Hello Hue

aloha style:: i like 'hue' i am.

2012-02-13T14:55:00.003-05:00

cardigan:: {little sister's closet... again. ;)}

tank:: {target}

skirt:: {bought in a market in Mexico}

wedges:: {target}

When I got dressed on Sunday morning, I originally had a cream colored cardigan on. Then I took it off and slipped on this lavender one. I walked out to the living room and asked Chris, "Is this too crazy? Should I wear the other cardigan??"

His reply:: "Lindsay, your blog is called Hello Hue. Color is just "hue" you are. You look cute!"

Yes, he actually threw in that pun there. My husband is the pun king.

It's kinda true though. I feel most "me" when I'm wearing bright, happy color. Even if someone else might not have chosen these colors. And lately, I've felt more confident than ever. I think it probably has to do with the fact that I'm just in awe of what my body is doing to grow this baby and so thankful that it's actually working the way it's supposed to. I feel beautiful (Chris is doing a great job of making me feel this way too!) and honestly love watching my body change.

And woah, my belly is out there this week. Things are definitely a'changing.

When do YOU feel most confident?

lindsay

5 Things I've Learned about Handmade Biz

2012-02-11T15:09:00.000-05:00

I'm guest blogging over at MaieDae today! I'm sharing five things I've learned about running a handmade shop. Come on over and visit!

lindsay

it's the little things:: sunflowers & smoothies

2012-02-09T22:17:00.001-05:00

By now you know that I'm a big (huge) fan of getting using my camera for my posts. I really love working on my photography and have honestly seen myself get better and better just by practicing. Buuut, some weeks, the little moments just get captured on the phone. And so, this week, the Little Things linkup is brought to you by my Droid Incredible.

pretty wildflower bouquet from an impromptu lunch date with Chris

giving in to cravings-- starbursts, pizza rolls, Coke icees!

a new hat, bought with a gift card, so freee

lovely palette

giving baby a yummy and healthy smoothie breakfast

made a new wreath for the front door!

packaging up lots of orders!

a sick hubby at home means distraction from work.

Also, I just have to say one more time-- I'm kind of blown away by the positive response to the brand change-over this week. I was honestly incredibly worried about it and was afraid that I'd lose the blogging and shop momentum I've picked up. But you guys really made it the best I could hope for and gosh, I'm so stoked for this new chapter! Ok, I'll shush about that now. :)

Ok, ready to link up?! Put together a post of the little things that made you smile this week and meet me back here to link up!

party rules.

1. Only link to your specific blog post, not to your blog's main page. See here for more explanation.

2. Grab a button and/or include a link back to this post so your readers can come see what the fun is all about! You can find the code for the button on the sidebar or on the "little things" page.

3. Make sure you visit (and comment) on other posts linked up-- what fun is a party if no one talks to each other? Make some new friends!

4. I reserve the right to kick you out of the party if you aren't playing nice-- so make sure your post is relevant to this party and is actually a "little things" post (ie. no giveaways, random posts from last month, etc.).

oh baby:: 14 weeks!

2012-02-09T14:43:00.000-05:00

Not much new to report this week. We're finally in the second trimester-- woohoo! I honestly feel like it's gone by pretty quickly, though I was sure that it would drag on. I'm feeling good this week, which is a blessing because I've been able to keep up with shop orders, getting the new blog set up and taking care of my sick husband. Speaking of that handsome man, I thought I'd share the story about how I told Chris about the baby.

I never expected I'd have to come up with a cute way to tell him we were pregnant. We had always taken tests together in the past and just planned to find out together. But after many negative tests and both of us being disappointed, I was hesitant to let on my suspicions about being pregnant this time. So on Monday, December 12, after a weekend of unexplained queasiness, I waited until Chris left for work to go take a test. I wasn't trying to be sneaky, but I didn't want to look dumb or disappoint us both if we took the test together and it was negative again.

I told you here about how I saw the 2 lines and fell to the floor sobbing, raising my hands in praise. There will never be anything like seeing those 2 lines for the very first time after so much waiting and heartache. After a little while of wandering the house, praying and shaking my head in disbelief, I began to think about how I'd tell Chris.

I headed to Babys R' Us and Walmart and gathered some supplies. It was hard not to shout to the world "We're having a baaaaaaby!!" as the cashier rang up some tiny white onesies for me.

Of anything in the whole world, Chris would be most ecstatic if our kid is a pro-surfer. As soon as he/she can hold his/her breath, I know Chris will be tossing him/her into the waves. So I made this onesie for him...

I wrapped it up and waited not patiently-at-all for him to get home from work. I actually texted him and told him to hurry his butt home. As soon as he walked in the door, I told him I had something for him and as he opened the little package, he was first confused, and asked me "Is this a joke??" I guess he was in as much disbelief as I was. When he really got it and I said "I'm pregnant!!", he jumped on me and gave me the biggest hug. Oh gosh, it makes me smile so big just thinking about it.

That onesie sits on our dresser now and it reminds me every day of God's goodness. We continue to thank God for this sweet blessing and that He would keep our baby safe and growing strong. I've heard from so many of you that you pray for us and I can't tell you enough how thankful we are for those prayers!

lindsay

hello hue giveaway!

2012-02-08T15:29:00.004-05:00

hey!

Look up!

No, not at your ceiling-- at the URL at the top of your screen! Do you see it?! I'm officially HelloHue.com! It should automatically redirect you if you type in the old address, but please let me know if you're not getting my post feed in your Google Reader, etc. Just thought I'd share that with you-- I'm pretty excited about it.

And now we've got some celebratin' to do. I'm stoked to celebrate the relatively smooth switchover to Hello Hue and thank you guys for being so supportive, helpful and ridiculously encouraging through the process.

Today I'm giving away one of my very favorite paintings in the shop right now! It's one of my original designs and one of my very favorite to paint.

The Dahlias painting is painted on an 8" round canvas. I can't help but think of it as the perfect addition to a little girl's room or nursery, in the midst of an eclectic wall gallery or perched on a pretty pile of books!

Want to enter to win?!

Mandatory entry::

Leave a happy comment below!

**Optional entries::**

'Like" Hello Hue on Facebook! (Leave a separate comment here for an entry.)

'Like' or 'Share' this photo from the Hello Hue FB page! (Leave a separate comment here for an entry.)

Tweet the sentence below! (Leave a separate comment here for an entry.)

Ooh la la! @hello_hue is celebrating the launch of her new brand w/ a sweet dahlia canvas painting giveaway! http://bit.ly/xWWeU3

Giveaway closes on Wednesday, February 15th and winner will be announced Thursday!

lindsay

aloha style: didja know i love color?!

2012-02-07T01:59:00.000-05:00

headband:: {much love illy}

tank:: {target}

floral tank:: {simply audrey}

skinnies:: {forever 21}

horton booties:: {c/o blowfish}

With the introduction of the new name Hello Hue, I want to focus just a teeny bit more into how you can bring bright, happy color into your life. You guys know I looove color and if I can get you to inject a little more into your outfits, home, etc., then I'll be a happy girl. I'm hoping I get you to say "hello hue" and "goodbye blah".

One way I'll be doing this is providing the color palette for my outfits. I hope this might inspire you in your own outfits, or maybe in your artwork, doodling, home decor, whatever. I think it will at least definitely keep me on my toes to come up with more unique and bright combinations! I'm already looking at my closet differently, combining quirky colors for future outfits!

Here's to more color in 2012! Woot-woot! :)

PS. Speaking of looking at my closet, I'm planning on doing a "raid my closet" blog sale of some items that I've grown tired of, grown out of or would otherwise like to pass on to YOU. Keep a look out for it in the next week or two!

lindsay

ta-da!

2012-02-06T04:29:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the newly revamped home of Hello Hue blog!

Friends, I'm so excited for this new change. I was pretty nervous about it and how things would go since I feel so established as Aisle to Aloha, but you guys eased my worries. Can you believe that the new Hello Hue Facebook page already has over 350 fans? Um, you people amaze me. Thank you for all the support!

My vision for Hello Hue is that it will continue to be the same happy, bright place that I really tried to make Aisle to Aloha. I'll be continuing with the same post content, but hope to continue in my 'grow' resolution by both simplifying the things that aren't working for me and possibly adding in some new features and series that I think will make this blog even better.

My sweet friend, Oana, spent so much time going back and forth with me on ideas and she's the lovely talent behind this new branding. Thank you friend!!

Want to see more of the new Hello Hue branding and join me in the switch?

Hop over to the Hello Hue Studio!

Become a fan on the Hello Hue Facebook page!

Follow hello_hue on twitter!

Wanna chat? Email me at hellohueblog@gmail.com

If you want to help spread the word about my name/branding switch, you'd make me oh-so-happy!

Grab either one of these suh-weet blog buttons for your blog sidebar. The grab codes are on my right sidebar over there. ---->

And as a little 'mahalo' for being so rad, if you're in the shopping mood this week, take 20% off your Hello Hue Studio order with the code "HELLOHUE" at checkout!

I'm still working on tinkering with some things, so bear with me as I work out all the kinks this week. The domain name up there will be different soon, but should all direct easily from the old one. I'll give you all the deets when I get that worked out.

Hope you love it as much as I do!

lindsay

out with the old...

2012-02-04T15:34:00.000-05:00

When I began blogging in March 2009, the name "From the Aisle to Aloha" seemed pretty appropriate as Chris and I were literally going from walking down the wedding aisle together into a new life in the land of aloha. The name came to me easily and it stuck. It's become a huge part of who I am. It's become not only my blog and shop name, but represents a journey over the past few years as we've gone from being newlyweds to sharing so many adventures, struggles, and lots of aloha in these islands.

When we moved to Hawaii, we knew it would be a temporary thing. It always is with the military. The thought has always been in the back of my head that I would probably want to change my biz name when it came time to leave Oahu. I knew I'd want something that could stick with me through move after move and the many adventures to come. But I told myself that I would only do that if I came up with another name that fit me perfectly and made me smile just thinking about.

I've found that new name. {more on that in a minute!}

I find it strange that a business name and identity could mean so much to me. But "Aisle to Aloha" has, and does and it's honestly very bitter-sweet to let it go. I'm excited for the changes ahead (ah! So many changes!) but change always has to come with some sort of goodbye.

I guess I'm feeling pretty sappy about leaving this name behind. It's been with me through two deployments, a feature on Young House Love, a feature on the front page of AOL, many DIY projects (and several fails!), a blogging conference, a baby announcement and more.

I plan on having even more fun with the new blog/shop name and I hope that you will stick around with me for those adventures!

Curious about the new name and branding?!

I'll be switching my shop, twitter and blog over between now and Monday (so please bear with me as I fumble through these changes!) but for now, you can check out my brand new biz name and branding on my new Facebook page! Make sure you 'like' this new page, as the old Aisle to Aloha Studio will be phasing out and disappearing soon. Come over, and say 'hello!'

lindsay

oh baby:: 13 weeks!

2012-02-03T13:41:00.000-05:00

Since I turn 13 weeks on Mondays, and today is Friday, I only have a few more days left in my first trimester!

