Bringing The Islands Home Luau Style

With the warmer weather of spring and more time outdoors the idea of parties and gatherings with friends and family come readily to mind. An idea that’s never far from my mind is a Hawaiian Luau. After living three  years in the Hawaiian Islands I am a believer in the magic of a Luau. But how can we create the magic of a Luau without the glam of the Hawaiian islands or without being cheesy and putting up cardboard tropical cut outs?

 Creativity is key along with the time and effort to make the magic happen. Because I am an island girl at heart friends and family send me tips they find on creating a tropical environment and if  they aren’t sending ideas I’m digging them up on the Internet. Last week my cousin Dawn found a fabulous one. She sent me a link to a DIY set of tropical patio lights that are  beautiful, simple and elegant, no plastic fish or fake shells, nothing but the real deal!

For me a Luau is created best by mood so I begin with simple and elegant options. Music is a key ingredient to any Luau and I have my personal favorites in Hawaiian music, among them Keali’i Reichel, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole  and The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters. The best part is that each of these has listening samples on their respective Amazon page so click away to check out the sounds of the islands.

Island music is wafting through the air and your outdoor patio is looking pretty nice, but decidedly not tropical, so what will brighten it up and give it a Hawaiian isle feel? How about creating some pillows and cushion covers in an authentic Hawaiian pattern from the Hawaiian Fabric Shop? They have an awesome selection of Hawaiian fabrics for every taste. With a plan in mind for covering the patio cushions you realize that you need an infusion of tropical foliage. Home Depot and Lowes are a great place to start. Here you can find a variety of great looking tropical plants and flowers, from potted Orchids that will do well later in your steamy bathroom to gardenias that bring the scent of the islands home with  their sweet smell.  

Little touches make treasured memories so what about table place cards made with a tropical post card or Hawaiian photo placed in a island style frame that your guests can take home to enjoy later, with their personal photo memories of the party. Another idea is a special wine glass that your guests can keep to savor the memory of your special Hawaiian evening.  The possibilities are limited only by your creativity and budget. Now I will grant you that these two particular ideas are not cheapies, but certainly cheaper options do exist and could certainly be implemented. A less expensive option would be using a large shell for each  table place card with a colorful cut out for names glued to the shell. Most of us either have great sea shells from former trips or have a Michaels or JoAnns nearby where bags of great shells can be purchased reasonably.

  A colorful table display could be a grouping of fresh tropical fruits such as pineapple, papaya, starfruit or coconuts. A few silk or regular palm fronds added in with the fruit gives guests an immediate  paradise feel. Candles that are scented with authentic tropical smells add another blaze of tropical feel to the party. I particularly liked that  Island Candle Company is from the Hawaiian Islands, so the candles are authentic and have true island scents. Another great table decor idea is to use large glass jars or bowls and fill them with sand, shells and a pillar candle. Instantly you have an island feel and a soft, beautiful addition to any table.

An absolutely essential element to a Hawaiian Luau is the food and drinks your guests will enjoy. For some great authentic Hawaiian recipes you can visit  Sam Choy’s website. He is a popular Hawaiian chef who has several restaurants around Hawaii. On his personal site there are a variety of island recipes worth a taste! For additional Luau insight and history check out this Wikipedia link to Luau’s. No matter what your party experience level, a Luau is possible with an open mind, a lot of creativity and the time and energy to allow magic to happen.

Photo Credit Flickr Luau Dancer by: Sparky Leigh

Photo Credit Flickr Tropical Fruit Bowl By: opdstudent

A sarong throw on my porch swing. 

One of the things I love about the tropics is the versatility a sarong offers. I find them so delightful that they have become a natural part of my decor. They can be draped around the edge of a large picture frame or over the back of a chair for an instant splash of color. They can also be used beautifully as a wall hanging, as I have done in my master suite. Whatever your preference the options are endless. One thing to consider and take care with is how easily sarongs fade in the hot tropical sun. For special evenings or events I use one for a colorful throw on the back of my  outdoor porch swing, but I bring it in often so that it doesn’t fade.

My master bedroom with a sarong wall hanging.

