Flashback Friday: Playing Favorites

Time flies so fast after humpday! It was just Wednesday when I was contemplating what I was going to do for the weekend, and already, it's Friday?! Steak sauce! 

Normally, because I work long days and lengthier work weeks, going through humpday always feels like half a victory for me--in a good, resounding "we're almost there!" kind of way. It's almost like half an achievement--(aka half an entitlement to HALF-PAT yourself on the back!! Haha). This "half-achievement" means that the daily combative relationship you have with your alarm clock might soon be over. This is me. I have a love-hate relationship with the snooze button and I claim entitlement to better sleeping hours. (Well, in a perfect world.) 

Getting past the midweek means you can dreamily start your countdown to Friday and that's ALWAYS something to look forward to. And now it's finally here! "Full Achievement" up in lights! You have conquered the work week! Most people celebrate this "completion" with more than just a complete pat on the back (Ha-ha :D), and claim more entitlements than just a decent amount of snooze--To some, Fridays are SUPPOSED be celebrated with partying it up full-monty style, welcoming the weekend and considering the whole shebang as a reward for hardwork or diligence in school. But, while we appreciate the anticipation of things to come and the fun plans we have, It's equally noteworthy to look back (within the week or otherwise) to the good things we've been blessed with so far. I always say my first step to feeling happy is gratefully acknowledging life's little incentives. Looking back, here are some of mine. :)

ONE | Favorite Edible Art

Tiramisu Cup by the Honolulu Coffee Company, my all-time FAVORITE Kona Cafe. While you're at it, check out their to-die-for chef-made desserts and Macadamia Nut Latte!

TWO | Favorite Aerial Spectacle

Maui's summertime sunrise: I took several snapshots of this beautiful 'Good Morning!' greeting from God during a recent trip to Maui.

THREE | Favorite Panoramic View

The Honolulu Metropolis: This was the first-time I got to test my underwater (yes) camera for a panoramic sweep of the metro and it wasn't so bad for the price I got it for. So three cheers to that! :) Which brings me to...

FOUR | Favorite Pau Hana (Happy Hour) Drink and Drinking Spot

Razzmatazz (Raspberry Martini)

La Mariana's Sailing Club Tiki Bar and Restaurant

FIVE | Favorite Indoor Lights

I love how Tiki bars have that cozy look and balmy feel of island summer evenings. Pufferfish lanterns? Talk about an instant ambience booster.

SIX | Favorite Read

The Happiness Makeover by MJ Ryan:

Let me put it in the words of Lauren Conrad: "There’s nothing quite like spending an afternoon enthralled in a fabulous book." --and what would be more fabulous than the subject of happiness? PLUS, lately I've been working on reigniting my love for literature (yes, love is that fuzzy, excited feeling of burying your face in the smell and texture of a new book, and devouring its delicious story to bits). This past weekend I've been finding myself in a Barnes and Noble squatting spree (yes, I've been spending so much idle time squatting in their aisles and comfy corners engrossed in their books, that it might as well have been my living room.)

Work takes A LOT of my time and so therefore I really haven't had the chance to catch up with my daily dose of literature in a while. So now I'm on my little Reading Project where I decided to devote more time each month to curl up with an amazing read for pure, dorky pleasure :)

SEVEN | Favorite Shameless Splurge: Yes, shameless because being the major scrimper that I am, I was not proud of purchasing these two items on the same day, (but, i was trying to give myself two half-pats on the back for working hard all week. Haha) Anyway, I promised myself to NEVER shop half-mindedly or on an impulse again. (Yeah, right.)

Michael Kors Jet Set Logo Tote 

Steve Madden Dome Satchel (Croc Embossed)

EIGHT | Favorite 'do

Grecian braids (Oh so divine!--Literally. Coincidentally, the 2012 Miss Oahu Filipina is happening tomorrow evening and I am covering it for my segment on TFC.  I also got a table invite from the reigning Queen who's also a good friend of mine and she was sweet enough to include me in her relinquishment speech, so I really need to go for support and give her a lei onstage as tradition has it! That said, I might just take the extra mile in primping, which means I just might be donning this 'do to see how it works with my evening look.)

