Karen’s Opinion

While visiting our daughter in Florida, we visited St. Augustine. The vicinity of St. Augustine was first explored in 1513 by Spanish explorer and governor of Puerto Rico, Juan Ponce de León. You know, the guy who was looking for the Fountain of Youth. Well, we drank the water that was to restore our youth. I have yet to see any results.

St. Augustine is a wonderful place to visit restaurants and shop. I loved wandering in and out of the shops as each was unique with what it had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Fresh Produce shop! I had recently been approached by Fresh Produce to try out an item of clothing from their line and then write a review. Before we left on vacation, I had been reading about Fresh Produce being co-founded and run by a mom entrepreneur, Mary Ellen Veron. I wanted to see for myself if this shop held the types casual women’s clothing of which I might be interested. It sure did! I loved all the soft pastel colors of the new dresses for spring. I could have gone overboard with spending in that store because their clothing is the care-free, casual styles I needed while we were on vacation. I loved the idea of pulling vacation clothing out of one’s suitcase without having to iron said item. Fresh Produce carries everything from shorts and sundresses to bathing suit cover-ups and more. The majority of their clothing is made in the USA. I think I even saw the dress that I had picked to review. I was excited to get home and see if it had come in the mail while we were gone.

My package was waiting for me! I had been wanting a carefree loose fitting dress that I could put on after work so I chose the Catalina Maxi Dress in the color Oyster.

I love this dress! I love how it feels loose but doesn’t feel like it is swimming on me. The straps are just wide enough to cover my bra straps. It doesn’t wrinkle when I sit down. It is casual enough to wear at home but I think I will also be able to wear it to church by dressing it up with some big jewelry and a pretty pair of sandals. Fresh Produce carries sizes from sizes S – 3X and ships to over 200 countries. I am so glad I know about Fresh Produce.

My great niece and I ran to touch the arch while my son was parked illegally. Let me back up.

We were on our way to Branson, Missouri and stopped to visit my son and daughter in-law on the way. They live in St. Louis. My great niece had never been to the arch so we decided to drive to the river front and let her see it. Well, she wanted to touch it so I agreed to run up the zillion stairs with her and she was able to touch the arch. No one else in our group wanted to go so my son let us hop out of the car instead of searching for a place to park and then walk several blocks to the arch.

We were talking about the arch and how it came to be. I couldn’t remember all the details so I looked up the information and this is what I found.

From Wikipedia:

It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States. At 630 feet (192 m), it is the tallest man-made monument in the United States, Missouri’s tallest accessible building, and the largest architectural structure designed as a weighted or flattened catenary arch.

In late 1933, civic leader Luther Ely Smith, returning to St. Louis from the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park in Vincennes, Indiana, beheld the crumbling St. Louis riverfront area and envisioned that building a memorial there would both revive the riverfront and stimulate the economy.
In December, the JNEMA discussed organizing an architectural competition to determine the design of the monument.

The competition comprised two stages—the first to narrow down the designers to five and the second to single out one architect and his design. The design intended to include:

“(a) an architectural memorial or memorials to Jefferson; dealing (b) with preservation of the site of Old St. Louis — landscaping, provision of an open-air campfire theater, reerection or reproduction of a few typical old buildings, provision of a Museum interpreting the Westward movement; (c) a living memorial to Jefferson’s ‘vision of greater opportunities for men of all races and creeds;’ (d) recreational facilities, both sides of the river; and (e) parking facilities, access, relocation of railroads, placement of an interstate highway.”

Saarinen the winner of the competition and awarded the checks—$40,000 to his team and $50,000 to Saarinen. The competition was the first major architectural design that Saarinen developed unaided by his father Eliel.

On May 25, the United States Territorial Expansion Memorial Commission endorsed the design. Later, in June, the NPS approved the proposal. Representative H. R. Gross, however, opposed the allocation of federal funds for the arch’s development.

