.bloom.where.you.are.planted.

Today was my beautiful momma's last day here in sunny Southern California. It has been so nice having her here visiting for the past couple weeks, and I also had my sweet sweet aunt visit this past weekend too! EEP! I am such a lucky preggo gal! My morning walks along the ocean will now be accompanied by my ipod, and occasionally a girlfriend if I can lure them in. This baby is loving the long brisk morning walks (and the little pup is too)! Just before I dropped my mom off at the airport we strolled around Balboa Park.. the orchids apparently are loving this weather.

Yesterday, we drove east a bit where it's slightly more dry and picked up some succulents so I can attempt a small garden. House plants in general make a beautiful addition to any indoor space, they just bring so much life to a home. They add color and texture. Our first plant is called a corn plant.. a popular indoor plant that resembles that of a corn stalk. It didn't do so well at first because we had it pretty far from a window.. and SURPRISE it needs light, go figure! After some rehab time at John's sister's, he is back and in full force in our bedroom next to a nice sunny window. Anyway, indoor houseplants help create a healthy relaxing environment. Studies show that people in indoor environments containing healthy house plants exhibit less stress and had lower blood pressure. Yes please, don't mind if we do! I am still deciding how to arrange our new little guys and gals, I'm sure you'll see them when I do a little tour of our abode soon enough. But in the mean time here is what they look like as little baby clippings. I got a pretty great deal! 17 for under $20 and it included a drive to a MANSION of a home to get them.

happy.friday.

Please excuse my slow posting lately, I am back in California and don't have the internet quite hooked up yet so I am cafe hopping to use the computer! Since I absolutely LOVE trying different teas and of course chai's from different cafes, I don't mind it much. :) Meanwhile, here are a few instagram photos of the past week so you know what we've been up to!

Little bit o' Beach time

Beautiful California Day

Having a Ball at the Dog Beach

Our Valentine's Day gift! Thank you babe!!

Dropped Off a Whole Bunch of New Work at SurfIndian Pacific Beach, California

Li'i and His Valentine (isn't your heart melting?)

A Moment with Rockabella Jewels & A Fabulous Giveaway!

I am SO stoked that I got to chat a little with Kristel over on Maui, the designer behind Rockabella Jewels.. did I mention there is a giveaway I am absolutely smitten about?? I wont keep you waiting, get reading!

Elise: Okay Kristel! Let's start off simple..tell us a little about yourself! You know.. the basics. Your name, where you are from, and a few passions in life?

Kristel: Kristel Bandisch, born on the east cost and slowly migrated west to California and now Hawaii for the past 17 years.  I’m really passionate about my kids of course, I am really excited about fashion and what "real" people actualy wear on the streets, getting to know new people and travel to get started. I love Hawaii, Maui in particular as thats the island I live on, however I am constantly looking around everywhere.  The earth is so inspiring.

Elise: I completely agree.. the islands hold a very special place in my heart.. Hawai'i will always be home. Alright, here’s my favorite..Flip your daily bag girl, tell us what falls out! Of those things what can you not possibly live without?

Kristel: Haha, ok my iphone, linea pelle cream wallet with usps and fed ex recipts overflowing and spare change.  I dont carry any cash, some lip gloss my mom got me for Christmas and baby wipes. Can’t live with out those baby wipes, my son just turned 2 and you never know when something might happen!

Elise: Nothing like shipping receipts flowing to remind you of your success! That rocks! So you mentioned you are from the east coast, what initially made you move to the west coast and what sparked the move to Maui?

Kristel: It was just a pit stop so I’m told...

Elise: ahhh I see.. When did you start creating jewelry, and at what point did you decide to start a business?

Kristel: I first started making jewelry in 3rd grade at recess, in the field stringing little flowers together to make bracelets abd necklaces, got all my friends together at lunch in the grass and we just used our finger nails as tools.  It was so much fun to just chat and make stuff with good company.  I decided to start a business about 20 years later as I admired niihau shell jewelry but could not afford to buy anything.  I was prego with my daughter Annabelle, and went shell hunting nearly every day in between shifts of work and collected enough kahelelani shells to string my first shell lei, and a pair of earrings. I got a lot of friendly compliments on them and after Annabelle was born, in 2002 I had so many creative ideas and jewelry was the fastest way to get them out of my mind and in my hands.  Slowly more and more compliments came from strangers and it gave me the confidence to offer a selection for sale at a local shop.

