Discoveries in Paris

There’s nothing quite like the feeling and sound of the wheels of your stroller hitting the cobblestone pavement in Paris.  I fell hard in love. Every morning, we would wake up, stroll down the bustling little town of Le Marais where we would go down and start with our morning ritual of croissant and coffee..Three is such a fun age to travel with.  They ask questions.  They take it in.  We get to explore together.

My son would beg me to take him to the park and I never refuse especially while traveling.  Parks are where you can people watch.  Playgrounds do not lie.  There is something really pure and honest about watching a mom and child at a playground that allows you to take a further glimpse into their culture and lifestyle.  That morning, I witnessed two little sisters trying to sing in harmony to their mom.  On another side of the playground were kids playing with old school tops.  Oh how fun are those things!  Where do I even get one back home?  I spy on a mother and son in matching New Balances.  She is so effortlessly cool.  Her Parisian understated elegance makes me want to become her best friend.

I quickly took note that New Balances are popular shoes in Paris and that children are almost always strolled around in Maclaren strollers.  Most of them don’t look perfect, they look worn and used.   I also took account that there wasn’t anyone holding a coffee on the go like most Americans do as our daily routine. An instant gratification of a starbucks cup in your hand sound familiar right? Sure, I did see the occasional to-go espressos, but they were a last minute option in which they were placed in clear cups with out tops or anything.  This was when I realized…this is it.  This is what makes people different here, is that they appreciate moments longer.  Coffee is meant to be drunk sitting down amidst a conversation or a read. Clothes are meant to be worn over years and years and not because they are trending but because they have never let you down and they become apart of you.   Entertainment is meant to be seen before your eyes and not on a computer screen and flowers are meant to be smelt on the way to your destination.

I asked myself, why do we fix or reinvent things if it’s not broken?  All those old carousels around the Eiffel Tower that go 2 miles per hour, they still bring children so much joy.  The slower it went  also meant that the longer I could spend spotting my son’s face as it came around and the fluttering in my heart would extend to a point where I couldn’t breath anymore.  No words could bare to come out.  Just my laugh, and a big stretched out smile electrified by gratitude…These are the moments we live for.  Life is just that much more richer in Paris when wealth is measured in memories.

Colton Farms Waimanalo

    On the drive to Waimanalo beaches and Kailua, we noticed a little farm on the left hand side right after Baby Makapuu a while ago.  Last week we drove by and noticed that it had considerably grown and even had a cute little sign and decided to pull over.  We were glad we did otherwise we would have never known there was a little story behind this hidden gem.

  Claude Colton does not look Hawaiian judging by his looks, but if you spend 5 minutes with him, you will see that he is as Hawaiian in the heart than anybody could dream to be.  Claude's uncle inherited a a generous amount of mountain land through the Hawaiian Homestead Act.  The homesteads are portion of land in Hawaii dedicated to the native Hawaiians since the early 1920's.  Claude, a natural born farmer and owner of the Colton Farms does not have TVor internet, and jokes that his address is the Big Papaya Tree-- or at least I think he was joking.  He has come a long way in building his ocean front road side animal farm.  Claude explains that throughout the year, Colton Farms have almost become an animal shelter for injured or rejected animals.  He takes all kinda of animals and in all sorts of condition.  There is a little donation box where you can put money in, and feed the goats some hay, but other than that, he labors for love to keep his farm alive.

  I have never been much of an animal person but my son believes that he is an animal himself, and was over the moon with this experience.  I have to admit though that I could not stop smiling the whole time I was there seeing the rescued animals in such good hands, and of course, half wishing I was at least a little Hawaiian so I could one day own half a mountain.  

I didn't want to leave, and if the heat didn't force us out, I think I would still be there talking story with my new buddy Claude.  I kept trying to give him ideas to get on instagram and start a blog or even a Kickstarter for his farm and realized he had no interests in that nor know what I was even talking about.  He was however, open to building the farm, maybe opening up to something bigger.  So here I am, taking it up on myself to tell you about this wonderful little farm tucked away in Waimanalo, with big dreams, so much potential, and a farm that's really old school.  It's for the animals, before the people. 

