Flotilla 2010

We did it every year, always with the same level of delight. Held on the 4th of July, for our 30-something lifestyle in Hawaii there is nothing the better represented freedom. A floating frat party in the most stunning location.

This year we headed out with friends on floaties. We met up with the canoes, ran into other friends, surprised by some we had never seen on the water, one that even lived on another island. Toasting with our spiked Gatorades and graciously accepting free food, we smiled, and smiled, and smiled. I get choked up looking back on the photos... our lives are so great.













Oh Hawaii, our beautiful friend, full of good times. Happy 4th of July. Here's to all the future Flotillas!

End of an Era

In a few weeks one of our favorite friends in Hawaii will move away, to pursue her dreams and studies. She's one of those extremely special people that you're certain you could never find again in life. So when there's a party in her honor, you go - because you love her and also because you know it will be an AWESOME time. And when she asks that you wear animal print or caveman attire, you don't think twice and you raid the local discount stores for tacky clothing.

We had an incredible time on Saturday celebrating the end of the era of Katy in Hawaii. There was animal print as far as the eye could see, lots of good times, and one hell of a dance party.

Flying High

2009 was quite the year for adventures. First we traveled to Bali and Japan (still need to finish telling you about that). Then we kayaked the Na Pali Coast. And took a boat dangerously close to LAVA. And that's not all.

I also went flying in a place WITHOUT AN ENGINE. No engine. It was awesome.

A friend generously gifted this trip to a group of us. It was absolutely incredible. Just a bit terrifying until I realized how relaxed I really felt. And then it was amazing.

Friends Make it Our Home

Hi! We're back!

We had a beautiful honeymoon and were so thrilled to relax completely. I'm currently in the process of uploading almost 1,000 photos to Flickr and then I'll share some with you.

We've been home since Tuesday. For five days now we've moved in slow motion and have been very reluctant to get back into our previous lives. You know the post-vacation funk? We're in it deep! But I think it's an important piece of the vacation experience. I actually like the pensive time after a vacation when I look at my life and think "do I really want this? Is this what my life is for?" We haven't yet unpacked. I've barely managed to do one load of laundry. We're not exactly thrilled to be back to the 9 to 5. We're even lukewarm on our apartment. Just today we finally went to the grocery store. But it's all good. We're in no hurry to get back to the grind.

What has been wonderful is reconnecting with friends. It has felt SO GOOD to feel the love of our friends and to share wedding and honeymoon stories with them. I can tell you this with certainty, we are loved here.

So while we look at our apartment with a critical eye and let the laundry pile up, I know we're home from the smiles from friends.

Catch-up: March and More

The month of March is typically jam-packed. Three very important birthdays and an Irish holiday usually give me plenty to do. This year's March was even more eventful!

On the 16th we celebrated Bryan's birthday with a whale-watching hike (which is exactly what we did the first year we lived here too) and then, at his specific request, we had a Thai dinner. Bryan loves Thai!

Happy Birthday Bryan!

Lamely, we stayed in for St. Patrick's Day. Ironically, I went to my hula class that night.

But there was still more fun to be had that week! On Thursday I arrived in San Francisco for my bachelorette weekend with fabulous friends from college and SF. They planned a beautiful weekend for me that included my absolute favorite foods, an occasion to dress up, and a day in Napa wine tasting.




The weekend concluded with a beautiful shower in which I was more than spoiled and got to see my parents and wonderful long-time friends.

So pretty!

It was an amazing weekend. Honestly, I couldn't have imagined anything that wonderful.

And if you can believe it, there's even more! This past weekend my coworkers organized a shower here for me. This one was at my favorite restaurant and was a very nice time. I was spoiled with many wine related gifts and I made a few funny faces.





In conclusion, March was all about celebrating, friends, wine and favorites. It was an excellent month!

Back to Boulder

More than 10 years I graduated from college and said goodbye to Boulder, Colorado. The town of my college career, my first real drinks, the beginning of some of my closest frienships, the beginning of "adult" Jenni, and the scene of many, many adventures. I've been back to visit a few times - just afternoon drives to see campus and eat Deli Zone.

This past weekend I went back for a long overdue real visit. My college friends and I got together to celebrate 10 years (TEN!) since we graduated and to attend the homecoming game. SO. MUCH. FUN!

We gathered in Denver for yummy food and drinks at Christy's.

Then we headed to Boulder early in the morning to tour the Tri Delta house (oh, you didn't know I was in a sorority? I so was.), did a little shopping on The Hill (you can never have too much clothing that proclaims "Go Buffs!), stuffed ourselves with food and alcohol at The Sink, cruised through campus, had some beer, saw a buffalo, and then attended the game. I hadn't been in the stadium for 10 years. When I was in college I only missed two at-home football games ever. It was so amazing to be back in the stadium. Unfortunately the Golden Buffalo of Colorado got their a$$es kicked by the damn Longhorns but I still had a blast. We ended the night with dinner on Pearl Street and then took our exhausted selves home to Denver.








