Seeing Green...and Blue

Green that I usually see at this time of year is from the St. Patrick's Day Parade, that is not the case this year. I did NOT go to the parade, which is something I'm never proud to say. The only times I've missed it since I can remember are from being too sick to get out of bed or from being pregnant (because who really wants to stand around a bunch of drunken Irish people if you're sober?!).
I wasn't sad about missing it this year though, because I was HERE instead:

Secrets Maroma in Cancun. Yah. Not too bad, huh.

Actually, it was the most wonderfully relaxing 4 days I have had in many years. I can't even describe the tranquility and pleasure this place brought. I wish everyone could go here. Jamie won the trip at work, so we were there with 50 other people from his company. This made it even more fun. It was a perfect balance of time spent together, just me and Jamie, time spent with new friends, and some ME time. I got to listen to my music, think about things other than school, parenting, and house stuff, and I got a massage -- I tell you, I do believe I was in heaven. This is a glimpse into the private hydrotherapy area of the spa. It had a sauna, a lounge, and a bunch of pools. Some hot tubs, some cool sitting tubs, some with jets to massage your back, some with bubbles bellowing out from under your feet, and even a bubble bed that you could lay on in the water. It was absolutely amazing. 

Another incredibly cool thing that this resort had to offer was swim-up rooms. So, not only was our room gorgeous, 

 but when we stepped onto our patio, we had our own pool:

Other highlights of our weekend include...
The wildlife. There were iguanas, beautiful birds, these furry raccoon-like guys, and even little monkeys, which we never spotted but I carried a banana around with me just in case.

The FOOD (all inclusive and oh-so-good)- Seafood to die for. A buffet like you wouldn't believe. And there was a guy who walked around the pool and served tacos straight from the grill! Damn good tacos, at that!

The people. There aren't too many good reports about what's going on in Mexico these days, but the people who worked here were so warm and kind. They were genuine and always smiling. There was not a glimpse of what goes on outside the walls of the resort. I'm sure they don't have the best life (or maybe they do...I hope I am wrong and they do), but they were so happy to make us feel welcomed and comfortable. Each one was nicer than the next. 

The pools and the beach. There's something about the colors of the water, the sand, and the trees that makes me feel so at peace.

They had the most comfortable lounging chairs ever. PLUS, there are BEDS everywhere you go. Beds by the pool, beds under trees, beds on the beach.

 Needless to say, I declared this to be the most brilliant idea and that I would no longer stay at a resort that doesn't provide me with such luxury (I also declared that Jamie MUST win more trips!--And, by the way, why can't teachers and parents be awarded trips for raising good humans?! Am I right?!)

It felt like a dream. We were gone and back in 4 days, but it's always such a treat to come home to two little adorable and smiling kids. Thank you so very much to my mom who, as always, stepped in and became 2nd mom to them while we escaped. We needed it more than we thought. It reminded me that we should all take time to stop and smell the roses as often as we can, because this world is just too darn stressful and we often forget that there are still GOOD things out there. And that it's good to SIMPLIFY once in a while.