Baby Shower Invites

Okay so I was dinking around on theknot.com yes I'm obsessed... this has already been admitted but seriously someone metioned a cool invite website.. and I landed on this. 3 examples of what they can offer for: Lingerie Shower, Bridal Shower and... Baby Shower.

Years from now if you are helping plan my baby shower... don't you dare use the invite on the right. The poor woman looks like a BOAT! Really though? above it all she has to carry a bag and it's raining... wah wah :) (ok duh I get it "shower" right, trying to run with the joke) but oh shoot and she's wearing heels.

ha. anyways. scary lisa brain.

"Stand Up to Cancer"

Okay honestly three seconds into this and I may cry...

Two rapid thoughts came into my mind

1) Most likely one of the most impactful advertisements I have ever seen on TV. Maybe it was the eloquent voice of Sidney Poitier, but the sheer act of people just standing up was enough to get my attention.

It's one of those moments where the hair raises on your arm or on the back of your neck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atKVaG4nIVo

Watch if you haven't

2) And the second thought that raced in was my dad. I always remember being a younger self twiddling my thumbs and scrunching my Velcro shoes as I spent most of my days at the hospital "visiting dad". I didn't understand why we were really there. I mean I knew, but when I look back so guilty that I felt "annoyed" wasting my days staring at white sterile walls and not being able to go outside and stretch my adolescent arms. Looking back... and am so frustrated with myself that I didn't get to know my father before I lost him.

During that time I kept a journal in 3rd grade. 5-9-88

Today is May 8.1988 in Feb my dad went to the hospatil he wasn't doing that good in ten days he died my mom was crying really much so was my brother I was to... when I was crying I was crying but when i stop it was like i was a frog or something.

I didn't know but my teacher at the time lost her father that year. Almost 10 years later when I saw Nahnie again, she pulled me aside and said how much she cried that night when she read my entry, still such a young girl dealing with something so tremendous.

Years later when my uncle was diagnosed with cancer the idea of being in a hospital was so frightening that I waited weeks to visit him there. I honestly couldn't bare the idea of seeing my father in him ... and being vulnerable again. When I finally gathered the strength to go there I cried... I sobbed on his hospital bed. He was no longer conscious and the reality set in that I would lose another one of my family members to cancer.

I think "Samantha" from Sex in the City said it best, "cancer isn't so hullarious".

I will donate this evening and I hope others will as well. I can't say I won't ever lose someone to cancer again but if I never have to... I will be alright.

Fun Time this weekend!

I had a great Labor Day Weekend, one of my best friend's came back into town and we were able to spend some more quality time together.

Visit a good friend in Edmonds who is having a baby any day now...

Grab Korean food - OH so GOOD!

Attend a Wedding in SODO Park

Dim Sum in Chinatown

AND a 2 year olds BDAY PARTY!

Now I'm just at home... doing all the things "I should be doing" - CLEANING, reorganizing...

even though I am very sad about the wedding being over... it's nice to clean up random to do lists, paper, etc all over that had to do with keeping track of the wedding.

A good wedding starts with ...

Research!

:) Chris and I couldn't help laughing when as we are cleaning our lives of wedding paraphernalia... we came upon about 60+ wedding magazines I had acquired over the year(s).

But hey I got a lot of great compliments about the "details" we had in our wedding and I have to thank: Martha, Instyle, Theknot.com, Style Me Pretty, Bride and Bloom, JuneBug Weddings for all my ideas!

ps. I'm not throwing these away :)

Olympics Scandal

OK I still can't stop thinking about so.... I have to let my hands do the talking.

Beyond the scandal around the chinese gymnastics team possibly being younger than the min age 16, I would like to bring something to your attention.

Let's go for something a little more obvious. USA, I'm slightly ashamed that we may have a little scandal of our own.

You've seen the plot time and time again. Losing team needs that extra umph so a girl dresses up as a guy or vice versa to give that team a winning advantage. I can sight examples such as:

She's the Man - Amanda Bynes

But this Olympic season I saw it in the flesh. Crystl Bustos from the US Softball Team - could this be a man? I mean when "her" picture flew up discussing the loss to Japan via the news, I took a double take... hmmm... questionable, then I heard "her" speak. the questions really started to come then, hear for yourself via the you tube link below.

Shame on us USA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEzolIb86Ak

I'm still cracked out on weddings...

Um I just realized I'm still obsessed with weddings.... when will it stop!

maybe when I get my professional photos?

maybe when I clean my room of all left over projects?

I think possibly not until we get a house of our own, then I can obsess over something else.

wah wah

Vampires!

