Get Your Body Beach Ready

With Memorial Day weekend now in the past, undoubtedly we all have shifted our focus to getting out and enjoying the outdoors during the summer months. If you are near a warm climate, like me, this means putting on that swimsuit and heading to the nearest beach. Then, of course, the harsh reality sets in that you are not ready for the cover of Sports Illustrated or Men's Health. Check out some tips from Bluegreen that will turn you into an adonis.

Ironic, I know, that we should be thinking about our beach bodies on "Free Donut Day."

Mother's Day in Orlando

For those of you in the Orlando area, check out the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival for a place where Disney cartoon characters come to life! The floral exhibition is a perfect getaway for your visit to Bluegreen's two Orlando area resorts: Orlando's Sunshine Resort and The Fountains.

Is American Idol past its prime?

Although American Idol is still the #1 show in the country, its audience seems to be dwindling rapidly. The ratings juggernaut posted its lowest ratings since 2002, causing many to believe the decline will only continue.

What do you think? I have to admit I was a regular watcher a few years ago, but now in the 10th season I'm over it. In a big way.

This is pretty cool though. Check out Lady Gaga's recent performance on the TV Show:



I'm still on the lookout for when Lady Gaga will be coming down to Miami. I hear there will be a big announcement Monday regarding a stop right down the street from Bluegreen's Solara Surfside Resort. That would be awesome to see her in concert.

Xtina is Back with Bionic Album

Multiple Grammy-award winner Christina Aguilera is back with a brand new album, set to drop June 8th in stores everywhere.

Hear pop music diva discuss the new album:




No doubt, Ms. Aguilera will be headed on tour this year. Stay tuned in the coming months for updates on when she will be hitting Bluegreen's awesome resort destination cities.

Back in St. Olaf....

The time is here. Beloved television star Betty White will be hosting Saturday Night Live on May 8th.

Here is the promo:



The smart as a whip comedienne caught fire recently with a string of hit movies and a hilarious Super Bowl commercial. She even had a Facebook page with diehard fans spurring a movement to have her host SNL.

Of course, Ms. White is probably best known for her role as daffy Rose Nylund on the hit sitcom 'Golden Girls.' The 80's and early 90's tv show was set in Miami, right down the street from Bluegreen's Solara Surfside Resort.

Shakira Shakes Up World Cup 2010

Two of my favorite things converged today when I found that pop music diva Shakira has recorded the theme song for soccer's 2010 World Cup tournament, being held this June throughout South Africa. Shakira has been shaking her hips for nearly a decade and has sold over 30 million records in that timespan.

Take a listen below to "Waka Waka," chosen by FIFA as the official song of the World Cup.



I am so psyched for this year's World Cup. Maybe this year will be USA's time to shine. We will see. Now, all I need is for Bluegreen to get a resort in South Africa, and I'll be set!

Train stops at Hershey

Pop rock band Train, which consists of Patrick Monahan (lead vocalist), Jimmy Stafford (lead guitarist) and Scott Underwood (drummer), is coming to Hershey, Pennsylvania this summer on July 25th for a performance at Hershey Stadium.

Take a look at the video for "Hey, Soul Sister":



This song is tearing up the charts and currently sits at #6 on Billboard's Pop Song Chart. Planning to make a weekend out of it on your Hershey vacation and need a place to stay? Book a reservation at Bluegreen's Suites at Hershey.

Back in time...

Cool article about Pop Stars before they were famous. It's fun to see the back story on how these young musical artists rose through the ranks and became the international superstars they are today. Stay tuned to my blog as I track the tours of these great musical artists as they roll into towns near great Bluegreen resort destinations.

Must Read - Bluegreen Owner Bikes Across America!

Dave Livingstone is a faithful Bluegreen owner from Canada with an incredible story of dedication, strength and determination and he needs our help. In 2002, Mr. Livingstone suffered the tragic loss of his wife from lung cancer. She never smoked a day in her life. From that moment forward Dave made it a point to get involved with the Canadian Lung Association through its annual weekend 200km bike ride. This year, he’s got his sights set on going the distance with the American Lung Association’s Big Ride Across America. He’ll partake on an intense 3,000-mile journey from Seattle, WA to Washington D.C. in just 48 days–40 days of riding and 8 days of rest. It is tentatively scheduled to start June 21, 2010. That’s a lot of biking for any one person. Good thing Dave is young. He’s 68.

Mr. Livingstone spent most of his life involved in international business and in that time developed many relationships across the border here in America. That’s why he decided to help out the ALA this time around–out of his respect for the United States and his understanding that lung disease has no boundaries. This isn’t the first time he’s made a ride like this, and it won’t be his last.

In 2008, he rode across Canada without any major donations to help him make the trip (all expenses came out of his pocket). With the support of a few VW dealerships along the way, Mr. Livingstone managed to attract the local press, radio and TV coverage during many of his stops–each time he plugged the participating VW dealerships. Now, as a Canadian making the trip for an American charity, the press coverage should be substantial.

This is, first and foremost, an incredible opportunity to help a great man achieve something even greater. Not only that, but by helping to sponsor Dave, we could ride along with him in spirit.

