Off The Grid

The Cancun heat hits you immediately.  It's hot! I was so excited when the driver held up a sign with our name on it.  I've always wanted that to happen.  It was very welcoming and a good start to our trip.  It took us about 35 minutes to get from the airport to Playa Del Carmen.  Our hotel is off the beaten path.  There are no signs; just a long curvy roads with jungle on either side of it.  If Azul Fives hadn't gotten such great reviews on Trip Advisor I would have been really worried.  I would have been even more worried if we'd had to try to find this hidden place on our own.  We went to lunch to kill time until our room was ready but what I really wanted to do was rip my clothes off because I was being suffocated by my own clothing.  It's the kind of humidity that makes your skin feel moist.  I'm not used to that at all.

Countless military men and women including my husband have survived exercising in 100+ heat wearing long sleeved military fatigues, boots and gear in dangerous countries.  "How did you do it?" I asked MJ.  "Well, there is nothing you can do about it so you just get used to it."  All week I saw staff working hard in pants and long sleeves in the hot sun and I felt so bad for them.  I was wearing yoga pants and a T shirt on vacation so what I really needed to do was just get over it, but I don't do discomfort very well.

We never did get around to drinking that champagne-we brought it home. 

Our room was gorgeous.  The first thing I did was take those awful clothes off.  The hard cold tile floor felt amazing under my hot sweaty feet.  We had to get used to sleeping in a double when we've been sleeping in a King for the last four years but it was fine.  I don't complain too much about having to be closer to MJ.

Our first day there started with lunch, check in, shower and an impromptu nap.  MJ collapsed on one of the beds and I went down on the other one. 

When we woke up we went to the main pool area.  "Seriously?"  That's the first thing I said when I saw the turquoise water glimmering in the sunshine.  It was positively stunning.  MJ got in the pool but I was feeling too out of sorts and freshly showered to deal with chlorine.  We didn't stay for very long before going back to the hotel and changing for dinner.  After that we went to the Zky Bar where they have something fun every night at 9:30pm.  Saturday was Michael Jackson night.  I honestly, wasn't expecting that much but I was blown away by the dance performance.  They did about six choreographed routines to Michael Jackson songs and it was really good.

We were totally off the grid for the entire week. They had Wi-fi plans but I would feel ridiculous paying for Wi-Fi just so I could peruse Instagram or post a status update.  I'm on vacation.  The whole point is to get away.  No phones, no social media, no web surfing, no blogging and very limited TV channels in the English language. I only missed it for about five minutes when we checked in and were welcomed with blue champagne and a cold wet towel that I couldn't Instagram but  after that I was glad not to have it.  Every single day we were really in the moment with each other and our surroundings without the added distraction of time sucking mindless web browsing that takes up so much time at home.  Instead of Instagram it was InstaLife and that's ALWAYS a good thing.

Later on during the week at dinner there was a group of four ladies who got seated near us.  All four had their heads bent into their phones.  One of them had her phone clutched her in her hand and I don't think she put it down even once until their first course appeared and then it wasn't too long before she picked it up again.  It was kind of sad to watch.  It made me really glad that I did not have Wi Fi and very aware of how ridiculous it is to be so absorbed in your phone when there are so many beautiful and wonderful things going on right in front of your face.

DAY 2
We went to the gym first, then to breakfast and finally hit the beach.  I couldn't wait to get into that gorgeous ocean, but that wouldn't last for too long.  More on that later.   We discovered the Iguanas on our way over.  They are harmless (so I'm told) but I was still scared because I'm scared of everything.  There was one facing us about a foot away from the path we had to walk down and MJ practically had to drag me along to get me to walk past it.  I got used to them after a while-sort of.  There are spider monkeys on the property too.  We kept looking, but never saw any.

One of many activities they had going on all day every day was Salsa lessons.  They promised us a free coconut drink for participating so we were in.

Sorry about the under boob.  Sometimes that happens at the beach

They had water polo once a day and beach volley ball twice a day at 11:00am and 4:00pm.  MJ played water polo twice and Beach Volleyball every single day we were there; sometimes twice a day.  He's good at everything.  He loves organized sports and it was good exercise.  

Meanwhile, I mostly laid on the beach with drinks in my hand.  They'd come around to ask if we needed anything and nine times out of ten I said yes, because why not?  I did get up and do a 30 minute walk way down the beach by by myself.    My feet were digging in the sand with every step making it a pretty good leg work out.  I had my iTunes and a spectacular view.  I also saw an old naked guy.  It was one of the best walks I've ever had in my life!! And not because of the naked guy.  I was so sweaty I had to jump in the pool shower to cool off...and then it was more relaxing.

This was our favorite show watching spot.  There were only two but we usually got there early enough to snag one.

That night they had a magic show.  I was randomly selected out of the audience to think of a famous singer in my head. Okay, Justin Timberlake.  He opened up the manilla envelope that he was holding in his hand the whole time and inside was a picture of Justin Timberlake.  I still don't know how did it.   Is it magic or are people (me) just that predictable?  I'll call it magic.

Cancun Day 3-4

Slimy Carrots and a Blogging Rut

missing that view already

I confess that I have no idea what to blog about so I'm writing a confessions post.

I confess that yesterday was our four year wedding anniversary and I didn't even realize it until someone wished us Happy Anniversary on Facebook.  Oops.  We don't celebrate it so that's okay.

I confess that I haven't even begun to work on my vacation recaps. I haven't even downloaded the pictures and without the pictures I've already forgotten the details of what we did each day. It will happen this weekend and it should be pretty straight forward because it was mostly eat, beach, drink, eat, beach, drink. Repeat.

