Happy Tuesday!

Aloha and good morning! It is absolutely pouring here...I could definitely curl up with a good book, a soy cappuccino and some jammies in front of the fireplace. I hear Black Butte calling my name....Unfortunately I'm in slacks and a dress shirt, sitting in my over-air conditioned "office" (aka "the janitor's closet") taking a little break from reading the millions of emails that were dumped in my inbox. Oh yes, the joy of working! Am I allowed to retire yet? Haha.... anyway...

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This weekend was pretty fun even though it was only one day-- I went with my Aunty Ruthie to cook for the fire department and to scope out the dudes...for the next single friend I have come to visit of course! Ruthie was sure to tell the boys that I was very taken and if they wanted to hang out with me, they had be interviewed by Mike first. Thank you Aunty Ruthie! Mike and I then went to Airport Beach to find more beach glass...seriously this kid is obsessed with finding it. I think it's pretty cute and we have a really good collection going. My favorites are the light blue and Mike likes the dark ocean blue pieces. I'm trying to think of something cool to do with it...any ideas are welcome!

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I found this really cool home store online-- it's called Jamali Garden Store and has tons of really cool garden pots, glass vases, candles, shells, decor ideas...



That's all I have to report for the moment! I hope everyone is well and can't wait to see you in December!

Love,
a

Is it really November?

What a week! I had one of my good friends in town from Seattle this past week. Lauren and I were biology lab partners at UW and just hit it off. We would meet up for dinner on rainy dark days in Seattle and study, catch up on life and dream about our futures. She is such a doll and an absolute sweetheart to be around. We went to lunch, coffee, a few dinners, she came to "Girl's Night", she made us fresh squeezed margaritas in stemless martini/margarita glasses she brought us as a housewarming gift and we talked and talked and talked. She was a little ray of sunshine who came to Maui and somehow made it a sunnier place to be. 

I had weddings, corporate events, and golf tournaments like crazy last week-- of course I have a visitor and things get crazy...that's just how it is. Lauren played assistant for some of the weddings and was a huge help. (Note to self: find permanent assistant). 

We did go to the beach and Mike went out finding more sea glass and shells. He was really sweet all week entertaining and taking care of "his girls". 

Right now, he is making us fish for dinner and I'm trying to occupy myself from seeing the blood and guts-- gross. 

Mike & "The Fish"

I had a meeting today with my favorite linen lady, Debbie from Pacific Event Group and we spent the morning dreaming about some of the gorgeous ideas we have for the Mercedes Benz Tournament Pro Am Dinner in January.  January? Two months away? It does not feel like November...at all. I'm not complaining in the least, but after spending 22 years in Washington experiencing a full blown fall season, it's weird being somewhere where today looks like any other day at any point during the year-- 85 and sunny. It's beautiful but sometimes I secretly hope the skies will just open up and pour! 

Halloween

We went out in Lahaina for Halloween-- apparently a "must see" and don't get me wrong, it was entertaining, but I don't think we will be back any time soon! Mike dressed up like Michael Jordan and I was a lobster (my friend Erin was a French chef with a knife). Obviously our costumes were a bit last minute, but it's kind of our style. As we walked up and down Front Street, I kept thinking "my parents would be so proud..." as I was wearing 3x as items of clothing as most of the other girls. Yikes. There were even completely painted costumes, like I said, interesting but probably not in a real hurry to go back!

Anyway, as I was running through the park tonight, I watched the sunset over the ocean- it looked like mango sorbet...or maybe passionfruit sorbet....mmmm sorbet... ha- I was supposed to be on a run! You get the point- the sky was gorgeous!

Something strange happened the other day-- I reached that point where I realized I was "local". First moving here (8 months ago as of November 1st!) there was this constant feeling of being under the microscope from locals-- my skin wasn't as dark as some because I am usually sitting at a desk 9 hours a day and there was probably that look in my eye of wonder and excitement that comes with anything new- i.e. tourists. It hit me though-- my once friendly wave in traffic has become a laid-back "shaka" or "hang-loose". I not only know when there is a south swell, but that it also means all of the surfers are going to call in sick in order to catch that perfect wave. I know the days when the market gets it's fresh shipments in and that buying a gallon of milk for $5 is a steal. I know that Auntie Ruthie has the "aunties" over for choir practice on Tuesday nights and there is quite a bit of singing, ukulele playing and more importantly wine! I know that baby Ella and her mom or dad will be walking the neighborhood about the same time I get home everyday and she loves to say hi with drool dripping down her chin.

My once schedule-filled, media-pressured, over-analyzed life has become so simple. When we're tired, we sleep, when we're hungry, we eat, when we want to go out, we grab a few beers and head out to Hui E to watch the turtles and sunset. Boring? Probably, but I like it. People don't need (or have) a lot here and what they do have they are willing to share. It's pretty simple but it makes the things we have (each other, family, friends) seem that much more special. It is something I hope stays with me.

Mike is doing well (except for his poor Seahawks!) and seems to be a favorite "pool boy". All the older ladies like to flirt with him while their husbands are golfing. I sit across the pool and as he shoots me "please rescue me!" looks and I can't help but laugh. He's so cute :)

I made us lemon Jidori chicken with wild rice and roasted butternut squash for dinner tonight and am debating about pulling the second pan of pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting out of the freezer. Yumm...if you haven't made pumpkin bars yet this season, you have to! I substituted the oil for applesauce and just a little oil, I was thrilled with how they turned out. I brought the first pan to work and they were gone in 15 minutes, so make extra!

love,

a