July 14, 2013
By the time you read this, it will be the day after the wedding, and my sister will be married. I can’t believe how quickly everything has gone by. Lately, I’ve found myself reminiscing more than usual. Minutes looking through…
July 7, 2013
Lately, I’ve been attending or hosting more and more gatherings. They’ve ranged from sit-down dinners to potlucks, pau hanas and backyard barbecues. Maybe I’m getting older, but I prefer getting together with a group of friends and family while enjoying…
June 30, 2013
The countdown is on. My sister is getting married in just two weeks. I can’t believe the time is already here. As I put the finishing touches on my speech and tackle last-minute preparations for the bachelorette party and bridal…
June 23, 2013
With summer officially in full swing, I can’t help but turn my eyes (and stomach) to summertime food and drinks: grilled meats and veggies, pies, cold beers and frosty lemonade. Lemons seem to find their way into a lot during…
June 16, 2013
Here’s how to keep your quintessential culinary tool, the knife, ready for a lifetime of safe use One of the best things about being a student and a writer is having the option to work from home. The next best…
June 9, 2013
How to remove unwanted stains from granite Since graduation, I’ve found myself with more downtime than I’ve had in years. But unlike my high school and undergraduate years, I’ve had no trouble filling my recent days off with productivity. Maybe…
June 2, 2013
Have you changed your mind about the picture frames you hung on the wall? By using spackling filler that can be painted over, filling nail holes is easy I have moved around quite a bit. From college to internships, to…
May 26, 2013
With a little creativity, you can turn your coffee table into a fun upholstered ottoman I love to entertain. My other half and I host every Thanksgiving, every Super Bowl and countless pau hanas and dinners throughout the year. That’s…
May 19, 2013
My neighbor Carole sent me an email last month with ways to make my groceries last as long as possible. I’m not sure if she knew, but these are some of my favorites types of emails to get. Earlier this…
May 12, 2013
April showers bring May flowers. You know what else brings flowers? Graduations and Mother’s Day celebrations. This weekend, my family and I are celebrating both. After two years, I’m happy to say I have graduated with my master’s degree in…
May 5, 2013
I’m big on to-do lists. There is something incredibly satisfying about crossing off a task once it’s completed. To cut down on waste, I started keeping my list on my phone. It got the job done, but it didn’t give…
April 28, 2013
Since I got back from a trip in March, I’ve made a concerted effort to get healthier. I pencil in workout time as if it were a mandatory morning meeting and constantly remind myself that I’ll feel better afterward. I…
April 21, 2013
Every now and then, the scrapbooking bug bites me. Sometimes I scrapbook to save memories, but I also like to clip and save ideas for the future. There’s something incredibly indulgent about dreaming and planning. A magazine hoarder at heart,…
April 14, 2013
I feel like my schedule is finally winding down. Since January, I’ve taken four trips, wrote and defended my thesis (did I mention I’m a graduate student?), threw my sister a bachelorette party and hosted houseguests, all while keeping up…
April 9, 2013
Although I consider myself semi-eco-friendly now, I can’t say that I’ve always been that way. I used to litter (gasp!) and never recycled. Then, I moved to Hawaii. I realized not only how beautiful the world is, but also how…
March 31, 2013
Easter, to me, has always been associated with new life — and it’s not limited to religious connotations. You’ve no doubt noticed the influx of baby chicks, bunnies and ducklings adorning display windows, school projects and even monthly calendars. Maybe…
March 24, 2013
When I was growing up, one of my favorite things to do on a Friday night was to turn on ABC and settle in for a couple of hours of TGIF programming. The Tanner family from Full House seemed to…
March 17, 2013
I’m Filipino, not Irish. Nevertheless, I’ve been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day my whole life. This year is no different. I’ll don my green shirt and miniature leprechaun hat, eat corned beef and cabbage, and maybe even have a green beer…
March 10, 2013
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be traveling with my sister through Asia. I’ve been preparing for this trip for quite some time. There are several things at home that need attention while I’m gone, so a friend has…
March 3, 2013
A friend of mine just moved back to town. She’s on a budget, so for her new place she’s relied on hand-me-down furniture, thrift-store finds and plenty of creativity. When she told me she got a headboard for just $10,…