NINE | Favorite DIY Detox

This is my favourite DIY salad which I put together (thereby explaining why it has no name) when I was feeling under the weather, and in need of a little detox. (Truth is, I hate doctor visits (aka 2 hours of your life in a cold isolated room, waiting to be finally sent home) so sometimes I try to make myself feel better instead and stay home! (Kitchen trumps ER!) For the dressing I used my all-time FAVORITE dressing, next to honey mustard: the Oriental Ume Plum Dressing. Another choice would be Papaya Seed Dressing, or just plain vinaigrette, which depends really on how you want it. I normally steer clear of these because they lean more towards the tarty side rather than having a more balanced combination of flavors that actually compliment the taste of both fruit and vegetable. But that's just me. Feel free to create your own DIY too! (Tip: Honey Mustard dressing compliments the taste, juices and texture of grapes in salads)    

TEN | Favorite Cheat Treats

 

I know. I know what you're thinking, BUT! It won't really hurt to cheat a little bit after a long week of religious dieting. Sheesh capisce! We should all be well and happy! No one deserves an extremely rigorous workout and a strict diet and no time to indulge! That's just bad news! Try these DEE-LIIISH cheesecakes to make sure your one-time-pleasure-seeking palate is satisfied! For more, check out  The Cheesecake Factory's wide variety of delights. :)

ELEVEN | Favorite Quick Fix (for the occasional growling beast in your belly )

Milton's Multi-Grain Gourmet Crackers and Belgioioso's Mascarpone Cheese: Don't you just hate breakfast cravings when you have absolutely NO time to satisfy them? I came up with this combo once when I was pressed for time and couldn't sit down to eat a decent meal. It's like a quick-fix for those occasional, mild hunger pains. I love snacking. All day, everyday, even at the last minute before I go to bed (It's a shame, but that's ok if you're shameless!--that's me HAHA) Anyway, I know for a fact that portion-controlled snacking is beneficial for your digestion (see?!) as it also exercises your metabolism. I snack throughout the day particularly in the late mornings and early afternoons and this is pretty much my convenient snacking combination. I like that snacking also prevents me from bingeing in the evening, before dinner. I like adding light cheese to a snack occasionally  as the calcium in it also helps reduce body fat. There's a lot of ways to enjoy Mascarpone. It IS one of my favorite cheeses precisely because it's so versatile. Yung cheese na hindi namimili ng lasa. Haha! Parang "salingket", yung kalaro na hindi namimili ng kalaro! :) You could pair it up with a salty, sweet or even a spicy kind of snack and it never disappoints. 

TWELVE | Favorite New Word

Notice this A LOT? I do! Although I've never done this in my entire Facebook history and I know that doesn't necessarily make me a "chaste" or a non-erotic person (haha!) but rather, because of this, I am NOT able to explain it with any approval or gusto. Sorry! Why this is, has always been a matter of interest to me though.  

(source: www.urbandictionary.com)

So enjoy your favorites, reward yourself and savor your Friday cause you earned it! And remember: Your alarm clock is your friend! It makes sure you have enough hours in your paycheck! Haha!

Motherpaddling Mothersurfers

I've recently developed a new liking towards a happy way of surfing: Group Surfing!

RJ, Lovelee and I joined some people for a group surfing session in Waikiki with the help of our awesome friends at  Big Wave Dave Surf Co--Et voila! It turned out to be a fun experience for us, not to mention it was a great workout, and a good way to keep the summer heat at bay.

I have tried surfing before but this experience stands out in comparison 'cause aside from doing it with my favorite decade-old power couple, the Waikiki coastline felt so safe and the waters were pretty manageable.

