Celebrating the Bride-to-be (Part I)

Hola Bloggies:

Sorry for the delay in getting back to blogging. If you follow me on twitter you know that my laptop basically up and practically died on me. Every time I sat down to blog it would freeze up; I spent many hours on Sunday and Monday nights trying to get it to work. But alas!

Eventually I did what any reasonable blogger would do – I went and purchased myself a netbook! I am now the proud owner of a lovely new Toshiba blogging toy!! Perfect for all those trips I always seem to be taking.

Last we talked I was on my way to Vancouver for my bachelorette/wedding shower weekend. I can safely report that I had an absolutely lovely time!!! Honestly, my friends not only did a wonderful job planning but they also made me feel celebrated and loved.

To get to Vancouver I had to take a ferry from Vancouver Island to the mainland of British Columbia. I know the very thought of boarding a vessel to get to a bachelorette weekend is a strange thought to a mainlander but when you live on the Island it’s a way of life.

I have to confess my usually land-locked self loved every moment of that ferry journey. Basking in the sunlight at the front of the ship was in and of itself a highlight of my weekend.

Once I arrived in Vancouver I quickly grabbed a cab and headed to my first destination. The Vida spa at the Westin Bayshore Hotel.

My friends had arranged to meet me at the spa where they had set up a whole host of treatments.

My half-day of treatments consisted of an Ayurvedic exfoliation and massage, a facial and a manicure. Talk about bliss overload. When I emerged from my first treatment I had officially been reduced to a relaxed mush. I don’t remember the last time I felt that way.

Overall the Vida spa was a fantastic place for a girl’s get-together. Especially since they have a trendy and relaxing lounge for you to enjoy before or after treatments. Much of our day was spent chilling in bath robes, relaxing, enjoying either lemon or cucumber water, and nibbling on fruit or nut snacks.

I visit Vancouver often and most of the time I stay at the Westin Bayshore. So needless to say I will absolutely be back to the Vida Spa!

I couldn’t believe my friends had pampered me to such a degree. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better – it did!

Once we were done at the spa I was whisked away to a secret destination. No one would tell me where we were heading!

After some driving around Vancouver we pulled up to the new Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, where one of my friend’s had worked her hook-ups to get us a private cabana! Swanky!!

Our cabana had cushy lounge furniture, drinks, food, a large flat-screen television, and a great view. It honestly was very cool and felt nothing like Vancouver. Instead it felt like the kind of thing you would expect to find in Las Vegas.

My friends outdid themselves and packed a gourmet picnic from a local purveyor. The meal featured a lovely sandwich (un-pictured), some wonderful home-made chips, mojitos, and cupcakes!!!

Everything was absolutely yum but the cupcakes courtesy of the store Cupcakes were my favourite part of the meal. Once upon a time I was fortunate enough to eat one of their treats fresh out of the oven. I’ve been a fan ever since.

At one point in the afternoon we decided to venture up several dozen floors to see the property that secured us the cabana hook-up. Generally, the only people allowed into the cabana level are hotel guests (I considered staying there but they only had one room at $500/night and I’m not that crazy . . . yet) or property owners. That’s right. You too can own a swanky condo at the Fairmont Waterfront.

Want to see what nearly $5.5 MILLION dollars gets you?

Ummmm . . . hello, ridiculously unobstructed views! WOW!!! That place was out of control. Drop dead gorgeous. And yet – maybe not $5.5 MILLION dollars gorgeous! lol

There was still more bachelorette fun to come in my day. But I think it’s safe to say I was already feeling very very very happy!

To be Continued . . . .

Question: What did you do for your bachelorette? If you’re not married – what would you like to do?