Happy Days

16 Saturday Mar 2013

Tags

family, Fun, Happiness, Life, Maui, Play, wife, Work

Lately I feel like I’m watching my life from outside my life. I know that probably doesn’t make much sense but its the only way I know how to explain it.

It has been 3 weeks since my last day at the Hard Rock and its been a whirlwind of beautiful chaos. I’ve been much busier than expected and I’m loving every second of it!

The Job:

I’m filling my mornings and early afternoons working for Lightning Electric LLC. Basically I keep my hubs and father in law in line about billing clients, receiving and recording payments, keep his taxes in order as well as organizing the mess of what use to be before I came on board. I work out of my father in laws cushy loft and I’m learning so much everyday! As we get busier I will also start to do the marketing and advertising. Mark has built a great foundation with a steady flow of clients and I’m excited to see the company grow. Its so fun to work alongside Colt, I’m so proud of him and look forward to watching him grow.

My new digs! This is actually Colts truck I get to ride my bike to work, I also get to wear a t-shirt, jean shorts and flip flops:)

The new Jennifer Stewart!

The “boys” working hard. It’s really awesome to see the whole process of a small business. So much goes into it from the field to the books.

Like me, Kailea also seems to be adjusting to her new life just fine hehehehe!

My work station at the office

Me and the boys!

Wife Life:

I typically wake up around 6:30 now a days and relax and snuggle for at least 15 minutes. Once I get up I start breakfast for Colt and I start to pack lunches. Once breakfast is ready and lunches are packed I bring Kai for a walk. When I get back Criminal Minds is usually on from 7-8am while I get ready (this is one of my favorite parts of my new morning schedule) I leave the house around 8:15 and head to work.

After work Monday – Friday I head to the gym to run my miles (we have had family in town the last two weeks so my workout schedule hasn’t been the best but I look forward to getting back in it) I also pick one project a day to do at home. We have such a cute ohana but I have never had the time or energy to really make it ours. I have so many DIY projects already on my list but the last few weeks I’ve spent deep cleaning everything from floor to ceiling. Its getting there but still has a long way to go.

Cooking:

This is a new adventure for me. I think I’ve cooked more meals in the last 3 weeks than I ever have in my entire life. I have also been shopping (Costco & Safeway are my new hot spots) a few times a week. Besides quickies like eggs, oatmeal, fruit, sandwiches and salads for breakfasts and lunches I’ve been experimenting with a lot of Mexican food! Some of the new dishes I’ve tried are chicken faijitas, taco casserole, Monterey jalapeño turkey burgers and white enchiladas. All of them actually turned out really good and I’m getting more confident as I go. I’m also blessed that Colt is so easy and eats about anything. He’s so sweet to me and always so encouraging.

Taco casserole made with turkey instead of beef

Chicken enchiladas! I was most excited about these, they came out so good and were so easy to make!

As if cooking hasn’t been enough of a new adventure I also have to be pretty creative right now because I gave up bread for lent. Its been a little over a month and man has it been so much harder than I thought it would be. I guess I really love bread because deciding what to eat on a daily basis has been so hard! Sandwich no bread, turkey burger no bun, tacos sub corn tortillas and the hardest one NO PIZZA (my ultimate weakness) I can say overall I feel a whole lot lighter but my energy during workouts is down. Without the carbs to burn during my runs I burn out way faster and I feel a lot weaker. This has peaked my interest and I have been researching substitute bread options for a cleaner healthier diet.

Every day life:

My days have been very free. Even though I’m still on a schedule its flexible and mostly consists of things that I love. After leaving my job I was so scared I would be stressed or depressed but its proven to be the exact opposite. Feelings of gratitude, abundance, appreciation, happiness and joy are things I feel freely now. It sometimes seems so surreal I will stop and make myself feel every ounce of it (as if at any moment its all going to be taking away) I feel like the more present I am in acknowledging these feelings the happier I become.

I’m also learning a lot about me and its making Colt and I’s relationship soar. My love language is acts of service so its no surprise that I’m much happier now that I can spend a lot of my time caring for Colt. If you haven’t read the book the 5 love languages I suggest you and your partner do. Colt and I read it before we got married (our friend Anu suggested it to us) and it continues to teach us how to communicate better as a couple as well as what makes the other one happy.

Since my love language is acts of service actions such as cooking a meal, setting a table, washing the dishes, sorting the bills or walking the dog all which require thought, planning, time, effort and energy are in my language the highest expressions of love which is why I’m currently so happy. I always joke with Colt that the easiest way to get me in the “mood” is to take the trash out. Even though that’s a bit of an exaggeration it makes us both laugh because its true!