And, albeit living here for quite a while has synced my personality with the Hawaiian culture, lifestyle, and social norm (yes, even its pidgin language!), I'm not surprised to say that I never really had "that pressure" to be a super surfer, contrary to the normal expectation of "you live in hawaii = you must be a motherpaddling mothersurfer".

Guys, that notion is overrated. (see #5 of this link) It's like saying that all bakers make good bread. Depending on how you appreciate it, Hawaii may well be as normal and as regular as any other normal, regular place could get. Unlike your average preconceptions, not all of us are necessarily surfing enthusiasts here, (although many are, in their own respect, great surfers) and yes, we still keep 8-hour jobs each day and we don't necessarily spend them bumming about on the beach, mai tais in hand (well, weekends in exception. Ha-ha) But still. Pareho-pareho lang lugar yan, we just happen to be darnfully blessed with breathtaking geographic and aquatic landscapes and this has made it convenient for us to find creative ways of incorporating Hawaii's beauty into experiences we now enjoy like water sports & recreational activities. (see #9 of this link)

Hawaii is slowly becoming one of my favorite places to settle down, just because work doesn't always feel like work here, and you can save your 5pm's for Pau Hana happy hour, or just by kicking off your shoes on the sand, sharing beers with friends in the back of pick-up trucks, and waiting for sundown while ''talking stories''. I guess we're blessed with being surrounded by the ocean wherever we go, which means every "beach" is just a different angle to the same majestic beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

I love this island, because it's super convenient for me and my friends to enjoy its beauty for a little to no cost, and being that it's navigation-friendly enables us to explore it to the fullest without the grandiose planning or extravagance of having to sail or fly to get to the water or to hike to the mountains, or to capture the perfect scenery all at once. It's a lot easier for us to enjoy the water and its recreational perks when we're already actually surrounded by it. If you're planning to move here, you're looking at a very small chance of boredom, I promise you. And for some reason, time seems to slow down a bit here, too, even my tourist friends notice that. :-) (like the other #9 of this link)

---Which brings me back to our afternoon of group surfing--it was practical for us to go to Waikiki to surf since we were all coming from Honolulu, and besides, there's tons of other things to do, see (and eat) in Waiks too! The only challenge is the parking (as with any other tourist destination). But other than that, it's a decent enough spot to catch some steady waves. A lot of local friends would have had disagreed with our choice of surfing place, because it's too "touristy" or "heavily populated" but the thing is, if we really wanted to go to the surfing Mecca of Oahu and treat this experience as seriously as we would a heart attack, then we would have gone to the North Shore, and go crazy in Sunset Beach, where all the Kate Bosworths are. But since we just really wanted to chill and there was no real need to sensationalize this experience, we stuck to the cool, calm waters of Waikiki and crossed our fingers for a good surf.

What I always liked about Surfing is that, innate to any kind of sport, it teaches you how to master timing and coordination. It can be a bit tricky if you're not very comfortable with those inevitable underwater whallops, but just like what they tell kids in swimming lessons, the water is your friend and you just have to trust it to know it. (Blind faith. Trust muna. Ha-ha.)

When I learned how to surf (years ago), it took me a while to realize that the advantage of a wipeout is to give you control and leverage over your next attempt to catch--and ride--a wave. I've always been a keen learner--I wanted to know and master motion controls based on the proximity, playing field, leverage and even the "texture" of the playing field (in this case, the texture of the sea floor, haha) to have a total understanding of how I'm supposed to carry out my maneuvers. So for me, wipeouts were always helpful in the sense that they acquaint you well with the rhythm of the ocean and arrest your fears of falling into the water by virtue of familiarity with the fall. In short, falling over and over again empowers your foresight on your next attempt of riding a wave. Imagine if you had to battle the same giant over and over again--you'll know it well enough to keep yourself from making the same mistake right? You've sized it up so many times that it doesn't even look so huge anymore. What doesn't kill you... (takes you to the rest of the cliche.) Haha :-)