The design drew varied responses. While an architectural critic from The New York Times designated the arch “a modern monument, fitting, beautiful and impressive,” some local residents likened it to a “stupendous hairpin and a stainless steel hitching post.” The most aggressive criticism emerged from Gilmore D. Clarke, who compared the proposal to an arch imagined by fascist Benito Mussolini, rendering the arch a fascist symbol. Wurster and the jury refuted the charges, arguing that “the arch fform was not inherently fascist but was indeed part of the entire history of architecture.” Saarinen considered the opposition absurd, asserting, “It’s just preposterous to think that a basic form, based on a completely natural figure, should have any ideological connection.”

Yesterday, while at the hairdressers, I noticed how tan most of the girls were that worked in the shop. They are all active in sports and spend a lot of time outdoors. My friend and hairdresser, Pam, plays golf all the time and is in such good shape.

My dream vacation would be to visit Myrtle Beach and learn from a professional how to play golf. I would love to walk the courses and get a good tan. The icing on the cake would be if I found out I was a natural golfer. Who knows, I could be the next great woman golfer!

48 Hour Tee Times is the perfect website to use when planning a golfing trip to Myrtle Beach. Their real job is hospitality with links to the nicest resorts in the Myrtle Beach area. Most of our trips to Myrtle Beach have involved accommodations with family so we would be more interested in how they are able to get last minute tee times. Their service is free and helps avoid high fees due to last minute booking. Our family never plans ahead so options for last minute tee times would be an asset for travelers like us.

I think Myrtle Beach has the most beautiful weather for a vacation and their beaches are beautiful. When we were there last time, my most favorite thing to do was to lay on a boogie board and ride the waves.

I am so ready for a vacation.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

Why is it that I feel more laid back when on vacation? I rarely get a headache when I am doing something I enjoy. That is why vacations are good for me. A vacation can be a week at home catching up on yard work, if that is what you enjoy. Most of us feel like we got more of a break from our normal routine when we visit somewhere away from home. I especially love to visit Florida for my vacation. There is something about smelling the orange groves and feeling the sun on my arms that puts me in heaven.

I am not fond of theme parks so I try to find a spot like Kissimmee, the heart of Florida. Kissimmee offers so many different types of activities that everyone is sure to find something to suit them. Whether it be lounging beside the pool or spending the day zip-lining, you will feel refreshed after a vacation in this beautiful location. Visit Kissimmee ‘s website to plan your vacation there. The site has links for things to do, places to stay and more. I am excited to see that they have information about the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. Talented “tribute bands” are ready to rock my socks off as they recreate classic hits of some of my favorite bands like the Rolling Stones.

You will fall in love with this quaint town that is close to everything. Check it out!

Are you getting bored this summer? Would you like to take a family vacation that will take you back to the simple times? Visiting Branson is a fun way to enjoy spectacular shows like Presleys’ Country Jubilee. The Jubilee slapstick will have you laughing so hard, your sides will hurt. Folks, this is great family entertainment from the downright hilarious skits to the gospel influence.

Speaking of gospel entertainment, the 1st Annual Branson Gospel Music Convention, is coming to Branson July 14 to 17. The convention will be held at the Branson Convention Center, which is adjacent to the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Groups featured include The Blackwood Quartet, The Chuck Wagon Gang, Florida Boys, The Stamps, and The Paynes.

Perhaps golfing is your idea of relaxing vacation. You will be thrilled with the Payne Stewart Golf Course. The course is built with the features that exemplified Payne Stewart’s sense of humor, style and experiences. The course incorporates natural rock outcroppings, waterfalls and creeks and wooded areas into the design features. Widely known for his wardrobe of traditional golf knickers or plus fours and a tam o’ shanter cap, Payne Stewart was a champion and one of Missouri’s own. Tragically, his life was cut short when at the age of 42, Payne Stewart was killed in a plane crash.

A stay at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing will be one of pure enjoyment. You will be pampered and feel rested from your visits to shopping areas, nature hikes and the like. Let Branson be your vacation spot.