Wednesday, December 19, 2012

staycation

north shore staycation

north shore staycation by mostlyglasses featuring denim jean shorts

Excited this week because for once I'll be playing tour guide! My younger sister is coming to hang out for Christmas vacation, and I can't wait to circle the island a few times, go to my favorite beaches and do some stuff I've been too broke/too lazy to do and just hang out with someone that looks like me and is super cool. A staycation in Oahu is pretty sweet if I do say so myself.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

kama'aina

Yesterday, I woke up at 7AM (on my first day of vacation from work) to go get my Hawaii state ID, AKA my kama'aina card. The office opened at 8 AM, and I thought I was doing pretty good when I got there at 8:15. If 'doing good' meant being #176 in line, then I did excellent. I am some sort of fool because I thought I would be in and out in an hour, so I didn't eat, didn't charge my phone and didn't bring anything to read or do while I was waiting.

Here's a few thoughts I had while sitting amongst a few hundred of my closest friends for 4 hours with nothing to do but creepily stare and get really annoyed and hungry... Why do people put their little girls (~3 years old) in high heels? They look like baby prostitutes. Don't get it. Why do people insist on playing games on their phones in public places really loud? Why are these people almost always adults? Why, when people listen to dubstep and other such terrible types of music (without headphones, of course) always say things like "can you feel the bass?"Yes, yes I can. Can you feel the daggers that are shooting out of my eyes? Thought so.

Four hours of sitting on a concrete floor in a dirty, dity government office and $36 in parking fees later, I felt like I wanted a TB shot (and a tequila shot) but I got my ID. Finally! Discounts on pretty much everything, here I come! Also, more importantly, my CA license picture (taken when I was 15 and had hot pink hair and a mega grumpy face) will no longer be my primary form of identification and therefore will no longer questioned by every bouncer and checkout person. WORTH IT.


My question for myself is... when did I change what side I part my hair on?! How does that just happen in life without me knowing it?

Monday, December 17, 2012

kiddos

The recent events in CT have really had me thinking about kids, and the kids in my life that I love and miss every day. I can't imagine the pain that the families of the victims are going through and can't believe that people are capable of doing such terrible things, especially to children. Like everyone else, I'm in shock that these kind of events happen and can't stop thinking about it. One of the hardest parts of moving away from home for me was leaving my niece and nephews, cousins and all my friends' babies. I'm so lucky that when I go home to visit, I still have the chance to see all these little faces <3




Sunday, December 16, 2012

rockin' roxy

roxy stripes

roxy stripes by mostlyglasses featuring roxy dresses

Roxy is my all time favorite brand and lucky me got hooked up with a gift card to their store as a pre-deployment gift from the mister. Hush money, if you will. It didn't hush me for long, but I'm pretty excited to go set myself up with some new beach wear ASAP. Thanks, babe :]

Saturday, December 15, 2012

day 3 of deployment.

USMCGF
The day I've been dreading finally came on Thursday... my boyfriend deployed. For six months. To Japan. In terms of being a military girlfriend, I actually got a pretty sweet deal. He's not in combat, it's a short deployment and he will soon have regular phone and internet. In terms of a being a normal girlfriend, I got a totally crappy deal because, well, DUDE IS OFF MY ISLAND FOR SIX MONTHS. I have to keep reminding myself that plenty of people have it much worse than I do and to just take it one day at a time, but it still sucks. It really, really sucks. He's not only my boyfriend, he's my best friend and my partner in crime and him being gone leaves a huge void in my day to day life. I'm so lucky that I have such awesome friends here (and at home, thank you iphone for keeping me connected to my people) that keep me entertained and laughing during the day. I'm lonely at night and still accustomed to waking up at 4:30am to beep him down to the parking garage, so I've been watching episodes of Home Improvement when I wake up to distract myself. Man, is the intro to that show crazy or what, even 15 years after it came out.

We said a really sad goodbye at 5am on a street corner in Waikiki (in typical nighttime-in-Waikiki fashion, surrounded by hookers and drunk peeps) and then he got into a taxi and drove off while I sobbed in the street. And then it started raining. He said it was like a Humphrey Bogart movie, but that  scene was terrible and I would never want to watch something so crappy, haha.

