Becky's Picks: How-to spring break, recession-style

There's nothing worse that popping by your friend's blog to see what their kid ate for dinner only to find a glowing recap of some exotic vacation. It hurts. A lot.

I would NEVER hurt you like that (mostly because I rarely take exotic, blog-worthy vacations). You know when you visit me on the Internet (or in person) you'll probably encounter some delicious bacon-y commentary, a party or two (low-fi is how we do), Misadventures on the Metro ("Divine," according to the author's mom) and possibly (maybe) something about a movie I've watched a couple of times.

(Did I really just publicly admit how boring my blog has become? Don't answer that.)

So this is totally NOT a look-at-how-awesome-my-vacation-was-and-you-weren't-there-neiner-neiner-neiner post. It's not. Consider it more of a how-to:

Becky Wickstrom's Awesome Spring Break HOW-TO (recession-style):

Step 1. Find a content-rich, job-enhancing conference and ask your boss to send you. The sell is important, people. You should probably wear a business suit (you want the boss to know you're SERIOUS about this) and then "coincidentally" bake cookies for the entire office. Make like a short stop and cover your bases.

(Bonus points if one of the speakers is the genius behind Willitblend.com. Yes, the rake blended.)

Step 2. Pick a conference in a travel-worthy location. Be careful on this one -- do you honestly think the boss will send you to New Zealand? For a one-day networking meeting? I mean, you're a valued employee, but Vegas is a bit more reasonable.

Step 3. Make sure said conference is hosted at the nicest hotel in the city. But then check Travelocity for killer airfare/hotel packages at a fraction of the original price. (Note: Travelocity, endorsement check, please!).

Step 4. Bring a fun travel companion, thus achieving the magical combination of business trip/romantic getaway.

(Side tip: Feed travel companion bananas foster (full-throttle) gelato. Trust me. It will make the ride home MUCH more fun! Especially if the travel companion sits next to a squirmy, seat-filling/over-spilling lady on a four-hour flight home. And then she gets up to use the restroom, stumbles, grips the seat in front of her and creates a violent earthquake for the seat's occupant. Who subsequently flails his arms like a shocked octopus. Then, for the remainder of the trip, your travel companion refers to the incident as the "great earthquake/octopus arms incident of '09).

Step 5. Make the most of your evenings. Indulge in killer Mexican food, crepes, shows (but get separate checks so your boss can foot half of the bill). Then spend the second half of your half-day meetings by the pool. In the sun.
**Warning**: Returning to "normal" life after such an adventure is nearly impossible. You'll miss the 500-square-foot bathroom, you'll long for a visit to the incredible spa, you'll pine for another show. And oh those crepes! You'll have dreams swirled with bananas and nutella for weeks! And you'll never again be able to rid your thoughts of that unbelievable houndstooth wallpaper.My rating: 100/5 stars!

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