these are a few of my favorite things

shopping
decorating
organizing
      that is what my Saturday comprised of :)

one final thought

I love trips to Park City.
Especially when they include Einstein Brothers and shopping with Kelly and Paige.

(Paige refused pictures) 

 

must repeat experience soon : )

bliss

when I stress, I shop.

It's my break from reality.

Today's dreams were in the form of boots. Lots and lots of boots.  It's fun to look at them and fantasize smelling the new leather

these boots are from Anthropologie

the perfect rugged, cold winter boot

perfect for Sunday, or over a pair of skinny's for a date : )

and of course

the best warm weather boot known to man.

 

The pairs I sport currently are daniBlack chocolate leather equestrian boots

and my warm juicy boots

They are beautiful and I love them.

i have a slight addiction...

I need to find something else to do when I am not in the happiest mood.

This can't be healthy. 

Tell me no, okay?

Something pretty spectacular

I had another awesome adventure this past weekend.
The Annapolis girls reunited for another wonderful weekend : )

Annapolis girls: S (sister :), HB, MA, me

pre-security.... classic trip picture 

the sky magazine taught me how to fold a dollar like a peacock!

We all ate oysters for the first time..

took many boat rides into downtown Annapolis

  

one in particular, we were caught in a terrible storm and almost died

We went to DC on Monday, first stop: Union Station...

   

...for some breakfast!

 please take note of the size of S's doughnut 

Then off to the mall for more jumping pictures!

Thank you boy scout!

 

Junior Miss girls ;)

HB, MA, me

 

Then we went to the Museum of Natural History

to see T-Rex!

and the Hope Diamond

We took the Metro

Did some shopping :)

and of course just HAD to take another duck picture :)

or two...

being our weird selves (GaGa inspired)

enjoying the beauty of Annapolis

i LOVE the name of this boat 

   

These are simply the few events documented...

other events include: 

playing dress up with evening gowns

painting pottery

hiding paint in the bathroom

making a music video

bawling our eyes out watching Dear John and eating Chinese takeout

watching 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee

attending a non-denominational Sunday church service

eating gelatto on the pier

talking about boys, midshipmen, and how simple-minded they are

playing in a wishing well

eating interesting Mediterranean and Turkish food

and just enjoying each others company

What a wonderful weekend with some of the best friends in the world :)

tourist for a week

I KNOW IT HAS TAKEN FOREVER. AND IT IS STILL NOT DONE. but i am tired of waiting for more  pictures.... so here you go!

So here are some tidbits from my adventures in Waikiki...
(the "gang" refers to Kylie, Jessica, Sydney, Kaitlin, and I)

Monday

 

the gang checked into the hotel

went shopping for food

 then headed out for a day of adventure on the Waikiki strip

making sure to stop at the International Market Place

a bird pooped on my head

we ate dinner at Macaroni Grill at the famous Ala Moana Shopping Center

some friends came down to join us

Kaitlin and I had our first birthday celebration of the week, (20th and 23rd) and our waiter sang to us in Italian!

We only had one car to get back to the Hotel that night, so we squeezed 8 people in the main section of the car, and Jessica and Kaitlin volunteered to ride in the trunk. They're crazy.

Tuesday

the gang- minus Kylie, plus Dane and Andrew- headed out at 3:00 am Tuesday morning to hike Stairway to Heaven, an old military staircase to the top of a mountain 

 about halfway up, there is a hut that the military used to have a cable cart run to in order to get supplies up to the lookout.  It has since been covered in grafitti and it is awesome!

around 5:40 am we reached the top and boy were we happy. 

 it had rained for the first half of the climb which was really unfortunate and made the journey much harder, especially going down 

 

we waited for the sunrise

then began our descent back down

stopping to take the occasional picture here and there

who woulda thunk it was dangerous?

it took much longer than it should have, due to the rain, but thankfully we all made it back down in one piece. 

we were EXHAUSTED so we spent a the afternoon relaxing at the pool :) *photo edits by Kaitlin

the gang walked to Ala Moana again that evening and passed some friends along the way!

 Jamba Juice in the food court...

then for some shopping

some of us were very exhausted and fell asleep in the dressing room... so we headed back to the hotel for a good night's rest

WEDNESDAY

the gang plus Champ and Dane headed to Swap Meet via the bus!

we found some really awesome stuff 

 did you know you could send coconuts in the mail?

for lunch, we made macaroni & cheese in the coffee maker!

that night, the gang - plus Jarek, Champ, and Dane - headed out for another night on the Waikiki strip  

 

we had fun playing at the Ferrari store :) 

then ate at the Cheesecake Factory 

where Kaitlin, Jarek and I celebrated our birthdays again (20th, 21st, and 23rd) 

Then off to bed at the Hotel for a good night's rest. 

THURSDAY  

Thursday was a relaxed day beginning with a massage at Spa Olakino

followed by a glorious day at the beach; though I must say, Waikiki beaches are nothing compared to the beauty and tranquility of the North Shore.  

 I did try my hand at surfing!  I only caught one wave, but give me more than 45 mins and I could be great ;)

 once again, we walked to Ala Moana for the evening

 nothing too exciting... Panda Express kids meal and Jamba Juice for dinner, some shopping, then back to the Hotel for Moulin Rouge and sleep. 

FRIDAY 

a very relaxed day

 

 hanged out on the strip...

stopped at Planet Hollywood
Dennis Quaid! we had just seen him filming at pounders a week or so before!

ate at Coldstone Creamery

and the food court on the strip

checked email at the apple store

explored the wildlife :)

and stopped to explore St. Augustine Catholic church before the 5:00 mas

finally, we said our last goodbyes to Jarek :(
we went to P F Chang's for dinner
then had intentions of watching the last song, but instead went home to crash before our big day
SATURDAY 
Saturday was one of the greatest days in history

at 8:00, the gang set out on mopeds to explore the island! 

stop one: Hanauma Bay!

where Jessica and I went snorkeling

 

 

and saw sea turtles!

and fish :)

we then stopped at the grocery store and picked up some snacks;
aka bread, pretzels, peanut butter, and NUTELLA!

that we ate at one of the beautiful lookouts on the windward side
next, we rode around to the Makapu'u point light and took the trek up to the top!


SUNDAY
sunday was a day of rest as we spent our last day sleeping by the pool waiting for the time to come to shower and head to the airport.
While waiting at the gate, Jessica and I watched our dance concert on my computer.
then it was time to say Aloha to one of my best friends in the whole wide world.

and Aloha to the most amazing chapter of my life.
I cried the entire 14+ hours of the trip home that I was not sleeping.

and i cry almost every day.
i want to go back.