I absolutely love fairy tales….and princesses and true love’s kiss and happily ever afters. I’m never going to grow out of it, no matter how old I get. I believe that there is magic everywhere.
Which brings me to talk about the newly released, and oh-so-wonderful, feel-good Disney film Godmothered starring Jillian Bell and Isla Fisher.
Jillian Bell plays Eleanor, a naïve fairy-godmother-in-training from the enchanted world of The Motherland. Eleanor is taught to only know of the three-step-formula that leads to happy endings. Eleanor finds a letter from 10-year-old Mackenzie wishing for a happily ever after, and she travels far, far, away to Boston to grant Mackenzie her wish! In the real world, there’s now the adult Mackenzie Walsh, played by Isla Fisher- a 40-year-old single mother, distant to both of her daughters and with a career spiraling downward. At this point in her life, she doesn’t believe in magic and she is certainly skeptical of the concept of happily ever after.
I won’t spoil the movie for you but there’s quite a few humorous references to fairy tale classics, silly, misunderstanding of modern-day technicalities (from Eleanor’s point of view), the comedic timing and chemistry of the actors will make you laugh out loud and smile from ear to ear. Although in the end it gives us a new perspective of what it means to have a happy ending.
“We think that love needs to work a certain way. We’re trapped in a fairytale when the real world is full of so much more. Instead of telling people what true love is supposed to look like, maybe we should let them tell us.” – Eleanor
– GODMOTHERED, DISNEY+
Godmothered teaches us about never giving up, always believing in ourselves, and that not all happily ever afters have to be the same for everyone.
This modern fairy-tale is a must-see this holiday season. Trailer below.
On the fashion side of things, I absolutely loved Eleanor’s pink fairy godmother gown. She never takes it off throughout her time in the real world, but adds to the outfit, making it even more stylish. I mean, not everyone can rock a beanie and winter jacket over a full corset and gown, right?
Oh my goodness , it has been eight months since my last post! 2020 has so far been a strange year filled with never-ending negativity and uncertainty. There is something that I am definitely certain about, though…
Emily in Paris, starring the ravishing Lily Collins, streams on Netflix October 2nd and I CANNOT WAIT.
The show’s creator is Darren Star, the man behind Sex and the City… which means, we’ll see lots of drama, love and fashion, AND SHOES. Patricia Field, who was the forefront of costume design in both Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada is also leading the costume department in Emily In Paris.
I mean, watching the trailer gave me goosebumps because maybe because in another universe and another life I could have been Emily. Who wouldn’t want to be Emily? She’s in Paris, the City of Light- look at the sceneries, the Eiffel tower, her outfits, her shoes, the people, her job, and OMG did I mention her shoes?!
Galentine’s Day is just a few weeks away. (Yes, you read right, and No, it is not a typo.)
For fans of the show Parks and Rec starring Amy Phoeler as Leslie Knope, you are probably no stranger to the non-official holiday, Galentine’s Day. What is it exactly?
“It’s only the best day of the year!”
Galentine’s Day is a celebration of friendship.
A time to spend with the important people in your life that stuck around.. those who are there for you whether or not you’re in a romantic relationship.
There’s so many ways to celebrate! Brunch with waffles, lots of waffles! Dress up and look fab, RSVP at a fancy restaurant or go hiking, have a mani-pedi with your gal friends. Go to the beach, have a picnic, lie around in your jammies reading a book or watch a movie with face masks on… do ANYTHING you want. Exchange gifts, or not… but if you’re planning to, here’s some cute ideas to gift to your favorite gals…
Photobooth Kit
Everyone taking pics will absolutely love these funny sayings. #selfiefirst
Note Cards
Sweet and sassy sentiments perfect for your besties.
BFF Journal
So easy, just fill-in-the-blanks, and voilà
Coffee Mug
Pretty and useful for caffeinating!
Sleep Mask
Nappy hour comes after, and rhymes with Happy Hour.
Hot Seat Card Game
Find out who your friends are, who they really are! 😛
Face Mask
Every gal’s face has a story, protect it!
Self-Defense Alarm Keychain
More than just a keychain, this will keep your galfriends safe from the creeps!
