It is get-away season. Perhaps you have already taken your vacation, are on holiday now, or are eagerly anticipating the day you will be loading up the car with your luggage, golf clubs, water skis, road trip snacks and the books you will be reading on the beach. My most recent trip convinced me that my next house needs to be a hotel! We were not staying at a five-star resort, however, the amenities made us feel pampered, relaxed and well taken care of.
There is something to be said about having the finest thread count sheets that money can buy. Years ago, when Oprah Winfrey was asked what her first big luxury purchase was when she "hit it big", the interviewer was surprised with the response that Oprah gave. She did not say "a big house" or "luxury car"....she said "expensive sheets and towels"! I love it when a hotel has the fluffiest towels and there is a monogrammed robe waiting for you on the bed, freshly baked warm cookies on the counter and chocolates on the pillow. It's also fun to have a comfortable sitting area in your hotel bedroom, a big screen television complete with Netflix privileges, and a nearby exercise center. As wonderful as all of these things were at our hotel, I was most impressed by the hotel's breakfast buffet. While there wasn't a chef-made-to-order omelette station, the breakfast bar was brimming with all of the ingredients for the most wonderfully luxurious (and incredibly healthy) first meal of the day! I loved being able to top my greek yogurt with perfectly cut fresh fruit and an assortment of raw nuts. It was fabulous that the hard boiled eggs had already been peeled. I couldn't believe the granola was organic and gluten free! The freshly squeezed juices were the icing on the cake! That breakfast sealed the deal for me...I want to live in a hotel! I don't need room service...I just want to have everything perfectly prepared and ready for me to be able to easily eat healthy.
It is no surprise that my husband and sons do not support my idea of trading in the family home for life at the Ritz Carlton! So since I won't be living out my hotel-dream anytime soon, it is time for me to experience the luxuries of hotel-living in my own home.
I need to turn my "wish list" into a "to-do" list. Here it is:
- High thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy pillows and a down comforter on every bed
- 'His & Hers' matching plush robes
- The bedroom tv hidden away in a fancy armoire
- A chandelier in the master bedroom closet
- Candles alongside the bathroom jacuzzi tub
- Dimmers on the lights and a "do not disturb" sign for the door
- Fresh flowers in crystal vases filled with pretty stones
- A few good books on the bedside table
- The latest magazines fanned out and waiting to be read
- A basket filled with snacks and small water bottles
- A crystal pitcher filled with cold, fruit-infused water
- An essential oils diffuser
- A game-room stocked with the latest family board games
- A cozy and well-lit nook for reading
- Soft throws tossed over the couches and chairs
- An exercise area complete with space for yoga mats
- Bluetooth-enabled Stereo speakers
- A charging station equipped to charge multiple devices at once
- and.....the idea that started this whole dream....
- A well-stocked breakfast buffet (a.k.a., an organized fridge and pantry filled with healthy must-have ingredients).
Does this all sound too good to be true? I noticed when I put my list together that I already have so many of these dream items in my home. I soon realized that the missing items are actually quite affordable and easily doable in order for me to live out the dream of trying to mimic life in a luxury hotel.
I mentioned Oprah earlier...she used to say quite frequently when she hosted her daily talk show that when you walk into your home, it should "rise up and greet you." What better way to do this than to create a space for yourself that is a comfortable and relaxing retreat.
If we each start living like we are at a high-end hotel, not only will our homes look lavish, beautiful and well-arranged, the amenities that we offer ourselves will fuel our minds and souls as well as healthy food will fuel our bodies.