Overall I’d say these last 3 weeks have been filled with learning, happiness and fun and although its not what I was expecting, it’s everything I’ve been waiting for….

“It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves – in finding themselves.” –

04 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by Making Magic in Life on Maui

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Tags

Adventure, Explore, fit life, happy, Hawaii, healthy, Hiking, Maui, Trails, Travel, Waihe'e Ridge

First and foremost I would like to say that I am loving my new found freedom of extraordinary. I’ve had the time to slow down and really stop and appreciate all that’s around me and embodies me. I’ve adjusted to my relaxing wife life and my new “normal” pretty easily and I am just soaking up every second of it!

beach bumming

This morning we woke up around 7a.m. made some oatmeal with fresh fruit and headed out to hit the trail. We’ve been wanting to explore Maui more and we heard the Wahihe’e Ridge Trail was pretty awesome with great views.

We got on the trail by 9:30a.m. and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. It was brisk with the perfect amount of chill in the air to cool you down as you sweat. The trail is 5 miles long round trip and has incredible views of the valley along with luscious green forest.

You gain about 1,500 feet over the 2 1/2 miles up the ridge so this sign is very important

Since you are climbing so high it is suggested that you get on this trail early (by 8a.m.) for maximum viewing exposure. However Colt & I got on the trail a little later than 9a.m. and although some clouds had already moved in the views were still breathtaking.

This is one of the first outlooks on your way up. You can see two beautiful flowing falls in the distance

This hike gets your heart pumping and gluteus working right away. By the time you hit 1/2 a mile you’ve already climbed 400 feet!

Someone was hitching a ride by 400 feet, my little “wanna be hiker”

The landscape was incredible and took my breath away. You are hiking through guava, kukui, swamp mahogany, cook island pines and millions of ferns all while moving towards this view!

Waihe’e Valley in all its raw beauty

As we kept climbing the air kept getting cooler and cooler it felt great to feel the elevation of the climb.

Going up!

We saw so many unique plants and trees along the way and we saw a ton of these, they are actually the stems that the ferns grow out of!

They reminded me of the caterpillar (the Hookah-Smoking caterpillar hehe) in Alice and Wonderland

Since it was a Sunday and later in the morning there were a lot of hikers also on the trail with us going up as well as coming down.

The most handsome hiker I saw all day:)

Colt loved all the different kinds of trees. The views reminded me of scenes from Twilight (they were that good)

My very own Edward Cullen

It took us a little over an hour to get to the top since we continued to stop for several photo ops!

Kai & I taking a little breather..

keep on climbing, climbing…

Natural beauty just lurking around ever twist and turn

Once we finally got to the top it was beautiful! Its the perfect place to have a light lunch if you should know to pack one. The air is cool and the visual silence is like nothing you can experience unless you are at 2,563 feet.

I love where the ocean meets the sky and the accent of green, there’s nothing better.

Flying high, freebirding

There’s nothing that I love more than experiencing this life and exploring this earth with this man

Going down..

Kai loves this part, she just cruises all the way down

Taking an extra moment to take it all in (once again)

I love the forest and getting lost in paradise

This hike is so beautiful and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling to Maui or to residents who have yet to experience it. If you love having your head in the clouds and paradise at your feet you will absolutely love it. I know we did!

“I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life until I realized my life was never ordinary. I had just failed to notice how extraordinary it really is..”

A Day in Paradise

25 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by Making Magic in Life on Maui

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Tags

Beach days, family, fun in the sun, Happiness, love, Maui, paradise, stand up paddle board, SUP

Ingredients for the perfect Maui beach day include blue skies, little to no wind, cool sand, medium sized waves, whales breaching off shore, good food and great company. Lucky for us we live in paradise so this equation happens often but today was even more awesome because Colt’s auntie Jamie is in town from Reno.

Colt & Auntie Jamie. Isn’t she the cutest? I just want to squeeze her!

Colt woke up early since we wanted to paddle board. He left the house around 7:30a.m. so him and Cam could go to the storage to pick up and load the boards. Paddle boarding is always best between 8a.m. and 10a.m. before the wind line starts to come in and the water gets choppy. Being on the water by 8a.m. ensures crystal clear conditions and optimal turtle and whale spotting opportunities.

Since Colt and Cam got to the beach early they set up camp for us with all the goods. A tent for shade, coolers, the BBQ, games, paddle boards, the boom box and boogie boards. I couldn’t wait to get on the water but not before Katie and I snuck to the resort pool bar for a little Sunday Funday treat!

yummma theres nothing better than a spicy morning bloody! Cheers sister!

