Awesome Beach Hike, Adventure No. 6!!

"So, Summer, I have an idea. How 'bout you just never end...cuz I need more days like today. K thanks" =)

Today was an awesome day at the beach with my friends Brian and Caleb. Uh Brian...I guess you are the most adventurous person I know cuz...so far you are winning by a landslide. Anybody else wanna compete? Let's go have an adventure together =)

The day started with a trip to Neptune's Net for some grub, the we went to Pt Magu and spent some time on the beach. The water was cold...but a nice break from this crazy humid weather we have been having lately!



After that Brian suggested we go for a hike, he warned me it was pretty intense...but I was stoked to go =) And actually it was kinda an intense hike, but sooo fun and worth it. I just had to not think about the fact that if my foot or fingers slipped I would fall to my death. =) First we had to shimmy sideways on this crazy wall by our tip toes and fingertips...


Yeah see the side of that? We were just kinda clinging to it for dear life and shimmied on over =)
And then there were the balance beam moments...



But man, they were worth the views!




We even saw some pretty cool fossils...



And met some new friends...



I had never touched a sea anemone before! It was so cool how they suction cupped themselves to your fingers! I liked to think of it as their way of shaking hands. I introduced myself to as many of them as possible. =)

It was such a fun day. And I was so proud of myself after this hike! Brian even said I was one of the most willing people he had ever taken on this hike! I felt very brave =)

You know looking at all of God's amazing creation really makes me think...what a considerate God we have. In the last few months God has given me SO many reminders and cool opportunities to show me his love, provision, and that He is my ultimate source of joy. Really, He is the greatest adventurer of them all. I can't wait to continue to honor the fact that I'm made in His image and be the best adventurer I can be.

LA Art Walk, Adventure No, 5!

Hey Guys!

I'm here with my next adventure today...No 5! (Look at me go!) This last week my good friend Laura and I (also my awesome biking partner!) went to downtown LA to experience the Art Walk. This was something both of us have literally wanted to do for years...and never had. Why do people do that? Well no more! We went, and had an awesome time!



See, look how happy we are! =)

This was a day full of lot's of laughs, and new inside jokes. We definitely met some...interesting people and saw some...interesting art. =) A lot of it, however, was pretty awesome!

And when your walking in downtown, there is always something interesting to see.








This amazing spot we found completely by accident after riding the Angels Flight Railway. (Which was so adorable) It's the "Shortest Railway in the World" and dates back to 1901. 50 cents, and you've got a ride! After our ride we were on top of the Water Plaza, and amazing outdoor show venue that has free performances all summer...how awesome is that? Next adventure? Yes please. =)


We found this amazing art outside by accident as well. Oh the things you find when you're wandering around downtown LA at night. I even made a friend.


If you guys ever get a chance to, you've gotta go down to the art walk. There is tons of awesome art to see, food and drinks to have, outdoor shops to look at, people to meet, and places to explore! I'm so glad I finally did what I said I wanted and had this great experience!

Adventure No. 4!

So today I got to have a really fun adventure. A bunch of us from church went down to Santa Monica and biked the boardwalk. It was SUCH a pretty day outside! The sun finally broke through later in the afternoon, but the whole day it was warm, and I was by the ocean...so I was happy!

I was happy already just being on my way!


So I was READY to go! I had my little hat...and I had my cute romper on from Target (thanks, Mom) and I rented my bike...and then I leaned over to my friend Laura and told her something that I haven't told may people...

"I never learned how to ride a bike without training wheels as a kid..."

I know...I'm all sortsa embarrassed about it. Sure I wobbled around on one a few times when I HAD to as a kid...but since I was never taught, I sorta just said "forget this!" and put my roller blades on. So, I was slightly nervous that I wasn't gonna do as well as I would hope.

Oh my goodness.
That is pitiful.
And so embarrassing.
But true.

So I had avoided bike riding moments until now...but not anymore! I'm tired of not doing things now just because I had never done them as a kid. May be a bike ride doesn't sound that adventurous to you, even now as I type, it sounds kinda silly. But that's ok.

Long story short...I got the hang of it...sorta. I fended for myself for about half the way...then my awesome friend Laura asked if I wanted to ride tandem. She had never done it before and wanted to try. It was so fun! We were cracking up the entire way about what a cute "couple" we made.

