Vacation Pictures

This post is mainly for my family, who, I am convinced, want to see where we were and what we did...other than from my phone. :)

Kailua Beach

 PCC

 Hawaiian music and dance

 (We didn't get many other pics because we were either too far back, too enthralled with the dance and music from those islands, or Pat was taping it, which I will also post...once I can find them!)

 Laie Temple

We saw an amazing rainbow one evening. This picture doesn't do it justice. 

It was seriously the brightest rainbow I've ever seen.

 View from restaurant where I ate breakfast!
Originally when I posted this I was thinking it was from Kualoa Ranch. Then, I wondered what had happened to the picture I took when I was eating breakfast and Pat was working. Apparently I confused it with the ranch pics! Anyway, now this is accurate, and that makes me smile. :)

This was the view from the Ranch's porch!

Kualoa Ranch was once owned by the the Kamehameha family. One of the King Kamehameha's sold it in the 1800's to a Dr that came to the island to help the people. He sold the land for somewhere around $1,400. Today, that amount of money is worth $65,000. There are several thousand acres, which also include private beaches, and ChinaMan's Hat island. Also included are three mountains. The land has stayed in the Dr's family ever since, and they have it as an operating cattle ranch. They give all kinds of tours there - ATV, movie, boat, horseback, etc. It's really a cool place. If you ever go to Oahu, I'd recommend at least one of their tours. They start at $26/per person.

 Just realize the next several are from Kualoa Ranch...

it was beautiful there!

 Old sugar mill on Kualoa Ranch

Driving on our tour - of the movie sets.

 Beautiful!

 The tree where they hid

from the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park

 Pat and I, again, on the Kualoa Ranch drive...

I don't normally wear my hair back, but we were going to the ocean, and be in wind,

and I just decided to risk it...don't judge!

 This is where Hurley played golf on Lost.

THE reason I wanted to go on this tour was because of the beauty in Lost and in Jurassic Park. I always thought that I'd love to see those sights, and we did!

Oh, and Jurassic Park was mostly shot on Kauai, but the hurricane that hit in 1992 wiped out their set; that happens to be the same year Pat and I last were in Hawaii, on Kauai. That hurricane hit six months after we were there, and much of what we saw was gone.

 Godzilla's footprint - there were several

 Windtalkers - mostly filmed in this area

 This was some Aztec Sci-fi movie;

can't remember the name

 George of the Jungle

  A battery from WWII - part of Pearl Harbor was shot here, the movie, obviously it was really there.

We noticed quite a few of them around the island.

Outside the battery,

you can actually see it from the highway

 The outside of the battery

 On our boat tour - it was only one hour...not three!

(Gilligan reference, for those who 'get' it)

 ChinaMan's Hat island

On the way to the island the water was very,

very choppy. In fact I nearly fell down

because the boat really rocked hard.

We saw large turtles swimming in the water -

Pat saw 3, I saw 1 & 1/2 (the 1/2 was underwater)

Dole Plantation - home of the famous Dole Whips. 

We started getting those here in 1988.

The place has changed A LOT.

Just down the road from us at Waikiki Beach; 

found this lighthouse, where a home is actually attached. Pretty cool.

 View from the road.

Last picture taken while there. Same area.

I hope you've enjoyed the pictures, and the tour. It really was beautiful there. I am so grateful we could go. Next time hopefully our whole family can! :)

Travel tips

We are going to Oahu! This was a completely unexpected trip. Pat's office asked him last week if he'd like to go over and take care of a job for them. They also said they'd send me, so we couldn't pass it up! As I was getting ready for our vacation I had some thoughts about things that we do, or could do, to make our trip better.

Here are a few of the things I thought of:

1) I don't know about you, but sometimes I have a difficult time remembering which room we are in! My thought, that I will be doing on this trip, is to take a picture of the room number with my phone. That way I won't forget!

2) Research! When we go away and make reservations I check for the best prices everywhere I can on the internet. Sometimes I even call the hotel and see what they can do for me. Usually, the best prices are found on their sites, or on AAA. We generally stay in the Marriott chains because they have smoke free hotels and their beds are comfy. A comfy bed can go a long way on a trip!

3) Try to stay someplace where breakfast is included in the price. That way you save a decent amount of money, and don't have to end up at McDonald's feeling sick after you've eaten. (though they have oatmeal now, I'd try that)

4) Figure out what you are interested in seeing/doing before you leave. For this trip, since it was so sudden, we had some ideas. One of the things we would have liked to do is revisit Pearl Harbor...however, with the government sequestration they don't have as many people working, so we wouldn't have been able to see it until mid August! While I'd love to go back, that isn't going to happen! What we did find, through research, was a ranch where we can do a jungle tour of the places where TV shows and movies were made: like "Lost", and "Jurassic Park"! I'm excited about that one! We will also be going to the Polynesian Cultural Center. We haven't been there in nearly 25 years!

5) Another thing we do, which isn't really about being organized, but I still enjoy it, is that we try to go to at least one place where "Diner's, Drive-ins, and Dives" has been. I have two such places slated for this trip. I know we will at least make it to one, we'll see about the second one. I also have several other places in mind for us to go, but we shall see!

6) Finally, if you know someone who is familiar with the area, ask them for suggestions. Our friends, the Neula's, know the islands, so I contacted Lisa and she gave me a few tips.

Aloha!

More ideas!

1) You can mail things without an envelope! All it has to do is weigh less than 13 ounces, and take a stamp! How fun would it be to get something like this in the mail!

Go to: http://www.giverslog.com/?tag=13-ounces-or-less
They have a whole list of things you can send! It may cost more than the price of a stamp, but still...fun!

2) Before adding sticky stuff (like peanut butter, shortening, or honey) to a measuring cup, put hot water in the cup for a minute or two, empty the measuring cup, add ingredient. Cleanup is a breeze! You can also use saran wrap to line the measuring cup, which makes it even easier to clean up! I've done both - they work!

3) Static cling with a slip on? Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip - no more static cling! I can't tell you how many times I would have loved knowing this for when our girls were growing up!

4) Reopening envelopes. If you have sealed an envelope, and forgotten that you were going to include something else in the card/letter just put your envelope in the freezer for two hours. The envelope will open, and you can easily reseal it.

5) Pesky fruit flies! If you have fruit flies (and who doesn't?) take a small glass, fill it half way with apple cider vinegar and 2 drops dishwashing soap. Mix well. The flies will be drawn to the cup, and gone forever.

More handy-dandy tips!

1) I'm posting this first tip in honor of those in our family that are sporting springtime colds right now - Got a runny nose? Be sure to attach an empty Kleenex box to the one you are using so you have a place to stuff those used Kleenexes.

2) Have old Altoids tins on hand? Label them and put small things that are difficult to contain in them, such as: paper clips, staples, thumb tacks, rubber bands...well, you get the idea. You could also use them to make a small first aid kit for your purse or car. What mom (dad, aunt, grandma, etc) doesn't need a way to carry band-aids for the little ones? (or for yourself!)

3) Cleaning your vacuum roller. Now, that is not a fun task! However, if you use a seam ripper to break all those hair or threads (where do those come from?) that get picked up when you vacuum, it's so much easier to clean!

4) Peppers with three bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with four bumps are better for cooking.

5) Flexible vacuum. If you need to get into a hard to reach area with your vacuum cleaner and the attachments just won't do, attach an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum hose. It can be bent or flattened to get into those tight areas, like under the fridge!

There you have it. Those are my five tips for this week. :)

Senior Discounts

Obviously, I am over 55...not by much, but I am there. A friend of mine posted this on Facebook this morning and I thought I'd share... you know, because SO many people read my blog! ;)  At any rate, if you do read this, and you do know someone in my age range, pass it along. Saving money is always a good thing!

Here is the article:
As I was waiting in line behind an older gentleman at Wendy's recently, I heard him ask for his senior discount. The girl at the register apologized and charged him less. When I asked the man what the discount was, he told me that seniors over age 55 get 10% off everything on the menu, every day.
Being of 'that' age myself, I figured I might as well ask for the discount too.
This incident prompted me to do some research, and I came across a list of restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, travel deals and other types of offers giving various discounts with different age requirements. I was actually surprised to see how many there are and how some of them start at the young age of 50.
This list may not only be useful for you, but for your friends and family too.
YOU must ASK for your discount !

RESTAURANTS:
Applebee's: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby's: 10% off ( 55 +)
Ben & Jerry's: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan's: discount varies by location (60+)
Bob's Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee ( 55+)
Chili's: 10% off ( 55+)
CiCi's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Denny's: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members ( 55 +)
Dunkin' Donuts: 10% off or free coffee ( 55+)
Einstein's Bagels: 10% off baker's dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddrucker's: 10% off any senior platter ( 55+)
Gatti's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
Hardee's: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off ( 55+)
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off ( 55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal ( 55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off ( 50+)
Long John Silver's: various discounts at locations ( 55+)Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoney's: 10% off
Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak 'n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday ( 50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)
Taco Bell : 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off ( 55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off ( 50+)
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy's: 10% off ( 55 +)
Whataburger: 10% off (62+)
White Castle: 10% off (62+) .