Honestly, when we found out that we were pregnant, it seemed like those first few weeks d-r-a-g-g-e-d on. But the past month has flown by, thank the Lord. I'm ready to be in the second trimester. It seems like *fingers crossed* my nausea has left the building, for the most part. Oddly enough though, I kind of miss the nausea. I know that Chris doesn't miss my extreme pickiness at dinner time or superhero sniffing powers, but those things made me feel so pregnant. And now, despite a few headaches, I'm actually feeling pretty good. (This is where the fear kicks in and I worry that my baby is doing alright. Lots of prayer time lately, friends.)

I won't complain though, it really is nice to feel in control of my eating again, even if I eat half a bag of Cheetos in one sitting.

Looking forward to baby kicks in the next few weeks and having fun planning our gender reveal party in March! We're really excited to find out if we're having a boy or girl, especially since we should be able to get an appointment the week of my birthday-- which will make it extra special! Can't wait to get to know our sweet babe more and more!

lindsay

small ad sponsors share their lessons learned!

2012-02-02T23:38:00.001-05:00

We've arrived at the last sponsor feature for Aisle to Aloha! I've loved sharing my sponsors with you, but I'm ready for a change, so even though there will be no more features, I hope you'll continue to click through on my sidebar and get to know the gorgeously creative people behind each ad spot. :)

Tonight I have a few small ad sponsors to introduce you to! I asked them the question below and they have some great lessons to share with you. Keep reading and click over to their blogs and shops for more!

What is the most valuable lesson you've learned about blogging and/or owning a handmade shop?

Paige from Pink Lemonade says::

The most valuable lesson I've learned is probably that everyone's life (including mine) is unique, fun, and interesting. It is so easy to get caught up in the bloggy world, and be jealous of other bloggers because you think that they have such a glamourous life... It's all in your perspective! Maybe YOUR life is interesting to someone else! Tell your story. Embrace YOU (imperfections and all). You will learn a lot about yourself! :)

Read Paige's blog!

Shop Pink Lemonade!

Minna from Minco Jewelry says::

The most valuable lesson I have learned is that as long as you do what makes you happy, you know that you are on the right path. I used to work at a job that I wasn't so excited about; it was more of a necessity than a want. Ever since I started my two online shops & blog, i've been so much happier & content about my life! I knew that this was what I was made to do.

Shop Minco Jewelry!

Read Minna's blog!

Laura from Pens and a Camera Lens blog says::

The most valuable lesson I've learned about blogging would probably have to be just how different everyone is, but yet how much we're alike. I've met some amazing people from blogging, and I've met some not so amazing people. Blogging really is a social thing to do, and I'm so lucky I've met so many great people.

Follow Laura on twitter!

Become a fan on Facebook!

Pssst. I forgot to pick the giveaway winners for the Blowfish giveaway! So without further ado, the lucky lady winning her choice of Blowfish shoes is....

Erika of Rouge and Whimsy!!

Congrats girl! Email me!

lindsay

camera strap review:: marine parents shop!

2012-02-02T13:28:00.000-05:00

When April offered to send me one of her adorable camera straps to review, I may have squealed a little bit. You have probably (er, hopefully!!) seen her shop, Marine Parents, already. It's filled with sweetly sewn creations, from toddler backpacks, camera straps, eReader cases and adorable clutches.

I always want to make sure that the products I review don't just benefit me, but that they would be products that I truly think you should know about! And I think you will love April, her colorful shop and this camera strap.

April gave me a choice of the strap covers (or as she calls them, DSLR strappys!) and I immediately pounced on this bright one! I'm in love with the floral fabric and the punchy orange and lime hues. I feel like it totally fits my personality-- bright and maybe a bit loud? ;) Ha.

I love that it has a pocket for my lens cap and that my lens cap actually fits in it. (Past camera straps I've had, the lens cap doesn't even fit.) The cover is a bit wider, and I wish that it fit more snuggly on the actual strap. Because it's a bit wide, it slides around a little bit. But it's not something that bothers me when using it or that would deter me from buying another. It's really well made and I can tell that it's sewn with the purpose of standing up to many photo shoots.

Okey doke, friends. I'll let you go poke around in April's shop while I work on ridding myself of this wicked pregnancy headache. What is up with these things?!

Happy Groundhog Day! ;)

lindsay

fear.

2012-01-31T01:27:00.000-05:00

My toughest struggle in this pregnancy so far as been fear.

{7 week bump}

Fear of miscarriage.

That my baby isn't growing right.

That I might not be doing everything right to help this little one develop.

Fear of the unknown, where I'll give birth, where we'll be in the next few months and years.

I've never felt so fearful as I have in the last 7 weeks since we found out we were pregnant. It all really boils down to the loss of control. I can't control how my baby is growing, what will happen over the next 27 weeks or how my body will react. I can't control my husband's orders, when we have to leave loved ones here in Hawaii or which state I'll get to have my baby in. Rarely in my life have I been so out of control of the circumstances.

And it's been stretching me. And I've had to learn a lot about leaning on God. Because I have no control, but He has every control over each minute detail of my life (and yours). Several weeks after we found out about our baby, it dawned on me that I could potentially continue in this pattern of fear for the rest of my life and my baby's life. I realized that even if every detail of my pregnancy went smoothly, that it wouldn't stop there. I could fear for my child's life even after birth, when I have even less control, and I know that I don't want to live a life of fear.

If my Father cares about the sparrows that flit around outside my studio window, why do I find it difficult to believe that He is caring for our little one and that He is perfectly crafting plans for us? The thing is, I know this Truth in my head but sometimes it takes a lot of work for that to penetrate to my heart of hearts and to affect the way I view my circumstances. Lots of memorizing and re-reading Bible verses, long conversations with God and with Chris. And I think it's going to just be a continual struggle to cast aside fear and take on the peace that God wants so much for me to be covered in.

Do you struggle with fear? What are some ways that you personally find helping in choosing peace?

lindsay

aloha style: i've got the monday... purples?

2012-01-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

cardigan:: {stolen, er borrowed from my sister's closet}

dress:: {o'neill}

belt:: {forever 21}

purse:: {navy exchange, bueno}

flats:: {probably payless, they're old!}

Monday Blues are kind of non-existent around here lately.

Usually, it's tough to go back to a normal work week after a blissful weekend on the beach with Chris. Thankfully though, a few circumstances make it just a bit easier these past few months. Chris has a pretty low stress job now with bosses that are generally considerate and eager to help him learn. Compared to his last job on the ship, this is one is literally a God-send. Knowing that he's happy to go back into work on Monday makes the day so much easier on me. Also, each Monday, I gain one more week in my pregnancy! Today I'm 13 weeks and entering my last week of the first trimester! Looking forward to that each week makes Mondays pretty exciting.

Hope you've been able to shake off a bit of the Monday Blues by now! What do you look forward to each week?

PS. This may be a new favorite outfit. It's so comfy, colorful and there's plenty of room for that baby to grow in there!

lindsay

it's the little things:: ballet slippers & renewed creativity

2012-01-26T21:38:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I have too many little things to fit into a blog post. This week is one of those times. I just feel blessed. Amidst some arguments with Chris, a crazy pregnancy moment, nasty headaches and the fact that our orders/plans for the next few years are once again up in the air-- there are so many little (and big!) things that have left me smiling this week.

... a new favorite nail polish shade. Ballet Slippers from Essie is a sweet baby pink and I love love love it.

... a brand new notebook (a gift from my brother-and-sister-in-law!) from wit and whistle. I love the anticipation of the blank pages and scheming up how I want to fill it.

... On a whim this week, I rearranged my studio. My sawhorse table is now right under the big window and I get so much light. I love it. This quick rearranging did a lot for those creative juices in my brain (ew, brain juices... sorry....). I haven't really been doing much crafting lately, but I have a few projects I'm working on now and it feels so good to be creative again.

Sometimes it just takes looking for the little things in life to turn a week around. What are your little things this week?

I'd love for you to link up below! Pleeeeeeease (please, please) pay attention to what you are linking up. I've had so many people link up completely irrelevant posts lately and it really confuses me. I knoooow you know how to read. ;) I just wanna see the little blessings that made you smile this week.

party rules.

1. Only link to your specific blog post, not to your blog's main page. See here for more explanation.

2. Grab a button and/or include a link back to this post so your readers can come see what the fun is all about! You can find the code for the button on the sidebar or on the "little things" page.

3. Make sure you visit (and comment) on other posts linked up-- what fun is a party if no one talks to each other? Make some new friends!

win your choice of blowfish shoes!

2012-01-26T13:36:00.000-05:00

You've seen me wear my Blowfish Shoes in a few of my outfit posts and if you're like me, you may have a looong wishlist of their gorgeous and comfy boots, flats and shoes! They've recently previewed a few of the gorgeous spring shoes and you guys-- you are going to love them. Bright colors and floral patterns-- you know I'm all about that.

Soooo, guess what? Blowfish is giving away a pair of free shoes (winner's choice!!) to one of you- my gorgeous readers! (Even my precious international readers, woo-hoo!) Wanna win? Keep reading to see how!

Mandatory entry::

Visit Blowfish Shoes and pick out your very favorite pair of shoes. Leave a comment here telling me of your choice.

**Optional entries::**

'Like' Blowfish Shoes on Facebook! (Leave a separate comment here for an entry.)

Follow BlowfishShoes on Twitter! (Leave a separate comment here for an entry.)

Giveaway closes on Wednesday, February 1 and winner will be announced Thursday!

lindsay

oh baby:: 12 weeks!

2012-01-25T13:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I might have had the most ridiculous pregnancy moment so far. Not only did I have a splitting headache all day, but all I could think about eating for dinner was a warm, fresh French bread loaf and some brie cheese. While Chris was at the commissary, I texted him a list of a few requested items, including that brie and bread. Apparently though, I sent it to my friend Michelle, who was not doing any sort of grocery shopping for me. Chris got home later and I went out to the car to meet him and he told me I hadn't texted him any sort of list.

I burst into tears. And sobbed for a good 20 minutes.

The ugly cry, friends. Over cheese.

My poor husband.

At one point he was concerned as I was sobbing and asked if I was okay, as I seemed to be in extreme pain. I just sobbed to him "No, I'm just dumb and pregnant!!"

And so, the pregnancy hormones have definitely kicked in. And that is why my eyes may look a bit puffy in the photo above. I had just dried my tears 5 minutes before.

Another "milestone" I've hit (besides the pregnancy meltdown) is that I've been wearing my Bella Band (and Be Band, from Target) every day. This thing is awesome. I can use it to hold up shorts and pants that won't even zip anymore and it's incredibly comfy.

Despite some ups and downs this week, mostly I'm just joyful that we made it to 12 weeks and are this close to finishing up the first trimester! We already love this baby so much and can't wait to meet him or her.

lindsay

fresh paint:: vintage inspired florals and cupid's arrows

2012-01-24T18:01:00.000-05:00

Ok, I promise I won't make it a habit to post two times day. I guess I just have a lot to say this week. :)

Just wanted to pop in and show you the new paintings in my shop! Lots of Valentine's inspired arrow artwork and some sweet floral designs inspired by vintage floral fabric! I love envisioning the super happy homes these paintings will one day end up in.

