If you have seen it, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you havent seen it, here she is.

 And just in case you thing you may confuse her with another car, here is a shot from the back.

So here is the back story on my car and a little contest.

We participated in the 2009 BizTech Expo and happend to be down a few booths from Wrapture Graphics. (I secretly wanted my car wrapped) So I would go down to the Wrapture booth and talk to Ben when foot traffic was slow. I entered in the drawing to win a free partial wrap and low and behold I won!!!!! Woot!! Woot!!! (I never win anything). I got together with their graphic designer and this is what that came up with. I LOVE IT!!!!!! (only downside is I can no longer hide).

I get stopped at gas station, daycare, the mall, stop lights and all sorts of places, by people asking about a vacation (yea!!) and some who want to know who did my wrap (yea for Wrapture).  Well that is pretty much my back story, now for the contest!!

If you see my car around town, take a picture of it and post it on our Facebook page. You have until September 30, 2011 for send in your entrys. Winner will be announced October 3, 2011.  Prize will be a Royal Caribben prize pack (includes a tote bag, towel, t-shirt and hat). Just a few rules…

You must Like us on FaceBook

The picture can be taken anywhere you see the car, put in the description where you saw it.

Tell all you friends to Like us too! (if they post on our page that you told them about us I will throw in another prize pack for the person who referrs the most).

So get out there and find the car, take a picture of the car, post it on Facebook and tell all your friends!!!!! Looking foward to all your pictures.

Hope you had a great Labor Day weekend, I know I did! I enjoyed the forced downtime that Tropical Storm Lee brought me. Can’t believe that it is week 2 of this challenge already, it seems like yesterday I wrote week 1 (I actually forgot that today was Tuesday, so I’m getting a late start). So where did I leave off…. Oh yea!! I was going to tell you how we became Geauxing Places with Whitehead Travel.

Whitehead Travel and Cruise was originally owned by Jewel  Whitehead and had been in Denham Springs since the 80’s. In early 2006  Whitehead Travel sold to Associated Travel (based in Lafayette, LA), I started working here in October of 2006 and my mom (LeeAnn) started working here in November. We were a small office and had some ruff times, I became the assistant manager in July(ish) 2007 and in late November the owner came to us and told us he was  either going to close the office or sell it, it had become to much for him to manage from Lafayette. He offered it to LeeAnn and I, we kicked it around a little bit and January 15, 2008 we dove in head first (partly blindfolded, and backwards)  and purchased Whitehead Travel and Cruise.

The 2 years is was under the previous management were kinda bumpy (to say the least) so we decide to change the name of the agency and move locations. We kicked around all sorts of names (L & K Travel, Around the World, Up and Away, Planes Trains and Automobiles Cruises Too) We ended up with about 5 pages of names, we wanted it to be catchy and clever. We kept going back to Going Places, but it wasn’t quite right and there was already and agency by that name located out of state. We wanted something unique, we like Flur De Lis Travel, but it didn’t make me want to pick up the phone and call. Finally after going back and forth and getting down to the wire, Laura (our Alaskan and European specialist) said why dont we do Going places but spell it with E-A-U-X, and the rest is history, that day we became Geauxing Places with Whitehead Travel (we decided to keep Whitehead so people would know it was us).

I quickly got togeher with Suzonne of SMB Graphics to create our logo and within no time we had our new name, logo and were moving into our first location in the Antique District. We stayed there for 2 years when our current location came avaiable. We are still in the Antique District of Denham Springs, located “on the backside of the Antique District, the one-way north bound, across from Captial One, third building on the right once you cross the tracks, Jimmy Durban’s old building” (yep, that is how I give directions, on a daily basis and you know by the time I get to the last one everybody know exactly where I am talking about, I love small towns!) Our actual address is 112 Hummell St, look for the red door with a palm tree, if you are in town stop by and say hi.

Well that is how we became Geauxing Places Travel. When did you first meet us? Were we Whitehead or Geauxing Places?  

Very old pic but that's me!

I am not exactly sure where to stat here so I will start with the Blog Challenge. I stopped by Drift Web Design the other day (which FYI they are pretty amazing) to talk about some tweeks (is that really a word?) to our web site. David in his total web savvy awesomeness told me that if I really wanted this to work I needed to be consistent with my blogging. More specifically I needed to blog once a week on Tuesdays. He forced made twisted my armchallenged me to blog once a week on Tuesdays for 20 minutes at a time for 4 straight weeks.  So here is week one…

I know that a blog is supposed to be the “face” of our company (so to speak) and that it should be personal, not just promoting the next sale, event, etc. (that should be done too but need a mix). I know this, I really just struggle with it – not sure why, I just do. So that brings us to this post…Let me introduce myself.

