a big mistake...

WHY WHY WHY did I ever think it was a good idea to just pop out for lunch and see where the car would take me?

MY THOUGHT: it's a nice day, I'm sick of being in the office... let's just drive up the street... and OOo-- a little shopping center! I'll pick up lunch, but first, maybe I'll go run into a store... ooo- Old Navy! Do I need anything...??....no... but $15 dresses! $15 tanks!

I walk inside and breeze through the $15 dresses (ugly) and tanks (cheap... no, really) and somehow ended up in the swimsuit section.

Reasons I should not try on swimsuits:

1. NOTHING at Old Navy ever, neverever, fits me right on the bottom half. Ever.
2. $20 a piece? Give me a break.
3. SKIMPINESS... on hips, on butts... all over.

Reasons I did try on swimsuits:

1. there was a onepiece that was cute-ish on the hanger. It really was, and I thought- HEY, maybe'll I not be a hater and give it a whirl.
2. I thought- HEY-- my whole life I've hated how swimsuit bottoms fit me-- maybe today's different.
3. Clothes have been fitting okay lately, I've eaten soup for 3 days straight, maybe I've been covering up this model physique and just didn't realize it.

And guess what...

There's a mean little trick that happens when you're standing in a fitting room with cruel overhead flourescent lighting that makes your thighs appear like jiggly mounds dripping off your own body.

Needless to say, the swimsuit bottoms *did not* flatter, and I left feeling more self-conscious about places I didn't even have issues with before....

So lunch became a small, light Jamba Juice. No sugar, just Splenda, please.... and a fat-buster boost.

On to Uzes...

We've decided to stay in Uzes for the first leg of our trip. It's a bit more West that we were originally thinking, but it seems to be the perfect little in-town option to balance our View Larger Map">2nd and 3rd legs of the trips...

Uzes (pronounces oozes... heh.) is encircled by the Boulevard Gambetta, the Medieval town is a maze of small streets and shaded squares lined with 17th and 18th century private residences. Under the arcades of the Place aux Herbes and along the neighbouring streets, a market takes places every Saturday whose reputation has for a long time stretched beyond the region. You will find a profusion of regional products, in the warm and colorful atmosphere of Provencal markets. Great for people who like shopping and enjoying local street cafes. 

And after diligent scouring, we've found the perfect place to stay. We started with Au Quinze, a 16th century home, recommended by Rick Steves and TripAdvisor. We were super excited about their awesome ancient pool, gardens, and awesome curved rock ceilings! 

They actually emailed us back with an even cooler (and cheaper?!) option- a studio across the street from their house in another old building. They'd even still feed us a full breakfast, and allow use of the pool, garden and their house! So that's what we're doing... 

We'll have our own kitchenette, which will be perfect for saving a bit of cash and taking advantage of the local markets. It's coming together, for sure. 

But now, without the tasks of scouring the best b&b options and anxiously awaiting overseas emails in return, what will I do with all my freetime?