aloha style: surprise, surprise.

dress:: {shopruche}

earrings:: {indefinitely borrowed from lil sis}

bag:: {navy exchange}

sandals:: {old navy}

Saturday night. 

Chris is excited to take me out to a surprise restaurant for dinner. The boy knows I am a sucker for surprises. :) 

We pull up to the restaurant and he is telling me all about how he got a great recommendation from this guy he works with who LOVES this place. 

My heart sinks. Two days before, my friend had told me never to go to this restaurant. She said it was really awful. The internal debate ensues. Do I tell Chris or just go along with it and let him be excited that he surprised me?

Oh, but he can tell I'm not happy. I can't attempt to hide it, he knows me too well. So I cringe and tell him. Sorry babe! 

We scramble to come up with a good plan B so as not to ruin our special date night. Both of us are trying really hard not to be disappointed and frustrated. 

Then *bing!* the lightbulb goes off. I remember a Eurasian tapas restaurant that another friend told me about that she and her husband loooove. So off we drive, into town, hoping that we can get in without a reservation. 

YAY! A table is available right away. The ceiling is adorned with ten giant paper lanterns and the atmosphere is just right. 

Oh, and the fooood. Bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp with chili sauce. Pork belly with brie and adobo sauce. Crispy calamari with spicy aoli sauce. Mussels, crab and shrimp in a delicious tomato sauce. And the yummiest wine. A new favorite, for sure. 

What could have turned out to be a very frustrating evening developed into a sweet, special date night together. Guess we were *both* surprised by where we ended up for dinner! Phew, bullet dodged on that one. Even if Chris claims he'll never try to surprise me again. 

Oh, and my new dress fits perfectly. Hallelujah! It's rare to find a maxi-dress that doesn't pool yards of fabric on the floor. I was not expecting it to fit me this perfectly--- so that's a sweet surprise too! A new favorite restaurant and a new favorite dress all in one night.  Perfecto. 

PS. The word "surprise" is so strange. Say it a few times to yourself. Isn't it weird?? Or is it just me?

lindsay

adventures of the wandering whippycakes :: tardy // oahu, hawaii

It's time for another edition of the Adventures of the Wandering WhippyCakes. 

If you missed the previous editions of this series, check them out here. 

The WhippyCake I'm modeling this week traveled from the shores of South Carolina, over the mountains of Colorado to my beaches here in Hawaii. Specifically, a beach on the West (ish) side of Oahu that we call Pine Trees... because of all the pine trees. Our mini church met here for a night time praise and worship session so my WhippyCake and I had a little photo opp. 

whippy cake:: {tardy}

dress:: {spool72}

This is Ilene's whippycake and the bright colors and sparkly fabrics totally fit her freakin' awesome personality. I knew I'd have fun playing with the bright colors too. This time I decided to let my WhippyCake shine and paired it with this neutral ( but oh so comfy and pretty) dress from Spool72. 

Chambray + crochet + a little glitz = me feelin' mighty purty. 

(See, Chris, I can do math!)

Do you have an accessory you don when you want to feel a little extra pretty? 

Make sure to check out how my bloggy sisters styled their WhippyCakes (and who has mine??)

Moriah from Josiah's Nest

Kim from Oh Sweet Joy

Ilene from Much Love Illy

Sandy from Sandyalamode

lindsay

aloha style: hello, awkward.

braided headband:: {made by me}

tee:: {pacific sunwear}

cutoffs:: {american eagle}

friendship bracelets:: {made by me}

beaded bracelet:: {market in spain}

sandals:: {old navy}

Whenever I leave the house, I like to come up with interesting new outfits and it usually takes at least 10 minutes playing around in my closet to piece together a fun ensemble. But when I'm hanging out at home, painting or just chilling, I don't put much effort into my outfit. Why waste a good outfit when no one will see it?? 

I thought I would show you my uniform of choice today. Cutoffs, tee, some sort of headband. Basic. And since Chris has been gone for about two weeks, I've been spending a lot of time in the house and wearing my uniform quite often. Especially this tee. Oh, it's so soft and comfy. I just wanna marry it.

Also because he's gone, I have to take my own outfit pictures. Which means traipsing around the neighborhood with the tripod and camera. And today it means really awkward pictures for you. Apparently I forgot to smile between walking out of my door and setting my camera timer. Also, my hair is all over the place in these pictures. Which is pretty true to life when I'm hanging out at home. Just keeping it real, guys. 

awkward. 

PS. Big thanks for all the sweet responses to my post yesterday. I'm working on getting back to you guys. I so appreciate all of the supportive "me too!" comments. 

PPS. It's an outfit post without a single article from Forever21. Write it down in the history books, people. 

