Home Again, Home Again

...Jiggity Jog.

Nothing like a 50 degree temperature swing to let you know you're not in Kansas Maui anymore! Brrr! I don't have it together enough to have downloaded the "real" photos and videos from our trip, but thought I'd throw up a few iPhone faves so you can have a little taste.

Random Round-Up Maui, go!

"Dream The Good Life..."

Mai Tai in Lahaina

"Our" beach - Kamaole I/Charley Young

Nothing like a palm to say 'tropical'.

Nightly sunset happy hour on the beach.

Hibiscus everywhere

Hope to have the better images and videos ready to go soon, and I'll certainly be posting probably a few too many here. 'Til then, back to reality for me! Aloha...

Prepping for Paradise

I can hardly believe it... But we take off for our belated honeymoon *finally finally finally* in Maui tomorrow. TO. MORROW.

List making. I seriously love packing.

Leaving the real safely behind - Fake from The Icing (right): $12!

So excited I could practically fly there under my own power.

Can't wait to come back with stories and photos to share.

Random Round Up: Christmas

Such a deliciously relaxing and fun week. So much so that pictures were few and far between! Hope all of you had just such a holiday yourselves.

Under our tree

The. Best. Hot or cold.

Ugly Sweater party hosting success! Already on for next year.

The house I grew up in - A white Christmas! (click to enlarge)

New slips. Deeeeeeeeelish.

Raise A Glass

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Cheers to a 2013 full of fun and adventure, laughter and love, and great moments that seem to last for hours.

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A Dish Best Served... Never.

I married into a wonderful family with a rather horrifying tradition: Lutefisk.

What's that? Well, you can click on the word 'lutefisk' above for the real definition, but I'm pretty partial to Jeffrey Steingarten's synopsis during a 1999 interview:

"Lutefisk is not food, it is a weapon of mass destruction. It is currently the only exception for the man who ate everything. Otherwise, I am fairly liberal: I gladly eat worms and insects, but I draw the line on lutefisk.

What is special with lutefisk?

Lutefisk is the Norwegians' attempt at conquering the world. When they discovered that Viking raids didn't give world supremacy, they invented a meal so terrifying, so cruel, that they could scare people to become one's subordinates."

Nate's family calls it "Christmas Fish"... as if that makes it any cuter. Don't believe it could be so bad? Check out this little Christmas Eve plate action filmed from the plate of yours truly:

Any strange-but-true food traditions in your family? Tell me I'm not alone here!

Merry Belated!

A day late, but warm wishes all the same! Hope everyone had a wonderful, cozy Christmas chock full o' love.

xoxo,

Ashley, Nate, & Tucker

SantaNate

More normal entries will resume soon. 'Til then, enjoy the end of 2012's holiday season!

Quick Craft: Metal Branch

One blank wall + One need to display holiday greetings = One faux-metal branch.

That's the conclusion you came to too? No? Well, you may join the crazy train after seeing how easy and effective this lil' project is.

Here's what you need:

1 branch (I used Curly Willow as the one in our yard needed a trim. Find one in the woods!)

1 can metallic spray paint

Nails/screws

Ribbon

Total Cost: $6-$10

The branch.

Rust-Oleum Metallic Silver

Sprayed, dried (about 36 hours), nailed onto wall.

First draft of ribbon hanging.

Ribbon split up - Holiday greetings taped on!

Works like a charm

Love it.

There's plenty of room for more as greetings roll in, and the current plan is to have this branch be a permanent fixture, displaying photos, notes, and cards year-round. All I have to do is switch out the ribbon!