My kids started school today.  Although we will miss the lazy days of summer, they were ready for school to begin and so was I.  Maybe it is because I didn’t have much time out of graduate school before I got married and had kids, but I tend to measure time by the school year rather than the calendar year.  So the end of August/beginning of September is really like the start of a new year–So exciting!  So full of promise!   I can’t wait to sit down with my iCal and plan out a great year for myself.   Maybe I’ll even wander into Staples or Target and pick up a new notebook and pen.

My husband and I both take the kids to school on the first day and walk the youngest into the classroom.  And as always I take photos.  I have always done this; it is tradition.  My daughter happily smiled outside of school and inside the class room as well.  She’s an old pro in 2nd grade now, so we didn’t hang out too long, just long enough to get her settled and take a few shots.

Check out her cool new lunchbox from Lunchboxes.com

On the other hand, this is a photo of my son:

For the first time ever, he refused to let me take his photo on the first day of school.   Today is his first day of high school and I was trying to be sensitive by asking to take the photo in the parking lot with no one remotely nearby.   He willingly gave me a hug and kiss, but he was adamant about not being photographed.   My husband tried to hold his lunchbox hostage until he took the photo, but I told him to give up the lunchbox and let the boy go.  It was a bittersweet start of the new school year.  Let the boy go….I think that we will be doing so much more of that now.

As he walked away, I turned around so he wouldn’t see me cry.

Stepping off the plane, New Mexico was a shock to our senses.  Immediately we noticed the clean, fresh smog-free air.  The weather was sunny and warm, but not humid and stifling like in Atlanta.  And the sky….we could see for miles!  My kids could really play the game “what shape is that cloud;” something that is hard to do living in a city like we do.  The architecture also was different from anywhere else that we had been, starting with the airport and continuing into Santa Fe.  Driving around Santa Fe’s commercial district we were surprised to see familiar stores looking very un-familiar as adobe buildings.  We screamed out the window and pointed: “adobe McDonald’s, adobe IHOP, adobe Starbucks, adobe Target!”  Once we left the commercial area, all we saw was desert–which we expected—but as it gave way to tress and mountains the higher in elevation we climbed, that was less expected.   All of it was beautiful and so different from the canopy of trees that makes up Atlanta’s landscape.

We vacationed in New Mexico because we were fortunate to be invited to Jane Fonda’s ranch, which has quite an interesting history.  Besides Jane, our housemates were her daughter, grandchildren and their father.  And I can’t forget Jane’s constant companion, Tulea.

The house is amazingly beautiful.  Built in a traditional adobe style, it is very spacious with soaring ceilings and an open floor plan.  Rustic wood beams and doors, brick floors, and traditional New Mexican features like silver and inlaid wood make the house a spectacular showpiece, but it is also warm and inviting.  All the furnishings are beautiful, but completely comfortable.  Everything about the house is wonderful, but my favorite part is the art—it’s everywhere and outstanding.  It was so special being surrounded by such beauty everywhere I turned.

I love this bed on the back porch!

Everyone in the house ate dinner together every night (delicious meals prepared by Jane’s chef Sandra), but during the day we did whatever we wanted to.  Jane exercised every morning for over 2 hours (she is in incredible shape) and then spent the rest of the day writing her new book.   The rest of us hung around the house reading, talking, watching movies, playing board games and swimming.

That is, when we weren’t exploring the ranch’s absolutely breathtaking 3,000 acres: mountains, canyons, trees, desert and the Pecos River.  Although we hiked arroyos, mesas and caynons, driving an ATV was the preferred method of getting around the property.  Jane’s dog Tulea is never left behind when she’s on the ATV; she has a dog carrier strapped on the front and Tulea seems to love it.   There was plenty of fishing in the river too.  Jane is quite a fisherman herself and has worked hard to make sure that the river is full of trout; consequently all fish that are caught must be released. The one thing I was afraid of, rattlesnakes, didn’t show themselves to us (thank God!), even though we climbed rocks and I knew that they were always nearby, as well as coyotes and bears.  The family tells quite a harrowing story about a bear breaking into Jane’s bedroom a few years ago—while she was in there!  I’m glad he didn’t repeat his performance.   And while we heard the coyotes at night and caught fish, the only other wildlife we saw was a prairie dog on the sidewalk in Santa Fe.

However, I did get quite a scare when I let my son drive me on the ATV.  Truthfully, he was a good driver, but it was very disconcerting to have him be in control of a large piece of machinery propelling us both through space.  I think I got a glimpse of what I have to look forward to in 15 months when he starts learning how to drive a car.

I love horses, so I was happy to have the opportunity to ride one of the 9 horses at the ranch.  I rode Jane’s horse, a beautiful Arabian named Gitan, who was always trying to be the leader of the pack.   On our second day of riding, we rode up to a mesa that provided an incredible view of the valley and river below.

The barn.  Look at those clouds!

We are very high on a mesa.  Can you see the valley below?