After our little pick me up we headed to the beach and hit the boards. The rest of the day was filled with fun, laughter, food, sunshine and new memories.

Colt & Khloe hitting the waves. Khloe is such a little pro on the boards.

My favorite little beach bum. She loves playing and exploring at the beach.

Auntie Jamie also got out on the boards and actually stood up this year! Last year during her visit she only paddled from the kneeling position but this year she totally rocked it!

One of the highlights of the day was Caylee getting out on the paddle boards! She is usually such a sand baby (Khloe is a water baby) but today she got out in the water and on the boards with Khloe. After a little while of Khloe towing her around Caylee took over and started paddling! Its so fun to see her coming out of her shell and into her own. She did so awesome and we were all so proud of her.

Planning the “switch”

There she goes! Getting her sea legs!

Uncle is always trailing close behind, he loves his girls so much.

All smiles, so proud!

Way to go Caylee!

Next it was my turn! I love SUP. There’s nothing better than gliding on water while working on your fitness and your tan!

All that paddling sure does make you hungry (and thirsty) so Cam cooked up some Brats and turkey burgers for everyone, it was the perfect beach lunch!

My extra handsome hubs enjoying his lunch (I know you all wish you had such an awesome beer koozie)

Around 1p.m. the winds started to pick up so we decided to pack up and call it a day.

I had such a wonderful time playing, relaxing and getting sun kissed with the people I love.

~ Live, Dream, Explore ~

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by Making Magic in Life on Maui

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Tags

Discover, Dream, Explore, Fitness, Hiking, Maui

Colt and I went on a killer hike this past Saturday. It is about 15 minutes from our house and is called the Lahaina Pali Trail or the West Maui mountains.

I drive by the West Maui mountains every day on my way to work and it has never once occurred to me that you can actually hike up there. At the top of the mountain there are these huge windmills (which is how a lot of our electricity on Maui is generated) and they are really cool. Once I found out it wasn’t private property and there was actually a hiking trail the idea consumed me! I had to get up there.

This is where the trail begins, we parked by the highway which added a 10 minute walk onto where we were suppose to start, we also missed the trail and went the wrong way for awhile so we just called that our 25 minute “warm up…”

Once we finally found the right way it was close to 11a.m. and the sun was blistering hot but we decided to do the hike anyways we were already there and sweaty.

This was one of our first outlooks about half way up the windmills. At this point I was over it. It was hot, the whole trail was up hill (moderately steep) and we only had one bottle of water. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it the rest of the way but luckily we aren’t quitters so I contiuned to push along.

(disclaimer: if you do decide to do this hike while on Maui make sure you put on a lot of sunscreen and bring a good amount of fluids. We were so sun burnt and dying of thirst by the end….)

This was the only tree on the entire trail. It was so beautiful and reminded me so much of the tree of life from the lion king. The hunk standing in front of it just adds to the extreme beauty.

This was our first glimpse of the enormous windmills (and thinking we finally made it) Don’t let the picture fool you even from here we were still almost a mile away from actually reaching them!

As we continued to climb we were blessed with this amazing-ness. It took my breath away. It’s so easy to take Maui’s beauty for granted since we see it every day. This was a great reminder to stop, take it all in and appreciate how blessed we truly are.

We finally made it up the steep hill and closer to the windmills. Exploring with Colt is one of my favorite things in the world to do.

The windmills were ginormous and made this really cool whistling sound as they spun. It was so peaceful up there, it felt like we were hanging out on top of the world.

If you know anything about me (or my best friend Kristen) we still often think that we are 12 years old and the worldest greatest gymnast heading to the junior Olympics. This basically means that at 28 years old we still try to flip and stretch the way we use to when we were 12. The result, never ever missing a great opportunity for a gymnastic photo shoot!

(Here I am attempting a scorpion on top of a rock)

The thing I love the most about Colt is how he will always play with me and how much he makes me laugh. It reminds me of what it would be like if when you were 8 years old you didn’t think boys had cooties. I remember one time when we were still dating we went to visit my family in Oahu. We were having a beach day and I started tumbling. He came up and started doing handstands with me. I knew right then and there (I already knew for a long time) that he was the one. I love that he will always do what I do no matter how much bigger he is and how much harder it is for him to maneuver. He is so much fun and makes me laugh harder than anyone I have ever known.

So here he is my husband in his attempt to do a scorpion on top of a rock. His level of concentration and form are enough to make me die from happiness & laughter. I have been having fits of giggles over this photo since Saturday. Kailea’s face is also priceless since she looks like she is saying: “Dad I am not sure you should be doing that..”

(disclaimer: he will probably kill me for posting this picture but I couldn’t help myself)

Cheering him on for doing such a great job in his pose! Babe you freaking rock!

