Happiness Diary #40

Every day I share:

1) A random photo of the day
2) Something I ate that was delicious
3) A meaningful event that happened or a task I was happy to accomplish
4) Something I was grateful for or that made me happy. 

Saturday (10/15/16)

 

1) Photo: I found these magnets at Robinettes. We should have bought them since we wouldn't even really have to change the photos. :D

2) Donuts and cider
3) Today was the perfect Saturday. The best parts were going to Robinettes with Brian and having lunch with the Walshes!
4) I am grateful for apples. 

 

Sunday

 

1) Photo: Zuzu enjoying 101 Dalmatians. 

2) Mushroom flatbread from TJ's
3) Worst thing about today: realizing our new LED lights don't fit in the basement light sockets. The best thing: family walk.
4) I am grateful for having a job. Because it's Monday tomorrow!

 

Monday

 

1) Photo: Buying books at Schuelers 

2) NA
3) Brian and I are making more of an effort to do projects around the house. We will get the office painted yet!
4) I am always happy for new books to read. 

Tuesday

 

1) Photo: Halloween creations. 

2) NA
3) I brought my LS over today to carve and paint pumpkins! She drew the face to carve and did the abstract pumpkin and I painted the owl with the weird ears.
4) I am happy for an excuse to carve pumpkins. I don't think I've carved one since I lived in Escanaba. Also I love pumpkin seeds. 

Wednesday

 

1) Photo: About to enjoy a "Rich Girl" juice from Sip!

2) Some of Brian's Goucho salad.
3) Today was a family hike at Burton. I was too tired to work out afterwards so instead I ... painted my nails.
4) I am grateful for fall!

 

Thursday

 

 

1) Photo: The huge butternut squash I bought from the indoor farmers market stand at work today. 
2) NA
3) My biggest accomplishment was cutting and cooking that monster of a squash.
4) I am grateful for eating healthier these days. 

Friday

 

1) Photo: More eating healthy proof
2) Dried figs
3) Brian and I stocked up at Costco and now we have tons of good stuff in our fridge and pantry.
4) I am grateful for our garage fridge!

 

P.S. No HD for the week of 10/22 because I've been slacking and getting too far behind and just need to hit the reset! 

Happiness Diary #39

Beware this was a slow week! (Sorry so late :) )

Every day I share:

1) A random photo of the day
2) Something I ate that was delicious
3) A meaningful event that happened or a task I was happy to accomplish
4) Something I was grateful for or that made me happy. 

Saturday (10/8/16)

 

1) Photo: Zuzu at daycare 

2) Steak salad
3) Brian went to Lansing for an impromptu guy's night and I worked and hung out with a sleepy Zuzu all night. ❤️
4) I am grateful for cough drops. 

Sunday

 

1) Photo: The only picture I took yesterday. I lost the TV remote and couldn't see behind the ginormous TV so I took a photo in case it had fallen behind. No such luck. 

2) NA
3) I found a new way to track my workouts because planning them out in advance never works for me. Hopefully it will be very helpful and motivating.
4) I'm happy I have tomorrow off. 

Monday

 

1) Photo: Zuzu in the park 

2) Salmon
3) Besides taking Z on a long walk, working out, going for a run and making dinner, I was pretty nonproductive today. Could be worse though!
4) I am grateful for future nephews and nieces!

Tuesday

 

1) Photo: Zuzu and the wildflowers

2) NA
3) After work Brian and I went on a family hike at Peace park. We love walking there in the fall and need to go as much as possible before bow hunting starts!
4) I am grateful for QT. 

Wednesday

 

1) Photo: Zuzu and the fireplace. 

2) I've been loving quinoa with olives and feta cheese lately. I could probably eat it every day.
3) I did some kickboxing after work...
4) I am grateful for boring days. 

Thursday

 

1) Photo: my poor wasted raspberries. I did so well with pruning and prepping them earlier this season and then I let them all go to waste. Well, Zuzu ate one and a half today so I guess that's something. 

2) NA
3) I went running today while Brian watched Zuzu at the DP. It's hard getting back into it but I managed 3 laps (miles) around the park! 
4) I am grateful to be completely over my cold!!!!

