I’m not a full-time blogger & work in tech for my full-time gig. In my early and mid-twenties I didn’t have the best work benefits when it came to vacation time and I know a lot of people aren’t so lucky or don’t have plentiful vacation days. Many people try and bank their vacation for one big getaway during the year. In the United States there also is some sort of stigma around actually utilizing all your vacation pay for the year because many people don’t use it.…
I’m being a bit of a mopey Steph this month. Mostly because it is ridiculously cold in Seattle, and I am not going to Kona this year. I’m trying not to be all, woe is me about it, I do have lots of things planned for later in the year. I have seasonal affective disorder and four years in a row of finding some relief in sunny Kona has helped make PNW winters endurable.…
I love my job. I’m blessed to be doing something I love, but about every June/July, I find myself burning out. Overloaded, uninspired and in need of a break where I am completely cut off from email & any thought of work. It’s just how it goes. A few back to back 60 hour work weeks in June this year after no real break in 6 months made me thankful that at the last minute we booked a trip to Mexico with another couple. This was my first trip to Mexico & it was lovely. Cabo is vibrant and full of culture. The people are kind & personable. And the food is fucking delicious. I may have permanently ruined enchiladas for myself. A wildlife conservation booth by the marina let’s you hold a tiger cub that is eventually sent to a wildlife reserve. You donate to reserve to hold the cub. I would never do this if it was purely for someone else’s profit. I love animals & this little guy was too cute. They rescue these animals from black market sales & we were happy to support this cause. Senor Frogs was awesome. Cabo Pulmo is home to the…
Last year started the same way – in Kona, Hawaii – being sunburned & loving every minute of it. This year was no different, I was just happy to escape rainy, gray Seattle and spend a week in beautiful tropical Hawaii. I fly Hawaiian Air whenever I go to Hawaii – their service is great & they still serve meals on the longer flights from the mainland to the islands. Tasty Passion Fruit Boogie Boarding at Hapuna Beach After a day at the beach we stopped at the Lava Lava Beach Club for drinks & appetizers. BEAUTIFUL view – great spot to sit & have drinks. I probably would have been happy going there every single day. Snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach – great spot for Sea Turtles, was pretty crowded though. The Sheraton Resort in Kona has a great bar with a boardwalk that you can walk out onto at night and watch people snorkel with Manta Rays Dolphins frequently swam back and forth past our condo everyday. We took a pontoon boat out to Captain Cook’s monument & went snorkeling – absolutely beautiful snorkel spot. My baby humpback! Highlight of the trip for me. This little guy breached over…
Where did 2013 go? Seriously, I’ve failed pretty miserably at blogging this year, but I’ve been in my own quarter-life crisis mode trying to get it all figured out. It’s not all figured out but I’m feeling better than I was a year ago. I’ve been so busy with a move (no more commute!) and work – always work! It’s a good thing I love what I do. But I am working on posting more regularly, and for the first time in a long time I started sketching again. I still got it. Amazing what a little focus will do. And with that… It’s already been more than 2 months since my vacation in Newport Beach & Las Vegas. And another one is fast approaching! When I take a vacation somewhere in the U.S. I’ve been grouping multiple cities into one trip. Last year was L.A. & Chicago. This year was Newport Beach (for a wedding) followed by Las Vegas. Newport Beach & our dear friend’s wedding was beautiful. It was on a boat & I’m so glad we made the trip to share this day with them. Their family & friends were SO welcoming & kind. I left feeling…
Hawaii was a much needed vacation away from the grey, cold, rain filled skies of Seattle. There is no better way to reset for a new year than with a trip to paradise. We stayed in a condo on Ali’i Drive, about a mile south of Kona. Our family friends have a condo so we had our own little party the whole time. It was a short trip, 4 full days, 2 days of travel but I completely relaxed the entire time there. Every morning we would go sit down at the waterfront and watch for dolphins and whales. I am a master whale spotter for some reason and the whole time I was spotting whales left and right. Made my trip. There are dolphins just to the left of the boat. Unfortunately the iPhone camera isn’t that amazing with range. We spent one day driving the whole island. Hilo is too rainy even by Seattle standards and that is saying a lot. The east side of the island had some beautiful but fierce looking coastline. The drive to the volcano & through the park was my favorite part about the trip. We passed through as we did the island…