Okay, Deeeep Breath: Swim Suits. I have never been particularly fond of seeing myself in one, so it is with some hesitation that I post these photos. I don't think I'm alone in this regard. I'm convinced that every year dread and self-loathing wash over the female population at large as the spring season ushers in the appearance of swimming apparel on the racks of our favorite clothing stores. And, although I am a member of this group--a victim of my own distorted views based on societal insistence that we strive towards an unattainable ideal of perfection--I don't want to be. With the advent of swimsuit seasons past I would have hit the gym and the tanning beds hard. And, no matter how tanned, or toned I became I found that I was never satisfied with my appearance. Now that I'm older (and attempting to be) wiser, I'm trying really really hard to be comfortable in my own skin. I'm waging a war against my own insecurities. It's an ongoing battle, one that requires vigilance in positivity. Blogging about fashion has helped me to be both more and less confident... depending on the day. Essentially it comes down to what I choose to focus on, and how often I give in to comparing myself to others. Today, I am choosing to focus on the fact that I am healthy. I eat well, exercise often, and try to live a healthy lifestyle--the body that I have is the result, and I'm happy with it. It's enough. Today I'm embracing my white skin, my curves, and my own unique beauty. I'm also showing a fun way to feel both fashionable and modest at the beach/poolside, and hopefully inspiring others to love themselves a little more.
Alright, rant over. Now I can talk about the fun hat and kimono that I found! I have loved the floppy hat style for awhile now, but every time I tried one on it just... didn't... work. I was so happy when I discovered this one right before we left for Lake Powell where the summer sun is hot and relentless. I went for a quick trip to Forever 21, and was pleasantly surprised to find it. And the best part? It was ridiculously inexpensive. Click here to see for yourself.
In that same quick shopping venture I also found this kimono. I've been a really big fan of the kimonos that have flooded the fashion world as of late. I think they are so elegant, and felt that this light-weight, floral pattern made for the perfect cover up while I wasn't swimming and enjoying the water. It was also inexpensive as you can see here.
What do you ladies think? Are you comfortable in a swim suit? What do you do to build yourself up in a world that always seems to be trying to tear women down?
If you follow me on Instagram then you'll know that a couple weekends ago we took a road trip to Southern Utah to visit Lake Powell. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this destination, it should be considered one of the wonders of the world. It's a massive lake that spans parts of Utah and Arizona. The first time I went when I was a kid, I felt like I had landed on another planet--think Mars, with water... and jet skis. Filled with massive red rock cliffs, canyons, arches and beautiful blue-green water perfect for boating, it's one of my favorite places to visit. When our good friend invited us and a small group of friends to stay at his grandparents house/farm near the water, we were ecstatic to accept their hospitality.
It was both Sam and Klair's first time at Powell. We left late Thursday night so that Klair could sleep on the way which worked out well. Once we arrived we immediately felt welcomed by our gracious hosts. Our friend's grandparents were some of the kindest people we've ever met, and they made us feel at home and part of the family. We spent our time hiking, boating, playing basketball, watching movies, roasting marshmallows, and generally relaxing with good company. Additionally, our friend's grandma was an amazing chef. We ate very well on our trip, with most of the food coming straight from their land.
I think the best part of the trip was how much fun Klair had. It's always a little scary bringing a baby/toddler on a road trip, but she did amazingly well. It helped that every one of our friends and the grandparents we stayed with took turns playing with Klair, and helped to make it an amazing getaway experience for us and our little lady. She loved all of the farm animals and we couldn't keep her off of a swing set they had in their front yard. She wasn't particularly fond of the swimming in the cold water at the lake, but she loved her first boat ride. She kept singing "row row row your boat" and was amazed by all of the water. Our fun weekend getaway made us excited for all of the adventures we have ahead of us with our little family.
