Here are a few pictures taken at a recent photo shoot of my delightful husband. He and Micky Dymond spent the morning here at Apex; Darryl’s first day riding in quite some time. Thanks to Chuck and Amauri for putting my camera to good use in my absence.

***Sorry for the late birthday post, we’ve been plagued with pneumonia pretty much since our return from Hawaii. Just starting to feel normal again now.

D and I struggled with settling on a location for the first birthday party, but finally selected the San Clemente Aquatics Center. E’s jubilant admiration of fountains and pools was what made for the final decision. Two of the top location contenders were:

1. Pines Park, Dana Point

This is an adorable park about 10 minutes from our house. It had just what I was looking for… trees and an ocean view. Complete with playground, picnic tables and barbecue, this place is situated off Camino Capistrano on the cliff edge overlooking the Pacific ocean. We ended up scratching this place off the list when we discovered there are no public bathrooms. Guess that’s one way for the neighbors to keep people from using their park. Probably worked out for the best though, I always get the feeling that the ground is going to give way whenever I stand perched atop a southern California cliff anyway.

2. Santa Ana Zoo

The Santa Ana Zoo feels more to me like a monkey sanctuary. Their lack of… well… just about anything other than monkeys is what gives me that feeling. I mean, you will see the odd parrot and aardvark, but the vast array of primates really is the majority of what you’ll be snapping pictures of. I liked this location because one of their many designated party areas is a petting zoo. The little farm-house, chicken coups and carousel seem perfect for a kid party. E loves animals so he would have had a great time here. In the end it was just too far of a drive and we figured a good portion of the guests would feel the same way. I do plan on having a party for him here when he’s bigger though if we stay in southern California.

So, planning for the party was extremely perplexing for me since I am the most indecisive person I know. I ended up going with a luau theme because a first birthday luau is traditional for us Hawaiians (well, for us haole islanders too). I was rather surprised to find that most luau themed party decor involved some kind of monkey wearing sunglasses and hibiscus print surf shorts. Didn’t these decoration designers take the lack of resident Hawaiian monkeys into consideration when creating the decorations? A little strange. I found some cute things nonetheless and yes, some monkeys found their way into the mix somehow too.

I was slightly obsessed with getting E a really cool birthday hat. I had come across the most amazing hat at Villa Cucina in San Clemente back in November 2011. It was a beach themed  cone hat with sand, seashells and I think a sailboat on a dark blue shimmery background. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen and of course I just ass-umbed they would be orderable when his b-day got a little closer. I was inevitably wrong and not only was it a one of a kind item, but the person who makes them is no longer making them. This information catapulted me into an ongoing internet search for a similar type of hat. Sadly, I never found anything that came even remotely close, but I did find a website called Silver Spoon Scraps. Owner and designer Sita Riddle makes the most fabulous little vintage style birthday hats and decor. At first I was afraid the frilly paper might be a little too feminine, but ended up asking her to do something special for E… she ended up creating two adorable keepsake hats. One birthday boy hat, one guest/extra hat, a scepter and an “I Am One” high chair banner all perfectly coordinated. Sita’s hand-made creations are so sweet and thoughtfully made, I was so glad to have found something to take the place of that illusive hat from Villa Cucina. I liked Sita’s stuff so much that I also bought some of her hand-made bunting for E’s nautical themed bedroom.

As a result of being the primary camera wielder in the family, I have very few pictures of E and I together. Because of this I decided to hire a photographer. After receiving over thirty quotes on sites like Thumbtack,  Guru, and some personal web research, I chose the best guy to do the job, Edward Hannigan. Ed  had the best party photos I’ve seen to date. He is amazingly able to capture memorable moments without the images coming off at all posey or planned. All of the party images on this post are his. Thanks Ed!

As far as our venue (San Clemente Aquatics Center) is concerned, we were satisfied overall with the experience. Our party was from noon till 2pm (pool not opening to the public till 1pm). In the hour we had to ourselves they include two lifeguards who play pool games with the kids. After the party it was brought to my attention that they hadn’t done any of the games that had been advertised in the party package. I would imagine that it was because not enough kids had arrived at noon. A good portion of the guests had traffic issues and didn’t arrive till around 1 or 1:30pm. One other mishap was that the Aquatics Center staff had agreed to have 4 large tables for us, however, when we arrived, they only had two on hand. It just would have been nice for them to have notified us so we could have brought our own.