Friday

 

1) Photo: A whole box of Kind bars for $1.02? I'll take it!
2) A Peruvian corn salad from Bliss and Vinegar. Though they forgot the corn. :/
3) I love low key Friday nights. I walked Zuzu while Brian went for a run and then we got some food and watched The Shallows.
4) I am grateful for having another DVD player because Brian forgot the controlller to the PS3 in Lansing. And I'm also grateful for eyes. 

Happiness Diary #38

Every day I share:

1) A random photo of the day
2) Something I ate that was delicious
3) A meaningful event that happened or a task I was happy to accomplish
4) Something I was grateful for or that made me happy. 

Saturday (10/1/16)

 

1) Photo: I bought this for myself while shopping yesterday. I'm so thoughtful. 

2) Marzipan!
3) Today was a major lazy day. I feel like I'm getting sick so I didn't do much besides give Zuzu a bath.
4) I am grateful it's been a pretty easy transition back to eastern time.


 

Sunday
 

 

1) Photo: My Sunday 
2) Gaucho salad from Bliss & Vinegar
3) I tried to get up at 6:30 today in preparation for work tomorrow and I did, but after an hour I went back to bed and napped until 12. I still went to bed early so it's totally fine. :D
4) I'm grateful for precooked chicken.

Monday

 

1) Photo: I forgot to take a photo today so here are some fail selfies from a plane. There are just not as many things to take pictures of when you aren't on vacation. #firstworldbloggerproblems

2) I made shrimp stir fry for dinner. Yum.
3) Back to work today. What fun.
4) I am grateful today was not as bad as I thought it would be. 

Tuesday



 

1) Photo: Zuzu and I saw a woodland creature behind the Burton Park Mansion fence today. It looked very confused. 

2) Sockye salmon dinner
3) I had a lovely day at work and then took Zuzu on a 45 minute walk at the park, worked out and made dinner. Yip.
4) I am grateful for cooler weather and excited for fall colors!

 

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

1) Photo: My LS and the big bear. 
2) Costco sells Hi-chews!
3) After work today I picked up LS and we were going to take Zuzu to the park but the weather looked stormy so instead she was happy to come with me to run a couple of errands including shopping at Costco (which she Ioves). Afterwards we went back to my place to update our journal and play with Zuzu.
4) I am grateful for groceries!

Thursday

 

 

1) Photo: Brian is changing all of our old recessed lighting to LED lights! 
2) NA
3) ...I've been slacking and now it's Saturday and honestly I can't remember.
4) I am grateful for our "new" china cabinet. Thanks Heidi and John!

Friday

 

1) Photo: Slightly awkward running GIF
2) NA
3) The best thing about today was going on a nice slow jog (with no music!) with Brian. I haven't gone running in a while and I was really sore but I should keep it up because it would be nice to get my running legs back again.
4) While I'm not always 100% happy with myself, I love and am so grateful for everything that makes up my amazing life.

 

 

Hawaii Day Twelve *Beach Day and Koiso Sushi*

Tuesday, September 27 2016

Sorry it took me until now to post!

Day twelve was our last full day in Hawaii and though we didn't do very much I still wanted to write in the blog to complete my little vacation series. 

Brian and I thought today would be a perfect day for the beach because, even though we had been in the ocean plenty of times in Maui, we hadn't really spent time just relaxing on the beach. (How tragic.)  We decided to go to Wailea Beach because we thought it would be cool to check out a beach that is one of the top beaches in Hawaii and is also found on a few "best beaches" lists. (See here.) 

Before the beach we had to get some breakfast so we visited Nalu's once again.

Chicken and waffles and breakfast salad

Then we went back to the cottage to pack up our beach essentials including the towels, beach chairs and umbrella, thoughtfully provided by the owners.  It was only a ten minute drive to the Wailea and we arrived at the beach around 9:00.  The beach was uncrowded and we found a great spot to settle in. 

Short walk to the beach

Getting settled

 

Cool canoe thingy 

We read and listened to podcasts and music and and ate snacks and swam in the ocean and only left when it got too windy and our umbrella kept flying away (v. embarrassing btw).

The rest of our day was spent picking up a few gifts we wanted to buy (The Shops at Wailea is such a nice mall) and waiting patiently for dinner.  

