Our Honeymoon: Part 1

We went to the Excellence all inclusive resort in Playa Mujeres, Mexico for 7 nights, 8 days.  It was about 30 minutes from the Cancun airport.  It was truly amazing.  If you're looking to go somewhere, I definitely recommend it.  It's an adults only resort.  We arrived after a short flight from NYC and our first stop?  The hotel's martini bar of course!  I had a yummy lemon drop martini. 

 

Looking pale.  Not for long. 

 

This was a voucher for a romantic dinner at any restaurant with wine of our choice.

 

Our room wasn't ready yet so we decided to grab some lunch at the grill which is an over the water (pool) restaurant.  As we sat down, Saro said "do you believe we are on our honeymoon?"  I got teary eyed (super emotional week!) and said "No!  But I'm so happy we are."  After 7 years together and planning our wedding for the last year, it was surreal feeling.

 

Our room was ready shortly after that.  We had planned on taking a nap but once we saw our room and the location, we said forget it!  We were too excited.  We had a ground floor "swim out" suite with a back patio, outdoor bed & 2 lawn chairs.  You could just jump right into the pool.  It wasn't the busy part of the pool.  In fact, it was the quietest part of all of the pools.

 

View from the back patio

View of room from the living area

 

The first 4 days, we didn't do much more than relax, go to the beach and pool, get massages on the beach, and just enjoy each other's company.  The resort has the following restaurants: Italian, Mexican, French, Mediterranean, Asian, Indian, Lobster House/The Grill, & Tapas.  They also have a hut on the beach which is open for lunch - burgers, burritos, etc.  We thought the food was excellent.  We especially liked Agave (mexican), Basmati (Indian), and the grilled lobster from the lobster house.  The waiter even brought us an extra lobster!!

 

Check out my overall review of the resort here!  It's rare to find a resort that has SO MANY amazing reviews.  Of course there are some negatives but very minimal compared to the positives.  We loved it and already said we will return for our 10th anniversary / my 40th birthday ;)

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for part 2!

The Best Day Of My Life!

Was our wedding day on May 4th.

 

 

Just an amazing spent with each other and our family and friends. 

I cried that it was over and then again leaving our honeymoon. 

More posts and pictures to come!!!

 

 

I'm waiting to get all of the professional pictures back but here are a few!

 

 

By the lake at sunset.

 

 

 



 

Vanilla cake with hazelnut mousse, chocolate chips and butter whipped cream!  Amazing.

 

R + F winner and 13 Days Off

Angela won the R + F samples!  Congrats :)

 

Only a few more hours until I am off for 13 whole days!!!  I came in to work this morning to breakfast and mimosas from my coworkers.  They're truly the best.

 

Have a good two weeks and I will be back on or around May 15th :)

Visitors & R+F Giveaway!

What a morning!  It's only 11:00 and I'm already exhausted.  I've been up since 6:30 rushing around before work and straightening up for my Dad's arrival this morning.  I wish I had more time to take off from work but I'm already using 9 of my 10 vacation days for the wedding. 

 

Saro is picking them up at the airport as we speak.

 

They're coming from New Orleans.  My aunt is already here from Seattle.  Our friends arrive tomorrow from Iowa and we're meeting up with them for Cuban food!  My cousin arrives from San Francisco on Friday.  Saro's cousins arrive from Los Angeles and Boston this weekend.  My aunt and uncle arrive from Oakland, CA this week.  My other cousin (their daughter) is coming from London with her boyfriend and my other cousin (her brother) is coming with his wife from San Francisco!  Phew.  We can't wait to see everybody and we are so thankful they're making the trip for us! =)

 

Don't forget to enter the Rodan + Fields giveaway I posted yesterday!  It ends tonight at midnight!

Rodan + Fields Giveaway!!!!!

My first giveaway on the blog!

I'm teaming up with my friend Cara who is an independent consultant for Rodan + Fields.   Their products are amazing.  So far, I've tried their REDEFINE line (click here to see before & after's) and I LOVE the daily facial mask.  It leaves your skin feeling amazingly smooth.  It's like an at home spa treatment!

Here is her website if you'd like to check it out or contact her for more information about the business!