Cupid's Arrows on 6x12 canvas

Cupid's Arrows II on 9x12 canvas

Tweet- Tweet in the Meadow on 8x8 canvas

I Picked You Some WildFlowers on 8" round canvas

I Love You 2x2 Magnet// Surf's Up 6x12 canvas

// Vintage Inspired Click-Click 8x8 canvas//Vintage Inspired Sew Cute 8x8 canvas

Stop by the shop to take a look and take 10% off with the code FRESHPAINT10 at checkout!

lindsay

aloha style:: just use your imagination.

2012-01-24T13:36:00.001-05:00

headband, button down, skinny jeans:: {forever 21}

cardigan:: {who knows, a million years old}

flower pin:: {craftee mcgee}

Saul flats:: {c/o Blowfish Shoes}

Ack, these photos bug me so much. I gave the camera to Chris on the wrong settings so everything is way blown out and overexposed. I did my best to salvage them, but they look funky to me. Oh well, I'm not the kind of blogger to not publish photos because they aren't perfect. Things get screwed up sometimes and I always do my best to be real with you guys. Just use your imagination-- my button down is a really pretty shade of lavender and my cardigan is a soft cream. Thank goodness for Picnik though.

Which is opening a whole can of worms there. I'm assuming most/all of you have heard of Picnik shutting down in April. So sad. I seriously do all my photo editing for my blog and shop on there. I feel like I need to go through and edit every single one of the photos on my computer and hard drive before April. I'm considering saving up for Photoshop since I haven't come across any comparable photo editing programs. You might be needing to use your imagination a little more once Picnik closes and my photos go back to the dark ages later this spring.

Ahem. Anyway. Today I'm finishing up some Valentine's paintings and putting those babies in the shop. I also plan on chowing down on some scrumptious homemade macnut pesto pasta for lunch and maybe even showering somewhere in there.

lindsay

so, you're coming to oahu?

2012-01-23T17:48:00.000-05:00

Aloha friends! Lately I've had some of you emailing me asking for some tips on the best things to see and do on Oahu. I thought I would share with you what we think is the best way to enjoy the island. Below are some of our favorite beaches, restaurants, spots on the island. Obviously, it's not a comprehensive travel guide, just some of our personal faves from our 2.5 years here and the places we take our friends and family when they come to visit for the first time.

Most people coming to visit will be staying in Waikiki. This is the city/touristy area of the island, filled with hotels, bars, restaurants and beaches. While you're sure to have a blast if you stay there, you will not get the full Hawaii experience unless you are able to rent a car and explore Oahu. So please don't be afraid to venture outside of Waikiki! Get out of town and take in the island.

The North Shore is a must. It's about an hour or so drive from Waikiki (depending on traffic) and it's really beautiful. It's probably one of our very favorite places on island. Haleiwa is the little town up there that has some fun shops and restaurants.

You've gotta get shave ice ( most tour guide books say go to Matsumoto's but it's almost always crowded so we like Aoki's just down the street). Get the ice cream on the bottom, it's so worth it.

There is a tiny sandwich shop called Storto's and we love to go there and get subs on sweet Hawaiian bread and then take them to the beach down the road for a picnic (or sit on the picnic tables outside the restaurant and watch the chickens on the property!) The half-size sandwiches are enough to fill Chris which is saying alot-- that boy eats so much.

Our friend recently went from selling his amazing Thai food from a food truck to owning a small restaurant in Haleiwa. At his restaurant, Opal's, you'll find some of the best Thai food you've eaten (and we should know, having just traveled to Thailand last spring!). Opal will take great care of you, even if you've never tried Thai food before and his young son, Lio is sure to be a source of entertainment while you eat.

On Sundays, from 9am-1pm, the Haleiwa Farmer's Market is the place to be. Fresh bread, sweet orchids, small artists and produce farmers occupy stalls at this small market. You'll find the best pesto ever (ever, ever, ever) in one of the booths-- look for the macadamia nut pesto and grab a jar or two!

Also on the North Shore, you can often see lots of turtles on the beaches or in the waves. Poipu Beach often has lots of these big guys laying on the sand and was the site of the Survivor Lost camp when they were filming there. It's pretty hidden away but you should be able to find directions if you google it (it's right past Haleiwa). Another good place to see turtles is at Lanikea Beach. You'll see a huge crowd there-- you can't miss it!

My favorite beach on the island is on the North Shore and that is Waimea Beach. It's the site of the huge surf competitions in the winter but the waves are super calm there in the summer. When the waves are just starting to get big, the surf is fun to swim in and bob up and down on. There is a fun rock to jump off into the water. Parking is limited but the beach is huge so it never gets very crowded. Go early in the morning to get prime parking.

On the other side of the island, there's a pretty little town called Kailua. Kailua has lots of fun shops and restaurants as well. And Kailua Beach Park is a beautiful beach, though it can be windy sometimes (this is on the windward side of the island so it tends to be windier and rainier than the other side). It's a popular site for kite surfers, which are fun to watch and probably would be really fun to try if you dare!

My VERY FAVORITE restaurant on the whole island is in Kailua. This tiny crepes place is called Crepes No Ka 'Oi -- it's divine. Get the Berry Heavenly crepe (ordered with a side of nutella!) for some sweet decadence, or go before 11am for the Ultimate Breakfast crepe, which is filled with potatoes, eggs and hollandaise sauce. Yum.

As far as hikes go, there is a little hike on this side of the island (near Kailua) called the Pillbox Hike or Lanikai hike. It's pretty easy and is along a ridge right on the ocean. The views are amazing, especially at sunrise. You have to park on the street by a golf course to get to it. I'd recommend wearing tennis shoes to hike, but I've done it in slippers (aka. flip flops) without much trouble.

Also, Maunawili Falls hike is on this side of the island and that's a fun one. If it's been raining at all, the trail is completely muddy and you probably won't last a few minutes without slipping and sliding. The trail is pretty jungly and leads to a water fall that has a 10 foot and 40 foot jump into a deep pool. It's usually pretty crowded, which makes it not our favorite hike, but still lots of fun. Make sure you wear clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting coated in mud!

If you are a beginner surfer and want to try it out, there is a beach called White Plains (or Barber's Point). It is a good beach for beginner surfers -- lots of families and military, pretty calm waves, no big rocks. You have to have a military ID to rent a board though. You can rent boards without a military ID in town (Waikiki/Honolulu) but sometimes the local surfers there get a little territorial. I wouldn't be worried about going surfing in town, but we always take people to learn at White Plains.

If you're an experienced surfer, Chris' favorite surf spot is Lani's (Laniakea) on the North Shore. This break is located between Poipu and Chun's and is good right break with deep water. He usually sees lots of turtles while surfing out there. It's great for head high waves to 2x overhead in the winter.

One thing I tell everyone they most do is take part of the day to drive around the whole island. This should take you about 2-3 hours (again, depending on traffic) but it will give you a better appreciation for the island as a whole. The roads that go around run literally feet from the water and the sights are amazing. You can take Kamehameha highway almost all the way around.

Other favorites::

Makapu'u Lighthouse & tide pools

Sandy's Beach

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Spitting Caves

Shark's Cove for snorkeling

I hope this was helpful for those of you traveling to Oahu in the future! There are lots of great things to do and see not listed on here, so be sure to talk to others and look up more info online or in travel books!

Do you live on Oahu? Have you visited here? What are/were some of your favorite spots and activities on the island? Let's keep the info flowing in the comments below!

Also, if you have any questions, leave me a comment and I'll reply below.

lindsay

a few changes. (simplifying and growing!)

2012-01-23T13:58:00.001-05:00

Helloooooo! Hope your week is off to a great start already! I just woke up a little bit ago and am relaxing in bed, munching on crackers and willing this nausea to leave me alone for the day.

Thought I would update you on a few things going on around here. I posted here about my word for 2012-- "grow". I've been thinking a lot about that and what it means to me, practically. Growing doesn't always mean adding more on, or getting bigger, but sometimes in order to grow, you have to prune away the unnecessary or the things that keep us from growing. Sometimes you just have to simplify to make room for new growth.

In light of that, I've decided to do away with sponsor feature posts. I love being able to support and give greater exposure to my fellow handmade artists and bloggers, but right now, I feel like the sponsor feature posts are taking away from what I really want to post about -- our life, our baby, my artwork, creative inspiration, etc. I will still be taking new sponsors each month, but the sponsorships will remain sidebar space only, for the most part. For the time being, I've dropped the prices a bit, but since I haven't raised them at all since I started offering sponsorships (and I have 10x the traffic now), they might be going back up a bit in the future.

**edit-- I do have a few more sponsor features for my awesome January sponsors, but after that, they'll disappear... ;)**

I also will not be doing any more "call for sponsors" posts. These posts also take away from my posting time and I figure that the people who really want to sponsor can easily figure out my information. Plus, they're kind of awkward to post, so nixin' those babies.

If you want some more info on sponsorships and the new changes, check out my sponsorship page here.

Thanks for all your support and understanding. It's not always easy making the "pruning" kinds of decisions (actually, it's not easy for me to make any sort of decision!).

I hope you are getting excited for the BIG changes coming this way very soon. Aisle to Aloha will be changing its name and look in the very close future and I have to tell you that I'm ecstatic. I'm having a blast working with the talented Oana Befort on the graphic changes.

Here's a tiny sneak peek! Can't wait to share the new name with you and make the big change!

Ok, now that business is out of the way-- watch for a post later today all about our favorite things to do and see on Oahu!

lindsay

it's the little things:: our own basil & happy artwork

2012-01-20T14:20:00.000-05:00

Agh, I'm sorry I've been so sporadic on what time I post the linkup lately! I've been trying to stay off the computer while Chris is home lately, so if I don't get it done by the time he comes home from work on Thursdays, I usually don't have a chance to post it until Friday mornings. Anyhoo, thanks for your patience and for joining me here each week to share about the little things that have made us smile this week.

Chris has been working on his "farm" as he calls it a lot lately. ;) We have pots with fresh basil, mint, bell peppers, chili peppers, cilantro, and lemongrass growing in our backyard. I made a big pot of spaghetti sauce yesterday and loved using our own fresh basil from the "farm" in the sauce. The aroma of those freshly picked herbs is so heavenly.

We bought some good olive oil and macadamia nuts the other day and plan on trying our hand at some "mac nut pesto" this weekend! :)

I've been slowly working towards getting our bedroom together. Of course now that we're only months away from moving, it seems a bit pointless, but I know I'll carry over most of the elements in our future homes. I love having a bright space filled with happy color. These two prints below are right across from our bed and greet me each morning when I poke my sleepy head out of the covers. The one on the right is from Katie Daisy, who is one of my very favorite artists, and the one on the right is from our good friend here in Hawaii, Nick, who is a graphic designer and sells his awesome prints in his Etsy shop, Everything is Jake.

