The beach is dominating my photos lately, but that’s a good thing because I promised myself when I moved down here that I’d drink up this landscape as best as I could and never become one of those people who lives four minutes from the beach but never goes. “Those people” is a trigger-sensitive term in social media so please understand there are, of course, good reasons that might keep you away from the beach. Like maybe you have no transportation to get there or a horrible sun allergy or you once saw a pelican viciously attack a crab and it traumatized you from all things sea and sand. Y’all are exempt from the “those people” umbrella, but the rest of us? Giddy up, we have to go. An influx of family and friends escaping the north definitely helps our beach commitment. They give us tourist eyes which are kind of like Hungry Eyes except no dancing and no Patrick Swayze but still swoony.
A Hungry Eyes Tourist Challenge for You:
1. Visit a cool place within 15 miles of where you live–a place you’ve been to many times before–a beach, a snowy forest, a pretty hill, a desolate corn field, a mountain trail, a neighborhood creek, a bustling city street corner.
Now pretend it’s your first time there. Pretend you’ve only ever lived in the opposite landscape and have never seen anything like it. Pretend you’re a travel writer selling this place to new tourists. Take pictures. Make it look good. Describe it with the best words. Save it all in a little journal. In fact, maybe you’ll add more places to it later–a beautiful tourist guide of where you live to pass on to your children. Have it bound. And if you live in Campbell, Nebraska, treat it like it’s Paris, France. Make it a best-selling coffee table book.
2. Try something new in your own town. An antique shop, a plaza coffee bar, a tiny museum you’ve driven by wondering how in the world it gets any business, a sandwich shop, a walking trail.
Now I realize there’s more winter storms headed to some places that have already had it bad, and I’m sitting on a beach passing out advice on how to love where you live when I too have complained that I’m hot/bored/tired of Florida. This is the part of the post where I give you permission to imagine kicking me in the shins–real hard, with wooden clogs.
I’m just sayin.
If the challenge didn’t work for you, just get some popcorn and watch this. Johnny and Baby Forever.
My yoga boy. Dash frequently contorts his body into weird positions and then looks to see if anyone’s noticing he’s being a little weird because he knows that we love weird. So it now goes…
Weird Forever.
Johnny and Baby Forever.
Repertoire of possible tattoos grows.
Cosmic forces (also reliable airlines) bring me and my friend Meg together when the universe knows we need it. Like she fell from the heavens (and I’m sure that pick-up line has been used on her many a time) after Nella was born, becoming my lit agent but more important, my friend. She helped make Bloom a book and has been in our lives ever since. It was so nice having her in our neck of the woods this weekend. “She has beautiful eyes and her hair smells like cinnamon!”
Where were we?
Meg Thompson Forever.
Weird Forever.
Johnny and Baby Forever.
I’m going to have to roll up my sleeve and make some more room here.
Wait, there’s more.
Nella wouldn’t give up this bag of pretzels on the beach the other day.
“Nella, let me hold those while you play.”
“No.”
“Nella, how about I put them in a little cup for you?”
“No.”
“Nella, that looks a little dangerous. Why don’t I take the pretzels so you can climb.”
“NOOOOOOO.”
So, Rold Gold Forever.
Meg Thompson Forever.
Weird Forever.
Johnny and Baby Forever.
As much work as it is to keep an eye on our kids at the beach, it’s getting easier. They entertain themselves a lot, and they’re happy. And I’m happy watching them be happy.
Wait, I got it. One more tattoo. I mean, it’s not very original but still.
A big heart. With an arrow. Mother.
Followed, of course, by Rold Gold and Meg and Weird and Dirty Dancing. My shoulder’s going to be so flashy.
Warning: The girls Easter dresses arrived the other day, and it’s all I can do not to go broke on flowers and waste my day writing a song about pink and bonnets and chicks and stuff. Pastel enthusiasm soon to be unleashed. #holidaygeneprobs Stay tuned.
Can’t wait to see the dresses!
We are shivering over here in Southern California at 50 degrees…brrrrrrr….I guess Florida is really warmer than the West coast! Have fun!
This post was so awesome & made me laugh out loud at work. My co-workers probably think I’m weird but… WEIRD FOREVER!
I am definitely getting a Rold Gold tattoo! Brilliant. Except I hate pretzels. I do love mothers though.
We haven’t had too much snow this year. Lots of ice though. I have three million things to do tomorrow so I am hoping the weatherman is wrong.
Pastel Easter dresses? I can’t even take it.
Happy Spring.
Love this set..what an ad for the pretzels..!
There’s something about children on a beach♥
2 things:
1) THANK YOU for pointing out that it is hard work for you to take your kids to the beach bc your perfect photos make it look so effortless! You are such a great Mama 🙂
2) I’ve heard when the littlest stands like that on their head (Dash’s yoga move) it means the Mama is with child……..
🙂
Thank you for sharing your life with “us”!!
i visited naples for the first time a few weeks ago and now when i see your pictures the beaches seem REAL to me instead of just an imaginary place where a blogger lives. and i’m kicking myself for not “accidentally” missing my return flight to frigid PA
Oh…to be on a beach in Venice, Florida now! Those beach photos have me drooling!
Rold Gold forever!
Love the “tourist eyes” idea. We live in Honolulu and every few weeks or so we try to have “tourist eyes” and go somewhere or try something new. 🙂
I was the one attacked by a pelican once. Doesn’t keep me away from the beach, though. I just get really skeeved out if I see one of those big, ugly birds!
This made me laugh.
Oooh I am waiting for the easter-y goodness!!! It is cold here in VT and not much color happening right now!
Great challenge… I may have to give it a try. Gorgeous photos of course 🙂
I love the beach but I do have to put in effort to get there. I love that I am so close but I miss the beaches with waves from further south. When I first moved here I found it hard to fall in love with the place but using the ‘tourist eyes’ helped me appreciate the area and the beauty around me.
Love. Love. Just a few more weeks. We’re supposed to get six inches of snow tonight. I’ve never been more ready for FL!
Kelle you crack me up as usual! Love it! I am always jealous of your pics of warmth in these long winter months but alas, Easter is coming and so spring must come sometime soon … it will right?!? Gah! Haha. Happy Wednesday!
Where on earth do you get Dash’s swimsuits? They’re adorable! I can never find cute swimwear for my boys.
We live in the forest. I love the forest, I could run for hours in the forest. I did not see a beach until I was a tween and it was love at first site. What I love about the beach- I never have to entertain my kid there. They play on their own until they collapse with exhaustion. In the forest I have to be more instructive- “Hey, let’s look for a perfect walking stick” etc…
Oh beaches. Oh warmth. I’m over here like, “Yes! It’s going to be 42 tomorrow. HEAT WAVE.” Thanks for letting me live vicariously through your little piece of heaven!
I know what you mean.
I live a 10 minute drive from Canterbury Cathedral. One of the most important landmarks in the UK outside of London. Every year without fail we went there on a school trip. Every time we went shopping we pass it. It’s just there regardless of the fact there has been a church on the site for nearly 1500 years (originally built 597AD)
You stop seeing it after a while, the splendour and majesty, it’s just there!
Anyway a few years ago we had a Canadian friend who came to stay, so we took her to visit the Cathedral, she was so awe inspired by its beauty and solemnity that it was like I was seeing it for the first time through her eyes. I was close to tears that for years I had not seen or felt it’s real meaning, that it had been no more important to me than walking past a McDonalds.