CommuniKait

2016 By The Numbers

2016-12-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

This year has been IN-SANE for us. Good, bad, ugly....all of it. We've experienced amazing highs, devastating lows and everything in between. I'm not dubbing 2016 the worst year yet like many I know, but I'm excited for the clean slate of 2017. Anyone else?

To close out the year I figured I would share all that 2016 brought us by the numbers. Kind of crazy considering I'm a words-only kinda gal -- but let's do it!

1,500 - amount of square footage we now own! HOLY CRAP - we bought a house this year!

14 - number of plane rides we took!

Arizona, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Florida and Kauai had us pretty busy this year!

A sunrise from the sky!

29.2 - number of in-race miles I clocked running in Oahu's Hapalua Half Marathon and Honolulu Marathon. I'm coming for you HNL Marathon 2017!

236 - number of blog posts written

5 - number of blog posts that had more than 15,000 page views!

10 Must-Try Recipes For Your Vitamix

Citrus Berry Chex Mix

10 Of My Best Travel Tips

7 Beach Essentials For Your Dog

Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Roll

4 - number of houses we've lived in this year...whoa!

1 - number of cars purchased. Can I just say that after sharing a car for 4 years I am SO FREAKING

EXCITED to finally have one of my own!

2 - number of blog-related awards I won - thank you BlogPaws & SheKnows!

316.8 - pounds of specially made dog food we went through for our sweet girl Judy and all her allergies. Insert wide eyed emoji here!!!

Events that I can't quite put a number on: pounds of sand in my car from happy beach days, beautiful Hawaiian sunsets, minutes spent rooting for Penn State football, time spent laughing until I cried, times I've told Bill to please stop barking, money spent on cold pressed juice and acai bowls & hours spent watching Netflix series (Man In The High Castle, Narcos, Grey's Anatomy and House Of Cards).

I'm excited for all that 2017 has to offer! How was your year? What was your favorite part?

15 Unique Places In Hawaii

2016-12-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

In all actuality, the title of this post should be...obscure observations from someone who has never been to Hawaii before. Because quite honestly, after nearly 5 years, most of this stuff seems totally normal to me, if not spectacularly cool! ::shrug::

Is anyone else fascinated with the "weird" details or cool roadside haunts in your state?

1. Coco Palms Resort was a resort hotel in Wailuā, Kauai, Hawaii. The resort was visited by numerous movie stars and was also used in scenes of Elvis Presley's film Blue Hawaii. The resort has been closed since being hit by Hurricane Iniki in 1992, but remains standing though completely deserted.

2. Located on five acres above Kailua-Kona is Tree Ring Ranch, home to various exotic animals – including a golden zebra who is distinguished by gold stripes and blue eyes.

3. The Dole Plantation’s giant pineapple garden maze was declared the world's largest by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2008. The maze is housed on more than three acres, and includes nearly 2.5 miles of paths for guests to wind through.

4. The Corsair Plan Wreck lies 100 feet deep on the ocean floor just off Oahu, where it has been guarded by eels and rays since 1946.

5. The Kukaniloko Birthing Stones, found about 100 yards from the intersection of Whitmore Avenue and Highway 80 (marked by a historical land marker) in Wahiawa, Oahu, have marked the site of royal births and power struggles for centuries.

6. Lava Tree State Monument is a public park located 2.7 miles southeast of Pāhoa in the Puna District on the island of Hawaii. It preserves lava molds of the tree trunks that were formed when a lava flow swept through a forested area in 1790.

7. Located on an isolated peninsula on the northern side of Molokai is Kalaupapa, the site of a leper colony. From 1866 to 1969, thousands of men, women and children diagnosed with leprosy were exiled to the colony by the Hawaiian government and legally declared dead. Today, visitors can travel to the colony via mule.

8. Adherents to the Raelist religion believe that we were created by Elohim aliens and also claim to have successfully cloned humans. In Volcano, on the Big Island of Hawaii, a small sculpture park was created featuring a model of a proposed galactic embassy that the group wants to build on.

9. When Katherine Burke, a former principal of Oahu's Ewa Plantation School, passed away, she left her entire estate to fund a bronze statue at her school. Today, a 9-foot-tall ax-wielding Abraham Lincoln reigns over the campus. It was the last bronze monument made in the U.S. during World War II.

10. Known as the "Father of Baseball", Alexander Cartwright's grave can be located in Oahu Cemetery.

11. St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church was erected in 1899 by Father John Velghe in Captain Cook on the Big Island of Hawaii. Without any professional training and using house paint, he painted the church with beautiful landscapes and Biblical scenes, which he later used for teaching.

12. The Byodo-In Temple is a non-denominational shrine located on the island of Oahu at the Valley of the Temples. It was dedicated in August 1968 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.13. At Kalama Park in Kihei, Maui, visitors can view a sculpture of a humpback whale on its side, resembling a whale in its natural habitat, in motion. The waters off Maui are a natural habitat for humpback whales, making the statue a natural addition to the community.

14. One of only four in the world, Papakolea Green Sand Beach provides hiking trails, scenic bay views & swimming in Naalehu on the Big Island of Hawaii.

15. Burning endlessly in remembrance of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the Eternal Flame Memorial stands just across the street from the Hawaii State Capitol Building in Honolulu. It pays tribute to the men and women who served with the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy in major and minor conflicts.

Christmas 2016

2016-12-26T19:00:00.002-05:00

Whew! What a whirlwind. I'll be the first to admit that this year, I was in a little bit of a holiday funk. For whatever reason, it just never really sunk in that it was the holidays. Regardless, our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were amazing. While none of our family was able to make it out this year, we were surrounded by friends that have become our ohana.

Christmas Eve was spent at The Modern enjoying friends, food and festive drinks. Frozen coconut mojitos, anyone?

Afterward, Dane and I had every intention of going to midnight mass, but we left at 9PM and were already exhausted. We drove around to look at Christmas lights before heading home and crawling into bed!

We woke up super early (I think 3:45) to the sound of a huge crash. The winds have been WILD here in Hawaii and knocked over a big vase of flowers in our kitchen. Needless to say, the dogs were spooked and we were all wide awake by 4:30, so we figured -- let's just go for it! Stockings, presents and lots and lots of coffee...

We enjoyed a slow morning of present opening, but soon it was time to clean up for our Christmas Day party! We were expecting 40-50 people, so I had been prepping food all week. Our guest list did not disappoint...! The mimosa bar was flowing and people were making merry and I felt so happy and content with being able to finally host a get together in our new place.

And now? Now we rest...just kidding! We actually woke up this morning to Judy being sick all over the house after she was treated to human food yesterday :( Once that was all cleaned up, we decided to just overhaul the whole house and put Christmas 2016 to bed for good. I'm left feeling refreshed and ready for 2017.

How was your holiday? What was your favorite part?

Our Christmas Traditions

2016-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's just me, but the holidays always bring about this urge inside me to make special memories. Does anyone else feel this way? Growing up, I have the best memories of my parents hosting dinner parties, building gingerbread houses, driving through neighborhoods with twinkling lights and hte list goes on and on...The entire season was special based on traditions they started when we were little kids and things they had gotten from their parents, grandparents, etc.

Today I thought I would share some of the fun traditions we have in our family during the holiday season!

1. Christmas Pajamas. This might be my all-time favorite tradition and we were doing it long before the popular XMAS JAMMIES skit by The Holderness Family! Every year, our entire family got Christmas pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. My mom always had one box for everyone underneath the tree and by the time we were a little older, we already knew what was inside! When Dane joined the family, he wasn't forgotten!

Christmas 2012 in Pennsylvania

2. Baking. My mom instilled a love of baking into my soul probably before I could even walk. The holidays meant countless hours in the kitchen baking up hundreds of dozens of cookies. We have a pretty big family, so it seemed like we were always going to an event that required a festive cookie platter. We would break out the old, worn recipe cards (some just on tattered pieces of paper) that have been passed down generations within our family and get down to work! This year it's only a couple dozen for our big Christmas party, but I love it just the same!

3. Gingerbread Houses. Oh boy, this is a fun one! Every year growing up, my parents would buy tons of bulk candy from a local candy store or farmer's market and put it all out on the counter with gingerbread houses, royal icing and lots of hot chocolate to go around. We would get busy on our houses and at the end, everyone voted on a "winner". Honestly - they were all always awesome! We carried this tradition on when I met Dane and his family and now it's inevitable that we will get a barrage of gingerbread house photos from across the country of various family members with their houses. It's fun - plus, my sweet tooth loves diving into all that sugary goodness!

