Summer Florals for Him and for Her

Spring just went by so quickly and I cannot believe Summer is here to stay. Have you made your summer plans yet? We have gotten a lot of vintage Hawaiiana for the season (and some new), both for men and women and some other florals. They come in majestic colors.

Whether or not you are going to the Hamptons, the Cape, Fire Island, South Beach or even your neighborhood cookout, we have something for everyone. Please check some of recent finds at our online store.

Here are a few:

Vintage 80s Raul Blanco Peplum Dress with shoulder pads to match and is made of 100% Silk:

Anna Sui Sleeveless Summer Cocktail Dress with Sash and Metallic Details:

Trina Turk Maxi Skirt with Floral Prints:

We also have cocktail dresses from Bebe to Catherine Malandrino, color block skirts by Armani to faux silk patterns by Jason Wu for Target; and MuMus from the island. And even a few accessories and shoes: Habanera wedges by Richard Tyler, open toe sling backs from Miss Sixty and vintage Tom Ford for Gucci sandals. We think we got your covered.

Or if you are shopping for that boyfriend or husband who only loves to wear one-of-a-kind, we also have True Vintage Hawaiiana from the Islands.

If not vintage, why not a contemporary Floral Shirt from Paul & Joe, Paris.  Simple, chic, and priced to go:

The best is the price--a fraction of the retail. So why spend a fortune when you can save a few buckaroos. Your friends would be proud of you for being green. Re-cycle, Re-use, and Re-purpose. And thanks for supporting small businesses online.

Well, Hello Dolly!!!!

We gave in...Peter and I totally did.

We missed our little Ikumi so much and we have not filedl that void since she passed away a month ago. Life is different at home without our curious bundle of love and joy. Yesterday, we decided to go and visit our local shelters to check out prospective pets. First, we went to the San Francisco SPCA, a huge shelter on Portrero Hill in San Francisco. We saw dozens of dogs coming in and out with their volunteer handlers and suddenly we missed holding that leash in our hands.  When they finally opened to the public, we were amazed by how clean and orderly the kennels (actually little private rooms) with dogs depending on size and temperament are. We saw different breeds and mutts, small chihuahuas to abandoned pit bulls.  It was a beautiful and at the same, sad, to note that these beautiful creatures have been abandoned by their owners. We tried to understand, be it by circumstance, a loss of job, a move to another city or state, a landlord not allowing a pet, etc.  We looked at all of them but there was no one in those roomfuls of creatures who really attracted us. Because the actual City shelter is not going to open until noon we decided to venture the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA.

We reached the Peninsula SPCA only to be told that their shelter has a new facility for adoption. It was only a few blocks away and it was a brand new clean building with lots of volunteers. Everyone is allowed to roam the corridors, to look at all the rooms where the dogs are situated, some sleeping some awake, and some being walked out or fed by a cadre of volunteers much like the SF SPCA.  We noticed that there seem to be a lot of chihuahuas around mixed with other mutts and breeds. We noticed a friendly little pug, a roomful of puppies and tons of huge dogs. Peter has always been fascinated by these little chihuahuas, and there are thousands of them available for new homes--even the two SPCAs have waived adoption fees on them. We looked at every one of these gorgeous animals and we made a decision to see if we can meet a couple of them. Peter was fixed to a cute little white bundle of white curly mutt with one eye (oh the poor thing! but she was cute) while my eyes were transfixed to its other roommate, a sad little brown bundle of hair on the floor. She definitely seem to be the least active among the four of them. A volunteer then took us to a private room, bright and clean and smells nothing of a shelter at all. This place is really spick and span!

First came my favorite brown bundle of cuteness. She was named Chewy (a Chewbacca look-alike if you are familiar with Star Wars) by the volunteers. We noticed her very sad face but when she was handed over to me, she did not hesitate a bit and became very familiar all of sudden.  We were told that she is a pure bred Brussels Griffon, over a year old, and found astray on the streets by a someone who knew about the SPCA. She has also been recently spayed (a SOP in every shelter) and micro-chipped. We were given a few minutes alone and we both held her separately.  Peter told me not to fall in love easily; I knew that will be the case.  We looked at You Tube videos of the breed and discovered some more information about them; but we know already that we are half-way to that final decision.  When the volunteer returned we knew we had to take Chewy home. While he was doing paperwork we decided to give her a new name and identity and went ladies names--Dalida, from a French diva, Raquel, Manon (I already had a Manon), Uta, more Belgian names, Florence, but we agreed it has to be an old ladies name. I can think only of Dolly Parton, so why not Parton, and why not Dolly?  So Dolly it is. Peter came up with Louise but I knew a Louise once (I digress) and compromised that it would be her middle name.

We were so happy and excited on the way home because we had our little Dolly with us.  We know Dolly is no replacement to our little Ikumi whom we will miss every day but we know that we have so much love to give, and why not give it to someone else most deserving--our little Dolly Louise GoodJuan. And from Doggie Heaven, Peter and I know that our little Ikumi is smiling at us.

Springtime for ____ and _____ (fill in the blanks)

Geez Louise. I have not posted since our Christmas tree was down, and that was way back when we celebrated the epiphany (in Catholic lingo, that is the time when the tree kings finally saw Baby Jesus, according to my mother), and I digress.

It is Springtime, the season when we can shed a few pounds leading to summer, the season to clean your closets and donate your shoes and clothes that you have not worn in six months to your favorite charity, the season to start weeding the yard and plant your favorite flora, if not, veggies.  It is also the season to visit the wonderful and breathtaking Yosemite National Park.  We had the chance last weekend via Peter's Aunt Glinda and Uncle Jim Goodwin, along with his parents Jeff and Trish.

We were lucky to enter the Yosemite Valley before the roaring crowd on a Friday afternoon, there were no lines of cars and there was plenty of parking. As a treat, we saw a few wildlife (tons of deer) and a lonely coyote 10 feet away from where we parked.  Although it was rather sad to see these creatures to beg for food from humans, it was still a treat to say the least.

We visited the famous Sequoia grove (where we hiked a short trail) and after that hike, I can proudly say that I have learned enough knowledge from Jim Goodwin who introduced me to the genuses of these living giants, compared them to the coastal redwoods, and learned about ice plants who were currently thriving in the grove.

After the grove, we went back to the valley and hiked through Mirror Lake. It was an awesome afternoon and it seemed that we managed the crowd of new tourists that have just gone in that afternoon.  There were lots of swimming holes where kids played and frolicked in the watchful eyes of the adults since the water is still somewhat moving in a rapid phase. Dogwoods were about the be in full bloom in about a week. The most gorgeous scenery were the reflection of the granite mountain tops on the water below. It was really a site to see.  That afternoon, we were treated by Jim for a drink at the famous Ahwahnee Hotel. It was a gorgeous log cabin type hotel with its old charm, majestic lawns, gorgeous lobby and a huge fireplace in the center. Sitting outside, we were all amazed the the surrounding Yosemite Falls (first photo above), Half Dome and Glacier Point.
That sure was a treat!

By next week we know that the crowd will be bigger, the lines will be longer, Curry Village will even be more packed with campers and day trippers, there will be longer lines of cars looking from the every entrance and will be fighting for that sacred parking spot, but the dogwoods will be in full bloom, the roaring falls will be even more majestic and the atmosphere and excitement will be seen to the face of every man, woman or child, young and old, who will journey to one of the most gorgeous place on planet earth.

Have a wonderful visit!