Please Take Time Today To Thank A Veteran!

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

While I am grateful for all veterans who have served our great country, there is one man who stands out for me on these national days of rememberance and I wanted to pay homage to him in my blog

I met Sgt Clifton "Larry" Sutherland in 1997, both of us were embarking on our new careers at Boeing.   He quickly became a true friend and big brother to me.  

Larry served in the Air Force 822nd B Safe Side.  He was a Viet Nam Veteran and one of the proudest patriots I have ever met.   He passed away in 2002 on a visit to Washington D.C. where he had arranged a reunion with his brothers from the 822nd.  I have been told that Larry's last weekend on Earth was one of his happiest.  

I was hoping to find a cartoon that Larry drew for us prior to leaving for his trip to Washington DC.   It was sketched on a dry erase board in our office.   As I recall, it had a characture of himself with the Viet Nam War Memorial in the background with bold letters that said "All Gave Some, Some Gave All"  and a little note of  farewell.

The cartoon above is one of Larry's and there is a memorial site located here that warmed my heart when I came across it this week. 

Please take time today to say THANK YOU to the men and women who have given their lives to ensure our freedoms and to those who are currently serving our cause in the Middle East.

God Bless our Veterans!

Yes, I Do Think I Am SuperWoman! (Don't We All?)

"My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors." -Bette Midler

We realized today that there is no way that we are going to complete everything that we set out to do this weekend.   The plan was to clean up and reorganize three rooms:  The office, our son's bedroom and the master bedroom.

We think we might complete work in the office and the master, but my son's bedroom is going to have to wait until next weekend.  When I really think about it two rooms is a big accomplishment, but I am disappointed that it won't all be done.

It seems that I always get very ambitious before the weekend ( and because this is a 3 day weekend I was even more ambitious!)  Would you believe that I was also planning to bake some cookies to send to my son?  I was going to get a manicure too!  And do some reading and pull out my paints, throw out all unhealthy foods in our cupboards, bissel the area rugs, clean the bathrooms and stain the outdoor furniture...but lets face it, I am not superwoman!

I think it is best to plan for one realistic undertaking each day.  I also think it is important to take an inventory at the end of the weekend and give yourself a pat on the back for what you did accomplish and a "free pass" for anything that you didn't get done.

This weekend I am having to remind myself to appreciate what I can accomplish and let the rest go.  

Summer-izing Your Home

“Home is where you keep your stuff" - George Carlin

I am not a big fan of housework, but I am a big fan of having a tidy and comfortable home.  

We are cleaning house this weekend, moving furniture and doing our best to summer-ize despite part of our home being under renovation.  It really is our last opportunity to complete spring cleaning. 

How does one summer-ize their home?  I read somewhere that in summertime you should create more space by moving furniture further apart and leaving open spaces.  The open areas create a cooler, more carefree environment.  This makes sense when you consider advice from the same source suggests in winter you should do the opposite - pull furniture closer to create warmth and coziness.  

I am also pulling out my summer linens, some lavendar room spray and a few vases for flowers.

How do you summer-ize your home?

Rain, Rain Go Away....

The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It seems that ever since we returned from vacation, the weather here has been rainy and quite cold for May.   It rained a little when we were in Kauai, but rain in Kauai is refreshing...rain here at home is not..it is actually a bit depressing.

Rain is one of those things that you can do absolutely nothing about.   But you do have a choice to view it as depressing or refreshing.    You can wallow in the grayness and the wetness and the miserable coldness...Or you can be thankful that you have warm cozy shelter...a hot beverage and a good book...facebook, someone to curl up with.   I have found that rain makes the earth smell good.   It makes the flowers brighter.  It sounds wonderful as it hits the ground.    

The forecast this Memorial Day weekend sounds like it will bleak outside.   We had hoped to get into the garden, but instead we are going to get into our housework.   The forecast for inside our home is expected to be quite pleasant!

It is All About You!

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - Dr Seuss

What exactly is it about you that makes you so darn special?  

• Think of three things now. (IF you can't think of anything you can cheat and ask someone who loves you! Or you can make up something really awesome and just pretend you are all that today.)
• Be positive about how awesome you are!
• Be sure to flaunt these three things all day today.