One year I even sent out custom invitations with cutouts of our previous year's houses. Yes, I know - I'm as intense as it sounds about all this ;)

4. Stockings. Stockings are a BFD in our family. Arguably, they were always more exciting than the opening of the presents. Stockings just held so much wonder! We always gift wrap everything in the stocking and pack it full of treats! I make it my goal every year to see how much I can cram into Dane's, Judy's and Bill's without it falling off the stocking holder. So far - so good! Stockings are also the only part of the morning that's a free-for-all with wrapping paper flying! We took our time opening actual presents, so we could enjoy what everyone else got and also savor the morning longer!

5. Christmas Brunch. Now let's talk about the food, because the food is WHERE IT'S AT, am I right? Right. My mom always cooked a huge spread Christmas morning (I'm not entirely sure how she did it) and had our entire family over. That means a lot of people, laughter and presents all piling into my parent's kitchen, living room, family room and dining room. The best part was that it was totally casual and everyone showed up in their pajamas! It's been hard to be away from that fun event since we've moved to Hawaii, but Dane and I have hosted either a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day party since we've lived here. It's SO FUN! We love surrounding ourselves with the friends who have become family and hosting an all-you-can-eat-and-drink fiesta for the holidays. On the menu this year is cookie butter stuffed french toast, pulled pork sliders with bacon jam, regular & dairy free mac-and-cheese, roasted veggie & quinoa salad, and some really fun dips!

Now, just because I'm totally nosy and hoping you'll tell me - what's your favorite family tradition?

6 Must Visit Coffee Shops On Oahu

2016-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

If there's one thing Hawaii knows how to do right...it's coffee. From Kona coffee to blends, foam art and beyond, the islands have exactly what you need to get your day started...or to keep it going! Here are my absolute MUSTS if you happen to be visiting Oahu.

1. Green World Farms, Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii
Located right off the highway en route to Oahu's famed North Shore sits Green World Coffee Farm. A coffee grower's cafe & espresso bar with retail space that sells whole beans & Hawaiian specialties, this is a can't miss. Free samples of chocolate covered espresso beans and specialty coffee drinks keep patrons coming back for more. It helps you can relax and enjoy your coffee amongst the trees that grow your brew!

2. Coffee Gallery, Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii
Tucked inside the North Shore Marketplace sits Coffee Gallery, a cozy shop serving artisanal hand-roasted coffee from Hawaii & beyond, plus a bakery and art exhibits. Be sure to snag a spot on the porch and enjoy your beverage!

3. Arvo Cafe, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
In the trendy neighborhood of Kakaako in Honolulu sits boutique coffee sport, Arvo. An Australian inspired cafe, you can wet your palate with an assortment of toasts and specialty brew. Be sure to try out their famed Unicorn Latte!

4. Local Joe, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
When a coffee lover turned brewmaster collide, you get Local Joe. Using all locally sourced products for both coffee and baked goods, it's the only spot in the islands that offers Coffee Ripples -- the ability to put any image of your choosing in your coffee foam.

5. Waialua Sugar Mill, Waialua, Oahu, Hawaii

A historical sugar refinery turned farm and shop, the Waialua Sugar Mill is also home to delicious locally-grown coffee. Be sure to take the brief coffee tour and learn how the cup you're sipping on is brewed! This hidden hotspot can be a bit tricky to find, so be sure to have a map handy when traveling.

6. Olive & Oliver, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

Tucked inside the swanky Surfjack Hotel, sits Olive & Oliver. One part trendy designs and one part retro coffee cafe, the decor alone makes me want to visit here daily. The cute cups and delicious brew are just an added bonus ;)

Life Lately + Birthday Weekend Recap

2016-12-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

Man, life lately has kind of seemed like a whirlwind. Dane and I got into bed last night and couldn't figure out why our legs felt so heavy and sore. I don't think we sat down once the past 3 days! I said it before and I'll say it again - it hasn't felt like the holidays around here. For better or for worse, we've been going through the motions, but I'm not as gung-ho as I usually am when it comes to festivities, decor, shopping, etc. I got my shopping done before December began, wrapped and shipped it, slapped up the tree, banged out a few rounds of cookies and wham bam - done. Checked the box. I feel like a Scrooge about it, so tell me I'm not alone here?!

Friday night we had a Christmas themed party where Dane and I went as the memorable "Dick In The Box" skit from Saturday Night Live. We got lots of laughs and enjoyed a great night with friends who have become like family.

We overindulged at the party, so we got up early Saturday and hit the gym, where just 6 days after choking at the marathon, I clocked a 5k PR. So much of running is mental and it felt really good to see a positive result from myself, which was so needed to keep myself motivated.

After the gym, we ran a boat load of errands. Returns, house things, holiday things, the grocery store...every type of errand you might imagine. We got home just in time to rearrange a couple more things at the house, shower and get dressed for Shinola's Christmas party in downtown Waikiki. Shinola is a lifestyle brand out of Detroit, best known for their leather watches and goods. Dane has one of their watches and LOVES it! I would highly recommend them. Not sponsored whatsoever, just genuinely love the brand ;) Afterward, we went to go see Collateral Beauty with Will Smith - oh man, I can't say enough good things about this film. Do yourselves a favor and go see it this holiday season!

Sunday was Dane's birthday and we started the day by waking up at the crack of dawn to go watch the sunrise on the other side of the island. Our original plan was to do a sunrise hike, except the amount of rain we've had recently flooded out the trail and it was just a recipe for disaster. We settled for some powdery sand and watched the sun light up the turquoise water.

After the beach we came home, washed the dogs, clipped their nails, cleaned their ears and made sure the guys outside fixing up our fence for the Houdini Dogs was all set. Once we did all that, we came inside and chowed down on some homemade cinnamon rolls - hey, it's only your birthday once a year right? #eatup After, we totally tornado-ed our house. Unpacked, sorted, organized, and cleaned. It feels SO GOOD that our house is finally taking shape. Last night, our good friends came over for dinner, because Dane was dying to test out his birthday present from me - a new grill!

We sang to the birthday boy with a special ice cream cake, chatted and laughed until our stomachs hurt. Dane said that so far 32 is off to a great start!

I promise, a bigger house tour is coming soon! It just takes me dusting off the ole DSLR ;)

How was your weekend? What are you doing for the holidays? Tell me everything!

Birthdays + The Holidays...A Conundrum

2016-12-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

This post was sponsored by Baskin-Robbins as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

If anyone else has a birthday within the two week period before/after Christmas...this post is for you! My birthday is just slightly outside the two week window, but I always got annoyed when people would either 1. Give me something wrapped in leftover Christmas paper -- UH UH. or say 2. Oh, this is for both holidays! I'm sorry, do you say that to people who are born in June? No, no you do not.

It didn't happen too often for me, but poor Dane is born exactly one week before Christmas. It never fails that people either forget his birthday with the chaos of the holiday, can't come to parties because they'll be out of town with their own families or mix the two by gifting him something in Santa paper (come on - NO).

When we first met, I made a mental note in my mind to always make his day special and that no Christmas activities would happen on that day. No gingerbread house building, no ice skating, no caroling, no shopping - all birthday fun! Particularly no baking, unless of course, it was his cake. This year, he requested an ice cream cake after he saw them on display at Baskin-Robbins. We have been shying away from dairy in recent months, but he told me he couldn't stop thinking about it and wanted a real treat! I'm used to making his cake, so when he told me this is what he wanted, I think I heard angel's singing. #tooeasy

If you are one of those people who have more than holidays to celebrate this season, listen up! When I went to pick up Dane's birthday cake, I learned that Baskin-Robbins is actually offering two delicious ice cream desserts this year that are perfect for any celebration. Dane's birthday cake was a custom pizza made with the OREO^® Cookies, chocolate ice cream and peppermint ice cream mixed together and topped with sprinkles. For the holidays, Baskin-Robbins is offering Peppermint & Winter OREO^® Cookies Polar Pizza, which features a double fudge brownie crust with Peppermint ice cream, topped with Winter OREO^® Cookie Pieces and drizzled with marshmallow and fudge topping. They're also offering a Ganache Poinsettia Cake, which is an elegant and decadent 9” round ice cream cake topped with a poinsettia and Winter OREO^® Cookies. Both are fantastically festive and perfect for any and all partie!

We are hosting a big Christmas Day party this year, so I snagged one for our guests and had them personalize the top at no additional charge! Nothing says Christmas in Hawaii quite like cooling down with some ice cream cake, am I right?

The best part? You can order them both online, so that when you're ready, you can just pop over to the store and grab your goods! Not only that, you can score $2.00 off both in store and online with the coupon below! #yourewelcome

While I was in the store, I got to sample their seasonal ice cream flavor, Peppermint Bark in the Dark -- creamy chocolate ice cream with peppermint bark chunks. I wanted to snag a pint to share with Dane, but the store was out! Agh! I plan on heading back later this week to pick one up for our holiday festivities...or maybe just to indulge with a Christmas movie!

What are you enjoying for dessert this Christmas?

