Long Weekend Life » steel drums music

For A Friend………

admin — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:11:07 +0000

I hope your life is always one long weekend no matter how it is spent or where you are. Remember Sunsets are there to remind us everything has a different time but how amazing each time can be. A day is only twenty four hours. The common house fly lives only 24 hours and spends most of it looking for…..well you know. The butterfly spends some of it’s life in one form then changes mid stream to becomes something totally different but more beautiful.We are all different and how we decide to evolve and live those times is up to us. No matter what you believe we go through this life under a shadow but we all have faith in one more day. Many of us leave with unfinished to do lists, things we wished we had said and done and life still left to be lived, because everyone of us is still that little kid full of wonder inside wanting to know there is more. More to life and the experience, more to the wonder that is the planet we live on, so much more than our limited understanding and still more to come.

footprint

Whether you choose a tropical lifestyle that is peaceful and calm next to the water listening to palm tress blow and the waves crashing against the shore, or you are dancing to the music with a drink in hand, Hawaiian shirt on and flip flops on your feet partying through life, or traveling and discovering new shores and new sand and new experiences everything has it’s time.

For a moment

We all go through life with the images of memories in our head of relaxing times gone by or great adventures in far off places that we have been or just relaxing time with family and friends.THOSE are the times to hold onto and remember.THOSE are the true riches in life. Yet we stow them away in tiny books, or on backup hard drives in these modern times to pull them out and remind us of the times we enjoyed life the most and it felt the most complete. The times when that report that was due didn’t matter, or the project went undone and that was just fine. Where the limes tasted sweet and the drinks were ice cold, and the food was the best we ever had, but we would give it all up for one more day relaxing with our friends and family.

Sunsets

Life is and will be sweet no matter where we are and how we spend it. Everything is temporary so embrace the change, find your relaxing spot to dig your toes in and make it a long weekend life no matter where you are. Be happy, hold your head high and enjoy the adventure, but don’t get to attached to the destination for the time being. Enjoy your long weekend life….Aloha!

ParrotHeads….what the hell are they?

admin — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:16:58 +0000

The term is throw around a lot when it comes to Jimmy Buffett fans. But where did it come from and how did it start? The truth to the story may not be as exciting as actually being one and participating. The term “Parrothead” was coined at a concert in Cincinnati when Jimmy was commenting on all the various forms of dress the fans had showed up in. The typical aloha shirts, fin hats, parrot hats and hula skirts, etc. he looked out at the crowd and mentioned it is great having fans like the Grateful Dead who were so dedicated to the music and lifestyle. Timothy B. Schmidt who was in Jimmy’s band the Coral Reefers at the time them mentioned maybe they should be called “Parrotheads” and the term stuck. Since then the term has evolved some.

Cheeseburger In Paradise is a popular ParrotHead spot

In 1989 the first “official” Parrotheads chapter or club was established in Atlanta by founder Scott Nickerson. Since then the club has gone international and it is believed there are some 200+ clubs in the US and Canada alone. Originally the clubs would meet at the concerts to tailgate and share stories of previous concerts and adventures.Their hard core fandom grew and take shape. Jimmy did his part to fuel the growth with the opening of restaurants like Margaritaville and loaning his name for Cheeseburger In Paradise. Add to that the souvenirs that later became a clothing and decor line for the fans to buy and being a parrothead became a lot less exclusive. But one could argue exclusivity is probably NOT what Parrotheads are after. The more the merrier it seems at the gatherings.

Tiki Torch is lit...it's time to tailgate

Parrothead events range from simple Happy Hours to the annual “Meeting of the Minds” in Key West. This particular meeting has grown to some 4,000+ fans and includes live music as well as various charity events. There are thought to be some 30,000+ Parrotheads worldwide and through various charity events they have raised well over $27 million for various charities as well as donating some 3 million hours of community service. So while Parrotheads are typically thought of as just a bunch of wild partiers. it can be argued they play hard AND work hard to make the world a better place.

