Man Idea 2: A short last minute trip

Think you need a long time to take a vacation?

You don't...and you won't be tired. Unless you're just old...which means you are running out of time! You definitely need to go!

Ok first things first:
http://www.chateauelan.com/

Recently I had the chance to plan a weekend trip for a couple. Basically they only had 1.5 days, so it was going to be a very short trip. After doing some research I decided to send them to a place I visited a while ago called Chateau Elan. Its about 45 minutes North of Atlanta, Ga and it is worth the drive! http://www.chateauelan.com/

If Chateau Elan is not at option, I suggest you consider one of the Preferred Brand Hotels. They are typically excellent locations for leisure trips and along with starwood hotels, I like them more than any others! Note however you will pay more to stay at the other hotels. Just trust me, Go to Chateau Elan.

The big thing to think about here is that you are planning a trip. It's about the journey not so much the destination (though an awesome destination helps). I suggest people start out with the destination in mind (the icing) and then come up with the awesome stuff to do along the way. Oh, and remember this rule: FOOD MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER. If I stop to do something, I always try add food to the mix.

To married guys, I suggest you keep the place a secret from your wife until getting there. I won't tell if you don't! Basically all she has to know, is that you are leaving town and that you will return the next night(or night after depending on your trip). Here is the basic itinerary:


Arrive in Atlanta around 11am

Visit Six Flags Amusement Park or Stone Mountain Park (some place that requires you to be active, have fun, and work up an appetite). They picked Stone Mountain: http://www.stonemountainpark.com/. They have a cool laser show that starts at the end of May each year but you have to be there at night to see it. Everyone is very, very, friendly at the park, and it features a train ride, a 4D movie (which was a lot of fun) and a cable car that goes to the top of the mountain.

This is all only around 15.00 per person if you go around 3pm. I think it's a little more later in the day. But you'll have time to do everything if you get there by 3pm. Also check to see when the firework show begins each evening. I think it runs from June to December.

Remember when I said food makes everything better? Visit AMC Fork and Screen and catch a movie and late lunch. A lot of people don't know about this place but it's awesome! It's a movie theater where you can order food and drinks and watch a movie! And when I say food, I mean a whole meal

Heres the website: www.amcentertainment.com/Buckhead

Head to the Resort and see how the top 1% of America lives...


This resort is ranked number one in Georgia and trust me when I say there is a reason. In addition its not nearly as expensive as the St. Regis in Atlanta or the Ritz Carlton (both cost upwards of 475/night). Breakfast was also included. There is a spa, room service, concierge and at least 4 restaurants and a bar that are all part of the resort! French, American, Italian, and an Irish Bar! When I went, I had the Italian menu and it was very reasonable around $55/person to eat and drink. It was easily among the best restaurants from which I have eaten in the US. Top 20 definitely. Oh, and the rooms were very nice, with real furniture, a 2 headed shower, and a spa tub in every room! Make sure you go for a walk around the property as well.

The next morning, I suggest you have Breakfast at the Chateau Elan Buffet. There is a very nice variety of foods, the waffles are awesome! If you book online, or call for reservations you can get the breakfast included in your package. It might seem a little pricey, but when you really think about all the convenience, its really not that bad. Like I said earlier, its cheaper than the Ritz and 99% of people don't know that this place is even here.

On the way out stop by the Mall of Georgia. Its only a few minutes from Chateau Elan and its the largest Mall in Georgia. I'm not sure, but I would venture to say its probably the largest in the Southeastern US!

www.simon.com/mall?id=208

Thats it. A vacation in less than 2days!

Man idea 1: Flowers are boring but can be a fun starter

I've decided to put my posts in the form of ideas that everyone is free to use. I'm still willing to do the consulting stuff if people want to call.

You can start with something ordinary and develop it into a really extravagant series of gifts.

Personally I like to come up with a theme and then seek the advice of my very creative friend at http://www.canuemagine.com/. She is a creative genius when it comes to ideas and themes. Anyway, here I've decided on a series of small gifts with a Prince Charming theme -- Definitely my favorite theme! I'm going to be cautious here: just in case she's reading this post now, I won't spoil too much, and I'm only going to post the first surprise...

Yeah I know flowers are simple but its the theme that matters here.

The card insert will start out with Once upon a time... (remember Prince Charming)I will post the next step (there are 3 total) after this step is complete.

The difference between love and romance

"Often in our lives, we fall prey to the idea of a thing rather than actually experiencing the thing itself. We see this at play in our love lives and in the love lives of our friends, our family, and even fictional characters. The conceptualizing, depiction, and pursuit of true love are multimillion-dollar industries in the modern world.

However, very little of what is offered actually leads us to an authentic experience of love. Moreover, as we grasp for what we think we want and fail to find it, we may suffer and bring suffering to others. When this is the case, when we suffer more than we feel healed, we can be fairly certain that what we have found is not love but something else.

When we feel anxious, excited, nervous, and thrilled, we are probably experiencing romance, not love. Romance can be a lot of fun as long as we do not try to make too much of it. If we try to make more of it than it is, the romance then becomes painful. Romance may lead to love, but it may also fade without blossoming into anything more than a flirtation. If we cling to it and try to make it more, we might find ourselves pining for a fantasy, or worse, stuck in a relationship that was never meant to last.

Real love is identifiable by the way it makes us feel. Love should feel good. There is a peaceful quality to an authentic experience of love that penetrates to our core, touching a part of ourselves that has always been there. True love activates this inner being, filling us with warmth and light. An authentic experience of love does not ask us to look a certain way, drive a certain car, or have a certain job. It takes us as we are, no changes required. When people truly love us, their love for us awakens our love for ourselves. They remind us that what we seek outside of ourselves is a mirror image of the lover within. In this way, true love never makes us feel needy or lacking or anxious. Instead, true love empowers us with its implicit message that we are, always have been, and always will be, made of love."

Its hard to admit you’re not ready to fully commit and in fact you’re actually ‘just thinking’ about the concept of love...

About Me

I think I'll do a video here about me. Or maybe a run down of what I've been up to for the past 10 years or so... meetup groups, family stuff, ect.

About My Site

I designed this site as a kind of journal of my experiences in life that I wish to share with others. In the beginning, I thought this would be a great way to share my experiences as they relate to relationships, but I've decided that my focus will be the adventure of life and all that it brings. Thanks for visiting. Always feel free to comment or email.

~Paul