Wishing Upon a Salem Moon: My October Dream

Posted on October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 by gigis ramblings

Every October, as the world outside my window transforms into a kaleidoscope of autumn hues, I find my thoughts drifting towards a place filled with enchantment, history, and a touch of the mystical. Salem, Massachusetts, a town shrouded in whispers of witches and echoes of the past, has always been a beacon of fascination for my October-born soul. Although my bags remain unpacked and my footsteps have yet to grace its cobblestone streets, my heart is set on one day embarking on a magical adventure to this bewitching town, especially during the spellbinding month of October.

A Dash of Salem’s History: Salem, with its roots deeply embedded in colonial America, has a tale that transcends time. The infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692, a moment of mass hysteria and tragic consequence, have woven an eerie charm into the town’s identity. The stories of those accused, the whispers of the past, and the old buildings lining the streets create an atmosphere that feels both haunting and captivating.

Why Salem in October? Picture this: the aroma of spiced cider wafting through the air, leaves crunching underfoot, and the town of Salem adorned with pumpkins and witchy decor. In October, Salem transforms into a Halloween haven. It’s a time when history meets fantasy, and the town becomes a magnet for those who revel in the spirit of the season. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of the accused witches or simply indulging in the magical ambiance, Salem in October is a dreamy experience for any fall aficionado.

Must-See Attractions:

Salem Witch Museum: Step into the past with life-sized figures and dramatic storytelling, reliving the chilling moments of the Witch Trials.
The House of the Seven Gables: This historical treasure, made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, is a glimpse into the past, offering a dash of haunted allure.
Salem Witch Trials Memorial: A serene yet powerful tribute to the victims of the Trials, reminding us of the town’s haunting history.
Witch House: The residence of Judge Jonathan Corwin, this house offers a peek into the life of a 17th-century magistrate, connecting you directly to the Trials.
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations: For movie enthusiasts, these locations add a sprinkle of cinematic magic to your Salem adventure.

Embracing the Spooky Spirit: In Salem, October isn’t just a month; it’s a state of mind. Ghost tours, tarot readings, and charming shops filled with mystical curiosities await. And oh, the Salem Haunted Happenings! A month-long extravaganza culminating in the grandeur of Halloween night, where the town truly comes alive with bewitching revelry.

So here’s to the dreamers, the lovers of fall, and those enchanted by history’s mysteries. As I close my eyes, I can almost hear the whispers of Salem calling my name, promising a future adventure filled with spooky tales, historical wonders, and the irresistible charm of October in Massachusetts. Until then, I’ll keep dreaming of that enchanting Salem moon and the magic it holds. 🌕🍂🔮

Embracing the Fantastic Feels of Fall: Cool Temps, Football, and All that Pumpkin Spice Goodness

Posted on September 4, 2023September 4, 2023 by gigis ramblings

Hey there, fellow fall lovers! Get ready to vibe with me as we celebrate the leaf-covered streets and that irresistible scent of pumpkin spice lattes – yes, it’s that magical time of the year again, my pals. So, grab your comfiest hoodie and kick it with me. Okay, maybe I’m jumping the gun a little, but I’m about to spill the beans on why fall rocks my socks.

Any drop in temperature is like a breath of fresh air. Sure, I’m down in Texas where summer just doesn’t know when to quit, but when that coolness finally rolls in, you bet I’m rocking my coziest sweater like it’s a fashion statement. There’s nothing quite like sipping on hot apple cider while feeling that crisp breeze on your cheeks.

Let’s talk about the world of fall scents and flavors. As a wax melt maker, let me tell you, the array of fall fragrances is like a cozy hug for your senses. From apple pie with a touch of cinnamon to the grand champs, warm vanilla and anything pumpkin – these scents are basically a spa day for your nose. Here are some of this season’s wax melts I have been working on that are sure to please the palate. And can we take a moment to appreciate the feast fest that goes down during this time? Pumpkin spice lattes, apple crisps, and oh my, the soul-nurturing pumpkin pie – I swear, my taste buds have a dance party as soon as September hits.

Crafty souls, listen up! Fall is like a treasure trove for DIY enthusiasts. My creative juices are in overdrive as I unleash my crafty side all season long. From decking out my space with handmade wreaths bursting with autumn vibes to whipping up decorations that even Martha Stewart would high-five, this is my time to shine with all things artsy.

