2012 Adventures Continued.... in Hawaii

                  





                   

SOOo sorry for sooo many pictures, but really, seriously, would you want me to pick and choose???  I am sparing you the other couple hundred that I could have posted : ) The entire week spent in Maui with my boyfriend and his family was absolutely amazing!  Every day was spent both relaxing & and enjoying the gorgeous outdoors.  We packed in one adventure after the next.  Monday morning we enjoyed our coffee right on the beach ~ how glorious is that???!!! Then I was introduced to POG juice...A-M-A-Z-I-N-G-N-E-S-S in a cup!!

The rest of the day was spent on the beach followed by some shopping and dinner at the Hula Grill.

Tuesday we went into downtown Lahaina where some of us went down under 130 feet in a submarine!  It was pretty much the coolest thing EVER!!!  Then we indulged in shaved iced ~ a popular Hawaiian treat.  The lovely evening was concluded by the most amazing Luau!!!  Check out the dancers above : )  We also spent the week hiking through the rain forest, ziplining, swimming, touring the islands via helicopter (yes it made me feel pretty sick : (  but that's okay, it was totally worth it!)  

Other highlights during the trip included meeting Neil Young in Paia (yes, my boyfriend got to shake his hand : )  eating passion fruit gelato, swimming in the reef, eating at THE Cheeseburger in Paradise, watching LOST in Hawaii, collecting sea glass, dropping my sunglasses in the water during our hike in the rain forest & having my boyfriend bring me coffee Every. Single. Morning!  

I'm so blessed!!!

Have you ever been to Hawaii or some place tropical?  If not (or even if so) where else would you go?

A success, I think!

Drumroll Please.....

Well, I think it is safe to say that breakfast was a success!!!  Pretty darn close to what my boyfriend had in Hawaii.  Trader Joes is pretty much the best place ever to find all the ingredients you'll need to make this one.  You might come off of this breakfast on a sugar high, so don't forget the double shot cappuccino afterwards : ) he, he!!

Can I just say that I'm super pumped about the opening of the olympics this evening! Happy watching!  

Hawaiian Inspired Breakfast : )

I CAN NOT wait for breakfast tomorrow!!! I'm going to attempt making some homemade......french toast topped with bananas, sugared macadamia nuts, cinnamon, whipped cream & real maple syrup!  My boyfriend tried this for breakfast lunch right after our helicopter ride.  Need I also say that we also met Neil Young right afterwards!!!!!!  Yes, that's right.  He stopped in at the very same gelato shop that we did and my boyfriend asked to shake his hand.  Pretty cool day!!

2012 Adventures!

 The first half of this year has taught me that I simply LOVE to travel!!!

I've learned to:

It's only half way through 2012 and I've already gone on 4 major trips!!!  Who knows how many more  are down the runway  road???   Back in March I took the leap of faith and went on a Mission trip down to Haiti.  It was one of the most unique & incredible experiences ever!  Going with other Church members created a special bond between us through the unforgettable moments spent together with some of the most impoverished people in the world.  This was the type of trip that changes ones life forever, seriously!

The little children's day care for children taken out of the orphanage.   The sweetest little ones EVER!

 Composting with the children ~ one of their daily chores at the school
 These beautiful girls had amazing voices and were singing songs for us!

These few days spent at Louverture Cleary School in the slums of Haiti were beyond eye opening.   It  made me personally aware of those living in other parts of the world through a palpable experience.  On returning to my own bed, I was ever more grateful for the simple things in life like hot water and flushing toilets.   It's trips like these that remind me to:

Following shortly . . .  I road tripped it down to Florida for my Brother's graduation from college.

Way to go Bro ~ Super proud of you!!

 So needless to say..........a few of my recent mottos are....

And that's just what I did when I went to visit one of my best friends in Minnesota during early July! I arrived just in time for their big 4th of July BASH!!!

~ Best friends for LIFE ~

Sangrias and Yumminess Dessert Pizza!

.....and we played way to many games of Dominion : )                 

I was spoiled by the kindest hospitality all week long!

If you ever get the chance to see 39 steps, DO. IT.

Lastly, just this past week I went on an amazing trip with my sweet boyfriend and his family!  Oh yes, you're probably wondering where to????  This last trip was to Maui, Hawaii : )

Charles & I right before the Sunset Dinner Cruise with his wonderful family!

Okay, more stories and pictures to come from my trip to Hawaii.  It is a story in and of itself!!!

Where have you traveled to recently?  Where would your next adventure take you?

Until further travels, night peeps!

That Moment.....

when you realize that life is full of hilarious comments that just need to be shared!

The following are from the past few days with my friend and her family in Minnesota:

• "Cut the crap Hamlet, my biological clock is ticking and I want babies now!"

• Me thinking that Rachel said,"this song makes me want bottle rockets" when she really said, "we should go message Rodney."  

• "The clarity of this wine is almost as clear as my pool!" ~ ha ha Mrs. Nelson

• "He's the blonde energy of the group."

• "Those sucking violets, twenty years later they will still suck, curse them!" 

