Arizona Lovin'.

I love last minute vacations...

and this one turned out to be one of the BEST.

Last week I went to Arizona and saw so many people that I love.

The weather was perfect and the scenery exquisite. I had forgotten how much I liked AZ.

I got to see cousins I hadn't seen for oh, about 13 years or so.

I got to meet lil' Chloe Brien.

I got to watch lots of GG.

And lots of other things.

Long, lost cousins. It was so great to catch up. I miss these girls. I even dyed my hair to fit in better with the family. Nah, that's not why. But, in case you didn't notice, I am now a BRUNETTE. 

(Don't worry, it has lightened up a bit even since then. The first week I was extremely dark.)

I got to spend time with The Brien's. Mostly with Audi and Chloe, but Sam was there too. :)

Here are some highlights of the happenings in AZ:

Lots and lots of Gilmore Girls.

Shopping at Buffalo Exchange.

Ghost town.

Bordello. 

Mesa Temple.

Awesome public library.

Antique shopping (sort of).

People watching.

Sedona hiking. 

Beading.

Bead Museum.

Plenty of driving.

Lots of Chloe cuddling.

Just a little background...

Audi and I found these little beauties at the Ghost Town in Apache Junction and just HAD to have em'!

Mustaches are just so funny. Any way, shape, or form.

Therefore, we decided to wear them everywhere and on all our adventures.

 This church looks simple enough. Only upon entering do you grasp the true beauty.

Elvis, himself, was standing at the pulpit.

The entire church was a shrine to his movies. 

Weird.

We paid a $3 fee to enter the Bordello, thinking it would be an entertaining tour with smiles, laughs, and more.

Boy, were we wrong.

We walked out feeling sullen and downtrodden.

Apparently, prostitution isn't funny or entertaining.

It's just depressing.

Sedona was so, so beautiful.

Pictures just do not do it justice.

We around Bell Rock and went off-roading in Chloe's stroller.

We found a "vortex".

Definition of a vortex: "believed to be spiritual locations where the energy is right to facilitate prayer, mediation and healing. Vortex sites are believed to be locations having energy flow that exists on multiple dimensions. The energy of the vortexes interacts with a person’s inner self. It is not easily explained. Obviously it must be experienced."

Well, we tried to "experience" it. 

Not sure what happened.

Thanks for the fun times Audi!

I love and miss you all the time.

Hopefully I can make my way out there more often...

A New Year.

Walk with the

dreamers,

the believers,

the courageous,

the cheerful,

the planners, the doers,

the successful

people with their head in the clouds

and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit

ignite a fire within you, to leave this

world better than

when you found it.

-Wilfred Peterson

THAT is my New Years resolution.

Mele Kalikimaka...A Few Weeks Late.

 I am so glad I was able to go home for Christmas this year. 

I was able to see this sweet little red head.

 Alex got the coolest little turtle for Christmas. 

He named it Stanley. I think...

Or something like that.

 If you weren't sure if we were related...

I think this picture solidifies any doubts. 

We are Mountain Dew loving fiends. 

Our blood runs green.

 The ferry ride back to Seattle.

Merry Christmas!

Seattle: Pacific Science Center.

On my recent trip to Washington, I joined my family in visiting the Pacific Science Center located in the heart of Seattle. 

It was pretty fantastic.

There were so many different things to look at.

My two favorites:

I. Tropical Butterfly House

II. The Harry Potter Exhibit

Even Dad enjoyed it. I think?

Alex loved the mirror that made us all look wonderfully skinny.

We spent about 10 minutes each, fawning over the idea of ourselves 50 lbs. lighter.

Then he beat all the poor little kids at Giganto Chess. 

Way to go Alex!

Also, found a huge guitar. 

For whatever reason, everything here was 100x larger than it should have been.

And, I liked it.

Unfortunately, there was a VERY, explicit, strict rule on NO PHOTOS in the Harry Potter Exhibition. 

So, I got nothing for you.

Except to tell you that it was SO FUN!

They had a ton of props from the movie and had basically turned a section of the center into Hogwarts. 

It was a dream come true.

I do love me some HP. 

Topped everything off with a trip to Pike Place Market. 

Guzzled a Jones Soda Root Beer. (Jones Soda doesn't exist in Hawaii).

Watched some fish get tossed. 

Also, don't mind the gentleman next to me. He was just setting up his umbrella and giant portable piano. No big deal. Oh Seattle.

Playing Catch Up.

I am WAY behind. 

Here is what I have failed to mention in the past month or so.

My dear friend Robin (2nd from the right) got engaged, had a bridal shower, and moved to AUSTRALIA to be with her fiance. Lucky Girl. I miss her tons and can't wait for her to come back a married woman and be friends/hang out with me again. However, I am EXTREMELY excited for her and know that she is ecstatic, which brings a huge smile to my face. 

My other dear friend, the one and only Al Doan came to town. And...I only got to see him twice. (Hence the sad face in the above picture). This is due to the ridiculous work load I had that week. I'm sorry Al! I reckon your just going to have to come back. Let's do Kauai this time...

I got my butt kicked on the Kuliouou Mountain Ridge. 

The view was totally worth it though. 

And...on a good note. I burned approximately 860 calories.

 I FINALLY mastered a successful stocking pattern! I don't know why it was so hard for me to do last year, but I gave up on multiple occasions. I could just never seem to get the stocking shape correct. It was too fat/too skinny/too long etc. So frustrating. This year, I didn't give up. I'm SO glad I didn't. This was my Merry Christmas present for all my co-workers. Next year, I will make an even better stocking pattern...mark my words.

Lastly, I found some gigantic White Daisies. 

Life is good.