Capitola Adventure!

Yesterday, I returned from one short, but absolutely amazing trip! My mom, Janice {my mom's bestie}, Liam, and I drove south to a small town called Capitola. {It is right next to Santa Cruz if you didn't know.} We had been planning this trip over 6 months, and finally the day arrived.

I have quite a few pictures to show, so maybe it would be better if I told you about our trip with the photos as support and direction. {Sorry for not editing them... I'm being lazy tonight.} Anyway, here we go!

 The beginning of our mini adventure started with a long car ride, good reads, funny jokes, and beautiful views.

 Once we arrived in Capitola, we went straight to the beach. We had lunch, and then people watched for a little while. I loved watching this guy, and his two cute boys digging a whole to nowhere.

 After an hour or so at the beach, we went to our camp site. {Did I tell you guys this was a camping trip? No? Well, it was! Haha.}

 We roasted marshmallows, warmed our freezing bodies by the fire, and listened to the waves crashing against the shore.

 And of course I had to take a candid photo of Liam being blinded by the unexpected flash of my camera. Sorry 'bout that kiddo...

 These two taking their time walking down  the little path from our campsite to the beach.

 We took a morning stroll on the beach full of finding little treasures, goofing around, and getting a little wet.

 Did I mention Liam is the cutest kid ever??? All of my favorite pictures on this trip were of him...

 Liam kept daring the ocean to get him... and before you know it he was soaked. {This is the last picture of him dry, before this wave and the next got him good. }

 Haha... this picture. Lets just say I had a little dilemma with my hair tangled in my glasses and me trying to take off my sweatshirt...

 This was a ship wreck found at the end of the pier we walked to.

 As cool as the ship remains were, that thing was stanky. Bleh!

 I found a pretty flower <3

This kid...

 This happened a lot. We often stopped some where along the beach, and take in the beauty of the seemingly never ending ocean. We saw some pretty dolphins and seals too.

 Can we take a moment to admire how cute these two are?!

 I mean, aren't they so adorable?!

 Love them!!!!

 Hundreds of these jellyfish were swept on shore by the rising waves. Even though I was scared to touch them, aren't they beautiful?!

 A slice of pizza and some store adventures in downtown Capitola.

 The gorgeous path from our campsite. <3

 Our last sunset was a mysterious one...

 Here's another photo of it.

 Nighttime fun with super bright glow sticks!

 The next morning was pretty foggy, but it was calm and peaceful.

 I took some time for myself to enjoy the view, and think about things that have been on my mind a lot lately. It was quite peaceful.

We went to the beach one last time around the lunch time, said goodbye to the beautiful view, and topped off our long adventure with another long car ride home. Luckily that car ride was an adventure of its own with our car deciding to stop working in the middle of the freeway, but also some in sync dancing to some of our favorite songs.

Capitola,
You were amazing to me, and I cannot wait to come back next year. Hearing the waves all night long, smelling the so many interesting smells, and finding some peace. You were more than I could have ever asked for.

lovelovelove,
Melissa

We Day

Even though I should probably be catching up on sleep right now, I feel like putting in my last bit of energy to write this post for you guys! I have so much to say! Although, before I start I just wanted to say that I am truly sorry for some posts I have posted on here lately. Some of them have been a little much. I am trying to change that, so that this blog stays more positive and that it doesn't branch out to be too personal. So, I very much apologize.

Now, back on to what I REALLY wanted to talk to you guys about! Today was We Day California!! For all who don't know, We Day is an event held for kids around the world who make a difference in this world and their communities. Whether they are doing volunteer work, gathering canned food, OR even traveling around the world to help others in need, they are all making a difference! We Day is a very special event held in many cities, in many countries, and is where all these amazing children gather together to celebrate and create memories of a lifetime. At We Day there are special guests and speakers, like Orlando Bloom, Evanna Lynch, Hannah Alper, Spencer West, and Selena Gomez, who come to make this day extra special! And that is just to name a few who came to just TODAY'S event.

The thing is, is that there is a catch to this event. The tickets to We Day cannot be bought, but earned! Each attendee has earned his/her way in to We Day by getting involved in one local action in his/her community, and also one global action. So, all these kids are absolutely incredible, and they are also all here for the same reason: they are making a difference in this world!

I was very lucky to be able to attend We Day. Although, technically I was not "attending" We Day, but I was volunteering. Just by being there and volunteering, I was making a difference. Funny thing is that I didn't really realize I was until I was already in my car, leaving We Day. But it's true, I was. Being there and helping these outstanding kids have the times of their lives and helping make sure that the show went perfectly was me making a difference. I know. Weird, right? Me? Making a difference? Yea.... I never thought I'd actually ever say that. But really, I was, and that made the whole experience SO much more special!

Even though I was a volunteer, I really got to undergo the whole experience! I was very lucky to be able to work literally right next to the stage. My job was to be super loud, help out with the transitions in the show, and get the children in my area to have the best experience ever. And... I also got to dance my heart out!

To be honest, We Day was the best thing I have ever experienced. Just getting to be in the same room with over 16,000 other children who are making a difference in this world in SO inspiring. It is so amazing to look around the stadium, and see all 16,000 united as ONE! All of the lights on our wrists shined in sync as the whole stadium clapped to the beat of the music, and the amount of cheering a whole stadium could make at once is giving me the chills just thinking about it. The leaders and speakers that spoke were extremely inspiring, and touched me in ways no one has ever been able to before.

I was completely not expecting this to ever happen, but there was a time in the show when I was completely in tears. One of the speakers touched the subject of the pressure to be perfect and bullying, and that hit me hard in the chest. I never really talked about it, but there was a time when I was being bullied. A lot of it sticks with me to this day, and so when this speaker started talking about bullying, I was very much impacted emotionally. The thing is, is that I was not the only one either. When I was being bullied, I often felt alone and felt like I had no one I could talk to about it, but today I realized something: I was never really alone at all.

Now that I have talked my heart out about We Day {I could keep going, too,} I would like to show you the We Day video! This video is what inspired me in the first place to become apart of this incredible production. Enjoy!

We Day was definitely an experience I will never forget! It has impacted my life, and inspired me in so many ways to take a stand and make a difference. So, to end this post, I would just like to say one thing:

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

lovelovelove,
Melissa