Man, oh man, am I excited to tell you about Hawaii. We spent a blissful 10 days together in paradise and as soon as I get all of my photos and videos off of F-O-U-R different devices, I’ll start sharing all of the details. Until then, here’s a peek at what you missed if you aren’t on Instagram.

I feel like after moving and shaking for 10 years together, Joe and I have traveling down. We know what works best for us, how to expertly pack and, more importantly, how to plan. We count on each other’s strengths for sure. I can’t stand browsing a million sites looking for flights and places to stay, but Joe does. So he takes over that and I plan what we do and where we eat each day. It’s a win-win for us. I feel like I could write an entire series of posts with our travel tips, but this is the best place to start. It’s something we do for every big adventure we take.

We create a custom Google map.

I first made one for our out-of-town wedding guests (i.e. everyone) so they knew where everything was being held, where to spend their free time and our favorite places to eat. It was a hit. I’ve since done it for trips to California and D.C. I’ll walk you through how to make your own in a minute, but here’s why they are so invaluable to us:

• Everything is at your fingertips. When we starting planning for Hawaii I reached out to every friend who had visited in the last five years for all of their recommendations and tips. Then I scoured Instagram hashtags, blogs and Pinterest to find even more information. By the time I was finished, there was a lot to sort through. This map allowed me to put everything in one, easy-to-access place. You’ll see in a minute, but you can include their notes for each place, as well as any pertinent information in the entry details which you can access via phone, tablet or laptop at any time. We don’t visit every place we pin, but it’s nice to know what’s close and available.
• Seeing every place mapped out makes your day planning a lot easier. You can quickly see what’s close to what, so days are based on location to maximize your time.
• It’s a great way to remember everything you did, ate and saw. I save my custom maps and add notes to the listings post-travel.
• With one click you can share with any family or friends making the trip later. They’ll thank you and you’ll feel awesome.

Have I sold you yet?

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Create a map by clicking HERE. (You’ll need a google account to access.)

2. Click on “Untitled” in the top left corner and name your map. If you’re traveling to different locations on one trip, you can add layers just under that map name for each destination. It will all be saved under one map, but it will be easier to find your pinned entries. Our map is titled “Hawaii – May 2015” and our layers are “Oahu” and “Maui.”

Here’s our Oahu layer:

Here’s our Maui layer:

3. Using the standard search bar at the top, start typing in places you want to list on your map.

Chances are you’ll see it in the populated drop-down menu and can click on it. Once you do that, a pin will appear on the map where you can click “Add to Map.” Then click and drag to the appropriate layer.

4. For each entry you can click on the edit button to add comments or any other details. The great part is that it will already include the address, phone and website (most of the time).

In these fields I copied in every note or suggestion from a friend, or anything I found online. If restaurants are famous for a special dish or dessert, make sure you add that! If an attraction only takes cash, add that. It’s so comforting to know that everything is all together and you don’t have to remember a thing. This is especially helpful if you’re like me and get “vacation brain” as soon as you step on the plane. By that point I’m not interested in thinking too hard.

5. Once you add your locations (airports, hotels/condos, restaurants, attractions, etc.) you can adjust your pins to be different colors or different icons by hovering over each entry and clicking the icon to its right. You can see I customized the icons for the Oahu map, but left the Maui ones standard. Whatever floats your boat.

6. Other options we haven’t explored yet include adding photos to each entry and creating walking/driving routes (the third icon under the search bar). You could easily go crazy with this if you wanted to.

7. When finished, share the map by clicking on the “Share” button beneath the map name. You can share with family members while you’re away, people you’re traveling with, or use the link to send to others going to the same place down the line. Your maps will always be saved in your Google account under “Drive” / “My Maps.”

Joe and I had this map up on both of our phones, as well as our iPad, constantly throughout the trip. My favorite features are: navigating straight to a place from your current location with one click, and adding details for each place after we visit, like who recommended it and what we ate/did.

These maps have been a total lifesaver for us, and after staring at this non-stop for the last few weeks, I was eager to share it with you. What makes your travel easier? In other news: I miss Hawaii.

A week ago today started out as planned: Joe and I were packing up in Miami and heading to the airport, ready to be home with our pup and non-humid climate. We flew different flights, different airlines, so we said goodbye outside my terminal with a “see ya tonight!” at around 8:30am. My first stop was to browse the airport’s Books & Books, my absolute favorite Miami bookstore.

My flight was a little delayed to Dallas/Ft. Worth, so I lost myself in dust jacket previews and pretty covers.

But then my flight was delayed a lot. My layover in DFW wasn’t supposed to be that long anyway, so I asked the front desk if I should be worried. Should I book a later flight out from DFW? Noooo, no, no no, no, they said. Apparently everything was getting delayed in DFW because of storms. “You’ll be fine.”

