Summer Totes Always in Fashion

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel 

With all the end of summer sales going on now, it’s the perfect time to get another beach bag or two to keep the summer vibe going when the autumn leaves start to fall.

A classic summer beach bag or tote is essential year round when you’re out and about, making a run to the store, spending a day at the beach, or traveling on an adventure.

When we’re on the go SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti love all the styles there are to keep our supplies, purchases, and finds close at hand.

Whether it’s a simple canvas or straw carryall, a reusable bag from the grocery store…

or a fashionista tote. Something big enough for a beach towel or with lots of pockets.

It can be colorful and fun, support a cause, or make a statement.

Using a Surfrider Foundation bag helps protect our beaches.

Proceeds from FEED Projects bags feed hungry children.

Whatever you’re up to, there’s a bag that’s just right for you – to stash your stuff, store a camera, travel guides and souvenirs, carry groceries or even a French baguette.

For a day in the sun or errands to run,

when you head to the beach keep a tote bag in reach!

It can be fun and kitschy or glam and ritzy.

Bright and breezy, it makes things easy.

Perfect for snacks and fruit, sunglasses and loot.

Seashells you find on the shore, things you buy at the store.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Chill Out in Style!

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

When the summer days get hot, what better shirt is there to chill out in than a cool, colorful Hawaiian shirt?

Also known as an Aloha shirt, the colorful, short-sleeve shirts originated in Hawaii in the 1920s and became popular on the mainland after WW II when soldiers stationed on the islands brought them home.

Movies like Rodgers and Hammerstein’s blockbuster musical South Pacific (1958)

and Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii (1962) jump-started the island-themed fashion trend even more.

President John F. Kennedy added to the Hawaiian shirt mystique, too, wearing them while sailing or relaxing at his family’s Cape Cod home in Hyannis Port, MA.

So did Tom Selleck in the hit TV show Magnum P.I. and singer Jimmy Buffett while “wasting away” in Margaritaville.

And now, fashion brands from Tommy Bahama to Ralph Lauren and Prada feature the carefree shirts in their lineups.

Originally embellished with traditional Hawaiian quilt and flower designs, the shirts have taken on a wilder life of their own with palm trees, birds, sunsets, cocktail glasses, and more showing up.

If you’re looking for an authentic Hawaiian shirt made by descendants of the original Polynesians, SurfWriter Girls friend Jeffrey Sakamoto, who’s become an expert on island lore, recommends the shirts from Pili Pacific, which utilizes the Tahitian-inspired designs of co-founders Sue Pearson and Herman Pi’ikea Clark.

A must-have for anyone spending time in the islands, whatever you choose, the fun-to-wear Hawaiian shirts bring a taste of the tropics wherever they go…and bring out the party animal in us.

A shirt you can wear tucked in or out – no necktie required! – a Hawaiian shirt takes you anywhere in style…even if it’s just inside your own home.

Mahalo to SurfWriter Greg for taking the photo of us…and all the other photos he always takes! He’s our production crew working behind the scenes.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Kindergarten School Daze

Written by SurfWriter Girl Sunny Magdaug 

Now that school is almost out for summer vacation and kids can’t wait to run out the classroom door, I think back on my own school days and how eager I was to start my first day of school.

As a young child living in Seattle, WA, each school day morning and afternoon I would look out the window of my house to see the children walking by, laughing, and talking. My mother told me that they were going to and from school. My sister and brother were too young to play with and I wished that I could go to school, too.

I remember asking my mother, “How old do I have to be to start school?” I knew about school because I used to watch Henry cartoons. He always carried his books on the way to school.  I don’t know if my mother was tired of me always asking how old I had to be, but she finally told me that I had to be five years old to start school.

When I turned five years old, I was excited because I thought, “Now I am old enough to start going to school.”

So, one day when my sister Rose and I were supposedly napping and for some odd reason my parents weren’t home, I took the opportunity to run out of my house and go to the Catholic school nearby.

Going inside the building, I opened a classroom door and saw the children sitting at their desks. Feeling happy, I went inside and stood near the front of the class. The teacher greeted me and asked what my name was. “Sonja,” I said.

