picnics

     For sunday funday , picnick-ing seemed to be the obvious choice since the weather was nice - - we had an ice day two days ago and today I'm wearing shorts , typical san antonio . First , we went to central market where we got some yummy snacks and way too much candy . Our friend , Nicole , had never been to central market so this was a big adventure for her . I bought salt & vinegar chips , a sweet tea , and some gummy bears , gum balls , and chocolate covered pretzels . We asked for paper bags because they are cuter  -  and headed to the park .

Crazy creek and quilt in hand , we settled in a shady spot . There were children , athletes and dogs EVERYWHERE , but we didn't mind too much . 

      We soon proceeded to take some pics because we like to pretend we are cool (we are cool) . My friend Sarah brought her fancy camera and was photographer , while my other friend Jemma (her name's jenna but it's a fun nickname that she may or may not approve of) acted as the "stage director" ordering us to :  act like a fish , add a lil hip , give me some sass , at least pretend to like each other , you are a secret agent , etc.

 Cartwheels are not my strength . . . I can barely touch my toes.

Finding our inner peace  - -  sitting around with nothing but nature is actually really relaxing.

the clique

Friends and food always make me happy, which is exactly how I felt today . WELP errr the grammy's are on so I need to focus on watching , but until next time!!

pearl

                    

    On MLK day , the gang ventured out of the bubble to this cute n fun place named the pearl brewery . It's in downtown san antonio , not our best plan with two new drivers and a bunch of one way streets . First we walked around all the really cute . . . but extremely expensive . . . boutiques, where we wasted time pretending we actually had some money to spend. Recently , I have found myself broke with the ability of being able to drive , because I spend all my money going to sonic . Anyways , then we went and chilled in this outdoor pavilion , looked at the river , and genuinely enjoyed the day . Soooooooon , we were hungry again (because that's the way we function) so we drove up the street to bakery lorraine . It smells like heaven in there and the macaroons look way prettier than they actually taste . 

--c'ya l8r

free and alone

On our last day of christmas break , me & my friends decided to be spontaneous and go fly kites . Ok , maybe it wasn't spontaneous --  we all enjoy activities for 5 year olds anyway . It was a chilly day and the wind was jumping for joy  , a perfect day to fly . We bought them at Walmart for 75 cents , money well spent. They had Spiderman , SpongeBob and Princesses (once again , childish) and were assembled in three simple steps. Eager to fly , we set down a picnic blanket and the chaos commenced . My friend's kite was immediately tangled in mine , but no worries , we bought extra . Everyone was running around with hopes of their kite catching the wind , and it was kind of a movie moment. 

Really though , what's so wrong with acting little? Half the time I wish I was still a child, free of responsibilities or worries . If we are being honest here , coloring and disney movies are still lots of fun regardless of your age and I think it's important to let go sometimes , even if you have to fake being "carefree". 

here's an excerpt from a poem about kites, who is your creature? -- 

                           with each twist of the ball of twine, 
                           there is a sadness that goes with joy.
                               the kite becomes more distant, 
                               and you know it won't be long
                              before that beautiful creature 

                 will snap the lifeline that binds you two together
               and will soar as it is meant to soar, free and alone.

i am

        Today at church we began to discuss identity , particularly identity in christ , and I thought I could share a little more about myself. We were given an index card and told to write "I am . . . . ." and then fill in the blank. It could be as few or as many words as we wanted and no one else was going to see the card so it was truly a test of who we think we are. Below are a couple things I wrote and ways I describe myself :

• huge nerd
• zealous musician
• follower of christ
• california born
• texas grown
• ice cream obsessed
• softball player
• selfie addict
• on-time
• older sister
• struggling doodler
• blond hair, blue eyed
• super scared of snakes
• passionate pinterester
• morning person
• lover of large tshirts
• crazy about cats

How would you define yourself if you had to? The first things that come to your mind are probably the things you spend the most time on . . . but will these things last forever? I am a person who constantly feels pressure from those around me to be something different, but have to remind myself daily to remain grounded in my own identity . Ultimately these "descriptors" are worthless because this year at camp, I learned a very valuable lesson. Regardless of how you define yourself, you will always be enough. Erase the burden of pleasing others once and for all in your life, and the self doubt and insecurities will disappear along with it. 

SAY IT LOUD

aloha

Hello, love, & goodbye -- 3 powerful meanings of a single hawaiian word , aloha. The past 8 days I spent in the charming state of Hawaii, on the big island to be exact. Taking the red eye at midnight last night is absolutely draining, but I am eager to share my experiences with you all.

On this trip, we were quite adventurous. We were traveling with our cousins from Seattle, who often push us to be more active and less lay around the hotel all day. As a result of our new "active lifestyle" (that's what we were calling it) we first trekked out to a volcano on the other side of the island to ride bikes. Getting there wasn't easy, it rained harder than I had ever seen rain in my life and we honestly expected our car to float away. The island is seriously bipolar - sunny and warm on one side, cold and rainy on the other. The bike ride was 8 miles and offered various picturesque views of a volcano, a rainforest, a lava tube and a steamy spring. Hands down, one of the coolest experiences of my life and tbh I felt really cool in the biker gloves.

A second active lifestyle expedition was launched as we reached the end of the road - literally - it just stops. Opening up to steep, mossy cliff, a quaint beach hid between the trees and beckoned us down. Once we reached the bottom with no difficulty, a tiny world was uncovered. A cute wooden swing hung between the forest, and a small creek lead to a ocean full of crashing waves. It was a place you could enjoy all day exploring and never get bored. WARNING: the guide book lies - the hike back up wasn't even hard.

2014 here we come

Adventures progressed and New Year's Eve was upon us. Dinner was delicious at the Canoe House and afterwards we attended the so-called party being thrown at our hotel. All in all, it was a bunch of old people dancing to old songs so instead we steered clear and lay in hammocks on the beach waiting for the clock to strike 12 - 4 hours behind my hometown. The fireworks display left our eyes dancing and it was a night well spent with the extended family.

p.s.s. if you ever go to hawaii, try the guava ice cream sherbet - it rocks!!!

me n some fish