How to Vacation in O'ahu Hawaii

Hawaii, you have stolen my heart and I don't want it back.

My husband was sent out to Hawaii for work, and luckily for me, his work allowed me to tag along! It was the most magical experience of our lives. We ate like royalty, and saw the most breath taking views. If you are planning a trip to Hawaii, I have highlighted some must-do activities to make the most of your trip. Warning - Once you go to Hawaii, you'll never be the same!

Johnny's job was on O'ahu, so we decided to stay on the popular beach of Waikiki. This was great for me, while he was working on the job, I could walk down to the beach, explore, and shop from the hundreds of stores. There are a lot of main stream hotels down there, if you have points for a chain try to use them! And while a room on the beach may be breath taking, look into getting a hotel one street back. This will save you hundreds of dollars every day! Johnny uses Holiday Inn for work so we stayed there which was not on the beach but we still had a good view! It had a view of the city and a partial ocean view. Hopefully you will be out experiencing the city instead of cooped up in your hotel room!

         Partial Ocean View                        City view of the International Market Place with live music

The hotel had a cute little café that we stopped at before Johnny had to head to work. I had the Acai bowl, which was probably one of the best ones I had on the island (and yes I sampled a few!)

Isn't it so cute??

I spent the rest of the day unpacking, going to the gym, and exploring the town!

For dinner and drinks, we hit our favorite spot, Dukes! Its right down on the beach and has 3 different experiences all in one restaurant . There is a fancy dinning area to the right of the restaurant, which is more upscale and has its own menu. We spent our time at the Tiki bar and the Patio at "Duke's Barefoot Bar". The Mai Tai's here are lethal! They are expensive but it wont take more than 1 or 2!



(He hates taking pictures, but I swear he is having fun!)

I recommend the Poke and Fish Tacos from Dukes!

Another night, we came by to have drinks and eat dinner on the patio (there is always a really long wait, but it is right on the water, and in the breeze of the trees)

For you to really appreciate this memory, I need to explain that it rained EVERY SINGLE DAY we were in Hawaii. We came after Thanksgiving, which is their rainy season (which also means their slow season, ideal for us). While it never constantly poured, it would sprinkle or light showers through out the day. Well the night had cleared up, so we decided we wanted at least one night under the stars. After a 40 minute wait to be seated, 10 minutes for drinks, (which I decided on "Endless Summer" instead of the Mai Tai and it did not disappoint), and another 20 minutes for food, we finally had our meals infront of us. I was looking over the sandy beaches and stars under the night sky, thinking how lucky I was, when the bottom of the sky fell out! It started pouring on everyone! The guests on the patio started screaming and ran for cover. We were determined to finish eating our food, so we grabbed our plates and run for shelter under a beach rental booth!

It was the most hilarious memory of our trip! Once the rain stopped, the waitress came back out and wiped down our table, and refreshed our drinks on the house. She then brought us a free piece of Hula Pie! This pie, where do I begin about this pie? Well for starters, IT'S HUGE! You cannot not eat this massive piece of heaven by yourself. It's a chocolate and macadamia nut ice-cream pie. It was so good!

We took a trip to the North shore on one of our days. We started with breakfast at Heavenly Café. They are an organic restaurant that gets all of their food locally from the islands.

After breakfast we headed to Hanauma Bay to go snorkeling. It was gorgeous and huge! You can rent their gear there, or save your self some cash and bring your own! You can bring beach items to hang out on the shores, or spend your time looking at some of natures finest creatures. I was so shocked how many different types of fish. You might even see turtles there!

We then took the scenic route to the North Shore and stopped in a cute shopping center . There are a few shops to get clothes and souvenirs from and lunch. We had lunch at Banzai Sushi. Johnny got some rolls and poke while I got the Sashimi Chef bowl. It was some of the freshest sushi I have ever had. This is a must-go place for your trip in Hawaii. It paired nicely with the blood orange cocktail.

