aloha.

i love that word. hello and goodbye, all wrapped into one. it puts so much emphasis on context and occasion. it's magical.did i ever tell you guys that i studied abroad in hawaii my second year of college? i know, what a brat, right? i had to take a class in hawaii in january....so tough. but i took eastern vs. western ethics, and let me tell you, it was not an easy class. we had a four page paper due each week we were there, and that's all fine and good if you're stuck inside during a minnesota january, but try doing that while fighting the urge to go to the beach. but obviously it was still amazing. (ask jenna. she went on the trip with me and hasn't been able to get rid of me since. we only work one floor apart now.)

oh hey round-faced erin! was that kona coffee ice cream in the cafeteria just a little too tasty? (jenna looks just as adorable today, for the record)

hawaii is one of those places that make you feel like you're in a dream while you're there. like it's almost too good to be true. every part of the islands are beautiful in their own way, and while you're there, you almost take on an alternate personality. i, for example, become someone who wears head scarves and flowy skirts (okay, i'm turning into that a little bit here too, but bear with me). i also turn into someone who jumps off of waterfalls and swims in deep ocean water. everything just feels good when you're there, like there isn't really anything to be scared of. you don't even need to be partaking in that maui wowi to feel that way...

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have you ever been excited for something, but because of what someone else is going to experience, not because of what you're going to get out of it? i feel that way about Mister Man coming to hawaii with us for the first time. i cannot wait to see what he thinks about the magic of the island, and i want to see his face the first time he hears whales making noises underwater. maybe this is how parents feel when their child does something for the first time?

this is the last trip we're going to take for a while, because as you know, we've been a little spoiled over the last year or so. we like to say that we've taken three honeymoons. and for all those people who told us that we should travel and wait awhile before settling down, are you satisfied with three honeymoons? i think that should be quite enough for any newlywed couple. so we are going to enjoy the crap out of this last trip. i'm going to drink as many mai tais as humanly possible, and try to get as tan as i was in that photo up there. and i am most definitely going to get oodles of sleep.

i will try to bring back as much warm weather as i can fit into my suitcase, i pinky promise. i won't be posting anything (because i'll be busy with those mai tais), but i will be sharing snippets of our week on twitter and instagram. if you need a dose of vicarious sun, follow along, but i completely understand if you maybe unfollow me until i get back to the tundra. have a fabulous week my lovelies!

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