Dance by the light of the moon....

Nothing like a late night beach stroll with my girls during a full moon!

Attack of the Man-of-war.

Mari and I finally got to hang out today! We went over to Hukilau to swim and use the GoPro camera in the water. It was a little windy but the waves made for some fun in the water.....

All was fine, dandy, and fun until...out of no where...my skin started to sting! I realized I was being stung by what I assumed was a jelly fish on my arm. My first thought was "Oh, there it was, my first jelly fish sting on my arm..." Then before I could say or think another word, I could feel it stretching across my back toward my left arm, wrapping itself around my arm, coming back across my stomach, back around my lower back, and down my legs. I couldn't get it off me! It was literally wrapping itself all around me and burning me as it did! I was yelling for Mari to get it off of me but when she tried, it stung her hand. I kept trying to get it off of me, twisting and grabbing but I couldn't. And to top it off, I dropped the GoPro camera in the ocean! I was freaking out!! I finally somehow got the (what I later learned) man-of-war jelly fish off me, swam down and snatched the GoPro off the ocean floor and swam into the shore line grimacing in pain. It literally felt like my skin was set on fire. When we got back onto the shore line, I could have swore that the manowar was still on my. I thought I could feel it still stinging me over and over and over again. I honestly didn't know what to do so we grabbed our stuff, ran across the street to Mari's house and I jumped in the shower in hopes to rinse off the burn. Mari looked up online suggested remedies, none of which she had available at her house of course. My friend Katie suggested she spray me with Windex because the ammonia would help with the sting. Lucky for me, her Windex contained vinegar! One of the ingredients suggested online but we didn't have. So Mari sprayed me down and I laid face down on her couch and just let the burn slowly decrease. It took about 45 minutes until I felt some sort of relief. 

Here are a few pictures of my battle wounds:

It doesn't look nearly as bad as it felt, and I am not trying to sound like a baby! It killed!!! And I felt so helpless because I couldn't do anything to make it go away! Tonight was Pono's vocal recital so I just threw on a sweatshirt and went all itchy and scratchy and did my best to ignore the burn. 

He did such a wonderful job at his recital!!!

All in all it was a pretty crazy day and surviving a manowar attack is definitely something I never thought I would deal with but I can say I survived!!! HA!

Godzilla lives...on the North Shore.

Having famous people come in our Starbucks never gets old.....

;-)

Sick.

All this running around has got me sick and couch bound. I literally spent the whole day sleeping on the couch. I had a fever and the sweats but even just one day later, I feel so much better. I even slept all through the night too. I really just think I had been on the go so much that I wore myself out. Thank goodness for cold medicine, kleenex, and sleeeeeeeep!

It's a small, small, small world.

So. One quiet morning as I am working at Turtle Bay, two women walked into the shop wanting to play tennis. I helped them out and sent them on their way. However, one of the ladies looked so familiar to me. I couldn't figure it out. I chalked it up as just another familiar face at a resort where, after awhile, everyone looks familiar. That wasn't enough to settle my mind. I couldn't get it out of my head! So...I cheated. I looked up their room at the resort. The guest name was Dawnie Moss. I freaked out...The woman was my Mom's college roommate! I hadn't seen her in years but as soon as I put a name to the face, it clicked. I got in touch with her and her partner Trish a few hours later. They were walking back by my work and I said "Dawnie?? My name is Erika...I am Cammy's dau....." And before I could finish my sentence she was saying "OH MY GOSH". SO funny. I still can't believe it. 

 So a few days later, I met up with Dawnie and Trish as well as their two other friends they were traveling with and we did some shopping around Hale'Iwa, some "extreme beach glassing" at Kawela Bay, then dinner at Lei Lei's on the golf course at Turtle Bay. 

To top off the small world stories...as we were in Hale'Iwa at Clark Little's art gallery, there was a guy working who was home for the summer from college at Rocky Mountain in BILLINGS Montana where he plays football with my cousin WESTON! HOW small is this world?!?! It is so crazy but I absolutely love it! 

I love my happy and small little Hawaiian life. 

Aloha oe girls!

My girls moved back to the great Northwest! It was a sad day for everyone but they are going to have such a great summer. If it goes as planned, they will be back this fall but I told them once they are home and back on the mainland with all the conveniences of the "real world" it might be hard for them to return. 

Either way it has been such a fun year and I will miss these girls!!!

(and as Lauren's farewell hazing, we drenched her in whipped cream. In my defense, IT WASN'T MY IDEA!! Sorry Lauren. It made for a hilarious night though!)

Frappucino Happy Hour: Satan's playground.

 For the last 9 days, Starbucks has been having a "Frappucino Happy Hour" every day from 3pm to 5pm. And in usual Starbucks fashion, there have been lofty sales goals set for us to reach. Our store had to sell 192 frappucinos per day in order to beat that goal which means we HAD to sell at least 13 frozen, blended drinks per hour....including the early morning hours. WHO wants that so early? I get that Starbucks need to make money but sometimes I swear they only use us like robotic slaves. 

For example: 

Here is Drea. Every day we had an extra person scheduled during happy hour just to sample these cute little frappucino samples. We pushed those little sugar filled, whip cream topped cups down peoples throats until they couldn't resist purchasing one on their own. And it worked because at days end on May 13th, our store was #1 in the district and sat at 185% of our sales goal. That's right. ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY FIVE percent. Above and beyond, baby. 

That being said, I wouldn't be sad to make another single frappucino in my life. 

Or put whip cream with extra caramel topping, chocolate flakes, mocha drizzle, blah blah blah in my life!

Amazing women.

The one thing that has been the hardest about being on this little rock in the middle of the ocean is being so far from family. I can't just drive or fly somewhere for the weekend. They are all getting together in Utah this weekend and I would LOVE to be there. My mom sent me this picture of her and her sisters. I am so grateful to have such great women in my life. Truly blessed. They have all helped me grow in so many ways. I love them all very much. Especially that mama of mine! 

AVENGERS!

I am not one to see the most popular movies that are the biggest rage so when my peeps invited me to join them to the midnight showing of Avengers...I hesitated. I had to work early the next morning so the whole thing just seemed a little too much BUT I said..."Erika. You're young. You're leaving these people soon. YOLO!" So I went. And I am so glad I did!!! The movie was AWESOME and the whole night was so much fun!!! 

Surprise Monkey.

I went on a trip to Kahala with Ho'oulu, Katie, Chelsea, and Ku and I surprised Zoe at work! She had no idea that I was coming and luckily had a few minutes for us to chat and catch up. She is running the new CorePower Yoga studio in Kahala and I am really proud of her! It's so much work and with Jonas being deployed, she is really doing a lot of it alone but she is working hard and making the most of it! 

Starbucks Groupies.

I love with Mata brings the boys into work. Granted, I hardly get anything done while they are there, but it's totally worth it be a favorite auntie. I love these boys so much! 

This was the FIRST time Sole didn't cry when his mom left

him behind the counter with me. It was a miracle. It MIGHT have helped

that I had a snack for him...

And then there is Jahe. I love this kid! He cracks me up!!

Here he is giving me the double shaka. 

Love it!