Lithuania and beyond – with only a backpack?

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Aunty

One of Aunty’s favorite daughters is off to Lithuania for an entrepreneur camp (all expenses paid except for getting there). After the 4 day camp, she plans to join groups that feed and house for labor during the day, and then backpack across Europe with a friend for a few months. A real adventure, almost like Bilbo Baggins without dragons and dwarfs.

Some tips from friends include ALWAYS saying “Bon jour” when entering a business in Paris, and bringing your own bandaids because they are terribly expensive in Europe ($10 for a small pack). Bring postcards from Hawaii to show off, since Hawaii is so foreign to foreigners and other tourists.

Make copies of your passport, credit cards, travel docs and give them to someone at home. Keep a copy in your luggage. If your documents get lost or stolen, you will be able to retrieve the information to show at the American Embassy.

Aunty’s own travel tips included what to pack, though being limited to a backpack made most of the items moot. Aunty does NOT plan to travel with only a backpack, and life in the senior lane requires comfort and leisure.

Here are Aunty’s travel packing tips copied and pasted:

Aunty is a late packer for flights – which is a very bad habit. Minutes before leaving the house for the airport finds me scrambling for last minute things to take, and I invariably forget something that I need, and thus have made a list of things to pack. Aunty’s carryon bag is always ready to go – just needing last minute additions like makeup, charging cords, address book, cereal, snack. Here’s Aunty’s packing list:

For the carryon bag

Toiletries such as toothbrush, small toothpaste, makeup, shower cap, deodorant, tweezers, nail file (small ones pass the TSA inspections).
A folding fan – just in case the terminal, airplane, room, etc. gets hot and stuffy – you will be glad you have this little portable tool. Aunty usually keeps a fan in her purse (Aunty has a big bag).
Makeup stuff, sunscreen, moisturizer, vaseline (if you get real dried up), eye drops,
Headsets (though Hawaiian Airlines and others do provide free headsets now, and you pay to watch on your own individual screen)
iPad, iPod or something to play with or read or do
Socks in case your feet get cold, jacket or scarf. Aunty brings a 45”x60” piece of rayon or polyester fabric to act as a blanket because sometimes the airline blankets feel and smell yucky. (note: Hawaiian Airlines now does not provide pillows and blankets so if you do get chilled on flights, bring something to keep warm.)
A set of plastic cutlery like knife and fork that comes packaged in bentos (in case you need eating utensils in the hotel), disposable chopsticks.
Instant coffee packs so you can have a fast cup of coffee with just a cup of hot water. Aunty packs either Nescafe that already comes with cream (from San Francisco), or some Vietnamese coffee packs (from Chinatown).
Small ziplock bag of cereal. A cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal is Aunty’s breakfast, every day, for the last 30 years. It makes for a very easy start of the day.
Jewelry and accessories that coordinate with outfits. Just bring what you will wear.
Rubber slippers – can be used to walk around in your hotel room or when going to the spa.
One set of undies – just in case your luggage gets lost, at least you have one clean one.
Folded up extra plastic bags. Aunty also has her “Tokyo” bag – a folded vinyl bag that can open up and act as an extra suitcase in case you bought so much stuff that you need another suitcase
Essentials: charging cords for phones, computers, iPads, cameras (Aunty sticks them in a zippered funky cosmetic case and when I keep it in my carryon bag even if empty so when I see it when packing, I remember to put all those essential cords in it before leaving.)
Address book, my little notebook of all my user names and passwords if I plan to use the computer, your laptop or iPad if you are like Aunty and have to log in and do computering.
1 empty water bottle with cover. After you pass TSA, you can then fill up your water bottle so you have water when you want on the plane. Sometimes the water bottle might “sweat”, so a bottle wrap might be a good idea to keep the bottle insulated.
Blow up things like pillows for the back, neck, etc. Whatever will make you comfy. Because they are blowup, they don’t take up a lot of space in your bag.
Snack for the plane – I love to take Manabu musubis – those perfectly salted rice balls are fantastic ambassadors of good will – I always bring extra to share with seat mates and/or the nice flight attendants on Hawaiian Air.
Maps of the place that you are going to. Having a compass also helps since the Mainland use directions such as north, south, east, west – unlike our Hawaiian directional navigations of mauka (mountain), makai (ocean), Ewa, Diamond Head.

