the tides

via

I  have been so selfish this week and have completely soaked up the sun and lost track of reality.  I kind of felt bad when I looked at my untouched to-do list this morning.  But after all, isn't that the point of going to the beach?  When I was little the point was to build sand mansions and castles where my prince and princess lived.  Then I got a little older and the reason for the ocean was to ride on my dad's shoulders through  the waves because he's not afraid of anything.  I aged some more into my teens and the purpose for a beach outing was solely sunning.  I needed to be as bronze (aka burnt) as possible with no tan lines.  Now I'm 26 and a lot of that has changed.  I'm a sun psycho and wear SPF 110 on my face plus a hat.  The water scares me a bit more now that I am old enough to read about those rare shark attacks.  And the "to do" of the beach is more real as I have to find parking, pay for parking and haul all of my chairs and towels to the sand.  But still the beach is a place of peace.  Despite my changing views of the beach - and life really - the ocean offers hope.  The ocean offers a place to forget about everything else.  There is no to-do list or schedule of activities.  It is the one place on earth where you can truly just be.  So back I go, to my chair at the water's edge.  I vow to myself to be more productive next week, knock off more of those little tasks that never seem to get done.  Oh and I promise Antigua updates next week too :)  At least I know I'll keep one of those.  Happy Weekend and go get you some Vitamin D!

Happy 4th

july 4th by deniselopatka featuring straw sun hats

Have a happy and safe July 4th!  xox

Anna's Nashville Bachelorette Party

A couple weeks ago I jetted off to one of my favorite cities in the world – Nashville.  A place where you can truly wear boots to a black tie affair.  I love everything about this place – the consistent buzz of country music as you walk down the street, their bloody mary’s at 6am and the utter southern-ness (I think I created a word).  But of course what makes any trip is who you’re with and I was so blessed to spend the weekend with some amazing gals – one being the bride to be – my sweet Anna Banna.  And NO, I did not mean to put anna banana – I meant anna banna.  So here are a few pictures from best weekend ever.

 (sorry for some of the quality - some are clearly iphone pics)

Night/Day 1

417 union. 6 am.

done.

me and the bride.  love her.

at a speak easy before the baseball game.

speak easy.  i felt so cool.

nashville sounds game.

a little brighter

forgive me for posting such a blurry picture.  but look at that.  pure bliss.  belting out some 80s.

best band. best bar.

Night/Day 2 

besties in matching t's. photo credit - meredith miller

first we found coyote ugly.

then we got on the bar.  photo credit. meredith miller

the bride with our waiter.  love this.  photo credit. meredith miller

besties in our matching t's

I am so very excited for July 14th!