5 On Friday

2016-12-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's here, sweet glorious weekend!

This week flew by for me, anyone else? I don't know if it's that Christmas is right around the corner or that we've had a crazy busy week, but I'm not complaining one bit. A crazy Christmas theme party is calling my name tonight and Dane and I are taking the anything-but-clothes approach. Don't worry - I'll definitely be posting on social media! Be sure to follow my Instagram stories here.

1. Yesterday, Bill & Judy escaped from our fenced yard and were missing for 15 minutes before I was able to track them down. I have to say, it was the longest 15 minutes of my life. I was frantically calling their names, shaking a treat box and running up and down our street (in glittery gold slippers and matching pajamas) trying to figure out where they had gone. They have never escaped before, so all that was running through my mind was that they had gotten hit by a car, picked up by a stranger or worse. Thankfully, my sweet neighbor spotted them five yards down and we corralled them safely back home. Here, they had managed to jump our retaining wall (over 5 feet), climb across it tight rope style to the neighbor's house, walk down their steps and shimmy out their gate. It was chaotic, but you better believe there is a construction crew at my house RIGHT NOW locking shit down. There will not be any more Houdini antics at the Hanson house!

2. I think part of the reason my week flew by so quickly was that I had training for a new job I'll be starting in January. My work has always trended more toward the freelance/creative side of things and don't get me wrong - I love that. But I constantly felt like I needed to do more. Be more. Do something meaningful. Does that sound weird? I don't know, maybe I'm an anomaly. Regardless, when I had some off time this summer, I went back to school and began getting my certification for teaching. Wait, WHAT? I know - crazy talk. The truth is - I've always been interested in helping teach others why or how. In a former life, it was speech writing and speech delivery. After that, it was media training. And then it was social media consulting. So, I guess you could say that I've been teaching for awhile in some capacity, but this new role is just a little bit different.

I'm so excited to say I'll be teaching military men and women who want to better themselves in a partnership the U.S. Army has with the Hawaii DOE. These men and women are either seeking to advance in their military career or transition into a civilian job and I couldn't be more excited to be helping them with the classes they need. I'll admit - I'm a little bit nervous! But I know that once I get into the swing of things and get into a routine it's going to be so fulfilling. I really can't wait!

3. A friend of mine sent me this articleto me on Tuesday and I couldn't stop laughing. The 2016 Hater's Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog is for anyone who seems to be lost in a sea of tartan this holiday season and is, quite frankly, fed up with holiday hoopla.

4. For any dog parents out there, don't forget to enter this giveaway for an amazing pack of SmartBones Chews for your four-legged friend and a $25 VISA gift card for YOU! There aren't too many entries, so your chances are WAY HIGH! Judy & Bill are picking a winner on Sunday, so stay tuned :)

5. Is it me or did this holiday season come at us like a wrecking ball? I can't believe we are in single digits until Christmas. I have to be honest - I didn't go crazy this year like I normally do with anticipation. I did my shopping, put up our tree and sent out our cards, but it more-or-less felt like just going through the motions. I'm going to chalk it up to buying a house, packing, moving and just general upheaval. I'm already looking forward to the fresh slate of 2017.

What are your big plans for the weekend? Tell me everything!

Linking up for 5 On Friday

How To Use The VA Loan + FAQ

2016-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

So, I'll be totally honest -- for so long, the idea of buying a house scared me and confused me to the point of me not even looking into it or considering it. It seemed so daunting with all those big numbers and terms I was not familiar with. If anyone else is nodding their head, stick around!

I always knew Dane was eligible to use the VA Loan, but I never really thought too much about it, because buying a house always seemed so far out of reach, especially with the cost of living in Hawaii. When we decided we would be staying in Hawaii after Dane left active duty, we knew it was time to get down to business and understand the process.

I am one of those people that has to understand something inside and out before I sink my teeth in, so I came to our lender and real estate agent with a boat load of questions and I also scoured the internet for answers. I figured if there was anyone else out there who felt even remotely like I did, I would put together a post of all the questions I had and the answers I got. Keep in mind that these are the terms for using the VA Loan in Hawaii, which we have found is a bit different than other areas of the country.

So, let's get to it!

1. What is the VA Loan?

The VA Loan is a loan opportunity for veterans to buy a home. (I know, it seems straightforward, but heck -- someone might not even know this resource is available!)

2. How much can I get a VA Loan for?

It ranges depending on where you live, but for Honolulu County, you can get a VA Loan for up to $721,000.

3. Do I have to put cash down?

No. The beauty of the VA Loan as opposed to a traditional loan (i.e. one you could get from a normal lender and not the VA that usually requires 10-20% cash down) is that it does not require you to put cash down. That said, you certainly can if you want/are able.

4. How much does it cost to use the VA Loan?

It costs nothing to use the VA Loan. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you and your spouse are able to use the loan benefit.

5. What about closing costs?

This part is a little bit murky. The VA Loan states explicitly that they want to make home buying affordable for EVERYONE, not just a small percentage of veterans, so they limit the amount of charges at closing.That said, the amount is limited - not non-existent. You will still need to pay something...more on that in a minute.

6. So I found a house for $400,000 but my lender is telling me that my loan amount is $415,000. What is going on?

Don't freak out! The VA has what is called the VA Funding Fee (some veterans with a certain disability rating are exempt from this fee), which essentially enables the VA to continue allowing this benefit. Instead of a monthly PMI (mortgage insurance that goes along with using a traditional loan), the VA has what is referred to as the funding fee. The first time you use your VA Loan, this fee is 2.15% of the total loan cost.

*Now, it's important to remember that you can roll this fee into your loan OR pay it outright at settlement. Most people finance the fee into their loan (100% acceptable), but more power to you if you have that money in your back pocket and ready to spend.

7. Okay, so I found a house and am ready to go to settlement. Why is my lender telling me I will need to bring money with me? I thought there were limited or no closing costs?

There are loopholes to every rule, right? Right. With that in mind, there are things you will have to pay for at closing a.k.a. when you can get the keys to your new place. For costs associated with the loan, you will usually have to pay an origination fee, appraisal fee, home inspection fee and title charge. Sometimes you'll even need to pay for the credit report the lender had to run to get your credit score and other information. For non-loan related costs, you will need to pay recording fees (the people who write down and verify you are the new owner on a state level), prepayment of your property taxes and homeowners insurance, prorated interest (unless you settle on the 31st of any given month), and any HOA fees associated with the property.

*It's important to note here that in Hawaii, you do not get your keys at your closing. Your money has to sit in escrow for 48 hours before you are able to get the keys!

8. How long does this process take?

Gosh this is such a a good question. I hate to put any specific time allotment on any part of this process, because I can only speak for our particular situation. For us, it took a total of 45 days once our offer was accepted by the seller. After our offer was accepted the first step was filling out paperwork for both our escrow agent and our lender. From there, we faxed in all the information they requested (it's a lot, so be prepared) and set up our housing inspection. After the inspection, we set up our VA Appraisal. *THIS PART TOOK THE LONGEST* (Apparently VA Appraisers are notoriously particular about things). The next steps all sort of happened at once but it was more signatures, more paperwork, some check writing and finally..the keys to our new place! I was grateful for the 45 days, as to not rush a single part of the process and for us to fully understand what every signature was for (and believe me there's a shit load).

Whew! I know that was kind of a lot of information and if you're not in the home buying process you're probably like - WTF?! I know - I get it. I was there once, too.

Have you ever used the VA Loan? I would love to hear about your experience!

How #WellnessPet Is Committed To Helping Pets In Need

2016-12-15T02:11:00.001-05:00

This post is sponsored by Wellness and the BlogPawsTM Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share the availability of Wellness Products at PetSmart, but I only share information I feel is relevant to my readers. Neither Wellness nor PetSmart is responsible for the content of this article.

I think it's safe to say 2016 was a doozy. There are so many awful things that have happened and are happening in this world, but one thing that always stops me in my tracks is animal welfare. When I see pets neglected, animal abuse, malnutrition, (the list goes on)....my heart just aches. Not because I think animals are more important than humans (TBH - I think they're equal), but because animals have no voice to cry out for help. Humans are their voice. And like many other things in life, when we turn a blind eye, it's silent approval. Does anyone else feel this way?

Just the thought of anything happening to these two absolutely tears me up inside!

When I started thinking about transitioning Bill from puppy food to Wellness® Complete Health™, I read a ton about every single brand I was considering. One thing that stuck out about Wellness (aside from their grain free recipes and high quality ingredients), was their commitment to giving back through their WellPet Foundation.

The WellPet Foundation was established in 2007 to support groups whose goals were similar to the values and goals of Wellness - helping pets live healthier, happier and longer lives. WellPet supports organizations and activities that promote the power of natural nutrition and the benefits of healthy and active lifestyles.

