decisions and accomplishments

Yesterday we celebrated our return from vacation by just jumping right back into the thick of things. None of that easing in nonsense for us. Ninety to nothing. Or 'nothing to ninety,' as the case may be.

After a full day of work, we had to hit the grocery store, since our refrigerator didn't magically generate food while we were gone (??? I guess it's broken??). And then, since we were in the 'neighborhood,' Matt suggested we cruise by the construction site of our soon-to-be-opening Ulta...a site I have been relentlessly stalking for the last several months as I urge and cheer on the workers to WORK FASTER. WORK HARDER. WORK SMARTER. Do what you gotta do, gentlemen, cause I NEED THE STORE TO OPEN. Luckily it seems like they took advantage of my week-long absence from their job site and really got their hustle on-- there are actual SHELVES and WALLS inside now! Really it looks like it could open anytime...if there were any PRODUCTS there, that is.

Naturally, my eyes were drawn to this tempting sign in the window. NOW HIRING. Yes.

Now it is true-- I already work full-time. And I love my job. And the people I work with. And pretty much everything about my current employment situation. So I'm not looking to change careers or anything. But come on. How great would it be to get a second job at Ulta? SO GREAT, that's how great it would be. I swear, when I set foot into an Ulta I get this goofy perma-smile on my face. I feel happy! I feel empowered! I feel pretty! I become poor and I don't even care!! I disregard all logic as I snatch up $30 lip gloss! It's like a drug, I tell you. What if I could work there, too?!?! 

Let's look at it scientifically. Pros and Cons of Getting an After-Work Job at Ulta:

CONS:
-I would be surrounded by temptation all the time. I have a terrible track record of staying strong in this setting. Therefore I would probably go broke quickly.
-My paycheck would probably be immediately 're-invested' back into the store. I probably wouldn't even come out ahead.
-I already work full time and don't really want to work more.
-I don't do my own makeup as fancy as all the other girls that work at Ulta.
-I would not get to spend as much time reading/blogging/exercising/lounging/gardening at home.
-I would have to drive myself to/from work there.

PROS:
-Extra spending money to put towards infertility treatments/adoption (and shoes, jewelry, clothes, Starbucks, and books)...if there was any left over after I left the store each day.
-I'd get to try ALL THE MAKEUP and get tons of advice and tips and probably samples.
-I would be surrounded by happy people talking about makeup.
-I'd spend less time at home eating on the couch while watching TV/blogging/reading.
-MAKEUP.

See, it's really a tough choice. I think that if I could truly write my own schedule and have it cater to my every whim (like...from 8-10 maybe twice a week, and then a couple mid-afternoon hours on either Saturday or Sunday. If I felt like it.) I might pursue it. But as I recall, retail wasn't exactly the most flexible and worker-catered environment, so that probably wouldn't be possible. So I'll probably just stick with being lazy and being a regular old customer. But still. It's a thought.

See? No post-vacation slacking for me. I'm jumping right back into the thick of Big Decisions!

After the Ulta Debate, I had to figure out what we would have for dinner. Over the past few months I've gotten into a huge habit of NEVER COOKING. It's pretty great, really. I've really perfected my eating out skills. So I'm totally out of the habit of cooking...especially after a week of having my every single need (food and otherwise) catered to at the resort. But last night I felt like I should be super ambitious and like...whip up something in my own kitchen. 

We've had a bumper crop of basil this year. A few months ago I bought a bag of pine nuts on a whim, thinking that somewhere I heard something about basil + pine nuts basically equaling pesto. Then I discovered that I didn't have a food processor. (I really thought I did. Apparently I don't.) So all my pesto dreams died. But then yesterday my friend Diana brought me HER food processor and said go forth and make pesto (or something like that)...so guess what I did??

That's right, homies. No recipe. No knowledge. I just looked deep in my soul, tried to rally together every lingering strand of DNA passed down from my Italian grandparents, and threw some things in the processor and hoped for the best. And look-- IT TURNED INTO PESTO!!! For the record, here's what I threw in: pine nuts (toasted), a crap ton of basil from the garden (washed), some EVOO, some minced garlic, a tiny bit of grated Parmesan, and S&P. BAM! PESTO! I know. I was pretty amazed with myself.

