I Heart Playa del Carmen! June 30, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : travel , 5commentsYesterday my sister, mom and I went to the spa. Afterwards, my sister and I spent the afternoon lying on the beach. And when we had enough sun, we took a walk to the market to pick up some things to bring home with us.
Today we went to Xcaret, which is kind of a zoo/amusement park not too far from our hotel. We swam for 45 min. in an underground river, saw huge sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, etc. Plus a tequila distillery. We also had a really good traditional Mexican lunch there.
Tomorrow we are planning on relaxing on the beach for most of the day, and then the market again. There are a few restaurants we want to check out too!
Only 2 more days in paradise. Cry!
Vegas team building activity chosen! June 29, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : job, travel , 2commentsI want to thank everybody for their awesome suggestions in my Vegas team-building post. Last week I presented all of the ideas at a meeting, and we ended up choosing indoor sky diving, followed by the NYNY roller coaster. :)
So stoked to try indoor sky diving! And I’m super excited for the trip. A couple of my friends will be down in Vegas the same time that I’ll be there, so I’m sure I’ll get to meet up with them too. Plus my boss wants to go to the outlet malls, and clearly I have no objections to that. But I won’t be buying much, if anything at all. Because the weekend prior, I’ll be down in Seattle with a friend for a girls weekend away! We’ll be catching two Mariners games, and shopping. I don’t need anything, but I do want to continue my quest for black skinny pants and a dress for my friend’s Hawaii wedding.
Mexico So Far June 28, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : travel , add a commentWell we’ve been in Mexico for 2.5 days now and it’s been super fun. The weather hasn’t really been cooperating, but it’s so hot here that it doesn’t really matter.
Saturday when we checked in, my sister and I got upgraded to a Master Oceanfront room for one night because the room we booked wasn’t ready yet. We also got a $40 US credit in the gift shop for our inconvenience of taking said Master Suite. The room was epic and so awesome that we didn’t want to leave. But our regular room now is still nice and has a better view of the ocean.
The beach is gorgeous and the water is a crazy turquoise and so warm and nice. Our resort has 2 pools and a rooftop jacuzzi, plus hammocks everywhere. So lovely!
We’ve been to the market a few times and have figured out what to bring back with us. I want to get some tequila (obviously), vanilla, cocoa, hot sauce, and coffee for BF. I saw some beautiful scarves and I might pick one or two up as well.
Today we went to the ruins of Chichen-Itza, which is one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. It cost $99 for an all day tour. We stopped at a little roadside market, then to the ruins for a tour and a delicious buffet lunch. After that, we went to an underground cave for swimming, then to the centre of a town (forgot the name) to look at the historic buildings. Well worth the money!
Tomorrow I am hitting up the resort gym, and then my mom, sister and I have a spa date for a massage and facial.
We still have to decide what other activities we want to do. Perhaps a trip to Cozumel! I really want to do zip lining or something adventurous, but nobody else is into it. Boo!
Anyway I hope you all are having a fabulous week!
Spending Recap: June 21-27, 2010 June 28, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : spending , 5commentsMonday 21st
$37.47 gas
Tuesday 22nd
No Spend Day!
Wednesday 23rd
$5.26 mouth guard for field hockey
Thursday 24th
$52 travel medical insurance for 12 months
$4.62 Subway
Friday 25th
$4.90 throat drops & small french vanilla
$32.42 gas
Saturday 26th
No Spend Day – vacation!
Sunday 27th
No Spend Day – vacation!
TOTAL = $136.67
Friday Miscellaneous June 25, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : fitness, job, travel , 5commentsSo the new PT job is going to be great for making extra income. It’s more than I expected out of a PT job, and will help me meet my 2010 Goals which I previously thought might not be met.
Speaking of money, I bought travel medical insurance yesterday. Since I already have Blue Cross, it only cost me $52 for 12 months of travel coverage (for all out-of-country trips that are 2 weeks or less).
