Aloha to the fruit of the gods

I know it is silly, and I am well aware that you can purchase pineapple on the mainland, but it is just not the same as it is in Hawaii. I am  convinced that the forbidden fruit is actually Dole pineapple from Hawaii and it is a lie that it was an apple. I have not purchased a single pineapple here that did not taste like a little piece of heaven. They are perfectly sweet and juicy and taste amazing with pretty much anything. I am sitting here trying to think of something that pineapple does not go with and I am stumped. The Dole plantation has a bunch of juicy tidbits about the history of pineapples and how they grow, it has some delectable frozen pineapple treats, and the world's largest maze! (which is in the shape of a pineapple)

Enjoying some pineapple ice cream

Nicole came to visit, and we took her for some yummy pineapple !

Silly, maybe, but I am going to miss pineapple in Hawaii! Not to mention all of the other delicious tropical fruits like passion fruit, lychee, mangoes, papaya, star fruit, and all of these other exotic looking magically tasteful fruits.
I will miss it all!

Aloha

As I begin to write this I have to hold back tears because in the last eleven months Hawaii has captured my heart. Chance is moving on from the military and at this point we are uncertain of where life will lead us next. It has taken me a long time to accept the fact that I have to leave this paradise I currently call home. I have literally had to force myself into making a list of things I can look forward to on the so dull sounding 'mainland'. I wake up every morning and glance out at turquoise waters in the Kaneohe Bay of Oahu and my heart melts. I have now accepted the reality that I have to leave. I have to look forward to new adventures in uncharted lands, being closer to my family and friends, and hoping that if I work really really extra super duper hard I can come back here permanently one day... if not I will visit annually! 

This is the view I get while drinking my coffee on the lanai

It was almost two years ago now that I first stepped foot on this island and it lost me in all the beauty immediately. I have never once felt trapped on an island and I get so mad when I hear people say they do not like it here. Seriously people, what is there not to like about paradise? (tsunami's, okay i'll give you that one) This place is magical though and has become a part of me forever. So looking back on all of the amazing memories I have made in my short time here I will be spending the next 31 days sharing them with you. 

31 days of aloha to Hawaii... bittersweet

My first visit to sunset beach

This picture was taken during my first trip to Hawaii which was a total of four days, but a lot of my great memories come from that short time. Chance was about to leave for an 8 month deployment and we made the most of our short time together. We were able to catch the sunset at Sunset Beach up at North Shore. I will cherish these Hawaiian sunsets always. Which is why this memory is starting of the list. Enjoy :)

Eat, Sleep, Snowboard

So for those of  you that do not know I have three young brothers who know how to kill it on the slopes. They are 14,13, and 11. From November until late Spring they spend every second they can on the slopes, jibbing in the front  yard, travelling to various mountains to board, and competing in competitions. I may be slightly biased but I happen to think they are pretty freakin' awesome. They travel all over Utah, Nevada, and California competing in any competitions they can get to. Today they were at the Volcom Peanut Butter Rail Jam in Brighton, UT. They have now competed in four of these events this season. I was able to go home to watch a couple of the competitions this past January and was amazed at their talents. While I watch I get this complete nervous stomach of aches and mush because it scares the hell out of me to watch them hit these rails and jumps, but even when they fall they dust off and hustle to top to try again. Vinnie (14) and Pat (13) placed at the Volcom events so they get to head off to finals next month in Mammoth, CA. They have all placed in various competitions this season and I could not be more proud of them! :) 

The snow groms doing their thing 

Joey (11) doing a one footer off a jump in BH

Vinnie (14) getting some sick air

Patrick (13) loving what he does

So as you can guess these three took all of the cool genes in the family. I am a proud sister and love to show people how amazing they are. They have a few videos up and will be up against kids from all over the nation next month in Mammoth, CA. One day I may even be posting pictures from winter X-Games or even the Olympics.. they are that good!

My first blog post :)

I decided to start a blog. I read them often, and finally made the plunge to join the world of blogging. I am not sure yet of the things I will write about but I am guessing it will end up being a little bit of everything. My life is about to make a big change and it is a good time to start documenting my adventures and share my crazy life stories.


Some things I will often write about... 

This boy who has my heart

These wonderful people who make me smile
Current books I am reading like this one
New recipes that I try and love, or old time favorites that I want to share. Like Spinach Penne Pasta
I imagine I will often talk about my current music obsessions, or fashion items I have my sights on.
I will probably vent about things that are irritating me, and also share embarrassing/clumsy stories from my day to day life. I do not really have a goal in mind as to what I hope to accomplish in doing this, but for now, it is a way for me to document this little thing we call life.