Tuesday, November 30

I Knoooooooow!

I know, I know, it has been way too long since I blogged.  I KNOW, I KNOW, how is anyone supposed to read this dang blog if I never write anything?  I KNOOOOOOOW ALREADY!

It's just that the holidays have officially taken over my life.  Food, decorating, family, friends, shopping and all that other gobbledy-gook.  I don't even do that much and I feel it!

Oh and I am sure I haven't mentioned it before, but the store my husband and I work at is being sold, and so we are in the process of getting all the business stuff taken care of too.

And, I am still trying to get this photography business off the ground.  It is a slow process for sure.  Designing letterhead, business cards, brochures, putting together pricing, choosing pictures for a portfolio, website design, deciding on a photo lab and all that other stuff.  But, I have managed to take some super cute photos of friends and family.  Here are some I'd like to share with you...



























And check out my photography website if you get the chance.  You can also "Like Me" on Facebook, just search for Jessica Blatnick Photography.  But, enough of my shameless advertising...

I am also SUPER excited for next week!  I am going on my first ever trip as an adult, by myself.  Really!   Can you believe it?  I am flying on an airplane.  By myself!  Well, I am going to visit someone so I won't really be by myself the whole time, but what I mean is, nobody in my immediate family is going with me.  I am going to Denver to visit my SIL and BIL because they just had a baby and I am going to go and visit and help out while I am there.  Seriously.  Can't.  Wait!  Oh, and I am sure that I will also be taking lots of baby pictures while I am there, because that is what little bundles of cuteness are for, besides loving and cuddling and kissing and adoring!!

But, I promise, it won't be another 2 weeks before I post again!

Sunday, November 14

Adventures in Food


So, Abby has been begging me for a specific meal for what seems like forever.  And I have been putting it off forever, because honestly I just wasn't sure about it.  I will give you a couple hints and let you guess...


Yep... little mini meatballs....


Yep, some spaghetti....

But here is the kicker, we didn't have spaghetti and meatballs, because really that wouldn't be an adventure in the truest sense of the word, now would it?

So, does anyone out there watch iCarly?  If you have girls of a certain pre-teen age, then you probably have at least seen a glimpse into this show.  It is, I have to say, pretty funny.  Spencer, Carly's older brother is hilarious.  I watch the show just to see him because he makes me laugh.  Anyway, Spencer makes this delicious meal...
Scroll down...


Keep going.....


I don't want to give it away just yet.....


It has to be a bit of a surprise.....


Okay, if you must know.....




Spaghetti Tacos...


Yep, I said Spaghetti Tacos!  Layered in that there taco shell are spaghetti noodles, topped with mini meatballs, smothered in spaghetti sauce (I went with the spicy sauce to make it a little mexican-y) and covered in mozarella cheese.

Gross, you say?  Oh no!  That is what you would automatically assume and yet, quite delicious in an odd sort of way.  I don't know how, but it was.  The girls each ate two.  My husband wasn't feeling very adventurous and so stuck to just spaghetti and meatballs, but I dove right in and found myself enjoying the odd meal.  The taste reminded me of something I used to eat as a kid.  I have no idea what it was, but the combination tickled a memory in the back of my brain somewhere.

So, I dare you.  Spaghetti Tacos anyone?

Thursday, November 11

Christmas 2010

Joy Love Story Holiday
Christmas cards and holiday thank you cards by Shutterfly.
View the entire collection of cards.

Monday, November 8

Sunday in Hawaii

Today we were so happy to sleep in.  Whew!  It was a busy couple of days and a little relaxation was definitely in order.  Slept in a little, got up and made some breakfast and mosied on up the east and north shore to make sure we didn't miss one single piece of the island.

Stopped at Kilauea Lighthouse on the way.  Kilauea Lighthouse is one of the nations most intact historic light stations and has been a wildlife refuge since 1985.






 The lighthouse itself is in the process of being refurbished.



Ate at Bubba's Burgers in Hanalei. Oh my GOODNESS!  Delish.  They don't make 'em fancy, just ketchup, mustard and relish and cheese if you want, but they are awesome!


Taro fields on the way back.  People don't eat much poi anymore, so there isn't a big need for the taro plant, which in turn is hurting the eco system because some birds actually live in these wet fields, but because the fields are going away, so are the birds.



And of course the day would not be complete without visiting the beach.


Well, who doesn't?


Thursday, November 4

You Gotta Be Tough

Today I am extremely grateful for ibuprofen, although I need another dose for it to actually work.  You know the soreness you get after a really good workout?  That's what I have.  It hurts so good.  The hurt that you know you are improving your body and health and your body is letting you know just how much!  The old saying is "No Pain, No Gain!"  So true.  So true! So you better be tough!

Wednesday, November 3

Saturdays are for Catamarans

My mom really wanted to do a catamaran trip.  So, why not, we are game for anything.  This was the only way to see the Northwest side of the Island, and the Na Pali Coast.  Remember this beautiful picture...




This is the Na Pali Coast looking from land.  And yes, that is my picture.  You can not even compare that picture with how beautiful it really is.


So another super early morning to get to Port Allen and get on our boat for the day.  I was a little concerned about sea sickness.  Not for myself but my kids and Andy.  So, dramamine was in order for them for sure.  


Got on the boat and started our boat trip.  It was going to be a 70 mile round trip.  But the weather was gorgeous and the ride was smooth, which was unusual according to our Captain.  It can get pretty bumpy this time of year, but not this morning.  Didn't matter though, because before we even left the port, Amy was already feeling woozy.  


Once we pulled away and the wind was blowing through her hair, she was okay, thank goodness.


Spinner dolphins, much smaller than Bottlenose dolphins.  They get there name because they jump up in the air and spin!  Cool bit of information- they weren't doing much jumping and swimming today because they were sleeping.  Do you know how dolphins sleep?  When it is time for them to sleep, they turn off half of their brain, while the other half keeps them swimming and coming up for air when they need it.  Awesome!



This beach was used in a lot of movies.


This is the other side of the picture from the top.  It was really misty that day, so kind of hard to get a clear picture, but it was beautiful.  This is where we turned around and started our trip back.


This is called Colorado Canyon (I think, it was Colorado "something")

Andy and Abby snorkeling.  No, I didn't snorkel, remember, claustrophobic.

Amy, Andy and Abby... bottoms up!

Cute kid, and really pretty fish!


On our way back to Port.




That picture of Abby was taken right before the weather started getting a little crazy!  A storm was rolling in, so all of a sudden, the swells got really big and we had to pretty much sit down and hang tight.  Andy and Amy were on the top deck, when the storm hit.  It only lasted about 3 minutes, and they weathered the whole thing, no worse for wear.  Abby and I made it down below, but being inside made Abz a little sea sick.  Luckily we only had about 5 more minutes until we got home!

So, we now know that my kids are not really sea worthy.  Me on the other hand, I think I was born to live on the ocean.  I don't need to be IN the ocean, fishes belong in the ocean but I sure do love the feeling of calm and quiet.  Today is the only day we didn't visit the beach at all.  After being on the ocean all morning, and Amy still feeling the rock of the boat when we got back to the hotel, it was nice to just hang out in the hotel and relax.  We had been going 100 miles an hour since we arrived.  Luckily, Sunday was saved for sleeping in!

Today I am thankful for all the beauty around us!