The Cat Dish

Tag Archives: Derek Taira

No blog; working on the wedding

by Catherine Toth on May 11, 2012 in Musings, The Daily Dish

Sorry, everyone. But I really need to spend some time planing this wedding, among other things. So no blogging today! I’m trying on wedding dresses, specifically from Fighting Eel, one of my fave boutiques in Hawaii.

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Postcards: White lake

by Catherine Toth on January 24, 2012 in Postcards

Believe it or not, it’s sunny in Madison, Wisc.

Well, a sunny 23 degrees.

This is Lake Mendota, near the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where Derek is — and wearing several layers of clothing including a down jacket.

Beautiful, but I’d rather see a photo than actually be standing there. Just saying.

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Have dogs, will travel to Kona

by Catherine Toth on January 9, 2012 in Adventures

It sounded like a bad idea.

We wanted to see if our dogs, Sunny and Indy, could travel. So we booked our flight to Kona to visit family — and made reservations for the dogs, too.

It was the first time either of us had traveled with pets, dogs or otherwise, and we weren’t sure what we’d be in for.

First off, it costs more. On Hawaiian Airlines, we paid an extra $35 per dog each way. So that amounted to $140 for both dogs, both ways. Which wasn’t too bad.

Then, you have to figure out a way to get them into enclosed bags and under the seat in front of you.

Two words: Rescue Remedy. This totally safe and natural anti-anxiety treatment literally saved our trip.

And it was quite a trip.

Though we were only in Kona for two nights, we managed to tour an ukulele shop, kayak in Kealakekua Bay and drive to the end of the road in Pololu Valley.

And all with the dogs.

Here’s what our trip looked like:

Checking in

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It was our first time taking our dogs with us to Kona — and we had no idea what to expect. We were just glad our pooches didn't mind being in these carry-on bags.

Find out where I got this slice of buttery apple pie on the Big Island in tomorrow’s blog

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Today’s happy shot

by Catherine Toth on January 6, 2012 in Adventures, Happy Shots

Nothing better than watching the sun set in Kailua-Kona.

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Your travels plans for 2012

by Catherine Toth on January 2, 2012 in Adventures

Last year I was going through a mental crisis.

And the I deal with that kind of stress in one of two ways: watch marathons of “The Housewives of Beverly Hills” or indulge in retail therapy.

But not the conventional kind.

Instead of buying handbags and shoes — essentials to good retail therapy sessions — I shop at places like Office Depot and Executive Chef.

And, on a whim, I bought a four-night stay at Hotel Vista de Olas in Costa Rica on LivingSocial.

I have never been to Costa Rica, much less Central America. And I really didn’t have any immediate plans to travel there. Sure, there’s great surf. And yes, the beaches are picture-perfect.

But Costa Rica? Using a group buy?

Oh, yes, I did.

OK, so I was a bit stressed out when I purchased it. But it’s not a bad deal. Four nights includes a three-course cooking class with a professional chef, a bartending class and a six-course meal with a private chef — all for less than $700. (And that includes all transportation. I just need to cough up the cash for airfare.)

This spontaneous decision has become part of my plan for 2012: I’m going to DO things, not wait around or put it off until later. I drive past restaurants and read travel stories and say, “Maybe next time.”

Well, next time has come. It’s called 2012.

In addition to Costa Rica, I’m heading to Chigasaki, Japan, then Okinawa (since I’ll be there). And I’ll probably visit Derek again in Madison, Wisc. I figure if I’ve got the time — and a credit card — I should just go. I don’t have kids — unless you count my dogs — and I don’t have a mortgage. I don’t spend extravagantly and, despite Friday blogs, I eat in a lot.

So why not live a little, right?

If you’ve been to Costa Rica or Okinawa, I’d love your advice. Places to eat, things to do, breaks to surf. And for everyone else, dish your travel plans for 2012. Maybe someone will know a great little hole-in-the-wall place to eat or dive bar with incredibly local music that will make your trip all the more memorable.

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