May 26, 2009

We keep talking about how fast time flies, but it's true, isn't it? It seems like the school year just started yesterday and it's going to be June in just a few days! Seriously?

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, there is no doubt that Summer is right around the corner. The first day of Summer actually begins at 1:45 a.m. on June 21st and technically, Summer begins on June 20th at 10:45 p.m. in California. Yikes!

Depending on where you live, it may already feel like Summer. It does here in Southern California. Summer is my favorite season, but I'm just not ready for it yet! There's so much to do within the house and I'm already dreading the search to find professionals for various maintenance issues, especially with regards to the AC systems. One of my friends suggested that No Problem Heating and Cooling / AC Repair in Dardenne Prairie or other places might be a good choice as you can find all the details online. I'm still thinking if I should consult someone online or go in search of one.

I've been putting off the dreaded trip to the mall to look for a new swimsuit. I've been wearing suits that are old, faded, and stretched out just because I am NOT in the right frame of mind to go swimsuit shopping. I had hoped to have five pounds fall off of me first. It just hasn't quite worked out that way.

I told SirHoney that Memorial Day was our “last hoorah” and after that, it's time to get serious about trimming down a little for Summer. A friend of ours just told me over the weekend that she lost ten pounds in a week on the Cabbage Soup diet! Do I dare go down that path? Nope. Don't think so. First of all, it doesn't even seem possible to me to lose that much in a week, but even if you do, I'm sure you put it back on right when you start eating normal again.

Starting today, there are going to be some changes in our meal planning. Nothing too drastic and definitely ‘doable'. SirHoney had a doctor's appointment last week and due to slightly high blood pressure, his Dr. has advised him to go on the Dash Diet Eating Plan to see if he can lose five pounds in a month. I'm going to buy the Dash Diet Action Plan book from Amazon to make sure that I'm planning our meals accordingly. The Eating Plan has been proven to lower blood pressure in 14 days.

From the little I've read so far, the Eating Plan seems to be a lot like the Mediterranean Diet. Basically, it's whole grains, at least four servings of fruits and vegetables a day, nuts, low fat dairy and lean meat. This is how I try to plan most of my meals anyway, but the fact that his doctor has advised him to follow the plan, maybe he won't be inclined to cheat with a big fat Reuben sandwich or gigantic Porterhouse steak. He'll definitely have to try harder to get in the fruits and the veggies each day, but it's certainly worth the effort to avoid having to take medication.

Of course, at least 30 minutes of exercise a day would help him shed the pounds even quicker, but I've not been too successful in convincing him of that. I'm hoping to be back to my walking regime very soon so, hopefully, we'll both lose a few pounds and I can feel better about that swimsuit shopping trip.

~LilSis

March 8, 2009

Did we have spring break when we were kids? Waaayyy back when we were kids? I don't remember ever having a spring break; only 2 weeks at Christmas and a full 3 months of summer. Maybe we did have spring break, and I just forgot. Perhaps my memory lapse has something to do with all those brain cells I murdered unceremoniously in the 80s. Surely not.

At any rate, it seems like spring break season is in full swing in school districts around the country, and spring makes me think of summer which makes me think of vacation. I've heard on the news for a while that more people are doing the “staycation” thing, where they stay close to home and enjoy local attractions to save money in this treacherous economy. The same can't be said for expectant moms who are heading to Babymoon Destinations for one last adult only holiday.

But if you're going to take a real vacation, let me share this cool site I just heard about from my friend SA. It's vrbo.com, which stands for Vacation Rentals by Owner. Instead of paying exhorbitant hotel rates, this site allows you to search all over the world for condos, homes, apartments, villas, etc., that are offered for rent by the owners. I'm not planning a vacation, but I had a ton of fun browsing all of the homes available for rent. It was amazing to see how many there were, but it was even more fun to see all of the gorgeous homes for sale in the Caribbean. I couldn't stop myself from imagining being in a beautiful house in Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica, just enjoying myself, but that's just a dream for now. However, it doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to a little traveling. Someday (soon!) LilSis and I will take our dream trip to Greece and Italy, and this will be a great resource! Here are a few of the homes I found for rent:

• A luxury vacation log home in Wasilla, Alaska. Yep, the same Wasilla where Sarah Palin served as Mayor before she went on to become the Governor of the state. For $1300-$1800 per week, you get 3 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths, a cook's kitchen, wi-fi and cable in a woodsy setting.
• A condo on a private island on Lake Travis in the Hill Country of Texas. $109-$159 per night gets you 1 bedroom, 1 bath, a 42″ flat screen TV, views of the lake and marina, and access to tennis courts, fitness facilities, and hot tubs.
• A chalet on the peak of Mt. Kanimbla in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. Talk about an escape! For $365 Australian dollars per night (about $234 US), you get a one bath studio with a private hot tub, fireplace, and a kitchen stocked with food staples! And you're surrounded by the native wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies and eagles. Trust us, it is the most breath-taking scenery, sounds, smells. You won't regret it. Australia is a perfect place for road trips too, so if you're feeling adventurous, you could look up hiring a van to drive around in. Maybe you could go up to Brisbane. There are some great van rentals there too. Click here for more information.
  

  Australia Chalet

• A villa in the village of Kefalas on the Greek island of Crete. Check out the 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, private pool and equipped kitchen, all for 60 to 200 Euros per night (about $76 to $253 US).
• A penthouse apartment with a view of the Coliseum in Rome, Italy. This penthouse has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths on 2 levels, with a year-round terrace on the upper level. It'll run you 180 Euros per night ($228 US).
  

  View from Rome Penthouse

• A villa in Tramonte in the Lucca area of Tuscany, Italy. How about a 1600s antique villa with 4 floors, 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, a private pool, and an onsite caretaker? The property features an antique olive oil mill, fruit trees, olives, vines, forests, and horses. The rates start at 2380 Euros per week and go to 4760 Euros per week, depending on the season (about $3013 US to $6025 US per week).
  

  Tuscan Villa

  I'm ready to pack a suitcase, how about you? Once you get your rental reservations made, don't forget to check out the airfare deals available now! You can even use this private jet charter cost estimator if you want a bit of luxury!

~BigSis