Some of the children started laughing then. Everyone was looking at me now. Suddenly feeling anxious, I remembered that Henry always had something with him when he went to school…

and blurted out, “I forgot my pencil and paper.” Then ran out the door to go back home.

After I got home, my parents returned and never knew that I had gone to school by myself. At the time, I had no idea that parents were in charge of admitting their children to school. I just thought children could automatically go to school on their own. I never told my parents that I snuck out of the house to go to school that day.

Finally, the day came when my mother signed me up to start kindergarten. I was so happy! But I became a kindergarten dropout the first day! I ate something in the school cafeteria and got sick and my protective mother didn’t let me go back to school until the following year to start the first grade.

Even now, after years of school and college, I still remember my adventure going to school by myself. The sense of wonder and curiosity to learn that I had as a young child is just as active now. Along the way, I’ve acquired knowledge and skills to last a lifetime…and am still learning.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Hygge – Happiness Scandinavian Style

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

With the new year running full speed ahead and more Things To Do lists to tackle, life can get stressful.

Fortunately, there’s a way to counteract the stress around us – by borrowing from the Scandinavian lifestyle concept of hygge.

Originating in Denmark in the late 1800s, hygge means “comfortable and cozy” and embraces relaxing with family and friends in a happy and uncontrived way.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are all for that. Sunny remembers when she was on a writing assignment in Sweden and friends asked her to stay with them.

When she arrived late at night there was a whole spread of food on the table to share. Everyone ate and talked into the wee hours enjoying each other’s company.

At its essence, hygge celebrates life’s everyday moments. Think sitting in a comfy chair by the fire or outside on the deck watching the sunset, sharing a home-cooked meal, lingering over coffee, listening to music, playing a board game, waiting in the lineup for the perfect wave. “Little things” that have a huge impact on our well being.

West Coast interior designer Mickey Walker told SurfWriter Girls hygge is about “having your own place to breathe in comfort and warmth.” She’s found that hygge fits well with the region’s “laid back approach to living and entertaining.”

Walker specializes in creating what she calls “harmonious homes” that fill your heart with joy – the kind of place where you truly can be yourself and live the comfortable hygge life.

To create your own hygge environment, here are some tips:

Surround yourself with furnishings that have a special meaning to you – photos, books, art, objects that give you joy. It’s not how much you spend, but the feelings of love and security they evoke.

Enjoy tactile things – snuggling in a soft blanket, taking a bubble bath, walking on a sandy beach.

Give yourself the space and time to be creative – cooking, gardening, crafting, painting, writing.

Balance personal space with social space – a private nook to read a book with living areas to mix and mingle.

As the Scandinavians say, “With hygge you’re creating your own happy place.”

Now, that’s something we can all enjoy!

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Living in the Moment

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Now that the holidays are over it’s the perfect time to relax and make time for ourselves. While you’re wondering what’s ahead in the New Year, the Japanese philosophy of ichigo ichie (living in the moment) may be just what you need to regenerate and savor the good things in your life.

A phrase that might sound silly the first time you hear it, ichigo ichie is a tenet of Zen Buddhism that dates to 16th century Japanese tea ceremonies.

It calls on us to use all our senses to take in and celebrate the beauty of the moment, here and now. Instead of fixating on the past or worrying about the future, it is a chance to get rid of our negative emotions and feelings of fear, sadness, or anger.

Performing the tea ceremony’s intricate rituals of preparing and drinking the tea causes us to focus intently on each step of the process and the environment itself, being fully engaged in the moment and finding harmony and tranquility.

Ichigo ichie also heightens our awareness of the fleeting nature of time and the need to embrace the things and experiences that are meaningful to us before they are gone – such as the famed Japanese cherry blossoms that only bloom for a short time in the spring.

When Japanese greet each other by saying “ichigo ichie” it tells you that the encounter is unique and special and should not be allowed to slip away. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be savored.

