I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favorite Maui posts. As I mentioned in my Maui Eats post some friends are visiting my island home -- but I'm not there! I'm so excited for them though, as this is their very first trip to paradise, and I wanted to take a minute to share some must do activities.

As your virtual tour guide, I encourage you to grab a tropical drink and sit back and relax:)

Haleakalā Sunrise. Visiting the Haleakalā National Park is a definite must while visiting Maui. I suggest going for the sunrise, and the best day to do that is when you first get to Maui while you're still on mainland time--that way waking up at 2AM isn't that big of a deal! The sunrise on Maui in May is just before 6AM, and you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to get to the summit and regroup.

There's actually lots to do up there, but I've only hung around the observatory. You could do a bike tour, hike the many trails or crater, you can even go camping! The trails are pretty moderate, so if that's something you think you would want to do, pack a breakfast & picnic lunch -- and make sure you wear proper shoes (the gravel is actually lava and is sharp!) and several layers -- it gets crazy windy and cold up there, especially before and while the sun is rising, but then gets stifling hot once it's up. After all, it is the house of the rising sun!

When a group of us go we usually look like we're headed for a snowboarding trip! If you want a good picture, wear your bikini under all your layers and then strip for a fun picture --  it's like wearing your bikini in the snow:)
Ziplining. There is an adventurous zipline in the Eucalyptus forest on your way up Haleakalā.  I almost booked that location, but ended up at Ka'anapali due to availability, but regardless of location, ziplining is a lot of fun! I'm a huge fan of Skyline Eco Adventure because I was super sketchballz the first time I did it, but the zip guys were very compassionate, took me aside to talk and pumped me up. They promised me after the first line I'd be addicted -- and you know what? I was!

Hiking. There are so many places to hike I simply cannot begin to list them all here. Like I mentioned above, I would definitely consider hiking Haleakalā, ‘Iao Valley, Wai‘anapanapa State Park, and of course through the Bamboo forest up to Waimoku Falls. On the Westside, Kapalua has some amazing trails, which has always been my "backyard" and where used to run everyday:)



Shopping. While I always saved my shopping for O'ahu or the Mainland, you may want to check out Maui's shopping scene:

• Ka'ahumanu Mall
• Maui Mall
• The Shops at Wailea
• Front Street
• Whaler's Village

Front Street is definitely more "tourist-y" than the other locations, but very fun to walk before or after dinner:)

* The ABC Store as well as our one and only Walmart are two great spots to load up on souvenirs.

Beaches. It's no secret.. Maui has the best beaches. I have found some very special spots to claim my own, but here are a few you should definitely experience:

• Kapalua Bay
• Napili Bay
• Backside / Airport Beach / North Ka'anapali Beach
• Ka'anapali Beach / Black Rock
• LaPerouse Bay
• Wai'anapanapa

In addition to laying out, you can snorkel at all the above beaches. Kapalua Bay and Black Rock / Backside are probably the best snorkel spots on the Westside, while a lot of the Wailea beaches, particularly LaPerouse has some breathtaking views both above and below the water! Wai'anapanapa is one of Maui's many Black Sand Beaches in Hāna:)

If you're looking for more beach activities, Ka'anapali pretty much has it all. Jet skiing, Parasailing, SUP, surfing, and more.
Trilogy. Sailing with Trilogy is the best bang for your buck and is by far my favorite adventure!

The Trilogy is the only catamaran with permission to discover the island of Lana'i. They offer two very similar Lana'i tours, and I strongly suggest doing one of them during your visit. Not only do you get to snorkel primo spots, frolic with spinner dolphins, and whale watch (during whale season), but you get to explore another island!

Also, the Lana'i Marine Preserve is less blown out than Molokini, so the quality of snorkeling, snuba, or scuba will be a way better experience.

Upcountry Adventures. There is a lot going on upcountry! You can easily spend an entire day up there experiencing the following:

• Maui's Winery at Ulupalakua Ranch
• Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm (must try the lavender scone:)
• Surfing Goat Dairy Farm
• Explore Makawao
• Explore Pa'ia
• Kick back at Ho'okipa (and watch all the kite & wind surfers)
• Visit Jaws (watch big wave surfers get towed in during Maui's winter months)

Lu'au. As I mentioned in this post the Feast At Lele is the best on the island. I went on and on about it in this post so please, please, please, take the time to read/watch/drool. Not only is this the BEST Polynesian food you will ever eat and experience, the entertainment and staff are full of ALOHA.

