It took me about an hour to edit the photos for this morning’s blog entry (33 total). “Seems like a lot for one entry,” remarked the Boy, hovering over my shoulder, but HECK. What other trips do we have planned this year? Could anything top Maui? Get ready for a lot of photo dumps.

First morning in Maui, on the way to a swap meet in Kahului. The Boy’s mom and I were pumped.

Already by Day 2 the Power of Maui was taking over–my bangs cooperated; my skin glowed.

The Boy grew progressively tanner over the course of the week, but my fake tan slowly disappeared. I left Maui paler than when I arrived, which is very…me.

Sooooo happy. Natural, drug-free waves of euphoria in Maui all week long.

The Boy mocked me for buying a necklace at the second stand I looked at, but I know my shopping attention span. After an hour, two max, I’m done.

The abundance of turtle art made me think of my friend Lisa.

Musical turtle.

So many beautiful handmade pieces of jewelry to obsess over.

This necklace spoke to me in a BIG way (maybe because it matched my outfit), but I resisted. Now I regret resisting.

I love colored glass.

Next to the Swarovski jewelry stand, which glimmered at me from afar and forced me to inspect it.

Diggin’ the glass jellyfish. These were at a stand mixed with tutus and crystal bracelets, an eclectic mix that I complimented the owner of the stand on. She was extremely nice. Every single vendor that I spoke to was.

The Boy took this photo. Lots of tattoos in Maui, mmmmmm.We had considered getting a special tattoo during the trip, but 1. it would have been insanely expensive and 2. there was no time.

Considering all the amazing work surrounding me, I think I controlled myself fairly well at the swap meet.

It was a beautiful clear sunny day, like every single day we were there, save for the last day. Maui was depressed that I was leaving and pouted with some clouds and a light drizzle.

Ah-h-h, I can’t wait to have kids so I can force them to dress in tie dye until they’re old enough to resist. I bought myself a rainbow tie dye dress.

The Boy bought this used license plate. Currently it’s hanging on the wall next to the computer in our “Maui collection”, along with my pink glitter ukulele, a print we purchased by a Maui artist, and a few other mementos from the trip.

This style of pottery is called “raku“, and I’ve been obsessed with it for quite some time. It looks fantastic in the sun.

I did buy a tiny raku turtle later on in the week.

My nails coordinated with everything in Maui. Those nail stickers are STILL ON. I also received about 10 billion compliments everywhere I went. Thanks, Sally Hansen!

This tiny lady was absolutely rockin’ that electric uke. When she noticed me taking her photo, she grinned and hammed it up.

The Boy’s mom and I checking out some fancy expensive handmade clothing.

I got stuck at Phil Soo‘s batik art stand for quite some time, learning all about him from the vendor who was selling his art. Absolutely gorgeous. I’m obsessed with batik.

Ken Loyd is one of the nicest artists I’ve ever met. He took time to chat with me, complimented my glitter sunglasses, and had absolutely no ego whatsoever (my favorite kind of artist). His wife loved my nails, too.

I’m pretty sure I gasped when we passed his stand, so it was even more fabulous that he was standing right there and we were able to talk to him. We ended up buying a print, and looking at it on our wall makes me happy. Thank you, Ken Loyd!

The woman who ran this tee-shirt stand was very sweet. She explained the history of the company logo–her family’s crest–to me in great length.

“I want a family crest!” I told the Boy. Grapes, a shaker of glitter, a pair of skis and a skateboard? Sure, why not?

I told the women at this stand that I thought the addition of the feather boa on the truck was fabulous, and they were so happy someone noticed that they adorned me with Mardi Gras beads.

The guys at the mushroom stand were really nice. They sprinkled a fresh tomato slice with truffle salt and let us sample it. Delicious.

I received a rockin’ sunburn on my shoulders that afternoon that lasted about 4 days, despite the layer of spf 30 I had plastered on. We stopped at a shaved ice stand right before we left the swap meet and I had my second shaved ice of the trip–strawberry, pineapple and coconut, if I recall correctly. Mmmmm. It was a beautiful afternoon.