Tips and Tricks// Dressing a Little on a little Budget

I used to think, you needed a ton of money to dress your kids really stylish..but I soon realized that that quickly got old.  In the two and a half years that I have been a mother, I have enjoyed budgeting and bargaining more than I ever have before.  I don't mind spending money on one off pieces that I just cannot get anywhere else, but being creative, patient, and having great staples will keep you from breaking your bank.  With that said, you can really make any kid look stylish...at a very low cost.



If you have something in mind, look on ebay first.  Take a load off other moms. Goodwill and other thrift stores are great too but takes more patience.

Staples are all you need.  Good shoes. Basic stylish tees.  American Apparel $10- $15.  Shoes can be expensive but an investment.  It will make an outfit // Don't buy fake nikes, don't buy Bob's instead of Tom's.

PJ sets are a must buy.  Costco , Children's Place, etc.  You can't beat the price and who doesn't like killing 2 birds with one stone. Wear it to bed, wear it to the park the next day.  SSShhhh...no one will EVER know.

I make Phe outwear his clothes.  If it doesn't fit, I will make it fit.  Sand paper is your bestfriend.  Cut, and sand small jeans.  Roll em up, good to go.  Phe is wearing Size one jeans in the photo.

Outworn shoes?  Wash em and slap some shwings on the bad boys.  What kid doesn't wanna feel like a flyin super hero. (Thinker Toys is the only stockist in Hawaii otherwise- EBAY)

Hats are hard to find// Make your own.  Use old clothes, cut it up glue with fabric glue or you can find cute cheap fabric at walmart. 

I can't resist great market, vintage finds and supporting small businesses =) Because these, you will treasure forever, and it tells a story.

Tahiti Hernandez, Singer/Song Writer

Tahiti, is who I wish I was raised by hands down.  If I was raised by her, maybe I would have been blessed with vocal range, rhythm, and swag.  And we all know a little bit of swag in this day of age goes a long way.  You could easily hate Tahiti for what she has going for her, but she is not one you can hate on even if you try.  She's too down to earth, hilarious, and a tomboy at heart. With an album on the way with her sisters called The Lylas and a network reality TV deal sealed, it's no surprise the boys who didn't talk to her in high school are missile kicking each other in the face.  The Lylas has already gained worldwide attention on their own and they are doing it organically.  Being a singer and song writer their whole lives, The Lylas is most deserving of their new accomplishments.  Their brother, Bruno Mars, could easily tweet his 15 million followers introducing The Lylas, but Tahiti makes it clear that that is not what they want.  They want to gain respect on their own, in their own right, with their own voice and win the audience one step at a time.  And for Tahiti, this means all the meanwhile, being a single mom to two boys.

Young, carefree, funny, and incredibly loving, Tahiti is the queen of her boys' worlds.  Both of them, trying to compete for her attention, ran around making it almost impossible to get a shot of the three of them.  That was until, the music came on. Nyjah and Zyah, both turned to their mom with idolizing eyes, anticipating the moves as she sang and lead the boys into a dance.  Not a single ipad, tv, or any sort of gadgets in sight, the boys showed off their dance moves, rode quads and bikes, jumped on their beds and played with their bunny.  Their mom not only looked over them, but joined in on the fun.      Being away from the boys while recording in LA, has made Tahiti make sure she gets out and plays every moment she has with the boys.  Her boys are her priority, and her success means nothing without them.  

A rare refreshing sight to see at the end was the boys' dad picking the kids up for the weekend, while all of them engaged in the conversation as a family.  So is Tahiti a mom that really is having her cake and eating it too?  We certainly think so, and this really is the point of this blog, to really go and get it.  To live the dream, to make it happen and using your kids not as a set back but a drive to success.

Name:     Tahiti Lovenote Hernandez

Something about yourself nobody really knows: I'm a clean freak.                                                

Obsessed with: Bikinis, Shoes, Clothes, and chocolate.