I confess that I may have OD'd on wine.  I didn't think it was possible but it's Friday and I'm not craving it at all.  Yes, I drank that much.  I'm sure it will pass.

I confess that I returned slimy carrots to the grocery store.  I bought them on a Wednesday and by Thursday the next week they were spoiled.  Carrots should not spoil that quickly.  My mom won't hesitate, but I don't think I've ever returned anything to a grocery store.  I usually just take the hit but it's the 2nd time this has happened and my meal plan is eating us out of house and home!  I needed to get those carrots replaced.

I confess that the week our free 14 oz Success Rice rice coupons were set to expire I hit up the grocery store every day and sometimes multiple stores in one day to use them up.  MJ's cousin gave us a bunch when she was here and it was ridiculous that we waited until the last minute.  Twice MJ and I went into the same store and did separate transactions.  Food is expensive and you can't beat free!! I'm still bummed out that we had to let two of them expire.

I confess that exactly two days after returning from Cancun I was already on the phone booking another vacation. We're going to Hawaii for the 3rd time exactly one year from now. We haven't even taken our September vacation yet and we're going to Vegas next month.   I think I've gone vacation crazy.  It's like I can't stop.  And it's great and all except I'm getting really tired of paying for expensive overpriced airline tickets.  I get really disgruntled every time we book flights especially when I come across airlines that think it's cute to charge for a carry on.  Spirit, I'm talking about you.

I confess that I feel disconnected from blogging.  I just haven't been as obsessed with it as I usually am. I attribute this to three things.
1-I've been editing the heck out of my novel over the last month and it's taken priority over blogging stuff.  Sometimes there aren't enough creative juices to go around.
2-I feel boring, insignificant and that nothing I have to say is blogworthy.  That term is entirely subjective and can change from one week to the next depending on my mood.  One day I'm totally confident about posting even the silliest thing and other times I question and doubt every single post.
3-My life was just fine without blogging and social media while I was on vacation.  No Wi-Fi meant no social media which meant no likes or lack thereof.  I didn't have to think about what I would post next and it was nice that words like page view or followers never crossed my mind.  When I'm in my happy blogging place (which is probably 90% of the time) I care about none of those things but I'm only human.  Sometimes I let it get to me and then I wonder why I bother blogging at all.
I'm sure I'll get my groove back.  It's not the first time I've lost it and I'm sure it won't be the last.  It's just the nature of the beast.

On that note; I'm exhausted!!  We got back late Saturday after about 15 hours of traveling.  I was groggy all day Sunday and then it was right back to work Monday.  I still managed to get in three work outs this week but I'm beat and so ready for the weekend.

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More Energy Please

I'm back!! Vacation was awesome.  My blog reader has over 600 unread blogs, I have a tan line wrapped around my neck visible above my scoop neck top and a million pictures to go through.  I'm feeling twice as energetic on the Monday after my vacation as I did the Monday before my vacation so that means it did it's job.  I am officially refreshed, but how long before I start burrowing my head into my pillow in misery on Monday's again?  

Is it just me or does anyone else ever feel tired all day every day for no good reason?  MJ is an energizer bunny.  He's hardly ever tired, but not me.  Sometimes I wake up tired.  Go to work tired.  Come home tired.  Go to bed tired.  Then I do the same thing all over again the next day like some kind of chronic fatigue thing that never seems to go away no matter how much sleep I get or how much exercise I do.  I know that mood and diet have a lot to do with your energy.  It makes sense to be exhausted if you are depressed and not eating a healthy diet but now that I'm doing better in those areas it was really annoying to find that I was still chronically fatigued.  Life is way too short to be tired all the time.

 I've started and stopped taking multi vitamins a million times over.  I'd do really good taking them for awhile and then I'd start forgetting and quit altogether.  I'd think about taking it but say, oh well why bother because it didn't seem to be doing anything for me anyway. Bodies are so different.  What works for one person may do nothing for another.  I heard all of these wonderful things about vitamin B12 so I took it religiously for a while and it didn't do a thing so I quit.

I was researching something else and stumbled across three vitamins that kept coming up so I went out and bought all three.  I've been taking a 5,000 IU Vitamin D, a 1000mg Vitamin C and three 400mcg folic acid tablets for going on two months now and I think I finally found something that works.  It took about a month for me to feel any different but once I did I was very motivated to keep taking them every day.  It's a lot easier to remember if you actually feel like it's  benefiting you.  I'd get to work and wonder what was going on.  Why am I not tired?  When I get home I don't want to just fall asleep on the couch.  I'd go to bed anyways because I know I need my sleep but I wasn't feeling as dead tired as I was before.  I'm still tired when I don't get enough sleep but day to day I'm finding that I'm just not as tired as I used to be and that is a very good thing because sleepwalking through life is no fun.

I'm also taking 2 Fish Oil tablets with dinner every night as part of my meal plan which is an Omega 6 fatty acid that is supposed to be good  for your heart.  Once I run out of the Vitamin C I'm going to switch to a multi vitamin that has at least 1,000mg of C and supplement with a slightly lower dose Vitamin D and Folic Acid to make up the difference.   Most Multi's actually don't have a whole lot of D and I really think that's what's doing the trick for me.  Or maybe not.  Maybe it's the combination of the three.  Who knows.  I just know that it's really nice to not be dead tired when I get to work every day.  This combination is also very good for vaginal health.  So yeah, that was the other thing I was researching.

I bought this really cute Vita Carry pill case on Amazonbecause rushing to open three bottles every morning was a pain in the butt.  This way I can keep it in my purse and take them at work.The giant fish oil pills fit and it's a lot better looking then those old school looking pill cases they sell at Walgreens. 

