The Millennial Me Cave

Having spent the majority of my younger years involved in some form of sports team or athletics program, the  foundation of guilt for not working out had already been laid.  Throughout my college and even into my adult, post college days, I had managed to bounce in and out of gyms and work out routines.  I’d work out just enough to lose the water weight, then I’d fall right back into my old ways and the workout routines would fall back to the waysides.

It wasn’t until I had my daughter, and I started having to divide my time into two, and I realized just how much I had valued that hour or two a day sweating out my frustrations on the treadmill, or breathing out the bad and inhaling in the good, surrounded by a room of sweaty strangers.  I realized that my need for “me time” wasn’t just something you read about in those girly magazines at the grocery store.  It was a real thing, and my struggle had become very real.

Finding ways to incorporate your own form of me time is different for everyone.  For me, me time could fall under an outing with the girls, a few hours at the gym sweating out my daily failures, or very simply enjoying a restroom break without having a whining six year old clawing at my sleeve like Sméagol reaching for his precious.  Yes, it really happens.  Me time has never sounded so good.

The most important part of any me time experience? Be there in that very moment.  This may sound a bit crazy, but when you go to the gym or are taking time out to spend with your friends, put the cellphone away! Very simply, I have found that when the phones stay inside our pockets, the conversations are better, the experienced is remembered more and the time spent there became that much more valuable to me.

Second, enlist your friends in the fight! Schedule the time, put it in your calendar and make it as important as you standing Game of Thrones dates with HBO.  Trust me, they created HBOGo for a reason… so you can GO and do more than just sit in front of your TV screen. Live a little.  Khaleesi will understand.

Third, change a few daily habits to allow for you to become more of a priority.  I learned to be a morning person.  This was not an easy choice for me being as my entire life has always been between the hours of 9:00 pm and 3:00am. But learning to be an early riser has literally changed my life.  Having realized that my creative juices flow in the early hours of the day, I used to try to stay awake to piggyback off of my peak hours.  Instead, I have learned to just wake up at those times, which yes, requires me to get to bed a lot earlier than I normally had, but the alertness and creativity I experience after having just woken up from a full nights rest has won me over time and again.

Lastly, simplify things.  Learn to say no, try not to overbook yourself, and remember that me time doesn’t have to be a big production.  Just remember to find gratitude in all that you do.  Even when you are hiding in that broom closet devouring the last chips ahoy cookie, knowing that you don’t have to share it with your kids.

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For the Weekend Wanderlusts of the World

Weekend Wanderlust Warriors

If you are like me, my head begins to think of the weekend right about Wednesday afternoon.  As soon as the mid-day meal begins to sink deep into the belly, my mind will begin to drift to where I would much rather be at that moment.   That usually involves me, my car and the open road.

Being a parent of a six year old, the ability to just “get up and go” has become a thing of the past, but what I have been able to do is create “adventure days” and have become an avid Weekend Warrior. 

What does that mean?  Very simply, I have learned to tap into my inner gypsy and utilize my weekends for exploration and travel.  

Being able to travel by car allows for me to bring my daughter along, as well as every favorite toy she swears she’ll need while away for those two days.  The added convenience of ample storage space, a wicked stereo system and full blue-tooth connection for my phone allows me to stay connected and prepared for life's emergencies, while enjoying the much needed disconnection I strive for. 

You don’t have to travel by plane to experience luxury while enjoying stunning views that would wow even the most avid of Instagram users.  To satisfy my need for extravagance, I have found a few locations that have been able to entice the likes of even the Teslas' of the world to “unplug” for a weekend.   If it’s good enough for Mr. Tesla, it’s good enough for me.

First on the list, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay.  From sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean to the dramatic cliffs that the resort is housed upon, to the hotel resident golf course and exclusive in-house culinary adventure at the hotel restaurants you can’t help but feel a bit posh just by walking through the hotels entryway. 

If you are more of a foodie than a golfer, The Epiphany Hotel hosts lofty ceilings with full-height sliding glass doors and spacious verandas.  For you night life, they provide two signature restaurants that provide atmosphere and indulgence to wow all five of the senses.  A must try for all city slickers. 

These are just a couple of locations that I've gotten to experience, but there are so many more to choose from, and all within driving distance from the heart of San Francisco.   To see photos or to make reservations at these or one of the many remarkable locations available to you, click on the below link:

http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Staycations-of-the-tech-elite-6266118.php