We went into Santa Fe a couple of times and had lunch at Cowgirl BBQ (home of the world famous ice cream potato) and the historic La Fonda Hotel.  We walked around Santa Fe plaza, toured St. Francis Cathedral and shopped a bit.  I was in heaven when I found Overland and their downstairs full of UGG boots.  We had fun trying on cowboy hats and my son bought a really cool leather Indiana Jones-type of hat.  That boy looks good in hats! (He takes after his mama in that respect.)

At Cowgirl BBQ: it looks like a baked potato, but it’s all ice cream!

Inside St. Francis Cathedral

Santa Fe Plaza

Downstairs in Overland….UGG heaven!

We are being silly trying on hats.

Another afternoon we went to a local “store” (I use this term lightly because it was more of a auto shop garage/sometimes store—if their was someone there to let you in) recommended by Jane for their custom-made leather and silver items.  It was quite an adventure of local flavor, but Jane was correct; we found a beautiful necklace made with beads from the 1800’s.   This was the perfect gift for our friend who had been watching Chili Dawg during our vacation.

The “store”

Our last day in New Mexico came all too soon.  While we were anxious to get home to see Chili Dawg and prepare for the start of a new school year, we didn’t want to leave New Mexico.  What was first a shock to our senses—the big open sky, low adobe architecture, vast open land and wilderness—quickly became our preferred view.  It’s no wonder that Jane is able to do all that she does (and she never stop moving) with such a wonderful place to go replenish and refresh herself.

I recently spent 3 nights at the Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne, Florida.  As I have posted before, my family has enjoyed a couple of different Ritz-Carlton resorts over the last year, but this was my first time at this particular location.

Did you know that you can book vacation packages on the Ritz-Carlton website?  I booked my flight and hotel as a package for considerably less than if I had bought them separately.  The only drawback to this arrangement is that the reservation is paid in full at the time of booking and is non-refundable (however, travel insurance is an available option for purchase).  I was emailed my travel documents; it was all very straightforward and easy.

A short flight from Atlanta, a 30 minute taxi ride from Miami International Airport, and I was in Key Biscayne in no time.  Check-in was not so pleasant as my room was not ready (at 4:00 p.m.) and the desk clerk seemed confused and unsure about her duties, but at least my wait was nice in the opulent hotel lobby.

Finally I made it to my room and while it was very nice and newly renovated, it was small and dark; I wouldn’t be spending much time in this room.  No matter, I had come to Key Biscayne to be on the beach anyhow.   The bathroom, by contrast was a very nice size with a separate shower and bathtub and nice bright, lighting.  I had requested a balcony and received one; it had a “bay view”—the bay being way off in the distance—so it really was a view of the front of the hotel.  Since I wasn’t in my room but to sleep, I didn’t sit on the balcony at all.

After checking out the hotel boutique, spa and various lounges, I made my way to the beach—just a short walk along the fountain, past the Great Lawn and pools.   The beach is very narrow; there isn’t much room between the dunes and the water, but it’s very nicely kept.   The Ritz hotel staff will set you up with a lounge chair and towels, while an umbrella could be rented for $20/day.  I do think that the umbrella rental fee is very steep, but there was no way around it for me; I don’t like to bake in the sun.   Although it was very hot in August, the beach breeze with the shade of the umbrella made for an enjoyable time outside. The ocean water was warm and shallow for a long time and the waves were gentle; there were many kids and adults in the ocean playing games and wading around. Both days of my stay I got the to beach in the morning and didn’t leave until the evening because I loved it so much.   I mostly read a book and people-watched.  The view, breeze and total beach experience compensated for the lack of great service by the Ritz beach employees; once they set up my chair and umbrella, I never saw them again.

Preferring to spend my time on the beach, I didn’t use the pools at all; however I checked them out for future reference.  The family pool has a waterfall; it was always full and families were having a ball.   The adult pool on the other side of the Great Lawn was quiet and not very full at all.   I don’t know why, but the hot tub was next to the family pool, so I never used that.

But I did use the hot tub in the spa several times; the spa can be used by hotel guests, even by those not receiving a spa treatment.  Like the other Ritz-Carlton spas that I have visited, this one was very nice and well appointed with a lounge area, hot tub, sauna, steam room, showers, locker room and all the toiletries that you could ever want.  The cold cumber-laced towels are my favorite.  I received a massage one day and while it wasn’t that great (she hurt me pretty bad), the lounge area for awaiting treatments is worth the price of admission—cushy chaise lounges, tea, coffee and fruit—I could have stayed there all day.  Although I didn’t use it, I toured the gym and concluded that my husband would have loved the weight area and cardio machines with televisions and complimentary headphones.

Besides the beach and spa, I hung out in the hotel lobby lounge one night and listened to a Cuban band; they were great!  Unfortunately, there was only one night of entertainment, so I would assume that guests looking for nightlife drive to Miami.   Dune, a burger lounge, was pretty happening but it closed at sunset.  Located right on the beach, it was very groovy and also served a fantastic burger.

