The Winds Resort Beach Club

I received a travel brochure in the mail today to a beach resort in North Carolina specifically at Ocean Isle Beach NC. Now just looking at this place is absolutely beautiful, of course most brochures are filled with the beautiful pictures.

It's only when you get there that you find you were misled, and the vacation will suck unless you switch locations. Yeah, been there, done that and was totally not amused.

According to this brochure the Winds Resort Beach Club has some beach cottages you can stay in as well as rooms and suits. There are photos of rooms, I'm not sure if they are from the cottages or suites, but they are beautiful.

Large open spaces and vibrant colors, absolutely breathtaking views of the ocean and one is right on the water so I'm thinking it's a cottage.

There are perks when it comes to staying in the cottage as you have a kitchen, washer and dryer and a dining area.

I know that would be my personal choice because to be honest, eating out daily would be so expensive and sometimes it's just more private to eat at home.

It would be great to have access to the washer and dryer as I hate packing up dirty clothes in with the clean ones, this way you pack clean clothes only.

Some of the cottages have their own private whirlpool spa, now that would hook me right away. I'll take it!

For you golfers out there, there are over 90 golf courses to play on, so really that is one of the perfect places to go. My mom's boyfriend goes to Myrtle Beach every year to play golf for a full week straight, personally it's all I can do to watch it on the tv... it's so boring.

Photo Info: http://thewindsresortbeachclub.besthotelsnorthcarolina.com/en/

Who exactly is Dracula?

 I have always been a HUGE Dracula fanatic! I have read the books and watched all of the movies and he's always been my favorite "monster" though I actually don't consider him to be a monster.

 Weird fact about me... He could come bite me and I would be very happy about that!

Braham Stoker's Dracula 

Despite the fact that Vlad III was not a vampire, he was the possible inspiration for Stoker's Dracula.
Though it was thought that Vlad drank the blood of those he impaled, and he ate his meals among their impaled bodies.

Luke Evans as Dracula

Mind you Dracula has been portrayed by so many amazing actors, but in all honesty, I have my favorite Dracula. Luke Evans! Mind you the photo is from a different Luke Evans movie, but I can imagine his Dracula looking like this in modern times.

So, who exactly is Order of the Dragon?

There was once a man known as Vlad II. He belonged to a Christian order of knights known as the Order of the Dragon. The knights in the order gave him the name Dracul.
In 1431, the order had 1 task set before them by King Sigismund of Hungary and that was to defeat the Ottoman Empire.

Random fact: 
Dracul literally means "dragon" in Romanian and the word Drac means "the devil".

Who is Vlad III?

Vlad III was born in 1431 in Wallachian which is now in present day Romania. He had become to be known as "The son of Dracul" or in Romanian Drăculea aka Dracula.
Vlad and his younger brother were actually held hostage for 5 years by the Ottoman Empire. They were taught lessons in the art of war and also in science and philosophy. There were rumors that they had been tortured as well.
He was freed shortly after the death of his father, who died when a war lord organized a coup to overthrow him.

Oh, what webs we weave...

After VladIII returned home he had invited some of his rivals to his place for a meal. Dinner was served to hundreds of people who he deemed to be his rivals. If only they knew what was in store for them that night... what he did next was most devious... he had each of those dinner guests stabbed and impaled on spikes. 

This very act earned him the name Vlad Țepeș or "Vlad the Impaler", and he was most noted for his brutality and thirst for blood lust.

Where is he buried again? 

Vlad was killed when he and his men were heading to battle against the Ottomans. He and his troop were killed during an ambush. There is a rumor that his body was cut into pieces and given to the Sultan Medmed II. Those remains have not been found.

Vlad the Impaler is a Romanian Hero

Even though he was an asshole and a brutal ruler, he is considered a hero in Romania. The reason for this is because of the war with the Ottoman Empire. It's because of that he protected Wallachian and the rest of Europe, he was even praised by Pope Pius II for his feats in defending Christendom.