Well I thought those little suckers would stop, but oh no. The very last night... I got another pair on my leg and one right on my throat - right in the juggular. really though you little bastards? Going right for my artery huh?

Now that I'm back in Seattle I hope to live through this...

Beyond bites.. we did enjoy a lovely last dinner in kauai (tear tear)

There is Chris opening his dinner like christmas - it was called Seafood Lau Lau... We also enjoyed duck, mushroom filled egg rolls. I suddenly realized I have a real obsession about food :) So what I like to take pictures food? I'm asian big surprise? nah?

So back to an old post I had... If you are going to Kauai where should you go eat!

#1 - Plantation Garden - amazing food, good drinks, beautiful scenary - have to have the big island salad and the rib-eye with the scalloped potatoes (to die for!) oh and the lychee cosmo

#2 - Roy's in Poipu Village - good food - okay scenary - try to the upside down pineapple dessert!

#3 - The Beach House - amazing view!! good food- may have tried something different - a little pricey - Chris had the snapper which was better than my duet

#4 - Keoki's in Poipu Village - good stuff - a little more commericial

# 6 - Kintaro's - okay

#20 - Brenneke's - boo! over priced not good, but the beach near by is worth a visit. They did have a salad bar, BUT the one at Pizza Hut is better

Didn't get a chance to go but Lai just mentioned to me: Tide Pool's at the Hyatt. check it out! We just

Sheraton Kauai - Kudos!

I have to say our last moments with the Sheraton staff was a four star treatment!

Every one was very helpful and when asked for late check out even offered us "another" room until 6pm.

This ended up being vital since we were able to shower and have a safe place for our stuff until heading to the airport. Chris was also a little "done" with the sun after day #8, possibly due to the fact I thought he was ready for the spray block SPF 15 (this was not the case ie. he has a weird spray blotch on his arm, ooopps).

We met some very nice folks throughout, one of my fav's - Noel from The Point Bar. Noel was super cool and we even did a duet Monday night - Pictures - with Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. He offered Chris and I multiple free drinks at the bar and even got me bumped up to first in line on the karaoke list - yahoo buddy!

Actually I got a couple of pictures of my competition both Monday nights we were there. I don't know how they did it, but they really hogged the microphone and yet they were the only other people in the bar? You would think the odds... I would get up at least once every 5 times?

But that's where my friend Noel came in! he was like dude... (to the karaoke guy) no more lame a** music.

I love you salads!

Okay so I had the best salad on the island our last night in Kauai. It was called "Big Island..." something something I can't remember. It had tomato, pesto, weedy lettuce, and a piece of fried cheese (that's right fellow cheese lovers soft cheese - FRIED!)

I captured many pictures of my beloved salad... before, during, after :)

You know you have hit rock bottom.. when...

you have fried chicken, cole slaw and a load of french fries. Sorry Jenny (Craig), it was a rough 9 days. Honestly my stomach was like what were you thinking after I had this. It was horrible and I think I'm going on food detox for the next min 6 weeks! if not rest of 2008!

I'm scared to get on the scale, there will need to be some work to be done to get off the honeymoon 5lbs.

My first Luau!

On the lovely suggestion of my friend Alayna... Chris and I were off to Princeville for my first luau! Once we got there we had to stop to take some amazing pictures from the view at the top of the hotel.

Once down by the action we saw them reveal the pig. We definitely helped ourselves to quite a plate of food. Another food coma moment (barf)!

Then we enjoyed the show... The host was hullarious! We saw hula dancers, flame throwers and a gorgeous sunset!

Day #7

A very lazy day on the beach today... Chris was really trying to figure out these waves today. Here is a picture of him contemplating...




I threw on my new DG sunglasses and the Maui Brown lotion.. oh yea it's time to get all the sun I can get at this point.

Chris had a rough day out in the water, catching only a few waves. He was in a tough area where waves were breaking from both sides. He is determined so I'm sure more surfing to come...

We then headed to dinner at the Beach House... the view was amazing! Food we rated it #3 behind Plantation Gardens and Roy's. Here is Chris' dessert.... we had to take it to go since there wasn't enough room and I had to see the closing ceremonies!

Thought we would save a little on our car insurance....

A little friend decided to visit us as we were packing up to change rooms ....

He didn't offer a great deal on car insurance... but he did scare us a little and can't wait to see him welcome his next roommates

Results of the Zip Line

Well everyone I made it! Wasn't as scary as I thought it would be and actually it was pretty fun ... imagining what it would be like to fly like a bird above the tree tops.