Vacation works better then vitamins.  I skipped all vitamins and I still had tons of energy while we were gone.  I ALWAYS have energy for days when I'm on vacation and my chronic fatigue issues magically disappear; which is just one thing I love about vacation.  The only problem is that life is not a vacation.  Life is 45 hours a week at work and fitting in everything else in between so I'm back on my vitamin regimen and I hope it keeps working.

Do you take vitamins?  What works or doesn't work for you?

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A Life That Doesn't Require Vacation

Oh my gosh.  This week!!!!  I was supposed to be all about stress packing and getting my work outs in but it didn't quite turn out that way.  I only managed two work outs, I met up with a friend and I had a friend over to do a Mary Kay consult.  She's a new rep so she needs to get a bunch in this month but she's not pushy so I don't have to worry about her trying to get me to buy stuff all the time.

Friends since 8th Grade // Do we look much different then we did in 2007?

I got a text from my really good friend that they were in town from Alaska.  I knew she was coming and that it was going to be a very tight window right before our trip where we'd have only a few days available to see each other but you know how things sneak up on you.  MJ and I met her and her husband at Mimi's Cafe for dinner.  She is really skinny and her baby is chunky.  She says her baby took her ass; and I think he literally did by way of breast feeding.  I mean, she is thinner then she was before she got pregnant and she got huge while she pregnant.  Some people are just lucky like that.  Anyway, it was so wonderful to catch up with her and her husband and kiss her adorable baby boy.  She's finally getting out of Alaska this year and I'm really hoping she moves back here.  It would be awesome to get my BFF back.

I started packing Sunday, MJ started packing last night and he STILL finished before me.  Typical.  With every vacation I get better and better about not stressing but something tells me I will never be as good as him.  I'm feeling okay but it's those few minutes just before I zip up my luggage to load it in the car that the major anxiety really hits.  I'll just be happy if I can zip the thing up.  It's stuffed but I don't think I over packed.  I've never had to pay a baggage fee since the airlines got really cheap and started charging.  I plan to continue that streak so one suitcase it is.

Our last two beach vacations were in November/December and none of the stores had bathing suits so when I needed a cover up or bikini bottoms to match a top I already had I had the search the ends of the earth to find what I was looking for. This time it's the beginning of Summer and I don't really need a bikini but every time I got to Target (which is entirely too much) I really, really want one.  That wall of bright colors calls out to me even though I dread the thought of putting one on and looking in the mirror.  I'll get one next trip but with my luck it will be winter, I will not have planned ahead and I won't be able to find one without spending an arm and a leg.  Such is life.  You will be seeing pics of me in the same bikini from five vacations ago.

We went to Maui in December but it already feels like a lifetime ago and just six months later I already feel like my life depends on having another vacation.  Someone tweeted a post a few weeks ago that kind of irked me for some reason.   Instead of desperately looking forward to your next vacation why not create a life in which you do not need a vacation from your life?  Okay.  So basically, my life clearly isn't awesome enough because I need a vacation and since I need one so bad then maybe I need to re think my life choices and consider planning a life that doesn't require one.  Does a life like that even exist?  Even rich celebrities who make their living doing things they love and have servants need a vacation from their life sometimes.  Right?  Or am I just doing life all wrong?  Well I definitely need a break from work and the daily grind but the other part of it is that I love traveling.  Even if my life were so called perfect enough to not need a vacation I'd probably still want to see other parts of the world.  Oh wait.  If I were savvy enough to create that perfect life then traveling would be part of my job so I wouldn't need a vacation for that reason either.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure I read into that tweet way more then I should have.

I don't have a maid to clean my house, a personal assistant to run my errands and a job I would do for free so I'm off to do the next best thing.  Vacation.  I will eat like a pig, drink like a fish and let someone else clean my room while I lay on a beach in Cancun.  I won't be posting for the next week (which is not entirely unusual) but if I have wi-fi I'll be on Instagram.

Until Next Time

I understand that people have to grow up and sow their oats where ever that may take them but sometimes it really sucks that everybody has to grow up and move away.  I stayed put mostly, but little sis has moved way up north, big sis has moved down South and the rents are still deciding where they want to live out their golden years.  Why can't everyone just stay put so I can watch my nephew grow up and spend time with everyone without having to get on a plane?  I do realize that the world doesn't revolve around me but it sure would be nice if it did.

Not last weekend but the one before my whole family was in town and it was awesome.  I'm usually a homebody but it was go, go, go from Friday to Monday.  We really have to make the most of our time together so even this homebody wouldn't have had it any other way.  On Friday night I picked up little sis and her boyfriend from the airport and then we all went to dinner in Old Town.

On Saturday it was a day at the county fair.  To this day the fair has a special place in my heart because my parents started a tradition of taking us there every year when we were kids.   We took many 'put your photo on a button' family pictures over the years.  Nobody ever actually wore the button but my mom used to line them up on the fireplace so we could see how we changed from year to year.  I wonder if my mom still has them.  Something tells me she does because she still has my high school Varsity letterman jacket and fairy wings from my little sister's Halloween costume a million years ago.

DJ had a ton of fun getting on rides.  Last time they went he was scared but now he is ready and willing to go on by himself.  He's still a little guy so some of them required adult supervision.  There was a day when I went straight to the fun zone and hit the rides but my how times have changed.  I have absolutely no desire to get jerked around anymore.  Another telltale sign of getting old.

the giant slide was always one of my favorites

This is THE pizza that I HAVE to get every year.  There is deep fried everything at the fair now but I usually only have room for this pizza and then an ice cream cone later.  It's a french bread Pizza with a thick and totally delicious flaky crust.  I dream about it the night before and then savor every last bite until it's gone.
 