Most recently, during the flooding in Louisiana, the Companion Animal Alliance of BatonRouge (CAABR) took in approximately 650 displaced dogs and cats. The WellPet Foundation stepped in and donated 50,000 pounds of food to the CAABR and nearby shelters. Additionally, the WellPet Foundation is responsible for the largest in-kind donation to PetSmart Charities for distribution to five shelters in Arizona and Indiana serving pets in need. How cool, right?!

Responsibility - Passion - Commitment

These are the words that define the work of the WellPet Foundation to do the very best for the pets that provide us with unconditional love, trust and companionship.

These are two of my favorite shelter friends. I always go and tell them how beautiful they are when I drop off supplies and toys/treats/food.

I've always gotten so much gratification by paying it forward at local shelters by donating my time and unused pet supplies, so it made me really happy to see a large corporation doing the same on such a grand scale. Can you imagine if we all just paid it forward a little bit the impact we might have?

With the holidays nearly here (hello, 10 days for you fellow Christmas celebrators), I'm challenging everyone reading to find a way to pay-it-forward this holiday season - for pets or otherwise!

"Be The Change You Wish To See In The World"

(sorry, I couldn't help myself - I just really love that quote!)

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wellness. The opinions and text are all mine.

Gifts For The Person Who Has Everything

2016-12-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

We all have these people on our list, right? Please tell me I'm not the only one who has friends and relatives who literally have one of everything and if they come to realize they need something - they buy it themselves.

What's a girl to do?

For the person who has everything, I always turn to Uncommon Goods. This whimsical website is chock full of ideas for men, women and children and always leaves me feeling like...I need to bookmark this for so-and-so's next birthday! Whether you're gifting a long lost relative who just decided they were coming for your holiday party (holy hell - what now?!), your mom who already buys what she needs or mailman -- these are my top picks for the person who already has it all.

Aside from it being a stop, drop and roll resource for gift-giving, I love that Uncommon Goods provides a platform for artists and creatives to sell their work and be recognized. As an independently owned business, they are also able to support causes that impact the world in a positive way and since the inception of their giving program, Better To Give, have donated over one million dollars. ONE MILLION. That's huge! Gifting & giving - I love it.

So now that you've got your finger on the mouse trigger, let's do this...!

For The Family: These Table Topics are perfect gifts for family friends or the new neighbor that just moved in down the street. Each acrylic cube holds 135 conversation-starting topics that get people thinking and talking. They're great for parties where all guests aren't familiar with one another and come in a variety of themes, such as "Teen" and "What Would You Do?".

For The Cocktail Connoisseur: I really love the idea of gifting whimsical I-would-never-buy-this-for-myself gifts for your favorite imbiber like these Himalayan Salt Tequila Glasses or the Carry On Cocktail Kit (I like the Moscow Mule variety, while Dane would prefer the Old-Fashioned one!) -- perfect for those long flights to Hawaii ;)

For The Foodie: Who doesn't like to eat? I take the same approach with chef-centric gifting as I do with the drink lover - get them something they would never buy for themselves! Heck, they already have everything else, right? Right. This Grow Your Own Salsa Kit or Artisanal Salt Chest both have an element of fun (I'm secretly already thinking of recipes I could make with all those types of salt...!).

For A Practical Person: We all know someone who only appreciates practical gifts and that's not a bad thing! This Shower Squid puts the fun in functional and makes the perfect gift for nearly anyone on your list. I secretly want one for myself!

Now tell me, what is your favorite gift on this list?!

Judy + Bill's Favorite Dog Treats

2016-12-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

This post has been sponsored by SmartBones, but all opinions are mine alone with the helpful input of my dogs, Judy + Bill.

Am I alone in having dogs with insatiable appetites? Let me rephrase -- dogs who think they're ALWAYS hungry?

Who, us?

I know, it's a Lab thing, but surely other dogs of this nature exist. I know my dogs want to eat constantly, but they each get two square meals a day and I try to balance out what snacks they get in the in-between. I figured since there are quite a few dog owners here, I would share their favorites!

Because my Labs are each special in their own way, they rarely share treats unless they're homemade my me. Judy has a slew of allergies, so I try to be extra careful with anything store bought for her. Bill eats just about anything, which makes things a bit easier, but I am still cautious about anything off a shelf -- have you ever seen the ingredients on some of those labels?! Scary.

One of the items they both enjoy are antlers which my mom buys at the local Tractor Supply store in PA (no judgement - that place is freaking awesome) and ships to me. We have a hard time finding them out here, so it's always a happy mail day when they arrive. Judy & Bill also enjoy my homemade dog treats, particularly this frozen pumpkin & yogurt recipe, as well as baby carrots and apple slices.

When I'm actually at the store buying treats for Bill, I know I can count on SmartBones® by PetMatrix. I've sung the praises of these chews before, but it bears repeating for any other parents of chew-happy hounds who might be new around here. The 4-1-1: SmartBones® chews are completely rawhide-free (SO IMPORTANT), highly digestible and help satisfy that natural instinct dogs have to chew. They also come in a wide variety of flavors like sweet potato and peanut butter.

That said, you can imagine how excited I was when I learned that in addition to chews, PetMatrix now offers SmartNaturals®, a 100% natural meat treat. SmartNaturals® are available in two varieties, made with grass fed beef and sweet potatoes or grass fed lamb and rosemary. Bill prefers the lamb & rosemary combo and my only real complaint is that he gobbles them down so quickly, as opposed to the chews that keep him busy for a little bit. We are still working on commands with him (you could say he's a slow learner...), so these have been great for rewarding good behavior.

Below are Bill's favorites from PetMatrix and what he's hoping Santa Paws puts in his stocking this year!

And because the fabulous folks at SmartBones® are convinced your pup will love them just as much as Bill, they're sending one of you a variety pack for your pooch to test out, as well as a $25 VISA gift card. All you need to do is let me know in the comments - what the #1 thing on your dog's Christmas list is this year? Endless blankets for snuggling? A limitless supply of peanut butter? We want to know!

We will be selecting the winner on Sunday, December 18th, so enter now :) Judy & Bill hope your pets have a paw-some holiday!

Honolulu Marathon 2016: I'm Not A Finisher

2016-12-12T01:14:00.001-05:00

I think it's safe to say that this is not the post I had in mind for today. In fact, I had a post that was titled much differently and I probably would have started with a photo of confetti or beer or malasadas (Portugese donut that is wildly popular in Hawaii) -- but I don't have any of those things.

Special thanks to New Balance and Athleta for supporting me in this endeavor!

Let's rewind to Sunday morning. Dane and I woke up bright and early at 2:45 to get down to the start area in time. It takes us a good 40 minutes to get there, plus with traffic and trying to navigate parking, we wanted to make sure we could get to the start by 4:15AM at the latest. Those port-o-potty lines are no joke!

So we parked the car, walked to the start, found a place to go to the bathroom one last time and made our way to the start line with about 10 minutes until blast off. I was feeling so good, mostly excited, but with a tinge of nervous energy. I had felt the same way for my half marathon, so I figured it was a good sign. The only things I was really worried for on race day was a pesky IT band injury, couple with bursitis in my hip. I have been combating both for several weeks now, so I knew that if anything gave me trouble - it would be that.

The fireworks launched and it was GO TIME!

via Star Advertiser

Dane and I had agreed to stay together no matter what; our only goal was to finish together. We blew through miles 1-3 keeping a great pace (for us) at 9-11 minute miles. I had heard horror stories about expending tons of energy up front, so I was cautious to blow too much energy trying to make any specific times.

At mile 4, we stopped to go to the bathroom again. Nervous peeing, I would say. LOL! And took off again. Mile 6 began the uphill climb of Diamondhead Crater and while winded, I felt good. I realized pretty quickly I hadn't spent nearly enough time on hills, but I was still feeling great.

At mile 9, our friend Jill was waiting with ice cold water, bananas and Clementine oranges. They tasted so good, plus it was nice to see a happy, smily face cheering for us as we rounded the corner into Hawaii Kai and the sun began to rise.

We were still keeping a pretty good pace, but the stop-and-go was starting to wear on me. At mile 11 after getting some Gatorade, I motioned to Dane I needed to walk, because something just wasn't quite sitting right. I wasn't cramping, but I felt a wave of nausea I had never felt before while running or any other type of exercise. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

At 11.6, I projectile vomited all over the side of the road, but felt instantly better. I have known people to vomit while running, so I wasn't overly concerned. I honestly was just happy to have it "out of my system" so we could get a move on.

Except it didn't get out of my system...it rooted itself there and got comfy. At miles 12, 13, 14 and 15, I was stopping to vomit. Each time afterward, I would stop at the water stations, rinse my mouth, try to sip the water, feel a tad better, start to run, puke....rinse, wash, repeat. The sun was starting to get pretty hot and at mile 16 when I doubled over to puke, it wasn't stopping this time. I (fortunately or unfortunately) happened to do this right in front of a police officer who took one look at me and said I needed medical attention.

