early morning rambles about grown-up stuff like productivity and organization

This morning. I abruptly woke (at 5:50 a.m.) to “CRASH! BANG! MEEEEEOWWW!!”, except it wasn’t so much a ‘meow’ as it was a ‘HISSS’ followed by a disgruntled “THAT DAMN CAT POUNCED ME!” to which I couldn’t help but giggle just a little because, what an odd way to wake up, right? Anyway, hello Tuesday.

I’m trying this new thing out. You may have heard of it. Some of you might even be familiar with it on a first name basis. It’s called, wait for it… waking up early. I know, I know, it’s totally ludacris, but I hear it’s good for you and there are a few benefits I might be able to squeeze out of it. For example, it’s 9:00 a.m. now and I’ve already been up for 3 whole hours. I’m fed, I’m showered, my bed is made and my clothes are even ironed. Who am I? I’m a goal-makin’, dream acheivin’ machine, that’s who I am!

Okay really though, I’m just trying to make the most of my days. Those days, with their tiny little wings that take-off and fly right on by, you know what I mean, right? Those days happen, and at the end of them, I often find myself curled right back up where I began, surrounded by the same laundry on the floor and dishes in the sink, and I scratch my head and wonder, "what on Earth did I actually do today?" The answer is usually something like, "well I worked hard at work", and as productive as that MAY sound, it's a terrible excuse for not working hard at home. My sanctuary. My little teeny, tiny, realllly old piece of urban heaven. It's the most important place in my life. Hence my renewed burning intention to bump it up a few notches on my priority list and work hard at home.

So I’ve been working on a small project. And it includes waking up early to get a good productive start on my day. It's like an 'Organize my Life’ kind of project, except that’s not what I’m going to call it. I don’t know what I’m going to call it yet. It’s a grand project that involves making all of my time during these days that fly right on by way more efficient. Who would’ve thought that waking up early could actually free up more time at the end of the day?! Okay, maybe I’m the only one that’s just getting that, but better late than never, right? Wait. No. Better early. I’m still catching on.

Once I get the hang of it, I’ll clue you in on my little project. I’ll even share it with you so we can all own our lives together and stuff. But for now, pounce on me with some positive, “You go girl!,” kind of vibes, would you please? I need a catnap.

Heart’s Desire

 

Just in case you’re wondering what my little heart-full-of-love hopes for on this special holiday designed especially for hearts like mine (or if you want you gift me something good, Honey. Yea, I’m talkin’ to you!) here are some of my top Valentine’s Day (and everyday) desires:

1. Antlers because the way to any girl’s heart is through a good pair of antlers, right?

2. But if antlers don’t say ‘I love you’, these Kate Spade Stud Earrings will do the trick.

3. Is this the kind of cat lady sweater I should be ashamed of? Because I’m not.

4. Does champagne even need an explanation? A bottle of bubbly is what every girl (and man, if he’s smart) needs on Valentine’s Day!

5. Arm candy, compliments of Miss Kate Spade herself. Isn’t it pretty?

6. I’m telling you right now, Stainiac was created by angels with beautiful rosy cheeks and puckered lips to match. I’m convinced. I also don’t want to live without this stuff. Treat yourself!

7. Can a girl really fall in love with a chair? I think yes.

8. And how much more do you think that girl would love her chair if it were adorned with such a lovely throw pillow? The answer is, a lot more.

9. A heart shaped mug for a heart shaped girl. Wait. That didn’t sound right.

10. And last but not least, a robin's egg tea kettle because, well, why not?

 

In all honesty, I’m the kind of girl that’s happy with a redbox and a warm body (preferably one I’m in love with) to cuddle with. Simple and easy. Honey’s like, the luckiest guy on Earth, don’t you agree?

Happy Valentine’s Day, Lovers!!

xo,

Kait

Hawai’i Pt. 5 // Aloha ‘Oe

I know what you’re thinking, and I promise, this is my last Hawaii post… from this trip. It was just such a wonderful trip, okay?! I’m not ready to let it go. It was nourishment to my soul and a sweet reminder of the island heritage that I cherish. So see? Wouldn’t you want to hold on to that forever and ever and never stop gazing at all your 1,783 pictures?! I know, me too.

We bid farewell to the beautiful Big Island on the shores of Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau. During our visit to this historic National Park, we were asked to remain quiet and reverent as we were on very sacred Hawaiian ground, and it was as if we didn’t even need to be told, the site FELT sacred. We quietly walked the grounds soaking in every bit of that paradise as we possibly could. I shed a few tears as I wandered about and quietly hummed the tune to ‘Aloha ‘Oe’ (if you know me, this is NOT weird. If you don’t know me, it totally is and I’m sorry for that). And then, as if I couldn’t be a bigger oddball, I danced right there on the shore of that awe inspiring beach because my heart was full and it just felt right, and I’m all about feelings over here. Like how I’m feeling really really grateful that I was able to share those few unforgettable days in Hawaii with my sweet Mama and my sisters (and Ben too!).

