It’s been a little over a week since I’ve started my No Negativity June and I’m actually surprised at how easy it’s been. It seems that just becoming more mindful of negative talk has already proven to be a big part of the solution. Once I had a mind shift and recognized I wanted to be better at engaging in worthwhile conversations, it came pretty naturally.
Of course, positive reinforcements are welcome; which brings me back to last Friday…
(First, some background information:) A while ago, Mike and I saw the movie Everest and it sparked a major climbing fascination for us. We started watching climbing documentaries on Netflix and Amazon. One of my favorites being Meru. Like with many good documentaries, after watching Meru, I was bombarded by eager curiosity. As the credits were rolling I promptly started googling everything about the movie. I learned about the personal lives of the cast, followed a few on Instagram, and, in the months after, recommended Meru to many, many people.
I’m not a hardcore climber but there is something so fascinating about the sport to me. I soak up facts and stories about summits like a sponge filling itself plump with water. So, when I found out Conrad Anker – one of the 3 mountaineers that summited Meru in the film – was coming to give a talk at Google, I was beyond stoked.
Since the talk wasn’t in my building, I figured I would just live stream it. Last Friday I logged on to watch from my laptop but couldn’t quench the need to be there in person. About 5 minutes into Conrad talking about Everest (he’s also summited Everest 3 times) I decided to bike over to the building the talk was in. I don’t think I’ve ever rode faster across campus! Out of breathe and a little sweaty, I quietly entered the room and stood in the back for the remaining time Conrad spoke.
I was filled with such inspiration during and after the talk. An inspiration I’ve felt before when diving deeper into the world of sport.
Let me back up quickly. Mike is a triathlete and I often accompany him to races. And while it is unlikely I would ever participate myself, I love going and feeling the good vibes of the race. Time and time again, racers prove to be encouraging, compassionate, and, of course, hard working.
During Friday’s talk, Conrad spoke mostly about Everest, making a few jokes here and there. He didn’t mention anything particularly moving or inspirational. There was no grand story with a strong moral neatly woven within it’s sentences. Instead, I was inspired by his overall plain kindness. He was so positive (and in a month of No Negativity, this was a good thing to see!) and seemed generally happy.
Conrad’s talk and the positivity I’ve experienced at tri races got me thinking how great it is to immerse yourself in something good and meaningful; something you care about and that makes you radiate happiness when you speak about it. For Mike, it’s triathlons; for Conrad, climbing; for me, writing and living a compassionate life. Whatever it is for you, be sure to dive in!
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe **
A couple of weeks ago I started to notice how much of my daily conversation seemed to revolve around negativity. Some of it more serious than most (for example, talking badly about a friend vs. just general complaining; “it’s too hot in here,” “traffic is the worst in the Bay Area,” etc.) but, nonetheless, it all suddenly felt very draining.
The realization of how consuming the negative chatter was hit me hard. So, of course, I started talking about it with the people I am closest too. I mentioned the idea of a No Negative June to Mike and he thought it was an interesting idea, encouraging me to try it.
I opened up to my dad about it and, coincidentally, he’d been thinking along the same lines. Like me, he was growing tired of the happiness-suck that negativity often results in. I talked to my mom and the idea resonated with her as well. She was tired of the gossip and anxious side-effects that came with it. (I think we can all relate to getting caught up in a conversation and regretting some of the things said after the fact.)
I talked to my friend, Leslie, when she was in town; broaching the subject over poached eggs and lattes and learned that she, too, had been feeling the same way! I noticed there was a web forming around me. Delicate strings connecting some of the people I love most, urging us to be better. Be more conscious. Be less negative.
After these conversations, my plan for a No Negativity June was cemented. The collective sense of bettering ourselves by what we talk about, engage in, and subscribe to encouraged me to dive right in.
So, here I go. I will be spending the next 30 days trying to avoid negativity. I don’t want to engage in gossip. I want to limit my complaining. I want my conversations to be meaningful and my words to align with my morals. It’s time to cleanse my spirit, not my body.