This style of Lu'au is plated and served opposed to buffet style. It's also an OPEN BAR, and the food is unlimited. If you like a certain dish and want more -- you can get more! You simply cannot get any better than The Feast. If you are limited to one splurge during your visit, I strongly recommend this authentic cultural experience.

Hāna. I've been going to Hāna for as long as I can remember and I cannot stress enough that the experience is in the journey, so don't rush to a destination. Embrace the narrow road bordering Maui's cliffs with leisure and stop frequently to take in the beauty and capture a photo or two.

I've posted several times about Hāna:

• 'Alau Island Race
• Hāna Part I
• Hāna Part II

One thing to remember while driving on the island, especially to Hāna, is that [to locals] you stick out like a sore thumb. Every local knows a rental car when they see one! On your journey to Hāna you will experience 620 curves and cross 59 bridges suspended over lush rain forest terrain -- let aggressive drivers pass and always pull over if you want to gawk at the view or see a whale breach:)

Whew! If you made it to this last paragraph you're a trooper! There is so much to do on Maui and this beastly post doesn't even scratch the surface!

This post is dedicated to friends of mine who will be on Maui in a matter of days. I am soooo extremely excited for them while being extremely disappointed at the same time since I won't be there with them.

Making the best of an inconvenient situation I thought I would share with them -- and all of you -- what I would suggest if I were there. Consider me your virtual tour guide;)

When you grow up on Maui, or any island for that matter, you tend to put together "must do's, see's, and eats" for family and friends who visit, so let's consider this the first of a few posts, encompassing my favorite Maui Eats.

One of my favorite things to do after landing is beelining it to Marco's Grill & Deli. I'm always hungry after the flight and Marco's is conveniently located on the corner of Hana Highway and Dairy Road (Ste M, 444 Hana Highway, Kahului, HI | 808.877.4446) and for lunch, I get one of two things:

• The Tomato & Cheese Salad (minus croutons, extra rolls) OR
• The Grilled Veggie Sandwich (it's served open-faced & comes with salad or pasta)

* The garlic cheese bread is ridiculously yummy, and if they have clams -- get them!

Side Note:  

You're going to see a trend here -- zero, zip, NO dietary restrictions mentioned in ANYTHING I boast about. That's because I either a) Make an exception for indulging in home fare, or b) alter the dish myself to make it accommodate my specific restrictions. Completely up to you. 

A lot of vacationers hit Costco before heading to their condo, and you might want to do the same, HOWEVER, I'm a huge fan of experiencing a place by indulging in local fare -- and Maui has some AMAZING eats. Trust me, I won't even put in a dent in what's offered -- I'm only mentioning my favorites and what I consider to be "musts" if it's your very first visit:)

Also, instead of going Day-By-Day, I'm going to spit out a bunch of things, and you can determine if and how it'll fit into your trip..

Let's start with food since I'm already drooling and on a roll..

Breakfast(s):

A huge must while visiting Maui is to experience The Gazebo restaurant, which is found ocean front at Napili Shores. With about 14 tables squeezed into an adorable gazebo, the team pumps out over 300 covers from 7:30A-2PM. Regardless of what time you get there, there will be a line. I suggest saving this breakfast treat for a weekday and avoid peak breakfast times, but seriously prepare to wait 45-60 minutes for a table and just enjoy your surroundings! Get pumped to indulge in:

• Banana Mac Nut Pancakes (with whip!) and a
• Half order of the Fried Rice
• Any Omelette w/country potatoes is a winner 

Once you've experienced the Gazebo and have earned your time in line, MAYBE, I'll tell you how you can bypass it in the future;)

Another phenomenal place to experience breakfast on Maui is at The Plantation House Restaurant, in Kapalua. Home of the once Lincoln Mercury, Mercedes, and now Hyundai Golf Tournament. Take in the jaw-dropping surrounding beauty where every year the PGA Tour kicks off their season at the Plantation Course. I suggest ordering:

• The Moloka'i Sweet Bread French Toast (+ fruit!)
• The Portuguese Sausage & Cheese Omelette (with rice!)

The Kula Lodge is a favorite of mine, especially on those early mornings spent at the Haleakalā Sunrise:) The service is sub-par, but sometimes places (like here) have the exception. The atmosphere is cozy, with fireplaces complimenting the brisk upcountry air, and overlooks the amazing views of Maui..

