A very brief glimpse of Cynthia’s Hawaiian Christmas…

 

I caught a very brief glimpse of Cynthia’s Hawaiian Christmas when I stayed with her during my Mother/Daughter rescue in Hawaii last week. Cynthia is my aunt; she provided safe haven for my daughter Maurya while she lived her BYU Hawaii adventure. Cynthia has also provided safe haven for me more than once. I love my aunt; I love her home. While I rested there and waited for Maurya’s finals to finish so I could help her check out of her dorm and fly home with her, I enjoyed the serenity of Cynthia’s home and company. I loved (very much) how she has decorated her home for her Hawaiian Christmas. Both simple and festive. Sadly, my laptop was dying during my adventure; I lost many of the pictures I downloaded to it from this last brief stay in Hawaii. But. Here are a few images of Cynthia’s Hawaiian Christmas. I wish I had all the pictures I’d taken on that quick trip.

Living Room Vignette
christmas in cynthia's living room

Holiday Side Table in the Lanai [continue reading…]

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Rescue

Remembering how stressful finals combined with checkout at the end of a semester could be, I thought I’d rescue my daughter last week.

Rescue? I’m not sure just who did the rescuing in that little adventure we shared.

Maurya, making do with spam

Craving independence, abundant culture, new relationships, and an excellent music program, my daughter Maurya chose BYU Hawaii as her launching destination last fall. She got all the things she was most craving…and more. But not in the idyllic way that she expected (isn’t that always the case?). I think we could safely say that Maurya’s first semester was one of the hardest times of her life. [continue reading…]

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A little over a week ago, our neighbors Sonya and Andrew invited our family over to their house for some Christmas sugar cookie decorating.

Sonya's sugar cookies en masse

This is one of their family traditions, and as simple as it sounds, I was so grateful to be a part of it this year. We had fun. We bonded. Especially my kids—Nora, Ez, and Meisha (Michaelyn and Maurya were off being more grownup in far flung places). The decorated cookies might not win any awards, but they sure are sweet. [continue reading…]

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Root Canal Wonder

I had a root canal.  I feel much better now.  Hence, “Root Canal Wonder”

Why on earth would someone post about dental gore in a pretty lifestyle blog?  Yikes!

dino-dentures; dental office decor [continue reading…]

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As Promised.  A Few Days Later than Planned (Yikes!)–
Short Pencil Skirt Refashion Notes.

refashioned thrift skirt with flower detail

When I saw this pink skirt at the thrift store I fell in love with the fabric… bright and playful in a quality fabric with a good hand. [continue reading…]

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 I am pleased (tickled pink) to share my newly refashioned thrift skirt.

refashioned thrifted skirt in pink

At Last.

Here it is, as promised for the last two Saturdays…Finished  and photographed yesterday.  The skirt was easy enough; more of an alteration than a refashion (though really, we went from a subtle a-line to a pencil skirt).   I’ll post my “how I did it” notes later;   for today, I’m just eager to post pictures!  I love how this skirt turned out, and how it plays well with other pieces I’ve refashioned, thrifted, or… borrowed indefinitely from my mother’s closet (Thank You Mom!).  More details below… [continue reading…]

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Last Saturday I promised myself (and you) a skirt refashion.  From a thrift store find.

I’m on it, but not quite finished yet.  Super close… just need to hem (blindly) and tack (embellishments).  I refashioned a top to go with (bonus!).   Here’s a peek at my progress:

sewing flowers for applique

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Greenbelt Running?  What does that mean?

running in the cold

I didn’t make it up.  But I did make it my metaphor.

A few weeks ago I heard a woman use the word greenbelt to symbolize personal respite; a place and time to center, reflect, and heal.  Quiet.  Peace.  I loved her metaphor and immediately thought of running.  Running is one of my greenbelts.  I can leave the house tense and overwhelmed and sad, and come home in an hour or so refreshed and optimistic and resolved.  Or at least, if I’m grappling with really heavy impenetrable stuff, peacefully resigned to  letting go and letting it be.

Greenbelt running has become critical enough to my emotional and physical health (bless my soul) that I run right through the winter.  And am perfectly happy to brave the cold.  Winter here holds beauties both subtle and awesome, and I have fallen in love with it all.   Frostbitten rose hips, twigs with their very last leaves clinging to them,  the ever present mountains (lately snow capped…The mountains make me think of God.  Perhaps this is one reason why running is a greenbelt for me; it is my time alone with Him). [continue reading…]

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