Another staple on the North Shore is the Dole Plantation. You can walk around the maze, view the planation, and shop in their gift store. Make sure you grab some dole whip before you leave!

We did catch a break in the rain to view the beautiful beaches of the North Shore.

During the winter months, the waves tend to be larger, resulting in surf contests . Some of the most popular surf competitions in the world are held here, like Pipematers (Remember the movie Blue crush?)

While there are so many place to eat and explore on your trip, don't forget to treat yourself while you are on vacation. I looked into different spa packages before our trip, while our hotel did have an in-house spa (or more like a hotel room with a massage table in there) I have a hard time justifying $200 when a trip to Lush cosmetics can do just the trick! In the international market place, right by our hotel, has a Lush store. I grabbed a face mask, some champagne, opened the balcony door and did some DIY relaxing.

If you do want a true spa experience, look in to Groupons or see what specials your hotel may have with a partnering spa.

While you are browsing the International Market Place for your DIY spa, grab some lunch at Goma Tei Ramen. They are a fine dining Japanese restaurant know for their famous tan tan ramen. I got the pork tan tan! Warning, it's so much food!

You can't see the whole island in one day so we went out for another drive to the North Shore. First we walked behind to hotel to see the beautiful sunrise over the city.

On our tip to the North Shore, it was cloudy and raining again ( no surprise ) but it was still beautiful to see the clouds rolling over the mountains. And do you know what comes with rain? Rainbows!  We probably saw over 10 in one day !

One of my favorite places was Laniakea beach. Sea turtles like to come up on the beach and relax in the sun. We saw 2 while we were visiting . Such an awesome experience.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the famous Leonard's Bakery. This is a staple in Hawaii. They are known for their portuguese donuts, known as  malasadas . I am such a dessert person, so I had to try a little bit of everything! It was all amazing especially the warm malasadas. They are all made to order and only served hot and fresh!

For evening entertainment we went to the "Magic of Polynesia" magic show at our hotel . THIS WAS AWESOME. I recommend everyone go see this. John is hilarious. My husband was skeptical about going at first, and ended up laughing the whole time! You can purchase a dinner or do the show only (we chose the show only and got dinner elsewhere) You can purchase drinks though with the dinner only special. Do your self a favor and check out what is the Magic of Polynesia.

With all the shopping, tourism, and sight seeing we decided to make our last day in Hawaii a beach day. We stopped at Hula grill for breakfast right on the beach.

We got their Acai bowl and BLT breakfast sandwich with fresh papaya (their banana pancakes and breakfast burrito are also really delicious)

We then decided to do nothing! Our whole trip had been busy planning activities, so we just laid on the beach for hours. We rented surfboards and floats. The weather, for the first time all week was perfect!

While on the beach we saw a company setting up for tours. They do a snorkeling trip, island tour, sunset cruise, fireworks, and a night cruise. We decided on the sunset cruise. They have an open bar for your 1 hour on the boat. They take the boat out to watch the sunset and the night lights of Waikiki Shore .

After the cruise, we had a romantic dinner at house with out a key. Over dinner and Mai drinks we talked about the magic of Hawaii. (which btw they use a classic Mai Tai recipe here with Bacardi 151... so strong!) Our waiter asked us where we were from and non-chalantly said it was a nice little town. They proceeded to tell us how he grew up on a street in Johnny's dad's neighborhood and his parents live near us now. Only in hawai could you fly for 13 hours and have a waiter from your home town. The food and ambiance was amazing, but the prize was the coconut cake. I am still dreaming of this coconut cake. It was to die for. The perfect way to end the perfect trip.

While we did so many things and ate at some great places, there were so many things we didn't get to do due to weather. If you are looking for some more exciting things to do on your dream vacation look into the following to make your trip even more special:

• Rent a kayak and explore different shores of the island. A popular place to kayak are the beaches of Kailua and Lanikai . You can paddle out to the small islands and relax.
• Ride horses on the beach. Explore the sandy shores of Hawaii on horseback
• Rent a Harley Davidson motorcycle and ride through the mountains of the island.
• Check out the historic museum of Pearl Harbor.
• Walk down the Waikiki aquarium.

