stuff to put away in the den.
9.      Spent lots of time online searching for the perfect pedestal table to go with the 4 antique chairs.  Found one at Pier 1 site.
10.      Drove to Pier 1 Imports to purchase/order the new table.
11.      Organized my kitchen drawers and shelves Saturday evening since I had no room for all the stuff that needed to be put away.
12.      Sunday enjoyed (yay!) a lovely day at Disney World's EPCOT with all of my family to celebrate my retirement.  Lunch at the Rose and Crown Pub and lovely gifts!  Wonderful!
13.      Monday, went to work at my son's office, 9:30am, to be a kind of Personal Assistant, which included 4 hours of intense thinking.
14.      Continued to organize my kitchen, which involved 3 hours of cleaning and problem-solving (and decluttering).  Watch the video at the end of my post on how to organize your kitchen drawers easily.
15.      Tuesday went to work as a Personal Assistant for 4 more hours.
16.      Waited for the Air Conditioner technician to give my AC it's tune up on Tuesday.
17.      Wednesday, 7am, went for a root canal.
18.      Wednesday, 9:30, went for a crown fitting at my other dentist.  (And on my birthday, too!)
19.      Worked 2 more hours as a Personal Assistant, mind numbing and amazing at the same time.
20.      Thursday, took trip to the Dollar Tree store to get organizing supplies for my neighbor's kitchen makeover.
21.       5 hours organizing/clearing/cleaning my neighbor's kitchen, and hauling out heavy bags of trash.  (I love the organizing part, though.)  Watch the video at the end of my post on how to organize your kitchen drawers easily.
22.      Friday, went grocery shopping for myself and my neighbor, clearing out her refrigerator, and stocking it with her new food supply, including more garbage hauling...Bless her as she waits to come home from the hospital.

     So there you have the real deal on what a retiree does during the first week of not going to work.  Who knew, after all of my research on fun retirement activities, that I would be working harder than when I had a full-time job?

 

Watch this great video on how to simply and economically organize your kitchen drawers.

 

Click this link to my other website on organizing your lifestyle.

(It's called www.simplifyyourlifestyle.wordpress.com)

 

Click this link to see my pinterest interests. Check out my "Thanksgiving" and "Christmas" boards for great ideas.

    

 

 



The Night Before Retirement Day--Broadway Play!

The Night Before Retirement Day--

Broadway Play!

October 30, 2013

 

Photo Credit:  https://www.facebook.com/TheBookOfMormonOnBroadway

 

Photo Credit:  https://www.facebook.com/TheBookOfMormonOnBroadway

 

 

 

 

Here's how I felt after seeing "The Book of Mormon" tonight in Orlando!

Photo Credit:  www.facebook.com/thebookofmormononbroadway

 

 

     I got a surprise invitation to attend the opening night of "The Book of Mormon" in Orlando tonight, the last night before I retire on Thursday.   It is playing at the Bob Carr Theatre.   I was so surprised and pleased that I accepted immediately. 

 

     There was no way to prepare myself for such a raucous, rocking, fun-filled, off-color, brilliant Broadway musical.  It was fabulous, and yes, I did buy the t-shirt to wear on Friday, the first day of being retired.  I can't tell you what is on the t-shirt, because it is in a foreign language and means something totally inappropriate.

 

     But on Friday, the official day of no working ever again, I will wear that shirt with a big grin on my face.  I made it!!!

 

     If you get a chance to see "The Book of Mormon," and if you are not easily offended or shocked, you will absolutely love this show.

 

     Tomorrow, Thursday, is my last day of work as a teacher, my last day of being a role model for so many others, and my last day of my former life.  I am absolutely thrilled to bits. 

 

     I will continue to write posts for this blog, because I want to share the reality of retirement life with everyone...the good, the better, and the best part of being retired.  Thank you for reading my posts for so long.  My year of anticipation is officially over in just a few hours.  Retirement, here I come!!!