On Sunday Sara and Kent hosted brunch for all of us and all the kids of us. So crazy amazing to see the kids of your friends. Keep having kids, I love seeing them!

I also had the delightful treat to start my Colorado weekend by meeting my freshman year roommate's daughter for the first time. She's beautiful and charming and I felt so special to be able to hang out with her. And then I concluded my weekend with my very wonderful Hawaii friend who now lives in Denver. I felt so lucky.




It was a weekend I definitely needed to have. My friends are awesome. Everyone is doing so well in their lives - buying houses, having kids, meeting great guys. It is so fun to see and hear about! And even as all these amazing things happen to them, they're really not changing all that much. In ten years, we're all pretty much the same. Sometimes I get very sad living an ocean away. I feel that I'm missing out on everyone's lives. But this weekend showed me that I can always just be in touch and catch up on their happiness.

And at the same time, it encouraged me to really embrace and appreciate the friends that I have here. Sometimes it's easy to think "oh, I have such amazing friends "back home" on the mainland." But truly, I have some really amazing friends here "at home" in Hawaii too.

Equally Fantastic Weekend, A How To

You thought it couldn't be done but I managed it: two awesome weekends in a row!

First, host a girls night at your house. Food, wine, friends, wine. Laughter, cattiness and fun should result.

Next, a full day of a paddling regatta. Paddle your first one-mile race and WIN! Be rewarded with a medal on a ribbon and generally have a great time.



Wrap it all up with a kick-ass night of costume karaoke in honor of a good friend leaving Hawaii. Scrounge your closet for a random collection of clothes that leave you sort of looking like an Axl Rose or Brett Michael groupie. Sort of. Have a great time yelling at the top of your lungs to the songs you know.





Finally, sleep in a bit, go shopping in Waikiki, clean the house, paddle, and reunite with Bryan.

A Reunion with Friends

I am SO excited for tonight! I'll be meeting up with my very good friends Carrie, Samantha, Charolette and Miranda.

We've kept in touch over the past few years through short evening catch-ups, and a few DVDs together but it never really felt like enough. Tonight we get the reunion we deserve - over two full hours to catch up on their lives. I cannot wait!

Yes, I'm going to see Sex and the City tonight. And I'm thrilled. I'm meeting up with some co-workers and I'm even taking Bryan along. I'm on the edge of my seat wondering what the hell is going on with Miranda and Steve?! Do Carrie and Big make it to the alter?! Is that really her wedding dress? Do my favorite New York ladies end up happy in their lives?

I hope I cry and laugh and walk out of the theater feeling like I just hung out with my best friends.

Terrific Time in Tahoe

We just got back from a long weekend on the mainland where we spent a few wonderful hours in San Francisco visiting with Carolyn and eating Indian food. Then we drove on out to Tahoe for the wedding of a very good college friend of mine, Kristy.

We had four fabulous days surrounded by friends, silliness, and exhaustion. It can best be summed up by this... Friends. Food. Drive. Food. Friends. Drinks. Quarters. Food. Wedding. Food. Drinks. Drinks. Drinks. Dance. Dance. Dance. Food. Lake. Nap. Food. Sleep. Drive.

Man, how I wish I could do it all again right now.





A wonderful wedding that inspired me to get going on ours. Which is exciting.

A Night Out

Saturday night I spent with some paddling buddies and a very good host and hostess who served up fondue and fortune cookies. A common conversation heard throughout the night was "Jenni, another drink?" and "Oh, yes please!"

After three yummy lychee martinis and silly conversations we pulled out the camera and started dancing around the room.






Needless to say, I had a blast. And the hangover the next day was totally worth it!

A While Ago: 1 of 2

A few weeks ago we had a three-day weekend and had such a good time I had to let it soak in before I could even begin to process it here. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

Way back when our fabulous friend Jaisy came to town. She and I spent all of Saturday hanging out and being girly. We kicked of the day with a lunch at my favorite restaurant, Town. Then we whipped through a work thing, changed our clothes and soaked up the sun and alcohol in Waikiki. We spotted Jon Lovitz at Dukes, got up to speed on all our life events, and then meandered over to the Outrigger Club where we met some family friends of hers. But these 'family friends' were actually shirtless 25 year-old boys with surfer/waterpolo player bodies! As we sat there with cheap beers and watched the boys play volleyball, I was taken back to my college days... From Colorado to Hawaii, there's nothing better than a good friend, beer, and watching cute boys.

What a perfect Saturday!!