Fall Swimsuit Sales!

Can I tell you a secret? I own too many swim suits. Growing up in California, swim wear is the summer uniform. But now, since pools and beaches are hard to come by in Colorado, I can't justify spending a lot on a leisure suit that I'm only going to wear a few times a year (and for waterfront vacations and hot tubbing). Also, floating down a river or going to the springs can eat away at swimwear, so so affordable is important. I've started only allowing myself sale swimsuit purchases over the last few years. And literally fall has been discovered as THE BEST season for swim sales (the selection is still there but with really great prices!) I'm a fall swimsuit shopper who ends up getting bottoms and tops for dirt cheap. Like this mix and match top from Anthropologie I snatched up for $10 which I will be living in when I visit California in a few months. And bottoms from Target found while picking up olive oil and coffee.

The key is being open to mixing and matching. You might pair bottoms from Old Navy with a top from J.Crew. Just stick with a color palette and patterns that work well together! My go to is teal, poppy, black, navy, and tan and I love adding in a few fun prints. Fall swimsuit shopping really is the best bang for your buck, the sales are pretty wild and it really is so great come next summer when your swimsuit collection is ready to go.  I've rounded up a few of my favorites from J.Crew, Anthropologie, and Target just for you above, in case you want to think ahead and get some good ones for next year. (Another tip is to just rummage through Target's clearance racks or ask the gals and Anthropologie if they have any swimsuits in the back…that is how I've had my best luck, as well as online shopping because you can always return it in store if t's not quite right!)

*With the expectation of full disclosure and honest & true blogging, the links in this post are affiliate links; meaning, should you purchase one of these items I get a kick back of the cost. This is not a sponsored post, however purely items that I love and believe that my readers would too, reflecting my true style and the aesthetic of this blog. Thank you for supporting the brands I choose to share about and that keep this blog going. 

Notes from a Swimmer / RahRah Designs

You guys. Summer is almost here. Can you feel it? Do you find yourself pulling out your pile of swim wear and dreaming of all the warm refreshing destination each suit could go with you to? I thought so. Me too.

Living in southern California my entire life (until recently) plus competitive swimming all through my youth, pretty much defaults me to being a swimsuit lover. Give me the beach, a pool, or even just turn the sprinklers on and I'll meet you there, suited up. Even in the dead of Colorado winter, I like to look at swimsuits on sale at anthro. Any of you with me? I know there are more of me out there ;). It might be a problem - BUT - I really just love everything that swimsuits mean: sun, water, and a fabulous day. That, and feeling beautiful in my own skin. And for me, swimsuits have got to stay put and get the job done. Whether it is paddle boarding, swimming two miles, or just floating with piña colada in hand; there's a suit for every occasion.

When Natalie showed me these adorable monogrammed swim suits from RahRah Designs, I swooned. So I only thought it fitting for you to see them too. The thing that strikes me the most about these suits, are not only their beautiful monogram detail, but the versatility. I think this suit would be perfect for all those things I mentioned above - from surfing to poolside lounging. You can see more of the options that the ladies at RahRah have for you here. (I personally love the mix of the navy bottoms with the white top like the model is wearing below).

Notes from a Swimmer / 3

In this little series, you'll find notes from my swimming heart. Because through and through, I'll always be a water girl. You can catch up on past Notes from a Swimmer here and here.

Oh this suit ! Its nautical stripes and high waisted synch have caught my eye ever since Natalie's post (and you guys, its on sale!) I don't need another swimsuit, but I just thought I should point out the fact that Anthropologie seems to be clearing out their summer swim collection in case you still have a trip planned to a beachside villa or a week of houseboating at the lake (I wish I did!). Also at Anthropologie, this darling menagerie juice glass.

1 & 3 // Lately when it comes to pool workouts, my bag of tricks is pretty empty. I rotate through the same sets. Over and over. Two workout tools I would love to add poolside to my kickboard, fins, and buoy are The Waterproof Coach and Workouts in a Binder. They are waterproof and have tons and tons of workouts, and are great for triathletes too.

2 // Can we just note how adorable the illustration is on this journal?

4 // Another book on my "to read" queue: Leanne Shapton's Swimming Studies (Winner of the 2012 National Book Critics Circle Award). The description of the book won me over:

" Swimming Studies is a brilliantly original, meditative memoir that explores the worlds of competitive and recreational swimming. From her training for the Olympic trials as a teenager to enjoying pools and beaches around the world as an adult, Leanne Shapton offers a fascinating glimpse into the private, often solitary, realm of swimming. Her spare and elegant writing reveals an intimate narrative of suburban adolescence, spent underwater in a discipline that continues to inspire Shapton’s work as an artist and author. Her illustrations throughout the book offer an intuitive perspective on the landscapes and imagery of the sport. Shapton’s emphasis is on the smaller moments of athletic pursuit rather than its triumphs. For the accomplished athlete, aspiring amateur, or habitual practicer, this remarkable work of written and visual sketches propels the reader through a beautifully personal and universally appealing exercise in reflection." 

Notes from a Swimmer / 2

ABOVE // I just love this Synchronized Swimming piece by Jeannie Phan from her book Nature's Collections. How pretty the shapes are! As a little girl my friends and I would attempt to choreograph our own synchronized swimming routines. That in addition to underwater hand stand contests. My goodness how difficult that sport is -- synchronized swimming not under water handstands (although, my husband my beg to differ). 

BELOW // How stunning would a print like this Underwater view of Triathalon Swimming be in a room needing some graphic pop? I'm thinking a similar vibe to Jenny's laundry room and the way she used a black and white print to bring interest into the space (not that it wasn't interesting in all other areas of design! )

Notes from a Swimmer

There was never a time in my life when I wasn't a swimmer. Without the pool, half of my childhood memories, if not more, would be gone. I am a swimmer. Through and through. And although competing stopped for me before I headed off to college, time spent in the water is where I still find myself whenever I'm feeling a little bit lost. It's where I find myself when I feel I need to get back to the core of who I am. Swimming is where I find my peace, my strength, and my clarity. Do you have a place like that? 

Years ago I made a decision to stop competing. It was a time in my life when I was truly compelled to think about two things: Live my life for God or live my life for the pool? When I made that decision, I was learning how to live my life for Jesus, and I was learning so much about myself as a young adult, and at that time I had to choose one. Not to say that I couldn't have done both fully, but at the age of 17, I felt the need to choose one an focus on that. You see, I was new to this thing called having a personal relationship with God. And so, I made the choice to go off into the wild blue yonder of my college years without swimming--because I wanted, for the first time in my life, to explore ministry and a life different than the one I was so accustomed to-- with 4 a.m. swim practices, meets every weekend, and the cycle of "swim, eat, study, sleep, and repeat." But I wonder sometimes where I'd be if I hadn't made that choice. Where would I be if I chose to swim into my college years? Do you ever get caught up in the "what if's" when thinking about a decision you made? 

I am multi faceted. I am a wife, a daughter, an educator, a writer, a blogger, an artist, a decorator, a dog rescuer, a friend. And yet always, I am a swimmer. Through and through, this is my core. So every now and again, there may be some notes from me-- a swimmer--in this space where all my hats can be worn. :)