In your purse (bring a big one)

Men might think that we women have bags that are too big, but we can be lifesavers with our big bags when the little needs come up. I usually empty out my regular handbag and pull out the stuff I usually use like my wallet (only take 1 or 2 credit cards that you will use), lipstick, cell phone, pens, business cards, pills, camera, bandaids, mad money (because when traveling we should be a bit mad and spend a bit foolishly, imo).
Your “drugs” such as medications, vitamins, etc. Aunty brings a plastic pill box with 7 days worth of compartments, each with my daily dose of Strontium, Super Food, and Intestinal Correctional Formula 1 (I know, I know, too much information…)
Reading glasses. If you have bifocal glasses, bring a pair of reading glasses to make movie viewing easier on the personal screens because of the angle of the screen otherwise you will have to lift your chin and watch – which is a drag, or you can wear your bifocals upside down and look weird.
Aspirin/Advil, whatever you think you will need just in case.
Li Hing Mui or ginger for air sickness and also because it tastes good. Chewing gum and hard candy are good too.
Sunglasses, watch, voice recorder (in case you have a great idea or a memo to remember), notebook, pen.

For your Checked in baggage

1 set of clothes per day or event, pack fewer bottoms than tops and try to coordinate so they mix and match. If Aunty packs too lightly – then Aunty has a good excuse to go shopping for clothes at our destination (poor Aunty, lol!)
Undies – tops and bottoms.
1 bathing suit if you plan to go to the spa and enjoy the jacuzzi/steam room/etc.
A hat for protection from the sun. Uncle likes to wear a baseball cap on the airplane – keeps his eyes shaded and protected from the air flow from the vents.
Sleeping and/or comfortable clothes while in hotel room (Aunty must admit this is what I always forget.) I call these my bodobodo clothes that I normally wear around the house.
Shoes and extra socks – make sure you bring comfortable practical shoes or sandals
A bottle of unopened water, wrapped in a towel and sealed in a plastic bag. This is for the first day at the hotel before you get to a store to buy water – otherwise you will probably pay for the hotel room bottle of water which is rather pricey.
Your gifts from Hawaii to the people you will visit. Aunty always packs little treats from Hawaii to give to the hotel desk clerk, taxi driver, maid. It makes them happy and that is always good karma. Mele Macs by Island Princess are round balls of exquisite delight and always welcome. Remember to take these out and put in your bag after retrieving your luggage from the carousel so it is ready to give from the start.
Garlic pepper dried ahi poke from Yama’s, pulehu tako, pipikaula, poi, pancake taro mix. Never go empty handed when visiting – that is one local rule. Aunty uses ice packs to keep the perishables cold (frozen poi also acts as an ice pack) and wraps the entire bag in newspapers, or paper bags, then in plastic (or cooler bag) and puts it in a corner in the suitcase. The baggage area of the plane gets super cold during the flight, like being in a refrigerator, and so your food arrives safe and still chilled.
Aunty just learned another great tip for keeping things such as flower leis cool if carrying them on the plane – instead of using cold packs (which might be disallowed) – use bags of frozen vegetables! Mahalo to Sly of Le Flowers on King Street for that great and useful tip!

Here is what Aunty does to make sure her stuff doesn’t get smashed or banged up in the suitcase. Put one of those cardboard crates that Costco has for packing our purchases at the checkout into your suitcase. Get a box that fits the depth of the suitcase as high as possible and still be able to zip the case closed. This will really strengthen the walls of the suitcase. Aunty has brought back cookies from Trader Joes intact and unsmashed because they go right next to the box walls and the middle is packed with the less fragile stuff such as clothing, shoes, etc.