To say I was not interested in that would be a total understatement. I didn't know what was wrong with me (though I had a sneaking suspicion dehydration was at work), but I knew I didn't want the fanfare of medical teams, stretchers, ambulances and the like. Unfortunately, I wasn't getting an option. Once at the medical tent, they poked and prodded and realized my blood oxygen level was at 87 and I was well on my way to severe dehydration. There was no way they were letting me back out on the course, even if I wanted.

Heartbreaking doesn't begin to cover how I felt in that moment and now. I feel like a failure. Running this marathon and completing it is something I have worked toward since the beginning of this year and all I can say is that - for someone who wasn't even able to run a solid mile in January, 16.1 by the end of the year is something to be damn proud of. It's certainly not the finish I had hoped for, and 26.2 is going back on my bucket list for 2017, but I can only be proud of myself for listening to my body and recognizing when enough was enough. Had I continued, I'm not sure what would have happened, but it doesn't really matter at this point.

My friend Marissa is adorable and had this sign for me!

I trained hard and worked hard nearly every day for a year (A FREAKING YEAR) to make this dream a reality and I didn't get my medal or finisher shirt, so I think it's only natural to feel a bit deflated. But I'm not giving up. I will be getting that finisher medal and t-shirt next year. For now, I'm hanging up my running sneakers for the rest of the year and giving myself some time to rest up and prepare for 2017 - a year full of races, running and REDEMPTION.

*I also wanted to take some time to make a note here that I almost didn't write this post, but SO MANY of you have reached out in the past week or so saying how I've either inspired them with my running stories on Instagram or Snapchat or have given them the courage to try out running on their own. I will be the first to tell you that for a very long time -- running was not my thing unless someone was chasing me. I have made a conscious effort to fall in love with it to improve my body and my health and it's a slow process that can be frustrating and heartbreaking (like today). But it's also such a real, genuine process, which I think is so important to recognize. If anyone out there is reading and been following along, know that it's okay to not reach goals sometimes, because the fact that you are trying or have tried says that your heart is there already.

Thank you everyone for following along and being my virtual cheer team through this journey! It's not over ;)

5 On Friday

2016-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Going into this weekend I'm feeling all sorts of anxious...Sunday is the marathon! Don't worry, I'll be reporting back on Monday to let everyone know ~~if I survived~~ how I did. Going into it, I have no goals except to finish. Much like my half marathon in April, I really just made this goal to challenge myself. Come back Monday for all the details!

But enough of that...let's dive right in to what I'm loving this week, shall we?

1. First and foremost - I'm loving that I'm living in a house that is ALL MINE! Holy hell, I'm a homeowner and it's equal parts amazing and overwhelming. You know how it goes when you're just so anxious to make a space your own. Yeah, I'm there. But don't you all worry -- I've got LOTS of home tours in the works :) Stay tuned!

Bill's face gets me every single time, LOL!

2. A good friend from my past life working in sports reached out this week and told me about an exciting new venture. Together with his business partner, they launched Styl. Styl is an app for smartphones that allows you to crowd source style advice in a flash. Download HERE.

How many times have you been in a dressing room or shopping online and just can't decide?! Your BFF isn't texting back and your significant other is MIA. We've all been there. Styl is a community of fashion forward thinkers at your fingertips! I love 2 very specific things about it:

a. it's FREE. Yes, I know. Straight from the founder's lips: "I don't think asking for sound advice should cost money." Damn straight. Me either.

b. It comes with the option of doing a side-by-side frame. So if you can't decide between two different dresses/coats/whatever - it will ask if you want to do a side-by-side or a single view. Thank you app developer Gods for not forcing me to try to figure out a pic collage in a dressing room.

3. Thanks for all the love on yesterday's post about what we eat. I never really thought about it, but quite a few of you sent me notes that you really liked it and felt inspired. So -- HECK YEAH FOR THAT! Some of you wanted to know what spiralizer I use and it's this one from Amazon.

4. In an effort to meet and make nice with the new neighbors, I made about 409745 dozen cookies, packaged them up and included this note on them with some ribbon. I need for them to learn early on that the crazy runs deep! ;) But! They all seemed really excited and everyone is SO nice that it made the effort totally worth it. Plus, any excuse to whip up cookies and find my baking groove again is totally Kait-approved.

5. If you're hosting a party this holiday season, don't forget to make my DIY Peppermint Tray. 10 minutes and little bit of effort and you will have a total conversation starter! Not to mention, people will think you're SUPER crafty & creative. It can be our little secret!

Tell me what you're loving this week! Who is ready for the holidays?

Linking up for 5 On Friday

A Week Of Eating At The Hanson House

2016-12-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I was talking to sweet Erica over at Whimsical September and she expressed to me that she would love to see what Dane and I eat Monday-Friday, so here I am today! Our eating habits are a little bit different from where they used to be, but that has, overall, made us much healthier and happier. I've blogged before about our adventures with paleo, but I've never really done a follow up for that.

I'll come right out and say that we don't follow any specific plan to the letter. We mix a lot of vegetarian, paleo and Whole30 concepts to come up with an eating plan that works for us. The key for us was finding something that we could stick with, and not look forward to it being "over". Does that make sense? We eat painfully healthy Monday-Friday, usually have a cheat day somewhere on the weekend and by Sunday night, we are back to our clean eating ways.

I took a sampling of what we've eaten for the past two weeks, but it's usually some variation on this menu, plus any fun new recipes I find on Pinterest. I'm always sharing what we're eating on my Instagram story so be sure to follow along there, too :)

For starters, it's important to know that I buy in bulk at Costco. I could sing the praises of that store all day long. Sunday is a huge prep day for me because of this. I try to prep as much as possible for us so that lunches and dinners are a no-brainer. When there's a plan, you're less likely to stray.

Lunches at our house (week or weekend) are always Buddha bowls these days. We got hooked on them when we were back in PA this summer after we saw 1. how easy they are with some prep work and 2. how freaking delicious they are, not to mention good for your body.

So what makes a good Buddha bowl? Veggies, veggies and some quinoa. I chop (or spiralize) cauliflower, peppers, onions, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus and Brussel sprouts and keep them in fresh lock containers individually in the refrigerator. I also cook a big batch of quinoa and store that in a separate container. Other toppings include: spinach, cabbage, beets, avocado, rotisserie chicken, sesame tofu, radishes and sprouts. I always have chickpea hummus and white bean hummus on hand, as well as roasted red peppers, as easy toppings. Each night, it's a DIY Buddha Bowl Bar at our house prepping for lunch the next day. One of the nicest things about these bowls is that they are hearty enough to be filling and can be completely customized to your liking!

Monday: We usually incorporate meatless Monday into our routine. Our go-to is spaghetti squash with red sauce (homemade if possible, because canned usually has a TON of sugar) or pesto. I also have become a huge fan of Gardein crumbles sauteed in coconut oil and garlic with onions, peppers and cauliflower. Then add in red sauce and zoodles and oh man - it's so dang good.

Tuesday: Salad with shrimp. I chop up a head of Romaine and add some of the toppings from the Buddha bowls, saute a couple jumbo shrimp for each of us and - done!

Wednesday: Veggie bake is my favorite, because like Buddha bowls, you can make it your own. If you are in the process of cleaning out your refrigerator - just add what you have! We typically go with sweet potatoes, parsnips, Brussels, carrots, asparagus and onions -- and LOTS of them. Chop them all up, throw in some coconut oil and spices and roast at 375 until everything is tender. I always top mine with lime juice and balsamic.

**I save veggie bake for Wednesdays usually because by this time some of the pre-chopped Buddha veggies need to be cooked or they will go bad!

Thursday: Veggie bake with chicken. Essentially Wednesday (or Wednesday leftovers) with shredded chicken breast. I typically serve this with a variation of Whole30 compliant mayo and hot sauce.

Friday: If Friday isn't our cheat night/date night, I will typically go to salad with roasted veggies or salad with salmon. We eat A LOT of salmon. My favorite way to eat it is with lemon pepper on top and then an apple cider based salad dressing. Mmm it's so good!

We also really like soups and different styles of chili. As it starts to get "colder" here in Hawaii, those are making their way into the rotation :)

What does a week of meals look like at your house?

15 Fun Facts About Hawaii

2016-12-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

I'll be perfectly honest -- before I moved to Hawaii, I didn't know much except that I planned to lay on the beach every single day. HA! That's a bit laughable now, but I feel like I've learned so much in such a short amount of time, it would be criminal not to share! Today, I'm dishing 15 fun facts I've learned about the great Aloha State :)

1. Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.) There is no daylight savings time. The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

2. The state of Hawaii is composed of eight main islands(in order from northwest to southeast): Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.