More details and a full bedroom tour is coming up soon!

A few more little things that I don't have photos for but made me smile nonetheless::

... My car passing the safety inspection without a hitch recently. What's even better-- we don't have to deal with any registration or safety inspection stuff here in Hawaii again! Hallelujah!

... Listening to recordings of old hymns from when Chris lived in Fiji. The joy on his face hearing his host family and the people he loves there singing and worshipping made my heart leap.

Now it's your turn. What are the little things that made you smile this week? Post about them on your blog and link up below, or tell me in the comments!

party rules.

1. Only link to your specific blog post, not to your blog's main page. See here for more explanation.

2. Grab a button and/or include a link back to this post so your readers can come see what the fun is all about! You can find the code for the button on the sidebar or on the "little things" page.

3. Make sure you visit (and comment) on other posts linked up-- what fun is a party if no one talks to each other? Make some new friends!

oh baby:: 11 weeks!

2012-01-19T14:37:00.000-05:00

blouse and green jeans:: {forever 21}

belt:: {target}

bracelet:: {actually a necklace I bought in Spain}

ring:: {american eagle, a million years ago}

wedges:: {payless}

I'm not normally planning on doing outfit posts and baby bump posts simultaneously, but it just worked out that way this week, so for now, you get a two-fer. A double whammy.

I hit 11 weeks on Monday! Right now, I feel like my bump just makes me look as if I ate a large lunch. So I've been wearing things a little on the flowier side until I feel like the bump looks like baby and not tacos.

Yesterday, we got to see gummy bear again. The nice thing about having some fertility issues is that we've gotten more ultrasounds than I think many women have through their whole pregnancy, just to check on how the babe is growing. I'm so thankful for that and it's really helped to ease my mind.

I'm in awe of the way Chris is taking care of me. Some days, this nausea (not to mention exhaustion and headaches) has me knocked out on the couch, with no desire or energy to do anything. He has been preparing every dinner, without complaints (except when I'm just too picky and won't decide on what to eat!) and cleaning up afterwards too. I have to take my thyroid medicine on an empty stomach, so each morning, he brings my pill and water in first thing so that I can eat something as soon I wake up. He's been so understanding if the house is wreck all week and gives the baby pep talks to give mama a break every now and then. I really am so thankful for that man.

He's also said some pretty funny things::

(a few weeks ago)

Chris:: Aw, your baby bump is so cute already.

Me:: Um, pretty sure that's just bloat right now.

Chris:: Oh, hm, that's not as cute.

After worshipping at our church, which has incredibly loud music.

Chris:: So, does the baby have ears yet? Maybe we should put noise canceling headphones on your belly!

Thankfully, I seem to have found some good methods for keeping the nausea from being too bad, but it would definitely help if I could just cancel out my sense of smell for the next few months! My gag reflex is way too sensitive. Chris said the word "chicken" the other day and I gagged and said, "Please don't say that word." He looked at me like I was completely whacko, which I definitely feel sometimes. ;)

lindsay

berry crepes, sunshine and a bump.

2012-01-18T13:46:00.001-05:00

I wouldn't say this pregnancy is kicking my butt (I know many friends who have had it way worse than I!) but I'm definitely over this whole nausea thing. Especially because I feel like it has kept me from being able to be productive-- I've been a bit slack on the blogging and painting lately. It didn't help that Chris so kindly "lent" me his cold over the weekend, either!

So today, our post is brought to you courtesy of the camera on my phone. I usually try to spend more time taking pictures with my DSLR than my phone, but thought I'd share a little slice of our life lately through the eye's of my phone camera.

(top to bottom, left to right)

enjoying a sunny day at North Beach, K Bay//

relaxing on the drive up to the North Shore //

relishing 5 minutes of having a clean studio //

whooping Chris in dominos-- 113 to 0 //

sneak peek of new Valentine's paintings coming soon! //

Mumford & Sons lyrics painted for my sister in law //

more beach time! //

delicious Berry Heavenly crepe at my favorite restaurant on the island //

watching Chris surf on the west side //

itty bitty 11 week baby bump!

I'm hoping to get some more painting done today and have my first appt with my official OB (instead of the fertility specialist we've been seeing for my first two appointments) later this morning. Thankful Chris can go with me because otherwise I'd probably get lost in that hospital. What are you up to today??

PS. I've enabled threaded commenting! So, you'll notice that the comments are now embedded below and you have the option to reply to specific comments. If you'd like notification of replies to your comment, click the "subscribe by email" link on the right side of the comments. :)

lindsay

it's the little things:: kona mud pie ice cream & baby's first portrait

2012-01-12T21:19:00.000-05:00

This linkup/series continues to make me grin. I love taking a few moments to think about the small blessings in my week that have made me smile and made the week just that much better. This week has been filled with lots of little things and has left me feeling grateful, loved and oh so happy.

... sweet indulgences. I have been known to find pretty much any reason under the sun to indulge. Deployed husband? Check. 100 sales? Check. No sales? Check. Pregnant? Oh, yes, definitely check. Cuz you know, the baby wants ice cream, right? ;) And this is the best ice cream eveeeer, my friend. Roselani's Kona Mud Pie.

... tiny surprises in the mail. My little brother bought me these earrings from joojooland on etsy for Christmas and they finally arrived the other day. The packaging was adorable and I am in loove. Thank you AJ!

(He doesn't read my blog, so I could probably say all sorts of embarrassing things about him... but I'll refrain. ;)

... baby's first portraits on the fridge. I love seeing our ultrasound images on the fridge door every day. The top one is at 7 weeks and the bottom is at 10 weeks. So thankful for technology that allows us to see that gummy bear grow.

Got little things for the week? I'd love for you to link up! Or share what made you smile this week in the comments below. Have a beautiful weekend!

party rules.

1. Only link to your specific blog post, not to your blog's main page. See here for more explanation.

2. Grab a button and/or include a link back to this post so your readers can come see what the fun is all about! You can find the code for the button on the sidebar or on the "little things" page.

3. Make sure you visit (and comment) on other posts linked up-- what fun is a party if no one talks to each other? Make some new friends!

waiting.

2012-01-11T12:56:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much for all the sweet comments, congrats and prayers on the news of our little babe! We really feel so blessed that our babe is so loved already and it's so good to be able to share this new adventure with you, finally!

I do know, however, that not every woman will be cheering and squealing with delight at my pregnancy announcement. Why? Because I have been that woman whose heart sinks when I see yet another bump reveal. I understand being conflicted between feeling ecstatic for a newly pregnant friend and sobbing ten minutes later because "When is it my turn?"

My whole life my only "career goal" I've ever had was to be a mom. Oh, I had dreams of being a teacher, an artist, an actress. But I always knew in my heart that I was meant to be a mama. Growing up in a family of 7 kids can do that to a girl. My crazy, happy family gave me a desire to have my own one day. My own strong, faithful mama showed me how it's done. Playing with my nieces and nephews, I'd think about the day when I got to add my own kiddos to the mix of cousins. And marrying Chris solidified my heart's desire to grow a family with this amazing man of God.

Our path to pregnancy was a tough one, though I'm sure not as tough as many of yours. Along the way, I was diagnosed with hypothryoidism which was screwing with my cycles and throwing a wrench in our plans. I was thankful to get it diagnosed and treated but it was frustrating to be given a diagnosis for something that will follow me throughout life. Thankfully, after a few tries, we've found a good dosage of drugs that keeps my thyroid levels in check.

After months of me questioning God's timing and a year of trying, Chris and I headed into the doctor's to figure out what the heck was going on in our bodies. I was hit with yet another tough diagnosis, this time, one that shook my world. The doctor told me that I had PCOS, which is basically a hormone disorder of varying degrees that makes it very difficult for some women to conceive and impossible for others. I had no idea where I landed on the scale and I shook with sobs for days as I faced what I thought could be the end to my dreams.

As we shared our diagnosis and struggles with some close friends and family, we were flooded with prayers and encouragement. As painful as it was, I prayed that God would use our situation and use me for His glory. But I was hesitant to do that. I did not want to be an "infertility" blogger and was honestly rather mad that I had this new label.

As December approached, we started to discuss drug treatments that would give us an edge on that conceiving thing. I prayed and prayed about it and as much as I was dying to become pregnant, I just felt an unease about the drugs. I asked God to be clear with me, if He was giving me these doubts and as I lay in bed praying one morning I heard loud and clear, "Just wait". I've never heard God so clearly before and I didn't know exactly what "just wait" meant but I said "Okay, God, we'll wait on the drugs."

Little did I know that He was really saying "just wait" for that positive test. Because within the week, I started to feel queasy and after hesitantly taking a pregnancy test on Monday morning, I crumpled to the floor in sobs as I saw those two clear lines show up. After countless negative tests, all I could do was lift my hands in thanks to God. We are still praising God for his timing and the miracles he works.

So, to my friends still waiting.... I just wish I could give you a big hug and tell you that I know it sucks. I won't say "Oh, it will happen", because the truth is, I don't know. But I know how hard it is to see so many friends announce their pregnancies and to still be patiently waiting for your turn.

I'm not one to throw Bible verses at a situation. I know that sometimes that's the last thing you want to hear. But not only do I want you to know that I know it sucks, but I hope to offer some encouragement as well. And the He is the best Encourager I know.

" I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord."

Psalm 27:13-14

I am confident that God will bring goodness into your life even through these struggles. He's got plans for you-- awesome, beautiful, good plans. Take heart, dear friend.

(And if you got through the longest blog post ever-- thank you. :)

lindsay

oh baby!

2012-01-09T21:37:00.000-05:00

We're having a baby!! Chris and I are both over the moon ecstatic about our little one and we can't wait to meet him/her in August. We've waited a while for this and I am so in awe of God's goodness and his perfect timing. I just had an appointment yesterday. I'm 10 weeks and my doctor said that everything looks great. We got to see our little gummy bear, see and hear his/her heartbeat and watch him/her squirm around. So amazing. I haven't been feeling real amazing, which may explain how quiet it's been around my blog and shop lately. I've been feeling pretty sick, which oddly enough is actually comforting, knowing that my body is working hard to grow this little one. Prayers are definitely appreciated and I just can't tell you how excited I am to finally share our news with you-- it's been so hard to keep this secret!

lindsay

silver & honey giveaway winner!

2012-01-07T13:18:00.000-05:00

Hi guys! Just popping in because I realized that I totally forgot to pick a winner for the Silver & Honey giveaway this week! Whooops!

So, without further ado, the lucky girl who will be receiving these pearl and pyrite earrings is...

Margaret from the Bite Size Baker!

Congrats Margaret! Shoot me an email with your contact info and I'll get you in touch with Stephanie!

If you didn't win this week, make sure to stop by Silver and Honey anyway and peruse Stephanie's gorgeous jewelry. You may want to put a few things on your Valentine's Day wishlist!

Have a great weekend, friends!

lindsay

it's the little things:: bloggy friends & lost and found

2012-01-06T01:41:00.000-05:00

It's Friday, party people! I know that the first week back after the holidays is always tough, so take a deep breath and relax. Or kick off your shoes and dance around the room. Or both. Whatever.

