Costa Rican Adventure

I'm back!

After spending the last week in sunny Costa Rica, I'm here in my fleece pajamas trying to get warm. I already miss it...

We stayed at the Riu Palace in Guanacaste. The sunny side of Costa Rica!

(The view from our balcony)

Of course, the first thing we did was hit the bar. After 3 hours of sleep (our shuttle picked us up at 3 am) and two flights, one involving a mad dash across the airport in Atlanta, we certainly needed a few fruity cocktails to relax. Thankfully, we found our new favorite bartender, whom we would have taken back to Milwaukee with us if we could have. He was pretty much magic when it came to making beach drinks involving layering:

All of those shots came from the same shaker. He just poured and each one came out a different color. 

Most of the vacation was spent with me reading in the room/on the balcony/by the pool. I finished four books, and started a fifth on the flight back. That's the most reading I've done possibly all year, and it felt amazing. I'm all caught up on one of my favorite paranormal romance/mystery series as well. (If you're into it, read The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. It's not over the top, I promise, it's just really, really good.)

We went into the rainforest and I made a new friend:

That's a female rhinoceros beetle. Very tickly. I almost dropped her.

I was even brave enough to go over the hanging bridges through the canopy. It was truly awe inspiring to be standing above the trees. 

(One of the observation points, not a bridge - no good pictures unfortunately)

We learned what rain in the rainforest is like...halfway through the hike it started pouring. Apparently I looked like a lemon ice pop in my (well, Andrew's) poncho, and the tour guide teased me for thinking it wouldn't rain in the rainforest.

Not pictured are the howler monkeys we saw on the way back to the airport, and the spider monkeys we saw in the forest. Andrew even saw a toucan!

I'm happy to be home, but I'm definitely missing Costa Rica.

~Megan

Unplugged

3 AM is a weird time in this city. People are slowly stumbling home from bars/parties, but it is very much a still and quiet time. I'm finding that I actually like it. I'm not usually awake for it.

But here I am, waiting for our shuttle to the airport. I'm packed and ready to go, stressing over what I may have forgotten, worrying about the cats and hoping I can fit my sun hat into my carry on.

I debated for a while about whether or not to bring my computer, as the resort gets free wifi, but I think part of this vacation is to be really disconnected from the internet. No phones, no computers, no late night emails or texts. Just the two of us and the ocean.

It's gonna be weird, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it.

Moon is sitting here next to me purring away. Puck is asleep right next to her. Man, I'm gonna miss these cats. Especially Moon. It isn't often I get to spend this much time with her, because she isn't allowed in the bedroom and certainly not in the bed. She used to sleep with me every night, but the husband is allergic to her so she's relegated to the couch. Poor Moon.

Okay, internet. I'm leaving you alone for like, six days. Don't screw anything up, okay? See you when I get back!

~Megan

Warmed Up

I have really bad timing.

My honeymoon is in two days. Of course, my body picks now to come down with whatever Andrew had.

Body aches, sore throat, sneezing. It's hard to tell if I'm actually sick or the pollen count is super high.

Either way, I feel like death warmed up and just in time for my vacation.

I swear, this happens every time. Like when I got the stomach flu in Panama City right before we left for Disney World.

Maybe I'll feel better once I'm all packed. Fingers crossed!

~Megan

Into Darkness

It's no secret: I am a giant nerd. Really. 

Last night, Andrew took me to an early showing of Star Trek Into Darkness. 

I told him weeks ago that if we went, I'd dress up. I think he thought I was kidding.

I wasn't:

The only downside was that I was the only person dressed up at the theater we went to. A friend of ours who was at a different theater also dressed up, but still. At least everyone thought it was awesome. The best part? The whole outfit is made of things that were either already in my closet or less than $15. I picked up the red dress at H&M (I already have three others in the same style - I love them), and Andrew made my insignia (out of tinfoil), but the rest of it was stuff I already had. I felt super crafty!

The movie itself was amazing. I can't even begin to describe how well they did it. All the performances were spot on, and the effects were just crazy good. We're going to see it again once we're back from Costa Rica. 

