Living Aloha

I recently ended a four month vacation and I'm not handling it well. I have spent time this week thinking back on my favorite vacations. I haven't thought about the scenery, the weather, or the people I've met but instead I'm trying to hone in on the feeling. I don't know how to describe it. I know when I've had it. I had it at the top of the Mount Healy Overlook in Denali, Alaska. I had it in a stretch of bamboo trees in Hawai'i. I had it in the middle of the Grand Canyon. I had it go-kart racing with a friend in Phoenix and whale watching with my family off the coast of Cape Cod. Whatever it is, I thought I needed to bottle it up so that I can draw on it when it feels like life is starting to beat me down.

Bamboo Trees in Hawai'i

I was going through some boxes looking for a book for my sister when I found a postcard that I was using as a bookmark. It was a Hawaiian license plate that said "LIVE ALOHA." All of a sudden, it clicked. I don't need to bottle up that vacation feeling, I just need to live it all the time. I need to "LIVE ALOHA." How do you even start to do that? Is this a real idea or is it just my own Eat, Pray, Love moment where I need to re-evaluate my life? I have had a job that I love. I know that I am good at it and that my work does make a difference in the lives of other people. I am proud of that, but somewhere along the way I lost myself in that job. My friend Adele and I once talked about how teaching is more than a job, it's a lifestyle. It has been my lifestyle for a decade. I have been this person who gives and gives and now I feel like I have nothing left to give. How do you begin to restore yourself? It is those wise words of the flight attendants ringing in my head, "Affix the mask on yourself before assisting others." I need a mask. I need something to change. 

My Wall Street friends will say that I'm being delusional and that I need to be real. I need a job with a retirement plan and health insurance. I need to buy a house and build some equity. I'm just not built like them. Those have never been the things I worry about. I worry about whether my life has a purpose. I was recently on a very bumpy flight from Phoenix to New York. It was so bumpy in fact that the two women next to me were holding hands and crying. There were gasps from the people in front and behind me. I felt insanely calm. It was out of my hands and if something were to happen, I didn't want my last moments to be fear. I wanted it to be peace. I thought about my life. I don't have any regrets. I have been a good daughter, sister and friend. I'm not perfect but my mistakes are my own. 

Enjoying my time in the Grand Canyon

Maybe traveling a lot automatically makes you more introspective, especially when you travel alone. You have a lot of time to think when you're lying in the hammock. I am at a point in my life now where my options are wide open. I can make decisions that will help me to "LIVE ALOHA." I don't want to be scared to make those decisions. Maybe my Aloha is in travel. Maybe I need to work and make enough money so I can travel and then work again and then travel again. Maybe that cycle is what I need now. Most of my friends are married and have started families. They talk about how life changes when you have children, priorities shift. If that isn't in the cards for me, I need to make that shift on my own. So, let it begin. Today is day one of Living Aloha. 

Blood Splatter Nails Tutorial

spotted here

Sounds delish right? But with Halloween right around the corner, what better way to get in the ghost and goblin spirit then with blood splattered nails! This gory, creepy, cool nail design is pretty easy to do and looks awesome when done the right way. But BEWARE: this project can get a little messy, so unless you want your table(or wherever you paint your nails) to look like a murder scene, make sure you cover the space completely with some paper towels.

What you will need:
-Paper towels
-Vaseline
-Nail polish (a base color and a red, your choice on the shade of blood)
-Top coat
-A straw


Step 1:
Paint your nails your base color. This could be white, black, or hey, maybe some glitter! Whatever you want your base color to be is completely up to you! (Let dry completely before moving on!)

Step 2:
Apply Vaseline around your nails. This will help to keep the nail polish from getting on your skin and will ultimately make your clean-up much easier. You should also make sure to lay paper towels down on the surface you are painting your nails because things are about to get messy!

Step 3:
Take your second color (red) and open it up. Dip a straw into the nail polish bottle. You don't need to stick the entire straw into the bottle of nail polish, just to where it hits the opening on the straw(but make sure the tip is really covered in polish!)

Step 4:
Place the end of the straw with the polish on it directly above your nail. (Note: the closer you put the straw to the nail the more color you're going to get, the farther away you are, the less color). This is something you will have to experiment with! Go slowly at first, and when you find the perfect amount of "blood" that you like, keep going!