I've only ordered the Buttermilk Pancakes -- circle the wagon (topped with everything: roasted macadamia nuts, chocolate chips, bananas & whipped butter -- it's divine!) + a cappuccino!! Believe me when I say it is worth any inconveniences! My best advice is to order as soon as you get there and make sure you have everything you need, then the next time you see your waitress ask for the check. HAHA!!

Joking aside, I haven't been there in awhile and perhaps the service has improved.. but I doubt it. I share this because I still encourage you to go merely because of the amazing views & fabulous pancakes. Don't be scared:)


Lunch(es):

A few choice lunch spots include:

To say the Paia Fish Market is a favorite of mine just sounds like an understatement! My man and I stopped there twice on our way to and from Hāna. You can read about it here and here:) You're gonna want to order:

• Opah Burger
• Salad w/Opah

If you didn't notice, you soon will --  Opah is a favorite:)

Duke's is a famous TS restaurant just north of Airport Beach in Ka'anapali. This area desperately needed a solid eatery and I think they did well putting in a Duke's! The Waikiki location is still the best, however, these guys are definitely coming along. So far I've enjoyed:

• Arugula & Farro Salad
• Beachside Grilled Fish Tacos
• Roasted Turkey, Bacon, & Brie
• Fire Grilled Vegetable Wrap

Check out the full (lunch) menu *here.

* Subject to change 


Star Noodle in Lahaina is a fabulous hidden gem... I can't stray from the following dishes:

• Pohole Salad
• Spicy Namasu
• Star Kim Chee
• Garlic Noodles

The garlic noodles alone will make you return again and again...and again! Keep in mind it's large enough to share:)

MĀLA is also in Lahaina, ocean front and next to it's sister restaurant, HONU.

Every time I go to MĀLA for lunch or dinner I order the same thing:

The GADO GADO Salad. It's that amazing.

I've only been to HONU once -- sat at the bar with a couple friends who were in town for the night and we enjoyed several different pupu's.

My suggestion is to put your name down at MĀLA's for dinner and head over to HONU for a drink & a couple starters. Let the MĀLA host(ess) know, and they're actually pop in HONU when your table/reservation is ready:)

Speaking of Dinner..

Dinner(s):

Kimo's is one of my favorite Front Street restaurants and I strongly suggest going for dinner (get there before sunset). Get a table along the railing and enjoy the unobstructed panorama view as the sun dips into the horizon. I have always ordered the Sashimi as an appetizer (apps are called pupu's in Hawai'i btw:) and the Parmesan-crusted Opah (sub rice for garlic mashed) for my entree. Even if you're full, order the Hula Pie. It's amazing and you'll regret it if you don't try it. If you're feeling adventurous, purchase some merch as a not-so-tourist-y souvenir -- Kimo's on Maui is the best TS restaurant and worth the loot.

On Sunday's from 5PM-6PM and Thursday (& Friday's?) after 10PM Sansei's offers 1/2 off sushi! ANYTHING you order will be phenomenal, but some of my must-have-plates include:

• Panko Crusted Ahi Sashimi 
• Dynamite Shrimp
• Grilled Veggie Roll
• Salmon Skin Hand Roll 
• "Granny Smith" Apple Tart

Couple things to keep in mind: Sansei's is a popular place. If you're going for the 1/2 off at the Kapalua location you need to get there EARLY. As in 30-45 minutes early! Also, because it's PACKED, it's a very fast paced, loud environment -- so get into it -- embrace what I consider a "hip/city" environment and enjoy it! It is very easy to order the entire sushi menu as I've always gone with a group of people OR I'm starving and know how good everything is. If it's just you and your spouse or friend I strongly suggest sitting at the Sushi Bar if you can (it's limited seating) and on Thursday/Friday's after 10PM there's karaoke -- free (yet priceless) entertainment:)

Kobe's is another great restaurant for both Sushi and Teppanyaki. It's community seating, which can be fun if you're in the mood and the menu is great. Sitting at the sunken sushi bar is also a treat, and I always get the miso soup, the salmon skin handroll, and the butterfish -- absolutely amazing!

Another one of my favorite places to have dinner is at Roy's. They recently changed locations, from Kahana to Ka'anapali, and while I'm certain the food is still amazing, I have no idea about the new ambiance. I always enjoyed sitting at the bar and ordering several pupu's (appetizer's, remember;) and end the romantic evening with their amazing soufflé (a la mode, of course).

