52 weeks

13/52

Julie
Caroline

two friends
an ocean apart
post one photo a week
with no rules or themes
and no idea what the other is up to.
in a year we'll see.

Full explanation is here.

favorites from today

Hanauma Bay:
finding
beaching
snorkeling
wandering
watching
relaxing
gathering

collected by tas-ka

Take a gander at these beauties available at my new favorite web shop, Collected by Tas-ka. They sell a charming collection of new and vintage goods...all of which are cute, cute, cute. Plus their product styling and photos are fantastic.  Run off and take a peek.

favorites from yesterday

We finally got our nicer camera back.
Brady was kind enough to let it take up space in his luggage -
among other things we left behind in Utah.
It's been lovely to be shooting with it again.
I am pleased.

home inspiration: a quirky nook

I am love, love, loving this room found via The Selby. I'm finding myself suddenly in need of a large disco ball collection.

today

Waimea Falls

kaka'ako park

tonight.
on the rocks.
beside the ocean.
in the rain.

byodo-in

My brother-in-law is in town this week so we'll be out and about trying to show him all the best things that Hawaii has to offer. This morning we went to the Byodo-In Buddhist Temple where my shoes were assaulted by hungry birds and we saw a duck win a fight with a swan.

We followed that up with another equally exciting but not nearly as fun adventure which involved having the car unnecessarily towed. Fun.

tied up

I am loving this gorgeous piece from artist Catherine Ryan. I want to take that poor lion home and untangle him. Limited edition prints are available (and affordable!) now at The Shiny Squirrel.

p.s. Happy Chinese New Year tomorrow. We've been enjoying some of the festivities going on in Chinatown this weekend.  Welcome, year of the ox.

52 weeks

12/52

Julie
Caroline

two friends
an ocean apart
post one photo a week
with no rules or themes
and no idea what the other is up to.
in a year we'll see.

Full explanation is here.

utah

this old thing

A hearty thank you to Missa over at Thrift Candy for featuring this (er...) patriotic outfit of mine as her 100% thrifted pick of the week. Since Missa herself is a genuinely stylish gal, I must say I'm counting this as a huge compliment, and I (of course) could not pass up this brilliant opportunity to talk myself up on my own blog.

See the full post here and then, for a bit of extra credit, leave Missa a comment telling her what a fantastic choice you think she's made.

speaking of...

In reference to my long winded ode to libraries, I must also say that I harbor a soft spot for catalog cards as well. Imagine my delight, then, to discover via freckle farm this most wonderful catalog card generator. Run along and make your own here.

52 weeks

11/52

Julie
Caroline

10/52

Julie
Caroline

9/52

Julie
Caroline

8/52

Julie
Caroline

two friends
an ocean apart
post one photo a week
with no rules or themes
and no idea what the other is up to.
in a year we'll see.

Full explanation is here.

read is to read as ride is to rode

I love libraries. They smell and look and feel like books. I love books. When I was a kid, my mom took us to the library every month. We spent some time picking out the books we wanted to take home with us, and then the next month we'd go back for more. As soon as we got home from the library either my brother or I was responsible for writing out a list of all the books we'd brought home with us. Then before we returned them the following month we'd have to cross each one off the list to make sure that none were forgotten. Once in awhile there would be a book missing and we'd have to search the house to find it and cross it off the list.

Our books were never late either. My mom made sure they went back on the exact day they were due. This fact impresses me now that I'm responsible for returning my own books. Mine are frequently late. Knowing this about myself would have appalled me when I was young.

I remember getting my first library card. It was red. It was mine. I tried to write my name on it as neatly as possible. A few years later I hated that handwriting. It was too sloppy and a bit crooked. I'm quite particular about handwriting.

One month during the summer when I was still elementary school aged - maybe 5th or 6th grade - I went nuts. I checked out about 30 books - actual books with chapters. When I presented the pile to my mom as we were getting ready to check out, I almost expected her to tell me no. I thought she might make me put some of them back. But she didn't. She let me try. I really thought I would get through them all too. I did pretty well, but at the end of the month several books had to be returned unread.

When I was in junior high I went through a Mary Higgens Clark phase. It was all I read for some time. My mom tried to get me to branch out - told me I should try reading a wider variety of books, made suggestions. But she never told me I couldn't read them. There was never a book she told me I couldn't read.

Once for a school project, my mom took me to the university library to gather information. It was huge. I was impressed that anyone would know how to find their way around. I was impressed that my mom knew how to find her way around. Then when I was in college I was impressed with the size of the library at my university. I spent plenty of time between classes browsing, reading, sleeping, or writing in the library. One day I accidentally wandered into an entire room devoted to books about classical music. A whole room. I was in love.

When Ryan and I moved to Georgia the first thing I did was find the library. In a place that was unfamiliar and where I knew no one, the library was the most comfortable and welcoming place. I also had literally nothing else to do but read and wait. I was waiting for Ava to come, waiting for R who was working 14 hours a day, waiting for our time in Georgia to end. Just waiting...and reading.

I want Ava to love the library, or I at least want her to see all the things there are to love about it. There is a great library close to us now. It's big and wonderful, and every time I step inside I'm struck by all the possibilities - all the choices. R and I took Ava just yesterday. We chanced upon a storytime in the children's book room. Afterwards they did a craft - she made a paint brush. As we were walking home she painted every surface we passed. I think she had fun. I hope she remembers it started at the library.

two birds fly south for the winter

I learned to surf. I am learning to surf, rather. It's something I've always wanted to try, and now that we live in Hawaii it seemed ridiculous not to be doing it. Since I mostly talk about but rarely get around to actually doing these sorts of things, R took it upon himself to arrange a lesson for me as a birthday present.  This made me happy.  Surfing made me happy.  It was fun...and surprisingly easy. The repeatedly paddling into oncoming waves was not easy. That was hard. Really hard. I ached for days. No, the actually standing up to ride a wave - that was the bit that surprised (and pleased) me. Or, I surprised (and pleased) myself by being able to do it. Suffice it to say, there were good feelings.

Now let's talk boards. San Fransisco based, Two Birds Fly makes boards. They are cute - decorated with art from local artists. They are also green - carved from Biofoam and equipped with bamboo fins. This is good.

photos via Two Birds Fly

Now, I would like to be surprised (and pleased) by finding something comparable in Hawaii. Extra surprise (and pleasure) points awarded if I can afford it once I find it.

p.s. I first learned about these beauties over at green{goody}.  Head that way...it's a good one.

love, love

I happened to catch this performance the other night while channel surfing. She's delightful.

More on Sharleen Spiteri and her debut solo album here.

our town

grant hamilton

If you're in Utah you'd best be making your way to the Saan's Downtown gallery in Salt Lake City for a look at Grant Hamilton's Polaroid Photography Show. It'll be in town through February 12th. Do it for me...then tell me everything. See more from Grant Hamilton here.

(info via Black*Eiffel, photo via swissmiss)

bowling for my birthday

Other possible titles for this post include:

• more things we did in Utah
• happy belated birthday to me
• look at this amazing neon sign
• reliving many a morning bowling excursion when I was supposed to be attending high school instead
• seriously...the best sign ever
• reasons it's no fun to be born on Christmas Eve (one reason being the fact that nothing is ever open except slightly dodgy bowling alleys...there are a heap load of other reasons...I'm holding back for your sake)
• any sign with a mini bowler up top is a winner

this makes me happy

I recently (re)learned that my maternal grandmother had a pet lamb as a child. Her mother (my great-grandmother...for whom I was named) would allow the lamb in the house, but their pet cats had to stay outside.

a walk in the park

subtitled: things that are green