Weekend Visual Escape....Hawaiian Style...

For so many of us who have been blessed to visit the Hawaiian Islands, those are memories we carry with us each day of our lives. There is no place like it on earth. And for those very fortunate people who live there, I know they feel blessed. The second we got off the plane and walked outdoors, the fragrances of the Plumeria, and other exotic flowers just flow across you with the warm tropical breezes and you know you have arrived in paradise. Some say, "well you live in Florida, it's the same"...no way is it the same, none whatsoever. The Hawaiian people are some of the most warm wonderful and beauiful people I've ever had he pleasure of meeting. My daughter and I ran (literally) to the waters edge on Waikiki Beach and just looked at Diamond Head, not believing we were actaully there...I will never forget that moment. All while my Dad was checking all eleven of us in the hotel. My husband of course comes down and states how beautiful it was and couldn't wait to go fishing...oh how we women think differently! For all of us who have taken special trips in our lives, they mean so much to us that there aren't any words you could ever say that can express your own memories, they are special to you. That is how I feel about Hawaii, no words could ever describe every second of pure excitment of these beautiful Pacific Islands and all we did in those short ten days.  Five of them were spent right on Waikiki Beach, and five days in Lahaina on Maui, right on the water, oh yes, including the 15 hour drive we took on the Road to Hana...the whole road, we didn't turn back as we should have, we went the whole way, and saw things, I never knew were in Hawaii, beautiful and wonderful sights.

This time of the year just brings back so many of those memories, as this is when we started planning our trip.  As I've stated numerous times, I am obsessed with Hawaiian, Mid-century and Hollywood Regency design.  Today, I am posting some pictures that just remind me so much of our trip to Hawaii.  The clean lines, beautiful woods, gorgeous decor, tropical flowers - everywhere,  and the most perfect sunsets in the world.  Sit back and I hope these pictures take you for a few moments to Hawaii.

I have a fan just like this is my office at work but it is a palm tree...everyone loves it, and it really works well in the Florida heat.

Let's Get Tropical....

With summer right around the corner, for many of us, we will be taking vacations, or just staying home enjoying family and friends, maybe having outdoor parties, or just sitting under the stars and night and relaxing.  When I think of summer, my mind automatically drifts to anything tropical…not that it takes summer to love “everything tropical”, living here in Florida, it’s year round, but seems more so in the summer-time, the beautiful deep rich colors, the deep green of our tropical foliage, fragrances, clothing, accessories, photographs, etc.  There are certain fragrances that are just the epitome of tropical for me, and those are anything coconut, guava, plumeria and pineapple.  Either alone or together, just puts me in a great mood or brings back those beautiful memories of Hawaii and even the Bahamas. Throughout my home, even in the winter, I always have tropical scented candles, not lit, but just opened with the fragrance flowing throughout the house.  I especially love the ones from Tommy Bahama in the tin containers, you can keep them closed, and when opened, the fragrances last forever.  If we are not watching TV, I have tropical or Latin music playing softly in the background, the plantation shutters and curtains wide open to let in the Florida sunshine and watch the palm trees blowing in the breeze.

I’ve found some pictures that I hope will put everyone in a tropical mood, and with the bad weather so many  people throughout the country has experienced this last winter, I hope these will help warm up your days, and make you look forward to a wonderful and TROPICAL summer.




Let's start with this beautiful tropical striped door, so cooling and inviting...

 

Does anything look more relaxing than this!!!  The tropical colors along with the ocean are so perfect!

 
Now for some other tropical colors, fragrances, skincare, clothing, handbag and accessories, this is just a small amount of gorgeous items out there this season that just invokes the feeling of the tropics.  Tropical colors are known to put people in a good mood, bring their spirits up, and allows you to dream.  Hope you enjoy the items below.

Beautiful Chanel Ad Campaign

 


Bumble and bumble Creme de Coco Shampoo and Conditioner.  I personally use it everyday, and the fragrance of the light coconut lasts all day...and the product is fabulous!

 



Cool tropical fragrance candles from Bath and Body works, smells so good and definitely makes you feel like you're in the tropics, open the jar, sit back relax and allow the fragrance take you away...



Summer tropical fragrances from Victory Secret....my daughter and I have all of them, including the after shower spray, yummy!



Just love this retro look of the Dior Spring/Summer ad campaign!!!



Dior nail color...."Paradise" and "Aloha"...off to the mall on Friday with my daughter, this is on my shopping list!!!!



Dior "Electric Tropics" Color "Aloha"....gorgeous!!!

Escada Taj Sunset Fragrance - Limited Edition

Bobbi Brown - Beach...now who doesn't love this and know that is one of the most perfect "beach" fragrances there is on the market...just love it!

Some of the best tropical fragrant lotions I've ever tried.  On the plane to Hawaii (Hawaiian Airlines), they had these in the bathrooms (with live fresh orchids) need I say the whole plane smelled so clean and tropical, putting you in the Hawaiian mood ....found it all over Hawaii, got home, and ordered more online.  The company sells soaps and candles as well...just beautiful fragrances and products in general.  http://www.islandsoap.com/

 

Dr. Perricone Hyper Hydrator Coconut Water MCT - I use this twice daily, and love love love it!!!



