Loving You!

Hey there all,

Things has been mad crazy over the last week, from my PT trying to kill me, trying to survive a low carb diet, work stressful, getting a new phone, and to top that all its been a long month to survive, I am burned out dammit!!

So for the next few weekends I am in "loving myself mode"

I am in the sauna, manicures and hair salon appointments.

Its about me!!!

Y'all need to take some time and do the same......

Have a great day !
Until da next Tyme !

Missye
" The Travel Queen"

Tesco Clubcards

Whassup peeps,


This one goes out to my Tesco Lovers in the UK , I have just discovered the following below :(  so I had to share.


 Millions of shoppers should act now to avoid losing value on their Tesco Clubcard points as the supermarket plans to cut back the exchange rate for its rewards.

Currently cardholders receive rewards worth four times their value when trading in Clubcard points, but from 6 December this year, the rate will reduce to three times.

As one of the most generous loyalty card schemes available, Tesco gives shoppers two points for every pound spent in store. This ‘double points’ offer has been in place since August 2009 and Tesco says it has no plans to end what was originally a promotion.

Upon exchanging their points, cardholders can use Clubcard vouchers for dining out in restaurants such as Pizza Express, for buying airmiles and cinema tickets and for spending on days out for the family.

For example, every £2.50 in Clubcard vouchers gives holders 50 airmiles with airmiles.co.uk. Alternatively, shoppers can use £2.50 in Clubcard vouchers to spend £10 in Pizza Express.

When the changes are implemented the same amount of vouchers will only get you £7.50 to spend in Pizza Express.

While this is still great value for money, Clubcard holders should get in quick if they want to use their points for greater returns.

In a further blow to motorists who fuel up at Tesco petrol stations, from 1 November they will only receive one point for every £2 spent rather than two points for every £2 spent. Customers using a Tesco credit card to pay for their fuel will still be able to earn two points for every £2 spent.

Tesco says it has altered the rewards rate to make the scheme inviting to more trading partners, which will in turn offer greater choice to customers swapping their vouchers.

A company called Lavish, which issues tokens for up to 300 spas across the country, and Bertorellis restaurants will be two additions to the scheme along with theatre tickets to some of the West End’s most popular shows for just £22.

Tesco is also hoping to put Clubcard accounts online to help customers access them at all times.

So start spending those points now 

Until da next Tyme !

5 things to do before 2011!

Hey peeps,

The end of the year is drawing in, so here are five things you should do before 2011...

Sit down and sort out your finances before the year-end...


It’s true that the older you get, the faster the years seem to pass by. And quite frankly, I can’t believe we’re already in the month of October, which means Christmas and the New Year aren’t far away.


But with the end of the year rapidly approaching, this is the perfect time to start getting your finances in gear.
So here are five financial tasks you should consider carrying out before the year-end - some of which will help you to prepare for the festive season, and many of which will save you money!

#1 Switch your utility provider

Sadly, winter isn’t far off. And that means we can all expect chillier times in our homes and higher heating bills.
So before the colder weather kicks in, take the time to think about switching your utility provider to see if you can move onto a cheaper tariff. If you’re concerned it’s going to be a lot of hassle and use up a lot of your time, don’t be. Switching suppliers doesn’t have to be difficult and you can easily use the lovemoney.com electricity and gas comparison tool to see whether there’s a cheaper tariff out there for you.

It takes around three minutes to get a quote and could save you more than £700 a year!
To keep your costs low, make sure you check out online tariffs and consider paying by direct debit. It’s also worth investigating whether paying for dual fuel – using the same supplier for both your gas and electricity – works out cheaper.


#2 Clean up your debt


Before you get into even more debt over the Christmas period, take the time to clean up the debt you already have!

If you have a lot of debt on a credit card and you’re paying a high interest rate, switch to a credit card with a low interest rate, or better still, no interest rate at all!
A great way to do this is by using a 0% balance transfer credit card. For example, the Barclaycard Platinum with 16 Month BT Visa offers 16 months interest-free on all balance transfers. So that means you can start tackling your debt head-on, without worrying about the interest stacking up. Just bear in mind you will have to pay a 2.9% transfer fee.


Similarly, if you’ve got an overdraft, now’s the time to sort it out. If you’re paying a lot of interest on your overdraft, consider switching to a current account that will provide you with an interest-free overdraft.
If your overdraft is fairly small, however, the First Direct 1st Account offers a £250 interest-free overdraft. What’s more, you’ll receive £100 for switching over to First Direct, and if you’re not happy with the customer service, you’ll be given another £100 to leave. Be aware you will need to pay at least £1,500 into the account each month or take out a First Direct product, such as insurance, to qualify.


