Healthy and On the Road Again

I am feeling much better. I can sleep and breathe through my nose. It's a wonderful thing! I am off to tackle a new week at work, and the travel begins. I have to be in Richmond, VA Monday and Tuesday, Claymont, DE Tuesday night, and Philly Wednesday and Thursday. Yes, my life can be a bit chaotic. I don't mind traveling. I have been really fortunate to make friends in all the cities I travel to. I have so much fun when I go to Richmond and Philly. The cultures are completely different but both warming and comfortable.

When I go to Richmond, the people are so hospitable. Friendly, charming, so Southern. I stay at the same hotel when I go. The Omni Hotel in downtown Richmond. All the staff remembers me. They have wine tastings when I come to town. It's just so much fun. I have been to some great restaurants there. I need to add a few of them to the link list on the blog. Downtown Richmond is really cool and interesting. You have so much history next to a modern rebirth of city. It's a such a contradiction, but so capitvating at the same time. You have restaurants like The Tobacco Company, which is a very good steakhouse who prides itself on having old school cigarette girls selling products with these shelves attached to their bodies. You can move down the street and go to The Hard Shell which is a modern, tasty seafood restaurant with an excellent raw bar, creative menu, and delicious wine list. Each restaurant has its own energy, but the Southern hospitality at both is infectious.

Philly is completely different. Philly is all about the working man. I think out of all the cities I have been to in the Northeast (I still have to make my way to Boston which is one of my adventures for 2010), Philly is truly about the working man. People go about their life and the daily grind. After a hard days work, they are ready party!! And party hard! Downtown Philly reminds me of DC because it's a walkable city. Every block has a series of restaurants and bars to fufill what ever tickles your fancy. And by far, Philly has the absolute best happy hours for lowest prices I have ever seen. I usually stay at the Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel in Rittenhouse Square. Fabulous hotel. The beds are amazing! The best part of my stay is their happy hour. They have this lovely restaurant called Tavern 17.  At happy hour which last from 4-7, you can get $3 glasses of wine (the house wines are quite tasty) , $2 sliders (of which they have a quite a variety. The braised short rib slider is my absolute favorite), and $3 sweet potato/potato fries.  You can get full and tipsy for less the $20. There is this 60+ year old bartender who is the best boyfriend I have ever had. He is such a flirt. He is so much fun, and everyone who goes to the bar adores him. All women, no matter how young or old, love him. He is such a gem. Naughty, but never inappropriate. That's Philly though. Naughty boys, great food, and cheap drinks. My kinda city.

So I am hoping for the normal wonderful adventures I have when I travel. It's always something fun. Always something new, and constantly keeps me on my toes. Although I dread traveling sometimes, I always have a good time.

On side note, I did something absolutely fabulous today. I was in need of an eyebrow wax. I have been hunting high and low for a spa or salon who utilizes hard wax instead of wax strips. I hate the strips. They peel off skin. I really want to start getting other areas waxed (I know. TMI), but I am so afraid because the strips rips your skin. I had a hard wax while I was in Phoenix done by a really good friend and I have been on a mission ever since. I received an email yesterday from Bliss Spa. Now, I have been purchasing from Bliss for years. Their body butter is awesome and comes in a tube. What more could you ask for? Plus anytime you stay at a W Hotel, you get their products standard in your room. Even better! A W Hotel recently open in DC and they have a Bliss Spa. So I decided to give their so called painless waxing a shot. And guess what? They have the blue wax with no strips!! My prayers have been answered.

I had never been to their spas before, but I loved what I experienced. The staff was wonderful. Very friendly extremely knowledgeable. The facilites were nice and hip. You felt chic and relaxed. Nice combination for a wanna be diva. The waiting room had fresh brownies, numerous types of tea, and spa water.  It was lovely.  The waxing was great!! The plucking of the stray hairs was more painful than the waxing. So I think I may have to finally bite the bullet and get a Brazilian. I know. It's dangerous, but why not? This is my year to do something I would never do, to experience life, and live it to the fullest. I think this would be a good challenge. I may not share the details, but I will let you know if I accomplish a personal victory!!

I need to get some rest to before getting on the road, but I am still awake!! I'm working on it!

Kiwi