A Last Hurrah

On Saturday, our last full day in Hawaii, we decided to take one last trip to the beach. We had planned to go the weekend before, but we were so busy packing and doing last minute things around the house that it just didn't happen. And this worked out well for us, anyway, despite the fact that it took forever for us to get there. {Definitely don't miss the traffic!}

I really wish we'd had more time to spend there hanging out. But with all our beach stuff packed with the rest of the house, it probably wouldn't have been a good idea anyway. No umbrella + lots of sun = 3 potentially sunburned whities. =P That said, I'm still glad we were able to go one last time. There were a lot of things about Hawaii that I didn't like, but the beaches weren't one of them!

We were both super excited that we got to see a couple sea turtles, too! This one guy was parked out on the beach, just relaxing. I know they don't really have facial expressions, but I felt like he looked so tired. Haha! Joe was especially thrilled to see one on our last trip - he had really been hoping to, but it's always hit-and-miss. Naturally, I took photos. Please note the shaka in the last pic. He's been all about the shaka since we moved to Hawaii. =)

Of course we had to take some time to get pics with Charlotte - our favorite Hawaiian souvenir! ;-) She doesn't quite look like it, though, does she? Haha! Poor bean got her mama's whitey-white skin. We also put her feet in the water, just to see how she'd react this time. She wasn't impressed. In her defense, the water was a little chilly. She did seem to enjoy the feel of the sand between her toes, though!

There aren't many things I'll miss about Hawaii, but being 20ish minutes from the beach will definitely be one of them!

Jasper's Day at the Beach

Today, I met up with Chantal to do some shopping at Macy's. I was hoping that they had my dishes there... I'm looking to get another place setting or two, but it was to no avail. Not only do they not sell my dishes separately, they're not even in the store anymore. I'm now assuming that my dishes are going to be discontinued soon, so I'm ordering the set from the online store. I really wish now that we'd gotten the chocolate set to match this merlot set.

We got the first set from Linens N Things which went out of business about 2 months after we got married. *sigh* Bed Bath & Beyond sells the same brand of dishes, but not in the color(s) we want. So, set #2 of the merlot dishes it is. What I'm going to do with 8 mugs, I have no idea...

After Macy's, we stopped for lunch and headed back home. We grabbed Chantal's car [and dog], headed to my house to get Jasper and we were off to the beach! I was so hoping that Jasper would love the beach. Apparently I forgot what he did when we attempted to put him in a pool with us last summer... It was similar to this, minus the sand.

Yes, that is Jasper trying not to get wet. What a prissy dog! =P

Dexter (Chantal's dog), on the other hand, loves the water. Well, the waves. He attacks them.

This is what Jasper did love: running free. We have a small backyard and he's always on a leash in the neighborhood. I could almost hear him yelling "Freeeeeedooooom!!" as he ran across the beach. 

Of course, he didn't go too far from me. He's a good boy. =)

He also got playful with Dexter. I think he misses his cousins in NC (my SIL's dogs, of course).

He finally got close to the water! You should have seen what he did when a tiny wave broke right next to him. Haha! Poor thing acted like he was going to drown!

This is after I caught him about to roll around in the sand. *sigh*

LOST fans: does this look familiar?! Not yet?

How about now? 

Can't you just see Jack, Kate, Hurley, Jin, Sun and the rest of the crew walking on this beach?!

How about "The Others'" camp?

Ooooh yes! I only wish I'd been here when they were actually filming!

I do have the filming of Hawaii Five-O to look forward to though. =)

I also got to see some pretty decent waves at North Shore today. Not quite as big as last weekend or even earlier in the week, but still pretty big. The forecast was for waves 6-10 feet. I'd say they were about right. No way you'd catch me out in waves that big, but it's pretty cool to see! I'd really like to see a surfing competition too. =) 

Yeah, they don't quite look as good in photos. I left my camera at home, or I would have taken some video. (I borrowed Chantal's camera for the photos. =)) The waves were also kinda loud!! Now I know why I always thought they were loud on LOST. =P They really are that loud! Especially where we were at today. 

After the dogs were sufficiently worn out, we took a look at "the others'" cabins (photos above) and headed back to get some shaved ice. There's this amazing place in Hale'iwa called Matsumoto's that always has a forever-long line. I've wanted to try it, but every time I go by the place is packed! Not today, though. Chantal was nice enough to buy my first one, and oh. my. word. It was delicious!! They put ice cream (or beans...I'm guessing coffee-like beans) in the bottom and then fill the rest with shaved ice, flavored to your liking. This is what I got:

It was a.maz.ing! Seriously! Even if there had been a long line, it would have been worth it! Plus, this is a small. I can't imagine getting a large. Yikes!

When I got home, I basically died vegged on the couch. The sun still wears me out! I think I got a bit of a sunburn too. Only in Hawaii. *sigh* While I was dying vegging on the couch, Chantal (and an email from Blue Star Card) informed me that FREE tickets to Daughtry's concert on the island tomorrow are being given out to the first 24 people in line at 0800!! Since each person is supposed to get two, Chantal is going to go wait in line to get tickets for us! I really, really, really hope she gets them! I'd looooove to go to a Daughtry concert. This is one of those times that it pays to be a Blue Star wife. =)

Add an extremely delayed Skype chat with my husband to this day and I'm a pretty happy girl! 

