Every year our cats get a tad fatter, a little happier and a lot lazier. When they’re not terrorizing us for midnight snacks, morning back rubs or water from the tap, they’re usually either snoozing or terrorizing some other nonthreatening creatures. Late in the afternoon they can be found keeping a watchful eye over their hunting grounds while most likely planning their next ill-fated crime.
Normally, midday on a Saturday is a popular time for surfers to enjoy the waves. This day was no different with most of the well known surf spots jam-packed with paddle boarders, body boarders, short and long boarders. Our recent summery weather has brought the crowds to the beach and we’re all happy to take advantage of the postponed rainy season. We were lucky enough to find a more secluded corner to ourselves with the added benefit of a photographer onshore that randomly decided to grab a few shots of our session together. Needless to say, we had a great day “somewhere in Hawaii”.
CLICK HERE for a look into one of the most impressive pieces of property in Aliomanu Estates on the Eastside of Kauai. Nestled beneath Mano Mountain’s breathtaking view of the King Kong profile, this lush four bedroom three bathroom plantation style home sits upon four acres of beautifully manicured landscape. The list of amenities includes gated entry, sweeping ocean views, wrap around lanais, exquisitly modern kitchen, separate guest quarters, large two car garage plus additional storage, upstairs master suite with upgraded bath, outdoor shower, and much more. This dream house was designed to enhance the natural beauty of Kauai’s surrounding paradise… move in ready!
It was a surprisingly warm winter vacation in Washington, filled with lots of Wagner family traditions, great meals together and fun walks in woods. Instead of roasting chestnuts on an open fire, we cracked homegrown Kauai coffee beans by hand and roasted them in an air popcorn popper. With lots of beginners luck and a little research, the coffee was a success and we also got our open fire in the yard thanks to Big Daddy Wags. We took advantage of a couple sunny days strolling around the harbor and venturing into Seattle. On the way to David, April and William’s house, we made a really fun stop at the Experience the Music Project Museum where Ben snapped the coolest picture of us pretending to be rockstars…
After getting our fill of vintage guitars and Seattle’s music history, the famous Dick’s Drive-In was next on the agenda. We had the best deluxe cheeseburgers ever made. Definitely on the top of our do-it-again list for next year. Before our trip was over, we enjoyed time with our nephew William, made a few extra shopping trips, tested our awesome GoPro Christmas present, cleaned numerous buffet plates of dungeness crab and tried to make our dollars last on the slot machines at Tulalip Resort Casino. Many mahalos to the Wagner family for making everyday together special. Happy New Year!
Our Thanksgiving this year definitely stepped it up a notch. A big thanks to Jerome for hosting our feast at his beautiful beach-front home, and to Jill for coordinating everyone’s best pot-luck contribution. We signed up to bring Julia’s special cranberry salad and the turkey, which felt like way more pressure than our usual commitment of side dishes. Luckily after plenty of research, preparation, and the handy imu turkey cook-a-thon fundraiser, we can’t take full responsibility for how incredible it turned out.
The day was complete with speedminton, frisbee, and mixed drinks. Needless to say, it was a perfect sunny and beautiful celebration. We’re thankful for our families, friends, and of course the place we call home. This last picture is where we spent the day after recovering from our huge meal…
Here’s a quick look into our day today… We woke up slowly with the rain, which cleared just in time for our morning exercise class. A quick coffee stop on the way home was followed by a little work around the house: feed the chickens, do laundry, work on holiday projects, putz around. In need of a break from our daunting to-do list, we stopped, dropped, and hopped on the bikes to go for a surf and meet up with friends at the beach. When we got home, four protein-packed omegas were waiting to be collected from our prized backyard egg-laying machines. To top it off, we’ve got one more day left in the weekend. Tough life, I know.
