Gratitude and Perspective

When I woke up this morning, my heart sank just a little bit. I pulled back the curtains and peered out at ominous skies and rain. More of it. And according to my calendar, today is June 25th; we are already into SUMMER, but it appears that Maui didn't get the memo.

I got up, showered and didn't bother styling my hair, because let's be honest, rain would mercilessly put to rest a blowout and cute curls...Murphy's Law, right? I quickly got dressed, packed my bags and grabbed the To-Go (disposable) cup of coffee Hubs' had graciously prepared. And it isn't until I cross the threshold of our front door and out into the day, that it gets good.

The rain is falling and I'm annoyed. My new outfit is already wet, I look down at my laptop resting neatly in my laptop bag which I now notice is unzipped. I am gingerly walking across the small stretch of lawn, my feet squishing through puddles. And mud. And now my sandals are soaked. I finally make it to my car and realize that my car keys are in my purse, which I now have to fish around for, while standing with an open laptop bag, a coffee cup which has begun TO LEAK FROM THE BOTTOM beside a car whose locked door is mocking me. When I finally get inside, wet and soggy, my mood has plummeted and I'm sour. Which is par for the course when the first few minutes of my drive look like this:

Yaaaaaayyyyy...Summer?

Sometimes I'm not as grateful as I should be. I may say that I'm grateful when deep down, it might not be something that I completely feel in my heart. And it's humbling, really, to think that I meditated and prayed about Philippians 4:11-12...just yesterday! Why am I letting such petty things affect me, when I have so much to be grateful for? Have I already forgotten the message from the day before? Was my morning already so awful that I couldn't see the gift of potential underneath it all?

With eyes wide open and a now-pliable heart, I began to think about how nearly everything I found as a negative, could be seen as a blessing if I just shifted my perspective a bit:

That new outfit that was now wet? It's a NEW outfit, that I had the means to buy.
The laptop that was getting rained on? It still works; I'm using it right now.
The rain and the puddles on our lawn? The earth needs water, and we are fortunate to have it.
Those sandals that were now soaked? I should be grateful that I even have shoes on my feet.
That leaky coffee cup? I have a loving husband who makes coffee for me every.single.morning.
The car keys I had to fish around for? They are keys to a car---a car that is paid for.

Naturally, thinking these thoughts lifted my spirits. And as I'm getting onto the highway, I'm suddenly grinning from ear-to-ear, because it was as if God said: "Child, now you're beginning to understand...".

And in His joy, He gave me this:

What could have easily been mistaken as an awful way to begin my week has actually been a much-needed reminder to be thankful in ALL circumstances. I've got a good life. No...I've got a GREAT life.

* * *

Summah, Summah, Summah-Time...

For the most part, living on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean means that we experience summer all year 'round (although we've been having some serious bizarre-o weather lately). And now that today is the first day of the Summer season, I love the idea that so many of you get to join us with blue skies, warm sunshine and (hopefully) some sand between your toes at some point over the next three months.

Summer is a perfect time to decompress; that time of year that offers each and every one of us an all-access, guilt-free pass to all things summer-y. Things like:

:: roadtrips! ::
:: coconut-scented sunscreen. ::
:: big, floppy sun hats. ::
:: ditching the shoes and going barefoot. ::
:: late-night trips for an ice-cream cone with your love. ::
:: drinking ice-clinking drinks from wide-mouth mason jars. ::
:: afternoon naps in a hammock. Or under the shade of a tree. Or heck, at home on the couch. ::
:: swimming in the ocean or pool so long your fingers and toes begin to prune. ::
:: outdoor BBQ's with family and friends. ::
:: eating copious amounts of watermelon. ::
:: making fruit smoothies. ::
:: tank tops, shorts, and slippahs (flip-flops, for you mainland folks). ::
:: staying up past your bedtime... ::
:: ...and sleeping in the next day. ::

Here's to a warm and happy summer!