Hold on tight, sports fans, because football season is in full swing! From high school showdowns to legendary college rivalries and the NFL action – it’s a touchdown of excitement. My allegiance bouncing between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys might be perplexing, but hey, double the teams means double the football frenzy. Tailgating, touchdowns, and banter galore with pals – it’s a fall tradition that hits all the right spots.

Let’s pause and soak in the masterpiece that Mother Nature paints for us during fall. The trees dressed in fiery reds, oranges, and yellows – it’s like stepping into an artist’s dream. While some folks yearn for those sunny days, hear me out – I’m all about those cloudy, moody fall days. There’s a certain charm in cozying up with a good book as the rain taps on the window.

Oh, and can I get a virtual high-five for the upcoming holidays? Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the jingle bell magic of Christmas – it’s the season of non-stop celebrations! Trick-or-treating adventures, gobbling up turkey feasts, and transforming my space into a festive haven – these are the moments that make my heart do a happy dance. So, fellow fall aficionados, there you have it. From the gradual Texas cooldown to the sensory overload of scents, the crafty marvels, and the football frenzy, fall has me hooked in its embrace. And guess what? Each of us has our own unique reasons to adore this laid-back, kick-back season. So, as we trade flip-flops for cozy boots and bid farewell to summer, let’s raise a mug to the pumpkin-spiced, football-filled, and heartwarming vibes of fall! 🍁🏈🎃

Family Resorts for Egg-cellent Easter Escapes

Posted on April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 by gigis ramblings

*Note: This article was written pre-coronavirus outbreak. Keep these destinations in mind for next Easter.

Fancy a fantastic Easter vacation with the kids featuring seasonal treats, great attractions and fun activities, all set in wonderful family-friendly destinations? Depending on your family’s interests and budget, you can choose a resort in popular Florida, Caribbean getaway, Latin American adventure or upscale European break.

South Seas Island Resort, FL

Located on the stunning Captiva Island in the Gulf of Mexico, South Seas Island Resort is home to superb family-friendly facilities such as the Resort Pool complex featuring water slides and lagoon-style pools, a private beach, tennis court and a golf course. Accommodations range from guestrooms to condos and private villas. Kids will enjoy exploring the 330-acre wildlife preserve, learn how to swim, dress up as mermaids and pirates (for ages 4-5) and take part in the social activities offered by Skully’s Family Interactive Center. They can also get familiar with marine conservation at Sanibel Sea School. So whether you’re traveling with a 12-month baby or a teen, this resort has something to keep every kid entertained. With the resort’s Spring Getaway offer, rooms start from $499 a night and guests receive a fourth night free and over $250 savings.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, FL

Located between Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios, the Walt Disney World Swan Resort and the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort offer complimentary transportation to the park’s attractions, 17 restaurants, and five pools. For Easter, the two resorts have devised an exquisite Easter program for guests. Expect meet-and-greets with the Easter Bunny, bunny hop races, and traditional and glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunts. Kids will also be able to join arts and crafts tuitions and watch the movie “HOP” by the poolside. In addition to these, there’s a sandy beach, fitness club, mini-golf, golf course and spa. The kids’ club, Camp Dolphin (for ages 4-12), is open late afternoon till late at night and offers special dinners, craft workshops and movies, plus video arcades.

Carambola Beach Resort St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Set between a beautiful rainforest and idyllic white sandy beach, the kid-friendly Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa offers accommodation in spacious studio suites overlooking the tropical surroundings and the ocean. The fully equipped kitchenettes make it easier for families to make their own meal; otherwise you can eat at the on-site restaurants and nearby eateries. The elegant Caribbean resort also has a spa, golf course in the near vicinity, fitness center and pool.

Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, Curacao

Located in the Southern Caribbean Sea, Curacao is a wonderful destination to spend the Easter break. The Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort is home to varied restaurants and bars, a spa, Pete Dye designed 18-hole golf course, and on-site dive operator. Kids can splash out in the protected swimming lagoon, snorkel or join the Kids Camp Arawak (for ages 3-12) that offers arts and crafts sessions, nature walks, cave exploring, sports and games.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a travel writer and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Posted on December 14, 2018March 31, 2020 by gigis ramblings

Truly magical, in my opinion.

