Whoohoow! Slackerville in blogging! I am currently in Manila pursuing an incredible exciting project with the rest of the gang. I didn't expect to stay on so long, so I didn't bring enough clothes and toiletries with me. Good thing my sister and beauty coach Marie came to the rescue. I needed new shampoo! And I need a shampoo that would revive scalp health, at the same time I WANTED a shampoo that had the healing properties of Coconut oil. Then TADAH! She gave me this. Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo with Pure Coconut Oil.
What a treat to the scalp! The smell of the coconut oil was heaven, and the feeling after washing away the lather in the shower made me feel like I had washed away an extra layer of shampoo residue :) I love it! Even my 9 year old nephew told me that I smelt like the beach!
How do you give gifts on Christmas? I know of people who spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on the latest "it" bag or wallet. Or how they give the latest techy gadget to their loved one. I am definitely not one of those people.
This year, I gifted my better half with a movie that somehow had a touch of Hawaii in it since he hasn't been home in a while. It's a film called "Hula Girls"- directed by Korean Japanese filmmaker, Sang Il Lee.
Based on a true story, this movie takes place in 1965. The coal mining industry is slowing down, so in order to keep the local economy of Iwaki afloat, the coal mining company decided to turn their property into a leisure resort called the Joban Hawaiian Center. They needed dancers for their hula troupe, so they hired washed up Tokyo dancer Madoka Hirayama to train the local girls, all coal miners daughters, to do the hula.
This lovely film, even if I found it a tad dramatic, was beautifully scored by Hawaii's ukulele virtuoso himself, Jake Shimabukuro. I highly suggest any Japanophile or lover of anything Hawaii to buy this DVD and enjoy the film. The pleasant Yu Aoi plays the lead dancer, Kimiko. I know she's also in Honokaa Boy, another Japanese film shot in Hawaii.
I told myself never to go shopping on an empty stomach. True enough, after a late late lunch, I bought a Vietnamese straw hat and some Chinese bamboo massage instrument.
For the straw hat, I feel like making a crafty craft lamp just like in this old Martha Stewart Living summer issue.
Do you remember the first time you heard this version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"? Didn't it give you goosebumps? I remember shedding a few tears. I can't explain it. I just felt such pure spirit, peace, and even (gulp) love listening to the song. That was 10 years ago. And when I hear it again now, I still feel the same.
Click play and get to watch and listen to the incredible Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.
I love summer. The smell of coconut oil on skin, the taste of chilled Mango shake on your sun-kissed lips, the sound of the waves gently crashing on the shore. Everything about the season just makes me smile. I always looked forward to every beach trip come summertime, and each time I would have a special swimsuit to celebrate the season. My love for the season, and my love for the beach lead me to design my own swimwear which I will simply call Verão- meaning summer in Portuguese. Inspired by warmth and beauty of Hawaii, and the sensuality of Brazil, Verão is my personal celebration of the endless summer. Click verao.etsy.com for delicious summer crochet bikinis!
I love anything Hawaii and Brazil, beaches, iced coffee, browsing in book stores, dating my husband, dating myself. I love the whole process of creating. Years ago I had a line of candles, now a line of bikinis.