Memories, Lakeside.

It's good for the soul to escape. Travel down Texas backroads, cellphone service-free. One of my very favorite families, The Guthries, graciously gave me the opportunity for just that this weekend. StephGuth turned 25 (whoa. old.) and we gathered around to celebrate the fullness of life she brings to ours. Nothing fancy. Just sunshine, boat rides, good food and some horseshoes.

People should be celebrated. Hard. In as many ways possible, be they simple or extravagant. Everyone wants to know their life brings value, contributes to others. And I'd drive down all of Texas's backroads to make sure this girl knows that she does indeed add value.

I've known this vivacious spirit since I was a broken 18 year old searching for real life community and friends. After growing to understand each other's personalities, we became inseparable. This one right here has a heart after the Father and others. She's a fellow writer, mad networker and most importantly we both inexplicably love the game of golf and the PGA. She has that innate ability to bring you into her family as if you were blood, always. She's forgiving, kind and fun. Lots of fun. She's a fighter with deep integrity. And she's a forever friend.

We've created a lot of memories around views like this over the last 7 years. Shared our dreams, plans, secrets about boys. I treasure those memories and they're special to our friendship. After creating more over the last 2 days my heart is full. Sweet Guthries thank you for always including me and loving on me so well. Here's to you StephGuth and to many more birthdays celebrated lakeside. 

Dean & Deluca Invitational

Any chance I get to sneak away to the rolling green turf of a PGA Tour golf course you will not hear me say "No." While I did not grow up a golfer and have never played a full round, I deeply value the sport and find myself attached for no apparent reason. 

It may be the quiet, reverent environment, or the "oohs" and "ahhs" of the gallery for each valiant shot and putt made. But I also think it's an appreciation for the players. Golf is not a team sport in the traditional sense. While golfers do require teams of coaches, a caddie, perhaps an agent, the final play comes down to them as an individual. And this I admire. The immense amount of pressure and focus on one person is quite the act of vulnerability. Golf is a beautiful sport. The location, the clothes, the technique, the poise. I guess that's why its a "gentleman's game." 

And so family works the same way. While you belong to a team, who you become and choose to be comes down to you as an individual. Trying to make as few mistakes on the course of life as possible, you decide which strokes to take and have your team of "coaches" and Caddie (Christ) to lean on for those strokes.  

I am thankful to share my appreciation for the game of Golf with my dad and Brother. It is an event we can bond over and discuss together. And more importantly attending tournaments, such as the Dean & Deluca Invitational, are memories we can make together. I know that this life is going to go so fast. It already has. So any common thread I can tie to these two I want to sew as many times as possible. Creating traditions like this past weekend are important to me because relationships are strengthened not just in words but in moments as well. 

See You Later, Sayulita!

Two weeks ago the dream-world mingled with reality on our adultcation to the Mexican coast. Exiting the airport runway that Sunday afternoon we all expected our fun to be had in Puerto Vallarta. Little did we know another town would hold our hearts. 

For a full 7 days I was surrounded by (almost) all of my very best friends. You learn a lot about yourself when you travel. Especially in a group of 11. Your likes and dislikes are highlighted and you remember all of your pet peeves. You experience the opposites of extreme relaxation and high stress together (because let’s be honest, traveling is stressful). This trip though, I learned a lot about how thankful I am this is the life I am privileged to lead and these are the people who lead it with me. 

Aside from my Mexican tan, I brought a lot of things back with me from our neighbor country. Especially an overwhelming appreciation and deep love for these humans. We laughed hard all week long- deep belly laughs that stick with you for days making memories that will truly last a lifetime. And we celebrated life made full. 

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The magic all began walking into Casa Punta Sur. We opened the front door and there was the ocean.

I mean....

It didn't take long for us to settle into our new abode. I think we were only a full 5 minutes in the casa before we literally ran for the Real del Mar Beach Club that touches the ocean right below our roof, screaming and giggling the whole way mind you. Mostly out of shock that this was happening. We really thought it couldn't get any better than Punta Sur. And then we walked up to this...

Real del Mar Beach Club

We spent our first evening in awe of the Beach Club and immediately made friends with our week-long waiter, Carlos. The next day we dare not leave our oasis for fear that it might all really be just a dream. And Casa Punta Sur became our haven.  

Craving adventure we snuck away to soak up the local markets throughout the week and found ourselves at Bucerias by Tuesday. A quaint area just a few minutes down the road from our resort we sat with our toes in the sand tasting quesadillas and pina coladas. After lunching we meandered through aisles of tourist items- blankets, hats, mugs, t-shirts- practicing our bartering skills while reciting, "Cuanto cuesta?" Our faces glowed with leftover sunshine and quality time as we scoured the market and ended the day drinking rum out of a coconut. Finally, Wednesday flew Steph in and our crew was complete! And then Thursday happened. The day our vacation was made even more perfect. 

Rum in my coconut. 

After asking for the best surfing spots close by, our concierge suggested a couple of beach towns to discover. One of which was Sayulita. Unknowingly, we embarked in our cab to what would be our most beloved spot. 

Our first impression of Sayulita seemed very similar to Bucerias - your basic tourist collection items. Then as we traveled closer to the town square and oceanside we saw the magic this town holds. Out of all my travels I have yet to see a place more simplistically festive. Colors, smiles, sand, sun everywhere. Quickly, we fell in love spending our day soaking up the waves and rays. The shopping and food were ideal; I am now the proud owner of too many pompoms. While we only had 2 more full days left in our vacation it didn't keep us from coming back twice more.

 

Sayulita made us feel like we escaped into a place all our own. What an adventure for the memory book to say that we experienced the joy of discovering this perfect little spot altogether. While each part of our vacation was amazing, and I'm not sure I'll ever be so spoiled again, Sayulita feels as though it belongs to us. And we refuse to say goodbye to our treasure of a town. Instead we say: See You Later, Sayulita!