CPAC 2021 (Part 1)

I’ve been looking forward to going to CPAC again since I went the first time in 2017. I flew to Orlando on Tuesday to attend. Over the next few days, I’ll be posting a series of blog posts sharing my photos and my  impressions of CPAC 2021.

You can find lots of coverage elsewhere about CPAC. This series of posts will be about my experience and my personal reactions.

I decided to take a whole week for CPAC, that way I could spend the first day (Tuesday) just relaxing with my girlfriends, spend 4 days at the conference (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday), and then take Monday to relax by the pool.

This first post is about our first day (Tuesday) and in the coming posts, I’ll talk about the conference.

CPAC 2021: Getting Ready for the Trip

I haven’t shopped for clothes or shoes or gotten my hair done in a year. A whole year!

I’ve been so busy working as a digital warrior, fighting the Meme War, not to mention moving cross country from Commiefornia to Austin, Texas so we could get our kids back in school. I just haven’t had any time to do anything for myself.

So I decided to do some shopping and get a hair cut and color the couple of days before my flight.

OK yes I have a pimple under my nose. I could Photoshop it out but I don’t want to waste time.

No filter, baby!

I also got a mani-pedi (Big Apple Red) and got my eyebrows, legs and bikini waxed. The full treatment.

I scored big time at TJ Maxx.

Love the red purse! Only $29!

Of course, I knew when I bought them, these shoes would hurt my feet because they’re not broken in.

Man, this always happens when I go to conferences. I buy shoes at the last minute, and then I have to carry flip flops in my purse when I start getting blisters.

Ah, the price we pay for beauty.

CPAC 2021: The Flight

I flew on Tuesday on Spirit Airlines. I don’t recommend it. I won’t fly with them again.

Don’t get me wrong, they were very nice and they weren’t too crazy about the masks.

But I don’t like being nickeled and dimed.

It was the only direct flight I could get and I wanted to spend as little time as possible in the airport and on planes wearing masks.  So I thought I’d try it out.

The flight was only $100 but I had to pay $60 to check my bag and then I went over and had to pay an additional $30.

And you can’t even bring a carry on.

And then you gotta buy everything — even water — on the flight. Just a PITA.

Ryan Reynolds Eye Rolls GIF from Ugh GIFs

OK, anyway, whatever. I got there. And I didn’t have to switch planes. So I am grateful.

But I won’t fly Spirit again if I can avoid it.

CPAC 2021: The Lodging

I wrote another post all about the fabulous place we are staying at, a vacation home at the Margaritaville Resorts in Orlando.

It’s even better in real life than it looks in the pictures.

We have a private heated pool in our backyard with a hot tub.

Our backyard overlooks the lake, and we are just steps away from a bigger community pool and the Salty Rim bar where you can lounge and eat poolside.

The location of this Orlando vacation home is very close to Disney World.

We were driving around the first day and I noticed that in addition to Disney World, they also have a giant water park nearby.

I will definitely be back with my family.

Click here to see the AirBNB listing.

CPAC 2021: The Food & Friends

When we arrived, we were greeted with Campari and soda apéritifs and fresh shrimp.

There is a full kitchen at this vacation home so we can eat breakfast here every morning which is wonderful.

I love staying at vacation homes instead of hotels, especially when I’m traveling with my kids.

The first morning we had eggs, Canadian bacon, and croissants with butter and honey.

We did a little shopping that day and then we came back to swim and drink margaritas before dinner.

Because when in Rome…

I brought my laptop so I could work while I’m here.

We’re working some, but we are also just spending time recharging and bonding. That’s what I love about being a blogger. I can work from anywhere.

This is my dear friend Lou Lou who writes the blog LouluJones.com:

We’ve been deprived of being social for a year now.  We needed some serious girl time!

We got dressed and headed for cocktails and live music at the poolside bar.

We took some photos during Golden Hour and wandered around the lobby and gift shop.

After that, we walked to Capone’s for coal-fired pizza and half-price Tuscan red wine for dinner.

Phenomenal!

Stay tuned for my next post CPAC 2021: (Part 2)…