I should have known better.

After a two hour delay in Miami, we finally flew out and reached Texas during a break in the storm. When we landed I quickly turned on my phone and googled my next flight. “Cancelled” it read in big red block letters.

There was a lovely older lady waiting at the gate and before I could open my mouth to ask her how best to proceed she just said “Gate 25.” Oookay, so off I hustled down about 10 gates only to be greeted by the longest line I’ve ever seen in my life. Every flight cancelled, every flight missed, every plane grounded or delayed….their passengers were in a winding line of at least a thousand people trying to reach the three customer service agents at Gate 25. The line was seven gates long itself.

There just had to be a better way! I frantically called the American Airlines customer number and reservation number in vain. They were so slammed with calls that they wouldn’t let you stay on hold. They just said to call back. The website was down. Nothing was working. The line was all I had.

Lucky for me I was standing next to two awesome people: Jaci (pronounced Jackie) and Tommy.

Jaci was heading to Spain for a summer study abroad and Tommy was trying to get back to Salt Lake after a cruise with his friends. The three of us stood in line together for six-and-a-half hours! 3:30 to 10pm! Our conversations started out as you might expect “where do you live, what do you do, tell me about your family,” but that only got us so far in the line. By hours 3 and 4 we were asking “what’s your favorite place you’ve ever been, best book you’ve ever read, favorite movie” and by hour 5 we were making up stories about other people in line. “What do you think his name is? What’s his story?” By hour 6? We were in tears.

Tommy, a member of the LDS church and native of Provo, told us that Mother’s Day and Christmas were the only two times a year that an LDS missionary could call home. He had left Miami early to be home for Mother’s Day and to be there when his brother called from Japan. In all honesty, the entire line was filled with these stories with it being Mother’s Day. I told Tommy he should just join the skype call from his phone, so around hour 5 we all got to say hi to his brother in Japan before holding Tommy’s space in line so he could talk to them privately.

Since we hauled it to the line right after the plane, I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast in Miami, so at one point Jaci ran to Taco Bell and picked up dollar tacos and burritos for the people around us. Seriously, these situations bring out both the best and worst in humanity.

Fast forward to 10pm. We finally reach the front of the line. Tommy and I get added to the 150-person strong standby list and learn our first confirmed opportunity to get out would be Wednesday morning. Cue my jaw on the floor. Jaci is told she should have been in a different line for international flights that entire time. She immediately burst into tears and, I admit, my eyes were wet too. It was so sad. Being a TCU student, her friend came to get her for the night and Tommy and I were left to figure out how to spend the rest of our airport party.

Unfortunately all of the shops and food vendors close at 10pm, so we just missed any opportunity to get more food or a toothbrush or a pillow. We had heard there was a 24-hour restaurant in another terminal, so we set off for that. But first we tried to find some cots, which had pretty much all been claimed by the time we got out of the line. We found a family with a stack of them and asked if they could spare two. They said no, but as we were walking away they called us back and gave us each a cot with a swift “we’re getting a hotel, we can’t do this.”

Tommy and I met up with Sue, an older lady who had been visiting her daughter. She didn’t have a cot, so Tommy gave her his and we all found a somewhat-safe, somewhat-clear, somewhat-clean gate to set up camp.

This is the photo I sent Joe that night. Sue’s in the background and Tommy’s a few rows over.

This was my view. I figured I stared at it so long I should take a picture of that too.

Sleeping was impossible. The fluorescent lights were relentless in their brightness and buzzing and the TVs set to the most obnoxious news were screaming at us all night. I finally put the blanket over my face and tried to just rest as much as possible.

By 5:00am new flights were landing at DFW so another level of commotion was added to the mix. I just got up and went in search of food and coffee…even a non-drinker has her limits. When I was walking back to where Tommy and Sue were I noticed that people were already standing in line at the first SLC flight gate, hoping to up their odds at getting on. Crap. So I got in line too. What’s another line at this point? I waited for an hour and when the lady in front of me got to the desk, the agent said “I’m not supposed to be here and I don’t know if anyone else is coming” and walked away. I thought I was going to faint.

So I went back to where I left Tommy and Sue and both were gone, but I quickly found them and told them about the gate agent madness. We walked back over together and got back in line…in case someone came back. Long story a bit shorter: Tommy and I were numbers 80 and 85 on the standby list. Nothing could be done to move us at this time and we’d just have to sit at every flight leaving for SLC to see its availability.

At least we got to watch the sun come up.

Amongst the abandoned cots everywhere.

And the horrible footage of the storm that left us there in the first place. Absolutely heartbreaking.

But we finally were able to eat some real food between our gate hopping all morning.

