The meal was delicious. HUGE thanks to Nancy and Hugh for doing 99% of the work. We appreciate all the service and love you give to us and the whole family and only hope we can repay you someday.
I made a couple pumpkin pies and a chocolate haupia cake (in honor of Kauai). I didn't get any great photos of the results. All in all my baking was tasty, but I sure do struggle getting a flaky crust on my pies.
Tribe and Tani have always made me stare, but look at my niece and nephew! I was drooling all over them.
Until next year homemade rolls...I will miss you.
(photos featuring me, taken by my bro in law Darren. Thanks for proving I exist!)
In celebration of it being Monday, I wanted to share with you my favorite discovery....instant oatmeal on airplanes!
It doesn't matter if I just ate a huge meal, I step onto an airplane and am hungry. Sometimes I get fancy and make food and bring it, but other times I fall prey to airport food or WORSE airplane food. Then it came to me. Instant oatmeal. Healthy, filling, add water and presto! Now I keep a couple bags in every carry on (and a plastic spoon, or you will be sipping it). My instant oatmeal of choice is the organic kind from Costco.
Back from Kauai. Pretty much the best week ever. Oh, and did I mention I had a couple fly over from Oahu for a photo shoot? Icing on the haupia pie. We shot their engagements in Hanalei, which is probably my favorite place in the world. You heard me. World.
I am kind of out of sorts from the fake night of airplane sleep, but once refreshed I plan on tackling all sorts of things to edit so I can share some great images from these past few weeks.
Weeks ago, when I was making my 20 quarts of chicken stock, I spyed this little wishbone. I cleaned it and set it on the window sill to dry....thinking I could use this for a romantic moment with Grant. Everybody thinks animal bones are romantic, right? Fearing Grant would catch on to the surprise, I dropped it in my bathrobe's pocket in a moment of concern....and forgot about it! I know. Gross. Animal bone was missing. Miraculously it turned up. After almost a month of waiting, the time was right and I whipped that baby out on the airplane on our way to Kauai. We made our wishes and crossed our fingers. I won, but I have a feeling we wished for the same thing. The end.
Seems like a good question. It never hurts to be reminded that if you aren't happy you have the choice to change something. I firmly believe true happiness is a choice, and now I can look at a pretty piece of art to remind myself.
My cute friend and visiting teacher, Frances, MADE me this cake for my birthday! She knew I was going to be out of town today so she made it for me before I left.
She baked, frosted and decorated it. I was so impressed and so excited.
It was a thoughtful and amazing gift. Frances, thank you so much.
(It is my actual birthday today and me and the husband are spending it in Kauai. I can't wait to share all of the fun stories with you when we return. xo)
I have posted most of these once before, but then took them down because the timing wasn't right. Since she and Brad were married on Saturday the timing is now perfect and I am excited to get to share them again!
Look for photos from their Newport Beach/Huntington Beach wedding day in the next few weeks.
Props to my 8yr old niece for getting this song stuck in our minds. Yesterday morning we had, had enough. We purchased it and then played it on repeat for about 30mins.
Who knew that Miley Cyrus would make it into my music collection? Sometimes I guess we all need a good addictive pop song to start our day.Just throw your hands up and dance 8yr old style!Trust us. It feels good.
Here is another happy song for you dance into your weekend with (Thank you Steph).
(Shooting a wedding in Salt Lake City today, tomorrow shooting a wedding in Newport/Huntington Beach...busy busy and happy happy. Leave for Kauai on Sunday but have pre blogged a lot of good stuff for you while I'm lazing around in mu mu's. xo)
I made this wee little book for my sister to take with her on her mission.
It is 5x5in (the perfect size to fit.. anywhere really. I wanted her to be able to keep it close). It has photos of all of the fan club members and words of encouragement.
Really I think the best part is the corner stripes on the front and back covers (Italian flag colors), which were Grant's idea. It pays to have a creative brainstormer in the next room.
Nothing I love more than food and family.
