Max Turns 1! :o)

One of my favorite little people, Max, turned ONE a few weeks ago! One of my best friends, Max's mommy, wanted a little shoot of Max. I was more than happy to spend some time capturing Max during this small milestone in his life. Seriously, is he cute or what?! :o)

I made this little cupcake cake for Max. I think it turned out okay...I was really pressed for time! I would definitely like to experiment with this cupcake pan a little more when I have time!

Happy first year to my favorite little guy! :o)

East Coastin' - Boston!

If you like cannolis, chances are a trip to Boston to have some delicious cannolis from Modern Pastry is in your future! :o) On my last trip to Boston, my friends and I sampled some from Mike's. Some other friends recommended Modern, but we were short on time, and didn't get to try it. Luckily, I was able to find Modern Pastry, and...the verdict is in! Modern Pastry is sooo good. Light, crispy shells that perfectly compliment the not too sweet fillings. I tried the custard, cream, and chocolate fillings. ALL good!!!

On the T.

I have to admit, everytime I see a duck, or a duck tour vehicle, I get the insatiable urge to call out, "Quack! Quack! Quack!". For those of you who have never experienced a duck tour (which is basically a tour "bus" that goes on land and water), this is what you are instructed to do by the tour guides everytime we pass by another duck tour vehicle.

Mmm...cannolis!!

East Coastin' - Massachussetts!

When one of my best friends moved to Massachussetts, I considered it both a happy and sad occassion. Sad because she would be moving thousands of miles away (and really, who wants to move away from California?), but happy because I now had a reason to visit the east coast! I'm the type of person who will buy the same shirt in different colors if I really like it, and while I'm somewhat of an adventurous eater, I've got no problem ordering the same thing over and over at restaurants. I guess you could say I'm a creature of habit. :o) After having been to Boston several times, much to Tiff's horror, I still dragged her out to Boston!

Tiff lives about an hour away from Boston, where many, many, MANY trees abound. If one were to try to get away from the hustle and bustle of any large metropolitan area, one hour outside of Boston will get you there! ;o) I confess. There were moments where I had flashbacks to an episode of Sex & the City where Aidan made Carrie go out to his "country" house with him. Y'know, the country...where cell phone service is non-existant, and the closest store is 30 minutes away. Yes, the country.

See? What did I tell ya? Trees!

Okay, enough with the trees. We did venture out to the small town of Leominster, apparently also the birthplace of Johnny Appleseed. Who knew? :o) We stumbled upon this tiny (and I mean tiny diner called "Tim's Diner". It was definitely vintage, and served some great breakfast at the most unbelievably low prices. I could've eaten there all day. :o)

This breakfast sandwich was served up fresh for only $3.00!!! $3.00!!! :-O

Yes, didn't you know that french fries are breakfast food? ;o)

A little stroll around Leominster...

Up next... a recap of Boston! :o)

Oahu - Hawaii

Hawaii is one of those places that everyone talks about and tells you you have to visit. As a kid, you admire the stories you hear from adults, and as an adult, you listen as your married friends recount their experiences fromt their tropical honeymoon getaway. Soooo, to satisfy my curiosity - and quite frankly, in order to cross something off my bucket list - I went! :o)

You always hear about the clear blue water, and you wonder if it really is that clear or blue. Well, if you live near either coast on the mainland, you will think it's clear...and blue!

This view is from the top of Diamond Head. It's a bit of a climb, but totally doable...and once you get to the top, wow, I was breathless. It's just GORGEOUS up there!

I'll admit, I did hit up the touristy spots, and when you think of Hawaii, who wouldn't think of North Shore? I hate to age myself, but does anyone remember the movie "North Shore"? :o) Okay, moving on...

It wasn't as crowded as I expected it to be, but I heard it wasn't the busy season during this time. Afterwards, you must have some shaved ice! Try Aoki's or Matsumoto's Shaved Ice! They both rest on this stretch of highway that leads up to Haleiwa, where North Shore is.

I highly recommend visiting the Dole Plantation. BEST. PINEAPPLE. EVER.

Other things you must try...

the shrimp trucks. Delicious!

the Paradise Cove Luau ... need I say more? ;o)

Try an excursion or two. I tried the Bike Hawaii downhill mountain biking tour, and it was awesome! You get to see Oahu from another vantage point, and if you're lucky, it'll rain on ya while you're biking downhill. :o)

Someone actually had a minor accident when I was there, so when they tell you to follow the rules, make sure you follow them!

... and of course, Pearl Harbor. Great place to visit, and it's free!

The shopping. OH THE SHOPPING! I recommend the Ala Moana shopping center, as well as the strip that leads down to Waikiki Beach on Kuhio Street. You can thank me later! :o)

After I got back, I headed over to the east coast. Stay tuned for more!