Soak Up Some Sun

*Cue Sheryl Crow*

This weekend we spent some quality time with some good friends at the Jersey Shore.  Chris' best man's parents (I'll give you a second to sort that one out in your head) got it? ok.  They have a shore house in Jersey and probably one of their favorite things is having the "kids" down for a visit.  Joe and his fantastic wife have in the past invited a larger group of couples to come down and enjoy the house, this year however, was a much smaller group, just three couples plus Joe's parent's.  We had so much fun and I actually got a bit of a tan.  We went for boat rides (it was Buster's first time on a boat!), we played a lot of corn hole, we enjoyed some delicious drinks, we marveled at Joe and Kathleen's fantastic cooking (seriously they are the best cooks and are a couple of the best hosts I've ever met!), we played games, and were amazed of the little lady doin acrobatics in-utero - she will be Chris' and my goddaughter so I may already be a little partial to her adorableness.  It was a fabulous weekend with some even more fabulous friends :-)

Pups ready for the boat!  And yes, those are life vests

In my most recent 7 Quick Takes I talked about runnin' out to get a new one-piece bathing suit.  I had success @ Target (that store will seriously be my wallets downfall) in the clearance section!  Score!

One piece.  Fun print.  Covers my butt.  Still looks modern and feminine while allowing me to remain a liiitle more modest that I would in a bikini.  Paired with a simple black cotton skirt (also on clearance) and I was set for the weekend!  

Now, I wish I could say that I never fell on the bikini bandwagon, but I did.  This is probably one of the first one-piece bathing suits I've owned in a very long while.  But if I'm being honest with myself, I have never felt comfortable in a bikini for a multitude of reasons.  I simply bought and wore them because that's "what girls wear" at the beach/pool etc.  Why else would everyone and their mother call this season "bikini season."  That dreaded season that girls prepare for months in advance with diets, exercise, hours of staring at yourself in the mirror wondering why you don't look like a Victoria's Secret model. (Because, *spoiler alert* I am not a VS model!)  I don't like that feeling of thinking you're body isn't up to par.  I am made in His image and likeness, so why did those two little pieces of clothing make me forget that?!

I guess I just finally realized that wearing a bikini makes me uncomfortable, bottom line.  I am that girl who wears a shirt and worries that there's too much cleavage showing, even when there clearly is not. My body is for my husband's eyes only. What made me think I would like a bikini??  Carolyn over at 4Life4Life talked about the dread of taking off the cover-up...and boy did she hit the nail on the head!  I would pretty much stay in my cover up for as long as I could because I felt waay too exposed when I took it off.  Even in a one-piece I still feel a little exposed but much more comfortable than my bikini days.  Although, I must say, you can still run into a less than modest one piece.  I tried on a couple and they had some plunging V-necks that made me feel like the girls were about to pop out and say hello, which is less than modest!

Now a days though (and maybe in the past this was true as well and I was just a stubborn teen) you can find so many more cute, trendy, fashoinable one-pieces and tankinis that it is much easier to wear them.  It sort of made me laugh when I walked out in my one-piece this weekend...I kept thinking to myself, gosh I must look like a prude, what's everyone going to think...and then my friend complimented my suit.  Why would anyone care what bathing suit I choose to wear, its a matter of preference.  I'm not a prude, I am simply choosing a style of suit that fits me better and makes me feel more modest, while remaining "in style," fashionable and still able to get a rockin' tan! Not to mentioned I am not lamenting over the fact that my body doesn't look "just right."  What do people always say?  When you feel comfortable in what you are wearing, you feel more confident, and in turn, attractive.  Amen sistah, Amen.  And for me, wearing a bikini has never led to that feeling of comfortable confidence.

My issue now, however, is what to do with the bikini's I no longer want?  I would love to be able to somehow sell them (thrift store maybe?) and then take that money and buy more one-pieces and tankinis...any suggestions?