One of my favorite parts of going to the fair is hanging out in the beer garden.  We plop down in the grass and eat our food while we listen to whatever band is playing.   A lot of times it's not even music that I would normally listen to but sitting outside in the sun with a beer in my hand makes it enjoyable.  They had a beer tasting thing going on.  You get five 5 oz tastings for $17.00.  Sounds really expensive and it is but it's actually a good deal when it costs $10 just for one 12 oz beer.  The fair prices are not very fair at all.  My dad paid for it.  Just one of the perks of hanging out with the parents. 

Every year there is a free wine tasting event we always try to do so we went from beer tasting to wine tasting.  It's four pours and you have to get there like 30 minutes early to get a seat but we will do almost anything for free wine.  Now we have another set of authentic San Diego Fair wine glasses to add to our collection.

My mom is recovering really well from her foot surgery.  She just went back to the gym for the first time this week but for an all day outing she needed the wheelchair.  By the end of the day my feet were so tired I wanted to sit in her lap.  It was the coolest thing to be able to go to the fair together one last time.  We all had a blast. That night I was so exhausted that I fell into bed thinking it had to be at least 2 in the morning but it was only 11:15pm.

We went out to Breakfast for Father's Day Sunday morning.  We started out at one place but the wait was really long so we went somewhere else where we got seated right away.

Pre Breakfast.  Waiting for food.

The family

Dad and his three girls

We dropped of little sis's boyfriend at the airport and then had a girls night at my house.  We went for a drink and tried to stay up too late watching a movie but had to shut it off and go to bed.  It was a rare night away from DJ for my sister.  She needed it and my parents love having him to themselves so it was win win for everyone.

I took Monday off so I could get in one last day with my sisters and nephew before they head back home.  We spent most of the day hanging out in the back yard.  DJ always hears the ice cream truck and someone always takes him out to get something.

When it was time to leave my heart was so full and so sad.  Full because I enjoyed every single minute that we got to spend together but sad because it's the last time we will all be together again for a while and probably THE last time in my hometown where we all grew up.   I have no idea where or when we will meet up again so all we can do is make the most of the time we have.  

Until next time......

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Six Things

I am bursting right now. Do you ever feel like you just have so many thoughts and so many things to say but you just can't get it all out in the way that it feels in your heart? Well, that's me right now. That's me a lot of times really. I love writing and I like to think I don't suck at it but there are times when I feel that I can't find the words. So I'm going to just do sort of a rambly this is what's on my mind kind of post.

I finished my novel last week.  I started a post to describe the whole experience and then I couldn't find the words to describe how it felt so it's still sitting in my drafts.  For now, suffice it to say the damn thing is finished and I'm still not really sure how I feel about it.  Extremely happy for one, but also confused because I'm getting closer to that point where I have to decide if I want anyone to read it.

My first work out gloves

I started a new exercise and meal plan this week and I'm feeling really good about it. Part of myself is still in denial and I may or may not admit it again but if I'm being totally honest with myself the truth is that I've struggled with an eating disorder for about 10 years.  Wow.  That sounds crazy when you still don't really want to believe that you ever had a problem.  I don't talk about it much to anyone and even when I do I don't use that word.  Eating disorder is such a loaded word for me and I'm very conflicted about it.  I never felt like I'd truly "earned" the title.  No, it's not something to aspire to but I think anyone who has ever had ED issues would understand what I mean.  I try to deny it because I wasn't 85 lbs in a hospital bed but it's not the 80's anymore and we are more aware of the fact that eating disorders come in all types, shapes, sizes and colors.  When you don't fit the typical ED mold it makes it even that much easier to pretend you don't have a problem.  I pretty much hate my body no matter what size I am and my relationship with food has been really unhealthy.  I'm working really hard to change those old habits.  Right now that means having someone help me learn how to eat more calories consistently the right way so that's what I'm doing.  I'm also going to be shifting my focus from cardio to strength training.  This should help fix my metabolism AND I kinda want to see how buff I can get!! Mainly I just want to be fit AND healthy.  This is still all very new and I don't know how it's all going to end up but I'm really going to give it a chance.  So that's my deep dark secret and it feels good to get it out.

My husband is totally and completely amazing.  He bought me my very first pair of work out gloves (link HERE)and he got them in Pink.  Because PINK!  I love them.  He's also made me all of my chicken for the week and is making me more tonight so I can eat dinner.  I fall more and more in love with this man the longer I know him and feel so incredibly fortunate that he came into my life when he did.

My laptop is fixed.  Well, as of last night it should be and I'm gong to start using it again and see how it goes.  My personal tech support guy also known as my husband has been working on it for the last few weeks and even before that he replaced the battery and added more memory.  It still had issues so we went to the genius bar.  Mr. Genius Bar Man ran a diagnostic and said we should  wipe it and reset to factory settings.  "Is your computer backed up?"  he asked.  I just looked at MJ and shrugged because he's in charge of the time capsule.  I don't trust the time capsule.  I don't understand what the heck that thing actually is but MJ assured him that it had backed everything up and it was okay to delete.  Turns out I was right not to trust it.  There was a glitch and  my  pictures, my documents, my iTunes and everything else that had gone into my laptop over the last five years was gone baby gone.  The good news is that Mr. Sexy Personal Tech Support Guy believes that he has recovered everything and I'm going to have lost of fun sorting through it all this weekend.  Didn't I just say how amazing he is?  This means I get to hold off on buying another Mac for a little while longer.

