1. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Whatever you celebrate (or don't), there's no doubt that there's a festive air around.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. I have inserted the youtube version of that iconic song from Michael Buble above. It's terrific, isn't it?

But I also love the more traditional Bing Crosby version too. So, I have added that for you to enjoy as well. I listen to both this time of year. How about you?

When this email was intended to go out on the 10th (oops with the email glitch in sending), I had included well wishes to my Jewish friends and colleagues, and hoping they would have a Happy Hanukkah. The email glitch means this is a belated wish now, as I believe the 8th night of your festival of lights just ended. I hope all who celebrated had a joyous time with friends and family. And I'll keep this Adam Sandler appearance on SNL here as a belated good tidings wish to you. It's still a seasonal favourite. (See the youtube link below.)

Or maybe you don't celebrate either holiday. So, I've inserted a link to the funny Seinfeld clip - there's always Festivus for the Rest of Us.

Whatever you celebrate (or don't), I hope this time of year is joyous and full of fun, laughter, and love. And I hope your home is filled with light, as well as good food and wine.  I hope you make some terrific memories.

And in the run up this week before Christmas, may I take a moment to any last-minute shoppers out there to suggest that you support local small businesses wherever you can.

If you're in Ottawa, I highly recommend you go check out #Vibe613 today on 149 Bank Street. It’s a pop up shop representing 35 local businesses (in the old Sports4 store on Bank St).

And last week, I marked my first milestone birthday without my Mom . It was very weird to try to celebrate without her being here, or have her call me from Newfoundland to sing me “happy birthday”. I’m sure I’m like most who unwillingly join the ‘motherless daughters’ club, and I find the bereavement period long and deep.

So, I thought I’d get out of my head, and try to do something to honour my mom, who was the most generous person I knew.

 

My husband and I rented a van, emptied our basement of all the extra furniture we’d been hanging on to that our girls didn’t need, and brought it to Helping With Furniture.

 

If you don’t know “Helping…”, go check them out in Ottawa’s east end. They help refugee families, and other families in need, furnish a home. It’s a wonderful organization, and run by terrific volunteers who give their time and energy.

 

For a few moments, I felt a little lighter - not only releasing the physical “stuff” that might help others, but also remembering my mom and honouring her giving spirit.

 

In case it might help you too, clean out your basement (and wallet), and help this not-for-profit . They have lists of what they need/ accept on their web. Helping With Furniture / Aidons avec des meubles.

 

 

Check out https://www.hwfottawa.org/ and see the list of what they accept/ need https://www.hwfottawa.org/eng/give-furniture . 

 

Don't live in Ottawa - you can contact these folks to donate/ support - or - find a similar organization where you live. #shoplocal 

 

Wherever you are, enjoy this time of the year. Eat. Drink. Be Merry.

1.* Christmas in New York City

We had a special getaway when my daughter Ciara got home from law school for Christmas. We took off for the weekend to New York City. I'd always wanted to see the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacle at Rockefeller Center. And the show was exceptional! It was everything I'd expected and more - every Christmas carol you can think of, the Rockettes, Toy Soldiers, Santa and reindeer, the manager and Christmas birth, and more. It was fantastic. My mother-in-law and I had always planned to go together, but she passed away before we could get there. So, we all enjoyed the show for her.

New York is absolutely wonderful at Christmas time. It's very very busy, and very, very crowded - we were in wall-to-wall people leaving the 4 pm show (it's run 5 times a day right now), and it took about an hour to get from Radio City Music Hall on 51st to see the tree at Rockefeller Center on 50th . (Roads were closed to vehicles, but you still couldn't move.) But it was absolutely beautiful, and I was so happy we were able to go and experience it in person!  

Here are a few snaps.

Let me know if you'd like to learn more! 

1.** Winter in Ottawa

Let me know if you'd like to learn more! 

2. River Cruise Corner - Melodies on the Danube

My friend and National business development manager with AMA Waterways, Neil Dudley, recorded some videos about AMA's itineraries that I can share with you.

Here's a five minute feature about AMA Waterway's Melodies on the  Danube cruise.

Give it a watch, and let me know if you'd like to take a Danube river cruise. The Danube is always popular - Budapest, Vienna, and Prague add on too- and what better way to travel than on a moving boutique hotel room on your river cruise ship.

Let me know if you'd like to learn more! 

5. Woman Focused River Cruise - Info & Daytime Ottawa 

Did you miss my Info session on Thursday's Oct.26th zoom meeting about my women focused river cruise? You can watch the presentation here: 

This river cruise is designed for “self-care and healing” and will be a “wellness on water” experience. It offers a perfect gathering for mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. Women are invited to come travel with someone; or travel alone, together; from Budapest to Prague on this soothing luxury adventure.  

(Kindly note, husbands and partners are welcomed, and normal shore excursions and dining will be available for them. But they may wish to sit out any special onboard cruise programming with a definite woman theme!)  

And I was also on Daytime Ottawa on October 27th. Watch the segment here. 

Let me know if you'd like to secure your spot. This will be a 7-night Danube River cruise, that sets sail from Budapest on Oct. 4, 2024, and heads to Nuremberg, before finishing its voyage with 2 nights in Prague on Oct. 13, 2024. See all the details about when and where, and pricing, along with details on the Travel With, and Travel Alone (with options for solo cabins & solo share program): https://tinyulr.com/LushWellCruise

See recent press articles: https://tinyurl.com/LushPaxN and

https://tinyurl.com/LushTwk. As well as my appearance on Shepherd's Fashions "We’re Talking Travel Style" reel : https://tinyurl.com/LushShep . 

Let me know if you'd like to go. sheila@lushlife.ca .

See some additional detail on these preferred HOTEL PROGRAMS

A&K 100 Club ;  Accor Step & Fairmont ,  Belmond Bellini Club Program ;  Couture by Langham;  Dorchester Diamond Club;  Four Seasons Preferred, Hilton Impresario;  Hyatt Privé Program; IHG Hotel Program ; Jumeirah’s Passport to Luxury , Kempinski Club 1897; Luminous Hotel Program ,

Mandarin Oriental Fan Club; Marriott Stars & Luminous , Pearl Partner Oetker;  Peninsula Fan Club , Preferred Hotel Program ; Rocco Forte Knights Program ; Rosewood Elite ; Small Luxury Hotels 

And if you're wondering, here are some blog posts about why you should book with an advisor, rather than book by yourself, see here:

Why Wouldn't You Do It Yourself

Booking a Cruise Yourself vs With Advisor

Booking Hawaii Yourself vs Through Advisor

Booking Rocky Mountaineer Yourself vs With Advisor

Note: There is a stop gap measure if you are planning a last minute trip, and you only need a hotel stay. If you do not require my assistance, or VIP'ing, or add ons like transfers, concierge service, etc., you can self-book luxury properties on my Virtuoso website.  You can now browse and book hotels online https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/travel/luxury-hotels  at your convenience.  (If you self-book hotels, I will waive normal booking and management fees. But if you need additional assistance after the booking, VIP'ing, transfers, concierge assistance, etc., and/or the hotel stay is part of a larger holiday, normal professional fees will apply.) 

8.  Special Offers from Lush Life, Vision/ Direct, Virtuoso