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
This weekend I spent a lot of time with my girlfriends. The older I get, the harder I find it to carve out quality time for friends because of hectic schedules and the miles in between us. It was great seeing so many of my girls and spending more than a shared meal or quick coffee catch up sesh with them. I’ve noticed that too often we spend our time together reminiscing on the “old times” – and all of the memories we made once upon a time – instead of creating new stories to tell years from now…
One of my good friends Leslie is in town and we spent all day Saturday together. We started the day in San Francisco, wondering Union Street and eating breakfast at a place called Perry’s. Lucky for me, Leslie doesn’t eat much meat either so we happily split a veggie scramble and the California eggs Benedict, plus 2 lattes; but no splits there! 🙂
After breakfast we did some window shopping. Shortly after we decided we could both go for another coffee and popped in a Starbucks for round two. We stumbled into a place called Urban Remedy; which is a vegan storefront that offers juices, quick grab and go meals, and a few other snacks. We picked up a bag of their Ginger Brittle and sat with our coffees, chatting, snacking and sipping.
After some vegan noshing, we headed across the Bay to Livermore for late afternoon wine tasting with Leslie’s mom. We started at Wente Vineyards and then went to Concannon. I am actually the worst at wine tasting because I find that I always forget what the last wine I tried tasted like, so I can’t compare the wines the way other people seem to do. Plus I’m also not a picky wine drinker by any means (being way more bougie about my beer than my wine) and can’t tell a merlot from a cab from any other red… Nonetheless, both vineyards were beautiful.
After wine tasting we went downtown for Italian at a place called Bruno’s, which was delicious but really, what Italian food isn’t?
On Sunday, Leslie came down to my house, along with our friend, Shelby, and her cute little chunk of a baby. We spent the afternoon poolside while snacking on chips, hummus, and guacamole.
My other good friend Morgan was also in town for a work conference and came over shortly after we got back from the pool. Morgan and I used to be neighbors but now she lives in Washington. I haven’t seen her since October when Mike and I went to visit her and her fiance. We caught up for a while at my place and then went to our friend’s Jules and Ben’s house for wine and burrito bowls.
Overall, it was a fun weekend spent with some of the best girls I know (and, not to mention, a few cute babies and glasses of wine too). Good stuff, if you ask me!
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
Who doesn’t love a fresh start? A clean slate to do better than before. Another chance. A do-over, in a sense.
The start of a new year is probably the most recognized time for the fresh start/do better phenomenon. This is likely because we all experience it together. There is a general feel of newness on January 1st that is literally global.
We are currently on the brink of May. Some people will be sticking strong to their new years resolutions and other’s will have already flat lined (the later probably more common…). I myself walk the fence between both camps. This year I wanted to focus more on living a creative, authentic life, while not getting so caught up on the end goals or letting the result take precedence over the journey. Too often I forget that I am just human and slip ups are a part of the game.
In the past, instead of making a mistake, recognizing it for what it was, and letting it be just that – a mistake that took me off path slightly – I would let it become something much bigger. I would let one single action alter days and days of progress and good behavior. Essentially, I would use my misstep as an excuse to let myself off of the hook completely.
I am slowly learning how detrimental this process is. (Remember my last post, Just Start?)
In the book Better Than Before, author Gretchen Rubin explains “the poetic justice of [a bad habit] is relentless and cruel, because the punishment for a bad habit is… the bad habit.“
For example, someone may think they were “bad” because they had one cookie. Now their diet is “ruined” and they should eat the entire box of cookies. How backwards is that?!
This is the reason I’ve (tried to) come to think of each new day as a new start. (It sounds like such a simple statement when I write it……) If I was too tired to write one day, I try to remember there is tomorrow. Tomorrow is a new start and I will start again then. There’s no need to wait until next Monday or the first of the month or next year, for an exaggerated example.
I started a new job on Monday. I also didn’t plan any workouts; usually the only way they actually get done! But, instead of “writing off” the week and not doing anything, I fit in a few walks and some simple strength training when I could. Was it an ideal week of working out? Certainly not, but it was better than not doing anything at all. It is powerful to pick consistency over perfection.
Having said that, mega fresh starts (like the beginning of a new year) are still powerful tools to use as well. It’s true that every day is a new beginning and, with it, comes the opportunity to do better. However, I don’t think the novelty of a big change – and the hope for newness that is tied to it – will ever wear off.