 Guilty Pleasures: Mani-Pedis. ;)

How has motherhood changed you and inspire you?

 I can't explain how much motherhood changed me. It gave Love a whole new meaning. When I look into my children's eyes I get inspired to do better and be better.  I now feel like I was put on this earth to be a mother, and now everything I do, I do it for my boys. 

Music runs in your family, can you tell us about how you were raised?  How do you in still that in your boys?                                                                                          

Growing Up Elvis movies and the Sound of Music were my kind of Cartoons. My family had a show In Waikiki called the Lovenote's ( hints my middle name) where my entire family sang Doo Wop and took you on a musical history journey. We grew up all around music there was no getting away from it.  My boys are seriously musically blessed and I can see it already. My oldest son Nyjah who's 3 will pick up any instrument and its like he knows exactly how to use it. They both love to sing and love being on stage. My mom gives them voice lessons here and there and they can copy notes and are so excited to learn. I couldn't be more proud.

 Your sons have awesome names.  What do they mean and how did you guys pick them?                                                                                                                                

My first son Nyjah Music was inspired by a young skater Nyjah Huston. Nyjah Huston was a cute kid with dreads who turned into a pro skater at a young age and to me that was inspiring. As for his middle name well "Music" in my family is everything. ;) My second son Zyah Rhythm. Zyah means Loyal believer and when I was pregnant with him I already knew he was going to be an amazing kid. With Zyah I couldn't have gave that kid a better middle name. He definitely lives up to his middle name Rhythm, cause I can promise you that kid would win any dance battle. He's got better moves them me. 

You and the boys dad are no longer together, but maintain a good friendship.  That's awesome and I know that doesn't happen often. How does this affect your kids?

 Their father and I have a cool relationship. I believe if the children see Mommy and Daddy smiling then there's no reason to be unhappy. I look at it this way, my kids not only have one loving home but two loving homes. Now that's a lot of love. We do family outings and its great. It really shows the kids that every things OK and were all still happy. He's a great dad and the kids adore him. 

 I am so excited for your show, your album, and everything that's going on with you and your sisters.  At this point in life, at this very moment, can you describe in one word what you're feeling?? Okay, maybe a few words, alright a paragraph.  SPILL THE BEANS!!        

I've been flying back and fourth to try and finish this album and Its been tough so I'm finally making the move to get this done. WE TV will be documenting this whole experience as us 4 sisters make the move and get into this industry. Its going to be a journey cause were 4 sisters in different places in our lives but wanting to reach the same goal. For me juggling being a mom, and trying to finish an album, rehearsals, etc.. its going to be tough.

Your sister, Jamie Kailani has kids.  Do you guys bond a little more now that you have kids?  How does it feel, first experiencing being an auntie, and then being a mother to your own kids.

 My sister Jamie is an amazing mother and I always looked up to her. We are actually very close and she's the one I can confide in when I'm having motherly issues. She's the sister I go to when my kids, and baby daddy drive me bananas. 

      

 You are such a stylin mama.  Can you share with us some of your beauty secrets?  What can you not leave the house without?                                                                                                    

Being from Hawaii we're blessed that no makeup and slippers is normal. Don't get me wrong I love getting dressed up. But when you become a mother comfort but still cute is KEY! All moms need to invest in good pair of converse or toms, some cute hats, beanies and a fly pair of shades and your good to go! 

 

 If it wasn't music, is there anything else you see yourself doing?                                                     

I'm addicted to painting my nails, so I think I would like to be a manicurist.  

How is having two boys back to back? I give you so much credit!!!                                                                                                                      

Having my kids a year apart was a breeze.. NOT! It was hard work but every day that goes by it gets easier and easier. I birthed not only brothers but best friends. I watched there eyes meet as two baby boys and now life long pals. All the sleepless nights are worth it. 

What do you most want to teach your boys in life?                                                                            

Be yourself, follow your dreams and always be their for one another. When life knocks you down, help each other up. And always remind each other how much you're loved.