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Are your thoughts love or fear-based?

My dear friends,

I wish you light, love & peace this Christmas.

May you welcome the New Year with good intentions.

This entry is cross-posted in Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays 2010 campaign.

I had a fabulous day-after-Thanksgiving with my Eathan (my love). We had several items on our agenda and since one of my Simplify the Holidays (STH) commitments is to combine errands to use less fuel, we planned a round-island STH trip.

We started our day off with a pleasant stroll to Makapu`u Lighthouse. The day was beautiful and we really felt fortunate to live in Hawaii.

Then we went to Alani & Cherub’s (President of Kanu Hawaii) house on the Windward side to drop off our donations for Kanu Hawaii’s upcoming auction fundraiser. There we were given a tour of their flourishing vegetable garden and some of Alani’s work of art (wooden bowls).

As we walked back to the car, we looked at each other and said (nearly at the same time), “WOW. Do you feel inspired or what?” Alani & Cherub – thank you for the powerful gift of aloha today. It is something that I cannot describe in words, but is ingrained in my heart.

Next, we had lunch at Boots & Kimo’s. So ono. ‘Nuff said.

After a satisfying lunch we headed towards Helemano Farms in Wahiawa. While on the drive there, I mentioned to Eathan how I haven’t been to Waikele Shopping Center in a long time and would love to check it out. So, we took a detour. I observed the Black Friday madness (and this was already after lunch hour!), but did not feel the urge to get anything.

We proceeded to Helemano Farms where we spent some time looking at the different types of Christmas trees and talking with the owner about Kokua Hawaii Foundation and Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays campaign. We left with a gorgeous potted Leyland Cypress for $100 (Helemano is cash/check only).

Eathan’s mom has been wanting a living Christmas tree since last Thanksgiving, so this was our present to her this year. We left it as a surprise in front of her door. When she saw it, she almost teared and so lovingly (seemed to) hug the tree. That, to me, meant money and love well spent.

We ended our Green Friday by going to the 24th Islandwide Christmas Crafts & Food Expo at the Blaisdell. I love going to local craft & food fairs, plus had won free tickets (Mahalo Esme & Islandwide Expo!). I was glad to be in a room PACKED with supporters of local artisans, crafters, and food makers. Lots of talent in Hawaii!

Aside from supporting local artists & food makers, this Expo is special in that shoppers have the opportunity to support KHON-2′s LOKAHI Giving Project. They are accepting contributions in the Pikake Room for “struggling individuals and families” during the holidays.

Before leaving, Eathan and I checked out Kukui High’s table, which was quite popular. They were selling handpainted Christmas ornaments, logo shirts (polo & tees), stickers and even a Kukui High diploma!

Now I shall unwind and relax…. think back on my memorable day. The best part of it? Experiencing it all with Eathan. I can easily say I spent a very meaningful Black turned Green Friday.

I hope that you had a memorable day as well!

• …our planet and all the species that co-exist with us.
• …the presence and lessons everyone has taught and continue to teach me. This is not limited to just those close to me.
• …my family and friends for their investment in time, energy, years, effort, trust, creativity and support that they extend to me.
• …those I have not met but provide for the food, safety and good living conditions that I am blessed with.
• …myself. I honor and appreciate myself.

This entry is cross-posted in Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays 2010 campaign.

(Image Source: Danielle’s Tropical Flowers)

I recently had to pick a gift to send to a lovely lady in NY as thank you for her help with a project I worked on. I thought about sending Macadamia Nut chocolates or Kona Coffee.

While that would have made a nice gift, our company Vice President suggested a change (from the usual tourist omiyage) of floral bouquet from Danielle’s Tropical Flowers in Maui.

So, I picked the Kohala Basket Arrangement, a 7 stem Maui Protea and foilage pre-arranged in a natural coconut leaf basket hand made on Maui (pictured above).

Upon receiving the flowers, the lady in NY sent me the following e-mail:

“I wanted to contact you to thank you for the beautiful arrangement you sent. It is on my desk and has been admired by all. The crafting of the bowl itself out of palms is spectacular. The entire arrangement “took my breath away” and I thank you so much for thinking of me.“

You too can take a family or friend’s breath away this Holiday Season by sending local flowers. It showcases the beauty of our Islands and also won’t make anyone gain weight!

