(Photos by: TR)
I’ve been underwater in a lot of ways lately. Literally, figuratively, and other unmentionable ways. Work, projects, and actually spending a lot of time underwater. Letting the salt water heal me. All I want to do is spend time in God’s good ocean. [Don't worry. All is well and I am quite content. Just incredibly busy and trying to be a bit poetic about it!]
If you need to chat I’ll be underwater. Beneath the sea. Come find me.
x
(Photos by: TR)
It’s official: Summer is here. The last of the waves have come and gone and now we have to look to town for waves! But in the meantime: we’ll be dipping into the ocean without boards and snorkel in hand.
We took a couple snaps with our trusty GoPro, dodged a couple eager tourists, and made our way out into the deep blue ocean. I’m really look forward to long sunny days, cloudless skies and more time getting to know the sea. I’ve decided for as much time I spend in the water I know so little about my salty friend. I kind of want to dedicate this summer to understanding and getting to know the ocean on a deeper level. That sounds really hippie, doesn’t it? Well, true it is. The tides, the creatures, the activity, the works. A self taught marine biologist if you will. Hahhh. We’ll see. It’ll be an ongoing challenge to myself.
In the meantime: I’ll be diving deep into the blue they call sea.
x
(Photos by: SUM NUT)
My big sis just sent me the most amazing photos of a little trip they took to the Oregon coast. My favorite little people got groovy on some logs, did some fully-clothed swimming, and roosted a few. My mini (well.. I’d like to think she is my mini. I want to be as cool as her some day) got a sweet little log ride similar to mine on a recent Beach Comb. I can’t get over it! So rad! I would almost consider these photos in the fashion category.. how rad is the little mans outfit?? That Norsk sweater!! He’s looking extra fab in his red and yellow combo. And my mini’s fur jacket, stripe leggings, and layering.. I should be taking fashion queues from them!!
I’m so stoked on these photos. I definitely need to plan a trip back to Oregon real soon to visit kindred and embark on some cold water adventures.
Missing and loving these little mini sliding kiddos!!
x
(Photographs courtesy of: Bruna Stude) Photographs made from platinum/palladium on revere platinum paper
I recently went to the Honolulu Contemporary Art Museum and embarked on an unexpected [but pleasantly accepted] melancholy ocean adventure.
(Disclaimer: A lot of time I can’t really grasp what the art was trying to portray. Especially the really creepy, modern abstract art with pieces of things from around the yard and grocery store. Don’t get me wrong.. I think there is a time and place for art such as that. It’s just not for me. I’m also not much of an art critic. I went to a Picasso exhibit last year in San Francisco and got stuck with the “art experts” on my tail [tried to shake um but I couldn't] who thought they knew just about everything Picasso.. including what he ate for breakfast. Give me a break. With that being said.. I am no art whiz. I see it and appreciate it. Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don’t.)
Bruna Stude produces some of the most amazing images. Before I even read her proem I felt like I got it. I understood. I really felt a connection to her photographs. Spending most of her life by [and in] the sea she experienced a very intimate relationship with its colors and life. Now, the oceans life has taken somewhat of a stark turn. It’s life and future looking very bleak. And she was able to capture that in these images in a very moving way. There is something very beautiful about the dolefulness.. something beautiful in the idea. She has my attention.
Anyway, if you enjoy art and the sea I definitely suggest checking out her work. Especially in a museum/gallery setting where you have an opportunity to see it in wide, open area. It makes a world of difference.
And so I hope you can take these images and think of wide spaces and empty oceans.
x
(Photos by: Michele Leong and me; ON ME: Shirt: Club Monaco, Shorts: True Religion, Shoes: Missoni for Target, Jewelry: Various. ON MICHELE: Various shopping finds)
Had a little mid-week getaway with the talented artisan Michele Leong at the He’eia Kea Pier in Kaneohe. It has been a long time since I ventured out to that particular part of the island. It makes me feel so blessed to call Hawaii my home. It is almost like this little piece of island treasure got lost in time. Grandpa’s fishing off the docks, gourmet-plate lunch style meal at the waters edge, and other than the sound of peoples voices.. all you can hear is the lapping of the water and the breeze grazing passed your ears. Whatever stress or “things-to-do” list I had in my head seemed to blow away with the sea breeze when we rolled up to the old pier.
I feel incredibly inspired now and I have so many ideas brewing in my head.