Summer sun great for laundry tip

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Aunty

linens Since it has been so terribly hot and sunny recently, Aunty has been laying out linens, hankies, furoshikis (squares that are used to tie up parcels and gifts), unlined tote bags, and whatever other natural fiber item that are stained or discolored on the front lawn and having the intense sun bleach the stains away. It works like magic.

Mrs. Orpha Herrick was a favorite college professor. Not only did she teach a great course, she also was a class act in every way. I learned her trick and have used it often with great success.

To remove the yellow spots and discolorations from linens and cottons (natural fibers), spread the item on the grass in the sun, and water the fabric evenly. As the sun starts to dry the items, wet again.

spots on linen, sometimes called “rust spots” brown spots on nice linen doily

Do this several times during the day until the stains disappear, and your linens and cottons look whiter than they ever did!

Ta daaaahh! Sun bleached beautiful clean linens!

If it is windy, use clean rocks or weights to hold down corners. Remove from the grass before the sun goes down and lay out again the next morning if the stains need more time to disappear. Handle only when dry. Keep your dogs off unless you want dog paw prints as a pattern – Aunty learned this the hard way. Paw print are not removable with this method.

Crocheted doilies and cloths are great candidates for this method since they do not wash well. However, the dyes that are used in the natural looking crochet threads do tend to also bleach out, so a brownish ecru piece will lose its brown-ness and become almost white.

Aunty was on TV!

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Aunty

It was a really good show at the Hawaii All-Collectors Show this Sunday. Collectors are really special and nice people and it is so fun to walk around, talk story, and see people so happy to find their own special treasures and deals. One customer said it was like Christmas for him!

KITV 4 was walking around, and interviewed Aunty – how cool was that!

Here’s the link, Aunty is so thrilled!

Old lady bike

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Aunty

Townie Aunty

Aunty is no longer young. But she can still ride a bike. And now, beginning her golden years, she wanted to have a good bike with all the bells, whistles and specs that fit her short, flat butted senior body. A folding bike seemed like a very usable and adaptable choice, and so, the search was on.

First potential

Giant Expressway2 McCully Bike $560

Initial stop was the old standard – McCully Bike on King Street. It was overwhelming to see rows of bicycles, all of them looking huge and youthful. The friendliest looking bike was a folding bike (!) – Giant Expressway2. It was also the smallest adult bike.

Aunty loved its look. Cute and sassy. It had 20″ wheels, 7 speeds (which wasn’t important), handle bars were adjustable in height and the seat could be lowered to Aunty’s short size.

Trying to be cool, Aunty swung her left leg over the low center bar (21.5″) and almost died as her non stretch skirt failed to give enough slack for the up and over leg. Pride and determination won out, and Aunty barely escaped crash mounting in the store by jumping into the seat and luckily finding her balance. A test drive down 4′ of crowded aisle was excruciating because of the stiff little seat of torture. How do people ride on those? A week later, Aunty’s tailbone was still feeling abused from the seat and her near mishap.

The Expressway2 was pricey at $560 before tax, a nice cushy seat would cost about $50 more, and a basket would be another additional expense.

Plethora of potential

Dahon Speed Uno $402.96 Amazon

After a google search of “folding bikes” and reviews, Aunty focused in on the Dahon Speed Uno because it had some good reviews and it was simple, simple, simple, like the bikes from Aunty’s hanabata days in Palolo Valley. One speed, pedal brakes. No wires and levers on handle bars. Lightweight and foldable, though a bit macho and sparse looking.

This was one of the lightest folding bikes – 24lbs. Small and tough looking.

NYCEwheels.com has a video review of the Dahon Speed Uno. The reviewer, Dave, is a very tall man and Aunty was trying to see if that horizontal bar between the handle and seat was low enough for Aunty to throw her leg over without getting embarrassed and eating it on the asphalt. In the video, the bar barely met the mid part of his lower leg, so maybe it was nice and low, or maybe he was a giant and double the height of Aunty. Dave rode with ease, whipping through U-turns and stopping on a dime.

This bike is bare bones and cool. No fenders, no basket – just bike, fun and simple.

