Now that we have been home from our trip to Hawaii for several days, I am experiencing the post-excitement let down.  The excitement of having something to look forward to has passed, but the silver lining here is that I have been spending hours pouring over all the pictures we took.

I could be a member of the paparazzi for the number of photos I ended up snapping.  Kris kept making fun of me, but years from now, we will look back with our kids on this fun impromptu trip, our great tans, and our the fabulous sunsets.  Seriously – everything was better in Hawaii – even the license plates had rainbows on them!

Nine days is the perfect amount of time to be in Hawaii.  We were able to split our time between the two islands, and while there is a ton to do, you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want.  We stayed close to Diamond Head on Oahu, and while we never ventured over to the beaches, or hiked to the top, it was so relaxing to be out of the hustle-bustle of the downtown in Waikiki.  We got up early each day, sat out on the deck, laid out on the beach, and soaked up the sun (and mai-tais).  The surf was great while we were there, and I even got to rent a board and take a private lesson… (private lesson with my honey bunny that is).  He was a great teacher – very patient, and of course very cute 🙂

Maui on the other hand was pure relaxation… the sunsets were absolutely breathtaking, and this part of the trip was really about re-connecting, and re-charging.  Kris is not the type to sit on a beach (or by a pool) with a book, but we napped, relaxed, and ate… A LOT.  The main event for the evenings was watching the sunset with a cocktail, and listening to the live music in time to the waves.  Kaanapali is absolutely fabulous, and we’d walk along the promenade passing the main hotels and condos near Whalers Village, indulged in plenty of shave ice and frozen yogurt.  The snorkeling was extremely cool – we saw sting rays, sea turtles, and a plethora of tropical fish.  Luckily, I invested in a waterproof camera, and CANNOT WAIT to see if those photos came out!

Some favorite moments….

Who knew?!

This super smart international company, DNA11, has taken DNA (super impersonal) and made it into art (EXTREMELY personal).  You can literally send in a sample of your own DNA and have a custom piece of art made out of it – I love that every single piece they produce is one of a kind since its made of you… or your family… or your dog!  Über modern, and usually, I’d say that is not at all my taste, but the black and white makes it more abstract, and actually kind of cool!  I think I also just like the idea that my genetics is made into something visual… that is so futeristic.


Apparently the guys that started this company are smarty pants (and not at all bad looking!)  I should tell Kira…  anyways, one has his degree in molecular genetics, and the other… just looks pretty?  I’m not fully sure, but they certainly have one successful business!  Recently, they’ve been featured on Wired, New York Times, NBC, Today Show, BBC, and the list goes on!  


LOVE it!!
http://www.dna11.com/default.asp

And it was totally worth being 20 minutes late for work this morning…. AMAZING

It’s technically not really fall yet, but today… I felt it.  The air just changes and suddenly it’s fall.  Not that we had much of a summer here in SF, but it went from winter to fall – essentially the two seasons this city sees.

In this whirlwind apartment hunt, I have been darting about the city all day – from work to view an apartment, back to the office, to a rental agency, and on and on and on – and in the back-and-forth I realized – it’s fall!  The light is changing, and and we are moving into a new season.  I am so excited, because this is my favorite season! The changing leaves, the waning light, and everything Pumpkin.  I pulled out my fall candles and my apartment now smells like fall spices.

I have really been watching what I eat as we prepare for Hawaii (one week!), but tomorrow I am going to treat myself to one of my favorite fall indulgences… Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.

This weekend we are set to celebrate my mom’s birthday, and we are going to the shore.  A little walk on the beach, some cocktails under the heat-lamps on the patio, and dinner at the Half Moon Bay Brewery.  I love it when we all get together, and am so looking forward to just hanging out.

One of the things I love most about being an adult, is being able to give my parents good gifts on their birthdays.  I have been obsessed with the idea of getting a cape for the fall and winter after reading the September InStyle – oh my god.  ADORABLE! While I’d love one for myself, I bought my mom a beautiful belted Cape for her birthday, and I can’t wait to see her open it.  It is chic, but timeless, on-trend after fashion week in NY, but classic enough that it won’t be “done” in two-point-five seconds.  I hope she loves it as much as I do… maybe I can get one to match and we can be twins!

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LOVE this cape:
http://etsyfavorites.tumblr.com/post/893523823/etsy-margery-daw-0s-fall-cape


…and this one:
http://www.polyvore.com/black_belted_cape_paul_smith/thing?id=8921283

….and this one too!
http://www.intermixonline.com/product/designers/rachel+zoe/leather+trim+cape.do