Starting a new job is a big change that can be used to get back into the swing of good habits. For example, this past week I’ve been explaining the ways of weekatarianism to new colleagues during lunch and it’s helped me remember how vital it is to reduce meat consumption for the well-being of earth. My new start has provided reinforcement and a clean slate to start again in my journey of vegetarianism during the week because, truth be told, since Disneyland, there have been a few burgers and steak burritos for Monday – Friday dinners.
I’m learning it’s really about using every tool you can in sticking to the habits that keep you healthy and, therefore happy. Don’t let yourself get stuck in arbitrary rules of self destruction. Understand that, when it comes to good habits, consistency will pay off long before perfection. So, go have a cookie and treat yourself to a walk after 🙂
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
Mike and I recently headed to southern California for a long weekend visiting friends and exploring Disneyland! We left around 2pm on Wednesday and drove to Chatsworth, where our friends Gary and April moved a few years ago. It was so good to see them again, even if it was only for one night. We were able to see their new house, have a few beers, and entertain ourselves with the face swap feature on snapchat… literally so scary.
On Thursday morning we woke up early to beat the infamous LA traffic and get to Disneyland on time. I snagged a cup of coffee before we left Gary and April’s but we didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast. Instead of overpaying for food in the park, we stopped a few miles before our hotel and got breakfast croissants at a little one-off coffee shop.
We stayed at the Carousel Beach Inn right across from the park entrance. The hotel wasn’t anything special but it was about a 10 minute walk to Disneyland. The lack of amenities (no WiFi or breakfast!) was doable given the great location. Besides, when you’re at Disneyland, you’re really only in the hotel to sleep and, believe me, sleep comes hard and fast after 12+ hours of walking.
Mike and I got the 2 day park hopper tickets and started our adventure in Disneyland. Growing up, I went to Disneyland often with my mom, grandma, and grandpa but we only went to California Adventure once; so Disneyland is really the beating heart for my childhood memories and nostalgia.
The main entrance!
The photographer wanted us to “stare into each other’s eyes” and I was barely able to keep it together…
Secretly giggling at the awkwardness
I was pretty stoked to be starting the day in the happiest place on earth. (If only it wasn’t so crowded…) We walked to Space Mountain first to grab a fast pass and were completely overwhelmed with how insane Tomorrowland was. Star Wars has taken over. We made an agreement to spend as little time as possible there.
Waiting for our first ride!
Luckily the rest of the park wasn’t as crowded. We were able to ride Pirate’s, The Haunted House, the Matterhorn, and a few others before going back to use our fast pass on Space Mountain. Space Mountain was my favorite ride when I was little and it didn’t disappoint now being 26 years old!
Outside Club 33!
Star Tours
After riding rides all morning, we were ready for lunch. We made our way to Harbour Galley and shared a shrimp salad, a lobster roll and a giant iced tea. Theme park food is often unhealthy and caloric but I’m always starving! A salad would not hold me over (plus, most of the time, the salads aren’t actually even that healthy…) so I love that Mike is willing to split things with me! This way we are able to at least get some vegetables but also splurge a bit. Win-win.
Next we went to explore California Adventure and I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable it was! I thought I was going to want to stay in Disneyland the whole trip (possibly clinging a little too hard to some childhood memories!) but it was well worth it to pay the money and go back and forth between the two parks.
Added bonus: California Adventure has wine and beer. Cheers!
Beer sampler
Making sure all is well with work!
Mike and his brew
For dinner we went to Downtown Disney and sat outdoors at a place called UVA Bar. We split an order of the calamari to start. I ordered the mushroom flat bread pizza and Mike order the lamb burger with spicy Greek fries. The food was so good but we needed to eat quickly in order to ride the Tower of Terror one more time before closing.
Leaving CA Adventure (hair a mess after a long day)
After a day of a lot of walking, riding, screaming, eating, drinking, and plain ol’ Disney magic, it was time to go back to the hotel and sleep.
On Friday we were at the park before opening, deciding to start the day in California Adventure to capitalize on the Starbucks there. Armed with my iced coffee and spinach and feta egg white wrap (a go-to breakfast for me when I’m traveling), I was ready for another round of Tower of Terror.
