Hawaii is expensive, but if you talk to the locals, you score!

I can't even describe how expensive it is to eat, drink or pretty much do anything in Hawaii!  A pot of yogurt, cost us $7 at Wal-Mart, 1 apple, cost me $3 one day for a snack!  I was in shock!  We knew it would be expensive, but OH.MY.GOODNESS!  It's just nuts!

Our plan of attack, was either to ask the locals where they eat (which usually involved in fast food or spam, both things we didn't want to explore...), or to find livingsocial/groupon deals.  We found a couple of good Groupon deals, so that was great...and we got some awesome recommendations for local happy hours/lunch places to go!

We forgot to take photos of the food, but we left here, having lunch and only paying $15 for our meals!  It was delicious!  I had the coconut and fresh pineapple pancakes, with this delicious coconut syrup.  Graham had a mahi mahi dinner, with baked potatoes, salad bar and dessert.  It was a great meal and a great find!

Off we went for dinenr later, to P.F Chang's!  It was a favourite of mine, when living in the U.S, although expensive.  They have a KILLER happy hour menu, so after doing some shopping in the afternoon, we headed here for dinner and drinks!  They have the most POTENT mai tai's and Graham was in love!

No, we did not just order dessert, but it was so pretty, we just had to photograph it!  The lemon pie to the right, was by far our favourite, but the tiramisu was delicious as well!

We then took our nightly stroll along the beach and finally got a successful STRANGER picture!  We do have other photos together, but either the view, our heads or part of our bodies were cut off!

Another gorgeous sunset, on our last full day here!

Surf and local life!

On Friday Graham wanted to surf.  We decided to stay local, as we wanted to enjoy the fireworks that the Hilton, right next to us, puts on for free as well!  It was a REALLY fun day!

My little surfer dude!  While, I would have loved to get photos of him actually surfing, he had a 1.5 mile paddle out, and we don't have a mega zoom lens, but I can assure you, he had fun!

Then it was off to fireworks, which were gorgeous!

Tourists and locals waiting in anticipation.

It was a gorgeous and fun night, a perfect end to a perfect day!

Paddleboarding!

Graham is a HUGE fan of any sports, usually of the extreme kind, but also loves water sports (kite surfing, surfing, waterskiing, kayaking, anything pretty much!).  Hawaii was a good chance for him to get some fun on the water in, while I relaxed!

He was so excited to get out on the water!

After Graham was done, we went for lunch at a great place on the beach, Duke's.  I had the greatest Mahi Mahi sandwich and pina colada- YUM!

Our views from our lunch spot!

It was another gorgeous day!  We loved every bit of it!

A day at the BEACH!

Oh my, how I love a good day at the beach.  When it gets hot, you go for a dip, when you're sleepy, you take a nap, when you want to relax, you read and eat when you want to eat.  LOVE IT!  Beach days aren't Graham's favourite, as he gets too bored, but when we can get chairs and an umbrella, he's usually good to go for a while!

Having a morning nap!

It was a hot and humid, 38 degrees Celcius outside!!!  Dips in the water, were now few and far between!

True bliss...

After a day at the beach, we walked back to the hotel, to watch the sunset before dinner!  It was gorgeous!

Lastly, a rare picture of the man behind the camera!

Kite surfing was cancelled, but the North Shore was incredible!

In order to keep up with posts while we are away, I will be doing photo posts with an explanation of what we saw/did!  Enjoy!

Our first view towards the East Shore, from a look point!

It looked grey all day, but I assure you, it was HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!

On our road trip around the island, we made any stop we wanted to!  I was excited to see a Macadamia nut farm and this place was loaded with samples...just like a favourite of mine at home: Picard's!  My favourite flavours were: the Kona coffee, onion & garlic and the butternut.  I could have eaten samples there ALL DAY!

Along the way, we found one of the food trucks, that is was on The Food Network!  We ordered the coconut shrimp with guava sauce, and boy, were they delicious!!!!