Step 5:
Blow on the other end of the straw to create the splatter! Keep in mind that you will have to blow sort of hard in order for the polish to break free from the straw (no jokes please.)

Step 6:
Repeat the splatter steps (4 and 5) on the rest of your nails.

Step 7:
Let the blood splatter dry completely. Add your top coat and voila!

Now the clean up, as I said, is a little bit messier than most nail designs. It may take a little longer to wash the blood off your fingers (haha!), but try a 100% acetone remover with a q-tip and that should do the trick!

While this design may seem like a bit of a process, the steps are fairly easy and the outcome is an awesome manicure that will get you in the Halloween spirit!

5 Tips to Avoid Grand Canyon Crowds

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is one of America's most visited National Parks. The breathtaking scenery draws people from all over the world. If you're not careful you can find yourself on a crowded bus looking out a dusty window at one of Mother Nature's greatest accomplishments. There are simple ways that you can find solitude in the Grand Canyon for you and your family.

Me and the view from the South Rim

1. GET OFF THE BUS. Many visitors to the Grand Canyon arrive at the Visitor's Center and immediately hop on a shuttle bus. The shuttle buses take you places your car cannot and are a an easy way to find your away around the park. The blue line does a loop through Grand Canyon village, the hub for hotels, restaurants and shops. The red and orange lines run along the rim in opposite directions and make frequent stops at various lookout points. The buses are great. They cut down on pollution, take you from point A to point B and the drivers are always full of interesting facts and information. For most people, this is how they see the Grand Canyon. If you are looking to avoid the crowds, hop off the bus. At most of the lookout points there are benches or rocks that are suitable for sitting. Take a few quite moments to listen to the sounds of the canyon...the birds or the wind. Ten minutes of staring out at the Canyon will give you a real sense of its' enormity. 

Fellow hiker coming up out of the canyon

2. TAKE A HIKE. Even if you are only visiting the Grand Canyon for the day, you still have enough time to take a short hike. The vast majority of visitors never leave the South Rim of the Canyon. Even walking a half of a mile down a trail into the canyon changes your perspective and just when you think it couldn't get anymore beautiful, it does. My favorite hike was on the South Kaibab trail. You can take the orange line bus right to the trailhead. There are three turnaround points for day hikers, in order, Ooh Ahh Point, Cedar Ridge and Skeleton Point. Remember, how far you go down, you have to come back up. It is very easy to keep going on your way down but be mindful of how far you've gone and your experience level. You will see signs EVERYWHERE that warn you about having enough water for your hike. Think about how much water you think you should bring and then double that. It is very easy to find yourself dehydrated on the trail. Take your time as you go down and enjoy the different views. The inside of the canyon walls tell an incredible geological history. Looking up from inside the canyon creates an automatic sense of wonder that I never got when I looked down from the rim. If you have more time to spend and are in good shape you can hike to the bottom of the canyon, spend the night and hike back up. An adventure like this requires proper planning and the Backcountry Information Center can help you with all of the details. 

Elk cruising through the campground

3. CAMP. Camping isn't for everyone. If you have the interest and the supplies, it is a great way to escape the crowds. Mather Campground, just outside of the Grand Canyon Village, is an easy home base for exploring the canyon through day hikes. The sites are spacious and often your only disturbance is the elk that come through the place like they own it. My first morning I unzipped my tent to find a large elk just standing around. If you haven't seen elk up close, they look like deer on steroids. Not as big as a moose typically, but still having a rather large animal feet away from your flimsy tent can be unnerving. If you are patient and wait for them to move along at their own pace, you have the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife without putting yourself at risk. 

Enjoying time in the hammock

4. EXPLORE.  But, don't be stupid. People need to be rescued every year at the Grand Canyon because they are lost, dehydrated, injured, etc. You can get away from the crowds and still be safe. Many of the trails into the canyon are too difficult for young children and the elderly, but there are portions of the rim trail that are paved bike paths and wheel chair accessible. Take a walk along one of these paths that brings you away from the main lookout points. Granted, the lookout points are often the best viewpoints to see the canyon but I found many smaller areas between lookout points also provided great views and I was able to enjoy those alone. One afternoon I took the orange line bus to the further stop and with my hammock walked along an unpaved trail for about 10 minutes. It was a safe little trail and there was no way to get lost because it followed right along the rim of the canyon. Once I found a spot with a nice view, I took out my portable hammock that cost me less than $20. I hung that up and for an hour, I relaxed and enjoyed the view. During that hour, one couple walked by me. For that time period, it felt like I had the canyon to myself. 