Elise: Beautiful! Sounds like creating is in your veins. I love Niihau shells! I used to work in a bead shop on Kaua'i and those were my favorite pieces that some local girls brought in.. the Niihau earrings. They are so precious and special. What’s your favorite thing about being a jewelry designer?

Kristel: Being able to make exactly what I want and like.  I’m kinda picky..

Elise: That's awesome, because you have great taste! I adore your designs! You mentioned you are into fashion, so what are some current fashion trends that you love?

Kristel: Tribal! pops of neon, tone on tone. I love a lilttle bit of all the diffrent trends

Elise: Right on! Do current fashion trends influence the jewelry you create?

Kristel: Yes! to a certain extent, the trend reports for the next season are very inspiring but for me its really hard to gauge what will really take off and what people will actually wear.  I like to observe all the reports and let them marinate a little before I make my move.

Elise: Nicely said! I noticed you have a lot of brides who flock to your designs to adorn them on the most important day of their lives, that must be such an honor for you! What the most popular piece that brides-to-be order?

Kristel: Thank you, it is.  I feel really darn special to be picked out of the haystack!  The most popular is the charm necklaces that I stamp corrdinates of whatever they want on these gold discs.

Elise: Ohhh I LOVE those!! They are so unique. What about the most popular piece all in all?

Kristel: So far overall the most popular piece is a tie between the coordinate band necklace wich is a thick piece of gold hammered pretty flat, and the Mai ties hair tie/bracelet style.

Elise: I saw your Instagram picture recently with the Mai Ties! I love getting a peek into your creations as they are happening. Okay last question.. Anything really big happening for you in this new fabulous year? Anything we should be on the lookut for?

Kristel: Every week its someone eles turn and what stores buy is a whole nother story. You will have to wait and see wink wink 

Elise: Haha keepin’ us on our toes! Thanks so much for letting me pick your brain!

Rockabella Jewels has graciously teamed up with Salt Water Diary to offer a FABULOUS giveaway. The very stunning stacked rings as seen in the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition!! Eeep!! Wish I could enter! Big Mahalo to Kristel! Such a wonderful giveaway for Valentines Day! You have four days to enter to win, ready..set..comment!!

Congrats to Dayna!! Our giveaway winner!

.a.feeling.of.inspiration.

I know it seems not "baby-ish" but I get inspired by photos like this for our daughters nursery. I love the feminine bohemian look! Going around to thrift stores today to see what I can get my hands on. Have a beautiful Wednesday!

.linen.makes.me.smile.

Is it just me or would it be heavenly to lay in a bed of linen each night.. I'm going to just keep dreaming.

.halfway.mark.

My super awesome guy left for deployment in October, and we are hoping for his return to be at least the start of April.. so I think I'll celebrate because we are on the home stretch!! Whoop! I miss him so much, and I super duper wish he could see this belly of mine growing in person instead of through pictures! Hurry up April!!

Isn't he gorgeous?!

Inside and out..he's pretty dang perfect!

.new.originals.

I've been busy with a new collection of lovely hula ladies. Each are one of a kind and are available in my shop! See the link to the right of this post. It's almost Valentines! A big thank you to all the wonderful guys out there getting pieces for your ladies for love day! I hope they adore them, I really have had fun creating away!

Here are the four newest available originals 

.smitten.lil.me.

1 -Women's Vans Suede Authentic in this lovely light grey $50

2 -Melali Drifter Sessions DVD.. both the sountrack and the film are rad! $24.95 (helps when you've seen them live too! whoop!)

3 - Rockabella Jewels, Maui baby puka shell bangle.. because my lil one needs this when she gets here.. $55

4 -Ahoi! Iphone Case by Bianca Green on Society6 $35

5 -"I'm so Happy" print from GraphicAnthology's Etsy shop $18.. which by the way they have 10% off until Feb 15!

6 -Ummm I a.d.o.r.e. these rainbow pinwheel cookies! I honestly might go in the kitchen and bust them out right now!! You can too if you like! Here's the recipe!

A Moment with Corina Barnick~Our Sponsor & Designer behind The Indigenous Peoples

This week, I had a super fun exchange of words with Corina Barnick. She's fun, energizing, and is our sponsor! Woo hoo! Enjoy!

Elise: Okay lovely Corina, so here's my first question for you.. no cheating! We know you're a beach going gal..empty your bag.. tell us what's in it!