Then I had to figure out something to do with the pesto. Evidently it's not a meal unto itself. This is where I usually just give up and go out for Mexican. All that...all those dirty dishes...and no actual FOOD to show for it? Please. This is for the birds.

But sometimes, like yesterday, I can rise to the occasion. So look!! A MEAL! Brown rice pasta, some chicken sausage, and tomatoes all tossed in the pesto! It was actually really good! Of course, I could barely concentrate on eating it, I was so busy patting myself on the back...but whatever. It seems like it was probably good. I have some leftovers for lunch today, so maybe I'll get over my own amazingness long enough to taste it this time. I realize that I should not be this impressed by like...putting food on the table at night...but I'm just really out of practice, so I didn't know I had it in me. Hopefully I'll get better about cooking as fall progresses. Maybe. Then again, I'd hate to let my Mexican food-ordering skills get rusty.

I even have some pesto left over, so I'm thinking I'll use it on a pizza this weekend. My other big weekend plan is to go nail polish shopping. Obviously now that it's "fall," (quotation marks very intentional) my hot pink nails are embarrassingly outdated. I'm on the hunt for some perfect fall colors. I know...excruciating plans, but somehow I'll press through. I hope your weekends are full of equally stressful tasks...stay strong! 

the mexican awards ceremony

Sad but true- Vacation 2013 is over. Waaaahhhhhh!!!!! On a happier note, we made it home safely to a clean house and happy dog, so that definitely eased the pain. Oh, but you know what didn't ease the pain of returning? All this FALSE ADVERTISING ABOUT FALL that was rampant on social media the last few days. I mean, I was in Mexico, people, not outer space. Obviously I spent some (brief!) periods of time keeping myself up-to-date on all the important things happening on Twitter, FB, blogs, and the like. And what appeared to be happening was FALL. 'Oh, it's FALLL!!!!!' everyone said, as they talked about scarves and pumpkin flavored everything and Harvest candles. Yay for fall!! And I noticed that the month changed and it became September, and so I put two and two together, and so I dunno...I was rather expecting to step off the plane in Atlanta to some brisk mid-60s weather...some color-changing, falling leaves...our neighbors jumping in leaf piles and making bonfires. I dunno. Anything other than what actually happened, which was stepping out into air that is hotter and more humid than it was in Mexico, minus the breeze off the ocean, plus air pollution, minus fruity drinks, plus traffic. So thanks a lot for NOTHING, liars of social media + Georgia weather!

Anyway. Sorry for the anger. You know how it is, coming off a vacation high. You get a little emotionally unbalanced. Or maybe that's just me all the time. Who knows.

Instead of a full-out vacation recap, I decided to host my own little Vacation Awards Ceremony instead. This is kind of like a cross between the Oscars and high school yearbook superlatives. Or something. So get ready to meet the winners (and losers) of Matt y Erika's Mexican Extravaganza 2013!

Best Supporting Technology:

THE KINDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that my next full-length limerick is going to be in honor of the Kindle. I can barely remember what international beach vacations used to be like in the pre-Kindle era, but I can only imagine they involved really heavy suitcases and very little freedom of reading choice. A sad world. Matt borrowed my mom's Kindle, I have my own, and there were very few minutes when we weren't both glued to our respective screens.

First Runner Up: the iPhone, taker of all 210 vacation photos.

Loser: the Canon dSLR, taker of 0 vacation photos. I don't know why I thought things would be different this year. This just in: it's still humid at the beach! Your lens is still going to get completely fogged! Someone please tell me next year not to bother hauling that thing all over the world. Stick with what works.


The 'Job' Award: Most Patient in the Midst of Inhumane (First World) Suffering- 

Matt during the Lost Luggage Saga!! 

