My Disney Experience: #NicheParent14 Recap

Last week I returned from “the most magical place on earth” Disneyworld! It was five days of fun, adventure, inspiration, networking and professional development in sunny South Florida all thanks to the Niche Parent Network. As I mentioned in my last blog  I was a speaker for the 3rd Annual Niche Parent 2014 conference, an opportunity for digital influencers and brands to come together to learn, network and grow while experiencing some family fun!

Just last year I was attending my first blogging & social media conference and now to have the opportunity to speak plus take another trip to Disney World was truly a blessing and made the trip all the more meaningful!  

I want to share some of the major takeaways from the #NicheParent14 conference and some travel tips and information for those interested in exploring the magic of DisneyWorld in the near future.

#NicheParent14 Highlights

Social Media Expert and Influencer Kim Garst kicked off the conference and shared tips on “How To Build and Award Winning Blog” :

• Know Your Unique Value   
• Know Who You Serve
• Know Your Competition
• Create awesome and useful content
• Promote Your Content
• Consistency is Key
• Build Profitable Relationships

“Our blog is how we showcase how we serve our customers” ~ Kim Garst

Our #NicheParent14 presentation went great! We had an awesome discussion on collaborating, networking, branding and engaging your community! My co panelists rocked it! It was a great opportunity to share some of the same information I share with my clients that sometimes connecting with others can help you achieve goals and “Real Women Don’t Compete, They Collaborate”

Nadia Jones and her team had a fun filled weekend planned for us in the midst of power packed sessions and keynotes. Safari ride and dinner at Animal Kingdom was perfect thanks to a visit and photo op from Mickey and Minnie!

My Top #Travel Tips!

      

      Packing - Always be strategic.  Keep it Light! Unless you want to drag around an overweight 55 lb bag (and pay the $100 fee!) you will need to have a plan for your packing. When I travel I always stay within 2-3 color themes so I reduce the number of shoes and accessories packed. Ladies, when it comes to handbags keep it simple: One large tote and a small clutch will do just fine! My number one rule on long trips: Don’t be afraid to REPEAT! Jeans and slacks can be worn at least twice during a trip.
 

Pre trip – Groupons, Living Social Deals and other city vouchers are a must! Before heading to your destination check out these sites for discounted deals at local restaurants. Most deals are between 30%-50% off for popular and newly opened establishments. Pre purchasing vouchers and planning out your meals will make it easier to stay within your travel budget.
 

     

Ms. Travel Chic Travels! - Cabo

It's Week 3 of me celebrating my 1yr Blog-anniversary and am featuring photos from my favorite travel destinations! This week is special because I am talking about Cabo San Lucas, Mexico which was also the topic of my first blog post! (Read it here) 

April 2012 I went to Cabo San Lucas for the first time! It had been one of those vacation spots that a friend and I had talked about going for about two years. After hearing so many wonderful things about the weather, nightlife, beautiful beaches and hospitality I just could not wait! 

Enjoy some of the photos...

On a Sunset Dinner Cruise & Whale Watching

The view from our hotel

Ms. Travel Chic Travels! - Italy

In Celebration of my 1yr Blog-anniversary I am featuring photos from my favorite travel destinations. Last week I shared details on my Greece trip (check it out here)..and this week we go to ITALIA!

Enjoy...

In Fall of 2012 I spent 8 wonderful days touring Italy with 4 of my closest friends! This was another Gate 1 Travel trip (they are the BEST!) 
We started in Venice (did you know it was an island?) and spent two days shopping, touring museums and off course a gondola ride...

Venice from Rialto Bridge

Ms. Travel Chic Travels! - Greece

Happy Fall!

So a new follower to my blog last week shared with me some great feedback: "Love your blog but you have to catch us up on all the places you have been!"
My blog officially turned ONE recently (yay!) and I've been so focused on tips, resources and recent trip recaps that I've totally neglected to share photos and all the fun from my travels "pre blog" :-)

So this month I will have weekly features about all the AMAZING destinations I've traveled. 

This week..

GREECE

In September 2011 I traveled with friends on a 5 day trip to GREECE. We booked this trip via one of my go to travel agencies, www.Gate1Travel.com. All ground transportation (including our cruise), several meals, guided tours and accommodations were covered in our package. 
We started in Athens, Greece for 2 days and then departed on a 3 day cruise through the Greek Islands of Mykonos, Crete, Patmos and my favorite Santorini! We also had a stop over in Turkey between our island stops. 

Enjoy the photos :-)

Acropolis, Athens