Hawai`i was my home for 5.5 years. The Aloha State is abundantly gorgeous, the weather is nearly perfect, and the aloha spirit is truly unique. 

My nieces are visiting Hawai`i for the first time next month so I'm finally gathering my thoughts and photos to create something useful for them, and for you, if you're planning a visit to Hawai`i. Enjoy this post on Hawai`i {What to Say} and keep an eye out for the accompanying posts: Hawai`i {What to See} and Hawai`i {What to Eat}.

Aloha! A visit to Hawai`i is something remarkable regardless of if it's your first trip or your 50th. When you arrive to the islands, some words you'll hear won't be what you're used to. Some things that you may have learned to say from Hawai`i via TV shows and movies may not be just right once you're there. There will be a few phrases and words on this list that you won't know you need until you're in Hawaii, with your day to day life across the ocean behind you! 

Fav 5 Travel Guides are a short list of the best things I've found to do, see, eat, or drink in a particular location. This guide is for Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Park, both located in Anaheim, California. 

For more on these two parks see the Fav 5 Disneyland and Fav 5 Disney's California Adventure. If you just can't get enough we've got a whole Disney section here at Figs and Flights.

My husband and I met in Honolulu, Hawaii, where we both used to live. I couldn't have wished for a better hometown for a spouse than one that's within an hour's drive to Disneyland. The first time I traveled home with him he obliged me with a trip to Disneyland. 

That was 9 years ago and he and I will both tell you that the addition of my Disney-loving sister-in-law, Renee, to the family has made the Disney situation better for both my husband and I. I visit the parks with Renee at least once, often times twice, every time we come to town while my husband and his brother get quality time with their immediate family and away from the parks. It's a win-win situation for us all. 

During our Thanksgiving visit this year we managed two trips to the parks: on the Monday before the holiday and on Thanksgiving Day! Most people thought we were crazy for going on Thanksgiving and those doubters even had me worrying that the parks were going to be similar to an overcrowded zoo. Luckily the Thursday crowd was just slightly more noticeable than that Monday. It was actually more fun to be surrounded by other kids-disguised-as-adults who threw tradition to the wind and prioritized MAGIC over turkey and football. Disney decorates for Christmas just after Halloween so the parks were decked out in their holiday best for our November visits.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is my hometown. I visited twice last summer and gave you two Fav 5 Travel Guides (part 1 and part 2) plus a little tour of my favorite hometown park, Kennywood! 

This year I visited "da Burg" again and now you're looking at Part 3.

On this year's trip to Pittsburgh we checked so many good spots from the list. You'll enjoy my hyper-local favorite bakeries, plenty of regional coffee, some South Side spots, a celebratory dinner, and an Italian meal to remember. 

1. Regional Coffee - Sheetz and Dunkin Donuts
2. Neighborhood Celebrities - Mancini's Bread and Better Maid Donuts
3. A sober South Side Morning - BYS Yoga and Doublewide Grill
4. Celebrating in Station Square - the Grand Concourse
5. A visit to Sewickley - dinner and dessert Mambo Italiano 

Disneyland Paris met, and exceeded, any expectations I had of it. It was just as magical as the parks in the US, yet still uniquely Parisian. I told you all about my favorite parts of the park in the post Disneyland Paris - Fav 5 {Travel Guide}.

Now I want to talk specifically about Disneyland Paris and the similarities and differences between it and our parks at home (meaning Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida). Put your mouse ears on for another magical stroll though the Parisian park!

On Sunday I spent most of the day shopping alone, one of my favorite pastimes. After a few hours visiting the mall, Nordstrom Rack, and TJ Maxx, I was running out of steam but wanted to squeeze in one last stop at Target. I needed to go to the grocery store but, alas, I wanted to go to Target. Target won because Target always wins!

I had no specific grocery needs, just a refresh on snacks, drinks, and healthy foods to get my husband and I through the week. I went aisle by aisle, as one does at Target while alone, and I was impressed with just how many healthy options Target has. 

Now what's healthy is defined differently by everyone. I lean toward foods that are organic, include ingredient lists that are made of real food, and taste good. My diet includes gluten, seafood, sugar, carbs, and dairy. I do not eat meat (chicken, beef, pork, lamb, etc.) or foods that are made "lite" or "low fat". I don't count calories or macros or anything, really. I love sweets and hate peppers. You do what works for you, honey.

Let's get shopping!