Brian and I had been looking forward to dinner at Koiso Sushi Bar for quite a while.  It would have been nice to have eaten there earlier in the week but when Brian called for reservations (at least three weeks ago back in Grand Rapids) the only opening was for tonight.  Koiso Sushi Bar is in a small strip mall in Kihei and only has seating for fourteen people.  They only have two seatings each night so it's pretty much mandatory to make reservations in advance if you want to eat there (and be sure to answer your phone when they call to confirm your reservation the day before).

When we arrived we got the best seats on the bar to watch Hiro work.

I forgot to snap a photo of our sushi but I did take a sneaky neighbor pic:

Koiso definitely lived up to the hype.  Brian and I got mostly rolls (I loved the 69 roll) but also a few nigiri sushi (the tamago was my favorite) and everything was delicious.  We placed two orders and could have ordered more but I didn't want to risk any stomach issues for our travel home the next day so we left feeling pleasantly satisfied.  

After dinner we shared a gelato from next door and drove back to the cottage for our last night in Hawaii.  

Here's to our next adventure!

Check out the whole trip!

Hawaii Vacation Day One! *Travel to Oahu*

Hawaii Day Two *Waikiki Hoolaulea*
Hawaii Day Three *Ala Moana Beach and Ocean House*
Hawaii Day Four *SUP Yoga and Migraine*
Hawaii Day Five *Pearl Harbor*
Hawaii Day Six *Diamond Head*
Hawaii Day Seven *Travel to Maui*
Hawaii Day Eight *Kapalua Coastal Trail*
Hawaii Day Nine *Snorkeling Forbidden Coast and Molokini*
Hawaii Day Ten *Road to Hana*
Hawaii Day Eleven *Surfing Lessons*
Hawaii Day Twelve *Beach Day and Koiso Sushi*

Happiness Diary #37

Every day I share:

1) A random photo of the day
2) Something I ate that was delicious
3) A meaningful event that happened or a task I was happy to accomplish
4) Something I was grateful for or that made me happy. 

Saturday (9/24/16)

1) Photo: The first turtle I saw today. So incredible. 

2) Pineapple at breakfast
3) Today was our big snorkeling day. We had a blast and I didn't get seasick!
4) I am grateful for clear waters and perfect snorkeling weather. 

Sunday

1) Photo: Frolicking in the forest. 

2) NA (On vacation? For shame...maybe the McDonald's parfait?)
3) We survived the Road to Hana (and beyond) enough said!
4) I'm grateful that huge tour bus didn't push us off the cliff. 

Monday

1) Photo: Peacocks in the road made Brian accidentally miss McDonald's this morning. 

2) My amazing salad at Bubba Gumps. 
3) Brian and I tried surfing for the first time today, it was fun!
4) I am grateful for not making a complete fool of myself on the surfboard (though I did fall a lot.)

Tuesday

1) Photo: We ate one of these today! We got it in a random shop on our way to Hana and it wasn't very sweet or expensive so I'm not sure if it was a legit Maui Gold...

2) Koiso sushi!
3) Out last full day of vacation consisted of beach, shopping and amazing dinner. A wonderful end to our stay in Hawaii. 
4) I am grateful for not getting sick from sushi. That might have made traveling slightly worse. 

Wednesday

1) Video: Snapchat from our travel day. 

2) Nalu's garlic potatoes
3) We left Maui today! I was dreading the travel back. We had three flights to catch and the four hour red eye to Chicago was not fun because I didn't get to sit next to Brian and was next to a guy who was eating snacks and drinking beer and burping. 
4) I'm grateful for the tiny amount of sleep I did manage to get on two of our flights. 

Thursday

1) Photo: Zuzu had lots of extra tail wags for us when we got home!  (She was excited to see John too, haha. She had a fun vacation with the grandparents.)

2) NA
3) We made it home! Today was a weird day because it felt like we woke up on Wednesday morning and went to bed on Thursday night. I was able to stay up all day after we arrived in cold and rainy GR. I worked out, unpacked everything and took Z for a walk before going to bed around 6:00. Yes!
4) I am grateful all of our flights were on time and I'm so happy to be home!!!

Friday

1) Photo: Fireplace mantle decorating in progress.
2) Farmhouse salad from Potbelly
3) Brian and I did tons of errands today and also bought some home decor for our mantle. I was sad Target didn't have the small mirrors I wanted to put on both sides of the big mirror, but we will work with what we have.
4) I am grateful for a few days off before going back to work.