In order to make this trip however, Dave needs our help. Participants have to raise $8,000 total, with $6,000 of it due before June 1, 2010 to secure a spot in the ride. That’s not too much to ask considering he will be riding his bike across the entire country.The Big Ride Across America is an enormous gesture of generosity and effort with all proceeds and donations going to the American Lung Association. It’s easy to contribute to Dave’s cause and it would be extra-special to see him at the finish line. To make a donation in support of Dave Livingstone’s Big Ride Across America, please click here.

Pop Crossover Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum is a Country music group hailing from the great state of Tennessee. But with this mega hit, the group has crossed over into the Pop music world and is currently tearing up the charts. I've taken a liking to this song as it sort of invades your soul and doesn't let go. We all can relate to that lost love or the one that got away, probably a familiar feeling to many of us. The group's tour hits Knoxville, Tennessee on April 22nd - a couple hours drive from Bluegreen's MountainLoft and Laurel Crest.

Boom Boom Pow in Arizona

Fergie, Will I Am and the gang from Black Eyed Peas hit the Valley of the Sun for a stop on their tour. On March 31st, the group will be performing at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The stadium is quick 20 minute drive from Bluegreen's Cibola Vista Resort and Spa.

To me, the hottest track on the The E.N.D. album is ”Meet Me Halfway”.

Swift Gallops into Virginia Horse Country

Remember this? After the hoopla at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift skyrocketed to fame and took over both the Country and Pop music charts with hits like "We Belong Together" and "Love Story." She won four Grammys this year, and was the youngest artist ever to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Currently on tour, Ms. Swift rolls into Charlottesville, Virginia for a performance this Saturday, March 20th. The concert takes place about a half hour from Bluegreen's Shenandoah Crossing.

Lady Gaga / Beyonce Telephone Movie

Ok, so Lady Gaga and Beyonce did not make a movie. But, you have to check out their new "Telephone" video. My friends and I took a gander last night, and we all agreed that it's pretty amazing. The nine minute masterpiece plays like a action-packed movie, complete with the over-the-top theatrics that we've come to expect from the pop powerhouse, Lady Gaga.

Chock full of product placement, the video serves as a walking advertisement for Lady Gag's own Heartbeats headphones, HP Envy Laptop, Miracle Whip, Diet Coke and Virgin Mobile, just to name a few. Seriously check out the video. It's crazy good.

My friends and I were talking about going to see Lady Gaga in concert. I missed her concert here in January. She's currently on tour overseas, but there's buzz that she'll be coming back to perform in the States soon. We may just do a weekend getaway and book a stay at one of Bluegreen's awesome resorts. I definitely want to check out some that I haven't been to, like Bluegreen Club 36 in Vegas and
Club La Pension in New Orleans.

10 Billion Strong and Growing!

The world of downloadable music has reached a milestone. Apple's iTunes has sold 10 Billion Tracks. Link to that site for a list of the all-time downloaded songs. Black Eyed Peas currently own the top spot with "I Gotta Feeling." I admit, I have that song, and boy, that was big last year. I remember adding it to every Music mix I would make for parties during the spring. I got sick of it, and lately I've been having a change of heart, adding it back to my workout "Power mix."

My music collection of 660 songs on my iPod is paltry compared to the rest of my generation. I remember my first year in college when I downloaded 100 songs from Napster, back when it was free. Gosh, so much time has passed and so many technological advances have surfaced. Obviously, Apple was light years ahead and fostered a keen ability to develop the next big thing.

Speaking of being in tune with what people want, Bluegreen always seems to be ahead of the curve. Whether it's building great resorts from the ground up in Orlando and Las Vegas, or annexing existing resorts in prime locations like New Orleans and Phoenix, Bluegreen remains at the forefront of the vacation industry.

And, this is just the beginning, which is the coolest part....

Carrie Underwood in Atlantic City

Continuing with the American Idol theme, country queen Carrie Underwood heads to Atlantic City for a March 19th performance at Boardwalk Hall. Her hit "Before He Cheats" was a huge pop music crossover hit. I really liked that song, though I hope no one ever comes up my car with a "Louisville slugger" with rage, taking out "both headlights." Yikes!!

Bluegreen at Atlantic Palace would be my choice for a great place to stay if I could get to this concert. The Atlantic city resort offers dazzling accommodations in the heart of the Atlantic City boardwalk. With Bluegreen in the mix, good times are a sure bet.

American Idol's Danny Gokey to perform in Myrtle Beach

Danny Gokey, one of the better contestants from American Idol is heading to Myrtle Beach on my birthday, April 2nd, for a performance at the House of Blues. I guess I am going to have to book a stay at one of our awesome Bluegreen resorts: Carolina Grande / Harbour Lights / SeaGlass Tower.

Check out Danny's performance last week on Idol...not too bad.

Michael Bublé's hot show down in Phoenix

Grammy award-winning singer Michael Bublé heads down to the Valley of the Sun on April 8th for a performance at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. Bublé has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. Check out Bublé's performance on Saturday Night Live a couple of months ago. For an awesome place to stay, Bluegreen owners need to check out Bluegreen's news resort, Cibola Vista Resort and Spa.

Blues Traveler at Culture Room

Calling all John Popper fans out there! Blues Traveler is coming to Fort Lauderdale's Culture Room on April 23 and 24th. For all of you Bluegreen owners staying at Solara Surfside, just hop on Route 95 and head north for a half hour to get to Culture Club. The venue is pretty cool, with an intimate setting where you can really feel the music. Should be a rockin' time...