Sparkling Hill Resort - Winter Bonus Getaway
Barney: "What is my second word that begins with B-O-N?"
After we checked in, the valet parked our car. Another first for me. We explored the amazing room (video above) and then went straight to the pools. Unfortunately because of Covid we couldn't go into the sauna and steam rooms. :( But we enjoyed the other pools and just relaxing in the outdoor pool while big fluffly snowflakes fell. Felt like we were far away from our hometown.
Ted: "Bon Jovi"
Barney: "What's my third favourite word that begins with B-O-N? BONUS! As in end of the year bonus."
This HIMYM episode is still one of my fav stand alone episodes, it makes me laugh everytime.
I started getting bonuses from a company I worked for a long time in my early twenties. Before that the concept of bonus was a little odd to me.
In Winter 2021 I had been wanting to visit Sparkling Hill Resort for a couple years. They always have this local special on in the Winter. I got a surprising bonus, surprising because the company I worked for was having a hell of a time because of covid.
Now I could have paid off my credit card, the practical thing to do, but my dad was always adamit about not being slave to the people you owe money too.
I have such a vivid memory sitting in the rec room of our Lavington house, settling my "finances" with my dad. I owed him some money and he owed me some money for working for him. Since my debt was higher I suggested he just keep the cash and it goes towards what I owed him. He instantly rejected this idea, as a kid I didn't really understand it right away. He was trying to teach me that when you make money you need to receive it pay yourself, pay your savings, and pay your tithe. After you have taken care of yourself then use the rest to pay off debt. Valuable life lesson.
Anyways this is how I treated my bonus and because of that we were able to do something fun and restful, regardless of the money we did owe. I'm not saying don't pay off your debt as soon as possible, just be wise enough to pay yourself first and not be a slave to your debt.
Without further a due. Sparkling Hill Resort weekend getaway. 1,000s of Swarovski crystals adorn this wellness resort.
Everyone walks around in big white house coats and slippers, which were way too small for my husband. And what's a treat yourself night without room service?? We ate in our house coats and in bed while binging good old cable. 
In the morning we went to the peakfine restaurant for the complimentary breakfast. I have never had a 3 course complimentary breakfast before. Normally when I think complimentary I think old baked goods and soggy waffles, but not at Sparkling Hills. They have these floor to ceiling windows throughout the restaurant, you have views of the lake and are as high as the other mountains around! While we were eating, the clouds came in and the windows turned into slightly moving white walls instead. Still a cool feeling of being in the clouds while you eat.
In the morning we went to the peakfine restaurant for the complimentary breakfast. I have never had a 3 course complimentary breakfast before. Normally when I think complimentary I think old baked goods and soggy waffles, but not at Sparkling Hills. They have these floor to ceiling windows throughout the restaurant, you have views of the lake and are as high as the other mountains around! While we were eating, the clouds came in and the windows turned into slightly moving white walls instead. Still a cool feeling of being in the clouds while you eat.