I know your trip will be everything you hoped it would be, just like ours. We are already planning our next trip! Please let me know if you have any favorite Hawaii must-do's for our next trip! Aloha!

  



Low Fat Peach Pineapple Cream Cake

Whether you just had your gallbladder removed or you are looking for a low-fat, low calorie dessert, I promise you will not be disappointed! This recipe is EASY and only has 5 ingredients!!!

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 box angel food cake mix

1 can sliced peaches

1 small can crush pineapples

1 tub of fat free cool whip

 

Directions:

 

In a medium sized bowl, empty your can of peaches, juice and all. Use a fork to mash up your peaches to reduce chunks. Add you angel food cake mix, stir until completely blended. Bake the cake according to the boxed instructions. You can use cake pans, glass pan, or an angel food cake pan. Watch your oven closely to avoid it bubbling over the top. I like to turn my heat down after a few minutes to prevent it from spilling over the sides of the pan.

 

Once the cake is done, take it out and allow it to cool completely. Get a glass pan and crumble your angel food cake in to the dish. Drain your pineapple, and measure out around 1/2 cup of the crushed pineapple. Pour the fruit over the crumbled cake and top with your cool whip. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve!

 

 



Low Fat Banana Pudding Cupcakes

My friends birthday was approaching and she asked for Banana Pudding cupcakes. I had a few ideas on how I wanted to make these, but with my recent gallbladder removal and my new low fat diet I had to change up my game plan a little. The base of this cupcake has only 2 ingredients. YES ONLY 2!!!!! I have made something similar to these before and they always come out pretty good! These are a great dessert for any occasion and they are low-fat!!

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 box yellow cake mix

1 can diet (or regular) cream soda

1 large banana

1 box instant banana cream pudding with fat free milk to prepare

1 can fat free whipped cream

1 box mini low fat vanilla wafers

 

 

Directions:

 

Mix your cake mix and soda. Bake according to the directions on the box. In a medium bowl, mix the banana pudding according to the package, set in the fridge .Once the cupcakes are done, let them cool completely before assembling. Scoop a small hole out of the top of the cupcake, and place a big drop of banana pudding on top. Place a small slice of banana on top of your pudding, spray your whipped cream and garnish with a wafer. Don't spray the cream until you are ready to serve, it wont hold for long. You can also try to pipe with cool whip for a longer hold. Enjoy!

Gallbladder Surgery Week one : Recovery and what to eat

I have been struggling with digestion issues for over a year now. I had been putting off going to the doctors, for fear it was all in my head. After most things I ate, I was plagued with chronic bloating and stomach ache. After months of complaining, my husband finally made me go to the digestive and liver disease specialist. We did a few test with blood work, endoscopies, and ultra sounds. We found an excessive amount of sludge and polyps in my gallbladder raising some concern. The polyps and sludge can give symptoms similar to gallstones. I met with a surgeon and they decided it was best to take it out. After sending the gallbladder to pathology, it was determined that the lining was diseased and not working property.  I am now 1 week post surgery and trying to get my life back and adjusting to a low fat diet. I did an extensive research about removing my gallbladder and what it would mean for my health. What can I eat? Will I still be sick? Will I loose weight? I am sure some of you will have those concerns as well, so I am going to document my journey and write some of my favorite recipes while recovering from surgery.

The first few weeks, you are recommended to stay on a low fat diet. This generally means no dairy, processed food,  and fatty meats, but there are also healthy fats you need to be careful of such as avocados and nuts. Generally try to keep your servings around 6-8 grams per fat if not less.

Day 1-3 post surgery:
It was hard to get anything down after surgery. I had a lot of low fat chicken noodle soup and saltine crackers the first few days with several bottles of water. Keeping hydrated and getting rest is crucial for your recovery.

