Asian Inspired Ipod Skins

Now that bulky ipod rubber "sleeves" have become passé, vinyl “skins” have taken on the newest rage. These removable adhesive panels are designed to be applied to ipods (all generations), iphones and laptops. Graphics designs come in a range of styles, colors and prices.

Where to Get It:
www.skinizi.com, www.istyles.com, www.gelaskins.com

T-Shirt with a Brain

Ever find yourself looking for a Wi-Fi connection?
With this techy tee you’ll always be in the know. The blue bars on the shirt light up in accordance with the strength of the location’s wireless signal.

Where to get it:
www.ThinkGeek.com ($29.99)

Celebs Gone Green - Hybrid Cars

What do Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have in common?

It’s not what you think—it’s their shared concern for the environment.

Who knew that Hollywood would lead the way on LA’s green roadside?

Other famous celebrities who have gone auto-green:

George Clooney * Julia Roberts * Harrison Ford

Gwyneth Paltrow * Tom Hanks * Mandy Moore
Charlieze Theron * Jay Leno * Adam Sandler

Best Travel Saver - Portable Luggage Scale

At this past year's family Christmas white-elephant gift exchange, I found myself competing for a much coveted gift—a travel sized luggage scale. Having had the experience of frantically repacking items from my overweight suitcase into my carry-on bag at the airport counter in the French Riviera, I learned first hand how much a portable luggage scale will save you time, hassle, and unexpected airport fees.

Where to get it:
www.travelonbags.com (“Stop and Lock Luggage Scale with Tape Measure) $14.99
www.skymall.com (“Weigh To Go! Travel Scale”) $29.99

Politically Plastic – UN Bottles for Refugee Camps

I was moved by the concept of this award winning water bottle, the United Nation’s “United Bottle.” These disposable PET bottles are stackable, transportable, and reusable as resistant construction bricks when filled with sand and debris. The inspiration: for use in emergency situations and refugee camps...

...Now isn’t that smart drinking?

Away from My Blog - And Present in Peru

Thank you friends and family who have followed my blog with loyalty.

I am away on a much anticipated family vacation in Peru.

I'm looking forward to seeing the sacred valleys of Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It's one of the things I wanted to do before I died. How wonderful to experience this with family!


[This entry is dedicated to my dad for his generosity and vision to create a lasting family memory. Thanks, Dad!]

A Splash of Color - "Crumpler" Photography Bags

Why stick with the hum drum black photo bags of days past?

Spice things up and add a splash of color to your day!

Crumpler, a five year old Australian company has expanded their line of popular computer bags to reach the pro-photographer market.

Each bag has the padded removable sectional inserts that enthusiasts have come to expect. Best of all, it's stylish design and fun colors make your valuable gear nondescript to the unassuming eye.

There are 7 sizes and a variety of color pallets to choose from. I opted for the light blue and orange "5 Million Dollar Home" (crazy Australian bag names) which is perfect as a simple day bag for travels in Peru or day tripping in Hawaii.

Gotta Love It!

The "5 Million Dollar Home" ($90) comfortably holds a camera body, attached mid-range lens, and zoom lens (e.g. 70-200mm). The "6 Million Dollar" bag ($115) can hold 2 flashes, a body with attached mid-ranged lens, a zoom lens, macro lens and either portrait or super wide angle lens. (The latter would be my choice for an all-in-one bag.)

Where to Buy It
www.crumplerbags.com
www.amazon.com (competitive prices)
www.samyscamera.com (they add approx $20 to each base price)

Best Camera Store - Samy's in Beverly Hills

A "Disneyland" for professional photographers, Samy's is voted the #1 Camera Store in Los Angeles. With four floors of professional camera equipment, friendly and knowledge staff, and a range of professional services frequented by the Hollywood industry, it's easy to see why. Sammy’s is a great place to go for pro and prosumer enthusiasts.

Inside Scoop: Now through June 15, all Tamrac and LowePro bags are 35% off plus No Sales Tax! Tamrac and LowePro representatives are also on the floor to assist you.

I spent a good hour or two in the store getting ready for my trip this weekend, and walked away with big bags of camera gear. Eager to put my purchases in the trunk of my car, I searched my purse for my missing car keys...then had to stop and chuckle--where else but Beverly Hills does one need to valet their car to simply shop in a camera store?!

The Fuller Magic - Seminary Days in Pasadena

As I walked around the Fuller Seminary Bookstore today, I was taken back to memories of how I used to light up inside and feel a surge of excitement and energy as I walked around and flipped through rows and rows of books. I felt like a kid in a candy store--and I wanted to eat it all up.

Today, the bookstore served a more functional purpose...simply a place to buy my summer course books. I am changing. I now only buy the minimal books I will actually read...and am more interested in listening to the lectures on MP3 through an online course rather than showing up for a class and doing the assignments. I used to love to this stuff, what happened? And where did all the magic of Fuller go?

When I was an undergraduate college student, I used to long for the day I could take seminary courses. I would make secret Thursday night runs to the McCalister Library and sit in the basement until closing, reading Church Growth books (early 90s)...stroll around in the bookstore reading Missional books (late 90s) and Leadership Development books (early 2000s)...and sit in the prayer garden dreaming and praying for the day I could sit in my first class. It took almost 10 years for me to finally enroll in my first course, and interestingly the majority of classes I've taken focus on Spiritual Formation. My interests have developed and been refined overtime. And so too have my reasons for being here.

