White sandy beaches. Breathtaking oceanfront views. Live music with chef-prepared cuisine. Paradise? It just might be. And the best part is - it’s a lot closer than you think.

I recently found out that my own little slice of perfection is a mere two hour drive away, hidden - among all places - in Jupiter, FL. The quaint beach town just north of West Palm Beach is home to the cozy yet elegant Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa. It was here, on a whim, my girlfriend and I decided it was time for a little vacation to unwind and bask in the Florida sun our pale exteriors so desperately needed.

We were met with one of the rarest occasions life has to offer: when something actually lives up to the hype. It fit the bill. Exceeded our expectations. Unassuming from the exterior, the resort is magnificent from the interior, transporting you to an island hideaway the moment you walk in with its warm colors and designer mahogany furnishings.

When I go on trips, I always notice the little things first. My parking-to-walking ratio, how big the plates at the restaurant are, what the elevator smells like - call it what you want but those things make a difference to me. My girlfriend on the other hand? She immediately noticed the 7,500 square-foot, full-service spa. Mainly a hotel for destination weddings, the spa, I found out somewhat reluctantly firsthand, offers a marbled steam room, aromatherapy, Swedish massage and even stations for manicures. Never having a real spa treatment before, I don’t really have much to compare my experience to; but I can tell you that whatever they did felt right (read: sign me up again).

After a brief elevator ride to our room on the sixth floor, I opened the door to a majestic view. The curtains were open, as if to say, “Welcome Home” exposing the foamy white waves of the warm Atlantic before I even had a chance to put my bags down. Talk about your first impression.

Once we had fully explored the resort and its 10 meeting rooms, we sat down for dinner at their signature restaurant, Sinclairs Ocean Grill. Offering up dishes inspired by local ingredients and international flare, we enjoyed a wonderfully prepared, made-to-order five-course meal. Typically not big seafood eaters, I may have been converted that night. It’s hard to describe, but I’ve never eaten anything so “fresh” before - and trust me, I’ve eaten a lot of things. I’m usually the guy who orders the weird thing on the menu just to see what the fuss is about.

Our next morning began with a gentle nudge from the sun set to the soundtrack of breaking waves just outside. We decided to take in some of the sights Jupiter has to offer. Our first stop was a trip to the Jupiter Lighthouse, the oldest structure in Palm Beach County. We took a guided tour up the 105 step spiral staircase and emerged with a panoramic view of the Jupiter inlet, the mansion-studded Jupiter Island and more yachts than you could shake a stick at. At just a few dollars per person, it’s  a trip, and a view, that’s definitely worth taking.

After the near vertigo-inducing climb down, we headed off to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Attracting more than 225,000 visitors a year, this completely free to attend, interactive center tells the story of some of the area’s most famous amphibian residents. The work that this beachside facility does to educate the population and rehabilitate turtles back into the wild is nothing short of inspiring. Not to mention it’s right on the beach, which happened to be our next stop.

As our day came to close, we headed back to the resort’s secluded beach to catch the last bit of sun before we had to leave the next morning. Our surprise weekend getaway ended just as relaxing as it started - lazily swaying back and forth in a beachside hammock, surrounded by palm trees, engulfed by tranquility.

When you’re planning your vacations this year, remember that a weekend can be just what you and your family need. It’s about making memories, so do what we did and make the most of yours.

Vacation doesn’t have to mean some faraway, amenity-laden land of the lost. No, there are plenty of places to go right here to fill all of your sand-soaked dreams. After all, life’s a beach and we’re in Florida.

Ironically, I found my piece of heaven on Earth in Jupiter. Where’s yours?

Article by Corey Gehrold

On April 29, 2010, I won the biggest gift in all my life: a round trip for two to Vancouver, BC that included accommodations for four days, three nights and airfare. I have always wanted to travel to Canada - even more after the Olympics were held in Vancouver.

I have always been a fan of networking to meet contacts and grow my business, especially in our current economy. I just never thought it would lead to a great vacation.

I try my hardest to meet with the Executive Referral Group for networking in East Orlando every Wednesday and every Thursday I attend Coffee Club at the Marriott Airport to start my mornings off right. The groups have very diverse attendees and I have grown my business considerably by becoming a part of their families.

Being a small business owner can be tough in times like these when everyone is struggling financially. The success and growth of a business can really depend on the people you know and how you can reach potential clients. For me, networking is my preferred method and I would recommend it to anyone as part of their business plan. It even comes with a few surprises every now and then, like a vacation.

I heard about the CUE networking event from Coffee Club and thought I would give it a try. CUE, which stands for Connect, Unwind and Escape, puts a new spin on networking. At this event, Orlando locals are invited to the Orlando Airport Marriott pool area for a night of networking, food and fun. It’s an amazing opportunity to make new friends and even connect with old ones. I have to say, my night started off simply enough, as I mingled about enjoying wonderful food, listening to great music and meeting new friends.

