Palm Springs Goodness

We’re back after a fabulous 3-day weekend. The agenda for this trip was to relax. Husband finished the bar exam on Thursday, and while it is no comparison, I had a microeconomics midterm on Thursday night. So all I wanted to do on our getaway was NOTHING.

Mission accomplished. The first night we took a nap, dined on steak and lamb and creme brulee at The Chop House and then we walked to the movie theater to see Crazy Stupid Love. We LOVED the movie. It was unexpected, really funny and I even found myself teary-eyed at the end. Also? I really want a suit just like Julianne Moore wears in the movie poster.

The next day we wanted to see Midnight in Paris. Fandango said the movie theater was 1.3 miles away, and as it was a nice, sunny day with an hour to spare and nothing else to do, we decided to walk. I grabbed an “I Love It” from Coldstone with cake batter and strawberries and blueberries, thinking I’d have plenty to eat in the movie. Have you seen those things? It was giant.

Lesson: NEVER TRUST FANDANGO’S MAP. About two miles in, we checked it on Google. We were hot, sweaty and disgusting. We pit-stopped at Rite Aid to get water.

We did finally make it. We were two of five people watching the movie! I loved it. The scenes of Paris were indulgent and I liked the message in the movie to “bloom where you are planted.”

I couldn’t get over the ill-fitting slouchy belts that Inez, played by Rachel McAdams wears. What the heck? I loved the jacket in this picture though.

We took at taxi back — possibly one of three taxis in Palm Springs during the summer. The city is pretty empty during the hot months. Best $10 I ever spent.

We stayed at the Andreas Hotel. It was cute and they were kind to upgrade us to a suite because they were booked. They even sprinkled rose petals all over the room, which was sweet.

The voucher came with a discount to the spa so I booked appointments for a facial and massage. The therapist and esthetician were fantastic — but the spa manager was stressed to the max. I arrived 15 minutes early for my 11:30 appointment, as requested, and at 11:40 I walked out of the lounge to inquire if they were running on time. I wouldn’t have said anything, but there was a girl in the lounge saying she waited for an hour, and I didn’t have that kind of time.

After I asked they got me right back, and it was amazing. But then they messed up the price and the discount while we were checking out, requiring me to get a bit assertive.

I had a honey facial, so I napped by the pool to let the honey moisturizer soak in more before I showered.

On our second night, the fire alarm went off at 4 a.m. for a half hour. Jeepers. Luckily I was so hopped up on Benydryl I barely woke-up.

Why was I so hopped up on drugs?  I believe I am allergic to Palm Springs. Or something.

The first night we walked back from the movie and I noticed what looked like a bug bite on my leg. No worries. Then I woke up with a few more.

After our mega walk, I was itching like crazy. So bad that we canceled our dinner reservations. Husband laughed at me while I danced around and applied Eucerin like it was going out of style. Finally he ran to Rite Aid (fourth time that day!) to get some Benadryl. I itched and itched and we watched the classic No Reservations, which I am sure is Catherine Zeta-Jones proudest moment. Hey it does star my lookalike Abigail Breslin.

I woke up itchy too, but not too itchy to stop at the Cabazon outlets. Oh my goodness. Let’s just say my friends Kate Spade, Tory Burch and Aldo all came home with me. BlogHer was too good of an excuse. Plus, when you have an iPhone and can easily look up how much designer items are supposed to cost, versus how much they are priced, it is too easy to feel like you are saving money.

Loved this sign at the Kate Spade outlet.

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