Hello, hello friends!
I’m quite happy to report that things are slowly but surely going back to normal around these parts. Besides spending the majority of yesterday thinking it was Monday, sleeping in until 9 AM (I can’t even remember the last time that happened 😯), having to downgrade from beaches to offices, and not being overly fond of the 30ºC temperature difference, it’s been pretty smooth sailing.
That being said, I’m still dealing with a serious case of the post-vacation blues so I figured that I’d devote today’s post to focusing on some of the things that I missed while I was away in an effort to make myself feel better about being back. I know it’s What I Ate Wednesday and all, and it would probably be great of me to share my eats from Hawaii with you guys, but this is pretty much all I’ve got for you…
Pretty impressive spread, eh? Truth be told, aside from snapping a few pictures on the first day we spent travelling, I basically took no pictures of anything I ate; I was far more interested in capturing shots like this:
View of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki beach from the top of Diamond Head Crater.
Hanauma Bay.
The rainforest in Manoa Valley.
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.
… which is all I’m going to share with you for now because reminiscing is doing me no favors in regards to helping me cure my post-vacation blues. Hmpf. So… on with what I missed while I was away [and what I was happy to come home to]!
. – . – . – .
. you guys .
As refreshing as it was to step away from blogging for a little while, I have to admit that I was itching to get back into it near the end there. Even though it sometimes frustrates me to no end, I can’t deny that blogging is a huge part of my life, and going without it for so long made me feel like something was missing. Everyone move in for a group hug!
. homemade baked goodies .
My allergy to peanuts make things kind of tricky when it comes to enjoying desserts that don’t come with an ingredients label, and as good as some store-bought snacks can be, I’m more than ready to start baking up some treats again. I’m seeing some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies in my very near future.
. homemade applesauce
Again, store-bought just doesn’t compare. You better believe that I’ve already got a fresh batch of this stuff whipped up and half eaten.
. oikos 2% plain Greek yogurt .
As impressive as the yogurt selection is down in the States compared to what we get up here in Canada, I still can’t believe how hard it is to find plain old 2% Oikos. The fat free stuff is alright in a pinch, but I was more than happy to get back to my creamy 2%.
. cinnamon .
Given my massive addiction to cinnamon, you’d think that it would be at the top of my list of things to pack, but nooooo – I completely forgot to throw a bottle of my most beloved spice into my suitcase before I left. Thankfully, I did remember to bring Kashi Cinnamon Harvest and my favorite Hot Cinnamon Spice tea, so I wasn’t completely lacking in the cinnamon department, but rest assured that it’ll never happen again. 10 days without cinnamon is 10 days too long.
. world of warcraft .
I realize this makes me sound like a complete geek, but there’s really no denying that I’m a nerd at heart. WoW is probably one of my favorite ways to kill time, and even though I didn’t find myself with a lot of time to kill while I was away (or a reliable internet connection for that matter), I definitely found myself itching to do a little gaming.
Aaaaaand that’s pretty much all I can come up with at this point. I know I’m grasping at straws here, and that being in a tropical paradise is more than worth giving up computers and cookies for a little while, but I’m doing the best I can here to beat the blues, which is made even more difficult by the fact that I’m also dealing with some pesky jet lag. I was still wide awake at 1:30 this morning, and with work and volunteering on my plate, I have a feeling today is going to be a long day…
Happy Wednesday, friends!
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Do you have a hard time getting back into your routine after a vacation?
Any advice on how to beat these blues?
Did you miss me too while I was gone? Say yes and I’ll love you forever 😀 Kidding. Kind of. Although a yes would definitely help with the blues 😉
You’re one lucky duckling, I know, pretty brutal back here eh?
I hate coming back from vacations…makes me want a staycation to get back into things!
Of COURSE I missed you, love!! But I’m so glad you got a chance to enjoy some time away and soak up that beeeeeeeautiful scenery! I almost ALWAYS have a hard time getting back on track after vacation. Actually, if I can, I love planning in an extra day off AFTER I get back so that I can unpack, unwind, and find my groove before getting back to the grind.
