I Put Myself in Time Out

October 29, 2012

Actually, I was invited, went of my own free (excited) will and paid money for it.  Taking a time out was never so appreciated.

The trip down was full of getting-to-know-you conversations and plenty of laughter.  It did get a little crazy when Missy pulled out her Ylang Ylang essential oil for us to try.  Just hearing her say it, Sarah repeat it, the rest of us try to say it and the way it tickled our ears when it tumbled off our tongues had us in fits of laughter.  It became our all purpose phrase for the weekend and we even came up with hand gestures (thank you Friends) to go with it.  I'm not sure when the name started but when we refer back to that trip we lovingly call ourselves the Ylang Ylang gang.

Oh, and a useful tip that I wish I had never learned : Peanut M&M's are the most balanced sugar treat I could eat.  The protein of the peanut balances the carb/sugar of the chocolate.  I should celebrate over that since Peanut M&M's are my favorite and most craved treat but now I have to convince myself that my justification for it's nutritional value is still not very good for me.  Every time I give in I think of Missy and Terra while I munch away of my balanced, low glycemic colored heaven, silently cursing and blessing their names.

Time Out for Women, sponsored by Deseret Book, was good.  Good humor, good atmosphere, good thoughts.  But it was the late night hours of laughter, soul bearing, favorite things sharing, eating and crying that really made this time out so healing.  I admire each of these women for their love of family, testimonies, and cheerful enduring nature.

A good trip must include good food and this trip did not disappoint.  It was well worth the crowded, very long line we had to get through.

It was so hard to choose what to order.  The theme on the front menu states "pure clean food with a twist" which to me translated to healthy, beautifully presented party for the mouth.  The butternut squash soup was orange delight in a bowl and my oriental salad was unlike any oriental salad I have ever had.  Maybe it was just the square plate or the colorful presentation but seriously, it was a garden delight.

Our less healthy choice, but equally delicious in a not-so-balanced, very high glycemic way, was at the Melting Pot.  All things fondue.  We skipped out on the meaty meal portion and went straight for the good stuff.  My imagination would have never come up with rice crispy treat or cheese cake for dipping but oooh was it good!

I didn't realize that I needed a time out but after spending a couple of days with these women I was ready to take on my seasonal winter blues (not at all the same shade of blue as that blue lemon) with hope and a good attitude.

Lori Prince, Sarah d'Evegnee, Missy Babcock, Terra Sargeant, Marybeth Lemon, Heather Young, Me

Our shirts, bags, notebooks (and a full package of time out goodness...water bottle, chapstick, hand sanitizer, kleenex) were made and labeled by Sarah.