I will definitely be back to draw inspiration.. on the pier.
x
(Video by: TR)
I felt like this video needed a post all on it’s own. Lazy beach days, streaming old Hawaiian music to make us feel like we’ve gone back in time. I don’t need to say much. All the babbling is in the post below.
Now all I want to do is lay around, listen to good music, and just be.
x
FIRST DAY BOOT DAY. (Photos by: BD. Top: J.Crew, Shorts: Current/Elliot)
THE BOOTS. (H by Hudson.)
SECOND DAY BOOT DAY. (Photos by: TR. Top: Free People, Necklace: Dezso By Sara Beltran.)
I just got these bad boy boots in the mail and my feet are glued. I wore them all weekend. All weekend. Surprisingly I didn’t wear them in the water on accident. I originally got them for my trip to New York but have found them very useful to slip on and run around town (or the beach) in.
With that.. I think it’s really hard to find a balance between the cold and the warm fashion choices when you live in such a warm/humid (and I mean humid) place. I only know a very few girls who can pull off the winter look in Hawaii. I don’t know how they prevent profuse sweating under all those layers. But I struggle all the time with being “stylish” or “fashionable” because it is so easy to dress without effort here (and I don’t mean effortless style.. I’m talking about wearing your pajamas and other misc. items that just don’t make you feel good when you wear it). And so there is a struggle to maintain that “fashion” vibe when I’m trying to blog. It’s always refreshing to buy something new that can be worn repeatedly without feeling like you’re coping out. And it’s season appropriate.
In a nut shell: it is hard to be maintain fashion in a place where all you want to do is wear your bikini and pereu. But when you do find that one thing that you never want to take off.. wear it thin and wear it often. Because no matter where you are, who you are, and how “fashionable” you are.. it doesn’t matter unless it’s you. So who cares if you wear it as many times as there are days in the week! Just make sure you wash it and it doesn’t stink.
*Note: I don’t speak of “style” or “fashion” in a marketable sense, but for my own satisfaction of feeling confident and.. good.. with whatever I am wearing. It’s a personal thing.
And so, same boots different day everyday.
x
(Photos by: me)
I am so unbelievably tired from the weekend. I didn’t do much and it was quite relaxing for the most part.. but as the weekend closes I am ready to pass out and try to take Monday head first. I usually spend most of my time in Lanikai and can get really complacent to the beach and waves and sun and sounds.. but there is something very special about spending time with close friends in a beautiful place. It puts things back into perspective. It was the perfect little weekend getaway.
We got to spend the night watching the stars and falling asleep to the sound of the waves. And the most magical part about being by the sea.. the mornings. The sunrise. I’m not much of a morning waker but I wake up to the sun when I’m near the ocean. It’s a natural thing I suppose. It’s moments like those that remind me how blessed we are to be living and breathing.. and to be able to do it in such a beautiful place.
It was a magical little weekend by the sea.
x
(Photos by: me & she; Swimsuit: Bantu, Skirt: F21, Sunglasses: Chloé, Headband: Nordstrom)
If you frequent Oahu’s North Shore or have only been there a couple times you’ve probably seen the Roam Hawaii girls.. [for a lack of a better term] roaming around. Oh you know, they only have a TIGER for a vehicle. They’ve got this awesome lifestyle-concept-mobile-store offering unique, one-of-a-kind clothing, accessories, jewelry, and the like. The artwork on their truck is even one-of-a-kind for goodness sakes!
I got a chance to tag along with them for a little surf safari adventure to one of the only spots on the north shore that were longboard-lady-sliding friendly [the swells are still rolling in for the winter season!!] Puena Point. We were able to shoot a couple of photos using our nifty Hipstamatic apps throughout our adventure. They’ve got such a unique quality, no? I’m snap happy on mine for sure!
If you can’t find them roaming [again, lack of a better term!!], wave sliding, or at the local fleas, you can also find their shop on Etsy. Check out my favorite: tees screen-printed in Hawaii!!
Looking forward to my next invite on the tiger-mobile already!
x
(Photos by: Brooke Dombroski; Bikini Top: Brazilian Showroom, Bikini Bottom: Indah)
I just had an amazing weekend spent entirely on the beach.. soaking in some rays, getting pounded in the shore break, chatting with friends, building tents on the beach, and having a few cold ones at sunset. I’m exhausted. I haven’t had that much sun in a very long time.
Now all I want to do is curl up in bed and dream about my tales from the beach..
x