Skip to main content

I'm On Vacate

With this crazy economy and money tight, I STILL manage to vacation at least once a week. I had a phone conversation with my sister the other day and we discussed the power of visual and scent or flavor triggers that make you relax. Pictures of tropical beaches that we love to set as our screen savers is a VERY good example. So today I'm going to touch on how and where I "vacate" every week. I'm also going to throw in a little bonus a la my sister.

1.) Key lime Pie Protein Smoothie: A protein shake recipe straight out of my favorite recipe book of all time, Eating For Life. Every time I taste this shake I'm whisked back to my visit to the Florida Keys a number of years back, enjoying the BEST key lime pie on earth! Every sip is a mini vacation. You can see from the pic that I milk this mini-vacate to the hilt, full-on with decorative palm tree drink stirrer... a frozen one at that! It extends my get-away a little without leaving my kitchen.

2.) Tea Time: I don't know what it is about a good cup of hot tea; and I'm quite partial to chai tea. Maybe it's the warmth or the exotic flavors, but does it really matter... it works. Instant vacation. PS. This one really only works to calm and sooth if you have your tea in a quiet room that is free of clutter. Trust me.

3.) My Bath: So EVERY week I take about a half hour to soak in a hot bath... but this is no ordinary bath. It's always a full tub of hot water with about 20 drops of essential oil (usually Rose Absolute or Lavender) coupled with an organic natural soap made with the same scent. I also burn incense with the matching fragrance and light candles for a relaxing glow. Talk about a sensory overload. Once a week my bathroom becomes a 5 star spa retreat. PSSST... I almost forgot the meditation music. It's quite a vacation get away.

BONUS

4.) So this next vacation get away is a little "iffy". While I completely agree that a tanning salon's sights and smells quickly move you to relaxation, the concern for your skin's health is of the utmost importance. So if you are like my sister and "vacate" to a tanning salon, please remember your sunscreen.... the coconut scented kind that will only add to the 20 minute vacation experience.
*
Bon Voyage vacationers! :)

Comments

Past 7 Days....

Maple Syrup vs. Honey

I did a post a while back about the nutritious sweetener for the lemonade on the Master Cleanse: maple syrup ! In fact, for quite some time now it has been my only sweetner (well, that and agave nectar... YUM!). But why maple syrup... isn't honey the magical sweetener? First, let's consider where both come from. One comes from a tree and the other comes from flowers, but is predigested and then regurgitated by a bee. Can you guess which is which??? hahahaha ! Really though, just the idea that an insect's already digested nectar from a flower lends to the idea that the nectar is already devoid of nutrients when it's vomited back up. Isn't that the whole point of digestion? To pull the nutrients from whatever it is you have ingested. So is it safe to say that honey is a bi product ? Or even a waste material? I would certainly call MY vomit a waste material... what about you? But beyond the gross visual I now have in my head of honey, I also have a real concern about ...

Curse You 21 Jumpstreet and Heed My Warnings

Ok, so I rented it and I loved it!!!  I hate that I loved it!  And I hate myself even more that I'm running out to buy it!  But watching this HILARIOUS movie remake reminds me of all the broken dreams and unanswered questions I was left with as a teenage girl while I manipulated and maneuvered my black and white TV antennae unavailingly to give me a clear picture of the hit Fox TV show. Back in 1987, Fox was a new station and did not come through very clearly on that trusty black and white and most nights it was as if my beloved Penhall was communicating to me from the other side through all that white noise.  Yes, I was in love with Officer Doug James Penhall and that teenage ritual would literally foreshadow the pain and heartbreak I would endure watching the end of 21 Jump Street the movie... and I'm STILL compelled to buy it.  If you haven't seen the movie yet, this post might come as a shock and should definitely be considered a spoiler for anyone readin...

I Love Being Hit By Mack Trucks

Ok, so my friend Cindy came over to play with all her new Stampin Up goodies.  When I first looked at the Yippee Skippee stamp set I fell in love with all but ONE stamp, "Never Underestimate The Power of Two"????  What the heck does that mean???  Is that supposed to be a "couples" stamp, like for Valentines or weddings or something?  I don't know, but when you apply that sentiment to alcohol, well..... Isn't it JUST so obvious how perfect this sentiment is?!?  I mean, it was like being hit with a Mack truck!  LOL!  Cindy and I were SOOOO proud of ourselves!!!  This card is AWESOME!!!!  We added the "or three" to the end realizing that it is just funnier that way!!!  We used a TON of Stampin Up goodies for this card: Inks and Papers - Crushed Curry, Calypso Coral, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Whisper White Stamp Sets - Yippee Skippy, Happy Hour Tools - Big Shot, Banners Framelits, Paper Piercer, Paper Piercing Mat Additional - Li...