Sarongs come in a wide variety of fabrics and styles. You can find cotton sarongs, silk sarongs and even lovely hand beaded ones. I have two particular silk hand beaded sarongs that are so versatile they go from evening wrap to chair or picture decor as the mood strikes me! Keep an open mind when working with sarongs and have a willingness to pay what the sarong is worth. If a sarong is hand beaded with beautiful stitches and looks like a piece of art, it’s price will reflect that, but in my experience the beauty of the sarong is worth the price paid. An added delight of sarong art is the fact that a sarong takes up almost no space in your travel bag. It makes an easily packed gift for yourself or a friend. To explore some other creative and useful ideas for sarongs check out this link from Myscha at Wise Bread, Sassy Uses for Sarongs

 Photo Credits: Lisa Overman

The islands of Micronesia  have a place in my heart like no other on earth. These islands were the first international location I called home. The Federated States of Micronesia also have a special place in my heart,  Pohnpei in particular with it’s simplicity and rugged beauty. There one can see the heart of Micronesia in the warmth of it’s people, the lush beauty of it’s nature and the simplicity of island life. While visiting Pohnpei I was fortunate enough to visit the ancient ruins of Nan Madol and that visit remains one of my treasured memories of Micronesia.

 The entire day was magical and beautiful, not only did I have the opportunity to see a place that is unique and unexplainable but along with it came the chance to visit a tiny atoll where we swam and ate a meal cooked over an open fire pit using banana leaves for plates as we looked out at an endless expanse of tropical turquoise water. The memory of that fish and rice meal remains with me today. There is something special about the places that remove us from everything we know and allows us a touch of a piece of heaven on earth. Micronesia is that place for me. It’s islands are beautiful and rich with history, nature and a warmth you can find only on an island.

If you plan to visit Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia I recommend staying at The Village Hotel. This hotel gives visitors a taste of island life like no other on the island. These delightful bungalow accommodations with their mosquito netted water beds and island style furnishings give visitors a sense of being in paradise. Along with comfort and beauty visitors will enjoy wonderful meals, relaxing surroundings, garden paths bursting with tropical flowers and a staff that is helpful, kind and willing to help guests set up tours and excursions.  

 Photo Credit: Lisa Overman

One of my favorite parks in the St. Petersburg, Florida area is Fort Desoto. This Pinellas County Park is an excellent choice for many reasons. This facility offers camping, a leash free fenced dog park, beautiful beaches…nearly three miles of them! One of which won the 2008 America’s Top Beach Award. It also offers two fishing piers, wonderful handicapped access with paved walkways to the pavillion areas, abundant public restrooms, snack bars and a 6.8 mile paved bike path that takes riders through beach areas, wooded areas and allows them vistas of the park grounds. The park also offers history in the form of an old Spanish Fort that visitors can walk through and learn more about during their visit.

 All around this is a nature lover’s park. Most pleasurable of all is the nature and reflective silence found here. The winding bike path takes you through the park and to the North Beach where you will find areas of stunning beauty. You can enjoy the shore birds, sit on the beach, enjoy the picnic areas or watch the sunset. This park is a true delight for all ages.

I recently had the opportunity to test two of Lush’s line of massage products. Their product range is quite impressive with massage bars, body butters, creams, lotions, solid shampoo bars, shower smoothies, bath bombs and much more. Along with an extensive product line their attitude regarding their product ingredients is outstanding. They use mainly natural and organic ingredients in their products. Along with this their products are strictly vegetarian and 75% are vegan, and listed as such.

 To test out Lush’s Wiccy Magic Muscles massage bar I asked my boyfriend to join me for a massage. My initial reaction to this product, was uncertainty. First massage bars are completely foreign to me, but I wanted to test how a massage bar would compare to traditional products during a full body massage. At times, as  anyone who gives massages on a regular basis knows, dealing with a bottle of massage oil can be a pain in the neck and this seemed to be a wonderful alternative. My first reaction to the scent was also uncertain. I couldn’t clearly identify the scent of this bar without looking in the product catalog. The main ingredients are cocoa butter, aduki beans, shea butter, jojoba oil, cinnamon leaf, peppermint oil and coconut oil. The bar is a smooth oval shape with the aduki beans on one side for texture.

After a little trepidation I was ever so pleased with the Wiccy Magic Muscles bar. The way this bar warmed in my hands and slowly melted as desired was a pleasant surprise. It was easy to handle and my partner liked the way it allowed me to have a firmer grip with less sliding than a traditional massage oil. I found the feel of the melting massage bar on my partners skin to be very sensual, much better than a oil by far. It was easy and intimate and we both found it to be a sensual experience. My partner also liked the tingly warmth of the ingredients as they massaged his skin.  I didn’t use the massage bar as a massage tool, as I suppose one could with the textured aduki beans on one side of the bar. I allowed the bar to melt gently in my hands a little at a time and then rubbed the melted product into my partners skin. One irritation I did find was that as the bar melted considerably the aduki beans began to fall off and those had to be dealt with.