The Feast At Lele is by far the BEST Lu'au on Maui! I went on and on about it in this post so please, please, please, take the time to read/watch/drool. Not only is this the BEST Polynesian food you will ever eat and experience, the entertainment and staff are full of ALOHA.

This style of Lu'au is plated and served opposed to buffet style. It's also an OPEN BAR, and the food is unlimited. If you like a certain dish and want more -- you get more! You simply cannot get any better than that.

Since The Feast is both dinner AND an activity, I am going to cut this giant post right here. Come back tomorrow for Maui [Activities].

PS: One thing I have to mention is Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice. It is by far the best shave ice you can get anywhere, so if you're walking around Front Street in Lahaina and want to take a break -- visit one of their two locations and get any flavor combinations you want, but promise me you'll add the Roselani's Vanilla ice cream!!

I am super proud of these guys -- because of their high standards in quality they have become very successful fast!

I wanted to talk a little bit about how I've been adapting to the cold here in Seattle. Sure it's Spring now, but it's still cold to this Maui Girl and Winter is still fresh in my mind!

I was recently featured on the Agloves website...

Click to view larger

I reviewed the Agloves Sport and Bamboo, which passed the test with my Mount Baker Adventure. But you already know about that if you read this post or this post.

Today I want to talk about the several layers I wore that day, which really worked for me.


My base layers included YMX By YellowMan's Koi Leggings and Māori Swirl Sun Tee (it's okay that they hardly match, they're still sexy and buttery soft).

Then I put on my black Roxy fleece over the long sleeve + cotton leggings I put over the Koi leggings. I almost omitted the cotton leggings, but I'm so glad I didn't! 

My top layers included my black Roxy snowboarding pants I got on sale, and my splurge in Winter gear: North Face TriClimate jacket.



Like I mentioned in my review, I was perfectly comfortable during the hike. In fact, I may have even broke a sweat at one point, which is ironic being surrounded by so much snow!

However... I really wish I had wore this little number once we parked it up at the top:


I was comfortable for a good bit, but then the cold settled into my bones! Pacing, jumping jacks, warm thoughts - nothing seemed to get me warm! In fact, all I could think about was this jacket!

I imagined how toasty I could be feeling at that very moment if only I had that liner on. I also imagined how much of a diva I would sound like to these Seattlites clearly immune to the cold had they been able to hear my thoughts! I told myself to buck up.. Then it started to snow.

Good Lord, we were in the Tundra and frost bite was immanent, to say I was ready to go was an understatement! Then as if Mother Nature heard my silent pleas, we all agreed to venture to the finish line and started our descend with hopes of a bathroom nearby.

As soon as we started our trek, I was fine and having fun again. We met Travis Rice, who may or may not have thought we were crazy. Either way, he ended up playing leap frog with Laura:)



I couldn't get to my phone fast enough, but my cousin captured the last couple leaps, so this definitely goes down in the books. Best. Day. Ever:) After our run in we had a blast continuing down the mountain doing tricks. It was awesome!

Winter Gear Conclusion: 


My outfit was perfect even minus the heated jacket liner because I was 100% comfortable maneuvering around the mountain. I still want the liner, and a real snowboarding jacket, but my garb passed with flying colors nonetheless! As I do more of this sort of adventure, I'm sure I'll shed a layer or two, but for now this is what I'm working with! My goal is to just wear my YMX, Roxy heated liner, + snowboarding jacket:)

Suggestions: 

I am borderline obsessed with YMX By YellowMan for several reasons. Quality, Function, and Style, just to name a few. My closet quickly filled with YMX gear as I fell in love with the company, and as I've worn different designs, I have two very easy suggestions... give me thumbholes on the long sleeves and give me more Roger Ingerton's Māori designs! Every time I go running in one of my long sleeves, I wish I had thumbholes. And let's face it, Māori print is my favorite, Roger is a genius, and I can't get enough:)

I have so many design ideas, and have to say how sick would it be if they designed a simple solid black long sleeve with white Māori print on the sleeves!? OR my absolute favorite idea right now... solid black leggings with one of the legs having white Māori print from the outer side of the hip to the ankle. I would so pimp that.

My creative juices are flowing.. My Outrigger Canoe Club colors are Black and Yellow, so if YMX ever created the above mentioned design or any Māori print with those two colors for that matter -- I'd go broke! #TrueStory:)


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First and foremost -- thank you to EVERYONE who read and left comments on yesterday's post.. Not only was my M.A.N. in love with this post (he is NOT modest;) he loved the comments as well. Particularly the ones shedding light on how lucky I am -- BAHAHA!! 