The countdown to vacation is on.  We'll be jetting off to Cancun in a week.  As you all know I was devastated about screwing up on the booking but I made a full recovery and now I just can't wait to get there.  Commence the pre vacation anxiety.  I don't have any plans next week except working out and catching up on TV shows.  I am such a nervous wreck before vacation so all I have room for is focusing on packing and making sure I have everything I need.  I have already started To Do/To Get lists.

I only had five things but it turned into six because I have to mention this.  Blogger has somehow duplicated this post even as I write it!!  I don't know what's going on but I was writing my post as usual and then when I saved there were two identical drafts of the same post even though I only did one!!  Every time I update one the other one updates the same way once I hit refresh.  I feel like something like this has happened before and when I deleted the "duplicate" it deleted both and I lost everything.  As a precaution I saved the entire post into word before I deleted the extra just in case.  Weird.

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Dress Obsessed

I'm the type of blogger that gets antsy when I can't post about fun stuff I did right away.  I might not post for another week afterwards but I want that post up stat.  I had a great weekend with my family and got some great pictures but between a busy week and a wonky computer I just haven't had time!!  I've had this in draft for a week and it's been a long time since I did an outfit post so this goes up today. 

If eShakti had asked me a year ago to pick out something to review for my blog I probably would have chosen a shirt.  I had dresses in my closet but rarely wore them.  I just wasn't a fan.  That was then and this is now.  I am still dress obsessed so I went straight for the dresses and I was so excited about the huge selection.  eShakti has every kind of dress you could ever want.  It was so hard to pick!  I love the feminine colors and pattern of this floral posy print sash tied dress.  It has an extra liner underneath to prevent see through action and the quality is really great.  I like it that it's different then most of the dresses I already have and I made sure to choose one that is work friendly.  Most of my dresses are super casual (think maxi style) so this is going to be a nice addition to my dress collection.

One of the reasons I don't like online shopping so much is because I really, really like to try everything on.  I am not one of those people that just gets her usual size or eye balls it.  I try on everything, every time (which can feel really exhausting) because sizes vary even when something is supposed to be the same size and I don't like to have to go back.  It's a hassle and by the time I return it they probably won't have the size I really needed.  There is a very good chance you don't have to worry about that if it's custom made and that's one unique option that eShakti offers.  I sent them all of my measurements and the dress I got in the mail fit perfectly.  I haven't had anything customized to my body since my wedding dress four years ago.  There is something about the whole custom order concept that made me feel rich and I liked it.  It even has this really cool label inside that says "custom."

I'm excited to have a new dress and I'm also really excited that I finally did another outfit post.  How long have I been saying I wanted to do more?  Forever.  Note to self:  work on your posture.  I've been telling myself that for a long time too (and so has MJ).  I really need to get it together.

If you would like to get 10% OFF at eShakti use coupon code 'CECESTORIES.'  The code is valid through July 13, 2014.  The following restrictions apply. Code has to be entered in the ‘promotional code’ box. It is not case-sensitive.Code can be used any number of times until the validity period. It can be combined with any other promotional offer, gift coupon or gift card in the same order unless explicitly specified otherwise in the offer conditions.This discount code is not applicable on clearance / sale, gift cards & overstock categories.  Not applicable on previous purchases.

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How Toilet Paper is Like Cereal

Let's talk bums.  The reality of it is that we all need toilet paper and thank goodness we have it.  I've watched enough Naked and Afraid episodes to know that I would not enjoy wiping my bum with leaves.  I mean, how does that even work?  Probably not so well.  In fact, if I went on the show (which would never happen) I'd probably bring soap or some other such cleaning agent that would make my partner extremely angry because soap never kept anybody from starving.

Read More HERE >>>> 

Cottonelle Clean Care

It's Not Facebook It's You

I have read so many things about what not to do on social media or what annoys people about social media that at this point I'm more annoyed by those articles then I am by the actual things on social media that annoy me.  This article on How to Be Insufferable on Facebook  left me totally confused.  I  wasn't sure what was left for anyone on this planet to post after it ruled almost everything out as annoying.  I mean, if you follow this persons so called rules what is left to post and why would I want to bother with social media at all if I have to consult a manual to ensure that I'm not being insufferable before I post anything?  I used to get really bent out of shape about certain things on social media too until one day I realized that social media truly is what I make of it.  I only have to be as annoyed as I allow myself to be.  Instead of writing another post about what annoys me about social media this one is about how NOT to be annoyed by social media.  Some of it is specific to Facebook but can apply across all social media platforms.

1// Cut the friend list.  People in real life annoy you right? So why would you expect social media to be any different? There is one HUGE difference a lot of people fail to remember. While you may be forced to tolerate your cousin who brags about herself or that co worker that is always such a Debbie Downer you do not have to put up with that girl you went to high school  with who chain posts collages of her and her boyfriend wearing color coordinated outfits.  You do not have to subject yourself to the political rants of your deranged step uncle or the TMI attention seeker.  If you don't like it don't follow.  The minute I started to feel that I was more annoyed or consumed with Facebook then the enjoyment I was getting out of it I did something very ground breaking.  I stopped accepting friend requests and I deleted more then half of my friends.  You may have to put up with someone you don't like in real life but the reality is you don't have to be friends with anyone you don't want to on social media. Not your mother, your sister, nobody.  If you only keep 10 friends because the rest if them drive you nuts so be it.  Or better yet just get over it because people are annoying and that's just life.  There are people that still bug a little that I haven't gotten rid of for whatever reasons and I just deal with it because really-it's not that big of a deal.

