The sunny life

I recommend that everyone who lives in a cold winter climate do whatever it takes to visit a sunny, warm place during the winter. Even if the winter is mild and you think it's not so bad this year. Really.

We were lucky enough to go to Mexico. (I am such a negligent blogger these days that I don't even think I told you I was going.) Puerto Vallarta, to be exact. It was heaven. Seriously, I actually said to my husband during our trip, "I think heaven is an all-inclusive beach resort."

This was my first all-inclusive experience. We found the place on Trip Advisor. And despite my hours and hours and days and hours of research (because I am obsessive when planning trips), it really just came down to searching "Puerto Vallarta hotels" and then picking the top-rated place in the family category, which happened to be Velas Vallarta. I mean, yes, some of the people who give ratings are crazy, of course, but the majority are regular people who leave comments because they want to be helpful. And when a hotel has more than 1500 reviews and still has a 4.5 star rating, I'm in. 

My goals for the trip were: 

1. Sit in sun
2. Drink pina colada in sun
3. Keep my kids entertained while I do the first two things

I am proud to say that I accomplished all of my goals. The boys are at the perfect age to spend hours in the pool while I read a book. Plus, there were waiters at every turn offering me endless amounts of food and drink. 

I will say that the food wasn't stellar. I wish they'd just offer some fabulous, traditional Mexican food rather than trying to recreate Italian and Mediterranean dishes, but there was always steak and shrimp available, so you could never get into too much trouble. Plus, the kids ate without argument, which counts for a lot more than having some molecular gastronomist on staff. 

Despite all of the laying around we did, the highlight of the trip was the one day we ventured outside of the resort and went ziplining. Since Aidan is a bit of a wild card when it comes to thrill rides (he gets very excited and then becomes terrified), my husband and I both feared that this adventure had the potential to trump the trauma of our dune buggy ride last summer, but after some initial nerves, we had an amazing time. Yes, even after spontaneously bursting into tears when I first saw my little Owen flying away through the trees, I loved it. 

If you're ever in Puerto Vallarta, I recommend Vallarta Adventures wholeheartedly. The crew was amazing and always made us feel safe...even when dangling in the treetops. 

And now we are refreshed and loving each other, but also a little tired of each other, and it's the perfect state to be in when you have to return to your crazy real life. 

It also helps that my husband and I are going to Vegas(!) in less than 8 weeks (without kids) thanks to a fabulous Groupon that has to be used before the end of May. I could get used to this kind of travel schedule. 

Hindsight is 20/20

Have you guys read Penelope Trunk's latest blog about the blueprint women should follow to be happier? Very provocative...I've been nearly-obsessed with it for 24 hours.

I don't know if it's that I agree with some of her points or that I admire the way she has so unabashedly drawn completely inflammatory (but logical) conclusions based on the research she cites. I mean, yes, you're going to piss people off when you say things like:

Get plastic surgery.This is the must-have career tool for the workforce of the new millennium. You will earn more money and you will have more opportunities for mentoring. Also, you will have a wider choice of men, which, of course, is another way to earn more money.

But I kind of respect the fact that she doesn't care about pissing people off because it's true. I should admit that I also may be giving her more latitude because she has Asperger's, which probably explains why she's so blunt. (There's also the fact that she's nuts, which I want to make clear is a separate condition from the Asperger's.)

The big picture of what she's saying is that you'll ultimately be happier if you're financially secure enough to do what you want to do as you get older - including having the freedom to stay home with your kids. I don't disagree with that at all. (The homeschool statement is out of place and unfounded, although I agree that our current school system doesn't work.)

The conflict, of course, is that the time period in which she's talking about women being laser focused on increasing their earning potential is also sort of the time you're allowed to be somewhat directionless and not earn any money because you've got so many ideals or so much passion or whatever...and we need a period like in our lives, right?

Because having enough money after you have kids to pay a nanny and a housekeeper and a tutor is not the same as being able to take a summer off to backpack around Europe.

Still, I suppose that logic does not apply to such frivolities as being poor on purpose and finding yourself. I don't know that the "finding yourself" period actually works, anyway. I'm still trying to figure out wtf I want to do with my life and I'm way past her target demographic for this blueprint...

I have to admit that part of me wishes I'd been more focused on earning as much money as I could before I had kids because being ambitious at work pretty much escaped me once those babies were born (I'm happy to say that it's since returned, but it took years).

Still, I'm not really sure what kind of women we'll have if they all emerge from college with a singular focus on finding a husband and staying as pretty as possible in order to increase future earning potential...it freaks me out a little.

So the only conclusion I can really draw is this: The idea of 20-somethings going through life with a blueprint centered around a man and kids might seem great when you're 45 and looking back...but maybe that's just because you've had the luxury of living a life with the freedom to follow your heart...damn the consequences.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

We're having a midday thunderstorm. My husband is out of town on business. The teenager will likely be busy with things I don't want to know about until much later this evening.

I want to make buttery popcorn and pile the kids into my bed and watch TV for the rest of the day. Is that only okay if someone is sick?

More than likely, the TV trick would only last for an hour max anyway, as we tend to have trouble agreeing on what to watch and I am only physically capable of sitting through two episodes of "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny" or "Super Why" per 24-hour period. My tolerance for Dora and "The Wonder Pets" is even shorter.

Really, my proverbial prayers would be answered if there happened to be a "Glutton for Punishment" marathon on the Food Network today. Have you seen this show? A Canadian foodie travels the world, gets 5 days to learn an odd food custom or skill and then has to show off his mastery of it, usually by entering some local competition devoted to said custom or skill. I started Tivoing it just because I like travel and food, but then my kids got into it, so now it's a weekly must-watch.

Favorites include the egg frying competition (where they fried eggs using the heat of the sun in the desert) and the watermelon seed spitting episode. The Gloucestershire cheese rolling was also entertaining, mostly because a bunch of grown men tumbling down a hill behind a piece of cheese seems just as bizarre to my 4-year-olds as it does to me. The only episode I wished I'd pre-screened was the Fugu (those freaky poisonous blowfish) one, just because there were frequent mentions of the possibility that Bob (the beloved host) could actually die if he didn't prepare the fish correctly...that maybe was a little too tense for the preschool set.

Anyway, I haven't been smart enough to save all the old episodes on Tivo for a rainy day, so if I do attempt to enact my TV-in-bed plan, I'm afraid the best I can hope for is an "Ace of Cakes" rerun...unless maybe I could lure them into a Muppets movie marathon.