Have You Tried A Shellac Manicure?

Have you ever tried a Shellac manicure? I'd never had a salon manicure in my life, but I thought it would be fun to try out pretty coral nails ala Betty Draper for my best friend's wedding.

It took almost a month to get my thin brittle nails long enough to bother manicuring. The shellac goes on as a powder and is sealed with a heat lamp to a nice shiny finish that made my nails feel thick and fancy looking. (It reminded me of automotive paint!) Supposedly indestructible and impervious to chipping, they claim Shellac lasts two full weeks. Here are my hands after one week- I couldn't handle being so dainty anymore and soaked it off with acetone nail polish remover. I didn't like the new growth showing through at my cuticles either, but I'm excited to try it again next time I have a big event coming up.

Have you tried any crazy beauty services, like a real snakeskin pedicure? I'm dying to try laser hair removal, but I think that's as close to actual surgery as I'm willing to go.

Eat Like a Local on the Big Island of Hawaii: Da Poke Shack, Number One for a Reason.

Da Poke Shack is Kona's Number One rated restaurant on Trip Advisor. Maybe that's why we waited so long to walk through the doors. It's like the Beatles, or Snuggies, or Harry Potter. It's so popular, you feel like you can't join in at this point without feeling dumb. That wagon is crowded enough without you.

And then when you do join, you wonder what the hell took you so long. Because the wagon is crowded for a reason. This is good stuff. And it would be a shame to miss it just because everyone else is busy enjoying it.

And so it is with Da Poke Shack. Poke is basically salad made with incredibly fresh raw fish, seaweed, salt and a variety of other seasonings. (If you dig sushi, you're gonna love it.) And these guys know their stuff. They are all fishermen and local guys who love super fresh seafood and know how it should be prepared: quickly, simply, with love and not a lot of fanfare.

We opted for the plate lunch, which anywhere else in Hawaii would mean mac salad (that's macaroni salad for the uninitiated. Overcooked macaroni slathered in mayonaise plopped onto your plate via ice cream scoop. Yuck.) rice and terriyaki chicken or pork. At Da Poke Shack, it means two choices of poke, salad (we chose seaweed) and seasoned rice.

Never tried poke before? Not sure which of the many bowls to choose from? No problem brah. The guys behind the counter lovingly dole out tastes via toothpick, describing what ingredients are in each dish and happily making suggestions. Don't be shy. Take them up on it- their friendly enthusiasm is part of what makes this little hole in the wall place so very special. It's number one for a reason.

Christmas Shopping For Little Old Moi!

I've been busy playing Elf on the internet this weekend, getting lots of Christmas orders in and wrapping up and packing things I've bought already. It's been lots of fun, but of course, I always get a little distracted with wishes of my own! Of course, tis better to give and all of that, but here are the things I noticed for little old me...


Cheery Cherry Candy Canes from Hammond's Candies. Butterscotch sounds delicious too.

These Vintage Birds Nest Earrings perfectly suit my new penchant for eccentric earrings. I love their tiny red eyes! Such detail in plastic is rare indeed.


I like the way this lumberjack plaid shirt is softened with a ruffle and feminine colors. The pink is my favorite. I'd pair it with super skinny dark jeans and a metallic blazer like this one. What do you think?
I love the fair-isle trend going on now, but the only way to follow suit in Hawaii is cute lounge shorts like these. I also love the unexpectedness of this pattern for bottoms. (And who can resist pom poms?)
For more fun with juxtapositions, this sweet ballet flat has a toe full of punk rock spikes to remind us that sweet girls aren't always nice. My mum snagged the grey pair, but I think this blush pink pair would work better with my wardrobe. (And then we can share, right Mum?)




Then, to put it all in, the splurgiest splurge of all. A sequined duffel bag that will add a little sparkle and shine to a long holiday weekend mini break. On sale, but not on sale enough I'm afraid. (This Jasper bag might be however! I especially love the white one, it reminds me of a Ludwig Bemelmens illustration.)

What are you wishing for this Christmas?

Munching with the Muppets

Have you seen the New Muppets movie yet? Before we head out to the theater, we thought we'd brush up on The Film That Started it All: The Muppet Movie.