Linking up with What I Wore Wednesday. 

lindsay

aloha style: list making

cardigan:: {target}

white tank:: {forever 21}

necklace:: {31bits}

jeans:: {forever 21}

belt:: {i dunno, bought it ages ago}

sandals:: {american eagle}

fingernail polish:: {eternal optimist by essie}

toenail polish:: {mint sorbet by sally hansen}

things I'm looking forward to this week:: 

making dinner and painting nails with a girl friend on tuesday. 

getting my new dress in the mail. 

starting to journal again in this gorgeous thing. 

having Chris come home {!!!!}

date night 

working on some projects around the house

 {remember when this used to be a DIY blog? I kind of miss that.}

hopefully making it to 150 sales

{I'm one away!}

things I've eaten this weekend that I probably shouldn't have::

burger king. 

a whole papa john's {bacon} pizza

lots of gummy coke bottles

goals for the week:: 

eat better

run, maybe? ab workouts, definitely

drink more water

sketch more

paint stuff

keep some goals

stuff on my coffee table:: 

a pile of embroidery thread

nail polish remover

two bottles of nail polish

two rings

burger king cup from saturday

one hair clippie

car keys

Happy Monday! 

PS. I guest posted on Oh Mishka yesterday. Click over to check out Michelle's blog and see my favorite finds in the pantone fall colors! 

lindsay

Filled to the Brim

sparkly cardigan:: {charlotte russe}

white tee:: {target}

belt:: {forever 21}

shorts:: {forever 21}

sandals:: {old navy}

bracelets:: {gift}

Yesterday was a busy day. The good kind of busy. I had coffee with a friend, beach time with one of my best buddies and her daughter, a skype date with Moriah, and then some precious worship time on the beach under a full moon with some of our very best friends.

And my heart is full. So full.

These weeks when Chris is gone are potentially lonely, depressing weeks. I'm such a social person and I enjoy my alone time but I crave people time. God takes such good care of me. He sends me days like yesterday, filled to the absolute brim with sweet relationships.

And the day was just made even better by my sparkly cardigan. Which reflects sunlight like a disco ball while I drive and totally distracts me. The world better watch out when I've got my sparkly cardi on.


lindsay

I'm an Over-Achieving Sandwich Eater.

After a long weekend away, Chris had the day off on Monday. Such a sweet surprise. The day ahead of us was wide open so we jumped in the Jeep and took off to the North Shore. With its wide expanse of grassy fields, pineapple farms and majestic mountains, this is easily one of my favorite drives on the island.

In Haleiwa, we hit up Chris' favorite sandwich shop, Stortos. And I bit my lip hard after taking a huge bite of my awesome sammie. Just wanted to be a big kid like Chris and take big bites. That'll teach me. 

dress:: {Target}

belt:: {Target}

necklace:: {market in Spain}

sandals:: {lil store in Annapolis , MD}

rings:: {gift from Chris and American Eagle}

nail polish:: {turquoise and caicos from Essie}

After lunch, we hit up the beach for some sunshine and floating in the ocean. Big fan of surprise days off over here. 

I'll leave you with this awkward picture that Chris took as I was clearing the brush away from the wall. No, I'm not peeing, I promise. 

Linking up with Lindsey's What I Wore Wednesday. 

lindsay

Aloha Style: Flying Solo

top:: {Target}

belt:: {TJ Maxx}

skirt: {vintage, Wishfulness }

coral ring:: {Charlotte Russe}

white ring:: {American Eagle... a million years ago}

nail polish:: {turquoise and caicos by Essie}

sandals:: {American Eagle}

A solo weekend means...

... eating alone (but at least I got to eat grilled cheese and tomato soup!)

... spending the day in my studio packaging orders (I love my Moo stickers!) 

... making a mess in the kitchen and not having to clean it up right away. ( Mmm... banana bread.)

... lots of TV watching ( I think I've seen almost every episode of Criminal Minds. SUCH a good show.)

... being excited for Sunday because a) we've been trying out a really great new church and b) I get to actually get dressed and see people! 

I always miss Chris when he's gone and I can't wait to see him tomorrow, but I have to admit that I enjoy some alone time every now and then. If only for the not doing dishes right away thing. ;)

What's your favorite thing to do when you get some alone time?

PS. Rocking the glasses this weekend since I've been wearing my contacts two months longer than I'm supposed to. Hit my face on the mirror while putting makeup on this morning. Feel free to chuckle at my expense. 

lindsay

Aloha Style:: I Like to Ride My Bicycle.

fedora:: {Old Navy}

fedora band:: {headband from Forever21}

ring:: {Charlotte Russe}

nail polish:: {chinchilly by Essie}

white tee:: {Old Navy}

belt:: {Forever21}

denim cutoffs:: {American Eagle}

slippers:: {Reef}

Some things:: 

I love bike rides with Chris. 

I'm thankful that Chris spent an hour fixing and cleaning up my bike this weekend. 

I'm obsessed with my new gray nails-- chincilly by Essie. 

I realize this outfit is pretty boring but I love the basic casualness of a white tee and denim cutoffs.

Um, that's about it. 

lindsay