After stopping at a Mormon Temple, which we thought was a tourist attraction, because it was so beautiful, we got some advice on where to stop along the North Shore.  We found the Hukilau Cafe, which most people think was featured on "50 First Dates", but they paid $$$$ for the name, and built the cafe elsewhere.  Too bad.  We were too full to eat, but heard that they have amazing food and for really cheap!  A rarity in Hawaii!

Next, it was off for some Shave Ice and the FAMOUS Giovanni's Shrimp Truck for some Shrimp scampi.  Both of these have been on NUMEROUS food network shows, and EVERYONE around the North Shore, is obsessed with their food!

I can't even describe how garlicky and buttery these were!!!!!!  They were delicious, but we left there, glad that we both ate them, and didn't have to suffer through only one of us having garlic breath! :)

Our first view of the North Shore!  It was so beautiful!

Surfer dudes!!!

Next, was the Dole Plantation!  We heard that the train tour was gorgeous and their "Dole Whips"- pineapple flavoured soft ice cream, were to die for.  They were right!!!

Beyond delicious!!!

Did you know that pineapples grow on bushes on the ground?  I always thought that they grew on trees!

The train ride around the grounds was so much fun!

The last of our road trip around the island!

Umm....I ate too many cookies!

So, Hawaii has this delicious place called the Honolulu Cookie Company. They specialize in homemade shortbread in many flavors...and if you know me, me and shortbread go together like cupcakes and frosting!!! They do chocolate chip, mango, pineapple, Kona coffee, and many more.

The best thing about this place, they have samples! When I say samples, I mean a half a cookie in each flavor! Needless to say, there are shops every few blocks and it became our morning and afternoon snacks! It will get a bit obvious if we revisit there daily, but for today it did the job and we will go back to purchase a bunch!!!!! Yummy!

I have some photos, but it's hard to upload them through the iPad.

Needless to say, we are glad that we're having fresh fruit breakfasts, fish for lunch and light dinners!!!

Now, I could go for some more cookies, thank goodness we didn't buy a box today!

Hello Hawaii!!!

Good bye Canada, HELLO Hawaii!  I can't wait to find shade under your palm trees and read my week away!  Oh the fun, the adventures and the sights to be told...when we return!

Hope you all have a great week and don't have too much fun without us!

Opposites attract!

Tomorrow we leave for Hawaii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We didn't think the day would come so quickly, but we are excited!  We have been VERY blessed with some amazing holidays this year, but we mostly have Air Miles to thank for that!  If you don't have air miles...the amount of vacations alone, that we took this year, should make anyone think twice about that!

It's always my job to pack in this house.  Graham usually picks his clothes out, I make sure that they match and then he does the final "once over".  We try to pack in one suitcase if we can...but depending on what type of activities and weather we will do/have on holidays, it just doesn't work out. 

If Graham packed...life would look like this (not with these items of clothing...but I digress:

When I pack, it looks like this (pretty much literally):

Oh, how opposites attract!



Fun times in the Hammer!

We spent the afternoon and evening in Hamilton/Caledonia and it was so nice to catch up with GREAT friends and my parents!  We always have so much fun catching up, and try to make the most of our trip coming back "home". 

We always realize that we miss the people, but not the place.  Even less, when we were greeted with 39C and humidity!  GROSS!  It's been MUCH cooler in where we live and we are enjoying that weather! 

Thanks Hamilton/Caledonia for a SUPER FUN day!  We shared lots of memories, laughter and joy!

I got to wear my win!

Back in July, I won a giveaway on my sister-in-law Stephanie's blog: Making Beauty from Ashes.  It was for these super cute earrings from The Bird's Papaya.  She makes all sort of cute things and has a great blog.  They both do actually, some serious talent between these two ladies!!!!!!!!!

I was so happy when my earrings arrived, that I forgot to take a photo of the package/wrapping.  I had to use this photo from The Bird's Papaya.  Even more excited, that I forgot to take a photo of me wearing them!  I wore them to my 2nd day of work, and love them! 
If you too, would like a cute pair of these earrings, follow this link to The Bird's Papaya's Etsy site!  Everything is super affordable and REALLY cute!!!
Thanks again ladies!!!