New Wordpress Website

Hey Everyone!

I just came back from an amazing trip to Paris!!! You have to travel there! FYI, I have a Wordpress Site now and all my blog posts will be there from now on!

www.fabulouslivingcoach.com

See you there!!!

Love, Elaine xoxoxo

Starbucks London, Two things I love in life: coffee & men with accents!

 March 26th, 2011 - At Starbucks, Wimbledon

If you are are coffee drinker, you know in the morning you don't feel rested until you have that morning Java! Sine I couldn't make a coffee at Penny's house, I decided before starting my day in London to stop at the Starbucks on the corner right across the train station of Wimbleton. I came in wanting a really strong coffee to wake me up after entire flight not sleeping an jet lag.  Across the street was another coffee shop called " Coffee Republic" , which looked like an English version/chain of coffee. I know, I know, I should have perhaps tried it being my first morning in London over Starbucks. You know, be the traveler, get outside of your comfort zone and try something new. Tomorrow I will go!

I ordered a grande which is the medium sized coffee cup at Starbucks when he asked me if I wanted espresso or filter. Espresso or filter?? hmmmmm To a Canadian, that's an interesting question because we have a lot of percolated/filtered coffee being served. It's the Europeans who are accustomed to having americanos and espressos. You know the "real coffee" as my Italian friend Marco told me in Cuba in January. Ummm, filter please I told the Starbucks employee. He's really hot! A tall, blonde hair, blue eyes man with a British accent, but European I could tell from somewhere else. I need to ask! He is super hot! lol 

I noticed this yesterday in Leicester Square when grabbing pizza, but I really noticed today here in England there are two prices when going to food places. One price is to stay in and one price is "take-away" which we say in North America " take-out". How is this possible? So I saw these two prices and thought what ?????? Then I stopped and thought, the rest of the word probably thinks North American tipping 15% or 20% is crazy itself!

Wow, this guy is super cute! I wonder where he is from? I need to ask! I need to take a picture! He came up to me before and asked if I was American. I proudly said I was Canadian! :P He has dreamy blue eyes! He told me he's opening a new Starbucks next week and he's a manager. Hmmmm There are two things that I love in life: coffee and men with accents! Heyyyyyy, holla!!!Where do you think this guy is really from with blonde hair and blue eyes??? I have to ask!!!!!!!!!!

Answer: He is from The Netherlands!!!!!!!!! He told me that I should go to Amsterdam and travel! I was starring and him and at that moment felt, you know that's an excellent idea! Throwing that out there to the Universe!

Couch Surfing Safe or Not? My experience with Penny in Wimbleton, London.

March 26th, 2011

Saturday morning in London. I made it! Yup! Holla! heyyyyyy lol! I'm in Starbucks in Wilmbledon around the corner from Penny my couch surfing host's flat. I attempted to make coffee at her house, but it's one of those stoves that are with gas. I didn't see any matches & I forgot how the bloody ( British accent used here) thing operates! I just spilled coffee over the journal. Good times! :P

Penny was away for the night on a hot date with a man. Ouuuuuu spicy I know! She didn't want to be a rude host she said leaving me on my first night alone at her house, but she really wanted to go out on this date! Oh my goodness, don't be silly I told her! I don't think it's rude at all. I am just grateful to be in London and hosted surfing on a couch! She gave me keys to her house. She also gave me a mobile if I wanted to give any of my friends the number so they could contact me. How nice! I asked if I can go somewhere to buy credit to put on it and she said there should be 14 pounds on it which would be more than enough if I was sending text messages. What more could I ask for? Super nice! She even pulled out the couch into a bed and put fresh linens on for me! And then people ask you if Couch Surfing is safe or not. Well, it's at your own risk, but I have attracted all wonderful people. :)

I was happy for her going out having fun with men on dates. She just turned 58 years old yesterday. So, I was thinking just like the Aussie's say, " Good on ya mate!" LOL I think she goes out with more men than me which is AMAZING! It's also a sign perhaps that I should date more myself! I need to get out there..... Well it's not that there aren't men, it's just I am so busy I guess with projects and my goals. Or maybe because I haven't let go of a certain someone.... hmmmmm Don't analyze and over think Elaine. Just BE............. Deep breathe in........ exhale............ Some blockages, but we shall speak of that later!

Finally Up in the air to London!

March 24th, 2011

I am up, up, up in the air on Thomas Cook Airlines flying from Toronto to Gatwick in London. Ahhhhhh, I'm going to LONDON! Our flight departed at 5:30 p.m. from Toronto which was a nice change from my 6:30 a.m. flights the last previous two months!  The flight is 7 hours in length which means we will be arriving at 12:00 a.m. eastern standard time which in London it will be 5:00 a.m.! Ah!

