27 Catamaran

Aloha! My sweet love took me on a catamaran sunset cruise to celebrate my 27 years young. This man is absolutely incredible. We got to sway with the blue ocean, see whales, and drink free drinks while listening to island music. I won't spend anymore time explaining the 90 minute Mai tai cruise because the words never do the photos justice. It is truly paradise. 

Sending you all of the aloha!

Erin

December Recap; Big City Living

I'm I'm Pst! Psssttt! Oh Hey! Hey, you're still here?! Me too! Only I've been a bad blogger and haven't been giving you new reading material. How about I catch you up with the latest in my whirlwind world? 

Well let's start with early December. I spent the last few days of November and the first few days of December packing up our giant 3 bedroom house in preparation for our move into a 420 square foot studio apartment in Waikiki. Not only was I packing for our apartment move, I was packing for our move back to the mainland in the upcoming months, and packing the things that are supposed to be held in storage for the next year. I was a basket case. We're talking preparation for three moves in three different states in less than 6 months. Who wouldn't be? After all that planning, Brady and I did all of the moving ourselves. Brady did the majority of the moving (apartment and storage unit) and I did a majority of the packing, cleaning, and unpacking in the new apartment. (Along with the help of a few special ladies. Thank you!!) Let me just say that the beginning of the month was pretty productive and pretty miserable! 

After we got settled in our new place we started exploring the new city right away. I'll be the first to tell you that I really disliked Waikiki shortly after moving to the island. My reason were just. Every time we went out to play in the city it would be an hour's drive from home, $30 plus for parking, a check point on the way home, and a sleepy hour and a half drive back to the house. A $100-$150 night out. Lame right? Living in town has been a game changer. 

Brady nor myself has ever lived in a big city before. Much less in a tiny studio with a large size dog and our significant other. You'd think we would be going crazy but in all honesty, I think it's been an awesome adventure together.

 

Every chance we get, either together or apart, we are out exploring and learning new things to do here. 

You cut out my city driving anxiety, loathe for traffic, and my car all together, I'm obsessed with this new side of island living. We have this cozy little love nest with... Wait... Wait for it... AIR CONDITIONING!! For the first time while living in Hawaii we have air conditioning. We also have a pretty awesome morning coffee view of the Ala Wai. 

Another new adventure for both of us is the city commuting on 'Da Bus.' It's actually 'The Bus' but with Hawaiian pigeon slang it's pronounced  Da Bus. Growing up Brady was all about commuting by bus in Michigan. I on the other hand had never experienced the city bus transit system. We pretty much know our routes to work and out to play. We also both bike a handful of miles a day to get to the bus stops. Brady more than I. I even bought a new bike for my city cruising. 

You see some characters on the bus, let me tell you. It makes for amazing people watching. Just last night we saw a man with his pet bird in a gym bag riding the bus. 

Since we lost about a million square feet of living space I had to decide which crafty items and fabric choices were a must have. Going through my fabric collection was extremely tough. I had to make some hard choices for which prints were to stay with me, which were to be shipped back home, and which were staying in storage for over a year. You can't take a crafty girl's fabric, man! Literal craftygirlproblems. If you frequent my Etsy page, this is the reason behind my bare store shelves. I foresee a huge boom in the next 4 months though so stay tuned!  

With everything going on this month I decided to not be my usual Christmas Elf. It was pretty tough but I just didn't have the time or the funds to dedicate to ornaments or wreaths this year. Next year I'll be the biggest elf you ever did see! Check out this blog [ http://www.craftygirlproblems.com/2013/12/holiday-crafting.html?m=1 ] post to see lasts year's Christmas crafts. 

In other news, I am still working at my little coffee shop in Waipahu. A whopping 19 miles from my house and a 1.5-2 hour one way bus and bike commute time. I've been working so much at our little coffee shop lately. We got the tragic news that the new owners are shutting the doors on the 31st due to economic reasons. As one of the 3rd cup staff/ family members I am super sad to say goodbye to the shop and to my awesome coworkers. Everyone on this team has such a unique gift and just the best group of characters ever. 

