A Swimsuit State of Mind

Are all you Canadians out there getting ready for a long weekend? Planning on going anywhere? 

I was just in Ucluelet, on Vancouver Island, for the very first time this weekend. What a gorgeous place! Open ocean surrounded by mountains and forrest, with outstanding seafood and some pretty exciting wildlife everywhere. And, lucky for me, I was there to experience Ukee Days, a 3 day festival that goes on once a year in the city. Man, those peeps sure know how to have some fun!

We were fortunate to get some beautiful weather while we were there, which from what I’ve been told is not always the case. So, to take full advantage of it, we one day went out to Kennedy Lake to do some paddle boarding. Now, for those of you who don’t know, although I’ve been going on and on about taking on SUP as my new summer activity, until last Sunday I’d actually never done it before. Kennedy Lake is gorgeous but not warm, so falling in would result in a pretty unpleasant situation. 

I took a deep breath and went for it. A bit wobbly at first and going in the wrong direction, but eventually there I was, SUPping like there was no tomorrow! High fives all around!

It got me thinking about the state of mind we put ourselves in when we decide to do something. I was so worried about falling into icy cold water that I put all of my attention into making sure that didn't happen. And that’s when it hit me: I wasn’t even thinking about what my swimsuit looked like, or if it was appropriate for that activity, or anything else. At that moment, all my focus was on paddle boarding.

When we put all our focus into something, it’s quite difficult to get distracted with other things. So I’ve come up with a challenge for those of you who have still to conquer the bathing suit in public task. 

Pick an water or beach related activity that you’d like to try. It could be anything as long as it’s something challenging: going for a bike ride on the shore, SUP, getting out there in a floatie, beach volleyball… you get the idea. The important thing is that it’s something that you’ll have to really concentrate on. 

When you’re ready to get out there and try it, pick out that swimsuit you know you want to wear, and without thinking twice, put it on. After that’s done, it’s time to get that brain thinking about the activity you’ve selected. If your mind is really focused on that,  there won’t be enough “thought power” to be concerned about your swimsuit. You’ll be concerned about staying up on the paddle board, not running people over on your bike, getting that ball over the net when you serve, or whatever other activity you’ve decided to do. The beauty of it will be that, after those first few awkward moments, you’ll be achieving a goal while wearing that awesome swimsuit! I guarantee you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world!!

If you feel you won’t be able to concentrate on your task because your mind will still be concerned about your swimsuit, then see if maybe you can adapt the challenge to something you’ll feel comfortable with. Maybe jean shorts and a nice bikini top, or a one piece with a sarong... you decide what is a good level of dare for you. The important thing is to go out there and have fun. At the end of the day, this will be yet another opportunity to face your fears and come out successful. Sound good?

Happy Long Weekend to you all!! I look forward to hearing about your adventures, and your success!

Grandma's Day this Sunday

Not sure if you all know about this, but this Sunday is Grandma’s Day! At least it is where I come from :) Anyway, I unfortunately will only be able to contact my grandma over the phone, but it’ll still be nice to hear her voice, tell her how much I love her, and remind her that she’s the cutest, most cuddly grandma in the world.

I’m proud to say my grandma is 85 years old and still wears her swimsuit to the beach. Mind you, she survived cancer, TWICE! One of them a rare type of breast cancer that resulted in a mastectomy. Yet she just pulled right through with such a positive attitude that I sometimes when I look at her I can’t exactly tell which side it was. She just puts on her little silicone pad and carries on with life, no reservations! How cool is that?

Whether you speak to your grandma in person, over the phone, or in your dreams, I invite you all to take some time this Sunday to acknowledge their presence and importance in your lives. Maybe have her tell you a story about her you didn’t yet know, share with you that secret recipe, or just thank her for all the love and positive influence they brought. I'll be having two chats, one over the phone and one via prayer. What about you?   

If you’re a grandma, soon to be grandma, or even feel like a grandma (in a good way of course) then all the more reason for you to go out there and rock your swimsuit! Use all that life experience to show the youngsters how it’s done, and get out there looking fabulous! Perhaps the suit you’ll come out in isn’t the same as when you were 20, but who cares? There’s elegance in every style and age group, so I’m sure you’ll find something that is exactly what you were looking for. 

To all grandmas out there, specially to the two closest to me: Wishing you all a Happy Grandma's Day. May you continue to bring so much sunshine into all our lives.

The Neoprene Trend

Hello everyone!

Today we'll be talking about a trend that I've been noticing for a while now. Have any of you all noticed those fluorescent swimsuits shaped with black lines? Here's a pic in case you have no idea what I'm talking about:

Ah, that's what I meant! Anyway, I've seen quite a few of these around, and I have to admit at first they weren't my favorite. They have grown on me thought, and now there's something about all those bright colors that just makes everything look happier. However, I did learn something else about these swimsuits that I couldn't wait to share with you all!!

Did you know that, because these suits are made from neoprene (aka material used in wetsuits) they not only help in keeping your intimate parts a little warmer, but because neoprene is a thicker fabric, it doesn't grab as tight as regular swimsuits. So you don't have those very evident "panty lines" showing as much, if at all. Pretty cool, don't you all think? 

No panty lines, I like it!!

Not a big fan of the neon? No problem! Although most of the neoprene swimsuits I've seen are fluorescent, there are several brands that do them in any other color you'd like. For example, Luv Swimwear has a really nice selection of neoprene suits in colors like red, white, and even purple! Totally worth checking out! 

These babies also come in one piece suits, in case that's your go-to swimsuit type. 

Anyway, that's what I wanted to share with you all today. Neoprene suits are not only a trend for this summer, but they could also be our friends when it comes to those lines we don't want showing.

Happy Swimsuit Hunting!!

... And This Is What Happened

Hi everyone!

I love how you’re all getting into the spirit of Oh My Swimsuit.

There’s so many good articles out there, it’s a bit difficult to keep track of them all. So, I’m always happy to receive suggestions of what to share with you all. 

Today’s post is a really interesting one. Sent to me by one of my readers, I though it was such an interesting experience, and it really accentuates how we can (and should) find beauty outside of conventional standards. These women are so honest, it’s almost impossible not to relate. I’m sure you’ll all enjoy this article.

Keepin’ it short today, at least from my end. But please make sure to take some time and read We Tried on Victoria’s Secret Bathing Suits, And This Is What Happened.

Happy Swimsuit Hunting!!