 Here's how we got ourselves from Atlanta to Cancun: We got on an airplane in Atlanta. We got off the airplane in Cancun. It took approximately 2.5 hours. Ta-DAH! Done. Here's how one of our suitcases got from Atlanta to Cancun: it got on the airplane in Atlanta. It got off the airplane in Cancun. It took approximately 2.5 hours. GOLD STAR! Here's how the other suitcase got to Cancun: It got on a plane in Atlanta. It got off a plane in Atlanta. It got on another plane in Atlanta. It got off a plane in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It got on a plane in San Juan and then got off a plane in New York. It rested in New York for awhile and changed airlines. It tried to get on a plane to Cancun. It couldn't. It changed airlines again and went back to Atlanta. It got on a plane to Cancun. It got off the plane to Cancun. It changed airlines and got on a plane to Mexico City. It got to Mexico City. It got on a plane to Cancun. It got off a plane in Cancun. IT TOOK 3 DAYS. No gold stars. Black Xes and eternal hate and anger towards Delta from yours truly. In the meantime, Matt wore the same 2 shirts and 2 pair of shorts (luckily we'd thrown a change of clothes into our other suitcase), we both had only one pair of shoes (all our shoes were in the missing bag), we had to bum sunscreen off our friends (and mostly failed, therefore getting sunburns)...and one of us was super angry, stressed out, and bitter about this for three days. The other person was pretty chill and didn't complain much about having to spend all his time sitting in the room, waiting on incompetent Delta agents to return our calls. I'll let you figure out who's who in that scenario.

First Runner-Up: Me. At least I didn't kill anyone.

Related LIFETIME UNACHIEVEMENT AWARD goes to Delta Airlines for being stupid and pathetic.

Best Assisted Reproduction Award:

THIS GUY and his eager assistant, me! 

 
Did you know that sea turtles need loads of help reproducing? I think I kind of knew that. I think that in America we 'help' them by like...not turning on hotel lights on the beach or something. And leaving them alone. Well, just like in human reproduction...apparently some turtles need a little more HELP to get the job done...and I'm very sympathetic to that need. Obviously. So in Mexico, they help the process by burying all the eggs, keeping track of when they need to be dug up, and then helping dump the babies all into the water. And it's a group activity!! Look- I saved a bunch of sea turtles (and did not let birds eat them as they tried to run to the sea)!!! It was so freakin awesome and so completely illegal in America...that made it even more fun! Ha.

Best Color-Coordinating Wardrobe Award:

Matt y Erika!

 I mean, like there was any competition, really. Once we got the other suitcase, that is.

Best at Sleeping In Award:

Everyone except me. 

 Yall. I really suck at sleeping in at the beach. I'm up with the sunrise, ready and rarin' to go! Or...taking selfies with my sleeping husband, as the case may be. I can't help it. I get too excited. And hungry. And anxious to get a tan.

Best at Winning Every Competition:

The ladies!!!! 

 The moral of this story is: don't challenge us to anything and expect us not to win. Simple.

Best at Bringing Joy to People's Hearts:

This Bellhop, upon delivering our long-lost suitcase!
 

 Not that he really had anything to do with it besides lugging it up a few floors, but he was the recipient of about five billion 'THANK YOU!!!!!!s' (and pesos) when he knocked on our door that night!

Most Committed to the Dawgs Award:

Matt, Erika, Adam, y Jessie!!!!
 

We celebrated Game Day and cheered on the Dawgs from the comfort of room 2350. We were SUPER excited that one of the approximately 4 English-speaking channels just so happened to be ABC- and it was broadcasting our game!! So we didn't have to watch from an iPad!!! We celebrated with room service, Mexican junk food, and halftime trips to the bar downstairs. Even though we didn't win, it was a great way to kick off the season!


Most Memorable Quote of the Trip:

This award goes to JESSIE! 

...and truer words have never been spoken. Can I get an amen?

The Lifetime Achievement in Dessert Award:

Like there was even any competition. COTTON CANDY NIGHT!!!

It was really tough that the fresh cotton candy night was also the same night as the fresh churros (I mean, frying them RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU), but I managed to buckle down and eat a respectable amount of both desserts. That's dedication, yall.

Runner Up: Churros, obviously.

Loser: this weird stuff I thought was going to be cheesecake one night. And it wasn't. And I don't know what it was but it WAS NOT CHEESECAKE and it was weird.

The 'Bringing Sexy Back': Sombrero Edition Award-

Mattie B!!!!! 

 Ow ow ow!!!!! If sombreros and v-necks don't make your heart pitter-patter, I don't know what will. Stand back, ladies. This one's all mine!

There are plenty more awards and pictures and stories to share, but no more time today! I look forward to catching up with everyone...and catching up with blogs...and catching up with work...and catching up with bills...and well, coming back to 'real life' is never easy, but I'm sure I'll catch up eventually! Happy whatever the heck non-fall day it is!

bring out the clowns. again.