I pack this much just for a weekend away
things that have made me cry in the last 3 days:
-a Navy lady in cami's in line at Starbucks
-half the songs on this play list of island jams
-'boyfriend" by Justin Beiber ...

If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go
 (But you did! You're gone!)
I can take you places you ain't never been before
(You are currently at a place I ain't never been before... without me!)
Baby, take a chance or you’ll never ever know
(But I did take a chance and I do know!)
I got money in my hands that I’d really like to blow
(I have no money to blow, so that just makes me sad in general)

things that have kept me sane in the last 3 days:
-finally having 2 weeks off of work!
-my little sis coming to visit this week!
-'indie dance radio' on Pandora
-constant calls/texts/fb messages from both of our families and friends. I <3 technology.
-ice cream...kind of a lot of ice cream
-Animal Planet shows about puppies [you win Sam, we can have a German shepherd one day]


So... 3 days down, 196 to go...

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

a giant amount of pride

SF giants outfit

SF giants outfit by mostlyglasses featuring a neon nail polish

Even though I'm an ocean away (especially because I'm an ocean away) it's fun to have my team going to the World Series. Baseball will always hold a special place in my heart because I went to college in SF and spent an way too many days as a speck in the bleachers and way too many nights watching recaps on ESPN trying to see myself as a tiny speck in the bleachers. I then worked in the minor league system for a bit and spent an entire summer getting bit by mosquitoes, drinking $2 beers and looking at men running around in really tight pants. After a bit of a sports fan hiatus, I've found that rooting for my Giants really irritates my Dodger fan boyfriend & friends (how about we just agree that NorCal is better at everything!) so, goooo Giants! 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

two points of the triangle

midwest roadtrippin'

midwest roadtrippin' by mostlyglasses featuring minnetonka

The best way to get to know your boyfriend's family is during a 14 hour road trip across 3 states you've never been to, right? I hope so. When travelling, it's prudent to wear a hat to hide your sleep hair and an obnoxious hoodie to loudly proclaim that you ain't from around here. As if my hella super awesome California accent didn't already give me away, let me draw some attention to my chest for good measure and scream it a little louder. In reality, I'm mega excited for this trip and can't wait to (hopefully) win over the fam, eat some delicious food and remember what it feels like to be cold since Hawaii has voided my life of that sensation. Exciting!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday Suggestions vol.3

This Sunday, I suggest you...

Read up on how science is challenging religious foundations. Pretty interesting regardless of what side you're on!

Make these fall recipes so I can live vicariously through you fall people.

Check out blueprints of TV houses. I coulda drawn the Frasier one from memory!

Read up on your regional sandwiches! I smell a challenge. Long live the Monte Cristo!

Try not to drop dead over how cute this is:
                                                           Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Amanda on Pinterest


And finally...
                                                                   Source: Uploaded by user via Ash Lee on Pinterest

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy birthday to my wonderful dad!



Friday, September 28, 2012

some like it RAW

One of my clients told me about RAWartists last week and I'm so glad she did! Because their website explains it better than I could...

RAW:natural born artists is an independent arts organization, for artists, by artists. We're a community made up of creative individuals across the nation. Our mission is to provide independent artists within the first 10 years of their career with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity. We welcome all genres of art including independent film, fashion, music, visual art, performing art, hairstylists, makeup artists and more. We encourage the creative success of the many visionaries and storytellers of our generation.RAW currently operates in 54 cities across the United States & Australia and counting ...
Every month, RAW puts on an event that showcases featured artists. There's a DJ, art exhibits, music performances, other random performances (this month there was a huluhooper and a girl that cuts up t-shirts) and a fashion show. Plus, every artist has a booth so it's a good chance to buy stuff and mingle. This month, our client happened to be there so a few of us from the office went to support her and check out the scene. We had a really good time, and for $10 I definitely think we'll be back next month. 


Lots of people hanging out...

Autumn Complex played lots of covers. As usual, everyone loves any version of 'Rollin' In The Deep.'

Hair and makeup was done by RAW artists, too.

Metalli Jewelry had awesome pieces that showed really well, and I ended up getting one the next week for my birthday! 

 Fluro Swimwear was the last part of the fashion show, but of course brought the house down with a bunch of scantily clad girls!