At the end of the night, they did the drawing for the trip and called my name. Me. I couldn’t believe it, I was so excited I felt like I was going to pass out. I have never won anything like this in my life.

Now, let me say that some people only think about what’s in it for them. To me, you get what you get when you believe. I have always felt that if you believe and have faith it will happen. The trip was just another example of that mantra for me.

It’s all about the positive attitude. The first week I was a guest at Coffee Club, I made two great contacts for fundraising and three leading to people interested in my business. On the second week at Coffee Club, I won two cookbooks. On the third week, they were giving away tickets to the CUE Networking event and I won those as well.

At this point I was feeling on top of the world. People say I am very lucky, but I say it’s just a reward for a positive attitude. On the way to the CUE event I said, “Lord, if this is meant to be, let me win and surprise my husband with this trip.” And then I won.

For me, networking has enriched my life in so many ways, now both professionally and personally. It has opened so many doors for me I would not otherwise have access to.

My advice to anyone is that you just need to take advantage of every opportunity you can and put yourself out there. You never know what possibilities might come your way by meeting someone new. Who knows, you could even win a free vacation.

Article by Carol Giddens

“Where Are the Children Going to Play?” is the name of a popular Mexican pop rock group’s song I always listen to. Every time I hear it, I sit back and ask myself a similar question: How can I teach my child to lead a healthy and environmental-friendly lifestyle like I had when I grew up?

I spent most of my time growing up in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic before moving stateside. Because they are islands, the electricity and the water are incredibly expensive. Regardless of which island I was on, I learned from my parents, my teachers and my elders to respect the water, the air, and to always reduce electricity usage.

Growing up, conservation was a way of life. When I was young, I never thought of it as “saving the environment,” to me it was more of doing the right thing because that’s what we were supposed to do. My friends always comment on how environmentally conscious I am, but it comes second nature to me because of how I was raised.

I clearly remember my parents saying, “Close the refrigerator door please,” or “Turn the TV and lights off when you leave the room, Judy!” These habits were ingrained in my memory and have stayed with me to this day. In fact, I even turn off the lights of some bathrooms in businesses to help them save power, whether they want to or not.

Today, I’ve incorporated many of the same principles I grew up with into my family life so my husband and my five-year-old son, Anakin, pick up these habits. Not only does my son help me by putting the bottles, aluminum cans and paper in the proper recycling receptacles I’ve set up at my house, but he also sings a song he learned at school: “The 3 R’s” by Jack Johnson, which stand for Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. It’s one of his favorites.

Besides recycling, I always show my son that by taking care of our planet, the planet takes care of us. I will always remember explaining to him that fruits and vegetables don’t grow from the supermarket, but from trees and plants. We are fortunate that an organic hydroponic farm opened near our home recently. The farm gives my son a similar experience that I had when I was a little girl. He gets to pick the fruits off the plant, and enjoy their delicious flavors without my worrying about pesticides.

Every time I have an opportunity, I always tell him the importance of protecting the environment by selecting produce from nearby farmers who do not have to spend money in transportation, thus reducing costs and carbon footprint. Plus, the produce tastes much better when they are organic or hydroponic, in my opinion.

In addition to reducing and recycling, I practice reusing in numerous ways. For example, I donate Anakin’s gently used toys and clothing to charity. One of the greatest places to take children’s items are in charities such as Central Florida Children’ Home on Narcoosee Road, a non-profit organization where they take care of foster children and keep siblings together. My conviction to help children started when I went to the Dominican Republic. I noticed for the first time that there were some children in the world who did not have enough clothing or food. I saw dozens of Dominicans, as well as Haitian children, in the street asking for help. The sight left such an impression on me as an eight year old that I started giving my allowance to underprivileged children.

Helping conserve the environment, as well as other people, has always been a part of who I am. By being me, and teaching my family and friends the things that matter most to me, I hope to make a small difference in the world. This is our opportunity to act on those words that my Anakin always sings: “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.”

Article by Judith Willemsen

Goodbye Jeep Commander, hello 110 miles per gallon Yamaha C3 Scooter. I watched a co-worker ride his scooter for two years and ever since I first laid eyes on it, I wanted one. It took some time, but, finally, in January of 2009, I purchased my scooter.  And let me tell you, it’s definitely on my “top ten list” of best purchases, hands down.

I never realized how much I would absolutely love it. I’ll be honest, at first I was scared to even own something that is classified as a motorcycle, seeing as how I never rode a motorized two-wheel vehicle before I went out and actually bought the scooter (Not recommended by the way, you should definitely ride one first - they aren’t for everyone). It was something of a leap of faith to make a commitment and use the scooter as my everyday vehicle, just ask my wife. But, I did my research, and found out being under 50 cubic centimeters didn’t require a license or insurance. That was all I needed to know. Later that afternoon, I was at the dealership making my purchase.

