get away to turtle bay

i have nothing but fond memories of time spent on the north shore when i was growing up. as much as i love the hustle & bustle of waikiki and its mix of people from all over the world it's impossible to resist the soul of the north shore.

if you're looking to escape for a few days, save the plane fare and head up to turtle bay to relax in one of their ocean view rooms:

• rate: from $199 a night (exclusives promotion)
• book it: by thu, nov 16th
• blackout: oct 26th & 27th

for those of you who love the north shore because it is the antithesis of waikiki, you should be aware of the controversy brewing over the new owners' attempts at expanding the property. click over to keep the north shore country to learn more about what's happening and how you can help.

soda pop stop

okay, we're definitely going to need to bring home an extra suitcase when we go home this summer. it's really tricky to find soda made with cane sugar and not high fructose corn syrup (seriously, check the ingredient list next time you're at the grocery store. it's almost impossible to unless you're at whole foods or bevmo).

i can't wait to try waialua soda works since their flavors are definitely hawaiian style - lilikoi, mango, papaya & pineapple. root beer & vanilla flavors are also available for the soda traditionalist. waialua soda works is bottled on the north shore and can be found at various restaurants & shops around the islands. sweet.