We are in the front row on the left. I look like I’m going to puke and Mike is playing a prank.
We went to Cars Land after and rode Radiator Springs Racers, which was definitely my favorite ride in California Adventure.
After a few other rides we grabbed a beer and sat down for a while. Mike had his step tracker on his phone and it calculated we had walked ~29,000 steps on Thursday and ~36,000 by the end of Friday.
Another round for us!
By chance, while we were there, the Food & Wine festival was going on so we were able to try some really good beers and small plates. We snacked on chicken and 4 cheese mac n’ cheese and some fried artichokes while people watching.
After our light snacks, we went back to Disneyland (a lot of park hopping comes with the park hopper tickets!) for more rides and lunch. Having eaten (mostly) vegetarian throughout the day, I was ready for some meat during lunch! (Weekatarianism isn’t really a thing on vacations…) We stopped at Bengal Barbecue for chicken and bacon wrapped asparagus skewers and split a jalapeno stuffed pretzel.
Towards the end of the day, we had our fast passes lined up perfectly and spent a fun 2 hours running through the parks to make all of our rides on time.
After our last ride on our fast pass binge, we went to downtown Disney again for dinner. This time opting for a little fancier eatery and dining at House of Jazz. I ordered the Gulf Shrimp Pan Roast, which came with (more) artichoke hearts, andouille sausage, tomato veloute and Cajun rice. SO GOOD! I love New Orleans inspired food.
And of course we couldn’t resist the Beignets for dessert!
Look at all of that powered sugar!
After dinner we went back to Disneyland to finish out the evening. We rode Big Thunder Mountain (one of my favorites!) one last time before the park closed and we went back to the hotel for another deep, deep sleep.
The castle. (And all of the people.)
On Saturday we woke up early and drove to Orange County to visit some very good friends of mine. I met my friend Sam in college, who was living with her aunt Robin and uncle Tony. Robin was expecting her first baby and I was looking for a job! Having experience with kids, I started watching Robin and Tony’s son (and a few years later, their daughter) every week for over 2 years.
I spent basically every day with Sam and her family and love them like they are my own. Sadly in 2009 they all moved down to southern California and now I don’t see them nearly as much as I would like to.
Sam had a precious, pretty, perfect little baby girl in March and I finally got to meet her sweet little self. It was so good to end our weekend with such close friends.
Beautiful like her mama!
Overall, we had a great vacation – a perfect couple of days spent away before I start my new job next week!
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
Typically the last week in the month is a bit of a free for all when it comes to “good habits.” Meaning, I tend to put off working out… pour myself a second glass of wine… eat another slice of pizza… because there’s next month to start over!
I am the queen of fresh starts and clean slates. Usually- and I’m not exaggerating here – if I don’t start something on the first of the month, there is a good chance I’ll put it off for another 29 – 30 days.
I have a friend who did a 30 Day Yoga Challenge (which I’ve done a few of myself) and she just randomly started on like the 8th or something. When she told me this, my mind just couldn’t comprehend. I could never start something so abruptly. I need a “fitting” timeline (like starting on the first of the month!). Structure. An end goal.
I remember actually asking her, “how can you just start something like that so randomly?”
This friend is a lot more laid back than I am. I’m sure she is often entertained (and exhausted) by my complex – sometimes complicated – way of thinking about things. She stared back at me. “What do you mean? You just start!”
You.just.start.
Say, wha?
I’m not 100% behind these words yet but I am getting better at not letting the need for “fresh starts” to take such superiority.
Even if it is against my nature. At the beginning of each month I sit down with my planner and write down my fitness, writing, and personal goals. Surface level, I would say this is a good habit. It keeps me focused for the month but doesn’t result in boredom because I am constantly changing things up.
The trouble begins when life gets in the way. Which, of course, it is bound to do. For example, this week I had planned to do the classic cardio and strengthen training combination everyday.
And then I remembered I had a work dinner on Monday night.
And I was invited to a work event Tuesday afternoon/evening.
Two out of five of my workouts were already failures. Typically, at this point, I would have given up and resolved to start up again next week (or, next month).
