Honeymoon (Part 1) : The Papaya Playa

If you're looking for a place to honeymoon or if you just want to take a peek into ours, here is the first (of many!) photos from our little adventure to Tulum, Mexico. Before I found this place, I had no idea Tulum even existed. And if you ask locals or the expats who run the little eco-chic boutiques in this city, they will tell you to keep it that way. 

I can't tell you how many people told us not to tell our friends about Tulum. (I apologize to those people now who didn't realize I can't keep a good thing to myself). The reason why it's so amazing is because it's not Cancun. No high-rise buildings, no all inclusive packages. Just fresh organic food, quiet beaches, friendly faces, and spas galore.

So how did I find this place? Jetsetter, a website that will email you vacation deals daily, to the most beautiful places around the world. And the best part is that the editors of the website actually go and write reviews, so they aren't just trying to sell you something just because it's cheap. 

But I digress.

Welcome to Papaya Playa Project. For background info, click here. You'll find lots of phenomonal photos on the website, but what you see below, well these babies are all mine . . . 

It only took us an 1 hr. 1/2 to fly from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Cancun, and there we had a driver (arranged by Papaya Playa) pick us up to take us an hour south to our destination . . . 

well, with only one stop on the way.

We had an idea of what to expect, but nothing prepared us for what we were about to see when we arrived at the Papaya. What. A. Little. Piece. Of. Paradise.

We sprung for the ocean-front cabana (no. 27) with a private bathroom. Totally worth it, honeymoon or not.

This was our front porch. There were many lazy afternoons when Paul and I would just take a break from the sun and chill on the hammock. We really never saw our neighbors.

I felt like I was in a fairy tale inside our cabanas. Like a tropical version of the seven dwarfs' cottage. 

It wasn't much, quaint and simple. But it was perfect and pretty much all that we needed.

And check out these T-Pees on the hotel's beach! Ah-mazing.

But the best part, was waking up to this:

A Thursday Pick-Me-Up

Street Cred

Street Cred

Street Cred

Street Cred

Street Cred

Street Cred

Street Cred

DIY Rubber Stamp Wrapping Paper

Remember my post on DIY wrapping paper? This was my attempt at a pretty presentation. It didn’t come out as great as I anticipated, but it was special and unique, nonetheless. I bought a rubber R stamp, for the couple’s last name.... 

Materials:

-Brown Paper 

-Rubber Stamp + ink of your choice

- Twine

-Ribbon 

-And ANYTHING else pretty you want to throw in there. I found a pearl flower arrangement 

A Post-Wedding Disaster Area

is my apartment right now with all our luggage and wedding presents (love them, but they are everywhere). I just wanted to be straight up with you all and show you that our newlywed sanctuary looks a lot like the return counter at TJ Maxx.

This photo above really doesn't do it justice to tell you the truth. But, the reason why I'm sharing this is to prove that there's always a way to inspire yourself with something pretty. I needed to be inspired to find a home for each of these items and wipe off the dust that has accumulated these past couple weeks with us gone. I needed to conquer this kitchen counter on the right, so I set myself up nice on the left.

A bit hard to see there. Here's a close-up:

Before I even started the day scrubbing, I bought the apartment flowers. She deserved it.

The lit candle, the cut lemons in my cranberry water, the cheese plate, the fruit, kind of looks like I'm taking myself out on a date, right? Exactly. It's my pursuit to bring pretty in my life every day. I set the mood for myself as much as I possibly can. Like taking a bubble bath when you've had a shit day. By doing these little things for myself, the day is just brighter. You should try it. Nothing to lose here.

And by going through all the boxes, we were able to test out a few presents.

This bamboo steamer from Crate & Barrel is amazing:

And these champagne flutes from anthropologie are so delicate and beautiful. One of my favorite presents.

Honestly, the apartment is still a mess because we've been taking our sweet little time, but we did successfully manage to keep this one area as our pretty retreat. Thanks again to all our family and friends for our wedding gifts. 

Even if I can't sit on my couch.

Just curious, 

what do you do to set the mood for yourself?