It will be sad to see the doors shut for good. 

Christmas was pretty awesome this year. We got to wake up and make breakfast and we exchanged gifts. There isn't an oven in the new apartment so we made crock pot pork tenderloin, stuffing, yams, and mashed potatoes. We prepped our dinner and set off for a day around the pool at the Hale Koa. We have been frequenting the Hale Koa pool quite often these days due to how close it is and the military 'membership' perks.

 

After our sunbathing we did a little beach walking. 

Once we got a little sun kissed we headed back for our delicious meal. After dinner we went out to see The Lights of Honolulu.

 It was a pleasant little stroll past the lantern filled I'olani Palace and the few lit up blocks down King Street. 

So now it's the 26th of December and we have only five days left until the new year. It's just about that time to sit and reflect on the last 12 months and to dream about goals and hopes for the upcoming year. What dreams do you have for the new year? I'll make a special post dedicated to my hopes for this upcoming year. That will hold me accountable to all of my dreams! 

This post makes 99 blog posts! Don't forget to send me your 'Ask Me Anything' questions for my big 100th post! You can contact me through any form of social media, by email, or even by phone. 

As always I thank you for reading about my life and encouraging me to blog about it. I can't wait to see what 2015 brings us! 

-Erin

Hurricane Ana & Hiking The Pali Puka

Aloha! This past weekend was a gorgeous rain storm from Hurricane Ana. We never really get rainstorms on the island so I enjoyed every minute of the cool winds and the sound of rain patter.  The whole neighborhood was flooded so I whipped out my rain boots and got to watch the boys skim board on our flooded lawn. I was even the crazy lady suggesting helmets once they amped up their skim boarding in the yard to being pulled behind the truck. Thankfully, no one was hurt. 

 Anyway, we were able to squeeze in some one on one time with nature this past week before the storm hit. I am constantly begging Brady to go out and hike this island with me and he finally agreed to hike the Pali Puka. I am serious when it comes to hiking this island, let me tell you. He always enjoys our hikes but he has a million other things he would rather be doing than trekking through the Hawaiian jungle with me.  

So the hike is hidden off of the side of the Nu'Uanu Pali Lookout. If you remember, I did a post on the Pali  Lookout last year during one of our bike adventures. In all honesty the Yelp reviews on this hike had me a little freaked. People said that this hike was more mental than physical and at some portions you had LITERALLY NOTHING  to hold on to at some of the sketchiest parts of the hike. Let me tell you, most of these things were true. I would say that it's equally challenging for the muscles and the brains. The fact that you are literally scaling a mountain with the strong force of the wind pushing you over with nothing to grab on to but trees and shrubs freaked. me. out. This is my favorite view of the island so I sucked it up and kept on trekking. Every angle of this hike is a view and every view of this hike is phenomenal.

    

Do you see that paved lookout area around the center of the picture? That's the actual look out area where I snapped the photos from the last Pali blog post. Also, you can see our white truck in the parking lot and all of the busloads of tourists. I hope that no matter where I go, I always get to find the secret and amazing 'local' perspective and not just the tourist perspective. There is always so much more to the story and the beauty. 

Brady put up with my mountain top yoga and snapped a few of these photos. It was such a challenge finding rocks that I was able to balance on because they weren't level and the wind was working against me. I love how these shots came out though. Look at Kaneohe Bay in the distance. 

Aloha Lives!

Hey, look! It's Honolulu!

  

This ornery jerk decided that he wanted to hang off of the side of the mountain for me to take a photo. I freaked outttttttt. Like instantly started having a panic attack and crying. I have never in my life had that reaction. I still got the shot while I was freaking out. He still teases me and says I could have gotten a better angle of him. 

The Ko' Olau Mountains are so breathtaking. 

Here's one of those sketchy areas where the thin path and the drop off met. 

The panorama shots are always my favorite from every hike we do! One of these days I'll do a post of just panoramas.