RETAIL & APPAREL :
Banana Republic: 30% off ( 50 +)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month ( 50 +)
Belk's: 15% off first Tuesday of every month ( 55 +)
Big Lots: 30% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days ( 55 +)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (50+)
Clarks : 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 20% off ( 55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 40% off (Wednesdays only) ( 50+)
Kohl's: 15% off (60+)Modell's Sporting Goods: 30% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday ( 55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off ( 55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month ( 55 +)

GROCERY :
Albertson's: 10% off first Wednesday of each month ( 55 +)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday ( 50 +)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 60% off every Monday (60+)
Fry's Supermarket: free Fry's VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday ( 55 +)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday ( 50 +)
Publix: 15% off every Wednesday ( 55 +)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe's Marketplace: 15% off (62+)

TRAVEL :
Airlines:
Alaska Airlines: 50% off (65+)
American Airlines: various discounts for 50% off non-peak periods (Tuesdays - Thursdays) (62+)and up (call before booking for discount)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Rail:
Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Bus:
Greyhound: 15% off (62+)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50+

Car Rental:
Alamo Car Rental: up to 25% off for AARP members
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
Budget Rental Cars: 40% off; up to 50% off for AARP members ( 50+)
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off ( 50+) Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members

Overnight Accommodations:
Holiday Inn: 20-40% off depending on location (62+)
Best Western: 40% off (55+)
Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Waldorf Astoria - NYC $5,000 off nightly rate for Presidential Suite (55 +)
Clarion Motels: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Econo Lodge: 40% off (60+)
Hampton Inns & Suites: 40% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler's Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 25% off (62+)
Motel 6: Stay Free Sunday nights (60+)
Myrtle Beach Resort: 30% off ( 55 +)
Quality Inn: 40%-50% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 40% off (60+)

ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT ;:
AMC Theaters: up to 30% off ( 55 +)
Bally Total Fitness: $100 off memberships (62+)
Busch Gardens Tampa, FL: $13 off one-day tickets ( 50 +)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
Massage Envy - NYC 20% off all "Happy Endings" (62 +)
U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 50% off 
Ripley's Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket ( 55 +)
SeaWorld, Orlando , FL : $3 off one-day tickets ( 50 +)

CELL PHONE DISCOUNTS :
AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $19.99/month (65+)
Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service ( 50 +)
Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+).

MISCELLANEOUS:
Great Clips: $8 off hair cuts (60+)
Supercuts: $8 off haircuts (60+)

NOW, go out there and claim your discounts - - - - and remember ----

YOU must ASK for your discount ---- no ask, no discount.
I Know everyone knows someone over 50 please pass the one on!!!!!

Good to know!

I was on Pinterest the other day and happened upon some useful information that I thought I'd pass along here. This girl had a TON of ideas on her blog. It was, I have to say, a bit overwhelming. So, I thought I'd pass along a few of those things here...so as not to overwhelm you! ;)

1) If you put a fabric softener sheet in your pocket, it repels mosquitoes. I thought that tip would be useful about this time of year!

2) If you happen to break your blender jar you can use a mason jar instead. Just put the ingredients into the jar, attach the blending attachment, turn it upside down, and voila! Success!

3) To make scrambled eggs or omelets taste richer add a spoonful of sour cream, cream cheese or heavy cream when mixing the eggs together.

4) Reheat pizza in a nonstick skillet on the stove; keeps the crust crisp rather than soggy (microwave pizza).

5) Expanding frosting. If you buy pre-made frosting you can whip it up with your mixer before using it. It doubles the size of the frosting and makes it healthier (so to speak) because you aren't having as many calories as you would have had.

That's it for today. More to come soon. I love these kinds of tips. How about you?

Dryer sheets

This morning on Facebook someone posted about how you can use dryer sheets for cleaning. Inside part of me said, "Right!" Another part of me thought, "hey, it's worth a try!"

On my things to do list today I had to clean out the fridge. By that I mean CLEAN out the fridge! I took everything out, washed all the shelves down with soapy water, and then reorganized everything when I put it back in.

On my to do list tomorrow I had to clean my stove top. I opted to take care of that today. I don't know about anyone else, but we have a gas burning stove with a ceramic top. Let me tell you, it is tough to get clean! And I am a clean person! I don't like messes, in the least. So, it bugs me to have things dirty.

While cleaning the stove this morning I figured I would try a couple of different cleaners that I have on hand and figure out what does the best job. I had a Mister Clean magic eraser, a fabric softener sheet, a cleaner that I can't remember the name of, and a stove top cleaner. I found that the fabric softener sheet did work - not on the really hard to clean areas, but on the things that I generally use a magic eraser for...only in tight crevices where it can't reach. The one cleaner that I cannot remember it's name, didn't do much of anything. But the stove top cleaner worked great! The magic eraser did a good job also, but not as well.

I also cleaned my microwave interior while I was at it. Again, it was clean, but there were certain spots that just would not come off. I found that the fabric softener worked well on that. Surprise!

There you have it... my little cleaning tip for the day. We'll see what I post on here from now on, but today, this won. :)