There’s really nothing that I don’t love about the Christmas holidays. Fall is my favorite season, but Christmas has always been and will always be my favorite holiday. Once Thanksgiving dinner has been served and football games have ended, we head out in search of the perfect tree.

For me, Christmas is a holiday that brings an abundance of love, laughter, happiness, and Jesus Christ into our home. It is rarely ever a White Christmas (because it never snows in Texas), but it is undeniably the most beautiful time of the year.

Trees, Lights, Mistletoe, Stockings and Candy Canes….These are a few of my Favorite Things

The smell of a freshly cut Douglas Fir and twinkling lights pull at my heartstrings, always taking me on a nostalgic trip down memory lane of Christmases past. Fall scented candles and wax melts are replaced with cinnamon and pine.

I absolutely love decorating for all occasions, but this one is extra special. Thanksgiving evening all of the pumpkins and scarecrows come down and the tree and lights start to go up. Stockings are hung by the chimney with care, while reindeer are strategically placed on the lawn. This process usually takes the entire weekend, but I don’t mind.

Christmas Eve Traditions

Christmas traditions in my family have been the same every year for as long as I can remember. Christmas Eve is always the festive day for my bunch. When I was a child and when my kids were little, we always participated in the church Christmas play. Some of my fondest childhood memories were made on that little stage at Concord Baptist Church. My youngest daughter actually got to play baby Jesus when she was just a few weeks old – priceless. It makes me sad my grandchildren don’t attend this church to carry on this tradition.

Once the goodie-filled stockings were passed out at church, we would head home to open our gifts from family members while watching Santa’s sleigh on the 10 pm news. As a child, Christmas Eve festivities were always held at my grandparents’ house – until I had all my kids, then it was moved to my house. My parents, my kids, and grandkids still come over to open presents and eat some delicious tamales on the 24th.

I know everyone does Christmas differently. For my family, gifts from the parents and other family members are wrapped and placed under the tree to be opened on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning, the kids wake up to unwrapped gifts from Santa. I realize a lot of kids receive wrapped gifts from Santa, but we never have.

My dad always threatened us girls with black marks on the bottom of our feet if we were being bad. I’m pretty sure he made that up, I’ve never known anyone else who was familiar with this tale. We believed if we had misbehaved throughout the year Santa may mark the bottom of our feet with coal instead of leaving gifts.

It was so funny, every Christmas morning we checked the soles of our feet before running to the living room to see what had been left under the tree. Regardless of how deserving, none of us ever received black marks.

Christmas Day

The 25th is usually pretty chill around my house. It’s more of a day of reflection more than anything else for me. When my Grandma was alive we would go to her house Christmas Day, but since she’s gone I just stay around the house trying out my gifts, watching parades and basketball on TV. When my kids were little I had to share holidays with their dad, so they always left Christmas Day. Now that they are grown, they spend it with their own kids and in-laws. I don’t mind, it’s almost like a day to recover from all the festivities.

One last thing I love about the holiday is that it’s so close to the new year. Do you ever imagine what it would be like if Christmas was not in December? It would be weird right? We wouldn’t get to say “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” at the same time. It brings a joyous close to a long holiday season.

These are just a few reasons why I love the holidays so much! Feel free to share some of your favorite holiday memories and traditions!

I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from my family to yours!

America’s Most Haunted Towns

Posted on October 17, 2018January 30, 2024 by gigis ramblings

If you know me, then you know Fall is absolutely my FAVORITE time of year! I’m an October baby, it just comes naturally. I count down the days to September 22nd every year.

When temperatures start to cool down and leaves start to change colors, I get all warm and fuzzy inside. For me, nothing says fall like a new pair of slouch socks, a soft blanket, a good book, the best-smelling candles, apple cider, football, and of course – scary movies!

In anticipation of the upcoming season, I thought it would be fun to cover the most haunted towns in America!

New Orleans, Louisiana

This is one of my favorite places in the world, so naturally, it’s at the top of my list. The Big Easy holds its own among the most haunted cities in the United States. You can just feel the energy in the air down there. It is famously known for embracing the dead among the living with the above-ground cemeteries and voodoo culture.

People have tons of theories as to why New Orleans is cursed, but the most widely accepted belief is the city’s vast history of violence. This place has no shortage of spooky tours to experience the hauntings in the flesh. These excursions vary from ghost tours and graveyard tours to voodoo and witch tours.

