October: So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye

I'm still in denial that it is already November and Christmas is next month; it seems impossible that we are nearing the end of the year when it feels like it was just yesterday that we were breaking down our Christmas tree (we are fake-tree people) and putting away the ornaments. Well, maybe not yesterday, but certainly not almost a year ago, either. I guess it's true that time flies when you're really living...and that's not such a bad thing, either.

While walking through a craft store the other day, I was momentarily taken aback when I came upon the shelves of Christmas decorations. Halloween wasn't even here, yet I had first pick of holiday wrapping paper and shatterproof ornaments? Bizarre. I stood in the middle of the aisle and let my eyes wander the shelves filled with all things red, green and glittery. And there, with a wall of ornaments in front of me and a display of christmas cookie cutters and candy-cane-shaped sprinkles to my back, something in my belly stirred. I smiled to myself; I SO love this time of year. I got jipped last year, so this season, I resolve to savor and relish each moment as it comes. November 1st isn't too early to start lighting gingerbread and cinnamon-scented candles, is it?

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Meanwhile, back at the studio...

I've been feeling crafty lately, straying from the norm and working on some fun little projects that I'll be listing in the shop next week. It has been so therapeutic for me, sitting in the studio working, while Billie Holiday streams on Pandora. I find it ironic that I can feel so peaceful and happy when I'm surrounded by my creative mess. And when I say mess, I mean, every-surface-area-of-my-studio-is-covered with cardstock, paints, beads, shells, graphite pencils, unfinished canvases, notebooks, post-its, paintbrushes, books and more. Truth is, the studio can use a good cleaning, but I kind of like the mess for a change. It means I'm actually working. :)

A foreshadow of fun things to come!

A peek at some packaging supplies...

I've also started painting "outside the box" and experimenting with different styles, mediums and techniques. This is both thrilling and terrifying all at once; on the one hand, I like the idea of branching out and learning new skills, but on the other, change is scary and finding your "voice" as an artist - whether you write, paint, sculpt or draw can be intimidating.

Creativity and time spent in the studio means it's a good day and today was no different. After a morning of errands, I came home and spent hours hunched over the table (my chiropractor would not be pleased) working. The best part of it all? It doesn't feel like "work".

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Happy November, friends. I'm looking forward to a new month full of creative adventures. Join me, yes? :)

Weekly Be-Happy-Tudes! (Vol. 10)

It's been a really difficult week with many things weighing heavily on my heart, but despite the clouds, there is always a sliver of sunshine. Sometimes you just need to look harder to find it.

I have much to be grateful for; not just this week, but every day. It goes without saying that food, shelter and warmth (all our basic needs for survival) being met warrants gratitude, but I am also grateful for the little, seemingly random things throughout the day that make my heart happy.

This week, I am happy and grateful for:

...more Fall candles. This sweet little candle was one in a package of five that cost me a mere $4.99. And although the candles won't burn for very long because they stand at only 3" each, their tiny stature made them all the more irresistable and impossible to pass up. Each candle boasts a fragrance that blends the Holiday Season - from Thanksgiving straight through to New Years - all into one. It's pretty fabulous.

...FREEBIES! One of the grocery store chains here "rewards" you every time you bring in your own reusable bag. Once you fill up your card with ten little stamps, you earn a free product. This week, I finally redeemed my card and scored something so perfect for our menus as of late: raw almonds. At $9.00 a bag, I'm pretty happy. Free = Good.

...and speaking of FREE, I won an incentive program at work which earned me a free RipCurl watch. Considering I'd just purchased a new watch for myself only a month ago, I cashed in and ordered this watch for Phil:

(a $225 watch for nothing. Again, Free = Good.)

...Instagram. This was one of those apps that sat untouched on my phone for months. When I finally started playing around with it a few weeks ago, I was instantly hooked. And this week, I captured more photos of deliciousness prior to gettin' my grub on:

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Since I've started doing this weekly gratitude list, I've often felt that the items topping my Happy-List seem so trivial and meaningless. But then I am quickly reminded that the very act of writing a weekly Be-Happy-Tude List has taught me to search for the little things in each day that bring me joy. And the truth is that there are FAR more blessings in any given day than just the few I choose to capture in a photograph and blog about on a weekly basis. Smiles from strangers, hitting all the green-lights on my way to work in the morning, finding lucky pennies in the parking lot...moments like these only fuel my desire to search for those things to be grateful for and ultimately, Choosing Joy in the process.

Have a beautiful weekend. xo

(also linking up with Lindsay, here.)

Real Life

It's been one of those days. I was already in a "mood" when I got home from work and by the time Phil walked through the door, I'd already begun to unleash on him, complaining and venting about my day without so much as a pause to come up for air. Selfish? Yes (just keeping it real).

Always the attentive listener, he was my sounding board and validated me where I needed validating, consoled me where I needed consoling and then gave me a hug and a dose of positivity because he knew how much I needed it. And after I'd stopped talking long enough to really look at my husband, I noticed him staring off into the distance with a vacant expression on his face. I asked him what was wrong and then I got this:

"Troy didn't make it."

