Live with intention.Walk to the edge.
Listen hard. Practice wellness.
Play with abandon. Laugh.
Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends.
Continue to learn. Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.
~Mary Ann Redmacher

Just a couple of photographs I was fortunate to take home with me from the lovely Shipwreck Beach in Kaua’i

Just catching up on my backlog of Hawaii photos.
Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten my Kaua’i game, thanks for your patience

Located along Lawai Road in Poipu, this natural attraction occurs when surf rushes under a lava shelf through a tube and forces water up in the air. The sound produced by this spout is equally impressive. My boys were taking an “early evening nap” (thanks to jetlag) when I decided to check this one out. I am so glad I made that stop.

We checked out Haena Beach on our second morning in Kaua’i. This beach is located on the north shore. It’s not really good for swimming especially during winter, but my boys really liked playing here. There is a stream that flows to the river right by a sand dune/bank that my son went absolutely went crazy for. Here are some pictures from Haena:

Merced River, Yosemite National Park.

trail to Court of Patriarchs, Zion National Park

Judah, Tahoe National Forest

My dear blog readers, first off, I would like to thank you for the overwhelming number of entries I have received for the Kaua’i game. Your suggestions get me more and more amped up for our upcoming trip.

For those who weren’t able to send their entries in time, do not fret! Due to some shuffling in my own schedule, our trip has been rescheduled to a (slightly) later date. This means the deadline has been extended – to March 1st to be exact. So, you have exactly half a month to come up with your unique ideas and locations for what *you* want me to capture in the lovely Garden Isle!

Limahuli Garden

As most of you know, we are heading to Kaua’i for a much needed vacation. This will be the third time I’ll be visiting the island and althought I’ve photographed a lot of the scenic areas, I know there’s much more to see and explore. I’ve been doing some research on places I want to check out, but I need more suggestions – so, let’s play a game!

What do you want me to capture in Hawaii? It could be one of the many incredible beaches, a vista or spot from the numerous delicious hikes this island has to offer, the culture, a scene, tradition or its people. Name it, send it and I’ll try to go out, look for it and capture it. Rules? Yes, there are a couple:

a. It has to be something or someone I haven’t featured here in my blog or in my website. So no Kilauea Lighthouse, no Queen’s Bath, no Kalalau trail, no Hanalei Valley … What’s left? Oh, a TON more! Be sure to check out my website for a gallery of images I was able to photograph in my previous visits.

b. Only one entry per person. Along with your entry, send in your full name and contact info (email address or phone number so I could contact you in case you win!) to: info@portia-soderberg.com

Is there a prize to this game? Of course! How do you win? Here’s how:

I will compile all your suggestions and try (my best) to go out and capture all the people and places you suggested. A week after I come back (trip dates to follow) I will post all the pictures I was able to capture based on your suggestions. A voting period of one week will be opened so people can choose their favorite shot. The person/people who suggested the shot that garnered the highest number of votes win!

So what is the prize? The person/people who suggested the shot will get a 16*20 print of the image. Fun and simple huh?! Deadline for submission is on February 15, so hurry get those entries in! Happy February!!

Haena Beach

local Flora

Kalalau Valley

Just got back this morning from our 4-day trip at the lovely Mt. Shasta where we met up with 15 other friends and rang in 2010. The look and feel was definitely a lot different this year compared to when we were last there in 2009 – We got more snow! – but nonetheless, it was equally delicious! I hope you all had a great new year welcoming!

In just a few days, I will be celebrating 6 incredible years with an equally incredible man. As I count down to the special date, I look back at the numerous sojourns he and I shared through the years. We share the same passion for the outdoors and it became apparent right from the start that we will draw such a strong bond because of this. I have been so fortunate to see, feel and fully experience the true meaning of ‘living life’ through my husband as we journeyed all over this beautiful country I now call my home: from spending Thanksgiving camped out in snow just 2 weeks after we met, blazing through the southwest beauties of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, soaking in the pristine waters of Oahu, Big Island and Kaua’i, trekking the rugged coastlines of Northern California, Oregon and Washington, feeling the revitalizing humid weather of Florida, Carolinas and Virginia, discovering the abundant lakes of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan and exploring the tundras, plains, valleys and peaks under the vast skies of Idaho, Montana, Colorado and Wyoming.

Looking back, I couldn’t believe how far we’ve gone, how high we’ve reached and how meaningful of a life we’ve experienced in such a short time. We look forward to many more adventures as our family ***grows*** . Six lovely years, one of the several milestones we’re celebrating in this blessed month of November.

I’m leaving you all with this shot from Tetons, Wyoming – the trip that opened our eyes to the fact that one plus one is definitely much more than two Happy Monday!