Or if you’re stuck and can’t think of anything, there’s always the lifesaving AMAZON Gift Card. I’m sure your special someone won’t mind, the possibilities are endless : )
Last but not least, here’s another one of Leslie’s iconic, girl-power quotes…
“You’re a beautiful talented, brilliant, powerful musk ox.”-Leslie Knope
In just a couple of days, we will be ringing in 2020! What a grand celebration as Wednesday, January 1st, 2020 marks the first day of a new decade, the 20th year of the 21st century and the 20th year of the 3rd millennium! Not to mention that 2020 is also a leap year! For ladies wanting to propose to the love of your life, you can do so this year as do the Irish 😉
Most of us go through thoughts of New Years resolutions. Whether it’s a new diet, fitness program, hobby or personal development, beginning the new year starting fresh always seems like the best time to do so. Sometimes we follow them, most times we break them.
The past few years I have quit on the NY resolutions as I have learned to just be grateful for every single day. The one thing though, that I consistently have to do is to learn something new. Never stop learning. Every day I want to learn something new. It doesn’t matter about what it is, or who it’s about. It may or may not even be relevant to my life at the moment, because for all I know it might be useful for something later. My mind is reminding me every day to “learn something, Honey.” Growth and continuous education keeps me motivated. Learning allows the mind to be knowledgeable but still curious, and always wanting more…
Here’s some inspirational quotes to encourage you this upcoming year to go beyond what you know.
“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” – Socrates
“What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.” – Aristotle
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”– Henry Ford
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”– Dr. Seuss
“If you are not willing to learn no one can help you. If you are determined to learn no one can stop you.” – Zig Ziglar
“Don’t gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold.” – Bob Marley
“Learning never exhausts the mind.” – Leonardo da Vinci
“When you know better you do better.” – Maya Angelou
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” – Albert Einstein
BTW, fun fact I just learned: for those of us born in the 80’s, did you know we would have already experienced living in four decades (80’s, 90’s, 00’s, 10’s) going into a fifth and we have yet to reach the age of 40?! That is amazingly mind-boggling when you think about it.
Wishing you a wiser and fabulous, Happy New Year!!!
…. but not like those girls in magazines.
She was beautiful for the way she thought.
She was beautiful for the sparkle in her eyes
when she talked about something she loved.
She was beautiful for her ability to make other people smile,
even if she was sad.
No, she wasn’t beautiful for something
as temporary as her looks.
She was beautiful, deep down to her soul.
Just over a week ago we returned home to Hawaii after a 10-day vacation in Japan. From Osaka to Kyoto to Tokyo then back to Osaka again. Even with the threatening typhoon Lan and stormy days during the trip, it was still oh-so-amazing!
To me, the most memorable experience was the opportunity to be a Maiko for a day.
A maiko is a geisha-in-training. The term “Geisha” means “art person”. This means one must be highly skilled in their arts to be considered a geisha. Geishas are experts in traditional dance, classical music, tea ceremony, and much more. They are well versed in social situations and are expert conversationalist. The role of a geisha is constantly misunderstood (mostly by westerners) as they are thought of as escorts, sometimes prostitutes. They are not. They are exclusively hired to entertain during sophisticated dinners and events. They portray beauty, elegance, and their talents that they perfect. They go through rigorous years of training, and they are an important cultural asset to Japan, sadly there are very few of them left.
Having a maiko makeover wasn’t just the chance to put on white makeup and dress in a kimono. It was the experience of being professionally made up, to wear a warishinobu wig adorned with colorful hair pins and be beautifully dressed in a traditional kimono. Not to mention being able to tour (in tabi socks and platform clogs) a few of the most historic and preserved streets of the Edo Period in Gion, Kyoto….. specifically Ninenzeka, one of the oldest streets in the history of Kyoto.
For a few hours you get to feel like a real maiko or geisha, and it was an unforgettable experience! Although it was a bit tiring because of the stairs, slopes and uphills, and the nonstop photo ops/selfie requests by tourists and locals alike…..but well worth it….
AYA KYOTO –
This Maiko Makeover Experience would not have been possible without AYA KYOTO. They have been very accommodating since the beginning. They were responsive through email even while I was still on-island (Akiko and Wakana were my contacts through email). We rescheduled because of the storm and they even allowed my bff Kelsie to participate. Another geisha makeover company in Gion, who will remain unnamed, wouldn’t allow any woman expecting, no matter what stage of pregnancy, to participate in the makeover. AYA accomodated Kels, and we had the time of our lives! Here are some photos from our maiko makeover, to help you get a feel of how the process works.