Day 4-7 post surgery
I finally had an appetite on day 4. The pain meds and anesthesia can decrease your appetite quite a bit, so when you finally are ready to eat, try to keep it small and frequent meals. A lot of my breakfast consisted of toast and some jam. Lunches were salads (but be careful, some salads are loaded with fat) and soup. Dinners were a mixture between lean meats and vegetables. I also made a few low fat desserts for my sweet tooth craving!

After surgery, I lost 10 pounds!! The picture below is me 1 week before surgery vs. 1 week after. While most of the weight was water weight, I can tell the difference the low fat diet has had on my body. I am feeling so much better and thankful for the surgery. I have listed below some ideas of meals and snacks to have on your low fat diets after surgery listed below. I hope you enjoy these meals as much as I did and feel better soon!

Breakfast:

Mornings are the hardest for me to digest food from no longer having the stored bile. I like to keep it light with either toast, fruit, or half a baked sweet potato. I also have a hard time with dairy, so I use an almond milk creamer for my coffee.

 

 

 

 

Lunch:

 

 

If I don't have any left overs from the previous night, I will either have a low fat lean cuisine (some are as low as 2 grams of fat!) or I will have chicken noodle soup. Panera has a few low fat options as well (Chicken noodle soup, Garden Salad, and Wonton Broth Bowl)

 

 

Dinner:

 

 

While I am on a low far diet, the rest of my household is not. I have tried to be conscious of making meals with low-fat options but don't force my husband to be on a diet.

 

 

 

 

The first real meal we had after surgery was seasoned pork chops on the grill with baked sweet potatoes and asparagus. Simple, clean, and easy.

 

Another night we did a steak salad. On mine, I had lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, low-fat steak, and salsa. My husband added avocado dressing with cheese and red wine vinegar to his.

 

One of my favorite dinners was the steak and eggs night! Eggs can be a litter higher in fat so I limited my self to just one. We sliced up some potatoes, boiled them, and finish frying them in the pan with just pam (to avoid using higher fat oils) and seasonings. I seared the steak in a cast iron pan and baked it to cook it thoroughly and topped with an egg and steak sauce.

 

 

Dessert:

 

I love a challenge, especially when it comes to baking and desserts. I played around with a few ideas for delicious low fat desserts. Recipes are listed below.

 

 

 

 

                       Peach Pineapple Cream Cake                   Low Fat Banana Pudding Cupcakes

 

 

 

You can also have froyo! Ben and Jerry's has an awesome collection of low fat frozen yogurts.

 







Weekend fun in Harrisonburg VA.

They say laughter is the best medicine, mix that with a relaxing weekend away in the mountains and you an cure just about anything. The hubby and I decided to take a spontaneous trip to Harrisonburg VA, home of JMU college, and wow. Was is one of the best weekend trips we've ever had. It was packed full of fun activities, relaxation, and some top qualify food. If you are looking for a fun weekend trip in VA read our blog for the many activities and best places to eat in Harrisonburg.

We started out weekend trip early Friday morning. We stopped for lunch at the Cross Keys Vineyard in Mt. Crawford VA. Its beautiful landscaping was quite a sight on the drive in and made for a beautiful view while eating lunch.

The venue would make for a beautiful wedding.

 

 

We sat out on the patio and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Johnny got the bbq sandwich while I got the crab cake. It was so moist and full of flavor. It paired perfectly with my chardonnay.

 

 

After our meal, we went inside for their tasting. They have several different tasting options with a fun and friendly staff. My favorites were the chardonnay and the red blend named after the owners best friend! They also have a wine flight option where you can enjoy 4 different wines out on their patio!

 

About 2 miles down from the winery is a lavender farm. Being from Virginia Beach, we don't run into many specialty farms so we decided to check it out. It was so cute! It was set up similar to a small town with the lavender shop, winery, and farm in the back. You can enter the farm to pick fresh lavender and view their shop with many hand crafted items made from their lavender. They have bath products, edibles, and WINE! Yes, they sell lavender infused wine so naturally we had to do a tasting !

