Da Big Island

Keawaeli Bay

Dinner with Jason & Jena

Volcano

Sunset at the Mauna Kea

Fresh Guava

Loving Life with my Coke on the Rocks.

Fall 2011

Fall is officially in full swing here at BYU-Hawaii as Tommy and I started last Wednesday. We are only three days in and completely swamped with homework, papers, quizzes and tests. The first week always seems to be the hardest. I'm fighting to keep it straight in my head, which assignments are do and when, which teachers prefer certain formats, etc. Eventually, it all becomes routine and a lot more manageable. Being a senior is a lot harder than I would've expected. I am taking five of my major classes and they all seem just as demanding as the next.  

We took advantage of our 10-day break to catch up on some surfing. We try to get out at least once a day, if the waves allow. It took me a while to regain the hang of it, but I am back and better than ever. I finally rode a wave all the way into the shore! Catching waves left and right, Tommy swears I caught more waves than him yesterday. It's come to the point where my body just knows what to do and I can stop over-thinking how and when to stand up. As I closed my eyes for bed last night, all I could see were the waves rolling in at Castles as if I were re-living our surf that day. I've managed to talk Tommy into going out for dawn patrol, surfing is such a great work out. Let's face it, we'd rather do that than go running. Also, there is nothing like being inches away from sea turtles as they come up for air. At times I forget there is a whole world below me full of reef and sea creatures. It's fun to see the turtles catch a wave or two...

We also celebrated our TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY over the break! We always seem to catch a lucky break as all of our celebration days fall while school is out. We enjoyed a much needed day off, surfing at Castles, watching shows in the middle of the afternoon, grabbing a bite at Haleiwa Eats, and enjoying an Acai Smoothie from Angel's. We enjoyed our time together and reflected on our past year while living in Hawaii and the fact that we hardly celebrated our FIRST ANNIVERSARY after we arrived. We are also counting our trip to the Big Island in October as our real anniversary celebration. Can't wait...

Happy Anniversary Tommy!

My Big Fat Greek Obsession

Lately I can't get enough of greek yogurt with oats & honey. I eat it for breakfast, lunch and even as a late night snack. It should be a super healthy snack, however, with the amount of honey I drizzle on it's probable worse than chocolate. I tell myself that honey is nature's sugar and then I feel better about myself. You've gotta try it! 

Tacos al Pastor

After "talking story" about legitimate Mexican food, we decided it was time to make it a reality this past Sunday. We slow-cooked a couple salted pork chops with a splash of Coca-Cola & liquid smoke {shout out to Tanzie}. Then I whipped up some homemade tortillas {ala Jude} and pico de gallo. Muy Riquisimo! We shamelessly scarfed down the entirety of our feast in minutes. All it was missing was a pair of Mexican Cokes...

On the daily: 

Tommy and I kicked off the week with day trip to Wet N' Wild...it was so refreshing to be out with friends and not worry about work or school! I rarely have those days to be completely stress free--it was highly enjoyed. As we speak, Tommy is scoping out the surf forecast for the North Shore and planning our surfing excursions. We can't wait to get back to the beach! It's been all studies for 6 weeks straight! 

TVA is a ghost town. I think we're the only ones that didn't make a trip back to the mainland this entire year. I've been dying to set foot on Arizona soil over Christmas break, but flight prices are extremely unforgiving, especially around the holidays. I just keep telling myself I'll be home before I know it, but then that makes me sad because I know I'll miss our Laie Paradise. We just can't win for losing. 

Happy 64th Dad!

I just wanted to dedicate this little number to you...



I hope you have a wonderful day full of dessert...and soda! We love you!
Happy Birthday!!

A New Adornment...

Our neighbors have this poster identical to ours...in fact they have the original...with their last name "Baird" written in the banner. Their sister recently moved here to go to school, an art major, she free-handed various beards for the Baird's. Of course we thought it was hilarious and begged her to make one for us, although the play on words doesn't cater to our last name, we still love it. It is kind of a tribute to the many beards of Tommy... 

In other news:
Our projected departure date was recently pushed back up to April 2012 due to our lack of residency status at a local community college. We're still at BYU-H, but Tommy was going to double time it at Windward Community College to pick up some pre-med pre-reqs. After rounds of discussion with their lack luster admissions staff we decided to throw in the towel. As planned, we will be graduating together in April...and then it'll be Aloha Oe to us. 


