Goldfish Kiss

BOTW - Bikini Of The Week Tavik - Rosarito & Mazatlan

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -1000

BOTW - Bikini Of The Week

Salt & Seaweed Gift Card Giveaway

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:31:05 -1000

Sometime smaller is better, especially when it’s Salt & Seaweed. A locally owned & operated casual beachy boutique in Charleston, South Carolina, that just so happens to be giving away a $50 gift card to their online store.

Owner Jesse Nersesian, sums it up quite eloquently, “This online boutique may not be the biggest or have the best selection - but it is unique in the sense that it is run solely by a chick and her dog.” So let’s all support Jesse and her pup, Howie (pictured above). There are some killer deals right now ($20 Indah bikini separates & dresses under $40. Yes please.) You can easily stock up for Spring, get Spring fever in the process, and support a small business, simply by entering.

There are 2 ways you can enter - 1: like Salt & Seaweed on Facebook and share this link on your facebook wall, or 2: Comment on this post with what you love most about your favorite local boutique. If you are in Charleston, you know what that boutique should be :)

RX Bikini Bod: Bikram. It does a body good.

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:28:00 -1000

10 reasons why you should do Bikram yoga (aka Hot Yoga):

1. If you have any ache or pain, it makes it magically disappear. On 2 occasions I thought I needed to have my knee scoped, after going to a few classes, buh bye knee pain.

2. It’s great for your skin.

3. It improves circulation. Which seems to improve everything in your body.

4. You sleep better.

5. Helps with back pain & improves your posture. Tip: Good posture makes you instantly look 5 pounds thinner, especially in a bikini.

6. You sweat a lot, which helps you detox, but feels awesome.

7. It’s great stress relief. Calming of the “monkey mind” is quite a great ability.

8. Supposedly you burn about 800 calories in a single class.

9. After going, you have to do laundry, so if you procrastinate in doing laundry ( like myself), it forces you to wash a load.

10. There is usually a guy in too short shorts, which, I dunno, makes me laugh.

Google Bikram yoga, find a studio nearby, and give it a try.

Photo: Christy Turlington By Michael O’Neill for Vanity Fair

4 more days until I’m back on the Garden Isle. I took this...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:22:00 -1000

4 more days until I’m back on the Garden Isle.

I took this pic (using 35mm film) on my first trip there.

Life’s a Beach. Mix & Match Your...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -1000

Life’s a Beach. Mix & Match Your Bikinis.

…mixin’ and matchin’ some of my ‘kinis.

Letarte and a few of my favorite things

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:36:00 -1000

Golfing in a bikini & coverup, and lounging in a hammock. Letarte knows a few of my favorite things, very, very well.

Top to bottom: Ruffle Bikini / Embroidered Pom Pom Poncho / Admiral Stripe Underwire Bikini / Ruffle Bikini

Beach Hair 101: DIY Non-Permanent Ombre color

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:45:00 -1000

There are 2 easy & safe (aka bleach is a non-factor) ways to get the sweet ombre look that screams I love wavy, salty, messy, carefree beach hair.

I’ve done/use them both.

Option 1: Take your patient pills

Don’t highlight your hair regularly. Go about every 6 months at least, you’ll have natural, sweet, dark roots, and save money. When you do highlight your hair, use the balayage technique so the color doesn’t grow out in an even line.

Option 2: Instant gratification.

(hairstylists, please don’t hate me, I get bored and it’s an easy, affordable fix)

1. Grab a box of non-permanent hair color (the kind that washes out in 28 shampoos) that’s 1 or 2 shades darker than your current color. Natural Instincts dark blonde is my go-to.

2. Brush your hair out so it’s tangle free, and then using a wide toothed comb, lightly comb in the color from your scalp down as low as you want it to go, concentrating on getting most of the color at your roots, then fading it out.

3. Make sure to not get color on the ends, and leave a few sections right around your face dry for a sun pecked look.

*Mine looks rather sweet right now, I’m trying to not wash it so the color will last. Thank goodness for dry shampoo.

Photo via my Pal Kir’s pinterest.

Make a sweet wallpaper or background image using your pins. Go...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:39:00 -1000

Make a sweet wallpaper or background image using your pins.

