The End of Vacation

Schools have been on vacation since December 18th.

If December 18th sounds like a crazy long time ago, that's because it actually was. 

What have I been doing for the last FOUR WEEKS??

This weekend we had our last hurrah and spent all day Saturday cruising around the island on a catamaran. 

If that sounds like the best day ever, that's because it absolutely WAS. 

My friend Ashleigh takes tours with Lady La Fée quite often and has become friends with the boat crew. They gave us a great deal for the day, which included lots of coconut rum punch (my fav) and a BBQ lunch on the boat!

Mandatory Photoshoot

Doesn't this picture make me look like an awesome joke teller?? Haha.

Then we spotted some dolphins...

They were curious about us and came over to say hi.

After hanging out with the dolphins we all took turns leaping off the top of the boat. Everyone was a little nervous about sharks but eventually we all braved it.

Captain Jerome on the grill at lunch...

For the vegetarians ;-)

The sun started to set and we danced to some weird techno elevator music. (I'm not sure whose playlist was up...) 

What a perfect day.

I know people might kick me for saying this but I cannot WAIT to go back to work!!!!!!!!!

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Art Journaling

Following my discovery of flexitarianism, I have recently learned more about Stuff-I-Thought-I-Invented-But-Already-Exists!

Next month, I turn thirty, which I find really exciting for many reasons. First, because we will be spending it with friends here:

The Shandrani Hotel on Mauritius Island. 

Second, because I've been keeping this little book for the last ten years and this is the birthday where it comes to an end. My book is a collection of everything that happened in the last decade...pictures, quotes, moments, world events, inspiring articles, journal posts, song lyrics, doodles...I guess you could describe it (rather sadly) as a physical facebook. But private. Something that will keep existing even after I don't. At first I called it a scrapbook, but it's weirder than that. It doesn't close anymore, the binding is completely busted. 

My dilemma came when I tried searching for a new blank book. What do you call this thing? 

At the risk of looking infinitely dorky, I'm including one of my Expecto Patronum pages, because they are the pages of my happiest memories...and honestly it took me a while to really think of my most powerful, incredibly happy moments. Maybe you're the same. It's good to identify these moments and write them down for when you need some help. Because isn't it so much easier to think back to something really horrible? That's no good for anyone...

Don't laugh, because Grandma always told me to label all the people in my pictures...maybe this will land in an antique museum in the year 3054 and those people will be interested to know who you all were!! :-)

So. My new book. I want something better than last time, something strong that can handle random paintings, thick pictures, lots of glue, buttons and whatever else ends up in there. Definitely not a scrapbook. Not a sketchbook. Not a photo book or any old notebook. 

That's how I discovered the (already existing) community of Art Journaling! I'm so happy because now I have a new world of inspiration to tap into for my next book!! 

Though I still haven't found anything heavy-duty enough to withstand the next decade...

let me know if you see something worthy, eh? 

Oh. And my other reasons for being excited to turn 30 have nothing to do with being afraid and everything to do with Love. :-)