Okay.. So as most of you know I recently relocated from the Aloha State, where it's a mild 80-degrees year round, sunny and clear blue skies with light trade winds... to the stone-cold, wet, and rainy---and extra snowy--Seattle. The last several days the entire state has been socked-in with supposedly the gnarliest snow storm they have seen in years!

Lucky me...?

Actually, it hasn't bothered me all that much since I was thankfully not part of the 300,000 residences without power over the course of this storm. Thus, being cozy in our cramped little studio hasn't been that bad considering the sobering alternative!

Yesterday I ventured out in the elements because my Dad had a doctors appointment downtown, and the roads were cray cray!! In fact, for the first time I was glad not to be driving! Check out our truck!!

Lots of snow!!

Being on the roads was very nerve-racking for all backseat drivers.. It was below freezing, slushy, icy, and actual lanes were buried. Some of the "tire-tracked lanes" created over due time merged together, which almost caused several wrecks when people got too confident and decided to "drive normal" in the carpool lane..

Only saw one car in a ditch en route!

It was so weird to see downtown covered in snow -- I'm certainly not used to seeing snow near water either, so I had to take pictures...


Maneuvering around the hills in Seattle was less than desirable, especially if you didn't have an equipped or winterized vehicle like us. People really should have stayed home if given the opportunity, there were so many unfortunate accidents and deaths reported. There was definitely legit reasoning declaring a state of emergency.

Most streets were actually closed and people were sledding, skiing, and snowboarding down them -- Watch this video!



..Until the cops made them stop!! Awww!!


We were blessed to get from A to B and back safely. It was supposed to get above freezing and start raining; however, it didn't -- in fact it ended up just snowing some more!




Yesterday (afternoon) I was going to meet up with one of my cousins, but couldn't even make it out onto the main road! The less traveled roads were still really bad, so I just parked & got cozy again!


***


To celebrate the new year, the Rafflecopter team is going to give away a 16GB Apple iPad2 and several Kindle Fires. The giveaway started Monday 1/9 at 12:01 a.m. and lasts for a month. To enter, simply tell Rafflecopter who referred you to this giveaway! (That'd be ME! ;) You can receive additional entries by tweeting about this giveaway, following Rafflecopter on twitter, and giving them feedback as well... Simply use the widget below:

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I hope everyone had a fabulous Columbus Day! OR Thanksgiving if you're Canadian:)

What a perfect weekend for a 3-day weekend, too, because I've been celebrating birthday's since Friday! Friday, Saturday, and yesterday were friends birthday's--and I didn't even need facebook to remind me!




On Saturday night about ten of us met up for dinner at Roy's -- it's become quite the tradition for friends to celebrate their birthday's there because it's uhh-mazzing! Added bonus is it's close to my house, so we can get shit-faced, too!


A friend used to work there so we were spoiled. We were give platters of food that wasn't even on the menu -- everything was literally awesomesauce.

Top left = Butterfish Top right = Grits, jumbo shrimp, fried egg + Asparagus Bottom left = Mixed greens salad w/blue cheese & caramelized onions & pancetta Bottom right = Blacked Seared Ahi

We had a few bottles of wine, and my picture-taking digressed as the night continued, but fortunately I captured the above--and of course dessert!

Apple Crisp, not sure, + Chocolate Souffle!

After dinner we had some serious conversations...

I will ALWAYS make it right (good)

(gasp!) Betty!

And thought we could change lives with this one...


When it was time to go, I realized we never received the check, and yet again was reminded how awesome it is to be home. We never received our bill (that should have been around $400) because that is what happens here on Maui when you are local -- they take care of you! We're kind of a big deal.

We continued the night at one of our clubs here in Lahaina, and had our own area conveniently next to one of the bars. Another great thing about being home is when you go out with people who always go out, you never have to wait in line or pay at the door. Pimp!

We didn't intend to close the place down, but we did. It happens. And I painfully discovered the following morning I was way more hammered than I had thought.

  
I was in a coma until around 10AM, when I moved from my bed to the couch and mirrored the image above...

Then instead of going to the beach and having fun with my family for the next two days, I stayed home locked in my room working on a final project for school. It was supposed to be a "team project," but my epic team turned stupid and was super lame on the most important week.