3. Honolulu is the largest city in the world based on borders. According to the state constitution, any island (or islet) not named as belonging to a county belongs to Honolulu. This makes all islands within the Hawaiian Archipelago, that stretch to Midway Island (1,500 miles northwest of Hawaii) part of Honolulu. Honolulu is about 1,500 miles long, more than halfway across the 48 contiguous states.

4. Molokai was once the home of the world's largest pineapple plantations.

5. Ka Lae, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the southernmost point in the United States and is located at 18:54:49 N 155:41:00 W.

6. Measured from its base at the bottom of the ocean floor, Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii is the tallest mountain in the world.

7. Billboards are illegal here! Hawaii is one of four states that have outlawed billboard signage. The others are Alaska, Maine, and Vermont.

8. Hawaii has no snakes -- and it's illegal to bring them. The only legal snakes are kept at the zoo.

9. Flower leis are a customary tradition throughout the Hawaiian Islands. These hand-woven floral masterpieces are presented at nearly every celebration.

10. Hawaii is the only U.S. state with a tropical rain forest.

11. The Iolani Palace, located in Honolulu on Oahu, is the only royal palace in the United States.

12. At 3,000 feet deep, 7.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide, Haleakalā is the world's largest dormant volcano. The name in Hawaiian means 'House of the Sun'.

13. The Hawaiian Archipelago is the largest island chain in the world, spanning 1,523 miles.

14. Hawaii is the most isolated population center on earth. The chain of islands is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

15. Hawaii is nicknamed 'The Aloha State', because 'aloha' is the most commonly used word in the Hawaiian language, meaning hello, goodbye, love, best wishes, and more.

The Ultimate 2016 Gift Guide For Everyone On Your List

2016-12-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

You know me - I'm a shopper from way back. Sick in bed? Shop online. Have a bad day? Hit the mall. Need a mood lift? Walk around Target. You see where this is going. As much as I love shopping, I also love giving gifts. There's something so special about picking out a gift for someone that you know they'll love and that's part of why I love the holidays so much.

This year, I kept it simple on gift guides and am giving it to you all in one place! I created lists for ladies based on what's on my list this year, for men based on what Dane is getting and has received in recent years (and loved!), as well as a list of all Judy & Bill's favorites!

Happy Shopping!

Okay so no real surprises here from me - a little hair/makeup, some clothes and a few functional pieces.
Sultra Curling Wand: Full disclosure - I use this bad boy daily and love it! By daily I mean as often as I wash my hair and for touch ups here and there. It's a MUST.

I Heart Keenwah Chocolate Puffs: The perfect snack! Equal parts sweet and salty...mmmm!

Blank Denim Jeans: I blame Kelsey for my addiction to ripped denim...

Kylie Lip Kit: Okay so I admit, I'm not a fan of the Kardashians, but I AM a fan of lip color staying on all day. I'd be willing to give this a try if I got it in my stocking!

Turkish Towels: A swanky little upgrade for your shower routine

Bath & Body Works Candles: The Leaves scent is by far my favorite!

Rifle Paper Co Prints/Cards: I love the whimsical designs from Rifle Paper Co & this Hawaii print hangs proudly in my house already :)

Le Creuset Dutch Oven: This cookware is what kitchen dreams are made of!

Shinola Watch: Dane has yet to take his off since I gifted it to him earlier this year!

HydroFlask: By far the best water bottles around! My ice stays in there for 3 days -- not joking!

Happy Socks: Dane loves these for work days and they're perfect for a stocking stuffer!

Vineyard Vines Slim Fit Polos: They have the best fit of the MANY that have come through our door, plus they come in a ton of colors.

The Tie Bar Bow Ties: Dane likes these because they are affordable AND high quality!

The Big Green Egg: We are hoping Santa may drop this off at our new house this year. After spending the summer with my parents (who have the most amazing outdoor kitchen setup), we are determined to smoke everything!

Sugarfina Pale Ale Gummies: A delectable little stocking treat! For the true booze aficionado, stock their sock with this bevy of cocktail-inspired candy!

Duluth Pack Portfolio Bag: I've been on the hunt for a bag Dane could carry to work that was functional, yet durable. I think I've found it in this Duluth Pack!

And what kind of #crazydoglady would I be if I didn't give you suggestions for your four legged family members?

Judy LOVES the KONG Stuffed Animals while Bill is more of an aggressive player and needs more durable rope-style tug toys.

The Furminator: This is a MUST for anyone with dogs who are shed monsters like mine. This keeps the furball tumbleweeds in my hallways to a minimum.

Waggo Bowls: We use elevated aluminum bowls and slow feeders for every day use, but sometimes our special pups require homemade/wet food and they get it in this fun Waggo bowl. Shamelessly, I just really like the fun colors,

Tennis balls: I have two Labs - I buy these bad boys in bulk on Amazon.

Petsafe DrinkWell Water Fountain: We have about 400 water bowls throughout our house, but the Petsafe Water Fountains are by far my favorite. I discovered them at BlogPaws this summer and fell in love. They keep water fresh and don't accumulate as much dirt/grime as I had once imagined.

Now that I've shared my musts for this season -- let me know what's at the top of your list! I love discovering new gifts to give!

How To Craft The Perfect Charcuterie Board

2016-12-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

#BoursinCheese #CollectiveBias

If there's one thing that I'm known for at the holidays -- it's entertaining. I really love having friends and family around my table, in my house and enjoying the magic of the season. To me, it's more special than any gift. But what's a party without food? It's not a party, that's what.

One of the food staples I have at every party is a well-thought-out charcuterie board. It's Dane's favorite part, because specialty cheeses, meats and bread are not typical things we keep in our house. #sadbuttrue

When I was in culinary school in Italy, one of the topics we learned about was how to prepare the perfect board with accompanying snacks for guests to enjoy. This particular segment was followed by a trip to the home of Parmigiano Reggiano and dear Lord in heaven - I just want to live there. That's a story for another day...

Just in time for your own holiday get-togethers, I'm sharing how to craft the perfect charcuterie board on your own. Let's dive right in!

I always like to keep these three concepts in mind while preparing:

Mix things up! Offer a a wide range of cheeses, so that you can appeal to all guests
Prep early! Cheese should be served at room temperature, so prep things about one hour before guests arrive so it has time to breathe
It's more than cheese! The perfect charcuterie board offers more than just cheese - be sure to add something sweet (I like fruit or honey), a meat option (or two) and some sort of bread. My go-to is thinly sliced prosciutto from the deli and a fresh baguette!

Now, what cheese? What tools?

I mentioned before about variety and what I keep in mind is creamy and crumbly, as well as fresh and aged. It's important to have variety, because taste in cheese is palate dependent.

A couple favorites include:

Boursin® is a creamy, crumbly cheese that your guests are sure to love and you can pick some up in Walmart's dairy section. My go to is Boursin® Garlic & Fine Herbs Cheese, because I love the hint of garlic without it being overwhelming, but the Cranberry & Spice or Cranberry & Apple would make a great addition to any holiday plate! Other flavors include: Boursin® Red Chili Pepper, Basic & Chive and Cracked Black Pepper. This cheese spreads very easily, so make sure you have some bread or crackers nearby! A soft cheese knife would be best for this smooth cheese.

There's currently an Ibotta offer for Boursin® that you can snag HERE!

Fresh burrata is another great choice - firm exterior and gooey delicious interior. Burrata falls into the category of pasta filata cheeses -- think mozzarella, fior di latte, straciatella, etc. And if I'm being totally candid - Americans have been messing it up for years. Traditional pasta filata cheeses from southern Italy are made from coagulated milk, whey and thermophilic bacteria. Americans recognized they could imitate this process (but never match taste or quality) with citric acid and thus, cheap Americanized mozzarella and the like were born. True pasta filata cheeses are nearly impossible to get outside small Italian delis or made in small batches at home, but are well worth the effort - trust me! Thinly slice these cheeses prior to serving for best results.

For a hard cheese, I typically turn to an aged cheddar, pecorino romano or parmigiano reggiano. I like something that guests can chunk off and put on top of a crostini or cracker, or simply enjoy for taste alone. Typically these cheeses have a salty sharpness in flavor. Parmigiano Reggiano comes with the highest price tag, so make sure you pick that one up when you're having your in-laws or boss over ;) A flat cheese knife works best to chip, chunk or shave these types of cheeses.

Now that you have all your cheeses picked out, it's time to arrange and serve! I tend to arrange in a circular pattern, with a cheese alternate in between each selection (grapes, meat, honey, etc.), but how you choose to serve your platter is completely up to you. No matter what - your guests will gobble it right up.

What is your holiday entertaining go to?

5 On Friday

2016-12-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

OH HELLO WEEKEND & DECEMBER! There you are, you sneaky bastard.

