Happy Holidays from Hawai'i!

Aloha everyone!

Hope you had an awesome holiday season.  Hopefully you received everything you wished for and more.  This holiday season has been beyond phenomenal for me.  Some downs but countless ups that has made me realize how lucky I am.

On Christmas day... I spent the day frolicking in the ocean and sun bathing.  Also, went to watch Mission Impossible 4 (what a great movie!)  I'm blessed to have such awesome presents this year - way beyond what I was expecting! 

This week has been great weather-wise.  Slightly chilly and cloudy in the AM (so you can sleep in a little bit) and then it gets nice and warm!  I've been pretty much outdoors every day this week.  From hiking Kuliouou ridge, going around the island, getting tanned at many beaches, eating delicious food! 

Lucky me.  Perfect weather & awesome friends.

I'll be spending my NYE on the Big Island! A new adventure for me to start 2012 - just one of many upcoming adventures! 

Have an awesome NYE! 

Have fun! 

Christmas Day - Ala Moana Beach Park

My Christmas Presents - Lucky me!

Macadamia nut pancakes from Boots & Kimo's

My slippahs - Waimea Bay

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - 11232011 - Lucky You Live Hawaii

Well, some of you reading this may not be living in Hawaii, but this is a phrase that is used when you just encounter something awesome that reminds you to be thankful about the beautiful surroundings that Hawai'i has to offer.  This is not limited to surroundings, but people, food, etc.

Lucky You Live Hawai'i.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Lucky You Live Hawaii - Labor Day Edition...

There are many places in the world that can offer a wide variety of activities, food and culture... but none of them are like Hawaii...

This past weekend was such an awesome weekend that it epitomizes the saying - Lucky you live Hawaii...

Activities... well besides eating... I spent my weekend doing some pretty random things.  I was in Kailua dog sitting 3 energetic handsome dogs... earlier this week, I also took a friend to eat her first Pho ever (can you believe that - gasp!!) Here she is... say hi Maya!

Maya and her beef pho!!

Friday night... was great... it was a night of wine-ing, dining and great food and company... Maura and I went to Sarento's atop the "I" - I've been lucky to eat here twice this year!  We ended up at the restaurant from 1930 to 2300!  Of course, I had the double stuffed pork chops - how can you go wrong with a pork chop stuffed with prosciutto!? 

Maura and I - we need more pics together!

Oh yeah... guess what?!

What?!

I went ice skating for the first time!  Yes, seriously - ice skating... it was a celebration of Mr. Bobby's birthday and he was completely down for doing something different... he's quite a natural mover on the ice - me on the other hand needed the walker to get use to the movement with the ice skates... needless to say it was quite awesome! (more pictures coming soon!)

Michelle and Bobby

Sunday morning was just phenomenal...

I almost feel like I should write a separate blog for this... maybe I will! lol

If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be riding 55 miles on a bike and going over heartbreak hill - I would have told you that you are crazy - well mostly because I didn't know how to ride a bike.  I am so happy/surprised how far I have come... From learning how to ride my Walmart mountain bike at the Hawaii Kai Boat Parking Lot to quickly progressing to a hybrid bike to a road bike and now my first cycling event - with only 1 month to train!  Crazy... but I feel that the word no is starting to leave my vocabulary... 

What do you do on a day where you ride your bike for over 50 miles?!  Well, besides complaining that everything is sore... you go to the beach of course!

in Kailua... 

Lucky you live Hawaii...

How was your weekend!?

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Hawaii... First 72 hours!

Lei'd by Michelle... Times 2!

Wow... I cannot believe I have been back in Hawaii for 72 hours!

So... What have I been up to, since I got home!?

Well... I got lei'd twice upon arrival!

Special thanks for Michelle M. for picking me up at the airport and for my special leis, they are drying on my counter as we speak.

Michelle and I spent an hour or so catching up over beverages at a local bar in Hawaii near Waikiki Beach.

Getting home was quite overwhelming.  I didn't recall my room ever being so immaculate, though now, it looks like my backpack threw up all over my room.

I spent that Friday night sorting through mail, which I'm still in the process of working on, and the same with unpacking.  I've unpacked 1 of 3 luggages so far, and by unpack, I mean dumped the backpack on my bed which I've piled on one corner.

Mail, yes... 3 months of mail is quite a lot, and since I had internet access in most places that I've gone, I had the opportunity to order my school books and supplies while I was gone, which did save me heaps of money.  Yes, the pic doesn't do the amount of mail I've had to sort through...

I originally told people that I wasn't ready to come home, that I could have traveled for another month or so, and being back in Hawaii, I'm happy to report that I'm glad to be back home.  The weather, the water, my friends... have really welcomed me back with open arms.

Well, after sleeping in my most comfortable bed, the next day was completely geeking out and spent most of my day updating my computer, which being gone for 3 months I was surprised that it really wasn't too much at all... I'm just glad to have a Mac and that updates are painless and just requires a couple of clicks and the rest takes care of itself.