I have always wanted to go to London you know. During my second year studying Hotel Management at Alpine Center in Athens, I wanted to transfer and study in England because the degree was connected with Bournemouth University. I applied through UCAS and was accepted into The University of Brighton and Surrey. I remember getting mail from the U.K and thinking it was so cool! I later decided to continue studying in Greece, which I am extremely glad I did because I had a wonderful third year of memories. ( Especially the summer of 2004 living in Greece with my room mate Daniela working at a bar and going to bed at 7:00 a.m. every night! Motorcycle rides on the back of hot Greek men. heyyyyyyyyy! Now that was a hot summer to remember. OPA! lol!)

I have seen movies like The Holiday & Bridget Jones Diaries which I just LOVED! The English countryside looks so pretty. A pretty backdrop for a magical LOVE STORY I'd say!

The last time I was in Europe was the summer of 2009. From the end of June until the beginning on October I was an Au-Pair for three months in Spain and also traveled to Greece for a quick week! That was an adventurous summer full of unexpected things happening like my crazy Au-Pair experience, Jeannie & Eleni coming for two weeks from Canada and traveling around and then unforgettable trip to Greece which went the exact opposite of what I intended. It ended up being lots of fun, but I would now call the experience an emotional roller coaster. Obviously man related. ....... But guys let's be positive, there is learning in everything! LOL yeah, learning my ass you think when you are in that situation! .... Long story...... Not even worth writing............

Even though I love Greece, I think if I lived in Europe, it  would have to be London! I think I'd be most comfortable in a country speaking English, that is big offering lots to do, yet at the gateway of Europe! Imagine having so many cheap flights at your footsteps? I'd lose it! I'd definitely take advantage of that, no questions asked! Ok, so they say the weather is crappy being gloomy and rainy. But I've always said I liked the rain and thought of it to be relaxing. Hmmmm....After awhile, how much gloom can you possibly take I guess? I say life is what you make it! There must be sunshine you can create in your day, like your own personal sunshine that makes you all warm! Well worst comes to worst, you can always hop on an airplane and fly to Greece in 3 hours! Now, that's not a bad idea at all! Oh beautiful Greece! I love you Greece!

I remember trying to get a job at The Savoy in London which is apart of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts last year as a Coach in their food & beverage department. Lots of resistance and it just wasn't happening. Maybe I wasn't suppose to go there because that would be living on a permanent vacation this year then! See how it all happens for a reason? You want something and it doesn't work out because the Universe has another plan for you! The Universe has your back in more ways than you know!

 It can be quite exhausting to tell you the truth in being a creative and coming up with ideas! Having a mind that produces and generates! I am a passionate person so when I think something is good, I really get excited about it! I think BIG, I think of all the POSSIBILITIES! I started coaching because I was living all of my travel dreams and wanted to inspire others to live out their dreams. How is it that so many of my dreams came true? Luck you say? Nah! It's not luck. It's an intention mixed with action! It's not an accident! The energy behind intentions is alive. It exists! ( Ok, I'm on the airplane in my seat and the man in front of me keeps pushing his chair back trying to recline further and further. Ok bud, it's gone as far back as it possibly can. LOL, What's your problem?!!!!!! lol) 

The Pilot said we're arriving a bit early and it is 6 degrees C. We are 37,000 feet above and it should be a smooth ride. SWEEEEEET! I'm going to pass out after we eat. I woke up at 5:30 a.m. on purpose so I could sleep on the ride and wake up a bit refreshed! Enjoy the ride!

The London Pass - Highly Recommended

Hey Hey Fabulous,

I had such a wonderful time in London last week on my 3rd trip in living on a permanent vacation. I would definitely go back!  I bought a six day London Pass which included admission to 55 attractions for £94. If you want you can choose to buy a pass for 1,2,3 or 6 days. You also have the option of buying with or without travel. I chose to buy without travel and instead bought a weekly pass from the underground for £39 for zones 1 -4. Most of what you will want to do will be in zones 1 - 4. For places like the Windsor Castle & Eaton, you can ask to buy an extension on your ticket. :)

Kensignton Palace, London

During your stay in London of course, you will want to see as much as you can in attractions like myself, but keep in mind it is exhausting! I think you need one trip for attractions and another trip for vacationing in London. A place like London with so much fascinating history and unlimited amounts of things to do, you just can't see it all. I will be sharing with you on my blog posts the sites I visited!

