Inspiration: Art Imitates Life

For me, creativity is a form of play. You muse, dream, imagine, design, get in, get dirty and bring something into existence. And you can do all this with reckless abandon. As much as I love this freedom, the freedom of these wide-open plains to breathe life into something that once wasn't, there are times when I just don't wanna play.

Admittedly, days of creative-less mojo are not lost on me; I've had bouts of writer's/painter's-block that have kept me from crossing the threshold into our spare-bedroom-turned-art studio for weeks (or months!) at a time. I'd walk by the room, glance over at my easel and paintbrushes (whose mockery I'm not certain is imagined), and just feel defeated. Defeated, because, well...I got nothin'.

Days become weeks. Weeks become months. And the months inevitably become GUILT. Guilt at all that wasted space. Guilt at all those unused art supplies. And all of this becomes too much; a not-so-positive pattern of thinking which sometimes results in tears shed and loving, encouraging pep-talks from The Hubs.

But then something amazing happens: inspiration knocks. After weeks of lying dormant, the creative juices that once threatened to harden and crack from misuse are suddenly awake. There is a tangible energy; a buzzing and a need to create.

Life on Maui ANYWHERE is full of inspiration. It is everywhere and in everything, in people and in places; you just have to be open to receiving it. So lift up the blinds and throw-open the windows! The conduit is clear...and you're golden.

* * *

I know a little place here on Maui that is home to three, large peacocks. Exactly who owns these beautiful creatures, I've no clue, but what a sight they are. Some days I purposely make a trip to the neighborhood in hopes of catching a glimpse and being in the presence of the regal...and on some days, I score, shamelessly following the birds with my camera:

Knock-knock.

You hear that? That's inspiration knockin'. So I raced home and whipped up my own rendition of regal:

Okay, so truthfully, I didn't just "whip up" the painting; it was a long process with many hours spent layering paint and getting the image from my mind and onto the canvas...but the point is that I was inspired...and I painted because of it.

Creativity has been a-flowing since then. Recently, and for the first time ever, I created artwork for our home. It's a four-canvas botanical spread incorporating the shades of green in our decor. I wasn't sure about it when I finished, but once they were hung up in the living room and I stepped back to get a different view, I can honestly say that I dig it. :)

What inspires you?

Authenticity. And Blogging.

It goes a little something like this:

You have all these ideas in your head about what you want your blog to be like: You want it to be raw. And organic. You want it to be a place of reflection and of positivity; a springboard where dreams and aspirations are born and catapulted into the universe. You want it to be a place of goodness, because there is comfort in returning to something that makes you feel good, no? You want your blog to be written in a voice that is none other than your own, because anything less would just be...sad. You want this blog to be authentic. And yes, while you're being honest, you admit to yourself that you also wouldn't mind this blog being pretty. And you certainly wouldn't mind knowing who - if anyone - is reading along. Ultimately, you envision this "place" to be a perfect reflection of YOU.

But then you start perusing what else is out there, in that vast, sea of blogs; you start reading. And subscribing. And following. And clicking. And linking over. And as much as you are inspired, you also want to be the one to inspire. But then you have those moments when you feel insecure, because the more "seasoned" blogs out there have clearly found their rhythm and their audience. And you're still learning.

But as intimidated as you might feel, you're also wise enough to recognize that this isn't some kind of competition; it isn't something that has any bearing on who you are...it isn't indicative of your value or your worth. You are simply blogging because you enjoy the act of writing. And taking pictures. And creating art. So you make a choice. And how liberating is it, when this leads you to making the conscious decision to just be YOU? To not try and fit a certain mold, or to deliver something that isn't "you"?

To me, that is authentic.

* * *

And while on the topic of authenticity, I am reminded that every sunrise or sunset I have been blessed to witness is different every time. Each are unique and authentic in their own way. And there are the days when I'm holding my camera at justtherighttime and I am able to capture and make still an otherwise fleeting moment. These are the photos where the planets are aligned and I'm able to get it just right:

And to honor authenticity, I feel compelled to add that while I'm all for tweaking images in Photoshop, this particular photo is raw. And organic. And authentic. And untouched.

