Sometimes, self-care is quiet and still. Other times, it is silky and on sale.

When I told you I was going to seize this time to take better care of myself, I wasn't kidding. The other 4,321 times?  Yeahhhh, mildly serious. This time? I am truly putting forth the best effort I can in the moment. In the past, I've told myself I need to take better care, I should take better care. Now, I am just choosing to, and that has made all the difference.

It has made so much difference, in fact, that I happily packed my running shoes and workout clothes for our trip to my parents' lake house this weekend. While we are there, I am choosing not to stress out about the God-awful cell reception and nonexistent Internet connection and have told all my friends I will be out of touch until we are back in the swing of school and schedules next week.

Of course, I will only be out of touch with my 2.0 life. I will be sitting in the sand while Lil E plays in the water, taking cocktail cruises on the pontoon boat with my parents at sunset, and maybe even taking in a third-run movie in town or a bad sitcom in syndication at the house. I may do something radical, like read a whole magazine. I'm crossing my fingers for good estate juju that creates the good stress of shoving a 1950s red-vinyl-and-chrome kitchen table set into the back of my car or choosing between gawdy-awful old lady jewelry.

And if it gets to be too much or I get antsy being unplugged, then we may come home early and take care of laundry and grocery shopping and other details. We shall see.

Just to balance all this om-like behavior, do know that my better-cared-for self is also screaming for this silky number. I am pretty sure it will soothe my spirit as much as the walking and quiet time. And since I don't have any dinner dates lined up for the near future, maybe someone can partner with me in my efforts to choose me and plan a wedding that I can wear it to. Anyone? Anyone willing to help a sister out?