Summer 2013 - Kelly

It's been a long, long time since my last blog post (over two months, in fact!) and a lot has been going on!  Here are a few random thoughts and updates from the summer:

Living with Nate- As I mentioned on here earlier this summer Nate and I moved in together at the beginning of May and honestly it was the best decision ever.  Not only is he a fabulous cook and roommate but day to day life is just so much more fun now that we share almost all of it.  Sure we've had a few things to work out but it has been absolutely fantastic.  We love our apartment, we love our neighborhood, and we love living together.  If you haven't been up to visit us you should definitely do it soon!

Mona (& Lucy)- I also mentioned earlier this summer that we added a second dog, Mona, to our home shortly after moving in.  We've been dealing with some pretty intense health issues with Mona pretty much since we adopted her but the end is finally in sight.  Mona & Lucy love each other and it's really fun having two little beasts running around our apartment.  Mona might be the sweetest dog I've ever met when she's just around Nate & me- we're still working on the rest of the world seeing that but we're confident it will happen soon.  :)  We're excited to start obedience training this fall when her health issues are under control!

Yoga teacher training- In just a few weeks I'm starting a 10 month yoga teacher training at an awesome little yoga studio in our neighborhood.  It's a pretty huge commitment (5 hours of classes a week from mid-September through the end of June) but I am so excited about it.  I'm pretty sure I'll want to teach part-time when all of this is done and I'm pretty pumped for the whole process.

New blog!- I also started a new health and life blog I'm pretty excited about.  I'm still working on finding my cadence for posts and get in the groove of giving it adequate time and attention but you should definitely check it out!  http://dailynourishment.tumblr.com  

 I feel like there is SO much more to share but that's a good start.  I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer as much as we have- I'm sad to see it go so soon but always get excited for fall awesomeness. :)

Take Note! - Brady

Today, August 18th, 2013, is the first day I ever thought, regarding my dissertation, "This is impossible."

From what I hear there are many, many more days like this in my future.

Now if you don't mind I'm going to throw in the towel for the evening and cook out on my balcony with Kevin and my sisters.

I was in HAWAII - Brady

Yesterday (yesterday!) I was in Hawaii. I've dreamed about visiting Hawaii more than I've dreamed about going just about anywhere. And it was even better than I hoped it'd be. I said to Kevin multiple times during our week there, "This really is paradise."

Because I could write a book about my trip, I'm limiting myself to a top ten list of Hawaii memories. Here we go, with photos.

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Favorite Memory #1: Our first night in Honolulu. Discovering the fabulousness that is Waikiki Beach and drinking my first Mai Tai.

Favorite memory #2: Getting my first Hawaiian lei. Kevin bought one for me that first night. They're heavier, prettier, and smell stronger (in a good way) than I expected. I also learned that many, including the lei pictured above, are made out of plumeria, which was one of my favorite Bath and Body Works scents as a teenager. :)  Never actually knew what "plumeria" was before.

Favorite Memory #3: Exploring the Diamond Head area of Honolulu. We did a post-conference hike and a pre-conference visit to the farmer's market at the mountain's base. Such a beautiful area, and the market was fascinating - lots of fruits and other foods we don't have in Chicago.

Favorite Memory #4: Visiting Pearl Harbor and finding the memorial stone for the submarine Kevin's grandfather served on. The story goes that he was released for leave when his first child (Jane, Kevin's aunt) was born, and while he was away the sub sank. It's so strange to think that if things had been just a little bit different - if Jane had been born a few weeks earlier or later - Kevin's grandpa likely would've died, Kevin's dad would never have been born, and Kevin never would've existed.

Favorite Memory #5: My first sip of iced coconut water. We were driving along the beautiful North Shore of Oahu for an hour or two (in a convertible - amazing), and the sun was getting to both of us. We stopped at a stand that pulled fresh coconuts off ice, hacked off the tops, and stuck a straw in. It was one of the most delicious, refreshing things I've ever tasted.

Favorite Memory #6: Hawaiian music and hula. I guess I always thought of both of these art forms as kind of cheesy, but when I heard the music and saw the dancing in person, I was surprised how beautiful they both were. I've been listening to Hawaiian style music non-stop since I got home. And by the way, the hula dancer in this picture is a former Miss Hawaii! Her name's Skyler, and she introduced herself to us afterward. I kind of wanted to be her best friend.

Favorite Memory #7: Once we got to Kauai (after a close call with a very delayed flight and a lot of confusion about what room we were supposed to sleep in), we got settled in a beautiful apartment overlooking a small cove. I loved going to sleep every night to the sound of the waves, and I REALLY loved watching all the sea turtles that gathered on the rocks below us!

Favorite Memory #8: The Na Pali Coast. Oh my goodness, never have I seen a place quite so beautiful. We hiked, snorkeled, and explored sea caves here, and also took a sunset catamaran cruise to see the mountains from the water. My new life dream is to come back and do a multiple day camping trip on the beaches here.

Favorite Memory #9: Exploring little towns in Kauai. We stayed in Koloa, which was adorable, but my favorite by far was Hanalei. You drive up and see these gorgeous, green mountains and a perfect waterfall right in the middle. It supposedly inspired the land of "Hanalee" mentioned in the song "Puff the Magic Dragon."  This is where I'd like to stay the next time I visit Hawaii. 

Favorite Memory #10: Having this guy along for the trip. He took time off work to come with me, entertained me on the long flights, let me practice my talk on him, and was rarin' to go for fun once my sessions let out for the day. He also is the one and only reason we didn't miss an entire day of vacation in Kauai - his quick thinking and polite demeanor got us on a flight that left at 5:30 p.m. rather than one that left (delayed) at 10:30 at night. So grateful for my job, so grateful for my family, so grateful for the opportunities I have to travel.