I paid for the Club Level and I think it was worth it.  Unlike the beach employees, the staff working the Club Lounge was fantastic.  The continental breakfast was sufficient and very good; I ate breakfast every morning on the lounge balcony while reading The New York Times.  Most days I brought sandwiches from the Club Lounge lunch display down to the beach with me.   Sometimes I made the before-dinner appetizers my actual dinner and I never missed the dessert buffet.   The lounge itself was very lovely and a nice place to read a book.  But the real reason I loved the Club Lounge was the champagne that I had every evening!

While the hotel had iffy customer service and it’s not as family-friendly as Amelia Island Ritz-Carlton, the location, beach, and hotel amenities makes me want to visit this Ritz-Carlton again either alone or with my family. With such a short flight and inexpensive last-minute fares from Atlanta to Miami, I’m sure that I will soon return.

I’m new to the dog retail world and it’s very overwhelming; all I do is buy dog toys, chews, food, treats.  I even bought a life jacket for my puppy!  It’s like having a baby all over again, there is so much gear available; trolling the aisles of my local pet stores is quite fascinating.

So when we came across LickALots we had to buy one for Chili Dawg. Back at home we were eager to see if he would like his ice cream as much as we like ours.

Chili Dawg inspects it; hmmm…smells good….

And it tastes good too!  Hey Mikey; he likes it!

Chili Dawg thoroughly enjoyed the LicksALot and lapped it up in about 10 minutes.   I call it “doggie ice cream” but really it’s a healthy frozen treat as noted on the website:

The pedigree of this FROZEN lickable treat for dogs (think healthy dog ice cream) is the best of its breed. LickALots® are created using all-natural, ultra premium ingredients in a low-fat yogurt base. LickALots® provide your four-legged friends with the health benefits of wholesome natural ingredients and active yogurt cultures that assist digestion, aid nutrient absorption, boost the immune system and provide long-lasting benefits to your beloved companion.

Since then we bought more LicksALot for our home freezer and we bring one with us whenever we go out for ice cream or frozen yogurt.  While we are having our frozen treat, Chili Dawg has his too!

Um, okay, yes; I’ve totally given in to the fact that I am crazy about this puppy and will buy all kinds of special treats and fun toys for him, but so what?  Don’t judge me!

Bummed that we weren’t going to the beach as a family this summer and very much needing some time alone, I thought that I would take a beach vacation alone for my birthday.  The last time I traveled without my family was over 10 years ago.  I am certainly not afraid of being alone; in fact I prefer it most times.  I have no problem going to the movies, out to lunch or museum exhibit by myself; I think that I am very good company.   Really I go a little crazy if I’m not allowed some mental and physical space and this summer was especially hard because my husband was working long hours and traveled a lot.   I was rarely alone—not even when I slept because my daughter had developed a bad habit of falling asleep in my bed.  Although I was a little apprehensive about leaving my daughter (who was not happy to see me go) and my dog (who I feared wouldn’t be fed for the duration of my trip), I was excited about getting in some quality “Me Time.”  As my day of escape approached, I became downright giddy.

So why did I become anxious the minute I stepped into my hotel room?  The 3 nights and 2 days ahead of me seemed endless.   Although I purposely chose a beach destination—because I love the beach and wanted to relax—now I regretted my decision.  I thought that instead I should have spent a weekend in New York where I could shop, go to museums and basically spend my time going and doing—where I could have an agenda.  As much as I crave quiet, time to think and a day with no agenda when I am at home, now that I had that, I was freaking out.

How strange and completely unexpected.

I sat down and analyzed what I was feeling (a bonus there: I could actually take the time to think about myself).   I realized that the last 7 years of my life have especially been hectic and self-sacrificing…..and I have gotten used to it.  What little time I stole for myself was in snippets and spurts; now a few days of unplanned time and no one to care for was foreign and unsettling.

This was ridiculous!  I had traveled Mexico and Europe alone!  I was always up for an adventure!  And this was only a Ritz-Carlton hotel; I had to get a grip.  “Explore the hotel,” I said aloud.  Yes, yes, that would give me something to do.  I found the pool, the hot tub, the boutique.  I toured the spa.  Moving my body and being “useful” calmed me down.   Finally I made it to the beach and saw what I came for: the ocean.   I exhaled.

I spent the next 2 days on the beach people-watching or hanging out in the water.   I had brought a notebook with me to record any profound thoughts—since I now had time to think–but none came to me.  I think that since my brain was finally able to breath a bit, it just needed a rest.  Sometimes I had on my iPod, but mostly not; I liked the sound of nothingness–hearing conversations, but not being a part of them, the ocean, the wind.  I read 2 books, watched 3 movies and listened to a live Cuban band in the hotel lobby while drinking champagne.   I did nothing in particular and wasn’t productive at all.

It was very, very nice.