Hawaii - Part 1

We recently took a little trip to Hawaii and I am going to share it with you.  I personally love reading about people's trips.  But I need the details. Whenever there is a travel commercial on TV......you know one of those bookings sites.....they never tell you what these fantastic places we could be booking even are.  Details, people, details!

I hope you enjoy reading about trips too.  I hope you enjoy the details.....

So first let me say we flew out of Nashville which we were absolutely fine with because it gave us a chance to revisit one of our favorite Nashville spots.  Remember when we spent an entire day shopping on 12 South.  I wrote about it here if you want a refresher. We went back to eat at Burger Up.  It was so delicious the first time, we unanimously decided to go back for more.

We enjoyed burgers, fries and fried pickles.

And we took a quick drive down the street.  There are new stores and restaurants there. 

We are definitely going to have to plan a return trip.

The next morning we flew out to Dallas (a four and half hour flight) and from there to Maui (a nearly 8 hour flight).  And I was comfy the whole way in my Lululemon pants. Plus we ordered these neck pillows and one of us was real adventurous and she ordered this inflatable ottoman.  Now we have split opinions on the ottoman.  It was easy to inflate, however, you probably need to be in the seats with the extra leg room to really be able to enjoy it.  Regardless, she inflated, she elevated and she called it a success.

We arrived and it was hot....that is an understatement....it was smoking hot.  But we spotted our first chickens at the airport

Apparently, chickens just roam around the island.  We saw them everywhere....the airport, the food trucks, Costco.  By the end of the week we counted over 32 chickens just here and there.

We asked for a Jeep for the rental car because one of us is jeepaholic.....and since she is not getting one in real life.....she can pretend for a week

But here is where we stayed

It is on Maui and in the Lahaina area.

And everything is open air....starting with the lobby

Our first stop was Costco.  We stocked up on Water, snacks and other essentials.

When you arrive at the resort these great guys meet you with these bins

They load up all your supplies and food in the bins along with your luggage and meet you at the room with everything.  Yes, please and thank you!

We rented a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite

 and these beautiful doors

open up

The time change had us pretty worn out.  Even though is was 8:00 pm in Maui our bodies felt like it was 1:00 am.  So we went to Front Street to grab a quick bite and get to bed.

Our first restaurant was

we enjoyed fish tacos, fish and chips and their famous hula pie

By the way, our daughter's friend Ella recommended some great places, her father was from Hawaii so she has spent a lot of time there.  Big thanks to her for giving such great tips.

After a good night's rest we started the morning with our Costco breakfast on the balcony

And then we had some time by the pool and on the beach

For lunch we took the hottest walk EVER to the food trucks.  It was approximately 5, 239 degrees.....ok perhaps I exagerate....maybe is was only 4, 369 degrees.  Here is the thing I wear a camisole every day of the year....yep all summer....all winter and even fall and spring but Hawaii was like

and I had to reliquinsh it right there at the food trucks.  It was either that or spontaneously combust.

The food was good, we had acai bowls and fish tacos

and on the way back we ran into this Dole Dream Store

and quite frankly I could have married this cone of pineapple loveliness.  

We had a quick dinner at the resort restaurant, Dukes

We enjoyed some deliciousness

I am so sorry....that is just the arrival and day one.  Come back on Wednesday and I will try to cover more days faster.......it was just so good.  I don't want you to miss any of it.

Have a great week!

Traveling Pants.....and more!

Today I wanted to show you a new find that I absolutely love.  They are from Lululemon.....wait....before you say they are too expensive.....give it a chance.  I only buy when I catch stuff on sale because yes, they can be pricey.  I only have about six items, but here's the thing.  I love them all.  They wear well.  They wash great and they just may be worth the money.

