The Pink Palace

This is a favorite place of mine. The Royal Hawaiian. Also known as the Pink Palace. It's steeped with romantic history. Walking through its lobby is like taking a step back in time. Back to the 1920s and 1930s when a visit to Waikiki involved a bit of glamour. It was an exotic getaway for those who could afford to "winter" at a resort. In my book, a visit to Oahu requires a stroll through the Pink Palace and preferably a drink under one of their pink and white striped umbrellas.

We did both on our Christmas visit and on our way out, a Victorian choral group - in full Victorian costume - was singing to bathing suit-clad guests in the lobby. It made for a strange Christmas night experience, but it was lovely.

On a completely different note: this may be the last of my photos that you will see here for a while. See, I picked up this book last week. (It's been a goal of mine to really learn how to use my Canon EOS Rebel. It deserves better than my point and shoot trigger finger.)

First order of business that Nicole tackles in her classes and her book is to require students to switch the camera to "manual" mode. And just writing that made me feel a little sick. I'm scared. But I'm also determined. And I think that will be the theme for my 2010. Someday maybe I'll post a list of all the things I am afraid to do. It will be a long list so it may take me a while. Let's just start with switching the camera to M for Manual. Blah. Done.

My second favorite red head

I realize I am not alone with my love of Conan. Did you catch his last Tonight Show on Friday? He was so gracious and sincere and the entire thing just really made me love him ever more. But really, it's his self-deprecating and silly humor that won me over so many years ago.

Last night I was reminded of a favorite Conan O'Brien moment. No need to have first-hand experience with the soul-sucking life that can be corporate America to appreciate his visit to Intel. Although, I endured a few years of cube land following college so I do relate to his spot-on observations.

Do enjoy a little levity this morning.

Obsession creeps in

Photo via Design Sponge

Ever since I wrote about those lovely ceramics last week, I can't stop myself from imagining a colorful collection of breakables in my own home. And now I'm loving the collection of vintage colored glass in Heather Frazier's home, featured on Design Sponge last week.

And then, of course, I had to visit Ms. Frazier's website where she sells beautiful, handmade paper mobiles and garlands. My other growing obsession. These are so pretty. I can just imagine an open window and a gentle breeze with one of these rustling in the corner of a room.

Photos via Frazier and Wing.

Do something

Feeling helpless or even worse, hopeless, is hard to imagine as a middle-class American. I've experienced natural disasters and their life-changing ramifications first hand but thankfully there were loved ones and government organizations within reach to lend a hand. I will always be thankful for a pre-Katrina FEMA that helped my own mother find us housing after our home was quarantined following the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. I am equally appreciative of my family members who lived nearby and provided us a temporary home until we could put our little life back together. We were unimaginably lucky.

My heart breaks for the people of Haiti. I feel helpless. I just texted "HAITI" to "90999" and $10 will appear on my phone bill, while the Red Cross will receive some much needed assistance in their "first response" effort in Haiti. I did something. Maybe you can do something too? And together we may bring some hope to Haiti.

A happy place

Images via Design Sponge.

This sneak peek from Design Sponge feels so very fresh to me. The saturated color against the crisp white is just perfection.

If I didn't live in earthquake country I would like to think I would also be inspired to display thoughtfully chosen pottery. These pieces make me smile, until I picture them crashing to the floor in some abstract but not out of the question future tremor. And yes, that is how my brain works.

Now those letters in the kitchen nook - there's nothing stopping me from starting that collection.

Oh so pretty

Wrap me up with tulle, please. These skirts and dresses are just dreamy. My very first sense memory is the smell of tulle. I was five and sitting in the front seat of my mom's car (this was the 70s, people), speeding down the highway with a pile of red tulle on my lap. It was covered in tiny white polka dots and would be paired with white tights, patent leather black tap shoes and a giant red bow for my hair. It was for one of two dance recitals I would participate in. I was not long for dance class.

Of course, I still have the dress. Does that really surprise anyone? It's boxed up with my 8th grade graduation dress, five bridesmaid dresses and black cowboy boots (hello 1990) that I too often wore with embarrassingly short mini skirts.

Anyhoo, I would very much like to wear something from Ouma's Etsy Shop. Seems like a fancy daydream where you could feel nothing but pretty and young and free of cares.

Images via Ouma's Etsy Shop.

Happy sunshiny day

Photo via The Purl Bee.

Felt like I was the last person in blog world to stumble across The Purl Bee. It's filled with amazingly inspired projects for anyone who likes to sew, crochet or knit. All the color palettes feel fresh and modern and the ladies who run the site and work at the store in Soho make each project seem approachable, even for a novice. It's a good thing I don't live in New York City. I'd seriously stalk this place and put my family in debt from fabric and yarn binging.

I definitely plan on making the garland above. Maybe for Emerson's birthday? And I fell hard for the Sunny Tied Quilt below. It's just so happy and warm. I love the colors and design. Do you have any creative projects on your wish list this year?

Photo via The Purl Bee.

Life on the run

This pretty much sums up our "vacation" in Hawaii. Emerson had no time for our pedestrian wants of say, sleep and meals sitting down. No, she needed to run. And play. And run some more. Relaxation just wasn't in the cards this holiday break. I consider myself lucky to have caught her in my hat before she realized she was standing still long enough for a photograph.

Lest you think I am the least grateful person to have ever travelled to a tropical island - behold two beautiful moments I truly did appreciate. The average flowering poolside plant and the nightly view from our room. Stunning acts of nature, I'd say.