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Imagine Going There Travel
770.421.9627
www.ImagineGoingThere.com
For Culture-Collecting Clients & Friends of Imagine Going There Travel THE COMPASS
JULY 2022
Travel Makes a Difference TURNING VACATIONS INTO DONATIONS
Did You Know ... Savvy Viking travelers know to book their second cruise before leaving on their first. It allows them to put down a deposit to lock in the current rate, then we can push out final payment to six month’s prior to departure. Or, when on your ocean cruise, you can meet with the Future Cruise Director who can also extend final payment and provide extra discounts. Tell them to link your reservation to Imagine Going There, and we can add the additional $200 in shipboard credit, too.
I read a book by a very successful businessman who said that as he got older, his focus changed from making an income to making a difference. June 15 was World Giving Day, which celebrates our natural inclination to have open hearts to the many needs that surround us. It is a privilege to travel, but travel often opens our eyes to what hides behind the “storefronts” of the tourist attractions in the various countries we visit. Many times, my heart has been touched by the needs of those in the places we have visited. As the saying goes, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.” Many of our clients are using their spare time to invest in others: Barbara volunteers at a food pantry; Ron helps elementary school children learn to read; and he and Charles also do weekly grocery shopping for a home that helps families in crisis (about 100 people!). Dolly organized a group to crochet beanies for cancer patients who have lost their hair during treatment. Glenna sends 25–30 handwritten cards every week to people in her church who are sick or grieving. Kathie takes chicken soup to an elderly shut-in. Faye helps a friend with Alzheimer’s downsize and sell her home as she transitions to a memory care facility (now that’s an incredible gift, isn’t it?)
Did You Know? (Part 2)
we’re not able to spend a lot of time volunteering. However, we are able to share in the joy of giving! When our guests travel and the commissions come in, our company invests 10 percent of those funds back into great people doing great work in their communities. Inspired by the communities we serve, here are a few that we — and indirectly you — have supported with your Viking vacations: Teach One to Lead One ( https://t1l1.org ) helps at-risk youth move forward in their personal and professional lives by using
Recently a guest called Viking directly and put a reservation on hold, then contacted me. I was able to look over her reservation and save her $1,200 due to a promotion code and some extra bonuses we were able to apply. Tip: you can call Viking directly, grab that stateroom you want, but don’t place a deposit. Contact me at Carol@ImagineGoingThere.com to make sure you’re getting all the discounts you’re entitled to, as once the deposit is made, it’s difficult to do so retroactively.
As a company, our plates are full helping clients plan their Viking cruises, so
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Great Vacations Matter Because Great Memories Matter Most
Protect Your Garden From Heat
WITH HELP FROM YOUR KIDS
2. SPREAD ORGANIC MULCH — Adding 2–4 inches of light-colored mulch around your trees, shrubs, and other plants will protect the soil from the sun and keep it damp and cool. 3. SWAP OUT TERRA COTTA POTS — Unsealed terra cotta pots are terrible at retaining moisture. If you water a plant in terra cotta, it won’t be long before that water evaporates. To avoid this, enlist the kids to repot your plants in oversized, light-colored plastic nursery pots. (Some nurseries give these away for free!) 4. WATER, WATER, WATER — Your garden will dry out twice as fast during extreme heat, so take shifts as a family checking the soil and watering when needed. Don’t rely on your sprinkler system or usual watering schedule. These tips should help protect your delicate fruit and vegetable plants. Next year, get a head start by asking your local nursery to help you choose drought and heat-tolerant species for your region and beefing up your soil with organic matter. According to Farmers’ Almanac, soil rich with 5%–9% organic matter (think compost, manure, and decomposing leaves) retains more water, saving you trips with the hose.
Not all gardening tasks are suitable for the entire family. Fertilizers can be dangerous, and you definitely don’t want a young child wielding sharp tools. But there’s one gardening project you and the kids can tackle together: protecting your plants from the heat.