Proper Dress Not required

So if you are considering becoming a Parrothead or already are one where are the resources you should check in on to make it official? There is one that goes without saying and that is http://www.margaritaville.com, if you would like the link for the Parrothead chapters around the world to find the one nearest you you can check that out at http://www.phip.com/Chapters.asp.

Get involved and get immersed in the tropical lifestyle with the Parrotheads and relax and enjoy your long weekend life.

“Staycations”…are they worth it?

admin — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:16:02 +0000

“Staycations”, are they worth it or not? First let’s define a “staycation” as it is a relatively new term being thrown around because of the economy. A “staycation” is a vacation of sorts only you find new things to do and see in the area around your hometown. It could be an overnight trip or a one tank trip but for the most part a “staycation” is exactly how it sounds.

My wife and I recently took a staycation for our honeymoon because we have four kids, a limited window in which to vacation and pets we must consider in any cost or vacationing. The kids all went to grandparents for one week. Since we are a “blended” family each set of kids went to different grandparents which was ok and thankfully it was the same week. Cost is always a factor because with the pets you basically have to budget for another hotel room when boarding and having them taken care of. Which brings us to cost. For a normal vacation with the kids each night would cost the same as booking three rooms each night. One for the kids, the cost of boarding for the dogs and then our room. Occasionally we can get a suite with enough bedrooms for the kids at a discount so that helps.
This time the kids were away and the only consideration were the pets. We were on a limited (very) budget, so boarding the pets was not an option. We needed to stay close and stop off at home to take care of the pets while we were “away”, thus the term “staycation”.

Inn on Fifth rooftop pool.

We decided to go about an hour away to a little boutique hotel called Inn on Fifth in Naples, FL. It is an awesome hotel in the heart of Naples and the 5th Ave. shopping and historic district. With so much to see and do within walking distance of the hotel it made two days there seem like a vacation. The hotel is historic and lavish looking like a luxury hotel, but the room rates are surprisingly affordable. It has a beautiful pool on the roof on the second floor and a spa and weight room on the third floor. There was even a rumor that Country singer Keith Urban and his wife Actress Nicole Kidman were staying there the same nights. Visit their website for more information at http://www.innonfifth.com
We are lucky because we live in the middle of the vacation capital of the world Florida. We are literally 45 minutes to an hour from some of the top rated beaches in the world. If you are not as lucky as us look for hotels that are out of the ordinary or offer some sort of tropical vibe or resemble the hotels you stay at when you do get a chance to hit the islands or beaches.
This trip we did not make it to the beaches but did live the tropical lifestyle. Not far from the Inn on Fifth is the Tommy Bahama restaurant and shops in Naples, FL. Always a great pick for dinner or drinks and takes just minutes to walk to Naples beach from the restaurant if you book dinner early enough to go and watch the sunset. We had eaten a huge lunch at a local Sushi and Thai place, so we opted for Mai Tai’s and soup and appetizers. On a hot summer day (98 our first night) this is the way to go unless you have a huge appetite. The guitarist they had had the two dining areas on their feet dancing which was a new sight there. With the drinks, the coconut shrimp, lollipop chicken drummies,crab cakes and crab bisque soup it made a great meal and a perfect evening. The next morning we headed back to check on the pets and grab a coffee and then headed back to the hotel for night two. This time we listened to the music for a bit at the hotel restaurant McCabe’s and then headed over to the restaurant next door Yabba for a late dinner. Yabba advertises itself as a Island Grill and they do a great job living up to their name. The Crab Bisque soup was unbelievable along with the Caribbean spring rolls. My wife had a pasta with mussels, crab and shrimp in a Caribbean sauce with sun dried and stewed tomatoes and artichoke hearts. It was another amazing dinner and a great getaway at a local hotel.