And it's not such a bad thing, is it?

:)

Simplicity

It is Monday and The Hubs and I are coming down from a busy weekend filled with good food and the company of friends. As much as we love evenings when we can open our home up to our friends, filling their bellies with food and their hearts with laughter and love, there is that sweet spot of the aftermath: when the empty bottles are recycled, the dishes have been washed and our little home is quiet once again.

This weekend, we hosted a dinner in honor of a good friend of ours who is moving back to Japan. I am sad when I think of him leaving, but so happy that we were able to do this for him. Our Saturday was filled with last minute errands, a deep cleaning and re-organization of the house (aimed towards that oh, our house always looks this put-together-kind-of-way) and hours spent in the kitchen and near the stove. And although exhausted, I still caught myself throughout the night, smiling at the sight of our friends in our living room, hunkered down around the coffee table, eating, talking and laughing. Laughter is a beautiful thing.

And now it is Monday. We've had 24 hours to recuperate, get the house back into its normal state and just unwind. It is quiet, Pandora sings throughout our home, I am enjoying a glass of Pinot Grigio, and feeling...happy.

I'm leaving a photo of my "extravagant" floral purchase for Saturday's dinner. That's right...daisies. Flowers that are so easily overlooked for their simplicity. Here in Hawaii, I could have opted for Tuberose, or Bird of Paradise, or Hawaiian Ginger...but no, I chose daisies. Why? Because daisies are so underrated! They are simple. Pure. White. Clean. And beautiful. And they last forever, which is good for someone like me, because while I love me some fresh flowers just as much as the next girl, I'm not much of a green thumb. Longevity is appreciated in this home! :)

Here's hoping each of you had a delightful weekend of simplicity...

Living Aloha: What it means to me...

Recently, a friend of mine asked what I meant when I titled this blog Living Aloha. She was confused by the message behind it, as she'd only associated the word "aloha" with stepping off an airplane, setting foot on Hawaiian soil and being welcomed to the islands.

What did I mean? Well I will tell you, thanks so much for asking!

"Aloha" has many meanings; it is used in greetings and bidding farewell...and it is also an expression of love. But for me, it runs so much deeper than that. Aloha is a way of life; a way of life that embodies peace and harmony and joy. It's a form of living in tune with nature and the environment, the people and my surroundings, and making a conscious effort to tread lightly (but with purpose) on the soil beneath my feet. For me, it is a daily reminder to live with gratitude.

Living Aloha means...

...not minding the rain, because without the rain, there are no rainbows.

...recognizing that the cerulean waves, the shell-sprinkled golden sand, the palm fronds that dance in the breeze and the infinitely unique sunrises and sunsets---these are all gifts from God.

...doing our part to live a little "greener"; to consume less, reduce waste, eat locally (and organically, when possible) and committing to reduce, reuse and recycle. It sounds cliche and maybe even a little bit cheesy, but we do.

...respecting the Earth.

...finding the joy in the mundane, and appreciating the spontaneity in life.

...loving the moments where The Hubs and I can relish in our quiet, little life out here, appreciating the abundance of blessings in our lives.

...enjoying the love of family, good friends, and each other.

...loving my "neighbors". Even the one who blatantly cut right-in-front-of-me at the store this morning, pretending not to hear me when I said "excuse me", ignoring the cashier when she said "she was next", and then practically throwing bills and loose change on the counter in front of him. To buy beer.

...feeling lucky that I can take a dip in the ocean every single day, and loving myself LEARNING to love myself in a bikini. Even the parts that jiggle.

...creating happiness. And Choosing Joy.

And finally, it means finding on our property, a rock in the perfect shape of a conversation-bubble, painting it white and red, and reminding myself to live the life I love and love the life I live.

Eat, Pray, Love

Okay, who saw it this past weekend?