It's been a little while since my last Little Things linkup. I've got lots to be thankful for over the past few weeks. Here are a few great ones from this week.

... meetups with blogger friends! I got to meet Aime for coffee yesterday and we sat in Starbucks for almost four hours chatting about everything under the sun. Three years ago, I would have totally balked at the idea that I could share my heart over coffee with someone I'd only met on the internet. This online community leaves me speechless sometimes.

... So, the other day, on his day off, Chris spent the afternoon washing, scrubbing and cleaning out our filthy car. That was a blessing in and of itself-- to have a squeaky clean car this week-- but what really pushed me over the edge into glee was that under the driver's seat, he found a lipstick tube I've been searching for for about two years. My friend and makeup artist gave it to me after doing my makeup on our wedding day and it's always been my favorite lipstick. To have it returned to me after such a long time made me smile really big this week.

What little things have made you smile this week? Link up your posts below!

party rules.

1. Only link to your specific blog post, not to your blog's main page. See here for more explanation.

2. Grab a button and/or include a link back to this post so your readers can come see what the fun is all about! You can find the code for the button on the sidebar or on the "little things" page.

3. Make sure you visit (and comment) on other posts linked up-- what fun is a party if no one talks to each other? Make some new friends!

aloha from december small-ad sponsors!

2012-01-05T14:03:00.000-05:00

Aloha friends and happy Thursday! Today I have two really fun shops and their sweet creators to introduce you to! I'm excited to show off some of my December small ad sponsors to you and hope you'll love their shops as much as I do!

I asked Becca and Moriah::

If you make one resolution for the New Year, what will that be?

You'll find their answers below as well as a little introduction and plenty of links for you to get to know them better!

Perusing Becca's shop Hugs and Kisses makes me seriously excited for the day when I have my own little ones. From her handmade bibs, pinafores, headbands and even nursery prints, you can tell this girl has an eye for beautiful color combinations and a talent for creating! I hope you'll say hi to Becca on her blog or twitter sometime today!

Becca said::

New years resolutions are always so tough! This year we're really trying to focus on being more disciplined. about our faith, about our budget and about our health. Here's hoping we can start the new year off right and keep at it all year long!

Find more Hugs and Kisses here::

Shop

Blog

Twitter

Moriah Makes is a sweet shop owned by one of my very closest bloggy friends, Moriah (duh.) With a hint of vintage charm in each of her handmade products, her shop is both unique and fresh and I'm sure you'll have a hard time choosing between a custom necklace for yourself, a scarf for your sister or an itty bitty headband for your little one. But hey, why choose?!

Moriah says::

Mine is to live in the present.

Find more Moriah Makes here::

Shop

Blog

Twitter

I can totally relate to both of their resolutions-- both being more disciplined in my life as well as living in the present and enjoying the blessings I have now. Ok, now go explore their blogs and shops and I'm sure you'll adore them in no time!

lindsay

aloha style:: can I get a shovel for this popcorn??

2012-01-04T14:41:00.000-05:00

earrings (which, sadly you can't see in any pics):: {allorahandmade}

blazer:: {quiksilver}

floral blouse:: {old navy}

jeans:: {forever 21}

flats:: {rocket dog/macy's}

First of all, I don't really know what to write for my outfit posts lately, besides, "Look! I put on clothes the other day!" Yes, aren't you so proud of me, Mom? I'll tell you this-- I wore this outfit to the movies (Sherlock Holmes, to be specific. 'Twas entertaining.) the other day, which was kind of a dumb move on my part, considering that I usually spend a good portion of the movies ferociously shoveling buttery popcorn into my mouth. (The popcorn is honestly the #1 reason I get excited when Chris asks me to the movies. Numero dos is the Coke slushie.) And for the record, a good amount of that popcorn ends up leaving greasy evidence on my shirt. Thank goodness that busy pattern hides those stains, right?? Ha.

So, style advice for you today-- make sure that if you wear your new favorite shirt to the movies and it's a possibility (er, probability) that you'll spill popcorn all over yourself-- that it's a busy pattern. Or just be smart and wear your old college tee that already has rips and stains on it.

PS. Got a haircut. Oh goodness, it was badly needed. Bonus points to Chris for noticing right away.

lindsay

i got a pocket, got a pocket full of... books.

2012-01-03T18:35:00.000-05:00

Chris surprised me on Christmas morning with a new Kindle! The boy knows I love to read and I think this is his solution to his own obsession with surfing-- as long as I can always have a book at hand, I'm happy to sit on the beach for hours while he surfs! Smart boy... ;)

So, I'm slowly discovering my Kindle and even found out that my public library loans library books via e-books! How technologically savvy is that? Check your library's website-- maybe they offer that too!

The truth is, I definitely can't swear off real paper books forever, I have to admit that I do miss turning the page. But I'm loving the convenience of having as many books as I want right in my beach bag pocket! It will be great for traveling too, as I've been known to pack an extra carryon just for my books!

My questions for you are these...

Do you have any book suggestions??! I am definitely into the easy reading beach reads these days, especially young adult fiction (no shame, people, no shame.) like the Hunger Games and Hush, Hush series. Have you read anything awesome lately that you just have to share??

Also, any tips on where I can get an affordable, thin Kindle cover? I'm thinking something leather-esque and slim.

Finally, do you follow me on GoodReads? I just opened my profile a few weeks ago and have only reviewed a few books but I'm having fun checking out my friends' favorite reads and getting ideas for new books to put on my list.

Alright people, I think I may go soak up some sunshine and read for a bit! Hope the rest of your day is awesome!

grow.

2012-01-01T23:52:00.000-05:00

I'm really horrible at keeping goals and resolutions.

Seriously, take a look at my blog post this week last year, and you'll read a handful of goals that I came no where close to accomplishing (such as reading my Bible each day, running a triathlon and trying a new recipe each week). Looking back, I realize that I actually managed to attain a few of my goals such as picking up some photography skills, painting more and being more intentional with my blog. But overall, I don't think I'm resolutions kind of girl. There's too much guilt and failure attached to my past resolutions and so, I've sworn off of them, those resolutions.

But I started thinking about how even though I may not have specific resolutions for this year, I don't want to be stagnant. Because I admit that I think I've been stagnant for far too long.

And so, I realized that picking a word for the year, as corny as it sounds, might just be the ticket.

It's a simple word; you won't have to grab a dictionary to understand it. Its four letters add up to a word that to me is inspirational and challenging.

Grow.

In 2012, I want to grow in my identity and roles as a friend, a sister, a servant, a wife, a daughter of the King, and even a mama, Lord willing. I pray that I will "grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). I am determined to see growth in myself as an artist, a handmade business owner and a blogger.

Growth can be painful. It can be challenging and even slow-going as you push through the dirt that weighs down on you. I know that if I really want to grow in many of these areas, it's going to take initiative on my part, which I often find hard to come by. Growing this year is going to require a lot of prayer, time in the Word and accountability. And it might start off slow, as I let God's grace seep into each crevice of my heart.

It might take some changes, perhaps to my blog and shop, as I continue to seek out His will and purpose for those two passions. It will take more intentionality in my relationships and probably more than one or two swift kicks in the butt. And I know that ultimately, it's going to be God's doing in my heart, this growing. Gotta admit, these words I'm typing are scaring me a bit, as my lazy, selfish and stagnant heart says "Noooo. It's comfy right where I am!"

But this will be good, my friends.

How are you going to grow this year? Or better yet, do you have your own "word for the year" that is challenging you?

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

1 Corinthians 3:7

lindsay

downtown annapolis photo shoot:: part two!

2011-12-30T13:48:00.000-05:00

I didn't get a chance to put together a Little Things post today, so we'll plan on getting back on schedule next week. Instead, I thought I'd show you some more of the photos from our photo shoot in downtown Annapolis during our trip home in November. I love the photos that Stacey captured and can't wait to get a few framed!

If you could please keep Stacey in your prayers, she is going through some rough stuff right now. Her husband unexpectedly passed away a few weeks ago, the week before Christmas. My heart breaks for her and I've been thinking about her constantly. If you feel like it, you can leave some encouragement on her Facebook page here.

Here's round two of our photo shoot in downtown Annapolis!

Can't wait to show you my aaaaabsolute favorites next week! :)

lindsay

aloha & giveaway from a sponsor:: silver and honey!

2011-12-29T13:20:00.000-05:00

Today I get to introduce to you one of my newest and sweetest sponsors-- Stephanie from Silver and Honey. Not only is her business name incredibly sweet, but Stephanie herself has such a precious heart and wonderful creative talent! You will love her jewelry, guaranteed. It's got classic beauty, with a bit of a quirky flair. Keep reading to learn more about Stephanie and stick around for a beeeautiful giveaway that you do not want to miss!

Aloha Stephanie! Could you tell Aisle to Aloha readers a bit about yourself?

Aloha! I am a wife, mommy, Christian and jewelry maker. Up until a few months ago, I worked in the banking industry, but now I am incredibly blessed to be able to stay home with my son and pursue my dream of having my own business.

What is the story behind your sweet business?

I’ve always been an artistic person but never really knew what my creative outlet was until I started making jewelry. It started as a hobby when I was pregnant, but once I took my first Metalsmithing class I knew I had finally found my passion. I started with a small Etsy shop, and then decided to rename/rebrand my business and focus on my own website. Silverandhoney.com was born shortly after but I am still changing, learning new things and striving to improve my work. I only wish I had enough time to do all of the things I want to do!

What is the most special piece of jewelry you own or have owned in the past? What does it mean to you?

I have a necklace with a small diamond pendant that was given to me by my mother. It was made from a pair of diamond earrings owned by my Great Grandmother. She was an amazing woman, kind, gentle and full of love and she is the kind of person that I strive to be one day. When she passed, my mother had the earrings made into two diamond necklaces. She gave one to my sister and the other to me.

If you could offer any piece of advice to small business owners, what would you say?

Don’t freak out if you aren’t immediately successful! It takes time to get your business out there and everyone has to start somewhere. So don’t give up! If you are doing what you love and doing it well, someone will notice and a way will open up!

Ok, sweet readers, it's me again. Ready for this gorgeous giveaway? Gotta admit, I'm a bit jealous of you. Stephanie has graciously offered a pair of her Pyrite and Pearl earrings to one of you! These 14k gold-filled earrings are elegant and quirky at the same time and will look gorgeous on those lobes of yours!

Wanna enter to win? Here's how::

Leave a blog comment telling us your most special piece of jewelry and why.

**Additional entries::**

Visit Silver and Honey and tell me your favorite piece of jewelry on Stephanie's site. (Leave a separate comment here for an entry.)

Follow Stephanie's twitter! (Leave a separate comment here for an entry.)

Giveaway closes on Tuesday, January 3, 2012!

lindsay

two reasons why you should email me today!

2011-12-28T14:37:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of in shock that the New Year is upon us already. As January approaches, I've got two very good reasons why you might want to email me!

Sponsorships!

