December 8, 2015
I always have the best intentions to do my Christmas shopping throughout the year. I tell myself that if I do this, then by the time December rolls around, I can relax, knowing I have nothing left to buy. I…
November 29, 2015
My husband and I recently went to Japan. Like many things in life, our trip revolved around food: sampling the street food at Tsukiji Fish Market, experiencing an authentic teppan dinner, walking (and tasting) through innumerable types of ramen at…
November 22, 2015
Hands down, my absolute favorite thing about the season is getting together for holiday meals with friends and family. While life inevitably changes in many ways, some things always stay the same. I grew up in a house in which…
November 18, 2015
Searching for DIY inspiration has become somewhat of a daily hobby for me. Recently, I came across a project that gave me one of those “Why-didn’t-I-think-of-that?” moments. The project entailed making your own rug with fabric. I cannot count the…
November 8, 2015
I know it’s early, but I cannot help but get excited for Christmas. While most people wait until after Thanksgiving to start preparing for the holidays, I just can’t wait that long. I have already started shopping for presents and…
November 1, 2015
My friend Sara and her family recently moved into a home in Kaneohe. Sara, a self-proclaimed “townie,” swore long ago that she would never leave the comforts and conveniences of town life. However, the amount of space (and yard) available…
October 25, 2015
Shopping to stock the kitchen or home with goods is my favorite type of shopping — and buying in bulk is my favorite way to stock up. I could spend all day in a wholesale club moseying through the aisles,…
October 18, 2015
I have to admit that I don’t consider myself to be the best (or even good) at deep cleaning. To me, there is a big difference between keeping a space clutter-free, and keeping a space clean. I’m good at the…
October 4, 2015
Maybe it’s because of the limited space that comes with Island living, but I tend to gravitate toward things with multiple uses. Instead of gift-wrapping ribbon, for instance, I have a spool of twine. That way, I can use it…
September 29, 2015
Since February, I have been monitoring my sleep using my Fitbit. It tells me not only how many hours and minutes I’m asleep, but also how many times I’m restless throughout the night. This has shown me that strategies like…
September 13, 2015
Every time I travel, my favorite part of coming back to Hawaii is stepping off the plane and taking a deep breath of the fresh, clean air. At home, I usually like keeping all of the windows open to let…
August 30, 2015
Living in an Island state has taught me to be much more aware of the environment and the impact we have on it. The majority of the goods in Hawaii are imported, and it takes a great deal of energy…
August 25, 2015
One big goal for this new semester has been to make my school office feel comfortable and homelike. I’ve brought in table lamps to replace the harshness of the fluorescent bulbs overhead with a softer glow, and hung decorative pieces…
August 19, 2015
My friend Rosie is an avid sea glass collector, and she shared that there seemingly are infinite ways to incorporate the ocean-tumbled material into your everyday home accessories. Here are a few of my favorites: • Votives: If you want…
August 9, 2015
It seems as though every year has record-breaking temperatures. My husband Scott and I have been doing what we can to keep cool. We have upgraded our standing fans, opened all the windows, closed blinds and curtains during sunlight hours…
August 4, 2015
On my most recent visit to my hometown of Cleveland, I met six new babies in the span of just one week. I have to say, I am enjoying this stage of life. It is surreal to see how my…
July 26, 2015
One of the hardest parts about keeping your home in good condition is deciphering whether something should be repaired or replaced. I had that dilemma with the tile in our master shower. Its floors and sides were starting to come…
July 19, 2015
My husband Scott and I are celebrating one year of marriage today. It sounds cliché, but it really was one of the best days of my life. Now, we are reflecting on that great day and the wonderful start we’ve…
July 12, 2015
I just spent the last month and a half traveling. I went to Boulder, Berkeley, Cleveland and even on a hiking/camping trip in Kauai. While I truly enjoyed my visits, I also was reminded that there is nothing quite like…
July 5, 2015
One of the things I love most about Hawaii is the near-perfect weather throughout the year. However, since moving here eight years ago, I’ve picked up on the subtle changes in the seasons and find myself craving creature comforts that…