Pearls + Chambray

I have a confession to make.  I don't iron any of my clothes.  It's not that I don't know how to, I just don't get why I need to iron them, when they're just going to get wrinkly all over again.  Maybe it's just me being lazy.  It's a good thing my Pirate is an ironing freak.  He irons everything.  So, if a  piece is truly wrinkled, the Pirate to the rescue. 

I think this chambray shirt is a good example of why I don't really need to iron my clothes.  Only a few hours of wear and it's wrinklier than ever.  Do you guys have any tips on how to keep your wrinkle-free clothing, wrinkle free? 

In all it's wrinkled glory, I'm still very much lovin' this look.  It's easy to wear and even though I'm pretty "covered" for the summer, the shirt is lightweight enough to let the trade winds breeze on through to keep me cool.  These shoes have seen better days.  They are my favorite pair of ballet flats and I'll be so sad when the day comes that they're go into retirement.  Then again, that means more room for new shoes! 

Yuck! Unpolished and dry toes.  Sorry!! :/

{shirt: ON | jeans: Zara | flats: MICHAEL Michael Kors | clutch:  DIY | necklace: Macys | bracelets:  AE &swap meet}

Love, S

In exactly one month

In exactly one month from today, I'll be 29. :) Wheeeeee!

I'm still gushing over friendship bracelets.  I popped by the mall this weekend and found all these beauts @ AE.  All their bracelets were ridiculously marked down, they were practically giving them away. 

I gotta keep it short tonight, I have tons of card box orders to get to.  Hope you all had a great Monday.

(I even found a friendship bracelet cropped tee.  I'm in the process of making a fabulous maxi skirt out of this fabric I picked up.  It'll be very similar to this or this.  I'll show you all when I'm done.)

Love, S

Happily Ever After

The Pirate and I attended my cousin's wedding tonight.  It was such a beautiful wedding.  Great location on ocean front property, good tunes (live music was an A+!), wonderful company, and the food was incredibly delicious.  They catered through a company called Clam Bake. The spread consisted of caesar salad, garlic mash (or steamed rice), bbq chicken, sauteed mushrooms, prime rib, succulent steamed clams, garlic prawns, and crab legs!  It was definitely a feast.  For dessert there were cake balls, fresh fruit, and Tasaka guri guri.  This was the first wedding (or party) that I've been to that served Tasaka guri guri.  If you don't know what that is, google it.  And if you're ever in Maui, you NEED to try it.

I'm bummed that my camera died right before we tried to get a picture with the happy couple.  Don't you just hate that?  Oh technology, how I loathe thee... sometimes. ;)  Congratulations Lorena and Kory!! Here's to a lifetime of love, laughs, and happiness.  Enjoy the wonderful journey ahead of you! Love you guys.

On a sartorial note, this is what I wore.  Nothing fancy schmancy.  Since it was an outdoor/beach front wedding, I went for something simple and chic.  Nothing beats a maxi dress on a warm and breezy summer afternoon.  Well, I'm off to slumberland.  Goodnight, my loves!

{dress: local boutique, Mahina | clutch: Louis Vuitton | belt: F21 bracelet: AE | ring: from Tahiti | necklace: Tiffany Mei jewelry}

The Pirate and I. :D

Love, S

Circus Chic

I'm terrible at thinking up post titles, so I shot over a pic of today's outfit to my BFF and her response was Circus Chic. Thanks BFF. Love you long time.

Don't you just love these red pants?  I do.  I love them so much that I even have them in green.  When the hubbs saw the outfit today, he belted out the tune "God Bless America....".  I guess it's a little patriotic, but hey I'm an American and proud to be.

We're just one day away from the weekend.  I'm so excited.  I'm going to my cousin's wedding this weekend.  I love weddings!  On Sunday I'll be checking out Tori Praver Swimwearr sample sale with the sissy in law.  Cocktails and swimsuits.. yay!  Even though my bod is nowhere being "swimsuit" ready, I'm excited to see Tori Praver's new collection.  What fun plans do you have in store this coming weekend?

{top: Black Poppy | jeans: Zara | clutch: thrift | flats: Sam Edelman

bracelets: Wendy Mink, BR, swap meet find | ring: gifted by Kamoana}

Love, S

Happy (belated) Summer Solstice!

Yay! Summer is finally here. Who am I kidding, it's summer year round for us Hawaii peeps. Time to bring out the short shorts, bathing suits, wide brim hats, and of course SPF. Never forget to protect your skin, lovelies. It's the only one you got. Cherish and take care of it.

I think this outfit is a perfect way to start the summer. Enough cheery color to brighten up anyone's day. Not sure if your remember these scalloped hem shorts, but I made them last year, and they've received very little (to none) wear. That's going to change, I plan on wearing these babies a lot this summer. They are the perfect length, any shorter would be a crime! And the scallops are just so adorable. :)

How did you guys celebrate the first days of summer! Do share.
 

