Waimea Canyon

While in Kauai we visited Waimea Canyon.  Mark Twain named it "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific".  It was truly exquisite!  I Ive never been to the Grand Canyon but if this is a small version of it, I must see it!

 I felt so tiny as I stared out into the vastness of it.  I could here the wind, water and birds.  It was so peaceful and intriguing, I wanted to hop the fence and go exploring, but apparently that's frowned upon and awarded with an arrest ;)

for more photos

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3411752616348.326593.1345983588&type=3

Skinny Dip in the Pacific- oh lala

 So I've always wanted to skinny dip and so.....  I DID! 

While John and I where in Kauai we woke up one morning while camping on the Na Pali Coast to the most beautiful morning ever!  

There were a few people on the beach but for whatever reason I did not care, I said to John "I'm going swimming, care to join" got in my birthday suite and went for it =) 

The waves were 4-6 ft and drifting out so we did not stay in for more than about 10-15 min. 

 When we got out I realized " shit, I don't have a towel!" John let me wear his shirt =) Latter on in our vacation we were at another beach and John egged me on to sunbath topless and so I DID too, No pics on that one tho!  Not sure what got into me on this trip but it was fun and carefree!

John and I have wanted to see another one of the Hawaiian islands for a long time and when his Mom & Dad gifted him money for a trip as congradulations for earning high honors with his bachelors degree thats where he decided he wanted to go!  We planed the trip for months and knew when we read about the dificulty and beauty of the Na Pali Coast hike that we wanted to do it while there!  It did not disappoint!  It was the most extreme hike I have ever done!

It was 22 miles round trip and took us a total of 16.5 hours and we were both carrying 30 lbs packs.  Some points of the path were only 1 ft wide with cliffs on the side.  Once we arrived at the end we hammock camped on the beach for the first time, stayed the night, skinny dipped in the morning and then hiked back.  Had we known how amazing the experience and beach were going to be we would not have planned anything else.  Truly amazing, once in a life time experience!

for more pictures visit my FB page @

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For Video visit my FB page @

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3442160696531

My Life List

Road Trip /camp through 48 States: Nebraska / Run a Marathon / Start a Blog /  Read 100 Books / Pick My Own Coffee Beans from the Plant / Wine Tasting in Italy / Go on a multi day Back Backing Hike / Teach a Class / Catch and Eat fish I Caught in Alaska / Cruise to Mexico / Back pack across Europe and Stay at Hostiles / Visit the Statue of Liberty / Go on a Safari in Africa / Skinny Dip in the Pacific Ocean / Go Dog Sledding / Take John snow boarding on the Swiss Alps / Open my own Bakery & Boutique / Read the Bible Cover to Cover / Write my own Cook Book / Cut down my own Christmas Tree / Take my Family to Volksmarch in Germany / Eat Beignets at Cafe Du Monde / Go on a Horse Drawn Carriage Ride / Go to Mardi Gras / Help build for Habitat for Humanity / Volunteer in a  Foreign Country / Serve in the United States Military / Compete in a Triathlon /  Go on 50 Tours: Swamp Tour,   Birds of Paradise / Waimea Canyon  / Fern Grotto  / Camp in the Red Woods / Visit the Grand Canyon / Go White Water Rafting / Skye Dive / Rebuild a 69 Mustang / Learn to Play the Guitar / Learn a Different Language / Crochet a Blanket / Own Land / Plant my Own Vegetable Garden / Take a Girls Only Vacation / Ice Skate on a Pond / Raise my own Chicken, Cow & Pig / Pay for a Strangers Meal w/out them Knowing / Take Swing Dancing Lessons w/ John / Take a Potery Class from my Sister / Make my own Stain Glass Window / Walk on the Great Wall of China / Go Clamming / Go Crabbing / Take a Ride Through the Panama Canal / Do 50 Real Pull Ups w/o Assistance / Make Homemade Jam / See the Northern Lights / Host 10 Parties: Thanksgiving / Sleep in a Tree House w/ My Kids / Build a Tree House / Plant a Flower Garden / Create a Back Yard I don't Want to Leave / Try 100 Different Wines- 96 to go/ Christen a Boat / Have an Entire Christmas be Homemade / Take my Kids Panning for Gold / Make 100 Lovely Things / Zip Line Into a Body of Water / Implement Wine and Dine Wednesdays / Go Snow Shoeing / Go on a Train Ride / Attend a Murder Mystery Party / Throw a Block Party / Inspire People to Be Happy & Healthy: Weight Journey / Sign up for a Cooking Class / Go Horse Back Riding / Fly a plane / Enjoy a Vacation w/o Computers / Take a Photography and Editing Class / Create a Work Place w/ People I Love doing what I love / Write a 10,000 Check to Charity / Help Someone who Cant Help Themselves / Make a Habit of Grand Gestures of Love  / Visit all 7 Continents /  Have a Passion for What I do and Do It w/ Passion / Throw a Surprise Party for Someone I Love / Take Autumn Swimming With the Dolphins / Take Isaak to A BasketBall Game / Own a Log Cabin / Have Finical Freedom / Build a Porch Swing / Play Bingo w/ elderly / Pay to send Parents on a Vacation / Compete in a fitness competition

100 Wines

John & I started doing "Wine and Dine" Wednesdays this year.  We take turns planning/ cooking diner and picking a wine.  We really enjoy suprising each other with delightful Diners and trying out a new wine!

Going the Distance

I decided to train for my fist Marathon in May of 2010,  It was the Honolulu Marathon on Dec 11, 2010. I finished in 6:40:59.  The hardest part was the training. I trained for 6 months.  The longest training run I did was 22 Miles in Oct, my Dad biked with me the whole way!

I decided to Run my second Marathon and started training in September of 2011, it was the Honolulu Marathon on Dec 12, 2011. I finished in 5:41:29.  The hardest part was knowing what I was getting into this time and wrapping my head around it during the race.  John and I stayed at the Hilton the night before and ate at California Pizza Kitchen and then had pancakes from MAC24 delivered in bed at 0300!  I was very proud to have shaved an hour off my time from last year!

Blessed with Ohana

We hosted 2011 Thanksgiving in our home and it was amazing!!  Filled with friends, food and fun!  I even cooked a 25lbs bird!  I love having friends over to celebrate anything!  Thanksgiving has got to be my favorite holiday!