Beautiful home in the town I grew up.

Lately, I've been looking up possible homes in the future that my siblings and I could own for ourselves. My sister, brother, and I have been renting for roughly 10 years, and even though we're not exactly where we want to be in our lives right now, we do think that owning a house could be a great big step to something magically fulfilling in our personal dreams. Since moving to Hawaiʻi, my family has never been financially stable enough to be homeowners, but now that we're all older, we understand what it takes to bring that foot over to the other side.

HGTV is my go-to channel; I love deciding whether or not I like the style and details, and also learning about what's beneficial and what's trending in modern homes. From watching it religiously when I go over to my cousin's house (we don't have cable ourselves), I saw a commercial for Zillow.com and decided to give it a look. Now it's my newest favorite site, and I even signed up for it. I became obsessed with looking at the homes available near and around our area, especially looking at the million-dollar homes. I live on the Big Island—the views available for luxury homes are nothing short of spectacular; even the more affordable (what's considered affordable for Hawaiʻi standards) have potential for amazing views of either ocean, mountain, or both. That's what's great about having very little buildings in our "city."

On Zillow, they have a link with amazing interior details that you can own for yourself. It looks like Pinterest for home design. I've picked a few of my immediate favorites to show to you why I'm so obsessed with this site and all that homeowning and interior design has to offer!

Kitchen:



This is basically my dream kitchen. I love the granite tops and the dark color of the cabinets. What I would change is maybe have a slightly lighter color for the bottom cabinets for a little bit more of a contrast. I also really like the glass on the cabinets so if I ever have guests, they know exactly where to grab the utencils and whatnot. Stainless steel appliances are a must. I would argue for a longer island, but that's just being picky, since it's huge and has room for people to snack and talk with you while you're cooking in the kitchen. I would argue about the floors; I'm not opposed to the tiles, but I would also like to see if wood would be a better option. Other than those few things I would change, it's pretty perfect, open and welcoming, and most of all, clean. Find out how to get this design here.

Everyone has their own fashion sense, but more than that, they have a certain style that they dream of wearing if money weren't a problem. For years, I've been running a fashion blog which exposed me to the modeling and fashion industry—something I never thought I'd be into. But, throughout the years of watching fashion shows, reading reviews, and seeing different fashion communities react to the inner workings of the fashion industry, the new faces of modeling and brands, and the drama within the fashion houses, I've come to learn my own sense of style.

Above are three of a few outfits that I've never been able to get rid of from my head. Magically, all three of these looks are white, while I'm very colorful in person, but I guess that's part of the fashion sense I would have if I had wads of money to enjoy as I please.

From left to right: Alexander Wang Spring/Summer 2013 Ready-to-Wear (Magdalena Frackowiak), Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2014 Couture (Marta Placzek), Alexander Wang Spring/Summer 2014 Ready-to-Wear (Georgia May Jagger).

I fell in love with the negative spaces in Wang's SS13 collection. Plus, Magdalena was the perfect match for that look. The dainty vibe from Dior's look really accentuates the shape and the little pop of dreamy color on the top. This is definitely one of my favorite looks from that collection. And as you can tell by looking at the side of this blog where my profile picture is, I do have a knock-off version of the "Parental Advisory" Wang top that I got on Amazon, though it's all sold out. That top paired with the pastel pink shoes is something I would love to try and rock one of these days. I'm always ready for the money to buy designer clothing. :~)



Sometimes I dream about walking down the streets and having photographers politely bombard me with flashes and praise. Living in Hawaiʻi, street style is as important as tornado prepardness kits, but it's still nice to dream of going to New York or Stockholm or Paris to show off my clothes.

Left to right: Ming Xi wearing Kenzo with Prada Spring/Summer 2013 shoes, Kasia Struss's oversized boyfriend blazer and stiletto heel boots, and Kasia again with her signature dark-on-dark colors and killer legs.

These are some of my dream styles that I would pick up once the bank statements start saying I can. From what I can tell of this blog post, I would go out to dinner or an event in white, but if I'm walking around the street shopping and running errands, I'd be wearing black with small bits of bright color. This, in no way, represents the way I dress now, but a girl can dream until it becomes reality.