{via}

There I was, being all dramatic and selfish and SO not "Living Aloha" and our friend had just left us. He fought for four long days and left only when he was sure his wife and three young boys were surrounded by friends and family...and that they would be ok. They will be--this I know for sure--because we have an amazing network of friends who have nothing but love for this family.

I am so saddened by this loss and just heartbroken for C and her boys. I don't know that I'd even be able to function if I were to lose Phil---but the idea of having three young boys to be strong for? I can't even fathom.

Death is an unforgiving teacher; there are lessons to be learned whether you are ready or not, and these lessons aren't limited to just those affected firsthand. We can all stand to learn something from this life-experience. And tonight, I am reminded of this. Nothing matters more than the people in our lives; nothing matters more in this lifetime than family.

I will hug my husband tighter and tell him I love him another twenty times before the night is over. I will tell my family and friends just how much they mean to me and I will be grateful for all that I have...every last bit (even the parts that make me want to come home and vent to my husband).

Life is short.

Know what matters.

Love with reckless abandon.

Mahalo...and an Update

Friends, I can't thank you enough for your warmth and words of support for our friend, Troy. I am really touched by the emails I've received letting me know that you are keeping Troy and his family in your thoughts and prayers; I really believe that prayer is powerful and that he feels the outpouring of positive energy. I appreciate each of you and know that his family does, too. Our friend is now in a medically induced coma in hopes that it will relieve the pressure and swelling in his brain. I wanted to share the latest since many of you wrote to me asking about his condition in the last 24 hours. Thank you again, for your kindness.

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It has been a heavy week thus far and it's not even Friday, yet. We've received other disheartening, health-related news from family and friends on the mainland and it's kind of putting me in a funk, but I'm doing my best to keep things in perspective and remind myself that in every life, a little rain must fall.

In other (happier) news, I've been spending a little more time in my art studio, working on a few creative projects in the last few weeks and am excited to introduce them into my shop during the first week of November. Phil has been super supportive and has even offered his techie assistance in some areas and I'm super stoked (how very NorCal of me, no?) to share these - as well as some other blog-related changes - with you...soon!

Regularly scheduled posts will resume tomorrow. Until then, mahalo for your continued thoughts and prayers for Troy. I feel the love and know that he does, too!

Troy

My heart is heavy tonight. It feels inappropriate to sit down and write my intended post when I found out only hours ago that a friend of ours in CA was in a terrible motorcycle accident and has suffered massive brain damage. I am so sad for his wife, his children, his family. I can't shake these thoughts and I wish we could do more than offer our steadfast prayers for healing.

Thinking of you and praying for you, Troy. Hang in there, friend.

{via}

Autumn Sunshine

Every year around this time, I'm torn between loving our island lifestyle and not wanting to trade it for anything, yet still missing Fall on the mainland and the feeling of anticipation this time of year brings. I'm an advocate for blooming where you are planted, so even though Maui is conservative in its Fall-ish-ness, I still relish in the bits and pieces of this "season" that I'm given. The colors of Fall aren't found on trees here, but in the palette God uses to paint the canvas-sky:

There are Fall traditions we left behind when we moved from the mainland, but in the time we've been here, we've learned to adapt, tweaking these traditions so they're island-friendly. I don't get to donn thick cableknit sweaters and wool coats, but I sport t-shirts and tank-tops and slippers in oranges and reds and yellows. I don't have the luxury of smelling burning fireplaces and the rich scent of fallen leaves, but I light candles with names like Fall Harvest and Autumn Sunshine and Spiced Pumpkin to bring the season to me.

The one constant we have that makes our Fall just like yours is the blessing of family and friends-who-feel-like-family; the other stuff is meaningless without these two, no? God is so generous in His gifts and we choose to celebrate what we are given...so The Hubs and I? We soak in these sunsets for all they're worth.

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Weekly Be-Happy-Tudes! (Vol. 9)

Tonight's post is going to be a quickie, as there is only one item on my Happy List for the week; this item supercedes all others in terms of importance. Today, I am happy and grateful for this:

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I do not wish this post to be an invitation for debate; I am not blind to the fact that this is only the first step of many and I certainly don't believe this to be the absolute end all be all. But I AM choosing to celebrate in this moment: it's been a long eight and a half years of violence and unncessary loss - it's time.

My heart is happy and I am especially moved by this announcement because my little brother served 18 months in Iraq. I extend my deepest gratitude to all soldiers who have served our country. Thank you for your service and all you have done!

Happy Weekend-ing, friends!

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Come check out Lindsay's weekly link-up on the "Little Things" and share what made you happy this week!

Gettin' My Grub On

While looking through the Instagram photos on my phone tonight, I couldn't help but laugh at the pattern that has emerged in the last few weeks. Apparently, my thoughts have been consumed with food. :)

[Note: Fourth row, last photo...not exactly "food", but it may as well be. Why do vitamins and supplements have to be so BIG?]

Are you on Instagram? Come join me if you are (angieonmaui)!

Happy Thursday, friends!