Dinner at Yabba

The Inn on fifth has special rates if you are a Florida resident, so make sure to ask or look them up when booking a room there.
After two nights in Naples we decided one more night would be nice. Since this was the last night we could afford to stay out I decided to surprise my wife with a hotel on the other end of the scale. We went from small and quaint but lavish boutique hotel to the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. The place is massive is the only way to describe it. With rooms overlooking one of three HUGE atriums and themed areas this was like getting away while still being fairly close to home. They Gaylord Palms resort has three areas representing different areas of Florida. One looks like Key West with a sailboat you can dine on inside the themed atrium area. The second area has a mock up of The St. Augustine fort, which is also indoors and is used for a variety of events from weddings to meetings and conventions. It is the Main atrium of the three. The third atrium has some old shanty’s in it which are home to a steak house and another houses live snakes and baby alligators (my wife’s favorite). Our room overlooked the main atrium which was spectacular at night. It is impossible to list everything we did in 36 hours here and then a side trip to Disney. So for more information on everything there is to do there just check their site at http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-palms/ If you go you will not need to go to any of the amusement parks as there is plenty to do there. But it’s nice to know those are also close.

Atrium at Gaylord Palms Resort from our Balcony

So staycations may be the way to go if time and budget are restricted but you need to get away to keep your sanity and hold onto that long weekend life vibe. Relax and enjoy everyone.

Break out the Bathing suit it’s National No Panty Day!

admin — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:45:14 +0000

Yep, saw this on Facebook so it must be true. Today (June 22)is National No Panty Day which can only mean one thing…….take the day off, break out the bathing suit and head to the beach! That’s what any good Long Weekend Life reader would do right?

With that there is no better time to let you know what is in fashion right now for women when it comes time to hit the beach. Throw out that old bikini or one piece that is so last year and check out the latest swimwear.
We will start with the inexpensive and let you know Target (www.target.com)is featuring “funkinis and make your own combo separates in their swimwear section online. Also for teens they have added Teen-Y bikini’s for fun. Prices are from $20 and up.

Target "Fun Kini"

For something a little more fashionable there is always PacSun that has all the brand names from Roxy,Hurly, fox, Body Glove and their own brand American Glory featuring all kinds of summer patterns and colors as well as Red White and Blue for the coming 4th of July holiday.Prices are from $32 and up.

PacSun selection

From Hollister they have polka dots, ruffles, flowers, beach and tropical colors in a variety of skimpy bikini’s for teens and adults. If barely there is your thing this is the place to bare it all and leave little to be imagined. Prices are about $13 per piece and are sold separately.

If you are more into luxury or “resort wear” then Tommy Bahama is the place to head. They have a variety of mix and match bikini separates as well as one piece swim suits. Add to that they have a variety of cover ups that look great on the beach or on the town. They can be worn just about anywhere, especially on a “No Panty” holiday!

Tommy Bahama

So get out there and embrace the holiday in style and enjoy a “No Panty” Friday holiday and roll into the long weekend life with a smile on your face.

Fantasy Fun in Key West – It’ll be here before you know it

admin — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:29:41 +0000

We will start with my disclaimer, I do not attend that Week nor do I plan to as it’s just not my thing. But I do recognize that some of you long weekend lifers enjoy this craziness in Key West. So for you and for those of you who are looking at the screen like my dog looks at me when I make a funny noise, here are all the juicy facts.

Fun in Key West

Fantasy you know what this year is from October 19th to October 28th in Key West. For those of you who have never been, think Mardi Gras in Key West only a little weirder. This week of costumes (or not) drinking, floats, more costumes and general craziness has been a tradition since 1979 when two local businessmen came up with the idea. Since then it has become wildly popular and has drawn national attention for it’s body painting and art, costumes and general craziness. Officially sponsored by the Key West chamber of commerce who claims all the terms used to promote it are registered trademarks and is why I can’t use it’s actual name it is also apparently a huge money maker for Key West because it has become big corporate business. With sponsors like Captain Morgan, Bud Light, Coca Cola and Monster (where’s the Red Bull).

Costumes In Key West

There is a Hemmingway look alike contest as well and it is probably the quietest part of the week. So if you think you look like “The Old Man and the Sea” then this might be the week to grab your six toed cat and head there.

Ole!

This was a “Halloween Party” in previous years but has expanded way beyond that. Past years have even included pets in costumes (let’s hope they don’t drink). Every type of person and lifestyle is represented here. The week does have a code of conduct though it is loosely enforced. Police and plenty of security are on hand to make sure the partying does not get out of control…..which here is a relative term.

