Cruising through the Catacombs of Paris

Paris is definitely one of my favorite cities to visit...and this particular adventure was a bucket list experience for me, so I thought I would share! If you are in Paris, don't get creeped out too easily, and don't mind being far beneath the city of Paris, in tight spaces, surrounded by skulls and bones, you gotta go! 

The Catacombs of Paris are underground ossuaries which hold the artfully arranged remains of 6 to 7 million Parisians in a small part of a tunnel network built to consolidate Paris' ancient stone quarries. Extending south from the Barrière d'Enfer ("Gate of Hell"), this ossuary was created as part of the effort to eliminate the city's overflowing cemeteries. It lies deep below the city, under the subway and water lines, and is SUPER creepy. I LOVED it, cause I like scary stuff! 

I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a "skip the line" ticket online BEFORE you go. Actually, I would buy the ticket a few days in advance. The walk-up line is CRAZY long on most days and you could be waiting for 2 hours outside, in a line wrapped around the block, just to get to the front to purchase tickets. I researched our tickets on Trip Advisor. Our tickets were around $40 when we went in 2019. Also, be prepared for a very tight fit as you descend the winding-staircase into the tomb-like darkness - with an evident temperature drop and the smell of damp earth seeping through the porous walls. Smells like, creepy history! 

Santa Fe's Magical Staircase

Miraculous things happen! And yet another reason why I find New Mexico so magical. Make sure if you are ever in Santa Fe, you visit the miraculous Lorretto Staircase. 
When the Loretto Chapel was completed in 1878, there was no way to access the choir loft twenty-two feet above. Carpenters were called in to address the problem, but they all concluded access to the loft would have to be via ladder as a staircase would interfere with the interior space of the small chapel. A mysterious carpenter / drifter / spirit ?! installed this miraculous staircase— WITH ZERO NAILS. Then, he disappeared. Whaaaaattt!!!? The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. It is said that the staircase was built without nails—only wooden pegs. 

For more information, visit the Loretto Chapel website.

A Hidden Honolulu Gem

A magical, lush garden in the middle of busy downtown Honolulu? Yes, it exists!  As the oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Foster Botanical Garden displays a mature and impressive collection of tropical plants. Some of the magnificent trees in this 14-acre garden were planted in the 1850's by Dr. William Hillebrand. They marked the beginning of a heritage that became The Honolulu Botanical Gardens. I highly recommend this for a date spot! It's cheap, it's beautiful, it's romantic, and healthy. Added bonus? Go to Zippy's across the street first, grab a bento to go, and enjoy your meal at the gardens. I like bringing a blanket, but there are a few benches to relax on throughout the gardens. 

Garden highlights include the Conservatory, Outdoor Butterfly Garden, Palm Garden, Prehistoric Glen Cycad Collection, Exceptional Trees, and Gift Shop. And don't forget to check out the famous Corpse Plant!

ADMISSION COSTS:

Adults: $5

Hawaii Residents: $3

Children 6-12: $1

Children under 5: Free

Annual Family Pass: $25

HOURS:

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Closed Christmas Day (December 25)

Closed New Year's Day (January 1)

The Boyd Sanitorium, Exploring New Mexico

One of my goals for 2019 is to post more on my blog! I am inspired to write a little about my hike yesterday. Every time I come home for the holidays, I make sure to plan some desert hikes- always making sure to visit the Organ Mountains, which remind me so much of home— Las Cruces, New Mexico. Growing up here, I never truly appreciated the beauty of the desert. After living in Hawaii for over twelve years, I have learners to love New Mexico and I cherish the beauty and mystery of the desert.

There are so many hikes around this area, so many hidden treasures like old mine shafts, desert caves and stone arches. My hike yesterday was to Dripping Springs and the creepy but awesome Boyd Sanitorium. The hike is rather easy, save for some loose gravel on the path. The trail is well maintained and the park rangers and volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable. The hike I did was about 3 miles total, with a 500 foot rise in elevation.

Anyway, about the Boyd Sanitorium— it’s creepy and falling down! Check it out before the elements wear out the structures.