Corina: Haha, ooh I love this question! It makes me think of summers and beach days at Sano. Okay, Clean water, chapstick, a good book - preferably John Steinbeck or something of a similar  asthetic - an avocado, some sea salt and cayenne pepper (the perfect take-along snack), sunglasses, a beach blanket, and wax if I can remember to grab it. Over the years, I've gotten to the point of bringing just the necesseties...most days I just have my wetsuit, a towel and my board in tow. And maybe some tea. 

Elise: Right on! I love the snack.. I always have snacks too. What are some current trends you are really loving, and what is the one "go-to" thing in your closet currently?

Corina: Oooh, you are such a good interviewer! These are fun. Well, in regards to a current trend I love - my family has both Native American and Hispanic ancestry, so I've always had a strong reverence for all things relating to these two similar yet different cultures. Right now it seems that tribal themes are everywhere, from jewelry to apparel to accessories and beyond, which is super exciting because a lot of it is exactly what I would want to make for myself (had I the know-how or skill). So, I guess you could say that I'm really loving the ethnic-awareness in today's fashion trends. My current go-to item is a military green button-up jacket with a faux fur-lined hood and long split coat-tail in back, made by RVCA. It's perfect for this year's can't-make-up-it's-mind weather conditions. Light-weight but warm, and goes with just about everything.

Elise: Beautiful! Ethnic awareness.. I like that! I'm really hoping that the trend of the tribal and earth inspired pieces are a sign that we as a human race are now paying more attention, if you know what I mean. What are you listening to lately? Any songs or artists we should check out?

Corina: I know what you mean! I love that people are becoming more aware...or at least it seems that way? Haha. Hmmm, listening... Sean Hayes is an artist I recently found on Pandora. He's got a creamy, yet rough-ish voice, reminiscent of Iron and Wine's Samuel Beam or Damien Jurado, and has a really great up-tempo style with a woodsy feel...ver' nice. Iron and Wine will always and forever be a favorite of mine, and Mason Jennings runs in a similar vein. One artist I REALLY really do love though, who most people don't understand or simply don't like, is on miss Joanna Newsom. In my opinion, she is honestly one of the most inventive and interesting female artists out there; She has a Bjork-esque asthetic, in that you have to listen to her a few times to actually begin to appreciate what she's doing. Most people just write her off because they don't like her little girl - slash - old lady voice. Her latest album "Have One on Me" had me captured for weeks. I grew up with a bluegrass influence (My dad has played in the same band for over 30 years), so I tend to gravitate more towards acoustic artists, or those with a more "natural" sound - if that's even a real musical term?

Elise: I love that you don't care what others think! Whatever melody your heart loves is what you should play! I'll have to check her out! And I'm not sure if it's a musical term, but I know what you mean. Are you a musician yourself?

Corina: Haha no, I'm not. I really wish I were though...my dad tried to teach me how to play the Mandolin when I was five, but I complained that it hurt my fingers and then ran outside and resumed my uber important one-man soccer game. I've been thinking more about teaching myself something lately. The banjo and the 'uke seem to call out to me...or maybe I just like the way they look? I'm not sure which it is... 

Elise: The banjo seems fun! So much soul! Uke I feel like would be pretty easy to learn. Okay so we know you surf.. or just like the smell of wax in your bag.. tell us about your quiver. Which board is your favorite and why?

Corina: Ohhhhh dear....yes I surf as often as I can. I've been riding a 10'0 Dano "Hog" for the last 2 1/2 years and let me tell you - we are as in love today as we were the day I picked her up at the shop. She's big, she's heavy, and she does all the work for you. I seriously get comments about how long I've been riding this same board, but I DO NOT CARE - it is just too fun not to ride. Actually, the FIRST "Hog" I rode was that of a friend, and he let me borrow it to see if I would want one. He was selling his last week and I bought it - so now I have TWO 10'0 Hogs, just in different colors. I guess you could say I'm twice as happy now as I was with just the one. I also have a 10'0 Wegener (do I sound redundant?), a 9'0 Kookbox that my boyfriend got me to take to France last year (all my other boards are glass-on's), a 9'2-ish Morty (shaped by a friend on the Central Coast), and a 7'6" Robert August/Mike Minchinton swallow-tail. I usually only ride that funky mid-length when it gets overhead. Wow. I didn't realize I had that many...ha!