And seriously?…”Even though it sometimes frustrates me to no end, I can’t deny that blogging is a huge part of my life”…after a week of being on the couch and not being able to really get in the kitchen for much more than just “assembling” a meal, I am starting to realize JUST how much cooking/blogging means to me. For the last few weeks, I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed…not having the time (or really just putting too much on my plate) to do all of the stuff I wanted to do and one day, I actually said that I was TIRED of PANCAKES! As of tonight, after a HUGE pancake craving (thank God I had some pre-made frozen ones)…I officially retract that statement! Haha!
It’s so hard to find 2% Greek yogurt in ANY brand around here in the larger containers, but I have never found the Oikos in anything but fat free! Oh, guess what! Since I’ve seen you mix the two before, I tried yogurt and applesauce together the other day along with some crunchy granola and it was pretty good! Of course, my applesauce wasn’t homemade…but my granola WAS! 😀
yayyyy your back ! def missed you! ahhh those pics are amazing, so jealous ! i still havent been to hawaii.. one day ! id get some coffee and get my bake on, that would def make me feel alittle bit better about being home.. hate going back to work after vaca.
PS made that applesauce and am now addicted and see why you like it so much! polished it off in a day, sorry im not sorry :-)!
HECK YES I MISSED YOU sheesh you were gone long enough!! HAH! You make me miss Hawaii too!! I went in 2009 and miss that place!! I have very similar pictures to the ones you’ve posted!! YAY WELCOME HOME!
Omg, gorgeous pictures! I certainly missed your posts, welcome back! 😀 *hugs*
I always miss cinnamon and my favorite foods when I go away on vacation. Even though it’s fun to try the new food!
Welcome back! Your pictures are beautiful- can’t wait to see more. I think having the post vacation blues is 100% normal!
Welcome back!! 🙂
So glad you are back!!! And Im glad you missed home. That always helps a little bit when having to leave vacay. Although nothing could truely make me miss home enough to WANT to leave Hawaii. That place is downright beautiful!
So sorry about the blues girl… I can relate. That’s kind of how it was for me after moving from a warm, sunny, tropical FL climate to a cold, snowy, practically sunless one in WI. I feel like I’m on the vacation (that isn’t a vacation) from hell. 🙁 It’s rough to adjust, but I just try to think of the positives that I DO have, like you did… I know it doesn’t always help though. *sigh* Can you plan another trip & have something else to look forward to? We have 3 days in FL planned next month & it is literally ALL I think about. If i didn’t have that to look forward to… I don’t know. I wouldn’t be a happy camper at all. Your Hawaii pics are beautiful!! Glad you’re back, I missed you. 😉
I barely ever take pictures of the stuff I eat while I’m away. I am always too busy enjoying food in the moment with the people around me. Plus, unless you’re eating bento boxes shaped like every pokemon character, the scenery of exotic locales is almost always more interesting than the food. It must be fun to hit grocery stores in the states though. I almost want to go to one just so that I can see all the things that EVERYONE blogs about. Glad you had a stellar time 🙂
Not gonna lie… Whole Foods was actually near the top of my list of places that I wanted to see on the first trip I took down to the States after I started reading blogs, and I was ridiculously giddy on my first visit there. It’s crazy how much more stuff they have than we do, and it makes it really hard not to return with a suitcase full of food!
yep I missed you and yep I get post-vacation blues!!! 😀
Yay! Welcome back! Yep, I actually missed you despite the madness I call my life. I like seeing your posts in my Reader (What are we going to do when Google Reader disappears???) and I’m glad they are back.
Getting back into my routine after a vacation? What is a vacation?
Going home from vacation is always hard! I’ve been always a person who has a lot of wanderlust and little homesickness. But be assured, we missed you all and are happy to help get over your blues. What helps me is to start dreaming about … and planing the next vacation 🙂
Aww, Amanda! I’m so happy to have my daily dose of Running with Spoons back! However I’m even more happy to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed your trip; even though post-vacation blues are no fun, I think they’re a pretty good indication that the time spent away was stellar. But really, how could it not be when you’re enjoying breathtaking views from places like Half Dome and Hanauma Bay? Wow.