I essentially ended up completing the entire project myself in a pissed-off-stubborn-rage because I'm the student that expects an A and will earn that A by busting some balls if necessary. There is a happy ending though -- yesterday was the last day of that class, and I am now on a very much needed and overdue 2-week break. Who's excited!!



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If you are a reader and haven't yet followed me via Google Friend Connect located on the top right of my Blog's Sidebar, please do so! Following, Subscribing, or commenting on my Blog is the biggest compliment you can give!

Unless you are a Tarantino fan, I suggest reading this post, and this post before continuing:)

When I boarded my first flight, I was beyond nervous. I couldn't believe it was D-Day, and in a matter of hours I would [hopefully] be pulling off the best surprise I have ever done or been part of in a long time.

The flight from Maui to Dallas was a long one, so I tried to distract myself with conversation and alcohol until everyone eventually fell asleep, and I picked up one of my books. You couldn't have paid me to sleep.

The flight from Dallas to Birmingham was the worst though! Imagine your body being pumped with caffeine or adrenalin and having to sit still on a packed flight for almost two hours--I'm almost positive I died 187 times on that flight.

I received a text message from Suz explaining where they were waiting as soon as my plane landed. The B'ham airport is small, so I strategically made it to the nearest bathroom from my gate so I could freshen up. Nothing sexier than traveling across the country, and being awake for 24 hours, right? SURPRISE honey--kiss me!


I didn't want to make our Boston friend wait, so I rushed my business in the bathroom. I quickly changed into a comfy dress and felt like a million bucks after I brushed my teeth. I received a text message from Austin from Boston as I refreshed my face and met him outside. I'm pretty sure I was shaking with excitement at this point.

We walked down the corridor together towards our friends with me behind him so I wasn't visible to our group. As we got closer, Suz strategically walked over, gave Austin a hug and walked back to everyone with him in order to better block me from my boyfriend's view...

Here. Wait. You know what? You'll just have to see for yourself;)



Just another day at the Birmingham Airport, I'm sure;)

I couldn't believe my man reacted the EXACT way I expected he would -- I guess I know him more than I thought! And yes, you are seeing that correctly--he briskly walked away from us as if we betrayed him!! I instinctively chased after him and we hugged and kissed. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at me in disbelief.

Mission Accomplished.

A very special shout out to my boyfriend's bestie -- he not only came up with this epic surprise idea, but he also fronted the majority of my ticket to get out there. The boyfriend said this was his BEST birthday present ever and Taylor has definitely earned his reputation for being an AWESOME gift giver:)

T & Hannah at Toomer's after the game

Allan and Suz also put a ridiculous amount of time, money, and energy into this epic surprise weekend, and we are always grateful for their awesomeness. With out those two, these types of weekends/reunions simply would not happen. Suz does all the grocery shopping and spearheads the meals for 15+ people. To label her as the Hostess with the Mostest, just doesn't seem to encompass everything she does!

Suz & Allan pulling off the Heisman Pose =)

Another unanimous huge thank you goes out to Michelle and her family for allowing our huge group to frequent their amazing Lake House year after year. I don't know many parents who would be okay allowing their Daughter and her college friends utilize their second-home. You've met college kids, right? OH--you were one? AND you saw our photos and videos! All the more thanks to Mom and Dad!!

Michelle & Will Pre-Game

We truly have a unique group of friends I am so fortunate to be part of, and I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. As you all know from this post, sh!t happens, so I'm especially grateful everyone sent me their photos so I could make this video and add it to our collection.


PS: If you haven't checked out [long distance loving] yet, you should -- she's having an awesome giveaway that closes in 10 days -- I'm freaking out about the Rafflecopter; it's freakin' AMAZING!

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If you are a reader and haven't yet followed me via Google Friend Connect located on the top right of my Blog's Sidebar, please do so! Following, Subscribing, or commenting on my Blog is the biggest compliment you can give!

First and foremost thank you to all my followers!! I absolutely love watching the number go up on the Google Friend Connect--it creates this urgency and accountability to keep sharing my adventures--I love it--mahalo nui loa to each of you!!

Second... I want to apologize for dragging my feet on a) telling this epic surprise story and b) finishing this epic surprise story! I have been in a whirlwind since September 1st, and I am excited to finally share with you this very special adventure. Don't hate me, but I've decided to break the actual surprise story into three parts since it turned into a short novel..