These buildings were once all part of a tuberculosis sanatorium, constructed around 1910 by Dr. Nathan Boyd, medical doctor and businessman. Legend says that Dr. Boyd had a beloved wife who was suffering from the terrible disease, and that he built the place, up in the rugged yet beautiful mountains, for her. There are other rumors about Boyd's Sanatorium, as well. Rumors of a more... creepy, unknown element. Some say that this canyon is filled with restless spirits, and that some of them happen to be the spirits of the patients who passed away up at the mountainside sanatorium. Mystical! 

I'm in love with Necoco ネココ

I'M IN LOVE WITH NECOCO. Picked it up when I was in Japan this last April. It's my most-beloved product for my over-processed, heat-styled hair. Disclaimer, I don't have the most luxurious hair by any means, but this part of my beauty regimen keeps my hair soft, silky (but not oily), smooth and nourished. The cute packaging is a bonus- super kawaii! 

If you can read Japanese, learn more on their website. 

Necoco is an organic hair oil that is made in Japan. Besides the benefits to the health of my hair-- this hair oil smells AMAZING. Like perfume. It's floral and refreshing with a hint of amber musk. It makes me feel like a walking flower garden, and gives hair a shiny glow without weighing it down. I use it in damp or dry hair, and very little product goes a long way. One pump of product, rub it in your hands, and work it through starting at the ends of your hair. You will want to smell your hair all day long. :) 

The oil contains essential oils obtained from the petals of damask rose, an evergreen shrub called Argania spinosa (Sapotaceae), olive oil, baobab seed oil, laurel leaves, and sea buckthorn, an ingredient used in Chinese folk medicine. You can snag a bottle of your own Necoco on Amazon now for around $27+....but I've found it hard to source at times. If you're headed to Japan, please pick up an extra bottle for me! 

Prepping for Fabulousness at a Fab Salon

This post is about my fave place to get my hair done, Paul Brown Salon, but let me tell you what prompted my most recent visit there...


After having worked my way up the ladder in my marketing career over the past several years, I've finally done it. I landed my dream job. You know the saying, "do what you love and you won't work a day in your life..." -- I will be the first to tell you that this is true. I didn't get this job without hard work, long days, and blood sweat and tears-- but I do think this job was somehow made for me. Is there such a thing as career destiny? This one wasn't on my dream board...but somehow, I knew I would be working in a fashion-related position. 

Voila! I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the leadership team as Marketing Manager at Saks Fifth Avenue Hawaii. Get excited! Opening August 25th, the new Saks Fifth Avenue and International Marketplace are going to be awesome. Happy days are here. I'm currently sitting on a Boeing 737, cruising at maximum altitude, Chardonnay on tray and Vogue Magazine on deck. I'm headed to training at the Beverly Hills Saks, staying at the Beverly Hilton on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Someone pinch me...I must be dreaming. 

It took me a few days to prepare for this week of fabulousness. After my routine manicure, I made sure to stop by and visit the talented hair experts at Paul Brown Salon & Day Spa. Note-- they were awarded the title of BEST salon on the island by the Star Advertiser in 2015 (winners are selected by popular vote, people love this salon). If you want to get fabulous treatment and a hair style that you will love, make sure to set up an appointment (you can easily book online or with a phone call). There are two locations, one in Kailua and one at Ward Centre. I prefer the Ward location as I often see the man himself, Paul, and it's also closer to home for me. This salon also carries Kerastase, one of my favorite hair care product lines-- one of the few salons on the island who has it. 

The salon underwent renovations last year, and the space is welcoming, modern, clean, and fresh. Upon arrival, you are always greeted with a smile and offered a beverage-- hot tea? Lemon water? Keurig coffee? You feel pampered from the start. 

The salon is inviting, not snooty-- yet still upscale, and has free wifi, lots of parking, and excellent stylists-- all attributes I look for in a salon. Occasionally, you just might catch a celebrity getting their hair done, just don't try to get their autographs in the salon- that's frowned upon. 

