Last weekend we hiked near the Waihe'e Stream, just outside of the Ewa Forest Reserve. It was a humid morning full of sunshine, due to the fact it rained all night and earlier that morning. We parked our cars and met up with several other friends and their dogs at the entrance of the hike.  We headed up hill and through the woods for about 3 miles. At the 3 mile point we were greeted by a lovely waterfall that was refreshing for everyone. The mist off the waterfall cooled our skin, and the pools of water below filled the bellies of our pups.  My German shepherd/ husky mix was so happy to hike with her new doggie friends!  She has only been here on the island for about a week, so it was good for her to get out and socialize with some other dogs. 

The hike was beautiful, in fact, I wished I had my Canon the whole time we were hiking. This trail is very close to our house, so we plan to head back out again soon. I will probably make the husband take the leash so that I can snap away with the ol' camera. It was a really green hike with lots of open areas to look around and explore. It was our first real hike since we moved here, and it revved up my need to go on more hikes. When I lived in Alabama, I used to go for hikes ALL the time with my friends. It is so nice to live somewhere that has an unlimited supply of hiking trails and other fun adventures. 

Hawaii is definitely a constant source of inspiration for me, because it really connects me back to the Earth and mother nature. During the hustle and bustle of everyday chores, duties, errands, and work schedules, it's so refreshing to escape the chaos and connect with a more serene environment. I am feeling so blessed right now to be surrounded with such beauty. Please take time for yourself this week to explore some place new and leave your cell phone at home so you can really be present in that moment. Embrace the beauty. -Lorel

<= This was my dog's first reaction when she saw me after her flight.  She was still a little shaken by the whole flying as cargo experience, but she was back to normal by the second day. We have gone on several walks to get her familiar with her new surroundings. I hope that she is not traumatized from her flying experience. Her kennel has always been a safe spot for her, like her little den. She was completely comfortable beforehand, so I hope that in a couple years she will have completely forgotten about the whole flying experience and be really calm the second time around. I still can't believe how much this dog has traveled. She is a trooper. Have any of you flown your dogs around the world? Do you have any tricks or recommendations to help keep them calm the 2nd time around? I am thankful she made it here safely, and she is now happier than ever. But I also want to make sure she is still comfortable with her kennel and the process of traveling in it.  Feel free to comment below with any tips or suggestions. Thanks! -Lorel

In case you are wondering what on Earth this is a picture of.. it is a sea turtle that I saw while kayaking this past weekend! This time I brought my waterproof camera on our weekend adventure, and whenever I saw some amazing underwater spectacle I just dunked the camera underneath the water's surface and hoped for a great shot. Unfortunately, this time I only captured a small portion of his shell and his foot.  Once I build up the courage to go snorkeling, I should be able to capture more underwater footage with my new GoPro! First, I need to figure out how to use that camera, then I will combine it with snorkeling. 

So we rented kayaks and parked near Kailua Beach to set off to sea. I have never kayaked before, so I was really excited about this new adventure. I have been on a canoe before though, so I figured it would be something like that. So we push off the beach and head out on the Pacific Ocean, and not 5 minutes into our journey another sea turtle comes to greet me RIGHT NEXT to my kayak! I could've reached over to pet his shell, but I will never touch a sea creature on purpose. I am starting to think these turtles are trying to tell me something, because with every new adventure they appear right next to me! It's really amazing and intriguing to me. 

The World Wildlife Fund is an amazing organization that helps save the Earth by saving it's species.  They work tirelessly to preserve the planet by helping companies reduce their carbon footprint and are aslso involved in many other Earth-saving activities. The World Wildlife Fund not only helps the endangered species of this Earth, but they also work hard to help conserve fresh water for the animals and ourselves. 

If you decide to donate to this wonderful organization, then you can walk around with a  warm feeling in your heart knowing that you are helping innocent animals have a better chance at life.  By making a donation today, you are also helping to keep this planet a little more green, which is always a good thing,. Together we can hopefully making this planet a better place. 

You can also help support the cause by purchasing some of their MERCHANDISE or by symbolically adopting you favorite SPECIES!

What an exciting weekend!! This past weekend was the first time we actually took the time to travel the island. We started off by heading towards Waikiki on Saturday to meet up with my husband's ol' high school buddy.  He was very kind and welcomed us to that side of the island by taking us on a mini-tour of Waikiki Beach Walk. We stopped and ate some amazing sushi, then we finished up our visit by paddle boarding at Waikiki Beach. I have never gone paddle boarding before and it was a BLAST! The most exciting part for me was seeing several sea turtles swim near me. They were very large sea turtles and had such a majestic presence in the water.  (Continue Reading)

Aloha!!! I have moved to the lovely state of Hawaii and I could not be happier!!  It has been a very challenging transition getting everything organized and moved, but it is so worth the hassle!! We should be moving into an apartment in the next couple of weeks. I have been thinking about my new life here on the island and what I want to be doing with myself.

Yoga is a given here on the island. There are so many studios around here and so many wonderfully inspiring places to practice my yoga. I also want to continue teaching in the local setting and I hope to apply for teaching positions at the local studios in the next couple of months. More currently... (Continued)