Today is all about you!  (If this is a difficult idea to embrace today, justify it by promising to let tomorrow be all about someone else).  Here are a few small things you can do to celebrate your day:

• Be self-ish and say "no, thank you" if there is something you don't want to do
• Buy yourself a chocolat or a flower
• Treat yourself the same way that you would treat others (little hint: the golden rule.  big hint: the way you want to be treated)
• Give yourself space to breath
• Take a walk
• Eat something healthy - eat slowly and savor the flavor
• Tell someone you love them
• Get to bed early tonight

A Recipe for Great Skin

“What spirit is so empty and blind, that it cannot recognize the fact that the foot is more noble than the shoe, and skin more beautiful that the garment with which it is clothed?” - Michelangelo

I am not sure what it is about this little cocktail that makes my skin feel so fabulous, but I can promise you that you will notice an amazing difference in the the softness of your skin after trying this drink for just a day or two.  

The recipe is for a cranberry "fat flush" cocktail created by Anne Louise Gittleman.   It is high in fiber and a wonderful antioxidant for your liver and lymph system.  I encourage you to try 8oz in the morning when you get up and again before you go to sleep.    

It really is a very "spa-like" drink.   If you sit quietly for 15 minutes while you sip it, you can imagine you are actually at the day spa doing something very good for yourself.

Cranberry Fat Flush Cocktail

Ingredients:

• Unsweetened 100% Cranberry Juice (Knudsen's is my favorite)
• 1 tsp psyllium husk powder (I get this from health food section at Fred Meyer- I believe GNC has it as well) 
• Filtered Water
• Straw for sipping.

Directions:

• Put tsp of psyllium husk powder in small juice glass
• Add just enough cranberry juice to cover bottom of glass (about 3 TBSP)
• Fill the remaining 8oz glass with water (this is about a 1 cup serving)
• Stir well and give it a few minutes to set up before sipping through the straw.  

I personally cannot tolerate the bitterness of this drink if it is too thin.  If you wait for a few minutes, the psyllium will thicken the liquid a bit and it seems to take a bit of the bitterness out too.  

Do not add sugar and be sure that your cranberry juice is only cranberries and does not contain added sweetners or juices.   If the taste is too bitter for you, or you don't like the texture- adjust the water to cranberry juice ratio to taste and drink it immediately after mixing.

Try it and let me know what you think!

A Little Self Care Girl Aloha Give Away!

“How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will” - Albert Einstein

Our vacation to Kauai was absolutely perfect for us- it was truely the peaceful and relaxing holiday that our souls had been craving!

We spent a little time by the pool, one glorious afternoon, exploring the important idea of how to maintain and create a little more peace and tranquility in our lives back home.   A trip to Kauai is an indulgence, afterall, and not a practical solution to the everyday stressors of life.  Certainly, we cannot rush back to Kauai everytime we have to deal with someone or something unpleasant (but wouldn't it be cool if we could?) 

One thought Mr Self Care and I came up with was to bring some Aloha back with us. 

The best definition that I have heard for "Aloha" is:  "to identify within others the same 'breath of life' that we see within ourselves".   Yes, "Aloha" is a greeting and a word of departure, but it also conveys a soulfullness; love; grace, empathy, community.   I believe these are the ingredients for peace, don't you?

I thought that it might be both fun and inspiring to pose this same question to you:  What is your best self care advice for maintaining and creating peace and Aloha in your life?  


Respond to the question (follow instructions below) and you will be entered in a drawing for a special Hawaiian-themed self-care package we put together from our trip!  (I will put together and post a picture of the contents of this prize soon!)

Here is how to participate in 3 easy steps:

1. Visit Self Care Girl on Facebook and become a fan!
2. From the Self Care Girl Facebook page find the "Discussions" tab (Official Give Away question and details are included there).
3. Respond to the Discussion question with your best self care advice and I will enter your name in the drawing for the Aloha Self Care Package. 

Each person who responds to the Giveaway Discussion post will get 1 entry into the drawing.  The winner will be selected by drawing and notified on Saturday, May 29, 2010.

Kauai Day 8: Time to say Aloha and Mahalo

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” - Dr Seuss

We decided to maximize our Kauai visit by taking a red-eye flight home.   We will not do this again.   There is a correlation between sleep deprivation and airplane. Nothing worse than being so very tired and not being able to satisfy that basic need.

