Sun Tans and Balashi Beer



Sunset on our last night

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I'm back, From an amazing trip to Aruba with the husband, we were only gone six nights, but it was wonderful to get away and take some time to relax. Although, I am recharged and happy to be back (and ready to put my life back in order) I am so excited to write all about it! (and will probably take a few posts to go through everything I want to share). I've been home for about a week now but between work, unpacking and just life in general I haven't had much free time. But I am here now, and finally getting to this post!

First, we stayed at the all-inclusive Tamarijn resort in Aruba which also gives you access to the Divi all inclusive resort, which is just a short and beautiful five minute beach walk away. The resort is beautiful and who doesn't love all-inclusive?!? All you can eat and drink, it is fantastic! If you have never done all-inclusive I highly suggest it. It really helps you to relax knowing all you have to the entire trip is make a few dinner reservations. We did go off resort the night of our anniversary for dinner, but other than that we stayed put. We did a jeep tour of the island last year, so we decided that this year would be all about relaxing ( minus a quick walk to the grocery store to buy some balashi beer to bring home, but more on that later).

Back to the restaurants, drinks, and food everything was so good I swear I gained at least 10 pounds, but it was absolutely worth it! I drank more piña coladas than I care to admit and drank a fair share of wine with each dinner and of course balashi beer, which you can only get in Aruba! -they do not export it anywhere. However, we were able to bring back two six packs! We would have brought more- but custom only allows you so much! (guess we will just have to go back again!) My favorite restaurant at the resort is a tie between the Red Parrot and Paparazzi. Red Parrot has awesome coconut shrimp (which I ordered both times we went) and has outdoor seating and a beach view. We ate there on our first and last night, which was a perfect start and find to our trip. Paparazzi is the resort's Italian restaurant and my other favorite they have the best steak and spinach ravioli with a gorgonzola sauce.

Our first meal the afternoon we arrived- Balashi Beer, Pizza, and Mexican Fries!

The bars at the resort also have awesome pizzas, grilled sandwiches (as well as chicken fingers, French fries and that sort of thing). We tended to eat at the bars for lunch each day. My favorite there was a grilled sandwich with gouda cheese, ham, and pineapple, and pizza with jalapenos, pineapple, and ham. I guess since I mentioned dinner and lunch I should talk breakfast as well....we ate breakfast at the buffet each morning, which has everything and anything. Ian's favorite was the corn beef hash and I was a big fan of the French toast and made to order eggs and omelets. Oh, and I have to mention the coffee...easily the best coffee I have ever had. They have extremely clean water in Aruba which I think plays a large role in why their coffee (and baked goods are so good).

The Hubby and Ian stopping to take a beach
picture walking to dinner - notice the beard!

Aside from the food and drinks, I love the beach and spent plenty of time just laying out and reading on the beach. As always I put my chair in the sun each day, while Ian hung back in the shade under what I called our divi divi hut...not sure of the proper name, but all I know is it prevented Ian from getting sunburn, which meant he stayed happy our whole vacation! It was a much needed trip and well worth it!

It's been awhile....

So, I have done an awful job of posting over the past month. I feel like I have had a million things to do, yet nothing at the same time. I have been letting job searching take over my free time, and although it is good that I have been applying I need to get back to doing the things I enjoy. For example, I have only worked out a handful of times, which is not like me and I have yet to read a single book all summer...again something very abnormal for me. I have been feeling scattered and still without a schedule. I did work 20 hours last week, which is the most I have worked all summer, which was good; it made me feel like I had a purpose. I am a bit unhappy on the lack of job opportunities right now, but au continue to remind myself, it is not me, but the current state of the teaching profession. On a good note one of my best friends got married last week, and the wedding was nothing short of amazing. Not only was he wedding beautiful, but I realized just how wonderful my group of friends is. We all haven't done the best job hanging out lately, but when we do we have the absolute best time. It is nice to know that I have people in my life who do not judge me, and love me for who I am. I am going to try and spend less time alone job searching and more time meeting friends for lunch, hanging out, and just laughing. The month of July brings my one year wedding anniversary ( which I cannot believe is here already!), and includes two trips: one to Aruba with the hubby for our anniversary, and another to the Boston area to visit my friend and former co-worker, and I will also get to the chance to meet her fiancé, which is very exciting. I have decided, because of all the traveling, that I will allow myself to stay scattered during the month of July, but come August 1st I will have to refocus myself and really start making decisions on what path to take, as fall will be here before we know it. I will also try to write more, not only on this blog but hopefully on bigger and more personal projects as well.