My heart is in...Buenos Aires...(sigh)

I've started reading my travel books because as I've said before, those who can't do, research!  I've realized that I'm strangely unique in that I get just as much pleasure out of planning as I get from actually doing.  Spontaneous trips just don't do it for me because a huge part of my vacation experience involves planning, researching, packing and just straight up looking forward to it.  I know, I'm weird.
Here are my high-tech, super expensive research tools:

I've got some of those colorful tabby thingies and a lefty pen (I'm a lefty and I smudge, feel sorry for me).

Since I don't have my Costa Rica guide yet (it comes out in November), I have started with Buenos Aires.  After browsing through my guide, here's how I've bookmarked it:

Fun Facts:

-One US Dollar is worth 8.5 Argentine Pesos, which, believe it or not, is worth way more than a Mexican Peso.   There are currently 8 countries using the Peso.

-The seasons in South America are opposite those of North America.  Spring is September-November, fall is March-May and Winter is June-August.  Crazy, huh?

-Lunch is after 2pm and dinner is usually after 9pm, with a siesta in between!  My kind of place!  If you're planning on going to a club, they don't even open til 2am and if you're cool you show up at 4am!  These people are on speed!

-Known worldwide for: Tango, Evita, Steakhouses and being a city that never sleeps.

Okay, I don't know about you, but I need a siesta already.

In other news:

We got an offer on our house (YAY!), but it was a low-ball offer, so we countered and it went nowhere (BOO!).  HOWEVER, there are currently 2 other people interested, so we might have a legit offer soon!  CROSS YOUR FINGERS!

I was in my parents' backyard the other day and I backed into this:

I don't know WTF kind of spider it is, but if you know me you know I'm DEATHLY afraid of spiders and I just about DIED!  I made Aaron check my entire body and comb my hair like 30 times and it still wasn't enough.  I really haven't felt the same since.

Okay, that just about does it on my end.  For you animal-lovers out there, here's your fix:

OH YEA!  I am thinking of names for our backpacks and so far one of Aaron's suggestions has been cracking me up.  He said his can be Trav (because he's white) and mine can be Ling (because I'm Asian)...get it?  Trav and Ling?  Travling?  Traveling?  okay, totally kinda racist, but kinda clever, right?  No, not really?  Okay, remember it was all Aaron's idea and I find it just as appalling as you do.  Outrageous!

Lastly, I found this online and it just spoke to me:

I've got mail!

I absolutely love getting stuff in the mail, even when I ordered and paid for it myself, it still feels like a present.  So here's what I got today:

Lonely Planet Travel Guides!  The only one missing is Costa Rica, which won't ship until November because it's not even out yet!  I got a guide for each place we're staying as well as a phrasebook/dictionary for each language.  I'm no expert on travel books, but Lonely Planet came highly recommended and while perusing a couple of them I have come to the conclusion they're fantastic!  Not to be a snob, but I got the most up-to-date print they had in each (I think they're all 2014) because I just don't see the point of an out of date travel book, I'm sorry.  

Okay, next:

I got 4 Lewis and Clark TSA-Approved Travel Locks (let's be real for a sec, all I really care about is that they're pink).  I also got this Kate Spade Medium Agenda, which is so my taste, I can't even take it.

Most importantly:

I got my passport finally!  Aaron got his 3 weeks ago and I've been stressing ever since.  Oh well, it's finally heeeeerrreee and it's so pretty and super shiny and has a total of 50 pages!  I would have taken a pic of the inside, but I just feel weird about people seeing all my info and passport number.  Someone from ISIS might be reading this as we speak and just waiting for me to slip up so she can steal my identity.  Okay, I might be a little paranoid on that one, but better safe than identity thefted! 

Oh yea, I got this really cute notebook at Walgreens for $1 the other day, now I just gotta think of something to do with it.  

                                               

That's the difference between men and women in my opinion: men see a need and go out and buy something to fulfill a purpose whereas women buy things and then try to MacGyver a reason for it out of thin air.  Don't worry, I'll think of something good to do with the 18th notebook I've bought recently.

Lastly, I don't have a picture, but Aaron got his GoPro! It's way tinier than I thought, but the accessories that go with it definitely make up for that; so far he has a head mount, chest mount and a stick for taking selfies (that's not the technical name, just FYI).  Super duper!

So, I'm spending the weekend with the family (mom and bro are out of town and cousins are in town) and we're having a blast just relaxing in the sun and playing in the kiddie pool.

Cousin Shelly and niece Sachi:

I know this is terrible, but Sachi's hair is extra curly and it totally reminds me of a Jerry curl from the 80's.  You be the judge:

Can anybody guess who that is??  It's Darrel from Coming To America!!  If you haven't seen it, get it together, man!  It's a classic!

Anyway, Sachi and Kane have a pretty photogenic history; for some reason it's just adorable to see little kids and puppies growing up together.  I think it's just the sweetest thing ever!

Arlighty, that seems to be all she wrote for now....one last pic of my boos for the road:

Oh yea, I found this online somewhere and thought it was kinds interesting:

Okay, I'm really done now.....later!

My lobster...

My sugar-sweet boyfriend texted this to me at work today (when I happened to be having a particularly monotonous day) and I thought it was very cute, so I figured I'd share.  Remember peeps, it doesn't take a house to make a home; it doesn't even take a set location.  Home can be wherever you're with the one who makes your heart smile.  Corny, but it's the truth.  The house only feels empty when he's not in it and when were together, the entire universe fits in the palm of my hand.  What can I say, he's my lobster!

What I'll miss most...

Feeling a little nostalgic today, looking back on 30 years of my life and realizing they've all been spent in this magical land they call California.  I've got everything I could possibly want right at my fingertips, but there's always been this itch I could never quite reach...and although I feel like I'm getting close to a satisfying scratch, I know I'm leaving things behind that I'll miss.

First and foremost, my boys!

They are my whole heart and I'll think of them every day!  Of course I think they're the cutest dogs ALIVE, but everyone probably thinks that about their own, huh?

Family!

We're goofy and wacky and get on each other's last nerve most of the time, but we are forever.  My parents are the epitome of selfless and they're the glue holding the shards that are their children (and the people they drag along) together.  

Friends!

Our friends are the thick and thin kind and always ready for a good time!  

Holidays!

Birthdays!

Halloween is an all-time favorite in my family!

Yup, those are my parents!

Capone loves it too!

That about does it for what I'll miss (yea, that was a lot, I get it).  Aaron and I have a lot in our lives to be thankful for and while we will definitely get homesick for all those people/things, we are especially grateful to be able to come home to all of it!