Schwinn

Schwinn 20″ Loop $247.86 on Amazon

One of the top rated folding bikes on Amazon was the Schwinn 20″ folding Loop Bike. It is 32 lbs, heavier than the Dahon Speed Uno, with shifts and cables for its 7 speed and handle bar brakes.

Notice how the frame dips low? This is called a step-through because one can easily step through the frame to get on. Nice feature for Aunty and her skirts. The back rack is part of the frame, handy for cargo or a basket or purse.

Searching “folding bikes” on Amazon will pull this Schwinn up first, but not too many websites even mentioned the Schwinn as a top 10 contender. Still, it is small and cute, has some nice standard features such as front and rear plastic fenders and the rear rack. It comes in several color choices, and it has the Schwinn brand name, which used to mean something in the old days. Free shipping on Amazon makes this a contender.

Brits have it

More google searching for “best folding bikes” opened up several great reviews, but most of them were British and European models, too pricey and shipping to Hawaii was not an option, or if shipping was an option, it would cost an arm and a leg.

“Best bikes for seniors”

Another google search for bikes for seniors was pretty interesting, but not many caught Aunty’s eye since the Dahon Speed Uno was flirting as the numero uno in Aunty’s head. A helpful website is boomerinas.com with an article about bikes for boomer women. She suggested searching “old lady bikes”, so Aunty did. One of the best articles was a 2009 one from AARP about terminology and choosing a bike. Aunty advises potential bike buyers to check out this great article.

Citizen

Citizen Bike’s Barcelona
$399 plus shipping

Reading through many online reviews took Aunty to the website of Citizen Bikes. O. M. G…. Talk about pretty! The Barcelona folding bike in the champagne color was SO beautiful! It looked like something that Katherine Hepburn would ride. Options include a nifty wicker basket in the front mounted just above the front wheels, classy looking 2-tone seats, a bell ringer, and even a mount for smart phones (though how smart is it to use your smart phone while biking).

The rear rack and fenders were standard. Shipping from Florida to Hawaii was $152 via USPS – yikes! Florida is a continent and ocean away. Customer service closed early – 4:00 EST. Total cost with shipping, nifty basket and a 2-tone comfy seat was just under $600. This needed some serious back pedaling of thought. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) the only color in stock was black, not this yummy ivory color. Katherine Hepburn would insist on the ivory because black would not suit her style. Aunty only wanted ivory.

Cheapo option

Stowaway 20″ 6 speed Amazon $149.99

What is most difficult is not being able to actually sit on a bike and take it for a spin. How many people would buy a car without a test drive? Of course, the difference in price of thousands of dollars for a car vs. hundreds of dollars for a bike makes it 100 times less critical, or that’s what Aunty tells herself.

One cheapo (Aunty needs to learn to say “economical”) folding bike is the Stowaway 20″ 6 speed folding bike. It actually looks decent with a back rack, slightly lowered middle bar and pretty silver color. It comes with fenders that have dents in it (?) and weighs 38 lbs. Zooming in on the pictures on Amazon showed rather messy welding.

Reviews about this bike are mixed on Amazon – some have no problems and love it, some encountered problems with poor customer service and quality. Aunty was leery of speed shifting on bikes and this bike might not fit Aunty’s cup of tea because of the lack of hand holding support. Still, it was ~~cheapo~~ economical with free (!) shipping.

Changing strategy

A folding bike was a top priority because of the cool factor as well as being able to fold it up and take it almost anywhere one would take a really big rather heavy contraption. They tended to be lighter and smaller than non-folding bikes, but many of the negative reviews on Amazon about ANY bike was damage during shipment, missed parts, etc. Some companies required a qualified bike shop to put it together once the disassembled bike arrived.

Hmmm. Aunty decided to check out more local bike shops to see what could be bought already put together.

Ebikes Hawaii

A2b folding electric bike, prices vary

John and Roy Cho are a father and son team running 2 stores (Kapahulu and Hickam AFB), specializing in electric bikes. Aunty went to the Kapahulu store on Campbell Avenue, a couple of blocks from Rainbow’s Drive Inn and close to Zippy’s.

