Arriving in Style

I finally made it to Maui!  I upgraded my flight to first class, which was amazing!  The flight began with a mimosa.  During the flight watched a movie while sipping on Pinot grigio.  After lunch enjoyed a coffee with kahlua.  Then took a nap, before it was time for arrival.  Once I arrived I got my car and headed to my hotel.  It has been a few years since I was in Maui, but once I started driving to Kaanapali everything felt familiar again.  It was a little strange to be here without my boys.  Once I got settled, headed straight to the beach!

Week-End with Mom

My Mom came for a visit recently.  It was great to see her and catch up on things.  We enjoyed a week-end full of activities.  Dinner, shopping, movies....it was like a little mini vacation at home with my Mom.  Check out some pics from the week-end!

Let's Catch Up

Sorry I've been missing for a while......  Hmm what are some top reasons I have disappeared lately?

1.  I could have escaped reality and moved to a secluded tropical island (dream come true...).

2.  I could have gotten chained to my desk at work unable to escape until all of my spreadsheets are done (nightmare....).

3.  I could have been kidnapped my aliens.

4.  I could have gotten trapped out in the backyard forced to survive on my pitiful garden and lounge by the pool.

Luckily (or sadly) none of the above happened.  I have just been super busy with life.  Don't you just hate it when life gets in the way....   However,  have made time to eat healthy and do yoga.   As of today only 26 days and counting to surf camp!

Me in 26 days.....

Surf Camp in Hawaii

I am officially freaking out!  I have only 51 days until I leave for Surf Camp...Woo Hoo, but Yikes!  I visited Hawaii for the first time in 2004 and immediately had a connection.  I love the ocean, but there was just something magical about the ocean in Hawaii.  Maybe it was because I had finally made it to Hawaii and YES, it lived up to every one of my expectation.  I have been back 3 times since then and each time I look out at the waves with longing...I want to ride those waves.  However, our visits have been a family affair.  How much can I really accomplish by taking a 2 hour surf lesson?  Their goal is to get you up on the board, not actually teach you want to do so you can go out on your own.  I need commit to the goal, live it every day, submerge myself in it.  Well, I am finally going to get that chance, an entire week by myself at a women's only surf camp.  Now, with only 51 days, am I ready?  I just have a little over 6 weeks to get ready.  I must now focus all my energy in the next 6 weeks to getting ready.  Yesterday, I spent 2 hours at the gym where my hubby gave me an intense workout with weights.  Ouch, I am feeling it today.  I am going to keep it going with a healthy focus on diet and getting in shape!  So far today I have been good.  Lunch was leftovers from last night, salmon, rice and peas, plus a banana.  Going to yoga tonight after work.  That is my downfall I get so busy at work I miss the yoga class or I am just too tired to go.  New strategy, I packed my yoga clothes so I can change in the bathroom and go straight from work....

Keeping my eye on the prize!

Summer Vacation

Just got back in town from a vacation road trip.  Started out driving from Texas to Santa Fe where we hung out for a couple days.  The weather was great, not to hot like Texas.  Spent some time hanging out downtown at The Plaza.  While it was cool to see the adobe type buildings and houses, after a while it got pretty boring.  Everything was brown.

Awesome view from our balcony in Sante Fe!

Hiking at Night.....

Hanging out downtown at "The Plaza"

After Santa Fe, headed to Colorado.  First stop downtown Denver.  Stayed at the modern "The Curtis".  Walked around downtown, visited the federal reserve, the zoo and of course Mile High Stadium.  After a couple nights headed up the mountains to Copper Mountain.

Dinner downtown on the patio at "Magic Mushroom."

Downtown at the Federal Reserve.

Bobby's "moment" at the Bronco Stadium

Our favorite animals at the zoo!

At Copper Mountain the Wanderlust Festival was going.  Lots of yoga and cool music.  Spent the first day hiking the Colorado Trail in the morning and then doing a hula hoop yoga class with Shakti Sunfire.  It was super fun to see my boys enjoying the class.  The next day took a smooth yoga class led by Sean Corne set to laid back tunes from the 70's and 80's.  Ouch, the next morning I was really sore and had to call it in.  After lunch I had some energy back and did a Global Yoga Dance with Shiva Rea.  So much fun at Copper Mountain.  So much to do and not enough time to do it all!!

The wind was blowing us away...

Morning hike in the mountains

Max rocked the go-carts!

Yoga with Sean Corn in the Lucy tent

The hoopnotica cirle, hula hoop yoga and the slack line

Yoga global dance with Shiva Rea

Walking around Frisco, Colorado

Had a great time, next stop Hawaii.......

What a difference a "fill in the blank" makes....

 A good teacher can make all the difference in the world.  I know first hand as my son has had some situations with long term subs and the impact that has had on not only his grade, but his attitude towards the class.  A class can be challenging, but with a good supportive teacher the student can still thrive.  The same can be said with a good doctor.  The level of care you receive from a doctor who cares and is engaged in what is best for you can make a huge difference in not only the level of care you receive, but also the options you have for your health.  So, we are not all teacher and doctors...but, we are all people.   And by just being a good person you can make a difference in someone's life.  Imagine the difference we could all make if we all just put other's people's needs above our own.  Think about it, the next time you are in the Starbuck's drive thru pay for the person behind you, just because.  When standing in line at the grocery store let that Mom with three kids who looks she is about to lose go in front of you.  These small acts of kindness can make a difference.  And hopefully it will be paid forward.  Be the "that" person, I promise you won't regret it!

Scent of a Wave

Recently I was able to get away and spend a few days at the beach.   Since we are on a tight budget and I really wanted to be near the ocean we drove a few hours to the Texas coast.  It was awesome to get away and spend some time my family and relax by the ocean.  The best part of the vacation was spending time out on the fabulous porch of the house we rented.   It had a great ocean view and the breeze was perfect.  Every morning we had breakfast on the porch and afterward I would do about 30 minutes of free yoga before we took a slow jog on the beach.  The ocean breeze and salt air did wonder for my state of mind.  After  some exercise we packed a lunch cooler and headed back down to the beach for a few hours of sunning and reading.  The water was too cold for me, but the boys didn't mind and had fun in the waves and throwing the football.  After beach time we would head back to the house.  After showers we would relax on the porch with a glass of wine and play cards while watching the sun sent   Then we would fix dinner and either play board games or watch a movie.  It was exactly what we all needed.  Some time to reconnect and just slow down!