Quaintly Box: The Royal Edition

 

I just love these boxes! I really really do! As an American gal who dreams of living in Britain, this box makes my heart smile each time I get it and it makes me feel closer to Britain. I love the little magazine that comes with it. So much information about the country where my heart lies. It came with two tea bags and a package of shortbread cookies that I ate while reading the "Clanland" book. :) Last year I got two boxes, Quintessential and a snack box, and immediately wrapped them up and opened them on Christmas day. I love the contents and definitely recommend them to anyone I meet who says they love Britain.

The Hobbit Binge Fest

 

I have been on a The Hobbit trilogy binge all day. I watched/listened to the entire 3 movies in one day. I don't sit and watch, but I have them playing in the background while I'm doing things so essentially it's like listening to an Audible book. I bought the movies on Amazon and bought the extended versions on both The Hobbit trilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy and I'm in love allll over again!

There are some scenes where I'll stop what I'm doing and go watch, but at the moment I am seriously fangirling over Luke Evans. I just love me some Bard the Bowman. My inner fan girl just sighs dreamily and sits back and takes in all of his gorgeousness. 
I also love the scene with the Dwarves singing in Bilbo's Hobbit hole. Both songs are great! They literally sung them themselves, there no lip syncing. 

Song 1: Blunt the Knives

Blunt the knives, bend the forks
Smash the bottles and burn the corks
Chip the glasses and crack the plates
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

Cut the cloth, tread on the fat
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat
Pour the milk on the pantry floor
Splash the wine on every door!

Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl
Pound them up with a thumping pole
When you're finished, if they are whole
Send them down the hall to roll

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

Song 2: Misty Mountain

"Far over the Misty Mountains rise

Leave us standing upon the height

What was before we see once more

Is our kingdom a distant light

Fiery mountain beneath the moon

The words unspoken, we'll be there soon

For home a song that echoes on

And all who find us will know the tune

Some folk we never forget

Some kind we never forgive

Haven't seen the back of us yet

We'll fight as long as we live

All eyes on the hidden door

To the Lonely Mountain born

We'll ride in the gathering storm

Until we get our long forgotten gold

We lay under the Misty Mountains cold

In slumbers deep, and dreams of gold

We must awake, our lives to make

And in the darkness a torch we hold

From long ago when lanterns burned

Until this day our hearts have yearned

Her fate unknown, the Arkenstone

What was stolen must be returned

We must awake and make the day

To find a song for heart and soul

Some folk we never forget

Some kind we never forgive

Haven't seen the end of it yet

We'll fight as long as we live

All eyes on the hidden door

To the Lonely Mountain born

We'll ride in the gathering storm

Till we get our long forgotten gold

Far away the Misty Mountain's cold.

I can't read these lyrics and not heard the song in my head and I just love that!

I will say. I LOVE the Legolas version in this movie. The older and wiser Legolas. This Legolas is a man, the one from Lord of the Rings comes off more as a teenager to me. I know it sounds weird, and yeah Orlando Bloom was younger then and older now, but it's how he's portrayed in the movies. 

I really wish they did the movies in reverse order. Did the Hobbit first with a young Orlando and then the Lord of the Rings with the older Orlando. I think it would have made more sense, though Orlando looks great in both. lol

Give the Kids the World

There is a resort in Kissimmee Florida called "Give the Kids the World" {http://www.gktw.org/} that was created for children with life threatening illnesses. What's awesome about this resort is that their families are also there with the children.

This village looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland and Fantasy Land. There are 141 villas where the families can reside in while they are there. There are many places they could go to within the park. 

There is a Gingerbread House Restaurant as well as the Castle of Miracles and its Enchanted Carousel. There is also an Ice Cream Palace, Julie's Safari Theatre, Matthew's Boundless Playground.

The village is run by staff and over thousands of volunteers who have taken care of over 7k families who have visited the park. 

Pic Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_Kids_the_World_Village  

Random Royal Musings

 

While sitting here reading articles about Prince Harry, Megan and William I've been doing a lot of pondering. I'm sure that after Diana's death, both boys took a HUGE hit to their mental health. I know it would be for me if I was in their shoes and lost a parent that young.