Taking it all in one more time before we start to head down. We were so proud of Kailea who actually came on the hike with us. This was the biggest adventure of her pampered life.

photo 4 (2)

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

– it’s time to make some big changes, freebird!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

30 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by Making Magic in Life on Maui

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…turn and face the strain, ch-ch-changes! You know its stuck in your head now, David Bowie’s Hunky Dory album 1972 (…and no I wasn’t actually alive then but it’s just one of the benefits of having young rocker parents that I know these kinds of things)

Anyways, I hate change hence why it has taking me so long to write this blog. I knew once I did I would have to “change” my blog name, username and domain name and I’d no longer be “jennifersoontobestewart” or able to blog about our upcoming wedding. Instead I would have to blog about the events that have happened cause that’s what you do, you reflect on events, moments, time and feelings that have already happened or might happen or that you plan on happening. The unknown, the scary part and one of the reasons why I hate change. As I re-write the words I hate change it quickly dawns on me that in the last month everything has changed and actually I really don’t hate it at all. So I guess I can rephrase my statement to I hate the idea of change not change itself which is what I think I’ve always really hated all along.

In the last month so much has changed I got married and changed my last name from Carvalho to Stewart (I actually have not changed it legally yet, that process is ridiculous and probably needs to be a whole blog in itself) but regardless of all that paperwork and running around I am indeed a Stewart. The additional ring and tattoo on my finger prove that.

I have a husband. A husband that I look at and love more and more every day (sometimes it feels like every minute) I love him so much and he loves being a husband. After our wedding it was like something changed inside him (he has always been amazing that has been a given) but now he’s a husband and he takes that pretty seriously. Being a husband has brought about a whole new level of who he is and who he wants to be so one of the first changes he made was quitting the Four Seasons.

Shortly after our return home from our life changing honeymoon (those pictures and adventures coming soon to a blog near you) he decided it was time to move on. He has been so successful in such a short amount of time with the Four Seasons so there was no doubt he would have been at the top in no time, but then what? He realized pretty quickly that he didn’t want to be a GM or the Director of Recreation but mostly he realized that he couldn’t stomach the idea of giving up so much of who he is and his life (our life) for that kind of career path. Anyone reading this who has worked for corporate America will read that sentence and have it speak straight to their soul and anyone who hasn’t will probably think my husband is an idiot for quitting such a “good job” either way it doesn’t matter he quit. His last day will be on Tuesday and he’s never been happier. I admire that. I admire him. He is so strong, his dreams are so real, his worries are small and now he is free. Free to do whatever he wants and chase any dream he desires which right now happens to be an opportunity working with his Dad. Of course only time will tell what will come with this new adventure, however he is 100% invested (we are both invested) and excited to see what the future will bring.

And then there is Maui …oh Maui. I love Maui. I love that Colts family is here and mine is only an island away. I love being on vacation every weekend and enjoying the many blessings of this beautiful place. I also love that Colt has such a great opportunity with his Dad here on Maui. What I don’t love is my lack of opportunity here which is and always has been limited. As many of you can guess advertising, marketing, events and PR aren’t the happening career choices of Maui residences which unfortunately happens to be my career of choice, so with all that being said it isn’t any big secret that Colt and I will eventually move to the mainland to buy a house and raise our family.

Ironically last year at this exact time I had a possible opportunity to move us to Vegas (that’s actually the property I applied to when I interviewed with the Hard Rock) and we were ready to go, bags packed, lease up and out the door until they tossed us a curve ball and offered me Maui. Of course everything happens for a reason and this past year wouldn’t have been so wonderful planning a Maui wedding from Vegas so we are so glad we stayed. However exactly one year later the same opportunity has reared it’s head along with San Diego. Both these locations would do wonders for my career especially with such a strong brand and I have always wanted to live in either place. I’d finally be doing what I love to do in a market that can hardly keep up …but…we already took the job on Maui so like everything else in life when it rains it pours. Colt of course told me if I wanted to move that we could (he is pretty awesome like that) but with him just starting with his Dad (one of his dreams) I knew we would have to stay for at least another 6 months to a year. I am not complaining if anything I feel silly even being bummed about it because we are so very blessed with countless opportunity when many don’t even have one, so instead I am chalking it up to what’s meant to be. God’s plans are always bigger than our dreams so I know that there must be a reason (again) to stay, so for now here we are still loving each other like crazy on this little island we like to call paradise.

Chasing the Maui Son ✨

Category Archives: Life on Maui

Happy Days

“It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves – in finding themselves.” –

A Day in Paradise

~ Live, Dream, Explore ~

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes