December 29, 2015
Every year around this time, I reflect on the year that just passed. This one has gone by much too quickly. Some of my most memorable moments include being chosen as the godmother to my nephew, celebrating my first wedding…
December 20, 2015
For some reason, I’ve never agreed with the saying, “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” Yes, it is true there is only one first impression, but I also believe that if you remake something,…
December 15, 2015
This semester has flown by and, in just a few days, winter break will begin. I have put off getting some things done around the house, and cannot wait to finally have the time to tackle the to-do list. While…
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 22, 2015
My husband and I are die-hard Cleveland Browns fans. But since we moved to Hawaii more than eight years ago, we’ve had to go to sports bars to watch the games on Sunday mornings. This year, however, I subscribed to…
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…