So Aloha ‘oe to that (little) Big Island of Hawai’i. Until we meet again.

… and just in case you thought I forgot which Polynesian Islands I actually DO come from, here’s proof that I didn’t. Kia Ora!!

that time we tried to take cute pictures and ended up looking awkward anyway

First things first, it was freeeeezing this weekend. Hence the awkward smiles and loads of snow. Believe me, we were just wishing for this impromptu photo-op to be over from the moment it began. But still, even with a mild case of bedhead/hat hair, my Honey is a cutie, isn’t he?
Side story: I’m a tall girl. 5’10” to be exact. I like wearing heels and vowed to someday end up with someone who would still be taller than me with heels on. I found him, all incredible 6 feet and 5 inches of him, and now when I do wear heels we just end up being the two freakishly tall people everywhere we go. End side story.
We won’t be doing anything extravagant this Valentine’s Day. We’re like that. The non-extravagant Valentine’s Day type. He’ll probably wake me up like he does most days with sweet whispers of love and morning breath, and I’ll treat him to two over-easy eggs and a slice of toast. Then he’ll shower, I’ll crawl back into bed for a few minutes and we’ll continue about our day, probably with a few “how’s your day” and “I love you” text messages in between.
I do love Valentine’s Day, don’t get me wrong, it just happens to fall in the middle of the week and we’ll both be working. So we’re postponing until the weekend when we can give each other all our time and devotion, and since we’re all about creative and cheap date ideas, I figured I’d share a few of our favorites just to give this post some sort of meaning…

1. Living room picnics (I love this one. Mostly because it always involves take-out, pajamas and a bottle of wine!)

2. Puzzles (He LOVES puzzles, so I usually take care of the hard jobs like sifting through all 1,000 pieces to pick out the edges and handling the music. You have to have upbeat music when you’re completing puzzles AND a few dance breaks. That’s key.)

3. Drives to the mountains (and then we find a hidden spot and start making out. Kidding. Or am I?)

4. Main Street (We live on Main Street in Downtown Salt Lake City. It’s no NYC, but Main Street sure does have a few hidden gems like Michelangelo's on Main, Beerhive Pub and The Off Broadway Theatre to name a few.)

5. Hiking (Endorphins, fresh air AND true love! There’s just nothing better in my book!)

Happy Valentine’s Week to all you lovebirds!!

Hawai’i Pt. 4 // Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

One of the things I love most about the Big Island is the all of the incredible lava rock that the entire island seems to be built upon. It’s everywhere you go. Deep black rock. It covers the island from shore to mountain creating massive cliffs and fields and valleys of once-flowing lava. And although it’s not exactly easy on the feet like sand is (I found out the hard way) it sure is beautiful. But what astonishes me even more than that lovely rippled lava rock is the source of it all. The volcanoes.

This summer, when Honey and I were in Yellowstone I was constantly holding my jaw in an attempt to prevent it from literally hitting the ground. It was incredible. It still is. I expected Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to be like Yellowstone with her bubbling geysers and steamy vents. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was steamy, that’s for sure, but what blew my socks right off (just kidding, I wasn’t even wearing socks) was the awesome experience of actually SEEING that lava and HEARING the thunderous roars from deep deep deep within the Earth. Seriously. Uhhhh-mazing. We got to the park in the evening because we were told that the lava is easiest seen from dusk to dark. Duh. So we wandered around the visitors center while patiently waiting for the sun to go down. As it grew darker, that big bold volcano made herself known, and I’ve never seen anything like it. It literally lit up the sky and turned the billowing clouds of vog (volcano fog) from a dark gray to a bright blood orange showing off that beautiful volcano in all it’s glory.

It was by far the highlight of my trip. I have a bucket list dream of visiting all (okay, as many as possible) of the National Parks in America, so naturally I HAD to see the volcano, but it was so much more than one step closer to checking off that bucket list. It was truly awe inspiring. It was a humbling reminder of what a beautiful and powerful planet we live on and a sweet renewal of my love for this place called Earth. I sure wouldn’t want to spend my years anywhere else.

Poor Lyndsey and her sunburned legs. I warned her!

we got the beet

I’m interrupting my Hawai’i series of posts because, well, I just feel like keeping you on the edge of your seat anxiously awaiting more tales of my grand island adventure. I’ll get to the volcano part tomorrow. That’s right, I said ‘volcano’, so now I KNOW you’re sure to come back.

Here’s the real reason for this post. I am a derrrn good cook and I want you to know it. I’m looking you right in the eye and telling you right now… I’m good. Honey’s super lucky, and I remind him allllll the time. Watch your back, Rachael Ray.

So lately I’ve been trying to commit myself to regular good cookin’. It’s been so helpful to begin menu planning and organizing my kitchen as well, but we’ll chat about all that later. The truth is, I really enjoy being in the kitchen (and someday I’ll actually have a real one) and I especially enjoy eating, so it all works out in my favor. Plus, when I cook, Honey does the dishes. Double score.