Fun in October

There is plenty of beads, beer, Rum drinks and partying for everyone in Key west during the fantasy party in Key West.So enjoy the party and get your costumes ready, book your rooms and make your plans for a relaxing week of craziness in Key West during your Long Weekend Life.

Wastin’ Away Again in Margaritaville……online.

admin — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:27:43 +0000

Sometimes living the long weekend life and escaping to the islands is as easy as booting up your Mac or PC…..but you already knew that or you wouldn’t be here. When you feel the urge to go fishing or explore an island cave, maybe talk to a hippie or two, build a boat, do the limbo, eat some coconut all you need to do is visit Margaritaville Online.

Explore the Islands

For all you Parrot Heads and Parrot Head wanna be’s there is a way to be wastin away again just by visiting Facebook or firing up your iPad or iPhone. THQ and exploding Barrel games have teamed with Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville brand to create the ultimate island game. With a loose story line based on Jimmy’s famous songs to follow you can unlock new adventures and quests to do everything from build boats to finding scattered pieces of a magical harmonica that has been broken by a evil monkey.

Margaritaville Online

Build your own Oasis and invite your friends to play in the band and then set off on your quests as you go from level to level. There are multiple mini games as well to play where you will spend some quality hammock time (think Bejeweled with a twist), shoot Pirates trying to invade the island (the jewel level here is particularly entertaining), do the limbo (you must have good eye hand coordination for this one) or play a steel drum (Simon says). Once you reach a certain level and build your own boat you can also go fishing for everything from Permit to Sailfish or spend the day on the water netting for treasure off the coast. It’s all in a days “work” while you explore the islands.

Home Sweet Home Create your own Oasis

Some things to remember about Margaritaville is there are plenty of opportunities to spend money on in app purchases. While they are not required they do speed the game along. Everything from building bridges to boats or frozen concoction makers may cost extra if you are lacking supplies or want to speed up the monkeys building the project (those monkeys are really slow).

Gone Fishing

So if you are sitting at home or your desk wishing you could enjoy the islands or escape to Margaritaville even if only for a little while then check out Margaritaville Online for Facbook and the iPad and Margaritaville mobile for your iPhone and enjoy your long weekend life exploring these virtual islands and put out the “Gone Fishing” sign.

Parrot Head Legend and lore

admin — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:43:43 +0000

There is a legend in Paradise that most claim is true, but only the participants know for sure. It is the kind of legend past down through generations and that songs are written about. It involves a small Island, a couple of lost sailors and a restaurant on that small island.But like any legend it depends on where you read it or who you hear it from as to what the true story is.

Cabbage Key Welcome Sign

The legend starts out with a famous sailor / song writer cruising the Caribbean in his sailboat when he gets a bit “lost” shall we say. With little in the way of provisions other then canned food and peanut butter (other versions say beans and soup), he hallucinates a piping hot American Cheeseburger on a bun with a side of fries with a pickle wedge, topped with lettuce and tomato. From here the legend gets about as murky as gumbo.

In some versions such as Wikipedia he lands in Road Town Tortola, B.V.I. and was surprised to find a nearby establishment that actually had exactly what he envisioned. If you live in South West Florida he got so far off course that he ended up at a little island known as Cabbage Key where he found the Cabbage Key Inn who was and still to this day serves American Cheeseburgers and became the inspiration for the famous song.. Whether this is true depends on who you talk to. and which legend you believe.

Cabbage Key Inn

Either way Cabbage Key is a beautiful Island with lots of activities for the whole family. With that said itis no chap to get to unless you own your own boat or can hitch a ride with someone who does. Daily Taxi’s leave from Pine Island and range in price from $8 for parking plus $45 -$55 currently per person round trip.

Once there you will want tovisit the Cabbage Key Inn and check out the more than 70,000 $1 bills stapled to the walls and ceiling there. Again this is part of the folklore of the Inn.After lunch you can walk that off by checking out any number of nature trails and see the beautiful cottages along the waterfront. Also don’t forget to visit the gift shop.