I've always had really dry lips, even when I've hydrated sufficiently (as you should always do!). The dry skin on my lips gets really irritating and I start making a habit of picking it with my teeth, even though that does even further damage.

So, to take good care of my lips, I try to exfoliate every so often so that my lips feel smooth and moisturized. Lip exfoliants can get unnecessarily pricey, and for that reason, I made my own scrub with household items found in many kitchens (and bathrooms)! My inspiration came from one of Michelle Phan's videos, but I tweaked it a bit to fit my own needs, which is what you can do when you make your own scrub.

Even after taking a shower, you can still see that my lips are dry and on the verge of cracking.

Lips are smooth and ready for any part of the day.

The 3 ingredients I used were: sugar, honey, and Aquaphor. You will also need measuring spoons and an empty container.

I used a shotglass instead of a makeup container, but the container would be great if you can close it so you can keep it with your other makeup accessories and use it when you need it. Amazon has a cute container that's $10-12 for 10 pieces with color options of green or translucent. Many of the containers I found online came in bulk, and those that came in 3-5 sets were usually a little more expensive, so think about your options!

Instead of Aquaphor, you can use any Vaseline-type ingredient that you have in your home. I've had Aquaphor since my third tattoo in 2013, so I figured I'd put it to use again! It's best if you use granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar, though, since the sugar is the main ingredient that acts as the actual scrub and wipes away the dry skin when you rub it on.

My measurements: 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1/4 teaspoon Aquaphor. The measurements you can have fun with and adjust to your desire. It's quite simple to eyeball it, too. If you're using a squirting Vaseline bottle, just one small squirt should be good enough. I would actually prefer a squirting bottle to avoid the hassle and messiness of getting it off of the measuring spoon and into your container.

Apply to lips with fingers as if applying lip gloss.

Optional step: Add some color!

dōTERRA is a healthcare company that shares their product of essential oils for therapeutic and health benefits, and it includes "nutritional, spa, and healthy living products based on essential oil technologies and a comprehensive wellness philosophy," according to their site.

For two years, my older sister has been using their oils and has been involved with the company as an independent wellness advocate.

She started out with a feature pack that included three essential oils in 5 mL bottles: Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint.

Front & back of dōTERRA Introductory Kit

I have been using these oils on and off since my sister began selling them, and I can say that these three are the most important to have in the largest amount (15 mL), and great for recommending someone to start using these essential oils for therapeutic health care. I like to apply Lavender right before I sleep; I apply it topically with 1-2 drops on my wrists, behind my ears, on my temples, and on the back of my neck. It works for relaxation and stress relief. Peppermint is the most versatile for me. I apply it topically on my stomach area whenever I have digestion troubles, or on my temples for motion sickness or migraines. It's also good for minor muscle aches and opens up the lungs when applied to the chest. You can add a drop of Lemon in your drink for subtle health benefits and I also apply it topically for a fresh perspective and a positive attitude. It definitely energizes me and keeps me focused.

This introductory kit also comes with an explanatory CD and a small book, which we like to call the dōTERRA bible. This booklet, called "An Introduction to Modern Essentials," explains the primary uses for a few kinds of their oils and also whether it is used aromatically, topically, or ingested.

The "bible" of essential oils. There's a bigger book version with all the oils.

When you buy oils from the site, you have some options on what kind of bottle you want your oils to be in. For example, there are some oils that are applied topically that are contained in a roll-on bottle so you can just roll it onto the skin for easier use.

Easier to roll on the temples and behind the ears.

Blends are available for purchase as well. Blends are a mixture of different types of essential oils from dōTERRA that are combined for different types of use and ailments. The Focus blend is used for concentration and is great during studying or work. My favorite blend is Breathe, which is a respiratory blend made up of laurel leaf, peppermint, euclyptus, tea tree, lemon, and ravensera. It's excellent for special uses like when you're sick, if you have asthma or allergies, or have trouble breathing at night, but it's also effective for everyday use. Along with application to the chest and sinuses, you can rub the oil on the bottoms of your feet and cover them with socks during sleep.

