Do you have a dog like this?

"today my mom stepped on my tail (it was an accident!) and i was so mad at her! i can't believe her! i was so mad i kept growling at her! then she went to work and when she came home i yelled at her cause she was gone so long. then she was so slow letting me go outside! happy and i ran around and yelled at more people. then my mom took so long letting me inside. i complained to her and then i got a greenie. later i jumped on my bed to watch tv. my dad came in and told me to get off but i don't care. i ignored him. for some reason, he thinks he can sleep in my space." Kimo

Beware Bad Sushi!!

More about our winter visit to Portland Oregon in January....wanted to post this to warn others and for me not to forget. Marineopolis Sushi Restaurant in the Pearl, (?on Davis) Nicole got hit with food poisoning soon after lunch. Mentioned to my cousin who lives across the river in Vancouver, WA and he and his family had the same bad experience last year! If you watch how the food is handled, it isn't up to par with good sushi restaurants. No gloves, everyone touching-and-or-making sushi. This should be restricted to only the sushi chef, who is trained in proper food handling hygiene.

Traveling in Winter (from Hawaii)

When you fly to the mainland, does your nose dry out, do your eyes get red, and hurt? You start coughing because your throat is dry? Even catch a cold every time you travel?

Traveling to the US Mainland from Hawaii, many of us need to make the adjustment to a climate with much less humidity. Our eyes and noses especially, suffer from drying air. Also the air in the plane cabin is very dry and re-circulated (no such thing as fresh air up there). Dry eyes and noses are perfect places for cold bacteria and viruses to enter your body. This is because the nasal passages dry out and can crack (slight nosebleeds?) and you rub your eyes because it feels itchy or gritty and your hands have touched so many surfaces; who knows what’s on there?

As a former business traveler, I had to arrive fresh and ready to work so I created this and also made myself as comfortable as possible for those 8 hours to Tokyo.

My cousin’s family hates traveling because they are so uncomfortable and always come home with a cold. They refuse to go on vacations that require air travel. Rather difficult to avoid air travel when you live in Hawaii. So, I made up a little kit for her.

The solution was given to me by a couple of Doctors:
Carry a small Prevention Kit with you on the plane.
Saline nasal spray, Bacitracin or Neosporin or any other clear antibiotic ointment, moisturizing eye drops (not allergy drops), lip balm, & optional soft foam ear plugs. All are available at any drugstore. If traveling as a family, each person should have their own for hygienic reasons.
How to use:
Use saline spray often throughout the flight. Keep your nose hydrated. Saline spray is not a decongestant and can be used as often as needed.
Same with eye drops; use often to keep your eyes hydrated. If your nose feels ticklish, use the eye drops, yes, the eye drops. You’ll feel a difference in your nose!
The lip balm also keeps you comfortable.
The ear plugs are use-as-needed. I love them because they shut out the plane’s engine noise and other cabin chatter. This allows me to read and listen to music in peace.

Upon arriving, leave this Kit on the nightstand in your room.
At night, before going to sleep, dab a bit of the antibiotic ointment into your nose. As it melts with your body heat, it will bathe your nasal passages and keep them moist. You will avoid the dry-nose irritation. Also keep a bottle of water near you, drink as needed. The heated room air is very dry.

Also, this kit is not just for the winter time. Air conditioned hotel rooms in the summer also cause dryness.

For additional comfort:
I have always traveled with a small cold vapor humidifier, on ski trips. It makes sleeping a lot easier and you don’t wake feeling like the Mojave desert.
The cold vapor is safe because it’s not heated so will not burn. Even the small travel size ones will run about 8 hours on a single fill.

Where to find a Humidifier in Hawaii? Not usually found in stores so plan ahead and check out QVC.com, Walmart.com, or websites catering to allergy suffers.

Happy traveling!

Dog Beauty Salon?

Have been thinking about taking my dog Kimo (poi) to be groomed. Always thought this was an indulgence of AKC show breeds. Well, much to my delight, and Kimo's enjoyment, Apple Puppy Dog Beauty Salon in Kaimuki was a great experience. Yuri and Sally are two young ladies with much experience in dog grooming.

It was my first experience too, and not knowing what to expect, I asked for them to show me what they do and how they groom. I left feeling comfortable and knowing Kimo would be in good hands.

He was washed, trimmed, nails clipped, glands expressed and tummy shaved--turning out a clean-cut, good looking dog. They do not rush or overbook and it was a quiet environment (except when Kimo found a friend to play with). So the 3 hours Kimo spent there was well-worth the very reasonable price.