Sunday was a really nice day.  It started with getting back on the bike!  I can't believe my race is about a month away and I was just so happy to be getting back on the bike and doing a quick ride to test out my legs and my bike and happy to report, its not too bad... I got in contact with my coach and now I have a training schedule until race day... so basically I just need to make sure I am well enough to train (I'm currently a wee bit sick)...




Sunday was also my brunch celebration.  I try to hold a brunch celebration at my house at least once every two months, which entails having mimosas at my house (which do not tell any French people that you add orange juice to champagne) then off to Blu Water (most of the time).  Blu Water has really affordable brunch, with entrees ranging from $14-$20 and any entree purchase includes access to an all you can eat pancake bar (with 6 types of pancakes).  Needless to say, having friends there and just sharing our stories of our summer was great - our previous brunch was about 3 months ago discussing our summer plans, so it was interesting to see which ones panned out, which plans changed.  It was a great time to also give out some presents.  I was really surprised I received some presents in return.  One of the best presents I have received in my life came in a form of a birthday card.  Many people have different interpretations of what makes a great birthday present - for me I enjoy taking the time to find a birthday card that really says what I want it to say and also even wrapping - I like the finer details and the thought process behind the gift and this card I received made me cry...

The rest of of Sunday afternoon involved getting my grubby hands on a Xbox live remote and playing a new game Top Spin 4.  Yes, I love tennis.  I can spend countless hours playing tennis.  The rest of the time was basically preparing for school the next day.

The first day of school wasn't too difficult nor too exciting, I think once you've attended the same school for a while the novelty wears off - but one thing that was really great is seeing many familiar friendly faces... I think the novelty wore off when I spent 3 classes in the same classroom - YES! and tomorrow I return to the same classroom for another class... ugh. lol

Alright, just some bits on upcoming Blog posts!!
-Monthly Challenge - Smoking
-Pictures from the trip!
-Weekly reflections on a particular summer 2011 place!
-Training and Fundraising - YES a little bit over a month left!

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Eat out Hawaii and don't pay full price...

EAT OUT HAWAII AND DON'T PAY FULL PRICE

Yes, I am one of those people that goes out to eat, with a coupon handy for nearly everything.  In some cases, you save a little bit of money, and in some cases, its basically just paying half!

Tricks of the trade.

Going out to Jamba Juice or California Pizza Kitchen?  Stop by your local Costco and pick up gift cards.

Costco has $50 (2 - $25 cards) Jamba Juice gift cards for $39.99.  They also have in stock $100 (2 - $50 gift cards) for $79.99).  A savings of $10 and $20 respectively. So if you frequent these 2 places, stop by Costco first!

Another place to check out deals is the newspaper, the dining sections has plenty of deals!

Show your ID - Yes, lucky we live Hawai'i and we get Kama'aina discounts at a lot of places, especially in Waikiki.

The best deals around town right now are called JUST PAY HALF, and that's exactly what you do, JUST PAY HALF.  For $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant, eatery, pizza place, etc. you will pay just $25, and sometimes depending on the website a nominal processing fee (sometimes up to $3.25) still a deal nonetheless.

Here are some links:

Play Savvy (I like this one the most - there is no processing fee and you print the certificates online, perfect if you're going right before to dinner! Check this site every 3 days for new deals!)
KHNL Just Pay Half (There is a processing fee of $3.25 for each certificate, and they mail it, so plan ahead and check the sites for deals once a week!)
KBMG Just Pay Half (same as KHNL)
97.5 Just Pay Half (This one has a large variety of offers, dining, activities, EVEN GAS, but PAY ATTENTION, some of offers you have to go downtown to pick it up physically - this maybe a deal breaker for some!)

Just a couple of helpful HINTS:
-If you decide to by these as presents, note that they do say just pay half.
-Very few have date/location restrictions (ex. Big City Diner is only M-TH and NO major holidays)
-Tip on the FULL AMOUNT of your BILL

Hope this helps Hawaii, go eat out and don't spend full price!!


Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Lucky You Live Hawaii

Koko Head - 1 - 04122008

Koko Head - 2 - 04122008


"Lucky You Live Hawaii"

This is something I've been saying a lot recently. Its a phrase we use when you just realize how grateful you are to live in Hawaii. Whether its another beautiful sunny day, a beautiful sunset or you're at the grocery store and they know where and what furikake is.

On Saturday, I did the MS walk in the morning and in the afternoon, I decided I need more of a workout, so I hiked up Koko Head. I decided to take these photos as I was inspired. Most people don't make it to the top, and I can't believe I did because it has been a while since I last hiked Koko Head.

Today, I woke up and I went for a jog. Then, I went to the brunch for the March of Dimes and yes. I threw down! I must have had at least 20 strips of bacon, 10 slices of Portuguese sausage, 5 scoops of rice, a plateful of fruit, 4 pancakes (banana, chocolate chip, macadamia nut and blueberry), and a mimosa. Yum Yum. I even won a gift certificate at the silent auction.

Other than that, nothing much to report. I bought a XBOX 360 game - mass effects which returned, because I am not coordinated enough to play. You actually have to use all the buttons and such.. lol. I like RPGs. I played over 60+ hours of Lost Odyssey got most the collectibles and beat the game.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.


Sunday.