Gingerbread Lovin'

Well, I don't know about you, but I am gearing up for some fantastic

holiday festivities over the next few days. I have my sweet Sarah coming to visit me and I am ecstatic!

One fun holiday thing I've spotted around my hotel is this amazing gingerbread display. 

After it was completed and I finally got a close up look at everything, I was floored at the attention to detail. All I could think about were all the people I wanted to share it with. First, my mother came to mind and I thought "My mom could totally do this! She would love it!". Then, I thought of all my favorite little people: Alex, who I know would be just as in awe as I was. Then I thought of the Uluave clan and how they would be all over it (and probably take a couple bites out of it), and I heard Malia's raspy voice in my head saying "look at all that candy". Then I thought of lil' Tucker and how he would love the giant gingerbread boat. I also thought of Doug and Becky and their love for lighthouses. So, I guess there is a lot more to it than just the sight of the oh, so much teeth rotting candy. It honestly made me a little emotional, because it instantly made me think of people I love and how much I wish they were here to enjoy the holidays and this phenomenal display of sugar with me. 

This thing is MASSIVE.

M&M's, Gummy Sharks, and blue skittles are the ocean. 

Those are runts! So creative!

 Luau! That's a little pig on a spit.

More holiday fun to come!

A few of my favorite things...

about living in California are the following:

-The Farmer's Market right down the street from my house

- The fact that I can still watch surfers (& I'm still close to the Ocean!)

- I get to see friends I haven't been able to hang out with in a long time

At the farmer's market, I found a stand for a bakery that makes all different kinds of Sourdough bread and I'm obsessed. I will probably be going there every Saturday to get my weekly stash. Also, beautiful, red, ripe strawberries in December. Thank you California!

Chloe and I took the afternoon to reacquaint ourselves with the American Girl collection.
This store was insane! I remember as a kid all the little accessories, but this store had EVERYTHING.

And, in other good news: I bought a new camera and will try to start loading some quality photos on here. So, stay tuned!

Thanksgiving

I am so grateful.

This is but a short list.

I could go on and on and on.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bucket List.

This may be delayed, but...

I moved to California.

But, not before I defeated many items of business I needed to take care of before I left Hawaii! There were many things I have fully intended to do the past 6 years and I am happy to announce, I have defeated them!

Namely...

Hiking Stairway to Heaven:

And, that security guard I've apparently been "terrified" of for six years....turns out he's a real nice chap. With brightly colored hair. This guy is GNARLY. He came chasing up after us, telling us we weren't allowed to be on the stairs and that he would escort us down. He then proceeded to tell us the entire history of the Haiku Stairs and even let us stay up long enough to watch a spectacular sunrise. He has hiked the stairway a record time of SEVEN times in one day. 

I swam out to Chinaman's Hat and hiked to the top.

(Sorry, no photos of that one.)

I jumped off the point.

 Much thanks to Ted for helping me take the plunge on such a tumultuous day. Couldn't have done it without him. 

Only one small battle wound from crashing into the rocks on my way back in. 

It broke my heart to leave Hawaii. 

I miss my family out there daily. However, I know I am where I'm supposed to be for now and I take great comfort in that. Sometimes I feel like the last 6 years of my life have been a wonderful dream that I have just woken up from. I strongly believe that Hawaii and  it's wonderful people have shaped me into who I am today. I am so grateful for the good, the bad, and the crazy times I spent there. Onto the next adventure!

Lana'i Discovered.

The island of Lana'i is truly the best kept secret of Hawaii.

I can't believe I never went before now!

Some of my favorite parts of Lana'i:

* There are zero stoplights on the entire island.

* Population: 3,193

* It is 13 miles wide by 18 miles long.

* There are DEER and PINE TREES.

* The temperature is at least 20 degrees cooler in Lana'i City.

* Everything closes by 8pm.

* The only car you are allowed to rent in Lana'i is a jeep: which means you can go ANYWHERE you want.

* Nicest.people.ever. 

* Blue Ginger Cafe brownies.

The plane carried 8 people. 10 if you included the pilot/co-pilot.

I was scared out of my mind.

Any tiny guest of wind sent my heart into my throat.

 We stayed up at the Four Seasons Koele Lodge. I LOVED every little part of this hotel. It has a British vintage feeling to it and there were awesome things to look at around every corner. Giant fireplaces in the lobby and creepy paintings of stuff. (I didn't get any pictures...) 

This was the apothecary dresser that was outside the "Trophy Room" (game room). I fell in love with it. There were probably about 200 little drawers. 

 We're all very unique in our fashion sense...

Our Beloved Blue Ginger Cafe.

We ate 4 meals here in the 4 days we were there.

 Moloka'i in the distance

 Left: Molaka'i          Right: Maui

 Shipwreck Beach

Four Seasons at Manele Bay 

What Trent did most of the trip...The Republican Party of Hawaii has been stressing him out. 

 Garden of the Gods

This Jeep got us everywhere and anywhere we wanted to go. 

Sweetheart Rock : We snorkeled out to this rock and saw some of the biggest urchins I've ever laid my eyes on. I was so scared for my feet when I was trying to crawl onto the rock. 

Back on Oahu...none of us wanted to be there.

Thanks for the great trip guys! I can't wait to visit Lana'i again one day.