Valerie Joseph and Aunty

Today was a totally full day.  Pal Wandaful picked up Aunty and off we went to Ji’s Skincare over in Aiea for our tattooed eyeliner touch ups (will post about that another time), then over to Aiea Bowl for their delicious oxtail soup with amazing homemade ponzu sauce.

We visited Wanda’s handsome sons for some kalamunggay branches (will post about the wonders of the kalamunggay another time), and then headed off to Ward Centre for rubbish cans.  Really smart and sharp looking rubbish cans from Bed Bath and Beyond that Aunty learned about from Kay of Musings.  The nice salesclerk helped us sign up for text messages so that we received our 20% off coupons right then and there.  This will be a big improvement in the kitchen – having a rubbish can that matches the refrigerator and hides the trash with a lid that opens and closes with a foot pedal.

Wanda is very good at helping Aunty spend money, so we checked out POSHd, a newly opened shop of Valerie Joseph next door to Bed Bath and Beyond.  At first glance, it looked like it was just for hip young people in the small cute shop with a cheery French atmosphere.  The owner, Valerie, greeted us warmly and made us feel welcome and  comfortable.  A rack of interesting clothes caught our eyes – it almost looked like Issey Miyake (Aunty’s FAVorite designer) but at 1/8th the price and 1/2 the weight.  There were at least 3 pieces that Aunty really wanted, but settled on a pair of really funky jockey like pants that were just too delicious to pass on.  These were so reasonably priced, looked and felt fabulous on, so Aunty wore them out of the store.

Oooh, said Wanda, let’s check out that olive oil store.  Well Aunty is already in an olive oil club that delivers fresh oils every 3 months, but followed her into Island Olive Oil Company.  It looked like a brewery with kegs of oils and balsamic vinegar.  We sampled several – all were different and quite good.  Wanda shared how she would smash some strawberries, pour some of the flavored balsamic vinegar on to soak for an hour, then serve over ice cream.  Doesn’t that sound absolutely heavenly?  Aunty bought a bottle of the Blackberry Ginger balsamic vinegar.  Had to, right?

Oooh, said Wanda, let’s check out Jams World.  Almost everything in that store is brightly colored and patterned.  Pal Patricia would call it visual overload, and it was, until our newly tattooed eyes settled down and focused on some of the most wonderful bling bling necklaces that had us drooling.  Sharon was such a great salesclerk, Aunty ended up buying one that reminded her of Korean drama characters that overdressed with sparkles and glitz as their daily work wear.  Wanda bought a pair of Oofos in brown.  These are super soft high arched slippers that Aunty had bought with her magic socks at Shirokiya.

Thank goodness the day was almost over and we headed home with a carload of rubbish cans, kalamunggay branches, packages of merchandise (we had also stopped by Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx), and leftover oxtail soup.  Aunty was so pooped, dinner consisted of Lipton’s chicken noodle soup with cold rice dumped in.

It was a great day, we met so many nice people, and now Aunty’s going to sleep early.