I hope you enjoyed our hiking photos as much as we do! I'll be back soon to tell you all about my trip to  Iolani Palace. I've been packing every day off of work full of these beautiful island experiences and my blogging fingers will release all of these awesome stories soon! I've also go some craftygirl stuff coming your way!

Mahalo, 

Erin

My Last Hawaiian Summer: In Photos

Aloha,

Lately I've been feeling the end of my time here in this gorgeous paradise of Oahu approaching quickly. It's been encouraging me to pack in as many adventures as I can hence my lack of love here on the blog. I'm determined that a picture is worth a thousand words so here is my last month in photos.

 My neighbor girls and I did a Mai Tai and Monet painting party and got to paint these four foot surf boards. I couldn't resist the photo op.

 

Brady and I visited the Hawaiian Railway Society and rode the train all the way from Kapolei to Electric Beach boarding Wainae. 

I've been on a spiritual journey these last few months trying to dig deeper within myself. One way of trying to reach that deeper piece of me has been through yoga. Our neighborhood does these yoga on the beach sessions and they were a great way to dig deep while listening to the ocean kiss the shore. 

A few of the awesome ladies in my community and I took out paddle boards on the lagoon. I couldn't help but yoga it out just to test my balance. 

Do you remember my luau post from last year? We had the pleasure of attending a year later to reenact our luau beach photo. Our terrific neighbors Mike and Christy set up a tent and a buffet of awesome food so we could munch while we watched the show. I have never, ever, in my life had such amazing neighbors. Seriously, every person living around our home is such a blessing. I'll forever miss them and the days we share in this gorgeous place. 

 

Christy, Vonnie, and I went to the Bishop Musem in Honolulu. This gorgeous piece of architecture was built by a husband and dedicated to his late wife Bernice Bishop. Talk about romance, building a $60,000 museum in the 1890's

I took myself on a day date to the Honolulu Museum of Art and I was blown away.

One of the saddest parts of the month was saying goodbye to our friend Rachel and her husband, Lance. The military brought us together for these amazing last few years and now it's taking us in different directions. I'm so very thankful of the bond we created, the adventures we had here, and the laughs we shared. Love you Rach!

Along with my "spiritual fitness" I set out on a Fit-Tember list of goals. I'm proud to say, I've almost crushed all of my goals. I still have a few more days so I'll check back in with the final numbers of my Fit-Tember. I finally got my big girl running shoes that were made for my feet and my stride. Lots of personal goals set this month. 

 

     

I've been getting into the wonderful benefits of essential oils. I'm still doing my oil research and It's too early to give my personal praises yet. 

Working on latte art. Yep, I still suck.

These last two weeks I've been helping our little 3rd Cup Cafe open inside of WZ Family Entertainent location in Kaimuki. This place is done up so high end with a blend of koa wood, slate, and rock walls/bar and granite countertops. It's even topped off with a brand new stainless steel L' Anna espresso machine and high tech grinder to boot! It's got our same 3rd Cup recipes, products, and baristas but in a new and fun entertaining space. If you're on the island, seriously go check it out! Or just come to the original cafe in Kunia. There's nothing quite like an original! 

Demo has also been quite the little social butterfly too. He just loves baby Penelope and his little Gobi Bear.

The scenery of my neighborhood during my evening runs shows me how lucky I am to be living here.

My sweet baby nephew Cayden Lee is growing into his sweet little three month old baby self! Look at how perfect he is! 

These cuties!

My last Lanikai Hike in July.

On my last trip from Schofield I had to pull over on the country roads to take a picture of this sunset on the Wainae Mountain Range. This has absolutely no filter. 

My girl Zabrena and I went to enjoy the airshow today at Joint base Pearl Harbor/ Hickam. I got to enjoy The Blue Angels for the millionth time since they are from my home town. It was nice to see them in such a different and patriotic place. I think I said like 5 times today, "man they make me feel so patriotic..." As hard as living this military lifestyle is it makes me so much more thankful for our military. 

Well I hope that this post has helped fill you in since my last one. I'm trying to be better but right now there's nothing like dropping the electronics and getting lost in your adventures. Specially since they are all numbered by something or another. Mahalo for reading, Erin