Sponsorships for January are open! Check out my stats and rates on my sponsorship page . I love helping handmade and small businesses get more exposure and my super-duper affordable advertising rates are sure to fit every budget.

I'm so stoked about the growth and direction of my blog. 2011 was a fabulous year of growth, as I introduced my "aloha style" posts, hosted the Birthday Club and started the Little Things linkup. In 2012, exciting changes are coming to Aisle to Aloha including a complete re-branding and many other fun things that will be revealed soon! If you want to contact me to see if we'd be a good fit, shoot me a note at aisletoaloha{at}gmail.com, or just click the "email" tab on the right sidebar.

Custom Queue re-opened!

Also, I'm opening up two spots in my custom queue! I took a short hiatus from custom orders over the holidays and I'm excited to get back into it. So, if you'd like a painting created just for you, check out my queue and policies on my custom paintings page. As stated there, spots on the queue are first come, first serve, even if you've already contacted me with interest before. Email me to ask about reserving a spot on the queue!

Hope to hear from you soon! ;)

lindsay

aloha style: punch it up!

2011-12-27T15:39:00.000-05:00

top:: {gift}

brooch:: {much love illy}

bracelet:: {gift, from dominican republic}

jeans:: {american eagle}

wedges:: {payless}

hi friends! How were your holiday weekends? I hope you had lots of sweet time with family and friends! Today, I'm rocking proof that great accessories can pump up any outfit. I wouldn't normally wear a navy blue tee layered on top of dark wash jeans( why wear one color when you can wear six??), but the combo totally works when you kick it up a notch with some bright accessories. My Much Love, Illy brooch is seriously one of my favorite accessories lately. It's so easy to pin it onto a scarf or tee and completely change up any ho-hum outfit.

Here are some colorful accessories that have made it onto my wishlist lately.

Lace earrings and necklaces from white owl on etsy

Dainty leather bracelets from sonofasailor on etsy

Geometric and gemstone jewelry from sparklefarm on etsy

Colorful cowls and braided necklaces from ohjustjess on etsy

Vibrant lockets from verabel + fox on etsy

Got a favorite handmade shop for purchasing punchy accessories? Share in the comments below and help us discover some new favorites!

lindsay

merry christmas!

2011-12-23T16:21:00.000-05:00

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!"

Luke 2: 10-11

Amen and amen! Taking a break to celebrate the birth of Christ, eat lots of cinnamon rolls and spend time with sweet friends and my love. Hope your Christmas is merry and bright, filled with celebration and joy!

PS. Can you spot this girl in her leggings and pj top in the picture above? ;)

lindsay

aloha style:: baby it's.... hot outside.

2011-12-20T01:08:00.000-05:00

necklace:: {31 bits}

dress:: {oneill}

bracelets:: {gift}

shoes:: {hazmittens, c/o Blowfish}

I haven't been able to take outfit pictures in awhile. The rainy season (aka. winter) has started here on the island and Chris and I have been falling asleep to the pouring rain outside our window almost every night for the past week. It's one of my very favorite sounds. This is a strange time of the year for us as we do our best to embrace the cozy spirit of the holidays and spend our days in the hot island sunshine. Lots of contradictions. Christmas tree lit up in our living room. Palms swaying in the yard. Songs about dreaming white Christmases and ooh, baby it's cold outside. Meanwhile, the warm rain pours outside and the sun beats down on the green grass. On Sunday, after presents and cinnamon buns, we'll throw on our Santa hats and hop in the Jeep for our annual Christmas surf session.

Our last one. So for now, we savor the dichotomy of a Christmas in Hawaii.

lindsay

i could use an elf or two.

2011-12-19T13:43:00.000-05:00

{via}

I'm busy.busy.busy today getting out shop orders and finishing up some last minute gifts going out to family. I think we procrastinated a little too much this year, but thankfully I'm really excited about each of the gifts we're sending, so hopefully our fam won't mind extending their gift opening a day or two. ;)

Have you sent all your gifts? Or are you scrambling, like me, to get them out in time??

lindsay

downtown annapolis photo shoot!

2011-12-17T01:44:00.000-05:00

I usually don't post on weekends, but our CD of images from our photo shoot in Maryland just came yesterday and I have to show you the first few photos! We met our photographer, my cousin, Stacey, in downtown Annapolis at dawn on a chilly November morning. We love the photos Stacey captured and can't wait to show them to you!

I'll space out the photos over the next few weeks so I don't inundate you with them. ;) Stay tuned, they just get better (at least, I think so!)

Have a great weekend, friends!

All photos taken by Stacey Lee Photography.

lindsay

it's the little things:: christmas cheer

2011-12-16T15:09:00.000-05:00

We actually decorated our tree about two weeks ago, but I wanted to share some of our photos with you. All week long, this happy little tree has been making me smile. I love looking at our favorite ornaments and always have to plug the lights in as soon as we wake up.

I love an eclectic Christmas tree with everything from handmade ornaments from our nieces and nephews, souvenirs from our travels and gifts from our parents. My favorite ornaments are from our travels, like the paper crane from Japan below, and a sand dollar ornament from our trip to Kauai two years ago. Do your favorite ornaments have significance?

Link up your Little Things posts below!

party rules.

1. Only link to your specific blog post, not to your blog's main page. See here for more explanation.

2. Grab a button and/or include a link back to this post so your readers can come see what the fun is all about! You can find the code for the button on the sidebar or on the "little things" page.

3. Make sure you visit (and comment) on other posts linked up-- what fun is a party if no one talks to each other? Make some new friends!

oh, hi there.

2011-12-15T20:30:00.000-05:00

Oh, hey, it's me, your ol pal, Lindsay. Whoops, took a little unintentional blog break this week. Not gonna apologize though, cuz I think those kinds of things are always good for us. I love you guys and all, but I don't want to be a slave to my blog. A slave to bacon, yes, to my blog-- not so much. ;)

I've been busy painting away this week, working at getting some new pieces ready to go in the shop. Tonight, if you peek over there, you'll see some brand new canvas magnets going in, as well as one or two paintings on the new 8x8 canvas size and possibly a painting on one of the new round canvases as well! Lots of fun stuff happening over here!

Speaking of fun stuff happening, I've been chatting about it on twitter, but just to give you a heads up-- I'm brainstorming a new name and new branding for Aisle to Aloha come spring! With our move coming up, I feel weird keeping the "aloha" and have been searching for a name that wouldn't tie me to a location. I've come up with the perfect name and I'm super excited about these changes! I'm not planning on changing the content, but just tweaking things a bit in other areas. I hope you'll stick with me and go through a few growing pains starting in the next few months!

What have you been up to this week? Anything productive? Anything fuuun?

PS. The Little Things linky party will be going live tomorrow morning! Get your posts ready!

lindsay

aisle to aloha meetup:: wish you were there!

2011-12-12T14:22:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday, I hosted my very first Aisle to Aloha meetup picnic in Blaisdell Park. I had such a fun time putting it together and planning it and even more fun hanging with the girls that came! Sadly, I had too much fun eating and chatting and didn't get ANY photos with the girls! :( So, Emily, Lisa, Michelle, Tiera and Carly-- my apologies but you were just too distracting. Or maybe baby Mason was too distracting! :)

In preparation for the meetup, I made cupcake stands from $.99 plates and candlesticks from Goodwill, created cupcake flags from toothpicks and washi tape, and wrapped mason drinking jars with raffia.

We ate yummy cupcakes from Hokulani Bakery and the flavors were to die for-- lilikoi lemon, strawberry guava, red velvet, chocolate cream cheese and snickerdoodle, yummm! I also had to order my favorite pizzas from CPK-- california club (with bacon!) and chicken thai-- because what fun is a meetup without bacon or pizza?? ;) I threw some veggies into the mix and plopped some sweet bell peppers and carrot sticks into mason jars with ranch. And to top it off, we sipped Aloha Juice ( strawberry orange and calamansi lime!) from mason jars with stripey straws bought online at Shop Sweet Lulu.

I had such a blast meeting up with some of my readers on island and wish that each of you could have been there. I really am so thankful for each of you and hope that some day I have a chance to hug more of you!

Have a great week, friends!

PS. In case you haven't noticed, I've been listing my new canvas magnets and they've been selling like crazy this week! I'm getting a shipment today of lots of new canvases, so keep an eye on the shop for more new designs soon! :)

lindsay

it's the little things:: guest post by megan flynn from freckled italian!

2011-12-08T21:49:00.001-05:00

Aloha friends! Before we jump into our Little Things post today, I'm excited to announce the winner of the La Sardina Mobius camera from Lomography! This suh-weet camera goes to...

Comment #121! The beautiful blogger over at The Pepper and her Pups! :)

Congratulations! Shoot me an email and I'll get you connected with the lovely people from Lomography! Thanks to all who entered. I really enjoyed reading about your favorite photos!

Without further ado, I'm excited to have a sweet guest poster for our Little Things linkup today! Megan blogs over at Freckled Italian and she's one of my awesome December sponsors. Megan shares her yummy recipes (like this "grown up" grilled cheese recipe, mmm!), love for bright tights (I'm a fan of raspberry too, Megan!) and pretty pictures. Plus, her blog is super cute, so I think you should hop on over after you've read her Little Things and linked up your own!

(psst.. I'm closing comments, so leave some love for Megan instead of here! ;)

Ok, take it away, Megan!

Hi everybody! Megan here from Freckled Italian.

I'm so excited to be posting on From the Aisle to Aloha today about those little things that have made me feel grateful this week. These past few days have been full of reading, rain, and getting ready for the holidays. So without further ado, here are some things for which I am thankful:

A few grey, rainy days like the past few here in Virginia.

This is my favorite weather and I always feel so happy when it's chilly and wet outside.

Getting lost in a new book.

Festive lights adorning our small apartment.

Spending an afternoon with my wonderful mom, who drove two hours just to have lunch and then dinner with me.

What about you? Link up!

party rules.

1. Only link to your specific blog post, not to your blog's main page. See here for more explanation.

2. Grab a button and/or include a link back to this post so your readers can come see what the fun is all about! You can find the code for the button on the sidebar or on the "little things" page.

3. Make sure you visit (and comment) on other posts linked up-- what fun is a party if no one talks to each other? Make some new friends!

remembering pearl harbor.

2011-12-07T20:17:00.000-05:00

Today, in Hawaii, the flags fly at half-mast. 70 years ago today, 2,388 men and women were killed in the attacks on Pearl Harbor. 12 ships were sunk, including the USS Arizona, on which 1,177 of those men died. Living on these waters has always been fascinating as I've come to know the story and details of that day. This morning, Chris and I were honored to be able to attend the 70th anniversary memorial ceremony. We heard many important people speak, but most notable was Mal Middlesworth, a sprite 87 year old survivor of the attacks that day. My own great-uncle was on board the USS Case that day and died just a few years ago. It makes me wish I has had a chance to sit down and ask him to share his story with me.

