ALOHA!

Happy Labor Day Weekend! I've been informed the "white pants after labor day" rule doesn't apply in paradise, so BOOM. In ya face. Have fun trying to wear all your white bottoms in this one weekend. HA!

I have too much to say about this weekend (and too many pictures), so I'll just post pictures and try to tell a story that way...get ready. It's a lot. This whole picture taking every single place I go thing is so new to me. I'm only doing this while I'm here in Maui for blog purposes. But I am warning ya, this blog post is a lot. Prepare yourselves.

It started w a selfie cause i was like "hey, i look cute today. let's show the world. SELFIE." I absolutely adore my newer, improved, curlier, shorter hair....it's a bit difficult to maintain with this heat though. I'm trying...

Tats, i miss ya. LOL.

These mountains manage to take my breath away over and over and over again. We went driving towards Lahaina because Mrs. Franco told her friend from college I was on the island and him and his wife invited me to stay the night! Talk about Hawaiian hospitality! They live on the other side of the island so it was a chance for me to see the other side. Really. Perfect..... or "uncanny good fortune".

So as we were driving, we saw a spot to pull over called "The Humpback Whale Spot". Apparently I might be here for when the whales come down to mate and birth or whatever. THAT WOULD BE SO INCREDIBLE! I might even be here to see the beginning of Jaws go off! But back to my story...OBVIOUSLY,  we had to stop. Corine decided OH, I can do a handstand on this little tiny rock in the middle of nowhere because I am an acrobat and "I know my body". It was windy as ever and I honestly thought I was going to have to run down the mountain/rocky cliff to save her from blowing into the ocean and never see her again....Lucky for me, she actually "knows her body" and was only doing handstands and other crazy things on the ledge. Cirque Du Soliel did their dance captain well. NO BIG DEAL. 

CAN YOU SEE HOW CRAZY MY HAIR LOOKS?! It's the wind Corinne decided to do handstands in. I was impressed. Actually, mindblown. I think if I even tried to stand on that ledge I would have rolled all the way down into the middle of the humpback whale spot, managed to find the one humpback whale that got here early, landed on their blowhole, and blown all the way up into the air screaming at the top of my lungs. That would have been a "Molly Moment" for the ages. JEEEEZus.

We saw this necklace and I grabbed it, put it towards my neck and both Corine and I started saying "ah, ah ahhh, ah ah ahhh" like the little mermaid. Twinsies. Hilarious, actually.

 We continued on our journey and went to Ka'anapali Beach on the other side of the island. Dr. Chernak had recommended it and turns out its exactly where we were heading! Beautiful beach. A bit touristy but still insanely beautiful. I think what I like most about these beaches is that none of them are overcrowded. It's like you can always find your perfect little nook to chill out in.

 

I'm a Victoria's Secret model. Zesty. 

...maybe I was meant for Baywatch? Not sure. Thoughts? LOL.

 THIS IS REAL. TAKE A MINUTE AND REALIZE HOW AMAZING THIS IS. Honestly, I hope I come back as myself in my next life. I'm so blessed. I'm so happy. I feel so lucky.

All those standard "HEY LOOK IM AT THE BEACH FOR MY FIRST TIME EVER...INSTAAAGRAAAAM" pictures.

Beach baaaabe. Lawn chairs. We found em. Sand whipping onto your face cause of the trade winds is no fun. BELIEEEEEEEEEEEve that.

 So people here go "spear fishing" aka they are all Poseidon and fish gods meaning they go in the water looking like the man above with little buoys above so people don't run them over and use prongs to spear fish! I would LIKE to do this if I didn't know myself well enough to know that I would see a fish, try to spear, yell out loud underwater, get water in my mouth and drown. WOW, run on sentences....and basically that's the reason I probably won't ever go spear fishing.

Fermented beads made it into Maui. Lookit that. hmpfh. It just matched my bikini.

I asked Corine to take a picture of me and OBVIOUSLY she thought the best angle would be as close to the ground as possible (as to make me look like a giant amazonian woman). Lets name five things wrong with this photo. 1. I look so tall. I love being tall but goodness, this is pretty tall even for me considering I look the size of half of an entire palm tree. 2. my bikini is pulled super tight so I don't get crazy tan lines and that probably isn't the way I want to be photographed. 3. It's way windy and my hair looks like a real afro. Awesome. It's possible. 4. Why isn't the ocean in the background? 5. Sand is only running down my right leg.

 AND THE REAL REASON THIS PHOTO IS AWFUL: THERE'S A PALM TREE GROWING DIRECTLY OUT OF MY HEAD.

 Anyways, after my day of fun in Lahaina and on the other side of the island with Corine, she dropped me off at Mrs. Franco's good friend's, with whom she studied respiratory therapy, house. The complex they live in is absolutely stunning with some of the most beautiful views I've seen of the island yet! We had an amazing dinner and just talked for a bit. Thank you so much Mrs. Franco, Manny and Robin were the most hospitable and entertaining hosts. I owe Cinnamon a not scared hug :) It was so nice to talk to you. 