So all in all, we had a really fun night and will definitely be back! I'm trying to get my business back up and running and I hope to be a part of RAWartists soon, too! Is there a RAWartists collective in your town? Check it out, if so!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

funglasses

sunglasses= funglasses

sunglasses= funglasses by mostlyglasses featuring black eyeglasses

The only reason I wear contacts is so that I can wear sunglasses [and snorkel!] and contacts are a pain in the you-know-what (and the eye!) I figured out that for the price of a year's worth of contacts, I could buy all of these sunglasses. Whyyyyy do I figure these things out too late? I bought a few pairs of glasses from zenni optical before and loved them because they're super cheap and pretty decent quality. Like, for real, so cheap. They start at $6.95 (for some pretty whacked out frames) but the most expensive ones I've bought are $29.95! I usually buy a couple pairs at a time since I tend to fall asleep with my glasses on, wear them in the ocean and throw them in my purse with no case, etc. Living on the edge, yeah? Can't wait to slap some tinted lenses on a few of these frames (the white ones for sure) and keep on rockin'. Astigimatism represent!

*This post is in no way sponsored, I just love this company and want everyone else to, too!*

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Nor' Shore

Kika's awesome mom and dad came for a visit and rented an amazing house on the North Shore and let her bum friends come for a visit :) It was not only great to be at the NS because it's flipping gorgeous, it was so nice to be around parents because I am really missing mine lately! Something about homecooked food and good advice just feels like home, even if you're on a rock in the middle of the ocean in a rented house and they're someone else's parents! :)

Thank you, truly, Greg and Betty!
















Tuesday, September 25, 2012

birthday mayhem

Despite being far from home and missing my family and friends there, I had theeeee best birthday possible! In the weeks leading up to my birthday, I was so depressed because it was not only my birthday, but also Jenni's the day before, Timmy's the next day, Thomas and Lindsays the next day after that and my dad's the next week. I love my people at home and didn't want to miss out on everyone's birthday fun! I was also kind of feeling like I didn't know that many people here and was scared that if I had a party it would be lame. Turns out, I know a lot of people here, and they are all awesome. I have found (thanks B and Kika!) such a solid crew here in such a short amount of time. I got a cake and tambourine song at work, awesome presents and had a great time at dinner+drinks+drinks+drinks with the ladies (and some gents) at night. Besides being reminded that I'm closer to 30 than 20, it was an awesome day! Here's a little taste of the funzies, with most the incrimination (and most of the fun) taken out :]

I wore the obligatory "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" crown and spun the wheel of shame at every stop. I love wearing the crown! The wheel is pretty fun, too!


We met Hello Kitty, who was not polite until we gave (pretty sure it was a him) a dollar. Then it was all shakas.
Pretty ladies! I was turning 252252552 apparently. The other part of birthday crown fun is that we made everyone else wear mini tiaras! It started at Cate's birthday and we loved it so much it shall continue. Forever.

I turned Nashville Waikiki into Ashville Waikiki. It needed to be done!
And this is pretty much how we all felt at the end of the night. Another success. [Also, check out the flipping gorgeous lei that Cate got me! Cannot even explain how many people came up to me to say that they could smell me (in a good way for once) from across the room.]

At the end of the day, 25 felt pretty damn good! The next day? Not so great!

Friday, September 21, 2012

quarter century club


In my 25th year, I'm going to...

1. Be a more involved aunt, sister, and daughter...which is no joke since my fam is getting really big! Long story!
2. Learn to dance (this was my birthday resolution last year and I never really did it, except for cat daddy and cupid shuffle)
3. Release my own line of clothes independently and get into at least 2 local boutiques
4. Re-open my etsy shop
5. Visit another Hawaiian island
6. Hike Kokohead (1,100 stairs!)
7. Take a picture in front of Dog the Bounty Hunter's house (whatta creeper)
8. Kayak to the island at Kailua
9. Take a hula class
10. Stand up on a surf board
11. Get much better at paddle boarding
12. Check out the big wave surfers on the North Shore this winter
13. Go on a date with guys all 5 branches of the military (2 down)
14. Quit being late for things; it's rude
15. Join RAWartists and other art co-ops and groups, and support other artists too
16. Take my big camera out more and practice on manual mode
17. Finish my nephew's dragon quilt that he's been very patiently waiting for for 2 years now
18. Get SCUBA certified, or at least think really hard about it (haha!)
19. Cook more, eat out less (no more Starbucks egg+sausage sandwiches for lunch every day!)
20. Practice my Hawaiian so I don't have to sound out every syllable of every word
21. Learn to draw better
22. Stay in touch more with friends besides facebook (stupid facebook!)
23. Get back into working out; I love being strong but I also love not being sweaty and sore, so it's been an easy habit to get out of...
24. Let go of people and things that only bring me down, and have no regrets or dwell on time I feel like I "wasted"
25. Have fun being a young (not so young anymore, boo!) single lady in Hawaii working at a job I love! This one is easy!

