10 Things That Made Me Happy

Picking the right pineapple.

Trying a new Essie shade -- Very Structured.

A whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter.

Swoon worthy fall and winter coats in bright shades.

The adorable and stylish blogger, Liz Schneider, of Sequins & Stripes. Her blog is one of the first sites I check each morning. Learn more about this girl who inspires by visiting Breakfast at Toast.

Words that get it right.

Um, hello, a sweater with gold elbow patches. Need I say more.

The delightful graphics from Mrs. Lilien's Styling House. Her creativity and humor bring me such joy!

Miu Miu Shades: "Watch with glittering eyes, the whole world around you..."

A room worth pinning.

Okay, I had a lot to be happy about this week. Here are a few extras...

• Finally making the time to chat with a great friend on the phone. She makes me laugh!
• Hearing Flyboy tell dynamite stories about his recent travels. Why is Vanuatu so hard for me to pronounce?
• A fresh pack of Post-It Notes.
• Obsessively checking Matchbook's Website to see if their October issue has gone live. Woah, easy girl!
• Sitting down to write a few handwritten notes. Stationery + paper goods = therapy.
• Analyzing the words that came out of my mouth when I met a fellow Bernese Mountain Dog owner on base. Example: "Aren't they like walking sunshine?" Someone really needs to get out of the house more. What I might think of as enthusiasm could be confused for crazy dog lady.
• Sweet words of advice from a new friend and an old bestie. Toodles, Doodles, Gobbies. The fact that people take the time to send a virtual hug or compose words of wisdom gets me all choked up. Your comments and emails mean so very much to me! I'm blessed.
• Getting a voicemail from my Godson. Happy Birthday! G-Mama loves you!

What made you jump for joy this week?

Have a fabulous weekend!!

xoxo

ANF

P.S. How do you feel about an assignment? I want YOUR help. Are you interested in putting together a style collage that expresses you, your flair, and interests? I'm thinking we could do something like Caitlin at Sacramento Street, where each week she she takes a close-up shot of things she collects and displays them atop a favorite book or magazine. If you're interested in joining in on the fun, take a picture and email it to me. I'd love to feature your photos in an upcoming blog post! 

Go ahead, put on your creative crowns and dust off that camera.

Stream of Thoughts

On my mind this Thursday morning...

Disclaimer: Please excuse the banter between first- and second-person point of view. My use of pronouns can make the following thoughts a little confusing. Somewhere Professor Rowe is cringing inside. Listen, I said I enjoy grammar. I never said I was great at it.

I often joke that I came out of the womb a 40-year-old woman.
This is exactly the piece of advice I was hoping to hear after almost 26 years.
Just 14 years to go until I finally match my mental age. Ha Ha!

I should buy some more skirts. I think that's the only way it's going to feel like Fall around here.
That and cardigans, of course.

Throw on a colorful pair of flats to add a splash of instant optimism and cheerfulness.

Yeah, you better go put on a pair of colorful flats.

• Mom's words keep running through my mind: "You will spend your 20s trying to figure out your place in this world."
• Why is she always so right? Arrrgh... Now I get to publicly admit another win for mommy dearest.
• Why does that keep playing in my mind? Stop it, YOU!
• I've spent the better part of this week wondering about my life and my purpose. No need to fret, this isn't the first time I've looked inward. I'm more narcissistic than that...
• I'm trying to stay positive, but I really hate being patient. Surprise, surprise!
• This is what happens when I have time to myself to think too much. I really should have opened up a vessel of my favorite sauce Sunday night and put an end to all this over thinking. Thanks for not stepping up, Gin...
• But seriously, stop pouting already! It isn't pretty. Oh and not to mention, you sound like an alchy.
• Bare with me, peeps. I realize you've come to expect a post like this every so often. If we haven't met yet, this is the Daria side of Type-A(shley). Nice to meet you!
• Note to Self: Your timeline doesn't always correspond with God's big plan. Get over it. And while you're at it, stop worrying and live in this moment.
• What's the culprit to all of this doubt, negativity, and fear? Ladies and gents, meet my dear friend, Ego.
• Yup, my ego has taken center stage yet again.
• Yes, you're unemployed. No, you don't work at a fancy magazine or a predictable desk job with folders and a label maker (organizational nirvana). 
• Life may not be the party you hoped it might be, but dance anyway. Right? 
• You are blessed. You're healthy. You've got a husband and family who love you tremendously. Get over yourself.
• Would a full-time job make life that much sweeter? Is it practical? 
• Patience, my friend.
• I want to be one of those wives that can openly state she's willing to put her "career" aside for her husband. I envy their honesty and selflessness.
• With all that you've been given, why would telling someone you work somewhere full-time bring you so much joy?
• I dunno, I guess I'm just tired of looking like a bum. I want to make myself proud. I'm a hard worker and a true busy body. I'm an asset to any work place. I want a reason to chant TGIF at the end of the week like that silly Katy Perry song.
•  To be completely honest, I watch Flyboy work his tail off. The stress and joy of his job bring fulfillment. It's molding him into this amazingly wonderful person. It's so fun to watch someone change and grow. 
• My parents epitomize what it means to be hard workers. I've witnessed their work ethic and tenacity for years. I want to do the same. 
• Not to sound too preachy, I just want a reason to feel like I deserve what God's given me. I've been blessed far more than I deserve.
• Patience is what I'm here to learn right now. It doesn't come easy. 
• For now, I'll continue to count my blessings. Because a year from now, I'll probably look back and wish I could have slapped some sense into myself and say, "See, Negative Nancy, all that worrying was for nothing! When will you ever learn?"
• Subbing will come eventually -- if the DOE ever processes my paperwork. Work on getting Part II of your shots on Friday and focus on the NOW. Remind yourself that things around here operate on Hawaiian time. It's jus' laid back, brah!
• Now call your mother and thank her for her advice, and set your DVR for Ellen at 3 pm. You're going to need to dance it out. 

