Ski… or Die Trying

Vail, Colorado

{The family and I on our annual trip to Vail, Colorado. Me in a Pucci ski jacket and North Face pants}

Pucci ski boota

{Me in a Prada coat, Lululemon leggings and Pucci àpres ski boots}

Vail

{My little brother, Yioryos, comes along every year}

vail, colorado

{And away we goooooooo}

Vail, Colorado

{My father in law, Sebastian, Yioryos and I (wearing a Ralph Lauren ski jacket)}

chinchilla fur

{Shortly after this exact photo was tweeted, PETA tweeted my ass — um, embarrassing}

Sorry for slacking on the blog, kids, but this chick was busy learning how to ski the blue runs of Vail, Colorado. And eating goulash. And drinking copious amounts of Cakebread wine. And fitting in some solid hot tub time.

I’m pleased to say — drumroll, please — I’m now skiing like a boss (okay, not really — I tend to exaggerate like Brian Williams) and — man! — it feels good to accomplish this cylcopean feat.

You see, for the past four years, my family takes a week-long trip to heavenly Vail. I really look forward to this particular vacation because it’s my husband’s most treasured one. Same goes for the kids. So when they’re happy, I’m happy, you know? It’s infectious. They just love to zip around the mountain like little Lindsey Vonns as I spend hours — hours! — in private ski lessons because I was born with two left feet. And the attention span of a flea. And an affinity for hourly Baileys-spiked hot cocoa breaks. These misfortunes/habits equate to my being a “slow learner.” Or at least that’s what my seventh grade math teacher told me when I couldn’t quite grasp the ridiculous concept of equivalent ratios. WHO CARES ABOUT RATIOS? Exactly my point.

Anyhoo, this past trip was HUGE  because I’m finally skiing on my own. As in — no more instructors! As in — bring on the fancy ski gear! As in — meet moi on the mountaintop for an après ski white Russian. Or three.

Truth be told, the sensation of skiing is absolutely thrilling for me. Momentum, speed and adrenaline aside — it’s the notion I have to remain 100 percent in the present which makes it such an exhilarating experience. All I can hear is the crunching of snow as my skis sift through the pillows of powder. All I can physically feel is the burn in quads. Mentally — I’m so in the now — it’s as though my mind is quiet. It’s total freedom. At times, I’ll find myself screaming “Weeeeee!” like a child. Often, I’ll catch myself laughing for no reason whatsoever. Once, I teared up from sheer delight. So emotional. And no, it wasn’t that time of the month if you know what I mean. Self help was there…right on the slopes!

I suppose what I’m trying to say is that when we conquer quests we never deemed possible, well, the results are awe inspiring. And no, it doesn’t take a trip to faraway snow-capped mountains to learn and grow and be present. So take up that hobby you’ve always dreamed about but have pushed to the back of your mind (Paddle boarding? Yoga? Fishing? Cross stitching? Cooking? Painting?). Once you nail it, you’ll connect with yourself in unfathomable ways.

And possibly squeal in sheer delight like I did over this past week.  

 

8 Comments

  1. February 22, 2015 / 12:22 pm

    LOVE that picture of you and your little man…framer!!
    And aprés ski is the only skiing I do because having an attention span of a flea is totally in…
    On look, shiny sparkly thing over here.
    Now, what was I saying?
    XOXO

  2. Seba
    February 22, 2015 / 6:37 pm

    Proud of you babe

  3. Cristina
    February 22, 2015 / 8:39 pm

    Want those Pucci moon boots.

  4. February 23, 2015 / 10:41 am

    Love how skiing doesn’t affect your chicness lol. The pucci coat is too cute 🙂

    XX

  5. February 23, 2015 / 4:44 pm

    You go girl!!! it is so much fun! I was a bit bummed to come home!

    PS love the pucci gear! I WANT!

  6. February 24, 2015 / 7:15 am

    I loved seeing your travel diary. Your children are beautiful and you look so happy. And can we talk about that hair weather? I mean, really…
    When am I going to see your pretty face again!? I hope, soon!!

    xx
    The Fashionable ESQ
    http://www.thefashionableesq.blogspot.com/

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