"I'd rather be snorkeling!" Blue Heron Bridge snorkel on 6-9-14, with a manatee, octopus and eel

My awesome friend Carli Segelson, who works for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is my snorkel buddy. We go ALL THE TIME and she's about as obsessed with snorkeling as I am... so I wasn't surprised Monday during the work day when she kept texting me that she was definitely going snorkeling after work. It doesn't take much for me to be tempted to go, so I did-- and I'm SO GLAD we went!

All photos, and flag usage (safety first!), courtesy Carli Segelson ;) 

It was the first late-day snorkel I've ever done, since high tide was around 6:23pm and that's about the exact time we entered the water on Monday, June 9, 2014. Visibility was great and temperature was fine, although a bit chilly entering. We swam straight out at the Blue Heron Bridge underwater snorkel trail at Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach. The first thing I saw when I dove down to look at a small fish was an OCTOPUS! It was adorable!

This is so obviously my new Facebook cover photo!

The little critter was so friendly! Coming out to say hello!

We also saw a flounder, of course the giant starfish and a small, interesting starfish I had never seen before, and a school of huge parrotfish, which is absolutely my favorite thing to see fish-wise. When I see that, I feel like I'm snorkeling in the Keys. :) The school had one dark-capped parrotfish, which is a navy-colored one. 

Can you see the flounder?

Needlefish... the bridge has tons of them and barracuda

 I always enjoy the queens

Somebody remind me what these are called? But spot the tiny porkfish

This spotted eel was super-cool!

In a GRAND FINALE of the evening, I saw a manatee! I started squealing for Carli, who didn't hear me since she was submerged, but she saw it on her own and started taking photos. Here's one! 

MANATEE!!!

It swam right by me, like 5-10 feet away! This is the SECOND TIME I have happened upon a manatee in the snorkel trail area. Click HERE to watch a video of the first time I ever saw a manatee there. I was the first to spot it that time, too, and I called over the divers who took the video of it. Gotta share the dive love!

I absolutely love this magical spot, and I'm blessed to be able to free dive here all the time. :) #HappyHappyJoyJoy

New Old Navy clothes/jewelry, new shadow style, new lipstick! Plus SNORKELING adventures :)

Today and yesterday I've been rocking some new clothes I bought online for sale at Old Navy. They did take about 9-10 days to get to me, unfortunately, but I was just glad to get them finally.

My "look" today

Today I'm wearing this crepe shift dress which I bought for only $11.97 PLUS 20% off! The necklace and earrings are what I blogged about in a past post at the Old Navy outlet in the Sawgrass Mills mall. So far one co-worker has complimented me on it. :) 

My eyeshadow look lately has been naturally contoured, with just a hint of orange-y shadow as a transition color just above the brown-taupe crease color. I think with my skin tone it works! 

Yesterday I wore this embellished collar shirt recently featured in "O" magazine. It was $19.97 with 20% off, and I was so happy with the jewels at the collar. Three co-workers complimented me on it!! That's a win, LOL. 

Also notice the lipstick, it's a dupe for Mac's "Angel," which is a pink shade made famous by Kim Kardashian. It's Maybelline's Color Whisper in "Lust for Blush," and I think it gives a nice neutral, not-too-made-up look to my makeup. A little on the paler side than I typically go for, but hey, it's good to shake things up a bit every now and then!

Now, I know it's not fashion/beauty/health, but I absolutely have to share a SNORKELING video after my husband and my adventures on Sunday at the Riviera Beach snorkeling trail. It is my absolute favorite place to snorkel/free-dive, and it never disappoints. I've seen an octopus, tons of exotic fish, eels and more there-- and this Sunday, we swam by a MANATEE!!! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's prohibited to touch them, but I was the first to spot it and I'm so glad the divers right behind us captured it on tape so I can share it with you on this video. 

This is the manatee I was swimming 5 feet above! DO NOT DISTURB, LOL

Also, the spotted eagle ray (stingray) you see at the beginning hung around all afternoon, I kept swimming after it and it was a fast little thing. Looks like they're flying the way they flap their "wings." :)