Scissors, spray paint, cardboard and old clothes were on the list of ingredients for our do-it-yourself costumes. They may have turned out a little shabbier than anticipated, but certainly made for a fun day of sporadic creativity. Julia and I had a great time showing off our getups with friends at a crazy costume party. This planetary moon wrangler even tried to blast off under the lights before getting drenched in his own intergalactic sweat…
CLICK HERE for a complete look at Kimberly and John’s romantic morning wedding photography from the end of Anini Beach Road, on Kauai’s breathtaking North Shore. Julia and I started with Kim and the ladies as John welcomed the arriving guests with his contagious sense of humor and warm smile. A light shower moved through the sunshine to bless the celebration and Kim and John quickly stole a moment together under an umbrella. Their ceremony naturally commenced with a casual gathering of close friends and family who were all invited to participate in a unique and personal ring warming tradition. The wedding rings were passed around the circle as funny stories, fond memories, and well-wishes were shared throughout. Following Kim and John’s hand-written exchange of vows, they sealed their bond with a kiss and concluded their beach wedding with a final romantic photo session. After putting the cameras down, we were honored to also share in their brunch reception. Mahalo nui loa for your generosity, congratulations to you both, and we hope you enjoy the photos!
CLICK HERE to view the spectacular wedding of two of our close friends. Aletha and Rob were married just a short distance from their home in Poipu, at the Kiahuna Plantation Gardens. Overlooking the turquoise ocean water crashing against the rocky coast, friends and family gathered from near and far to share this special celebration. A light sprinkle blessed the day as Aletha and Rob shared a private moment before their festivities began. Julia and I truly enjoyed every second of capturing the laughter, love, and sweet embraces that is so natural to these beautiful newlyweds. It was a picture perfect ceremony followed by an intimate reception with many personal touches and heartfelt toasts. We even got to take home our favorite Monkeypod Jam! Much love and aloha, a huge CONGRATS, and enjoy the photos!
We managed to sneak in another funday with the Kauai Crossfitters in celebration of September birthdays. The day was complete with a huge blow-up waterslide, live band, freestyle frisbee, an assortment of superfoods, full moon, and several hours spent on our communal mini-ramp. After complete exhaustion set in, I ended up kidnapping Jerome‘s new micro 4/3 camera and snapped a few shots of the halfpipe action. This is as close as you get to a formal black and white affair on Kauai…
CLICK HERE to view our second photo shoot with Monkeypod Jam. This time we focused on the different flavor combinations that go into each artisan fruit spread, highlighting local ingredients, plated creations, and more tropical fruit grown on Kauai. After the fruit was cut, the jam was spread and the plates were photographed, we couldn’t let anything go to waste so I definitely took advantage of the opportunity. As always, it was such a fun (and delicious) session with Monkeypod Jam’s owners/operators, Aletha and Rob. Next up, the Monkeypod wedding!
CLICK HERE to view the complete wedding day of two incredible people at one of Kauai’s most beautiful gardens. Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kilauea offers a variety of unique locations that create the perfect setting for a romantic celebration. Aleetza and Jason were married in a gorgeous teak forest as their close family and friends gathered to support their union. They exchanged vows as a cool breeze lifted off the ocean and swept gently through the canopy of trees. Following a quick photo session on the bluff, their reception took place in a grassy field next to the breaking waves of a private beach. Julia and I enjoyed every second of capturing the breathtaking scenery surrounding this absolutely stunning couple. Special thanks to Marlene from Mira Mira Events who coordinated a memorable event with elegantly refined details and many creative touches. A huge CONGRATS and enjoy the photos!
It was great having Lara and Alex stay with us for part of their Kauai vacation. In the few days we spent together, we made the most of summer weather and enjoyed being outdoors, in the sun and at the beach. We had tons of fun living it up as tourists, covering the highlights around the island, snorkeling and shell hunting, plus encouraging Julia to make more lilikoi bars. It was a really nice way to catch up with good friends and end our summer break on a high note before getting back into the school schedule. Check out the slideshow…
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