Hawaii!

Here are about a million pictures from our trip to Hawaii:

They started the Hawaii-themed items with free cookies on the plane!

Then we got free macadamia nuts and Mai Tais!

Almost there: Maui's on your right!

We're finally there! Pretty (and weird) island flowers!

Fish tacos in Kona Kailua!

Our view from the hotel room...
(Thank you Hilton points!)

Be careful, you never know...

The perfect beach at Hapuna

Hapuna again with some rock formations

Some crooked trees in the water at Beach 69

And then, I found a homemade grass skirt!
(I put it on and took pictures with it later)

The token feet-at-the-beach picture

My burn from 10 hours in the sun with minimal sunscreen
(It was unintentional, I promise!)

The fruit plate we ordered for breakfast the next morning.
YUM! (Mango and everything!)

Jason's burnt ankles:

Waipi'o Valley near Hawi on the northern coast of the Big Island

The other side of Waipi'o Valley.
(Gorgeous...)

A random beach we found and watched the locals surf.

Hawaiian sunset from our hotel.

We tried to go to Mauna Kea, but feared we'd run out of gas on the way up (ascending from sea level to the summit at 13,700 feet within the span of 15 miles). So we took a chance and drove to Hilo on the other side of the island. On the way, we stopped at Rainbow Falls!

Climbing to the top of the falls...

The pools above the falls.

And then, we drove on to Hilo...

And then, we drove to the top of the massive mountain of Mauna Kea. On the way up, we were sure we'd have to push our little red Mustang convertible the rest of the way! Take a look:
(It's the end of the world! That grade is steep!)

FINALLY at 13,000 feet in the air!

And finally, the TOP! We owe it all to our trusty 'Stang.
(By the way, most rental car companies exclude this drive up the mountain from their contracts because it's so dangerous. It's also recommended that you do the trip with a four wheel drive. And now we know why...)

The view from the top!
(Notice that we're above the clouds...)

So beautiful! See the trail? Yes, you can actually WALK all the way to the top. Though, no one really recommends it, even our guide book!
(Apparently, the top of this mountain is so similar to the moon that NASA astronauts come here to train for their moonwalks. )

And then, we hit a really bad patch of fog on the way back to our hotel!
(We could barely see anything!)

After our dizzying mountain trip, we stopped at the Four Seasons Resort for dinner.
It was AMAZING! Best night of the trip!

Our view from dinner.
("We don't have any tables, but you can eat at our BEACHSIDE LOUNGE.")

Um...OKAY!

Here's the view of our restaurant.
Incredible food, too!

And finally, the last days at our hotel.

Good bye hotel!

Good bye Hawaii!
We'll be back!

A Recap of Ma Birfday

Since I have so many events and activities to share from the past 6 weeks, I figured I'd start slow and work my way to June. (June!) My recent goals have included living my life with more intention which means reflecting more, blogging more, meditating more, remembering more, and essentially allowing my life to be more purposeful. In that, I'm hoping to enjoy each moment and connect with people more. And slow down my life. It moves so fast!

I'm going to start with birthday fun...

Here are the flowers I found on my desk a week before my big day! (My work girls are so sweet.)


Kickin' off the week in style. Thursday didn't even exist -- it was only my day! :) See below for proof.


And then...it snuck up out of nowhere! Happy Birthday to me!


My parents sent me a letter each day in the month of April. Look at what it produced:


Birthday donuts from VooDoo. Some (really good and smart) friends brought them up from Portland and stopped by to say hello! Sweet!


More flowers from work ladies on my big day! They spoil me!


Surprise! A dozen roses (with 27 Top Pot donuts!) from Jason...My best bf!


Jason got me the most beautiful necklace and the sweetest, most loveliest card during dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle, Bizzarro. (They're lasagna is a meal of perfection.) But it was super weird because the owner of the restaurant served us and then, at the end of the night, he pulled up a chair at our table with an after dinner drink in one hand and invited us out to a concert in Queen Anne (a Seattle neighborhood). THEN, he proceeded to spill his drink ALL OVER JASON. And he didn't apologize. And he was super awkward when Jason joked about "moving in on his girl." Bizarre, right? (No pun intended.)

See the necklace? So pretty!


And finally, Jason's mom took me and Jason's sister-in-law out for birthday manicures and pedicures. Girls night!


It was a super wonderful, scrumptious, delightful birthday! Thank you for all the love!

Oh Dear.

It's been a while and I haven't even noticed!

Time is so weird. I literally tell people every single day that I am stuck in 2004. And it's true! I still feel like I'm in college, like I haven't moved, like I'm invincible. But yet, time moves impeccably fast. It's astonishing! The middle of 2010 already? Before I know it, I'll be close to retiring!

In any case, I have TONS of stories to tell and pictures to post from the past six weeks. Here's a few to whet your appetite:

Espresso chocolate birthday cake at work!