Seeing as how this is one of my favorite books ever, I have been anxiously awaiting this movie all summer. I must be living under a rock, because I had no idea they were even making it into a movie up until a few months ago when The Hubs told me about it (and of course, at the time, I made him promise to take me when it came out).

The Hubs kept his word and he took me to see it last night; armed with popcorn - nevermind that I wasn't even hungry - (is it just me, or isn't it like, a crime to see a movie without having a ridiculously priced bag of butter popcorn to go with?), we settled in for the flick.

I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but suffice it to say, I WANT TO TRAVEL (fortunately, The Hubs and I are on the same page with this thought; we're actually in the midst of planning a big vacation for next year, so it's a start). And while we're "in Bali" and I'm crying alongside Julia Roberts (because I have no shame), I couldn't help but laugh when The Hubs leaned over and whispered:

"You would sooooooooo get chewed up by mosquitoes out there."

Ladies and Gentlemen...My husband, the realist (I'm allergic to bug bites). Love Him. :)

Hope everyone had a happy weekend!

Take time for Rainbow Showers

Today was one of those days that despite my lengthy to-do list, I still managed to satiate the creative impulse within me. I didn't exactly get to cross everything off my to-do list, but I still found time to take a Rainbow Shower.

On my way home from running errands, I took a route I don't normally take and then I found myself pulling over because I absolutely had to take in this beautiful tree:

The tree is just so...juicy! It is lush and full and it was all I could do not to kick off my flip-flops and climb on up.

The tightly-knit, bright flowers and green leaves created this amazing canopy that made for a slice of much-welcomed shade under the afternoon sun. I spent about 10 minutes under that tree, relishing in the silence of that quiet road---the road I decided to take today, on a whim.

Aptly named the "Rainbow Shower" tree, it did not disappoint. A breeze picked up and it rained soft, yellow, velvet flowers on me. I was too overcome with happiness and child-like fascination to remember to take photos of that precise moment, but that's ok.

Because maybe that moment was just meant for me.

Floating...

I can't believe I'm about to admit this (although I'd be willing to bet green money that somebody out there can attest), but one of the first things I do in the morning before my feet even touch the floor is check email (and The Hubs does it, too!) on my iPhone. I know, I know, it kind of goes against our motto of "slowing down", but the reality is that this act is part of the "waking-up" process. It's that period of time where The Hubs and I do everything humanly possible to prolong the inevitable: actually getting out of bed and starting the day. So we lounge in bed, talk, laugh and maybe even play a game or two on our iPhones (read: GEEKS).

Anyway, I found a much-anticipated email in my inbox this morning, and it was a pretty fabulous way to start my day. As it happens, 8 of my photos were picked up and published in an online magazine! The email simply notified me that the issue went live and is now public...once again, I'm officially "out there"!

I did my "happy dance" - albeit in the supine position - while The Hubs congratulated me with a hug and a kiss. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Here are two of the photos that made the cut:

Doesn't it just make ya wanna pack your bags and fly to Maui?

Art in Unlikely Places

I am still working on organizing my art portfolio and adding it here to the blog, but for now, I wanted to celebrate the art of someone else:

I discovered this while we were ducking through some trees to get to the beach. And when I laid eyes on it, its beauty was enough to make me pause. I couldn't resist running my fingers through the grooves, letter by letter, my mind racing with questions. How long has it been here? Who carved this? Did the artist carve this in celebration or in sadness?

Whatever the case, I'm glad it's there...for the beauty, and the message.

And so apropos for a Sunday.

Cuteness

I felt it necessary to introduce the other member of our little family. Not just because she is our child-with-fur, but also because she is ALL KINDS of cute!

Meet Grace. She was my Christmas present from The Hubs 8 years ago; knowing that he hand-picked her from the Humane Society because she implored him with her big green eyes, gives me the warm fuzzies. She's a little on the "special" side (her back legs are too long for her body so she has this funky little swagger) and she cannot jump or land on her feet to save her own life (seriously, the poor thing has literally rolled off our bed and landed on her back more times than I can count), but we love her just the way she is.

