Make It Magazine

Perhaps you would like to see a glimpse of what I do at work at everyday for Lifestyle Crafts. We just wrapped up all of our marketing for Halloween. We came up with the idea to publish a magazine featuring all of our holiday products.  This has been one of my bigger projects lately. We have an awesome team that helped make it possible. So, without further ado, here is what I put together, I'd love to know what you think!

Maybe you got inspired??  Happy Halloween!

(p.s. make sure you have the latest flash plug-in installed or you won't be able to see anything)

Bye Bye Hawaii

Sad. It is finally the last day of our Hawaiian vacation. We ate breakfast at the famous Hukilau Cafe. (apparently it the restaurant Drew Barrymore's character eats at every day in the movie 50 First Dates) The coconut pancakes were delicious!

There were a lot of people pulled off to the side of the road with their cameras out, so naturally, being the tourist we were, we had to stop too. Good thing we did! The turtles were coming into shore! There were tons of them just rolling on in with the waves.

Our final stop before we left the island was to the Dole Plantation. Kind of a tourist trap, but it was still fun. We got to see how they grow pineapple, eat some, and buy some chocolate covered pineapple to bring home!

We had such a fun trip with lots of great memories. Thanks to the Checketts for letting us stay with them. We had a great time spending our Anniversary together. It's been a great year, and we look forward to many more!

Laie

We spent all day in the beautiful city of Laie. We were blessed to able to attend a session at temple. Lynn's aunt was even working that morning, so we were able to see her there.

We had to try out one of the many fresh shrimp stands along the beach. Garlic shrimp is the specialty, so that is what Lynn ordered. Me, I got chicken. I think we should have only ordered one plate though. So. Much. Food.

We hadn't really explored the west side of the island, so we drove to the northwest edge where you couldn't drive anymore. Our rental car documents said it was a no-no to go past this point, so we just got out and looked around.  There is definitely a different look and feel to this side of the island.

 

On our way back home we had to stop at the famous Matsumoto Shaved Ice store. Mmmmm.... Yummy. Ice cream and shaved ice may be one of the best combos ever. We passed on the beans.

 

 

We ended the day wading in the ocean and watching the sunset at some beach we hadn't been to yet. I don't remember its name. But it was super quiet. So lovely. I had to, of course, take a cheesy writing in the sand photo. Well let me tell you, it was no easy feet. I wrote that 'Hawaii 2012' about 10 different times before I hurried and got a picture taken as the waves washed it away. I suppose I could have just written it a little higher on the beach...... oh well.

 

 

Busy Day

Tuesday was one of our most jam packed days on the island. We were planning on going to the Polynesian Cultural Center, but it doesn't open til noon. So....we got up and headed to Turtle Beach. It was a really pretty view, and all sorts of sharp rocks to walk on.... 

Next we headed up to the North Shore to check out the scene there. It was, of course, beautiful.

Then we went to the PCC for the rest of the day. We got to visit many of the islands of the Pacific, Tonga, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa and Fiji. The do a fun little presentation about each culture and dance & sing, etc. Then, in the afternoon they have a little parade on the water showcasing all the different cultures.

 

 Then we headed to the Luau for some interesting Island cuisine. It wasn't too bad.  We got lei'd, watched them unwrap a whole pig they had roasted for us, ate, and watched a fun show the whole time.

 

Finally, we went to the evening show. Ha: Breath of Life. It was 'breathtaking' :)  No, but really, it was so good. The performers do such a good job, even the flamethrowers! Definitely feeling the Aloha spirit!

 

Hopefully you aren't too bored with looking at our pictures from Hawaii. If you are, too bad, don't look at them :) 

Hanauma Bay

Monday we spent the day at Hanauma Bay. Lynn's #1 thing he wanted to do in Hawaii was go snorkeling. This preserve seemed to be the best place on the island. Can you see all that coral reef? We rented our gear, then set out to explore!

 

Not far off the shore you begin to see fish! Awesome, bright colored, tropical fish! It was so cool being able to swim around right there with them. We wish we would have had an underwater camera, but we didn't. So instead, you'll just have to take my word that it was amazing, and look at these pictures other people have taken.

via

Lynn went out one more time without me, and of course, he saw a sea turtle!!

via 

It was a fun day, but despite wearing sunscreen, both of our back-sides got FRIED! Bad news for the start of a trip. We were pretty miserable sleeping and getting around for the rest of the week. We were taking pain pills and used almost a whole bottle of aloe stuff, and still were dying. Real fun :) Anyways, I won't complain too bad.  Note, next snorkeling trip: wear a shirt.

Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona Memorial

 

 

 I didn't realize the memorial was over the actual sunken ship. Every once in awhile you could see oil droplets coming out of the ship below.

  

USS Bowfin

 

Waikiki

 

  

Well,  if you couldn't tell by now, we went to HAWAII! 7 days in paradise. Happy Anniversary to us! We kind of went on a whim as we are waiting to close on our house, and are kind of homeless. So why not spend some time in Hawaii while we wait? And celebrate our year of marriage too, of course.

 Here are some pictures from our first day on the island. Beautiful I tell you!! So lush and green, and amazing sunsets! The humidity was not my fave, but I could deal with it. I mean, look where we are!

We spent the day exploring the island, basically drove around the whole thing. Then walked down to Waikiki beach and watched the lovely sunset. Great first day! Don't be jealous :)