Hawaii - Out & About

After Pearl Harbor we visited the Punchbowl Cemetery (something I haven't seen before) and then took a quick tour around downtown Honolulu, passing by the capital building (there were three people camped out for the 'Occupy' movement...) and then made our way back to Waikiki where we had lunch at the famous Puka Dog eatery.  YUM!

I'm not one for too much sightseeing while I'm on the islands so I was very happy to return to the beach and the water!

Hana Hou!

Hello, friends!  J and I had such an awesome and relaxing vacation on Oahu and have had an extra treat of a whole weekend at home to regroup (you know how it is after a vacation - all of a sudden you have things to do!).  

The Hawaiian phrase hana hou roughly translates to do it again or encore and on this Monday as my body sits in my cubicle at work, my mind is still on the island... so, friends, let us travel back to Hawaii - can you feel the steady breeze, warm sun, richly humid air?  I am transported back in an instant!

For ten days we hardly did anything but relax, sunbathe, swim, eat, read, people-watch, and nap on the world famous Waikiki beach.  We did, however, see Pearl Harbour and rent a Jeep (awesome!) for two days to drive around the island.  I was able to show J the UH campus, Pali lookout, and my other favorite beaches around the island, among other beautiful sights.  

I'll be sharing more photos throughout the week - no harm in extending that holiday feeling for as long as possible!  It is just what we needed!

Tuesday Tune

So, I've found another love to add to my short list of musical artist soulmates - Thievery Corporation.  I have continued to stumble across this group (and I even featured them in early 2011!).  I would hear songs I loved on different iTunes radio stations, Pandora... etc. and would later realize they were all the same band.  I'm destined to love this group!  One of their cds, The Richest Man in Babylon, was waiting for me under the Christmas tree this year and I'm already looking forward to completing my collection.  I LOVE this album!  This music falls into my category of "perfect".  (Can you guess who else is there?)

I was listening to it last night and I was conjuring images of myself as a yoga teacher playing this cd during class.... or perhaps a cafe owner... or maybe relaxing at the beach... or... or...

What do you think?

Tuesday Tune

So, have you heard of Rachael Yamagata?  Her album Happenstance has a special place in my heart, it takes me back to a sweet place.  She has a smooth, warm voice and her sound is charming and calming.  Here are some of my favorites, enjoy!


"If I could take you away, pretend I was queen...Would you think I'm unreal, 'cause everybody's got their way I should feel..."



"...and you can tell the world what you want them to hear, I've got nothing left to lose, my dear..."



"...and I wish you the best, but I could do without it, and I will because you've worn me down..."



"...and I had read all of this in his eyes, even before he said so..."



So, what do you think?

Yoga!

(Re)Practicing yoga turned out to be a sweet surprise.  I'm so glad I gave it a second chance!  Goodbye stress and anxiety and hello peace and quiet. 

My number one requirement:  comfortable clothing that is not too loose fitting.  You want to be able to move around without restrictions but without having to constantly adjust either.  Flip flops are a must as most studios require you to remove your shoes upon entering.  Also, I always wear/bring a comfortable wrap sweater to cover up before, after, or during my practice.  (This is especially wonderful for the Restorative sessions).

Finally, the MAT!  I'm in the market for a Manduka mat and I love the green one shown above. 

Even with all the wonderful clothing and accessories, what is most important in one's practice is an open heart and mind. 

Namaste!

Tuesday Tune

I have a few randoms to share today, some songs I've had on my favorites list that I enjoy so much.  They're perfect for tuning out the mundane!

Sunny Sausalito

After our hike in the hills we stopped in Sausalito for lunch and we soaked up the sun!  The weather was so gorgeous and calm and it was such a nice reprieve from the clouds and cold of Spring. 

We found this outstanding burger place and enjoyed our lunch overlooking the bay with the city in the background.  It couldn't have been a more perfect day!

We took a stroll through the streets of Sausalito while enjoying an ice cream cone (I had mint chocolate chip, of course!) and I stumbled upon a great book store, my weakness.

Tiburon Weekend & Tuesday Tune

Ah, there is nothing else like a (long) weekend getaway.  (And as I type this I am especially nostalgic because I've been stuck at jury duty these past couple days...).  Our mini vacation is just what I needed to unwind and mentally recharge.



"Wanna pack your bags, something small... the moon and the stars can follow the car, and then when we get to the ocean, we gonna take a boat... all the way to the end of the world..."


We began our weekend by finding some things for our yard at a garden shop James discovered on another trip.  After a few other quick stops we finally arrived in Tiburon and what amazing views we saw on the way!  There is never anything better than a water view!

Strolling through the small town of Tiburon was very relaxing because we didn't need to be anywhere at any given time - we simply popped in and out of all the shops and snapped a few pictures.  We enjoyed two delicious meals during our stay, the first at Waypoint Pizza and the second a fantastic mexican meal at Guaymas.

I really couldn't get enough of the amazing views from Tiburon!  From our room we had a great view of the harbor and from the hotel's patio we could see San Francisco in it's entirety and also Angel Island.  Walking down the oceanside path afforded us views of the Golden Gate Bridge - totally amazing.

More pictures (our hike, Sausalito, Golden Gate Bridge) to come!

Let's Get Away

Today James and I are escaping to Tiburon (a small town across the bay from San Francisco) for the rest of the week for a much needed post-tax season break.  I couldn't be more excited! 

I love dreaming of faraway places... like Ibiza, Spain.  I can completely imagine myself in this gorgeous home, sipping cocktails, catching up on my reading, and simply enjoying the warm air. 

Let's all get away to Ibiza!

This lovely home is called Can Zamora and I am so in love with the way the space is decorated.  It's just my style - and I'm fairly certain I own most of the lanterns in this house! 

I would absolutely LOVE to stay here for a summer (or even a week).

Perfect for a siesta!



Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday Tune

A girlfriend introduced me to Supreme Beings of Leisure and I am SO hooked.  This is the kind of music that quickly becomes my go-to for parties, long drives, relaxing at home, or even just background music in the house!

Since I've been cooped up at work for an obscene amount of hours per week I can at least let my ears have a break with their songs and they haven't failed me yet!  Enjoy.

"...mysterious chemistry someone's cookin' in the kitchen..."



"...gold digger, who says you can't have it all?..."



"...in the sublime, wishing we could always be this way..."

Let's Escape

"Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field, I'll meet you there.  When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.  Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesn't make sense."   [Rumi]

The quote above is featured on the website for a gorgeous organic farm and working vineyard, Campovida.  I stumbled upon the site and I don't even remember now how I found it!  At Campovida one can wander the peaceful gardens, enjoy the organic farm, listen to music and see art at many different events, and even stay in the beautiful accomodations.  I am already wanting to plan my visit to this amazing retreat in Mendocino County!

 Where would you like escape to for a short (or long) weekend?

*All images via Campovida.