I guess I could say that in essence, I like surfing because it's not all that easy. First of all, I don't have the arms of a paddler, and that alone was a challenge for me, getting back into the mid mark from the shore after riding a wide, solid wave. Second, some brain work goes into the timing of your paddling, and the direction of your strokes versus the current, and then into your mind-and-body coordination when you to stand up and ride the wave. I like that it uses a little scientific action-reaction, too. Preparation --> Timing--> Paddling--> Catching--> Balancing--> Riding. That's what makes it actually workable--the logic behind your paddling and catching a wave and the body and mind coordination it takes in balancing your weight on your surfboard, maintaining that balance once you catch the wave, and maintaining that posture as long as your body would allow you to. Thats it. Everything else has to do with relative judgment, and like i said, blind faith! At least that's how I see it! :-)

I love group surfing in particular because Lovelee and I got to ride waves at the same time! It was so awesome and it felt so G-double-O-D!!!  (But boo, no pictures!) It was so much fun riding side by side and getting on the board at almost the exact same time because it makes the experience more communal and exciting! Anyone who wants to try it should! It's a special kind of feeling being out in the sea with an awesome bud or with your special group of friends. I highly recommend it.

For all the fun we've had, I'd like to throw out a BIG 'thank you' to our friends at Big Wave Dave, especially to Patrick, who refreshed our surfing knowledge to make sure we're all ready and re-oriented enough to hit the waves again, and of course for giving us a wonderful time. Here's a little snippet of him sharing his knowledge to make sure we surf safely.

Waikiki Surfing from Angela Nolasco on Vimeo.

Big Wave Dave gives out special discounts in board rentals too! If you're by the Hyatt Regency in Waikiki, don't hesitate to pay them a visit! You'll be glad you did! :-)

We had fun and we're grateful for this season. Everyone deserves a great summer!

Big Wave Dave Surfing Company

2410 Koa Avenue (by Hyatt Regency Hotel)

Waikiki, HI

(808)386-4872

My Little Paper Crown Obsession

It's no secret how much I love the laid-back, subdued and oh-so-chic look of Paper Crown. And although Spring has sprung a while back, I, on the other hand, still wouldn't quit obsessing about its pastels and nudes and corals, and taupes. I don't normally dress in a lot of colour or in a flashy fashion, but this year is turning out to be quite the exception, given that summer's becoming a huge, beautiful neon mess. But before I did consider going that direction, I started with my basic loves: the nude, navy, teal, subdued floral, and blush tones which are to die for. The beautiful designs of Paper Crown fit that to a T, that their blush tones actually make me blush. :) Ha-ha.

Paper Crown Clothing by Lauren Conrad 

(also available at Nordstrom)

http://www.paper-crown.com/

Like them on Facebook if you agree with me! 

Blooming back into Spring! (Some of my Springtime 2012 Favorites)

This Spring has been a warm ray of sunshine indeed! And the season of fresh starts, bright new adventures and happy, colorful knick-knacks has never been more promising. Although the nice balmy summer breeze has indeed been quite the visitor lately, it's still nice to recall the wonderful blessings Spring has left with its flora. Here are some of my favorites:


My little visit to LA (Santa Monica Pier, LA)

Our last champagne at Shinshotei before Leeann flew for Vegas

  My own trip to Vegas!

Finding my next nail art peg for the love of white!

...Which brings me to my own wall peg for my white room

Long planned virtual shopping with and for my BFF Ali (which inspired me to jump from a pastel spring to a neon summer)

And her quick and happy response to receiving what I got her in the mail!

My Aloha tumbler (a tiny motivation to drink VOLUMES of water each day, since summer's out and about)

Fresh, lovely Petunias I got my mom for Mother's Day

My trip to Maui (which kicked off the start of my Summer!)

Spring brings all that there is to love. :) Looking forward to next year's peachy surprises!