 



 They have over 8,000 lavender plants on the farm. It was quite the site.

 

After looking around the farm and buying some items from the shop we grabbed some of their lavender infused ice-cream (we chose the pumpkin flavor! )

 

After the lavender farm we headed to our bed and breakfast. Since we waited until the last minute we couldn't get any bed and breakfast in Harrisonburg so we chose the Cave Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast which was right outside of town, about 20 minutes away.

 

 

The house was originally built in the 1800's and filled with history!

 

It was furnished with many antiques and artifacts.

 

They even turned downstairs into their own private civil war museum.

 

We stayed in the Gold Room which was a private room at the end of the hallway.

 

We had a fireplace (which with the 100 degree weather, it's safe to say we did not need to use it). We also had a private bathroom with a shower/bathtub.

 

The best part about a bed and breakfast on the farm would be... the COWS! Yes, there were cows on the fields next to the farms.

 

\

So naturally I had to cow selfie!

 

 

We also had a nice view of the mountains from the from porch.

 

We had dinner downtown  at a local southern kitchen and whiskey bar called Jimmy Madison's.

 

 

We enjoyed their meatloaf and the shrimp and grits. They have tons of whiskey choices and flight options!

 

The event that inspired our whole trip was an indie country artist that was playing in Harrisonburg, Chris Knight. After dinner we went to the Clementine where he was playing and enjoyed drinks and his acoustic set.

 

 

After the show we made a pit stop at Kline's for some ice cream! Nothing says vacation like ice cream! 

 

 

 

We started our Saturday with breakfast at the inn. They served fresh fruit,  yogurt, sausage/egg casserole with fried potatoes.

 

After breakfast we head over to skyline drive. We drove around a bit at looked at some of the overviews.

The trails were a little crowded so we decided to head to the Luray caverns and hit the trails up on the way home.

If you have never been to the Luray caverns, I absolutely recommend it. It is nature at it's finest. I can't even begin to describe the beauty underground in this hidden gem.

 

 

 



After Luray, we went over to a local BBQ food truck, Triple Crown BBQ. Can I say OH MY GOD. I have had many barbecue sandwiches in my life and hands down this one takes the cake. It was so moist and flavorful. Johnny got the sampler and it did not disappoint. It was so amazing we stopped her for lunch on Sunday too! If you are anywhere near Luray Virginia please do your self a favor and stop by to try their food.

 

 

After lunch we headed back to the Bed and Breakfast for some relaxation and down time.

(Perfect time to use the bath bombs and massage oils from the lavender farm!)

 

We had a very nice dinner at the Local Chop House and Grill.

 

 

 It has a warehouse design with an upscale service and excellent food quality. If you are going on a weekend it's best to make a reservation or you will have over an hour wait. We made the mistake of not having a reservation so we ate at the bar, which to my surprise was still an excellent setting. We received excellent service and still had the privacy for a romantic setting.

 

Yes, that does mean we were same side sitters! I promise Johnny had a good time!

 

For dinner we had the fillet minion with their duck fries, asparagus, and collards, oh and champagne of course!

 

With our anniversary in a few weeks, we decided to turn this dinner into a celebration. Our waiter brought us out 2 of their best desserts  with "Happy Anniversary" written on them. I got the honey butter cake with their pomegranate pineapple ice cream. Johnny got the fudgy brownie cake with their sweet cream ice-cream and caramel popcorn. So Yummy!

 

After dinner we headed to a local brewery, Pale Fire, for some beer flights and to wind down.

 

 

Sunday we had breakfast at the inn and head to Skyline Drive for a morning hike before the trip home. We took a short hike down Dark Hallows to see the waterfall.

 

 

It was such a fun trip! We cannot wait to plan our next visit to explore Harrisonburg. Hope our mini vacation gave you some fun ideas for your next trip!