So now, I present to you, my very first recipe post. It’s a super easy one and I didn’t exactly come up with the concept (we all know it) even though I should’ve because I’d love to take full credit for this gem, but I know that once you make it you’re going to be thanking me for it anyway and gifting me your first born or something insane like that. So, you’re welcome, and don’t worry, you can keep your baby.

Roasted Beet and Arugula Salad (with candied walnuts and feta cheese)

What you’ll need:

• Bunch o’ beets
• Baby arugula
• Red onion
• Feta cheese (I use the kind with sun-dried tomatoes because YUM!)
• Raw walnut halves
• Sugar

(See. Totally easy right?)

Part One: Roast the beets

First things first. You’ve gotta roast those beets. Don’t worry, it’s easy. Would I make you do something hard? No… because then I’d have to explain it and I don’t explain hard.

-Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

-Remove the greens and tops of your beets and scrub those bad boys.

-Lay a sheet of foil on a baking sheet and tightly wrap your beets in the foil (I like to drizzle olive oil on them before I wrap.)

-Depending on the size of your beets, they can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour or more to roast. I typically check mine at 30 minutes and decide from there. Just poke them with a knife. They’ll be ready when the knife meets no resistance.

-Once your beets have roasted and cooled, use a paper towel to literally wipe away the beet skins then cut them up just the way you like them. This is my favorite part. Get your hands beet red! It’s tons of fun.

Now that that’s done…

Part Two: Candy the walnuts

Now this part is optional. I like my walnuts candied AND uncandied. Whatever floats your boat.

-Lay 1 1/2 cups of raw walnut halves on a baking sheet. In the oven (with the beets), bake your walnuts for 5 minutes. If they don’t seem toasted after 5 minutes, let them toast a minute or two longer but be careful not to burn them! Remove and let cool.

-Pour 1/2 cup of sugar into a thick saucepan and cook over medium heat. Continuously stir the sugar with a wooden spoon until it has melted and turned a medium amber color.

This is the part where you have to work fast. I learned the hard way.

-Once the sugar has melted and turned an amber color, quickly add the walnuts and stir. Make sure to coat the walnuts well. Immediately spread the sugar-coated walnuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use two forks to separate them if you need to and let them cool completely.

Part Three: The salad

Finally! The salad part. You’ve roasted your beets, you’ve candied your walnuts (if you wanted to, of course), now you’re that much closer to treating your tastebuds.

This part is pretty self explanatory, right?!

-Arrange your baby arugula the way you fancy it.

-Drop a few lovely beets onto that arugula bed.

-Sprinkle your desired amount of feta cheese (because my desired amount of feta is, quite frankly, something I should be ashamed of).

-Slice a few slivers of red onion. Add those too.

-Garnish with your desired amount of walnuts.

And ABRACADABRA! You’ve done it! Hooray!

As for my dressing, I’m a cheater and I use Hendrickson's Sweet Vinegar and Oil salad dressing because it is honestly the best stuff to ever grace the sweet face of the Earth. You can one-up me if you want and make your own dressing because this one is basically made up of only sweet vinegar and oil, but I just can’t make it the way Hendrickson’s makes it and it’s worth the $3. If you do happen to create a great dressing for your beet salad, don’t leave a homegirl hangin’, please share!!

Enjoy!

Hawai’i Pt. 3 // The time we drank from Akaka Falls

I have this ‘thing’ with Mother Nature. I guess you could call it a love affair since Honey’s okay with that. When the sun is shining bright (and the temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit) nothing can keep me locked indoors. Okay, except maybe season 5 of Sons of Anarchy, or season 50 (I’ve lost count) of Grey’s, but that’s for a different conversation because, oh yea, we’re talking about Hawai’i here!

Anyway, on this particular Hawaiian day, the sun was shining bright, the temperature was somewhere between 75-81 degrees and there was hardly a cloud in the sky, which surely we’d all agree is just the right recipe for a PERFECT day. And perfect it was! If you’ve ever dreamed of driving through real Hawaiian country (click HERE to see the route we took), I suggest you get your pretty little self a plane ticket right this instant. It. Was. Divine. Perfectly perfect (which is way better than perfect) and absolutely THE MOST beautiful, or so we thought, until 2 hours into our perfectly perfect drive from the Leeward Side to the Windward Side when we fell upon Akaka Falls State Park and ‘absolutely THE MOST beautiful’ turned into ‘absolutely-positively THE MOST incredibly-wowza beautiful’. Now believe you me when I tell you that my breath was literally taken away. Like that lovely little island just up and punched me right in the lungs. How all of this beauty can reside on one small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is beyond me, but it does! It really exists! And it’s beautiful! And breathtaking! And unbelievable! And amazing! And, oh my goodness, enough with my crazy buffoonery, just see for yourself!

 

You’re Welcome.