If you are interested in a possible paranormal experience I recommend checking out the following:

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is probably the most underrated haunted destination on this list. Don’t let its exuberance of Southern charm fool you, there is a dark history just waiting to be discovered by curious travelers like yourself. Charlotte is rumored to have its share of ghosts that haunt establishments all over the city.

One restaurant in particular, the Cajun Queen, was transformed from a home back in the mid-80s. Rumor has it, the bar was constructed on top of the lady of the house’s bedroom, and she doesn’t appear to be happy about it. She has been known to visit the customers who are brave enough to drink there.

If you happen to be visiting beautiful Charlotte and want to take a walk on the dark side I suggest adding the following to your must-see list:

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Next on my list is the historic town of Gettysburg. This place is, without a doubt, one of the most haunted places in America, if not the most haunted. I have never had the pleasure of visiting, but it is definitely on my bucket list. Not only do I love creepy places, but I love history!

You can’t turn around in Gettysburg without coming upon a cemetery, haunted museum, home, or battlefield. This is all thanks to the area’s dark and bloody history as the site of one of the country’s deadliest battles. Even if you don’t have a personal interaction with a spirit, the strange vibes from this hallowed ground are enough to chill even the most cynical naysayer to the bone.

When in the Gettysburg area make sure the following are on your list of must-see attractions:

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Savannah, Georgia

To outsiders Old Savannah may look like a sweet Southern belle, but she hides a dark secret. The town was built on the dead, literally. Buildings and homes were constructed atop Native American burial grounds and streets cover forgotten cemeteries of slaves and settlers.

Throughout the years, bloody battles, massive fires, yellow fever epidemics, and hurricanes have taken hundreds of lives, leaving behind unsettled spirits.

If you are looking for a good scare, look no further than these spooky attractions:

There’s just something intriguing about these historic towns, filled with folklore and fascinating mysteries. A spooky adventure awaits at any one of these most haunted cities in America.

Fall Is Officially Here

Posted on October 6, 2018January 30, 2024 by gigis ramblings

Finally, Fall is here!

Well, officially.

Here in Texas, it takes a little longer for the temperature to drop and leaves to fall, but just knowing it is coming gets me all warm inside. This has always been my favorite season. Crisp air, colored leaves, scarecrows, apple cider, football, and pumpkins all make my heart content. I don’t know what it is, but this is always my most creative and productive time of year. I just love Autumn!

Here are a few ideas to get your festive groove on:

Fill your home with wonderful fragrances. The first step to getting yourself in the mood is a little aromatherapy. I have a personal favorite that I will share with you.

What you will need:

1 apple of any variety

Cinnamon sticks

Whole cloves

Nutmeg

Vanilla extract

Small pot

Fill the pot ¾ full of water. Cut the apple into quarters and add to the pot. Then add cinnamon sticks, ½ tsp of cloves, ½ tsp of nutmeg, 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Let ingredients simmer on top of the stove, being careful not to let the water boil away. You may replenish water periodically. In just a few minutes you will be amazed at the delicious aromas coming from your kitchen!

Do a little seasonal decorating. If you are a fall lover like myself, you probably have a stash of your favorite Autumn decorations safely tucked away. Don’t worry, even if you do not have one single fall-themed item, I have a few ideas for you. You do not have to spend a fortune to add a little warmth to your home. All you need is a little imagination and the gifts Mother Nature bears. It can be something as simple as filling a glass jar with pecans or acorns for a lovely centerpiece, placing a pumpkin on your front porch, painting pine cones or using twigs and cardboard to create a neat monogram. Check out an array of interesting ideas I have saved on my Pinterest Fall board.

Take a walk. The perfect way to get that Fall feeling is to get outside. The crisp air, gentle breeze and beautiful colors just seem to energize my soul. It’s healing to me. Here in Central Texas, we have this wonderful park that has miles of trails where I love to escape this time of year. Try it you’ll be amazed at how wonderful you feel!

Find a comfy spot, cozy blanket, and a good book. Not sure why, but this seems to be the only time of year I make time to read. Nothing quite says fall like curling up in a soft blanket with a good read, and a warm fire (if you’re lucky enough to live where it’s cooler). I have already picked out this season’s reading list:

As you can see, I will be in my comfy spot for quite some time.

Happy Fall Y’all!