In the bleak midwinter

I've been thinking lately that I should share my recipe for a tropical vacation in your very own home. I started this tradition last year in mid-January when I just couldn't stand it anymore, and now that I'm having good days to speak of, I find myself craving an indulgence once more. Of course, just like last year, I'm pregnant at this most depressing time of year, so maybe that has more to do with it, but I can't quite tell you the wonders of psyching out your senses when everything around you seems to scream of miserable cold and lifelessness. (It just feels like it will never end!)

So, on these days that I find myself slipping into self pity and spiraling down into the depths of despair, I break out my "kit". I even order the mango directly from Hawaii, because I haven't been able to find an equivalent anywhere else. Last year, I wrote on my family blog about my acquisition of a real ukulele. When we went to Hawaii for our 5th anniversary / honeymoon make-up vacation, I desperately wanted to bring home one of the $10 ukes that they sold in the little ABC convenience stores. But my husband told me it was a waste of money and I would be disappointed in how bad it sounded once I actually tried to play it. And then he appeased me by saying I could get an inexpensive real one when we got home. Well, it took me a while, but I took him up on his offer, and I spent last winter and spring teaching myself "Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World". Unfortunately, I never recorder myself at the height of my skills, and I stopped playing once baby number 3 came along. Of course, now I have to re-learn a good bit (and cut my nails completely off), but it will be so worth it to round out the tropical experience.

So, here is my prescription for the winter duldrums. Though it probably won't do anything for full blown seasonal depression - that's where my "happy light" comes in.

None of this is dependent on having been to Hawaii or even an island, but you should have a good idea of what bright, warm, somewhat humid sunshine feels like. And any experience where you found yourself happily surrounded by lush greenery is a good visual as well - even if it was just a greenhouse garden or botanical preserve somewhere. Use your memories to their best advantage.

Next, you need to stimulate all your senses to make that memory a pseudo-reality. Think, taste, smell, sound. I like to use the Hawaiian selection of Alba shampoo and conditioner the night before to jumpstart my senses. Then I get my taste buds going with Mac nuts and dried mango, but there are many options for you to choose from. Grab a whole pineapple as a special treat, or make some chicken teriyaki with rice (there's a great Kona Coast marinade that you can get just about anywhere). Then, I add my favorite scent of all - coconut body butter. Slather it on as if it were sunscreen. And then turn up the tunes of some popular island music. Iz kamakawiwo'ole is a good choice (and also my ukulele inspiration), but I'm sure you could get a great playlist off of pandora.

Then, just sit back with your eyes closed (in a warm, sunny room) and let your senses take you back to that memory of more summery times. Pretty cheap vacation, no? Have a great trip!

Oh, and the flower print mu-mu is completely optional. It makes you look pregnant even when you're not, so I wouldn't recommend that addition to your ritual unless you are expecting...it will only make you feel worse. If you really want to visualize yourself on a beach, I suppose you could don your bathing suit?