{top:  Old Navy | shorts: made by me | clutch: made by me | sandals: Jessica Simpson "Dany"

bracelets:  Banana Republic + Wendy Mink Jewelry | necklaces: F21 + Tiffany Mei Jewelry}

Love, S

The man I first loved

My dad is the type of man who truly knows how to listen.  Listen with an open ear, mind, and heart.  He is so patient and understanding.  He has always been there for me, even during the years I rebelled.  I know I can always count on him.  He really is my hero.  I love you, Dad.  Happy Father's Day!!

Love always,
Your Bunso (that means youngest daughter in Ilocano)

A spoonful of sugar

cough.cough.cough.cough.cough.cough.cough.cough.

Just when I thought I was getting better, I started coughing.  I feel like I need a ginormous spoonful of cough syrup to get rid of this nasty cough.  Maybe I should have bought this spoon when I came across it last week at Pier One.

Before I go, I wanted to share with you my new food obsession; MALA.  If you are ever in Lahaina Town, Mala is a must!  The mojitos are marvelous and the tapas are terrific.  Look at this delectable spread we enjoyed.  Mmmmm.  I'm off to rest.  Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.  And Happy early Father's Day to all your daddys!! :D

{clockwise:  chip + salsa, garlic cheese flatbread, big island hamakua ali'i mushrooms,

spicy lamb pita, best mojito evaaarrr!, quartet of hummus}

Love, S

p.s. For those of you who have been emailing me.. thank you! once I'm feeling a little better, I promise to respond to your emails. :) 

Happy Birthday, Sister!

Yup that's right.. both my mom and Sister are June babies.  Fun fact:  I always thought my sister's name was "Sister".  I came to the realization it wasn't, at about age 7.  To this day, I never call her by her first name, just Sister.  And she does the same.  :)

Last night, Sister, the Pirate, and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Feast at Lele.  Although, I'm still feeling under the weather, I was happy to have been there to help celebrate her birthday.  The food was delicious, but what I missed were the booze.  As I sat there sipping on my glass of water and cup of hot tea, Sister and the Pirate were guzzling down, beer, wine, cocktails, and shots.  Sans cocktail in hand, it was a great night with two of my favorite people.  I love you, Sis and here's to a marvelous birthday! 

(sisterly L♥ve)

{sweater & jeans: Calvin Klein | sandals: Nine West | bag: Tahari | bracelets: handmade & Wendy Mink Jewelry}

(Arrgggh! Bottom's up!)

(a five course celebration of Polynesian cuisine!)

Love, S

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Hi there!  Remember me?  I'm sorry I've been absent for nearly a week.  Yet once again, I've come down with a cold.  I'm having dizzy spells as I sit here behind the screen, but I wanted to share with you all what I've been doing this past week. 

I was busy planning a birthday soiree for my mom.  I'm sure she'll be thankful that I don't disclose her real age, but she's is fabulous at any age, and I love her.  About a hundred of family and close friends came to celebrate with her.  I haven't seen my mom this excited in a long time.  It was a day all  about her and she totally deserved it.  Happy Birthday, Mom!  Here's to many more years of fabulousness.  I love you.

(clockwise: centerpieces, favors; hand sewn reuseable bags by the Pirate and I (fact: my mom is obsessed with bags/purses), yellow and strawberry cuppies with homemade cream cheese frosting, "photobooth" lips for guests to take silly photos (fact: my mom wears red lipstick everyday, even when she's at home), choco cuppies with sprinkles, close up of the strawberry cuppies, birthday banner hand painted by my Sister.)

(handsewn reuseable bags by the Pirate and I)

(Coach bag money/card/ box made by yours truly.  To say my mom was thrilled is an understatement.)

(mom, Sister, me, dad)

(sealed with a kiss!)

(Me and the Pirate being silly.. lover him forevah!)

And this is what I wore.  Probably not the most flattering of dresses (makes me look wider, don't you think?), but I loved the print and it definitely help me beat the heat that night.  It's been so stinkin' hot.  I'm over summer, and it's hasn't even officially begun.

{dress: Old Navy | sandals: Style & Co.}

Love, S

It ain't easy being green

I've been coveting the perfect satchel for sometime now, so when I came across the Cambridge Satchel Company, I knew I found the one!  The bag's sleek and classic design will never go out of style.  I was so excited when the fabulous team at the Cambridge Satchel Co. offered to send me my very own bag.  To say I was thrilled is an understatement.  I was literally jumping for joy. 

When I received the package in the mail (the shipping was super duper fast.. only 2 days, all the way from the Great Britain!), I ripped it open to reveal the most gorgeous bag I've seen in a long time.  The color was so striking, that I had to readjust my eyes.  I actually got to choose what color I wanted, and while I could have been safe and gone with chestnut or black, I chose one from their Fluorescent Line.  Fluorescent green, to be exact.  I'm extremely happy with my choice. I've worn it several times already and have received tons of compliments.  This color is definitely not for the faint of heart, but then again, I'm a girl who loves to stand out.  Blending in is not an option for me.  :)  I love the adjustable strap and while the bag may look like it doesn't hold a lot, it actually does.  This 13" satchel holds everything I need on a daily basis, along with a few extras. 

