We made a Hawaiian style gingerbread house this year! It was a lot of fun. We started with a Wilton gingerbread house kit. If you decide to try this yourself, don't use the frosting that comes with the kit, it doesn't dry firm enough.  We learned the hard way when my little one's gingerbread house collapsed! For this house I made a traditional Royal Icing...it works so well that we jokingly call it concrete! The roof is crumbled Frosted Mini Wheats cereal. The sand is brown sugar. The ocean is clear blue frosting.  The palm tree was borrowed from my kids' Playmobil toys.  Add a little Hawaii Christmas cheer to your home by making your own gingerbread grass shack! If you have any questions or comments about our gingerbread hale feel free to ask. Mele Kalikimaka!

Do you tinsel? This year we decided to add a little retro touch to our Christmas tree.  It's got tinsel! Glorious sparkling plastic strands of icicles!  And because we love to have a little Aloha at home, we have a few Hawaii inspired ornaments. Here's my favorite! 

Just 14 more days until Christmas! Mele Kalikimaka!

Happy Aloha Friday! 
Here's a great spot to celebrate the start of a wonderful weekend-- Hukilau Lanai!
It's one of our favorite restaurants on the Island.  The food, drinks and pupus (Hawaiian for appetizers)  are delicious. The chef uses a lot of local ingredients and creates all the food from scratch!  We love to start with Adam's Poke Nachos made with ahi poke, local tomatoes, avocado, tobiko,  inamona, wasabi cream over crisp wonton chips. Yum! Then for dinner we usually order Hukilau Mixed Grill, it's a sampling of island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. It Includes your choice of several salads.
And the view...so beautiful! Palm trees with the ocean beyond! We like to end our evening with a slow walk along the beach, back to our condo.
You'll find a nice mix of locals and tourists alike here. The atmosphere is casually elegant with friendly service.
Prices are $9-$13 for Pupus, $18 - $28 for Entrees.
Try the Hukilau Lanai for your next special dinner out...you won't be disappointed! 
http://www.hukilaukauai.com/

It's been a year since we bought the condo! It's come a long way baby! This is the condo as we first saw it...old green carpet, peachy-pink paint and candy  striped heavy curtains.  Thank you to the previous owner for leaving it clean! And being so thoughtful to leave the basics... soap, paper towels and bathroom tissue!  We'll be forever thankful... that first night was spent on the floor! We had no bed. The following morning we woke up very early and got straight to work with the renovations.  In one loooong day we pulled up the old carpet and padding, painted, put up new blinds and nearly completed putting down the bamboo floor. In 18 hours the master bedroom was nearly done!