The magic is still here for those who want to receive it. For me, my priorities are changing. And so too is the Fuller Campus--they knocked down the prayer garden...and have left it a pile of rubble.

Neiman Marcus - Designer Sale

One of my favorite sales of the year...

Up to 50% off Neiman Marcus at the Ala Moana Mall.
Now through June 15th!

Designer Dresses, Shoes, Purses and Sportswear
...going, going...gone!

A Favorite "Pair" in the City

A good pair is hard to find...
(and we're not talking about Carrie and 'Big'
from the weekend's box office hit movie)


In an Ode to the Show, here are a Few Favorites of My Own

Clockwise, Top L: SATC Pink (Kate Spade), All Glitz and Glamor (Jimmy Choo),
Party with a Statement (Prada), With a Little Black Dress (Manolo Blahnik)

A Carrie Bradshaw Martini, please

In honor of this weekend's "Sex and the City, The Movie" release, the Pearl Ultra Lounge at the Ala Moana Center, in conjunction with Skyy Vodka, threw a series of hot pink themed parties complete with a special martini list named after each of the 4 leading ladies (and a high ball drink named "Mr. Big"), foam coasters in the shape of hot pink slippers, drawings for free shoes and gift certificates, and a grand finale shoe contest with a grand prize trip to NYC. Hot pink balloons, hosts in fashionable wear, and SATC episodes playing on the television screens helped the lounge feel oh-so-New York!

Pearl Ultra Lounge |1450 Alamoana Blvd., Honolulu | 808. 944.8000

Monolos and 'Pearls' - My Stint as a Shoe Model

Strutting across the bar top in 4 inch heels at the Pearl Ultra Lounge, I found myself a contestant for Honolulu’s “Sex and the City - Shoe Contest.” Placing one foot in front of the other, I balanced my way across the long curvy and slippery counter with a hot pink umbrella in hand, did a few pivots and turns and hoped for the best. Although I didn’t win the grand prize—a trip to New York City for the SATC movie premiere—I did walk away with some nice parting gifts. To celebrate the movie's $55 million weekend opening, I thought I’d pay homage to the show’s favorite shoe designer: Monolo Blahnik.

(left, Monolo shoe horn) (right, the heel-less “Aquarium”, $3,145) )

Best Water Bottle – Hydrate with SIGG Style

Thumbs up for these Limited Edition Asian-inspired reusable water bottles by SIGG ($22). SIGG, a 100 year old Swiss company, is known for its quality built products, garnering a consistent loyal base in Europe and Canada.

Four good reasons to buy a SIGG:

1) SIGGs are lined with ceramic leaving water tasting like water—not the plastic or metal container it’s in (FDA approved).

2) SIGGs are eco-friendly – Reusable, made from recyclable aluminum and 1% of every purchase goes toward environmental causes!

3) SIGGs are stylish – They come in 149 fun designs, 6 of them Asian themed

4) SIGGs are functional – They are well constructed and durable, noted as “the world’s toughest water bottle” (Backpacker Magazine), yet weighs almost the same as a plastic bottle.

Unfortunately, SIGG manufacturers are completely sold out of their products for 2008, and according to Hawaii store owners the Asian designs in particular are nearly impossible to find.

Island Secret - Where to Get It:

Lily Lotus Boutique, Kaimuki (only a handful of Asian designs left)
Online: REI and Patagonia (regular designs)

Izukaya Nights

Last night a group of friends and I gathered at the izakaya Kohnotori to reminisce about our years living in Japan. In Japan, izakaya’s are late night drinking establishments that serve bite sized appetizer dishes to accompany the sake and cold beer. But in Los Angeles and Honolulu, izakaya’s have grown to become popular and trendy eating places among the hip and young who often head to these spaces for traditional Japanese food, and who rename the experience as eating “Japanese Tapas”.

The majority of our party ordered the typical izakaya fare: Bacon wrapped asparagus, scallops in ponzu sauce, karaage chicken, yakitori (skewered meat grilled over charcoal, topped with salt or sauce), and ahi poke (found only in Hawai’i izakayas). Mie, who was born in Japan, and Ken, who lived there for 11 years, were more adventurous in their orders--steamed daikon oden, baked lotus root stuffed with meat, and skewered chicken hearts.

Kohnotori is located in the same plaza as Imanas, another crowded and contemporary off-angular designed izakaya. Other popular places include Tokkuri Tei, Yamagen and Sushi Izakaya Gaku. The first izakaya that I tried in Honolulu was Gazen, a spacious dark-paneled restaurant serving dishes with a gourmet flare and health conscious twist. Izakaya Nonbei is another unique space with décor reminiscent of a home or inn found in Japan’s countryside.

Let me know what your own favorite Izakaya is!

Where It’s At:

Imanas | 2626 S. King Street, Honolulu | 808.941.2626
Tokkuri Tei | 611 Kapahulu Ave # 102, Honolulu 808.739.2800
Izakaya Nonbei | 3108 Olu Street, Honolulu | 808. 734.5573
Gazen | 2840 Kapikolani Blvd, Honolulu | 808.737.0230
Yamagen | 2210 S. King Street, Honolulu | 808.947.2125
Sushi Izakaya Gaku: 1329 S. King Street,Honolulu | 808.589.1329
Kohnotori | 2626 S. King Street, Honolulu | 808.941.7255