2// Customize it.  Social media, particularly Facebook is pretty customizable these days.  There are many privacy settings and other controls that allow you to personalize your Facebook experience.  Use them. If you are worried about offending people on Facebook by defriending just hide their posts.  They will never know the difference and you can check in on them when you feel like it.  That person that blows up your news feed by sharing every single video or article they read needs to be stopped.  They might feel the need to share their comprehensive internet experience by posting a million videos, pics and links per day but you don't have to see it.  I started hiding certain feeds and suddenly, my newsfeed became very boring (in a good way) and when it wasn't boring it was filled with things I was actually interested in seeing.  

3// Understand that the very thing that drives one person up the wall may not bother the next person at all. There is a good chance that you are doing something that annoys someone even if you feel you are doing everything "right" because there is no right. There are people who hate any and all hash tags, roll their eyes if you post more then one pic a day and can't stand your stupid inspirational quotes. There are people who complain if you post the burger and fries you had for lunch or your sweaty post work out pics even if you don't do it a lot.  I've done both by the way, and so what.  I tend to operate on the anything in moderation idea but even so you still can't please everyone.  We are all so different.  It's impossible.

4// Accept that Social media is selfish in nature. We get our own handle, write our own about me blurb and choose our profile pic. It's all about US. If it weren't what else would we be posting all day? Even if we post a video that we think is funny and might make someone laugh we are posting it because WE like it and you can bet there will be probably still be someone who won't appreciate it. Someone who will be thinking there she goes posting another stupid video.  It's also perfectly selfish in that we can customize our own experience not only regarding what we choose to see but what we choose to post.  Since you already know you can't please everyone just please yourself.

5// If you don't want people in your business don't share it.  If you can't or won't unfollow, defriend or customize your privacy settings just don't share it.  Really, it is that simple.

6// Separate yourself from it. Who are all of these people and why do I care about everything they are doing?  Why is it necessary for me to share my every thought?   Take a deep breath and step back.  Just because you can share doesn't mean you have to.  All the time.  Just  because you have the ability to peek into peoples lives doesn't mean you have to.  All the time.
 
There are a lot of things I like about social media.  I like staying connected with certain people.  I like seeing pics of my out of state nephew regularly and staying caught up on news in the gymnastics world and other things that interest me.  I like it that I can send group messages, coordinate events, allow people to see pics and just in general engage with others.  I know people who don't have Facebook accounts saying they will "get in trouble" because you know, Facebook is so powerful it can destroy relationships.  Others have deleted their accounts 10 x over because they can't stand the "drama" or they get too consumed with it.   Others say they just don't like people to know their business.

I'm here to tell you one thing.  Don't let annoying people take Facebook (or any other form of social media) away from you.  If it doesn't do anything for you and you are not interested in it at all that's one thing but if you quit because others annoy you I'm not sure how much sense that makes when it's only as annoying as you allow it to be. Forget about trying to please everyone on social media. It'll never happen. Just worry about pleasing yourself.  The ones who don't like it can just unfollow and you can do the same

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Family Time and a $10 Outfit

We only got in two episodes of Orange is the New Black on Friday night.  There was a part of me that longed for an Orange marathon but a bigger much louder part of me was thrilled to be spending the weekend with family.  My older sister and nephew are here for 17 days.  I only get to see them on the weekends because of work so I am really trying to make the most of it.  The day she flew in my parents picked them up and drove straight to my house so we could all go out to breakfast and hang out.  My little sister gets into town this Friday and the entire upcoming weekend is packed with more family activities.

I get a lot of time at home alone without MJ since he travels but he rarely gets the house to himself without me.  I spent all day Saturday and that night at my mom's and I know he liked it that he had time to himself- which doesn't bother me too much even though I like pretend that I am totally offended.  It was only one night but I still got all pouty and I'm gonna miss you on him which is kind of silly because we've spent many, many nights apart.  I can be so dramatic sometimes but I really can't help it.

I always forget my hat.  I actually have a cute one I could have worn.

DJ

We spent Saturday at the park.  DJ got to play and burn off some 3 year old energy while we got to sit, chat and just be with each other.  My little nephew is so sweet and soft spoken.  At that age you don't even know if they know who you are.  It's been almost a year since I last saw him.  He smiled really big when he saw me.  Awww he does remember his Auntie Cece.  I scooped him up into a giant hug.  He is just the cutest. 

Maxi'd out

My sister and I went to the mall twice.  We didn't plan it but we went on Saturday for one thing then Sunday because she realized she needed something else.  You see that outfit I'm wearing? $10 bucks.  Even people who are not shopping cannot pass up a $3.00 shirt and an $8.00 maxi skirt.  I mean, really!!  In case you are wondering where you can get $3 shirts it's Rue 21.  My sister works at a store in N. Carolina.  When things go on clearance there, they REALLY go on clearance.  I have a maxi skirt addiction.  Every where I looked that's all I saw.  All I wanted to do was buy more and more but I didn't because I have more then enough to get me through the Summer and I realize it's just the addiction talking.

My mom got me a pair of $3.00 sweats from Rue 21 when they went so now my sister, mom and I all have ones that match.  They have kind of a wild print but they are really cute for wearing at home or to places like Walmart or late night doughnut runs.  It's too warm now, but hopefully we will get a chance to wear them together sometime and be super annoying matchy matchy twinsies.  And that's just the thing.  We really don't know when we are all going to be together again.  We never do.  We just have to enjoy the times that we are.

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I Screwed Up

Azul Fives Hotel

I'm an idiot.  It is with great sadness that I have to admit I totally screwed up when I booked the hotel for our Cancun trip.  We're still going but if I knew then what I know now we would probably be staying elsewhere.  The Trip Advisor reviews are almost flawless.  I should've known it was too good to be true. 

