Summertime Fun!

Welcome summer! Now is the time to expand your horizons and go on some wonderful adventures.

Nothing is better to renew the spark in your relationship than a full day out away from home. Not only do new places open your mind, the ride there often helps work out any kinks (since you should be talking with each other on the way!). Put down those cell phones. Instead, chat with your mate. How about making a list of all the things you'd love to do in life (like find a sand dollar on a beach or stand outside a stage door and meet a star)? Or the places you would love to visit together (Europe, all 50 states, or a remote island in the South Pacific)? Remember why you fell in love in the first place and share some fun stories about your collective past. It might just help you gain the future of your dreams!

Exploring is great for families, too. When our son was little and in a "funk" (nice word for taking too many tantrums!), our pediatrician always recommended taking him somewhere different. Changing the backdrop really helps - no matter what the age. New places get kids thinking, stimulate their senses, and most importantly, help them connect with you. Just think - you've got each other all to yourselves - away from home with little interruptions! No computer, tv, video games, work, chores, etc. to compete with - just each other. I know it sounds a bit scary - but really, time spent with kids is what they remember the most - not all the nice trinkets we buy them. Doesn't have to be anywhere fancy - just time well spent.

Summer is also a great time to reconnect with your friends. Grab a pal or two and enjoy some laughs together at someplace new. Maybe a new restaurant or an afternoon exploring Newburyport shops or even Martha's Vineyard? Friends sooth the soul and remind us who we are - not that person we often try to pretend to be. Let your hair down and escape! You deserve it!

Don't forget to check out my website for a list of lots of things to do in New England and New York. Also check out this link for a calendar of FREE ADMISSION to popular Massachusetts tourist spots on various Fridays this summer. Thanks, Alison B., for sharing this!

Got any other ideas to share about great summer fun? Please do! We'd all love to hear them!

Saints be Praised!

If you're like me, you don't look forward to getting your boobs squished in a vice. Ah, the joys of getting older. But I recently discovered a women's health center that I didn't want to leave - really! Saints Women's Center for Health and Wellness in North Andover, MA is a dream come true to women everywhere! (Gentlemen - please don't stop reading - this is important to any of the women in your life, too!)

When I've gone for mammograms in the past, I'm given a worn hospital gown (often two sizes too small) then told to walk down the public hallway to another waiting room. People (including men!) walk by and stare as I sit there feeling like a non-entity, trying to look cool and hide my embarrassment. You can imagine my excitement then, when I received a flyer in the mail about a new medical facility for women that got my attention. Knowing I deserve more, I got the courage to make an appointment a short time later.

My experience began with the comforting smell of baby powder when I first walked into the building. As I entered the second floor, I could tell I was not in Kansas anymore. It was beautiful - something like you'd see in a posh office building in downtown Boston. I was greeted by receptionists and assistants that actually smiled and joked with me. After check-in, I was guided to a spa-like environment behind a single closed door (just like the one Dorothy opened into Munchkinland!). I was given a cushiony terrycloth robe reminiscent of the one Julia Roberts wore when she jumped on the bed in "Pretty Woman" and invited to change in a dressing room with an actual door, not a shabby curtain.

"Please help yourself to the hot/cold beverage bar while you wait," I was told. She must be kidding, I thought, but she most certainly wasn't! Coffee, tea, & more - all for the taking. Amidst the sound of trickling water from the beautiful wall waterfall, it was the first time that I actually wanted to wait in a waiting room. "Please don't call me yet!" I kept thinking. I'm not making any of this up!

My mammogram was over so quickly that I found myself trying to make up an excuse to stay. I really just wanted to hang out there and escape life for a while. When was the last time you felt that way when you went to the doctors?

As I said my goodbyes, I was given a beautiful Saints tote bag filled with pedicure supplies and a pink tissue flower that now rests on my desk to remind me of my experience. My jar dropped and remained that way as I walked in the clouds back to my car. I felt cared for and special. I was a person, not just a number. I was woman, hear me roar!

Ladies, we all deserve this kind of treatment! Check out Saints Women's Center soon!