Let's Empower Women This Holiday Season!

I wanted to do something special for Christmas to let you all know how much I love you!  I racked my brain trying to think of the perfect gift.  I thought, 'host a giveaway!' and then I thought, 'make them a playlist!' but then I thought, 'nah, I can do better than that!'.  

Here in Nautie Mermate Land we believe in empowering women.  In fact, we believe in it a lot.  We want women to know that they can go anywhere and be anything they want.

We as women also know, that sometimes this means we have to work a bit harder. 

“Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.”

— Charlotte Whitton

While it may be true that women have to work harder it's not true that they have to do it alone.  We owe it to each other, men and women alike, to be there for the Ladies who are out there getting it done.

In your honor (and in the spirit of Christmas), Nautie Mermate empowered a women's group via Heifer International.  Nautie Mermate believes that with a little education, a little encouragement and, a little bit of girl talk women are unstoppable.

Nautie Mermate also believes in community - especially our own.  While it's true that international women need a boost up it's also true that there are some pretty spectacular women in our own community who are getting it done.

Team Rock is a group of 10 female paddlers who race long distance and are gearing up to participate in the Takapuna Beach Cup 2014 in New Zealand.

These Chicks are rugged and I can't wait to see them kill it in Aotearoa!  

Imagine hopping out of an escort boat in the middle of the ocean and treading water until your canoe comes past - you wait for someone to hop out and then you pull yourself up into the canoe.  Rugged.Water.Women.

change out

Here's to you Nautie Friends!  Thank you for being the best support network I could possibly ask for - to say you've made a difference in my life would be an understatement.  Here's to supporting all the unstoppable women out there!  

“The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”

— Ayn Rand

Nautie Mermate Adventures :: Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city I don't visit often enough.  It's eclectic.  It's got great food.  It values green space.  I love it when I'm there.

The best part of my Portland experience was the weather!  I've managed to plan this trip in the middle of a cold snap that has brought sunshine and blue skies.

I felt so lucky to be wandering around bundled up sipping delicious coffee!

In the land of Megan, sunshine, coffee, and a camera are great day essentials.  I felt like I won the Portland game before it began!

If you asked me what kind of touristy attractions there are in Portland I wouldn't be able to give you a single activity.  When I'm in the city (which isn't very often at all) I just wander around.  That's my favorite thing to do.  I wander around and, I try to do it slowly.

With good weather and good coffee you can wander around this city for hours but, when I'm here I always wander in one direction.  Towards Powell's.  Always.  I don't think I've ever missed Powell's on a trip to Portland.  In fact, if I know I'm heading to Portland I think of random obscure books that I'd love to find.  Last time I was there I found Salt-Water Poems and Ballads by John Masefield.  Winning.

I cruised around for a bit - one city block of book wandering folks - and then I sat down in the cafe to catch up on life.  I needed to send some thank you notes, my dogs were barkin' and, I wanted to play with my phone (obviously).

I ended up plopping down next to this dude who was making these killer paper flowers.  I was mesmerized.  I stared and stared until he was finally uncomfortable enough to look my way.....and then I blurted, 'canitakeyourpicture?!'.  He just shrugged his shoulders so I took his picture and then he said, 'do you have somewhere you could take one of these flowers to keep it safe?' and I felt so, so, so sad that I had to say, 'no I don't but I really, really wish I did.'  Then he said, 'if you think these are pretty you can see some really nice photos of them at world-paper-flowers-dot-com.' so I scribbled it down to check out later.

Portland's got a great vibe but, as I walked around I kept thinking to myself, 'is this real life?'.  That thought would quickly be followed up with, '....so  maybe the show Portlandia isn't that far off the mark....put a bird on it?'.  Portland in my opinion is almost surreal.  The homeless man aggressively panhandling while dressed head to toe in carhartt with his dog who's wearing a jacket.  The sweater bombed beaver statue.  The hipsters.  It just makes me wonder, 'is Portland like this every day?!'.    

Friends, Portland is worth a visit.  If for no other reason to look around and think, 'people seem pretty happy here'.  People ride bikes.  People read books.  People view coffee as a sacred art form.  People listen to street musicians.  People (as in everyone) say 'thank you' and 'have a nice day' to the bus driver when they exit at their stop.  People buy things if there's a bird on it.  Plus, Portland isn't as gritty as Seattle.  It's a little softer around the edges.  Its buses are clean.  It's downtown is compact and walkable.  There's no sales tax.  These things are heavily weighted pros.  (you know, in case you were making a list...)  

I've decided I like Portland because indeed its carhartt-y bums, bearded hipsters, sweater bombing ninjas, and kick butt coffee (ahem, stumptown) is indeed an everyday phenomena.  Plus, Portland is home of stripperaoke.  Sign.me.up.  

Yanksgiving

Ummm....let's just pretend that I haven't been neglecting you all and just carry on....shall we?

I'm a bit of a turkey day nay sayer.  It's not really that I don't want to enjoy it - it's more like I never have enjoyed it.

