Feb 6 
if chocolate and diamonds don't do it for you this valentine's, you can always hit up pacific home and stock up on romantic designer goodies for your love nest during their february sale. then again, maybe i am the only one who would swoon if my fella gifted me with amenity bedding . . .
details:
Feb 6 
a few pretty little things just in time for valentine's day. underglam has everything from camisoles to lounge pants in their oh so pretty hibiscus print (do a search for "hawaiian" to see the entire collection).
of course, the cute screenprinted goodies from the girls at wings hawaii are absolutely irresistible. make your own valentine's set with a wings chemise and those sweet boy shorts featured last year.
no worries if you are shopping for a shy valentine. new zealand's hey sister! pj set is a sweet alternative without being too bare. figleaves stocks their tropical chocbiscus print in pj trousers, matching camisole
& even a bra
(hubba hubba).
red envelope has this luxe robe in an exotic floral pattern by bedhead. there's also a matching asian style pj set if you plan on splurging (in which case, do click here to score free shipping on orders over $75 - exp feb 14th).
and, last but not least, if you're in the market for more racy unmentionables, pualani is breaking out of swimwear and has one single item befitting valentine's day in their lingerie section.
Feb 2 
two local artists have a novel approach to bringing back a souvenir to remember your holiday . . . create it yourself. pineapple painting tours offers the chance to tap into your inner gauguin and take home a piece of art made by you. yes, you could just head over to the weekend art mart at the honolulu zoo and buy something but this sounds like a lovely diversion for those who have an artsy side and are looking to do something other than the typical tourist activities.
the tour specializes in the plein air style which means you will be painting on location at scenic spots around oahu. transportation from waikiki hotels is included as are art supplies and, most important, instruction from professional artists so chances are good that your creation will be worthy enough to add to your personal art collection when you get home.
{update | jan 2010: pineapple painting tours seems to be no more}
Feb 2 
liana from on a friday & mixed plate dropped me a note with exciting news of the launch of punk-n-pie, her new online baby boutique. this is definitely the place to shop if you want the little ones in your life to stand out from the crowd.
in addition to the adorable clothing, punk-n-pie has a nice mix of modern goodies for the entire family like all natural bath products from little twig, kid-friendly wall art (take a peek at tokidoki's playful skull & crossbones design) & timbuk2 bags to keep mom & dad organized when they're on the go with (or without) kids in tow.
and, to celebrate the grand opening, punk-n-pie is offering free shipping on all orders!
Feb 1 
our little family of two can definitely be described as nice modernists and we have been keeping tabs on the blossoming modern prefab movement for quite some time. this afternoon i learned that michelle kaufmann designs recently built a factory in washington and one of their service areas is hawaii (currently, there are three savvy folks building a mkd home in the islands - lucky, lucky)!
this is so exciting. it's pretty easy to spot a typical prefab home in hawaii (in fact, my fella grew up in a hicks home) but if you are not familiar with modern prefab design you should definitely take a look and see what has changed in the past 30 years (fab prefab is an excellent resource). the mkd houses have been designed with the environment in mind and feature sustainable materials like bamboo floors, on demand water heaters & non-toxic paints as well as eco-friendly options like recycled glass tiles & solar power.
unless you have been living under a rock you know that the housing crunch has forced island families who can afford it to raze & rebuild or add an extension to their existing home to house multiple generations so this is definitely an alternative to consider if your budget allows it. i can count three families in my own circle who have either built a new home, are in the process of adding an extension, or are seriously considering going down that road since home ownership costs are so out of reach for many twenty & thirtysomethings.
as for us, this gives us a little more hope that one day we will be able to build an eco-friendly modern dwelling when we finally move back home. of course, it will be a challenge to find a fee simple lot that we can afford but a girl can dream.
{mahalo jetson green!}