I was actually having a pretty decent Monday until I called to follow up on our reservation and take care of the all inclusive resort fee part of it. When I heard how much it was I almost fell out of my chair.  I mean, I've never been the best at math but I know how to multiply and when I ran the numbers AFTER I got the invoice I realized my mistake.  My appetite was gone.  I couldn't even finish eating my snack because a giant knot of complete and total ick was sitting in the pit of my stomach.  Yes, ick.  I just felt icky, awful and really really stupid for underestimating the cost so much.  I wanted to cancel the trip.  Then I had to tell MJ.  I didn't even want to text him the amount because it was far higher then what I told him it would probably be.

Me:  I'm feeling physically ill right now.  I called to check on the resort fee and it's a lot of money.  It's so much that I want to cry right now (and I almost did).
Him:  What's the price?  Need anything from the store?  I'm getting milk.
Me:  $1,654.00.  It's the price of an entire vacation.  I'm so stupid.
Him:  Just for the all inclusive part right?
Me:  Yes, that's what makes it so bad.
Him:  I'm trying to replicate the El Pollo Loco meal.
Me:  How can you think about food at a time like this???!!!!

Obviously he wasn't as devastated as I was.  I couldn't even begin to recover from this news until I knew he wasn't mad at me.  When I got home he hugged me and told me it was okay and then I felt better.  I'm even starting to get excited about the trip again.

I don't know what went wrong! I'm usually so good about these things.  I guess I couldn't comprehend that it would cost that much since I had no concept of how much a typical all inclusive fee could be.  I'm comprehending it now all right and it sucks.  It's like thinking you got a dynamite deal and booked The Four Seasons for the price of The Best Western and then realizing you actually booked The Four Seasons for the price of The Four Seasons and now you have to pay for it.  I would never have knowingly spent this much on this vacation.  I mean, we have great vacations but I pride myself on finding the best deals balancing quality with price as much as I possibly can.  This is in no way the best deal possible as far as I'm concerned and I don't like that.  I would've chosen someplace else or we might not have gone all inclusive at all had I realized the cost.  

I do realize that spending way more on a vacation then you intended is not the worst thing in the world.  This hotel is fabulous and bottom line is I'm lucky to be going there.  What would be worse is if we couldn't pay the fee, had to cancel our trip entirely and lose money on our non refundable airline tickets.  It would be far worse if I booked us a fleabag motel instead and we ended up having a miserable time or if we couldn't ever go on vacation at all.  It just really pisses me off that we are spending money I didn't plan on.   There are people who wouldn't bat an eye at this (MJ) but I am not those people.  I have budgets and bills.  I like getting good deals dammit and this does not feel like a good deal.

I was so rattled that I forgot to ask about booking our airport transportation.  I called back the next day to book a shuttle and  if an expensive limo shows up at the Cancun airport to pick us up I'm done!!

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Perfect home. Perfect T

As soon as I saw  The Home T-shirt (on a blog of course) I knew I had to have one so I pinned it, because when you Pin something that means it's yours.  Ha!! I really wish that were true all the time but in this case it was.  When my mom asked me what I wanted for my Birthday I didn't hesitate.  I went straight to my pin, sent her the link and was not disappointed when it came in the mail.  It really is the perfect T-Shirt.  I love that it's a T but without the sloppy shapeless look of a typical T shirt that I hate.  I have a drawer full of ugly T shirts that I don't want to get rid of because they have sentimental value but are just too awful to wear.   This is not that kind of T shirt.  It's fitted, soft and the sleeves are the perfect length.  A portion of the profits go to a good cause too.  I love my state and I'll be wearing this T with pride a lot.

I can't think of a more perfect place to live.  In honor of my perfect T-shirt here are three reasons I love California.
1.  Sunshine.  My favorite seasons are the warmest seasons and I hate the rain.  The weather is pretty close to perfect here year round and that has to be one of the biggest perks of living here.

2.  Access.  Our state is pretty big.  You aren't going to drive through multiple states without noticing like you can on the east coast but we still have access to so much.  Lakes, mountains, oceans and deserts are all within weekend getaway distance. 

3.  Lifestyle.  I love the healthy and casual laid back lifestyle around here.  My sister moved back to N. Carolina last year and immediately saw the difference in access to healthy foods.  It's so easy to eat healthy in Cali (not that I always want to) and the sunshine and shorts weather promotes it.  I can go into almost any fast food or dine in restaurant and find healthy options.  There is always a Subway and there are yogurt shops and all kinds of places geared towards healthy eating all over the place.  People don't dress up a lot here and I like that because I'm casual.  I can't wear shorts and flip flops year round because I get cold pretty easy but a lot of people do my husband included.  Shorts and T shirts is more then just a way of dressing.  It's a lifestyle which for us means lots of picnics!

On Saturday we went for another picnic.  Last time we couldn't get into Balboa Park because there was a parade and our entire bottle of wine spilled in the trunk.  This time they were setting up for the Rock N Roll Marathon.  Our favorite area where the airplanes fly overhead was closed off but I was just happy to make it into the park and we had wine to drink when we got there.

There are many days of sunshine and picnics in our future; we'll make it to our favorite spot next time.

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Things I Don't want to Face Right Now

That there are five out of seven days of the week that I kind of wish I didn't have to do.  I think you know which ones I'm talking about.  I have a problem with wishing days away when life is so precious.  We really do need to be grateful for every single one.

Some day I will have to buy another car.  I bought a Honda so I could drive the wheels off and that's what I intend to do.  I've had it for 5 years and it was used when I bought it.  I'd drive it for the rest of my life if I could but even Honda's don't last forever.  I love my cute little car so much and it loves me back.  Good gas mileage, low maintenance and no car payment.  My next car will probably be another Honda so I'll still have one....it's just the whole parting with cash thing that I hate to think about.