But, I’m starting to recognize that consistency is best; not having a “perfect” month. So on Wednesday after work, I laced up my shoes, grabbed the trash (trying to save time and a trip down the stairs by taking it out on my way for a run), and headed out the door.
And then… AND THEN I dropped my keys with the trash in the dumpster.
Luckily my neighbor was home and helped me fish them out but by the time we got them, Mike was home and we had to go pick up my car from getting some routine maintenance before the dealership closed.
Dumpster diving
Three days in a row of life getting in the way of my perfectly planned workouts…
When we got home, I was getting hungry but I knew I had to do something. I headed outside again with the intention of running/walking 2 miles but by the time I was done with my 1st mile, I was ready to go in and start dinner. I figured 1 mile was better than nothing and decided to “make it up” on Thursday (today) and Friday. If I just did a 1/2 mile more each day, I would still come close to hitting my goal.
Today I set out for my 2.5 miles and was hit by an allergy attack after my first mile! I tried to continue but I was sneezing and snotting everywhere (not cute).
Another day of sub par exercise.
But the important part here is tomorrow is another day to do better.
Just start. Just go. Just do it. (#Nike)
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
It’s been gloomy in California lately and I decided to spend the afternoon at home “pampering” myself the other day. I think it’s important to realize you don’t have to spend a whole bunch of money to feel better about yourself. No matter how great I feel with fresh highlights and a new outfit, it would be a pricey habit to rely on spending all of that money to brighten my day.
Sometimes just spending a hour or so on yourself is good enough! I was feeling like a hot mess – with un-brushed hair and chipped nail polish – when I decided to go for a run/walk but right when I laced up my shoes, it started raining. I could have done another workout instead but I decided just to go for it. Oddly, running in the rain makes it more pleasant for me.
After my workout, I had one of my favorite protein packed snacks – snap peas dipped in hummus with hot sauce and a string cheese.
Then I took off that chipped nail polish! Typically doing our nails is thought of pampering but because of all the chemicals in nail polish, I feel better when my nails are bare. Scrubbing off my O.P.I. and cutting/filing my nails makes me feel best.
Next I took a hot shower and SHAVED even though it’s raining here and I won’t be wearing shorts anytime soon. Nothing gets you feeling like you brought your A game like smooth legs.
After I showered, I slathered myself with avocado oil – how California of me, I know.
I got dressed and, for once, avoided yoga pants or leggings, opting for jeans. (Full disclaimer: this was more for Mike than me;)
Next I dyed my eyebrows. Some people feel best when they’re having a good hair day, for others it’s all about their outfit, but for me? when my eyebrows are a tad darker than their natural state that I feel my best.
While my eyebrow dye sat and dyed, I brushed my hair (it is all too often that my hair defaults in a messy bun on top of my head) and fish tail braided it to get it out of my face. Braiding my hair is one of my favorite things to do – it’s so simple and really gives you bang for your buck because after you take it out, you’re left with pretty waves. Two hairstyles out of one? Sold.
Hair braided. Eyebrows dyed. …Chillin’ with no makeup on
After I felt like a human again, I hit the kitchen to try out a new recipe. I originally saw this recipe on the YouTube channel What’s Up Moms (which I am obsessed with, even though I’m not a mom yet). There are a few alterations but it was delicious!
1.5 c of your favorite pasta (I used brown rice and quinoa)
1 bag baby kale
1/2 avocado
1 Tbs olive oil
4 garlic cloves
1/4 c basil
1/2 c cherry tomatoes
Directions
Cook pasta according to package
While pasta is cooking, add kale, pealed avocado, olive oil, garlic and basil into blender and blend until smooth
Strain pasta but keep some of the water to thin out sauce (if need be)
Pour sauce (thinned out with pasta water, if needed) over hot pasta
Add sliced cherry tomatoes and mix together
Serve and enjoy!
So green!So creamy!So good!
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
A couple of years ago my friend told me about her new year’s resolution to read one book a month. I thought it was a brilliant idea! I love to read and had fallen out of the habit. In retrospect, I also love that this resolution focuses on our mind and not our body, like so many new year’s goals do.
I loved two recent reads and wanted to share some thoughts about them.
I started 2016 with Not THAT Kind of GIRL by Lena Dunham. Mike and I started watching Girls and I was pleasantly surprised that the show did not match my expectations. Hannah (Lena Dunham’s character) is a hot freakin’ weird mess just trying to make in through her 20s. This intrigued me. So I bought Lena’s book.
I plowed through this book! Lena tells different stories of her upbringing, of dating, of how weird the ‘biz is, and generally makes you feel like you’re not alone. There were so many things in this book that I should’ve highlighted for future reference. Lena is unashamed, unapologetic, and someone I undoubtedly want to have lunch with.
After Not That Kind of Girl, I ordered Yes, Please by Amy Poehler because it’s a book I’ve been wanting to read and I was on a girl-high from Lena’s book. Yes, Please was witty, truthful, funny, and gives you behind the scene glances into Amy’s life on SNL and Parks and Recreation.
As expected, Amy is hilarious! Like a I said, the book was good but (and this is just me being nit picky) I wasn’t really feeling the design of the book. It seemed to be a cross between a novel and a coffee table style book; among her block novel-style text, it was sprinkled with professional and personal pictures and catchy titles and taglines. The entire time I was reading it, I was both enjoying it and thinking, oh, Amy, why didn’t you pick a side, girl? Again, this is a stylistic thing and can very well be just me who feels this way but, since I do, I would recommend this book as a borrow not a buy.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
Read about our first few days in Australia here, here, here, and here.
Day 15, 01/05/15 – Port Douglas
Our vacation was coming to an end and it was time for a road trip. After breakfast at a cafe nearby the hostel, we rented 2 cars and started the drive to Port Douglas, our last destination. About 45 minutes away from our rental, we were rerouted due to an accident. This meant we had to turn around and do a 2 hour loop to get to the house instead.
We were tired and hungry but – to put things in perspective -safe! So, the detour really wasn’t such a big deal. It was getting late though and we wanted to find a place to eat. We stopped at a small cafe off the road in the hopes of getting dinner. Unfortunately they were closing up. Fortunately they said we could still order tea and french fries. So there we were, eating an unconventional dinner WHEN WE SAW THIS HUGE MASSIVE SPIDER AND OMG.
Makes me shiver every time I see it…
Day 16, 01/06/15
This was one of our lazier days during the trip. We ended up arriving around 11pm the night before so everyone slept in. This was my favorite place we stayed during our trip. Similarly to the other places we stayed in, the house had 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room, and a huge patio, but, unlike anywhere else, this place had a pool!
Brunching
After everyone was up, we made brunch and had a few coffees and Bailey’s. The rest of the day consisted of some shopping for souvenirs, swimming, lounging, and reading.
For dinner we found a place on the downtown strip and had really good pizza and beer. A perfect, relaxing day!
So burnt though…
Day 17, 01/07/15 – Great Barrier Reef
It was time to snorkel at the famous Great Barrier Reef! Remember how I’ve mentioned I’m not the biggest fan of the ocean? Well…. on the boat ride out there, Mike and his parents decided they wanted to try scuba diving. (Wendy was pregnant and Andy wasn’t feeling well so they couldn’t go.)
“Hey, Ashley, do you want to go scuba diving too?” They asked.
“Uh, sure.” I agreed, slightly hesitant but not all too worried.
How bad could it actually be? I thought as we sat through our Scuba Diving Lesson.
Ummmmmm, turns out tears were involved and I ended up bailing before I passed even one of the three tests you have to do before going down.
Snorkeling was next though, and I was an old pro at that.
Mike fully submerged snorkeling (I wasn’t brave enough)
Snorkel selfie
GBR coral
The coral was beautiful at the Great Barrier Reef (of course it was!) but the water was a little choppy and hard to swim in. Snorkeling here is a once in a lifetime opportunity though and I am so thankful I was able to do it (even if I thought the coral at the Whitsundays was better………. shhhh).
When we got back from snorkeling it was raining hard in Port Douglas. Perfect for nighttime swimming!
Day 18, 01/08/15
This was our last day in Australia before me, Mike, Barb, and Dan flew back to North America. We pretty much just swam, read, and packed this day before our final dinner. We specifically went to a place that served crocodile but disappointingly they were sold out. We still ate there and reminisced about our trip, drinking wine and beer before saying goodbye.
