After our day at Disneyland, we header to Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Room for a rum-filled night. Head over to AfterGlobe.net to see the pictures and all the tiki fun we had.

Holiday Letter 2012

Dearest Friends, Family, Readers of Our Blog & Stalkers-

I can't believe 2012 is already coming to an end! What an amazing year it has been! And we are still alive! (Those Mayans can go screw themselves. Guess we better start paying off that huge amount of wedding debt we accumulated...) So many amazingly ridiculous adventures were had in the Hayes Evensen Ohana. Yes, I plan on bragging about it and filling you in on how great our life has been over the past year. Yes, I am fully aware that many hate these showy smoke and mirrors holiday letters, but this year I am fully jumping on board. In other words, like usual, I continue to not care what others think of me or how good life is with my happy little family. Besides, I am always happy to have another reason to talk about mine and Drew's AMAZING wedding on the beautiful island of MAUI!

First off I'd like to share this year's holiday card that I love so freaken much! I think the pictures really tell how fabulous our 2nd trip to Maui was. (Yes, that is some major bragging.) Didn't get one of these beautiful holiday cards from us this year? That's probably because we cut you from our holiday card list after sending you one for 2-3 years and never getting one back. Or it could have gotten lost in the mail. More likely though, we took you off our list. Cheers!

All Things Wonderful Holiday Card

Turn your family photos into holiday cards this season.

View the entire collection of cards.

2013: The Year of Tiki

We have dubbed 2013, the year of tiki. There is just so much tiki fun that will be taking place next year and we are so ready for it! We can't believe how long it's been since we've visited some of our favorite tiki establishments and how many new places have opened in the past year and a half.

To kick it all off, we will first be visiting Tacoma Cabana this holiday weekend. Yes, we know it's still 2012, but since we will be passing through Tacoma this weekend, why not start the year of tiki a little early? Plus, we will need to eat something and quench our thirst along the way. It'll help make the drive back home a whole lot easier.

Hale Pele Media Preview Party

Last night we had the privilege to attend the media preview party for Portland's newest tiki bar, Hale Pele. A selection of drinks and small food plates beckoned for all to try. It also finally provided a look inside to see the overall product of everything they had done to the previous tiki bar that was there before.

Greeted at the door of the new Hale Pele.

Once inside, we saw how nicely everything had been cleaned up. For those of you who use to go to the tiki bar that was there before, you may remember that the ventilation system didn't work very well. It was usually smokey from the pupu platters and kitchen food. At times, it made it hard to breath. This is a thing of the past! We actually talked to Blair, the owner of Hale Pele, about this issue and he guaranteed us that all of that has been fixed. You will now be able to breath freely while visiting Hale Pele!

Tiki Around Portland: August 2012 Edition

With Mayor Sam Adams declaring last summer, August Tiki Month in Portland, there's now been a whole lot of tiki going on. Not that there wasn't already a whole lot of tiki going on last August in Portland. It's just that this August there's been even more.

Tiki Month kicked off with the 10th year of Tiki Kon. It was a three day event with live music, vendors, symposiums, tropical drinks, the original home bar tour and so much more. Drew and I both went down to help out our friends putting on the event on Friday and Saturday. Of course, Saturday was a record breaking day in regards to the heat. Poor Drew was setting things up for the big event that night while I had my feet in the pool enjoying a Mai Tai. Mahalo Drew for all your hard work in that heat.

At Tiki Kon with an amazing flower in my hair from our garden
{source}

Where is Your Tiki Magazine?

Back in March when I had my first of many bridal showers, I took a picture with many of my girlfriends that was submitted to Tiki Magazine. Yesterday, I was happy to get many texts from friends and family showing that the picture had not only made it into Tiki Magazine, but it was also a full half a page!

Sharing the tiki love!

Sharing Our Wedding Website

I've spent way too much time on our wedding website. I've poured countless hours into, stayed up way too late working on it and have spent even more time gathering information for it. I've put so much information there to make sure that our guests can go straight to it and all they need to know is in one place. Especially since we are having a destination wedding.

Engagement Party 1 Year Ago

We can't believe it's already been one year since out engagement party. Especially since that means that our wedding is in less than 4 weeks now. WOW! Less than 4 weeks to go!