Son Roy showed Aunty some nifty looking folding electric bikes. These run quiet and work on an assist mode combined with pedaling for easy power. They are a bit expensive from around $800, but you pay for what you get.

One kinda neat option is being able to rent an electric bike for a day for $40-50, which a lot of tourists do. Aunty was tempted, but not quite ready to hop on one of these bikes, especially since her tailbone was still aching from her first try out attempt at McCully Bike.

Customer service at Ebikes Hawaii is excellent. Son Roy is super nice, no pressure, and treated Aunty with gentle respect. Maybe Aunty will be back one of these days when taking on hills becomes part of Aunty’s bike riding experience.

Aunty’s search continued, venturing into the possibilities of non-folding bikes that are comfortable, pretty, and easy.

Trek Bikes

Trek Pure S Lowstep $419 list

The Pure S Trek Bike was one found online that was single speed, pedal brakes, and step-through chassis. Trek is a good bike brand with a nice website. They are sold in Hawaii, at the BikeFactory on the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Cooke Street. Aunty had to go.

Terrifically, the BikeFactory has lots and lots of bikes! Salesman/expert Tyler really knew his bikes and was a patient guide to a wishy washy yet determined Aunty. He pulled down a Trek bike that looked huge. It was not a Pure S Lowstep, which he said was a slightly recumbent bike, meaning the seat was behind the pedals rather than right above them. It was not a folding bike. Aunty didn’t like it and looked at other bikes in the bike crowded store.

Dahon Boardwalk

Dahon folding Boardwalk $349 at the BikeFactory

Ooooh! The BikeFactory had Dahon bikes! They had the Dahon Boardwalk, a less expensive model than the Speed Uno, and was complete with hand brakes, fenders, and a rack! It was really spiffy looking, though a little heavier than the Speed Uno. Plus, it wasn’t as simple because it had the hand brake cable and lever, which Tyler said could be removed. It really was a cool looking bike and the seat could adjust really low to compensate for Aunty’s lack of height. Aunty liked it!

Excitedly, Aunty took it out in the parking lot out back, ready to ride. They say that once you know how to ride a bike, you never forget how. It’s true, but since it was almost 50 years since Aunty had ridden on a borrowed bike in Palolo Valley, it was like entering uncharted territory. The ride wasn’t as easy as hoped. It was stiff Aunty could only go straight, timidly. Turning was not going to happen with the rather skinny front end and shaky ride. Aunty felt like a chicken.

The Dahon Speed Uno suddenly was not an option anymore based on Aunty’s test drive of the Dahon Boardwalk. Dave, the New York bike reviewer of the Speed Uno was a biking pro whipping along with confidence – and Aunty was not.

The Townie 3i by Electra in Champagne Pearl

Electra Townie 3i $549

Tyler knew just what Aunty needed. The Electra Townie. Just the name of it was delicious. The color was delicious. It was not a folding bike, but a one piece low step through and rather light because of its aluminum frame. The seat goes way down for shorties. It was a 3 speed bike, 20″ wheels with both pedal and hand brakes.

Aunty took it for a spin out back. It felt much more stable than the Dahon. Aunty almost completed a U turn going at snail speed, the seat was surprisingly comfy, and the hand brake had a mean bite which took a bit of getting used to.

This was an old lady bike that Aunty felt good about. It was also one that Aunty could feel proud to ride around the neighborhood. A rear rack was added ($49), the bike was given an all points checkout, registration paper signed, and Aunty was ready for the road!

*Update: It has been a week since Aunty got her new wheels. Every day when there are hardly any cars on the road, Aunty would pedal down the block, going just a little further each day, making a U turn without stopping, and then pedal back home. At this rate, it may take a long time before Aunty is ready for the main road and a trip to the post office, bank, or mall – but that is the goal. It will take some time getting comfortable with riding on the edge of the roads and sharing it with cars – but it will happen.

When you are driving, please be nice to bike riders.

If you do see Aunty perched on her bike with her hat banded hair streaming in the wind and cruising along, please don’t honk. Aunty might fall off.