 

Click here to watch one of the fabulous songs from "The Book of Mormon."

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests.

 

 

 

     

 

 



25 School Days To Go To Retirement Day!

25 School Days To Go Until Retirement Day!

September 25, 2013

 

This is how I think I look when I am teaching my gifted classes!

Photo Credit:  Unknown, from www.Pinterest.com

 

     Only 25 more days of school for this teacher!  I have to say that I am vacillating between leaping for joy and trips down memory lane each morning.  Am I sad?  Definitely not.  Am I worn out and used up with so many years of teaching?  Definitely not.

 

Do you see a sad teacher here?  Nope!  Not me!

Photo Credit:  www.teachermum.com



 

     What I have become is reflective and contemplative.  The days are flying by, and I am busying myself each evening by filling boxes with school supplies to take to my school.  Those supplies may be used by the teacher who will soon replace me.  I hope to have a clean house, cleared of all traces of school supplies and equipment.    I will always have my memories of school, of course.

 

This is what I'm doing in the evening now:  boxing up extra school supplies to take to school.

Photo Credit:  www.livingwaterborger.blogspot.com



 

      My days following retirement are already scheduled with dental appointments (root canal and new crown), clearing the overgrown butterfly garden in my front yard, and having the air conditioner repaired in my very old car.  These activities are in no way enjoyable, but I will finally have the time and motivation for getting them done. 

Hope I get all those butterfly bushes and weeds under control soon after retirement!

Photo Credit:  www.gardeningtipsforall.wordpress.com



 

      There is a trip in my near future, to my friend in another state, where I may take an extended vacation while I remap my future life.  In addition, I hope to finish redoing my guest bath, my kitchen floor, and painting the entire inside of my home. 

 

Well, my little vacation may look like this...or not!

Photo Credit:  www.thedigeratilife.com

 

     Very soon, but not soon enough for me, I will be launching my professional home organizing business, Simplify Your Lifestyle, and that business will be a big part of the future I have been seeking.



Photo Credit:  www.busybeeorganizingplus.com

 





     While none of these activities sound like the "fun" I have been researching all year, they are the things that must be done BEFORE I can take off for parts unknown.  Thank you very much for sticking with my blog all year while I worked through the "scariest year of my life." 

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests.

 

     

 

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Thirty-three More School Days Until Retirement!

Thirty-three More School Days Until Retirement!

September 14, 2013

 

This is how all the birds will line up in my front yard to get their seed when I retire, ha-ha!

"No cutting in line!"

Photo Credit:  www.speedbump.com

 

This machine, called "the purple monster," is what made our copies, way back in 1973.

Photo Credit:  www.cafepress.com

 

This is what I want when I retire:  A big loving dog, a farm, and a smile every day!

Photo Credit: http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1922110.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Hilary-Lewis-from-Dolgellau-near-Bala-in-Wales-with-her-heroic-hound-Gallant-1922110.jpg

 

You are all invited to my retirement party on November 1, 2013, in Orlando, Florida!

Photo Credit:  http://rlv.zcache.ca/teachers_retirement_party_invitations-rbace0f07e13e4f6281a485fde4096933_8dnm8_8byvr_512.jpg

 

 

Yes, all of these will be true...but I will miss teaching forever.

Photo Credit:  www.zazzle.com

 

      Am I counting down the days?  Absolutely.  Am I becoming sad about leaving the children and all of the staff at my school, Arbor Ridge K-8 School?  Absolutely. 

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests. 

 

Click here to learn about my new business called Simplify Your Lifestyle.

 

 

 

 



 

 



Simplifying Your Lifestyle--How To Get Help

How to Get Help Simplifying Your Home

in Orlando

September 8, 2013

 

 

     After retirement, I'm going full speed ahead into helping others deal with the "too much clutter" problem.  Here is what I wrote on another blog to explain what I will be doing.

