Girls Getaway Guide
In This Issue
Girls Getaway Guide Gets Another Rave Reviews
GGG Myspace & Blog
Purchase the Book
Fabulous Valentine's Day Tips from The Getaway Girl
Girls Getaway Guide Now in Barnes & Noble
Girls Getaway Makes Guest Appearance at Track Shack
MEGA Book Marketing University
In the Field Magazine
Key West Getaway
Girls Getaway Guide Gets Another Rave Review
 

I am thrilled to announce another fabulous book review for my Girls Getaway Guide to Orlando: Leave Your Baggage at Home at fabulously40.com.

Fabulously40.com was created for every woman 40 and beyond, who is ready to celebrate this exciting stage of her life. Relationships with families, friends and even ourselves are undergoing profound change, and it seems like the time is right for something new. 

You can find the review at:

http://fabulously40.com/article/2093/Girls-Getaway-Guide-To-Orlando/
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Check Out Girls Getaway Guide's Blog & Myspace
 
Where Can You Purchase the Book?
To purchase the Girls Getaway Guide, please visit:

www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net
www.amazon.com
Barnes & Noble (select stores)
Le Bri Boutique, Lakeland
Gift Basket Boutique, Lakeland
Redhead Lounge Boutique, Orlando
Urban Think! Bookstore, Orlando

 
Gray Dog Publishing
P.O. Box 2589
Orlando, FL 32802
(863) 224-6326
 
Girls Getaway Guide News
Greetings!
 
Greetings!  I hope you enjoy this latest E-newsletter issue.  The feature article contains tips for making this Valentine's Day the best ever, as well as exciting news that the Girls Getaway Guide to Orlando: Leave Your Baggage at Home is now in Barnes & Noble stores and much more girls getaway news!
Fabulous Valentine's Day Tips from The Getaway Girl 
 

I will admit - I am not a big fan of Valentine's Day.  If you have someone in your life, you spend too much time and money searching for the perfect gift, only to be disappointed when they either forget the entire day or pick up a last-minute gift from the neighborhood convenience store.  If you don't currently have that "someone special" in your life, you can easily become disenchanted by the hundreds of ads and media hype surrounding this commercial day.

I realized just how much I dislike February 14 when I found myself alone one Valentine's Day, just three days after my divorce was final.

For a day that is supposed to be all about sharing love, I quickly became very anti-love and jokingly referred to myself as the Valentine's Day grinch.  Everywhere I looked, all I saw were happy couples, flowers, cards, jewelry ads, chocolates, and overflowing expressions of love. I couldn't understand why they were so happy when my love life was less than flourishing.                             

However, I soon realized that I could not let this overrated holiday get me down.  This was a holiday, and I was determined to celebrate. My girlfriends and I had a terrific holiday and celebrated the special relationship we have.  Part of the joy of girlfriends is that they are there to get you through.  So, in honor of girlfriends, here are some tips for all girls (single or not) to ensure a fabulous February 14!

Plan an Adventure

Give yourself something to look forward to (like a fabulous girls getaway).  An adventure could be an exotic vacation, wonderful cruise or a local weekend retreat.  Don't focus so much on the actual day of Valentine's Day, but on an exciting adventure in your near future!

Pamper yourself
Buy yourself cute Valentine's Day gifts, such as flowers, shoes or a very cute dress.  Indulge in a day at the spa, read a good book, listen to your favorite music, relax in a warm bubble bath or cook a gourmet meal. Valentine's Day is about showing love and kindness to someone you love and appreciate; why not include yourself?

Plan a Girls Night
There are so many things a group of girls can do on this special night.  Plan a dinner date, see a movie, or have a slumber party.  Host a "singles party" or "Un-Valentine's Day Party." Go to a cooking class, catch a local sporting event, or indulge in a wine tasting.  Life is fun in the company of loving friends.

Help Others
Spend Valentine's Day in the meaningful way by volunteering with a local community service organization.  Visit an assisted living facility, hospital or orphanage.  Feed the homeless or assist with literacy programs.  There are always organizations in need of volunteers.  Take this opportunity to show your love to others.  It will make you feel very good about yourself.