I almost always feel a bit down when I return from vacation–especially *relaxing* vacations that involve sun, sand, and tropical drinks adorned with pineapple. 😉 (By the way, did you LOVE the pineapple there?!). Yet even though I love taking breaks from my home environment, there’s nothing more comforting than returning to my own kitchen. I always sleep better in hotels, but I *eat* better in my own home. Sure, I LOVE dining out, and ordering fancy schmancy meals at restaurants, but after two or three days of that, my body is ready for homemade pancakes and yogurt bowls. 🙂
I remember you saying that you sleep better in hotel beds and I could never understand how that was possible, but now I totally get it… The beds in our room were so ridiculously comfortable, that I think I preferred them over my own bed… which made coming home even harder 😆
You were definitely missed!
Your photos remind me of my trip to Waikiki, that was over 4 years ago! Such a beautiful place.
The blues suck, but getting back to doing things you love always helps. That, or start planning your next vacation. 🙂
awww I totally missed you too! And I totally agree, the best way to kick those post-vacation blues is to focus on what’s good about being home – food and routine and ways to relax (as well as some privacy!) are huge for me too. And I agree especially about the baked goods – I’m allergic to gluten so it’s basically impossible for me to enjoy a local coffee shop muffin – and the gluten free storebought stuff isn’t so great. Gotta bake it myself! Which reminds me, I’ve been meaning to make oatmeal bars all week…
Yay! Welcome back! 😀 You’re pictures look beautiful! I think no matter what, even if I go someplace I think I could live forever, a part of me always feels at ease when I get home. But if I went to Hawaii I bet that might take a bit longer. 😉
YAY! You’re back! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed your vacation. Stepping away from the world of blogging/documenting meals/etc. is such a freeing feeling. And the scenery you were able to capture is absolutely breathtaking!
And you’re absolutely right- finding 2% yogurt in the states is a challenge. People are still caught up in the fat-free craze. So frustrating!
Welcome back!!! I definitely missed you while you were gone! 😀 But I’m glad you had such an awesome time.
Travelling with allergies is the worst though – I hate that I can’t just pick up some banana bread from Starbucks or eat desserts from restaurants most of the time. It drives me nuts how so many restaurants and food establishments have hopped on the gluten-free trend, but completely ignore us with nut allergies. 😛
And I had the same problem with finding 2% Oikos when I was in the US last summer. So I bought 0% Oikos vanilla and it was kind of gross haha.
Ugh tell me about it! Hopefully more places will become a little more sensitive to those of us with nut allergies, although people LOVE their nuts so I really don’t see a whole lot of places being willing to sacrifice a huge profit for a small minority 😕 Do you eat things that “may contain traces of peanuts”? Or do you avoid those too?
I will sometimes take a risk, depending on the product. I’ve actually called companies before to inquire about that “may contain nuts/peanuts” label to see whether there is actually a chance of contamination or not haha.
Fat-free is definitely a trend here down in the states 🙂 It really is next to impossible to find 2% or full fat of anything that’s plain. Milk is almost always chocolate-flavored, yogurt almost always full of syrup… Didn’t everyone get the memo that fat is good? Lol.
And I love that you admit to playing WoW. I’ve been addicted to playing Pokemon on my phone for the past week. My brother showed me how to download a free version of Gameboy Color for Android and I’ve been in heaven 😀
From one Edmontonian to another, anywhere but here these days sounds wonderful. I don’t blame you for wanting to go traveling once again, the dreary cold weather here is depressing! 🙂
So glad you had a great trip! I’m honestly SO excited for our summer trip there- I’ve never been and it looks gorgeous! Happy Wednesday:)
I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip! This post is definitely a good way to ease yourself back into real life though, nothing compares to homemade goodies. Also, I can totally see my grandparents’ condo building from the Diamond Head picture, haha!
Lol! Please tell me that it’s the wonderful pink building…
Yay glad you’re aback!