This is a great place to visit if you are in the area and want something different or if you are a hardcore Parrot Head and want to see a little piece of Jimmy Buffett legend while enjoying you long weekend life.

Time for Tropical Food

admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:45:00 +0000

With Summer here we love to go out and hit our favorite restaurants. They have some great summer tropical food to enjoy that never disappoints. Since summer is not complete without an escape to the islands to soak up some rays, get some sand between your toes and just relax, we decided we would help you with the recipes you may want to try at home to continue the adventure. Here are a few of our favorites….

Tommy Bahama's

Tommy Bahama – Chicken Lollipops (even the kids will eat these)

Tommy Bahama's

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups Tommy’s Blackberry Brandy Barbeque Sauce (see recipe below)
2 1/2 cups Mango Barbeque Glaze (see recipe below)
2 cups Jerk Remoulade (see recipe below)
3 lbs. Chicken Drummettes (see recipe below)

Tommy’s Blackberry Brandy Barbeque Sauce
2 tbsp. minced shallots
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup ketchup
1 cup blackberry brandy
2/3 cup honey
2 tbsp. cornstarch slurry (even parts cool water and cornstarch)

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients (except the cornstarch slurry) into a saucepot and bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes.
Add the slurry. Turn the heat to medium high and cook for another 5 minutes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
Remove from heat and let cool.

Mango Barbeque Glaze
1 cup Major Grey’s Mango Chutney, pureed in a blender
1/2 cup Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
1 cup Blackberry Brandy Barbeque Sauce
1 oz. Tabasco® Sauce

Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a medium-sized sauce pot and bring to a low, soft boil.
Reduce temperature to a simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove the glaze from the heat and let cool until ready to serve.

Jerk Remoulade
1 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 oz. whole grain mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. Tabasco® sauce
1 clove minced garlic
1 tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 oz. milk
1/2 tbsp. Caribbean Jerk spice
1 tbsp. chili garlic sauce

Instructions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender (except for the Jerk spice and the chili garlic sauce).
Fold in the last two ingredients with a whisk.
Refrigerate.

Chicken Drummettes
3 lbs. chicken drummettes
2 cucumbers, cut into 2″ batons
Kosher salt to taste
Coarse ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:
French cut the chicken drumettes by cutting the leg tendons, so that the meat balls at the end of the bone. Then, trim the knuckles.
After trimming the drummettes, place them in a clean mixing bowl and season them with salt and pepper.
Place them on a pre-heated char-grill and put grill marks on them, turning them frequently and making sure they do not burn.
Place the chicken lollipops in an oven pre-heated to 400° F. Cook until their internal temperature is 165° F.
Remove them from the oven and toss them in the Mango Barbeque Glaze.

Bahama Breeze Fire Pit

Bahama Breeze – Citrus Rum Sauce (has the word RUM in it means it has to be good )

Tastes great as a marinade for grilled chicken, pork or fish.
INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbsp – Olive Oil
¼ cup – Onions, diced
2 Tbsp – Carrots, diced
2 Tbsp – Celery, diced
1 Tbsp – Garlic, chopped
¼ cup – Jamaican Rum, Dark (To really confuse things use Tommy Bahama Dark Spiced rum)
2 each – Bay leaves
1 Tbsp – Black Peppercorns
3 cans – Beef Broth, 10 ½ oz cans
1 Tbsp – Gravy Browning
½ cup – Orange Juice
¼ cup – Heavy Cream
2 Tbsp – Tomato Paste
¼ cup – Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp – Corn Starch
2 Tbsp – Water, cold tap
To taste – Salt and Pepper
PREPARATION:
Place the oil in a medium heated saucepan and sauté the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Add the Rum, bay leaves, and peppercorns and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, except the cornstarch and cold water. Mix well and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix the cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl and slowly add to the simmering sauce. Bring back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and discard the vegetables. Serve hot over meat, poultry, or seafood.

