A Cinderella Story...once upon a lifetime

So, I entered a little contest and I'm an official finalist! The winner is determined by the number of votes the finalists receive so will you vote for me?

It's easy...Go to this link (you have to be a facebook member): www.facebook.com/dolcehotels Click "Vote Now" and vote for “A Cinderella Story…once upon a lifetime” (by Jennie Plumlee).

The contest is for Lakeway Spa & Resort in Austin (it’s a social media marketing promotion). We were asked to describe our perfect getaway and I wrote a story about six girls running away for a spa weekend…the winner gets the dream vacation they described! I think everyone has until Thursday to vote.

And, if you're intersted in just reading the story, here you go...

Day dreaming…where does your mind wander? Away from the chaos of required living into the blue of something far from reality. The demands of life have pulled you down again and your heart leaps, even for a split second, at just a thought of getting away from it all and dare I say it, to relax. Dream with me…of a beautiful place, a modern day Cinderella’s castle, far from the commotion of the city into the tranquil hills of Austin called Lakeway Spa and Resort. Oh, if there were such a place. Forget Prince Charming, though…a girl wants to get away to relax. And, who better to join her then her closest confidants, her five best friends.

They arrive, together, almost as if their Fairy Godmother magically brought them there with a wave of her wand. The girls check-in and find themselves escorted by the handsome bellmen, a far resemblance to mice. A short brevity of time before the door opens and as you can almost imagine it, there stand six girls in awe of majesty, looking at the breath-taking Colorado Villa, 2,770 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 3 baths of picturesque beauty. They claim their rooms and start to unpack but their stomachs grumble, it’s been awhile since the porridge they ate this morning in the country. The girls put on their snappy casual and head to Travis Restaurant for their favorite, seafood, and even better, their famous seafood buffet. After a thousands laughs and few bottles of wine they head back to the room only to be surprised by a delivery of strawberries. It’s been a long day so the girls settle in for a movie, the best kind of movie, a hopeless romantic film they rent and watch on the 32-inch LCD flat screen before settling into their plush beds.

Excitement is brewing on Saturday morning so the girls wake early for their continental breakfast, delivered by none other then those handsome bellmen. They grab a cup of coffee from their personal coffee maker and head to Pilate’s class at 9am…oh the joys of living in an incredible resort. After class, the girls decide to wonder the scenic property…through the Austin Building, over to the Travis Building and right by the Vista Building…this is hardly the woods to grandmother’s house. It’s almost 11am so the girls make their way to heaven, otherwise known as the San Saba Spa. They never knew there was such a beautiful place here on earth…the Asian décor immediately puts them at ease. But, next, a 25 minute San Saba Spa Signature Swedish massage? They are definitely in another world! The girls meet again to enjoy salads from the San Saba Spa menu while overlooking the beautiful pools…the definition of unwinding. After encouraging conversation, the girls are whisked away for their next treatment…an Express Facial…if anything was in doubt before, they do not doubt now – they know they are dreaming. Afterwards, they put on their bathing suits and spend the rest of the afternoon by the pool with a nice margarita in hand, reminiscing about their amazing life together as friends. A dip in the pool refreshes the soul so just a few hours later the girls are ready for their next Lakeway Resort adventure. They head upstairs, grab relaxing showers in the unforgettable bathrooms and dress for dinner. Tonight, they are ready to have a good time. 7:30pm reservations at Josie’s Bar and Grill is what every girl needs to let down her guard. The girls order a round of beers, a few burgers, sliders and a nice sized beef tenderloin. When they’re ready for dessert, they order one of each of the five dessert selections because they just can’t decide which one looks best. The girls take the dessert to-go and head back to the room for some chatter and a nice sit on the beautiful balcony overlooking the cool, calm lake before laying their long locks down on the dreamy pillows, once again.

The girls, almost in defiance that the weekend is almost over, all sleep in on Sunday morning. But, don’t fret, they wake just in time to head to Travis Restaurant for the famed Sunday brunch. The girls lightly debate whether the wild berries with granola honey and yogurt are better then the Eggs Benedict…so, in all fun, they taste selections from the cold and hot buffet. After the girls leave they suddenly remember their Prince Charmings at home, waiting in anticipation of their return…so, they make a quick jaunt by the gift shop to buy their love a present.

What an amazing weekend…one that any girl could hardly imagine. Was this just a fairy tale? Will this Cinderella and her best girlfriends ever be able to leave their world behind for something unbelievable, if only for a weekend? Only you will decide…