Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

Lifestyle, Travel

Away We Go: Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen, Mexico // Boat DockOh Playa, how I love thee. And not just the beach playa, but the town Playa as well. I love it all. Except when there’s a hurricane. Then it’s a little tough to love you. But who am I kidding, I still love you, even then.

Our trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico this year was full of new experiences. From buying over-sized sombreros for the first time, to surviving our first “hurricane,” and coming through the storm to enjoy all that the town had to offer. While stepping over fallen palm trees at the same time. And did I mention buying sombreros?

The Reef Coco Beach, Playa del Carmen, Mexico // Parrot

We booked this vacation through Expedia and everything went smoothly. We stayed at The Reef Coco Beach hotel in Playa del Carmen, and the location could not have been more perfect. We wanted all-inclusive (when you drink by the pool all day it can add up quickly!), and Playa doesn’t have a lot of options close to town. The Reef is literally three blocks from one end of 5th Avenue, which is the Place To Be. Everything is on 5th Avenue, including some of the best shopping and restaurants in the area, the sombreros, and tequila shots. We had our fair share of all of the above.

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico // Lucha Libre Masks

 After purchasing said sombreros, we could not walk down 5th Avenue without being stopped by every merchant looking to make a quick buck. Nothing screams “AMERICAN TOURIST” like a sombrero on a white dude. Luckily, we were able to talk these boys out of the Lucha Libre masks.

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico // Beach VolleyballThey didn’t let that put a damper on their vacation. Before the storm hit, we were able to get out and play some beach volleyball. Then we spent two days in our hotel room hoping that the roof stayed on the hotel! Which, in case you were wondering, did in fact, stay on the hotel.

The storm may have brought 40+mph winds and buckets of rain, but it also brought pretty views and quality time (QT) for my husband and I. So really, I can’t complain. Two days of rain won’t bring us down! He, however, might say it was a little too much QT. Is there any such thing?

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico // Beach Storm

The hotel grounds were beautiful, and even more so than I had expected. Being that we like to travel on a pretty cheap budget, you never really know what to expect from your hotel. Ours was perfect for us! Pretty views, great staff, and lots of beach room! Too bad the storm brought in all the seaweed, or it would have been even better.

The Reef Coco Beach, Playa del Carmen, MexicoThe Reef Coco Beach, Playa del Carmen Mexico // Our TripWhen the sun finally decided to grace us with it’s presence, we got right back out there to enjoy it. We spent all our days by the pool, lounging with a Miami Vice in hand. Reading, playing pool games, and taking crazy photos. Seriously, we are crazy photo-people (if you didn’t already figure that out).

The Reef Coco Beach, Playa del Carmen, Mexico // Pools

Playa Del Carmen, MexicoYou have never completed your vacation until you take a “jumping” photo. So in true Vacation Ending mode, we went out to the sea and jumped to our hearts desire. Because one photo wasn’t enough, apparently. 

Playa del Carmen, Mexico // LagoonUntil next time Playa! Adios!

DIY

Shark Week Treats Part 2

Shark Week Treats // Nestle Crunch Bars // Shark Party TreatsI’m back with a vengeance. Like Jaws in Jaws 2. Or maybe not, because that movie could quite possibly be the worst sequel ever made. Or does that title belongs to Jaws 3, Jaws 4, or Jaws 327? I don’t think they ever stopped making them. Little known fun fact: Although Jaws 2 was horrible, it was still ranked in the top 20 grossing films of that year. Which was before I was even born. Jaws makes me feel young again.

So as I was cruising through the channels last night, looking for a little Shark Week action, I came across something sacrilegious. Did you know that the NatGeo channel is trying to rival Discovery with their own attempt at a shark revolution? Indeed, they have deemed this week, SharkFest, and are airing the same types of episodes all week that the Discovery channel will air. I just can’t handle it. I must stay true to my original favorite. I will not be a traitor.

Shark Week Treats // Nestle Crunch Bars // Shark Party Treats

In honor of the OG (Shark Week), I painted this vase (which you can find instructions to, as well as print the ‘Shark Bait’ tag here). I cut out little “Shark Teeth” to cover Nestle Crunch bars, and put the new candy dish on my desk at work. Alongside, I’ve decided to display a new Shark Fact each day. My favorite?

“Weird Fact #4: Weird things that have been found in shark stomachs include shoes, chairs, the rear half of a horse, a box of nails, a torpedo, drums, and bottles of wine.”

Bottles of wine? Clearly that shark shares a common life goal with me. Print your Shark Facts for free on All For the Boys blog!

Shark Week Treats // Nestle Crunch Bars // Shark Party TreatsPrint your mini Crunch bar wrappers here. If you’d like to print one in a different size, download this file.

Tell me, will you be watching SharkFest or Shark Week!?

 

DIY

Shark Week Treats Part 1

Shark Bait Candy Dish // Shark Party // Shark Treats

Oh the gloriousness of Shark Week is upon us! Yesterday marked the beginning of the most wonderful week of the year (or so the Discovery channel is telling me). I prefer to call a week on the beach in Mexico the ‘most wonderful week’ of the year, but no. Discovery channel has decided it will be this week. Shark Week.

For those of you that are unaware that there is a thing called Shark Week, you should do yourself a little favor and do some research. Google Shark Week and let your mind be blown. It would be a little fishy if you didn’t. (See what I did there?)

Shark Bait Candy Dish // Shark Party // Shark Treats

I love Shark Week, and have already set my DVR to record all the shows I want to see this year. And because no real holiday is complete without a craft or two to celebrate, this week I will share with you some Sharktastic treats!Shark Bite Vase // How-To

First up: A Shark Bite treat bowl, complete with “Shark Bait.” Could anything be cuter than this? I bought a small clear vase at the Dollar Tree, taped off “teeth” with painters tape, and spray painted it white. Pulled the tape off, filled it with gummy worms, and attached this tag. Done and done. Should you want to create this dish for a party instead of Shark Week, you can print this tag instead.

Shark Bait Candy Dish // Shark Party // Shark Treats

DIY, Holidays!

4th of July Firecracker Favors

 4th of July // Independence Day // Party Favors // Licorice Treats  I’ve expressed it before, and I’ll express it again. I don’t like when July 4th falls on any day between Friday-Monday. Why? Because this means those of us corporate world-ers only get one day off of work. In an ideal world, it would fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, giving us the much-appreciated extra day off. Why can’t July 4th be like Thanksgiving? Nevermind that it’s an actual date, and not just a holiday. That’s just a minor detail.

The Fourth of July always reminds me of fireworks, BBQ’s, and sparklers (my favorite). But this year, there will be no fireworks here. It must be some sort of sacrilegious thing to forgo fireworks, but with a massive drought on hand, I suppose there’s nothing to be done. Maybe we can all throw confetti into the air to improvise. Or glitter.

4th of July // Independence Day // Party Favors // Licorice Treats

I have a lot of plans for this weekend. I plan on doing a whole lot of nothing, while watching plenty of nothing on the TV, and eating a bunch of nothing out of the refrigerator. But just in case I suddenly get invited to a crazy party, I made party favors. I mean, I don’t want to show up empty-handed do I?

4th of July // Independence Day // Party Favors // Licorice Treats

Dollar Tree was calling my name. I bought Red Vines, blue licorice (score!), and shiny holiday garland. I used one pack of garland for about 30 favors (clearly this imaginary party I plan on attending is going to be cray). I bought long thin bags from Michael’s baking section, and went to work. I designed and printed these tags, and voila! A licorice firecracker was born. I basically should get the 4th of July Award of Excellence. Or at least a sparkler or two.