The Crosby Chronicles » mary

Majestic Maui: Six Unearthly Journeys That Will Rock Your World

mary — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:55:39 +0000

Armed with a shining silver PT Cruiser (mistake #1) we paid a grand total of $36 for, Adam and I conquered over seven hundred miles of the majestic island of Maui.

Prior to our trip, I decided to do very little planning for two reasons: first, I did not have much time since the trip was a surprise and second, I decided that I did not want every moment of our vacation to be planned since the rest of our lives is dictated by dates and schedules. Those of you who know me, understand how challenging this lack of control was. Once we finally arrived in Maui, we decided what attractions to see/do as we went along. We gathered information from our resort concerege, tripadvisor.com (love it), and from the suggestions of other wise vacationers. So here it is, the definitive list of the most amazing things to do if you ever find yourself in a little piece of paradise called Maui.

#1 The Road to Hana

Taking the Road to Hana is not a journey for the faint of heart. If car sickness has ever been an issue for you, stock up, take liberal amounts of anti-nausea medicine, and hold on for the ride of your life. Driving the Road to Hana (or hell as some tourists call it) was one of the very few times in my life where I actually thought we may be walking into the bright white light sooner rather than later. According to the Maui Information Guide, The Road to Hana is world famous for the natural beauty of its unblemished landscapes and towering waterfalls. The Road to Hana offers some of the most spectacular scenery found anywhere in the Hawaiian islands, but the road is long and winding, with over 600 curves and 54 one lane bridges. It’s 53 miles from Kahului Airport to Hana, but it usually takes about 2½ to 3 hours to make the drive. Despite the harsh driving conditions, driving the road to Hana really gave us a spectacular understanding of the dynamic terrain of the island.

#2 Wai’anapanapa State Park and Black Sand Beach

All my life I have heard about black sand beaches. When Adam surprised me with this trip, instantly the number one item on my agenda was to visit one of these natural wonders. As you travel along the Road to Hana, you come across the Wai’anapanapa State Park. Located inside this state park is a famous black sand beach. The beach is absolutely one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen, but it is not a place to lay down your beach blanket and relax with the family because of its strong currents and rocky reef.

#3 Haleakala State Park

Also known as the East Maui Volcano, Haleakala is a shield volcano that is thought to have last erupted around 1790. The 10,023 foot climb to the top is mesmerizing and this journey provided some of the most beautiful pictures from our trip. Most people get up at 3 am to make it to the top of the volcano by sunrise. Not being morning people, Adam and I opted for the sunset view which was breathtaking.

#4 Lavender Farm

As you open the door of your car at the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm, the scent of lavender fills the air and you know you made an excellent choice. Nestled in the hills of Maui, this unique farm offers tours, tastings, samples, and products that are all made with lavender grown on the grounds. We enjoyed a heavenly lavender scone and lavender ice cream early in the morning. This was a great place to pick up some unique gifts for special people (like our awesome cat sitters).

#5 Snorkeling

The biggest regret I had last time I visited Hawaii was not spending more time snorkeling. The great thing about Maui is you can snorkel at almost any bay or cove you come across as long as it is not too turbulent or rocky. The reefs are all accessible from pretty shallow water and you can cheaply rent snorkel gear on every other corner. The red sea urchins were my favorite creatures we encountered.

#6 Warren and Anabelle’s Magic Show

When I told Adam I wanted to go to a magic show, his eyes almost rolled out of his skull. He was not thrilled with the idea, but being the awesome husband that he is obliged. I came across the Warren and Anabelle show on tripadvisor.com and was skeptical at first. The tickets were a little pricey, but I figured I would give it a shot. We showed up early and had excellent dessert and drinks in Anabelle’s Parlor. The parlor basically looks like an old lady’s house, but as you are eating you are entertained by a magic piano that plays audience requests. While dining, Adam and I were asked assist with the magic show. I love being the center of attention, so I was thrilled. I can honestly say that Warren, the magician, was phenomenal. His tricks and jokes kept you entertained the entire two hour show and Adam even said he was glad we went. Afterwards, I spent the next two days on the internet trying to figure out how he interlocked the audience’s wedding rings right before our eyes. This was an amazing show and an excellent evening out. If you ever travel to Maui, it is a must.

