The days that end here...

Life moves so fast and before you know it it's been a year since I wrote on here.. Whether it was choosing to guest blog for bigger publications instead, or just being plain busy to even give a shit,  something in my heart told me that I needed to come back to a place where I could be me, honestly, and write my crazy thoughts to look back on.  I also needed a place to put ALL of my photos that didn't make the cut on instagram without pissing off my family.  "Do you like this....?  OR...this?"  Tell me you do this too.

A day as beautiful as yesterday couldn't fit in one little square.  My husband recently got a new film camera and as always we were willing to be his test bunnies...  We usually end up at the beach during sunset for a night swim so like the usual we went down while my husband shot away at us.  Next day we dropped off the roll of film and not expecting anything came back to the most gratifying results...I love these pictures so much it hurts...An essence, a feeling so perfectly captured in time, frozen like the moment was just now.  I guess that's the feeling shooting film gives you.   I realized that no amount of dollar can and will compare to the joy I have of seeing my son dance with the ocean.. We often talk about having another baby, moving to LA , and get beaten down with the pressure of work with what we're doing wrong as oppose to all the rights.  Somehow though, when I look back on these photos,  all the worries get wiped out faster than a tourist on Sandy Beach to reassure me that we are right where we need to be or at least on the right track...My family of 3, living by the ocean, although chaotic, happy as can be as long as our day ends here...

On Phe: River Island swim shorts
On me: Zulu and Zephyr one piece from their new Summer range that dropped today

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.