Kauai to Maui

After 4 days in Kauai, off to Maui. Kauai was great; Maui was even better. This was my 6th trip to Maui and it gets better every time. Simply cannot get enough. Love it.

The Hyatt was amazing. Great rooms, super view, fun pool super clean.... Everything was amazing.
While Kauai was relaxing, we scheduled some fun events in Maui- luau, sunset boat cruise and massages at the spa.

We also went to one of my favorite spots on the world: Cheeseburger in Paradise on Front Street in Lahaina. Love the burgers, cocktails, live music, good service and on the water view. So beautiful and fun. Blissful evening for me for sure!

Every day was sublime with sleeping in, getting some sort of exercise, playing in the pool or ocean, enjoying some pool-side libations and going somewhere at night for dinner and/or fun. I could do that every day. Perfect vacation on a beautiful island- 2 beautiful islands.

Great weather, lovely beaches, favorite company (thanks Shannon!) and scrumptious food & drinks. Could not ask for a better vacation.

Aloha once again....  So in love with island life.

Aloha!

From Kauai....

First time here. Most people say Kauai is their favorite of the Hawaiian Islands. After 4 days, it comes in 2nd to Maui to me, but still pretty close to perfection nonetheless.

Some of the highlights since Shannon and I arrived Thursday afternoon, staying at the Sheraton at Poipu Beach.
The beach... Gorgeous.
Green & flowers everywhere. So serene.
Chickens. Yes, I said chickens. They roam the streets. And the stores. And the pool area. Crazy.
The Beach House restaurant (seems to be recommend by everyone who has been to Kauai).
The ice cream pie at The Dolphin. Combo of banana, coconut & macadamia nuts on an Oreo crust. Wow.
Waimea Canyon. 30 minute drive for an amazing, colorful view.
The Shrimp Station on the way to Waimea Canyon. Coconut shrimp. Thai shrimp. Channeling Forest Gump!

Sunshine, ocean air, great food, relaxation... Now off to Maui in a few hours.
Mahalo!

Saturday Squirrels

And by squirrels I mean things that pull me in different directions when I see or think of them... Like shiny objects!

Caramelized Brussell sprouts. My attempt was a success!

The joy of seeing kitty enjoy new food. So simple...

The beauty of a glass of Pinot noir.

Can't stop staring on my newly landscaped backyard. Serene.

Fiji water. So much better than others. Maybe it's the shape of the bottle and the pretty flower? :)

My washed car. Please stay that way.

The  small stack of birthday cards from last month.

My newly painted toe nails.

Saturday, I will take your squirrels any day. Cheers!

Disneyland!

A few birthday Disneyland photos! 

Arrived! Walt Disney, Mickey & the castle! 

Pixie Land- home of Tink! 

Jungle Cruise!

California Screamin'!

The end to a fabulous Disney Day! 

The Little Things

This past weekend I had the opportunity to drive to Reno (about 3.5 hours) to visit a great friend and her family. I'm not a big fan of Reno; but I am a big fan of Vanessa. And the other Anderson's.

No work; no laptop; no calls to return; nothing to do but have fun.

Great steak dinner. Sleeping. Pedicure & manicure. Walking. Fund raising party. Wine. More wine. Good home made food. More sleep. Hanging out with a joyful 6-year-old.

Did I mention how many times said 6-year-old did my hair and make-up? Braids, pony tails, just brushing... I love that she loves it. (Vanessa's daughter by the way).

The simple things even more simplified... Picking out fun nail polish colors, selecting donuts with frosting, debating eye shadow colors... All through the eyes of a child. Oh, the decisions.

Now I am back home. Working. In the real world. I think some of my decisions this week should be from a giggly childlike lens. We will see what that brings...

Child At Heart

I'm giggling like a school girl about excitement for the next 3 weekends in a row! Yeah!

This weekend, to Reno to hang with friends and attend a wine auction. Fun!

Next weekend, to Disneyland parks with my brother for my birthday celebration. More fun!