And what are your thoughts on swimwear/suggestions for looking cute and modest on the beach?

7 Quick Takes Friday vol 1

So here is my first post contributing to one of the "community" link-ups I was talking about!   Check out the other 7 Quick takes here!

1. Today is Friday and the start of Memorial Day Weekend!  Which is exciting simply for the fact that it is a three day weekend, but also because Chris and I will be heading to New Jersey tonight to spend some time with his (our) family.  I have some fantastic in-laws...in fact, I hate calling them my in-laws because I feel like that has a negative connotation.  My family by marriage, that's better.  Pray that we have safe travels, and I will keep everyone else traveling in my prayers as well!

2. As another long, grueling work week ends, I am trying to remind myself how blessed I am to have a job.  Yes, it is stressful, difficult, and a struggle to stay true to who I am, but bottom line, I have a job.  And a job with great hours.  Focus on the positive.

3. This week I was able to talk to my old college roommate!  From the time we met as Freshman at Mount St. Mary's University we have been inseparable.  If one of us were ever out without the other people would also ask what happened to our twin :-)  We were SO inseparable that she even ended up moving into the same neighborhood as Chris and I (completely by accident too!  We both separately found houses in the same development, talk about providence!)  So for almost a year we enjoyed being able to just stop by each other's homes and sit and chat over a glass - or two - of wine.  Now, enter Pete.  Pete is one of Chris' friends whom Lindsay met at our wedding...and then began to date.  Pete lives in California.  AKA Pete took her away from me!  Just kidding, they're really great together.  But anyway, a few months ago she put her house up for rent and moved to CA!  So with the time differences and our work schedules it has sometimes been hard to stay in touch, so the phone call this week was fantastic!

4. Myself and my coworker have been working on a video project for our students.  We asked them to write one thing they think adults should know about 6, 7, and 8th grade boys.  From their responses we created a sort - of video montage.  It's powerful, let me tell you.  I'm super excited to show it to them, and we get to show them...TODAY!  I can't wait to see their faces

5. Michael's is having a 4 day yarn event...I should have posted a picture of my yarn stash and then you might understand my husbands reaction to my desire to go to Michael's today.  But my philosophy is, you can never have too much yarn!  Plus, I really want to make this beach bag before our anniversary!  Crocodile stitch is my absolute FAVORITE.

6. Chris and I are trying to be healthier.  We're trying to eat less red meat and eating more lean proteins like chicken and fish.  We also joined a gym and are trying to get our butts there AT LEAST 4X a week...but so far it's been more like 2, maybe 3 times a week.  We just started so I'm trying to allow us a "grace" period but we definitely need to work on our dedication.  We've been going after he gets home from work, which on a good day, is around 7 p.m.  I think we miiight start going in the morning...which would be a 5:30 a.m. alarm...which just makes me cringe.  I am anything but a morning person.  But then at least we would still have our evenings to relax with each other rather than rushing to the gym, hurry make dinner, hurry eat dinner, whoa where did the night go.

7. My "tia" is visiting from Colombia and just arrived this week!  I think she's actually my mother's cousin, not my aunt, but either way we call her tia.  She is quite possibly the sweetest woman I have met, and she was really there for my mother and I after my grandmother died.  She even flew home with us after the funeral and stayed with us until after my wedding.  I can't even describe how much of a help she was.  She came bearing gifts and I left my parents house laden with a juice box sized aguardiente (a staple liquor in Colombia), 4 handmade placemats, 6 cazuelas (special bowls to serve ajiaco - a delicious Colombian soup), true Colombian coffee - Sello Rojo, and a make up bag from a store there called Boots N Bag.  I can't even tell you how excited I am for all of these things!  But, I am most excited to spend time with my aunt and brush up on my spanish!  

I hope everyone has a safe, blessed Memorial Day holiday.  Lets remember in our thoughts and prayers all those who have served and defended our freedom, including my father-by-marriage!