Priorities.

I just spent the last month at home - and I literally did nothing.

I've got this room at my house that I don't really know what to do with.  Instead of figuring out what to do with it sometimes I just drag stuff in there and shut the door.  Don't know what to do with the papasan chair?  Drag it in there.  Don't want to space bag the comforters?  Throw them in there.  

Instead of figuring out what to do with this room I went to the beach, drank beer and mixed cocktails, walked around town, met up with friends, drove to Kona and hung out with my cousin.

'Taking care of the front room' was one of the top items on my to do list.  

While I was at work on the last go around my Grandma passed away (gear switch but I promise this will come full circle).  Sad of course, the end of an era for sure but, I didn't feel the need to fly home.  It was time and the family was prepared.

This time home I spent a lot of time with a Cousin up at my Grandma's house.  There is a macadamia nut orchard - and we picked the nuts, husked the nuts, roasted the nuts, cracked the nuts and sorted the nuts.  We made a little packets so that all the family coming for her funeral would have some nuts to take home with them.

Preparing the nuts was incredibly time consuming but, it was so great to be there at my Grandmas.  Be in the orchards.  Be with my cousin.  Talk about the family.  Talk about our lives.

On my last night home I had a plan that I'd stay up late and 'knock out the front room'.

Instead, I went up to my Grandma's for one last dinner.  We busted out the fine china (my Grandma rarely did this) and made a white trash pasta bake.  We drank cheap wine out of her fancy glasses.  

We laughed and talked and told stories about being in that house growing up.  

Then, like total rebels we let the dog lick the plates on the floor.  

Priorities.  You have to make them as a sailor.  Was the month home 'wasted'?  Maybe.  Was it fun?  Yep.  Is the front room going to be there waiting for me when I get back?  Yep.  

Hello House, Remember Me?

My house and I have a long complicated history. We're kind of like a married couple who have a bitter divorce but then realize it really was meant to be and re-marry.  Except now that we've remarried we actually have to relearn eachothers quirks and idiosyncrasies. 

As in, oh yeaaah, that pink bathroom tile on the front porch really did always irritate me!   I forgot about that....  We're married again now though so I guess I better get over it...maybe I can just throw a lauhala may down and take a sun drenched photo?

The house has a lot of BIG projects that require tackling...like the gutters need cleaning, the exterior needs bleach and paint, *ahem* the front porch needs new tile...​

Even though these projects are BIG I'm considering them the 'micro' and am instead focusing on the 'macro'. 

The overall big picture is that I need to learn to love my house again. ​

It's cute. Undeniably adorable. ​

Except I need to get comfortable here - make it feel like mine - again. ​

I'm still waiting for my things to arrive...I mean we all know how unpredictable those shipping schedules can be *wink*!​  In the meantime I'm just relaxing here. 

I'm making coffee. I'm hanging curtains. I'm setting out photos. I'm listening to music. I'm working on the macro.  

I'm also documenting a lot of this process on Instagram with the hashtag #haleonautie (Hale O Nautie = House Of Nautie).  

Aloha Friday v5

Nautie Friends!

I'm back in Bali (which feels blissfully familiar and easy compared to Nepal).  

I celebrated Aloha Friday exactly as it was meant to be celebrated - by doing absolutely nothing - and then eating.  

This also means there is no song for you....vintage instagram of Hilo Bay?  It'll have to suffice - not quite Halloween-y is it? 

(Also, there is absolutely no sign that Halloween exists here other than my Instagram. This suites me just fine.)

I hope you lovelies are enjoying your Friday wherever you find yourselves! 

My Life In Color

I noticed recently that I have two distinct color palettes.  I have a Hawaii palette and a Mainland palette.  I have been playing with photoshop and as I scroll through months worth of photos the color difference is incredibly distinct.

In Hawaii I'm attracted to bright blues, pinks, greens and then back them up with softer hues found in nature.  

On the Mainland I'm attracted to darker, richer colors.  My little apartment is full of burgundy, orange, turquoise and magenta.  I have tons of 'tropical colored clothing' and I have a tough time wearing them.  Instead I wear navy blue, brown and gold...like a lot.

What colors are you attracted to?

Happy Girls Day!

March 3rd is Girls Day or Hinamatsuri in Japan.

In Hawaii (and duh, Japan) little girls are bringing pink mochi to share with their classroom.  They have their dolls out on display in their houses (I mean, I'm a white girl and I had some...which means Japanese girls have lots, maybe even their Granmas and Moms are on display), and there are bouquets of Cherry Blossoms (sakura) around on display.

Today my Hawaii Girlfriends all messaged me Happy Girls Day and it was such a sweet reminder of a favorite day during my childhood.

I couldn't end the day without wishing you cherry blossoms and pink mochi!

Happy Girls Day!

red wine + mac & cheese = proof that the mettle mission is not over

Since getting back to Houston from Hawaii I've been in a bit of a slump.  Like, the don't leave your house unless you need food kind of slump.  

Last night at around 6:30 pm I decided I HAD to get out of the house (oh, it's okay, I remembered it was the Super Bowl but seriously, ask me if I care....ok, I kind of care that the Seahawks won...I mean if anyone was winning I'm glad it was them....).

I ended up going to the movies and watching The Hunger Games Catching Fire - then I went to the grocery store and bottle a bottle of red wine and some mac & cheese.  I even splurged on the wine and spent like, more than 10 dollars.

Let's hope that did the trick.  Let's hope that it was a slump eliminator.

I'm sure you're getting a little sick of a daily mettle maker but, I hope you're willing to stick it out!

you're right.  this photo has nothing to do with red wine or mac & cheese.  it's pretty.  it's bright.  we like it.