The Best Summer Of My Life

Well camp is coming to an end this week & it's now just setting in. This time has truly gone by in the blink of an eye but yet I have memories for a lifetime.

My mama flew in yesterday and I loved showing her around camp and introducing her to everyone & she even came to our ceremony last night for all the women. I was so happy to have her here so she can finally truly get a touch of why I am forever a changed person.

To my friends, family, clients - I have truly missed you all during this time and you might think I've been very distant and not my normal self. I hope we can all have time to sit down so I can look you right into the eyes and tell you just how amazing this summer has been for me. I could not type any blog, or send any text that could do this experience justice. I have truly realized what I want to do the rest of my life & this is it, 100%. It's not that I didn't want to talk to you all back home, it's just that I wanted to give this camp ALL of me this summer. I haven't even been on a workout routine myself because I don't even want to be that selfish. So no, I am not really ripped and defined or in amazing shape. I'm here for these women, NOT myself. When I stop and reflect on these couple months here I catch myself asking "why me? How did I land the best job in the world?" If someone asked me what my ideal job would be, I could not even describe a better job than what I had this summer. I got paid for this - I got paid to have my life forever changed, got paid to have the best summer in my life, got paid to meet some of the most amazing people, got paid to train women from ALL over the globe and United States. I kinda laugh to myself because it's almost like I just lived in a dream these last couple months & now that it's coming to an end I stop and reflect on all of this.

I still don't know when exactly I will be home. I stopped today at the gym and thought, oh my goodness next week I could be sitting on a COUCH & watching a movie or even HGTV House Hunters ... I can have a little normal life again. But I would much rather be here, be here in this safe bubble.

I stop and think about business owners these days, think about the big business people that are so fixated on money and I truly feel sorry for them. Who cares what shoes are on your feet, who truly cares what car you are driving, who cares what kind of material possessions you can collect, who gives two shits. I've learned that being happy and making this world a better place than when you entered it is so much more important. You can keep your material goods because if that's what you work for, that's what defines you then I wish you luck in this world, because that cycle will only continue, you will never have enough. I don't need that to make me smile, to make me feel better. I can look into women's eyes and know I've made them better. That is better than any dollar value item.

I hope you all are doing amazing well & enjoying your summer!! I miss you all dearly & I'm truly trying to make you all proud of me :) Love you all!

During the 5k we stopped to take pics
Myself, Michelle, Jen and Ms Las Vegas before the "race"

By the starting line

6am photoshoot

Two of my amazing girls on the beach on morning

Some local let me walk her dog

So of course we took pics ... look at him!

Sunday Funday it was. I slept in, went and got a massage from my first ever Japanese place. Whoa was that a lil different!! She got on the table!! You know I was laughing the majority of the time. Then I went to the pool on campus to lay out. I'm just now cleaning up my room and organizing myself for the week ahead. We got 12 new campers today so we're pretty darn busy!!

Yesterday was out 5k and it went really well, the ladies loved it! Forgot after the races like that they always have all this fruit and carbs ... I stood by the tables watching :) ha ha no not really, I just was more aware of myself and not sitting by the bagels and going to town. Yesterday afternoon I took a group of women to Old Town which is pretty much Mexico. It was nice, lots of lil shops and things to see ... I found ice cream & churros! YAHTZEE

This week is going to be crazy! We have two days of hard classes, Disneyland on Wednesday, 16 mile hike on Thursday, Saturday is my birthday & then mama comes to visit me on the 11th! I'm going to be so busy b/c we only have 2 weeks left!! I'm very sad to leave this wonderful place & what's been my home for the most amazing summer of my life.

Well I hope everyone is doing great back home and you are all enjoying the weather!

God Bless

The zoo at night is a MUST


I heard him RAWR!!! My body vibrated

Both of them sat like this

Why we get aong so well

We met the zookeeper & got props

Michelle, me, Jen & Abby

Get the southwestern chicken salad there

This was so awesome!!

That's all she did, just rolled around

The group leaders for the zoo :) ha

For $5 you can feed them!!! So amazing

Jen (Chicago) my directory and myself

Michelle

Abby, one of our fine nutritionists (Purdue University)

One of my girls had an ankle injury from the ocean

So fun!

Ok so obviously these are some of the pics from the San Diego Zoo. Oh my goodness, if you come to San Diego you HAVE to go to the zoo!! AND start your day about 2pm and stay til close b/c some of the best action (lions up and making noise) is at night and the weather is PERFECT and less people. It is a MUST!!

Besides the zoo, this week went really fast. Our new co worker came in yesterday & she's been here before and seems like an amazing woman! I'm excited for all the women to meet her. We are expecting about 9 new campers today. Holy smokes AND today is my day off, which I plan to head to the harbor and tour the USS Midway navy ship. Can't wait!!