I believe, if memory serves me correctly, Prince Harry was the last one to speak to her when she called while they were with Charles. They were playing with cousins and told her that they had to go. That right there would send any teenager into a royal meltdown.

William has Catherine who knows her place so to speak. She's British and knows what's expected of her. She knew what would be expected of her before she married William. She works in unison with William and not against him.

Prince Harry married Megan after knowing her for a few months. I read that he actually broke up with her, but she actually stalked him. He had Invictus Games in Canada and she showed up there with some friends. We all know that she's a lying narcissist and makes everything about herself.

Call me crazy, but if you look at photo's of Harry in California, he doesn't look happy. He may be smiling, but there's no fire... he's just floating along doing what she wants to do. Everyone knows that Megs has people, I'm pretty sure those people work for her and not him. I am really wondering just how much say he has in what goes on or is it all her decision.

I've lived with a narcissist and still do. It's hard to leave them because they turn everything around and put it on your shoulders. Now having a baby with her would make it even harder for him to leave her.

I'm not sure if the Queen could demand that Archie has to come back to Britain and if they actually have to obey her. If she were to do that then it could possibly be an easy way out for him.

I think that if Diana were alive he would never have married her because I'm pretty certain that she would not have approved of her.

The Dirty on Billy the Kid

I'm an avid reader and one of the groups I belong in has a published author among it's members.. OK he's also the group owner as well. LOL I'm currently reading his book!

This group is called COLD WEST Detective Agency. It's an amazing little group of retired and current law enforcement, investigators, forensic experts, novice and professional historians and well anyone who wants to join!

They talk a lot about Billy the Kid and what really happened to him. Some believe the legends of his death dying young are false and that he actually died an old man.

It's utterly fascinating! Anything that deals with the Old West, they talk about it! 

Mansfield Reformatory Paranormal Investigation

Many years ago I went on my very first paranormal investigation with one of the local paranormal groups. WNY Paranormal founded by Dwayne Claud. We drove to Mansfield, Ohio to go on one of their night hunts of the Mansfield Reformatory. As soon as you pull onto the grounds through the front gates you can feel the spirit energy that still lingers on the grounds.

One of the lead investigators of the now long gone group WNY Paranormal and I went on a ghost walk through the prison during the evening with the lights on in the prison. Sarah had been there before, while this was my first time. There is absolutely no running water in the building. During the filming of Shawshank Redemption, the crew had to pull fire trucks onto the lawn and push water into the shower heads through a hose. The week before I was there the Ghost Hunter’s were there filming an episode of TAPS. Our tour guide made a strong point of telling us that the TAPS crew read from scripts, which I’m sure everyone knew the show is scripted.

Once the lights went out it was a bit weird for me seeing as how I was in a haunted prison in the pitch black darkness. We began to hear faint screams and see shadows moving in the well.. darkness! In the shower room we sat on the side watching a beautiful light display of orbs as they floated around theirs beautiful colors blinking. I swear I at one point, it felt like I was out in a field surrounded by fire flies. Mingled in with the orbs you could hear the sounds of running water. Now remember, there is absolutely no running water in the building.

Then we found our way into the TB room and found more orbs floating around among the dust. This room was once home to folks who had gotten tuberculosis and were dying. I stood next to a window that was left open and was overcome with the feeling of depression and it literally felt like I was watching my life pass me by. One of the investigators said she saw someone standing by the window.

We left the prison at around 3 am, we were tired as well as wired up. I remember looking back up at that window on the way out the gates and wondering if we were being watched. I could imagine a person standing in that window sadly waving at everyone as they left. This was one paranormal investigation I will never forget.

Photos will come soon.

The strangest hotel I stayed at...

To be honest this was just a strange night all the way around… Many years ago my mom, sister and I went on a trip to Europe with my aunt and her 4 kids and one of their girlfriends. We were all packed tightly into a van and our luggage was stuffed in the back. My mom, sis and I shared a suitcase and my aunt and two female cousins shared one. My two male cousins shared a suitcase and the girlfriend shared with them, which she said was awkward, lol.

