Bikini time ALREADY!?

In one month from now, my family will be enjoying the sun and sand down in Casey Key, Florida. We took a week long vacation there last year with my parents and some friends, and we all had such a good time that we've planned to do it again this year. The motel we're staying at backs right onto a long strip of beach, and the area is fairly quiet compared to other parts of Florida. We're quite a ways away from the flashiness of Orlando or the busy retirement communities to the north.

It's the same area where I spent most of my vacation time as a child with my parents and brother, and we have very fond memories of all the local spots. "The Grove" is a short drive away, where you can purchase freshly picked grapefruits and oranges. Venice is a bustling little town with cafes, bookstores and fabulously tacky souvenirs.

Yummies Donuts is a bit of a drive, but worth every minute! The donuts are pulled out of the cookers right before your eyes, and a huge paddle is dipped into a steaming pot of glaze and poured carefully over the fried dough (they taste much different from a Tim Horton's donut, which pales in comparison).

You can be transported back to the 1950s when you visit The Frosted Mug, an old fashioned hot dog stand where dubious-looking bikers sit sipping their beers. A non-alcoholic version (root beer) for the kiddies is served in frosted mugs - with a scoop of ice cream if you're hankering for a float! The fries, chili dogs and hamburgers are deliciously artery-clogging.

I think my favourite part, though, is combing the beach for unusual shells and shark's teeth. I'll toot my own horn by saying that I'm a very good shark's tooth hunter. I have a knack for spotting the dark coloured fossils among the mounds of broken shells and seaweed. I never leave the beach empty handed, and time seems to slip by so quickly while I'm out searching. I look up and realize that I've walked over a mile past the strip motels, and have instead ended up on the beaches facing the multi-million dollar mansions of Casey Key.

People take Sunday drives along Casey Key Road just to gawk at the monstrous villas.

But with the beach comes the bikinis and trunks, and my husband and I have slowly come to the realization that our bodies are most certainly not fit for swimsuits. Although I've been doing well at keeping my New Year's resolutions to take my vitamins, drink lots of water and get more sleep, my resolve to eat better and exercise more has fallen short. I don't need to lose any weight, but I'm certainly not scoring any points in the toned and tanned departments.

So we've resolved for the next 4-5 weeks before we leave to get into (some) shape and eat healthier. My hubby bought a used bike trainer, onto which he can mount our bikes and we can spin for a while in the basement. We've also decided to have a week "TV free" in the evenings, where we will be forced to do things that actually require interaction with one another. We're going to bust out all of our old board games and decks of cards, and maybe spend some time working on a website for my new doula business, Chickadee Birthing Services. This will help us avoid our worst habit, which is collapsing on the couch in the front of the TV with our favourite treats. It will probably also be great for our relationship!

Valentine's Day is a good time to start, and I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my hubby and having some fun evenings together. Given that today is the Day of Love, I would like to dedicate this song to Tom, my Valentine. This is Joel Plaskett's Light of the Moon. Listen to it here

In late September
I drove across the prairie
The mountains behind me
And the ocean beyond
This country's a coalmine
And I'm a canary
Turn out the headlights and the radio on

I remember the words
I forget the tune
The light of the moon
The light of the moon
Under the stars, you stagger and swoon
The light of the moon
The light of the moon

Sunrise oh sunrise
Will you wait for me
Don't come too soon
Through the night's deep abyss
Flirt with the waitress in Sault Ste Marie
Hear music and voices through static and hiss

I remember the words
I forget the tune
The light of the moon
The light of the moon
Under the stars, you stagger and swoon
The light of the moon
The light of the moon