Korres *Monoi Oil Powder - perfect for that just sunkissed look without the skin damage from the sun.

*Monoi oil is infused oil made from soaking the petals of Tahitian gardenias (tiare) in a semi-wax coconut oil. Monoi (pronounced Mah-noy) is an ancient Tahitian word meaning "scented oil" in the Reo-Maohi language. Monoi is widely used among French Polynesians as a skin and hair softener. It is also popular in Europe and gaining recognition in the United States



Louis Vuitton Aileurs Beach Collection brins Tropical Prints to Summer 2011
Prints Escale, Promenade and Aventure come on totes, scarfs, beach towels, bikinis, a strapless dress and even interpreted on key-chains. Pretty much anything you would need on a hot summer day




Prints Escale, Promenade and Aventure come on totes, scarfs, beach towels, bikinis, a strapless dress and even interpreted on key-chains. Pretty much anything you would need on a hot summer day



Louis Vuitton collaborated with Pippa Cunningham, an English artist, on three distinctive tropical prints for their Summer 2011 Ailleurs beach collection.

Isn't this Summer Louis Vuitton too adorable!!!



Louis Vuitton Key Chains....use as a key chain or hang from your handbag...so cute!




Louis Vuitton Tote...should be available around April 15, 2011  love the tropical plant look



Love the metallics for summer, with cute little tropical sun dress - who doesn't love Michael Kors!

Louis Vuitton, again should be available by April 15, 2011



Oscar Summer Tropical Colors by Oscar de la Renta is a Floral fragrance for women. Top note is passionfruit; middle note is orange blossom; base note is vanilla



Hawaii Coconut body scrub from Bath and Body Works...great fragrance...and last throughout the day.

Bali Mango from Bath and Body Works...I just bought this last week, wear it most every day, and have more people ask me what the fragrance is...so soft and tropical

Michelle Tropical Fish and Turtle Watches



Look at all the tropical nail colors out there....bring on the summer clothes and have a color to match everything...




Gucci tropical colors for summer 2011




Trina Turk Outdoor fabrics...too perfect for pool side.



John Hardy - Sterling Bamboo Bangles...for each purchase they will plant bamboo seedling...everyone wins, especially our planet.

I am totally in love with these Trina Turk Bangles....every color!  Yes, I'm obsessed with anything Trina Turk...

TIME TO SIT BACK WITH AN ICED COLD PINA COLADA AND ENJOY THE TROPICS, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.

My backyard in transition....

Before the heat of the summer arrives, my husband and I have been working as often as possible in our backyard.  Even in the heat of the summer, we spend a lot of time out there.  Two winters ago, we had an extremely cold winter with numerous days and evening of freezing temperatures, it took its toll on a lot of our tropicals.  I thought we saved most everything, then last winter, just two nights of freezing temperatures, we lost 3 medium size palm trees.  So, we are in the processing of finding just want we want to replace them.  Everything in our yard has been grown from tiny new growth palms, plants, and tropicals.  So, over 15 years, most has matured well, but to even lose those three palms, took a big hit on the landscaping.  Plus, I must have had over a hundred lobster claw heliconia, they are so beautiful and remind me of Hawaii. Each and everyone of them got frost so bad, they all turned brown, I cut them back and last year they all came back, and yes, those two freezing days this past winter hit them hard again, but I've just noticed all new starts coming up, so I am totally excited.. We are starting over, rearranging plants that can be moved and working around the ones that cannot be transplanted such as palms, I don't want to take a chance with losing them.    Now that the large Oak trees in the front of the house have shed all their leaves and the pollen is gone and once we get the palms  in place, it will be time to completely mulch, and set up the umbrellas, BBQ grill and furniture and bring on the summer!!!  Right now, it looks very bare, but I wanted to post now, and see how it hopefully changes by summer's end.

One of my favorite pots, the textured designs reminds me of Hawaii and the top is all embed glitter



Facing North towards the spa



Facing north again towards the spa area

When enlarged, and double clicked again, love the water drops on the unopened flowers

One of the cubanelle chilies, the plant was planted last year, and is full most of the summer



One of my chile pots...nothing better than fresh chilies when ever needed, all are new but the  cubanelle, that remains from last year



Again, when double clicked to enlarge, the detail of flowers, you just don't see when looking at it with your eyes

My newly planted little herb garden about a weeks growth, thanks to all the rain we had during the storm two weeks ago

One of my favorite palms, Fox tail, was skinny and about 5' when purchased, now it's about 20 feet tall and stands so tall and straight, the fronds in the summer or breath-taking

I love pots, all shapes and colors, and just place them throughout the yard

Double pink hibiscus



I grew all the Pygmy Dates from little plants in a 5 gallon containers, no taller than 15" tall.  Facing South, that's where I lost two of my Christmas Palms.



Madagascar  Palm - grown from one 5" skinny plant about 7 years ago

Madagascar Palm approximately 11 feet tall...all from that one single 5" start

Gets very full of beautiful white flowers throughout summer, love the way it grows in any direction it wants...kind of my free spirit flower