Indigenous
"For all of us, becoming indigenous to a place means living as if your children's future mattered, to take care of the land as if our lives, both material and spiritual, depended on it." - Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
I love my LipSense lip color. Not only do they have a variety of gorgeous colors to choose from, but they are long lasting. With a two-year-old who likes to touch my face and kiss my lips throughout the day I need something that won't rub off and I don't have to keep applying. It is the perfect combination of BEAUTIFUL and PRACTICAL. I was first introduced to this amazing brand by my cousin Laralynn Aiono Defngin, who is a LipSense Representative. Since starting with LipSense she has helped my niece Shaye Aiono-Campbell become a representative as well. Today and tomorrow I am lucky enough to host an online party for Shaye. Check out her page: Lasting Lazy Girl Makeup You won't regret it!
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Last week Ronan finally fit this adorable 24 month Mr. Rogers onesie he got as a Christmas gift 2 years ago. I was so glad because I loved the show, and I was happy that I didn't let him grow out of it before wearing it at least once. Ronan is the only grandchild on his dad's side (for now), meaning he's super loved and totally spoiled when it comes to gifts. Trust me, I'm not complaining, I'm really grateful. But I'm guilty of forgetting about new clothes until they barely fit or he doesn't fit them at all. So I've made it a goal to be more conscious of what he has and to use it. Wish me luck 😁
While in Vancouver, we had the opportunity to go to the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at the University of British Columbia and it was an amazing experience. A person could spend hours there, but our time was limited and so was our two-year-old's attention span. The art there was amazing and it's definitely a place that I would love to go back and visit again. Pacific Northwest Native ArtThe carvings and totem poles of the Pacific Northwest Indigenous Peoples reminded me so much of the carvings and artwork of my Maori people of New Zealand that I couldn't help but feel a reverence and awe looking at these massive works of art. The detail and size of some of these pieces was amazing and the Pacific Northwestern Peoples now hold a special place in my heart. Amazonia"The exhibition features Amazonian basketry, textiles, carvings, feather works and ceramics both of everyday and of ceremonial use, representing Indigenous, Maroon and white settler communities. Today, these groups confront threats caused by political violence, mining, oil and gas exploration, industrial agriculture, forest fires, and hydroelectric plants. Challenging visitors to examine their own notions towards holistic well-being, the exhibition covers more than 100 years of unsuspected relationships between Vancouver and Amazonian peoples, ideas, and their struggles. Rights of Nature departs from a social philosophy, known in Spanish as “buen vivir”, in which the concept of a good life proposes a holistic approach to development that intertwines notions of unity, equality, dignity, reciprocity, social and gender equality. The concept aligns directly with value systems intrinsic to Indigenous South American cultures, and serves as a rallying cry to move beyond Western ideals and practices of development and progress largely measured by profit." -MOA, Amazonia: Rights of Nature Layers of Influence"From birth to death, humans are wrapped in cloth worn for survival, but more importantly, wear clothing as an external expression of their spiritual belief system, social status and political identity. This stunning exhibition will explore clothing’s inherent evidence of human ingenuity, creativity and skill, drawing from MOA’s textile collection — the largest collection in Western Canada — to display a global range of materials, production techniques and adornments across different cultures and time frames." -MOA, Layers of Influence This exhibit was amazing, especially since I'm currently in the business of selling clothes and very interested in fashion. Fabrics, cloths, and textiles from all over the world were on display. Each region had their own beautiful and interesting designs and materials. There were even Korowai from New Zealand on display and Tapa from the Pacific. I'm currently a Massage Therapist at South Coast Winery's, Grapeseed Spa. I've been a licensed therapist since 2003 and I love what I do. Today I'm going to share some tips when planning a spa day at a resort or day spa that include amenities ( i.e. jacuzzi, steam, sauna). Because every mommy deserves to take time for a massage day to help get re-energized, here are some tips to make the most of your time at the spa: Don't be on time. Be Early!Most places suggest to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment . Unless you are the first appointment of the day, I recommend giving yourself at least 30 minutes to an hour to check in and decompress. Bring a Bathing Suit.Or pay the price. Most spas carry suits for sale just in case you forget. But you will definitely pay more on something you already have. Leave it at home.Jewelry should be left at home, but I understand that if you are going out afterwards you may want it. So leave it in your locker. I'll always ask a guest to take off a necklace and rings, because they get in the way of the massage. Sometimes a guest will put them in their robe pocket, forget about them and it ends up in the laundry or worse, lost forever. You get what you pay for.Unless you upgrade. Read or listen closely to the services being offered. Many times a person books a light to medium pressure style massage then wants a Deep Tissue massage. There's a difference between services. The more energy/strength exerted by your therapist equals a higher price for your service. Also if a treatment solely focuses on a specific area for the entirety of the service i.e. the back. Don't expect a full body massage. Remember to know what you are buying/receiving. If you're allergic to essential oils, then don't book an aromatherapy session. Relax & Enjoy!Don't be so uptight. Just go with the flow. Enjoy your time away. Try to put all of your electronics to the side, and don't be afraid to try new things and experience all of the amenities the spa has to offer. Make it about relaxing and meditating and recharging away from the hustle and bustle of normal life. My Cassette Tape Carly Dress is one of my absolute favorites! CARLY DRESS "We all want a cute dress that lets us breathe and move easier, so we are excited about the Carly - a swing dress that flatters the best parts of a feminine physique while being flowy and breezy everywhere else. The Carly comes in a wide array of fabrics, prints, and washes and has some amazing features such as a patch pocket, a flattering high-low hemline, and cool open sleeves.If you don’t already own a swing dress, we guarantee that you soon will! We all want a cute dress that lets us breathe and move easier. One that is chic, comfy and as versatile as your taste. Which is why we are excited about the Carly - a swing dress that flatters the best parts of the feminine physique while being flowy and breezy everywhere else. Today’s modern swing dress is a flowy, comfy dress that still has an A-line shape. But rather than hugging your waist, the “A” shape hugs closer to your chest, with the fabric belling out from there. Because of the higher position of the “waist,” the swing dress has lots of movement potential--it “swings” when you walk! And there’s nothing more beautiful and feminine than a dress that swings and flows about you as you walk, dance, and just lounge." Available @ Lularoe Ana Aiono Dowden On our trip to Canada we drove from Vancouver to Kelowna and had to pass through a city named Mission, BC, which happened to be the home of an amazing Native American artist named Peter Wayne Gong. Greg had been following Peter on Instagram for several months and decided to reach out to him. While we were there we found out that Peter had just gotten out of the hospital after having heart bypass surgery and yet he still told us to come on by his shop. Peter is a Coast Salish artist and member of the Squamish Nation and carves and paints various Pacific Northwest Native American pieces like bentwood boxes, rattles, masks, paddles, and more. He and his wife, Darlo, were amazing hosts and spent their time showing us Peter's studio, art pieces, and sharing stories from his culture. It was am amazing experience meeting such an inspiring artist and a generous person. #inspiredNative Follow Peter Wayne Gong on: I was an AuntyI've always been happy to support my nieces and nephews in their endeavors. This past week I was able to attend my nephew's, Alex Aiono, concert at the Observatory in Santa Ana, CA. The show was amazing and it was great to see Alex perform with such swag and professionalism. I also got to visit and watch my nephews Makini Manu & Eli Aiono play Collegiate Rugby 🏉 They play for Utah Valley University, and dominated the UCLA team. They are skilled players but most of good boys (men lol). I love being able to see & support my family. Ronan has such good examples to follow. |
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