Our guide was definitely trying to be a big jokester. We met another couple from Seattle and then another couple moving to Seattle - random! But the best part one of the guide's and one of the other zippers... love Jason from the Bachelorette. :)

On our way home we stopped by at Kintaro's where I was excited to go since it was said to be the best sushi restaurant on the island. Okay well sorry Kintaro's YOU SUCK compared to the many places in Seattle.

Not only was the sushi sub par BUT I have never seen people clear plates so fast in my life. We would eat the last morsel of sushi and a hand would come to take the plate. Hello! there was still ginger and wasbi to be used for another dish!!! hold your horses!

However, another side of me was quite impressed with their process and efficiency. There was one 18 year old busser that was bustin' his butt. Waters over here, clearing tables over there, and bringing people appy's. Good work boy.

The Next Bachelor!!!

Wowee! So Mrs. Stark scooped me on the story, but I had to make a note on the blog...

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/abc-announces-jason-mesnick-will-be-next-the-bachelor-star-7685.php

Jason Mesnick is going to be the next bachelor... airing January 2009. I CAN'T WAIT! Could possibly be the best reality TV ever! The best part, I hope to be seeing Jason next week for his niece's bday party. Bailey and Jackson were absolute dolls at the wedding... dancing the night away... and playing with petals.

I hope this time around on the show we see these little sweeties along with their cousin Ty.

Uh oh!

This is very unlike Lisa Yu and I hope I make it through without peeing my pants!

Pray for me everyone...

http://adventureskauai.com/gallery_zip.html

and I just re read - 4.5 hours... rrrrright

I'm sure there will be an intersting post tonight...

America's Next Top Model - "wedding edition"

Well I must say it was quite the photo shoot. It started with driving an hour and 1/2 up to Princeville or the North Side of the island. We met Jen right before the beach area since she said it was a little tough on directions to get right to the spot. Here 's her website if you want to get an idea of her work.

http://www.kauaiphotographer.com/main.php

Once there we trucked it down to the beach which was a little scary.... a lot of brush around and some pine cones that make walking straight down wobbly. Worst of it though was yet to come, we hit the beach and there was a lot of dark area covered by trees! That's where "they" hang out... Chris and I were attacked by misquitos - yikes it was scary! and here I'm trying to jump into my dress ASAP before getting eaten alive.

Right when I was able to get my dress on... the rain started! meow meow. I raced under the trees and hovered under an umbrella. It rained for at least 5 minutes and I wasn't sure when it was going to let up. Luckily, in HI this happens quite a bit and you just have to the let the clouds pass.

I'm sure we will have funny pics of me huddled, gripping my dress under an umbrella. After awhile though I just got over it... that's what a good dress cleaning is for when you get home.

The good news about the rain was all the people on the beach left, so it was really all ours. It was a beautiful scene. Clear blue water, lava rock, sunset....

Chris and I were definitely put to the test... climbing lava to get that perfect shot. I had to somehow balance that huge dress and climb sides of rock. Not to mention work our way around some tide pools. It was definitely "Tyra" style.

After all said and done it was fun, quite an adventure! and man I hope the pictures turn out.

We then head over to the Princeville Hotel for dinner at La Casata... When we got there we were totally amazed blown away by how massive this hotel was. It was like walking into the Bellagio, sculptures every where... huge fountains! Anyways we had a great dinner overlooking the water...

Surfin' USA

Chris definitely got the itch today to do some surfin'

He started off at 10am with a lesson and I was able to grab some great shots of him

I on the other hand pretty much hung out by myself. No biggie though all you need in life is the below to keep yourself entertained.

Pretty much day #5 was a complete day on the beach. I think the Monk Seal had the same idea... was just a few feet away... hanging out.

Other than that I was pretty much obsessed with the bites... which were driving me nuts.. Itchy! and Swelling up, since I'm highly allergic. I mean this doesn't look normal right?

okay yes I scratched it - BUT STILL! :)

Thank god last night I stopped by a store and got some benedryl....

Dinners have been so much fun. We get to hang out enjoy some good food, but I feel like we can really enjoy each others company as well. Last night we went to Roy's on Poipu. We rated it as our 2nd favorite restaurant. Here's Chris joking around with me taking "another" picture of him and his food... and here is me... loving that I got an extra helping of scalloped potatoes...mmmmm! they were good but rich! Then we got some fun dessert pineapple upside down cake with ice cream it was delicious!

Then we headed home and tried to plan out the next few days... which really was me turning to Chris " you plan it, I planned the wedding" :)

oh yea and really though sighting #3 - this time though I thought you know what ... he was owning it... not too bad chap!