Find out how my #Travel Wanderlust could mean a trip to #Paris for YOU! #trafalgarinsider

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I have battled both Snowmageddon 2015 and the Flu this brutal winter here in the North East and the only thing they have both stirred up in me is my never-ending battle with Travel Wander Lust! I want to escape, and I want to escape BAD! Having worked in the airline industry in the past my passion for travel has never waned.

With my birthday coming up in April I really want to go big, but quite frankly I'm not sure I am up for the planning involved in an Epic adventure you know - that 'once-in-a-lifetime' trip that you never forget! (My first trip to Vegas was one of those Epic trips that's for sure! Thankfully what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!) The only thing I'm sure of at this point is that I want it to be an international trip, Europe, Asia or somewhere Down Under are my top choices right now.

While stuck at home with the flu I have done some preliminary research, and come across some real contenders both in terms of destination AND who should plan it - with the same attention to detail that I would if I did it myself.  One of the forerunners is a family owned company who is one of the innovators in "Insider Experiences' - allowing travelers to dine with locals in their homes and more! I have always been an 'off-the-beaten-path' type of traveler, and like me, the folks at Trafalgar share a passion for all things travel.

I need a personal travel director/concierge for this upcoming birthday trip and with Trafalgar they arrange for every detail - think luxury coach transportation, hand-picked four-star accommodations, all baggage, hotel and restaurant gratuties! Now that's what I'm talking about!

I personally was snowed in with the Flu on Valentine's Day, but my research for one thing (my upcoming birthday trip) led to another that I just couldn't keep to myself and just had to share! How does an eight-night romantic trip to France - you know THE CITY OF LOVE - sound to you?

Photo Credit: Mayors & Cities - The Worldwide Municipalities Magazine

Not yet sold? The Wonderful France Trip Includes:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Visiting famous landmarks including: Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Palace of Versailles

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - St. Tropez and Monaco - the playground of the rich and famous

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pristine Cote d'Azur Coastline

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Trafalgar unique insider experiences including a Be My Guest dinner in Provence cooked in a wood-fired oven in a family run restaurant

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Visit the world-renowned vineyards of Cote du Rhone and Burgundy Wine Regions

But HURRY! The contest runs until February 26th, that is also the deadline date for the Early Payment Discount allowing couples to save up to $1,200 on trips to Europe! Enter HERE for the contest, and if you can't wait to find out if you won and want to lock in that discount, call Trafalgar Travel Experts at 866-544-4434!

MY TAKE: 

You know just how much brands that give back mean to me and I am happy to share that Trafalgar is a founder and active supporter of The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit that works to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant and well preserved, TreadRight has donated $2.5 million to sustainable tourism projects worldwide!

If you are like me and like to 'lurk' a bit and get to know a brand before you commit, you can hang out with Trafalgar on Facebook and Twitter! And as a blogger I am literally bursting at the seams to share that if you fill out the form HERE and share your best photo taken during a Trafalgar Vacation, they will PAY YOU for it! And it is easy as one, two, three - (1) Enter your Details, (2) Upload your images and (3) Submit, note they will only accept hi-res images 710 x 710 pixels or larger!

Where is your next adventure? Where would you like Trafalgar to help you plan an epic adventure for? Did you enter the Wonderful France Competition Butterflies?

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FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

#ad: Is furthering your Education part of your 2014 Long Term Goals? Find out how to score a 10K Scholarship to do just that! #spon

#ad: This is a Sponsored Post on behalf of Scholarships 4 Moms

I for one have been in 2014 planning mode for awhile now. Both long and short term goals are swirling around my head. From personal to professional there are a myriad of goals I have set for myself and a new year is the ideal time to begin working on them.

I worked three part time jobs and had landed a few merit scholarships to cover my College Tuition. It wasn't easy, but I know the sacrifices I made to pursue to my degree were very much worth it. Post College was a whirlwind of work and I shelved my Master's Degree dream because I was on a career path that kept me very busy.

I want to go back. I want to pursue a Master's, and I'm sure I'm not alone. I'm probably busier now then I was right after College, but despite having way more on my plate, I am not going to let anything, including this lousy economy stand in my way. I have never let any obstacle stand in the way of something I really want for myself.

5 Tips for any Adult Considering Returning to College:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Choose a Degree that is PROFITABLE - Adults have less time to experiment and knowing which Degree is 'profitable' in the long run is going to be half the battle won!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - STEM initiatives (acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are not just for younger students! Educations focusing on the Technical and Scientific Fields are actually a bit easier to find Scholarships for. I am NOT saying it will be easy to land them, but there is a bigger need especially for women in these fields and there are scholarships out there geared to students who wish to pursue a scientific or technical career!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Exhaust all options as 2013 acceptance rates showed heightened School Selectivity. It's even harder for Adult returning students to compete for those Golden Acceptance Letters, you need to be creative and exhaust as many options as possible.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Consider Distance Learning. Who said the only way to get a Degree is to attend an actual campus? Your dining room table can be your study hall, with a Distance Learning Degree, College comes to YOU on your schedule whenever, wherever.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Start with what you already know - Sit with a counselor or academic advisor to find out how your real world experience may translate into credits toward your degree. Your experience and maturity is actually an ADVANTAGE not a dis-advantage!

$10,000 Scholarship 4 Moms Sweepstakes:

Exhausting every possible option for funding is just plain smart! How about the chance to win $10K to return to school?

Benefits of entering:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - No Essay to complete!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - No GPA Score Required to Participate!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Short Registration Form!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - $10,000 to put toward the start of your DREAMS!

Instead of asking Why? Ask Why Not?

Are you still here?

WIN IT:

Visit HERE and enter for your chance to win $10,000 to put toward your Degree! If you are a mom all I can say is this, aside from your children, your degree is the second biggest job with sacrifices you'll ever love and NEVER regret! Go for it! (I always say before any entering any competition, check out the Official Rules first!)

MY TAKE:

As a Career and Life Coach I can tell you that a Degree is a must! Hiring Managers in this economy can be way more selective, and if you don't have a degree (as a former recruiter) I can tell you a hiring manager is going to lean toward the candidate who has that Degree!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign brought to you by Scholarships 4 Moms and Mom Bloggers Club. All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.