Angie 2.0

Twenty-one days: the length of time research claims it takes to form a habit.

Three weeks ago, I had a health scare that profoundly changed my life. I wrote about the experience and how it pushed me to commit to making changes that would improve my life physically, mentally and spiritually. Admittedly, three weeks isn't all that impressive in the grand scheme of things, but it's been three weeks of a multitude of changes.

And I feel good. I feel like a brand new Me.

I had a lot of bloodwork done and the results weren't horrible, but they weren't good, either. Aside from discovering that I am anemic and have been flirting with Prehypertension, many of my symptoms could be addressed by making lifestyle changes.

The most radical change I've made is a change in my diet. As a self-proclaimed lover of all things sweet, fried and cheesy, this was going to be my biggest challenge. Breaking the grip of my other vices would also be tough to tackle: the requisite cups of coffee in the mornings, energy drinks before a workout, a glass or two of wine multiple nights a week as part of the "unwinding process" and the excessive intake of sugary sweets like ice cream and cupcakes and gummy candies. Fear can really mess with your head and because I interpreted my scare as a warning sign, I really wanted to make some changes. And I did it. I gave it all up. [Sidenote: Detoxing is HARD. I had a migraine for four days straight trying to get off caffeine and sugar; it's amazing how addicted our bodies are without us even knowing it!]

Aside from the funnel cake I had at the fair (I waited months for that!), I've been eating clean for three weeks, now. I gave up caffeine, alcohol, sugar, "white" foods (rice, pasta, flour, etc.), and reduced my sodium intake. I've switched our meats to chicken breasts, fish and ground turkey and did a clean sweep of our kitchen to get rid of any processed foods. I've restricted myself to drinking water and caffeine-free tea only and I'm eating multiple times throughout the day to keep the metabolism going. This is a big step for me, considering I've spent more than half of my life struggling with an eating disorder and horrible habits.

I've been exercising with a lot more passion lately, too. For a long time I found myself uninspired and lacking in motivation and I felt like I had plateaued in many areas but now I am just insanely happy to be able to run at all, so I've been taking long(er) runs and doing a lot more cross training to really balance things out.

I've also given up all the worthless garbage I've allowed to get into my head and occupy space; all those wretched reality shows and tabloid/supermodel magazines that wreak havoc on my mind and my spirit, telling me that I am not good enough, thin enough, pretty enough or important enough. I am all of these things, even if it is harder to believe on some days more than others (I'm still working on that). And I have to say, it's really refreshing.

This whole experience has also encouraged Phil to make lifestyle changes as well and he's been eating "clean" right along with me. I love that in his efforts to be supportive, he has also taken the necessary steps to become healthier, too. And the bonus in all this is our weight loss: Phil is down 6 pounds and I'm down 9. It feels really good.

I am not naive enough to believe I will never indulge ever again; that I will never consume sugar or enjoy another glass of wine. I know that I will (but I'm holding out until my birthday next month) and I'm okay with that. I'm not giving these things up forever...I'm just giving them up for now. "Moderation" and I are taking the time to get to know one another again and we're trying to make friends. I just needed to take a step back, re-evaluate my life and learn what it's like to form new habits that make me feel healthy in body and mind.

And I'm getting there. :)

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The Great Pumpkin

I felt like a little kid over the weekend. On Sunday, Phil and I went to the pumpkin patch to pick out our Fall pumpkins. Last year we went the abbreviated route and nabbed two pumpkins from the grocery store, but this year, it was the experience I was after. We braved the crowds and went for the real deal: an actual pumpkin farm and fruit stand in upcountry Kula.

It was our first time at this farm and although I conveniently snapped photos that suggest a quiet and private stroll through the pumpkin patch, know that it was anything but. It seemed the third weekend in October is THE weekend to pick your pumpkins, because everyone under the sun was at this farm.

In typical Maui fashion, the pumpkin patch didn't just offer pumpkins, but an array of other family-friendly activities and an all-day grill-out with island style plate lunches. We roamed the farm, making our way through the rows of sunflowers, through the little stand that sold fruit, honey and flowers and finally down the path leading to the pumpkins.

I should have known better than to want to pick our own pumpkins, because all I wanted to do was take the lumpy, lopsided, hideous pumpkins home with me (come to think of it, this underdog-mentality is exactly why we always wound up with Charlie Brown Christmas Trees in Christmases past). And I would have left with two unattractive castaways had I not been repulsed by the plethora of bugs and spiders that scurried out in a panicked frenzy from underneath nearly every pumpkin. ::shudder:: This fact alone really killed the experience for me...and suddenly I didn't want a big pumpkin all that badly any more.

And then I got all distracted by the number of scarecrows perched along the fences and handed my camera off to Phil to document my immaturity:

Arachnaphobia got the best of me this weekend, so I passed on picking the large, carve-able pumpkins. I was a little disappointed, yes, but we didn't exactly leave empty-handed; we did adopt The Great Pumpkin in a tiny package:

As for our pumpkin carving and seed-roasting plans? We'll head back to the grocery store next weekend to pick up a couple of clean, spider-free bad boys.