Thank you again, Lottie & the rest of the Cambridge Satchel Co., for your generosity.  This bag will be heavily worn throughout the summer... and I'm also excited to wear it back to school in the fall.  Mahalo from Maui!!!

Grrrr. I need a pedicure.. yikes! :P

{tank:  Old Navy | green jeans:  Zara (from BFF) | sandals: BCBGeneration | satchel: c/o Cambridge Satchel Co.

bracelets: c/o Wendy Mink Jewelry, DIY, swap meet find | ring: c/o Wendy Mink Jewelry}

Love, S

Ego Closet

Surprisingly enough, last night I was blessed with a good night's rest.  Thank you, Mr. Sandman.  I hope for the same tonight, but thankfully I can sleep in a little, because Hump Day's are also my days off from work! Yay!

Sometime last week, while perusing the interweb in the wee hours of the night (or probably morning), I came across the online shop, Ego Closet.  They're a Vancouver-based company that offers unique and trendy items.  I definitely have a love/hate relationship with the web, especially when it comes to online shopping.  Don't get me wrong, I love all kinds of shopping, but my pocket book would beg to differ.  It's a good thing that Ego Closet offers affordable fashions.  Here are my top picks.  There are lots more goodies, so hop on over to their site to check it out!!

Love, S

Restless

How was your weekend?

I'm exhausted.  I wish I slept more.  I feel like I haven't had a good night's rest in a very long time.  I'm on summer vacay.  Isn't summer supposed to be about sleeping in?  Don't get me wrong, I have disco naps everyday (yes, everyday! don't judge me. lol), but I seriously need a night where I can just fall asleep and stay asleep until the morning.  Instead, my nights consist of me laying awake in bed, watching the Pirate sleep so peacefully, and my brain is going a million miles a minute.   I need a real vacation.  Somewhere where there are no TVs, no cell phones, no computers, nada... just me and a huge comfy bed.  Oh and the Pirate too.  I can't sleep without him.

Love, S

I heart Plum for Polly

I blogged about my love for Plum for Polly a couple times before (here and here), but let's find out a little more about the fabulously lovely woman behind the shop....

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Emilie Carissa Fuji. The things that make my heart race are (in no particular order) Shoes, esp. those of Mr. JC cause I can usually afford them. My husband & two teeny children. Good food, esp. sushi burritos, Japanese bbq, McDonald's ice cream cones, potato salad, and Reeses peanut butter cups. The beach. A cold beer after a long, hot day.

What made you decide to start an online shop?
I started Plum for Polly apparel for the most part because I don't have time to open a store. I really really want to have a little boutique, preferably by the beach, stocked with all the things I love. But that would require me to be there nights and weekends, and with the kids, and the mommy duties, an online store was the second best thing. The name is totally random---there's no cute story about it. It just appeared to me. I don't even know anyone named Polly, except my brother did get a dog after I started the website, and name her Polly (I'd like to think in my honor ha ha).

Fashion hero/inspiration?
There's not really one single person that I'm like "OMG they dress AMAZING" I am most inspired by street fashion blogs, random pictures I see of normal girls all over the Internet doing their thing and mixing stuff up in a crazy, unique way.

If you could hang out with any fashion/style icon for a day, who would it be? What would you do?
I don't know if he's a fashion/style icon per se, but I am somewhat obsessed with Todd Selby. I just love all of his photography and ideas and personal creativity. I could seriously spend like 4 days looking at his photographs. So I'd want to hang out with him...maybe we'd go to the beach and eat sushi burritos? ha ha.

What trends are you currently crushing on?
I love flatforms for summer. I am super tall and if I wear something like a mini skirt with heels it comes across as super slutty. But flatforms are semi-frumpy and the perfect balance for so much leg. I love the neon trend too and although I can't actually wear it (something about neon makes me look awful), I do like pops of neon in accessories and seeing it on other people. Also the maxi...I adore maxi length everything. It's so easy to wear, comfortable, easy to move around in, easy for mommas....I could go on and on.
 
If you haven't checked out Emilie's shop yet, you should head on over right now!  And check out the Plum Picks section to see some awesome deals.  And if Emilie couldn't get any sweeter, she's offering my readers 20% off anything you want... even sale items, and even my beloved JEFFREY CAMPBELLS!  Um, hello, amazeballs, or what!? Enter the code "ELISHARON"  at check out.  This deal is only valid until 7/26/11... So, ladies, get on it, and start shopping!  Thank you Emilie for being so generously awesome!

This pleated maxi skirt is from the Plum Pick section and for a mere $30, you've got yourself a brilliant summer skirt that can easily translate into a fall wardrobe as well.  I'm a sucker for anything pleated, so it was obvious that I would be in love with the skirt.  The sheerness is fabulous, but not scandalous because of the mini inner lining.  There's an elastic waistband, so you can eat all the sushi you want. I kid, I kid!  This piece will be in heavy rotation throughout the summer.
 

{top: PacSun | pleated maxi skirt:  c/o Plum for Polly | sandals:  Jeffrey Campbell "Splendid" | clutch:  c/o Plum for Polly}

Love, S