Furniture stores for fun

One great part of my job (other than getting paid to eat out at really nice restaurants) is the errands I do with Jeanne. Jeanne is curious and an explorer. She loves to find stores, boutiques and warehouses with deals and items you can't find anywhere else for the best deal.

Today we went on the lookout for a new office chair. She had me run into Pacific Home. I know you have all seen it off Ward Ave. downtown but I've never been in it! It is far from fitting the student income but it is so fun to look. Who ever is picking the merchandise for this store has tapped into my mind of everything I want! The merchandise is light,beachy, and breezy with some really fun prints.
The website doesn't do the justice. Next time you're in Ward area, go in and take a look for fun. It's right across the street from Ross and parking is easy.

Another place she took me was the Gentry Pacific Design Center (Honolulu- on Nimitz just pass Kmart) and there I fell in love with Baik Designs. They specialize in Indonesian furniture and all the pieces are so unique.

Once again, the website doesn't do the justice (nor does this picture)

Other fun places to look are Inspiration on Kapiolani and C.S. Wo off Beretania. I always enjoy envisioning my future house and what I would pick out for it.

I saw this family dinning room table at Inspiration and fell in love with it. The chairs and benches are leather and different colors. Probably like $15,000...eek!

Now, only if I could get Jeanne to live in San Diego! (totally joking) To try the best restaurants and all the hidden secrets-- that would be awesome.

don't watch on an empty stomach...

Saw this movie last week and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it.

Meryl Streep continues to amaze me.

Jeanne and I went to this great restaurant tonight, The Beach House at the Moana Surfrider Hotel.

Great view and atmosphere and good food. Pricey with a snotty waitress I could have done without. Had the petite filet mignon and it was great.

When I was getting into the car after the valet guys got it, I hurried to grab a few one's to tip. Later I realized a grabbed two 5's and a couple 1's.

Oops, your special day valet man.

Oh and hey guys, I wasn't sure if you got the memo but judgment day falls on my birthday in two years. I guess I'll have to celebrate a day early or something.

Thanks Aunt Chris for sending me this little treasure and for also remembering my b-day.

I will definitely invite you to my day-before party. :)

Happy weekend.

Most of the time...

... I would be dreading how cold the class room or library would be but right now I can't wait to enjoy the cool air.

And usually I would be complaining if my husband stole the blankets but not right now.

And often I would be scared to get into the water after seeing one blue bubble (jelly fish) washed up on the shore. Now I realize I have nothing to be scared of because today Cameron and I counted maybe 30 blue bubbles in like five seconds. yikes.

Hurricane Felicia has missed us and we have been spared of flash flooding and extreme high winds but man it is hot and humid.

Recently, I have looooved studying... you want to know why?

Because I do it here.

and here.

And luckily these places are just a few steps from my door.

Unfortunately, my reading assignments are longer than my skin's endurance in the sun and as a result, I'm peeeeling. goodbye tan.

School is going pretty swell. We are at our half way point for this quick six week semester. Since we are equally busy studying Cameron has been more than wonderful to help me with whatever I need.

I found him cooking us dinner and wearing my apron.

What a stud!

He really is an awesome guy. And when the electricity pole fell down on Kam hwy. and there was no access to school, Cameron biked me all the way to school on his handle bars ( I left my bike at school the day before). I was laughing the entire ride and the poor guy was sweating bullets.

I'm such a lucky gal.

Hurricane Felicia,
We hear you're coming shortly to stir up the Pacific Ocean around Hawaii. We've prepared for you with our 72 hour kits but heard you're not going to be too much trouble (or so we hope).
One request, please don't flood us out.

Oh, and thanks for making some fun waves for my husband to surf on today. He needed that.
-me

mansion life

Right about this week a year ago, Cameron and I moved to the Mansion.

It has been quite an experience and I honestly didn't think we were going to be here this long. There's no doubt that we love the place we live at and it's location. During the year and four months I've worked here, it has its good days and bad days for sure.

Jeanne has been extremely generous but the job could definitely make me a little loopy at some points. I can't say that I feel like Jeanne is a third grandma to me but I do consider her a good friend. We have a great time trying new fancy restaurants, reading gossip magazines together, watching tv shows, and buying new pocket books (purses). She's really not your average elderly lady at all. She is loud and overly opinionated and has the mental energy of a 7 year- old. She doesn't like walking so instead she rides a motor scooter. When we go downtown once or twice a week, I wheel her around in a wheel chair. I feel like I have learned so much from her. She has an awesome memory and it's interesting to hear about her life in high society.

The Mansion is HUGE.

• 21,000 sq. feet
• 4 acres of beautiful beach front land
• 17 bathrooms (yes... I said seventeen)
• A tennis Court
• An indoor and an outdoor swimming pool
• 4 car garage

You can kind of get the picture. The house constantly has work to be done on it because the salt air and rust really takes a toll. Since we are constantly doing fix-up projects, Cameron and I have learned so much about what goes into fixing a house.