 Hello, my name is Kristie (with a K and ie).

 I am a mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend and Geauxing Places owner/manager. I have 2 girls ages 5 and 2, so we started Kindergarten and PreK3 this year. I am doing homework (helping - I am not doing her homework) for the first time is umpteen hundred years (well really 6ish if you count college it just feels like forever). I married my high school sweet heart a little over 10 years ago and we have 2 dogs, 1 rabbit a salt water aquarium and I think that is it (sometimes I am surprised when I get home — hence the rabbit). I have an older brother and a younger sister who are the best siblings anybody could ask for. My mom and dad, my in-laws and my brothers family all live within 10 minutes of my house (more like 7 but if you catch the light red it takes a little longer) got to love a small town! I graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University (GEAUX LIONS (even though we did not have a football team when I was there)) with a BA in Marketing and a minor in Management. ………….. And that is me in a nutshell.

Now on to the travel side of me…

My mom worked in travel as long as I can remember, it was outside sales our home town agency then on to AAA (that may explain my obsession with maps and globes). I remember going to work with her on the weekends and studying the maps. Fast forward to when I was 17-18 AAA needed some part time summer help. I already knew my way around the office and could draw a triptic from Baton Rouge to Orlando with my eyes closed, so it was a natural fit. I stayed there for 2 years (give or take a little bit) “drawing on maps” (that’s how I described it) and “taking people on their vacation” guiding them on how to get there, where to stay and where to eat. I loved it but I moved on and stayed out of travel for several years. I completed my degree and took a few jobs in the Marketing and Management fields. (But once travel is in your blood you always go back) So lets fast forward again to 2006. I was working for a bank (and I hated it), my mom was working for a wholesale travel company. One of her agents called and was looking for some new travel agents and she needed them fast. They called me and a few weeks later I was working for Whitehead Travel and Cruise in Denham Springs.

Next week I will tell you how I went from working at Whitehead Travel to partnering with my mom and owning Geauxing Places with Whitehead Travel.

Now that the I have introduced myself, its your turn.

I am so excited about some of the events that we have scheduled for February 2011.  The first event is the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show, January 30, 2011. (I know I said the events are in February but this is close enough.) We will be giving away $2000 in Destination Dollars, so you don’t want to miss it.

February 15, 2011 we are hosting our annual Disney Night. If you are thinking about a Disney trip this is the event for you. We will have information on Walt Disney World, Disney Land, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney. This event will be held at our office (112 Hummell St, Denham Springs) at 6pm. Come learn about all Disney has to offer.

Last but not least, our biggest event of the month. Holland America Line’s popular Explorer is coming to Louisiana for the first time. The Explorer Coaches are touring the United States promoting Holland America Line’s 2011 Cruises and CruiseTours to Alaska and the Yukon. Seminars and events will be held onboard the Coaches. One of the Explorer Coaches will be in the Baton Rouge and Denham Springs area February 17, 2011. Four seminars will be held, 1pm and 2pm at North Park in Denham Springs and 4pm and 6pm at the Mall of Louisiana. The seminars are interactive, educational and show off the stunning features of Alaska and the Yukon. The seminars are open to the public but are on an RSVP then first come basis. Only 45 seats per seminar are available. Come see this moving piece of art-fun, unique and educational.

Contact Geauxing Places Travel for more information or RSVP (225) 665-7050 or info@geauxingplaces.com.

We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events!!

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Caribbean? Want to learn about Sandals, Beaches or Grand Pineapple properties that are scattered throughtout the Caribbean.
Join us November 4, 2010 at The Wedding Gallery and Bridal Libary for more information.

(info summarized from Carnival Cruise Lines Press release)

Now that hurricane season is here many of us have started preparing, by stocking up on food, water, generators, and the other usual hurricane supplies. Many of us even double check our insurance policies, but have you thought about your travel plans. Most travel agencies sell some type of third party travel insurance, and this time a year I can not recommend it enough. Even if you purchased your travel online you can still get your travel insurance through your local travel agency. Here are some of the benefits of purchasing third party insurance…

You are covered if you have a tree fall on your house.

You are covered if you lose your job.

You are covered if you or a love one becomes ill.

If your tour provider goes out of business, you are covered.

And that is just the beginning.

During hurricane season there are many delays, interruptions, and cancelations. Having a travel policy will help you in any of those situations by helping you quickly book alternative flights, reimburse you for missed days or a refund if you had to miss your trip entirely due to a hurricane or hurricane damage.

Purchasing a third party insurance is better than purchasing the tour provider (or cruise provider) insurance because in the event that you do have to cancel you are refunded the money not given a credit with the vendor to be used at a later time.

So when you get ready for this hurricane season don’t forget to go see your local travel agent to make sure you have coverage on your vacation.