I got this pair of pants on sale.  I mainly wanted them to travel in.  They are casual but not jeans.  They  can be worn with a simple tee but they are not leggings.  They really are the perfect travel pant....and I think they may be good grocery shopping pants too

Lululemon Dance Studio Crop

There are four color options and I bought my normal numerical size.  They are a final sale item so you might swing into a store and try them on if you are between sizes.


I also picked up this pair.

Lululemon On the Fly Pant

They are also great for travel and just as comfy. There's four color options in these too.  Again I would say they are true to size.

While I was pulling the links to show you the two items above, I happen to find a couple of more sale items that I am also liking a lot

Look at this tote

On My Level Tote

It is a great size and all their things are in this great fabric that I love.  The tote comes in two colors and check out the inside

There's lot of storage and pockets and a main zipper to keep it all secure.  I am seriously considering ordering this.

And wouldn't this little wrap be fun to have

Find Your Light Wrap

There are four color options in this.  And yes while it might be fun to wear over a sports bra to the gym, I feel like we could swing this with a t-shirt and jeans too.

So if you need to add to your Lululemon collection or try it out for the first time, these are some good options.

Oh and if you are interested in where I traveled in my new pants, make sure you join me next week for all the details....but here's a little hint

Have a great weekend!

Good Ground

At my daughter's college orientation the President spoke to the students from these verses:

Matthew 13:3-8  
Then He told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 

He told the students that in choosing this college (Samford) they had fallen on good ground.  There were people there who would shepherd them, pray for them, care for them, nurture them as students...as young men and women.

I know....it was a beautiful speech.  I wanted to register for classes.

Here's the thing, I repeatedly fell on good ground during my lifetime.  I had wonderful parents and extended family.  I had lots of great teachers and lots of caring adults. And I have truly been blessed with some good friends.  I have seen and reaped the benefits of falling on good ground.

Now I want to be good ground for other people.  I want to care and nurture and pray for those that God sprinkles along my path. I want to lift up, encourage and empower them.  I want to be a testimony to the goodness of God.

Who has God scattered along your life path that needs some good ground?

What a delightful opportunity! And I know you are up for the challenge.

July Book Review

This month was another good round of reads.  Here's what I read and how/if I liked them

First up



What If It's True by Charles Martin.  I am pretty sure I have read every fictional work by Charles Martin.  I love his books.  I love his style.  OK, I love him.  Now this book is different.  Way different.  My friend Stayce gifted me with this one.  In this book he addresses some serious Biblical principles.  She gave me this through Audible so I listened to it while driving and cleaning house.  I got to this one chapter and sat in the Target parking lot for a good 30 minutes finishing it.  It was intense.  There are several intense moments.  He discusses some really hard topics.  He makes you think.  He makes you question.  He makes you draw close to God to seek the correct understanding.  If you go for this one, make sure you can devote some serious time to really taking it in.  It is going to snatch you up and shake you.  It is going to make you think about some things you'd rather avoid.  It is going to make you crave and seek truth.

Next I went for a lighter read



The Cactus by Sarah Haywood.  I do love a quirky main character.  This book delivers royally on that front.  Susan is 45, has every single thing in her life planned out - until she discovers she is expecting.  Her family relations, her job, her romantic interest all come into question and tested.  I love how she very pragmatically analyzes every situation.  The writing style reminded me a lot of Fredrik Blackman.  If you enjoy his books, grab this one quickly.

Amazon recommended this next one and I enjoyed it



Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton.  Sometimes I feel like I live on the outskirts of the world....like I know of things but don't have any real insight into certain things.  This book covers two generations in Cuba and America.  It is not a true story, but I assume it is based on some research.  It was so very interesting.  I just had no idea.  The general plot is a wealthy family flees Cuba and lives in America.  Before the grandmother passes she requests her ashes be taken back to Cuba.  The granddaughter returns to do so and discovers so much about her family .....their secrets....their loves....their great losses.

I hope you are reading some good things.  I am slowly working down that stack next to my bed.  Let me know what I need to add to it.

Have a great week!