What stage of a butterfly are you, Resort Girl? Are you ready to take wings? The Monarch butterflies have been gracefully floating beside me on my morning beach walks on this end-of-season beach trip.

As I’m always looking for inspiration, the beautiful-winged Queen of insects was my inspiration today. Little did I know the symbolic power of the butterfly, but some quick research tells a historic, rich and wonderful story!

A key symbolic reference is the transformation into beauty and power. The butterfly is also a symbol of a joy. However, this transformation doesn’t occur until the final of five stages of growth. It must first be a not-so-pretty caterpillar before ultimately transforming into a breathtaking butterfly.

But that caterpillar does have a relaxing time in its cocoon – chilling on a leaf in a pretty cool pad. In the cocoon stage, this transforming creature enjoys itself in a safe harbor – relaxing, reflecting and recharging while working on its spirit. It is a time when all the world is shut out, almost like a rebirth but the creature already has knowledge of life. It has a solid foundation built from learning, crawling and avoiding predators – it has survived to enjoy the cocoon stage.

All this gave the newly-born butterflies a strong foundation to migrate to new places and soar high in the skies. The majority of butterflies only last a few weeks, but a few will last much longer.

I wonder if the spirit of the last generation is more bold and fearless. They can last, and make the long distances. They have built up their muscles, minds and spirit to stretch the distances. They will not let anything hold them back. They will fly against the winds… they will become Monarchs.

Resort Girl, what is on the vision board for your ultimate life? Is it living on a beautiful boat and sailing the open seas? Could it be opening up a little tea shop or teaching yoga by the seaside? Or would it be loving what you do by just making everyday a weekend by living the Resort Girl lifestyle?

When faced with a total life transition, this Resort Girl had an open slate to start a new life, but from my past experience as an entrepreneur, I knew it was not about finding a new life, but rather building one!

For the first year, my focus was on improving my professional skills, so I became a college grad art student at SCAD. Then, under the persona of SmartSamantha, I penned the WizBizKids® biz book series.

The books are for enlightening youth about “The 6Ps of an Idea”: Guidebooks to Creating a Super Cool Idea. The 6P methodology’s formula is:

(What + How + Who + “To Do”) + (Sell + Sale) = Idea Come True!

Then the thought hit me one day! I should start applying the “6P’s of an Idea” methodology to my desired “Perfect” lifestyle not just “Professional” career?

You can do it too Resort Girls, just ask yourself the following questions:

• Where do I see myself in 5 years?
• What is my life Plan to get there?
• Do I need a Partner?
• What are the pieces to Produce my lifestyle?
• What do I need to Purchase to achieve it?
• And how am I going to continue to grow and be Promoted?

As women, we all go through life changes, including the BIG life change starting around our mid 40s. Our lives shift and, as children leave the nest, things become hot with your body — the sweats — but most of all during these times, one realizes how short life is!

Granted, most of us are still working either full-time or part-time, but what are you doing after hours? Have you lived your ultimate life? Make time before it runs out.

Resort Girls, live your dreams by thinking through the 6Ps and using them to help achieve your “Perfect” life!

Confidence is queen in golf. If you don’t have it on the course, you might as well walk off. Golf, like many sports, is a muscle and mind game and in golf, mind matters equally to moves.

Resort Girls are now playing their own games – not just as a spouse or girlfriend – so much so that women are now the ones taking the initiative to sign on the dotted line for many country club and golf memberships…including this Resort Girl.

Many times, RGs will play by themselves on a course full of highly seasoned golfers, both men and women. There is nothing more intimidating than standing on that mile-high tee box with three people staring at you and possibly four more in queue for the box. This is when all RG beginner golfers need confidence.

And how do you get confidence? Instruction, playing lessons and practice, practice and practice. Just like any other sport, practice make perfect, and in golf – between the swing motion, hand grips, ball position to course conditions, etc. – RGs need knowledge.

Unfortunately, many Resort Girls do not take the time to get lessons and quickly get frustrated with the game and give it up. Many RGs may also feel intimidated about the sport, let alone even entering a clubhouse, so a golf course etiquette course is highly recommended to make RGs feel at ease. Practice and etiquette makes a Resort Girl queen on the golf course.

I personally started taking lessons before venturing out on a golf course. My first was a combo vacay and instructional golf trip to sunny Florida. I became hooked when I hit my first iron and the trainer exclaimed, “Are you a ringer? Look how straight you hit that ball – and on your first try!”

My golf education was uphill and downhill from there. I visited many more courses, from Vail to California to Florida, and took many more lessons in a variety of venues and people, from group to individual.

“Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising ones level of aspiration and expectation.” -Jack Nicklaus

To me, the key is also finding the right pro for your personality – your “Golf Whisperer”. Mine was at Big Canoe Resort about a decade ago, and we spent many days on the driving range and practicing on the hilly mountains courses. I am still a property owner to this day.

A good “golf whisperer” has the ability to sense one’s personal traits and skills. When your pro keenly knows your own Resort Girl strengths and weaknesses, he or she can build a personalized and peak program for you.

There is no better time to play among the majestic mountains, especially when the leaves are turning vibrant colors or when cool sea or lake breezes brush up against your face while you’re bundled up in your stylish golf sweater.

Enjoy the glory of a good round of golf, Resort Girls and remember: Confidence is queen!

Can a Resort Girl turn down free tickets to a PGA Tour? No way! This RG was offered free tickets to the PGA Tour at East Lake!

