Take Me AFAR, Far Far Away...

I've had travel on the brain lately and I can't get that little voice in my head that says, 'just jump on a plane. go. get out of here!' to quiet down! Unemployment seems to be working out just dandy for my friends who've been laid-off and are reveling in new found freedom and booking trips left and right- What? Hello, where are your hidden 'travel reserves'? Can I travel too? Even though I just got back from a weekend in Kona (for work), it'll be a long long time til I'm able to take another big trip.

So for now, I'll just indulge in AFAR. Actually, it's more than indulging, I've fallen head over heels for this new mag that values expriential travel- i.e. the anti-thesis of Travel & Leisure and their $1,000 a night hotel recommendations (though I do have a subscription to them, what a hypocrite). I'm loving their 2nd issue featuring Morocco and a way-inspiring article about a business owner who ditched his house for life on the road. Ah, telecommuting.

After skimming the mag in Borders (I've already signed up for a subscription), I went home and read the story of how the mag came about. Basically, two entrepreneurs with an idea that there's a whole bunch of people out there that don't fit into the 'Conde Nast' style of travel- people looking for less expensive, more meaningful travel experiences. It's a pretty interesting concept you can read more about here... Can't wait for the next issue!



If you're still not convinced that you should get out of your chair, run out of your cubicle and fling the doors of your office open never to return, I introduce you to The Wanderlusters. A newlywed couple from Houston, as the economy started to weaken the end of last year, the jumped at the opportunity to leave their day jobs (I know!), bought an old camper and have been traveling ever since. They're spending the year on 'a spiritual quest, a re-prioritization of life priorities, and really digging into what it looks like to invest in a marriage'. Inspiring, right? I'm pretty darn certain I just passed to travel bug on to you too. Good luck getting rid of it.

pacific wedding guide
The guide to planning your destination wedding in the Pacific

It's a Lovely Friday...

Hello Lovelies!

Today I'm taking a bit of a brain break because 1) It's my birthday (well, it was on Sunday...) and 2) I've been working on so many updates to Pacific Wedding Guide that, well, I just need a bit of a brain break. I'm off to Kona this weekend to help Pacific Aisles with a wedding at Puakea Ranch. Which means it'll be a hot, dehydrating, long weekend, but I'm sure beautiful, fun and amazing all at the same time. And so, I leave you with this:


I had an amazing breakfast with Allison and Kyle of Studio 28 Photo yesterday. You know, one of those conversations with like-minded people that just makes you go, 'gosh, someone who gets it too!'? Yeah, love those conversations. Just like Allison and Kyle, I feel like I'm trying to make my own path. Maybe it's all because of my recent birthday or maybe it's the excitement of what's to come with Pacific Wedding Guide. Either way, I'm ready.

I'll be posting pics of their awesome shoot with my friends Vanessa and Joe soon!

Have a sun-filled weekend... and get yourselves out to the beach while you can!

xo, Tara

pacific wedding guide
The guide to planning your destination wedding in the Pacific

The Road I'm Taking

Monday night was spent with my girlfriends at Du Vin, the conclusion of a super-fun birthday weekend (side note: probably my most fun birthday weekend ever). So we're sitting in Du Vin on a very slow, humid Monday night and one of the guys at the bar buys me a birthday drink. So nice, thank you. So I go up to offer my thank yous and notice he's got a Robert Frost poem tattooed on his arm. Rewind to my senior year of high school where I spent the second semester, i.e. my last semester of high school i.i.e. (does that even exist?) the most fun year ever, with a Robert Frost poem slipped in the clear front pocket of my binder. Who knew a quick glance at a tattooed arm would bring back so many memories and at the same time, leave me with so many questions?


The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

27 was a pretty fabulous year and as I round the corner on year 28, I have to wonder what road I'll be taking... What road are you taking? I'd love to know- drop me a comment.

A little deep-thinking to kick-start your Hump Day, courtesy of me.

pacific wedding guide
The guide to planning your destination wedding in the Pacific

Piilani Highway on Maui, captured by Dale Keiger