My MacBook is dying.  Like Honda's even Mac's don't last forever.  MJ bought it for me in late 2009.  He added new memory, replaced the battery and re installed the operating system (I think that's what he did) but it's still not acting right.  It shuts down randomly when I'm in Firefox, Safari or word.  Most recently I can't upload pics from iPhoto to blogger.  I'm basically a blogger without a laptop right now.  I never use it anymore because it's so annoying.  He's going to try one more last ditch effort to save it but after that.....it might be time to spend some more moolah.    

That my closet is officially stuffed to capacity and there was room to spare when we moved in 4 years ago.  I don't want to face this because it means that I've done a lot of shopping which means I've spent a lot of money which feels really really wasteful.  In retrospect I do feel that a lot of stuff I got was because I needed it.  As much as you need clothes when you already have some anyway.  I need to do a serious closet cleanse and get rid of stuff and keep my shopping to a minimum.  I have a REALLY hard time parting with clothes.  I need help!!!

That my husband wants another house.  He's got this idea in his head that he needs a yard when one of the things that we really liked about our house when we moved in is that it did not have one.  He has changed his mind about that; I have not.  He wants to spend weekends doing yard work.  I do not.  I really, really love our house.  It has everything we need, a few things we don't and it's going to be a tough act to follow.  It's not the biggest house or the fanciest house but I think it will be damn near impossible to find one I like as much with a price tag we can afford.  I also really hate moving.  Three words come to mind.  Expensive.  Stressful. Don't wanna.  Okay that's four.

That I will never be able to do my middle splits again.  I got the left side back with ease, the right side back with some pain, but the middle splits are as elusive as the carefree days of my teenage years right about now.  I will keep stretching and fighting the good fight as long as I'm physically able.

That some day I'm going to be really old and wrinkled all over.  Getting older can be a bummer sometimes but overall I've been okay with it because I honestly feel that my life and my overall mental health has only improved with age.  Plus, I don't look old yet.  At least I don't think so.  When I look in the mirror I still see a youthful face, a body that still mostly fights gravity and only a few grays here and there that I can pull out.  One day that will not be the case and it's kind of scary to think about what that will feel like.  Or maybe it's just so gradual that you don't really notice it all at once and by then you are ready so it's not that hard to accept?  That's what I'm hoping.

That some day I will lose someone I love.  It's only a passing thought once in a blue moon.  I keep it tucked away in a deep dark area of my brain in a place I choose not to access very often.  It's the kind of thing that is always there and yet you can't think about too often. 
 

Two for the Price of One (or Not)

My long weekend was nice and mostly uneventful.  I cleaned house, got my oil changed and exercised.  We did loads and loads of laundry and marathon watched the latest season of Scandal.  We still need to get caught up on The Bates Motel before season 2 of Orange is the New Black comes out.  We also went to the movies to see Neighbors (really good) and ate giant hamburgers at Nicky Rotten's afterwards (also really good).  

At the Drive In

Does anyone still have a drive in movie theater in your city?  Do you ever go?  There are exactly two in all of San Diego county that I know of.  It has been a really, really long time since I went and MJ hasn't been to one since he's lived here.  One of MJ's friends mentioned that he was going on Sunday.  We have an extra day.  Why not?  So we decided to go too.

It was my idea to wear pajamas.  "Everybody does it," I said like the drive in theater expert I am not; but since he's never been to one here he believed me.  To get "dressed" I changed out of the pajamas I'd been wearing all day and into other (warmer) pajamas.  For the low, low price of $8.00 per person we got to see Blended and Godzilla.  They had one other double feature showing behind us.  They do reserve the right to check your trunk so don't even think about trying to smuggle in extra bodies.  You could get caught.

I used to go with my parents when I was a kid.  The one we went to had several more screens and has long since closed but many, many years later nothing had changed.  Well, one thing has.  Back in the day they didn't have the technology (or whatever it is that makes this happen) to broadcast the movie sound over your AM radio station airwaves in your car.  Each car had to pull up near a metal pole that has these heavy squarish metal speakers hanging from it.  Each speaker was attached to the pole with a wire and had a hook on it that allowed you to hang it from your car window so you could hear the movie sound.  Even as I'm writing this it sounds so incredibly antiquated and is coming from such a deep part of my memory that I almost feel like I'm making it up.   It sounds almost as ridiculous as two tin cans and yarn, but it's all real.  I'm just old.  Anyway, aside from that there is still the drive up booth where you pay, the crunch of gravel under your tires as you claim your spot, dark shadowy figures roaming around in pajamas, bathrooms with really long lines in between movies and the snack bar building with presumably overpriced yet comparatively cheaper then actual movie theater popcorn, candy and hot dogs.  I don't know for sure because we brought our own snacks.  I'm not sure what the policy is on alcohol.  I didn't bother to look that up, but we brought a bottle of wine, popcorn and candy.

There is something so old school about the whole drive in experience.  It's a shame most of them have shut down over the years.  I guess that's partly why. Maybe it's a little too old school for some people but we had fun.

Keeping it classy in Joe Boxer

Another thing that hasn't changed is my inability to stay up for the 2nd movie.  The first movie can't start until after dark  Blended started at 8:30pm.  There were only 3 previews which is a huge improvement from movie theaters but between that and intermission the 2nd movie didn't start until around 10:45pm.  I tried even though I knew I wouldn't make it.  Maybe 1/4 of the way through it was a wrap.  I laid  my head down on the pillow I'd shoved between the seats on top of the center console and there it stayed until I felt are car moving again when it was time to go home.

Which is really too bad because I wanted to see Godzilla more then I wanted to see Blended and it's not really two for the price of one if you only saw one.

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