Life Lately...Instagram Style

01: Random discoveries like these make me smile.
02: 5:00 pm rainbows are a great way to end the day!
03: When I start to feel sick, I get Naked. (clean it up, folks...it's not like that!)
04: Green Tea and a girly mag. Aloha Friday!
05: Morning tea in bed. I woke up feeling suuuuuuuuper sick.
06: Must be nice to fall asleep at anytime, anyplace and in any position!
07: Soul Detox. #SheReadsTruth
08: Sad to miss church because I was too sick, but YAY for live broadcast!
09: VIP tickets to Republik (Reggae) Music Festival - YAH MON!
10: Second go-round for this book.
11: Winner, winner, salmon dinner!
12: Loving my new Revlon polish (on sale $3.89 at Longs/CVS! Jordana glitter topcoat - .99 cents!)

{Play along on Instagram: @angieonmaui!}

Happy Tuesday!

Vacation Hangover

I have been moving like a sloth since we got back from Kauai. There is something to be said about going from paradise to paradise and back, that can render even the most ambitious of individuals utterly useless. Embarrassingly enough, the first home-cooked meal we had since we've been back was made in the crock pot over a period of four hours (and it was delicious, thanks to Ruthie's recipe). Vacation Hangover? Guilty.

{Aerial view of Oahu on our flight over to Kauai.}

Blog-worthy photos and a recap of our trip are forthcoming, but as with all hangovers, that'll take some time.

While my spirit is now at a state of rest, it's as though a veil has been lifted - and ironically, there is now a sense of restlessness; a thirst for so much more. I've alluded to some changes going on in my heart and here on the blog in recent weeks and that'll be shared in due time. Until then, a heartfelt thanks to those who take the time to read and follow along, to those who comment (and those who don't) and to some new followers who've dropped by to say hello. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Off We Go!

This morning, Phil and I are boarding a plane bound for Kauai! I'm taking my boy to The Garden Isle for his birthday; there will be lots of exploring, fine dining and basking in the luxury of life in paradise.

I'm going to try and stay unplugged for a few days, but reserve the right to fire up the laptop should the creative mood strike. And if I'm not on here until the weekend, you can catch me on Instagram (@angieonmaui) for glimpses of The Garden Isle! Aloha!

Bittersweet

It's ironic that as much as I love having my parents come to visit me, it's also bittersweet, because saying "goodbye" has become increasingly difficult as I've grown older. I've begun to notice small signs of age - in all of us - which only remind me of how precious our time spent together really is. The old adage that "time flies as you get older" is annoyingly accurate; so often I want to bottle up precious moments with my husband and family and just...BE.

My parents left and are now back in San Francisco...and I'm sad. I've done a really good job at stuffing my emotions and the thought of them to the back of my mind, but little reminders creep up that bring them to the forefront and I have to fight the lump in my throat to keep from crying. Just this morning, Phil brought me a cup of coffee in the mug my Momma used to drink her coffee while she was here, and it made me so sad!

The energy of this trip was much different from visits past; instead of the usual itinerary of Go, Do, See, we relaxed a bit more and took things slow...in part because I was on crutches for two-weeks (frustrating knee injury that is teaching me patience - both physically and emotionally). We did a lot of lounging at the beach, eating like royalty (Mama's Fish House, anyone?), indulging in cocktails and overall, just enjoying one another's company.

And now? The house is quiet, the spare bedroom is empty (sob!) and Phil and I are getting back to the state-of-us...to our normal routine in a home of two. I'm off work today, but instead of enjoying the down-time, I'm fighting a miserable cold that has me blowing snot and coughing non-lady-like (because I think you all needed to know that).

Happy Aloha Friday, friends. Have a great weekend!

* * *

Miss you, Momma & Bill! Thank you for a wonderful trip...love you both very much! xo

Fluff

So, this is going to be one of those posts that Phil has coined as fluff, but you know what? I'm perfectly okay with that; I'm fluffing it up on this here blog.

I'm in a season of renewal and change right now, and honestly, it feels good. Cleansing, even. I feel like some of the beach treasures I have collected over time - gifts from the sea that sit peacefully on my window sill in the art studio; beautiful pieces whose rough edges are now soft...pieces that have been given a good scrubbing after years of being tossed in the ocean.

I feel like I've been given a clean slate; a fresh start.
I am happy. My heart is full.

And fluffy.

Celebrating Success - Noa Green Photography

Friends, listen up; you're gonna wanna take some notes. Trust me. This girl? She's got passion on fire. And she's one of the most driven, determined and tenacious beings I've ever met.