It was charming, of course. Also, wholesome, zany, silly, campy and wonderful. The film opens with Kermit sitting in the swamp singing Rainbow Connection, playing his banjo amid the whir of fireflies. A lost tourist (who turns out to be a Hollywood agent) tells Kermit that he is talented and should be making millions of people happy. Pretty soon, he's headed for California, and finding lost Muppets at every turn along the way. Your whole family will love it. (Animal is my favorite Muppet. Which is yours?)

While we watched, we munched on this fun party mix from O Magazine. The heat and spice of the Worcestershire and wasabi are balanced out by a sweet hint of honey. It's even better than Chex Mix. For real. We left out the cereal and did about half as much popcorn, but it was fabulous. Try it next time you snuggle up with a flick.

What is your favorite Movie Night snack?

I am Thankful for Oxygen.

Breathe from joyshoppe

Yesterday at school, I was grading student work. The topic, naturally, was thankfulness.

"I am thankful for earth, shelter, food, water, oxygen, a family, love, freedom, education, and pretty much everything."

Of course, this answer made me laugh. Who is thankful for oxygen?

But later, I thought, he is so right! We should be thankful for oxygen! Without it, life would be pretty bleak. A vacuum. The opposite of life. No-thing-ness.

It's easy enough to set aside one day to pay lip service to all we have. Most of the essays I looked at yesterday held the variation we still regurgitate as adults on such occasions; Family, friends, good food, a nice home.

Sure, we are grateful for those things. They are wonderful and we appreciate them, or at the very least, remember that we are supposed to appreciate them.

But what about just breathing? What about the tremendous and awe inspiring gift of life?

Your life is worth something merely because you exist. There is nothing you can do (or not do!) to make it worth less.

You can screw up the turkey. You can have a shouting match with your father right at the dinner table in front of all your relatives. You can be a Kardashian. You could have failed the bar exam (or passed the bar exam!). You could eat Thanksgiving dinner alone in a booth at Denny's. You could have negative five hundred dollars in your checking account.

Your life could be a failure (or a success) by all the measures of our culture, and you could still have this precious gift of life to be grateful for. Spend a moment basking in the glow of that knowledge on this Thankgiving Day. How tremendous. How humbling.

Tired of Pumpkin Pie Again? Try these.

Pi Pie by Heather Future on Etsy

Although I love tradition as much as the next guy, sometimes the old Thanksgiving menu gets tired and uninspired. This year, I decided to make a variety of pies and desserts I'd never tried before. Although the menfolk I'll be dining with did request (nay, insist!) pumpkin, I also included:

Chocolate Pecan Tart in a Chocolate Cookie Crust

My friend Gwen's killer Avocado Pie (Sort of a creamy twist on Key Lime)

Kim's Lilikoi Cheesecake (I'm not much of a cheesecake enthusiast, but the tartness of the lilikoi and the crisp pecan cookie crust won me over in one bite. She simply substituted tart lilikoi, also known as unsweetened passion fruit juice for the lemon. Heaven.)

What are you making for Thanksgiving this year?

Do you do Strange Things in your Sleep?

Sleep Walking by Aya Kakada

Do you do strange things in your sleep? Like talk nonsense, or get out of bed? I most definitely do. Poor Eric is a light sleeper and I do all sorts of weird things: I giggle. Sometimes, I dream that I am in our room, in our bed and a strange person is in the corner looking at us. I dream that I have just woken up and let out a blood curdling scream. Eric is instantly awake and trying to calm me, and I can feel his heart pounding through his chest. I am usually back asleep in a few seconds (never having really been conscious) while he lies there letting his blood pressure go down. Sometimes the poor fellow never gets back to sleep.

Last night, we'd just enjoyed watching one of my all time favorite movies, Get Shorty, and after we'd been soundly asleep, I turned on the light and told Eric I was looking for chili oil. (Connection to main character Chili Palmer? Perhaps.)

"What?" he said blearily.

"Have to find the chili oil." I mumbled wandering around the room.

Eric continued to press me, "What the hell are you talking about?".

I started to wake up.

