Beware the Ides of March!

"Beware the Ides of March"

This foreboding comment was a warning made to Julius Caesar, which predicted his eventual demise. I think most of us are safe from suffering a similar fate, unless you've got a friend named Brutus who seems to be angry with you. But there is still something to be said about the Ides of March, March is just weird.

There is something surreal about the month of March in Portland.

First, the weather is weird. Given it's always weird to some degree; March is like Portland's PMS time. Only in March will you see ice and snow/torrential rainfall, beautiful sun, frigid cold and 60 degree days all peppered in together. Often times this will all happen in the same day. Perhaps our City of Roses is hormonal, she is feeling everything, all at the same time.

Another thing that is weird about March is spring break. The once much-anticipated week goes forgotten these days by most people, until one day you are walking down the street and notice a group of what appear to be grown-ups wearing Hollister, usually topping off their look with some blingy sunglasses. They are typically wearing big sunglasses, really tight jeans, have designer purses and wear flip flops. They are most likely all texting (probably each other).

This may reminds you that right now, somewhere in the world (most likely Cancun), Girls Gone Wild can't print waivers fast enough, margaritas are flowing, and there is such thing as sunshine.

Then there is the cabin fever. Thanks to lack of planning, a bad economy and subsequent waning resources, few of us are able to take trips to the exotic locales we are lusting for.

We've got months until summer, even more months until nice weather actually happens, the tires on my beach cruiser are flat from non-usage, I'm sick of the bottoms of my jeans getting wet. I'm tired of wearing close-toed shoes, and so sunlight-deprived that if I attend a Twilight release party, I just might fit in.

Some ideas to combat the Ides of March if your own personal spring break is out of the question:

• Treat yourself to a spa day. Get a massage, a facial, and a mani pedi. Then go barefoot inside and show it all off. I'm a big fan of following the last minute deals at The Dragontree Spa. You can like them on Facebook and get their Last Minute Deals in your feed.

• Go out wine tasting. Check out Walnut City Wineworks and arrange for a group tasting and feel like a high roller.

• Treat yourself to some new of the moment accessories to jazz up your boring winter clothes and help you transition your wardrobe to spring. I'm currently a huge fan of Send the Trend. You'll take a short little style quiz so they can get an idea of your style, all their accessories are only $29. You can become a member and for $29 a month they'll send you a monthly trend from your profile in the mail. It's like having a personal stylist.