At some point before lunch I emailed work and asked them to see if the travel agent who booked my flight could find me a way out of there faster. After a few emails back and forth, she said she could fly me to San Diego and get me the last seat (on Delta!) to Salt Lake that afternoon. “Will that work?” YES, YES!, all of the yeses!!!! And, after a few more lines to wait through, that’s how I got this.

I had five boarding/standby passes littering my purse–each a little token of hope–but this was my Golden Ticket. I was going home. It was sad leaving my partners in this crime, but they understood. Get on that plane! they said.

As grateful as I was to be on ANY plane, this was my view.

I didn’t know I could be so claustrophobic! San Diego was the anti-DFW. Clean and empty. I still can’t believe I flew from Miami to San Diego–coast to freakin’ coast–to get home, but I would’ve done anything at that point.

When I landed in Utah I was told to go to the Delta counter to file paperwork for my American-tagged luggage. I took a chance and just walked to the American terminal, hoping my bag made it before I did. Sure enough, it was there and we had the most glorious of reunions.

As I waited outside for Joe, I was hit by the fact that I was breathing my first fresh air in 40 hours. I wanted to kiss the ground.

We pulled away from the airport and my phone dinged. It was Tommy. He was going to get on the last flight out that night. No Wednesday flights needed! It was amazing to find those friends in that horrific line. It was a bond forged fast and furious in ridiculousness, hope and sore feet. But, at the heart of this mess are the tornado victims, whose losses were not lost on us, even in our own misery.

And now it’s Sunday again and I’m back at the airport for another two flights. Apparently I just can’t quit. Let’s hope no cots are needed for the next 10 days.

Like I said yesterday, Joe and I really wanted to trace our relationship milestones while we were in Miami. We managed to hit all of the major highlights. Ready to read some sappiness and see a million photos?!

First up: You know, YOU KNOW, we had to hit up Big Pink. Here’s a glimpse of the sky when we got there. How foreboding.

We managed to beat the downpour by a few minutes, but were too distracted by these dishes to worry about its duration. There’s really no better place to be stranded. Just look at HALF of their menu.

Here’s Joe’s Malted Waffle Burger.

Lord, this Hollywood Breakfast. I think it would be my final meal, should I ever have a choice.

Lucky for us, by the time we devoured our food, the storm had quickly passed. We didn’t even need to stall with dessert, which is unfortunate.

Big Pink is just a short walk from South Pointe Park, where Joe and I got engaged. We were just going to make the sunset if we hurried…hence me speed walking.

A few ocean glimpses along our way:

I showed Joe the new pier before walking to our grassy spot, where a question and an affirmative set us on our current course.

Here’s what the scene looked like over five and a half years ago.

Ah, #Falvey2. That’s me!

And here’s what it looks like now. Pretty much the same!

Totally breathtaking sunset thanks to that storm.

It was beautiful; it was romantic; it was just as I remember it.

Saturday brought a break from work for me and so we took advantage of our rental car to head off the beach and explore our former hood…our old stomping grounds…The Gables.

It’s silly, but I started getting excited just seeing the streets I drove endlessly.

And by the time we reached our old place, I was in full-out freak-out.

We. Lived. HERE!

I guess I’m not the only person to bust their butt on these concrete stairs. New addition: grip strips. Old souvenir: nerve damage

I once saved a kitten who fell out of that drain hole in the top left. And that’s our living room window.

To make this totally legit, we parked our car at our building and set off on foot. It’s a walk we did almost weekly and where we had some of our best conversations about hopes and dreams and future dog names.

It felt amazing to walk these familiar, picturesque streets. We loved this neighborhood. Still do.

Destination: Miracle Mile.

We spent so, so, so much of our free time here, just walking and watching. It’s 90% bridal couture shops, 7% restaurants and 3% weird.

I found my wedding dress on this very strip. I’ve never been a couture kind of girl, though.

Our old burger joint was long gone, so we tried their new one: BurgerFi, which was really good. Gotta appreciate a good veggie burger.

On the way back to the car, we made one last stop to bring everything full circle. Our wedding venue!

It looks a little different now and when we walked up they were prepping for that night’s wedding. So I did what anyone would do….trespassed!

For some reason I felt like shimmying down the side of the building was my best bet at getting a look at the courtyard where we said “I do.” Here’s Joe coming after me when I realized they built a wall around the AC units. This is all I could see by holding my camera over my head.

Didn’t stop me from trying to climb the dang wall. Unsuccessfully.

I was not about to leave without seeing this spot, so I (much to Joe’s alarm) marched right into the building and found a woman who invited us to take as much time as we liked. Well…that was easier!

I caught my breath upon seeing this familiar room. I can still remember standing in here with my Dad before the wedding started. It looks exactly as it did five years ago.