It's the strangest thing to wake and know that there was a connection in your mind only a moment ago that is now rendered ridiculous by consciousness. It makes you feel stupid. And grouchy. You are trapped between the two sides of your brain and neither part is working well.

I think the only thing I find truly unbearable is to be misunderstood. It's torture. As Eric continued to ask what I was talking about, my frustration mounted as my chances of ever lucidly explaining what I was talking about drained away.

"Oils and Vinegar! Salt and Pepper! Oils of Aloha! CHILI! OIL!!!" I shouted. I was now completely awake. And completely pissed. Even knowing how silly I was being didn't really help.

I turned out the light and yanked the covers over to my side in a huff.

In the morning Eric said he would remember it forever after as "The Chili Oil Dream Fight". The only thing funnier than the nonsensical nature of the whole thing was how furious I was about it.

What funny things do you do in your sleep? Have you ever eaten anything in your sleep?

Eat Like a Local on the Big Island of Hawaii: Bite Me Fish Market

Bite Me is one of our favorite places in all of Kona. It's tucked away in a far corner of the marina and would be easy to miss. They've made the most of what could have been a dismal location (right next to the shipyard) with an outdoor seating area that emphasizes the view of the charter fishing boats bobbing at the docks and cheery red picnic tables and umbrellas. (If you don't get seasick, deep sea fishing could be a wonderful outing on your visit to Kona. I highly recommend our charming friend Bobby of the Cherry Pit as captain for your trip.)

What makes Bite Me so special is that their seafood is freshly caught that very same day. Their location at the Marina means they get first pick, and you can taste the difference. Eric says that he never really loved seafood until we came to Hawaii, and it makes perfect sense. Fish hat has been frozen for months and ruthlessly over cooked is rubbery and tastes unpleasantly fishy. Something straight from the sea smells like the sea- salty, sweet and faintly green.

Our favorite dish at Bite Me are the $2 fish tacos. They are an amazing bargain and can be ordered ala cart. Two is plenty. Flour tortillas, the fresh catch of the day (the friendly wait staff are happy to rattle off the list for you) seared and crumbled in the bottom, plus cheddar, cabbage, spiced sour cream and home made salsa make these worth stopping for. Wash them down with a local beer from Kona Brewing Company. (I like the Wailua Wheat.)

Editors Note: Since starting this series, I've realized that most of our favorite restaurants are low brow. I've been sadly disappointed with fine dining on Big Island. The quality, price and ambiance just don't align. Eric and I have learned to cook in for special occasions instead. (It presents a really fun challenge actually!) Are your favorite restaurants high or low end?

How Early is Too Early to Bring Out the Christmas Tree?

Looped Wood Trees

Confession: I put up my Christmas tree this weekend. I just get so excited about the holidays and love playing elf. I may or may not have also started making Christmas care packages for some of my favorite people. The challenge will be to hold off mailing them until at least after Thanksgiving!

What is your secret to making the holidays fun and joyful every year instead of a chore to be survived?

World's Best Party Favors: Surprise Ball How To!

These surprise balls are easily my favorite party favors. They are so much fun to share with guests and leave a festive pile of curly crepe paper in their wake. I loved watching my grandma and grandpa tossing one back and forth across the table and my little niece Louise jumping with joy at each scattered sequin and feather. They are so easy to make- here's how you can make your own!

Since my party had an autumnal theme (pumpkins!) I gathered things from my craft stash that had a woodland or fall feel. I chose my painted faux pumpkins as the big surprise at the end of the ball, little foam lady bugs, silver feather charms, miniature deer, sequins, turkey feathers and a supply of cheesy googled pumpkin jokes. Use your imagination to find these dime store treasures at the craft store, thrift shop, Oriental Trading Company or Etsy.

You'll also need a supply of crepe paper in assorted colors. I used Cindus Crepe Folds trimmed into strips, but the ordinary garland kind would be even easier.

Start your surprise ball with your biggest and best prize since this will be the last thing your friends discover inside. Tightly wrap with crepe paper over and over and over again, recovering areas as needed until you begin to have a ball shape.

Every so often, add a little treasure. Here is a tiny golden feather charm. Now wind wind wind that crepe paper!