Great location and parking lot! 1126 12th Ave. suite 201. 808-734-8282

A Hidden Day Spa with Super Kamaaina Rates

Ville de Coco, in the Luana Hotel at the edge of Waikiki. Don't let the thought of driving into Waikiki stop you, there is free parking in the building and it's at the edge of Waikiki, just across the statue of Kalakaua.
Coco's pedicure is like nothing I have ever experienced, even at fancy resort spas. Here attention to detail is apparent as soon as you walk in the door. It's not Hawaii, it's serene, quiet, soothing like I thought a spa should be. Soft music, candlelight enhance the sunlit entrance. Gentle water features calm and relax me at once. I'm greeted, seated and asked to choose from three aromatherapy scents; these will be used as a scrub and massage in the pedicure. I feel like a queen seated on a raised banquette with my feet in a specially designed bath. Then the magic begins. As Coco works on my feet (won't go into details of my toes) the stress drains from my body and I relax back into the comfy pillows and almost fall asleep thru the cleaning, massage, and painting. My friend goes for the bling-bling crystals on her toes! She has very lovely feet!

Coco is famed for her nail art--please watch the video in the reception area, it's amazing! Most of these styles, she has developed herself and won awards for creativity and technique. Best of all, you will be thrilled with the very reasonable Kamaaina rates. (pls tell them when making appointment, that you are a resident and heard about her from me). Coco is a stunning, tall Japanese lady who has built a fabulous spa that is hidden and still undiscovered....
http://www.villedecoco.com/
2045 Kalakaua Ave # M150
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 941-3732

Need a new hair style/stylist?

It's about updating, not fearing change. Asked a friend for a recommendation and was very pleased with the results. No, nothing radical, still rather conservative, but then this was the first visit.

K's Hair, owner, Kaoru Hanazawa is from Chiba, Japan and his technique is totally different than the familiar American style. From the reverse fitting drape/cape to the small towel to protect my face when washing my hair; I was not expecting this! Then he started cutting. We communicated in fractured English and Japanese but I left everything in his hands. He cut the silhouette edge of my wet hair with quick snips of his scissors; dried my hair and started snipping again. Having fought my super-straight Japanese paintbrush hair all my life, and trying to bend and shape waves and curls fruitlessly with hot irons and tragic perms, Kaoru told me I had natural curls--Not!? But lo and behold, as he dried my hair, bends and waves formed without aid of a brush or gel or mousse or anything!

The only product he used on my dried hair was a bit of Japanese hair cream. No, nothing greasy, just enough to scrunch and add a little tousle to my new cut. I guess Asian hair is different than Caucasian after all. wow! I am very happy and love the easy care, quick drying and no-work to this cut! Most of all I love the waves I thought I'd never have!
K's Hair Honolulu
McCully Shopping Center #202
808-951-6903
http://www.kshair.net/

For boutique shoppers--Honolulu

Honolulu has many malls that wear you down with miles of walking. Not being a mall shopper, I prefer small boutiques that reflect the personalities of their owners. Each has a unique selection and I don’t see any overlap.
That’s the fun part, if you see something you like, get it! Go visit and get to know them, the customer service is first rate and if you go on weekdays like I do, usually you’ll find the owner there. She knows her product and has a great eye for design, style and color. Fit questions? ASK! And try it on! May not look great on the hangar but it may on you. Trying on is free and please pick new and different colors to see how they look on you. You can always buy the black one, but experiment while you’re there. You gotta take your clothes off anyway, so try a few items you’d never normally choose. It’s how shopping should be.

Le Muse—on Monsarrat Ave. next to Waikiki School. In the little strip mall. Tell Lea I sent you.

Chelsea—in Manoa Marketplace. This lady is not afraid to bring in very unique and odd looking clothes. I even ask, “what is this?” Great ever-changing selection of casual to dressy. Best part; in back, there are always a couple of Sale racks with super markdowns. Try the Bamboo Ts, dresses and pants! You’ll never wear anything else again.

Lily Lotus—Mostly yoga focused clothing and accessories. But who said you couldn’t wear them everyday? Designed for comfort and also looks good. Located in Kaimuki on 12th Ave. between Waialae and Harding. Parking in pay lot.

Oogenesis—If you’re ever in Haleiwa, stop at this shop. It’s a huge mix of clothing and jewelry that will blow you away. Helga (owner) makes some wild and weird stuff and if you like irreverent styling, you’ll love her stuff!

There are many other shops in Chinatown and downtown that I never get to or even know about. Keep an eye out and go explore and share what you find!