2009 Summer Getaways

There is no doubt that this year, more than ever, travelers are looking for good vacation value. Whether traveling with the whole family, with girlfriends or with your sweetheart, most guests are looking for discounted deals and value oriented packages for their summer getaways. So we’ve done the legwork for you and compiled a list options and the best offerings from some of the finest resorts in the Sunshine State. We’re sure you’ll find an ideal option for your travel needs. Happy travels! —C.M. Villazon Loew's Royal Pacific Hotel LOEWS ROYAL PACIFIC HOTEL, ORLANDO THE PACKAGE: Florida Resident Rate THE DETAILS: Stay just steps away from the exciting Universal Studios parks at the beautiful Loew’s Royal... [Read more]

Couples: Unlocking the keys to female sexual intimacy

By Daniel Stein M.D., F.A.C.O.G Does anyone have the perfect relationship? What defines the ideal relationship anyway? These are questions couples ask themselves everyday-especially when they realize that romance is no longer a focal point in their lives. ” Only eight percent [of married couples] have sex with their partners three or four times a week or more. The doctors describe this as ‘a significant public health problem.’ “ Many factors can chip away at a relationship that was once strong. Money is the first problem. Financial stress attacks not only our heads and pocketbooks, but our relationships as well. Another problem that plagues couples is poor communication. The word “communication”... [Read more]

Keeping Connected

by Minx Boren, MCC The importance of cultivating friendship in a busy world It’s not an overstatement to say that most of us have never lived through such stressful times. Stop and ask yourself, “How am I coping?” As women we know instinctively that we thrive and discover ourselves best through our friendships and connections. But who has time and opportunity to foster these relationships now when we need them the most? Tend and befriend is the phrase used to describe a woman’s tendency to gather with other women for comfort and support when the going gets tough. Research shows that, unlike men, whose testosterone driven brains react with instincts of fight or flight, as women we respond to stress... [Read more]

Fiscal Infidelity

BY SHARON LEVINSOHN There is a dirty little secret lurking in many marriages today, and it is called fiscal infidelity. While you may have heard of the term sexual infidelity, you may not be as familiar with the financial version. Fiscal infidelity involves deceit, planning and deception. This syndrome necessitates spouses going to great lengths to hide major purchases, lie about personal spending proclivities and/or maintain secret bank accounts. The financially unfaithful plan out elaborate schemes and construct numerous lies in order to carry out this financial form of cheating. The numbers of fiscally unfaithful couples are staggering. According to a joint survey sponsored by Redbook magazine and lawyers.com, almost... [Read more]

Back to Your Roots

A mother-daughter escape to RANCHO LA PUERTA BY IRVINA LEW From the moment my daughter, Sharon, and I arrived at Rancho La Puerta, we felt its unique sense of place. On this 32-acre campus, clay-tile paths curve and wind their way up hill and down, past fountains, stone bridges, a running track surrounding a vineyard and gardens with clusters of sage, geranium or rosemary. Whether during a casual stroll, a bird-watching talk or a brisk walk between the four pools, eleven gyms and 83 casitas, this landscaped section of the 3000-acre ranch always surprises with something splendid to see. We stayed in Villa Sol #9-a two-bedroom, twobathroom lodging-with a spacious great room topped by a vaulted, beamed ceiling and decorated... [Read more]