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If you are inclined to simplify your holidays too, I welcome you to join the movement…Consider committing to Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays campaign and share what you’re doing to simplify this year.

This entry is cross-posted in Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays 2010 campaign.

I love opening my inbox and seeing the above image, an email from iTunes titled “(name) sent you an iTunes Gift)“

The tangible gift itself is really a bonus. Such iTunes gifts by e-mail really warms my heart. I feel special when I think about my friend sitting in front of his/her computer, searching for the perfect item for me and smiling at the thought of how I’ll receive their surprise.

I think sending a single song or app would make your friend smile this Holiday Season too! Oh, and you know what? It won’t damage your bank balance too much either!

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If you are inclined to simplify your holidays too, I welcome you to join the movement…Consider committing to Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays campaign and share what you’re doing to simplify this year.

This entry is cross-posted in Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays 2010 campaign.

As I had dinner at home tonight, I stared at a basket of locally grown fruits on the counter. “Ah-ha!! This is brilliant!“, I thought.

Giving the gift of local AND seasonal fruits and vegetables would make a PERFECT Holiday Gift this season, and any season really! Fresh, healthy, affordable, and colorful.

This idea really isn’t all that brilliant though. It’s so simple and so readily in front of us…. yet so easily overlooked.

This Holiday Season, why not give a basket of local fruits & vegetables? Give the colors of the rainbow. Bring it to a party. Eat, drink and be healthy & merry!

Here is a helpful guide for your local grocery shopping — The “Buy Fresh – Buy Local Seasonality Chart“, sponsored by the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture, and HMSA.

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If you are inclined to simplify your holidays too, I welcome you to join the movement…Consider committing to Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays campaign and share what you’re doing to simplify this year.

This entry is cross-posted in Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays 2010 campaign.

As I typed the title to this entry, I thought to myself, “What do I celebrate at the end of the year?”

As a child, the end of the year, meant very simple things:

• time off from school
• pretty lights
• Christmas tree, or at least the smell of the Scotch Pine tree
• lots of food, and especially dessert!
• gatherings with family friends
• presents (my favorite was gift certificate to the Nature Company at Ala Moana)

I got caught in the gift giving whirlwind sometime in fifth or sixth grade and recall feeling that my Christmas gifts to friends and teachers were never enough. My parents were very thrifty, partly because of our financial situation at the time, and partly because they avoid creating excess waste. They are accustomed to re-using materials and seeing how we can create gifts from what exists at home rather than spending money to buy something just to fulfill a social pressure. But, since my presents to friends and teachers weren’t tissue filled, wrapped in beautiful shiny paper and placed in festive bags, I felt ashamed of our gifts. I felt ashamed of my parents’ mindset and who they were trying to raise me to be.

So, yes, as I grew older, the year-end Holidays became more of a pressure/obligation than a celebration.

Fast forward to my early adulthood, I continued to view the Holidays as a social obligation and always tried to give more than what I received. You can see that this became unsustainable with each year. The Holidays, which can be a beautiful time of celebrations became a time of great stress. There were a few years when I did not budget well and was left with Holiday hangovers. Ouch.

Thankfully, over the last couple of years, I’ve made good progress back to being present during the Holidays. I begin to reflect on the year in November and think about the people/situations that helped me grow. When I get together with family and friends in the last two months of the year, I take the time to be quiet and just listen to them. I’m normally good at interrupting people when they talk (no, this is not good), but I find this Holiday season, I have more patience to listen and to just appreciate the moment.

Aside from presence, I still give presents, but ones that are much more meaningful and practical…. And I have no problem giving handmade gifts anymore.

I can cheers to de-cluttering and simplifying my holidays

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If you are inclined to simplify your holidays too, I welcome you to join the movement…Consider committing to Kanu Hawaii’s Simplify the Holidays campaign and share what you’re doing to simplify this year.