She runs the house. We just pay the bills.

Now say goodnight, Gracie!

South Side Sunset and Cocktails

The Hubs and I have a weeknight routine that consists of quiet dinners at home and then ending the night by cozying up on the couch and watching something educational (oh, who am I kidding...ok, so there are the nights where we watch mindless trash) on TV. And while we love these nights of what The Hubs coins as "hermit-ing", every now and then, it's nice to mix things up a bit.

Yesterday, we decided to head over to our friends' bar on the South Side for cocktails and some good ol' healthy bar-food (I managed to snuff out the guilt by reminding myself we were mixing things up a bit). It was a nice little indulgence; somehow, the cocktails and fried calamari tasted better while listening to live ukulele music in the background. And besides, it always feels good to support our friends' business.

After dinner and drinks, we schlepped our full-bellies across the street to the beach where we promptly laid out the beach towels and cozied up to watch the sunset.

And although this was probably the 8,894th sunset we've watched together, it never gets old. I mean, really, how could it? We feel so blessed to be here, enjoying each other, completely surrounded by God's creation. Life is SO good.

Life in the Slow Lane

This past May marked 4 years that The Hubs and I moved here to Maui. Our desire to "slow down" and truly live was our motivation to escape life in the San Francisco Bay Area and plant roots elsewhere. If I am being honest, moving here was definitely an adjustment (more for me than for him); I spent a couple of decades living in Silicon Valley, so uprooting our comfortable lives and learning to adjust to Island Time was no easy feat. While I am all for the idea of "change" and welcoming new life-altering experiences, I am also the first to shy away and the last to bask in the excitement of it all. I'm a walking oxymoron!

As with all major moves, there is the prerequisite period of acclimation; that brief period where you are still finding your footing and learning to merge your life into the energy of your new surroundings. It wasn't easy for me; I missed my family and friends, but in the bigger picture, making the move was also like coming full circle (I'm originally from Oahu). And while it took me a little bit longer than The Hubs to feel at home here, the point is, I made it. We made it.

It's four years later, and if you asked me today if I could ever imagine leaving Maui, the answer would be a resounding NO. Because in four years, The Hubs and I have realized that we are, in fact, living our dream. We've "slowed down" considerably. We've learned how to discern want from need. We've learned to recognize and truly appreciate the little things in life that bring us joy, and our lives are changed for the better.

I cannot begin to articulate the joy I feel when The Hubs texts me on his way home from work:

"You. Me. Wine. On the deck in five."

Code for: Let's watch another amazing sunset together.

And of course, I oblige. By the time The Hubs pulls up, I'm there waiting. He gives me a hug and a kiss, we make a toast and clink glasses, and then marvel at the majestic beauty of another sunset. We stand in silence and soak it all in; the sky is a blank canvas, and God paints us yet another gift in this beautiful, island life.




I love life here on Maui. I love our life together.

New Space, New Beginnings

...If you write it, they will read?

How many times have you begun something, only to stop (read: quit) because you were afraid? How many times have you failed to even start something because you were worried of the outcome? And digging even deeper, how many dreams have you failed to give wings because you were simply, afraid?

Me? Countless times.

I'm not completely new to the blogging world; I've kept an online journal since 2004, but this journal resides in a protective community and is accessed by invitation, only. And while said journal has been a liberating space for me to document the random musings (and sometimes mundane minutaie) of my life, it has also served as a foundation from which real-life friendships have grown.

So choosing to start a blog open to the public (and consequently open to judgement, scrutiny and criticism) is honestly, pretty scary. But when I peruse the sea of interesting reads from unique (yet like-minded) individuals who are brave enough to put themselves out there for the whole world to see, I find myself inspired. Giddily inspired to do the same.

And the bottom line is, I like writing. I like taking photographs. I like creating art. And I enjoy weaving the three together to tell a story.

My story.