I did skip one vital Hawaii Bucket List:
6. Skydiving 

The day before graduation Scottie, and my brothers Colby and Burke all went skydiving at Pacific Skydiving on the North Shore. Me and my dad watched from the ground, and my mom got to go up in the plane with them and watch them jump. 
Colby and I went about a week before my wedding, right outside Zion's National Park. I am scared of heights and it was the first time either of us had gone, but we loved it. This time both Colby and Burke had been before, but not Scott. It was my graduation present to him, and he had been wanting to do it for a while. 
What could be a more beautiful setting to come down from the sky and watch the scenery come to your feet?



This boy wasn't even scared! He told me later that after we hiked Stairway to Heaven (in an upcoming post) this was nothing. And mostly because he didn't have me with him to worry about. Awwww, how sweet is he?


Here is my brother Burke!

My brother Colby, with the tallest Asian man I have ever seen. They had to watch a 5 minute video that explained that if they died they couldn't sue the company, sign their lives away, and receive this 1 minute training from the person that would be strapped to their back during the 'tandem' jump. 

My mother had to get a parachute just to ride in the plane. She has never been sky diving, although when she was my age she said she wanted to, but her mother was scared to let her go, so she never did. Now she is one step closer!



Here is Burke and his tandem partner!

A hard landing for Burke.

Here is my Scottie! 


I'm not sure who this is, but it was a decent picture. 

Never was there a happier boy- he was on such adrenaline rush!




This was a great day for all! 
Of course Scott immediately one upped my gift giving me Photoshop for graduation. 
He is truly the sweetest. Also
I am having the hardest time learning how to use Photoshop, so if anyone has tutorials or classes they recommend please let me know!

I really hope ya'll enjoyed the few weeks break from my endless supply of photos, because they are back with a vengeance! 
This is about me and Scott's graduation week. 
Technically I should have walked last June, since that is when I finished school. But with Hawaii being so far away, and commencement ceremonies being so long and tedious, we decided that I could postpone my walk for a year so that our families (and ourselves) only had to deal with graduation one time. My parents, and my brother Colby flew in from Utah to come to the graduation and take me to Kauai! (More on that in a later post) 
For months prior to graduation me and Scottie worked on completing our
 Hawaii Bucket List
1. Hike Stairway to Heaven
2. See dolphins
3. See sharks
4. Another sunset at Sunset Beach
5. Eat at our favorite places one last time

This and the three posts following document how we did all (or most) of these. 

The day before my parents arrived me and Scottie headed to Sunset Beach to have a picnic. 
We picked up some Impossible's Pizza from this amazing pizza truck with THE BEST pizza ever. Goat cheese, kalua pork, and grilled onions.

This was the first time we stayed through the whole sunset, because it takes a long time, and usually we get antsy and cold. 


This is probably my favorite picture of the whole day. It was unbelievably gorgeous. 


And that checks off two of our Bucket List: 
4. Another sunset at Sunset Beach
5. Eat at our favorite places one last time


Then my parents and brother arrived. We got to spend a few days with them before graduation. My brother Burke and his family also joined us, and their lucky kids got pulled out of school to beach it up with us!
Here we are at Electric Beach. I think I've told everyone about this beach before, but let me reiterate.
It's a tiny beach just to the side of an electric power plant, the power plant has big tubes that go under the water and release the hot air there. This hot air is a great environment for sea vegetation, which in turns attracts fish that eat the vegetation, which, of course, attract sharks. 
We went in order to fulfill Hawaii Bucket List
3. See sharks
When we went last year at Thanksgiving time Scott did see some sharks here at the pipes, and promptly snorkled his little self back to shore. However, on this day with my family there were no sharks to be seen. We did take the sea kayak, stand up paddle board, and snorkel materials though. I went out snorkeling farther than I ever have (although Scott has to hold my hand because I get claustrophobic) and there were SCHOOLS of fish. I had seen about 50 fish together before and thought that was a 'school'. No way Jose! Apparently by 'school' they mean University. Like a 5,000 person college, because there were SO many fish. There was a school of Dark Blue fish, who swam at a diagonal angle and crossed a group of yellow fish. There were so many it was like a wall in front of us, and I felt like The Little Mermaid. Only that movie always scared me, so maybe more like Finding Nemo. 
Magical.




Saturday April 13th was our commencement ceremony! Me and Scott had to be there at 7, and it lasted until 12, so it was a long day, but I am glad we did it. 

Here is the school's president, Brother Wheelwright, speaking to us.

Scott Stiles!

Kelsey Stiles!

I have to admit I was kind of worried I wasn't going to get any leis, but my family made sure that we did and I felt so festive! 

Here is everyone from my family that was at the ceremony. I am go grateful that they all came, it really made my day. 

