A Different Experience

We had to detour to New Mexico so we could visit Tyler's Professor/Advisor who took a job at the University of New Mexico during Tyler's master's program.  He was really cool.  We drank some beers, played some rock band and he even let us stay at his place.

Then we were back on the road to Arizona where we ended up in Phoenix and were able to catch a Diamond Backs vs. Braves game.

Phoenix was actually a really nice city and our Super 8 was super.  We got back on the road making this day May 18, 2011. On our way to California and finally we see the hills.

Just a little bit longer and we're there!!

Our Nation's Second Largest Canyon

Everything is bigger in Texas is an understatement. It's huge.  The state is dry and the scenery is boring. As I stared out the window and watched my first tumble weed roll by, I wondered what Texans do with their lives.

 After passing dessert, dry land and the smelliest section of cow country (it was a slaughterhouse pasture andit reeked) we made it Palo Duro Canyon Park.

We took a little hike around the park, but never made it to the canyon.

This was our tent, we did a mighty fine job. Campsite #37

The clay was awesome. We were smashing it on the ground. It was a good stress reliever.

Unhappy Texas Longhorn.

Dallas

After New Orleans we drove our longest stretch (8.5 hours) through the state of Texas to arrive in Dallas. Thankfully I had my iPhone to find and book a hotel because we hadn’t planned on stopping there, but the drive was just becoming unbearable.

Our Hotel/Liquor/Beer/Wine Shop

I don’t know what I was really expecting for $30.00 a night in Dallas’ titty district. Our hotel, unbeknownst to us until we arrived was located next to a dozen strip clubs, massage parlors and gentleman’s clubs.  The manager greeted us through bullet proof glass and drenched in an overwhelming amount of cheap cologne.

Babies were crying, sketchy people were loitering in the breezeways and our room smelled of cigarettes and murder.  I cautiously checked behind mirrors for voyeur cameras and just waited for sunlight.  But with that there was a bright side, free internet access and a few channels of television to drown out the sounds of screams, drug deals and prostitution. 

Without much sleep and high levels of irritability we headed on to our next Texas city, Amarillo. As we tried not to fight with each other Desi got yelled at, a lot. 

He was over it, too.

 *Hotel Tip: If there is a sign in the parking lot that reads "Guns, Knives, Weapons, Drug Solicitation and  Prostitution is Prohibited on Premises" it typically means they've had issues with them.*

5.14.2011 And We're Off

I know it's a little late in the game, but as they say it's better late than never.  After talking with family and friends I agreed it might be nice to share our daily journeys on a blog.

It feels like ages since I’ve sat down and actually written a blog post and come to think of it that’s what I do for a living now.  It’s also surprising that Tyler and I have been living in California for close to five months and we’ve loved every minute of it. I never thought people would be interested in what I was doing here in sunny San Diego and seeing as I talk to my friends and family on a regular basis I haven’t really had a chance to miss anyone or anything yet, except maybe the rain, but luckily mother nature sprinkled some of that our way yesterday.

By the way, a big thank you to all of that have come to visit Tyler, myself and Desi in California we love you guys and it keeps us cheerful to see familiar faces, but to those who haven’t been able to come, especially my family who constantly read my posts, look at my pictures and have pleaded with me to write more about our lives here I thought I’d better start keeping them up to date on our “So-Cal Lives”. 

First things first, the drive…

Here is my Camry girl.  I can’t believe she made it on this exhausting haul across America.  Tyler improvised with those straps and my dad’s homemade padding for my surf rack.   I didn’t believe they’d work and I was pretty anxious about having our boards strapped to the roof like that.

Our first stop was New Orleans, Louisiana. I remember going there on drunken socials and always remembered how much fun I had, but I conveniently kept forgetting how dirty it was. In our efforts to save money we tried to a book a hostel, but since we had Desi with us we had to come up with private accommodations to sneak him in. The only available private “room” was a Winnebago outside of a hostel.  Without reservation we gladly took the room on wheels.

View from the front of the rickety street car.

There was no running water so every bathroom break required a short walk to the main hostel.  We took a street car (pretty interesting) to Bourbon street had dinner and a few drinks and anticipated some real city “flare”. Needless to say it wasn’t the prettiest sight.  We made it back to our hostel/mobile home after a little feel, good, lost session compliments of Tyler J.

The Femmes I Love to Follow

When it comes to a lot of my style inspiration I try and look to the stars, the famous people that is.  I figure they have access to the best in the business, stylists, designers, makeup artists and trainers.  I can learn what I can for free and I love free!

Hair inspirations – I haven’t had a cut since I moved to San Diego, but I’m actually loving my long hair. I could use a split end trim, but my managing program is working out ok for now.  