Have you ever been homesick and away-sick at the same time? I'm not really homesick, let's face it, as long as I have Tommy I'm fine anywhere {aka the co-dependent wife syndrome}. As of late I have been missing the family get-togethers like crazy, missing my niece, Navy, that was born literally right after we got here, taking Grandma Doris to breakfast, those kinds of things. It doesn't help that I crave Chipotle on a weekly basis or when Tommy brings up Tia Rosa's or Matta's. Arizona sings to my heart and it will always be my true home. 


While on a walk yesterday evening, I couldn't help but be awestruck at the beauty and magnificence of the ocean. Watching the endless waves rolling in, we perched ourselves on a piece a driftwood that washed ashore Temple Beach. Although we rarely visit this beach, it was a perfect setting for an evening talk or lack of talk, as I sat and reflected on how much I am going to miss our chapter in Laie, Hawaii. To think, we will no longer have an all access pass to paradise seems unfathomable. I've dearly missed this island once...and I can just feel I am going to miss it even more this time around. 


As they say, you are either moving forward or standing still. Our future is yet to be determined as we are still weighing our two options, but we know we could be moving on to just about anywhere! The West coast, the East coast, even the Mid-West...

Rolling In The Deep

Lately, I haven't been able to get over this song. 


Tommy and I are about two weeks into First Term {4 weeks left}. Everything seems to be hitting all at once as I have three tests within 2 days...I'm already 9 chapters into statistics, 3 tests into an accounting class, and studying for my first test in another accounting class. Tommy doesn't really have tests to study for, his classes require papers instead. Either way, it's still work! 


Bad news...I lost $20 bucks yesterday. You know you're poor when you cry over losing $20! First off, I never ever carry cash, but I knew we were headed to Costco so I got $20 out so we could by our dinner. Some how I dropped it or it magically flew away. The bright side to my bad luck was Tommy sharing a similar experience he had as he tried to console me..."When I was in eighth grade, I put a $20 in a pair of my cargo shorts and when I reached in to pull it out, it was gone." Two words: Cargo Shorts! I'm still a little bummed about it...

"take my hand, take my whole life too..." {revisited}

July 24th was the day Tommy proposed. The summer seemed to drag on...probably because I had been wanting/expecting Tommy to propose any day. Every night that he didn't propose I would get more and more discouraged. Don't worry ladies, tears were shed because he was taking so long to propose! Every morning I would wake up and think today is the day he's going to propose!! (I have never been wrong so many times in a row!) Finally...the Curtis' summer trip had arrived! The first two days came and went with plenty of opprotunities to get on one knee, but STILL no ring! On the last night we didn't get home from our evening activities until 10pm. Tommy had asked me if I still wanted to go on our evening walk even though it was so late, I agreed. Little did he know I gave up hope that he was ever going to propose. As we were walking, I started to question his intentions of ever getting engaged. He played along, answering all of my questions with vague answers. It was maddening. He finally suggested that we walk up to the bridge that we had visited the night before and then head home. After passing a homeless man and a steep flight of stairs later, both of our hearts were pounding, but for very different reasons. Once we reached the center of the bridge Tommy got down on one knee and proposed. I wasn't expecting it at all and blurted the words "ARE YOU SERIOUS??!" many times. Needless to say I accepted his proposal. It was perfect...for us. I am entirely happy. I am entirely in love.

Today, marks two years since Tommy proposed. I look back and realize we only dated for about 6 months before we got engaged and then we had the shortest engagement known to man...6 weeks! {That was a nightmare, try planning your perfect wedding day in 6 weeks, while working full-time, and taking classes!} I think I was just upset that I could only  refer to Tommy as my fiance for those 6 weeks. Such a fun word to say...it made me feel so classy. We enjoy reminiscing our past and how our story began...now let's start the 6 weeks count down to our 2 year anniversary! 

Exams & Paris

Yesterday was the last day of my Summer Term...I woke up early to do some last minute studying for my accounting final. Immediately after my final, Tommy and I whisked off to town so he could FINALLY take the GRE at UH Manoa!! I had about 4 hours to kill, so I decided to have a bit of fun and treat myself to a movie--Midnight In Paris. I have been wanting to see this film for a while, even just to see Paris on the big screen. I fell in love with this jovial display of Gil Pender, writer, on his pursuits of fine-tuning his novel. Let's just say it also features Paris in the 20's...with the lovely Marion Cotillard. I was trying to make myself believe that we could be twins. Her wardrobe was to die for...

 

Add it to your NetFlix queue and save it for a girl's night. 

Tommy and I ended the evening spinning cotton candy at a birthday party. Let's just say sugar was flying everywhere, attaching to our eyelashes and pretty much our entire mugs. The perfect ending to an odd vacation day.