All in all E had a great time playing in the water and smearing organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, dye-free cupcake frosting all over his face and hair. Yes, only the best, purest and healthiest first cake for my boy. Cupcake courtesy of Cloud 9 Bakers in San Juan Capistrano. Lola at Cloud 9 is able to make pastries, cupcakes, breads etc. to your dietary specifications (such as gluten-free, corn free, dairy free…) if quantity is large enough. Their bread is the best gluten-free bread I’ve ever tasted. Their gf cupcakes are better than any regular cupcake we’ve ever tried too.

We decided to accept book donations instead of gifts at the party as a part of the Milk and Bookies program. We’re happy to have collected more than 200 (and counting) books and toys for our local women’s shelter here in San Clemente. E is too little to remember birthday presents anyway!

I delighted in watching E toddle around in his aloha shirt and coordinating shorts, somewhat reminiscent of a Hawaii resort valet guy. All he needed was a set of keys and a ticket in his breast pocket. Happy birthday sweet baby/toddler. You’ve provided me with the absolute best year of my life. No tropical vacation, African safari, culture filled Euro trip, hike to the king’s chamber in the Great pyramid, snowboarding down mount Ruapehu in New Zealand etc. etc. could ever outshine even the least eventful day spent with you.

Yes, I’ve spent a fair share of time here in my day. From kids birthday parties back when it was run by Hyatt, to spending the morning at Dolphin Quest with Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche, a recognized child reincarnation of a former teacher of Lama Yeshe in Sera Monastery, Tibet. Let’s not forget my later days of sneaking in at night with my tribe of other sixteen year old friends for an evening dip in the elaborate grotto housed fresh water pool surrounded by roaring waterfalls. All of this leading to my choice to marry D in the resort’s own Waiulua Bay chapel.

Me & D – December 11, 2004 Boat Taxi

I’ve stayed here more times than I can count, and this visit has been the best by far. We chose a newly renovated room in the Lagoon Tower, ground floor so my one-year-old had a grassy lawn out beyond our terrace for convenient exploration. Our view of the 4 acre salt water lagoon and ocean was extraordinary. E liked to toddle over and get a closer look at the mama dolphin nursing and playing with her baby at Dolphin Quest. Procreation is how the animal caregivers know these animals are happy in their living conditions. In the early morning we’d watch the resident honu family glide through the water occasionally popping their heads up for a refreshing inhalation.

I remember when I got married back in ’04 I had left a muffin in a sealed bag on the bedside table. By morning there were lines of ants coming from more than one direction completely infesting the tightly wrapped, seemingly impenetrable paper bag… Guess it wasn’t. This time some of E’s cereal puffs had accidentally fallen down behind the dresser the first day we arrived. By check-out I had a look and the puffs were still there. Not a bug in sight. Magnificent. I was obsessed with the lamp on our desk… It has a night light setting perfect for E’s nap time.

We frequented the Kirin Chinese Restaurant which has delicious egg fu yung and shrimp fried rice. D loved their cashew chicken, orange chicken and lemon chicken. As I’m sure you’ve gathered by previous statement, he thrives primarily on fowl.

Chef Dane in the resort’s main kitchen (ext. 2522) was happy to accommodate for my gluten-free dietary requests. Kitchen staff will prepare and deliver special items to your room, or, they’ll have them ready at any of the property’s restaurants so you can dine along with your gluten-tolerant friends. When heading to the Water’s Edge Ballroom for breakfast, I made sure they had steamed zucchini and carrots ready for baby. They also made some fabulous gf coconut muffins and gf pancakes with coconut syrup. Thanks to the Japanese portion of the breakfast buffet I was able to have a hot cup of miso soup too.

At the time if our stay the resort was at 51% occupancy. We never had to wait for a table at any of the restaurants, any time of day. We’re too scattered to make reservations so things worked out well for us.

Omelet Chef at Big Island Breakfast

On the paddle boat

We spent an hour leisurely touring the lagoon on a paddle boat for $33. Some spastic fish (malolo I think) would sporadically leap from the water every so often and give us a fright. E would always be thoroughly entertained by riding the choo choo tram or boat taxi through the canals to different on-property destinations. We found ourselves having to take the long way to wherever it was we were going due to our ball and chain a.k.a. The Stroller. I can’t complain though, I can appreciate the extra onslaught of physical exercise. Do plan a little extra time if you’re in a wheelchair or use a stroller though.