I hope everyone's Thursday was just as awesome!!!

I'm In Love

With the beach. I thought it was official before, but now I'm certain. =)

We spent the whole weekend with our friends Mrs. C and her hubby (also named Joe). Yesterday afternoon, we headed to the beach and parked it in the sun for a while! It was fantastic. Pretty sure I could have stayed there all day reading, giggling with the hubby, and watching [and listening to] the waves roll in. *swoon* Not exactly sure what the name of the beach is, but it's really close to Mrs. C's house which is super handy for them. =P But, we could see the Honolulu skyline from the beach, which was pretty cool.

Here are a few pictures from the beach.

Ah, the beach. *swoon*

Toes in the sand, a book in my hand - I'm a happy girl. =)

My Joe trying to put his towel down on the sand, but with the crazy wind, it wasn't going so well. Had to get a shot of that! ;-)

Viola! Mission accomplished! =)

What? You thought only women did this? Nope!

So, after our wondermous afternoon on the beach, I got some great news!!! My bestie is definitely coming to Hawaii for my birthday in July!!!! =D She booked her tickets while we were talking this afternoon [via Skype, of course] and I am super, super excited!!! If Joe has to be gone on my birthday [and let's face it, there's no other option], then I'm glad I get some bestie time. =) I mean, yeah, I'd rather spend it with my hubby but since I don't get a say in the matter the next best choice is Melissa. So, yay! We'll get in some crafty time, definitely lots of beach time, and maybe a little bit of sight-seeing. I can't wait! {Ok, well, I kinda can since Joe won't be here, but you get the idea...right?} Maybe with a little bit of bestie time I can make it through the first part of the D word.

I'm also thinking of making a list of things that I should want need to do while Joe's gone. Any ideas/suggestions would be great! 

Hope you've had a great Monday!

North Shore and a Bloggie Meet Up

Well, we had one heck of a weekend! It was great! Except for the fact that I got fried in the Hawaiian sun. Someone should have warned me. One hour (ish) in the sun and I looked something akin to a lobster. *sigh*

On Friday, we took a trip to North Shore via The Bus. No, I'm not kidding, that's the actual name of the bus system here. Very creative... First of all, the public transportation experience was - for lack of a better word - interesting. We had no clue where we were going or how to get there. Our only source of information was one of Joe's friends. He was mostly helpful, but I don't think he really understood the fact that neither of us has done the public transportation thing before. We ended up figuring out which buses to take thanks to the bus driver that comes on base. He was nice and very helpful. Then we had to switch buses. In the middle of the ghetto. I'm in a new place, trying out a new way to get places, and we have to switch buses in the freaking ghetto. Awesome. I should have taken a picture, but I was afraid of getting killed or something. Then, we didn't know where to get off because there's beach everywhere. Luckily, there was a very nice lady behind us who noticed we were completely lost. She told us the best places to go, thank God.

So, we finally made it to a North Shore beach near Hale`iwa. We saw like 10 sea turtles and it was a.maz.ing!!!!

I sent a picture similar to this one to our family with the message, "Hey, guess what?! We live here!!! Well, close enough..." That wasn't mean at all was it? Lol!

This guy was chillin' on the beach when we got there. It was soooo cool! I'd never seen one before, so I was thrilled. =) There were about 3 or 4 more in the water near him, and then several down from him. It was so awesome to see them swimming, coming up for a bit of air, and just relaxin' on the beach. =)

Friday night, I had my first bloggie meet up!!!! Mrs. C and I met through my blog a couple months ago. She found my blog and noticed we were moving to Hawaii; and guess what?! She and her Army hubby were already in Hawaii! They helped us with our huge paperwork issues and were very sweet. After a week holed up in this hotel, I texted her on Friday afternoon to see what they were up to. Because we have no car, they came and picked us up for dinner. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures on Friday but we ended up spending the whole weekend together so I had more opportunities. =)

We had lunch at Margaritaville in Honolulu. Yum!

{I hate that I look like a dork in this picture because it's the only one of us. Oh well.}

This is the Joes. (Both of them are named Joe)

Mrs. C kept telling her Joe to "smile nice," lol!!

Sometimes, it's a little hard to tell who outranks who...hahaha! =)

 These appetizer nachos were a.maz.ing! 

I wanna go back and get more!!

This was my margarita. I was seriously upset that it was so small. $7 for that? Grrrr.

All 4 of us! =) We had a fantabulous weekend!

And last but not least, I have to show you pictures that seriously prove my weight loss journey.

Me at my biggest in June 2009 on our beach trip for our anniversary.

A little less than a year later....the new [and seriously improved] me!!

I'm not exactly where I want to be, but I'm definitely happy with the results thus far!

Happy Monday! 

{I'm off to do laundry...yay.}