The weekend after that, continued birthday excitement with seeing the movie "The Other Woman", more wine with friends and then flying to San Diego to celebrate a work win. Most fun of all!

It makes each work week fly by faster when it am so excited for the adventures. What more can I ask for? Friends, family, wine repeated, Tinkerbell, theatre popcorn, beach... Yippee.

Next year, I am adding Coachella to the April fun list. Bucket list! 

Good Eats

As I sit on my Park City couch, with a full belly, I smile thinking about all of the good food out there. That is one of the reasons I LOVE Park City. So many options... Unique, expensive, chains, cafe, bakery, bar... You name it. I prefer the unique, but sometimes chains just work.

So far this weekend:
Friday night... Butcher's Chop House with a friend.
     Homemade chips with blue cheese, ahi tuna, steak, asparagus.
Saturday morning... Subway while out for a morning walk.
     Egg white flat bread with ham & spinach.
Saturday afternoon... Deer Valley Cafe by myself.
     Caesar wedge and soup trio- turkey chili, potato leek & ham with bean.
Sunday morning.... Whole Foods while running errands.
     Yogurt, fruit, berry parfait.
Sunday afternoon... Lorenzo's Mexican by myself.
     2 crispy tacos, one chicken & one beef, with black beans.

Such a variety. So much fun too. Love to plan things around food, as long I plan exercise too. Ha! People ask why I live in Park City when I don't ski? This is one of them... Oh, the good eats.

Time for some crunches now...

Working for the Weekends

Work, work, work... Lots of it. Every long week, and working many weekends too, the weekends I do have open, I live for. Last weekend was one of them.
Friday night wine phone date with my best friend Andi
Saturday wine tasting in Sonoma with my friend Jennifer
Sunday dinner hosted at more friends, Jen & Barry

Those are the weekends I adore. Sleeping, exercise, a little TV, wine, yummy food & good friends.

This week, after being in Seattle for the past 3 days, looking forward to another relaxing weekend in Park City. Makes me NOT take them for granted when I work hard. Last weekend we visited the winery, Envolve, of Bachelor boy Ben Flajnik. Kinda cute. Fun.  Oh, and the wine was delish. Probably won't run into any pseudo-celebrities this weekend, but fine by me as I relax in the mountains.

For now, I will relish in the fact that I was upgraded on Delta and I am enjoying white wine in the plane. Thank you, friendly skies!

Neglect

Well, I have been neglecting my blog again. My excuse is a busy month of March. Plus I was crabby much of the time which would have made for some poor posts. Oh well.

However, I did get to travel to Southwest Florida, Naples to be exact, for 8 days and had to work half of those days. Cannot complain about working from the beach.  Aside from work, enjoyed sleeping in, going to the beach and drinking yummy cocktails. Weather was perfect- 80 degrees & sunny- every day. Thanks to Mom & Dad. xoxo

Let's see what else is worth sharing from March....
Academy Awards fun... Loved the Dallas Buyers Club wins. Loved a few dresses. Kate Hudson was amazing.
A weekend in Park City. Always great.
A work week on So Cal.
That about does it.

Now, personally, I would just prefer to fast forward to May 3. Don't ask ; just wish it. Oh, aside from a weekend in Reno & to Disney for my birthday. Thanks to the Anderson's & my brother. There are always things to which I can look forward to. Fun stuff. But, still, just need May to be here.

Happy early April Fools Day. Happy early Easter. Hoping for a lack of April showers...

Food Issues

This past weekend I went out to breakfast and ordered Eggs Benedict without the hollandaise sauce. The server looked at me like I was an idiot. Love the eggs, Canadian bacon & English muffins, but really dislike the thick, fattening, creamy sauce. Just what I like.

Made me think of other quirky food likes and dislikes I have.

French Onion Soup without the onions
Pecan Pie without the pecans
Any sort of tomato sauce without the actual tomatoes
Sun dried tomatoes but no regular tomatoes
Mandarin oranges but no other type of orange or OJ

Is that odd? Sure it is,  it it's what I like. But I dare you to be with me in public when I order the soup or the pie. You think the no hollandaise was bad...
:)