We drove from Germany and all over Europe, well while with them I went to Austria, Switzerland, Newfoundland and a few other small places that we drove through. We drove from Germany straight through to Austria and arrived in Salzburg at the Hotel Kobenzel around 3 am. This was a beautiful hotel, the only thing I found to be strange was that the pool was on the second floor of the hotel and it was literally a large circle I want to say about the size of 5 trampolines in a circle and it was @ 6 ft deep with no shallow end.
Also there was no lifeguard, you were on your own there and the only light was over the siting area and not over the pool so if you wanted to swim at night, you did so in the dark. There was a sitting area however with a lamp in a end table, but that light never touched the pool at all. Then the next hotel was a um.. interesting one…

We were in Newfoundland I believe it was and the hotel was over a night club. As my aunt and two male cousins were in making the hotel reservations the employee behind the desk asked her if she wanted the “Happily ever after” package. My two cousins knew what that was and said yes! My aunt said no. We got upstairs and discovered that we were in a hotel that was used as a brothel of sorts with this very active night club on the ground floor. There were disco lights flashing around through the room and out the open doors.  When my aunt found out what the “Happily ever after” was she about flipped out. The music played all night until at least 5 am. Thankfully we left promptly after breakfast!

Snow, Snow, Snooowww

It's snowing out.. I hate being out in the snow.
My asthma gets kicked into high gear when I'm out in it for even 5 minutes.
​
Luckily I won't be out in it for long, lol just long enough to get into a car.
On a brighter note I was on Wish and bought a bracelet for $1.99 free shipping on Dec 5th. It was supposed to have come on Dec 21st.

Thursday am rolled around and I went online and got my money back.
According to the tracking info the bracelet never left China.
​I check my mail yesterday and guess what came???

My thoughts on Prince Harry and Megs.

This is a very weird situation. While I am not against her being a black woman, 

I am against her using Prince Harry to move herself on up in the world. 

In the beginning I was blissfully happy for them because you could see the love 

I her eyes for him and you could see how much he loved her. 

As time moves on I have come to realize that she is an Actress and a good one at that... 

Here's the thing.. when you join the Royal Family you follow the set protocols and follow the rules both written and unwritten. You don't go your own way and just do whatever you want. You are there to support the Family and even more, the Queen herself. 

I am so saddened by how everything has turned out for Prince Harry. My favorite fiery ginger.

No longer is he a member of his own family.. he walked away and stepped down from 

being an active Senior member. I understand that it was to protect his wife and son, but there's more to it... right Megs?

How many times has he said that he didn't want to be in the spotlight and you keep pushing him in there. You take advantage of his sadness and of his emotional stress.  Oh you really do and we all see it. 

What's even sadder is that you lost everything.. your titles and that posh princess life that you always dreamed of. It's all over for you. Frogmore Cottage is now empty, the staff have been fired or moved into another residence.  

Guess what 

What Meghan wants, Meghan will NOT always get.

Welcome to reality.

Where does your heart lie?

Growing up I have always felt that I was living in the wrong country, in the wrong place. 

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to go to Britain to live because that's where my heart lies. 

Despite the fact that I have a German last name, I have been OK visiting there, but living there was never a thought. 

​Are you living where you belong or do you feel as if you should be living somewhere else?

G'bye taxes! LOL

Mr. Postman brought me some fun and yummy British stuff today.

I have 6 new cans of Twinings Earl Grey loose leaf tea that will last me about two months. I drink at least 4 cups of it a day. 

A jar of Tiptree Lemon Curd from  Wilkin & Sons Ltd.

My new mouse pad and the last thing that isn't showed is a large can of Walkers short bread that I divided between the three folks living in the house. The can is currently being used as a bank. 

I am in British Coronation heaven here!

I was surfing around the web and found a video of the Coronation of King George VI in 1937.

 Then I found another of Queen Elisabeth II in 1953. 

Black cat superstitions in Britain

There are so many superstitions revolving around black cats from all over the world. 

The sad thing is that the color of their fur has left people thinking that they are horrible and cursed animals, when it's quite the opposite. 

