I had great intentions of having Ryan snap a photo of me each day for this post – somewhere scenic and beautiful and not just me standing awkwardly in front of a flimsy mirror like normal.
The first morning he did take this photo
but that was as far as we got.
It didn’t take me long to get in 100% vacation mode.
But I still thought a what i wore post would be fun to share my vacation outfits, so i’ve put together some photos for you. Sources are listed under each photo with links where available.
We dined in the barefoot bar – a sandy floor with tables under grass hut roofs. Great atmosphere with live music and very friendly staff. The dinner was amazing, but so was the dessert.
We had heard many things about Mama’s Fish House – from “best meal of my life” to “not worth the hype” – but my best friend and her husband were up to it, so we spent one evening indulging in the Polynesian experience.
{my grilled fish with rice and bok choy}
Although it was expensive, I will say this was the best collective meal I have ever enjoyed. The appetizers were amazing {my first time trying tuna sashimi}, our entrees were perfect and the best part was dessert. We tried a variety and each one was the best thing I had ever tasted.
This is a great restaurant for an indulgent date night.
If you find yourself in Maui, be sure to take a drive through the upcountry {Paia, especially}. If/when we return, we’d love to find a bed & breakfast and stay here. Sugarcane plantations, local farms and ranches surround the area with amazing views of the ocean – it is so tropical and beautiful. My aunt’s favorite restaurant on the island is the Haliimaile General Store located in this upcountry area so we just had to try it. The food was excellent and my coconut & lime blended drink was the best. They used toasted coconut to rim the glass – I’m stealing that idea someday.
On our last full day, Ryan and I took a long walk along the beach then stopped for a late breakfast at the Five Palms Restaurant. I have a thing for crab cakes and eggs benedict and when I saw the two combined on the menu, I knew I was in heaven. So over-the-top but amazingly delicious. Best breakfast of my life.
Because we were in the island spirit, on the night we hosted our friends for a bbq, we decided to take ques from the food we had already tried.
Ryan grilled flank steak and pineapple {so delicious grilled}, a friend made a traditional pico but added finely chopped pineapple and I put together my new favorite salad.
Tropical Salad
mixed spring greens
red onion, finely diced
avocado, chopped
navel orange, segmented
sliced almonds
toasted coconut
Just throw it all together in a big salad bowl and serve. You don’t even need dressing, but a light citrus vinaigrette would be delicious on it. You could grill chicken and add that on top for a full meal.
At breakfast one morning there was coconut syrup. I love anything coconut, so I poured a little on my fresh fruit and sprinkled on toasted coconut. What a treat! This would also be great on pancakes.
1 (13.5 ounce) can coconut milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups light corn syrup
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
Whisk together the coconut milk and cornstarch in a saucepan until the cornstarch is dissolved. Pour in the corn syrup, sugar, and coconut; bring to a boil, stirring continually. As soon as the mixture comes to a rolling boil, remove from heat. Allow to cool completely before serving.
Two years ago our group of friends were out to dinner and we realized that we all shared the same wedding year {well, except for me and Ryan – we are one year behind}. Someone threw out the idea of taking a 10 year anniversary trip together to renew our vows in Vegas. It started as a joke, but soon the guys started talking and decided that a Hawaiian vacation was a much better option for the 10 year anniversary trip {well done, men}. So this trip has been in the making for the past two years and I think we were all pleasantly surprised that it actually came together.
{our group on luau night}
Between the six couples, we have 17 children – all under the age of eight. Coordinating our calendars to fit in a week+ getaway and finding childcare for our many small children sounded like it would be a challenge, but somehow it all worked fairly seamlessly. We were all so thankful to the grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and friends who took care of our babies while we enjoyed this much needed vacation.
The best part about traveling with a group was that we were able to spend time as a whole group, time by ourselves or time to break off into smaller groups for dinner. Because we usually have 17 kids around, it was so nice to be able to start and finish a conversation in one try!
At the end of the trip, the last few couples sat around the pool asking what the most memorable part of the trip was. It was SO hard to answer. I think I could come up with a favorite part for each day. Seriously, it was the best trip ever.
So, I’ll just highlight some of the favorite moments:
On our first full day in Maui, Ryan and I went to dinner with our friends and then out to the only dance club on Maui. For the record, I like to dance, but I’m not a clubbin’ kind of girl. I stressed for weeks about what I could possibly wear from my closet to a club. But I pulled it together and the night was quite possibly the most fun night of my life. I’m not even kidding.
