Reunited At Last

Last week I flew to Florida to reunite with 3 amazing girls + Kellen!

We had SUCH A GREAT TIME!!!

It felt like no time had passed between us...we picked up right where we left off in Guyana, only this time we were in sunny, beautiful Destin, FL. 

The minute I spotted them at the airport I was rolling with laughter and it didn't stop for 3 whole days.

This is how we began our reunion...

they greeted me at the airport wearing these amazing mustaches and when they were close enough to hug me they slapped one on me. 

Let me just tell you, the small airport was full of laughter and many stares.

Heather rented us a condo near the beach, which was nice and we spent our hours laughing & chatting and laughing some more.

We decided to have ourselves a little photo shoot on the beach, it was very fun & funny!

We used a tripod and point and shoot camera, who needs a professional anyways?

Of course we had to get a little silly and sport our mustaches.

We went to dinner at the Back Porch where Kellen works, it was fun to surprise and see him.

We ordered gator kabobs & seafood nachos, they were delicious.

One evening we went to a little free concert at a park

& our last night all together we went out to a piano bar.

The time flew by but in a short amount of time we created even more amazing memories!

I seriously love these girls and I'm so thankful we were able to reunite!!!

Leighton Girl, Becky Boo, HB, & Sara Sue 

Why mustache we be so cool?

2011 Tobabgo (where it all began)
2012 Destin, Florida
2013 Oahu, Hawaii

Following A Dream

In exactly one month I'll be embarking on a new, life long dream adventure! For those of you who know me, you know I've dreamed and talked about moving to Hawaii since I was 15 years old. Well, that dream is finally coming true!! I am beginning this adventure by taking part in the organization World Wide Opportunity on Organic Farms (WWOOF), basically I'll be working on an organic farm. I won't be making any money but I get a place to live and food. I think it will be a good way to start out in Hawaii and I'm excited to learn about organic farming.
Here's a description of the farm: The farm is called Nalolicious and is on Oahu about 13 miles north of Honolulu.

This is some of the most beautiful land in all Hawaii, with dramatic cliffs behind and miles of white sand beach with gentle surf nearby. The climate is warm and relatively dry with rare downpours. We are a 3-acre startup aquaponics operation set just below the dramatic cliffs of Waimanalo. Our crops are diverse and totally organic. We're starting with the basics: kale, lettuce, watercress etc. and experimenting with more exotic stuff as we build out our system. Our fish include tilapia and catfish for now, with other species coming soon. We're employing cutting edge strategies, including biochar in our grow beds and black soldier fly larvae for feed. Our goal is to produce the tastiest crops in the most sustainable manner possible.

Accommodations are rustic but liveable, the food is good and there is a beautiful beach about a mile away. Hours may vary but are essentially 4 hours/day, 5 days/week. At the moment we are building out our system so this is a great learning opportunity for anybody interested in learning how to set up an aquaponics system from scratch. We also have chickens (both eggs and meat birds) and black soldier flies (for feed) to maintain and are adding rabbits (we have 1 at the moment but she's a pet). Oh, and a milk goat is on the horizon. There's lots to learn about here. 

My goal while working on the farm is to try and find a job and an apartment, hopefully I'll be on the farm for a month or two and then get settled into my own island living. Its going to be quite the adventure and experience and I'm very excited!!  It feels surreal that this dream of mine is actually coming true...I truly believe we should live our lives the way we want to and do the things in life that makes us happy! 

 I'll admit I'm scared but VERY excited.