Yesterday evening was my last night of field hockey tryouts. It went much better than the first night, and I feel confident that I will be placed in the top couple of teams in the club. Although I rolled my ankle a few times while playing, got a huge calf muscle cramp before I went to bed, and am super sore this morning. I have a long way to go to get myself into top shape. Apparently just running and going to the gym isn’t going to cut it. I’m going to have to start doing hockey-specific workouts again. Which unfortunately will include savagely hard fartlek drills on a track.
Also, for the first time in a long time, I am feeling sick. Sore throat, runny nose. I haven’t been sleeping much, nervous for tryouts, and have been super stressed out at work. So I’m sure those things aren’t helping. Oh well! I’m sure a little Caribbean sun will fix it. :) I’m picking up my parents and sister from the ferry terminal today, and we’re going out for dinner. Then I need to get home and start packing!
I can’t believe that TOMORROW we’ll be leaving for Mexico! I will have a few posts scheduled to go while I’m gone. Then when I come back, it’s the hell that is July. I’m traveling every weekend, including one week in Las Vegas.
Not as fit as I thought I was June 24, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : fitness , 2commentsSo I thought I was pretty fit. I mean, I can run a 10km in under 60 minutes, and I can hike for days straight. But apparently I suck at field hockey now. After not playing for 2 years, I am completely out of shape for the sport. It blows my mind that I used to be so fast and so skilled. And I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to at least get back to my old self.
The thing is, I know skill-wise, I’m above average. Sure, I’m a little rusty, but not that rusty. It’s my lack of fitness is my problem. And the fact that all we did was mini scrimmage games, which highlights my crappy fitness level and hides my skill on the smaller field. Plus, I’m the only completely new person tryout out for the club (the few other new people are from other clubs in Vancouver), so it will be hard to break onto a team and bump someone.
I’m hoping tonight at the last night of tryouts, we do skills instead of more scrimmages. I’ll be put on a team regardless, but perhaps not the team I want to make.
Landed a PT job! June 23, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : blog, job , 10commentsI have secured a PT job. It vaguely has to do with this blog. And it’s an area of my professional life that I’ve always been interested in, but has remained undeveloped.
I originally wanted a customer-oriented PT job so that I could meet other people, but I couldn’t pass this amazing opportunity up. Plus, I’d be making way more doing this than I ever could working in retail or wherever … and hopefully I’ll be meeting new people when I start playing field hockey in the fall anyway. I won’t start this new PT job until closer to the end of the summer (probably late August), so until then my lips are sealed.
I’m a bit nervous about this new opportunity, but mostly excited. So stay tuned!
Happy Monday! June 21, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 9comments- I’ve read the first 2 of 3 Stieg Larsson books (just have The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest left to read). I really want to try to save the last one for Mexico, but it’s really difficult because I want to know what happens!
- Getting desperate for a computer upgrade. My computer barely runs CS3, and I need to upgrade to CS5 ASAP. Although I went with BF to Future Shop a few weeks ago and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the new 27″ iMac. I would love that huge screen (3″ bigger than my current iMac), but I think in the end, portability is more important for me. Timeline for upgrade is probably going to be closer to the end of the summer. I kind of drained my cash flow to pay for the Hawaii trip.
- Yesterday BF and I went to the pet store to price out how much it would cost to get set up with a fish tank. I really want to get a cat, but BF is allergic. :( Cry. So fish it is! With the tank, starter kit, fish + snails, and all related accessories, we’re looking at around $150. Less, depending on how many decorative accessories we want to buy. My sister has had her fish tank for a few years now and said that’s how much she spent, but that we could probably save a bit more money if do a bit more shopping around. So that we will do!
- BF spent all Saturday counting and rolling coins from his HUGE coin jar (one of those big water jugs). He was collecting loose change for 5-6 years, and in the end he came up with $375+! Pretty impressive considering there were only 4 loonies and no toonies.
- Have been resisting the urge to start packing for Mexico. Must calm down. There are still 5 days left until we leave!!!
