Mexico Vibes

So this chilly weather has me really missing the heat. Calgary can get really warm in the summer, but nothing compared to how hot it gets in Mexico. Last September i had gone to Cabo, Mexico with my best friend Shannan. I've known Shannan since my elementary days. I was so happy to take that trip with her. That was also my first time on a plane!

I think my favorite part (besides the food) was all the activities we got to do. One of them was a dolphin encounter!

We learned a lot about these beautiful creatures and got to get up close with them. Was such a cool experience. It's really amazing what they're able to do! Another fun activity we got to do was get up close with camels! Yes, camels! 

This excursion was really unique and gave us lots of cultural experience! It started off with a tour through the desert and learning about the environment. We also got to have authentic Mexican food for lunch which was truly amazing! Oh yea, we also got to RIDE the camels!

Riding a camel is nothing like riding a horse. For one it's super high up! They had stairs for us to get onto the camel. Also they're such gentle creatures that its such a smooth calm ride. Not what i was expecting. It was an experience ill never forget.

This was our group for the excursion. Really nice people and we all had an amazing time. That funny looking truck is what we got to ride around the whole time in.Not quite a smooth ride as the camels. The last excursion we did was sail boating and snorkeling!

Im not a fan of boats at all, so my nerves were a bit on edge for this excursion. But i tried to ignore it and just enjoy the ride. It was amazing to be surrounded by such blue water. Not to mention how warm the ocean water was. So incredible. We got to relax on board and enjoy some food as we made our way to a little cove to go snorkeling!

Snorkeling was a blast! Was amazing to have fish swimming around your legs. They also love crackers apparently. Shannan was a really strong swimmer so she did great. Myself on the other hand, i can swim, but i have a fear of deep water. Even though i could see the bottom, a life jacket was much needed to keep my nerves at ease. 

Shannan volunteered me to try paddle boarding. I'm glad she did, i didn't think i would be able to do it but after a while you start to get the hang of it! It was so cool! I'd for sure try it again if i had the opportunity.

Mexico is one trip i will never forget. Sometime's you just have to push yourself to do something even if your afraid of what's to come. It just may be the best experience of your life.

- XoXo Sara

Nicole - Maca

So let me introduce one of my Best Friends. Her name is Nicole. I became friends with Nicole about 2 and a half years ago when she started working for the same company as me. 

Our friendship started forming immediately. We've become so close over the years, i can't imagine life without her. I feel like I've known Nicole all my life. If i could describe our friendship in one word, it would be goofy.

Our entire friendship has been filled with laughter. No one can make me laugh as hard as she can. Some of the things we laugh about, might not make sense to others at all. She for sure brings out the goofy side in me.

We have so many things in common! No matter what's going on in my life, i know Nicole can relate. I can tell this girl anything. Aside from all the goofing around we do, some of my deepest conversations have been with her. What ever has me down, i know talking to Nicole about it will always make me feel better. No matter how bad my mood, she can always make me laugh.

This photo came from one of the little photo shoots me and Nicole like to do. It's always a blast going some where random and taking some cute pictures. Usually we go to a park.

Now your probably wondering what's with "Maca". Well somewhere along the beginning of our friendship, we discovered how much we both loved Macarons. Those little french colorful pastries of heaven! If you haven't had one, go do it. Right now. After we had a trip downtown to get some of those tasty treats, our nicknames came about as Nicole-Maca and Sara-Maca. Totally unique, just like our friendship.

This is a photo from this past summer when we did Rugged Maniac. This photo is not only adorable times 10, but it also shows our friendship a lot. I've overcome a lot of hard obstacles with Nicole by my side. I feel this photo is very fitting of that. Also, who doesn't love to crawl through a mud pit?! Minus the barbed wire, my bun kept getting stuck =/

But this is my best friend. I wouldn't trade her for anything. <3

- XoXo Sara

The Gang

So most of us all have that one group of friends that always sticks together. This is mine. Here is the gang:

Starting from the left, is Me, Cherry, Chi, Jen, Kendra. I don't even remember how long ago this photo was taken. But i do remember going to Walmart and buying bubbles and junk food. (because why not?!) I've known these ladies since Junior High. Grade 9 was the year our group became more of an official thing.

I had the privilege of graduating High School with these ladies. We all looked stunning the day of our banquet. The best memories i have from grad are with these guys. I was dealing with some difficult things the last year of school, but i was lucky enough to have these ladies by my side and reminding me of the happiness i still had.

In this photo we have myself, Cherry, Chi, Navi, and Kendra. Navi occasionally hangs out with our group, but usually she's pretty busy. Cherry does have a real name, its Charnjeev. She got the nickname Cherry back in Junior High and it just kinda stuck. Sometimes its hard to get everyone in our group together since there's so many of us. This photo is from a day we went to play mini golf. Jen was unable to attend.

Our usual place for our dinner gatherings is Cactus Club. The food is amazing and its got a nice sense of class to it. We have dinner here as a group once a year. It's usually around Christmas to do our gift exchange.

On those days that majority of us are free and we plan something, we always find something interesting to do. Some days we would just get dressed up and go take some nice pictures in the park. Like this one. Yet another day that one of us was unable to attend. But we make the best of it. Day's where all 5 of us are available, is a rare occasion.

Even though our group may not get together very often, I'd still be lost without them. Through all the big events going on in our busy lives, we have all been there for each other. When life get's too stressful, its great to get together with these ladies, have a few laughs and just escape reality for a while.

What ever life has coming our way, we will always go through it together. Can't wait for all the adventures that the future holds for our gang.

XoXo Sara

Get Rugged!

How rugged are you?! I sure pushed my limits with doing Rugged Maniac here in Calgary. This was my second year doing this race and it never fails to challenge me!

If you have always thought about doing an obstacle race but were a bit on the nervous side and decided against it, i promise you if you do it, you will feel so accomplished. Rugged Manic is on the "rugged" side so bruises and cuts are a given. But even though its a bit rough on the body, its so much fun and you'll gain an experience you'll never forget.

Getting involved with a race always starts with having a good team. I got a group of my closest friends together and we had a blast. If you wanted to try the race solo, that's cool too! Everyone involved in the race is like one big family and always helps each other out along the way.

This was my second year doing Rugged Maniac, and as hard as it was, ill be sure to sign up for years to come! You feel so accomplished crossing that finish line and receiving your medal.

The second race I've participated in is Foam Fest.This race is more on the gentle side and is about the fun more then the challenge. If you don't wanna get too "rugged" and are looking to test out the feel of an obstacle race, i recommend Foam Fest.


Foam Fest has a bit of muddy obstacles to make you get pretty dirty, but they also have the foamy ones which kinda clean you off, and hey, who doesn't like playing in bubbles!

Last but not least we have Mud Hero. If your looking to get FILTHY, then this is the race for you. There is no shortage of mud in this race. They make sure your covered in head to toe in the thickest mud possible.

I just finished Mud Hero 2016 last weekend, and that was my third year doing this race. The obstacles arent too challenging in this one, but they sure are muddy! 

If you had to ask me which of the 3 are my favorite, i couldn't give you an answer. Each race is so different in its own way that i couldn't pick one to be my favorite. Once you try one race and get a feel for it, you'll be hooked. I've over come obstacles i never thought i could and plan to continue those challenges. 

Never underestimate the strength you have. No matter what obstacles you face you can always get past it. Weather its a race, or something in life, you can do it. Just find it within yourself and you can :)