In some countries the black cats are actually considered to be lucky!

In Britain when one crosses your path it is said that they will bring you luck. King Charles I had a black cat that he loved dearly and was said to have brought him good luck.

Some ships had black cats on them because the black cats were considered to be good luck while out to sea. Some of the sailors wives even kept black cats at home with them to ensure that their husbands had good luck.  

If you were an unmarried woman and had a black cat in your home then you would never run out of possible suitors.

The Secrets of London

I'm watching a show on Amazon prime Video called "The Secrets of London". At one time the Tower of London was a zoo! There were actually live animals living there, lions and elephants and bears... oh my!

You were able to get into the zoo for free if you brought a cat or dog to feed to the lions. They also used those feedings for the royals entertainment which is really disgusting, but back then it was quite acceptable. 

The animals are long gone, but are replaced with sculptures of the former zoo animals and are scattered through the Tower in the locations where the animals used to be. That is definitely on my bucket list of places to go!

Congrats you just won 10 million dollar lottery!

Where would you live?

I love all things English and tell people that I was born in the wrong country. I would move to one of the small towns in Britain's countryside in a heart beat.

Cornwall on the beach would be a dream come true. The photo is Lovat Lane in London. I love the style and the look of the street. The old style is what I am drawn to the most. I would love to wander through the streets and window shop. 

I also love the rich history there and the fact that they have royalty is also a perk as I am fascinated by the British Royal Family. 

I do know that all of England doesn't look like the photo. I love the style is what I had said. One of the ladies from my work used to live there, she and her husband are from Yorkshire. I think one person's hell would be another's heaven. I drink tea daily, never had cucumber sandwiches, but there's always a first time.

I want this tea!

"The Crown" was created by British showrunner Peter Morgan. It's a Netflix original and is about the beautiful Queen Elizabeth II who is portrayed by British actress Claire Foy.

This show is a chronicle of Queen Elizabeth's life from  a child to the modern time's. it shows the ups and downs of her reign and let me tell you, being Queen is not an easy job! She took the throne at 25 years old after her beloved father King GeorgeVI passed away.  

Claire is so far my favorite actress to portray Queen Elizabeth, but I am willing to give the other's a chance. Claire was Queen for two seasons and the throne has been passed down to British actress Olivia Coleman.

The tea is described on the site to be a blend of fragrant heirloom chamomile blossoms and sweet honey flavor. That sounds absolutely divine if you ask me. 

I can't wait to get some of this tea! I bet it will taste amazing and the tin will be a lovely keepsake for my All things British collection!  

If you aren't a member of The republic of Tea;s website then go here and create an account. They also have a tea rewards program. Every dollar spent is 10 points. When you create an account you automatically get 200 points. Once you reach 500 you can get free tea!! 

2 very kid friendly museums to visit in Rochester, New York

There are so many things you can do in Rochester, NY. So many historical places to visit and museums to hang out in on those rainy days. These museums will delight children of all ages. I guarantee you that you won't walk away from them disappointed.

1. Strong Museum of Play

This is an amazing museum that is almost always changing. There are so many exhibits to visit and enjoy. 

There's even a hands on Sesame Street exhibit! 

Check out their web page here..

Strong Museum of Play

Photo is from the museum's website.

2. Rochester Museum and Science Center

This is an amazing museum that is home to the Strasenburg Planetarium. Like all museums, this is a great place to hang out any time. 

There are hands on exhibits and experiments and also films you can view. I've been here numerous times and have always enjoyed it.

Check out their web page here..

Rochester Museum and Science Center

Photo is from the museum's website.

Keep Calm and Happy Birthday Mom!!!

I have some amazing family. My niece Morgan painted a photo for me and here it is!
I picked out the photo and she did it. Honestly I wanted something simple and when I found this I thought it was cool.
I love everything British so it just fit with me. I'm hoping to get a frame for it so that I can put it in there. I don't want anything to happen to it.
I'll be getting her more canvases and paint. lol I want a few photo's for my hallway walls! 

Today is also my mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!!