So now that Labor Day has passed (and a very happy belated Labor Day to all my American comrades...and now get back to work.), obviously it is Halloween. I mean, according to every store I've stepped in lately...once they sell out of the back-to-school three-ring binders and pencils, I guess they just feel like the best thing to do is to just bring out the costumes and orange-and-black candy. Never mind there is actually about two months to go...just...whatever. 

So since we're all supposed to be getting in a costume-y frame of mind now, and I'm sure that my Pinterest feed is about to start prominently featuring ridiculously elaborate DIY costumes, it seemed like a good time to share a blog PSA I did a few years ago that still stands true today. Just in case you're starting your Halloween-costume-planning early, I hope that you will bear this in mind as you go...and enjoy having a laugh at 10-month-old Erika's expense. (Also, do yourself a favor and check out the 'what were my parents thinking?!?!?!' link I reference...trust me on this one.)

From the archives of October 2011, I present to you a repost of one of my personal favorite blogs: Babies Should Not Be Dressed Like Clowns.

************************************ 

 Hello and welcome to the creepiest-ever edition of Way Back When-sday: Children Dressed like Clowns.

I would like to thank my parents, Paul and Jacky, for making this blog possible. And for instilling in me a lifelong fear of clowns. And when you see these pictures, you're going to feel scared, too. Just warning you.

In general, I am all for dressing up. I'm a huge fan of costumes and dressing up for Halloween. I'm a big fan of babies dressed up for Halloween.

I am not a big fan of clowns. I don't really know anyone in my generation who is.

But at the ripe old age of ten-and-a-half-months-old, I didn't have much say in my Halloween costumage (that's a word, stupid red underliner thing). I'm told I was an opinionated child, but obviously I wasn't opinionated enough to make it clear that I DID NOT WANT TO BE A CLOWN FOR HALLOWEEN THAT YEAR. Or ever, for that matter.

And really, for the record, I'd like to say that I think my parents did an excellent job parenting. I have no qualms or questions about how they raised my siblings and I. Looking back through the photo albums, there are very few instances that caused me to think what WERE my parents thinking? (EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!) But I'm gonna have to say...Mom and Dad, what were you thinking, dressing your only child up like a friggin CLOWN?!?!! What's with the creepy face paint??!! Why would you DO that to your beautiful daughter??!!!

Well, I won't hold you in suspense any longer. Bring in the clowns (har har har)...

Umm...yeah. Do you see how they painted a mustache on me?? I know this was the early 80s and all, but I'm pretty sure mustaches on baby girls has never been trendy.

I feel like I'm majorly bashing my folks here, so I do want to point out one positive thing I see in the picture above. If you look really close, you can definitely see a toy behind me (and my toy clown). I'm like 98% sure it's a toy truck (dump truck, maybe). At this point in my life, I was an only child (and a girl). I would like to thank my forward-thinking parents for not gender stereotyping me with only 'girl' toys. I'm sure that helped form me into the well-rounded person I am today. Maybe that's what they were going for with the gender-neutral costume, too...but I think that's just crossing the lines. Clown costumes are not gender-neutral. They are inappropriate for all forms of human beings.

Parents: If you love your children, you will choose SOMETHING OTHER THAN A CLOWN to dress them as for Halloween. 

This is a Public Awareness message. It has not been endorsed by anyone except for all thinking humans.

Erika de la playa

Happy Labor Day!! Just wanted to drop in to report that vacation is going awesome and I never want to go home. Also, interesting factoid: when I just typed that previous sentence, the iPhone auto corrected 'never' to 'beer'. I beer want to go home. I feel like there's a deeper message there or something. 

Other than three days of no-luggage (DELTA SUCKS), it has been a fantastic trip. 

We spend a lot of time looking like this. 

And eating. A lot of time doing that, too! This was street food we ventured into 'real' Cancun to find. It was amazing. And dirt cheap. 

Obviously we spend a lot of time lamenting that the view isn't prettier...but what can ya do?

Ok. As fun as squinting at this tiny screen in the sun is, I need to get back to my sunning and reading. Priorities, people. Also- I devoured Divergent and Insurgent in the first two days and HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LAST TIL OCTOBER for Allegiant to come out?!?!? This is cruel and unusual punishment, people. Also I'm spending way too much time deciding which faction I'd be in if I were in that world. Deep vacation thinking for sure.

So! This is me from my beach chair, signing out!!