Moon setting in the morning

5. OFF-PEAK. During my first day in the Grand Canyon I noticed that mid-day and sunset were particularly crowded times of the day. In an attempt to avoid the crowds, I decided to do most of my exploring in the early mornings. Granted, I live on the east coast so my body clock was naturally set three hours earlier. I was waking up on my own around 5 am anyway. The benefit of the early morning hikes are threefold, you avoid the crowds, the weather is cooler and you can see the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. For all of you romantics, the sunset is equally as beautiful, but you'll have to share that with 1000 other couples. Sunrise on the other hand, can easily be enjoyed alone. There are few things more beautiful than watching the sun rise over one shoulder and the moon setting over the other. 

Bottom line is that there are a lot of visitors to the Grand Canyon. You will have to deal with crowds regardless. These five tips will help you minimize those dealings and hopefully you have your magical moment with Mother Nature. Without much work you can find a spot to sit alone and imagine what it was like for Native Americans or Early Settlers to feel like they were all alone with this big hole in the ground. 

Oxblood, The New Black.

For those of you who don't know, me making that statement is major. However, if you've been keeping up with the latest fall trends you know by now that it's actually true. As one of the season's most popular shades, you can pick up an oxblood colored something or other pretty much anywhere you go. From lip colors to nail colors, scarves to accessories, jackets to jeans...oxblood is all the rage. But make sure not to go overboard, black on black on black will always win in my book but all oxblood everything? Not so much. So here's a few tips on how to rock your oxblood items this Fall.

1. Leather Jacket
Take your grey or black skinnies to the next level with an amazing oxblood leather jacket like this one from Asos.

2. Skinny Jeans
Simple, yet a great statement item in your wardrobe, rock your classic tee and jeans look with a pair of oxblood colored skinnies for an updated and trendy look. Try these from Nordstrom.

3. Little (O)B Dress
Little black dress, step aside.  For a change of the classic LBD look, try a little oxblood dress this season, like this one from Asos.

4. Makeup and Accessories
From lipstick to nailpolish, rings to bags, scarves to tights..the oxblood accessories and makeup ideas are endless. So have some fun with it, and pick your favorite way to add a pop of oxblood to your wardrobe.

Leah C Clutch
Bakers

Masquerade Belle by Essie
Essie

Colin Staurt Peep-Toe Platform Pump
Victoria's Secret

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
Sephora

Peplum-palooza

Peplum Mini Skirt
$26
Asos

Motel Boa Peplum Top
$40
MissKL

By now everyone knows what peplum is. Whether its dresses, tops, skirts, jackets or even pants..the peplum trend doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. There's just something about that little flounce at the waist that adds a touch of style and femininity to any look...and I just can't get enough of it! Plus, it instantly dresses up any casual outfit. If it's a peplum top or jacket you love, pair with your favorite skinny jeans and flats or heels for an undeniably cute look.  Obsessed with a peplum skirt or pants? Try a tucked in tank or blouse to complete your outfit. And you can never go wrong with a peplum dress! But what's the best part of peplum clothing? It's universally flattering, offering waist-defining powers, making it the right detail for all figures. So be sure to add a little pep to your wardrobe this fall!

Wrapped Peplum Dress
$58
NastyGal

Peplum Skinny Pants
$58
NastyGal

Button Front Peplum Jacket
$34
AllyFashion

Bridging Cultures in Herzegovina

View from Stari Most

Whenever I am planning a trip I always want to go somewhere that I have never been. It almost feels like a waste to go back to a place you have already explored. Something can be said for yearly family vacations with the same people in the same places. That is how traditions are created, but I also don't want to give up the few opportunities I have to go someplace new. I suppose it is a balance. There is always something nice about revisiting your favorite places in the world. Most likely on your first trip you did all of the things you're supposed to do but now you are free to seek out the things tourists rarely do. That was the case for me when I revisited Mostar, a small city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On my first trip to the region I was an inexperienced traveler. I was paranoid when the border patrol agents got on the bus after crossing from Croatia into Herzegovina took my passport and even more paranoid when they got back on and returned everyone's passport except mine. There we are sitting on the bus and I'm looking around. Clearly everyone knew that we were waiting because of me. My only previous border crossing experience up to that point was going from the United States to Canada. To stay that those two experiences were vastly different would be the understatement of the millennium. No one got on my bus with a machine gun going to Niagara Falls. Eventually I got my passport back and we were on our way to Mostar.