Of course, that's not to mention that the cast is full of really attractive men. Benedict Cumberbatch, Christopher Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho. All my favorites in one place, and in Starfleet uniforms. What more could a (nerd) girl want?

~Megan

Reading Challenge (accepted)

Well, now that finals are (nearly) over, and I'm heading off on vacation, I'm in need of a new challenge.

A reading challenge.

Okay, so I know I'm taking summer courses and I won't have a ton of time to just sit and read for pleasure, but I feel like I need to read more (see upcoming birthday post. Spoilers...).

I decided, that instead of doing the Rory Gilmore reading challenge (which I will eventually do, but will ease into, because some of the books I know will take me longer than my own list), I made up my own.

The goal is one book per week. There's a good mix of literature, fiction, really popular fiction that I somehow haven't read yet (hunger games, etc), non-fiction, and biography. I'll try not to overload myself in one genre in order to keep things varied. I'm not sure where to start! 

What's good vacation reading? I don't want to start with The Fault In Our Stars and start sobbing on my honeymoon. I feel like the Hunger Games trilogy is too serious for the beach. Maybe the Song of Ice and Fire books? Again, too serious. Andrew will have a fit if I bring something non-fiction along on our "relaxing" honeymoon (I don't do relaxed, but that's a different post). I have the 10th and 11th books in the Hollows series by Kim Harrison (paranormal crime and romance, my guilty pleasure) on my nook. I'll probably start with those, since I need to catch up in the series. Then again, I also picked up The Official Preppy Handbook:

Okay, maybe this will be perfect to read on the beach. Lighthearted, funny-in-a-true-way, somewhat ethnographical (though not on purpose, I'm sure).

~Megan

Finals

Even though I'm only part time this semseter, finals are really getting to me.

Especially since I just got over the stress of the wedding, I'm preparing to leave the country on Sunday (!), and generally still moving in to my new apartment...I feel Daria says it best:





Okay, maybe not dead, but perhaps in a small coma.

(Also, I just spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out how to make those photos side-by-side without photoshop or proper access to picasa. Clearly, it was a fruitless 30 minutes.)

My head hurts, back to cramming.

~Megan

Mama's Day & OOTD

This is a day late but happy Mother's day!

Now that I'm married I have two moms to celebrate.

I had lunch with my mom on Saturday, and brunch with A's mom on Sunday in Lake Geneva.

The weather was unfortunately not as perfect as last year, but we still had a good time wandering around all the little shops.

And if I can toot my own  horn a little (and I'm allowed - this is my blog after all!), I looked pretty darn cute myself!

I've been on a huge yellow and navy kick lately. Granted, the weather wasn't quite good enough for bare legs and sandals, I couldn't resist.

I'm also trying to get the hang of taking selfies that don't include my face. I always just have this weird expression in photos. Anyways, that little black blur in the lower right corner is Puck. He really wanted to help me.

Which of course meant standing on the mirror's ledge and ruining quite a few pictures. But hey, he's too cute to be mad at, no?

Unfortunately, the weekend is over and now its time to cram for my astronomy final tonight. Wish me luck!

~Megan

Midweek Slump

It's Thursday and event though technically I'm a day late for "midweek", I'm still in a bit of a slump.

You know the one. Friday seems so far away and it still feels like a Monday.

No fun. 

In an effort to combat the blahs, I'm trying to remember the simple pleasures in life. Just the little things that can happen every day that make you feel all warm inside.

Like curling up with a good book. Or remembering tea and cake on your in-law's porch.

Yeah, that's crushed up Heath bar in the frosting. Who can be sad when you've got angel food cake with crushed up Heath bar and Fortnam & Mason tea?

At least it's almost Friday. 

~Megan

Tea Craving

I'm a die-hard coffee drinker. I can't function without a cup in the morning. Don't even try to talk to me before I've had my first cup - it won't be pretty.

In the afternoons though, I need just a touch less caffeine. Something a little softer and a little...complex. 

Enter my tea obsession. Samurai Chai from Teavana*.