This week I instructed 5k training (our 5k is next saturday) and also a circuit training class, Butts-n-Guts, and weight training. During the 5k training I really pressed the interval style of training. The women did a fabulous job with this and I had one lady come up to me who works with a trainer back home, has her own routine and took my 5k training class for a week tell me her resting heart rate has dropped 5 digits!!! Times like those really get me excited! She was one of the many that park their butts on an eliptical for 2 hours and think they get an awesome workout. I got her RUNNING on the track, something she told me she hasn't done "for i don't know how long." She's a big motivation to everyone else too! This week in 5k training I'm taking them to a really neat course on campus b/c the UCSD campus has so much beautiful places and hiking trails. They are all excited.

We have one lady that has lost just over 30lbs and most importantly off her insulin!! Goose bumps when I heard that!

Yesterday I was with Jen (my director) and who has worked at the camp for 5 summers previous to this year and she told me that I was one of the best trainers that this camp has hired. Coming from her (a trainer from chicago for over 10 yrs) I was flattered. It's easy when you have women that just want to learn and truly appreciate your passion. I LOVE MY JOB!

Nancy, the owner, offered a 18 mile walk/hike for any of the women this past week and I had one lady come up to me and just wanted to know if I thought she could do it. Half the time these women don't believe in themselves, so I looked her dead in the eye and said "you can do this, I know you can" and she got all excited and told me "ok that's all I wanted to hear from you ." And guess what, SHE FINISHED and had the best day thus far!! She was on cloud nine! During the hike a few of my girls were pressing Nancy about coming back during the winter for a 3 week session and wanting me to be there, insisting that they must keep me on staff. And Nancy was all about it, agreed with them about keeping me. Goose bump moment AGAIN! :) I think for sure I will be in charge of a reunion and whatever else is up in the air. I would love to work for people that aren't in it for the MONEY for once. Camp La Jolla truly cares about the kids and these women & it's obvious. Thank goodness there are still people in the business world that still have compassion and love for people and not just want their money!

Ok I gotta run for the day. Hope everyone is safe and well back home. Don't worry, August 5th we are going to Disneyland and I'm pretending that day is my birthday :) And then my mom will be here on the 11th! All the women are super excited to meet her.

God Bless

Greetings

Some of my girls
Hilary, Jake and myself (other co workers)

Dead cow pose

Just some of the YAMA group

This is my chasing down my camera that one of my gals took

I make her play after our class b/c it's beautiful

I took them rockclimbing

I bought one and won another!

Hello!! See I told you I would update more often :)

Today is Wednesday (I really start my mornings have to tell myself this) & there is a group of women doing at 18 mile walk today with Nancy (the owner). If I didnt have to teach I would be ALL about this. They are HIKING and getting in the water if it's a high tide!

Monday I started a circuit training class AND I got some punching mits and kicking ones too. I knew the women would love it and they did! Something about punching, women just love it! So I would yell at some to get them to kick me and punch me. I love to really push the ones that want it. LOVE IT!!

Last night we went to Mt Soledad & if you ever come to San Diego, you NEED to go to that place. You can see all of San Diego, La Jolla, Mexico and if the night is clear, LA!

I should share this funny story. Last week I was parking the big 15 passenger van and I always have my room keys & office keys with me all the time. So I had a dumb moment and locked the keys in the van .... while it was running. I called the main office and they sent a guy with a hanger. I let him try and unlock it but he couldnt so I grabbed the hanger and did it :) ha ha

We have a lot of new amazing women that joined us on sunday!! so exciting! AND we have 9 more coming this sunday!

Yesterday was a rough day for many reasons, some of which I can't discuss at this time. But when I finally got to my apt last night, I just talked to my roomie rachel and my mind was shot. Today will be a better day & like always, we'll figure it out :) I've never felt more like a mother than I do now. I'm very protective of my girls, I have been since I had one mother say to me when she picked up her daughter from camp "thanks for taking care of my little girl" ... EEEEEK!! The nutrionists say I run a tight ship with my girls but that's just how I roll. It makes everything else run smoother & my girls come to me first & feel comfortable to talk to me.

Sunday Fun Day

It's been a while, sorry about that ... been a busy week.

Ok so last week was a fun, fast week. For the first time I truly felt exhausted. Took some time to rest my body & spent a lot of time stretching. We offered 5K training as a class this week which was fun b/c I got to start every morning at the track :) It's so nice at the track here b/c it's always busy, always people there & it's that much more motivating! I got one lady here to run every single corner on a 4 lap routine (1 mile) and she was so excited. She thought she would only run one but I told her "you're still talking, so we're still running & I ran right by her side." I always tell the ladies "hate me now, love me later" & it runs true.

We had a staff party Wednesday night (maybe thursday, I can't remember) and the big prize that was being given away was a long board (which is a really long skate board, and I already bought one in Pacific Beach). Well they waited to draw for the board last b/c it was the hot item that everyone wanted AND ... I won it :) ha ha So now I have two long boards!

I went rock climbing one night this week and it was my first time. It was pretty cool, totally new experience. It was a busy week, lots going on.

We had some really great people leave on Friday. I say 'bye' and hope to God they stay on track. They put in some serious time with us and you want nothing more than to see them make it and reach every goal.

Friday I went to a store called Road Runner and it was pretty bad ass. They put me on a treadmill and recorded me run & a couple other tests. They then pointed me in the correct direction on shoes. It was a cool thing & it makes the world of difference to have the right shoes.

