OMG. Stop the presses – I’ve just been offered a mom-blogger perk. A “perk”, in mom-blogger lingo, is the equivalent of getting swag at red carpet events. Sort of. Well okay, not really.
Anyway, it involves stepping out of my comfort zone and tightrope walking and jumping off what looks like a telephone pole, even though I’m scared of heights. But still…
Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson AZ – a pretty luxe operation (Brangelina has stayed there, ahem – mind if I name drop?!) – has offered me (did you hear that? me!) a weekend away from my sherpa-mom life in their spa with free accommodations and healthy dining, and YOGA classes and all kinds of outdoor stuff like zip lines and tightrope walking and what looks like jumping off the top of a telephone pole.
Me! (BTW they haven’t paid me to write this or anything, and they said I don’t have to write a blog post about them unless I feel like it! I’m feeling pretty dern big-headed so of course I’m telling you. Also, it was really nice of them!) The thing is, it’s been hard to look my husband in the face over the last year and three months since I started my blog and tell him how excited I am that I make 0.00001 cents per half-click on my ads. I tell him it’s my salary. And he has to keep a straight face.
But this…
This is big. It gives me a veil of some legitimacy. He works for Big Blue and gets to swan off to conferences in Vegas and Florida and all over the place, get wined and dined. This is sort of like that, right? You see: I’m catching up with him. Right?
Bigtime, baby!
So far on the blog my only real perk has been one measly free carton of Blue Bunny Ice Cream and a Blue Bunny ice cream scooper (these PR folks really know their target demographic)! I ate the ice cream and promptly lost the scooper because I don’t have a trowel so the kids used it to dig in the garden…blah-bla-blah.
Then I got offered a weekend getaway to a romantic B&B in Virginia last year but when I asked if they had roll-away beds to accommodate my children they informed me that kids are “not encouraged” to come with, so I said sayonara. (Maybe some parents find this amazing but I actually prefer to travel with and be with my children.)
And this week I got another perk which brings my perk tally up to three – heh! – free tickets for me and my family to go to see the Medieval Times show and have dinner! They want me to do a blog post about what I’m guessing is going to be a really good show (knights on horseback, stabbing at your dinner with a spear, a castle, knights on horseback, did I say knights on horseback? – I’m all over it). They want me to blog about the show so that they can spread the word.
But the Miraval luxe spa thing – why did they ask me? Is it because they can tell from reading my blog that I’m over-parenting, that I’ve lost my mojo and I could really use a spiritual kick in the yoga pants? Or a good night’s sleep without someone asking for a cup of water 40 million times? (This perk is a kidless one, but I’m okay with that. I think I’m ready to be in a hotel room without my kids jumping on the bed…)
PS: A side note, I am afraid of walking a tightrope. Total coward. Also I drink too much coffee and would probably get car sick up there. But wouldn’t this be great blog fodder?
I could just wear my yoga pants around the place, the ones that I sleep in! Talk about relaxing!
One small catch is that although I wear yoga pants, I don’t actually do yoga. At. All. Kapiche? (Is that hypocritical or do a lot of you moms do this? Could you please let me know in the comments if there is anybody reading this over the summer, anybody at all? Aren’t yoga pants the new sweats?)
Take a look at the yoga class and all the cool outdoorsy stuff they do at Miraval in this video:
In their email to me which I got just now – they used the word unplug. As in: we’d encourage you to unplug.
Dear Ado,
Miraval Resort & Spa would like to invite you to attend the Mommy Blogger Me-Time Getaway at Miraval in Tucson, Arizona.
Miraval is an award-winning, all-inclusive destination retreat nestled in the warm shade of the Santa Catalina Mountains. To sum up the Miraval experience, think fresh, locally sourced ingredients in every mouth-watering meal, development activities that make the heart-pump and the head re-think, and fabulous spa resources that make the senses ignite. In May, Miraval unveiled the brand new Life in Balance Spa with Clarins – designed with an appreciation for the natural splendor of the Sonoran desert. Our new menu of spa services were created to offer guests the most innovative, life-enhancing treatments in the world.
Our Mommy Blogger Me-Time itinerary will give you the chance to experience the new Life in Balance Spa in addition to everything Miraval has to offer – from rise-and-shine yoga to tightrope walking 35 feet in the air — plus some free time to explore the resort on your own.