Go to pinterest and login.

Under your account icon in the top right corner select pins.

Zoom out your browser window (press command and the minus key)

Take a screen grab of all your pins in browser window.

Save image, then set as wallpaper or tumblr background :)

RX Bikini Bod: 10 tips for lifting

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:26:00 -1000

Hope you all can read my handwriting :)

The only thing that would be better than a bear hug, flowers and...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:42:00 -1000

The only thing that would be better than a bear hug, flowers and a kiss on Valentine’s Day.

photo via wallpaperswide.com

My t-shirt for yesterday’s beach run. It was a hit.

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:33:00 -1000

My t-shirt for yesterday’s beach run. It was a hit.

Beach Beauty: Cherry Blossom Toes

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:41:00 -1000

A pop of color with a fun little pattern makes for a cute & easy DIY pedicure…and to be honest, I can’t stop staring at my toes now. It’s like one of those cute retro but stylish prints I’d put on a thank you note, but…it’s on my toes.

DIY Cherry Blossom Toes

1. Paint toes with base coat.

2. Paint toes with 2 coats of a bright, reddish orange color ( I used Essie Vermillionaire)

3. Using white, opaque nail art brush (I used Milani nail art Lacquer) Paint the outlines of a few small blobs that somewhat resemble a flower, then fill in.

4. On the smaller toes just paint 1/2 or 1/4 of a flower blob on the bottom outside of each toe.

4. Using a black nail art brush or a toothpick (dip into black polish), paint little black dots in the middle of each white flower blob.

5. Let polish dry, then finish with glossy top coat.

6. Voila! Cute but chic & sweet toes. It’s ok to stare.

Now THIS is why you get a GoPro. Given Goodwin’s smile is...

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:11:06 -1000

Now THIS is why you get a GoPro. Given Goodwin’s smile is priceless.

I spy a sandy ruched bum.

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:11:00 -1000

I spy a sandy ruched bum.

I’m on a fringe kick lately. I’m obsessed with these...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:54:00 -1000

I’m on a fringe kick lately. I’m obsessed with these tops and want to shake and shimmy around the beach while wearing one.

Left to right: Acacia Montauk / Tyler Rose / Boys & Arrows / Leialoha / L*Space Audrey

Want to try a DIY before you buy…here’s how.

DIY Crochet Cutoffs

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:55:00 -1000

My mom gave my my first pair of super nice jeans (Paper Denim and Cloth) about 10 years ago. They have been torn and worn almost to death, and I just can’t bring myself to ever throw them out. I transformed them into cutoffs, and then wore them even more. It was either toss them or give them a new breath of life. So with the help of a crochet doily, I was able to salvage my beloved cutoffs and give them a new, somewhat bohemian look.

DIY Crochet Cutoffs:

Feel free to do this with any pair of cutoffs, not just ones that are 10 years old.

You’ll need: Cutoffs, needle & thread, scissors, and Crochet doily (I got a vintage one on ebay for $3, with free shipping to Hawaii - thanks juke-joint-judy)

1. Cut doily in half.

2. Flip shorts inside out and pin the flat/cut edge of the doily to the jeans, so the curved part lines up with the edge of your cutoffs.

3. Turn shorts so they are not inside out. Without cutting the doily, cut an inverted v in the jeans from the bottom of the cutoffs to the seam on the side (cutting at about a 45 degree angle). The doily should be peeking out but the edges are still under the denim.

4. Flip shorts inside out again and sew doily in place.

5. Turn shorts so they are not inside out. Voila!

6. Put on a bikini, your new favorite cutoffs, and head to the beach.

Ruched bikini top by Letarte

Oh yes, that’s Amore. I think Dean Martin would’ve...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:16:00 -1000

Oh yes, that’s Amore.

I think Dean Martin would’ve even been a fan of this.

I present to you, one of the most scrumptious smoothies ever....

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:07:00 -1000

I present to you, one of the most scrumptious smoothies ever. It’s main ingredient? Avocados. Don’t knock it ‘till you try it. It’s absolutely, positively delish.

