Friends, I’m home! Back from Hawaii, the land of sand, sun, and beautiful things. The last two weeks were filled with rest and relaxation, lots of good food, and a drink or ten (per day, of course). I came home with a happy heart, a rested mind, and many many freckles (oh, and amazing coffee and macadamia nuts, too!). If you’ve never been to Hawaii, I highly recommend that you get your arse there as soon as humanely possible. I spent my time in Maui and it was absolutely fantastic. The condo we stayed at was a hop, skip, and a jump from the beach, plus we had access to a beautiful pool. We rented a car, but were able to walk quite a bit too. And the weather? Amaze balls. I can’t wait to go back!
I am getting back in the kitchen this week to bring you some new recipes, including an attempt at recreating one of the most incredible desserts that I enjoyed while on vacation. In the meantime, here is another edition of weekend favorites!
- My trip to Maui led me to develop a serious infatuation with fish tacos. Like, mega. If you’re ever in Maui, be sure to visit Fred’s Mexican Café and Coconuts Fish Café, both located on South Kihei Road. If you happen to have a bombshell recipe for fish tacos, please send it my way and I will love you forever!
- Can openers hate me. Seriously. Rarely am I able to cut around the circumference of a can on the first try. And sometimes not even on the second or third. It’s annoying. Perhaps I should try this method. It just might be faster for me.
- Aloneness is not loneliness. At least, not always. Being a single gal myself, I like this. I like it a lot. Being single has its perks!
- This recipe makes me excited for rhubarb season.
- Loving this portrait series by Rebekka. So much love in these photos!
- 10 Second Rant Alert. What is the deal with hash tags? I mean, I know what they’re for. I even use one or two from time to time. But there seems to be an epidemic of hash tag overload. I understand posting a picture of a sunset and using the hash tag sunset or beautiful. But what the heck does friends or ice cream or monkeys or shoes have to do with a sunset?! Seriously peeps, tone it down a notch.
- I went snorkeling while on vacation. We visited a place called Turtle Town. We saw a sea turtle. Which led to approximately 137 reenactments of this video. It just never got old.
- So apparently one is supposed to “detox” after a vacation filled with copious amounts of food and alcohol. Detoxes be damned! I want these, these, this, and this, in that order. Cookies for appetizers…yes!
Hope you’re having the loveliest of weekends. xo
Welcome back! It sounds like you had an amazing time and I’m glad you did! I’ve never been to the islands but everyone I know that does comes back with the same satisfaction. It really makes me want to suck it up and take the trip.
And if you’re in need of a best friend, I happen to have a spot open with the fee being some of that coffee you mentioned. I’ll email you my address so you could send it over, buddy o’ pal!
Dude, definitely suck it up and take the trip. You will have no regrets! Except, perhaps, the regret that you didn’t go sooner. I already want to start planning a trip to go back! Oh, and my best friend roster is all filled up at present, but I’ll let you know if that changes any time soon. 😉
I’m so glad you had a great vacay! I’ve never been to Hawaii but it’s definitely on travel list. And fish tacos are seriously my fave!
Cheers to being single and fabulous! I’ve been in relationships my entire life and I’m really looking forward to being on my own this next little bit. I’m glad you enjoyed that article as much as I did! xo
Oh Renee, you must go! It really is paradise. Even more so for a fish taco lover! 🙂
PS. Thank you for pointing out that article! It was just what I needed.
Happy weekend, hope you had a good one. I have never been to Hawaii but it’s on my list of places to visit. My friend is from Hawaii and brought me some dried pineapple which I fell dearly in love with, the best I have tasted.
Thanks Pamela! You must visit Hawaii – it’s beautiful! If you enjoyed the dried pineapple, wait until you taste a fresh pineapple in Hawaii. Amaze balls!
Can openers ARE the devil. My mom got me one of these for Christmas a few years back and I was like “gee, thanks but I really wanted a gift card for bare minerals” and she said “no, it’ll change your life, seriously.” http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002LHEJSY/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
You’ll thank me later. And it keeps the edges of the can from being sharp, too! Perfect for a clutz like me!!