The all-inclusive Me-Time Getaway includes complimentary accommodations in one of our casita guestrooms; ground transportation to and from Tucson International Airport; all healthful meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages; and participation in a vast array of self-discovery and growth activities. You’ll also have full access to Miraval’s extensive resort amenities including 24-hour use of the Body Mindfulness Center and the swimming pool area with its cascading waterfalls, acupressure stone walk and whirlpool.
Press rates are available for those who cannot accept press trips. Please note that airfare is not included in Miraval’s Mommy Blogger Me-Time Getaway.
We hope you can join us.
Miraval. You won’t find you anywhere else.
What do you think? Should I go?
PS: Oh my goodness! Look at the list of activities!
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GO. GO NOW.
I have never gotten a single perk. Ever. All I get are emails asking me if they could link back to THEIR stupid website for free, promote their videos for free, blah blah blah.
Oh wait, I did get some free apps for my toddler for the iPad (woohoo, I saved $1.99!).
Like I said, GO. You don’t have to do yoga. Just swan around and go SPA. Facial, massage, the works. You deserve it.
I can’t believe YOU haven’t gotten a bigger perk yet, man, that’s shocking! Hear that, PR people?
I am so jealous!!! I have always wantedto go to a place like this. You must go!!!
Also, yes about the yoga pants. They are the new sweats.
Oh my god. GO. Otherwise I’ll go and impersonate you.
Well we do kind of look alike…!
That is pretty damn cool, Ado! Enjoy!
shut up!!! YES!!!! you should go!!!! also? if you want to bring a gal you’ve never met in real life, sure to add to the fodder folder of things that can go wrong, that can out do you in her love for yoga pants with NO yoga experience, um, i could be talked into going
ha. love.it!
You could write your poetry! (-:
Um, yeah. You should go. Right now.
(-:
Oh, yes. Need you ask? Really? Go !!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re so right —> it’s a really dumb question! (-:
Yes! Go, enjoy, and tell us all about it!
It would be great blog fodder but you’re not going to see a picture of my ass dangling from that telephone pole thing if I do go up…! (-:
Of course you should go! The only reason I’d say no is if they required an ad on your site or asked to approve any post or mention of them. Otherwise, I firmly believe that it’s up to you. (You hear that Four Seasons? Eh?)
Seriously though, if you go into it in good faith, I give my strong stamp of approval. (And I also wonder if you can bring a handmaiden. Me!)
Just fly on over in your red supergirl cape!
They said I don’t have to be obligated to do or write anything – only if I feel inspired to do so. Which I thought was really cool, of course I’d be inspired to write a post about it! (-: If I go, that is.
I Got A Perk, Finally! http://t.co/3Bv1zPBP via @sharethis
Yes, go… sounds awesome and relaxing. The pool with cascading waterfalls and acupressure stone walk is what would do it for me! Sounds like heaven.
I am pretty sure I’m gonna go! (-:
YES!! Do it!!! That sounds awesome!!! I love that they encourage you to “unplug”.
Maybe I’ll even take up running! Stranger things have happened…!
Yes, GO, and yes, yoga pants are the new sweats, except you could actually consider them Real Attire at a spa, whereas I don’t think sweats were ever considered attire anywhere, except maybe the training gym in Rocky.
Huge congrats to you – you deserve it!!!
I can just pack yoga pants then – I have 5 pairs, all in shades of black. I’m set!
Should you go? Blogger please! I thought I was green with jealousy when I read about the Blue Bunny ice cream scoop and now I’m about the color of pistachio.
Congrats! You are my blogging hope. We actually looked at that place for a vacation. It looks amazing.
And I totes do yoga, and zip-lining, and tightrope walking if anybody is reading this. Just saying.
Ellen
P.S. I do think it is funny they want the blogger to “unplug.”
You are so funny Ellen! (-:
It is absurd, the thought of a blogger unplugging. Kind of an oxymoron, eh? (-:
Um, are you seriously asking whether or not you should go? (In my best wicked witch voice ever) “Fly!! Fly!!” Have fun, you deserve it.
Yes I was seriously asking if I should go! But now after all these wonderful comments my question has change to: “Do I need to have my head examined??” Thanks Cat. (-:
WHAT? OMG! GOOOOO! Run for the hills. I mean TO the hills! Seriously, GO. Enjoy. Have an incredible unplugged time. WHAT? GO! Sorry – I forgot I said that already. This sounds amazing!
