Getting Started

I am in the midst of branding an idea and I hope the blog will take account of what it is like to do such a crazy thing. What is the idea? Well, I don't want to say too much right now because of legal and design concerns; however I will say that it involves swimwear. The idea to make a bathing suit for myself after all the surgeries, weight loss/gain, pregnancy, medicines etc. is a pretty major goal. I hope to have a perfect suit for myself and hopefully other women someday. How does a history major/teacher create a swimsuit with no design experience? Well, I guess this is what the blog will be about. I have a passion that lays beyond this mini goal...to ultimately help those in need. If I am able to accomplish this first step and connect it to the final step of completing my idea the true goal will be revealed. It is unfortunate in this day and age that I cannot yell from the mountain tops EXACTLY what I would like to accomplish and how each step will be completed. So I hope to spell it out for everyone slowly, and as time (and legal analysis) continues then the big picture will be revealed. Until then I guess since I cannot explain too much let me tell everyone a bit about my story.... I am a Southern California native, born and raised in San Diego California. The city I call home is paradise. The temperature is always about 72 - 80 and the beach is my backyard. I have pictures of myself sunbathing and playing in the sand since I was three. My parents were beach lovers when I was young and then as time went on the beach scene started to change and we were not at the beach as often since it seemed to attract a rougher crowd. The high school years and early 20s found me back at the shore with friends. We sunbathed, tried our hand at surfing or swimming in the large waves, cruising around looking for fun, and ultimately to sit and watch the golden sunset at the end of a typical 'so cal' day.

As time went on I met  my future husband and we spent many days at the beach. During our relationship we traveled a bit and most of our vacations were beach resort type getaways. We found ourselves in Cabo, Cancun or in Maui. I lived in my bathing suits...all day. I would eventually at the end of a long pool day put on a nice dress for dinner out however bright and early the next morning the bathing suit was back on like a uniform. I remember friends of mine always insisting we try traveling to different places that did not involve a beach or pool.  At the time the idea of a trip with no pool or sandy shoreline did not make sense to me...the fun was at the beach. 

After a few years we got married and had a little boy, I found love all over again on the day he was born. I thought life was pretty much complete, although I did not feel quite like myself. I thought it was just from being a mom and the change in life. I was wrong. I found out a year after my son was born that I had Stage III breast cancer. I had to go through six months of treatment. I lost my hair. I lost weight. I was hoping I would not lose my life. At the end of my treatment and before radiation I asked my husband if we could plan a trip to Maui. I needed to feel normal again. He planned the most wonderful vacation for our family. We had a condo on the beach overlooking the deep blue waters off the shore. The condo was our tree house as we were on the top story and the rooms were magnificent.The palm trees surrounded the balconies and birds would fly about as we relaxed.  I did not feel like a cancer patient. However, as we trudged to the beach each day...I was very uncomfortable in my swimsuit. It was made for women who have had mastectomies. I could not wait to get back to the condo to slip on my pj's. This was a problem for me. I enjoyed the vacation and was so thankful to be alive. However, my mind started to wonder if I would ever enjoy sitting by the pool or hanging out at the beach again.  Well...this is where my research began (thank you history major background) and this is where is all begins...

I left some key elements out of my story however, I will someday share those with people as I continue on my journey of creating a perfect swimsuit...until next time!