Is it me or did this week drag on forever? Maybe it's because I've been living in a sea of whiny dogs and moving boxes, but that is neither here nor there because I CAN SEE THE LIGHT. Oh sweet glorious light.

Let's jump right in to my week, shall we?

1. This rain in Hawaii, it's killing me. I understand we need it and it's definitely making everything much greener (and prettier)...but I'm done. It's gotten to the point where every yard/sidewalk/field is muddy, the dogs require getting towel dried every time they come inside and don't even get me started on what havoc it has wreaked on my running schedule. Is it too much to ask to get a sunny weekend?!

Lots of rain = lots of rainbows! #silverlining

2. And speaking of running...THE HONOLULU MARATHON IS IN TEN DAYS. Agh. It makes me excited and nervous and scared all at once. I've been training for this since May and while I might be slower than a turtle in honey - I'm freaking doing it. I feel really proud of myself for setting the bar so high and actually going through with it and not backing out or admitting defeat when shit really got bad (like right now when I have bursitis and IT band issues). So long as I cross that finish line I don't care if it takes me 5 hours or 5 days. HECK YEAH!

3. We officially bought a house this week. Holy crap. Maybe that should have been #1, but it also doesn't really feel real yet. I'm sure when the movers show up and are hauling things away it will really sink in. We are OVER THE MOON. I can't express enough how happy we are with our place and how much happier we are to be moving out of our current nightmare of a situation. Black mold, you did not have me at hello. And if I'm being totally honest - I really just want to bust out all my Christmas decor and stop living out of boxes for the first time SINCE JULY. Gulp.

4. When I was visiting Sarah for her baby shower/surprise baby delivery, she gifted me with the most amazing hand cream. Dubbed Hand Food by Soap & Glory -- I CAN'T GET ENOUGH! It smells delicious and my hands and cuticles look better than they ever have. It's a nice small sized bottle so it's great for in my nightstand and I put about a dime sized amount on before bed. So far, I love it. The problem? I can't find it anywhere! Help, oh beauty maven goddesses out there!

5. On Sunday we are celebrating Dane's work Christmas party at Disney's Aulani. I can shamelessly say that anytime someone pays for us to go to a $60 brunch buffet for free, I'm SO THERE. Needless to say, I'll be hamming it up with Mickey himself and eating as many Mouse-shaped waffles as a I can respectably shove in my mouth without being that person.

How was your week? What are your weekend plans?

Linking up for Five on Friday

My Five Favorite Places To Snorkel On Maui

2016-12-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

When I did my reader survey, so many of you requested more Hawaii-style posts, so your wish -- my command! Dane and I have been lucky enough to visit all the Hawaiian Islands that are accessible, so I figured it was high time to put together as many helpful posts as possible for those planning a trip.

My final post in the island snorkeling series is here! I'm sharing the best places to snorkel on Maui. Don't worry, they are all Kait tested and approved ;)

Maui
Nicknamed The Valley Isle, Maui is the second largest island in the chain of Hawaiian Islands. Measuring 727.2 square miles, Maui is home to the famed Haleakalā volcano, which rises more than 10,000 feet above sea level, as well as the seaside town of Lahaina, where humpback whales are known to migrate in the winter months.

Molokini Crater

A snorkeling trip to Maui would not be complete without jumping in the waters off Molokini Crater. The crescent shape isle 2.5 miles off Maui’s south shore is surrounded by lush reef and a plethora of local fish — think parrotfish and butterflyfish — but the occasional eel and reef shark have been spotted. Head out to the crater in a small tour boat early in the morning to get the best visibility. Don’t forget to pack your fins — waters off the shoreline get up to 50 feet.

Turtle Town

Also located along Maui’s south shore is the lush snorkeling spot between Nahuna Point and Black Sand Beach, known by many as Turtle Town. If catching a glimpse of Hawaii’s Green Sea Turtle is at the top of your list, you don’t want to miss this spot. Because Turtle Town (Maluaka Beach) is protected by Haleakalā from winds, the waters remain relatively calm and create the perfect spot for those who are new to snorkeling. A sloped reef creates an adventure for any depth of water you are comfortable swimming in, around 30 feet at the deepest point.

Coral Gardens

Traveling up the coast toward the west side of Maui, you will stumble upon Coral Gardens. Home to a large number of local fish and intricate coral reef formations, Coral Gardens is located in a protected ocean bay, where octopi and trigger fish like to hang out. Like Turtle Town, the waters at Coral Gardens are protected making them smooth, but take caution — the swim from the shore to the best snorkeling spots is rigorous. If you are a weak swimmer, consider taking advantage of Coral Gardens by boat, or checking out another spot on Maui.

Kapalua Bay

On the north west side of Maui sits the white sand beach of Kapalua Bay, a protected cove and ideal snorkeling location. If you’re looking at the cove, walk to the far right rock jetty and enter the water there. Be on the lookout for butterfly fish, porcupine fish and the state fish of Hawaii, Humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Be advised that although this is a beach and naturally protected cove, there is no lifeguard on duty.

Honolua Bay

Sheltered by high rock cliffs on both sides, Honolua Bay is a pristine natural masterpiece. Because the bay is off-limits for fishing, a bevy of sea life awaits once you get in the water. 20 feet at the deepest point, Honolua is home to damsel fish, snapper and multitudes of invertebrates. Snorkelers have even spotted large jacks and barracuda, so keep your eyes open! If you plan to visit Honolua, check the surf report first; the Bay is home to one of the fiercest surf breaks on island.

Have you traveled to Maui?

5 Vegetarian Crock Pot Recipes To Try

2016-11-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

One of the best parts of the weather turning cool-ish (I know some of you reading this may be in cooler temps than I am!), is that I get to break out my crock pot. There is nothing I love more than being able to set it and forget it. I'm serious - 5PM rolls around I don't even have to think about dinner.

Sure there are 100 crock pot ideas for chicken something-or-other or some kind of slow roasting meat (those aren't bad!), but what about the veggie lovers? Today's post is for you! All of these recipes are vegetarian friendly and if you want to add a little meat protein, that would be yummy, too!

So, let's get down to business.

1. Spaghetti Squash. Slice it in half and roast that baby for 8 hours in your crock pot (skin on!). When it's done, all you need to do is scrape out the insides and toss in your favorite sauce. I love pesto and red sauce, but I recently saw a recipe for tossing it in buffalo sauce and adding in some blue cheese crumbles!

2. Black Bean Pumpkin Chili. This chili recipe has been on repeat at my house for quite some time. I am physically incapable of following a recipe to the letter, so I add in whatever beans I have on hand (except garbanzo...) and puree the crushed tomatoes with my immersion blender before adding them in. I promise, you won't be disappointed here!

Source | Mine never looks this pretty, I promise!

3. Butternut Squash Soup With Maple Roasted Chickpeas. Okay, I have a confession: I made this last week and it was a total fail. Why? Because I realized I had no chickpeas and thought "Oh well, it should be fine". There's a reason there are chickpeas as part of this recipe, people! So, I'm giving it another go this week, because the buttery soup is too good to just file away and forget! I think this would also be delicious with leftover shreds of rotisserie chicken.

Source

4. Spaghetti and Veggies. Have you ever seen those "One Pot Meals" books? I'm always so drawn to them, mostly because I hate doing dishes. Anyway, this recipe is a twist on one of those. All you need is a box of angel hair pasta, sauce of your choosing and lots of veggies. Start with your crock pot on high and add in all the veggies you want to use. I chop up a pepper, an onion, some zucchini, squash and eggplant (if I have it). Then add in 2 cups of water, 2 cups of sauce and some garlic and set the timer for 70 minutes. At the 70 minute mark, add in your pasta and let it cook for an additional 20-30 minutes. Stir it all up and serve. Dang, it's so good!

5. Oatmeal. OF ANY KIND! You know me - I love any excuse to get creative. When we were on the mainland visiting my parents this summer, my mom was showing me all these different ways to make oatmeal -- stove-top, mason jars overnight, crock pot..you see where this is going. Oatmeal is a staple in my diet and when I don't have it, bad things occur in my digestive tract. Anyway. To make oatmeal in the crock pot, all you need are steel cut oats and coconut milk. The real fun comes in when you want to make flavors. But! For just the basic recipe, remember the .5:1.5 ratio. For every half cup of oats, use 1.5 cups coconut milk. That's it! Put them in your crock pot and cook overnight on low for 8 hours so you wake up ready to dive right in! Now, I will say that making them plain is not exciting. At all. I like mixing in nuts, coconut, pumpkin and cinnamon. If I have made it plain, I like adding fruit in the morning and sometimes brown sugar if I'm treating myself.

What are your go-to crock pot meals? I'm always up for any new suggestions (meat or no meat) to try!