My son flew in 3 hours after we got home.  The plan was to stick around at the airport until he arrived so we could save ourselves the 1 hour commute to the airport.  This also was a bad idea (although I am so happy to see my baby!)  We were very tired when we flew in and by the time we finally got to drive home we were both exhausted.   

I took a nap and Mr Self Care...well, I am not sure what he was doing because I was napping.   Sleep was the best decision I made all day. 

Ultimately there was not going to be an easy way to end our holiday.   We have promised ourselves that we will return soon- there is some consolation in that.  Kauai has made an indelible mark upon us.    This vacation was exactly what we needed.

Kauai Day 7: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

“The world is full of abundance and opportunity, but far too many people come to the fountain of life with a sieve instead of a tank car… a teaspoon instead of a steam shovel. They expect little and as a result they get little.” -Ben Sweetland

I am not looking for sympathy here....but I think I am ready now to come back down to earth.    Kauai has been just what we needed; an opportunity to unwind, regroup, de-stress, contemplate where we are and where we are going.   It has also been an overindulgence- of sun, of rich gourmet food, of luxury.  We went out for dinner last night and the food was beautiful and so delicious, but I had this overwhelming desire to escape down the beach for a hot dog and the sunset.  

No regrets.  As stated in the quote above,  I believe that Mr Self Care and I did come to Kauai equipped with the "tank car" and the "steam shovel" ready to enjoy this life to its fullest.  (We had to pay Hawaiian Airlines extra for the privelege of bringing suitcases on the plane, afterall -LOL). 

But I believe that Mr Sweetland is missing an important piece here.   Some moderation is always a good idea.     Give me a "teaspoon" and let me take just the little bit that I need.  Give me a "sieve" and let me sort out that which is necessary for me.

Kauai Day 6: Another Day At The Beach

“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea.” - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Today, we discovered the joys of snorkling.   My only regret is that we didn't do this earlier in the week because it is our new favorite thing.  

In front of our hotel is pink sand and a wonderful coral reef.  We had been playing in the surf daily but never realized what amazing creatures were swimming around us.    (This was probably a good thing since the idea of swimming with things I can't see kind of creeps me out).

If you have never snorkled before, here is the deal:   You need goggles and an air pipe- which my husband calls the "snorkle" (I do not know if that is truely the name for it, but we will go with that).   The goggles allow you to see clearly, the snorkle allows you to breath through your mouth for long periods so you can keep your face in the water and watch the fish.   It is also a good idea to have fins or aqua socks.  Coral is sharp and these will protect your feet.

From the minute we stuck our faces in the water, we were seeing amazing tropical fish in shades of yellow, blues, red and rainbow.   Salt water makes you buoyant, so it is very effortless to just lay on top of the waves and meditate on the fish.   They come right up to you but never touch you.   

So far I haven't seen anything too scary.   I am not sure what I will do if I happen upon a shark or an eel.   That will definately put an end to my snorkling passion.   I am told that we will be fine if we stay close to shore and away from big groupings of coral.  

At any rate, we have decided that we will spend Day 7 on the beach...or, rather, in the sea with the fish.  

Aloha!

Needs versus Wants

“You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need” - The Rolling Stones

I had a great conversation with a native Hawaiian today.   Maya works at the hotel and was born on Oahu.  We talked about the best and worst parts of living in Hawaii.   She cited the cost of living as being one of the biggest challenges facing most Hawaiians.   This is something we hear daily in our conversations with the locals.

Maya added a little thought-provoking gem, though; something that I think we all know, but sometimes need to be reminded of : your quality of life on the islands (or anywhere) depends on what you value, and people can have very different ideas about what they need versus what they want.

According to Maya, you only really need a shelter, a few clothes, food and gas to get around.  The car you drive and the clothes you wear don't need to be fancy in Hawaii.   If you focus on what you need - life in Hawaii is not so unaffordable.  The beaches are free, the sunshine is plentiful, the ocean is cheap therapy.