 

 

You have too much stuff to enjoy your lifestyle--Need help? Simplify Your Lifestyle is only an email away, and we can rescue you from the chaos you now call home.

 

We do it all, or we do just what you need for now. If you simply need gentle encouragement to get started on your own, we also offer one-time or ongoing coaching.

 

Also offered is virtual organization: You send photos of the area that needs the most help, and we analyze and offer strategies to get the simple lifestyle back into your home.

 

Your deep dark secrets will be safe with us. We've been there before ourselves.

 

In addition, the energizing of your home through the use of Feng Shui principles for furniture and accessories placement might be your preference.

 

We gently lead you through the chaos into that simple, peaceful, and welcoming home you deserve.

Use the contact form below to send us your problem, your Orlando location, your email, and your phone number.  We serve the Orlando-Winter Park area within 25 miles of zip code 32803.  Hourly rates are reasonable, available on request, and are based on your specific needs. 

 

The only organizational service we don't provide is house cleaning, but we can provide names of those who do provide this service. 

 

We will contact you within 24 hours of receiving your request for help and information.

 

So here is the link to my future career:  www.simplifyyourlifestyle.wordpress.com

 

 

     Thank you, dear readers, for staying with me all year as I examined, researched, and agonized over what to do the day after I retire.   This may be the goal I was searching for all of these months. 

 

Click here to see my listing on findyourorganizer.com. It's official!

 

 

Click here to see my lastest pinterest interests. Clean out your closet today!

Ask Yourself These Ten Questions To Help You Simplify Your Lifestyle

You Have Too Many Things...Need Help?

September 6, 2013

 

 

       When you are faced with too much unused, never needed, messy, and stress-causing clutter, ask yourself these ten questions.  I hope this helps you make some decisions to simplify your lifestyle.  Print out the list and put a copy in every room of your home, to remind you how you can bring some peace into your home or office. 

 

          I found the list on Pinterest this morning, and it is simply amazing to me.  How easy!  My kitchen is where I'm going to start first this weekend.  Happy weekend to everyone...

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests.

 





Best Songs Ever From Best Movies Ever

Best Songs Ever From Best Movies Ever

 

September 5, 2013

 

 

Cher sings "The Shoop Shoop Song" (It's In His Kiss)

Video Credit:  www.youtube.com

From "Mermaids"

 

 

 

"You Don't Own Me" by Bette Middler, Diane Keaton, and Goldie Hawn

Video Credit:  www.youtube.com

From "First Wives Club"

 

 

"Baby Mine" by Bette Midler, added to Walt Disney's "Dumbo" footage

Video Credit:  Walt Disney Company and www.youtube.com

 

      I truly hope that you enjoyed these favorite songs of mine.  Great music from great movies!

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests.

 



 

 

 

 

 

Do You Miss Those Great Old Love Songs?

Do You Miss Those Great Old Love Songs?

September 4, 2013

Barbara Small sings "My Boy Lollipop"

Video Credit:  www.Youtube.com

 

The Dixie Cups sing "Going To The Chapel" live!

Video Credit:  www.youtube.com

 

The Big Bopper sings "Chantilly Lace" on the Dick Clark show!

Video Credit:  www.youtube.com

 

The Troggs sing "Wild Thing" live!

Video Credit:  www.youtube.com

 

Dionne Warwick sings "Walk On By" live on tv!

Video Credit:  www.youtube.com

 

Neil Sedaka sings the slow version of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do!

Video Credit:  www.youtube.com

 

       Tonight is a perfect night for remembering all of your teenage lost loves...and this music will comfort you, I hope.  Sweet dreams!

 

 

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests. You'll love my board called "Videos, Really Good Videos."

 

 

 



How To Simplify Without Buying Anything

How To Simplify Without Buying Anything

September 2, 2013

 

BEFORE I simplified my own linen closet!