And let me tell you...when it comes to riding tandem in the back...I've got skills ;)



Aren't we cute? =) After our ride we walked to Tender Greens where I had the most amazing meal (complete with a to die for cupcake) in the world. And don't even get me started on their lemonade!



Poundcake cupcake with blackberry frosting? My day/life was complete.

So there was my adventure for the day...may be nothing too grand, but I got out, I did, I experienced. And I now have a new mission...get really good on a bike...because it was so fun! (not to mention this post is just a little too embarrassing =) Adventure No. 5...here we come!

ABRACADABRA! Adventure No. 3

I love it when an adventure calls for dressing up, don't you? That's why I was SO excited when my friend Brian asked me to come with a group of friend's to the MAGIC CASTLE in Hollywood. If you know anything about the Magic Castle, then you know it is a very exclusive club, and you can only get in if you are a member, or are a guest of one. Needless to say I was pretty excited. I've always loved magic. As a kid I had a magic kit that came with a book, cards, a wand, etc. I walked around the house doing "tricks" for my family. I'm sure I had some exceedingly clever name like "The Great Rachel." =)

I was also so excited because I had an excuse to wear the dress I scored at my friend's garage sale for $5! (Plus the shoes I bought from her too!)

I looove this dress. I even got compliments from women I didn't know at the Magic Castle on it! Score!

I paired it with a purse of my mom's that had a vintage feel that I felt really went with this look. Slap on some garage sale heels and a rose pearl bracelet from Forever 21 and I was good to go!

I can't wait to try this dress for another event. A friend of mine suggested cowboy boots for a more casual event. How about a night out at the Malibu Winery, or something like that? Ok. =)
The only bummer thing was that we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. So I scored a bathroom shot once I got the chance =)

My friend Lauren said the bathroom made her feel like she was in Moulin Rouge. I couldn't agree more! What girl doesn't like light bulbs around a mirror, I mean...really?
I took a few shots before we went in. My friend Katie and I, the outside of the Castle, (which doesn't even begin to do it justice, this place is to die for beautiful inside) and all the ladies outside the door. Don't mind my awkward pose in that one haha.




I had SO much fun at the Magic Castle. I even reached my one and only goal for the whole night...I got called on and got to participate in a magic trick! (Which completely BLEW MY MIND!) If I'm ever really really wealthy...may be I'll be a member and go, oh I dunno, every two days or so ;)

Adventure No. 3...you might be my favorite yet. On to the NEXT!

BANG! BANG!

I'm on a roll, guys. Recently, I decided I was gonna start really living life to the full and take advantage of not being in school.

I
Love
It.

So for adventure No. 2 my friends Katie, Brian, and I all went to the shooting range. Brian wanted us to teach him a few things about guns. Right...that's it. It was such a fun day. Every one should try this once in their life...it makes you feel like a secret agent. Especially when you get to shoot a glock 23 .40 cal. That's right, I just used that in a sentence. Watch out bad guys.

This was my favorite one to shoot, I felt pretty hardcore.

This next one scared me a little bit hahaha...But it was SO COOL. And I was the most accurate with this one, so it was really fun to shoot. There is something strangely satisfying when you hear the *ping of hitting your target. Here is a shot of Brian teaching me how to use this massively large gun haha.

Who says a girl with fabulous nail polish can't shoot a semi automatic weapon?

And here's a little collage of a few more pics from the day.
Check out Katie's face in the bottom photo...hahaha that was her face after she shot the first gun...priceless.

So adventure No. 3? Oh...don't you worry, It's already all lined up. Just keep on checking in to find out!

Adventure's Out There

I had an interesting realization the other day.

I've always considered myself a pretty easy going person, with a couple of things I had to figure out about anxiety along the way. But really, I've always been kinda down for whatever.

But it's always sort have been me waiting for someone else to take me on their adventures with them.

But what about me? I don't want to be looking for people to go on adventure with, I want people to have to catch up to ME!

The time has come for me to start living life to it's full potential. Right now what I feel pulled towards, is working on my ever growing bucket list. And you know what,

I'M GONNA DO JUST THAT.

Life is short. Let's start living it. I was talking about this with my friend Nikki the other day when we went on our hike.

We decided to call this awesome hike our first adventure. It may be small, but as we said "At least we aren't sitting on the couch!"

This was BEFORE we started, so we weren't disgusting-uh glistening, I mean, yet.
Check out THAT view!

Oh just a random chimney...
Big or small...adventure's out there. WHO'S WITH ME??