A clump of sequins or confetti is a great touch- a bit of a mess is a small price for that festive plume of fun! Keep winding! Don't forget to change colors of crepe paper every here and there- it really does make them more fun to unravel.

A tiny miniature deer is a fun touch. Keep winding!

A silly joke is awfully amusing- especially for the kids at your party. Louise (7 years old) loved these!

Fold them up and...WIND!

When your ball has a pleasant heft and weight, seal the end with a sticker and a pretty message if you like. Pile them up in a bowl and watch the fun unroll!

If you try this, please do let me know how yours turn out. I'd love to see your party fun!

Piglets grow into Pigs. (And not such good Pets.)

Is there anything as ugly cute as a brand new piglet? These photographs by Stephen Lewis turn me mushy and make me want get a bottle and pretend I'm Fern with Wilbur. (And Henry and Frederick. Yes, I've already named them all in my head.)

I mean, come on. It's almost like they are trying too hard on this cute thing.

After seeing the first photo in the November issue of Real Simple, I did a little preliminary research into adopting a baby pig. Turns out, I'm not the only one who likes the idea of a little piglet following me around the house and trotting in front of me on the street. However, lots of people don't like the 100 to 300 pound creature they become and many end up abandoned or neglected. I would never want to be part of that phenomenon. Here's Martha with breeder Mark explaining why pigs don't make easy pets.

Sheperd's Green is a rescue sanctuary where some of these animals end up living out their days. Have a look at the work they are doing here.

Becky is Back!

"Hey, did you hear that Becky Kazana is back from vacation?"
"Oh good! I've missed her so."

It was a wonderful trip and I have lots to share. I'm so looking forward to catching up on my blogging and hearing what's new with all of you.

I hope you are enjoying some beautiful fall weather and are thinking about all the many things you are thankful for. My heart is full of them after so much time with old friends and family.

Taylor Swift's Just Right Style

Being here on the mainland for a few weeks has given me a chance to brush up on my trashy magazines. It's amazing how living in far flung places has changed my perception of the Hollywood look. The tabloids show women that look hopelessly done up to me now. Too much make up, to much hair do, too much platform heel, TOO MUCH!

Taylor Swift has that charming ingenue thing going on- still a bit overly styled perhaps, but she looks pretty, modern and youthfull without looking like she has narrowly escaped the maw of the Tropic Tan and a team of stylists wielding peroxide, chicken cutlets and baby oil.

All that to say I love the Tracy Reese dress she wore to her fragrance launch. I'm always a sucker for anything sheer and black for evening, but the delicate little sparkle and fine stripes added a little wit and panache too. I think she looks smashing without looking like she tried to hard.

What kind of looks do you like for evening? It's always the most fun to dress for a night on the town, don't you agree? Are there any celebrities whose style you admire?

A Rustic Wedding with a Cardinal Bride & Groom!

Just look at Gloria and Ryan's beautiful wedding day! I love all the rustic details that made their day uniquely beautiful- especially the cool wine barrels and pops of red and blush flowers against the rough pine. Check out even more of their beautiful photos shot by Ash Imagery right over here.

My Cardinal Love Birds were a perfect finishing touch to their cake. (Gloria's talented bridesmaid made that gorgeous cake herself! Can you believe it? Looks like it was delicious too, judging from the happy look on Gloria's face!) Congratulations to you both and thanks so much for sharing photos of your big day with us!

Pumpkin Carving Birthday Party!

There were pumpkins to paint (or carve.)

There were surprise balls. (I'll share my how to with you soon!)

There were decorations. (I made this Happy Birthday sign myself- see my instructions on how to make your own here.)
There were cupcakes- I never even want to LOOK at a cupcake ever again. (Or at least till the next party!) I used the easy how to in this book and used their suggestion of adding a cup of canned pumpkin to a regular yellow cake mix to give it extra flavor. We also served ginger snaps, apple cider, pumpkin seeds and popcorn. My lovely friends and family all pitched in and brought tons of delicious autumn-y things to share as well.

And there were costumes! Chicken, meet Kangaroo. Kangaroo, meet Chicken.

Have you been to any fun fall parties lately?