Poppy and Ivy

I Miss You Already Maui, but now, Onward and Upward!

Yesterday we said goodbye to the "new room" that saved our vacation. We also went back one last time to take pictures of the "old room" so y'all knew I was NOT making stuff up.

OLD:

 

The carpet in our "living area".

 
Our microwave. Rusty/mold on the outside, mystery food on the inside.

 
Our fridge.

 
ONE overhead light in the whole room. With a yellow bulb. Check out the advertised "new drapesand rod" in the background. I didn't get a close-up of the duct tape. Hmmmm.

This is a RESORT condo set-up. The rooms are gorgeous, gardens lush, but all personally owned. And this guy had the best "blur vision" camera you ever have seen for his internet page. So, we had flown 4,000 miles to an island at it's busiest time for THIS?

Then, the tables turned. We got so lucky and we've already called to book the room again next spring! It was THAT good and John really wants to tile our master bath shower this way now that he's felt it on his feet. We've had friends over the years start tiling with natural river rock, but it DOES feel amazing on the feet. Now I know! Lovely to look at, better to USE.

 
Bamboo front counters, ceilings, closets!

 
Spa like bathroom with no rust, leaks, cracks, lizards....amazing!

 
I wish I could have captured the glass tiles better. All glass mixed with some beach glass. Such attention to detail here and you know what? We spent hours cleaning before we left because we respected this room and the care the owners put into it.

As of today, we've had our overnight flight to the mainland, 5 hours stuck in LAX due to a delayed flight and we're home in Portland. Did we ever talk business ideas for me? No. We were frolicking or playing games! (Or darting away from the Lizard Party).

This is what I DO know....this week I ordered ALL the new Curly Girl cards ....hopefully here in a few weeks. LOVE how creative that Leigh is! Her cards FLY off the rack!

I have many painted items coming into Found on Fremont  (yes we are WAY behind on our blog!)and I have a few new small vintage spaces around Portland/Vancouver that I will be adding my things to for fun and a change of pace.  I was thinking it would be interesting to see how different things do in different areas. I CERTAINLY have enough items for MANY spaces. Spreading the wealth.

I received a new computer at Chrsitmas and I need to add a photo program to it that Ienjoy working with and that is Etsy/Amy friendly this week. I hope to get my Etsy shop pieces up to 50 in April.BIG GOAL! I have been gone from home so much the last few months that Ipulled most of my Etsy shop off-line. A few local vintage stores and I have been talking and we all agree it's smart business at this moment. We might not have the strongest vintage market in Portland right now, but there are areas that are really picking up in the U.S. and some of these women (and MEN!) rely on Ebay and Etsy to feed their collecting habits!

So much to do this week...SO much! I feel pretty excited to try new things and I have another Funky Junk Sisters event just around the corner. Road trip!

Miss you Maui...thank you for re-charging this confused old girl with your natural beauty. So many places to just think and refelct.

 

 

 
See you in 347 days Maui!

 

Aloha! Please Don't Make Me Go Home

Believe me. Before I start, I understand that this is a trip of a life time. I am so happy that my husband and kids love Maui as much as I do. But....it started with much drama at home--a sudden death in my in-law's family and we weren't sure if they'd be able to meet us. Then lots of drama when we landed when we arrived at our STUDIO condo for the four of us (freakin' small print) that was FILTHY. Carpet was stained, curtain rods were duct taped, no "ocean view", sink leaked all over the floor and the best part was the lizard party that took place every night at about midnight.

No worries. Island time. Paradise abound. Lush gardens. 2 pools. 100 yards to the ocean. We played games in my in-laws room at night.

But believe me when I tell you that from 10:00pm to 8:00am was NASTY for our family of four.

But who cares....look what we are surrounded by!!!

 
We have hiked, had morning walks, long night walks on the beach, toured lava tubes, drove Hana Highway (it's all fun and games until someone throws up), watched 12 sunsets, swam many laps, paddleboarded, watched whales jump until the sun goes down....we are lucky!

We got really lucky when we all snapped after the last Lizard Party in Our Room of Filth and started making phone calls and found that a room 4 floors up had opened.

A room in all directions? Lizard Free? The screens all fit the windows? Ring us up!!

 
So, the last 4 days were much more comfortable and FYI...the Electrolux vacuum is all Kelly Ripa says it is and more.

After tomorrow there will be no more bamboo walls, tiki bars on the patio, conch shell sunsets, walks on the warm beach for awhile.

It's back to work, many new opportunities waiting for me, 189 e-mails to answer, my husband will return to working 60 hours a week and according to weather.com for Portland.....10 days of constant rain and cold after 13 days of 75-80 degrees! But worth it all....even with a 16 year old, eye rolling daughter in tow. My husband promises we WILL be coming back to Maui.

Another convert! Mahalo Maui!

Now, I Can See the Perks

A few weeks ago I was told that there would be some changes at the shop. Big changes. I was kind of shell shocked. I felt like a rug was pulled out from under me, but after a few days of going through most of the "stages of grief"...(shock and anger, pain and guilt, depression, bargaining and FINALLY...the upward turn!).. I can see all the perks.

In the end, the store is taking a change that was hard for me to accept at first, BUT....I personally have more options, more time...and I have more connections in the last 5 years than I would ever have thought possible....I can now see all the GOOD!

More details will come as I get them. I promise.

So,there have been no posts from me in the last weeks as I have digested this all. I was afraid I was too angry and certainly far too sad at the start to create a balanced & informative post. I would have deeply regretted my tone of voice, I am sure.

Good things from the past weeks.......there HAVE been SUCH good things!

My husband DID leave me just one more time on a platform in the middle of London. (Yes. Really.) But, I found him. He can't get away...even in another country. HA!

We had a perfect day, quite possibly my favorite day in London and even though it was a few weeks back...I wanted to post it. (Because this post is about being THANKFUL and seeing the perks!)

Portobello Market in Notting Hill. (No Hugh Grant-- but his picture is EVERYWHERE.) Blocks, blocks and more blocks of vintage booths...EVERY SATURDAY! Why doesn't my husband use London as his home base? Believe me...I left England asking if it was an option! I could adapt!

 
 
We started to walk back from Notting Hill to Green Park, but got tired and braved the Underground again. It was sunny, but LOOKED like it could rain any second.

 
Mr. Hollands stuck with me that time....no being abandoned on a platform. Third time's a charm.

We hit Tate Moderne to take in the night lights of London. We walked ABOUT 5 more miles that night because it WAS the last night! My husband does NOT need to ask me twice if he needs a companion for his next visit over.

 

We arrived home to Portland. We were met with happy kids, happy dogs and Velntine's Day. My own favorite holiday. I prefer it to Chirstmas quite honestly! No hoopla leading up to it. Just one day. My mom made it fun for me as a kid and I loved making it fun for my kids. I made heart pancakes, pink chocolate milk, red & pink lunches and  I always made heart shaped dinners....I loved it all.

But this year I got the iPhone on Valentine's day. It turns out I love apps even more than I love Valentine's Day! I love my roses, I love jewelry, but the photo apps on the iPhone....ohhhhhhhh.

 

 
The kids and husband gave me this necklace that I have loved forever. It has all my babies initials in one place. It's very comforting just to put it on!

More shop details will follow as I get them.

I am happy and see all the benefits and I see what a good place this puts me in for my family.

Cheers!