I think that philosophy is one we can easily carry home with us.   Many times Mr Self Care and I do ask ourselves if something is a "want" or a "need", but sometimes we just procure stuff without considering which catagory it falls under.   We live in a society that makes it very easy to get everything that we want immediately.   American Express or Master Card it....90 days interest free and no payments...we will take one of these and one of those too!    

The satisfaction that buying provides is short lived though.  Just time yourself next time you buy something that you absolutely felt you must have!  How long before the excitement of your purchase wears off?  It probably depends on a number of variables:  the item, and how much you spent, how often you use it, how long you waited for it, nostalgia- but invariably no thing you purchase maintains its "awe" factor forever. 

I think this perspective is valuable.   Things clutter our lives and bog us down.  The more you have the harder it is to keep your house cleaned.  Things create stress....things take up valuable space....

So what can you do without?   If you were planning to move to a new life in the islands what would you take with you?   What would you leave behind?   

Kauai Day 5: It Doesn't Feel Like 5 Days

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” -Albert Einstein

Just a short post today.

We took a leisurely drive up to Hanalei today.  There are some beautiful beaches on this island!

Our touring took most of the day.   We stopped at a few markets.   Bought some shaved ice.   Gazed in awe at the scenery.   Just really enjoyed our day together. 

Tomorrow we are going to spend the day at the beach.      I am feeling so relaxed I do not want it to end.

Kauai Day 4: We Only Left The Pool To Get Ice Cream For Dinner

“I don't approve of sunbathing, and it's bad for you.” - David Attenborough

I disagree with David Attenborough. We sunbathed all day today and I don't think I could have given a better gift to my soul!   A pitcher of ice water, an umbrella, a saltwater pool and some SPF 45 and there is absolutely nothing wrong with spending the day soaking up rays by the pool! (and we didn't get sunburned either)

We stopped our sun worshipping only to drive to the Plantation Mall (this has a name, but neither of us can remember it or pronounce it).   There is a Lapperts Ice Cream shop there, and as far as we know, there is a law against taking your clothes off on the beach, but no law exists here that says you can't have ice cream for dinner.  (No Laws were broken- we swear!)

Not much to report today.   Just a very sunny and warm day in Kauai.  We are happy and sunkissed and feel very blessed to be here.

Aloha!

Sweet Dreams!

“You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'” - George Bernard Shaw

We are definately not the first to visit Kauai and spend our time on the beach scheming about how we could transplant ourselves here permanently.   

Mr Self Care surprised me at the beach yesterday with a stack of real estate brochures, "there you go," he said, "find us someplace to live". 

It appears that Kauai was not spared the real estate downturn.  There were many short sales and bank REOs available.   I think there may not be anything more sad than to realize your dream of moving to the island and then to have it taken from you.

We have spoken to many people who live here and we have heard repeatedly that it is so expensive to live here.   More than one has told us that they work three part time jobs.   I am, first, inspired by them- to fulfill their dream of staying here at all costs -and then I wonder about their quality of life:  How much leisure time can they possibly have when they need to work three jobs to stay here?

Often since we arrived, we have heard different hotel staff rave about their morning surfing or kayaking excursion.   More than one has conveyed their plans for hitting the beach and some waves after their shift.   We have not met a single resident here, who was not friendly and upbeat - in fact, the Kauai transplants all seem to have a glazed over, dreamy quality to them.   (or maybe we have all had too much sun?)

Dreaming is a condition that we can presume is unique to being human.   We all have dreams, we just don't all follow them.   We have fears, too, of the unknown, of failing....and responsibilities: children, parents, people who count on us, jobs, established homes, paths we have already found ourselves on...there are many things to stop us from taking a risk and following our passions and feeding our souls.

I do not want to be in the catagory of those who dream big, but don't act.