• "Let's just have quiet and smell the hog poop!!!!!"  Best quote of all time ~ I'm still dying laughing!!!!!  Baaahhaaahaaa!!!!! 

You've just gotta love a good hard laugh : )

Packing like a Pro!

So I think I've finally gotten this packing thing down, only after a trip or two : )

Top 50 I mean 10 things packed for Minnesota:

• New swimsuit that came in the mail just moments before heading out of town!
• Colbie Caillet CD
• My favorite organic pillow
• Nespresso Capsules (a necessary evil :)
• My new favorite Lush products
• Our mixed drink book
• comfy pajamas
• running shoes!
• as few outfits as possible
• my milk frother for cappuccinos!

Summer Travels

Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE to travel???  Other than the dread of take off and landing, I thrive on the thrill of going some place old or new!  This summer is filled with BOTH : )  Right now I'm on summer holiday with a best friend from childhood.  She and I have started this awesome tradition where she comes to visit me over the start of the New Year and I go to see her for a week in the summer!  Let's just say it's a pretty sweet tradition and one to be kept for years to come ~ yes, even when she & I have families of our own!!!  But for now, we have no families or children of our own to look after so that leaves us free - to - do WHATEVER!!!! :  )  Like float in the pool all day, read magazines pool-side, play wiffle ball, shoot off guns, ride ATVs, run for 4 miles down country roads as the sun sets, play games in the evening while drinking Irish Coffees, visit the ice skating arena to watch my friend skate, blog, drink coffee, swim some more, attend awesome plays and sip mojitos!!!!  And that's just the beginning!

Some place new would include going to Hawaii 2 days after getting home from Minnesota!  I cannot WAIT!!!  I'm going with the best boyfriend EVER and his wonderful family for a full week......eeekkkkk, it's going to be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  It will be filled with many new and exciting adventures of things I've never done before.  I love how Charles gets me to try new things.  This is his favorite place in the whole wide world, so I'm happy to experience something that he enjoys!

More posts to come!  I'll keep you posted on bubbly summer days.

Peace out!

Where are your favorite places to travel to?  Do you enjoy traveling solo or with friends?

4th of July Birthday Celebrations!

My Sweet Grandma Lois sent me this e-mail yesterday.  In many many ways I am alot like my grandmother and I love her dearly!!!  I'll let her tell the story about the day I was born.   On a fun side note: it took my parents several days to name me! : )  Happy 4th of July everyone ~ Let the fireworks begin!!!

Dear  Maggie,  Facebook keeps reminding us about your 26th birthday -- it doesn't have to -- it was an event I will never forget -- you don't remember but you were born at home (I'm sure your mom and dad have told you the story) -- your Mom called and I came over from work to watch Jenny -- when I got there things were moving fast -- I asked your Mom what I could do -- she said we had to move the bed to the wall  -- and if I remember right -- wash the towels -- we sent Kevin downstairs to watch out for the doctor -- I wasn't as nervous back then because I was still too young to worry -- when the Dr. came (I believe he got lost) -- Kevin took Jen and I to the park to play -- then I got nervous and said we're too far away -- let's go back -- we weren't gone long -- got back and YOU WERE ALREADY BORN -- what a day -- It was and always will be a special day -- happy birthday (July 3) you are and always will be a special person -- love, Grandma and Grandpa Miller

Rainy days, concerts & lazy Sundays!

SOooo....the weekend started off like this:

Although we were in dire need of some rain, I was happy the sky cleared up in time for Friday evenings concert!!!

My mother, sister and I were invited by my boyfriend's mother and sister to a Colbie Caillat and Gavin Degraw concert at Ravinia.  Can I just say that it was (and probably always will be) my favorite concert of all time!!!!!  It was a lovely ladies evening out and all of us had a blast together!

Colbie Caillat : )

My family plays Colbie Caillat's music on the boat every summer!  Perfect for floating on the boat with a corona and lime in hand.

My all time favorite song by Colbie Caillat

After hearing one of my all time favorite artist, we also were entertained by Gavin Degraw who puts on quite the performance.

Okay so this shot might be a little creepy, but he really does put on an amazing show!

Colbie and Gavin were the perfect concert combination.

A fun photo taken by Mrs. Morrison

A little bit of Gavin

Hard to believe that this was all just the start to an amazing weekend!  Fridays concert was followed by a full day Saturday.  In the morning I took my older sister with me and we simply took our time at the mall.  We went and discovered the products of Lush!  I picked up a few of their products to try because I've heard how wonderful they are.  So far I really like the Aquamarina cleanser.  This is Lush's seaweed roll which I think resembles more of sushi roll!  Kinda gross, right???  Saturday evening was filled with music of another amazing concert ~ Sarah McLachlan.  Check out how much fun my brother and I had at her concert:

Trying to knit a scarf, YES, in the dead of summer! What's wrong with me? : )  

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy is the perfect summer beer that my friend Rachel introduced me to last summer!

Sarah McLachlan

Concert activities : )

Me Bro & Me!

My new favorite magazine! Check out Verily magazine here <---

Since this weekend was so full of excitement, I should probably save lazy Sundays for another post!  I'll be back!!!