Roy's Sarasota

Roy’s Restaurant – Misoyaki Butterfish (hard to pronounce but great taste)
Misoyaki Butterfish Ingredients: 7 oz sea bass or halibut  1 cup sake (can substitute rice wine)  1 cup mirin (can substitute rice wine)  1 cup sugar  1/2 lb miso  1 Tbsp olive oil
Kim Chee Lime Butter Sauce Ingredients: 2 Tbsp Olive oil  1 small Chopped sweet onion  1Tbsp Chopped shallots 1 clove Roasted garlic chips  1/3 cup White wine  2 tsp Fish Sauce  1 Tbsp. Fresh lime  2 Tbsp Cream  2 Tbsp Chopped cilantro  2 Tbsp Unsalted butter  1 Tbsp Kim Chee sauce  3 Tbsp Chili sauce
Misoyaki Butterfish Instructions: Combine sake, mirin, sugar and miso in a small saucepan and simmer until it becomes a dark, caramel color. After marinade has cooled, submerge fish completely and refrigerate for 24 hours. Take the marinated fish and place it into a sauté pan on medium heat with a small amount of oil Cook for 2 to 4 minutes on each side.
Kim Chee Lime Butter Sauce Instructions: Begin sauce by slicing the garlic thinly and slow roasting it in the oven for 40 minutes, at 250 degrees. Using a small amount of oil, sauté the onion, shallot and garlic, until they become translucent. Deglaze with white wine and fish sauce, and then simmer until reduced by half. Add cream, lime juice and a pinch of cilantro. Reduce the mixture until it thickens and slowly blend in the Kim Chee sauce and butter. Strain sauce through a chinois or cheese cloth and then mix in 1 tablespoon of cilantro and the chili sauce.
Assembly Instructions: Place fish on the center of the plate on top of your starch of choice. Ladle the Kim Chee Lime Butter Sauce around the fish. Optional: top with chopped cilantro.
Enjoy these great tropical recipes as you relax and live the long weekend life at home or on vacation at your favorite tropical paradise.

Shots fired in Paradise!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:41:12 +0000

Just when I had dug my toes in the sand and gotten comfortable…..shots were fired in Paradise! Did you hear them? There is a battle going on in Paradise and your wardrobe closet and wallet are the battle grounds! You may think from reading that I have had a few too many Mai Tai’s but it is true and at least for now I am completely sober on this warm, Sunny and beautiful tropical Florida Friday.

Margaritaville Orlando

A battle has begun on a number of fronts between what has long been considered a tropical staple in the clothing, decor, restaurants and other areas known as Tommy Bahama and that group of Gypsies in the Palace known as Margaritaville. It started slow with restaurants. Tommy Bahama had only a handful of restaurants and Margaritaville also started slowly in Major cities. While Tommy Bahama concentrated on well know resort cities where it could incorporate both the clothing and signature food, Margaritaville went to major cities and included a gift shop in their restaurants selling everything from bumper stickers to beer coozies.

A few years ago Tommy Bahama atarted to expand their clothing retail operation and restaurants to include more resort cities so people could enjoy the clothing line, home decor, and signature menu while visiting some of their favorite tropical locations. Margaritaville also began to expand to what could be considered “port cities” known for their boating culture and warm beaches during season. Margaritaville also opened a hotel and began dabbling in the Hard Rock Cafe and Hotel path. While Margaritaville was known mostly for their T-shirts and Jimmy Buffet inspired souvenirs, they never really crossed into what could be considered the luxury market that Tommy Bahama has held the crown to for so long.

