I'm back from vacation -- this one was a good one, thank goodness.

You know how sometimes you come back from vacation more exhausted that when you left? This wasn't one of those times. It was wonderful.

Of course, the fact that we returned the night before Mother's Day and I was obligated to sleep in until 11 made a big difference in my relaxed state. As my husband and children balanced a tray of instant oatmeal (our pantry was in dire condition after a week away) and coffee and juices and prosecco I had to smile.

"This is just like room service," I thought.

And then I started thinking about the little things that make hotel stays wonderful. And how we can do some of them at home. Unfortunately, daily maid service is unrealistic (but could you just imagine?) but that's no reason not to enjoy some of the other tricks hotels employ.
<h3>Little Luxuries Make a Big Difference</h3>
I got up and showered right after my breakfast in bed. Then I went outside and cut some lilacs that had bloomed while we were away, put them in a child's tumbler and placed them next to our bed where we could enjoy the fragrance.

We got so much pleasure when the bell boy showed up with a freshly filled ice bucket or the pool attendant brought us a pitcher of ice water "just in case" -- why not do something nice for ourselves?
<h3>Tie In to Where You Live</h3>
Have you noticed how the b