Back from Iberostar Tucan Riviera Maya

Hi Everyone,

We're back from our amazing family vacation at the Iberostar Tucan in Riviera Maya. Maurice and I had a great time. We did nothing more then eat, drink, swim, tan and sleep. This was our first time at the Iberostar and I had read a ton of reviews, for the most part the reviews were favorable and I felt comfortable that we would like the property. As a travel agent i've been lucky enough to travel to numerous resorts in Mexico and have a pretty good idea how the all inclusives function.

We arrived at the resort around noon and had an easy and quick check in. Once we checked in we made our way to our room. We walked about 3 minutes through a jungle setting to our building which was right near the pool and steps from the beach. Our room was on the 3rd floor, it was large and comfortable appointed with 2 beds and a separate sitting area with a couch and table with chairs. The view from our balcony was of the jungle and all the animals it holds.

The beach was amazing, it had the best beach out of all the resorts we have been too. No rock, crystal clear water, a place to hide from the sun. This was a great beach. The pool was warm and clean. There was a large selection at the buffets at breakfast, lunch and dinner. There was plenty of seafood and the cookies were delicious. We had dinner 3 of the nights at the a la carte restaurants: Asian, Mexican and Italian. The food was great in all 3 but the Italian was my favorite. They had a great selection of appetizers. The service in the restuarants for the most part was good, there were a few quirks like, not getting a coffee refill one morning and no water at lunch one day. Other then that the restaurant service was good.

The maids did a great job cleaning our room. When reading the reviews they all had one thing in common, they all mentioned that the beds were hard and they did not lie, the beds were unbelievable hard, but it didn't stop us from passing out at the end of the day from being on the beach all day. They created little towl people daily.

For me the best part of the resort was all the wildlife. I loved looking out our balcony and seeing the monkeys sitting on the railing. I loved having to walk past the peacocks to get to dinner and I really just enjoyed our stay.

We came back relaxed and tanned. Would I recommend this hotel to my clients yes.

Would I recommend this to my clients for a destination wedding yes!!! There is nothing more beautiful then barefoot in the sand...

Victoria's Daily Wedding Tip: Serve a midnight snack of popcorn in a vintage style popcorn carton.

Another Wedding Tip

Victoria's Daily Wedding Tip: Eloping? Vegas is not the only option. Getaway for a long weekend and say your I Do's barefoot on the sand on an exotic island.

Almost Vacation Time

It's Monday morning and only a few days until i'm laying on the beach drinking margaritas. But in the mean time, a ton of work to do. The weddings will pretty much wait until I get back, but the travel requires a little attention. My mother works for the business and she's great but not very computer literate and not tech savy, so most of the emailing and planning is on me, so I have to make sure before I get on the plane she's good to go as well.

Today is going to be crazy, track and field camp, packing cleaning... Work!!!

Victoria's Daily Wedding Tip: Couple's don't compromise your dream wedding to the point of not recognizing it...

Another Saturday Morning

Good morning everyone!!!

Woke up this morning in a much better mood. Yep, made up with the boyfriend. We just have some things to sort out, but I think its going to be ok. Made Maurce a huge bowl of cheesy grits with a side of bacon for breakfast and now its time to get to work...

Working on a color scheme for the October wedding. The bride has left it completely up to me and she's going to be gone for two weeks. I'm thinking rust for the bridesmaids.

Wedding Tip of the Day: Walk down the aisle no later then 15 minutes after scheduled.

For all followers

Hello everyone,

I just want to invite everyone to share their wedding tips with me. I am always open to a great idea!!!

There's Always an Issue

It's Friday morning and figuring out what the schedule for the day is and how to concentrate when my boyfriend and I aren't speaking. He came over on Wednesday and I gave him his present and he loved it. We went out to dinner and it was great, we got back to my place and all hell broke loose. I'm not why or how, he started saying things that bugged me and I just flipped and started yelling. This went back and forth for a while and he just left and didn't take his gift with him. Now we're not speaking and i'm not sure if we ever will. I haven't figured out how in life things literally can change in minutes. 1 minute you're all great and the next your done...It's really sad to me, we've been together 2 and a half years. I know life goes on but at this moment it just hurts... I guess time will either tell or heal.

I have so much to do before I take of for Mexico, so I really need to get my head together quick and get to work...

Victoria's Wedding Tip of the Day: Sit down dinner is not a requirement for weddings, a cocktail reception is a great alternative.

Just a tip

Just a wedding tip of the day today:

Victoria's Wedding Tip of the Day: The maid of honor and bridesmaids don't always have to be women and the groomsment don't all have to be men. Choose those closest to you not based on gender.

Wednesday Morning

Almost overslept and we never oversleep, we're always early. Maurice just left for Great America with some friends. Now my job is to relax and not worry about something happening to him. I try to think positive, but until I see him home at the end of the day my nerves are on edge.

Thinking of biking to the post office, trying to incorporate excercise into anything I can at this point. Have a ton of research to do for the weddings. I'm looking for a photographer, florist and makeup artist for the October wedding. It was so easy in the Bahamas, I had the best on speed dial, here I have to google them and then trust my gut.

