We love:

Can we talk scuba diving for a minute? Because we are officially certified open water divers. This past weekend, we went to Lake Ouachita for Ocean Extreme's Padi Open Water Diver course. Two days, a ton of fun. Here are our weekend's highlights:

• First off: breathing under water. Have you done it? I have and I loved it. It was the most freeing experience I've had to date. You should definitely try it.
• I had a little trouble with the full mask flood skill but practice makes perfect (or at least definitely improved, in my case). I've heard that a lot of people have trouble with this skill (it's called diver's reflex) and that it's actually purely psychological, so that makes me feel a little better. I will continue to practice it until it is second nature to me.
• We both really enjoyed the navigation part of the course. It felt a little like we were treasure hunters. 
• After we were officially "certified" we got to free dive for about an hour. I explored a sunken ship (with a canon!) and we picked up a few quartz rocks from the bottom as souvenirs.
• Did you know that just sitting at the bottom breathing burns 500 calories an hour? No wonder we were exhausted after about 8 hours of diving. We slept for 12 hours both Saturday and Sunday nights. 

It was really a lot of fun. On the way home, we were already talking about taking the adventure diver course next. Because we like going on adventures. Before we even got home, I was already talking about inventing some kind of doggie scuba apparatus so that Tillie could partake of the fun. And look what I found, a scuba diving pup:

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Now that we're official, we've been looking at different places that we want to dive. Of course the Caribbean and Mediterranean are on our list but we're thinking we'd like to explore Devil's Den in Florida first. It's closer, cheaper, and I mean, come on! It's an underwater cavern! 

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I want to go to there:

Right now, I kind of want to dive into this photo. Who wouldn't. You would, wouldn't you? Sun on your face and a cool breeze off the water? Count me in.

If I were there on the water instead of trying to struggle through another summer-like work day here in landlocked Arkansas (sounds bleak, doesn't it?), I'd probably be hunkered down in one of those chairs, drinking iced tea, reading a good book, and debating about whether or not to take that canoe out on the water for the second time that morning. And I'd be wearing this:

Now if we could find a hammock nearby, things would be pretty much perfect.

Camping:

We're taking a weekend camping trip with some friends this month. And of course, I've been planning, prepping, and making lists like crazy.

Here's what we're bringing with us on our adventure:

Dream vacation

Does anyone else feel like this week is about a million days long? It's a little ridiculous. I am spent. Done. Over it. I'm tired, grumpy, so sore, and in desperate need of an escape. Preferably somewhere tropical with a magnificent view of the ocean. Unfortunately, my calendar and bank account won't allow it. So, join me this morning in taking a mental vacation to any (or all) of these locals:

Amazing, right? Although that last one might make me a little claustrophobic. Worth it.

[photos via ultrahome]

I want to go to there:

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I have no idea where this is, I just know I want to go there. To be in that place, in that moment, instead of where I am. Land-locked. On a Monday. Spring has taken forever to get here and I am longing for a bit of sunshine off the water, preferably from a boat. Most preferably of the sailboat variety.

I want to go to there:

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The weather this week has been so miserably cold and windy. What happened to Spring? It has me severely depressed and crabby. I think the weather is also to blame for the reason I've been feeling so tired lately. I need the sun!

So, let's go on a pretend vacation, shall we? Today we will be visiting Cinque Terre in Italy. Andrew and I are actually planning an Italian trip (not in the immediate future) that includes a stop here because I am dying to spend an afternoon floating around in the cool, crisp water.

Here's what I will be bringing on our imaginary trip:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight

Now join me in daydreaming about warm sun on your shoulders, eating cold gelato, and dipping your toes into that deliciously refreshing water.

I want to go to there:

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Provence, France. Yes, please.

Happy Friday:

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Happy Friday, everyone! We're off to St. Louis by train today to celebrate Thanksgiving 2.0 with Andrew's family. I'm pretty excited because I love trains. They're so romantic. It borders a little on obsessive, I think. This may have something to do with the Darjeeling Limited and Wes Anderson. Isn't that movie great? If you haven't seen it, you must.  Immediately. Go now.

Have a great long weekend (you got today off too, right?) Eat lots of leftovers, get out those Christmas decorations, and snuggle up with some good movies (see above).

I want to go to there:

Predjama, Slovenia. If I go here sometime during my life, I can die happy. Seriously.

I want to go to there:

I've been itching to go somewhere new lately. Aren't the Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu, Japan beautiful? Yep, I think this would definitely do the trick.

St. Louis:

We spent last weekend in St. Louis hanging with family, shopping, and eating ridiculously good food. We always have so much fun while up in St. Louis, our favorite city. I wish we never had to leave. I managed to snap a few pictures while hanging out in St. Charles on Sunday:

See more photos after the jump.

I want to go to there:

On this Monday morning, I'm dreaming of being at the Olympic Village in London.

I want to go to there:

Wanderlust:

The new online travel magazine, Wayfare, is out and it is really beautiful. I want to go to disappear inside every. single. picture. Check it out here.

P.S. Happy Leap Day! Do something exciting with your extra day of February!

I want to go to there:

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Austria's Green Lake.

I want to go to there:

beach towel / swimsuit / kindle fire / necklace / chambray shirt / shorts / hat / sunglasses / sandals

I want to go to there:

I'd go anywhere as long as it was in this:

via the J.Crew Tumblr

I want to go to there:

via 500px

Crescent Hotel:

I'm in Eureka Springs until Friday for work. We're staying at the Crescent Hotel, which is apparently, America's most haunted hotel. When I first got here, I was telling Andrew that my room might be haunted when my cell phone cut off. And coming back up to my room after dinner, I passed by the ghost tour that had stopped in my hallway. I heard the guide telling them that guests on my hall sometimes complain about getting woken up at night by what sounds like a ball bouncing. Apparently, there is the ghost of a small Victorian boy who bounces his ball in the hall at night. I was worried I would have trouble sleeping tonight, but the massive sleeping pill I just took makes me confident that I won't have any problem at all.

I had some free time after arriving this afternoon, so I took a walk around the little downtown area of Eureka Springs. Some cute shops. I got some salt water taffy from this old-fashioned candy store. I'm going to try to refrain from eating them so I can bring some back to Andrew.

Read more about the hotel, its past, and its creepy inhabitants here.

Wanderlust:

These 3 super cool guys traveled the world and created these three videos. Warning: watching these videos will give you the urge to empty out your savings account and go globetrotting.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.