Daily Photo

This past weekend El Hub and I braved the long, winding drive out to the western side of Kauai to peer down into Waimea Canyon, also know as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

First things first, the drive. It’s only 30 miles or so, but the road winds back and forth like a ship on rough seas and, uh, I got a little carsick (just a warning if you have a sensitive tummy like mine). Oh, but the view from the top was well worth a little nausea.

On the way to the canyon, we stopped by another local farmers’ market, this one in the parking lot of Kauai Community College.

I’m pretty sure this violates the exclusivity clause in my contract with Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, but I’m really excited about my new part-time job here on the island, and I’m willing to risk my employer’s wrath.

My new boss, Tortie Girl, was impressed by my bonafides and hired me on as her temporary assistant! 🙂

It’s a short-term contract that runs through Wednesday…

So far it hasn’t been as challenging as my regular 60-hour-per-week beauty blogging/pet-assisting job back home, but time will tell.

One of my responsibilities involves feeding Tortie Girl Temptations at least twice per day, and I think I’m doing a good job… She’s a little hard to read sometimes (like my other employer), but she hasn’t scratched my eyes out (yet).

Except for the feedings, Tortie Girl gave me the day off yesterday, so I just lounged around, and it was absolutely purrfect.

The only marginally productive thing I accomplished was eating as much tropical fruit as possible, like these passion fruits, which I can’t remember ever having before. I sliced them open with a plastic butter knife in my room…

They’re filled with liquid, so you don’t want to cut them through the middle; otherwise, all the good stuff spills out. If you cut them across the top, they open up like a fruit cup.

They look a little like alien eggs filled with tart (Ha! I accidentally typed “Tarte”), pulpy seeds.

El Hub absolutely loves ’em, but I’m on the fence. They’re hella tart — so tart that they make your lips pucker.

Oh, but I did go cray over this fresh, locally-grown papaya…

Other than Fruit Quest 2013, I swam, napped by the pool, had a piña colada (although I did not get caught in the rain), and looked for shapes in the clouds. (Spotted a camel, a map of Australia, the Michelin Man feeding a giant mutant rabbit… Pretty much standard cloud fare.)

After a grueling day by the pool, a crab buffet and a butter-stained blue dress…

Oh, well. That’s what Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover pens are for (and they work great!).

Oh, and this comes out of left field, but I also wore this Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue deodorant for the first time, LOL!

I love this scent in all its incarnations.

Speaking of love, I would love a blush the color of this flower…

One of the coolest things ever happened today. I was snorkeling at Tunnels beach on the North Shore of Kauai and ran into a giant honu (sea turtle)! He was huge — about four feet long — and was RIGHT THERE. If he wanted to get up in my grill, he could’ve easily done so (he didn’t try anything funny, LOL!).

We swam around together for a good 10 minutes, just me and him in the warm blue water with the waves crashing over us. It was surreal — and really very moving. It felt like the ocean had given me a special gift, a wonderful memory to cherish.

I also went to a local farmers’ market and gorged myself on tropical fruit, spent some quality time with my Kauai kitty, Tortie Girl (Remember her? She’s still around, entertaining hotel guests by the barbecue pits.), and even bumped into an MBB reader on the beach (aloha, Chloe!). Like literally bumped into her. We put our beach towels down under the same exact tree!

And wouldn’t ya know it? The one time I’m not wearing a lick of makeup, I run into a fellow makeup lover. Would have been nice if I’d at least curled my lashes, but noooo.

Oh, I almost forgot! Guess who started feeding the hotel kitties again. Go on, guess. I’ll give you one guess. 🙂 Her name starts with ‘K’.

The nude wedges are by Franco Sarto and the purse is by Kate Spade (it’s a few years old).

On my toes I’m wearing Chanel Taboo.

I’ve worn the Franco Sarto wedges to death since I picked them up in April (has it already been that long?!) and they’ve held up really well. Highly recommended!

What purse/shoes are you wearing today? 🙂

On a Saturday a few weeks ago El Hub and I went down to touristy Pier 39 in SF to walk around and have lunch, and we strolled into this shop called The Spice & Tea Exchange.

They carry about a million different loose teas and cooking spices. Really cool, lots of interesting scents, and the sales associates were very nice (they actually create many of the tea recipes themselves).

I brought home a couple of teas for me…

…and a packet of dried Super Duper Extra Strength catnip for Tabs. I wonder if it fires up cat ladies like it fires up cats, LOL!

There’s even a recipe for catnip cookies attached, which are supposed to be for cats…but I’m craving one for some reason.

I’m thinking about making them for Tabs this weekend, but I suspect he won’t share.

The gal at the shop said that catnip is also a good bedtime tea, which is perfect because I have chronic insomnia.

I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll let you know.

Have you ever had catnip in a tea or anything else?

Even if he’s just lounging around the house, Tabs insists on wearing the latest trends. Here he’s trying out the look of layered necklaces.

You know he can’t say no to bling! 🙂

The Glamour Layer Necklace by Banana Republic ($45), available now in stores and online.