Alana Blanchard

I love her mermaid long locks and the casual ease of her beachy waves.  I like my brunette status, but my hair is getting more sun and sea kissed by the day. 

Whitney Port

It is a battle of the blondes, but I look to her for a more elegant, evening look. I like the messy wisps of hair in my face, but if I needed to dress it up she’s my go to girl.

Style – I think my style is boho chic. I like what’s in. I’m not embarrassed to follow a trend. Currently it’s been belly tees, tribal patterns and bodycon dresses, but I’ve always enjoyed a sexy outfit here and there. 

Vanessa Hudgens

She’s short, sweet, petite and I love her style.  She wears what she’s in the mood for. She goes from boyfriend tee shirts with skinny jeans to short shorts with wedges. 

The Olsens

 

These little tweens bring more of the hippie/rock out of me. When I’m in the mood for shoe inspiration or to get a transitional outfit one from work into life I look to them. They’re conservative in an alternative way.  Not too slutty, but not falling into the confines of school marm. 

Things I’ve been obsessed with lately 

•          Mexican Serapes 
  
•          Woven bracelets/Friendship bracelets
•          Lip Smackers Cotton Candy Lip gloss

 

•          Mexican Serapes 
•          Woven bracelets/Friendship bracelets
•          Lip Smackers Cotton Candy Lip gloss

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Persistent

Inconsistency has prevented improvement
frustrated at mother ocean
she responds to my pessimism
engulfing my tiny body in her foamy fingers
she throws me onto the kelp dressed shore
bruised, scraped, humbled

Ambivalent

Releasing my aggravation into the sky
I re-enter her soothing waters
this time she greets me with peacefulness
a calm glassy paddle out

the sun joins us
an encouraging duo
whispers to the wind, small peaks form
I look out towards the horizon

your eyes meet mine, you smile and wave me down
“YEW!”
A shrill loud, but comforting
arms burning with each stroke
knees bent and pushing my body forward
lunging as playfully as a newborn dolphin

Pop-up, half kneeling
a short lived ride
the horizon is blending together as the sun sinks into green
impairing my vision I can only see the white of your smile
sparkling with pride

I make my way back to you
masculine hands reach out to mine
you pull me, indulgently towards you
cool salty lips touch mine

We watch the sun set and the earth go dark

I love the ocean. I wish I was a mermaid so I could live beneath the sea and be a resident of her underwater world.

Thus I love anything involving water; surfing, swimming, snorkeling, wake boarding, boating, etc. I’m still a novice surfer but I absolutely love it, but when it comes to the survival of your salty sun kissed hair I’m a pro.

Summer is the season when it all begins.  When you want nothing more than to spend hours in the sun tanning your body to glistening perfection or surfing the cool green peaks, but what you may not realize is that you’re damaging the sensitive cuticles of your hair.

I suffer from this trauma on the reg. I love my hair and I want to protect it. It’s taken me years to grow it to its current length and I’m never going back and I’m soldiering on until I reach Rapunzel status.  I dream of that silky, glossy, Pantene Pro-V hair, but I live such an active lifestyle I rarely take the time to achieve those results.

Not only am I jumping in the water every chance I get, I am getting barreled.  Unfortunately not in the surf, well not just yet, but I’m wrapping my strands around the barrel of my steamy curling iron more times than not.  Curling my wavy locks is a way I can “cheat” when I wear my hair messy, which is daily.  It looks a little more presentable in a work environment when I run an iron through it, but that leads to major heat damage.

My hair is thirsty and suffering from major split ends. If you’re on a budget, like me, you can’t spend $26.00 on a shampoo, it’s just not in the cards, but I’ve created ways to save my money and my hair.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Hair Conditioner

You can find this in any major retail store, but you may have to look in the ethnic hair care aisle.  This stuff is amazing and a jar will last you nearly a lifetime.  I warm the wax up with a hairdryer so it melts a bit and then I use a small amount to scrunch through my wet hair.  I’ve used it on my styled hair as well to give it stability and a shiny effect. My boyfriend uses it as pomade too.

Olive Oil Shine Serum

This one really isn’t brand specific and you use such a small amount a generic travel size would work. Lately conditioner hasn’t been doing its job so I’ve been adding a few drops of this to it and working it through the ends of my hair.  But be careful too much will cause a grease bomb.

Suave Spells U Save

Their line of products is so similar to the name brand products like Aveeno and Nexxus and provide the same results. I love the Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner it has such a clean and fresh scent.  I usually buy a larger conditioner, because the secret is to not over shampoo.  Use a small amount just to cleanse your hair.  Mine hardly even lathers.  Conditioner is a must especially after salt water and sun drying. 

Surfer girl hair is meant to be wispy, reckless and un-styled, but you should keep it healthy. These are just my little tips and tricks.