 Would I recommend this product? Absolutely, in fact I thought it was one of the most sensual massage products I have used. That said, I wish that the scent of this bar were different. The scent didn’t do a lot for me. I prefer flower or citrus scents, things that are reminiscent of the islands I love but for my money, the sensual and erotic feel of this product on a partners skin makes it a 100 percent thumbs up for me.

Of note; for those that live in a tropical climate the bars may arrive melting and will need to be placed in a cool location to firm up. I placed mine in the refrigerator upon arrival and the product firmed up nicely. The second bar I received came in a metal tin and the heat of the delivery truck had completely melted it and it was sloshing in the tin. The Lush massage bar product line includes eight different scents, including; lavender and neroli, honey and white chocolate, milk chocolate and honey, exotic citrus and patchouli, and a fresh citrus containing sweet orange, lime and grapefruit essential oils. Their last selection includes sandalwood and rose. Absolutely a massage line worth the time, if you enjoy a sensual and memorable massage with your partner.

 For additional insight into Lush’s product line check out Myscha’s wisebread article on Lush’s green shampoos and conditioners.

 Photo Credit: Lush Handmade Cosmetics

When I moved into my new home my master bathroom came with a nice quality shower head that many homes have. It offered a couple styles of water flow, but being an island style girl I wanted the tropical island style rain shower head. So I began with an exploration of options at Home Depot and Lowes to see what styles were available.

I chose a Pegasus special order option from Home Depot and now I’m ever so glad that I spent the money and time to create this spa/island style shower environment in my home. There is nothing more relaxing than stepping under the flow of water designed to feel like rain falling gently on you when you wake in the morning or prepare for sleep at night. I can also attest to the fact that these things are incredibly simple to install. I did it myself and I am not generally the “do it yourself” type. If I can handle installing this rainshower head then pretty much any gal can do it. It takes only a few minutes to unscrew the old one, wrap some waterproof sealing tape on the connectors and then screw the new two piece showerhead on. For me the most difficult part was understanding the picture directions, ie.. which way the picture was displaying to turn it during attatchment, while I was wishing for simple written directions. 

My Pegasus rainshower head came with an adjustable arm and the main rain flow shower head. Note: these pieces had to be ordered separately. Be certain to ask about separate pieces. I ordered, purchased and received one piece and then realized in hindsight I needed the additional piece, so save yourself the hassle and be clear if you need one piece or two and order both at the start. When you view the picture below you will have a better understanding of the configuration and why mine came in two separate pieces. These rain flow shower heads are a delight and if you are looking for an every day five minute escape these are the way to go for that island feel.

Photo Credit: Lisa Overman

We all love the exotic feel of a good spa with its calming environment where we are whisked away to our own private paradise for an hour. So yesterday as I chatted with a friend about massage her outstanding  tips made me realize I can create that very environment in my own home; where I can enjoy this sensual pleasure with my significant other at any time. In under an hour I’d selected the spot and cleared the area in my bedroom where a massage area will soon be set up. I chose an area in my second floor master suite in front of a window that looks out on the water and sky. I feel this is the most relaxing choice and since I have no neighbors directly behind me, with a conservation area backing my place that is both a safe and beautiful choice for massages.

 Myscha’s tips were excellent and here they are in no particular order

1. Purchase oil for massage in large quanities by choosing soy oil that can be purchased in bulk at Sam’s or Costco.  Other options are grapeseed and almond, but those would have to be purchased elsewhere online or in smaller more expensive sizes.

2. Essential oils (found in health food stores) will will give you a multitude of scent combinations and sensual delights for your partner and yourself to choose from when it’s your turn to enjoy being massaged. Different scent combinations can be mixed in squeeze bottles for easy access during massages. *Note never use essential oils on your skin without mixing them in a carrier oil, these can burn the skin. Myscha suggested the essential oil brand NOW as a reasonably priced option.

3. When looking for an inexpensive but enjoyable gift for your significant other the massage area gives you a completely new set of ideas. Suddenly you have options of body products, essential oils or a set of stones (special stones required) for hot stone massage, a new cd of music appropriate for a sensual or tropical escape themed massage hour. Think coconut or pikake flower and  hawaiian slack key guitar music that is soft and sensual with the sounds of the islands. Another gift option is massage sheets that come in a variety of fabrics, from soft jersey to high thread count cotton, or even flannel. We all have preferences on what we like to touch our skin so ask your loved one and shop away.

