A Shower for Becky & A Baby to Boot.

I'm so glad we were able to have Becky's Baby Shower before she had the baby! I was a little worried for a while there...We did a garden theme party on my lanai in Hau'ula.

We dined on fruit kabobs, cinnamon rolls, croissants with jams, quiche, and a delicious tart.

Had some great prizes for the funny games we played.

And everybody got to take home some Basil & Chives seedlings.

Then, almost exactly 2 weeks later, baby DeMartini made his debut.
...and, I just LOVE him already.

Congrats Doug & Becky! I'm so, so, so happy he is finally here.
Can you tell?

I Am Ridiculously Excited.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I read my first Harry Potter book when I was in Mrs. Ormonde's 7th grade English class. I haven't been able to stop since. These are the only movies that I will guzzle a giant Mountain Dew and stay awake for a midnight premiere (along with the rest of the 12-year olds). Let me know if your in. November 19.

Preserve.

I LOVE this. I really like it when people become innovative and think outside of the box. Especially when it benefits something worthwhile. I have been buying these toothbrushes for some time now and think you should too! They are powered by and made of recycled yogurt cups. The toothbrush comes in an easy to recycle postage-paid mailer. You save the package, place worn toothbrush into package, stick it in the mailbox, and it is recycled again and again and again. (Well, hopefully not the bristles. I'm sure they don't just REUSE toothbrushes). I buy mine at Target, but they are also available at Whole Foods Markets and Trader Joe's. To find a location where they sell Preserve products, click here.

I Think I'm Turning Japanese, I Think I'm Turning Japanese...

Last weekend was very...interesting. Families in La'ie frequently have the opportunity to host students from all over Asia. This past weekend, they had a shortage of families and I was asked to host some students. Since Kari's family had ward camp, she graciously offered her house up to me. Originally, I was supposed to have 2 female students. However, they ended up having about 40 girls and 120 boys, so I was assigned two young men from Japan. I recruited my friend Teren, who speaks Japanese to come and stay in the house with me and help me translate. We took them to a BBQ at the Goat House (which was their favorite), to church in Hau'ula, to Haleiwa, to Wal-Mart (another favorite), and Burger King.

Probably the funniest story, among many: Teren didn't really let the boys know that he spoke very much Japanese. He insisted that we speak only English to them because the purpose was for them to learn English while here. BUT, Teren could understand every word they were saying and would inadvertently giggle sometimes when they would be talking. Sunday morning, Teren and I were making breakfast for "our kids" and it was really hot so we opened all of the windows, allowing a couple of flies to get in the house. Soa ("so-ra") said to Akia ("aki-ra"), "Wow, it's amazing that the flies don't bother them. They don't even notice them." Akia said, "It's because they are one with nature, like all human beings should be. They are so close to nature". HA! Apparently, I am one with the earth because I can eat my spam and eggs with flies buzzing around my noggin. Love it.

Typical American Experiences: WAL-MART

When they figured out there were shopping carts, they started all over again at Wal-Mart. 1 1/2 hours later, they had filled their cart with chocolates, Sony MP3 players, jeans, creepy skull t-shirts, Twilight New Moon Bracelets (HAHA) and Casio watches. They kept asking for Dolce & Gabbana. I didn't have the heart to tell them that Wal-Mart was not that kind of store. Oh well, I guess no one in Japan will ever know the difference.

They loved that you can "self check-out". I loved watching 5 Japanese kids trying to figure out self check-out.

BURGER KING

I know, Mean. It was just too funny to resist. We made them wear crowns while they ate their Burger King. Some were happy about it, some did so grudgingly.

RIDING IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK

All I can say: They were stoked.

BREAKFAST

Teren really had to pester them to smile in this picture. I think they thought we were really weird. Heart plates because we loved them so much.

Teren, thank you for making my life so much easier last weekend. I couldn't have done it without you. This is our awkward little "family". And my little Japanese boys, thanks for making me laugh more than I can remember in a long time.

Makapu'u Lighthouse & Sea Life Park

Since I've started a blog, I have had the desire to make my life a little more adventurous. I figure, if I have nothing exciting to report then there is really no point in my having a blog. In a way, it is inspiring me to see more of the island and have a more exciting lifestyle.Last week I FINALLY hiked Makapu'u Lighthouse, which is something that I've been wanting to do for about, oh, 4 years or so. It was on my list.