My lovely Mother is a Canuck (and Mom please forgive me) not a Kitchen Goddess. Don't get me wrong she has all the potential to be a Kitchen Goddess but it's majorly not her jam.  Pair this with living in Hawaii removed from most of our family Thanksgiving was a holiday that could very conveniently be swept under the rug.

As I get older I actively work on scheming up ways to avoid Turkey Day. When you're on your own people love to take you in (bless their hearts). I will admit that my three favorite Thanksgivings have been spent with friends in their homes. 

Believe me when I say that this year I was feeling particularly proud of my Turkey Day Avoidance plan - just go to Canada I thought!  Brilliant. 

Upon arrival in Vancouver it was exuberantly announced, 'We're having American Thanksgiving for yoooouuuu!!!!'.  *commences internal groaning* I reply, 'oh yay!  Sounds fun!'  

It was FUN.  It was YUMMY.

The Fixins'

It was Sleeping Ninja Turtles (must have been the tryptophan). It was playing Pirates (because Auntie Mei Mei loves playing pirates *eye roll*). It was FAMILY. 

Sleeping Turtles

It was the best Yanksgiving EVER.  Thank You Canadian Family.   

Link Love + The GOOD

Any Sailor will tell you, it doesn't matter how much they love being at sea it's the good at home that makes it all worth it.

Good Friends.  Good Times.  Good News.  Good Things.

Except, what is good for me is good because I have to wait for good.

This is why we cry at the kitchen counter, no?  Because we know a little cry is good for us every now and then....and when we bottle it all up it's harder to see the good!

Wanna know what's good?

Well, wanna know what's good in addition to having good people in your life - the kind of people who tell you to cry it out when you vent on your blog?  (Thank you for that.)

Flowers sent from family letting you know they're proud of you.

Grilled Veggies and Lamp Chops with Wine and Friends?

It's not a delicious meal.  It's everything.

Morning blog time with coffee...under a mermaid-y quilt made by a friend?  THE GOOD.

I always find a little link love freshens me up and gets me back in the swing of things.

Lets start with a pretty view of Vancouver for you.  You're Welcome.

Book Suggestions.  Must.Read.More.

Simone, nails it with Nobody is Perfect.  Her blog is racy and I love it.  (This post also helped motivate me to blog drunk so hey, she must be doing something right *wink*.)  

You're gonna make it after all.  A simple but lovely reminder.

Here's something only my closest friends know:  I really can't stand Thanksgiving.  That being said, I could do a Friendsgiving....in fact....it looks quite lovely but, I'm not doing it without flower crowns....just saying.....

I have a thing for small abodes.  This tiny space is a gem.

Check out this music video.  Pure Genius.

I like Kurt Vonnegut.  That is all.

Ashton Kutcher might actually be the man.  This surprised me.  Watch It.

This is some hardcore but amazing writing advice.  Unpack everything.  Thanks Davinia!

I'm leaving you with a laugh.  This interview really made me belly laugh.   

Have an amazing weekend!!

Lets use our imaginations.

 Doesn't this look like a good place to sip coffee and enjoy the morning?  Doesn't this look like a good place to enjoy a big lovely salad in the afternoon sun?  Doesn't this look like a good place to string twinkly lights and grill with friends?

Today is the kind of day that requires a healthy imagination.  When my sea days drag I just imagine my vacation because that's the reward - time to do the things I love.   Lets imagine together.

“Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy.”

— Unknown

Lets stop and smell some roses.  Lets go thrift shopping with friends.  Lets hold warm mugs with cold fingers.  Lets wear sunglasses on cloudy days.  Lets dress up and go to the grocery store.  Lets take our cameras on a walk around the block.  Lets paint our toenails pink.  Lets have breakfast for dinner.  Lets decide to enjoy ourselves.  

Happy Birthday Sweet Blog.

Nautie Mermate is three today.  Three. A lot has happened in those three years.  I lived in Hawaii, tried out Maine for a bit, and then plopped a squat in Houston.  I've changed ships twice.  From the Persian Gulf, to the Med, to a worldwide tramper.  I made the move from tankers to heavy lifts.  I upgraded my license and dove head first into the waters of Chief Mate-ness.

This blog has become so much.  A sounding board for all my coulda, shoulda, woulda's.  A motivator.  A sweet escape.

Two years ago I celebrated Oct. 19th with friends in Maine - there were cupcakes.  Last year, I have no clue why I didn't celebrate and, this year I find myself at sea.  Eastward bound for the Panama Canal.

Today, life couldn't be sweeter.

I saw an amazing sunrise.

I sipped an orange goodness.

I watered my plants.  

I made a quinoa salad for lunch.

...and seriously, if this blog isn't about sunrises, orange goodness', shipboard gardens and quinoa...well then, I just don't know what it's about...

Nautie Friends, thanks for all your kind words through it all - the pep talks - the mettle making - the whip cracking - the virtual hugs.  I heart you.  Like...I heart you a lot.

I have one small request for you...de-lurk!  Who are you lovely readers?  Where are you from?  What do you do?  What do you enjoy most here in Nautie Mermate Land?

Here's looking forward!