MY WEEK IN PHOTOS: SEPTEMBER 25, 2017!
Getting ready to head out on our trip, celebrating Kiki’s birthday with Korean-style grilling, spoiling the pets before we leave them with my parents, a few days in Hawaii celebrating Alex and Jill’s wedding.
Enjoy!
We leave for our trip in T-5 days ahhh so this week after work is all about prepping and packing and *mildly* stressing out.
Do a packing cube test run
Literally dressed like an ewok to leave the house for my 7 am work carpool. It’s actually getting chilly!
Early carpool means I also get to see the sunrise which is nice
Wet hair served dry
Meeting at the coffee cart
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It’s Kiki’s birthday which means a watercolor doodle of her favorite internet creative, the smiling naked wombat
Narrowing down items
Tweedy for sale
It’s finally cool enough to use the grill, so we grill in honor of Kiki’s birthday and to gather before Zeen and I hit the road for 3 weeks.
Attempted a fondue to accompany the spicy pork
Shredded mozzarella cheese and a string cheese WOW
Happy birthday brownies!
Wednesday, foggy morning
Cozy cozy
Zach picked up a Subway sandwich for dinner, looks larger than normal!?
Still finishing up treats from the Dog Bakery
More card designs but this time for Alex and Jill’s wedding card!
Twooo! One of the last mornings we’ll wake up with him for a few weeks.
Clothes have been sprayed with bug poison
Leftover pork and eggs for breakfast
Shot of me leaving the Getty. Officially vacation time!!!!!!
I aspire to be as cool as Kiki’s most casual outfit.
Night before the trip and in true fashion I needed some last minute things from Target
Was looking for a smaller carry on bag thing and all I could manage to like was this Halloween bag from the kid’s section.
Looking at things we don’t need, classic.
Went to drop off the pups with my parents. Thanks mom and dad!
Well…it all fits!
Good morning! It’s 4:30 let’s head to the airport.
First stop? Hawaii!
Hawaiian Airlines serves everybody hot breakfast…*impressive*
A guava rum punch and the best sweet onion chips as a snack before landing?!?! Hawaiian Airlines is bomb.
On our way to our accommodations.
Made it our AirBnb!
Walked down towards the Iolani Palace and Library.
As we were walking around, I was curious to know more specifically the history of how Hawaii became the 50th state. It’s complicated. Polynesians discovered and settled on the Hawaiian Islands over 1,000 years ago. James Cook “discovered” the islands again in 1778, and after that American traders bee-lined to the islands to get their share of trade, natural resource wealth, etc. During US annexation there were complicated pro and con statehood arguments on either side relating to fears of what was worse…US vs. Japanese Imperialism. This is oversimplified and from the perspective of an outsider, here’s a book that talks about the native Hawaiian resistance to American imperialism.
At the time of US annexation, the monarchy had been in existence for about a century. There are still palaces from the monarchy’s reign on Oahu. Iolani Palace was the royal residence of the last Hawaiian monarchs. It was completed in 1882 and was used by the Hawaiian monarchy until 1893. Sadly, Queen Kapi’oLani and other royal family members were evicted from the palace shortly after. It was used as the provisional government offices after Americans annexed the islands. More on the history of this particular building.
These big beautiful trees that seem to be growing off each other
Walked to Waikiki Brewing Company
Poke
Walking around and it randomly got super windy and rainy
Shelter in a Japanese restaurant
From food to food
Mr. Shimazu shave ice
This is a small!!!
We got lilikoi and watermelon and condensed milk mmm.
Walked over to see moana aka the OCEAN! WOW!
The water is so blue and clear!
Itchy face in Waikiki
So beautiful!
Saturday morning! Went to Egghead Cafe and had a blended thai iced tea *heaven*
Also got a pancake sampler trio: ube and coconut, matcha with azuki beans and fried mochi, and chocolate chip
Heaven
Today is Alex and Jill’s wedding! The point of this whole trip! There early to help continue set up.
The haku leis we made together the night before survived!
Jill’s family made all the arrangements. Decorations were all hand made by Alex and Jill. It was all beautiful and crafty.
Jill and her mom
It was a super hot and humid day, so here’s Jill in the fridge trying not to sweat through her beautiful wedding jumpsuit.
Putting on the haku leis
Creepin’ on photos
❤
My haku lei got out of control ahaha it was hard to make, but fun! It’s so big I feel like a candle or a Christmas ornament but loving it anyways
Waiting as photos are taken of both sides of the family
Kitty donut table toppers
Donut table in true Alex and Jill fashion
Inside the Queen Emma Summer Palace, now a museum cared for by the Daughters of Hawaii. The secluded mountain home and summer retreat for Queen Emma of Hawai’i from 1857 to 1885. She was married to King Kamehameha IV. Built in 1847 and saved by the Daughters of Hawai’i from demolition when people wanted to build a baseball field here…
Brother Alex, sister Jill ❤
Party tiiime
Hawaiian food (Tried squid luau and I’m down)
Love you Alex and Jill! Thanks for having me in your wedding and in your life! Congrats!
Sunday morning!
Packing up the Airbnb
We are heading out to the airport to hop on our flight to Bangkok. Wish us some safe and happy travel luck…
Much love friends!
SLEEPY WALDO 
Safe travels! I keep checking your Instagram to see if you’ve reached my side of the world already, lol. As someone who has never left Asia (and frankly speaking am quite tired of being stuck here), I’m very interested in seeing how you find my corner of the world and how you’ll be viewing South East Asia through your lens. Please don’t feel obliged to only say nice things about the places you’ve visited though! Have a good trip!
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I am in love with Jill’s jumpsuit. What a beautiful wedding! Best wishes to them! And safe travels to you and Zach! I hope you have plenty of fun and grab some rest!
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Sorry for spamming you with comments but really enjoyed going through your recent posts! The wedding looks absolutely stunning, do you remember how people online would match you with Alex on your formspring before? XP So happy he’s happily married now! Love your outfit! And OMG, enjoy SEAsia!!!
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Jill and Alex’s wedding looks beautiful, and they seem so happy! Your haku lei looks very professional – all the flowers they used for the wedding look lovely.
Had you been to Hawaii before this trip? I’d love to visit Hawaii and other Pacific islands one day, though I feel more scared than I thought I would by the idea of being in the middle of the ocean!
I hope you’re having a good trip!!! Gonna go and read your posts now!
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I’ve been to Hawaii as a child (I don’t really remember that trip, was too young) and once a few years ago for a cousin’s wedding. I haven’t gone as a full human person but since Alex and Jill live there I’ll have to go back and do it right!
The flight from LA to Hawaii is about 5 hours, which blows my mind that you can get to New York OR Hawaii in 5 hours. Hawaii doesn’t seem that far away…
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