The poolside and lagoon side bars offer delicious blended cocktails made from fresh ingredients instead of a standard slushy type icy/smoothie machine often used in resorts. The non-alcoholic chocolate coconut smoothie was fabulous.

E playing on the lawn outside our room

There are a few cute souvenir and clothing shops near to the resorts own, Kohala Spa. We got E a cute handmade pendulum frog clock by Allen Designs for $68. The owl clock was equally adorable but the frog matched better in his nautically themed room.

I look forward to the day when they re-open the Kimo Bean Coffee Bar on the Lagoon Tower end of the resort. It is undergoing renovation, so the only other coffee shop was inconveniently (for us) at the opposite end of the resort by Ocean Tower. A sign read ‘Re-opening this summer’, so it must be due to open soon… Since summer is essentially over.

Resort staff were friendly and responsive to our requests. A few people who made our stay especially memorable were front desk manager Merla Cline, Wesley at concierge, Ululani A. at Big Island Breakfast and of course head Chef Dane in the resorts main kitchen. Just a heads up, call 45 minutes before you need to leave at check out for the bell man to take your bags.

Lava Lava Beach Club, Anaeho’omalu Bay

I highly recommend a visit to  Lava Lava Beach Club, a short drive or 20 minute walk to Anaeho’omalu Bay (A-Bay). The beach front location is stunning for cocktails at sunset, however, despite the creative plating and presentation of the food, our menu items were disappointingly flavorless (Chipotle Chicken Tacos and Pineapple Fried Rice). The sunset lighting was beautiful for photos, but watch out for thorns from the surrounding kiawe trees… They’ll even penetrate thick rubber slippers!

Let me know if you have any Big Island questions. As always I’m happy to offer advice stemming from my perspective of Hawaii.

Almost immediately I am greeted and seated at one of the many wooden tables all of which are tightly placed beside one another for optimum utilization of this compact space. To the rear of the restaurant I see owner/Executive Chef Nour Tillo orchestrating his team in creating an array of signature dishes.

We decide on the Mezza Plate to start with. The hummus, baba ghanoush, and falafel are served with pita triangles, a small portion of spring mix greens and a drizzle of olive oil. It is amazing. Should you forego an appetizer, complimentary freshly baked bread squares are served with garlic and black pepper infused olive oil regardless.

For the main course D and I like the Vegetable Tagine for two. It’s an array of delicately cooked seasonal vegetables along with chopped nuts, dried apricots and a side of couscous. You can’t go wrong here. It is inexplicably delicious and I was initially surprised that a place with an outward appearance of such modesty could deliver a paragon of culinary perfection. Especially since I thought I had experienced delicious tagine in the past, although, I am now rather familiar with what it is supposed to taste like. Probably has something to do with Chef Tillo’s focus on utilizing locally and sustainably grown produce to compile his distinctive list of menu items; dishes derived from flavors you’d experience whilst visiting the Mediterranean region (in case that wasn’t blatantly evident by the restaurant’s name!).

Since my initial visit I’ve returned and tasted an assemblage of menu items. I have yet to try something that is less than superb. Most recently I ordered yet another noteworthy item, the Vegetable Moussaka.

The desserts are downright iniquitous and very much worth the extra thirty minutes of jazzersize I must force myself to endure the following day. No, I’m not entirely sure exactly what ‘jazzersize’ is but that is what D tells people I’m doing when I work out. The Panna Cotta is my personal favorite.

Make a reservation if you plan on dining any later than 6pm (especially Friday through Sunday). Not too long ago they began offering a lunch menu as well. This works nice if you want a quick stuffed pita or salad to-go.

Chef Tillo is a prominent, world class chef with an unequivocal culinary talent. I’m glad to live close enough to frequent his restaurant whenever I grow tired of the repetitious lineup of eateries serving dishes assembled of mass produced, nutrition-deficient ingredients.

Village Mediterranean Rim
123 Avenida Del Mar
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 361-8970
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**UPDATE: Thanks so much for voting my image to #1 in Bucket List Publications travel photo contest! Also, thanks to those of you who liked/shared on Facebook. I’ve been underestimating the power of social media these days… Perhaps I should consider re-opening my FB account.

