Exciting News for Our Cancun Trip

Today I have some exciting news to share.

There is a chance that a few of our friends might come visit us while we are in Cancun. Nothing is officially planned yet, but the idea alone makes me really happy. It would be amazing to share part of this adventure with friends.

If any of you are reading this, I just want to say one thing.

DO IT!

Seriously, it would be so much fun to have some familiar faces join us in Cancun.

More Travel Prep

In other news, tomorrow Shane will be able to request the cash from his 401k. It will be nice to have that taken care of so we can focus on the rest of our trip planning.

The next few weeks are going to fly by.

Only 23 days and counting until our adventure begins.

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.

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!

And So It Begins: Planning Our Life-Changing Trip to Mexico for Día de los Muertos

And So It Begins…

Yesterday, my boyfriend put in his two-week notice at work! It’s both nerve-racking and thrilling at the same time. He has to leave early because it takes about a month to cash out his 401(k). I’m planning to wait until the end of next month or early October to put in mine, but I am more than ready to take the leap.

I also caught up with a good friend I hadn’t had a chance to fill in, and it was amazing to realize how fast this all came together. At the start of the month, I was just daydreaming about a life-changing move. Now, it’s becoming reality. I am so glad I started this blog! What began as a way to motivate myself to plan a trip has turned into a place to plan, share, and get feedback from everyone.

Please feel free to leave feedback or ask questions, because I know I’ve skipped a few details along the way.

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On Vacation Related Subjects:

One thing I’m especially excited about is being in Mexico for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). I first learned about this holiday after moving to Tucson, where it is celebrated with face painting and the All Souls Procession. People honor the deceased, but the skeleton face painting and artistic expression are what catch everyone’s attention—it looks like a lot of fun!

I’m aware that the Tucson celebration is quite different from how it’s observed in Mexico. In Mexico, it is a deeply meaningful holiday devoted to remembering loved ones who have passed. Families and friends gather at graves, bringing favorite foods, gifts, and possessions of the departed.

Día de los Muertos can be traced back 3,000 years. Today, November 1st honors infants and children, while November 2nd is devoted to adults. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate life and remember those who came before us.