10 steps toward  following one's dreams:

1. Dream big, colorful, impossible dreams!
2. Write it down.   People who write down their goals and dreams are much more likely to realize them!
3. Put together a plan.   Mr Self Care and I have 1, 2, 5 and 10 year plans.   These are not written in stone-we commit to making the plan happen as best as we can, but understand that life throws curves and we sometimes change our minds about the details and what is important (that is okay!)
4. Act.   Sometimes this means sacrificing and delaying gratification.  Eye on the goal!  Feet on the ground-moving toward it!
5. Have an exit strategy.   This is the best way to deal with your fears.   A Plan B and an answer to "what is the worst thing that can happen?" can allay your worst nightmares.  You may even find that the worst thing that can happen is to not try at all!
6. Show gratitude for what you have. 
7. Encourage others to dream big too.   Then show them how it is done.
8. Take time to reflect and appreciate your accomplishments.   We have all heard that success is a journey and not a destination.  I do not completely agree.   Give yourself time to fully absorb your accomplishment before jumping into the next dream pursuit.   This can be more difficult than you think- once you get on a role of making things happen in your life it is difficult to pause!
9. If you fail - and you may do this several times along the way:  Regroup and begin again. 
10. Do not let anyone tell you that your dreams are unrealistic.   All dreams become real when you act on them.  Use their negativity to fuel your resolve.  These naysayers need just examples set for them.  It is up to you to change thier mind!

 Sweet Dreams!

Kauai Day 3: Shopping & Tour of East Coast

“Hawaii has always been a very pivotal role in the Pacific. It is in the Pacific. It is a part of the United States that is an island that is right here.” - Dan Quayle

Day 3 on Kauai, we took a drive up the east coast and stopped in at the Kauai Coffee Plantation.   Apart from coffee plants, the plantation has wonderful sweet scented plumaria and other interesting tropical plants abound.   Mr Self Care took some great shots.  

This is the road from our hotel at Poipu Beach up to the main highway.  The cyprus trees form a canopy that covers the roadway for miles.

We were told that the Kauai Coffee Plantation was a must-see.  It was interesting and the coffee sampling was very nice.   The tour of the plantation orchard was self-guided.

My personal barista, Mr Self Care (aka: Juan Valdez), has discovered that there are indeed coffee beans in this here plantation.   We were surprised to learn that, left unattended, these bushes could grow into 100 foot trees!

I took a picture of these bushes because I was so impressed by the colors.  The photo doesn't really do it justice.  The plant is bright yellow and red and orange and green.  It looks like a hodge-podge of 3 different plants. 

Mr Self Care took this great shot of plumaria, while I was busy inhaling the plumaria blossoms.  The scent of these was slightly lemony.   Found a flower on the ground and wore it behind my ear for the rest of the afternoon.   These do not look real!  (Gorgeous!)

I think this one is called a "bottle brush" but I am not sure.   We thought it was unique, so snapped a picture of it.

And then we have a delightful "bird of paradise" flower.   This one is on its last leg, but I have always found this plant appealing.

After drinking our fill of coffee, we got back on the road and headed up the coast.   You cannot drive around the whole island, but you can almost get to the NaPali Coast before the road ends.     When the pavement ended, we turned around and drove back toward our hotel.  

We stopped at Koloa Town and walked around the shops there.   We ate lunch at the Shrimp Station  and then headed back to a new mall at Poipu Beach.  The mall is so new that there are only a few restaurants and shops open- it is a very upscale place.   We were very impressed by the "living foods" market place.   It is a grocery store/coffee shop/deli.   Picked up some more suntan lotion and decided that we might come back tomorrow to get cheese and salad items for a nice lite dinner.

It was pretty warm out, by the time we finished shopping we were really ready for a dip in the pool and ocean..   We are planning to spend tomorrow on the beach with snorkle gear.

Kauai Day 2: A Quiet Day of R&R at the Hotel

“As I gaze upon the sea! All the old romantic legends, all my dreams, come back to me.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Woke up our first day in Kauai and had an espresso (another "perk" at this hotel: espresso machines in every room) and sat out on the Lanai watching the waves.  

Also included in our stay is daily breakfast at Red Salt.   Mr S.C had the eggs benedict and I had the pancake souffle...

The souffle pancakes were incredibly light and fluffy- not heavy at all- served with bits of pineapple, creme fraise and both maple and guava syrup.

The agenda for today:  Beach and Pool time.  We decided after a long day travelling yesterday that a little R&R at the hotel was in order.  Here is the beach in front of our hotel.  The sand is pink...the water is turquoise...the mood is: Aloha

Getting my feet wet:

Mr Self Care hangs 10 (lost his board apparently) :

The pool where we spent most of the day - Goal: do not get too drunk or too sunburned on the first day.