I hope you enjoy our story -- and if you haven't read this post yet, go ahead and get yourself caught up before continuing:)

So here it is, literally three weeks before my departure to surprise the boyfriend--and he shares he has volunteered himself for a work project that will require travel the work-week after Labor Day weekend. Not a problem if I was going to be on the Big Island like I said I would be; but SURPRISE, I was supposed to be in 'Bama!

I almost lost it. I thought about telling him everything. Then I dug my heels in and my innate stubbornness shined through. I decided to sleep on it.

The next day I sent a quick email to [one of] my bf's bosses asking him to call me when ever he had a second to chat. Now before you think I crossed any boundaries, this boss is no stranger to me. For the last year and a half I was able to go on all but one of my bf's work trips and I got to know his team very well. This particular boss is the kind of boss everyone wishes they had--and we have been fortunate to earn his friendship and close out each hard working week with a few cocktails just to roust and shoot-the-shit together.

As soon as the email went through my phone rang--that's just how he is! I gave boss-man the cliff notes of the predicament and stressed I would never want to get in the middle of their work. Nothing like putting someone between a rock and a hard spot, huh? He digested everything and told me he would get back to me in a couple days, and I held my breath!

The following week we connect again and he tells me the same trip is scheduled a few weeks later and that he is scheming to reschedule my man's itinerary. Oh, had I not mentioned everything from airfare, rental car, and lodging had already been booked? Yeah.. Mr. Boss-man RALLIED! Scheming with the boyfriend's boss was definitely unchartered waters for me, but it made this surprise ALL THE MORE AWESOME!

Whew! Wipe the sweat off my brow. Now all we had to do was get through the remaining days with out falling apart or slipping through conversation with the man-of-the-hour. I had recurring nightmares I or someone else let the secret slip -- and let's be honest -- there is nothing worse than a spoiled surprise. Am I right? No way was I going to travel across the country for a spoiled surprise! No, Sir!

As the days got closer everyone's excitement became almost unbearable. Including mine. I seriously thought I was going to burst. Was the surprise going to happen exactly how we planned?

Everyone kept asking me how I thought my boyfriend would react and I told everyone I imagined him saying something like, "Holy Sh!t!" and walking away in disbelief... Then I'd laugh with a smile and say we'd soon find out!

The boyfriend has every other Friday off so he left for Birmingham right after work on Thursday to meet up with his best friend and get their holiday weekend started. I know his bff would never admit it, but he was a wreck inside not wanting to screw anything up and thankfully they both kept busy building a stereo cooler. Engineers, remember?

So, because I live a WORLD AWAY, I had a plane to catch that (Thursday) evening. The bf and I chatted on the way to the airport and of course my love thought I was en route to the Big Island -- Bless his heart:) I explained to him several times prior, and once again that night, I would be off the grid because there isn't any cellphone reception in the desolate area I'd be at while on the Big Island. Which is totally (probably) true!

It was showtime.

I boarded my first flight and occupied my time with these two posts here and here, and realized the next 86,400 seconds would be the longest 24 hours OF MY LIFE!!

To be continued... 

Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story;)

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Guess what?

It's October!


What happened to September!?

It seriously feels like yesterday I received a phone call from my boyfriends’ best friend. He had this master plan he wanted to share with me about surprising the bf for his birthday [in September].

It wasn't even July yet and I honestly didn't have any intentions of visiting Alabama again for awhile since I had just moved back to Maui after living there for almost two years—so needless to say—I was caught off guard!

I had to give it to him though, his plan was genius, beyond thoughtful, and if it went down exactly how we hoped, it would with out a doubt be the best surprise to go down in history.

Without committing to the idea, I told him I would research flights to see how much it would cost and we would go from there. I was very apprehensive about the idea, because I didn’t like the idea of traveling across the country with out my man even knowing! Not to mention the set-up lies I would have to construct from that point on.

After some immediate, thorough, and tactical flight searches, I found the cheapest multi-destination round-trip ticket I have ever found departing Maui to God's Country and back. When I found this flight, and knew I would be booking it, I wanted to run everything by my Mom first, get her opinion before biting the bullet. We deemed the master plan an awesome theory, but confirmed this would be the hardest kept secret of my life!

With my Mom's blessing, I called my bf's bff to get his verbal approval for the flight and confirm we were in fact going through with this master plan! I reluctantly purchased the flight, holding my breath the entire process.

So far our very rough surprise plan simply included me flying in to Birmingham Friday, September 2, and someone would be there to pick me up. How the actual surprise would go down was still up in the air, and I wasn’t completely sold.

