Tim's Birthday at Neah Bay...

I don’t have words that can really explain our surf trip to Neah Bay for Tim’s birthday. BUT...I do have some pretty great photos.  So instead of trying to find the correct adjective to describe the beautiful weekend we experienced, I’ll let you come up with your own.

I was pretty stoked to catch a shot of some sanddollars specifically for my blog. Also, cue the corny couple shot ;)

We had such a great group of people to surf with. I sometimes feel a great audience and support group is helpful when going out into new waters.

A friend of ours who's still pretty new with surfing was treated nicely by these waters! 

We couldn't have asked for a better camping spot! Right behind our tent, we were able to walk right out to the beach and surf.

Touch football game that started at pre-sunset and went into the night.

And when we weren't surfing or playing football, we were enjoying a bonfire right on the beach.  

We lucked out with near perfect weather (though the photo above might suggest otherwise).  With the weather and waves being the best we've ever experienced with WA surfing, we decided we'll be doing a Neah Bay rerun for Memorial Day. Next time I can promise more in water shots and some video.

Mellow Monday

I've grown fond of Mondays. They signify a new beginning to me.  A second chance, if you will. I love the feeling of making goals of all the things I’ll get done during the week and I love sitting and pretentiously drinking my coffee while doing it.

To go all alliterate on you: My Mondays are Mellow.  I don't find myself rushing anywhere. I just try to go with the flow on this particular day of the week.

 Here are a few things that made my day so incredibly wonderful today!

I started my day off in a new outfit I LOVE. New clothes are rare for me so I am incredibly guilty of wearing them too much. I just found these jeans and have been searching the world of Seattle for them! Also, my shirt makes me feel like a pirate.

I woke up with a hot guy. I’m sure you’ll appreciate me withholding a photo to go with this statement.

Panda Express gave me a wonderful fortune! Who doesn’t want to help the children!?

Fun fact: I HATE when people ask if someone has a case of the Mondays! Like you’re not allowed to be in a bad mood for no reason on this given day? Come on people. You’re giving Monday a bad name. Cut the crap.

What's your favorite thing about Mondays?

Soapbox: Bikini Bodies

A collective aversion of our bodies has swept the plant. Summer is coming. Shit- I have to get skinny.

My 16 year old cousin was lamenting to me tonight about how she ‘does not have a bikini body.’  That breaks my heart. She is such a cute little thing with an adorable figure that she should be proud of!  And we’ve heard it all before:

Be proud of your body!

Curves are beautiful!

Thin is not in!

Now I am in no way condemning thin girls or glorifying an unhealthy life style of under-eating or over-eating but COME ON! When did the rules change to only tight little fit bodies being the only thing acceptable in a bikini?  Why is it that the rest of humanity ensconces the proof that they had seconds at every holiday dinner- AND dessert, under a cloak? Don’t get me wrong- I’d love to be one of the tight little fit things but the body God gave me isn’t going to fit the exact measurements I had in mind for it.  I still have problems coming to terms with that. I suspect it’s a weakness we all have.  I might beat myself down from time to time but something I WON’T do is hide my body due to my fear of not equating to the beautiful figure of another! This summer I will work to appreciate my body. If not for me, then to set an example for those younger than me that might (if I’m lucky J ) look up to me.  I encourage you to do the same, whether you don a bikini, sexy one piece or that sporty tankini.

So here’s a flaunting of my imperfect (because let's face it, perfection is boring) bikini body along with a few more that I consider beautiful.

And one of my favorite ads: Dove Campaign For Real Beauty.

Quarter-Life Crisis Turned Plan Part:1

I can’t explain it.  Put simply, life has me incredibly stoked for the next couple years to come.  I feel like things are really falling into the places they were meant to be in.

For the past 4 years, nursing has been my nearly unattainable goal that I have been consistently striving to meet.  For the past 4 weeks, I’ve secretly changed my mind.  Yes, secretly. I guess I felt like a failure and like I was giving up.  Such is not the case my friends! In reality I was just letting go of something that wasn’t me.  Working with terminal patients and their families at my current job has really opened my eyes to what my persona contains.  The ability to incessantly bond with families and their terminal loved ones and be ok with it when sickness wins and overtakes their happiness,  is not there.

Enter: Surgical Technician.  Anyone who knows me well can tell you I love learning about the human body and dissection lab has always been my favorite.  I read about this program as an aspiring nurse and told Tim all about it.  Knowing me well, I think he sensed my change of heart before I did.  “So do that,” he said.  As if I was debating on a place to get lunch. Simple as that! And it was. I’m now on a path that will put me in school for my career THIS fall instead of a year and a half from now. And that excites me. Que smiley face:

J

Sometimes, the plan changes. And that’s ok.

                                                                                     *Photo taken by my mom of Tim and I at the Strait of Juan de Fuca

So this blog is labeled Part: 1 for a reason.  I’m committing myself to writing more on plans for the next few years.  My next one is going to require feedback from YOU! Which is why I’m writing it. Tim and I have formed a business plan out of our passion for service to others and surfing and I’m really excited to see how it’s received.

Drunk Blogging Makes For Not So Great Reading.

I'll confess to being in a rut. Writers cramp, if you will. Or maybe this was just an impromtu New Years resolution going exactly the way most do: Wondeful! For 2 months...then they fizzle out.

Anyhow. I'm feeling inspired. Or drunk enough to write? I've consumed a few glasses of wine.

I can't complain too much about life. Tim and I have gotten some good surfing in these past few months. We took my parents with us on April Fools Day and boy did the surf fool us. Poor Tim was too big to catch the weak waves of the Strait of Juan De Fuca but I managed to pop up on a few. My camera happy momma was able to catch a shot of me (my first pic of me standing up after surfing for a year and a half- yay!!)

Note: I feel super badass right here. I don't care how small that wave is. That's Tim in the background smiling his happiness. Also...rainbow in the shot! How cool is that?? Go Mom on your badass camera skills!

Tim and I also made our way down to SoCal with his parents for some sun and surf. His mom got some cute shots with her film camera but given that fact that I am impatiently blogging before recieveing those shots, all I have is this mushy couply shot of us on the beach. Sorry folks :)

Anyway, Tim has just finished my bottle of wine on me which I think is his way of saying: you've had enough. So I guess I'll have to blog about our super amazing plan we've come up with at a later time!