Cemetery in Mostar

The focal point of Mostar is the Old Bridge (Stari Most). Most means bridge, so obviously just by looking at the name you can infer that the bridge has played an important role in the history of Mostar. The Old Bridge divides two parts of town, one part is typically Bosnian Muslims and the other Croatian Catholics. The original bridge was destroyed during a war in the region in 1993.  It was eventually rebuilt and served as a symbol for the region during reconstruction. Many of the tourist regions around the bridge have been rebuilt or restored since the war but if you go even slightly out of that area there are lasting reminders everywhere you turn. Shells of buildings that are barely still standing line streets and cemeteries filled with graves marked 1993. As a high school graduate in 1993 it was a sobering experience to look out among those graves and think about the differences between our lives. While I was preparing for college, out boozing with my fake i.d. and skipping classes, these young people were  defending their families, struggling to find food and hiding their younger siblings in basements. Regardless of your ethnic, political or religious beliefs, in the end we are people with families. As we have all experienced at some point in our lives, losing a loved one is never easy.

Muslibegovic House

There is a dichotomy as you spend time in Mostar. There is a sadness but then there is also this excitement as well. Young men jump from the bridge to entertain the tourists. Streets were closed down, filled with chairs and televisions to watch the World Cup soccer tournament. I meet people on both sides of the bridge who were proud of their cultures. I spent time at the Muslibegovic House, a national monument in Bosnia and Herzegovina. My room was beautiful and the courtyard with pillow top benches were perfect for a few quiet hours of reading. The hosts provided incredible meals and were so gracious and hospitable. I received the same graciousness and hospitality with a Croatian family in a Siroki Brijeg, small town outside of Mostar. They took me in and treated me like I was a part of their family. We laughed over language differences, especially when the father said, "I love you" instead of "How are you?" Overall, my experiences with the people were very positive but in both cases things were said that made it clear all is not well in the region among the people. Small comments like, "Why would you stay there?" or "Why are going over there?" I know tensions in the region are still simmering and some people are working hard to repair both the physical and emotional damage.

Bridge Jumper

Travel to regions with ethnic, religious or political tensions can be difficult and at times scary. There were times when I felt uneasy, but that feeling always subsided when I spent more than 5 minutes talking with the people. It is easy to focus on the history and the politics of the region. War leaves deep scars. Those scars are often more visible than the signs of reconciliation. A friend warned me for my safety to not talk about politics with people and if someone tried to change the subject. Religion and politics can be difficult discussions amongst the closest friends let alone with strangers and your own language barrier. I had read a lot of historical information before I went and I was interested in listening to the people talk about what it was like and where they see things going. I engaged in some of those conversations on small scales but my friends cautious words were in the back of my mind. Warnings like that can deter some people from visiting. It is like the men jumping off the Old Bridge, it can be scary but sometimes it is worth the risk. One of my most precious travel memories is sitting along the river at the bottom of that bridge at sunset and crying. It was during my first trip and I was overwhelmed by the history, the uncertain future and the fact that I never dreamed I would be here. American kids often dream of going places like Paris or Rome, but it would be hard to find one who dreams of Stari Most. That is a shame. The Old Bridge might not be as romantic as the Eiffel Tower but you would be hard pressed to find a place in the world that is more symbolic of a people's past and their hope for a better future. 

Ketchup or Mustard?

Get this look here!

This season it's all about the deep, yellow mustard-y tones to really add a pop of color to any fall wardrobe. There are several variations of this color (more gold-toned, more yellow based) offering you tons of ways to integrate this tone...but just be careful not to overdo it. I find it best to simply add a little touch of this gorgeous color to your outfit, in whichever form you choose. Whether it's a loose fitting tank or chiffon blouse with your favorite pair of black skinnys, a pair of pumps or flats, or a structured handbag or clutch, be sure to add this fresh fall color to your closet!