4. Space… is key, not everyone has a master suite that allows for a massage table so Myscha had some good options for space constraints as well. One is using a portable table, which I plan to choose anyway. This makes transporting the table easy and simple. A good idea in any situation. Also it allows you to move it from room to room as your home changes. One possible option she had was to set up the massage area in a corner of a room by using a folding screen for keeping the area private from visitors eyes. Guests would simply enjoy the beauty of the folding screen without realizing your sensual secrets hidden behind it. 

5. Along with the massage area take your bathroom to a new level of spa feeling with plush new towels, scented candles, a teak shower bench or some spa inspired decor such as orchids that do well in warm steamy conditions. If you don’t have the budget for too much extravagance check out this great article on cheap spa bathrooms.

 Photo Credits: Flickr Ahmed Rabea and Innabovetidehtc

Living in exotic locations around the globe has given me a taste for the unexpected and when I discovered Beyond Vegas 25 Exotic Wedding and Elopement Destinations Around The World I knew I was meant to write the wedding post that had  been kicking around in my head for a few months. This couple has done the research and actually went through the paperwork and ceremony in ten different exotic locales. The book was published in 2002 so it may actually be a resource that you’re aware of, even so with it’s insight and detail it’s worth a mention! 

 My personal destination wedding location has been Hawaii for many years. Here are the facts on  getting a marriage licence in Hawaii.  Possibly because I called the Hawaiian Islands home for three years it became my hands down favorite as I saw first hand the many beautiful weddings that can be performed in the islands.

 When considering an exotic destination for a wedding the following certainly come to mind.

1. What is your wedding budget?

2. What wedding destination options are available in your price range?

3. What could you do yourself to reduce expenses?

4. What are your top five destination locations?

5. Will weather be a factor in some destinations…ie hurricane season?

6. How affordable is  the destination for any guests you would like to include?

7. What kind of wedding package plans are available?

Photo Credit: Flickr photo Craig Larsen

The treasures of Maui are endless but my Maui trip held a special delight…a trip down memory lane back to the life I loved on Guam. Anyone who has lived on Guam or even visited Guam knows about Shirley’s. This local restaurant chain is humming with business every single day and Saturday and Sunday bring even more traffic. This restaurant is an island institution where the food is simple, out of this world tasty and plentiful! 

On my last day in Maui I drove to Whaler’s Village and had breakfast at the Rusty Harpoon, right next to the water. It was a gorgeous spot to view the water and enjoy a last breakfast on Maui. It was also a blast from my past. I ordered breakfast fried rice and when it arrived it was a taste of heaven. It was so similar to the Shirley’s version on Guam that my mouth was watering with intense pleasure at this unexpected treat. Shirley’s breakfast fried rice was a delight of veggies, portugese sausage and fried rice topped with a fried egg. The Rusty Harpoon’s version on Maui tasted delightfully the same. I have no idea if the ingredients were the same, but my taste buds said heavenly over and over again and I look forward to a return trip to Maui to have several more breakfasts at the Rusty Harpoon in Whaler’s Village!

Photo Credit: Flickr photo leshasing21

This is the second in a series of my favorite Oahu places. 

The North Shore of Oahu is one of my favorite destinations. While I go to the North Shore to enjoy the surf and to view the sea turtles some times spotted there;  I always treasure a stop at Global Creations Interiors, found in Haleiwa, Hawaii. This little shop is a gem of gorgeous, unique, interesting and island style creations made by wonderful artists. The mood of the store is such that you want to linger and absorb the beauty and tranquility found there. I have been visiting this store since 1996 and I love it just as much today as I did during my first visit. It is always one of my favorite stops when visiting the north shore of Oahu.

 Another must visit on the North Shore is the Coffee Gallery. This is a great place to take a break, enjoy some Hawaiian coffee or one of the many yummy treats offered. They have an excellent breakfast selection and a wonderful outdoor screened patio to enjoy breakfast with friends. I spent many Saturday mornings eating at The Coffee Gallery in Haleiwa with friends and visitors. It is a laid back, local delight to add to your Oahu day trip. If you click on their website you can then select random photos of the shop and see the interior of the Coffee Gallery and the wonderful outdoor patio.

The North Shore is a slice of life that one needs to just linger over to fully enjoy. The town of Haleiwa on the North Shore is a little slice of diversity with sweet shops, restaurants, street stands and beach stops to enjoy. A definitely delightful Hawaiian treat is a cool shaved ice. This local Hawaiian treat is made by filling a paper cone with a choice of flavored syrup, shaved ice chips, ice cream and or Azuki beans. It’s a must try for visitors new to the islands.

Photo Credit: flickr photo by: bobster1985