Outlook Archives | Funky Texas Traveler

Nov 02 2018

8 stupidly-simple ways the Texas Fruitcake Queen built big success

Inside – the Texas Fruitcake Queen was an innovative farm wife who took eight simple steps to create success with a part-time business she started in her kitchen.

Gladys Farek was a wife and mother of six girls who held down the farm for her traveling salesman husband. She fed and cared for her daughters and the cattle, keeping their homestead functioning in Cistern, Texas (population 150).

And in her spare time, she became Texas’ fruitcake queen, appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and “The David Letterman Show.”

How did she do it? More importantly, what business and life lessons can you and I learn from Gladys?

Related Post: A Houston company built on a college morning-after hack

I met Gladys a few years ago at a country wedding outside of Schulenburg. She was the grandmother of the bride.

In the first 15 minutes with her, I knew all about Gladys’ Bakery, and her alter-ego as the Texas fruitcake queen.

Gladys was then 83 years old, but could easily pass for younger with her style and vivacity. She delighted in showing off her husband Jimmy like a newly-wed, even though they’ve been married three years.

I get the impression Gladys has had that same enthusiasm for every part of her life, a big key to her success. Here are the other keys: [Read more…]

Aug 22 2018

Smart Souvenir Shopping

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My idea of interesting and unusual travel souvenir ideas changed in the 70’s. I lived on South Padre Island and ended up at a party in a beach house owned ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.

I was standing in the kitchen of “The Pink”, as the house was known by local surfers, and was puzzling over an interesting cluster of framed designs.

“Fruit crate labels from all over the world,” someone answered who could have been Billy but I don’t remember (after all, it was the 70’s). What I do remember is thinking that collecting and framing labels was a very cool souvenir idea.

I don’t know about you, but souvenir shopping in traditional shops seems like a silly way to spend your money. Of course, you’ll catch me sometimes in a souvenir shop. It’s usually after I’ve had a few beers and think those mummified frogs playing poker are just too cute to resist. [Read more…]

Oct 19 2017

Breast Cancer. 5 steps to take before treatment

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You just joined the 1 in 8 sisterhood of women who get breast cancer. Before you head down your treatment road, here are five steps I discovered helped me mentally and financially.

To make your looming cancer journey a little less threatening now’s the time to compare this trip with something in your past that was initially unfamiliar but you quickly adjusted to. Maybe a new job or going to college far from home. For me, it was summer camp.

There are similarities between the way you felt as a kid when you got dropped off at summer camp the first time and the way you’ll feel entering a cancer center as a patient for that first appointment. Just like camp, you’ll be out of your comfort zone, make new friends, sometimes cry late at night, be embarrassed, disoriented, be required to do different things and have different things done to you. As a kid, you probably asked some of the older girls in the hood about what to expect at camp.

Consider me an older girl in the hood and this post an idea of what to expect at “cancer camp.” In addition to the five steps to get you started, here’s a link to exactly what I went through day by day in treatment. I’ve tried to be as complete as possible of the treatment post to help you feel more comfortable about you may be facing. That makes the entire story a long post. You can read the journey here when you are ready. Right now, I suggest looking over this list of things and actions that helped me most. [Read more…]

Aug 09 2017

Lifetime of fun at National Parks

Attention, seasoned (62 and over) campers! Do not let this deal get away. Until August 28, the lifetime National Park senior pass will cost $10. After that, this lifetime pass increases to $80!

If you are not 62 yet but travel with a favorite grandparent or other qualifying family member, drive them to the nearest national forest, park or wildlife reserve to grab their pass. You benefit too because their companions can also enter for the parks for free when the per vehicle fee is waved.

If it is a park that charges per person, this National Park senior pass will get the pass owner and three adults get in free. Since kids under 16 are always free, this is an incredible amount of fun for not much money.

Free lifetime entry with National Park senior pass

Even at $80, the lifetime National Park senior pass is sweet. We’re talking free day entrance and sometimes even discounted camping fee to great national park areas all across the USA. Grand Canyon – free! Denali National Park in Alaska – free! Alcatraz, Sequoia National Park, Everglades National Park, Mount Rushmore, Zion National Park and more – all entrance fee free! [Read more…]

May 26 2017

5 Road Trip Luxuries You Shouldn’t Travel Without

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I absolutely love everything about road trips – the adventure, the exposure to new places, even the monotony of long drives, heavy traffic or the panic of being lost. If you are a control-freak/type A personality like me, the traffic, detours or missed exits give us a much-needed reality check. And while I am a Funky Traveler who finds very high-end lodging and destinations boring and soul-less and you may like more decadent surroundings, here are the five Road Trip luxuries you shouldn’t travel without. These ARE in order of priority

#1 Road Trip Luxury – Coffee Kit

[Read more…]