Monday, September 17, 2012

hey, sailor

hey, sailor

hey, sailor by mostlyglasses featuring plastic sunglasses

Since my summer is never ending, I can't help but shop for cute, beachy dresses and sandals. Every day. I'm getting ready to drop some serious dollars at modcloth.

On the agenda this week is getting my local ID (so I can work that kama'aina discount, holla!) and figuring out how to transition my business from CA to HI. I have had everything on hold since I've come here and it's time to let mostlyglasses into the wild again. The beach is slowly but surely inspiring my brand and I can't wait to see where it goes. Dream status!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sunday Suggestions: vol 2

Posle poludnya! Good afternoon! The Russian ladies at work are teaching me a new word every day. Unfortunately, the Russian alphabet and I are strangers, so I have a whole bunch of crazy, phonetically spelled notes of Russian words in my phone.

Happy Sunday! This weekend was lots of fun in the sun and lots of errands. Today is another busy day of funzies, with birthday present shopping (September babies, gotta love 'em!) and lunch with my Ukrainian coworker. This Sunday, I suggest you...

Read this profile of Mindy Kaling. She's hilarious and I love her new show. The first episode is on hulu. Nothing wrong with a sassy, single lady!

Make these cookies so I can live vicariously through you. Unlike the rest of the blog universe, I do not get to have fall this year, so pumpkin spice lattes and cookies are not happening.

Watch this video from a couple of weeks ago that Bahar shot and edited of Alessa and I heading out paddle boarding. Alessa is a champion, but I got my ass absolutely handed to me that day by the ocean. We went (wayyyyyy) further out than I have ever been and there were waves. Imagine that, waves in the ocean! Waves are cool and all, but this was only my second time ever being on any kind of board in the water and I was not prepared for how much of a failure I would be, haha. I went splashing off my board a bunch of times, fell on TO my board once (fun! no, not really.) and after my swim suit bottoms fell off at one point,  I just sat down and decided to enjoy the sunset instead of paddle. But, when I accidentally got caught with a set of waves coming towards me and nothing to do but take it,  after the initial "oh f*!" moment, I manned up (ladied up?) and rode it out (AKA, went down to knees and held on for dear life) and it was so fun. So basically I need to work on my balance, keep going out, tie my bottoms on tighter and quit being such a baby and getting embarrassed when I fall. That's kind of a lot of stuff to do but I'm up for it. Maybe!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

garbage pickin'

Today was International Coastal Cleanup Day, did you clean a beach today? I did! 



Today, Bahar and I went to Lanikai (my favorite beach ever!) to clean up garbage and work on our tans. It was her idea, because she's a good person, but I went because I've been trying to even out my back tan for weeks and thought that doing a good deed while tanning would be better than just laying there. Lanikai is one of the cleanest beaches I've seen here. Residents are always pitching fits that there's too many tourists and guides there and trying to pass laws to keep the people out so the beaches stay nice. But never the less, we did find some trash. Woohoo!

you can't capture how gorgeous this beach is, but I tried!

They gave us a reusable bag to put the trash in and a tally sheet to count up what we found. We ended up with mostly cigarette butts (14 plus 1 cigar) but also 3 beer bottles and some other random odds and ends. Have you ever heard of nurdles or mermaid tears? I hadn't until I came here. They're basically little pieces of plastic. But that was it; nothing that cool. But the fact that we didn't find "cool garbage" means that there wasn't that much garbage to find, which is a good thing!


B was the happiest garbage picker in all the land!

And as usual I was just sassin' around, working on my tan.




We found some stuff that was cool but wasn't garbage, like this crab claw and tons of flower petals, so we let it stay at the beach. 



And then we couldn't resist anymore and jumped in the water for a bit before making the gorgeous drive back to town. I highly recommend cleaning up your local beach, it's tons of fun!