The AYA studio was a traditional teahouse during the Taisho Period in the early 1900s so it has an authentic, traditional feel as you enter. You are welcomed into their common room where you fill out paperwork and choose what poses you would like during your photo shoot. You will then have to remove any makeup you are currently wearing in the washroom, where there are lockers to place your belongings. They will give you a simple white under-robe and white tabi socks, the robe which you will be wearing beneath your regular kimono.
You then go into the makeup room, partnered with one of their professional makeup artists, where all of the magic happens!
Phase one includes skin cleansing, moisturizing and the application of white makeup powder.
Phase two – four includes eyebrows, eyes, then lips! Pictured above with my makeup artist Yukiko. She was such a joy to work with, such a sweetheart! After the makeup was applied, my hair was styled and sprayed to accommodate the maiko wig to make it look as natural as possible.
Here’s a quick video clip of how much fun and laughter actually happens during hair and makeup! Look at those adorable little maikos behind me! 🙂
After makeup you go into the dressing room where you pick from over a hundred choices of kimono and obi combinations. I picked a black and red color palette. Pictured below are the racks of exotic and colorful kimono designs and obi sashes you could select from.
In the photo above, pretty Kelsie is getting dressed after choosing a pink and light green ensemble.
After dressing, we are taken into a different room where the indoor photo shoot takes place. Below is a candid while doing a sitting pose, with photographer Mark guiding proper body angles and where to look.
After the indoor photo shoots, we were given one hour outdoors to walk/tour the streets Maiko style 🙂 We could not do it without our platform clogs, or slippahs as we call it here in Hawaii.
During the walking tour, our husbands Marlon and Bronson along with little Kellon became our personal photographers. They took candid photos as we strolled the fascinating streets of Gion. It was like taking a step back in time as you meet tourists dressed in casual kimonos and yukatas. There were some locals who may have believed we were also real maikos on the way to an appointment. It was sooo fun to see how curious and starstruck they were.
Photo above were students from Sakurajima Elementary School who wanted a photo, they were soooo adorbs!
And just a few more photos featuring Honey-san and Kelsie-san as Maikos, promise 😉 ….
Doesn’t it look fabulous?!?!
If you are thinking of doing something as amazing as this during your travel to Japan, contact AYA KYOTO below:
“Maiko or Geisha in Kyoto. Try on a Maiko Costume at AYA and experience the exotic worlds of traditional Kyoto culture. to be a Maiko makeover yourself. “
They recently received a 2017 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Adviserwhere they hold an average of 5-star reviews!!!
If you are still not convinced, watch their official YouTube video below
Thank you so very much AYA KYOTO, we had the time of our lives, we will never ever forget our memories in Gion. Much love and Aloha from Hawaii!!!
One of my favorite celebrations this month is Mother’s Day, which is less than a couple of weeks away.
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14th. Of course we have to spoil her because she is supermom and every amazing thing about you, you most definitely got it from your mama! 😉 If you are not sure what to get her yet, don’t worry too much as Miss Honey have some wonderful gift ideas that will sure to wow mother dearest.
Here are some of my faves:
Pandora Vintage Allure Gift Set – An exclusive, dazzling set with silver drop earrings and matching necklace will sparkle mom’s heart and any room she’ll walk into while wearing this striking jewelry set from Pandora.
Fraas Lightweight Solid Scarf– A wardrobe staple that can be worn for all seasons. The pastel color is perfect for spring and summer and can take any of mom’s outfit up a notch! For fashionista moms, let her know this one’s made in Italy 🙂
Desserts LaBelle: Soulful Sweets to Sing About– Ms. LaBelle, the original Lady Marmalade songstress, superstar singer and bestselling cookbook author recently came out with her desserts/baking book! This will definitely have mom singing and you wishing for more, more, more pies please.
LipSense Lipstick– Say goodbye to smudged lipsticks, lipstick on cups, clothes or even on your loved ones! As a loyal user of LipSense, I can definitely say it what all the wonderful things everyone say it is! Mom needs lipstick that will stay all-day and LipSense will give her that. She can pick from a whole range of color and gloss styles, from glassy to matte. For my fellow island girls, please contact my dear friend Lila Uyeno, or order online through LipSense Distributor #277486.