By employing ichigo ichie and savoring the moment we can enhance our awareness and joy of life and create harmonious interactions with others.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Advertising Posters Lured Travelers to Adventure

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Now that people are thinking about winter getaways to exotic sunny locales, we’re reminded that there are adventures awaiting and a world to explore. For decades the legendary Matson Shipping Lines turned people’s travel dreams into reality.

From the early to mid-1900s, long before we lived in a 24/7 global, connected world, the Matson Shipping Lines sailed to exotic places that most people only dreamed about.

Its world-class luxury liners provided the fastest, finest and most elegant service available to the Hawaiian Islands, Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia.

Offering the promise of South Seas adventures and tropical paradises, the cruise line commissioned top artists and photographers to create advertising posters that would lure travelers to book passage on its ships traversing the Pacific Ocean.

Artists Frank Macintosh, John Kelly, Eldridge Logan, Louis Macouillaird, Richard Moore and Eugene Savage all painted iconic island scenes for Matson.

Even famed photographers Edward Steichen and Anton Breuhl got on board to celebrate the Matson dream.

The advertising posters were showcased in adventure and travel magazines ranging from National Geographic to Holiday and in glossy fashion magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.

That era of glamorous adventures on the high seas may have come to an end, but the posters and the sun-filled dreams live on.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Summer Totes are Essential

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel 

A classic summer beach bag or tote is essential when you’re out and about, making a run to the store, spending a day at the beach, or traveling on an adventure.

When we’re on the go SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti love all the styles there are to keep our supplies, purchases, and finds close at hand.

Whether it’s a simple canvas or straw carryall, a reusable bag from the grocery store…

or a fashionista tote. Something big enough for a beach towel or with lots of pockets.

It can be colorful and fun, support a cause, or make a statement.

Using a Surfrider Foundation bag helps protect our beaches.

Proceeds from FEED Projects bags feed hungry children.

Whatever you’re up to, there’s a bag that’s just right for you – to stash your stuff, store a camera, travel guides and souvenirs, carry groceries or even a French baguette.

For a day in the sun or errands to run,

when you head to the beach keep a tote bag in reach!

It can be fun and kitschy or glam and ritzy.

Bright and breezy, it makes things easy.

Perfect for snacks and fruit, sunglasses and loot.

Seashells you find on the shore, things you buy at the store.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Treat Yourself to Happiness in New Year

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Remember when you were little and your parents said at dinner, “Don’t play with your food”? Children have a natural sense of fun whatever they’re doing. Good manners are important, but so is having fun and celebrating life’s moments.

Life is serious stuff. But finding the funny side can make us happier, especially when dealing with difficult situations. So, this holiday season give yourself the gift of fun and happiness in the New Year.

Award-winning science journalist Catherine Price, author of the recent book The Power of Fun, says we need to “prioritize having fun.” Fun not only makes us feel better, but “brings people together. You’re embracing your shared humanity.”

She hopes that people will stage “funterventions” where we look for opportunities to have fun. Even work, family responsibilities, health matters, and other concerns can be made less stressful.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti agree that adding fun into our daily activities energizes us and keeps us in a good mood. Singing along to our favorite songs, doing yoga, taking selfies, cooking new recipes, wearing fun T-shirts, watching rom-com movies, turning a cup of tea into a tea party!

We came across Barbara Ann Kipfer’s book The Happiness Diary: Practice Living Joyfully, a bestseller that explains that happiness doesn’t come from obtaining stuff or being perfect. It comes from “savoring and ingraining the good things you experience.”

The book provides exercises, reflections and journal prompts that help you to grow an emotional garden of flowers to pick when you have challenges to get through.

To increase your level of happiness, Kipfer says spend time in nature, do something positive, feed your mind through reading, learning and being creative, try something new, travel.

Even lounging – doing nothing (without feeling guilty) – is a skill we all need to learn. Just look at cats lying contentedly in the sun.

Yes, life can be demanding, but adding in a measure of fun and laughter can help to make things better.

Let’s keep the Ho, Ho, Hos happening in the New Year. Happy New Year to all.

Greg, Patti and Sunny

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.