Given unlimited time and energy, I could write a novel praising the island of Maui. For me, the island was more than just beautiful scenery and new experiences. It taught me the value of vacation and relaxation with the one you love. Maui will always hold a special place in my heart because Adam and I (four years later) took a moment to step back, look how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go. As we begin planning our next trip, hopefully to Berlin, in December, I have this sinking feeling that it won’t hold a candle to Maui, a tropical paradise I will always affectionately remember.

Learning to Knit Like a Super Grandma

mary — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:32:20 +0000

When I say knitting, you think grandma, right? Let me tell you, any grandma who can still see those stitches at 80 must be a superwoman. Last night, I was fortunate enough to con, I mean bribe, my friend Carolyn into helping me learn how to knit.To my surprise, knitting actually involves a lot of hand eye coordination, thinking, and patience. I felt like a kid learning to hold a pencil, or ride a bike for the first time.

I tried to learn how to knit many (15+) years ago, and had zero success; last night was different! I guess I can chalk this one up to age or wisdom, whatever you want to call it. I managed to get a few rows knitted and even began to learn the art of pearling. It takes about 10,000 hours to become an expert a any given task. I have a long, long way to go, but I hope this is a new skill that I begin to develop. Maybe by Christmas I can make Adam that scarf he swears he will never wear.

Taming the Monster

mary — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:37:04 +0000

The only complaint I have about our condo is the lack of space, and realistically, having more space is the only reason I would ever want to own a house. I mean really, who WANTS to mow the lawn on Saturday morning, pay for a new roof, or paint shutters? I continuously try to look at the amount of space we have objectively. If two or more people can live in 500 square foot loft in NYC or 300 square foot apartment in Japan, I should (and can) make it work in 1202 square feet. I ask, do two people and two adorable cats really need all this stuff?

Since school days are drawing near (booooo), I figured I should take some of this precious time to tame the monster that is my closet. For months now, I have not been able to walk in my walk-in closet. The space that is supposed to be for my clothing has turned into a trash receptacle for everything else that wont fit other places: luggage, kitchen gadgets, gym equipment, linens, decorative items, and cat accessories. Here is what the closet looked like before we began . . . yuck!

Armed with three good helpers, some trash bags for donations, and a bit of liquid refreshment for Adam, we began by taking everything out of the closet. This allowed me to assess just how much junk I had, and how much I had to get rid of or reorganize to make the space workable and enjoyable.

The rule I followed was this: If I hadn’t worn or used it in a year, it goes to Good Will. I have recently started to appreciate quality over quantity. This was a great process to help me realize that I should not buy things I don’t love just because it is a good deal. I would rather pay $50 for a fantastic looking shirt than $15 for one that is just ok, but a great deal. I am going to try to take this philosophy into my shopping for now on. The added bonus of cleaning out the closet is that I am donating some gently used items to families who can benefit from them.

Here is the final result. All it took was a little time and a willingness to let go of some things that served no purpose other than to take up space and aggravate me on a daily basis. Here is a great article that Adam send me a few months ago that really resonated with me. Maybe you can find some inspiration in it too?

The Pineapple Anniversary

mary — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:52:41 +0000

Every July, I look at one of those websites that tells you the traditional and modern gifts for the year and spend the entire month trying to figure out something to buy Adam that fits the criteria. The first year was paper, so I got him several gift certificates to his favorite restaurants and promised him date nights throughout the year. The second year was cotton, so I got him a t-shirt. The third year was leather, so I got him a passport cover. According to several sites, fruit and flowers are a modern gift for year four.