Last June, heat waves scorched the country, sending temperatures in Portland, Oregon, of all places to 110 degrees F. This is uncomfortable at best, and at worst a massive heat wave can ruin an entire spring’s worth of effort in the garden. To avoid that, rope your kids into helping you with easy heat solutions like these: 1. BUILD SHADE COVERS — Shade helps people survive the heat, and it’s great for plants too! You can overlay greenery with umbrellas, canopies, “garden fabric,” or even bed sheets draped over your plants. If you have spare lumber or PVC pipe, build a trellis to hold up your shade cover. YouTube has plenty of tutorials for this — just search “Garden Shade DIY.”
HOW TO BEAT YOUR AFTERNOON SLUMP No Caffeine Needed
We all know the feeling: Sometime after lunch, you become sluggish, spacy, and unproductive. Many of us instinctively turn to caffeine to power through the rest of the day, but that can cause another crash, not to mention sleep problems. But don’t worry — you aren’t doomed to an aimless afternoon. We’ve compiled expert tips to perk up and carry on with your busy day. PLAN YOUR WORK. All of our bodies have internal rhythms, and by now, you probably know yours. Typically, people peak mid-morning or in the late afternoon. But whenever your productive heights are, plan around them. Complete the detailed, creative, or difficult work during the times when your energy is at its best, and save your “busy work” or repetitive tasks for the lulls when you feel less motivated. You’ll feel better and get more done. CONSUME HEALTHY FOODS AND LOTS OF WATER. Maybe you don’t have complete control of your schedule. That’s where a healthy snack comes in. We tend to crash in the afternoon when our blood sugar drops, usually due to consuming carbohydrates. Eating vegetables, fruit, and
protein or fiber-rich foods will help pick up your energy without incurring a future dip. While you’re snacking, drink some water. A 2018 study out of Yale found that even mild
dehydration can negatively affect our brain’s ability to function, so don’t let your water bottle sit untouched.
GET UP AND MOVE. You’re not going to get over that slump by sitting in your chair. If you want to beat back fatigue, go for a walk, climb some stairs, stretch, or do some marching in place. Researchers have proven that exercise wakes up both your body and your mind. In fact, science says it will do a better job of rousing you than caffeine will. Best of all, it will help, not hurt, your ability to sleep at night. Finally, set yourself up for success by going to bed at a reasonable hour and getting your necessary 7–9 hours of sleep. Our attention ebbs and flows naturally, so none of us can be our best 100% of the time. But along with these other tips, staying well-rested can help you pick up the pace.
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mentors within a community to engage students. This 12-week program teaches Universal Principles (such as integrity, healthy habits, strong relationships and how to be a positive influence.) Founded by Dr. Lori Salierno Maldonado, a dynamic leader with a huge vision, the magic is in the caring adults who help the kids that may not have that positive influence in their lives. Not only does this program have proven, trackable results, but my daughter and I participated in a county youth detention center event where these principles were taught over a weekend. You could see the change in the kids as they were surrounded by adults who really cared and gave them tools that would provide hope for their futures. At a Cresswind Lake Lanier (Gainesville, Georgia) event, I was approached by resident James Burzotta, asking if we made donations to worthy causes. Many members of this community support and fundraise for Water at Work ( http://wateratworkministry.org/ ), an organization that brings clean drinking water to the Dominican Republic. What inspired me about his request is that almost 100 residents in this community volunteer at their fundraising events. These sustainable water plants provide two critical needs: clean water and income for the community. We have a lot of great clients in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, and one way we support their community is to donate to The Bridge, Inc. ( www.thebridgenashville.org ), recognized by the state of Tennessee for serving the unhoused and hungry of Nashville and the surrounding areas. In 2021, they served 4,500 people every week with food, hope, and help. Because our clients are already givers, we celebrate that you’re using this season of life to not only invest in great vacation memories but also applying your resources to give back with great generosity. In appreciation of that, and in honor of World Giving Day, we want to know about the worthy organizations you support. Share the reason behind why you love giving to and/or volunteering for your favorite cause by sending an email by August 7 to Carol@ImagineGoingThere.com. Our team will review your submissions and choose two
Hot Fudge Sauce & Berry Sherbet
This hot fudge sauce recipe is courtesy of Linda Deane of Del Webb Carolina Orchards. It is delicious, freezes well, and is absolutely habit-forming! The Berry Sherbet has a surprise ingredient, but is light and healthy, too.