I assure you, sunnier skies are ahead. I try to keep my blog cheerful, humorous, and bright, but these thoughts have consumed me for the past few days. I felt like it was interfering with my creative and fun side. Now we can't have that, can we? One thing I've learned over the past few months is that we're a lot more alike than I ever thought. I'm always surprised by how much I'm learning (or continuing to learn) about each and every one of you. How do you deal with your ego? How do you keep on the sunny side and make sense of what's going on now?

Happy Thursday!

Toodles,

ANF

P.S. Don't take my Amazon Eames knock-off advice. The new chairs are being returned and were used for a photo op only. Bummahz! The screws weren't threaded correctly, and the back right leg of each chair wouldn't screw in completely. Shall we try another vendor? Or invest in the real deal? Decisions, decisions. It's almost as though this ugly pleather desk chair and I just can't part ways. Geesh!

all images {via}

Well color me happy... 

Have a mahvelous Wednesday!

Toodles,

ANF

The Lurve List

Here's what makes me feel all twitterpated, smile contagiously, giggle uncontrollably, etc.

Hello, Fall Fashion...

The Return of the Fall Wardrobe
While this might not be in the cards for me for a few years, I'll pretend via Polyvore.

Paper Goods with Classic Charm

You know I have a sweet spot for charming paper goods.
Add Kate's etsy shop to your favorites this instant. The adorable lettering and illustrations are to die for!
Learn more about Kate by visiting her blog here.

 A Spirited Beverage

Can't wait to throw this cocktail concoction together.

Product Junkies Unite

Here are a few products I've purchased over the past few weeks and would highly recommend...
1. Kelly Glam Collar from Bauble Bar -- Create an account to get $10 off your first purchase.
2. Mongrammed Ikat Koozie from Rouge & Co
3. Stila Convertible Color in Peony
4. Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine
5. Josie Maran Argan Oil

iPhone Cover Love

Shop it up at Etsy: Pencil Shavings Paper
Learn more about Rachel by visiting her blog here.
Her personality seems as cute and colorful as her adorably fun pieces.

My DVR is feeling the love.

This past week in the TV world was glorious.
Can you say hello New Girl, Glee, Modern Family and Watch What Happens Live? Mazel, Andy!

Snail Mail Warm & Fuzzies

This past week I received several handwritten notes. Well, pin a rose on your nose, right?
You may not care, but I felt the  love. These sorts of small tokens mean the world to me.
And yes, I count handwritten notes from vendors as pieces of snail mail.
I think it's such a classy and personal way of doing business.
Include a cute note with purchase and you've got a customer for life with this gal! 

Word to your mother.

Thanks for joining me today in this random post. As I mentioned yesterday, there have been a lot of things I've bookmarked and wanted to share with you this past week. Thankfully, I think we're all caught up. Of course, you can plan to jump aboard the crazy A-train again in the near future. It's kind of the norm around here. Season tickets, anyone?

Happy Tuesday!

Toodles,

ANF

Office Chair Flair

You know how I've been obsessing about swapping out our old and stark office chair for something fun and modern? If not, feel free to re-visit this post here. Anywho, after much deliberation, Flyboy agreed to a tentative desk chair sans wheels. My argument? A.) I spend most of the time in our office. B.) We live on an island with furniture stores that are lacking and the cost of shipping can be ridonkulous. Not to mention, most furniture stores won't ship anything over 30 lbs. Go on and cue the hallelujah chorus! Enter Amazon, where I came across these imitation Eames chairs (it came as a set of two) and scored a mean deal called SUPER SAVER SHIPPING. While I was initially looking for something more colorful and considered spending the big bucks on a real Herman Miller, the price and reviews had me sold. I'll save my real Eames (Thanks, Mom & Dad!) for our bedroom sanctuary. Once we move back to the mainland, Flyboy will get the office chair (with wheels) of his dreams. I'm sure there will always be a place for one of these.

My new chair-iot.

Talk about a happy Monday...

xo

ANF

What's going on?

Howdy! It's time we catch up, don't you think? It's been too long, or at least it feels that way for me. After prepping last week's posts in advance, I feel a little rusty at this, so bare with me. Things might be a bit random for awhile, but after an eventful week of visitors, birthdays, memories, new finds, TV, etc., I feel like we have so many exciting things to chat about. 

In an effort to recharge my creative juices, I dedicated most of my Sunday to reuniting with my favorite blogs, Pinterest, and Etsy. Lame? Perhaps just a little, but like cleaning and organizing, these fun-tivities bring me peace. And since our house was full of activity for an entire week, it was nice to take a little breather. Now that the visitors have departed and Flyboy's gone on another trip, it's just me and the dogs. It's back to reality at Puna. And if things get too quiet around here, we'll crank up some Salt-n-Pepa and dance awkwardly (think Elaine Benes) to our heart's delight. Because that's what you can get away with if you live on the top of a hill and no one's watching... 

Another great aspect to living on a hill in Hawaii? Sharing it with family and friends, and that's exactly what we did. Here are some snapshots from this past week.

Hanauma Bay 

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay

Halona Cove (From Here to Eternity)

Shave Ice

One Fine Gang

Haleiwa

Eat your heart out, ladies...

USS Missouri

Tattoos at Paradise Cove

Luau Love: Sunset at Paradise Cove

Makapu'u Lighthouse

The Hike to Makapu'u

One of Flyboy's birthday gifts -- a spotting scope.

Macadamia Nut Pancakes at Boots & Kimo's

Bronze Buns on Waikiki. You're welcome.

What have you been up to? 

I hope your week is off to a great start.

Toodles,

ANF