We're back!

We're back from our vacation and it was just amazing!  I'll post about Iberostar Bavaro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on a separate occasion because it was just amazing!  The resort totally deserves its own post. 

This is just a small glimpse of the amazing resort.  Every inch of it was gorgeous.  I felt like I was in paradise.

Another stamp in our passports :)

Checking in - with Bahama Mama drinks. Yum!

We had some partners in crime that joined us for our vacation - Laura and Alex.

Ah and here we are.  We had an early morning and a long flight so excuse my appearance.

I love when they make pretty swans from your towels.  I judge how great the service in the rooms is based on how many towel birds and animals I get.

We took a few minutes to drop our stuff off in our rooms, change to suits and ran down to the pool.  I love pools.  I love huge pools best.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE swim-up bars at pools the bestestest.  This place had it all.  I miss it already.  Somehow my bathtub just doesn't do it.

And here's the sandy beach.  So okay.   I'm not really a big beach person.  I prefer pools.  I mean, yes, I get it, we go to a gorgeous place like this and it's hard to believe anyone would want to spend any time at the pool, but there are no seaweed, no fish that might bite, no jelly fish that could sting you.  And you don't end up with sand up your butt 99% of the day.

Laura and Alex love the beach.  I know, hard to guess from this pic.  I guess they prefer to be stung by jelly fishes.

Like this evil one here.  Does that look like something else to you by the way?!

But Laura and Alex are daring.

As for me, I prefer to stay out of the scary water and read my book.

Jon's also very daring.  So daring in fact, that he was even willing to go look at the fishies up close.

There he is, in the vast ocean.  Fearless.

I'm still reading my book.

Jon tried to entice me with his funny looking goggles and salty water, but I passed.

Other than loving and hating the beach, we also hugged some bananas,

 walked along the beach and explored the other resorts,

posed for pictures among weird tree trunks,

and explored Punta Cana - but more about this one later.

We saw turtles.

and more turtles.

In the evenings, we got dressed up,

disregarding decisions about shoes,

and went out to dinner.

The food was amazing,

the staff was fun and so nice.

Oh and the food was amazing.

I wasn't sure if you heard me the first time.

We played at the casino,

sipped some cappuccinos,

enjoyed drinks in the breezy nights,

ate some more,

and just generally enjoyed ourselves away from all the pressure of work, life, houses, dogs, and every thing else that waited for us back home.

And on our last day, 

I got daring,

 

really daring.

Then I stepped on a rock, got attacked by a huge seaweed, and swallowed some salt water.

And that's about as much daring as I can take.

Some of the reasons I love Spring

Top 5 reasons I love Spring

1. Open windows.  There is nothing like the smell of fresh air the first time you open your windows in the Spring.  I literally get giddy to switch the glass for the screens so we can air out the house.  And then there is the wonderful chill at night when you keep one window cracked a bit.  Oh how I love waking up and snuggling up with my blankets and warm husband.  Or puppies.  Depending on which you have nearby.

2. Love is in the air.  I have no idea what it is about Spring, but it makes me fall in love with everything all over again.  Somehow the hubs seems just a bit sweeter, the puppies appear to be more well-behaved.  Going out to the park seems more romantic than ever before and snuggling up on the couch in the chilly night air reminds me of our first nights together.

3. Outside activities.  Hiking, running, walking, playing softball.  Why does everything seem so much better when it's outside? 

4. Spring flowers.  I'm not so into the April showers, but boy do I love me some spring flowers!  I get excited for every little bud.  I tend to them all day and all night, whereas by the summer I tend to get lazy.

5.  Perfect temperature.  Spring is amazing because it's warm enough to run outside or put away your winter coat, but not so hot that you want to crawl into your basement and blast the AC.  You can choose between wearing a skirt or pants and you'll be fine either way.  You can open up the windows and fall asleep with the fresh air but still cuddle up with the down blankets.

So there you are, my friends.  Now get off the computer and go out there and enjoy the fresh spring air.  As for me?  I'm going to go enjoy a nice cocktail by the pool in the Dominican Republic.

A girl's gotta have choices

I am trying to pack for vacation and am running into some problems.  I'm not even just talking about packing in general, although that's always a challenge.  What I'm talking about is shoes.  Isn't it really always about shoes?  Ladies - are you with me?  As for you, men, well, maybe you want to take a night of.  Or perhaps you can sit and grumble about how women have too many shoes.

My point is that I have no problem packing.  My problem is choosing a limited number of shoes to go with all my various outfits.  Technically, for 6 days of vacation I would have approximately 15 outfits.  Now don't go thinking I'm crazy!  There is a logic to my madness.  You see, you need a "day" outfit.  The things you might wear to breakfast or lunch.  Something you might wear if you decide to check out the surrounding areas.  This is usually some sort of loose skirt, shorts and maybe a t-shirt.  This usually calls for a pair of cute shoes or some flip-flops.  And then there is an "evening" outfit.  For dinner I dress up in a nice dress, a pair of white pants and a nice top, or some nice skirt.  And then there are just extra outfits when you have to change for some dancing or some casino play.  Anyways, you have about 15 outfits.  Which, if you're packing, is not really that big of a deal.  The big deal, my friends, is the choice of shoes.  Shoes take up a lot of space.  They're not a small t-shirt you can fold up.  They tend to be bulky.  And if you're into high heels like I am, then they're really bulky.  So for 15 outfits, I need to find 15 shoes.  Or fewer shoes that fit all outfits.  How do you do that?  And what if they look good in my room while I'm packing, but then I pull them out on the sunny beach and realize it's not what really works with my outfit? What do I do?!

So far, I've narrowed it down to these.  Now I can't decide how to trim "the fat."

These here shoes go really well with...

...this here dress.  The simple black and white dress is amazing on its own.  But when you add a pair of bright green heels?  Well, that's just plain perfect.

And look at these!  They're super cute. They go really well....

...with this cute dress.  Trust me, it looks WAY better on than it does on a hanger.

Oh! And these!

Look at the detail!  Aren't they just delicious!

Won't they look super sexy with this here dress?

No one can say no to these.  They're not just super cute, they're also insanely comfortable and can be worn for hours of dancing without any consequences.

Sometimes I wear them with shorts, and other times with this skirt.  This skirt also looks amazing with just plain black heels or my maroon pumps.  Shoot, I have to add a pair back in!

And then I have to pack my running shoes.

So how do you decide what to take?

Sambuca

Michael, Jon's younger brother, just got a new puppy.  Have I ever mentioned how much I love puppies?  Their tiny little curious noses, their floppy ears, their deliciously intoxicating puppy breath, their excess skin.  I could go on for days.

I tried to convince Jon to let me steal the puppy from Michael, but he wouldn't budge.

Here is little Sambuca, sitting patiently as instructed by her master, Michael.

Look at that shiny puppy skin, don't you just want to run your hands along it?

Those over sized feet and excess skin folds everywhere.

Sambuca giving Jon some love.

Oh my gosh I love her.  Someone please stop me from taking her home right now.

She just melts my heart.

Ok, Sambuca, I'm going to distract Michael while you climb into my bag.

I'll give you bacon?

And hot dogs?

I'll give you anything you want, just please come home with me.

I can't believe that Jon talked me into letting you go.

Until next time, baby girl.  I'll steal you yet!