What matters most anyway?

Living abroad for the past 7 years and 5 of those years were traveling on our boat Duchesse, we all learned how to live a more "minimal life style". Especially while on Duchesse, we learned really quick that there was only so much room, everything had it's place to be stored away, and if you bring something new aboard something old had to go.

Well what do you do for birthdays and Christmas when things aren't as readily available in foreign countries and if they are available, normally they are outrageously expensive being an imported item? Hmm? You get really creative! What matters most anyway?

Randi just turned 14 on the 14th of December. And through the past 7 years I've come up with all kinds of fun creative intangible gifts, most of which include quality time spent together added to something fun to do together. This year I noticed she mention an interest in getting her nails done. So I decided, we'd take the day off from school and the usual routine stuff, and spend it together pampering ourselves. The day began at 10am at this fabulous Mexican spa, Metamorphosis Day Spa, where we both indulged in a SPA pedicure almost falling asleep on the love seat.

As we sank into the love seat having our feet pampered, we enjoyed the open door view of the Christmas tree across the street. We watched the community pass by with some signing up on sheets hanging on the door for their turn.
After the interlude with Metamorphosis Day Spa, we walked a block to the corner deli for a relaxing street side lunch. Did a little shopping looking for a top that she needed and then she picked out her cake. As a family for dinner we made her fillet Mignon which is easy to chew with her new braces and afterward watched a movie together. If you ask her, I think she'd say that she truly enjoyed the day. I know I did! :)