{Semi} Wordless Wednesday: Memorial Day Weekend

We had a very busy and yet somehow very relaxing Memorial Day weekend. From start to finish it was packed with new adventures, hanging out at some of our favorite spots in town, spending time with friends, and really just making the most of our time living in Pensacola. Here are some pics from the weekend. The only thing I missed out on were kayaking pictures since we don't have a waterproof bag we don't bring our phones with us. But we are looking into getting something we can bring with us for kayaking and paddle boarding so hopefully I will be able to get some pics in the future.

Friday

 Yummy dinner at End of the Line Cafe- tempeh club and pink potato salad :)

 

 One day he's going to refuse to take yet another picture with me, I know it ;)

 

 I always keep it wonky!

 

 My favorite brewery in town...

 

 My new favorite pelican

 

Pensacola- the city of five flags. Spain, France, Great Britain, Confederate US, and USA

 

Saturday

 

Sadly, no kayaking pics :(

 

 Beautiful view from the patio where we ate lunch after kayaking

 

 You can't help but to feel super peaceful and relaxed with this as the backdrop...

 

 And some yummy vegan dessert...everything is right with the world.

 

 On our way to see the Great Gatsby- which I loved

 

Followed by some beers afterwards as we planned out our geocaching trek for the next day

 

Sunday

 

Geocaching all day!

 



We trekked through State Parks

 

Walked out onto piers...

 A few times...

 Tried to help a baby bird with fishing wire wrapped around it's legs and wing :(

 I took a minute to play in a fountain filled with bubbles

 

 We visited the 17th St Bridge

 

 AKA graffiti bridge and some day soon I am going to paint it!

 

 And our tour led us to Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park

 



 Where we gave thanks to those who sacrificed their lives in the name of their country

 

 

There are other war memorials in the park but my phone died so I didn't get pictures of them all

 

Monday

 

We spent Monday paddle boarding then had a fun dinner at home with friends. It was the perfect end to a perfect weekend. Here are a couple more paddle boarding pics that I didn't post in yesterday's blog.

 

 

How did you spend this holiday weekend? Was it relaxing, adventurous, or a little of both? 









I'm Doing It!!!

'I'm doing it!'- a phrase I must have uttered a thousand times this weekend.

I act just like a little kid when I experience new things. I get crazy hyper and excited about it; before, during and after.

This weekend my new adventure was paddle boarding. Which was AWESOME! The whole time, even when I was frustrated because I couldn't figure out how to steer, I couldn't stop saying, 'I'm doing it!, I'm doing it!'. Not necessarily because paddle boarding is so hard that I was amazed I could do it but because I actually did it. I stepped outside of my comfort zone and tried something new. I kept saying to our friend AC that was with us that this was such a big deal for me, doing new things. Dacia from three years ago would have been too scared to even try. So for me, the excitement comes not from the ability to do something well, because I did kind of suck at it for the first couple hours, but instead by the simple act of just doing it.

Then last night, over dinner, as Paul, AC and I sat around laughing (to the point of tears) over my ridiculousness on said paddle board Paul asked me if after my experiences today I wanted to learn to surf. I said absolutely yes. BUT my one caveat is that I need to learn how to swim first.

Don't get me wrong, I can kind of swim. Not great by any means but I am quite buoyant so I tread water easily and I do have my own makeshift way of swimming laps using my own version of various stroke styles. It's not pretty but I get by.

But since I do want to learn how to swim properly AND I have my first triathlon coming up in just two months I really need to crack down and focus on proper stroke form and breathing techniques.

And since learning how to surf and completing a triathlon are both very important to me (they are on my Pensacola bucket list)  I knew I needed to stop delaying the inevitable and sign up for adult swim lessons. 

So today, that is what I did.

They don't start until July (I can't do them in June since I will be gone for two weeks) but I am taking them twice a week for a month. I think that will really, really help get me ready for the triathlon. And once I get my first big open water swim under my belt I know I will feel ready to take some surf lessons.

So, look for some posts about those two events, as well as some about my swim lessons, coming up in July/August. Until then, well I guess I need to get back to running, riding, and quasi-swimming this month to train for the tri and of course I foresee more paddle boarding, kayaking and plenty of other new adventures in my future.

“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...”  ~ Marcus Aurelius

I'm pretty sure that paddle was way too big for me...

Apparently yoga while paddle boarding is a thing...I just had to give it a try!



Not only was I literally posing for the camera, I had a group of people watching me do this...