I had a wonderful roasted beet salad from the pool bar...pistachios, blue cheese crouquets and a mustardy vinigarette...

Mr S.C. had the turkey panini.  He wasn't very impressed with it.  (However a very buff guy at the bar strongly recommended it - we figured it did probably taste better than the protein shakes that  presumedly were a staple of Mr Universe's diet)

I took a quick SPA break after lunch.   My lower back was really playing up after sitting so long on the airplane yesterday.    This was not a relaxing massage at all!  It was a painful deep tissue torture session.   But I did feel better afterwards.

I had an interesting Macadamia nut liqueur and Kahlua coffee drink to console myself (sadly I drank it so fast that we didn't photograph it...but I am sure we will have another opportunity soon)

We ventured out of the hotel for dinner at Brennecke's Beach Broiler- the place looks quite casual, open air seating which overlooks a popular ocean front park.  The dinner menu was small, but the range of food was impressive   I opted for the Kahlua Pork Nachos, which were very casual faire....(RECOMMEND!)

My Better Half enjoyed a more upscale entree,  a ginger crusted Opah (which he said was "quite nice")

Spending the day at the ocean and pool was just ticket for us.  Our itinery for Day 3:  Shopping and the Kauai Coffee Plantation.  Stay Tuned!

Kauai Day 1: Aloha from Kauai!

“A day without Aloha is just another mainland day.” - Buck Buchanan

Mr Self Care and I spent the entire first day of our vacation travelling.  We left home at 5am (Seattle time) and arrived our hotel in Kauai via Honolulu at 3pm (6pm Seattle time).   Needless to say, we were pretty tired, but thrilled to be here. 

We love the Koa Kea Resort!  It is a small "secret" hotel on the beach, with a fabulous staff and the best restaurant on the island, Red Salt.   We like that it is just peaceful and kid free (nothing against the kidlets-but we are romancin' here)

A few pictures of the hotel:   The pool from our room, the bed from our room, and the ocean.... from our room...

 If you know me at all...you know that I am passionate about good food.   Last night we ate at Red Salt.   This restaurant is at our hotel and it has been touted as the best on the island.   The executive chef was trained at El Bulli in Spain (the #1 restaurant in the world.)  This was the highlight of our day yesterday.

We started dinner with some bread.  It was served with unsalted butter and famous Kauai Red Salt  (Kauai soil is red clay, the beaches are pink because of this and the salt is invariably red too).   Because there was no other salt available at the time for me to compare it with, I can only describe it as tasting a lot like salt.   I may have detected a hint of earthiness about it, but the fact of the matter is it's just prettier than table salt.

I am a very big fan of amuse bouche- this is a french invention meaning "mouth teaser"- it consists of a single beautiful morsel, often served in a spoon like this one:  crab seviche in a cherry tomato cup (this looks bigger, but it is the size of a cherry tomato)....

For an appetizer,  I selected the special scallop wrapped in duck proscuitto and served with a mango -carrot vinegarette.   Mr Self Care had the mushroom soup- in a coconut milk broth.  Yummy.

For entrees, Mr S.C. selected the vanilla seared mahi mahi, and I chose a 7-spice seared ahi

That frothy goodness is what the chef refers to as 'coconut cloud'.  It reminded Mr Self Care and I of our dining experience at the Herb Farm in Woodinville where we were presented with a very similar looking (but not nearly as pleasant) cup of sea urchin froth.  Coconut cloud is frothy coconut milk.   Much tastier.

We skipped dessert - I am sure we will have some before we leave.   As much as I am just wanting to indulge at every turn, I also feel compelled to pace myself.    

I am thinking that I might need to find myself a mu'u mu'u if tonight was any indication of how the rest of this week is going to go!

Aloha!

Bon Voyage!

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

As you are reading this- I am probably in the air on my way to the Kaua'i.   (Yey!)

I decided to bring my lap top on this vacation so that I can journal (via self care girl) our wonderful adventures in paradise. 

So come on along!  Did you think I would just leave all of my favorite facebook fans behind this trip?  I may not have been able to fit you all in my bag ( I did try- but I am a notorious over-packer!), but certainly we can take advantage of our current technologies to bring a little bit of the islands to you. 