What I was sold on was the epic-ness of this faraway weekend. If you read this post from Suz, than you already know about our successful Lake-House-Auburn-Home-Game-Reunion-weekends. In addition to this immanent yet faraway weekend being the first reunion since last season, it was my man’s birthday weekend! Timing to see everyone just couldn’t be better. We all had to be there!


It took all I had not spill the news every.single.time I spoke with the bf. We spent the Fourth of July weekend together in Las Vegas and I didn’t crack—I was so proud, and began building my backstory; however, this is also when my anxiety kicked in—not wanting the master plan to get spoiled.

If you are wondering, my backstory (or epic lie as I refer to it) was strategically eluded in this post, blaming my paddling obsession and long-distance season was an easy and otherwise accurate reason I couldn’t visit. My “closer” was pushing him to come visit here for his birthday. I sold that lie like it was my job.

As the days continued we massaged our surprise method and decided the boyfriend (unbeknownst to him) would pick me up from the airport – and our scapegoat? Our awesome friend who routed his flight from Boston to Birmingham instead of Atlanta like he usually does—which was scheduled to arrive 10 minutes AFTER MY FLIGHT! Can you say perfect?! Apparently this was easier than adding on to the lies—do you remember this post ... and this post? Tough weekend for our Boston friend!!

So after all of this, maybe three weeks out -- how do you think I reacted when my boyfriend shared with me through conversation that he volunteered for a work trip (the week I would be out)?

To be continued……

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The bf and I have had a lot of fun trips together, which is one of the main reasons I started this blog! My very first Fall in God's Country was in beeeeautiful Auburn ~ 2009. The bf, his bff, and I went to a local Pumpkin Patch and had a blast! Pumpkins for days, and a ridiculously fun corn maze!

We lived in a house full of college guys and I remember making a night out of it, carving jack-o-lanterns and attempting to save all the seeds to bake... Mmm, my favorite part!

For Thanksgiving that year we went up to visit the bf's Dad's side of the family in Tennessee. We road tripped it with his Mom and Dad from Birmingham, mingled, ate way too much awesome food, then trucked it back down to Birmingham.

For Christmas we all hopped back in the truck and road tripped it from Birmingham, Alabama to Huntsville, Ontario, Canada to visit the bf's sister and her family.


If I'm remembering correctly we stopped in Ohio overnight, and continued bright and early the next day. To this day I cannot believe how much snow was in that cute little town. The roads were literally packed with mounds of crunchy, icy, hurts-it's-so-cold snow!! As much as I love being a snow bunny, I'm innately a beach bunny!

  
Last Fall we were in Huntsville, Alabama, and I don't remember going to a Pumpkin Patch! I'm almost positive we scored our pumpkins at Fresh Market or Walmart. We went over to our friends Allan & Suz house for a Pumpkin Carving Party -- It was BEYOND fun, and I'm sure I have some hilarious photos and videos around here somewhere.

One weekend we got abnormally adventurous and visited Huntsville's Jewel on the Mountain.. Also known as Burritt on the Mountain - I wrote a post about it here and included some fun photos..

For Thanksgiving we decided to do something completely different and escaped to the very beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. You can (and should!) read about this amazing trip here:

Weekend of Thanks
Happy Hours in MB
Indo Thai Sushi Hibachi
Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse

For Christmas and New Years Eve (2010), we found ourselves in Hawai'i again, and as you all know or have guessed, I stayed and the boyfriend had to go back to Alabama. It has been very difficult being a part from each other, but we are holding it together. In fact one of the main things we have done is plan fun trips to avoid going too long with out seeing one another in person.

I surprised the boyfriend over Labor Day weekend for his birthday (which I plan on sharing about in detail next week once this Fall Blog Challenge is finished) so we don't have anything planned until December/January. I may or may not be traveling inter-island between now and then... those trips are rarely planned:)

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Link Up!

Catch up on the Fabulous Fall Blog Challenge by reading:

[day 1] Fall Traditions
[day 2] Fall Fashion
[day 3] Halloween Tradition
[day 4] Fall Decor
[day 5] Falls Fabulousness
[day 6] Fall TV
[day 7] Fall Recipes

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If you are a reader and haven't yet followed me via Google Friend Connect located on the top right of my Blog's Sidebar, please do so! Following, Subscribing, or commenting on my Blog is the biggest compliment you can give!