I mean look at that. Spicy, sweet, a little earthy. I'm becoming a regular tea snob. It fits, because apparently I collect tea sets now. It happened totally on accident, I swear. I have a set from goodwill (minus the teapot), a set from Ikea (with a teapot Andrew brought back from London) and now a vintage set that I was given as a wedding present (including teapot). Oh, and a teapot from my bridal shower (which was tea party themed, complete with my grandmother's wedding china and fancy hats). And even though I have all of those, I can't help myself from lusting over this one:

Again, from Teavana. I just love the delicate shapes of the cups and the classic shape of the teapot.

Okay...maybe I have a problem. Maybe.

~Megan

*No, not sponsored, though I wouldn't mind if Teavana wanted to pay me to love their stuff.

Odd Conversations

Sometimes life with my (new) husband is a little...weird.

For example, we just had this coversation:

Me: "Armadillos can be housebroken. Can we have an armadillo?"

He looks at me and with the sweetest face: "Penguins can be nocturnal"

"That has nothing to do with getting a pet armadillo..."

"Oh, that was the point? I thought we were stating animal facts."

I mean, who wouldn't want one of these?

Awwww

I'd name it Jasper. Andrew says Tank. Or, inexplicably, Gweneth. 

Good thing you can't have an armadillo in Wisconsin...

~Megan

May The Fourth

May The Fourth Be With You.

Happy Star Wars Day!

~Megan

Challenge Accepted

I'm leaving for my honeymoon in 16 days.

That's just over two weeks. Woah.

So naturally, I decide to weigh myself because, hello, bikini time.

Maybe not the best plan because wow, I gained like 15 lbs. Aren't you supposed to lose weight before a wedding (you know, stress). That's what people keep telling me, but I guess it turns out I continue eating everything in sight even when I'm crazy stressed. Only instead of eating so many salads, I eat so many cupcakes. Yikes.

So my (self-imposed) challenge is to see how bikini-ready I can get before we leave.

Good-bye glasses of wine and boxes of Chinese takeout. Hello bottles of water and black bean soup.

Not that I'm complaining. Black bean soup is delicious. 

I do need to watch the froyo intake though. Well, more accurately the froyo topping intake.

Wish me luck! Because I'm shooting for this:

The bikini, not the model.

~Megan

Honeywine

The period of time after a couple marries is called a honeymoon because traditionally, the couple will spend a month (or a lunar cycle) together drinking mead, wine made with honey.

Also traditionally, the couple takes their honeymoon immediately after the wedding.

Unless you're me, and you schedule your wedding for two weeks before final exams.

Instead, I get to spend the next two weeks preparing for a trip to Costa Rica. I can't wait. There's going to be beaches, fruity drinks, wildlife, and a volcano. Yep, I get to go see a volcano. From the travel agent's email:

"Sit back and enjoy a scenic ride from Guanacaste to Arenal where you will begin you adventure passing through dry forest and transition into a rain forest. A short walk will introduce you to the interactions of the rain forest. Head to a safe viewing area to experience the thundering volcano – one of the most active in the Western Hemisphere. Learn about the geological complexity of the 5,000-foot (1,524-meter) giant as you take in the views of Guanacaste's green hillsides. The Arenal Volcano has been active since 1968, and to this day continues to produce a daily mixture of glowing red lava and explosions. Feel the earth rumbling as the sky explodes with nature's own fireworks. Take a short hike in one of the trails close to the volcano and enjoy some forest and the activity around it. You'll learn about this unique ecosystem of Costa Rica, a country that includes six percent of the world's biodiversity. After your hike, it's time to relax and enjoy a complimentary lunch. Then rejuvenate yourself with a healthy and relaxing soak in a mineral pool and hot spring created by the volcano itself. At night enjoy a delicious dinner while you await the most spectacular volcano's night show before heading back to Guanacaste." 

Okay, I know that's super long to read, but seriously, doesn't that sound amazing? I haven't had the opportunity to leave the country yet, so on my first trip abroad I get to see an active volcano.

Now to plan my outfits...

~Megan