Another cold rainy day in Alaska

On freezing cold, rainy, dreary days like today... I can't help but reminisce about my happy, warm, sunny life in Hawaii. Oh how I miss it.

I miss beach days with two of my most favorite girls -Yesenia and Chelsea!
Non stop giggles, coconut oil and maui babe, hand stand contests in the ocean, dancing and twirling in the aqua blue waters, photo shoots galore, sun kissed-Vit D skin, taking off our suits and going skinny dipping, playing beached whale, feet covered in warm sparkling white sand, sun tanning under hot sunny skies, playing in the warm tropical breeze... aaahhh bliss.

Mango Madness

I recently discovered a new obsession... mangos! I never realized how much I love them. I love all things mango - especially mango sorbet, mangos in salad, dried mangos, and picking fresh mangos from friends trees here in Hawaii.

Life's a Beach

In less than two weeks I have to leave this wonderful place that I've called home for the past nine months. Living here has been everything I hoped it would be, and more. June 4th is going to be very bittersweet; it's when I leave Hawaii to fly back to Alaska. It will be great to be home again and see my family, but I will miss this place so much.

So for my remaining days left... I've been trying to soak up as much sun as possible. I plan on spending the next two weeks on the beach - savoring every last ounce of warm sunshine, white sand and the beautiful turquoise waters.

Oh Hawaii, you'll sure be missed!

But I'm excited to see you too Alaska, I just wish you were a little warmer!

Alaskan Baby Chicks

In one month I'll be back in Alaska hanging out with Natalie and Cody... laying on the kitchen floor watching the new baby chickens. I can't wait to see my little Natalie girl and smoother her in hugs and kisses... but I'm also so sad to have to leave Hawaii.
Bittersweet is the only word to describe how I'm feeling. My heart is already aching at the thought of leaving...

Love Letter

Dear Hawaii,

I haven't even left yet and I miss you already.

It's so bittersweet; my ticket is booked to go back to Alaska for the summer, which means my time with you is almost up.

I love everything about you, Hawaii...

The way you turn my skin a beautiful golden hue. How you give me my daily dose of Vitamin D. How you always let me come play on your gorgeous sandy beaches. Your sweet smell of tropical flowers and warm ocean air. The way you always keep me toasty warm. The way you greet me every morning with happy blue sunny skies. How you always let me have so many fun adventures and all the happy memories we've made together.

You have been the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I love you so much, and am sad to leave you in June.

I will never forget you Hawaii.

You have made me happier than you'll ever know.

I can't wait for the day when we will be reunited again...

Love,

Stacy

The Byodo-In Temple

As you already know from my previous post, I really appreciate Buddhism - more as a way of life and discipline of the mind than as a religion. At any rate, I was lucky enough to go visit 'The Byodo-In Temple' here on Oahu last week. I've been wanting to go for quite some time now and it was everything I hoped it would be... beautiful, peaceful, spiritual & inspiring.

Meditation.

Celebration.

Contemplation.

Ring the bell for happiness!

I want to live a long, happy life.

My fellow buddhist temple goers.

So many beautiful Japanese koi.

Chelsea took an extra long time at the wishing well.

Silly Sallys.

Oh happy day!

Me and Anita dear appreciating the beauty of Buddha.

So until next time... three wishes for three hopeful, happy girls.

Vegan/Vegetarian Party

Sunday afternoon we (vegans and vegetarians alike) all got together for a meat/dairy free feast!

It was fun and refreshing to be surrounded by other like minded people, enjoying a plethora of delicious healthy food.

"Recognize meat for what it really is: the antibiotic & pesticide-laden corpse of a tortured animal" ~Ingrid Newkirk

Graffiti-Shoot

Carla is out here for the week visiting me and Chels.... the three musketeers are reunited, finally!

While out and about yesterday, we came across a cool abandoned building in the woods... kind of 'Secret Garden' meets 'The Projects'. So of course we had to take advantage of the amazing graffiti covered walls and have a photo shoot! America's Next Top Model here we come!!! :)

The Humpbacks

The humpback whales have the same idea as me; summers in Alaska and winters in Hawaii.

Truly the best of both worlds...

I went out with some good friends on a sunset whale watching cruise. Our beautiful sailboat was lucky enough to get right in the middle of the pod, they surrounded our boat on all sides.

Such a beautiful evening!

Tsunami Tsaturday

Had quite the adventure here in Hawaii on Saturday...

Tsunami evacuation!

Woke up at 4am and started packing as we all prepared for the worst!

We took our precious belongings (toilet paper and four pairs of underwear included - it's amazing what you pack at 4am when you are sleepy, stressed out and panicky) and trekked up the hill behind the temple with a couple hundred other peeps and waited....

And waited....

By noon-ish (hour past when the tsunami was supposed to hit) we started getting crazy and giddy from the sleep deprivation and all the hours spent cooking in the sun.

I was lucky enough to be surrounded by close friends and sister so the 6 hours spent on "high ground" wasn't as boring as it could have been.

Around 1ish we got word that the tsunami wasn't going to hit after all, so we trekked back on down the hill and were able to finally return home.

I'm so grateful and sad at the same time....

Grateful that I had this experience and have realized just how unprepared I am, (that's going to change!)

And sad for all those suffering and fighting to survive...

I just wish there was something I could do to help.