We thought it'd be fun to re-visit our engagement party and re-live that fun day filled with friends and family. Mom threw the engagement party for us at our house since most of the guests live closer to us. She thought it would be easier for all of them to attend. It was also closer for family driving down from Seattle.

Invitations to our engagement party were sent out and the day for the party finally arrived. Mom and Maid of Honor, Nicki, came up early to set everything up for the party. Mom even made a Paradise Delight cake with layers of guava, lilikoi and lime all topped with whip cream and guava glaze. Drew helped them set some things up while I was off being a proper bride-to-be getting my hair done all fancy.

I'll let some photos from the party tell you the rest of the story.

Mom putting the finishing touches on the cake. 

Last Nights of Thatch

We were pretty sad to hear that Thatch Tiki Bar was going to be closing their doors forever in May, 2012. We knew it had been up for sale and there was the possibility that this would happen, but we didn't want to think about it. We had spent so many good times there and had some many memories throughout our relationship there. But, it did happen. As a result, we made sure to hit up Thatch with friends a couple times their last week open.

First, we headed over there after the fashion show we were in at Trader Vic's with our friend Angie. We ordered a couple rounds of drinks, had some pupus and enjoyed our time while reliving many of the great times we had in the past at Thatch. We also said our good-byes to many staff and one of the owners.

Talking with Angie.

Reveal: Family Shower Invitations

Did you think we forgot to share the invitation to our family shower with you? Well, we didn't. We just took a little while to take pictures of them. But, here they are! Better late, than never.

Tiki Around Portland

We know, it's been a really long time since we've posted anything about tiki lately. It's not that we don't still love it, we've just been busy. Planning a wedding, restoring a house, landscaping a yard and building a basement tiki bar is kind of a lot to do. However, we've made sure to slide in a bit of tiki here and there as we go. We wanted to fill you in on that tiki time, as well as give you the scoop on some great tiki coming soon to Portland.

First of all, our basement tiki bar is coming along. We are just thrilled with how it's all coming together. It's amazing to be able to finally unpack and have a home for the items I've been collecting for over 17 years. Sometimes I can't believe how nicely everything is fitting and how all the silly little things I've kept all seem to be finding a purpose. No, we don't have any pictures to share with you. You will all have to wait until the official opening of the bar to get a sneak peek inside.

A couple weeks ago, the two of us were in a fun vintage fashion show at Trader Vic's Portland. Drew and I wore our matching vintage Hawaiian wedding set to model for the show. The house was packed and it was such a big success that there is talk of another one in the future.

Waiting for the fashion show to kick-off.
Thanks to Kirstie Rall of Kirstie Write Make-Up Artist for the cute picture.

Showered with Aloha- The Party Continues!

The staff at Trader Vic's Portland were so great going above and beyond that when our time was up in the Kon Tiki room and the shower was coming to an end, they saved a bunch of tables for us in the lounge. This is something they don't usually do since the lounge is first come first serve, but for some wonderful reason they did it for us. We moved the party into the lounge and continued with the fabulous time we were all having. 

With Honey while she  grabs a Fog Cutter at the bar. 

Having a yummy Coffee Grog. 

After a while many of my friends' husbands started to arrive to pick them up from the shower. Since the party was still going, they sat down to join in the fun and have a few drinks with us. We ordered a Tiki Bowl and hung out until Drew showed up. 

Showered with Aloha- Present Time!

After everyone was stuffed on tidbits, pupus, cupcakes and tropical drinks, the opening of presents began! I've opened birthday presents in recent years at my birthday, but it wasn't like this. This was like fifth birthday present opening status and it rocked! Thanks wahines for all of the great gifts! You all made me feel so loved.

Drew, you shouldn't go in further in this post. There are gifts you should wait to see later. Like on the wedding night, if you get what I'm saying....

The start of the present table!

Showered with Aloha- Tidbits, Pupus & Tropical Bowls

Now you can't have a great party without fabulous food and drinks and a bridal shower is just the same. Fortunately, we had both of those with a shower at Trader Vic's Portland. Maid of Honor, Nicki, ordered a selection of tidbits and pupus for all of the guests to enjoy. There was crab rangoon (originally created by Trader Vic's), kalua pork sliders and seaweed salad with smoked tofu on top of won tons. Everything was really tasting and went very quickly. 

Kalua pork sliders and crab rangoon.

Seaweed salad with smoked tofu on top of crispy won tons.