I have also been told that a rice cooker will change my life. I’m not sold on it. That can opener, however…
Thanks Heather!
Welcome back!!
With my stalking your Instagram feel like you never left 😉
I’m also just having post holiday detoxing issues all I can recommend is green smoothies…and tissues when your crying over the lack of cookies. #Holidayhangover
Good ‘ol Instagram. 😉
I am on board the green smoothie train – stocked up on the ingredients at the grocery store yesterday! To be honest, I think I’m going to miss the booze more than anything. My morning coffee just won’t taste the same without Bailey’s! 🙁
I absolutely LOVE your weekend favorites posts. They are always so great. And this one I can relate to so much. First of all, that self can opener is A-mazing. I was at work without a can opener the other day and really disappointed. Second, I have been craving anything and everything rhubarb. I will be baking something very soon. And third, love that post on embracing being single because it really does have its benefits. We have our whole lives to be married, might as well enjoy our freedom while we have it 😉
Thanks Lindsi! These posts are fun to write – I’m glad you enjoy reading them!
I can’t wait to see what you bake up with rhubarb!
And cheers to a fellow single lady. 😉
Ahh all vacations have to come to an end, don’t they? Yours sounded perfect– I don’t think it gets much better than freckles, drinks (plural!), beaches and fish tacos. I’ve only been to hawaii once, but it was Maui. It was so, so beautiful! Everything’s better on that island, I swear. Although I am looking forward to your recreations of some of the food you had on here!
I think we need to invent the never-ending vacation. It will take place in Maui, where we will drink, eat, lie on the beach, and have freckles…forever! Sounds pretty fantastic, don’t you think? 😉
I am soooo jealous. Hawaii is one of my favorite places in the world. We haven’t been the last couple of years and I miss it soooo badly. 🙁
Well then you MUST go back! Problem solved. 😉
welcome back
ah! I meant to write more ^
I’ve never been to hawaii but, we’re thinking next year we are making it happen! I’ll have to hit you up for recs, for sure!Thanks for the love!!
Oh Cindy, you’re going to love it! Definitely let me know when you’ve made a plan and I’ll let you know what I recommend.
Welcome back! I saw your pictures on Insta and just loved them. It is such a beautiful place. I always have Hawaii on the mind..in my book it is perfect. Glad you had a great & relaxing time.
Thanks Julia! 🙂
Your trip looks AMAZING!!! But I’m happy you’re back to blogging land 😉
Thanks Ashley! 🙂
I’ve been hoping to get to Hawaii within the next five years or so. And now I’m hoping to get there a lot more, after reading your post and looking at the photos from those restaurant links! 🙂 Sounds like an incredible trip to paradise!
Do it, girl. It truly is an incredible place!
WELCOME BACK!!! I loved seeing the pictures on Instagram from all your travels. Definitely jealous! Ok, about your rant. I hate hash tags! I especially hate when people say hash tag in a conversation. Has twitter lingo really taken up that much of our lives???? Ugh! Also can openers hate me too, so you aren’t alone. I don’t think I have the upper body strength to try that boss spoon opening trick.
Ha ha, do you think it requires a lot of upper body strength? I haven’t tried it yet…
And thank you!
I hear you on the hash tags. People totally use them as this ironic whispered aside, which is fine, but not when the entire sentence is peppered with punctuation. #annoying
#agreed 😉
Your trip looked so so awesome! I almost never choose to go to tropical places and now I’m wondering why the hell not. I bet it was way more fun eating fish tacos and catching some waves than it was to tromp around rainy, windy toronto for a week and marvel at how annoying the traffic was (can you tell my vacation was not very relaxing?)
I also cannot wait for rhubarb to show up, come on spring produce!
You’ve never been on a tropical vacation?! Girlfriend, you don’t know what you’re missing!
Although it did look like you were enjoying some pretty delicious food in TO…so at least there was that. But there’s delicious food in Hawaii AND it’s warm and sunny!
Sounds like you had an amazing trip!! I enjoyed following along on instagram and seeing your gorgeous photos!
Thanks Marie!