In Preparation For My Trip Home

It wasn't cheap, but I have my tickets in-hand for our trip to Santo Domingo next month--well worth the sacrifice (who needs electricity? you Americans are so SPOILED!). In just a few weeks we'll be in the sun with family, relaxing. But before all of that can happen, I want to do a few things. Namely...

1- Teach the girls some basic Spanish phrases. I got yelled at last year because they didn't speak the language, and I was supposed to be teaching them all year before this trip. But I got busy watching Soul Food on Youtube...you know how it is... However, I'm going to teach them some Spanish basics and make them practice it for at least two hours a day.

2- Get fitter. In my head I have four months to get in better shape because I won't be in non-sweater gear until late May/early June. BUT it hit me- I'll be on the beach in only a few weeks! Now, I'm not going to do anything crazy like starve myself or go on some crazy cleanse--you know Jaded ain't about that life!--but I do want to establish a routine that will translate easily to life in the Caribbean. Also, I need to make sure I can bring my supplements with me; you know how RUDE TSA agents can be about liquids on a plane.

3- Braid. N's. Hair. I'm not dealing with the untangling and craziness that we went through last time. The child is getting braids that will never get unraveled until we get back to NYC. Problem solved!

4- Pack smarter. I barely wore anything more than shorts and a t-shirt, and I had to refrain from bringing goodies back because it didn't fit in the suitcase. That's not going to happen this time!

5- Make sure to bring supplies to enhance and record our trip. I need my voice recorder for all of Abuelo and Papi's tales, at least two books to read at night, a notebook and pens to write a zillion new stories (OK, maybe just one) and a decent camera. Although, my old Blackberry phone did an OK job of taking pics, as did K's iPod Touch. Oooh, that reminds me--I need a kick-ass playlist for when we're chilling in the sun.

Oh man, I cannot wait!!!

And don't worry, I'll schedule some posts for while I'm gone. You won't even know I'm on vacation...

*smooches...looking forward to some much-needed downtime*
----------
the countdown begins NOW!