One of my favorite movies of all time, Ever After: A Cinderella Story, turns 25 years this year!
I cannot believe it has been that long, as I watch it every year or so just to relive the marvelous story of Danielle de Barbarac (played by my favorite actress Drew Barrymore who by the way, also starred in my other favorite movie of all time, 50 First Dates – more on that later!) as she fights her way through life, despite of her cruel stepmother’s upbringing. The movie was ahead of it’s time as it taught us that we didn’t need to be damsels in distresses waiting for Prince Charming to save us. When we are passionate about what we believe in and stand up for the people we love and care about…everything eventually works out in the end.
One of the most magical moments in the movie is the anticipated grand entrance of Danielle at the ball. The scenery, the costumes, the acting, and the music…just enchanting. I fell in love with that moment greatly that my bridal entrance song of choice during our wedding ceremony was part of the movie soundtrack, we used the score of that very moment of the movie, entitled Danielle’s Wings.
I also love that they also incorporated Leonardo da Vinci as a significant character in the movie, even featuring his painting La Scapigliata, with Danielle as his inspiration.
Just yesterday, Drew reunited with three of her costars – Melanie Lynskey (Jacqueline de Ghent, Danielle’s nice stepsister), Megan Dodds (Marguerite de Ghent, Danielle’s evil stepsister) and the dashing Dougray Scott (Prince Henry of France) to reminisce their time together as they filmed one of the greatest retelling of a fairy tale. It was such an adorable reunion, made me want to watch Ever After again!
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?!
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. 😉
One of the holiday season’s biggest fashion trends include metallics. An excuse to shine on like bedazzling Christmas lights without looking like an overdressed glitzy grandmama? Sure, why not.
Glittery gold is a seasonal standout, and thanks to Bruno Mars‘ current hit, even more so that you’ll feel the “24 karat magic in the air” …
Our Company Holiday Party / 2017 Kickoff happens to have a fabulous golden theme to celebrate a momentous year of achievements… As always, the plan is to not only have the most wonderful time but also look the most ravishing at these events. Also because I’m part of the party planning committee so I cannot be under-dressed. Oh, like I am never properly dressed for any occasion, hahaha, thanks.
Here is an inspiration board for a holiday gold rush featuring some of my faves….
Victoria’s Secret just launched their newest fragrance, Paris. A limited edition and also the official fragrance of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Paris was inspired by The City of Light, which VS also deemed as “the world’s sexiest city”.
Victoria’s Secret describe the scent as “festive, crisp and sexy… captures the scent of Parisian gardens in wintertime.” Scent notes are composed of French cypress, night blooming jasmine and white cedarwood. The glamorous diamond-cut bottle seems to give a nod to the architectural style of the iconic Eiffel Tower. The red ribbon add that touch of sexy as well as holiday cheer to the season’s festivities. The bottle is encased in a white and clear box with glitter and snowflakes, reflecting the sparkle of the city at night.
Paris Eau de Parfum is available in 50 ml/1.7 fl. oz. size. The collection also includes a Fragrance Mist (250 ml/8.4 fl. oz.) and a Fragrance Lotion (250 ml/8.4 fl. oz.), which the latter you could get for FREE for a limited time. In addition to the lotion, you can also get a FREE TOTE until Dec. 4th or while supplies last in store and online.
Stella Maxwell is the beautiful face behind this campaign.
Watch her video below, courtesy of Victoria’s Secret.
For those who know me well a have a slight obsession with Paris and anything Parisian. Remember my 25th Birthday Celebration? I also love Victoria’s Secret and anything VS. So of course there is no doubt that I had to absolutely get it. I went to the newly opened VS at Kamakana Ali’i in Kapolei, used my $15 Angel Rewards Card and went home a very happy & fulfilled shopaholic-on-a-budget. 😉
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will air Monday Dec. 5, 10/9c on CBS
Photo of angels and performers below courtesy of @VictoriasSecret I wish I was there!!!
This past weekend we attended the much anticipated Amazing Hawaii Comic Con. There were a lot of blunders and disorganization expected from a “first-time” event being held here in Hawaii, but I won’t get into that. It was a fun experience overall, and I will do it again next year, although we probably won’t invest in their so-called “VIP Package”, because it did nothing for us. Again, I will not go over that.
This post is about the making, or cloning should I say, of the character that I chose to dress up as, the superhuman, supersexy assassin X23.
Close enough, I guess. This is my version, as this is the most undressed I will ever get in public. I wore a pair of high-waisted (versus X23’s low-waist style) vegan leather leggings from Daily Look. I paired it with a lace bralette from Victoria’s Secret,as I wanted to add a touch of femininity to it. Lace & leather ;). The combat boots were bought last minute our nearest Target, the belt buckle accents gave the outfit a she-is-going-to-squash-you look. Yup, she’s wearing lace, but X23 means business. The black “choker” was actually bra straps I took from one of my VS multi-way bras. It proved itself to be very multiway, alright. Hook and adjust was all it took. The gloves were from six Halloweens ago when I dressed up as glamour Barbie. I remember it went well with the hot pink party dress and blonde wig, and mile-high heels. Thanks, Barbie. The belt was not really a belt, but a removable strap from a weekender bag I got from VS a very long time ago. Last but not least, her claws….Just like her backstory, X23’s claws came from Wolverine as well. Scored an official Wolverine Claw toy from Amazon. Made of styrofoam, it was very easy to just chop that middle claw, since X23 only has two claws per hand, not three. I was missing her pendant and the X logo for the belt. Regardless cosplayers and attendees recognized who she was.
Surprisingly, X23 was noticed more that I thought she would have. There were so many photo opps requested from all ages, there were even little girls who swears she is their favorite character.
The best comment ever was, “You look so cool. You are like a Disney Princess that kills people!.”
Absolutely loved it!!!
This is my favorite candid with one of her fans… (Thank you Natalie Millon & PhotoLuxe for your pictures!)
As X23 I also had the opportunity to meet a talented and amazing local artist, Lynne Yoshii, who did such a commendable thing that I admired so much. I became a fan in an instant! X23 has not reached the same success in pop culture or in the theaters as other X-Men women characters like Rogue, Storm, Mystique or Jean Gray (just to name a few). Her following consists of die hard fans or readers of the X-Men / Wolverine series, so I was not expecting a lot of commercial products at the con featuring X23 that I could purchase as a memorabilia. I searched anyway. When I was about to give up, I came across Lynne’s booth and browsed through her portfolio. Then a few pages in, I saw a stunning sketch of X23. I immediately wanted to purchase it, only to be told that she was sold out and that was not for sale because she needed it for her portfolio. I was so sad since this was the only X23 that I saw throughout the whole weekend. Lynne then offers to give me a “misprint” version of the artprint because they had some issues with the printer on the upper part of the page. Totally not noticeable at all. She did not want my money. I accepted the “misprint” with a gigantic smile on my face. I was sooo enamored with the artprint, Lynne’s quality of work, and her quality of customer service. I will never forget what you did for me Lynne. You created a raving fan, who will always share this story. I will treasure your artwork forever.
Please visit Lynne’s website to see her stunning work of art:
Frolic Hawaii also posted our group photo in front of the Amazing Hawaii Comic Con Red Carpet, featuring X23, Levi Ackerman from Attack on Titan (Bronson), Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul (Marlon) and Kikyo from Inuyasha (Kelsie).
Lastly, for for my cosplayers who are inspired to be X23 in the next Comic Con or Halloween, I created an outfit inspiration board for you, as well as some links on where to get the pieces.
Love, Honey 
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