Photo Credit:  Del Hylton

 

 

      Today, as it was a national holiday, Labor Day, I spent my day doing some much-needed clutter busting.  The goal was to go through at least 3 or 4 half-empty boxes of school papers and supplies and throw most of it away.  Mission accomplished.

 

      This afternoon, the boxes were empty and I was peaceful with the newly found space in the spare bedroom.  The idea of continuing with my project led me to my linen closet, which is very small and very sad to look inside, as you can see.

 

      Keeping in mind that this might help others with their sad closets as well, I set to "simplifying" my own space.  It is depressing having to dig through nail polish, light bulbs, bandaids, and other necessities, just to find a bar of soap!

 

      So, I took a "before" photo, gathered some containers I already had in my kitchen (which I never use anyway), and started.  The entire project took less than 30 minutes, and I took  "after" photos to share with you here.  Total cost:  $0.00!

 

     The hair dryer that had mysteriously disappeared, causing me to purchase another one, appeared behind the clutter on one shelf.  So, actually the cost of my clutter was the price of the new hair dryer:  $15.00!

 

AFTER I simplified my own linen closet.

Photo Credit:  Del Hylton

 

See the two hair dryers I have now?

Photo Credit:  Del Hylton

 

 

Look at that bottom shelf:  light bulbs and a first aid kit!

Photo Credit:  Del Hylton

 

       So, if I am going into retirement with limited income, I will definitely save money by keeping all of my possessions simple and in clear view, won't I?   

 

Click this link to see my latest pinterest interests. Time to think about fall and Hallowe'en!   

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

     

Why Work After Retirement?

Why Work After Retirement?

August 31, 2013

 

I'm at the corner of retirement and work...and I'm going to stay on the "work" path.

Photo Credit:  www.foxbusiness.com

 

      In the past month, I have come up with at least 15 great and odd ideas for my retirement future.  Let's see, buying a house in Ireland, moving to Key West, opening a bakery, flying to Australia, and other ideas too strange to mention, have popped into my mind almost every morning.

 

     Yes, I am still going to pursue some sort of Private Investigator internship/shadowing career, or at least try it out for a bit.  Yes, I am still going to write a mystery novel or autobiography, probably self-published.  Yes, I am still going to get that country home, horse, dog, and acreage.  However, all of this won't happen at the same time.  "Ain't nobody got time for that!"

 



Photo Credit:  www.123rf.com

 

     However, not too long ago, a friend complimented my ability to help others plow through their piles of possessions, helping them sort and purge them.  This has remained quietly tucked into the far recesses of my brain.  So, this week, I took my first step towards opening my own business as a personal organizing consultant.

 

     Reactions (to my idea of helping others improve their lives and living spaces with some kind of gentle assistance) have been positive, neutral, and downright negative. 

 

     Take today, for example, I spent a nice friendly breakfast defending the idea of my working after retirement.  "Why would you want to work after you've worked for so long already?"  This discussion went from cynical to obstreperous in less than 5 minutes.  Let's just call it a draw. 

 

 

Photo Credit:  www.telegraph.co.uk

 

      So I have included a link here to a great article listing 10 reasons for continuing to work after retirement.  I am concerned primarily with the first 5 reasons, because I believe I will be comfortable financially now.  I will work after I retire because I want and need to continue working.  Period.

 

Ten Reasons To Consider Working After Retirement by Kira Botkin 

 

       If you absolutely and positively need someone besides yourself to help you simplify your lifestyle, hang on for about two months while I retire from the teaching job I have right now.  By that time, in November, I'll have a website just for you, one where you can contact me, and I'll come assess your panic level and measure the height of your clutter.  The name of my new enterprise is "Simplify Your Lifestyle." 

 

       Of course, I won't be able to help all of my readers in Russia, Great Britain, Australia, and India, but if you're in the Orlando area, leave a comment and/or some way to contact you in the very near future. 

 

Click here to watch Cyndi Lauper sing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," just for fun this holiday weekend!!

 

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest interests. My new board is "Simplify Your Lifestyle."