Being a work week day, it was hard to get a Resort Girl or Guy buddy. So, what is a safe and stylish way to go if, at last minute, a Resort Girl must go to an event alone? Call a taxi or even splurge for a sedan or limo! And there is a fantastic firm in Atlanta for RGs called Greene Limo.

They will drop you off and pick you up in a safe, secure area. This Resort Girl lucked out and got picked up in a 6 person stretch, as sedans were scarce. I did not complain when I saw it pulling down East Lake Drive.

We were even allowed to exit through the same, secure PGA tour exit used by the players, as the car was too big to turn around. And what a PGA tour day it was! The sun was out on Thursday with a cool, brisk fall breeze in the air.

A fellow Resort Girl in the hotel locker room made me feel confident, giving me a two thumbs up on my outfit before heading out to watch  the tour.

This is every stylish Resort Guy and Girl’s dream — to stand out on the course. Even if it you are not playing well, you can still look darn good! Sporting events are no different than any top social event. RG and Gs want to have style and stand out from the crowd.

I styled myself in Nike clothes from Edwin Watts and new neon shades. I complemented my look with neon-accented accessories – from shoe laces to the rubber soles of my Ecco golf shoes.

The cool breeze caused me to pop on my neon diamond knee socks to keep my legs warm. I always keep a pair in my fall bag (and by the way, they are totally a style hit.) Several guys came up and gave my look an enthusiastic two thumbs up.

Do not underestimate the power of a stylish sock  – be it knee, boot or thigh-high. It adds POW to your outfit! But, here’s an RG tip – with fashion knee socks, you must double up a sock for sport with a fun footie one. I used a neon one for this outfit.

It is fun to find your personal Resort Girl or Guy style and see what works by getting feedback from fellow RGs. One other RG fashion tip is to mix up your sporting and resort looks with accessories. Feel free to mix sporting lines — yoga for tennis, tennis for golf, etc. Tennis and even yoga jackets work well for golf, as my tour day jacket was from Zella active wear by Nordstrom’s. This line has great lines, patterns and sexy slits.

The PGA Tour day event itself was a blast and, thanks to Charles Schwab, I got an up close view of the 14th green from the Schwab Sky Box. There’s nothing like being eye-to-eye with the best golfers in the world. Add free food, beer and a classy crowd — what an RG day to remember! And this brings up another good thing about using a car service – you don’t have to drive home and can add a bit of early afternoon cheer to your tour.

A word of advice, Resort Girls  – always be smart and know your personal cheering limits. No stumbling to the car – as many times they are parked far from the action during sporting events and you’ve gotta remember where the pick-up stand is!

As this RG has said before – Resort Girls have the confidence and smarts on how to go it alone!

And it was a day to remember! This RG plans to attend more PGA tour events. RGs, if you find yourself given free tickets to an event, don’t shy away from going – even if you find out last minute you are on your own. Call a car, go in style, go with confidence, but most importantly have smarts when you go it alone.

Resort Girls and Guys, share your favorite PGA Tour day experience!

One of this Resort Girl’s fave short vacays still has got to be Avalon in Alpharetta, GA. My SUV just wants to pull off the interstate for a visit every time I drive into the city.

My spur of the moment RG vacay usually begins with a filling lunch, as you need energy to walk the Avalon avenues. My choice is Whole Foods, where this country RG can pick up some city food and choice groceries. This is such a popular spot and the parking lot gets pretty packed at lunch, but there are plenty of indoor and outdoor seats to park yourself at. Not to mention, the food selection is AMAZING! There’s almost too much to choose from for this Resort Girl! Then, on top of that, I have to walk by that swirling case of ice cream and the large glass cases of every sweet delicious dessert an RG could desire. I just sit there and stare and let my mouth water!

Next, I head off to walk the avenues of Avalon and to walk off the calories – so indulge a bit, just like this Resort Girl does.

With each return to Avalon, I find a few new stores to explore since there are so many but, there is so little time on a quick, day long vacay. My first choice was the Anthropologie store, where I discovered the most adorable decorative accents for a RG’s bath or kitchen. What a fun set of RG & G mermaid towels to have hanging off your retro-style oven in your beach bungalow.

I could just image my robe hanging from a cute swordfish hook or one of the colorful fish knobs!

Can you imagine repainting a consignment dresser (RGs like to recycle) in a bold color or a bright white and adding a touch of art with these little fishies?

Then it was off to Lululemon. This store is a staple for Resort Girls, as we are all so active and need our attractive activewear. The Lululemon sales team is a great resource to help you personalize your workout attire. On my personal workouts, I have found compression helps with my weaker muscles, made so die to fibromyalgia. The Lulu sales team picked out a pair of Tight Stuff Tight bottoms for me and I love them, as they have great support but also are sexy — I got mine in red!

I also found it was a great time to pick up a pair of sculpt shorts that were on sale. I am thinking about wearing these under my tennis and golf skirts for more support.

It turns out this RG was just about to miss some runway fashion fun on the avenues of Avalon. Outside the Lulu store they had set up a runway for a magical fall evening benefit for Bert’s Big Adventure. What fun to be one of these VIPs!

There are so many stores to visit, and each time this Resort Girl picks a few to explore and remember for her next return trip to Avalon.

Just walking down the streets is a relaxing experience – to sit and reflect in their cushy outdoor couches on what you saw, what you smelled and all the sounds surrounding you on an afternoon RG vacay among the top shops and beautiful brick-lined streets of Avalon. It is a great place to Relax, Reflex and Recharge…

What are your fave stores in Avalon? Let your fellow RGs know, so we can stop by on our next quick vacay to Avalon…