Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Holiday Centerpiece

I love Christmas!  It's my favorite time of the year!  I love all the lights and the decorations!  I'm one of those people who get their Christmas decorations out early.  We're not usually home for Christmas, so I like to enjoy the decorations for as long as possible.

Reindeer before spray paint 

What you've never seen a blue reindeer? 

Ornaments + a Few Vases + Charger Plate = Fun Centerpiece

Its easy to incorporate colors you already decorate with


Cheers!



Friday, November 19, 2010

A Little OCD

I'm a little, ok, a lot OCD about the way I put away my dishes.  I have Fiestaware dishes, with six different colors and I like them put away in rainbowish order (my closet is the same way).  What can I say, I think it looks nicer that way.  It drives me crazy when they are put away differently and I have to change them immediately or at least when no one is looking.  Chris and I have been married for close to four years and he still has to look at the order before he puts them away or he asks me "what color goes next?".  But, I appreciate the fact that he does put them away the way that I like.  What a good husband!



Maybe its genetic because my brother does the same thing with his dishes.

Cheers!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

SPA-ctacular

If you are ever in Maui, I highly recommend the Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea.  It was AMAZING!  Katie and I were lucky enough to visit the spa twice while we were in Maui last week.  Not that I really have much to compare it to, but what set it apart from other spas was the Terme Wailea Hydrotherapy.  One hour of the  Hydrotherapy is complimentary with any spa treatment you purchase.

The Terme Wailea Hydrotherapy includes:
  • Five different colored, aromatic salt baths (named after the different Hawaiian Islands).  
  1. Maui Bath is a mélange of Wailea blue sea salts and Niu coconut oil which helps oxygenate and hydrate the skin, along with alleviates exhaustion and helps calm arthritis.
  2. Lanai Bath is a blend of green papaya sea salt with red ala’ea volcanic clay which helps exfoliate and renew the skin
  3. Oahu Bath contains a blend of bamboo green sea salt, Hawaii spirulina, organic seaweed powder and helps tighten the skin, reduces the appearance of cellulite and relieves fluid retention. 
  4. Hawaii Bath is a blend of Kilauea black sea salt and vanilla orchids that promotes circulation, balance and stabilizes and soothes the central nervous system.
  5. Kauai bath based on lava red sea salt bonded with this extraordinary clay, then infused with organic passion flower powder is vitamin-rich and helps soothe and regenerate cells which alleviate anxiety and tension.
  • Japanese Euro bath, cold water plunge and foot bath (where we shaved our legs, just because we could)
  • Roman Hot tub and cold water plunge (freezing!)
  • Cascading Waterfall Massages
  • Swiss Jet Shower
  • Loofah Body Scrub from your personal spa attendant, with a honey mango body polish 
  • Eucalyptus Steam Room
  • Red Wood Sauna
The first day we went we enjoyed an hour of the hydrotherapy and then a massage.  Time didn't allow us to try everything the first day, so we went back on Saturday, after we checked out of our condo and while the guys went golfing, for a relaxing two hour hydrotherapy session.  We were able to relax and enjoy everything the Terme Hydrotherapy had to offer.

Another plus was we got to use their yummy smelling awaphui shampoo, coconut mango conditioner, shower gel, lotions, hair gel, hair spray, deodorant while we were getting ready.  We had to try everything!  Oh and the water pressure was perfect.  I'm trying not to forget anything :)

Pretty sure our husbands were getting annoyed with us, because we were talking about it so much.  But, then again, maybe they were just jealous they didn't get to come along.  





Here's to hoping I can go back someday soon, because I'm not sure if any other spa will ever measure up.

Happy Champagne Thursday!

Cheers!

Information about the different salt baths were found here.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Maui Sunsets

Last week Chris and I spent the week in Maui with our good friends Matt and Katie.  It was an amazing week!  Here are some pictures of the stunning sunsets while we were there.

Sunday, November 7th
Kihei
We got there a little late, but still beautiful!


Monday, November 8th
Sunset from Wailea Beach

Tuesday, November 9th
Driving back from Hana

Wednesday night was cloudy, so there wasn't much of a sunset.

Thursday, November 11th
Sunset from the Luau at Wailea Beach



Friday, November 12th
Makena Beach

Friday, November 12th
Makena Beach

Friday, November 12th
Makena Beach
Same spot we were married almost 4 years ago

Friday, November 12th
Makena Beach
Look at those colors!


Saturday, November 13th
Kihei
Last night in Maui :(


Cheers!


Thursday, November 4, 2010

Thomas-o'-Lantern

You can't have a Thomas Birthday Party and Thomas costume on the weekend of Halloween without a Thomas the Train pumpkin.

All our pumpkins on the porch, ready for some trick-or-treaters

Thomas-o'-Lantern
Happy Champagne Thursday!

Cheers!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Choo Choo Parker's 2!

Parker turned 2 on Monday, but we celebrated on Saturday.  I can't believe my baby is two years old.  It has gone by so fast.  Here are a few pictures from the party...

I designed Parker's invitation in Photoshop and then had them printed at Costco.   There were two invitations on one 5x7 print, so I could cut them in half.  They ended up costing about 20 cents each, much cheaper than buying invitations.

P's birthday invitation. 

I made Parker's cupcake toppers with Thomas cardboard cutouts I found from Michaels.  All I needed was some red and blue card stock paper, toothpicks and some hot glue.  Then I used some of his train tracks and a couple of his trains to add a little extra.

Thomas Cupcakes!


Presents!
(Notice P's Halloween costume on the table, made for good decoration)


Pretty sure we probably could have just given him balloons and he would have been happy.


Thanks for my new 4-Wheeler Grandpa!

Choo Choo I'm 2!

Listening to everyone singing Happy Birthday to him


This was right after Parker put out his candle with his fingers.  I think I scared him when I grabbed his hand to make sure he was ok.  He was fine and it was actually kind of funny.

Parker loved opening presents!  He wasn't too interested in what was inside, he just liked opening everything.

Opening his new golf clubs from his Uncle Marcus.
Chris was pretty excited about this present.

Getting some help from Thatcher

Had to go try out his new clubs.
What 2 year old doesn't need their own set of golf clubs?



Cheers to the Terrific Twos!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Trick-or-Treat-or-Not

We had a Thomas filled weekend here at the Yates household, with Halloween and Parker's birthday.  I decided to make Parker a Thomas the Train Halloween costume, since I couldn't find any that I liked.  First I started with a couple cardboard boxes, a circular container, a pair of scissors and some packaging tape and made a frame for the train.  Oh and I used one of Parker's Thomas the Trains as a model. 


Then I covered the whole thing with packaging tape, covered it with paper mache and painted it.


Completed Thomas the Train
Unfortunately, Parker wasn't really into his costume, that I spent hours working on.  We had to bribe him with candy corn to put the costume on and keep it on for more than a couple minutes.  Since he only had it on for a couple minutes we didn't get that many great shots, but here are a few we did get.



Choo Choo

Thatcher the Dragon and Parker trick-or-treating
Parker only made it to one house and then he was done, but at least he got his m&m's that I was promising him he would get if he went.  I'm not sure if I will making any more Halloween costumes, at least not for a few years.  But, his costume did make for a cute decoration at his Thomas party.  Post on P's party coming soon.

Cheers!