After dinner we got gelato and went back to the house to pack the rest of our things. Our flight wasn’t until 1am which gave us the full day and most of the night to soak up the last of Australia.
This trip was a once (maybe twice, since Wendy and Andy still live there!) in a lifetime adventure. I am so happy I was able to go and explore the land down under with my boyfriend and his family.
The only picture of all 6 of us!
BONUS FEATURES!
Day 19, 01/08/15 (again) – Hawaii
We technically left Australia on the 9th since our flight was at 1am and since we were flying back to the Northern hemisphere, we got to re-live the 8th. In Hawaii! Not too shabby…
The view from our hotel
Mike and I were able to book a 2 night, 1 day layover in Honolulu and it was a great end to a great vacation! We arrived around 7pm, went to the hotel to drop off our stuff, and then looked for a place to eat dinner.
When Mike and I first started dating, I went to visit some family on the big island. I had also just turned 21 and became obsessed with Mai Tais. I would order a Mai Tai everywhere Mike and I went in the beginning our our relationship and we now joke that I was an expensive date because they aren’t cheap drinks! I was excited to experience a Hawaiian Mai Tai with honey and, because of it, probably ordered a few too many rounds! The rest of the night was a blur of island music, live dancing, and a tipsy walk back to the hotel.
Day 20, 01/09/15
The next morning around 4am I woke up feeling terrible. I wish it was only a hang over that could have been cured with a greasy breakfast and a ton of water but… instead… it was… the… MAN FLU!
Andy had been sick the last couple days of our trip in Australia with the “man flu” and I’m positive I got it too. To make it worse, we were on the 20th floor or something in our hotel and I remember feeling the whole building swaying in the morning winds. So nauseating!
I eventually drifted back to sleep and then woke up again feeling slightly better. The hotel were we stayed in offered free breakfast and gave you a To Go lunchbox so you could eat breakfast on the beach. I loved this idea and we happily enjoyed our tea and pastries with a side of sea breeze that morning.
After breakfast we walked around a bit and then went for a swim in the ocean; staying in the shallow waters and loving each others company. Wading water with Mike in that tiny, walled off part of the Pacific Ocean is one of my favorite memories. We spent the afternoon talking and splashing and it was so lovely.
Having worked up our appetites we ordered giant salads and iced teas from a little beach front hut. I was feeling mostly better by this point (probably all of that vitamin D) so it was time for happy hour! Mai Tais round two. We ended up back at our hotel, sitting outdoors at the bar, enjoying the last few hours of daylight.
For dinner we really wanted to go somewhere authentic but that’s hard to find when you’re staying in the most touristy area in Honolulu. We walked the strip for a while and finally settled in at a rooftop Cal Mex restaurant. By this time my (wo)man flu was on it’s way back with a vengeance. I remember ordering a jalapeno margarita, thinking the spice (and tequila, maybe?) would help me feel better. What a mistake! After 2 sips, I realized I was $12 out and still feeling terrible.
Sadly, my sick-self cut our last night short. We went back to the room, Mike poured a drink, I made tea, and we watched TV.
Last dinner in HI
Day 21, 01/10/15
Our official LAST day of vacation. I woke up still not feeling great but what can’t the beach cure, right? Mike swam in the closed off section from the day before while I sat on the beach, toes in the sand, tea nearby, talking on the phone with my mom and then my grandma and then my grandpa and probably my dad too. I had only emailed and texted my family while I was out of the country so it was nice to hear their voices and fill them in on all of the adventures!
A cup of tea and the beach. I’ll take it. Any day.
After Mike got out of the water, we ate breakfast on the beach again and then went back to the hotel to pack. We took a shuttle to the airport, had lunch and a Kona Brewing Company beer, and were on our way home again. Three weeks later, with a ton of stories, a lot of pictures, and probably a few more wrinkles (from both the laughing and the sunburns).
Read about our first few days in Australia here, here, and here.