Hawaii gorgeousness. (Sigh)

Moped-ing on the beach in Ocean Shores!

Lovely views from Bellevue, Washington.

Soon, soon. Yes! Soon, soon. But first up: A wonderful weekend in Chelan, Washington in a cabin on the lake for a friend's golden birthday! Good way to spend Memorial Day weekend, wouldn't you say?

Cheers!

The List!

I know you've all been waiting so patiently.

HERE IT IS:

- IPod and speakers (Something like this. Or you could just do this.)
- Black boots (I love these which can be found at DSW for $100.)

- Perfume (I'm thinking Chanel Chance or Ralph Lauren Blue)
- Black skirt (I want this one from American Apparel.)

- THESE boots (They speak for themselves.)
- Dior foundation (OMG, this stuff is amazing!)
- Tote bag (These are the best!)
- Work items (I really like these in gray or blue.)
- Swimsuit (Something colorful like this.)
- Gray skinnies (These are some of the cutest.)
- Bubble earrings (I really like these.)
- Art (These are incredible. Especially if it was my face!)
- Pretty rings (Like this or this or this or these.)
- Smashbox eyeshadow (I love all of it!)
- Necklaces (I really like this one and this one and this one.)
- Yoga (I want a 2 month, unlimited trial for first time members here.)
- Dance (I'd like some classes at Velocity or Westlake!)

But what I really, really want is this:

A letter to me at 30. Advice, memories, love, predictions...whatever you want. Sealed and waiting to be opened on my 30th birthday. I'm going to take all of the letters I receive, store and save them, and open them up when I come into a new decade.

In the meantime, only 12 more days!!

My Week of Awesomeness

The past few days of my life have been ridiculous.

Let me share them with you:

Michael Franti & Spearhead Concert on Wednesday
(It was a barefooted, hippie-loving good time.)

Still Wednesday: John Mayer came on afterward!
(Despite his interviews, he's super talented.)
And I want to make out with him.

Our boy John is still playing...
(Here is the tattoo sleeve Jason is going to get.)
Just kidding.

Here's a view of the concert crowd in Key Arena
(There were tons of people!)


**************************************************************
THEN, on Friday, I did something totally unprecedented...

I did the FLYING TRAPEZE!

YEP, THAT'S RIGHT!

My girlfriend and I went to Emerald City Trapeze Arts and gave ourselves a few shots of pure adrenaline by flying through the air on 15 pound bars, getting caught by professional trapezists, and doing back flips onto the net.

It was INSANE!

The only way to understand it is through pictures...

Here's my first climb...I was so nervous!!

And I'm off! (That first jump off the platform is tough!)

Back and forth...
In between the pictures, I was hanging by my knees off the bar!

And the back tuck to land it!

Finally, the fancy somersault off the net.
PHEW!!

Here's Round 2 from a different angle --

My final climb. It's still not easy!

I'm doing my lean and getting my grip...

Here we go!

The connection!

We did one swing together and then he dropped me!

Flying trapeze is definitely one of the BIGGEST THRILLS I've ever had!

It was WILD!

THEN, on Friday afternoon, a few of my girlfriends and I went to
ALICE IN WONDERLAND in 3D at the IMAX!

It was so dark and delicious, so spooky and wonderful...


Then, we went to Palace Kitchen and got burgers...

YUM!

**************************************************************

On Saturday, Jason and I went to a birthday gathering for a family friend. It was a poker-themed party and the food was amazing! While we were there, I got my long overdue, but really sweet Christmas present and it was a puzzle of Paris.
(Do not fret, this will become important information in just a few seconds.)

Happy 50th to Jim!

(Lovely cake, isn't it?)

THEN, we went to the Seattle Sounders soccer game!

We lost to the NYC Red Bulls, but the game was my first!
(It was cold, but it was delightful!)

**************************************************************
On Sunday, Jason and I ate Subway sandwiches and Top Pot doughnuts.

THEN, we worked on the aforementioned puzzle!*

*Translation: I worked on the puzzle for 2 hours and Jason worked on the puzzle for 2 DAYS. He was certifiably obsessed. He finally finished it this morning when he EMAILED me a picture of the finished product.
Please note: He NEVER emails me.

(While I am proud of him, I still think he is crazy.)

I quite enjoy this picture, if I do say so myself.

**************************************************************

TODAY, I worked.

And then, we made a delicious dish of gourmet macaroni and cheese:

There was a little bit of drama (like when I tried to stir up my first roux or when Jason burned his first pan of bacon), but overall, we turned out with something far beyond what we thought we could make. I'd say this meal is a success!

Now, we are drinking white wine, watching the National Championship (Duke versus Butler) along with the first Mariner's game of the season (against Oakland), and enjoying the fruits (more like cheeses) of our labor.

Tweet, Tweet

Happy Birthday Month to ME!!

My infamous list will be posted in the next few days.