Kate Spade Flower Metro Watch– For no-nonsense moms that don’t want anything too fancy, but they deserve it, this rose gold watch etched with a single blossom will surely catch her attention. Simple but special enough to wear every day and/or on special occasions.
S’ip by S’well Insulated Water Bottle in Pineapple Bliss – This stainless steel water bottle use ThermaSwell to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. It will keep mom well-hydrated for all of the multitasking that she have to do.
Godiva Sweet Dreams Deluxe Chocolate Gift Box – The perfect indulgence for a chocoholic queen who is as sweet as what she eats. Pamper her with this gift set that includes two boxes of chocolate, cosmetic bag and a satin pillowcase.
Nest Fragrances White Camellia Reed Diffuser – A breathtaking scent of fresh camellia, wisteria and Indonesian jasmine with notes of white tea and amber will fill mom’s home with luxurious and memorable fragrance.
Minnie Rose Cashmere Slippers – For the low-maintenance mom who wants comfort around the house. These cashmere slippers speak for themselves with a “Cool Mom” embroidery.
Tory Burch Block-T Brogue Tote– This sleek leather tote is ideal for any tasks that must be done whether it is for quick errands or a weekend away. It features a distinct perforated trim and can easily hold a full-day’s essentials. It also includes a removable zip pouch for smaller items.
Hope I inspired you a little. As most of us can agree on, mother knows best, and she deserves the best. To our angel mother in Heaven, you know if you were here I would get you anything you ever wanted. To everyone else, have fun shopping for mom! The price shouldn’t matter, the most important thing is the thought and effort you put in it 🙂
Hope everyone had a blessed and beautiful Easter Sunday! Today’s fashion post takes inspiration from the soft and sweet candy hues of our most recent holiday – pastels! We are already seeing pastels as one of the biggest trends this year, and with spring and summer (almost) here, it doesn’t look like it’s going to fade out anytime soon.
Pastels can be incorporated with almost any color. The light, delicious hues range from blush pink, pale yellow, sweet sorbets, lavender to mint and seafoam green, to baby blue. They are indeed, very ladylike, however pastels can be worn by anyone, even if you don’t consider yourself to be a “girly-girl”.
Here are some wardrobe ensembles you can put together, whether you’re just beginning to add a touch of soft colors in your wardrobe or you’re a fashion diva experimenting with color blocking.
This morning, Friday January 20th, 2017, American businessman Donald Trump was sworn in as the United States of America’s 45th President. His wife, Slovenia-born former model Melania Trump was also formally introduced as our nation’s First Lady.
Speculations grew in the fashion world of who would (and wouldn’t) dress Melania Trump amidst the scandal of her husband winning the highest seat in office. Today, she stuns in an elegant ensemble from a classic American brand, Ralph Lauren.
Her outfit consists of a cashmere cropped jacket and mock turtleneck knee-length dress, pointed stilettos, and suede gloves and clutch, all in powder blue. She wore her hair in an updo, departing away from her usual simple hair down style. Makeup is smokey eyes and soft pink lips.
This is not the first time Melania chose Ralph Lauren design as she also wore a Ralph Lauren Collection jumpsuit to Trump’s final presidential debate against Hillary Clinton. A wise move by the First Lady as Ralph Lauren brand has already secured its place in fashion history, representing patriotism and America in all positive ways.
Here some fun facts: Melania Trump is the second foreign-born First Lady, and the first First Lady to have immigrated to the U.S. She also speaks five languages: her native Slovenian, Serbian, English, French, and German.
Looking forward to what our beautiful First Lady will wear in historic events during the next four years….
Described as nature’s neutral color, Greenery signifies new beginnings, as this bright yellow-green hue “evokes the first days of spring.” Tapping into minimalism, Greenery inspires us to be more connected with nature as well as with one another. We live in a stressful world which can be draining. Sometimes we just need to stop what we are doing, take a deep breath, put away those electronics and just embrace mother nature. Doing so is rejuvenating.
“It speaks to what we call the ‘re’- words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew,”
said Leatrice Eisemen, Executive Director of The Pantone Color Institute.
Just like in the spring, Greenery gives a sense of hopefulness and affirmation that things can change.
Here’s a fashion tip this coming year:
Having a bad hair day? You’re absolutely not having it? Want to de-stress? Wear Greenery. 😉
Love, Honey 
You must be logged in to post a comment.