Showered with Aloha- Let's Get This Party Started!

Now the fun really started once guests started showing up and ordering all of the delicious drinks that Trader Vic's is so famous for. Oh, nomnomnom. 

If you've never been to a Trader Vic's before, make sure to get your butt there and order a 1944 Mai Tai. Trader Vic is the original creator of the Mai Tai and its one of the few places in our area that makes it correctly. I also love the Singapore Symphony and the Kama'aina. But, I digress. Back to the shower.

Guests started showing up as soon as the clock struck 3pm. Drinks were ordered and socializing began. Everyone was introduced to each other and the conservation quickly became about how each person had met me. Honey met me during our freshmen year of high school in Mr. DelCavo's World Civ class. Susie Q met me over sushi with mutual friends. Teresa met me doing vintage fashion shows at Tony Starlight's. While Nicki met me in 6th grade in Mr. Kane's class. The stories went on and on. 

My neighbor, Deb, who did our hair, enjoying a Mai Tai Wave. A sampling of 3 different kinds of Mai Tais. 

Finally 2 of my 3 Suzie friends got to meet. Unfortunately, the third one didn't make it to the shower. 

Showered with Aloha- Getting Lei'd

One of the great details that Maid of Honor, Nicki, surprised me with for my bridal shower was a beautiful double orchid lei. Oh, yes. I got lei'd! Now that's the way to start off a bridal shower!

What's in the box, Nicki?
{photo by Honey}

My beautiful double orchid lei and tropical flower arrangement. 

When we were all done setting up, Nicki decided it was time for me to get lei'd. That way it didn't get messed up while getting everything ready, but was on before any of the guests got there. I of course loved it. Having that lei to wear for the shower made me feel extra showered with aloha. Mahalo, Nicki!

Showered with Aloha- Set Up

Once we were beautiful from head to toe we set off to the best bridal shower location EV-A to get everything set up. Where did we go, you ask? Trader Vic's Portland, of course!

My super awesomesauce, Maid of Honor, Nicki, arranged for my bridal shower to take place at Trader Vic's Portland in their private Kon Tiki room. She also arranged for all kinds of other great things, but more on that later. Now, Trader Vic's may not be for everyone for their bridal shower. However, it was the perfect place for me! With someone getting married on Maui who loves vintage Hawaiiana, how could it not be perfect?

Since Drew drove us downtown so we could drink freely and none of us would have to drive home, I went ahead and helped with setting everything up. Yeah, I could have gone into the bar and had a drink instead. I just figured it was better to make sure that everything was set up on time and then we could all start enjoying the party.

Trader Vic's Portland Kon Tiki Room

Showerd with Aloha- Recap Kick-Off

Remember how I mentioned on Friday that my shower was the next day? Well, that shower happened! It was amazingly awesome. It rocked my world and kicked my butt! hehe. It also got me SUPER excited about our wedding!

Since my first shower has now officially passed, how about a picture of the invitation without any deleting?

Don't you just love it? 

Reveal: Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Last week was all about wedding mail! (which reminds me, I have some other wedding related invitations to get into the mail....) Not only did the first wedding shower invitation come in the mail, but the invitation to the rehearsal dinner came in the mail, too! Woohoo!

Our MOH and I created these invitations for Drew's parents. We wanted them to go with the wedding suite and have the same look and feel as all of the other wedding paper. They look similar to all off our additional wedding related invitations, but are unique in their own way. I love the tiki on these ones! Notice how it has the palm trees on it and matches up with the wedding week activity insert. Drew and I think they came out great! I never heard what Drew's parents thought of them. But, they have to love them, right? I mean really, how could they not?!

Reveal: Portland Wedding Celebration Save the Dates

While on our Maui Wedding Planning Trip, we mailed out the save the dates for our Portland wedding celebration. We wanted them to have a Hawaii postmark to go with our wedding theme and thought it'd be cute to have them mailed out from Paia, the little town we are getting married in. Little did we know that everything sent from Hawaii gets postmarked in Honolulu. 

We got lots of comments about our save the dates being mailed from  Hawaii. 

The Year of the Dragon stamps came out the day we were leaving Maui. We made sure to go to the post office on our way to the airport to be able to pick them up. We thought they were the perfect touch for celebrating a Hawaii wedding. Plus, I was born in the Year of the Dragon.