The products aren't limited to oils. dōTERRA has other products for skin care, hair care, and spa, along with supplements for adults and children. A really popular product available is Deep Blue. This product comes as an oil, but also as a cream/lotion. Similar to IcyHot, I apply Deep Blue Rub to areas with muscle tension such as the legs, shoulders, and neck, but you can apply it almost anywhere to soothe cramping and body aches. It sends a tingling feeling that relaxes your muslces and the aroma eases the mind as well as the body. If you're unsure about it, you can buy the Deep Blue Rub samples to give it a try.

More than just oils! Get the Deep Blue Rub and a diffuser accesory.

Sometimes smelling the oils straight from the bottles isn't enough to get the best effect, so purchasing a diffuser might be an important purchase. The diffuser that I have isn't from the website, but dōTERRA sells its own, equipped with an optional night light and is optimal for travel. The diffuser accessory is one I like to use often, as you can put drops of your own mixture of essential oils and experience them how they're most effective arromatically, which is through the diffuser. You can set this up to a certain amount of time—put in a few DVDs, binge-watch a show you need to catch up on, set up a meditation station, read a book, check your balance, or fall asleep with the diffuser in the background. It's a wonderful accessory to have handy when travelling or by yours and your children's bedside.

As you can tell, dōTERRA has many options to choose from and experience. You can benefit from many types of oils that are offered on the site. Not all oils will be as important or useful to you as others will be, so there are different bottle sizes for your oils. The biggest bottle is the 15 mL, the medium size is 5 mL, and there are even sample sizes that are 1 mL (but those you don't order; you can only get them in person if someone you know is selling them. When you become an advocate, you can order sample sizes to give away and get more sales).

The different sizes: 15 mL (top left), 5 mL (top right), 1 mL sample (bottom).

If you're looking for a way to help yourself and your family health-wise, give dōTERRA a try. If you buy the 15 mL sizes, it will last you for a long time depending on the amount you use weekly and if you're sharing your oils with family members. Look out for special offers and product promotions. Sometimes it can get a bit pricey, but it's worth it in the long run. Buying the kits can save you money, espcially if you're planning on making your own blends instead of buying the pre-made blends that the site has to offer. I recommend buying the introductory kit and testing out if this is something you'd like to get into. Before you know it, you'll be buying regularly because of how much you and your family love it! Eventually, you can decide to enroll as an advocate to earn a little extra money for each item you sell. My sister gets a lot of compliments at work from the way she smells like a spa, and that's how she makes revenue from being a dōTERRA advocate.

So if you want to test the waters, you can use my sister's account to order your products. Tell me what you think!



[Dislcaimer: this is an unpaid and honest feature. This post does not reflect the views of the company involved.]

"Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley's mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school." Summary by IMDb.

In the first 15 minutes of this movie, I was glued to the screen. No lie.

I didn't pay much attention to the movie when I saw previews, so when the movie started, I didn't think I would be all that interested. Don't get me wrong, I love animation movies, especially ones like Big Hero 6 (2014) or Brave (2012), but I didn't get hyped over this one, probably because I didn't really know what the storyline would be. Immediately after watching the introduction of the movie, I knew it would be a great use of my time.

The parts that really intrigued me and made me want to watch more were the movie's concept of how the mind functions, how, from birth, we begin to react to certain situations, and how specific memories become a core part of our personality throughout our upbringing. The processing of memories and emotions towards different dilemmas were right on the dot, and was portrayed in an uncomplicated, yet altogether complex manner. I also liked that the different characters had their own agendas within Riley's mind, but with the ultimate goal of making Riley happy and content in her life.

Concepts like Honesty, Family, Friendship, Hockey, and Goofball Island make up different aspects of Riley's personality, and the more memories she makes involving these traits, the more these islands flourish with excitement. What's so sophisticated about it is when the islands start breaking off from Headquarters and falling into the pit of forgotten memories because of Riley's thoughts and actions. Like when Riley and her father butted heads at the dinner table and he tried to cheer her up with their signature monkey face and noises, but since Joy wasn't in Headquarters to connect with him, Riley simply turned away, causing Goofball Island to crumble. It striked as a really powerful symbol of growing up and eventually becoming a revised version of yourself as a kid. As the movie continues and Riley gets more and more upset with her living situation, still without the presence of Joy or Sadness, more of the islands start breaking away with each decision she makes.

