The color of fall . . . in summer

My camera has officially died -- so in memory of the old Olympus, I'm posting a couple of its last moments with me. These were taken in May . . . it felt like autumn in Hawaii!

Goodnight Moon

Today I saw Honolulu Theatre for Youth's production of the classic Goodnight Moon. Being that I love children's books and have benefited from HTY's programs in the past, how could I miss it?!

The play definitely did not disappoint . . . everything from the set, to the whimsical characters, dancing, stage choreography, and original music were excellently done! With such a simple book they were able to create complex, funny characters that captivated the young (and old) audience. I would recommend taking any toddlers you know to see this play! Only one week left! But if you're young at heart and want to be taken up into a fantasy world for an hour, this play is for you, too. HTY's Goodnight Moon is really magical and fun!

Their re-creation of the book through the set was amazing . . .



We followed the play with a stop at the previously mentioned Hokulani Bake Shop. I didn't think I'd be back there so soon, but this time I didn't miss the opportunity to sample one of their creations. I had the lemon cupcake with lilikoi frosting. The cupcake was moist and delicate, and the frosting wasn't too sweet. All in all, I was very happy with it!



After all that sugar, we started craving something salty, so we ended the day at Soon's. It was my first time there, and it turned out to be one of the best Korean bbq I've had! I got the meat jun with mandoo. So ono . . . broke da mouth . . . :) The meat was thin with an airy, crisp egg coating. Usually meat jun is kind of soggy and the meat can be tough, but this one was delicious!



So much good food in my tummy, made me sleepy. So good night, friends!

Hello. I'm back.

I've been busy getting sand between my toes . . .



And baking, of course! Yup, I made all of them.



Ok, I really have been baking . . . but these are from Hokulani Bake Shop. Mmmm, it smells so good in there. But I resisted the temptation to taste one, so I can't tell you how it is. One day I'll be back . . .

It's finally done!

After nine 2 1/2-hr. sewing classes, the dress is finally done! We weren't sewing during all the classes (we had to learn about fabrics, notions, how to cut fabric and work with the pattern) . . . but I was getting impatient in the end. I really loved learning how to sew, but I wished the class would go faster. I'm happy with what I made, though!

What's on my reading table

1. On Gold Mountain/The One-Hundred Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family --
I picked this up because I wanted to read something historical. It's turning out to be a real page turner. I never cared for history in school, so it's nice to get some history lessons this way.

2. Sew Subversive/Down and Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista -- I don't really care for the projects they have in here, but there were 2 that I want to attempt.

3. Apples & Pears/The Body Shape Solutions for Weight Loss and Wellness -- I always have to have a diet/nutrition/wellness book in my lineup. I seem to devour these books and find them super interesting! The premise is that your body shape and where you accumulate fat are pretty telling of your health. Belly fat is dangerous fat! I just watched a show on Discovery Health that supported this idea as well. A healthy belly measurement for women is 35 inches and below. Anything over that and you're at risk for heart disease and diabetes.

4. Easy Everyday Favorites -- gotta have a cookbook in there! The thing I love about this one is that nearly every recipe has a picture. I hate cookbooks that don't have pictures.

What are you reading? Any recommendations?

Happy Spring!

I discovered this cherry blossom-like tree on the UH campus yesterday and was just able to snap two pictures before my camera died. I don't think it's the real thing, but I could be wrong. In any case, it made me really happy, and I hope it brings a smile to your face.

Sew much fun!

Maybe it's because my sewing class is on hold for two weeks due to spring break, but lately my fingers have been itching more than ever to sew. I'd been practicing on scraps for a while, but today I was determined to make something, and voila, I completed my first unsupervised sewing project! I made an "envelope" style pillow case. Here's my little work station all ready to go . . .



And the finished product (shown on the back side so you can see my "fancy" work -- the envelope -- hehe) . . .


look really close!

It's not super fancy and not perfect, but I'm so happy! Once you get the first project done, you want to do more. The hardest part was cutting the fabric because I used an old sheet and I don't have a large, hard surface to cut on. Anyway, I'm excited to learn other techniques and make more things!