Tommy Bahama NAples, FL

This is where the battle has begun. recently Margaritaville has begun selling “luxury” clothing and footwear in resort gift shops and hotels, online and in major retailers. Silk and linen camp shirts much like Tommy Bahama’s well known embroidered camp shirts began springing up in Florida recently. As for the shirts the prices are comparable to Tommy Bahama shirts and clothing you are already familiar with. They have Jimmy Buffet inspired sayings and graphics on the back. On the linen shirts they are partially embroidered and partially screen printed like some of Tommy Bahama’s recent releases. They come in almost every tropical color and size.There are Margaritaville baseball hats in the Tommy Bahama style, pants, socks and most recently footwear. The footwear is luxury based much like Tommy Bahama’s and made with leather, linen and other tropical style materials. They use the basket weave and woven leather style to accent their footwear and most is adorned with the familiar Margaritaville logo on the top and possibly a pattern on the sole. For short trips or for looks around town these sandals are great. But for function on the beach stick with Olukai’s. Much Like Tommy Bahama’s footwear these sandals and shoes are not made for long walks through resort towns or for getting wet from the ocean or sand in them. They are strictly fashion wear. Where the difference between Tommy Bahama footwear and Margaritaville footwear comes in is you will rarely find Tommy Bahama footwear at a famous footwear or outlet store near you. Yet it seems Margaritaville chose this as a strategy to get their footwear on the market quicker. Almost every famous footwear and outlet shoe store we have been in carries some sort of recent release from Margaritaville. MAke your own assumptions about quality from there. We admit we have a pair of Margaritaville sandals in our closet from a Famous Footwear and got them back in our experimental days where we went on a quest for the perfect flip flop. But they rarely get used because of the functionality issues.

Tommy Bahama Relax Store in Naples, FL

You will also begin to see the Margaritaville logo on everything from Margarita makers which you would expect to seasonings and Tervis tumbler bar ware now much like Tommy Bahama. These can be found at almost every Bed Bath and Beyond these days it seems or at Tommy Bahama and Margaritaville stores.

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville

So choose your side or enjoy both. For us it is hard to see Margaritaville as anything more than Parrothead wear for tailgating and getting comfortable in case we find ourselves asleep in a hammock somewhere, Mai Tai in hand. Tommy Bahama for us still has more of an upscale island vibe while still being extremely comfortable and looking classy.

Happy Tropical Mothers Day!

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 20:25:35 +0000

Happy Mothers Day to all the LongWeekendLife.com mom’s out there. Today is your day to relax and we have a few ideas how you can make this a relax and tropical mothers day.
Some of our favorite places to visit are places that carry tropical housewares and relaxing clothing. So in order to help you relax this mothers day we have compiled a list of things you may enjoy to help make your home more relaxing, comfortable and tropical.

The Tropical style and luxury

First we start with a nice hot bath and the smell of either tropical scents like coconut, lime or hibiscus or pineapple….you pick. Bath and Body works every year releases a full line of tropical scents for the home. Coconut Lime, Pineapple, Mango and other well know tropical flavors all all part of the line up and can be found in body wash, lotions, body sprays, candles and even hand sanitizer. The candles are a particularly good alternative to some of the more pricey tropical candles that are out there and we all know you can’t have a relaxing bubble bath with the candles going and lights off.

Next it is time to get ready to relax in some of the most comfortable clothing we know.If you are looking for luxurious loungewear then Tommy Bahama’s is the place to go. They offer some of the softest clothing on the market and for women have lounge pants and tanks and tees fit for a queen (or Princess if you prefer). Slip into these and you will be ready to relax in bed and curl up with your favorite travel & leisure or Islands magazine issue. Which brings us to our next topic…the bed.

True Comfort

To be truly relaxed and enjoy your time lounging you need comfortable sheets. Again we visit Tommy Bahama’s . We suggest 100% cotton sheets with 230 thread count or more. These are the softest sheets we have found and again Tommy Bahama knows how to make things extra soft. They have a number of designs to pick from and if you don’t like this seasons, wait a couple of months and they will change again. The are all tropical looking offer a great contemporary look as well.

Later you’re going to want a snack. Something to help you stay relaxed but not lose the vacation feel you have going. There are a number of places to go if you live here in the South and Florida in particular. Beall’s has a number of tropical designed plates and tableware. You can also visit a tervis tumbler store for Tropical “glassware” that you don’t have to worry about breaking. There are always places like Macy’s or Bed Bath and Beyond that carry tropical housewares as well. This is your chance to be creative. Tommy Bahama also offers coffee mugs, tervis tumbler cups and tall glasses as well as plates and barware as well.

The Tropical life is relaxing for everyone

Now you can relax and enjoy Mothers Day in style while feeling like you have been swept away to a tropical location relaxing in a luxury room at a posh hotel. Only it will be your room every day to enjoy your long weekend life.