 The happy couple and my ever-so-gracious hosts: Manny and his wife, Robin.

Manny in the chef hat. Seriously, one of the best shrimp dishes I've ever had. Hats off to the chef! What a character.

Fun quick story. Manny and Robin had a great shuffle of songs playing as we ate dinner with a lot of the music favoring salsa. I asked if either of them knew how to dance as I'm not too shabby and next thing you know Manny goes "I'm ready when you are". He gives me his hand and we proceeded to spin, turn, and salsa all over the room during dinner. HOW CUTE. I've never been lead by a blind man but I'll let you know, he's giving aaalllll you guys a run for your money. It was such a special experience. So cool.

Oh, dad. They made a Minnesota joke. They go "Do you know why people from Minnesota talk like that? ::with lips pursed and teeth gritted:: "Because it's so coooooold" LOL. Say it out loud and tell me its not true. HA!

So as I said earlier, Manny is legally blind.  This is his chess board and it impressed me so much. He volunteers at the Boys and Girls club out here and told me he plays chess online and hooks up the computer to this board. I am so impressed. He showed me some tricks too. "En passant". WHO'S READY FOR AAALLLAAAA THISSS?! Honestly, what great company. What a great host. Mrs. Franco, I can't thank you enough. He spoke of you in the highest regard. You are surrounded by gold. 

The sunset. I tried to catch it. Apparently your eye registers first red, then orange, yellow and the last color your eye can register is green. If you look (and catch it), your eye can catch green streaks. I didn't catch any, but I'll be on the lookout...

BLUE MOON. TWICE IN A MONTH. BIG DEAL, BIG DEAL, BIG DEAL. "Once in a blue moon". You know, I realized I've seen some pretty rare moon things while experiencing awesome things (awful sentence). What I mean by that is I saw my first lunar eclipse in Manchester, England and now I'm seeing a blue moon in Maui. That's pretty sweet if you ask me. I'll most certainly remember both.

Robin also took the time out to show me the Scorpion constellation/the Hook and why it is important to Maui. The stars are so bright here. I don't even have words for it. 

Tried to catch the view in the morning. I did not succeed. Nope, I most certainly did not. Also, you can't even see me!

You can't see the view (again...talk about an epic fail), but know that it was even more outrageous when I woke up. I literally woke up at 7am, walked to the window and stood there looking for the sunrise AFTER I saw the sunset in the same window the night before. One of my not so smart moments....think about it.

Robin gave me a lei needle (as well as awesome snorkeling gear!) to use while I am here on the island. I am threading the really popular Plumeria flowers to make my first lei! How freaking cool. No make up here and that's a very real smile. I had such a great time. I feel like when you're surrounded in great company, you always seem to have a better time. Mrs. Franco, SERIOUSLY. THAAAANK YOU. I hope you feel so much better. We sent good vibes your way last night ;). Thinking of you. I gave them both an "Amy hug and kiss" like promised.

Next picture. Corine and I went back! She came to pick me up and we spend the day sunbathing, catching that good sun and snorkeling!

.....remember when Corine had sideburns? Hah, lucky she's married! We went snorkeling at Black Rock Cove and it was AMAZING! That rock/cliff in the background is Black Rock, btw. It's such a cool feeling to think you are one with the water and the fish. It was absolutely beyond words incredible. We went all around and saw tons of fish and coral! Next time we'll go to Turtle Bay! hahahah <- yes, that's a double entendre fellow New Yorkers as you won't ever catch me in TB in NY. No, no, no.

 "Oh, reserved for us? Excellent." -Corine

This picture took F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to load. Goodness. Well this was the background of the Sheraton. Check out Corine's SIIIIICK abs. Skinnie Minnie.

CRASHED THE SHERATON. Pssh, we're officially locals. We've been having some great "lawn chair" days. This was no different. 

BAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. THIS IS HILARIOUS.

NEXT STOP: PA'IA FISH MARKET.

 "What the sailors came really came to shore for..."

Mahi on the right, chicken on the left!

I had to go to Pa'ia Fish Market due to high recomendations from Chef Anthony at BLT! I *ordered* the mahi and chicken tacos. UNREAL. I ate it all. You all need to go here if you come to Maui. I am all the way blown I've been missing out on fish. AAAAAAAAAAAMAZING.

Last thing. Thank you Sanjay for sending me this!!! I think this picture looks MUCH better than what was online for Westchester Magazine's September issue. This is a picture of the magazine. Go pick it up. Page 40 September issue ;) ahha check me out! Magazine number twooooo!

Also, I am so jealous (I said this before) that all of my friends were at M.I.A. I love you all. THANKS FOR SENDING ME NOTHING. I still managed to get this from Nathalie. HAH. xoxo Hi Derek, here's your shoutout. Btw, I probably like the shoes you're wearing right now. Good choice. You've got some serious style. Remember when you, Sarah and I went to Yard House?

With warmest aloha,

MJ

ps. WOOPS just remembered tomorrow I'm off! More fun! 

pps. I saw my first two rainbows in Maui! woooooooohhhoooo. I'm sure plenty more to come.