As did this courtyard.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Our wedding tree!

Before:

After:

Many smiles and a few happy tears later, we were on our way back to the car. Our route brought us to this roundabout that we used to run with Bella. Actually, she knew what “run the roundabout” meant and would dash to it as soon as we’d say it.

So, of course we ran it for her. #allthesniffs

All that about tapped my emotional reserves, so we only had one more thing to do before leaving the next day. File this under “Obligatory,” see also “Awesome.”

Much like when we lived there, we went to the beach fully clothed. Pale people problems.

The beach was quite a bit more busy than when I was there in January.

Final stops for the trip: to eat the pizza we had at our rehearsal dinner…

…and, no surprise, Shake Shack. Just for this beautiful cup.

It was the best of trips, largely in part to our Saturday full of chasing memories. We’ve come a long way, but there will always be a part of us in these Gables.

Last year we learned the hard way that May is our only down month of the entire year. I think we were too wrapped up in getting through last year to plan ahead and once June hit we quickly realized our mistake.

Well, not this year! We’ve already had a jam-packed 13 days, starting with a wonderful trip back to Miami. And this time together.

Out of all the places we’ve lived, Miami has been the most important in terms of relationship landmarks. We moved there on a dare and fell in love with the place. It’s where we got engaged, where we got married and where we loved to be. I like to think it’s where we truly became ‘us.’

When we left in 2011 it was for Joe’s job and once he accepted the position he had about 36 hours in Miami to throw as much as he could in his car and get to Virginia. I stayed behind to finish work and pack everything up. I didn’t think of it at the time, but because he left so quickly, we never had a chance to say goodbye to Miami together. It was the swiftest of cuts and then we were gone.

So, after almost four years later, we returned to rock the place like we never left.

You’ll see more of this in the Part 2 post of this trip, but we really wanted to make this a nostalgic/sentimental journey…to revisit all of our favorite places (including all five of our favorite eats). Here’s how it went down…

Joe met me at work for lunch and that first Monday was mild enough for us to enjoy a picnic in the picturesque SoundScape Park right outside my building.

That night we jumped in the car and headed far north for our ultimate date night, circa 2009-11. Oh, how quickly we forgot about this tiny detail. Welcome to I-95, my friends.

But after about an hour we finally arrived to…drumroll, please…Skyline Chili, a throw-back to our Cincinnati days!

I’m sorry, but you just don’t know happiness until you’ve had Cincinnati chili. Heaven on a plate! (And their vegetarian chili is just as awesome!)

This was our view when leaving dinner. Oh, Florida…stop showing off.

Another thing we loved to do after getting Skyline was hitting up the drive-in. You have to go at the right time of year, though, or it’s way too hot. Luckily our night had a refreshing breeze while we watched the new Avengers movie.

We both agreed that our lives were so much simpler in Miami (hard to imagine, but yes) and it was fun to revisit these cheap nights out that, at the time, we thought were quite a big deal.

Joe and I spent a lot of time with Jason, who has been our close friend for seven years and who is also really close to our Utah friends Chris and Chilali from their University of Michigan days. Jason and Kate invited us to their place for dinner one night. Check out their view!

Not too shabby to be in a penthouse in downtown Miami! I didn’t get a pic of us together, or of the food, but they made the most delicious Thai stir-fry for dinner and glazed pears over ice cream for dessert. Drooool!

We also visited Jason one night at his other job at one of Miami Beach’s finest eateries: Meat Market. I kept telling them that I felt like I was chaperoning their own date.

They shared a deep-fried Porterhouse steak.

Here are our Gouda Tater Tots and Homemade Mac-n-Cheese.

And here are the boys sharing a dessert sampler. Seriously…get a room, you two!

We ended the incredible meal with a special shot: Baby Guinness, which is this Patron topped off with Baileys. #wow

Other highlights included fun lunches with my work team at Miami Beach’s Botanical Gardens:

I wouldn’t be where I am without these two guys. The best bosses and friends I could ever imagine.

We also celebrated Cinco de Mayo at Lime, our favorite place for quick tacos and nachos. It was delicious. Loud, but delicious.

Here are more pics from another one of our picnic lunches at the office.

That time you try to take a rooftop selfie and you forget you’re zoomed in:

Highlights that I didn’t capture on film: dinner at Books & Books with Joe, lunch with my girls Julisa and Michelle, hipster coffee with total bad-ass Hilary, and several Starbucks runs with Siggi and Michael. So much food…so few photos.

I’m feeling incredibly lucky I get to still call this place my home (even from the mountains) and also that Joe could join me. Next up: our sappy trip down memory lane and one girl’s 40-hour trek back to Utah.