Express Your Love
Express love and affection for people around you. Valentine's Day is not just for couples, it's to celebrate the love for the people you are close to, including children, friends, relatives, siblings and mentors.  Don't let it just be a romantic occasion.  It's about appreciating those closest to you, whether you are single or not.  Send your sister a funny Maxine card or give your co-worked a small box of chocolate with a thank you note for being such a great co-worker.  Spread the love!
                               

Girls Getaway Guide 
Now in Barnes & Noble
The Girls Getaway Guide to Orlando: Leave Your Baggage at Home is now in select Barnes & Noble stores in central Florida.  I was flattered to receive a call from B&N just before Christmas asking if they could carry the book.  To find out if your local B&N carries the book, visit www.barnesandnoble.com and search "Casey Wohl," then click "Check Store Availability" and enter your zip code.
 Guest Appearance at  Track Shack
Girls Getaway Guide Author Casey Wohl made a guest appearance at the Track Shack in
Orlando for the 2nd Annual Ladies Night on Feb. 7. Everyone enjoyed a special evening of ladies-only mingling, shopping and visiting with exclusive suppliers of women's athletic apparel and services.

Many thanks to Betsy Hughes (pictured) and her wonderful staff for a fabulous evening.  For more information, visit www.trackshack.com.

 
conch train
MEGA Book Marketing University
I am so excited to attend the upcoming MEGA Book Marketing University 2008 in Los Angeles, CA February 29, March 1-2. 

At this event, legendary author and creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series Mark Victor Hansen has assembled the world's leading authors, publishers, literary agents and book marketing experts. They will be sharing all the secrets to book publishing using the latest technology and methods. 

For more information about MEGA, visit http://www.MarkVictorHansen.com/cmd.php?af=413938&p=1

In the Field Magazine
I am thrilled to be a feature writer for the newly-launched In the Field Magazine, a monthly publication for
Central Florida residents and visitors.
Be sure to browse the January edition for my column on the Florida Carriage Museum & Resort (
www.fcmr.org), a unique getaway in the heart of
Florida's Horse Country.
Complimentary copies are available at local
Marion and LevyCounty businesses. For more information, visit www.inthefieldmagazine.com.
Key West Getaway
In mid-January, I returned to Key West for some R&R.  Friday started out with a Wind & Wine sunset sail and wine tasting with Danger Charters. We had a great time! This is something I would recommend for any girls getaway in Key West. We had a fabulous crew who served several wines, cheese and crackers, vegetables and fruit during our 1 1/2 hour sunset sail. Other beverages such as beer, sodas and water were also available. Captain Dennis even let me sail the boat for a while. The sunset was awesome, and there were so many sailboats on the water with us (in town for the 2008 Acura Regatta), which was very picturesque.
conch train

New Key West visitors must take a ride on the Key West Conch Train, which has been in operation since 1958.  The train takes you on a wonderful ride through Key West and provides a great historical perspective of this fun city.  On this 90-minute tour, you'll see the Key West Aquarium, Key West Shipwreck Historium & Museum, Flagler Station, Ernest Hemingway House, Sloppy Joes Bar, Mallory Square, Harry S Truman Little White House and much more.  The Conch Train offers tours everyday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  For more information, visit
www.conchtrain.com.

conch train

Speaking of Hemingway's home, the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

www.hemingwayhome.com is a very popular tourist destination.  Hemingway lived here and wrote several novels in this home for more than 10 years.  The home is located across from the Key West Lighthouse, which they say helped Hemingway find his way home after late nights at the bars.  "Papa," as Hemingway was called, was a character, and the stories about his, which you will hear on the tour, are truly one-of-a-kind.  Key West still honors him with the Annual Hemingway Look-A-Like Contest held each July.  During our visit to the home, we had a wonderful tour guide who even looked like Hemingway!
conch train 
Thanks for reading. I hope to see you soon!
 
Sincerely,
 

Casey Wohl, Author/The Getaway Girl
Girls Getaway Guide to Orlando: Leave Your Baggage at Home

www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net