One Busy Bee

Covered in a little bit of mud and stuffing our faces with BBQ in Lafayette is when we planned our next hike. The date worked for the table at the time. Then things change as they often do. I was going to be in NYC during that time. Regardless, I wanted to stay on track with hiking once a month. While at the gym on a Sunday morning, I opted for outdoor cardio instead of being on machine. Kim, was of course, down to go. (You know her by now from my posts, right?   Text was sent, alert to my Let’s Hike Facebook group was posted and I finished up my weight training session. Google is great. I just entered ‘paved hikes in the east bay’ It generates options for me. I selected Coyote Hills in Newark, California. It was off of 84, my usual route to go to the day job in Palo Alto. I pass this area almost every day. Now I can say I’ve climbed to its little peak. Parking is free near the main road. It’s about half a mile from the main entrance and where your park entrance is collect...

This ‘Bappletree’ is headed to the Big Apple next week! I have always wanted to live in that city and the last two visit confirmed it. I am looking forward to exploring more of this incredible city. I believe my first visit was in 2009 with the inevitable ex-husband who was from Pennsylvania. He didn’t have the same excitement for NYC as I did. We did the Empire State Building, Times Square, the library used in the Sex and the City movie and $20 cocktails at the bar at The Plaza. A quick 6-hour trip was worth it. Nearly ten years later, my friend, Merk, and I met up with old friends and enjoyed more of what New York has to offer. We had whiskey, NY Pizza and Please Don’t Tell. visited Central Park, Central Station, Times Square, Wall Street, Rockefeller Center, Brooklyn, Ground Zero. Such good times! This time, I am headed solo but a coworker might join me for the first night. I have reached out to friends there and on the east coast hoping they’ll come join ...

Happy Valentine’s Day to you! May you spend today with loved ones. A special Valentine’s Day for those in an amazing relationship with their partner such as my beautiful Brides and Grooms turned married couples. I hope we celebrate your anniversaries for many years to come. McElvy Studios Contact me to plan your wedding and honeymoon. While flowers and candy and cards are distributed, don’t forget to love yourself too. Past relationships have served their purpose and hopefully you have learned something from them. Continue to work on you, your happiness and well-being and you can give and love those special people in your life in an effortless way.  Now, how will you do that? Personally, I love my life. I am not in a long-term relationship but I have and had a lot of love in my life and I know I am very lucky. It would be wonderful to have a best friend to love and spoil, come home to and join me in all my adventures as a One Busy Bee. If it...

BULA! I have returned from a week-long familiarization trip in Fiji and it was incredible. It was so amazing it is all I want to write about in this weekly post. Apologies for missing last week. I was touring amazing resorts, stood at the bow of a boat and eating kokoda, my new favorite Fijian dish. Read on to learn more. I hope this inspires you to go to the South Pacific. I would be happy to help you plan your trip. Travel When I received the invitation to apply for this familiarization trip, aka Fam, I didn't hesitate. Fiji? The location wasn't even a top 10 spot on my list of places to visit next. But if it was going to be educational and a business expense, sign me up! I was one of six Travel Agents selected. I couldn't wait to go. Fiji did not disappoint. Expect to be welcomed every morning, at every resort and even in passing on the highway or thru a village. You will see warm and welcoming Fijian smiles and a loud "Bula!" and/or wave. Th...

This One Busy Bee says ‘Bula’ from Fiji and apologizes for not having a OBB Weekly post up. I was on a 10:30 PM flight from LAX, missed Groundhog Day entirely and immediately did tours and hotel site visits right off the plane. Now it’s Tuesday and writing this from the gym at the gorgeous Marriott Momi Bay, one of two resorts that have over water bungalows. We have more ahead the next 2.5 days and it’s been great so far. I am learning a lot, meeting other female Travel Agents bearing issues they’ve had and how they’ve solved them. It’s been a great experience so far. To see more and immediately, follow me on Snapchat at bappletree. I had 8,000 plus photos to do write ups on and I expect to add at least 2,000 to this phone. Stay tuned. For now, this is what Fiji has to offer.