Macademia, Mahi, and Memories

This is my attempt to replicate a dish Jeff and I had at "The Beach House" in Hawaii... macademia encrusted Mahi Mahi. The veggies you see on the side are sauteed zucchini and summer squash. They pair perfectly with the Mahi. Although my dish did not come close to comparing with the amazing meal we enjoyed at TBH, it did bring me back to Hawaii for a brief moment in time. Wish I could go back!

Happy Halloween!

Jeff and I found the perfect stencils for carving our pumpkins! Jeff decided to carve the skull and bat combo to the left. I opted for the scarecrow below.

I forgot how gross carving pumpkins was. You have to scoop out all sorts of awful smelling pumpkin guts. Eww. I hope someday my kids will just want to draw jack-o-lantern faces on those tiny little pumpkins you can find at Meijer. Than again...where is the fun in that?! I suggest instead of breeding cauliflower/broccoli hybrids, scientists should cross breed a pumpkin with an apple...so then carving pumpkins would be more pleasant.

Fall is Here

Every year Jeff and I welcome fall with a day devoted to celebrating the season. This year, we took a trip to a local farm to buy some pumpkins, cider, and to enjoy the beautiful day!
We had our favorite four-legged friend "Eva" with us. We were not there five minutes, when the little bandit trotted over to a little boy and took a bite out of the doughnut that he was holding! She really needs to go to charm school.

We had so much fun picking out pumpkins to carve. There were so many to choose from!
Stay tuned for pictures of our jack-o-lanterns...

Cheers to the Newlyweds!

My cousin Lisa and her husband Chris were married on October 13, 2007. She looked absolutely stunning! I have not seen a more beautiful bride since watching Cinderella as a child.

Lisa is one of the most naturally beautiful, sweet, and humorous people that I know. Her smile and "sparkle" could charm the socks off of any man! Chris was the lucky one that she chose to be her prince charming, and I couldn't be happier for the two of them. Congratulations Lisa and Chris!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Our honeymoon was amazing. We had a fantastic time! Surfing, a helicopter tour, fabulous dinners, hot stone massages, and a catamaran tour, were just some of the activities that Jeff and I enjoyed while in paradise.

The picture to your left is a picture of Jeff and I on the beach in front of our hotel, the Kauai Hilton. The hotel had a great ambience, not to mention the best happy hour on the island...complimentary Mai Tais from 5-6!

We enjoyed our stay on the island very much. I especially enjoyed the Kauai coffee. I, a coffee lover, wish I could be back on the island sipping a hot cup of Kauai "Joe" right now.

One memory I will never forget from our trip to Hawaii was while Jeff and I were surfing. A native of the island, a former surf instructor, paddled over to where we were surfing. I observed that he was an old friend of "T-Bird" our surf guide. He offered to help me catch the "perfect wave." While waiting for that wave, we chatted. He asked where I was from. Responding, "Grand Rapids, Michigan,"I was fully prepared to pull out my hand and point to where Grand Rapids is on my make-shift map of the state. To my surprise, he looked at me with a twinkle in his eye, offered his fist, and said "Ohhhh, I been to your island Mon!"

As I reminisce about our honeymoon, this song plays in the background of my memories... "Somewhere... over the rainbow, way up high...there's a land that I heard of...once in a lullaby. Somewhere... over the rainbow...skies are blue...and the dreams that you dare to dream...really do come true." - Wizard of Oz

Happily Ever After

Welcome to myblog!

Jeff and I were married on September 21, 2007, the first day of fall. Fall is our favorite season, so how fitting that we were married on this special day! I personally love the sights, sounds, and tastes of fall. I truly enjoy all that the season brings...pumpkin carving, apple cider, and of course the spectacular fall foliage. Such a magical time of year.