Avocado Smoothie:

Blend Together

1/2 ripe Avocado

Frozen Mango (at least 4-5 big chunks)

1 tbs honey

1/4 cup Skim Milk

1/3 to 1/2 cup Citrus-y juice (I used Pineapple orange)

*Yes I know the pic is in a beer glass. But it’s the coolest glass I own.

* If you need a refresher on why Avocados absolutely rock, click here.

Freediving. The best things really are free.

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:49:00 -1000

Video of a dive here :)

It’s absolutely amazing when you 1: learn a new sport, 2: discover an ability you never realized you had and 3: Take a deep breath, dive in and have some 1 on 1 quality, uninterrupted time with the ocean. So to be blunt, learning to Freedive was an all around rather awesome experience.

I took a FII Level 1 Freediving course on the Big Island (officially certified now..the card is in the mail) and really, it was one of the most exhilarating, eye opening weekends I’ve had in a while.

Here’s why.

I knew the class was going to be awesome when the guy who sat next to me, Aquil, flew all the way from Dubai to take it. He had 21 hours of flying, I had about 21 minutes. You get the picture. Well, it turns out our instructor is this guy named Martin Stepanek. After our initial classroom session, I learned he can hold is breath for 8 minutes. Amazed, I asked what’s the deepest he’s ever dove?…About 400 feet, even more amazed, I asked, what’s the world record?…About 400 feet. Oh modesty, it’s such an amazing virtue.

Now I know why Aquil flew from Dubai.

So I had a total bad ass, yet modest instructor, and over the course of the weekend, learned how to properly breathe, dive, technique, and the ins and outs of making it all safe. To elaborate if I may…after 2 days I was able to hold my breath for 3 minutes, and dive to a depth of 66 feet 3 different times on 1 breath. Yes, it rocked. All of it. There’s something so humbling and invigorating about being in the ocean, and Freediving seemed to heighten it.

As if experiencing the ocean in it’s purest form, and potentially diving among a pod of dolphins isn’t enough to make me addicted. It’s an amazing workout. Yup this relaxing peaceful sport basically mimics interval training, so it’s a total fat blaster. When you pop up afterwards you are breathing hard just like you ran up a flight of stairs, but you were just swimming with dolphins instead. I’ll take flipper over the stair master any day.

It was an amazing weekend. Day 2 was spent at Honaunau Bay - which had the clearest most gorgeous water ever. And, I already mentioned it, but I dove down to 66 feet 3 different times in the middle of this bay while holding my breath. Gosh it feels so great to do something you didn’t think you were capable of.

My classmates rocked (who were training to be instructors) and apparently knew I was coming so they brought double of everything for me to borrow. Thanks for all the gear, guys. Especially the fins, Aquil. Those suckers were amazing.

Some people get into freediving for recreation, spearfishing, to survive big wave surfing wipeouts, or to compete (good luck beating Martin). Me? I got into it completely out of the blue, but I think it was just the ocean, which I’ve always loved, beckoning for me to come spend some more quality time diving in it.

You can bet I’ll be back for more.

Find your nearest Instructor & Take a Course.

FII on Facebook.

**See the guest blog post at Foammagazine.com

Goldfish Kiss

Read more about the woman behind this quote here. I really hope...

BOTW - Bikini Of The Week Tavik - Rosarito & Mazatlan

Salt & Seaweed Gift Card Giveaway

RX Bikini Bod: Bikram. It does a body good.

4 more days until I’m back on the Garden Isle. I took this...

Life’s a Beach. Mix & Match Your...

Letarte and a few of my favorite things

Beach Hair 101: DIY Non-Permanent Ombre color

Make a sweet wallpaper or background image using your pins. Go...

RX Bikini Bod: 10 tips for lifting

The only thing that would be better than a bear hug, flowers and...

My t-shirt for yesterday’s beach run. It was a hit.

Beach Beauty: Cherry Blossom Toes

Now THIS is why you get a GoPro. Given Goodwin’s smile is...

I spy a sandy ruched bum.

I’m on a fringe kick lately. I’m obsessed with these...

DIY Crochet Cutoffs

Oh yes, that’s Amore. I think Dean Martin would’ve...

I present to you, one of the most scrumptious smoothies ever....

Freediving. The best things really are free.