2009, I Complete You

I found this here and thought it would be good to share with you. 2009 was incredible. It was also a struggle in a few distinct corners of my life. My wish for 2010 is the same level of incredible, and the personal ability to control and change those difficult corners.

1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2009?
(What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)

2009 was a very big year for us. Obviously, we got married. We planned a wedding. I personally experienced incredible joy in planning our wedding. I loved the creativity, the inspiration, and meeting new people. Clearly, planning a wedding is stressful too. I feel I grew up quite a bit with some of the harder choices we had to make, and the financial responsibility of it all.

In other areas of our life, I persevered with work - staying true to myself but working to maintain needed flexibility. I've learned more about what I want, what makes me happy, and what I no longer want.

2009 was a very reaffirming year for friendships. My friendships in Hawaii took deeper root and became even more fulfilling. My friendships outside of Hawaii continue strong and I felt a sense of re-energy as I saw so many friends at the wedding and other parts of the year. I am very, very lucky to have particularly awesome friends. I'm proud that I chose them, and that I've worked hard to maintain my relationships.

Bryan and I grew even closer together this year. Not just because of the wedding but that certainly helped. More than ever, we're clearly on the same path. And we're excited to walk it together.

2. What is there to grieve about 2009?
(What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)

2009 was very hard from a professional perspective. Many, many people can probably say the same thing. While I was lucky to hold onto my paycheck, I had to make some very hard personal compromises. I am not yet okay with them. I hope 2010 brings opportunity that allows me to find peace with my professional life.

They say life hands you lemons and you make lemonade. I didn't make lemonade. I tried but ultimately I just made a very sour face. That was often very frustrating. In a very slight way, it was also empowering. I hope 2010 is filled with more lemonade, and less sour faces.

3. What else do you need to say about the year to declare it complete?Okay, the next step is to say out loud, "I declare 2009 complete!" How do you feel? If you don't feel quite right, there might be one more thing to say...

2009, I'm pretty peeved you couldn't be 100% wonderful. I would have really liked to soak in my wonderful looking out at more wonderful. That said, I'm blown away by what we accomplished together. If your sister, 2010, is as awesome as you were, I am happy to declare you complete.

The final step is to consider your primary focus for the year to come. What is your primary intention or theme for 2010? Is it the year of joy? the year of self-care? the year of partnership? Stand up and say it proud, "2010 is my year of...

2010 is the year of stick-to-it-ness. I have so many dreams for myself and they are likely all attainable if I stick to it and don't let any lemons take me off course.

(argh, the formatting on this is a mess and I can't fix it. This must be 2009's last laugh with me!)

Move Your Money

I am certainly not a financial expert. I haven't thought this through very far but it is very inspiring...

The idea is, move your money to community institutions. Don't let the too-big-to-fail banks use your money to continue their shady business practices.

Watch it here.

Read it here.

Seven Months Ago

May 24th 2009

Our wedding cake was one of the wedding elements we planned completely together. From design to flavors, we were totally insynch. We were thrilled to see it on our wedding day.


We quickly realized we were a bit terrified to cut into it. Who ever practices cutting into a three tier cake? What if we ruined it?! I remember I actually asked our photographers how to do it...


We nervously picked up the beautiful cake cutter friends had gifted us, and sliced into the gorgeous cake. All with silly looks on our faces.


Then we grabbed our forks and fed each other. So yummy. And then a kiss!


Yummy cake. Happy wedding.

Adventure in Hilo: LAVA!

Not only did we eat turkey with my grandmother. No, we took a lava tour from a boat! It was KICK @SS!

Once again we had a 3:30 wake up call. This time no cancellation. We quickly boarded a very large, very metal boat and took a bit of mysterious ride in the pitch black towards a point. Eventually we started to see a red glow. And then we saw much, much more. It was absolutely unbelievable. We felt so lucky to be there. So blessed to see the activity. So smart to treat ourselves to this great adventure!

The pictures don't begin to do it justice but neither do my words so let's let them give it a shot...









And then the sun came up...


Awesome day!

Grace: Observations at Lunch

1. Business men in dive-y lunch stops.
2. People who pray personally before every meal.
3. Inspiration on the Internet.
4. Dreams for my future.
5. Champagne in the fridge.

Thanksgiving in Hilo

For Thanksgiving this year, Bryan and I headed to the Big Island to be with my grandmother. Turns out, in all my (very many) years of life, I had never spent Thanksgiving in Hilo!

It was an absolutely fabulous weekend. The perfect blend of family, free time, activities and wild adventure.

Here's the story of our weekend in pictures:

We took the Wednesday evening flight from Honolulu to Hilo. Traveling on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving? Not too rough when your flight is less than 45 minutes. We relaxed and enjoyed the sunset view. Ooooh... awwww...:

We arrived in Hilo and made a beeline for Safeway because I was in charge of pies, cranberries, and punch. Short shopping list in hand, should be no big deal. First off, I couldn't find Safeway in a town about the size of my apartment building. Ooops. Then we learned the ENTIRE TOWN was sold out of canned pumpkin pie mix and canned cranberries. Total bummer. I grumpily bought pre-made pies and nervously bought fresh cranberries. End result? Just okay.

Then we cruised over to my grandmother's house. We call her Tutu. Laugh all you want, it means Grandmother in Hawaiian. Do you feel silly now? Here she is in all her delight. She hates all pictures of herself. And you'd think for that reason she'd have tried to smile in this one but but I think I was bugging her too much:

The morning of Thanksgiving Bryan and I walked to the end of Tutu's very short street and arrived at Honolii Beach. Watched the surfers, and took in the morning:

Bryan skipped rocks (a stream empties into the beach):

And I took in the view:

I think there were 16 of us for dinner. And I'm related to most of them. Yummy food, and luckily others brought good pie! Bryan and I went to bed super early because we had a 3:30am alarm set for a super adventure. We drove (too fast) more than 45 minutes in the POURING RAIN to learn our super adventure had been canceled. What do you do in the middle of nowhere in the pitch black in the middle of the night? Drive. And wait for the sunrise. Which was lovely:
Really, a gorgeous sunrise:

Then we stuffed ourselves with Ken's pancakes, napped, chatted with Tutu and eventually hit the town for a movie. First we walked around Hilo. This was the stunning view, don't judge - it's a beautiful town:

The next day we slept in plenty, when to the Hilo Farmer's Market, bought yummy yummy mochi, walked around town and visited family. Later the family came over for a crab FEAST but first Bryan and I took a walk:

And we were blessed with a rainbow over Hilo:

Really, a perfect weekend. But it's not over! Stay tuned to learn the details of our super adventure!

Just a Few Easy Payments

I used to walk by this house all the time in San Francisco and admire it. It seems like the ideal beautiful relaxed home. And just my luck, it's on the market!


For just 30 years worth of $56k monthly payments, and an initial investment of $2.7 million, it could be mine.

Guess I need to save my pennies.