Easy way to stick pictures on your walls

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Aunty

Aunty was decluttering and just had to rip out this page from the June issue of Martha Stewart Living. SUCH a nifty idea for hanging temporary art on the wall, with painter’s tape!

Easy on, easy off, comes in all kinds of colors. Mahalo, Martha!

Get your cheap money while you can!

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Aunty

Soren Kierkegaard 1813-1855

One of Aunty’s favorite quotes is: Life can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forwards. (Soren Kierkegaard)

To wit, there are moments in history that come upon us as surprises, but after they occur, we get a different perspective looking back and thus realize that the outcomes were predictable because of what happened prior to.

The crash of 2008

A good example of this was what led to the housing crash in 2008. Real estate earlier was booming because everyone and anyone could qualify for mortgages. Daughter #1 bought her first house in Las Vegas with very little down, and she didn’t even have a real job yet! Prices of homes crept up and up and it seemed as if anyone who wasn’t buying as soon as possible was a dummy.

This was the era of subprime lending. It was too much, too fast, and too easy.

When the party ended, banks, homeowners, and communities were smashed. It was devastating, and bankruptcies were at record highs. During the peak, it was difficult to see that this housing bubble would burst, but once it did, it seemed inevitable.

From the rubble

In Michael Moore’s 2009 movie, “Capitalism, a Love Story”, investors who swooped in and scooped up properties that had suddenly lost more than half its former value were called vultures. Vultures were evil and vile, predators of poor victims on hard times. Uncle and Aunty went to see the movie and felt perplexed after the show – we were investors, not vultures.

We bought short sales, and rented back to the former owners. We bought bank foreclosures, helping to keep communities stable. We were careful and did not over extend ourselves. We invested using Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad principles.

Slowly, the market began to stabilize and improve. Looking back, an innovative and vibrant place like Las Vegas would survive, people always need a place to live in, and houses were of good quality selling for less than the cost to build. We unknowingly bought at the best time.

And now – Short window of opportunity

We just completed our home refinance – Hallelujah, happy dance, happy dance! It was grueling for Aunty because of our rather complex situation, but it was worth every paper scan and search now that it is complete. Our monthly expense for our mortgage is now much less than before. In Aunty’s opinion, the best deal in town are low mortgage interest rates – and they are not going to last much longer.

Can rates get lower? Very doubtful. Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank has been hinting about raising rates because our economy is improving.

Is our economy improving? Aunty thinks so. There are more new cars on the road now, more old furniture on the streets, meaning people are buying new things again.

Will rates go higher? Let’s see – hints by the person in control of rate hikes (Janet Yellen), people spending money again, housing prices climbing, job markets improving = good indicators that money will become more expensive via higher interest rates soon. [Aunty gets daily mortgage rate updates and interesting tidbits from paul.tamashiro@guaranteedrate.com. Email Paul if you also want to get daily updates. No pressure, just a very nice person.]

However, time is of the essence, and lenders are very strict.

Aunty and Noreen Ho (808) 398-8528

Not to despair, Noreen Ho to the rescue!

Aunty loves banks and bankers. Unfortunately, they don’t love Aunty. Remember the bank that says “yes?” Too many times, they checked out Aunty and say “no.” So rude.

It is because bankers must follow bank rules and are paid by salary. They can only offer you their own bank’s programs and cannot go shopping for you. Their number one bread and butter is their employer.

Mortgage brokers are free agents and are paid by commission. Their number one bread and butter is you, so if one lender says no, they will shop until they find one that wants you.

Noreen found us Provident Lending because they had the best rates, and a credit instead of points to pay! Aunty will tell you the truth, though. They are TOUGH and strict. However, once everything was in order, Noreen arranged the easy closing with Kevin of First American Title Company.

Noreen is THE best mortgage broker we have ever had the pleasure of using. We first met her because she was also a traveling notary public when we bought properties in Las Vegas and needed to sign docs. She is professional and also very nice. She really listens to what her client wants and will bend over backwards to get the job done. (She also looks MUCH better than this picture.)