If you are someone who travels extensively and are looking to learn more about Kaua'i,  I hope that I can provide you some good suggestions.

If you are someone who would love to travel, but feel you haven't got the means to do this.  I hope to provide you some inspiration.   Travel is important to Mr Self Care and I.  We prioritize and set money aside for it each year.   If you want to go somewhere, set your mind on it, plan for it and just do it. 

I will try to post something each day! 

Vacations are good self care!

People Who Touched My Life This Week...

“Life's truest happiness is found in friendships we make along the way.”

Thank God Its Friday!  I have a bit of writer's block today.    So glad I made it through this week that I can barely conjur up a good discussion.   I think it is best when all else ecapes you, to just take a moment and show gratitude.  

No matter what happened this week, I am sure there were people who made your week memorable.

A few highlighted people in my life this week (this is by no means an exhaustive list) :

• Started with a pedicure and manicure.  Toy, at Gold Nails, was so sweet and she is an artiste!
• My son skyped me on Mother's Day, it was so good to see his face (even with a few scratches from falling off of his bike)
• My dear husband has been putting up with my packing and unpacking all week!  We sat out on the deck and ate pizza the other night and talked about our trip.
• My best friend, Mel, brought home Coronas and lime on Tuesday and tonight we went walking down by the river this evening.  I am so glad she has moved closer! 
• My friend and mentor, Keith, brought me chocolate covered Macadamia nuts and listened while I grumbled about work.   He always makes me feel so capable!
• Crystal, Dana, Michelle, P.J. Mom....thank you for lending me an ear!

I really am blessed by so many great friends! Your kindness and support means the world to me.  Thank you!

Destination: RELAXATION

“Vacation is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer.”

On Saturday morning we are headed to Kauai for a week.  

This is timely, because I can hardly stand the thought of another day at work.  I don't know if it is just because a vacation is looming, or if I really do need to change my job soon, but I am pretty much done this week.

Certainly, we will be in a much better frame of mind for sorting out such things when we return.

Mr Self Care was eager to book up everything that we want to do, until I suggested that doing "absolutely nothing" might be a better plan for this trip.    He is very willing to accomodate this, and we will be spontaneous whenever the mood strikes.   Sometimes not planning everything is best.  

This trip I am only planning a few little things (in no particular order):

• a little pool time
• a little beach time
• a little sunshine
• a little drink with a little umbrella in it
• a little reading
• a little nap
• a little bit of pineapple

...And only a few big things:

• A lot of rest
• A lot of sunblock
• A lot of time alone with Mr S.C.

It is going to be heavenly!

A Little Spring In Your Step...

"What a wonderful beautiful thing, to wiggle your toes." ~ Dalton Trumbo

I had my third pedicure of the season over the weekend...a little Mother's Day treat for my toes!  I confess that this is starting to become a bit of an addiction for me.   There is just something fabulous about being treated (or treating yourself) to pretty toes.

There is a salon down the street from my home that has the massage chairs with those whirlpool pedi pools.    For $20 I got a full foot massage, complete toe to heel tune up and clean up and a shiny plum colored paint job.   Such a bargain!  The whole process took just less than an hour, but the spring it put in my step will linger for weeks! 

If you haven't had a pedicure before, I encourage you to try it- Pedicures are extremely good self-care! You can pick out a color that makes you happy and when they are done with your ten toe makeover,  you will just feel pretty and ready for some flip flops.

If you are not new to pedicures, but haven't indulged yourself yet this year:  What are you waiting for?   Sandal season is upon us, Ladies!  

Reasons for getting a Pedicure:

1. You just have to take care of your feet!  You rely upon feet to get you around, it is important to keep them healthy.  Pedicures are essential for good foot health.
2. Summer.
3. A million colors of polish with the most creative names are waiting to be sifted through- someone went to all that trouble to identify the shades- the least you can do is put them to good use!
4. Sandals, flip flops, or just walking around barefoot...pretty toes can make any outfit fancier.
5. You deserve it.
6. It is affordable.
7. It is a great excuse to get the girl's together for an outing.
8. It will make you happy
9. It helps the economy
10. Its just plain old good self care!

I implore you to make your appointment today!   Grab a friend and encourage her to do a little self care too!