Day 12, 01/02/15– Airlie Beach
After experiencing Melbourne, we flew north to Airlie Beach. Here we stayed at the Magnums hostel and I was impressed yet again. This hostel had a little bit more of a party vibe than the one in Apollo Beach but still surprisingly great. It was on the main strip of a down town and had a bar + pool tables on the property. It felt a bit like you were camping out in the jungle because of all the tress surrounding the rooms.
For dinner, Wendy found this amazing place called Fish D’Vine that was both a restaurant and a rum bar. Suffice to say, we found our spot for the evening. After chowing down on fresh fish we headed to another part of the restaurant to sample different rums. It is a joke between my dad and Mike that I (the girl) never gets to drink the “man’s drink” (whatever they are drinking). I told Barb about this cruel game and she was sure to include me in the boys sampling of every rum which was (pricey for Mike haha) appreciated!
After we were well and buzzed (except Wendy, mom-to-be!), we went back to the hostel where Mike and Andy played pool for a bit.
Ashley and the boyz
Mike joking around, me clearly entertained…
Day 13, 01/03/15
We woke up early this day to go on an overnight sailing adventure. Remember how I mentioned I have a fear of the ocean? Yeah, I was feeling pretty anxious about being on a sailboat for 1.5 days.
The weather was pretty raining the first day we were out there but despite all the clouds, Mike and I got epically sun burnt. Like the worst sunburn of my life. There were also these wretched little things called March flies that only hatch like 2 weeks of the year, and of course they were there when we were sailing; biting all of us. But there also breathtaking scenery and some good laughs too!
Really contemplating this whole sailing thing… (just prior to this I got a text from my dad telling me about the time he threw up fruity pebbles all over the deck from sailing as a kid. I was sure I was going to puke at some point.)
The captain and skipper of our sailboat were entertaining and well versed in weathering the waters from years of sailing. On the first day out at sea, they dropped us off at Whitehaven beach to explore and relax for 2 hours. This beach was INSANE! Like, the most gorgeous, picturesque beach I have ever been to. Like, if I was rich, I would fly (and then sail, I presume) everyone I loved here for my wedding.
I couldn’t believe how pretty it was except that, while we were there, it was raining – which obliviously put a damper on the experience. So, if you can imagine all of us sitting on this immaculate beach, in our sting suits (which are wet suits but made of lighter material to protect you from deadly jellyfish #nbd), trying to take cover from the rain in a few bushes way up shore, eating Tim Tams and drinking beer. Pretty comical! Eventually we decided to go for a walk up and down the beach instead of just sitting and stewing in our own gorgeous misery.
In a weird way, I was glad I was so sun burnt and tired that first night because I fell asleep fast and hard.
Mike swatting at the March flies
IS THIS REAL!?!?!?!?
Below deck #mate
Day 14, 01/04/15
We woke up the next day to much better weather and had breakfast on the deck with a disappointing side of annoying March flies. Not the best way to start the day… Luckily, we did some amazing snorkeling shortly after in bathtub warm-water. MmmMmm..
Our first snorkeling stop was the best. It was in this (safe-feeling) little cove with gorgeous coral and so.many.fish. I had never been snorkeling before but I really enjoyed the experience. And I only saw myself getting attacked by a shark (or an alligator as the skipper so nicely informed me that alligators are actually more dangerous than sharks) a handful of times.
The second place we went wasn’t as good but still had some pretty nice coral to look at. After snorkeling we had a tea break back on the boat and then did some REAL sailing. (The first day we mostly traveled by motor because the winds weren’t strong enough to sail.)
Actual sailing was a lot of fun …just sitting on the side of the boat – letting the men do all of the work – and enjoying the sensation of your toes dipping ever so slightly into the water when the boat leaned on it’s side enough.
Obliviously a natural
Our skipper in his “bed” (he really did sleep in there!)
Casually sailing and taking it allll in, especially Dan the party man
When we got back to land (I wanted to kiss it!), we headed to the hostel to shower and get ready for dinner. We went to a place where there was $15 meal + drink deal (a steal in Australia, ok!?) but weren’t all too impressed with the food. I specifically remember I ordered nachos and they were terrible.
After eating, the boys left us to play a few arcade game while we stayed at the table and chatted until a bachelor party came and basically fell in love with Barb. Wendy and I were chopped liver.
VEG VIBES 