This year, I had planned to buy Adam one of those fruit of the month clubs because I figured it would be better than showing up on our special day with a dozen girlie red roses. Unfortunately, Adam and I had made a pact not spend a lot on this years anniversary because of the hardwood floor purchase. Somehow deep in my heart, I knew this would turn out similar to the Christmas I had nothing for Adam and he bought me a complete knife set from William Sonoma and a Dyson vacuum cleaner. Now nothing says get in the kitchen, cook me a meal, and clean my house for eternity like this gift, but I was thrilled none the less. Early on the morning of our anniversary, I headed out to run some errands. When I came home, there was a mysterious pineapple waiting for me under the guise of a fruit anniversary gift. Now I thought this was odd because Adam hates pineapple, but went with it as a sentimental gesture. Earlier in the week, we decided that dinner was going to be a cheap outing to celebrate four years of marital bliss. Our dinner selection that evening was Guadalajara because they catered our knock down, drag out, pass out in the bushes until morning with a red margarita ring around your lips reception. If you weren’t there, remind me to tell you the story, that did not involve either of us, one day. We hoped our trip to the restaurant would help rekindle some of our memories of that fabulous night. As we were driving to dinner, I finally got the nerve to ask Adam what my brain had been thinking thoughts about all day; Why did you choose to give me a pineapple when you hate pineapple? Now being the witty man that he is, he responded by saying it was the biggest fruit he could find. He said he felt like he was getting the biggest bang for his buck. I just awkwardly shook my head in agreement. While sitting at dinner, Adam told me that the bizzare pineapple was not my real gift and he handed me a plain husband style white envelope. All I could think was that he was handing me a credit card bill and getting ready to lecture me about my frequent trips to HomeGoods or the Loft. To my surprise, Adam managed to book seven nights in Maui without my knowledge. He rearranged my schedule, set up the best cat sitters in the world (AKA my parents), and even contacted a friend to tell her I would not make it to her baby shower. Everyone was in on the surprise. I was so shocked tears streamed down my face in the middle of the restaurant. I hated to tell Adam that this trumped getting engaged in the car, but I did anyway. It is amazing how much honesty can be cultivated during a loving eleven year relationship. Adam decided to take me on this trip to make-up for the honeymoon we never had and it truly was a breathtaking journey that I will remember the rest of my life.

In the following days, I will post a brief synopsis of each day and include pictures in case you are ever interested in going to Maui. I cannot say enough amazing things about this tropical paradise.

A Little Less Than One Week Later . . .

mary — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:07:57 +0000

As I look back through the pictures I took this week, it is hard to believe that less than a week ago the process of getting hardwood flooring had not even begun. I have to say, between the dust, dirt, unexpected subfloor disaster, cleaning, and rebuilding, I am exhausted. As of tonight, the floors still need another good wipe down, but for the most part things are back together around here. I think this is one of the greatest improvements I have made yet and I am thrilled with my choice of wood. I love my little condo and plan to hang around a long time. A special thanks goes out to my mom and dad who were here for me when I couldn’t be. You guys are the best! I could not accomplish many of the things I do without your love and support!

Before

After

Things Must Get Worse Before They Get Better

mary — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:02:18 +0000

Spring came and went and summer is slowly creeping by, so I have to get started on my summer goal of getting the old blog back up and running. Part of the problem in the spring was lack of excitement. It seemed like all I did was work, so needless to say, I am truly enjoying some free time. Adam has always said that one of the most dangerous things in the world is me with time to think, plot, shop, and make decisions about house projects. So here we are again, this time the project is flooring, hardwood flooring to be exact. I spent the entire month of June shopping for hardwood floors and getting prices from contractors. I think I went to every hardwood dealer north of Brazil and finally made my decision; 600 square feet of sepele, hand scraped, French bleed, 7 inch planks. I swear June 21st was one of the best days of my life because it was the last day of school and I ordered the flooring. It took a couple of weeks to arrive from the mill and yesterday the “fun” began.

