Ahoy from Guacamole Beach

I really wish I could bottle up what I am doing and seeing right now and save it for a day when I really just need to relax. I'm sitting on the porch of our condo, eating chips and guacamole, watching a lightning storm over the ocean, and listening to the sound of rough ocean waves mix with the deep clamor of thunder. The storm is about a mile off shore and you can see the rain pelting the ocean, and yet here on land, the sun is peaking through clouds. Peaceful doesn't begin to describe it.... Especially now that the "a capella" group that formed next door after a few beers has decided to exit the building for dinner. Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" was not really fitting for a group of guys.

I am a guacamole FREAK and have tried three or four recipes just in the last week... #obsessed

I've spent the last couple days with my friends, Sally and Val at the beach enjoying the ocean and soaking up the sun whenever it decided to stop storming. I haven't minded the rain and storms, though. Monday when I got here, I was greeted by this little storm....

Um...how beautiful is that???! I did absolutely nothing to edit this photo-- I took it on my Canon.

I'm a high-energy person-- always have, always will be-- but this week (so far), I have been a-ok with lounging and not getting off my butt. The three of us have watched three movies and the Batchelorette because Emily was my favorite and I need her to find love. Supposedly it's only possible on a reality show.

The beach this week has also been a great place to think. Allowing me to think clearer and organize my thoughts and feelings. The water is warm enough now that I walk up and down the shoreline barefoot. Snapping pictures, of course, and listening to music, especially this one currently. 

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Recently someone asked me what I blog about and what I hoped that people got out of reading my weekly ramblings. At first, I wasn't really sure. The blog tells the story of my day-to-day activities. But I guess that there's a deeper, underlying message that I hope comes through each of my posts. In the back of my mind, there are always two common themes:

(1) An everlasting appreciation for life.

(2) A ceaseless desire to never stop growing, learning, and challenging yourself. 

I made these collages on Picasa-- my new BFF. I took all these pictures with my Canon.

I read a statistic the other day that there are over 70 million blogs in the world. Some political, some about children, some about fashion and jewelry. But all of them show an appreciation for something. That's why psychologists rave about how amazing it is to constantly write down things you are thankful for (happiness rating increases)-- and that's what this blog allows me to do. I hope that my appreciation for life rubs off on my friends and family through my writing. That the little things that people take for granted-- that are in actuality the most important things-- and the things that I tend to pick up on.

I got an iPhone for graduation....so expect many-a-phone-dumps. And Words with Friends requests.

I'm one of those people that likes to challenge myself because I believe that challenges create growth. I don't mind breaking tradition, in fact-- I like to. We've been conditioned that if we do draw outside the lines that it's a mistake. But I believe that it's a challenge-- a learning experience. And I can't live without those challenges.

I set my bar high for everything in life and it was my hope that this blog would help me keep track of those challenges and keep me reflecting on my growths, strengths, and weaknesses. We all experience failed relationships, bad days or even bad months. We regret bad decisions and we constantly think about what we should have done differently. We ache to do good in the world. To find ways to ease other people's pain. Never stop growing, challenging, learning, or finding the good.

Blogging is an amazing outlet for me. I have no idea who reads mine, but I hope that one day--maybe-- it might motivate someone to appreciate life more and to challenge themselves. And I hope that I, too, always do those two things.

The neighbors are back from dinner and apparently, so is their group of very untalented singers. And Modern Family is calling. I know-- tough life I lead as a post-graduate.

Have a great rest of your week.

Always,

Carrie