Jonaha
$110
Aldo

Bologna XIV
$59
Bakers

It's Always Sunny In...

Independence Hall

Every year my four best girlfriends from law school and I plan a "conference." It is our version of a girls weekend. When we first started the weekends consisted of getting drunk and eating. A few years ago we added an educational component in an effort to appear like we have grown up and our conference isn't just us reliving spring breaks from our 20's. We were all living in the northeast at the time and decided on a trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Commonly known as "The City of Brotherly Love", we, as native New Yorkers, adopted a conference slogan of "Brotherly Love, My Ass." New York and Philadelphia have a love hate relationship, much like New York and Boston. Obviously, this a result of inferiority complexes of both those cities when compared to the greatest city in the world. Every New Yorker reading that sentence just nodded their head in agreement and everyone else in the world shook their head, rolled their eyes and mumbled "cocky New York mother fuckers."

A Founding Father

As a group of former law students, we were extremely excited about the historical and political sites that only Philly can offer. We stood outside the glass of the Liberty Bell and stood in front of Independence Hall with wide eyes. We recited excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as we walked across the street to the Constitution Center. This was the opportunity to take our pocket constitutions to their Mecca. We spent hours wandering around the center, giving fake presidential press conferences, arguing about 1st Amendment cases, and posing inappropriately with founding father statues. Now that we had satisfied our educational component of the conference we got back to our roots of eating, drinking and general tomfoolery.

Me & Ben Franklin

We enjoyed taking pictures with the game board pieces in downtown. We climbed in the Monopoly wheelbarrow, posed with a bright yellow Sorry piece and Bingo chips. We ran up the steps of the art museum and randomly yelled, "Yo, Adrienne" in our most obnoxious Rocky voices all around the city. We bought food at the Italian Market and ate the most phenomenal brunch of our lives at Honey's. The atmosphere there would have made the worst meal still feel worth the trip so when the food came and we were all blown away it was like the heavens had opened up just for us. We spent three days eating, drinking, nerding and laughing our way through  Philadelphia. We took snide pictures in front of the LOVE statue, hugged the men and women giving our free hugs in downtown, and sang Will Smith's Fresh Prince's theme song over and over again without ever getting tired. We gave disgusted looks to every person we saw in Philadelphia Eagles attire one second and then giggled like school girls at the thought of Thomas Jefferson wandering the streets in the late 1700's. We could have stayed in Philadelphia for months and still never have been able to see all of the sites worthy of a visit, but as Philadelphia's favorite son, Ben Franklin, once said, "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days."

Hottest Hues for Fall

Move over bubblegum pinks and bright summery neons, the nail trends this fall are bold and edgy. But as the blazing heat of summer is fading, don't think your nails have to be dull and somber. The nail trends this season are full of fall fun and are sure to catch your eye!



1. Shades of Blue

Blue is the new go-to fall nail color. From blue's with a greenish undertone, a striking royal blue polish 
or a deep navy...they're all in!

Sephora by OPI
Teal We Meet Again 

Sephora Collection
My Favorite Jea

Yves Saint Laurent
Blue Cobalt

2. (Not your average) Red

Dior
Massai Red

NARS
Blood Red

There's always a red nail trend for any season. But instead of a flashy cherry red, this season try on a more sophisticated, deep red....burgandy if you will.

3. Metallics

Sephora by OPI
Charge It!

Sephora by OPI
S-age Is Just A Number

No need for jewelry with a polish like this! From golds and silvers to colored metallics, what's not to love!?

4. Copper

Copper colored nails are the new shade of fall. Much like the metallics, this striking color will be sure to grab your attention.

Butter London
The Old Bill

Sephora by OPI
Traffic Stopper Copper

4. Deep Purple
A staple in my fall nail colors, this hue is a softer alternative to a black polish, while still giving you the richness and edginess that a straight black polish would.

Sephora by OPI
Caffine Fix

Dior
Purple Revolution

5. Nearly nude

Dior
Safari Beige

Not up for the darker hues? Try a barely-there nude color to keep your hands looking clean and fresh.

