Dream Vacations

So, this week I've been playing catch-up at work. I get a ton of meetings related trade magazines that I never have the chance to go through. To be totally honest, I haven't touched any of these magazines since early February thus the pile in my office was about 2 feet tall - no kidding! Anyway, I got motivated this week (not really intentionally -we are having visitors in the office next week and thus I needed to do some clean-up. the messiest area of my office is the magazine stack thus I tackled it first.) and decided to go through my mile-high-pile. I really only like the pictures so it's kind of a quick process. While rustling through one of these publications I ran across a resort that caught my eye - The Pacuare Lodge in Costa Rica. One of the bungalows at the resort is pictured above. I've always wanted to visit Costa Rica - ever since I had to plan a 'faux' vacation to this country my sophomore year of hs for my Spanish class. It's got amazing cloud forests and cool animals - very jungly!

Above is the lodge for the resort. The photos on my blog aren't that great (their site wouldn't let me 'borrow' their photos), but visit their website and you will be amazed! It's an eco-friendly resort deep in Costa Rica's jungle. One must access the resort by white river rafting and there is no electricity. Showers are solar heated and guests' dine by candle light. One must also sleep in open air bungalows. Despite these facts, the resort appears amazing. It reminds me of Swiss Family Robinson. As a child I always loved that movie and wished that I could live like the Robinson's. I'd still like to - for several days to a week. Not sure if I could take it for a lifetime - but since I grew up camping, I can be an outdoor girl for for limited periods of time! My favorite part of the resort - their amazing honeymoon suite. Now, Roger and I already had our honeymoon 2 1/2 years ago (and don't get me wrong it was wonderful - we went to the Dominican Republic), but this place makes me want to take another one. (Is our 3 year anniversary too soon to have a second honeymoon? HaHa) Their infinity pool in the tree tops is amazing!

I loved the above resort so much that I forwarded it to a friend of mine who loves to travel. She forwarded me another equally as amazing resort property - Turtle Island in Fiji. This place is even more my style (although even more budget unfriendly then the Costa Rican property). There are secluded bungalows right on the beach. How cool is that? I love the beach and to be able to walk out your door right onto the beach would be incredible.

And look above, how romantic is that? I'm sure it costs a pretty penny - but wow!

I've just come up with a brilliant idea - maybe I can convince Roger to go along with the Costa Rica vacation (he loves rafting and all that outdoor stuff) and then get him to tack on the Turtle Island vacation for me (since I love the beach and lounging). Both of us would get our dream vacations.

I know, I know - the two properties are not all that close, but it's my 'dream' vacation that will only remain in my dreams. There is no way Roger and I could afford either one of these trips but it's been fun reviewing these properties and daydreaming. Just in case we win the lottery one day (Guess we need to start playing), I've saved both of these properties to my web favorites. :-)

Speaking of dream vacations, I found a property that is actually more budget friendly and equally as cool - MaryJanesFarm Bed and Breakfast. ( I actually found this property while blogging earlier this week.) One of the bed and breakfast's tents is pictured above. Isn't this tent too cute. Now I've tent camped many a time, but some how the inside of my tent never looked like the above. (Although I only camped when I was younger - now that I love to decorate, perhaps the next time I tent camp I'll make my tent look like this. Oh my gosh - Roger would get so annoyed with me for packing so much unnecessary stuff!)

The shower houses at the State Park we frequented while growing up so didn't look like the above. :-) How amazing is the above? I brought this vacation up to Roger and he was like, why would you pay $169 per night to stay in a tent? (Yes, I know you can buy one for much cheaper than that.) I guess he just doesn't admire the prettiness of these tents or shower rooms. I would so pay that fee! Too bad the above property is located in Idaho. If they were located closer to Indiana, I would so be dragging Roger along for a long vacation weekend.

Yes, I did check to see if there were similar properties in the Midwest - there aren't. Much to my disappointment.This did get me to thinking, maybe I could open up my own 'Tent and Breakfast' in my backyard. You are able to purchase these tent platforms and canvas tents online. (Yes, I've already done my research) Roger could built it for me and then I'd just need to decorate it! What a plan! Although, my city lot doesn't provide quite the same view as tho tent views at Mary Jane's Farm. :-)

Anyway, hope that you've enjoyed browsing the above properties.

Feel free to forward any of your favorites along. :-)

Birthday Bash

Tangy Potato Salad

Today is my nephew's 7th Birthday. I can't believe that he's already heading into the 2nd grade. It just seems like he was a tiny little baby. Time flies. Anyhoo ... my older sister is having a little get together for the family at her house tonight. I volunteered to bring a side dish. Roger and I found this really yummy-sounding recipe last night in one of our picnic cookbooks - Tangy Potato Salad. After we made it last night, we sampled it. Just the perfect amount of tang and very summery and refreshing. If you'd like to try this recipe out for yourself, please see below.

Tangy Red Potato Salad

Ingredients
2 pounds red potatoes
Medium vidalia onion, diced
8 oz frozen peas, thawed
Salt
Pepper
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tablespoons mayo
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
dill, fresh or dried

Directions:
Wash and quarter red potatoes.
Boil in salted water for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, dice onions and place in bowl. Add 2 tablespoons cider vinegar and 1/4 tsp. salt.
Once potatoes are soft, drain and add to above bowl. Let sit unrefrigerated for 30 minutes.
While potatoes are cooling, whisk 2 remaining tablespoons of cider vinegar, mayo, yogurt, and mustard together. Season with pepper and dill. Cool in refrigerator.
After potato mixture has cooled for 30 minutes, mix sauce and potatoes together. Then mix thawed peas into mixture.
Chill potato salad until cooled. For best results, refrigerate overnight and serve the following day.

And the winner is ...

And the winner of our first-ever giveaway is Bethany from Graham Cracker Crumbs. I'm super excited that her name was drawn as she is the perfect recipient. She has two young children who will certainly enjoy the giveaway - probably more than Bethany. :-)

Thanks to all those who entered! This was a blast and I hope to do more drawings sometime in the future. In the meantime, we have plenty of pinwheels available at our Etsy shop. In fact, I've just uploaded some more fun designs so please stop by!

I can't believe that it's Monday already. Where do the weekends go? It's time for another Weekend Wanderings; however, I more than likely won't get around to this until tomorrow. Until then ...