WARMEST GREETINGS TO OUR AWESOME TRAVEL FRIENDS!
It’s JUNE – it’s the onset of Summer Flavors, Savored Summer Experiences!
As SUMMER is served … some of our flavors include Dazzling Days, Sumptuous Sunsets, Enchanted Evenings, Special Sips, Colors we Crave and a Prep for al fresco weather!
It’s an anticipated SUMMERTIME full of Heart & Solstice ~ what about YOU?
Have you pondered – what exactly is SOLSTICE?
Let us share the interesting facts …
The SOLSTICE marks the onset of summer, at the time of the longest day, about June 21 in the northern hemisphere and December 22 in the southern hemisphere.
The SUMMER SOLSTICE, also known as Estival Solstice (or midsummer), occurs when one of Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky (for areas outside of the tropics) and is the day with the longest period of daylight. Within the Arctic Circle (for the northern hemisphere) or Antarctic Circle (for the southern hemisphere), there is continuous daylight around the summer solstice.
The SUMMER SOLSTICE occurs in JUNE in the Northern Hemisphere and the DECEMBER SOLSTICE in the Southern Hemisphere. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice occurs sometime between June 20 and June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere, and between December 20 and December 23 in the Southern Hemisphere. The same dates in the opposite hemisphere are referred to as the WINTER SOLSTICE.
Since prehistory, the summer solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rituals. Traditionally, in many temperate regions (especially Europe), the summer solstice is seen as the middle of summer and referred to as ‘midsummer’. Today, however, in some countries and calendars it is seen as the beginning of summer.
In 240 B.C., the Greek astronomer Eratosthenes made the first good measurement of the size of Earth. By noting the angles of shadows in two cities on the Summer Solstice.
BASK AMONGST THE SUN-DRENCHED SEA & STAR-STUDDED SKIES within all of the Hawaiian Islands. DO YOU KNOW … in ancient Hawai’I, tattoos were used as a form of identification??
SACRED INK ~ HISTORY OF POLYNESIAN TATTOOS
The word tattoo is derived from “tātau” in Tahtian and “kākau” in Hawaiian which means to mark the skin in color. In ancient Hawai‘i, tattoos were used to as a form of identification often to represent certain families, groups, social status or occupations. Tattoo designs were not about being aesthetically pleasing, but about telling a life story of an individual or used to guard their health or spiritual well-being. Hawaiians would also use kākau to make them look more intimidating during battle. Some Hawaiians were covered from head to toe in tattoos, and each tattoo could help to reveal the history of a persons’ life.
Historically, tattoos were hand-tapped and are known as “uhi”. Polynesians would use a “moli” or tattoo tool and dip it in “paʻu” or ink and begin to tap onto the skin. In ancient Polynesia, the paʻu was made from the soot of ground kukui nuts and sugarcane juice and the moli was sometimes made using bird claws, beaks, or fish bones tied to sticks. Traditional Polynesian tattoo designs hold great significance to those who receive them. Some popular designs that are commonly used, include “moʻo” – geckos, “honu” – sea turtles, “manō” – sharks, or geometric shapes and symmetrical patterns.
To this day, traditional Hawaiian tattooing celebrates a connection of people to a place and to each other. Getting a traditional tattoo holds incredible symbolic representation of Hawaiian history/arts and the individual’s own story. It represents pride in understanding the sacred traditions that were once practiced by Native Hawaiians.
AT TRAVEL CONCEPTS WE CARE ABOUT SHARING MORE ABOUT YOUR CELEBRA-CATION®
CULTURE & HISTORY THAN SIMPLY SELLING YOU A TRIP! #THEMOREYOUKNOW
Travel Concepts Rockstar Team Focuses on Creating Unforgettable Moments
Travelers are looking to make up for lost time by booking a plethora of activities that will create unforgettable moments. The inability to freely traverse the globe over the last two years has stimulated travelers’ appetites for bucket list trips and excursions. Additionally, the fluid movements of the COVID-19 pandemic have catalyzed an increased demand for Dream Celebra-cations® as travelers do not want to put off vacations and understand there is likely no better time than right now.
Travelers are looking for over-the-top experiences to catapult themselves back into these dream trips.
JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH
But what is Pride Month exactly? The rainbows and glitter may catch your eye, but the month-long celebration is really a call for greater unity, visibility and equality for the LGBTQ community.
And while it’s a time to look toward a fairer, kinder future, it’s also a moment to recognize all of the advances – and setbacks – in the last few decades.
Pride Month is observed in June to honor the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a touchstone event in LGBTQ history that laid the foundation for Pride.
We believe that Kindness & Caring are contagious.
DO WHAT YOU LOVE
Discover what profoundly moves you from within that will reinvigorate your mind, body, and spirit.
~ Manage The Pressure ~
There are moments during the daily demands of life that cause us to pause – a deep, gut-wrenching laugh or a mentally stimulating conversation (a few examples) – and we suddenly realize what was missing from our hearts and our thoughts: TRUE JOY
YOU have the power to find your joy — and reclaim it if it has slipped away.
Give Yourself The Permission
LIFE ~ WORK BALANCE
We Believe That Kindness & Caring are Contagious
With every season and for every reason, our hearts remain with those in UKRAINE who are experiencing unimaginable challenges.
We hope you have chosen a humanitarian resource to make a difference for those who are in need.
“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”
~ Jackie Chan
There are few greater luxuries in life than spending time with family, and nothing brings the family together quite like exploring a new destination together.
Travel provides so many opportunities for meaningful interactions and memory-making experiences.
Travel Bans have been lifted and modified – travel is happening!
We would love to share some of the destinations we believe best suit life’s treasured moments ~
Are you ready for SUMMERTIME SOLSTICE?
Remember, there is always something to celebrate ~ we remain grateful to
have served clients globally for over 26 years!
Wishing you peace, health, happiness & love ~
Denise, Ashley & Annika
WE ARE OFF TO EXPLORE CANCUN ~ RIVIERA MAYA!!
We travel to help you make lasting memories this summer & beyond, with more new resorts, more fabulous experiences in store!
June 9-20
GET INSPIRED. FOLLOW US:
HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces unsweetened cocoa powder, approximately 1/2 cup
3 cups half-and-half
1 cup heavy cream
8 large egg yolks
9 ounces sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions
Place the cocoa powder along with 1 cup of the half-and-half into a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine. Add the remaining half-and-half and the heavy cream. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and remove from the heat.
In a medium mixing bowl whisk the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the sugar and whisk to combine. Temper the cream mixture into the eggs and sugar by gradually adding small amounts, until about 1/3 of the cream mixture has been added. Pour in the remainder and return the entire mixture to the saucepan and place over low heat. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon and reaches 170 to 175 degrees F. Pour the mixture into a container and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract. Place the mixture into the refrigerator and once it is cool enough not to form condensation on the lid, cover and store for 4 to 8 hours or until the temperature reaches 40 degrees F or below.
Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer’s directions. This should take approximately 25 to 35 minutes. Serve as is for soft serve or freeze for another 3 to 4 hours to allow the ice cream to harden.
TRAVEL TIP
It’s been a little bit since we’ve done one of these, but today’s is all about Destination Weddings! 
Everyone knows planning a destination wedding can be hard. But that’s what we are here for! We can help you to plan the perfect Destination Wedding Celebra-cation™! 
1. Location- When deciding on a destination, keep in mind that it must be safe and have all of the resources you need. That charming beach town where you spent your childhood summers won’t work if its one hotel can’t accommodate all your guests or any of their accessibility or childcare requirements. 
2. Additional Events- Extend all the fun of the big day by expanding the itinerary. Guests will enjoy some extra activities to make their trip even more worthwhile. You don’t have to go for a full wedding weekend, but a welcome party to greet everyone is a popular choice (either blending with or following the rehearsal dinner). 
3. The Dress- This might be one of the trickier parts of planning a destination wedding. The easiest option (especially if your dress has a slim silhouette instead of a full skirt) is to carry it in a garment bag as your carry-on. Ask to hang the dress in the hanging space for first class or, if the plane doesn’t have a closet, wait until all of the rolling bags have been stowed, then lay your dress on top of the suitcases. If the fabric isn’t prone to wrinkling, you could also carefully fold the dress and tuck it into your own carry-on suitcase. 
These are just a very few basic tips but hopefully you found them helpful! If you have any comments or questions don’t hesitate to contact us or comment below! ⬇
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