Okay, alright – I am going to do this. Going to go run to the hills. (-;
Yes Go!! I am so jealous and would go in a heartbeat!!!
Ok! Ok! (-:
Seriously? You are asking IF you should go? Haven’t you booked your flight yet? Haven’t you gotten your suitcase out yet? GOOOOOOO!!!
Ok, Ok! I am definitely going! (-:
YES!!! You should go! I’d go in a heartbeat. So cool!
I am, I am! Yay!
I Got A Perk, Finally http://t.co/86tm3vuT I’m going!
I’m kind of ashamed of how jealous I am of you right now! This sounds like such an awesome opportunity, I hope you decide to go and have a fantastic time in your yoga pants
I agree, I think they are the new sweats but I really love doing yoga as well so it’s a win-win situation. I say go and treat yourself, you deserve it – and write about it so I can live the dream through you!
Don’t be ashamed of feeling envy! I read in Julia Cameron’s book, THe Artist’s Way, that when you feel envy is actually a map telling you that you really need to pursue whatever it is you are feeling envious of. So put it out there – keep writing…! Something will manifest. (-:
Hi sorry what was that? SHOULD you go? you mean you’re not there ALREADY? Because if you bail on this, I’m sure I could pass for you, couldn’t I? I’ve got brown hair, after all, and yoga pants…? Congrats on the swag, no it’s not hypocritical to wear the pants but not do the down-dog, and you will have a fantastic time. Think of the metaphors available in actually tightrope walking as opposed to, you know, just talking metaphorically. FANTASTIC. And now that I’ve used all caps three times in one measly comment, I’ll stop.
Deborah I’m still feeling peevish jealous and envious that you just got back from KENYA. I’m actually not even speaking to you right now, I’m that jealous. (-;
That is SO freaking awesome! I get all excited when someone just stops by to read a post! Hell yah! You go, girl.
Me too – I get excited when someone just stops by to read a post, so this for me is big. I am going, hopefully.
If you don’t go, can I go in your place? That is amazing! GO! Enjoy it! Make us all jealous!
I think you should go to the Arizona thing souly for the puprose of swinging by my parents house and giving them a hug for me…I miss them. And umm I’ve done this as a teenager and yes it scared the crap outta me too!
Congrats. You deserve it so, so much. You were legit before. Now you are legit and … cooler? I don’t know…it’s just awesome. Go and have fun.
Thanks Sperk. (-:
So, when are you going? I’m full of admiration but not envious, only because of their repeated threats of initiating self improvement and self discovery. At my age and stage of life I’d prefer to stay the same and not to discover any more about myself. Frankly I’m trying to forget what I already know. Yoga is out of the question. I don’t even like to bend over to tie my shoelaces. I think if I were to try and bring my foot up as high as those ladies I’d get a bad twitch and kick myself in the ass. Tightrope walking? Bahahahaha! I don’t know about facials and massages, assuming they offer any. I’m horribly ticklish so I don’t like to be touched. Is there any chance they would just leave you in peace to eat complimentary chocolates and a great breakfast buffet and go shopping and sightseeing? If so, please sneak me into your luggage. I do love Arizona. I want to discover Arizona but not myself because I’m one of those people who annoy myself and get in my own way.. If I could somehow discover Arizona while leaving myself at home, I would.
Fortunately, you are not anything like me and are sure to get a lot of fun and introspective amd insightful moments from any adventure you go on. So, i look forward to your blog post about your trip. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as yoga pants, by the way.
Oh you are so funny. I am going! Despite all threats of self-improvement – I am a Californian after all so these are my homies. Going in August! (-: PS: You are kidding about the yoga pants, right? Right??! (-:
I wish I was kidding. If you’ve been wearing them around me I never noticed. I am always too worried about how none of my jeans ever fits just right, or plucking cat hairs off my shirts to notice what other women are wearing. So no, I don’t know what yoga pants are. Except for my jeans, I rarely buy my own clothes so I don’t know what’s out there.. My mom, mother in law, and sisters in law, and now, my daughter all style me. If not for gift giving holidays, I would just run around in my jammies. If you see me in something other than jeans and a t-shirt, it’s a safe bet it was a gift or I had help picking it out.
I was wearing ‘em at the pool the other day, I’m sure of it! Cat hairs and everything!
[...] was supposed to be at Mirabel for the all-expenses paid Mommy Blogger Me-Time trip Miraval was giving me. But I couldn’t go because of my husband’s silly business [...]
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