I have today off so I plan to hit the gym and then head to the beach. I am brining some snokel gear that we have here at camp. One lady in our group went out last week and saw a lot of leopard sharks (harmless, Mom) at the beach I lay at. So I really want to see some.

Oh and for the record on the news reports; yes we have seen a lot of dead squids on the La Jolla shores (not sure why but I saw that on the news) and there was an earthquake last Saturday which I had no idea bc I didnt feel a thing. So no worries!!

Ok I gotta finish cleaning up my room & organizing myself for the upcoming week! I will try and update a couple times this week!!!! Pinky Swear

Loves

Hello Again

Well it's Saturday July 11th & I'm actually running a little ahead of schedule so I wanted to make sure I update my blog before our beach walk this morning.

Yesterday was a tough day, we had 10 amazing women leave & go back to the real world. It sounds weird but here at camp, it's their 'safe bubble' and things are so much easier here & it's just SAFE. Now they go to the real world, but hopefully this time with the tools and knowledge to reach their individual goals. I held back the emotions but deep down I was so sad. You grow a bond with theses women, women who were compete strangers 3 weeks ago. You see them change, you see them truly enjoy themselves here at camp & make friendships that can last a lifetime ... and usually do. I don't want to get in specifics about each woman, but I tell you, camp won't be the same. I sent one girl back to her home; Seattle and gave her orders to stalk my brother at his shop. She plans to go right into his store and call him the names ONLY I call him and I can't wait to hear all about it. After all the goodbyes and hugs yesterday I took a group of women kayaking & I enjoyed it even more this time. I was in a single kayak and I felt so at peace just rowing around Mission Bay without a single concern or worry. But when I did see all the airplanes taking off it made me think "I do not want to leave here, at all." I think more than anything, this experience has taught me to live just for this single moment. I no longer worry about tomorrow and sticking to a 'plan' ... everything will work out, there is a plan & sometimes you just need to sit back and enjoy this ride. I mean look how I ended up here, I'm here for some reason. Nancy (the owner) told me the other night in a meeting that there were hundreds of applicants for my job but she just had this feeling to select me. The same day I spoke with Nancy was the exact day I got laid off at Yellow Book USA. She was so distracted on the phone and I was at a loss for words because I didn't realize how bad I wanted the job. We agreed to talk the next day on the phone & I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think of anything else. I called her 3 times that next days because I didn't even want to start anything on that day without speaking to Nancy. I FINALLY got her on the phone and for the first time, truly sold myself and my passion on how I would be ideal for this job. I feel honored that Nancy, the woman that has ran this camp for 39 years was the one that hired me. I'm here for a reason, my path lead me here ... I don't want to plan out my life anymore really. I don't want to say where I will be next year, hell I truly do not know where I will be next month & for the first time, I'm 100% ok with that.

So my words, STOP ... just slow down & truly appreciate what you have around you at this very moment and live right now. Don't stress about tomorrow and what it brings, don't worry about yesterday and what it delivered. Live your life right now, cherish it b/c it's there for a reason & mostly; Live Better.

-- Today we are off hiking a mountain I believe & I'm really excited about it. Tomrrow as of right now, we are getting 3 new campers :) Next week we have some neat things plans, one of which is rock climbing that I am assisting with! We are also offering a class next week for 5k training. There is a 5k the first weekend of August at Balboua Park and we're gonna sign up as a group ... wow my first ever 5k :) Kinda excited about it & I've heard this park would be THE BEST run one at!!

Hope everyone is safe and healthy back home & now that I have a laptop I am able to stay more and more up to date on the news and that sucky weather back home. If you're getting sick of it, come to Sandy Eggo because it is perfect every single day.

Love and miss you all! Really, I do :)

Dara

PICTURES

Just a taste of what I am so lucky to see everyday . . . amazing!

My day off I walked around La Jolla a little more, so pretty!

A group of us girls at La Jolla shores on a training day on the beach :)

This is my friend Amie and I on La Jolla Shores one day during training :)

This guy made me laugh ... caveman that surfs, and yes, he had mini trunks on.

YAY!! I was able to post some pics on here, so excited to share some & today when we got to Sea World I will take a lot, trust me :)

Hope you all are doing great!! Yes, I am still enjoying every single minute of this amazing journey I am on. I was talking to some of the preteen girl group leaders last night at dinner & they said that their girls cry everyday over new boyfriends and break-ups. I am so happy to be with the ADULTS!! The young girls were also shocked when my friends told them that they do not have any maids or hired staff at their house ... those little girls could not even imagine that. Oh Lordy! I wish I could tell you half my stories, you would just be shocked.

One of our women left yesterday, she stayed as long as possible but had to go back to pittsburg b/c of work. It was so sad! BUT she was so happy when I took her measurements!!! In less than two weeks she lost over 5 inches!!! Again, I LOVE MY JOB!!

Ok I gotta run, my group is serving meals today, we do this so the girls can learn portion sizes ... pretty cool, huh? Hope everyone has a great day!! Be safe & hope the weather is great wherever you are :)

God Bless