Have you ever tried to grow a dream? Have you ever questioned whether you had the strength and endurance in you to see something from start to finish? Have you ever wondered...what if you gave it your all? If you're anything like me, you're nodding your head in agreement right now, but still feeling like a stranger to expectations and end-results.

Enter Noa.

Some of you might remember this sweet girl from the past; she guest-posted for me here and sponsored my blog for the month of January. She's "good people". She's the real deal. And I'm honored to count her among one of my closest, real-life friends.

It's a banner year for Noa, and she's celebrating big. And because she is my friend, I'm celebrating her success, too. This girl is making her dreams a reality. I won't even try to share her latest accomplishment here; it's an announcement that merits being "heard" in her own voice. So click here to read about her big news, and here, to read more about the steps she took to make it all happen.

Be inspired.

And tell me: what are YOU doing to bridge the gap between you and YOUR dreams?

* * *

Congratulations, Noa. I'm so PROUD of you! I love you, dear friend!

Life, Lately...Instagram Style (and other thoughts)

Phil teases me sometimes and refers to some of my posts as "fluff", and in my head, I've defined this as:

fluff: [fluhf] noun
1. Posts with little to no substance.
2. Blog fodder
3. Lazy, half-hearted posts to replace more interesting and amazing material still brewing.

* * *

I'll admit, as much as his teasing stings just a little bit, I'd be a liar if I said there wasn't an ounce of truth in his assessment of things. It's not that he's judging the quality of my writing (which honestly, can be lacking at times), but really just challenging me to push myself, to dig deeper and to stretch myself to grow this passion I call writing. And I love that he does this---encouraging me in a way that is like a good, swift kick in the pants, but still gentle enough so that its purpose is not lost on me.

All that to say, I've published more Life Lately posts than I care to admit, and as much as I think this type of material is as worthy as the next, I don't want to rely on these types of posts just for the sake of posting...because that is not what this blog is about. I say this more for my benefit than yours, but I do think its worth noting here; it's both healthy and necessary to periodically step back and ask ourselves why it is that we blog.

My recent hiatus gave me the time I needed to reevaluate the purpose of my blog and to bravely acknowledge and accept where it is leading me. This blog---as young as it is---has survived some experimental growing pains and nearly two years later, I like to think it has found its footing...or rather, I'VE found my footing. Hubs and I had a long conversation tonight about my blog and how it has grown and changed since the Fall of 2010---accurately mirroring the changes and transitions my life has taken in such short time. We talked about what I had hoped to achieve from it and ultimately the direction I want to take it. Where do I go from here?

So...lots of food for thought.

And I'm chewing on that for a bit.

* * *

But Life, Lately? Busy. Full. Challenging. And I wouldn't change a thing.

01: My friend Emily says that it looks like I'm strumming a guitar...I love her interpretation.
02: Phil and I took a quick break for an afternoon pick-me-up; tea for me, Frap for him.
03: MAUI! ...the land where palm trees sway!
04: So happy to have my Momma and stepdad make their annual trip out here to visit us.
05: I have ZERO need for these shoes, but I keep thinking about them.
06: Fresh Ahi...he's a happy boy.
07: 'Love these two.
08: The view from our table at brunch in Napili Bay.
09: Live it.
10: My husband, hanging out with a couple 'o chicks.
11: Our reward for late-winter rain.
12: My first month with them and sadly, not super impressed.
13: We took The Parentals here to celebrate their anniversary. And the food was screamin'!
14: Mani/Pedi with my Momma...and now there's a party happenin' on mah big toe.
15: Fresh Mahi. We're eatin' good these days.
16: South side beach day.
17: Ten years.
18: Happy Hour cocktails at the Grand Wailea.
19: Afternoon sunshine with my sunshine.
20: Full-moon dining amidst palm trees and tiki torches.
21: Soul Detox on the beach. #shereadstruth

{Are you on Instagram? Come play! @angieonmaui}

Thank you everyone for your sweet, congratulatory comments on Phil and I celebrating ten years. We're happy up in here. Happy Monday, friends.

Ten

{recycled photo, but my absolute favorite}

Today, Phil and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage.
I'm feeling exceptionally nostalgic and mushy.
And thanking God with every fiber of my being for leading us to one another.