Ingredients Hot Fudge Sauce • 2 cups sugar • 1 3/4 cups cocoa • 2 cups heavy cream, divided • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp freeze-dried espresso • 2 sticks butter
Berry Sherbet • 4 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) mixed berries
• 1 1/2 cups sugar • 2 cups buttermilk
Directions Hot Fudge Sauce 1. In medium saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, 1 cup of cream, cinnamon, and coffee. Cook on low and stir, slowly adding remaining cream. Adjust heat to medium, keep stirring while bringing mixture to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add 2 sticks butter and stir to melt. Cook over low heat for an additional 10 minutes to thicken. Serve warm over ice cream. (Sauce can be frozen; scoop out amount needed and microwave to melt.) Berry Sherbet 2. Process berries and sugar in a food processor until smooth, stir in buttermilk. Transfer to a 9x13-inch dish and freeze, stirring after one hour, then freeze until firm. Transfer to an airtight container and keep frozen until ready to serve. Mixture will be very hard, so you can also run it through the food processor again until smooth before serving. Garnish with fresh berries.
winners, who will each receive a $250 donation in your name, which will be announced in the September issue.
—Carol Shaddix
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Great Vacations Matter Because Great Memories Matter Most
A Platinum Circle Agency for:
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
770.421.9627 | www.ImagineGoingThere.com 3600 Dallas Hwy, Suite 230-215, Marietta, GA 30064
Everything you love about Viking, only better! A great destination is just one part of an amazing vacation. Just like having a master chef prepare your meal at your favorite restaurant, as one of Viking’s largest representatives, we’ve booked these vacations countless times. We intuitively know how to enhance the outcome of your experience so it consistently delivers above and beyond your expectations (and know when those special promotions such as extra shipboard credit or free airfare are available that you might not know about). Whether you are interested in an individual reservation or want to travel together as a group, call 770.421.9627 for your free consultation on how to make your next vacation even better than you expected! Tip: If you’ve already booked direct with Viking in the last 60 days, contact us to add some additional bonuses to your reservation!
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TRAVEL MAKES A DIFFERENCE
BE THE SUPERHERO YOUR GARDEN NEEDS
BEATING THE MIDDAY SLUMP
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HOT FUDGE SAUCE & BERRY SHERBET
TEAM SPOTLIGHT: LESLEY HOWELL
Team Spotlight: Lesley Howell Lesley was the first IGT team member, and she has been an indispensable
called the Karoo. It is a constantly drought-stricken area. As a result, her favorite place is the beach, and her favorite weather is rain. She
in Amsterdam, because Afrikaans is of Dutch origin. Lesley is married to David, who is in the army as a commissioned officer, and they have three children. You can get in touch with her at Lesley@ImagineGoingThere.com.
part of our growth! Born in South Africa, Lesley’s wonderful accent and can-do spirit cause people to gravitate toward her. Initially she helped with every task that
graduated high school the same year that they had their first free and fair elections in South Africa (1994), and Nelson Mandela was elected president. She can also ride a motorbike.
now takes six others to do, but she settled into managing the growing database and keeping track of each of our clients’ needs. If you have had
surgery, sickness or a celebration, Lesley has noted that on our team- wide prayer sheet and likely followed up with a handwritten card as well.
South Africa has 11 official languages, and she learned three — English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa. On her recent Viking Rhine Getaway cruise, she could get by pretty well
Fun facts about Lesley: She grew up on a farm in a part of the Eastern Cape
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