This next picture is Jeanne and Henry, her 91 year-old boyfriend. They've been dating for 35 years. They don't really interact much now because neither of the listen/communicate well and Jeanne ends up zooming off in her scooter upset. They occasionally watch a Mets game together and play Bridge on Sundays.

This job and mansion kind of reminds me of the movie Orange County. Nice house, crazy mom (Jeanne), old guy who is kind of out of it (Henry), Nurses that don't speak english (Henry's tongan nurses), and the normal kids(us). Unfortunately we don't have a Jack Black. If anyone has seen this movie a few times, you would understand. Just weird.

It's just a bizarre household and sometimes I look around and laugh.

Jeanne is a hoot and there's always something exciting going on.

Despite those crazy moments, we are glad to be here.

suuuuper

This last weekend we got some good stuff squeezed in.

On Saturday we were able to start the day off with the Maunawili Falls with the Larsens, Rasmussens and friends. It was such a pretty hike and the water falls were awesome at the end.

Later that day we had a little BBQ with some friends. IT was so fun to see the Larsens and to meet Beckham! We loved him!

Last Monday I also jumped off the rock at Waimea! What a thrill!

And to top off the weekend, I rented the unforgettable movie... Blue Crush!

Who doesn't like Blue Crush? Haha... it's pretty intense. Cameron hasn't ever seen it and he was sure to add his commentary throughout the entire movie (which was really funny). It was great to watch it now that I live in Hawaii and realize that the locations don't really match up but the movie is still suuuuuper cool. :)

potter

Possible themes extracted from Harry Potter 6:

a. Don't trust anyone, not even those who you think you can trust.

b. Dang... how did the casting department know to hire 8 yr. olds that would become such good looking adults?

c. REVENGE!!!

d. I can't wait for the next one to come out.

e. All of the above.

thurs.fri.sat.sun.

We've loooooved all our free time!

Last week I made the most amazing extremely rich chocolate torte cake. I topped it with a milk chocolate frosting and mango and kiwi. Yummm... This was not for the faint of heart-- it is rich. Cameron enjoyed it!

On Friday, the Honolulu Academy of Arts Museum was hosting a Surf Film Festival. We ( Cameron, me, Aaron, and Erin) went to a premiere and saw Icons2. This was featuring all the semi-pro surfers in Hawaii. I was surprisingly entertained the whole time.

We ended this classy date with Denny's for a late night snack. I loooooove Denny's.
And thank heaven the Nelsons do too! (sorry cam)


Saturday- beach beach beach. we're resembling rudolph. I also discovered I dislike chocolate chip pancakes. a lot.

Sunday-
I've been yearning to revisit this place since my family vacation 3 yrs ago and today we went!
It is so beautiful and serene. Cameron and I had fun playing around and taking pictures. Cameron was sure to gong the "gong" harder than anyone else had. It was loud!
Glad we finally went. We played, had fun and took pictures. I guess when you're temple is closed, go to the other. jk.








By the way:
1. I am officially Lindsay Rondo! After a year and a half, Cameron helped me get to the DMV to get a license. I wasn't too happy about the test taking but i got it. :) Thank you so much Cameron for being my huge help.

2. Yes, Cameron is growing a mustache. Yes, it looks funny and yes, he wants to do it and I say "whatever". The first time I fought it but now I'm just ignoring it. ha.
3. I got a new number a few months ago but never got around to giving it to everyone. I have to change my number every time I break my phone (ghetto unlimited plan) so I figure my phone will brake soon and so therefor I will have to get a new number once again. facebook me if you want it.

Priceless

For some reason I forgot that I actually kept a "blog" all throughout my Junior and Senior year of high school. It never registered because I don't think the term "blog" was really used, it was "Livejournal".
So tonight I logged in and I found this little piece of treasure and it is entertaining! My 16/17 year old mind is so funny and is extremely stereotypical teenager. The Livejournal is full of mine and Cameron's bf/gf relationship, getting sick of parents/being grounded, my busy life on student council & high school, and what ever came to my teenage mind. I can't believe I hadn't found this sooner because it is delightful.
Oh, and this is my picture for my profile:
Cam and I 5 yrs ago. This is priceless. I'm going to have to print this blog out for good laughs and memories.

fun fourth

What is a Fourth of July without sunshine, watermelon, and fireworks?
Luckily, we got them all.

Cameron and I headed to the beach with all of our stuff, cookies, umbrella, sunscreen, etc and went with our friends, the Nelsons over to Sunset beach. It was perfectly sunny-- no clouds overhead. Since there are no waves right now on the n. shore, the guys went out spear fishing for a bit while the girls attempted to get a shade darker. Our dumb beach umbrella decided to fly up several times and eventually broke.The sun was beaming and towards the end of the day Erin and I draped ourselves with towels to keep the sun off our skin-- it was intense! Cameron and I had a great time! Of course our sunburns didn't appear for a few afters after our beach fun... ouch.

That evening we went to the Turtle Beach Resorts 4th of July celebration. We had great Mexican food and visited with our great friends all under a wonderful fireworks show. We also got these great glasses that enhance the fireworks by like 20 times! They were awesome! I'm keeping mine for next year
.