WARNING: The photos that you are about to see show some skin. I’m wearing a tankini that doesn’t cover my tramp stamp area. You’ve been warned.
I’ve never been a fan of swim suits. Well okay when I was like 10 and the only parts of my body that I was aware of were my hands and the words “Fat” or “Cellulite” had no room in my vocabulary. But since then trying to fit an unconventional body into a very conventional swim suit has been — trying. A few years ago I settled on tankini’s — mostly just because I like when two old words combine to form a new word (I use sporks and guesstimate whenever possible.) But now in my old age of 25, I feel it necessary to cover my parts when in public and water recreation is involved. So for me and my body, tankini’s it is. Well until we took these pictures and I realized that tankini’s don’t cover my back side like they cover my front side. I had no idea I was showing the world that much of my lower back. I also fear that my body is longer in the back than in the front, which worries me on some level and explains so many other things. So this is the other side of my life. My husband works at a retreat center and for the past two years this is where we have lived every weekend. I’m a style blogger by week, and a boy scout by weekend. And as you can see, I’m an avid canoe-er. I’m also really good at laying in an inner tube and floating down a river for hours at a time. My list of summer recreational talents just go on and on.
Now who wants me to show them how to make a double bowline knot?
43 Responses
No comments yet? I can't handle this, sweets.
Must comment. Must comment.
Beautiful sky, beautiful canyon, beautiful girl!
Gorgeous! I love the top tied… I'm going to try that. Like this week. For sure. Does this "recreation" center you speak of have one of those big balloons lying on the lake that you can bounce people off of, a la summer camp? If so… I don't know what. Except that I love those!
new words are awesome.
im particularly partial to "shants" for shorter than usual pants and "swoat" for not quite sweaters, not quite coats 🙂
That looks like the perfect weekend. <3
xoxo
Stacey Kay
"Runway Inspiration, Vintage Decoration"
http://www.goodwillhuntingg.com
WHAT? kendi. you must be crazy! how can you not love your body? you're totally hot and gorgeous. everybody has fat and cellulite. it means you're healthy. yes, too much fat isn't healthy, but you certainly don't seem to come anywhere close to having too much. and even if you did have more fat than you do you would still be beautiful. there is no such thing as a "conventional" body. every woman is shaped differently. that makes life more exciting. and for the record, the average woman in the united states is a size 12, and the average man is attracted to a size 10 rather than a size 2. women who like women care even less about size.
women have a responsibility to ourselves and each other to fall in love with our own bodies because and internal insecurity or dislike is easily projected onto others, creating a culture of judgment in which we tear each other down. we should be building each other up.
i'm probably going to write my next blog post (for monday) on this very subject so i can expound upon it some more. i want you and everyone who comments after me to come read it, and this isn't just a ploy to expand my readership (it is a little bit). its a very important subject and very pertinent to the style blogging community because you guys expose yourselves to the fashion world so frequently, and we all know what the industry has done to the feminine ideal. so be on the lookout monday night and tuesday for my post.
http://betterconsciousness.blogspot.com/
That sounds so fun! What a happy, active, exciting double life! You look beautiful!
You're warning made me giggle! I know how you feel about tankinis, my sentiments exactly. But, from these pics, it looks like you have a great body! Such long legs, I'm so jealous!!
You're adorable as always and while if I had your body, I'd be in a bikini all the time, I really appreciate your modesty!
I know how you feel about being in a bathing suit. Now that I'm 27 I feel like I'm at the age where wearing a one piece is normal instead of it just looking like I'm trying to cover up my rolls!…even though that's still what I'm doing!
Pretty lake! Canoeing and lying in a tube are my fav summer activities. In whatever old bikini I find in my Old Target Bikinis drawer.
Ahhhh I just LOVE the hill country! I would love to be canoeing right about now! And your outfit is PERFECT! -Meg @ oisme.blogspot.com
These photos are gorgeous! The scenery is stunning and you look just beautiful.
so, ur cute. and always are. lol. I love that u are a boy scout by weekend! We often go kayaking with my fam on the weekends to. i freaking love just being out on the water. HAPPY MAD MEN NIGHT MY LOVE.
xo, Kim http://www.eatsleepwear.com
I don't know what you're talking about! Your lower back looks great! You really are too hard on yourself, but really who isn't. I've never been a fan of bathing suits, to me they just aren't comfortable! I love to canoe. I used to go to Boy Scouts with my brother. Your post really brings back funny memories.
afewsillylittlethings.blogspot.com
always;L
GORGEOUS photos. I missed your little attribution arrows, though, until I remembered I could go back to your 30 for 30 page to see where you got that top. It's perfect work-to-weekend wear!