Borrow to save, save to invest, invest to cash flow

Aunty should be retiring soon. Retired people will not qualify for mortgage loans because they do not have active income from paychecks. So…. refinance before you retire. If you are young and working, buy your parents’ home from them and then rent it out to them. Or, find an investment partner – they put in the down payment, you get the loan – profits and/or cash flow are split equitably.

You may think that it doesn’t make sense to have more, or extend more debt, but this is one of those look-back opportunities as interest rates begin to climb again. You will be glad you have a long term mortgage at historically low rates.

Loans are on sale but your banks are limiting supply. If you want to have the best mortgage broker working for you, please give Noreen Ho at Savvy Realty and Loans a call. (808) 398-8528. Tell her Aunty sent you and maybe we can all go to lunch together one of these days.

Graduation party favors

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Aunty

caps 3 Aunty was stuck while cleaning up. Some things were hard to throw out or give away.

One of these things was this cute party favor from a graduation party that we went to a few years ago. It was such a good idea, very simple, very graduation-y, and so it was kept in order to share the idea with some mother putting on a party for her child’s graduation one of these days.

It is made with disposable plastic dixie cups with lids. Squares of colored cardstock are attached to the lid with round head paper fasteners with miniature tassels. The cups are filled with mints or candy. When the lids are attached, they look like cute little graduation caps!

Hope y’all can use this. Aunty is SO glad to post this because now it can finally be tossed out and the concept is saved. One down in the clean up, many more to go.

Congratulations to all the graduates out there! caps 1

caps 2

Real Estate Lesson from Uncle the Fisherman

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Aunty

Recently, the house next door to us was for sale. Aunty wanted it. Wanted it bad. We put in an offer that was higher than asking price with generous concessions and a very big mortgage. With some rehabbing and modifications, this house could be rented out with a little bit of a positive income.

The owners decided to go with another offer and sent us a counteroffer which they would use as backup. Aunty was devastated and feeling desperate. “Call the agent! What will it take to get the house?! Do it now!”

That night was one of anxiety and frustration, and great disappointment.

In the morning, Uncle’s picture of his oio catch many years ago (before we got married) was propped in front of Aunty while eating her typical breakfast of Honey Bunches of Oats and coffee. This was a favorite picture. In it, you could see the joy of the catch in Uncle’s whole being.

The ones that got away

Uncle loved the ocean. In his younger days, he would surf, surf, and surf. Later, he would surf less and fish, fish, and fish, always from shore since he didn’t like fishing on boats.

Most of the time, he wouldn’t catch a thing. Sometimes he would catch a great haul, sometimes a little haul.

However, the ones that gave him the greatest pleasure were the big ones that took his line out and got away. These, according to Uncle, were HUGE (and they got bigger with each telling).

Opposites attract

Uncle was always very thoughtful in his decisions. Aunty usually does not think and would let emotion and instinct rule. We were quite the opposites and perfect for each other. Aunty would jump, Uncle would hold the bungee cord.

Owning the house next to us would have been great (JUMP), and it would also be a big financial burden with potential cash flow (BUNGEE).

Lesson from the fisherman

fish! While gazing at Uncle’s picture, a realization dawned on Aunty. Not getting the house next door was like the big fish that got away. It was okay. Maybe even, better than okay.

In the morning light, looking at Uncle’s broad smile, peace and acceptance washed over the disappointment of losing the house. It was time to cut the line and enjoy the process.

There will be always be other opportunities. Sometimes you catch a good one, sometimes not.

As for the big ones that got away – just keep on fishing for an even better one.

September 2015 update: TWO more really great properties came up on the market – one was THE picture postcard from Aunty’s google page – beachpark frontage with grassy lot and busted up old house with a little lanai on the beach side that could take all of your cares away. Another one on a special street in Kaimuki with an old cute house in a killer location and HUGE pirie mango tree on a level lot that would have been perfect as Aunty gets older. But alas, they also got away.

: Like a heaven on earth postcard

: A really cute classic on level lot

How did Princess Pupule pick plenty papayas?