The main reasons why I LOVED the London Pass is because it saves you money in entrance. They give you a guide book with the attractions, maps and descriptions of the places. Also, just the ease of paying one time for all the things you will see makes it easy so you don't have to keep on going into your wallet to get into attractions. It makes you know where your money has gone which is important when your are spending £££££££££££££££££££££££££ LOL!!!!

I saw the following:

• Tower of London ( Including the Crown Jewels) ,Normal Adult Price: £17.00
• Kensignton Palace, Normal Adult Price: £12.50
• Buckingham Palace ( FREE, you can't go in, so it's not in the pass. I am just writing it so you know I went. LOL)
• The Royal Mews, Normal Adult Price: £7.75
• Wellington Arch, Normal Adult Price: £ 3.70
• St. Paul's Cathedral, Normal Adult Price: £12.50
• The London Bridge Experience &  London Tombs (A scary experience with actors, more entertainment) Normal Adult Price: £21.95
• Hampton Court Palace, Normal Adult Price: £14.00
• Kew Gardens, Normal Adult Price: £13.50
• Windsor Castle, Normal Adult Price: £16.00
• Westminister Abbey, Normal Adult Price: £15.00

The total to visit all of these attraction would have been Normal Adult Price: £ 133.90. If I were to have done the London Pass again, I would have chosen the 3 day pass! The first day I had jet lag and only did the Tower of London. The second day I went hard and did the above from Kensignton Palace to The London Bridge Experience. The third day I did Hampton Court Palace and Kew Gardens. ( I did Kew Gardens only because I heard the stop being called out on the train and thought to myself since I am here, why not? It's beautiful though! A royal botanical garden!) The Fourth day I did The Windsor Castle which is the Queen's home. :) The fifth day I was dead and exhausted and didn't do anything! LOL and then the sixth day I went to Westminister Abbey. It's exhausting traveling all around. I would say to do the 3 day pass! Hope it helps!!

I will be blogging my London Pass travel adventures! To see my travels on video please visit my You Tube Channel: Fabulous Living Coach You Tube Channel

Elaine Sarantakos
Fabulous Living Coach
elaine@fabulouslivingcoach.com
647-964-6001

Fabulous Living Coach is a Toronto based Life Coach. Thank you for following my travel journey of living on a permanent vacation with 3 weeks work, 1 week vacation. Next stop: Paris, France!

Being Emotional Can Be Mistaken For Craziness ..

Ok, so I am this highly emotional person. It's true..... Wait!! I should add in that I am also highly sensitive & also very passionate about whatever it is I am passionate about. So this combination of being: emotional, sensitive and passionate can be a little bit much at times. (Especially when it's all added together!!!!) Kind of like a tornado of what seems like "craziness!" sweeping through.  You see if I don't communicate and express what it is I am feeling, I won't feel settled until I express it.  Some people supress and I am the exact oppositive where I express! When you are highly emotional, you can be mistaken for being crazy. (This is very true especially when it comes to expressing your feelings with men.ohhhh  Elaine!!!!! )

Ok, I think everyone has what might seem like crazy thoughts. If you were to unload someones thoughts out and play them out loud, there would be a lot of people you would think were crazy. However, they don't so they look "normal".  Where I just tell it like it is in my mind and don't screen it all. :P  I know I am highly emotional so I have to learn some ways to best deal with this.It's like something happens and you get caught up in your head.

Things I need to Do To Balance My Energy

• Sleep 8 hours
• Workout, preferably cardio!
• Eat well!
• Journal My Thoughts

I know that when the above 4 are not in check, my emotions spin out.  Will work on that since I am aware!

xoxoxo Much Love, Elaine Sarantakos

Fabulous Living Coach is a Toronto based Life Coach. 

For a free 30 minute Coaching session up to 30 minutes please call me at 647-964-6001.

Missing The Cayman Islands

Sometimes I really miss the Cayman Islands having lived and worked there for a year in 2005 - 2006! I was a beach girl/server barefoot serving pina coladas and Cayman lemonades on Seven Mile Beach for The Westin Casaurina Resort in Grand Cayman. Ahhhhhhh those tropical days!!! Having lived in the Caribbean, having a Jamaican boyfriend there and being rasied in Scarborough ( part of Toronto), I with no doubt have a love and appreciation for reggae! Reggae just RESONATES with my HEART & MY BOOTY! LOL!!!!!

I originally was looking to buy a bottle of water to take back to my hotel room, when I walked into a bar on Bourbon St.On Bourbon St. in New Orleans there are several bars that have 20 different kinds of frozen cocktails in styrofoam glasses for you to carry while you are walking.So, I walked in and heard reggae music which was enough for me to screw the water and order myself a yummy frozen lime margarita! LOL I enjoyed every bit of it with nostalgia, having it take me back in time!What a magical experience it was!