Last night, Lamont and his buddy came over to rip out the carpet. This was an easy process and I was excited with how fast it went. Unfortunately today was a nightmare. The hardwood floor person who put down the original floor used enough glue to hold the floors down if a tornado should strike the courtyard. This made prying the floor up impossible and made the subfloor come up with old flooring. Tomorrow self-leveling cement will be poured in the kitchen so that the floor does not look like the Grand Canyon and all should be right with the world. On Thursday the actual floor will be installed. After being involved with a couple bigger house projects now, I am starting to believe that there are some conditions that must be met for a house activity to take on project status. Here is my list:
1. Did the activity take longer than expected?
2. Did the activity require at least three or more trips to the hardware store?
3. Did the project cost more than expected?
4. Was there some sort of disaster or demolition involved?
5. Did someone bleed and curse in the process?
6. Were there phone calls for advice?
7. Did more than one person walk away saying they would never do it again?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you have a real home project on your hands. Please enjoy the pictures below of today’s disaster.

The First Pull

Dust Anyone?

No, this was not supposed to happen.

I hope the neighbors don't complain.

The wood finally arrived.

Nook News

mary — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:46:15 +0000

A few months ago, we decided to combine the 25 gallon aquarium with the 100 gallon aquarium because the maintenance routine was just becoming too much. This was a great move because I really enjoy having all of my little critters in one place. I also only have to transport 21 gallons of deionized reverse osmosis water every two weeks instead of 40+ gallons. Removing the tank left me with a little awkward spot in the office that just looked like a void. I decided on Saturday morning that I was going to go out and find something that would make the room look more decorated. Here is what I did. The picture was given to me by a friend years ago and I took it out of the bathroom. I bought the chair for a very reasonable price at HomeGoods and picked up a cheap pillow at Target. Poof, in one morning I was able to make the room look complete. On Saturday mornings, I often ask myself what I am going to create or do to make my life or my surroundings better. I think this was another step in the right direction.

This was my little hunk of wall before.

Here is my little hunk of wall after.

Merry Springmas :)

mary — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:41:57 +0000

My neighbors across the hall moved in January 15th and proceeded to put up their live pine Christmas wreath. I thought it was a little strange, but let it go. Today, on March 1st, this same wreath still adorns the door. If you know me, you know I am very type A+++++, so looking at this everyday is driving me crazy. Naturally this Christmas wreath situation got me thinking, when is it appropriate to put up seasonal decorations? I did some research on the internet and here is an article that I completely agree with http://lisahw.pnn.com/articles/show/29907-when-holiday-decorations-should-go-up-according-to-me

In January, I bought this adorable wreath at HomeGoods for only $20. I have been waiting for the moment I could legally put it up and not offend the neighbors. Is it too early to put a spring wreath up even though it is still technically winter?

This is the neighbor's Christmas wreath.

This is my new lovely spring wreath.

Introducing . . . The New Dresser!!!!

mary — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:03:30 +0000

The month long Salvation Army credenza turned dresser project is finally over. I may have ulnar nerve/elbow problems from the sander, but all of the hard work really paid off. I would like to thank Dad for special help with the sanding and painting and Ethan and Adam for helping me get the monster into the house. I would also like to thank Mom for always feeding the troops and letting me paint in her kitchen when it was thirty degrees outside. I would love to have more time to work on projects like this. It is such an eco-friendly way to turn someone else’s junk into your treasure! I hope to keep this piece in my home for many years to come.

: Before

: After

: The new hardware really makes it look finished.

What makes a house a home?

mary — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:05:23 +0000

I ran across this post on (http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/01/what-makes-a-house-a-home/) a few weeks ago on a blog I read called Centsational Girl. It really made me think about the meaning of home and how everything does not have to always be magazine perfect. For those of you who know me, type A does not begin to describe my personality, so I thought I would repost this to remind myself that a little cat hair on the couch is ok!

We love to curl up together on the leather couch!