How To Clean For Guests In Under 10 Minutes

2016-11-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

#CarpetProtect #CollectiveBias

I have a confession: not all of my guests love dogs like I do.

I mean, I can't say I blame them. If you're not used to being around two rowdy chocolate Labs, then having them greet you can be a bit overwhelming. And further, some people just really don't like animals. Now that one is just weird to me...but true.

I don't ever want anyone to feel uncomfortable in my house, so regardless of dog lover or not, I always make sure to do a 10 minute sweep prior to my guest's arrival. How do you manage a clean sweep with pets?

First things first, we send our pups to the yard. Cleaning with them in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating cookies. It doesn't make sense.

I start by running the vacuum to sweep up all the unruly dog hair. Sometimes I think about what life would be like if I had a dog that didn't shed, but I'm typically snapped back to reality quickly when it's time to change out the vacuum canister for the 100th time.

Total time: 3 minutes

Second, I take a lint roller to all my lampshades, curtains and window sills. I know this sounds like "a bit much", but these are hair trappers and often go overlooked. A quick sweep with a jump lint roller and these items look polished!

Total time: 2 minutes

Next, I address any obvious carpet or furniture stains. For my carpets and rugs, I swear by STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover, available in Target's cleaning aisle (Pearl City location for all my fellow Hawaii-dwellers!).

Grab this offer from Cartwheel for 15% off | STAINMASTER Carpet Pet Stain Remover is not available at all Target locations, but is available online. Click here to find STAINMASTER Carpet Pet Stain Remover, or have it shipped for free, to your local Target store.

What do I love about it? It doesn't have a horrible chemical odor like some cleaners (in fact, I kind of like it), doesn't create a weird white ring of cleaning solution when it dries (I know you know what I'm talking about!) and doesn't leave behind any greasy or sticky residue that will continue to trap fur or dust. It's also formulated with ODOR REMOVE™ Technology that not only cleans, but protects against re-soiling, making it easier to clean next time! I always target the front carpet when you first walk into my house, because it's like a first impression for guests! Plus, I chose it in a cream color for aesthetic, not practical, purposes ;)

In our relationship together it has removed red dirt/mud, an accidental wine spill (thanks Judy) and dog vomit. But truly, the possibilities are endless here. Best of all, it eliminates stains and odors quickly, because let's be honest -- who has time to sit around and wait for the magic to happen? Not me and probably not you either.

Total time: 4 minutes

Finally, I take a second to make sure I spray our living area with some natural room spray I made with essential oils (recipe below) and put some lemon oil in our diffuser. To me, it's such a clean and happy scent!

Total time: 1 minute

By the time I'm finished, our guests are usually pulling into the driveway and I'm letting Judy & Bill back into the house to greet them.

What are your go-to tips for quick cleaning and organizing before guests?

White Hot Cocoa

2016-11-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had the best Thanksgiving weekend. I know we did! Our weekend was filled with food, friends and football -- isn't that the best way to celebrate? Did anyone see that Thanksgiving Day Detroit Lions game? Yeah baby. I was cheering from my kitchen while I finished up some baked corn and mashed potatoes. I think some ingredients went flying when we went into overtime, but that's a story for another day...

The only thing that was missing this weekend was fall weather...I'll be honest -- sometimes I miss the cold weather that the holiday season brings in. I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I'm used to chilly temps kicking off football season and frigid temps bringing in the new year. It's just how it goes, right?

I wore pants and hoodie to the movies over the weekend here in Hawaii, because I was "cold". It was 67 degrees, so it's safe to say my blood has officially thinned and I'm operating on island time. That said, winter is not winter without hot chocolate and today -- that's what I'm bringing you! Some good old fashioned warm-your-body cocoa for all your tailgating, homegating and celebrating needs.

Just the thought of all this winter talk makes me want to bust out the cold weather clothes. I know, I know, some of you are shaking your heads. Let's just get right to the recipe, shall we?

For this recipe, you will need:

2 cups milk

1 cup heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup white chocolate shavings

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1/2 tsp. cornstarch

1. Combine all ingredients in pan on the stove on medium heat.

2. Whisk together until well combined.

3. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring every other minute.

4. When the mixture is boiling, reduce the heat, and whisk constantly until thickened.

5. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Don't forget to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top and enjoy!

To make this recipe dairy free, substitute coconut milk for milk and coconut cream for heavy whipping cream. I use this recipe for homemade dairy free sweetened condensed milk and this dairy free white chocolate is FAB!

What's your favorite warm-you-up drink?

Tropical Guest Room Inspiration + Brainstorming

2016-11-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

First of all, thank you SO much for all the wonderful well wishes on our new Pineapple Palace. As you can imagine, we are beyond excited. With all the excitement of new digs, I have been crazily brainstorming all things decor. I've been pinning up a storm!

My biggest source of excitement comes in the form of our guest room, which is getting a major makeover! For as long as I can remember, we've been using the same IKEA bed I slept on in college which was great, but not the most comfortable for family and friends. When it finally bit the dust, we made the decision to truly be adults and get quality furniture. So mature, right?

Because we are moving in so close to Christmas and will be having guests almost right away, tackling this room as soon as we move in is high on my priority list. With all the brainstorming I've done, I created this mood board to organize my thoughts.

All products have been sourced from Lamps Plus, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Etsy.

So far, we have the bed and quilt pictured above, plus a pillowtop queen sized mattress (we love our visitors okay?!), and are working on the rest. I figure so long as I have a plan in place and something to work from I won't be winging it at the last minute. Look for an updated reveal post coming in December!

If you have a favorite place for decor or tips for decorating, I would love to hear them! I am, by no means, a professional decorator, so I am open to all input :)

Best Gifts For Dog Lovers + Sea Bags Giveaway

2016-11-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

You didn't think I could kick off the #1 gift giving time of the year without showing some love for my fellow four-legged animal lovers, did you? Just in time for the holiday shopping that I KNOW you all are going to commence on Friday (maybe some of you have already started...), I give you my top gifts for dog lovers! Bonus: many of these are small businesses, so keep your eyes peeled for discounts this weekend!

Sea Bags Dog Tote: I have been a lover of Sea Bags for a long time, so when I saw they had a Chocolate Lab bag, I knew I couldn't live without it. Not only are their bags durable, they're great for doggy beach-goers who need to transport extra towels, toys, leashes, treats, water, portable bowls...you see where this is going. Made from durable sails that have been recycled into tote bags, Sea Bags offers pawsitively awesome options for dog lovers.

Custom Dog Illustration: We have custom portraits of Judy & Bill from Cards for Canines and it's uncanny how good Abby (the owner) is at capturing the essence of your pup. Since we got our portraits done, I've ordered some as gifts and they turn out amazing every single time. Get your orders in now for the holidays!

Dog T-Shirt: If you've been around blog land for any length of time you know Taylor over at The Daily Tay. She's just as obsessed with her dog as I am, which led her to creating "I Just Want To Hang With My Dog" t-shirts among others in her shop. You want to know how I know they're good? She has people every single week trying to rip off her designs. Grab one for yourself and all your dog-loving friends this holiday!

Dog Drink Stirrers: I cannot say enough good things about the fine ladies behind Jenn & Jules Designs. Their custom drink stirrers are what stocking stuffer dreams are made of -- truly! When I discovered they made a dog silhouette version for nearly every breed you can think of in their signature swizzle sticks, I snatched up a few for my fellow animal lovers. Word on the street is that they're having a sale this weekend - so go check them out!

Custom Cookie Cutters: You know me, I love a good homemade dog treat recipe, so imagine my delight when I came upon these custom cookie cutters on Etsy. You can get them in the shape of your dog breed, a paw print (would be good for cats, too!) or just a simple bone, and all options are under $20! Name That Cookie, you've outdone yourselves!

Cocktail Napkins: Oh, where to begin on August Morgan's cocktail napkins? For any dog-loving diva looking to spiff up her bar cart, look no further! My personal favorite are the Labrador Retriever napkins (obviously), but you can't go wrong with her Hair Of The Dog style either! I'll drink to that ;)

Now that I've shared all my musts for any dog lover, it's time to get in the spirit of giving. Sea Bags has generously offered to give one lucky reader a chance to win their Classic Navy Anchor Tote.

photo source: Sea Bags Maine

"A long-time bestseller, the Anchor Tote is a go-to gift for anyone with wanderlust, beloved for its durability, generous compartment, and bold graphic statement. Handcrafted from recycled sails on the working waterfront in Portland, Maine, USA."

But what makes a Sea Bag a Sea Bag? I'm so glad you asked!

It's safe to say Judy & Bill think they're the best (see also: they know it means a trip to the beach), and are wishing everyone who enters the best of luck!

The giveaway ends 11/30, so be sure to enter now & cross your paws :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a dog lover? What is on your holiday wish list?