I am so grateful to my parents for helping me through school! 




My beautiful leis! The one on the far left

We also hit up Sandy's beach the same day, after graduation. Sandy's is also known as 'Break-Neck Beach' because of it's huge shore breaks. 



Sage and Saquoyah found a large sand hole and were enjoying jumping in, so I attempted some action shots. 




Here is Sienna, taking after me (and maybe her mom too) by always having a book to read. 


I am so glad and grateful that my family supported me through school, and also that some of them got to come see me graduate. 
And mostly, I miss Hawaii! 

I believe I mentioned in a previous post that I have been trying out the No 'Poo method. This, does not actually have anything to do with my bowel movements. And now you have all sorts of gross ideas in your head, sicko.
In fact No 'Poo has pretty much nothing to do with Poo. Unless you are my cousin Taylor, who always said that "hair is just crap growing out of your head". Because 'Poo= shampoo.

I will post a few informative links and such on here, but basically the gist is that you shouldn't use most (if not all) mainstream shampoos. Did you know that shampoo was only invented for people with hard water? People use to just wash their hair in water, but then people with hard water started having hair problems so they invented shampoo. Amazing right?
Anywho, I have heard from multiple hair stylists that most shampoos are pretty much the same as laundry detergent. Ick. They are super strong and remove everything from your hair; oil, dirt, sweat, but also natural oils, proteins, and vitamins that your hair needs. Most shampoos also coat your hair in a layer of silicone, especially the ones that promise 'shine' (wax and plastic being the shine). So you need to train your hair to be washed with more natural and less harsh products, that allow the natural, helpful, oils and nutrients to remain in your hair.

What you do:
There are several methods for going No 'Poo. Some people replace shampoo with baking soda, and replace conditioner with Apple Cider Vinegar (lovingly known as ACV). Others CO wash, which is basically just washing your hair with conditioner twice instead of shampoo and conditioner. A few make their own homemade shampoo ( this Coconut Milk Shampoo recipe is by a friend's mom, and the Pinterest community highly recommends it). The most hardcore No 'Pooers just wash their hair in water.
I think they are taking it too far. There are reasons people today are better looking than two hundred years ago, people.

Detox: One of the major things to note before you go and try this is there is definitely a detox period for your hair. A lot of people start, get three days in, and decide that this No 'Poo business is in fact Poo, because their hair is so greasy. But be ready to give it up to two weeks, and get some cute headbands, or fall in love with the top knot look. Because you will be more greasy than a Beto's breakfast burrito.
The best way to think of it is that your hair has been producing excess oil for years, and it needs some time for your body to catch up and realize that it no longer needs to. If you are not using shampoo than the natural oils are left in your hair, and it doesn't have to produce so much to protect itself like it is used to doing after all nutrients are removed by shampoo. (I promise I read about this, and I'm not just pulling your leg) Some girls are lucky and get this phase over with in just a few days, I think the average is about two weeks. But it all depends on what products you have been using, and your hair personality.
Just remember: this too shall pass.

My experience: I started this when I was on a home remedy makeover kick. I started off with the baking soda and ACV combo. But when I went to bed that night Scott told me my hair smelled like vinegar, and he missed my yummy smelling conditioner. I have been told repeatedly that if you can smell the vinegar after that you used too much, but that part of it was kind of spoiled for me by then. Now I use baking soda instead of Shampoo, and keep my normal conditioner. The 'recipies' for how much Baking soda differ, but generally I use about 2 Tablespoons ( I got lotsa hair) in my palm, and drip water on until it makes a paste that feels slippery but not watery. Then I focus the paste mostly on my roots, and rinse. I like keeping the conditioner, which is generally much better for your hair then shampoo. I love how soft it makes my hair, and how it smells and detangles. But to each his own.
For the first two weeks I was a total grease ball and felt hideous. However, after the detox my hair looked and felt the same as before I quit shampoo. This method is much cheaper for me, and I know that my hair is at least as healthy as it was before. I like the feel of it, and I am not a hair expert but I believe all of the science about this topic, and recommend going No 'Poo.

Before
This was almost a year ago, shortly after a haircut. I didn't have many pictures where you can see my hair well. (PS Lauren was such a pretty bride!)
 
After
 

This was about 3 weeks ago at graduation, it's not the highest quality picture. But this is me after about 6 weeks of No-Poo, and I haven't had a haircut in one year (definitely not on purpose).
 


Links: Here are a few articles on going No 'Poo.
Kicking the Poo to the Curb
Shampoo Free- Why and How this one explains some of the basic chemistry behind Shampoo vs. Baking soda and ACV
A No 'Poo Support Group, and Q&A I thought this was both funny and helpful!
No 'Poo FAQ
NPR No Poo Article
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