Today is my boyfriends birthday. We've been together 2 and a half years and this is his 3rd birthday we're celebrating together. I always get him Nike's and generally old school ones that you can't find in the stores and yes, he's going to get another pair today. I'm going to take him out to dinner after work this evening. Should be a nice night.

Victoria's Wedding Tip of the Day: Add your honeymoon to the registry..Enlist your favorite travel agent to help.

Just a wedding Tip

I just wanted to make sure I blogged my wedding tip of the day:"

Victoria's Wedding Tip of the Day: Instead of a wedding cake think wedding cupcakes.

Signing the Contract

Met with the October wedding couple earlier today. Had them sign the contract and helped them choose their invites. Went over to White Deer Run Golf course and met with the catering manager. Walked the site and discussed seating. It's a beatuful location in Vernon Hills. Great View!

Victoria's Wedding Tip of the Day: Use seasonal flowers to save on decor!

Saturday Morning

It's 8:58 in the morning, I've been up since 6:30 and working since 7:00. Well trying to work, my boyfriends over so every few minutes have to have some silly conversation. Dropped of Maurice at my brothers yesterday morning to spend the weekend with his cousin. Drove an hour to meet with a catering manager to go over options for the October wedding only to get a call from the catering manager that she's ill and needs to reschedule. Going to go early Monday to meet with my clients and then go see the reception site. In the meantime confirmed an 11:30 limo pick up for a client leaving for Moscow today from NJ. Planning on working until 12 and then going to go and enjoy the weather before it rains.

I was home last night alone waiting for my boyfriend to come over and it hit me, I don't know what to do with myself if Maurice is not home. I've been a mom since I was 22 and don't really know how to be anything else. It's so easy to get lost in your child and being a single mom you are the only one that is there. The majority of my day is spent doing things for Maurice or with Maurice and when he's not around i'm lost and a little bit scared. My goal as a mom has been to raise him to be independent and strong, so I never let him know how scared I am at the thought of him leaving me. I guess what I need to do now is get a life that doesn't involve him...

As a wedding planner I have great ideas that I want to share with the public, so I'll be offering a Wedding Tip of the day daily:

Victoria's Wedding Tip: The bridesmaids don't all have to wear the same dress or even the same color as long as it stays within the brides color scheme.

Picked Up a New Wedding

It's been really hard establishing myself as a professional event planner in the Chicagoland area. I had so much experience planning weddings in the Bahamas and it all came so easy that stumbling around here trying to find clients to trust me has been a real blow to the ego. Mix in with it that most people would rather go on line to plan their vacation then call a travel agent and what you get in me trying to figure out how I can pay bills and give my son a good life. Everyday is different, today is a good day, a couple hired me to plan their wedding for October. I'm beyond grateful that they gave me a chance, I really need this not only for the money but I need to start building my repuation and portfolio here in Illinois. I am really excited. I need to blow this out the water!! I will provide pictures....

In the meantime I have been working on the first wedding I booked here in Chicago. The couple is getting married next year July and they're adorable. They just invited me to their engagement party.

So booked a wedding this morning, went to Walmart went to the post office and the library and took Maurice to track and field camp all before 10 this morning. Sitting here at my desk myour vacation. Talked to my boyfriend (yes single mom has a boyfriend) listened to him complain how i'm not showing him enough attention. Then listened to him tell me how happy he is that I booked a wedding and he'll help me with anything I need. He's a good guy! His birthday is next week and I have a surprise planned for him. Should be a blast.

1st Time Blogging

Hello Everyone,

This is my first attempt at blogging. I'm a little nervous and very excited. My name is Victoria and I am the owner of Around the World Travel and Events by Victoria B. My companies specialize in destination weddings and Chicagoland event planning. Getting a business of the ground is nerve wrecking, tiring, but but definatley worth it. However, my biggest job and joy is raising my teenage son. I'm not sure when I became old enough to have a teenager, but here I am a single mom of a 13 year old soccer player with a little bit of track and field thrown in. I read my friends updates on Facebook and they are talking about they're pregnant for the first time, or describing their daughters first birthday party or asking advice on how to take the pacifier away, and I want to know how to keep the girls away. My schedule is simple: Work, meetings, followed by driving to soccer practice, followed by driving to a soccer game. Growing my businesses has definately suffered because I have chosen be completely involved in my sons life. There is alot of guilt that comes with being a single parent, especially when the father is completely uninvolved. So far I think i'm doing ok!

I used to live in the Bahamas and ran a pretty successful wedding planning business. When I moved back to the states, I walked away from it, but realized I loved planning events and I missed it. So here I am in Chicago ready to venture back into the world of event planning. Around the World Travel is the destination wedding and travel agency that allows me to plan amazing weddings for my couples anywhere in the world. Events by Victoria B allows me to use my talent to create unique and spectacular events in the Chicagoland area.

Please follow me as I attempt to grow these businesses without missing a soccer game. I'll post photos of great locations and great events.