#3 Apply for a 0% on new purchases card


If you can, try to budget carefully over the festive period and don’t spend more than you can afford to.


However, if you know you’re likely to do a spot of splurging for your loved ones, get yourself a 0% on new purchases credit card. That way you’ll get to enjoy a year or more of interest-free spending.


It’s worth doing this sooner rather than later to ensure you receive your card before you start your Christmas shopping. Typically, it takes around 10 working days to receive a credit card once you’ve applied for it. But with demand likely to go up closer to Christmas, it’s well worth getting ahead of the game.


Of course, if you always manage to pay off your credit card bill in full, it’s worth applying for a cashback credit card instead and be rewarded for your spending. For example, the American Express Platinum Cashback Card offers 5% cashback in the first three months – perfect for that Christmas shopping! After that, you can earn up to 1.25%.


#4 Get the right card for your holiday


If you’re off on holiday before the end of the year, make sure you use the right type of plastic while you’re abroad. Standard debit and credit cards often charge a foreign transaction fee as well as an ATM withdrawal charge.

To avoid this, one option is to use a prepaid currency card. There are numerous prepaid currency cards on the market, including offerings from FairFX, CaxtonFX, Travelex and my Travel Cash. For a full break down, read The best cards for spending abroad.

However, using a prepaid currency card doesn’t always guarantee you’ll avoid fees all together. So other options to consider include the Halifax Clarity Card and the Santander Zero credit card as these cards won’t charge you for withdrawing cash from an ATM when you’re overseas, and you also won’t get charged for foreign transactions, providing you clear your debt entirely when you receive your bill.


#5 Buy big goods ahead of VAT hike


Finally, with VAT going up from 17.5% to 20% in January (eek), the time to buy big items is now! So if you’re thinking about buying a car, television, furniture, or even a holiday, make sure you do it before the end of 2010.

So make sure you get organised and prepare yourself for the New Year in plenty of time!

Until da next Tyme!

Yoga Retreat!

Good Evening all!

For 4 days last week, I was off the grid, as my friend and I headed to Ibiza to check out a yoga retreat & Spa and generally get some R&R.

I have been to this spa before I can highly recommended it, and I never tire of going back!

Atzaro is amazing, I have previously written that being surrounded by orange and lime trees in a tranquil agriculture area, with just nature and the sun, is a true place for meditation.

This trip was no exception.

Ok so let me be honest, I am not a yoga follower, and I salute all the people that are followers and appreciate your craft with new eyes.

It may look easy, but on first try it is difficult and sometimes impossible to put your body into poses that you have never experienced before, but as with any form of exercise and with repeat practice, not only do you master the art form, but you master the language and ultimately your body to achieve that inner tranquillity that we are all looking for!

My teacher Jax was amazingly patient, with all the students at different levels, she ensure that we all gained something from the experience, ensured that we were not doing more than we could endure not only for first timers but as well as the advanced students in the class.

Now let's be real here people I am a big chick with some flexibility for my size and this showed in the class as that flexibility helped me a great deal.

With Jax's guidance and encouragement she opened my eyes and made me fully aware to what my body can do and the amazing ability that I have if I focused, relaxed and let go.....something that we find hard to do in todays society.

After my lesson my interest has been piqued to find out a little bit more and that will be my research in the next few weeks.

So for all those that wish to find out more about yoga, whether you are a beginner or advance, check www.formenterayoga.com for more information.


Until da next Tyme !

Missye
" The Travel Queen"

Healthy Week!

Morning all,

Its the start of a new week and once again I am about to embark on a no carb or low carb diet.

Our bodies, is like a" handbag", if we keep putting things in and never empty, it just fills up with rubbish!

So once in a while we need to help it along, with its own self cleaning, that means cutting down on certain foods and allow the body to repair itself.

Carbohydrates are very good for us, as it contains the energy that we need on a daily basis to power the body during our daily routines.

However we sometimes need to minimise our intake and basically empty our "handbag" :)

We will feel lighter, less bloated and more energy.... I dare you all to try it!

As we need carbs, if you are trying none in your diet, only do for 2 weeks, any longer is unhealthy.

Low carbs can be tried for longer periods as your body will still be getting a certain amount of carbs that you will need !

If you however want to take this to another level to be fully satisfied that you have "emptied your handbag" you could always try a Colonic!

That is guaranteed !

Go on try it ;)


Until da next Tyme !