Cara's R+F

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Five on Friday: Favorite Vacations

Good Lorddddddd - TGIF!  I feel like I got hit by a bus and as I was getting ready, I was sneezing non stop.  Oh and have a sore throat!  The trees are blooming so I hope that's all it is.

 

Plus, I'm mentally checked out of work but still have to get through today and 3 + 1/2 days next week.  Oof.  I don't think I've ever been off for 2 weeks in a row so this is going to be AMAZING.

 

 

 

Today for Five on Friday, I wanted to share my favorite vacations.  I've been lucky to have traveled to a lot of different places so far and I'm sure I have more than 5 but my top ones would be:

 

1.)  Hawaii.  I've been 3 times.  Twice with my Dad and Grandma and once with my aunt, uncle and cousin.  Quite a far trip from New Jersey but well worth it.  One thing I still think about from there?  Of course it's food.  It was chicken salad in a papaya at the hotel we were staying at.  I had that every day for lunch.  Amazing.

 

 

 

 

2.)  London.  My Mom took me when I was 15.  We saw Lion King on broadway and of course did all of the touristy stuff.  The weather was mostly dreary but that's normal for England from what I know.  Speaking of London, my cousin from San Francisco now lives there and she's flying out to NY next week for the wedding!

 

 

 

3.)  Ocho Rios, Jamaica.  Saro and I went in 2009 and loved it.  It was our first trip together and his first all inclusive tropical vacation.  I would definitely go back.  We stayed at the Riu and it was HUGE - very nice though.  I will always remember how the clothes in my suitcase literally smelled like the beach/sunscreen for weeks after we got home.  It was the best smell ever.  But I'm also weird and love the smell of SPF.

 

View from our room at the Riu!

 

4.)  Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.  This was a girls road trip.  Have you ever seen the movie "What About Bob?"  If not, I'm sorry but we can't be friends.  Just kidding but it's our favorite movie and we wanted to do a girls trip, so why not the lake where the movie was filmed?  Ha.  We stayed at the CUTEST cottage.  I actually just searched for it on Google the other day to see if the family still rents it but couldn't find it :(  Anyway, 5 girls from Jersey definitely stood out like sore thumbs among the country folk.  LOL we had a great time.

 

Weis Beach, NH - Lake Winnipesaukee

Ha. Hahahaha.

 

5.)  San Francisco, CA/Napa/Sonoma - Saro and I went in 2010.  My Dad used to live in Berkeley so I know SF pretty well.  I think I've been to Alcatraz at least 8 times, ha.  We stayed right near Fisherman's Wharf which was convenient for touristy things.  We found THE most amazing cafe and had breakfast outside each morning.  We took a wine bus tour to Napa & Sonoma and loved that.  It's GORGEOUS there.  Even if you don't drink wine, I suggest you check it out.  I've heard people say they hated San Francisco.  I just don't understand that at all!  If you're ever there and if you like love garlic, you need to have dinner at The Stinking Rose.

 

 

 

 

Us at the bottom of Lombard St.

 

 

What are some of your favorite vacations?

 

Have a great weekend!

 





Wedding Wednesday (a day late): Office Bridal Shower!

Eeeeeeeeek.  It's coming down to the wire now!

 

10 more days!  I can't believe it.

 

Only a few more to-do's!

 

Saro is finishing up some centerpiece decor and place card holders by Monday. 

Pick up my dress

Pickup marriage license

Print out a couple more escort cards

Drop welcome bags at the hotel

Have the rehearsal & lunch

GET MARRIED!

 

On Tuesday my coworkers threw me a surprise bridal shower!!!  I got a meeting invitation from my boss last week and it seemed normal as we generally have meetings 2x a month.  I noticed a few girls went in 5 minutes early (I sit right in front of the conference room door but didn't see them setting anything up - sneaks! ;)) and I thought it was strange.  Normally my boss makes an announcement over the intercom to come in for the meeting and she hadn't yet.

 

It was so nice and of course I was embarrassed and turned red (one of the things I don't like about myself but can't help).  We had snacks & cake and I opened their very generous gifts!

 

I'm lucky to work with great, caring people. 

 

We went out for happy hour last night for administrative professional's day and my one friend joked that it was my work bachelorette party - LOL.  So we had a bunch of laughs over martinis (ONE from this place and you're basically on your a**).

 

My coworker is having a problem sending me the shower pictures but I will add them here later once I get them!