I also went to Sea Life Park, again. I have to say, I definitely look at those dolphins leaping"happily" out of the water a lot differently since I watched the documentary "The Cove".
If you haven't seen it, it's a tearjerker. Especially if you have any love of our precious marine mammals.

The Fruits of my Labor.

This is what has been consuming all of my time for the past two weeks:

It is FINALLY done. Now that I have gifted it to Becky at her amazing baby shower (I only say that because I threw it at my house :) I can post it for all else to see. I was instructed by Doug that the ideal baby blanket would be all camouflage. I made a slight compromise. I did camouflage colors with a bit of a twist. I made it baby boy friendly. Owls and Trees: 2 baby friendly images, yet manly.

For the top squares I used flannel & soft corduroy. The edging is also corduroy.

All of the owls and trees are hand stitched.

Becky, I hope you enjoy using it as much as I enjoyed creating it! I can't wait for baby DeMartini!!!! Sorry for those of you who have not received returned phone calls from me! This is my proof that I was actually doing something and not completely ignoring you.

Herbs & Birds

Herbs: A year ago, my roommate Melanie, and I, decided to try to grow a small square foot garden. We tried. I won't show you the gory 'after' pictures, but all of our lovely green beauties were limp and brown by the end of the season. With no fruits of our labor. However, the basil we grew did serve us quite well and it was THE ONLY thing that we were actually able to consume.

Here is my attempt to garden last year:

And here is my attempt to garden this year:

BASIL! I figured I couldn't go wrong with this one. Plus, I'm tired of spending lots of money at Foodland & Tamura's buying something that I could very well produce myself.

Birds: The other day while sitting at work (not being able to read or do anything noteworthy) I saw something fall from the sky. SPLAT! Straight onto the cement. I walk over and there is a tiny green bird that had fallen about 40ft from his nest. I mean teeny, tiny, teensy, weensy bird. I picked him up with a napkin and placed him off to the side where no one would step on him, in hopes that his mother would come and rescue him. One sad hour later, no mother came to his rescue, so I adopted him.


I made a nest for him, mashed up his food, fed him, and kept him comfortable for a full day. Unfortunately, little Mojito (that is what Malia and I decided to name him) refused to eat his breakfast the next morning. I even woke up at 5:30 to make sure he wasn't hungry. Then 6:30, then at 7:30. He had to learn his lesson the hard way and he passed on. If only he would have eaten his breakfast. Honestly though, he lasted a lot longer than I expected him to. You can't just fall out of a tree onto concrete and escape unmarred. I guess it was just Heavenly Father's plan for little Mojito. May he rest in peace.
Birds have come up a lot in my projects lately. They are just so beautiful and there are so many different types. And, who doesn't love to be woken up by a songbird in the morning? (NOT a rooster, they don't count in the lovely bird category.)

A New EDITION

As many of you may already know, I have received a job offer to work at a brand new hotel opening in Waikiki. I held off making it public until I had more concrete details about it, but I just couldn't resist anymore! I have worked for Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club for a year now and just felt that I needed a change. A good friend of mine already works for EDITION and suggested that I apply for a front desk position. I was EXTREMELY nervous! It is a unique new brand of Marriott luxury boutique hotels and for those of you who know me, that's not exactly my style. It is going to be managed and run by Marriott, but designed and marketed by Ian Schrager Company (Studio 54). I had to go to a "Casting Call", which was held at a nightclub, in which I had to introduce myself to several of the managers and try to sell the "Holli" brand. Apparently I did okay because they called me back for an interview! I went to my interview dressed to the nines and in HEELS mind you! (Extremely uncommon for me). I will admit, I felt very confident in myself in a brand new outfit and...honestly, I knew I would get the job. Why you ask? Well, because I went to Panda Express TWICE the week before my interview and well, lets just say that Panda Express has always been a reliable source for me. (see fortunes below). So folks, if you ever need any of life's hard questions answered, head on over to Panda and order yourself a steaming plate of orange chicken, open that fortune cookie with confidence and 'VOILA', you've got yourself a new job.