At exactly 7:55am, the 19th Fighter Squadron flew over the Arizona Memorial in the missing man formation. Minutes later, I kid you not, a rainbow formed over the Memorial. It gave me chills. I'm so glad we decided to wake up before the sun this morning and attend the last ceremony where the survivors will be represented by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. It's our last year here in Hawaii and the patriotism and remembrance of this morning made my heart swell with pride and sorrow, at the same time.

Last week, I finished a book that completely changed my perspective on the attacks and the deep waters outside our door. It's called Descent into Darkness and it's written by Ed Raymer, a Navy diver who arrived the day after the attacks to rescue survivors and salvage the ships that sunk in the dark, murky waters of Pearl Harbor. (You find it on Amazon here. ) I laughed, cried, cringed and cheered, and then I talked to Chris for a week about how I wished I could meet the author. It is now one of my very favorite books and I think everyone should read it, especially this week.

Have you had a chance to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial?

lindsay

fresh paint!

2011-12-06T15:38:00.000-05:00

Hi lovelies! I've been busy busy busy the past few months with lots of custom orders. I really enjoy custom work, especially the time I spend getting to know my customers and tailoring a piece just for them! Here are two custom orders I finished most recently.

Kat has a colorful kitchen with hues of coral, green and turquoise and she wanted to make it even brighter with some tropical 12x12 Aisle to Aloha pieces. (My favorite is either the hula girl or that bike!)

My sweet friend, Sandy is due in just a few short weeks with her first baby boy and I had the privilege of working on some custom nursery pieces for her! Each animal represents Sandy, her husband Marv, and their baby boy using animals from the Chinese calendar. The significance of these pieces is so sweet and I had a blast working on them for Sandy. Check out her awesome nursery sneak peek here!

I love that monkey so much that he'll be taking up residence in the shop pretty soon! :)

I'm stoked to share a sneak-peek of a new Aisle to Aloha product coming to the shop this week! Tiny 2x2 canvas paintings double as magnets! There are a few on my fridge right now and I can hardly stand the cuteness! Follow me on twitter or on Facebook if you want to be in the know when they debut!

And finally, if you're thinking of giving the gift of happy color this Christmas, make sure you place your order by December 10th! That's the cut off date for Christmas delivery, but the shop will be open all month! Gift certificates are also available in any amount for those last minute gifts!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

lindsay

aloha style:: surf hair, the color wheel & my kelly moore bag review!

2011-12-05T03:35:00.000-05:00

dress:: {shopruche}

cardigan:: {my sister's closet, literally, not like a store, really her closet}

necklace:: {yellow owl workshop}

shoes:: {payless}

camera bag:: {kelly moore}

I got my Kelly Moore gray Posey camera bag in the mail a few days before we left for our Maryland trip. It was perfect timing and I got to really test it out as I carried it around the streets of downtown Annapolis, and to and from our families' houses. I thought I'd give you guys a short review. When I was searching for that perfect camera bag, I browsed for hours, days, even reading reviews and trying to decide which to get. So hopefully this is helpful for you!

You may remember that I originally decided on an Epiphanie bag. The mustard yellow Lyric bag, to be exact. The reason I returned that bag is because the quality was not what I expected for the price I paid. If you'd like to know more about that, feel free to email me and I'll tell you more in detail!

So, onto my Kelly Moore Posey bag! I chose the gray color because I realize that I wear a lot of color (um, duh) and wanted something that wouldn't compete with my wardrobe. The gray is a really gorgeous hue and goes well with anything.

I love the quality and am so impressed with everything from the stitching, the hardware (I like the brushed nickel look) and the faux leather has a smooth, buttery feel to it (not plastic-y at all). You can wear the bag several ways, but the way I'm wearing it above is how I most often use it. You can also put the flaps up or take the shoulder strap off for different looks/functions.

A few things to think about-- this bag is very small. I believe it's Kelly's smallest model. I can fit my camera (and bulky strap), phone, one extra lens and a small wallet. I actually had to switch wallets because my old one wouldn't fit. Now I use a slim MadebyHank clutch (above) and that works great, but if your wallet is bulky, it probably won't work. There is a section of the Kelly Moore bag made specifically to be use as a wallet (with credit card slots, etc) but I prefer to use a separate wallet. (How many times can one write "wallet" in a paragraph??)

I also wish that it had a shorter strap as well to use under my arm. I'd really love that diversity as I don't always prefer to carry it as a messenger bag. But it's one of those things that I knew before buying it, so it's not a complaint, just something to think about.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this bag. I love the design, the quality and function and I'm so glad that I ended up with my Posey bag!

(fyi. Looks like Kelly isn't selling this design anymore. But she has a similar design called the Posey 2!)

Do you have a camera bag that you love? Or do you still toss that camera in the bottom of your purse? (That was me until a month ago!)

PS. That color wheel necklace is my absolute favorite accessory these days. I feel like it's so "me".

PPS. Crazy thick surf hair is fun. Surfing is more fun. And surfing with my hubby is the funnest. ;)

lindsay

it's the little things: grasshopper tea & tree hugging

2011-12-02T12:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday!! This week seemed to fly by to me. I've been really busy getting orders out and finishing up some custom artwork. Can't wait to show some of my latest custom pieces to you next week! :)

This season is packed full of gratitude for the little things. Thanks for joining me each week-- I'm thankful for a place to record them and love sharing them with you every Friday! So here are my little things for the week.

... grasshopper tea in my new Anthropologie initial mug. I brew some hot peppermint tea and throw in a spoonful of Trader Joe's sipping chocolate. YUM.

... the conquest for the perfect tree {and um, hugging it when we find it!}. Tonight we get to dress it up pretty while watching It's a Wonderful Life, my very favorite Christmas movie. Cannot wait!

... I love looking up at my inspiration board that hangs above my desk and seeing pretty prints, business cards and encouragement from some of my favorite people. I realized that most of the prints and artwork in my studio has been gifted to me by sweet, creative friends. That makes me feel so loved.

Ready to link up?

party rules.

1. Only link to your specific blog post, not to your blog's main page. See here for more explanation.

2. Grab a button and/or include a link back to this post so your readers can come see what the fun is all about! You can find the code for the button on the sidebar or on the "little things" page.

3. Make sure you visit (and comment) on other posts linked up-- what fun is a party if no one talks to each other? Make some new friends!

camera giveaway from lomography.com!

2011-12-01T14:05:00.003-05:00

Aloha friends! I've got an exciting sponsor to share with you today and you are going to love the giveaway they are so graciously offering! Lomography.com is a site dedicated to lomography photography and houses not only a magazine and a community of photographers, but a camera shop filled with the the coolest lomography cameras, accessories and film (including the Diana F+ that I proudly own!).

One Aisle to Aloha reader gets to win a La Sardina Mobius camera (plus a roll of 35mm film to get you started!) The La Sardina Mobius camera is not only completely awesome to look at (purple + yellow = hello!), but takes beautiful pictures with its wide angle lens and conveniently takes 35mm film.

I wish I could offer a free flight to Hawaii so we could go out and shoot with our cameras together, but we'll have to settle for sharing them via the web. ;)

Wanna win? Here's how to enter::

Make sure you're a follower of Aisle to Aloha via GFC (on the right sidebar!) and leave a comment below telling us about your favorite photograph! What makes it so special?

**Additional optional entries::**

1} Tweet about the giveway and leave a comment saying you did so.

*edit* Make sure you mention @aisletoaloha and @lomography

as well as include the following link to this post!

http://tinyurl.com/7oqtg64

2} Follow Lomography on twitter and leave a comment saying you do so.

3} Sign up for the Lomography newsletter and leave a comment saying you do so.

4} Become a fan of Lomography on Facebook and leave a comment saying you do so.

(Each comment counts as an entry, so leave a separate comment each time!)

Giveaway closes on Wednesday, December 7! I'll choose a winner via random.org and announce on Thursday, December 8.

Good luck! :)

lindsay

exposed! {and developed...}

2011-11-30T23:54:00.000-05:00

Almost a full year ago, I won a Diana F+ lomography camera on Anna Wu's blog. Last week I finally got my first roll developed! Even though it took me a full year to take and develop that roll of film, I love this little camera. She sits on my studio dresser, next to some of my favorite art and design books and my pile of bright embroidery thread.

There's something about taking film photos, waiting to get them developed and that gamble of not knowing whether they'll even turn out like you'd envisioned (my photos got a bit over- and double exposed but I love the "character" they have!) I'm a girl who loves surprises so you know I am falling back in love with film. Now I've gotta start my next roll -- I have a feeling it'll go a lot quicker this time.

I'm thinking about buying the Instax Mini 7s for my next camera. Do you have that one? Do you love it?

Later this afternoon, I'm excited to host a really fun giveaway for you guys! My newest sponsor Lomography.com, is giving away a super suh-weet camera for you guys! It's so awesome, I am actually really jealous of you! Make sure to come back to check out the giveaway and enter to win!

lindsay

that time i knocked my front tooth out... and other stories about me.

2011-11-29T23:54:00.000-05:00

I'm writing a frequently asked question page for the blog and it had me thinking about the things you guys may or may not know about me. I thought of some pretty random things and thought I'd share. Cuz you know, you guys all have time to sit and read about me all day. Pfft.

Well, I'm writing them anyway. For, you know, posterity.

In college, I tried out for the accapela group on campus. I got called back and lost the gig after auditioning with others to the song "Hallelujah"... it still makes me think of that experience (and I shake my fist in bitterness) every time I hear that song.

At age 7, I knocked my front adult tooth out in a nasty fall down the stairs (I was trying to "rock climb" on the banister".) I still have issues with that tooth and have to go get it checked out soon.

I was a spelling bee extraordinaire in elementary school. I made it to the regional level and still play a mean game of Scrabble thanks to those scores.

i've read water for elephants three times and have yet to see the movie. Chris and I plan on having a dinner of popcorn and corndogs (ie. circus food) when it finally comes to redbox this week.

i speak (or used to speak) fluent spanish.When I lived in Mexico, I used to speak it 95% of the time. It scares me everytime I tell someone that because I'm afraid they'll ask me to speak with them and I'll look like an idiot.

When I was 11, a bug stung my eyelid and it puffed up. My cruel oldest sister and my mom called me Quasimodo for days.

I'm like that little girl in the movie, Signs. I leave partly empty (partly full?) glasses of water all around the house.

My favorite letter to write is a lowercase "L". My least favorite is a "y" or a "g".

I once had really long hair. See it here. Chris misses it.

Okay, this was kind of an egocentric post... enough about me, already. I know you have some eccentricities and embarrassing stories-- care to share? Tell me something random about yourself.

Oh, and while you're on that comment form, got any questions for me that you think should be included in my faq page?

lindsay

{what i've learned}:: staying motivated & being productive

2011-11-28T22:18:00.000-05:00

I keep telling you guys that I'm no expert at these things when I share {what i've learned} about blogging, starting a handmade shop, etc. Well, I really mean it this time.

I learned a long time ago that I am not an intrinsically motivated person. I need treats, rewards, threats, er, goals I mean, to really get myself to focus and be productive. There are some people that are great self-motivators and they just get it done.

Not me.