Now, don't worry, this movie isn't all serious and thought-provoking! It's still a fun time for the kids (I'm just saying it's a really stimulating perception of the mind for all the adults watching). I caught myself laughing at many moments throughout the movie, especially when that annoying commercial memory kept popping up in Riley's mind (something we can all relate to), whenever Anger spat fire from his brain when he dealt with a dilemma, and even when Joy, Sadness, and Bing Bong, Riley's imaginary friend, needed Riley to wake up from a dream and turned it into a nightmare by splitting a dog in half and getting help from a giant smiling clown with a hammer. The laughs in this movie are endless with Sadness's depressing lines and the adventures they all go on.

One scene that ended up into a tearjerker (not that I don't always cry during movies) was when Bing Bong and Joy were in the pit of forgotten memories, and Bing Bong sacrificed himself in order to save Joy and make Riley happy again, even if that meant that he would forever be forgotten and his dreams of flying to the moon with Riley would not come into fruition. Now that's true dedication to someone you care about.

The moral of the story is a great one for kids, and adults as well. Sometimes joy cannot be experienced without a hint of sadness; when you grow up, a lot of things will turn out differently than you imagined, but in order to bring happiness into your life, you have to live with your experiences and feel the emotions as they come to you instead of pushing aside the feelings you don't want to feel. Once Joy and Sadness realized they needed to work together in order for Riley to function with her current situation, other memories have become blended with different kinds of emotions instead of just one—another great symbol of the complexity of coming into adulthood and expanding the reactions of our emotions.

I definitely recommend watching this movie to everyone of age. You'll love the simple and positive reinforcement of the storyline for the kids, and I'll bet you'll enjoy the convoluted details of the inner workings of the human mind through a fresh and innocent perspective for yourself.

For my first blog post, I will be reviewing some really cool mask sheets from Nature Republic. These were a graduation gift from a couple of my friends, and I had never used these kinds of masks before, so I figure I'd give it some thought and express my opinions about it.

I've already tried two different kinds since I got them: Avocado and Cucumber. The other types are: Rose, Green Tea, Shea Butter, Tomato, Açai Berry, Royal Jelly, Aloe, and Bamboo.

I have experience with Avocado facial clay masks, so I tried the Avocado first. The directions in the back indicate that you have to wash your face and apply toner in order to prepare the skin for the mask, which I did. I used my daily cleanser from Clean & Clear and a skin toner from Clinique.


The steps are pretty simple. Take the mask out of the packaging and apply to face, using the eye holes for accurate alignment.

When taking it out, you can tell it's packed heavily with the cream that helps moisturize the skin, so apply it carefully, or else you'll end up smearing other areas with the mask juice. After gently padding the mask onto my face for maximum absorption, I usually leave it on for about 20-30 minutes. There aren't harsh consequences if you leave it on for longer, but if your skin is done absorbing what it can, it wouldn't make much sense if you keep it on for more than you need it.

Both the Avocado and Cucumber masks felt pretty similarly to each other; there were no heavy or unwanted smells, and it stayed in place as long as I didn't do anything drastic with my face (like eating a snack, but light conversation is fine).

Washing it off was easy, and after patting my face dry with a towel and applying a facial lotion, my skin felt renewed and ultimately moisturized. The feeling lasted most of the night, and even in the moring, I noticed my skin was softer. I definitely recommend this product. I've seen eBay sell it for $9-13 for 7-10 mask sheets in all the types. Or, if you really love it, Amazon has a set of 30 masks for $45 + free shipping! Whichever you decide, I say it's worth a try, especially since the packaging is super cute and elegant. You can just add it to your bathroom as a decoration until you use it.

I'm not sure if people would play favorites on the different kinds of sheets that Nature Republic offers; more like a "Try each one for fun!" type of deal. As for me, I will definitely be looking for more mask sheets for the future, but will only add it to my mask routines with regular clay masks instead of replacing it completely. The feelings the mask gives me is a softer sensation than the zesty sensation I get when I take off my clay mask.

All-in-all, I recommend this for a nice night in, binging on Netflix and drinking some wine. And even on a night-to-night basis. It's easy to use with little to no mess and revitalizing results.