You make me smile. At 25 almost 26 I remember pushing my then newborn son with my mom in the mall and declaring that bikini season had ended for me forever. Now at 33 and at least on size larger then you I proudly wear two. Ok they have really covering bottoms but that is more about shaving and yes I have some lovely streach marks but this year I decided I needed bikini season again and after my first few very nerve racking trips to the Y pool with the family I love the bikinis and have no plans of going back anytime soon. In a funny way I feel much more comfortable in my skin now then I ever did in my 20s. I only hope this feeling keeps getting better with age.
I love these pictures. You look straight from a catalog! Adorable. I want to be lazy and float down a river now…
Kendi – these pics are fantastic and I can't imagine a young, beautiful woman such as yourself has fear of swim suits and bikinis! Although If I were canoeing every weekend, I might want a tankini to cover my burgeoning belly. You look fantastic and I dpon't want you to think else-wise (if that's a word?)
xx Vivian @ http://diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com
You are gorgeous no matter what you wear.
These photos look so surreal! I love it!
Kendi, these pictures are beautiful. And so are you 🙂
You have the BEST outfits. I love your style and your witty entries … you're one heck of a gal!
Thanks for being my inspiration for bravery … enough to do my first clothes entry!
What a gorgeous place to spend a weekend! And I also love a great tankini. In fact, I'm even drifting into 1-pieces, much to the chagrin of my husband who claims that 25 year olds shouldn't own 1-piece bathing suits.
So what you're saying is that you live the perfect life? I'm mucho jealouso.
You really shouldn't worry about showing a little back. You're modest and look gorgeous.
Dear Kendi,
I totally understand your desire to not wear a bikini. Although, please don't skip out on wearing them because you think you don't have the body for it. I am 30 now and one day recently I thought damn I should have worn bikinis when I was 25 cos I was hot then. And then it struck me, in 5 years I am going to look at pictures of myself and think, damn I should have worn a bikini when I was 30, I was hot then. Point is we are currently as hot as we're ever going to be. Enjoy it!
you always have the most gorgeous photos. i wish my everyday life contained such beautiful and unique places!
Gorgeous! I shriek at the thought of wearing a bathing suit and even more so at the thought of photographing myself wearing one, so i understand,
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
Christmas in July giveaway
such cute pictures!!
I see tramp stamp area but no tramp stamp. It's never too late to get one, possibly the name of your favourite boy band?
Great pics…
these photos are amazing!! congrats for getting halfway there! 🙂
You're so pretty! I love the fresh, casual look.
-Bea
My husband keeps trying to get me to buy a tankini only because he likes saying the word. 🙂
Those shots are great and you look great! Forget the tankini! I say bikini!!!
CUTE outfit. love the shirt tied up. i, too, am a fan of the "tankini." taking note that lower back hangs out. 🙂
what a gorgeous location…
okay – how am i just finding (and falling in love) with your blog? how funny are you? i seriously have laughed out loud for the last ten minutes reading previous posts of yours. love your style too.
thank you kendi!
Beautiful!
aw beautiful pics! you are beautiful!
It's all about what you feel comfortable in. Around here, 65 year old woman are comfortable still rocking their string bikinis. I kind of love that.
The colors in these pictures are breathtaking. Just beautiful. Kudos to you and your hubby!
http://www.fashion-butter.com/
I adore these photos! What a beautiful place to spend your weekends!
what? no little arrows pointing at your dungaree's and tankini, telling us wear they are from? hmpf!
Love the pictures and love how you make a weekend casual outfit stylish!
Small Time Style
What a fun double life. I actually worked at a Boy Scout camp for two summers and everyday was out on the lake or in the woods. I miss it sometimes. Hope you enjoy every moment!
I also love the tied top. And I am intrigued by this camping life of yours.
You will need to do a blog post about tying knots. Of the scarf variety.