A Pre-Vacation Trip to Rocky Point

I have a little over two weeks between the day I leave my job on October 12th and the start of our big adventure. During that time, we are thinking about taking a short trip to Rocky Point to celebrate our new freedom.

Since my boyfriend’s aunt has a house there, we may just drive down and spend about five days relaxing at the beach. It would be the perfect little pre-vacation getaway before our bigger trip begins.

I feel incredibly lucky to have someone willing to take this leap with me and press pause on everyday life for a while. I truly could not have chosen a better person to share this experience with.

Planning Some Fun Travel Videos

One thing I am really excited about is putting together some fun travel videos from clips we capture during the trip. I already know one song I want to use.

"Home" by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros.

It is such a happy, feel good song and it feels perfect for the kind of memories we are hoping to make. If you have never heard it before, it is definitely worth a listen.

I have seen a few travel videos people made using it and they turned out really cute. I will do my best to make ours fun and worth watching too.

Why Biodegradable Sunscreen Matters in Mexico

One interesting thing I discovered while researching marine parks near Cancun is that many of them require visitors to wear biodegradable sunscreen.

Places like Chankanaab, Xcaret, Xel Ha, and Garrafon all have this rule in place. The reason is simple. Traditional sunscreens can contain chemicals that damage coral reefs and marine ecosystems. Biodegradable sunscreen is designed to be eco friendly and free from ingredients that can harm ocean life.

After reading more about it, I was actually really happy to see that Mexico requires biodegradable sunscreen in many of their parks. It is a great way to help protect coral reefs and keep these beautiful marine environments healthy for the future.

Once I started learning about biodegradable sunscreen, I became curious about sunscreen in general. While doing some research, I came across information about the best and worst sunscreens for 2012.

If you are interested in learning more about what is actually in the sunscreen you use every day, it is definitely worth looking into. You might be surprised by what you find about some products that are marketed for safety and skin protection.

My Favorite Hangover Cure

Last night Shane and I went to our friends' bachelor and bachelorette parties. We had such a great time, but this morning I am definitely feeling it.

I am not sure how the boyfriend is doing because he is still asleep. It is currently 1:15 in the afternoon, so I think that tells me everything I need to know.

Despite the slow start today, we really did have a great night.

So what does this have to do with our upcoming trip?

My favorite cure for a hangover has always been the beach. There is just something about being in the sun and floating in the ocean that makes everything feel better. It has always been the perfect reset for me.

Unfortunately I am nowhere near the beach right now. The sun alone is not enough. The ocean has to come with it. For me it is a package deal.

So today I plan to spend the rest of the afternoon napping and dreaming about floating in the ocean.

And of course, I am still counting down the days until our trip.

Jungle Speed Boat Tour in Cancun

Today I came across something that looks like it might be a must for our trip: a Jungle Speedboat Tour.

From what I have read, you hop into a small speedboat with room for two people and follow a tour guide through the lagoon. The tour takes you through winding mangrove paths before eventually heading out toward the Caribbean Sea.

Along the way you get to cruise through the water while taking in the scenery, which already sounds like a great adventure.

The tour also includes a stop at a snorkeling spot where the water is full of sea life. It sounds like a fun way to experience both the jungle waterways and the ocean in the same trip.

For now, it is just another exciting activity to add to our growing list of things we might want to do while we are there.

Counting Down to Our Yucatán Adventure

I am up early this morning, sipping on some coffee before work. I still have about an hour and a half before I need to leave, but something feels a little different today.

On a normal Monday morning, Shane (my boyfriend) would have already been at work for three and a half hours. Today he is sitting here with me, drinking coffee and relaxing.

Yes, it is official. He is finished working until after our getaway.

It feels pretty great knowing that his vacation has already started. I will feel even better when I can finally say I do not have to go to work either.

For now, I am officially in countdown mode.

My Work Countdown

Here is where things currently stand:

• 5 weeks left at my job

• 3 weeks until I put in my two week notice

• 23 actual work days left

• 32 days until my last day with this company

And the best part?

Only 19 days after my last day of work, our Yucatán adventure begins.

The countdown has officially started.

Looking for a Waterproof Camera

Lately I have been thinking about getting an underwater camera, especially with our upcoming trip. After doing a little research, this is the option I am currently considering.

It is a Samsung waterproof camcorder that is designed to handle a variety of conditions. The features that caught my attention are that it is:

• Waterproof

• Shock proof

• Dust and sand proof

It seems like a great option for travel, beach days, and capturing moments in the water without worrying about damaging a regular camera.

The price is also pretty reasonable. I found it at Costco for $119, which seems like a good deal for something that can handle water and outdoor use.

If anyone has used this camera before, or if you have a better recommendation for an underwater camera, I would love to hear your feedback!

Getting Ready for Our Mexico Trip (Is It Really September Already?)

Is it really September already? I still have so much preparation to finish and our trip is right around the corner. Time is flying by as we get ready for our upcoming vacation in Mexico.

While doing some travel research today, I found a really helpful site called Cancun Assist. If you are thinking about planning a trip to Cancun or anywhere in Mexico, it is worth checking out. They have a lot of useful travel tips and advice that can make vacation planning much easier.

Life at Home Right Now

Aside from planning our trip, things have been busy at home.

Last week I stopped by the little café where I will be working when we get back from vacation. I am really excited about it. My schedule will be 7 AM to 3 PM at the latest since they close at 2 PM, and I will have every Sunday off. That gives me plenty of time to possibly take on another job and maybe even sign up for a few classes at the local college.

For now I am still working at my current job, but I will be putting in my notice later this month.

Countdown to Vacation

My boyfriend only has three days left at work before his vacation starts. His time off will be a little longer than mine, but it is definitely well deserved.

We also have a long list of projects to work on around the house before and after our Mexico trip.

Our Home Project List

Last year our house flooded, so we ended up gutting most of it and doing the renovations ourselves. We got a lot done, but there are still a few things left to finish.

Here is what we still need to work on:

• Install trim. We rebuilt most of the house but never finished the molding.

• Yard work. Our tiny backyard currently looks more like a jungle.

• Roof coating. This is another project on our house list, but we still need to check if this is the right time of year to apply it.

• Small indoor projects such as cleaning, painting, and fixing things here and there.

Picking Our Projects Carefully

Some of these projects can get expensive, so we will probably pick and choose which ones to tackle first.

That said, I am really excited for the backyard jungle to disappear, especially since that project is free.

Yay for house work!