Missye
" The Travel Queen"

Gifts that ruins relationships !

Hey all,

Now I  am sure that some of you willl agree with me that buying gifts is a minefield , no matter how well you know the person.

When it comes to buying gifts you fall into one of only two categories. You’re either one of those people that claims to ‘just love buying for other people’ and who has somehow managed to turn the act into an art form.


Or you are the sort who breaks into a cold sweat at the very thought of gift shopping - the stress, the pressure… it’s all just too, too much.


But regardless of which camp you fall into, there is no sure-fire way to ensure your gift is going to be a hit.


In fact, the impact of your choice of gift could have repercussions above and beyond a quivering lip or a sullen face. That’s right, your gift actually speaks. And volumes. Your gift has the power to communicate how much you care for your partner, how much you listen and how much they mean to you.

So no pressure at all then? Sidestep the minefield, read and take heed of our absolute no-no’s to get you off on the right foot. At all costs you need to avoid…

Giving anything that implies a flaw
Diet books, self-help books, gym membership, anti-ageing creams, all to be avoided at all costs. You might as well save the cash and just tell them they’re fat and flawed.

Anything practical or chore related

A hoover, a set of saucepans… no, no and thrice no. Giving a gift is an opportunity to buy someone something they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves, so give the dull and practical gifts a swerve and think ‘indulgence’.

Cheap tat

If you’re trying to say ‘I care more about my bank balance than I care about you’ then go right ahead here. However, if you actually like your other half, you’re going to need to dig a little deeper. That doesn’t mean that a good gift is necessarily one you lavish cash on, but no one likes a miser and it’s never more apparent than when giving a gift. Avoid the bargain bucket and think about what it is that will make them smile, not your bank manager.

No gift at all

‘I forgot’ is just never going to cut it. If you care then you would know the important dates - birthdays, anniversaries… there are no excuses here. If you’re time poor then get online. If you’re just thoughtless then be prepared to pay the price.

A gift that’s more about you than them

Tickets to see... your favourite band, a book… you want, clothes… you like. Buying a gift is all about the other person, it has nothing to do with you. Be selfless in the act of gift shopping and hold yourself back. It can be your turn next payday.

A ‘virtual gift’
A star named after you, chickens for a village in Africa, a donation in your name. OK, so some of them may appear to be nice, thoughtful, even selfless gestures, but aren’t they really just a little bit smug, and really… can I wear it, can I touch it? No, so where’s my actual gift then?! Get real, unless it’s a holiday think tangible, think paper-ripping and beaming smiles - now that’s a gift.

Clothes

A fine line is to be trodden here and some may even argue it’s a perfectly OK gift to buy, but if you are one of those people, then proceed at your peril. We’re all adults, we all know what we like, that’s why we choose our own clothes and have done since we were 12 or 13. If we wanted dressing we’d get a stylist. If you must, try and make good with vouchers for their favourite store but please, no actual clothes.


Until da next Tyme !

Epihany

Hey all,

What's good?

I think something is wrong with me, ever since I turned of age, my outlook has changed dramatically, is this normal???

•I didn't have time for stupid people before, now its even worse !
•my tolerance level is lower
•I want to travel more( if that is even possible)
•I no longer have the urge to buy into that settling down be happy syndrome
•I find that I procrastinate now - which I have never done previously.


So whatever is happening, I am embracing it and just running with the flow, I am loving the new me...... Life is good right now :)


Until da next Tyme !

Missye
" The Travel Queen"

Television Viewing!

Hi there all,

Apparently TV viewing over the last 48 hours has been dire.....mostly aimed at reality TV.

There is a huge uproar at the Xfactor that a contestant didn't get through, despite the fact that she has talent.

Then whilst watching BNTM last night, yet again the contestant that should have won didn't!

Reality TV is all about ratings, so the producers plan these surprises well, its all about maximising viewing.

So although we may not like their choices, trust me they have a higher plan.

To Gammu from the Xfactor and Alisha from BNTM, your journey starts now , as the door has been opened for you!

Until da next Tyme !

Missye
" The Travel Queen"

Back in the driving seat!!

Hi all!

My apologies, I haven't been doing what a good blogger should do and that is keeping you all informed!

I will honestly admit that time is not my greatest friend right now!

With work, friends birthday, social commitments, planning travel arrangement, catching up on my shows and fitting in sleep and training, life has become hectic ;(

So I am starting a new chapter this week.

I am travelling again from next week, so my organisation level is back in full effect!

Until da next Tyme !

Missye
" The Travel Queen"