My friends ask me, “Why?” at least once a week. Really, there were many reasons behind my purchase. First, it gives me the opportunity to make my commute shorter, and avoid nearly all traffic by opening up alternate routes to work. The other big factor was just how much gas I could squeeze out of that efficient little engine - 110mpg. Let me say that again just so we’re clear: 110 miles per gallon. I fill up 1.2 gallons every two weeks and that’s all. Seriously. I spend around $6.00 per month on gas just on the scooter alone. Jealous? I fill up two gas tanks I have at home once every three months at the gas station so I don’t have to drive to the gas station to fill my tank, which, by the way, takes about 60 seconds from start to finish. My new commute to work is 3.1 miles, averaging around in six minutes and 30 seconds. I don’t take any major roads except when I go to Waterford Lakes and I’m on SR 50 for a few minutes. Other than that, I’ve found back roads to get to wherever I need.

But, it was more than just about saving money. Another reason was being environmentally friendly; you can’t believe how much one pollutes the environment with cars. Now, I’m no “tree hugger,” but I do care and it feels surprisingly good to do something so eco-friendly. I don’t know the stats to how much energy I’m actually saving, but not having to use as much gas, producing less carbon dioxide and even lowering the amount of maintenance is a winner in my book and the environments.

The last reason is my personal favorite. I enjoy being outside in the open. It’s very refreshing to have the wind hit you in the face and have the open road surround you. It’s peaceful, and even with all the normal safety riding gear, it’s pretty comfortable. I can relate to why people have motorcycles (not that my top speed of 42 miles per hour is nearly as fast as a motorcycle, but I said I can relate).

Ever since I got my scooter it has been really fun to drive to work. That’s right - I enjoy my commute. How many of us can say that? It’s been great to zip around town in a small, simple transportation tool.  My favorite question I always get asked is, “What are you going to do when it rains?” My answer? “Get a little wet!”

My advice if you do decide to invest in a scooter or two-wheeled vehicle is this: be prepared for what you’re getting yourself into and always wear the proper safety gear. It’s a lot of fun out there, but it’s a whole new world when you don’t have any doors.

Article by Jesus Salgueiro

The year 2009 was a revelation for me. It’s when I took a step back and looked at my life. Even though my life changed for the better by becoming the market leader for Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care in 2008, something was still missing. It was in January of 2009 when I realized if I didn’t do something about my weight, I was going to end up with multiple health problems, just as every woman on my mother’s side of my family has. All I can remember is my mother telling me, “Please, don’t end up like me.” I knew that the reality of what my mother kept saying was coming true, and it was time to make a change.

One night as I watched “The Biggest Loser,” I kept hearing Bob Harper, the personal trainer on the show, say  to count your calories and workout, even if it was for 30 minutes a day. “Do something,” he said.  So I did.

I started working out on the elliptical 40 minutes a night. I chose the elliptical because I had reached my heaviest weight ever, 205 pounds, and because my knees hurt so badly, I couldn’t do what I used to love: running.

The funny, or painful, part about counting calories is realizing how many calories you should take in each day to reach your target weight. I planned for my calorie intake to be 1,200 calories a day, but if I burned 500 calories working out every day, I could have 1,700 calories, which made my goal much more bearable.

I lost 55 pounds in five months by counting calories, exercising on the elliptical for 40 minutes a day and riding a bike six miles a day.

May of 2009 was the best month ever, because I had lost enough weight for my knees to feel free again. I started running, and little by little, I worked my way up to running four miles a day. It was then I told Jennifer Thompson about my weight loss and how excited I was to be able to run again, and she told me about Team Burnham and the Walt Disney World Marathon. I continued to stay on my regimen, working out five to six days a week and counting calories, but for a new reason: I was working my way up to seeing if I could even fathom running 26.2 miles by January. What was I thinking? I had just started losing all this weight, and now I was tasking myself with running a marathon that wasn’t even six months away.

With the help of family and friends, especially from my husband (who thought I was crazy for waking up and running at 5 a.m. three to four times a week), my mom, my sisters, and of course, Team Burnham, I completed my very first marathon on January 10, 2010. Not only was I able to lose 70 pounds in one year, I was also able to run 26.2 miles.

If you want something bad enough, you have to go after it. If you don’t have illness in your family, don’t think you’re exempt from diseases like obesity, heart disease or diabetes. I know that without perseverance, sure will, and a little competitive spirit, I would still be 205 pounds, sitting on the couch watching “The Biggest Loser” and wondering why I couldn’t take my life back.

Article by Bea Kochheiser