There are days when I had all the intentions in the world of finishing x paintings and getting orders shipped out, but I end up dilly-dallying the whole day and basically got nothing done. That being said, here's what I've learned about what personally motivates me and helps keep me productive. Hopefully these tips will resonate with you, whether you are a small business owner, blogger, stay-at-home wife/mom, or whatever.

shut it down.

I'm such a social person and while I love working from home, I miss talking to people. So, I end up chatting all day on Twitter and Facebook to get that people time I need. That's okay in small doses, but it often gets to the point where it's distracting me from my work.

If this sounds familiar to you, you need to simply shut it down. Turn off your laptop, throw your phone under your bedroom pillow and ignore them. I've heard people say to give yourself five minute increments to play online, but I end up getting sucked in if I sit down for "just 5 minutes", so I need to just shut myself off from social media for the afternoon. I don't actually shut down social media every day. But on the days I do, I notice that I get a lot more work done.

The only thing that I don't shut down while I work is my music. I usually always have Pandora playing to keep my energy up. My favorite stations are The Civil Wars, The Beach Boys, and Priscilla Ahn, depending on my mood.

{source}

treat yourself.

My love language is gifts ( hint, hint), so maybe this motivator has something to do with that. I love using rewards for myself. Sometimes those rewards are a day off if I get x number of paintings done in a week, or maybe even purchasing something I've been eyeing on Etsy after finishing a particularly challenging piece. A day off reward usually consists of shutting myself out of my studio and doing things like working on my tan, reading a library book and catching up on my shows-- "frivolous" things that seem like a waste on a work day. So, that's a pretty good motivator for me!

Sometimes I even use food as a reward. I'll give myself a few minutes for a yummy snack once I hit a certain daily goal. I know that might not be the healthiest reward system for some people, but it works for me. If I know I'll get to chow down on some Oreos when I'm finished with the Cuties I'm painting, I'm more likely to keep my nose to the grindstone than to let myself get distracted.

{source}

write down your goals.

I'm externally motivated, a "gifts" kind of girl, and I'm also a visual person. So it really helps me to write down my goals. I've neglected to do this lately, I'm realizing that I need to get better at it. I'm working on a little project to help me be better at writing down my goals-- I'll be sure to share with you guys when I'm finished! Writing down my goals for the day, week and month gives me a visual for what I want to accomplish and that feeling of crossing it off the list is sooo rewarding!

Another thing that helps is making my goals public. Sometimes I'll tweet a few daily goals in the morning. Usually one or two of my handmade buddies will pick up on the tweet and hold me accountable.

{source}

{what they've learned}

Here are a few tips and thoughts from my twitter buddies and facebook fans for staying motivated!

Kim says:: CREATING something that's 100% a reflection of YOUR creativity, style, and passion. I think a lot of times people see something and think "I can make this or that, so I'll start an etsy shop selling the same things," when in reality, that will not motivate you for long. Actually putting the time, energy, and effort into coming up with new things (I am a firm believer that there IS something new under the sun) and designs, you will enjoy every bit of the process - from sketching to packaging it to send to a loyal customer.

Karen says:: staying motivated = a pot of coffee :) It's liquid motivation...all joking aside... to do lists getting 'scratched' off, help motivate me to keep on going!

Kassi and Kayli say:: Loving what you are doing to start with!!! There's NO way you're going to stay motivated if it was something you just kinda liked... ;)

Laura says:: Knowing that there's no job I'd rather be doing! As crazy as it gets, it's my dream job!

Let's continue the discussion in the comments below! What have you learned about staying motivated and being productive while working at home (or at the office!)? Do you use any of the tips above?

lindsay

aloha style:: how I use shoes to trick myself.

2011-11-28T00:32:00.001-05:00

plumeria in my hair:: {c/o the tree across the street}

sheer top:: {nordstrom rack}

under tank:: {f21}

belt:: {f21}

shorts:: {target}

bracelets:: {aloha swap meet, gifts}

shoes:: {c/o blowfish shoes}

Girls, I'm gonna be honest with you. I never really got the shoe obsession thing. Just, ya know, didn't get it. Until now. I am in love with my Hortons. They're so comfy, I even wear them in the Hawaii heat (and around the house sometimes too!) , which is saying a lot for this girl who usually walks around without shoes most of the year. (Plus, they have the same name as Dr. Seuss's Horton the Elephant, who might just be my very favorite cartoon character.)

You know another thing I love. Hawaii rain. Or any rain, really. It's been a bit rainy and windy and chilly this week and I'm loving it! (Except on Saturday when we were expecting a hot beach day and we got a chilly, wet one. Oh well.) I'm a seasons girl, so any change in the weather makes me really happy. To wear jeans in the evenings without them sticking to your legs-- heavenly. To snuggle up on the lanai in the middle of the afternoon with a blanket and a book-- so delightful. Taking inspirational walks in a light drizzle-- mmm.

Which I guess is another reason I love those booties so much. They make me feel like I can hold on to a small semblance of seasonal wardrobe change. I can sort of trick myself into pretending it's winter-time. Kinda? Maybe? Maybe not in shorts... Hey, sometimes you just have to take what you can get.

And let's not even talk about the difficulties of getting into the Christmas spirit when it's 80 degrees out. That's a tough one. But I'm working on it. ;)

Oh hey! Don't forget-- today is the last chance to take advantage of one of my biggest sales ever! Use the code HOLIDAY25 for 25% off everything in the shop (even gift certificates) and get a free 6x6 when you spend more than $100!

Psstt.. if you're in the market for some new shoes, Blowfish is having a 25% off sale today for Cyber Monday! Now's your chance to snag some super cute kicks!

lindsay

gratitude.

2011-11-24T13:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, sweet friends! This is one of my favorite holidays-- no hype, no commercialization, just friends, family, gratitude and tons of food.

Chris and I took a few minutes to think about the things (big and small) that we are thankful for.

grace. hawaiian sunsets. bike rides. amazing family. smart phones. the jubilant look on Chris' face after he gets in from surfing. being a part of the handmade community. bacon pizza. the color yellow. use of all my senses. my blog readers. a Jesus-loving church. warm, clean laundry. geckos (they eat the bugs). our hawaii ohana. catching the perfect wave. my hunky husband who makes me laugh and loves me so well. having my own studio space to create in. coral nail polish.

Lindsay. the sunlight at dawn. my bicycle. warm ocean water in November and through the winter. my sailboat and all my family who pulled it up off the bottom of the river when it sank this fall. my new running shoes. waves. my herb garden (Chris insists on calling it his farm...). full moons to go surfing at midnight. friends who can put up with me. my Jeep passing the safety inspection. airplanes and that they allow us to go home to see family. experimental cooking with Lindsay. our awesome pots and pans. ocean breezes. my new job. coffee to wake me up.

Enjoy your day with family and friends! Take some time away from the computer and unplug. See you on Monday!

lindsay

Aisle to Aloha Studio-- Holiday Sales!

2011-11-24T01:40:00.001-05:00

Ok, guys, one last "holiday shopping" post before we get to the best part of the week-- the friends, family and gratitude part (ahem, and the food). I just wanted to let you know about the sale I'm having this week for Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday and Cyber Monday (sheesh, who comes up with all these "holidays" anyway? Oh well, it's a good excuse to get some great deals!)

Use the code HOLIDAY25 for a whopping 25% off Friday- Monday AND get a free 6x6 Cutie painting when you spend over $100! Um, hello-- did someone say FREE paintings?? Woot.

** ugh. Chris said this looks red and black to him. It's supposed to be navy and pink, guys. Tilt your laptop screen back... now do you see it?? navy and pink.**

I've added some new paintings to the shop this week!

Also, gift certificates are back! They're available in $30, $50, and $100, but please don't hesitate to ask for a different dollar amount if you need one. They're really perfect for holiday giving -- let your friends and family choose some colorful, happy art for their home and I'm pretty sure you'll be on the "nice" list for at least the next three years.

Finally, December sponsorships are open! After you're done stuffing yourself with cranberry sauce and turkey this weekend, check out my sponsor page and consider sponsoring Aisle to Aloha for the holidays!

I'll be popping in tomorrow to share my gratitude list for the year. It's pretty extensive, how about yours?

lindsay

mele gift guide:: for her

2011-11-23T13:17:00.000-05:00

Ok, can I be honest with you? This next gift guide is kind of just my wishlist. All these sponsors make such gorgeous, girly things-- from rosette necklaces, comfy scarves, even the most adorable mustard yellow flats ever. So, don't be ashamed-- feel free to leave this page up on your browser for your man to see. Or if you're feeling really kind-- I bet your sister, mom, bestie would love you to death if she found any of these gifts under the tree!

Hope you've enjoyed my Mele Gift Guide this week! I've loved bringing you some of my favorite products from my beautiful, inspirational sponsors! Have fun shopping!

Shop Just Lovely!

Discount:: BLACKFRIDAY for 30% off

Shop Moriah Makes!

Discount::

HOLIDAY for 20% off (valid 11/25 only)

Shop Rouge and Whimsy!

Discount::

HOLIDAY40 for 40% off (valid 11/25-11/28)

Shop Pink Lemonade!

Discount::

THANKS18 for 18% off + free shipping

Shop Blowfish Shoes!

PS. Congrats to Andi of Prov3130 Girl on winning the Dandelion Dream giveaway! Email's coming your way, Andi!

lindsay

mele gift guide:: for the men

2011-11-22T13:42:00.001-05:00

Men. We sure love them, but boy, are they tough to shop for sometimes! I've got 9 awesome ideas for the men on your list today! Just be careful, because these sponsors also make really fabulous things for the girls. You might just end up shopping for yourself! ;)

I'm excited to welcome lomography.com as a new sponsor here at Aisle to Aloha!

Discount::

Click here to sign up for lomography.com and get $10 off your purchase!

Shop Lomography.com!

Discount::

Buy a $100 gift certificate for $75

Buy a $75 gift certificate for $60

Buy a $50 certificate for $40

Buy a $30 gift certificate for $25

Free U.S. shipping all day with the code FREESHIP

(valid on Cyber Monday 11/28 only)

Shop Tag You're It!

Discount::

GRATITUDE10 for 10% off (valid through 11/24)

ALOHA25 for 25% (valid on 11/25 only)

Shop Dandelion Dream!

lindsay

mele gift guide:: brighten up the home

2011-11-21T22:22:00.000-05:00

Ready for the second edition of the Mele Gift Guide?? This edition is all about adding a punch of color and beauty to your home! Maybe you have a sister who needs some help with her decor, a best friend with a nursery to decorate or a brother who is obsessed with travel artwork! Why go with overpriced department store decor when you can support small businesses and save a buck at the same time?!

Check out the shops below for some beautiful decor items and make sure to take advantage of their suh-weet discounts!

Discount::

BLACKFRIDAY for 30% off (valid 11/21-12/5)

Shop Naptime Diaries!

Discount::

AISLETOALOHA for 10% off

Shop RagstoStitches!

Discount::

KALIKIMAKA11 for 11% (valid through 11/27)

Shop Everything is Jake!

lindsay