{at the club}
We ate that night at my favorite restaurant of the trip, Hula Grill in Kaanapali. The food was great, the atmosphere was even better, and I might have developed a small crush on the ukelele player who was entertaining us.
Those Hawaiian men are charmers.
The next day, we took a drive up to the north shore of the island.
Then up a long, winding and perhaps dangerous road to catch this view:
There is actually an estate on the top of that hill on the left. Can you imagine?
Once our entire group made it to the island, we had three full days of activities planned.
DAY TWO: zipline & dinner at Taqueria Cruz for taco tuesday and BYOB {seriously}
Ziplining was fun – best if done with a group since you are all roped in together for the morning.
Here I am on the first zip down:
Taqueria Cruz is this hole-in-the-wall taco place in Kihei that we loved. Especially the live music.
DAY THREE: snorkling trip to Molokini & bbq at our condo pool
We took the Pride of Maui snorkling tour … nothing fancy, but the crew on the boat were great and we had a fun time. The snorkling was not quite as good as we all expected but the experience was worth the trip.
A few months ago my parents bought a condo in Kihei so Ryan and I had a great place to stay and entertain our group for a bbq one night.
{the view from the condo pool}
Once our busy days were over, we tried out different beaches.
{perhaps my favorite beach – in Napili}
{cool lava rock beach south of Makena – best snorkling ever! Awesome coral, lots of fish and turtles, too. Called the dumps by locals}
{hawaiian green sea turtle with lots of pretty coral}
For your viewing pleasure, here is a video of this big guy:
And of course Big Beach {Makena} which is an island favorite
My girls are going to kill me for this, but I have to post it anyway.
I know it is supposed to be Hawaii Week around here … and I truly have great intentions of making it that …
but I’m afraid I overlooked one teensy, tiny detail of traveling
jet lag + time zone changes.
Ugh.
The Pacific Northwest is only three hours ahead of Hawaii time and we’re struggling to make up the time difference. I can’t imagine what it is like for the couples we met from Delaware and Chicago!
So instead of doing a trip recap right now, I think I’ll go crawl into bed. Tomorrow seems like a great day for a recap.
I do want to mention that I am hanging out atAshley’s fabulous blog giving a little house tour today.
If you do not already read The Handmade Home, it’s a good one. Be sure to click around and say hello to the darling Ashley while you’re there.
{click the image to see our house tour}
Since this is the first day of May and I know how crazy this time of year can get, please feel free to download the JDC|Monthly May calendar. It’s pretty, practical and best of all, free!
{click the image to download}
So enjoy your Tuesday and I’ll be back tomorrow with highlights and favorites from our Maui vacation.
Ryan and I just made it home from our stay in Maui.
10 days
5 other couples {some of our closest friends}
0 children
It was delightful.
In honor of our beautiful vacation and the island we called home for the past week and a half, I’m dubbing this HAWAII WEEK. Each day I’ll share a little something from our Maui experience.
:: photos of our trip
:: our favorites of the island
:: food we ate {yum}
:: fashion
:: and the highlight moment of our vacation {at least for me}
This is my big sister and her out-of-control-beautiful family:
She has always been my best friend {along with my little sister and bff K.C.} and I admire so many things about her.
My sister and brother-in-law are fun, outgoing, inclusive, fashionable, photogenic, lovers of the Lord. They are the best hosts, they have the perfect combination of honesty and silliness and are servants, through and through.
They also have two really great {and adorable} kids:
Out of all the wonderful qualities they have, my very favorite thing is what they have taught their children.
If you ask my niece {6 yrs} about her family, she will say {in her sweet, high-pitched voice}:
This is their family motto. It is what they are all about. It is what they want to be known for.
They want people to think of their family and automatically say, “Those Olason’s. They sure are a kind and generous family”.
I’m not sure why, but it sort of makes me cry.
Probably mainly because it is so true of them. They are kind. And they are very generous. Each one of them.
Since my sister was a young girl her dream was finding an orphaned baby in a dumpster. Sort of weird, but that is her heart. She wanted to care for a baby who needed it. They always invite friends to our family holidays who do not have a place to go, they open their home often to families who need a place to stay, they are generous with their stuff … the list goes on. Their motto is not just a cute saying; it is truly how they live.
It makes me think – what is our family motto? What are we all about? What do we want to be known for?
When all is said and done, what will people say about our family?
It is a great question to think about and one I ask you today as well …
but that was as far as we got.
tunic: marshalls jordan taylor | sandals: gap outlet
