I'm Back....and Alive!

Dear Friends! I so apologize for my absence this past week or so!  Prepping for vacation, early birthday celebrations & then time in Hawaii were my total focus these last two weeks.

It was so nice to enjoy my birthday with husband in Waikiki this year -- a special treat! We even treated ourselves to private pool cabana chairs at the adult pool! Thank you Sheraton Waikiki for this ingenious perk! Reserved it for the whole day....do you know how hard it is to get good pool chairs & hold on to them all day?! Especially in Waikiki! And the weather was pretty nice to us during the trip, just a few rain showers a couple days -- but then we had a BEAUTIFUL Christmas day at the North Shore! Tried to take some more photos this trip - and finally jumped on the Instagram train...so some of them are tinted that way!

Pool Chairs for my birthday!

Our view for the day! Beautiful Diamond Head

Driving to hike Diamond Head w/ our buddy Nate

 

 View towards Waikiki & downtown from Le'ahi (Diamond Head)

  Post hike snack....hot malasadas at the famous Leonard's Bakery!

Ike hold our niece Zaylee on Christmas eve -- such a happy, smiley baby!

One of three turtles that came on shore Christmas day!

Mele Kalikimaka?? Cousin Makoa

Christmas Day North Shore style!

 Ike painted large Hanafuda (Japanese card game) cards for his cousins & aunt!

Isaac & the women in his life! MIL Sheila, Grandma Chiko, & Me

Merry (late) Christmas from the Parkers!

It was a nice trip, had good opportunities to visit with cousins Reid & Kim, Isaac's dad & step-dad.  We both are thankful for family, and for non-touristy vacations sometimes.  Christmas in Hawaii is different (from food, to weather & more) but it's Isaac's first home & so we are thankful for time together & time with extended family!

Hope you all enjoy this week & New Year's weekend! I'll snap some photos of my family -- little brother is headed home TODAY(yaaaaaaaay)! And so we're headed to my Gran's cabin in WA to ring in the New Year and be together. So looking forward to quality time!

<3

Photos of Hawaii

So I only snapped a few pictures of our recent trip to Hawaii...but let me tell you, these following photos are some of the most important (and some of my favorite) parts of Hawaii in general!
Enjoy!

Starting the trip off right! POG Mimosa - 1st class status!

 Hubby's lunch selection in 1st class :) Mahi Mahi, Curry Chicken & Spare Rib w/ mashed taro

Letting his hair "breathe" ha!

Hickam AFB Beach -- great afternoon w/ my bestie

Hubby & MIL being silly with faux glasses

My view Sunday morning -- gorgeous & peaceful!

Definitely a Happy Hawaiian! Our last beach stop before heading to the airport

While I read....he hunted for sand crabs!

Rounding out our trip with another 1st class ride :)

LOVE LOVE LOVE being in Hawaii.  

Seeing family & friends, eating delicious food, and spending quality time together.

Nothing beats it.

Looking forward to going back at Christmas time -- And then planning our real "vacation" to Maui for the next trip!

<3

 

Mini Vacation

Friends the time has come -- "dead week" is upon us, which means that this time tomorrow I'll be in an airplane headed to the beautiful land of HAWAII! Ahhh....I can feel the warm air now :)

5 short days of sun, beach, good food, friends & family....definitely something Isaac & I need right about now.  Get rejuvenated, fill our bellies with delicious food, and soak up the love from family & friends.

Yup -- definitely looking forward to sunsets like that....  I'll snap some photos & share our adventures :)

Aloha friends!  I may or may not blog while we're there, no promises.
<3

I'm baaaaaack!

We got back in to the Pacific Northwest last night...and boy am I tired! I always forget how exhausting traveling is...who would have thought!

That said...I'm sad not to be in Hawaii any more.  Loved seeing our friends the Foxes, and spending time with Isaac's family.  In time I know I'll feel more comfortable...it just will take me time.  I'm a slow warm when it comes to meeting folks and divulging who I am to them.  And it makes me nervous sometimes - thus, it seems to be easier to retreat to a book and hide there.  But all in all a successful trip - with a few revelations for hubby Isaac & I about who we are as a couple, a small family & how we want & need our vacations to be structured.  
Highlight was of course all the wonderful food - hit up these local spots(to name a few): Helena's Hawaiian Food (kick butt kalua pig & husband's favorite...lau lau), Rainbow's Drive In (typically our first stop post arrival - but saved it for our last day lunch), Sam Choy's (Christmas Eve dinner with Foxes...not what we expected, but a funny story now to add to the collection!), Ige's Restaurant & 19th Puka - a standard eating spot for our family (ridiculously good flap meat & other pupus), and of course made a couple stops to the best bakery in Wahiawa.... Kilani Bakery for some malasadas, long johns, turn overs & Haupia cake!
Sad to say that I suck at taking photos.  So much so that I literally probably have none from the whole trip!  Hubby & I want to be better about capturing & recording our adventures as a newly married couple.  Thus - New Years Resolution....Capture life's moments, even the smallest ones: our favorite meals, Isaac's crafts, family, adventures, etc.


Hope you all have a wonderful New Years! See you in 2011!
<3


 
 

Aloha!!

Today is the day we head off to celebrate Christmas in Hawaii with Isaac's family.


It'll be odd to be away from home & my family for the holidays, but it's definitely a welcomed escape!


That aside - best wishes and Merry Christmas all!!!
<3

Birthday Birthday!

TODAY IS MY 25TH BIRTHDAY!

HUZZAH!

Today will be spent...working, renewing my license, dinner with husband, cake with our dear friends, & packing; because tomorrow is....

HAWAII!!!!

HUZZAH X2!

Needless to say today & tomorrow have been two days I've been looking forward to for some time now!  Mostly the Hawaii part, but hey - you can't go wrong with a birthday! :)

So if I'm MIA over the next couple days, you know why. Haven't fully decided  if I'm taking my laptop or not quite yet.  Stay posted! 

<3 

Lack of Inspiration...

Have you ever battled thru a feeling of lack of inspiration?  I'm waging thru it right now - no inspiration to get to the gym (though I desperately need to...I've been missing my Zumba nights & running buddies!), no inspiration to wrap our Christmas gifts (I think this is due to the fact that we're going to be in Hawaii over Christmas & you can't send wrapped presents....), no inspiration to blog about anything pithy.  Feeling a serious lack of any sassy attitude & quick remarks.

I think I'm just ready to be in Hawaii, to see Isaac's family, to see two of our greatest friends...I'm ready to be 25, though that is weird to say.  I'm ready to be out of my office for a bit and relax (as much as possible) in some sun & enjoy some delicious food & fun.

There's a little too much chaos right now - with everything that went on with my Gran (who is doing great at this point in the game, by the way), to chaotic work & crazies popping up, to fighting off sickness.  I need a bit of an escape!
<3

Hawaiians

I love my Hawaiian...I love Hawaiians in general.  I love their culture. I love their music. I love their land.  I love their history.  I love their story, and how they talk story. :)

I love that I have married in to such a full, colorful, and deep culture.  I'm on the hunt during my next trip to Hawaii to grab some more literature to read thru on the history and culture.  It's so interesting to me.  And I really can't wait for our children to be able to experience being a part of that culture as well.  Oh don't worry, I'll still expose them to the greatness of their Scottish & Norwegian roots.  But I love that both my background & Isaac's are heavy laden with sea faring adventurers (Vikings + Hawaiians).  I joke with him when we find little things like these connections that we were "meant to be."

 'Iolani Palace - circa 1882
America's only royal palace.

I can not wait to get to Hawaii in a couple of weeks - I am so looking forward to it.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

<3