You all are the best. -H

A diverse range of imaginative cocktails, many of which utilizing organic juices and liquors are available for those of us seeking a refreshing spirit or two. As much as I love organically grown anything, I’m not sure if something as toxic to the human body as liquor will benefit from certified pesticide-free ingredients. Does it reduce hangover intensity? Feel free to knock a few organic tequilas back and inform me as to whether there is a difference.

On top of the delicious food, you’ll typically spend far less time waiting hungrily for your table than a few other favorites such as R&D and True Foods. We’re always warmly greeted by the manager (or owner, will have to find out) at some point during our lunch which adds to the overall charm.

The inevitable cessation of our meal always results in prompt table clearing by friendly bus staff, followed by our bill shortly thereafter. I for one can thoroughly appreciate this. When any restaurant claims to be at all European, I immediately visualize wait staff neglecting me post initial seating process and sedately returning every thirty minutes or so. Did that make any sense? I really am trying to put it lightly that I don’t find slow service admirable. They may serve European dishes, but the service is far superior to much of what you’ll experience in Europe. Do ignore this aspect of my review if you are one who relishes a relaxing, laid back approach from your inattentive waiter; I do know that a lazy afternoon of conversation works for many.

Please eat here. Hope to see you there amongst the merry glut of organic liquor enthusiasts.
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The time we spent in Kona was most enchanting though. E had fun with grandpa Jim and tutu Bar Bar whose house was decorated in a plethora of baby necessities courtesy of Baby’s Away Big Island. Thank the Lord I didn’t have to cart my entire nursery and play area with me to the islands. I would have had a far lower level of sanity without their help providing clean and modern baby equipment.

Although for the time being you’ll see less of me and my worldly travel moments, please know that I will do my best to provide as many restaurant, product, and attraction reviews as possible here in my home state of California.
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Thats right. Two months later and we’re back to Kona for another leisurely visit. This time we decided to see how the Waikoloa Beach Marriott has held up over the years. I was 14 last time I stepped foot on this property (when my agent had booked me for my first ever fashion show). Oh how I wish that I could find the ridiculous photos of me working the catwalk sporting the latest in Speedo swimwear and adolescent casual island wear for merchants such as Ross and Macy’s. Don’t you miss 1990′s fashion… maybe I’ll find some comedic images later and post them for added viewer amusement. The resort looked fine to me back then, but the convention/conference area was the extent of my Marriott experience, so I was curious to see the new and improved grounds.

We were pleased to be upgraded to a pool view room with a lovely, just through the trees panorama of A-Bay. The room and hotel grounds had obviously been recently renovated as everything has been noticeably refreshed. The only thing that needed upgrading in my opinion was the TV. A flat screen would have been nice. The room was a little on the small side and became hard to navigate when my husband utilized the desk area to do emails. Other than that, we were delightfully surprised by how nice of an accommodation it really was. Our room (2294) was right next to the fire escape which gave us easy and convenient pool access. The infinity pool was quite aesthetically pleasing but the water was freezing. The rest of the property grounds are absolutely beautiful. Inevitably, this part of the island is very windy, so that does get a little irksome at times. Pool staff are rather strange when it comes to the process of picking up and dropping off towels. All other hotel staff were magnificent though.

We did make use of the gym facility during our visit. The fitness equipment is amply stocked and everything has obviously been kept current and is rather clean.

The King’s Shops are right across the street (and Queen’s shops just a little further up the road), so you couldn’t ask for a better location with regard to shopping and dining selection. The Marriott offers the choice of an a la carte menu or buffet breakfast. Both were good but the buffet wasn’t worth the $29 in my opinion.

Overall we couldn’t believe how great this accommodation was for the price paid (approximately 40% cheaper than other 4 star resorts in the area). We almost gave the Waikoloa Beach Marriott a miss after reading a multitude of negative reviews. We’re glad to have given it a chance… it was surprisingly exceptional in almost every aspect and we’ll most likely return to this financially feasible hotel in the future!

In addition, we set off on an around the island drive to perhaps evoke a multitude of childhood memories. My husband’s patience was effectively tested as he endured the approximate 5 hour drive with me conducting an almost constant narrative pointing out every place I’d ever lived or spent any significant amount of time. (e.g. Annoyingly I can indeed point out every health food store from start to finish.) We had lunch at Cafe Pesto in Hilo and then stopped in at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park for a quick hike through a glorious lava tube. If anyone has experienced the Volcano Mist Cottage please let me know how it is. I hope to book in with them next time we’re in the area.