Illamasqua
Monogamous

*Note: All of these nail polishes can be found on Sephora!

Sarajevo Roses

Sarajevo

In the summer of 2010 I was awarded a Fund For Teachers grant that gave me $5,000 to travel and study a topic of my choice. Being a history teacher, I have an interest in global conflicts. I decided to travel to some of the former republics of Yugoslavia (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Slovenia). During the 1990's the region was in the midst of a violent civil war. I wanted to travel to the region and see how it has recovered. One of the hardest hit areas was the city of Sarajevo in Bosnia. Sarajevo was known as the melting pot of the region prior to the war. It was a place where Croatian Catholics, Serbian Orthodox and Bosnian Muslims lived in peace together.

A Sarajevo Rose

The scars of the war in Sarajevo are still visible. Throughout the city you will find splashes of red paint in the middle of roads or sidewalks. They are called Sarajevo roses. During the war mortar shells would crash into the ground and create these dents. People began to fill in the dents with red paint as a reminder of those who lost their lives. As the city rebuilds and replaces roads and sidewalks, the roses are disappearing but you can still find them throughout the city.  There are other reminders of war including burnt out buildings, bullet holes and memorials all around the city that remind us of all of the lives that were lost.

Tunnel Museum

The purpose of the Fund for Teachers grants is to help teacher learn new things and be able to bring those back to his or her classroom. My plan was to use what I learned to create a unit on conflict. I spent a lot of my time talking with people about the war days and the recovery. Every person I spoke with recommended that I visit the Tunnel Museum just outside of the city near the airport. During the war the Serbian forces had blocked supplies from getting into the city and it became very difficult for people to get the basic necessities of life. A secret tunnel was dug to help smuggle supplies into the city. A portion of that tunnel is still intact and has become a small museum. A trip there includes information about the digging of the tunnel, the supplies that would come through it and the influence of the tunnel on the lives of people in Sarajevo. It is an emotional experience to walk through that tunnel. I left with an enormous amount of respect for those who sacrificed so much to help their neighbors.

Sarajevo Film Festival Poster 

I left Sarajevo with a better understanding of the impact of the war on the people. There were plenty of moments that left me in tears but as I left the city on the train I couldn't help but be in awe of their ability to deal with horrific acts that seem unrecoverable. The surprise for me was that Sarajevo is still a vibrant city with an abundance of art and culture to experience. Unfortunately, I did not have a lot of time to explore much beyond my focus on the war and the recovery.  I would love to go back there someday and just enjoy Sarajevo for what it is today, a small European city on the verge of being something great, again. 

Hotel Review: Crowne Plaza Lake Placid

The Great Room of the Crowne Plaza

I don't write many hotels reviews but after this weekend I thought I would share my thoughts on the Crowne Plaza hotel in Lake Placid, New York. I just returned from a wedding over Labor Day weekend and stayed at the Crowne Plaza. The Crowne Plaza isn't cheap. If you're looking for a $50 a night hotel, this is not your place. If the $400 a night Mirror Lake Inn rooms are too pricey for your budget, the Crowne Plaza is a nice alternative. Depending on the time of year and dates of your visit the prices can differ. This weekend I paid $129 for a Thursday night and $189 a night for the holiday weekend. My room had a nice king size bed with a patio that provided an incredible view of the sunset over the mountains. The view of the lake and mountains from the Great Room off the lobby is one of the finest views I have ever seen from a hotel.

Sunset View from my room

While the scene and the room are both splendid at the Crowne Plaza the atmosphere was just as impressive. The mother of the bride had booked the Grandview Cottage, a 3 bedroom cottage on the grounds of the hotel that served as Bridal Headquarters for the weekend. A constant flow of people came in when they arrived or came over for breakfast in Jameson induced hazes to piece the evening together. The hotel bar located in the Great Room provided those spectacular views but also reasonable drinks and classic pub food. After the rehearsal dinner we spent several hour throwing back the drinks, laughing and being a pretty rowdy crowd but the bartenders never flinched. When we finally left the bar area I cashed out my tab and started to walk towards the lobby when the bartender yelled, "Slater! Take these waters" and sent us on our way with 3 bottles of complimentary water. What more can a wedding guest ask for...a great view, a comfy bed and bartenders who call you by name.