Paul Brown is known around the world for his work. He also has a line of hair care products that are wonderful. I have a Paul Brown shampoo, conditioner and a shine spray that I use consistently. I went in to get my dark blonde hair to more of a Beverly Hills-shade of blonde and I left feeling like a million bucks! The shampoo experience alone was its own spa experience- best scalp massage I've ever had. I like to visit Davis, as he rocks at doing blonde coloring (and, well, everything), but all the stylists are amazing. Most of them have assistants who do the shampoo for them. If you are lucky enough to see Paul himself, he's a master in his craft and a pleasure to be around. Just a cool guy, and super fun to chat with. Here is a cute pic of him and I at one of the Honolulu Museum of Art ARTafterDARK events earlier this year. I love seeing Paul out and about-- the guy is everywhere!

So...long story longer...shout out to my favorite Hawaii salon, Paul Brown Salon and Day Spa, thank you to Paul for being amazing and assembling a stellar team...and mahalo Davis for my amaze blonde highlights and getting me ready for a fabulous week in Beverly Hills. Finally, THANK YOU UNIVERSE for gifting me with the opportunity to work in my dream job. I feel very blessed, very fortunate, and ready for Saks Fifth Avenue. 

The nearest exit may be behind you. Part 1.

Nestled in my cozy apartment in Makiki, I have views of Diamond Head, ocean and city. I love watching airplanes grace the skies of Honolulu. It's constant.

I daydream about where they are going (Dubai? Hong Kong? Wellington? Tokyo? Kansas?!). What kind of interesting people are buckled up in those uncomfortable seats, eating crappy salted peanuts-- and if they aren't first class-- they aren't even warmed. First world problems. The nearest exit may be behind you. In case of emergency, illuminated movie theater-like lights on the floor will surely guide you to safety, life vests are under your seat and instructions about how to escape a downed airplane are ignored by well-traveled passengers who simply turn on their $400 Bose noise-cancelling headphones and read through Sky Mall mag. You'll be fine.

Me, before donning my Bose headphones on a flight from Dublin, Ireland last summer...

There's always one person who thinks their bag can fit in the overhead bin and everyone watching the chaos and struggle, this person trying to stuff it into the tiny space, knows that seriously, it's not going to fit. We all know. Then, stewardess intervention, every time. Like clockwork.

Also, what's up to the dude who always drinks too many mini Jack Daniels (or whatever) to keep us all entertained. Glad to hear you, you crack me up, but also glad you aren't sitting right next to me.

Why do people actually choose the aisle seat as opposed to a window where they can lay their head to rest? Every time I get an aisle seat, my arm and/or leg is nearly chopped off by unruly, 500-pound beverage carts. On top of that, views from the window are rad. Breathtaking. And instagrammable (it's an adjective, right?). I think those with aisle preference need bathroom access or hate the feeling of being "trapped" behind two other passengers. That's my guess. I still don't get it. Also, there has to be zero people who request a middle seat. Unless they are creepy. Amirite?!

Babies are usually crying on airplanes-- 99% of the time I just feel bad for the parents who, as hard as they try, can't seem to calm them enough to stop their sobbing. I think their ears hurt? Or being crammed into a plane in economy is simply unnatural and it sucks-- and they know it.

Another rant? Can I please never get on a plane that doesn't have a personal screen? Have we not come far enough in our technological evolution that we still are forced to sit in planes without personal TVs and on-demand movies?! I can't sit on a pan-Pacific flight without it, people. Yeah, I am spoiled, but hey, airplanes should be like, super high tech. I mean, they fly. TV's in every seat is not too much to ask. 

But however uncomfortable, however comical the process of air travel is, I dream of being on that plane. Gracing the sky. Jetting off to exotic places. Even living in this paradise that is Hawaii, to see a whole new world, country, explore, have new experiences, it's so exciting to me. Can I please get paid to travel? I'm really good at it. And I have solid experience. Promise.

One pro-travel tip-- if you are doing a long flight, like from Tokyo to US-- try to upgrade. You get free champagne and actual silver (fake silver) utensils. And cloth napkins. And way more food. And way BETTER food. And legroom.  And better blankets. And nice stewardesses. And sometimes eye masks and socks! Worth every penny (or mile), especially if you have to work the next day.

Also, enjoy the view as you leave where ever you are...take a deep breathe, get a little sentimental, and take it all in...you might never return..and it is, at least for me, cathartic, to say the least. Last view of the Ryukyu Islands in December 2015 (I vow to go back):