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Aunty

picking papayas Fellow blogger Kay posts on an almost daily basis about her life, travels, trials and tribulations. One of Kay’s recent posts was about her husband’s $20 fruit picker. Aunty commented on it and wanted to share pictures of the one she bought from Koolau Farmers. It was pricey – at $33. However, after trying the standard fruit pickers and bruising adjacent-to-the-ripe papayas, Aunty caved in and got the Koolau special picker in lime green.

It is a simple tool, perhaps something that could be made at home, but Aunty felt that it wanted to be bought and, most importantly, it works wonderfully!

The attached bottom wooden block has a screw in thingee to accommodate telescoping poles, mop handles, etc. A galvanized metal strip is riveted on the side of the can with a forked end to cut the fruit stems close to the tree.

Our prolific papaya tree is a bit strange. It has no seeds, and 3 papayas grow off of one stalk, so it has been quite challenging to pick as the tree got taller and taller. We have no clue where or how the tree started, but the fruit is smooth, fleshy and sweet like solo papayas. The tree is a keeper and getting taller and taller.

Aunty’s neck gets kinda sore looking up while aiming the forked strip just under the stalk but, once in place, an upward motion with the pole slices the appendage cleanly and the papayas tumble into the can. Easy peasy!

Here’s a tip for creative cooks out there: Add cubes of green papaya to stews, curries, soups, and stir fry instead of potatoes. The texture is wonderful. I bet if Princess Pupule knew to cook with papaya, she wouldn’t be giving them away.

Super quick and easy hair coloring trick

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Aunty

Aunty met Pam Chambers at a Patsy Mink Center for Business and Leadership event, the first of 4 Personal Pathways at the Richards Street YWCA. Pam’s subject was about business etiquette. It was terrific! Aunty plans to sign up for at least 2 more in the series, the next one will teach Aunty how to be intriguing…. (auwe, Aunty can’t go – too busy putting in a kitchen. Maybe Aunty will wear sunglasses during construction – doesn’t that sound intriguing?)

One of the tips that Pam gave was to arrive 30 minutes before an event to network and meet with 1) the most important person in the room, 2) the most intimidating person in the room, and 3) the most interesting (or cutest) person in the room.

After Pam’s excellent presentation ended, Aunty wanted to meet 1) the most important person in the room – Pam Chambers. It took awhile to get to where she was, and it looked like she was ready to leave, surrounded by her fans and friends. So Aunty wriggled in and as she ended a story about accepting and enjoying her silver grey hair, Aunty piped in, “Me too!”

One of the woman there pointed out what her hair looks like before she goes to see her hairdresser, the clash of new growth and old color. Aunty shared her tip about fast color, passed out her HonoluluAunty.com business cards, and promised an update on her blog, and here it is.

Aunty fighting grey

It is a pain to color hair roots. Unfortunately it is a necessary chore because it looks terrible when the white new growth shows in stark contrast to the old colored parts, kinda like a skunk stripe. About once a month, the tedious task of applying color with gloves, waiting, rinsing, and conditioning would be done.

One day, Aunty started thinking of how to fix her part of white in her sea of dark hair because she had to go out and did not have the time or energy to color her roots. Aunty went into her craft room and grabbed a stamp pad of brownish copper since it was close to Aunty’s current hair color dye.

With gentle strokes of the pad, being careful not to get the color on skin, grey hair began to disappear like brushstrokes.

It worked!

This is a great temporary fix – not perfect but great for a one night stand when you really need to look like your hair is one color instead of in need of a trip to L’Oreal.

Tacky with room for improvement

Aunty used ColorBox chalks in the video below. The shape of the stamp pad is easy to hold and apply with precision. It wipes/washes out easily with water but feels a bit sticky and tacky with a tendency to rub off so use sparingly and wipe away when you get home to prevent rubbing color where you do not want (i.e. your pillow case). Do not use permanent ink stamp pads – those are not good on your skin or hair.

Aunty will do a bit more research on other types of stamp inks and types later when time allows a trip to our local Ben Franklin craft store. If you have success or disaster with other brands, please leave a comment below so others can learn and share.

And now, for the ladies at the YWCA, Here’s Aunty!