Elise: Doesn't that feel good, when you realize you have a super rad quiver going? I'm envious of your collection lady! Where are all have you surfed, and what's your current home break?

Corina: Yes, I suppose it does! Welllllllll, let me see here...I grew up on the Central Coast, near Morro Bay, so when I started surfing consistently it was up there. My brother has lived in Orange County for almost 10 years now, so he taught me at the beginning. I think the first couple places I ever surfed were at Bolsa Chica and San Onofre. Then, back home, my parents and sister would take me to surf around Morro and Cayucos, and then when I could drive myself, I was over there every single day, rain or shine, after school and on weekends. After a little while, I made friends with the communities over there and made some of the best friends I've had there. A lot of times, if the surf wasn't good in town, we would drive north to Big Sur and surf Sand Dollar, or even further north to Santa Cruz (mmmmm, Pleasure Point....). When the waves would get too big up North, and they did often in the winter, I would make the trek down to Santa Barbara, where Rincon became my new obsession. After making that drive ump-too may times, I decided to move there. I ended up living there for a year and surfing the point almost every day, along with Campus Point at UCSB and El Capitan - all lovely right points. Over the years though, I would always come down and visit my brother and surf Sano, Huntington, Doheny - all those good places, and I ended up moving down here after my year in S.B. Like I mentioned before, I got to go to France this last year (first international trip!). We stayed in Biarritz, so I got to surf right in front of our little hotel, and also in Hossegor. It was during last year's ASP contest, so the waves were big for a good portion of the time we were there, but the small days were awesome. Right now, I mostly surf Blackies (just north of the Newport Pier) or up in Huntington, just past the cliffs. It's been pretty fun! *whew* 

Elise: Don't worry.. I get just as pumped when talking surf too.. I think a little Corina surf flick was playing in my head fast motion style of all the breaks.. that's a groovy collection of waves you've surfed!

Corina: Sweet! I must say, I love the state of California and all the diversity it offers.

Elise: So tell us what your three greatest passions in life are.

Corina: Well, surfing has always been a passionate part of my life, ever since I started. At first, I just wanted to be the best girl surfer in my area (lame! haha), but then I realized how great it is for sharing time with friends and just making for a fun time. Surfing has honestly influence my life in almost every single way; It's given me the friends I have, my mental and emotional health and has literally brought me where I am today. So, that's one big thing...

Art and drawing are also very passionate parts of my life. I get so excited at the thought of sharing my thoughts with people through painting and imagery. And now, making jewelry, I love the idea of getting to wear an expression of one's self on your physical body. Just like beautiful clothing, it's a tangible and fun piece of art.

Finally, I know this sounds cliche, but probably one of the things I am most passionate about in life is family. And not just my family, persay, but just the importance of having a "family" network in a person's life is so incredibly important to one's well-being. I am so fortunate and blessed to have grown up in a loving (and large) family, that always supported me in things I wanted to do and, over the years, I have come to appreciate my parents, grandparents and four brothers and sisters more and more. Having these people in my life is a constant source of joy and encouragement that I find to be so uplifting.

Elise: Surfing, creating, and family. That's all a girl needs right? Let's talk about your jewelry! Honestly the Quartz Crystal Necklace I recently purchased never comes off from around my neck. I simply ADORE it. Tell us the story of your line Indigenous Peoples.

Corina Barnick: Yes, I believe a simple life is a happy one. Well, I realized I could make jewelry a couple of years back, when I was going to be "Pocahontas" for Halloween. I decided that I wanted a simple headband with feathers and things on it. I couldn't find anything I liked, so I decided that I would attempt to make one myself. I just got some supplies from my local craft store and some leather lacing and whipped it up in no time...I had no idea it was so easy! After that, I realized that I could tweak and re-make a lot of the jewelry that I already owned but didn't necessarily love, and turn it into something that I did. I soon starting making items from scratch, with the feathers and leather and beads I had leftover from my "Halloween" collection and started making earrings for myself. After that, it's all "history" as they say... I started wearing the things around town, and girlfriends would see them and ask if I could make a pair for them, and then guys I worked with wanted gifts for their girlfriends and spouses and so on, and so on... So, originally, I just wanted to make things that reflected my own personal style and influences, and that I could say I made with my own two hands (and imagination).

Elise: I love the earthy elements you draw from.. it's the reason I was drawn to your collection. What's next for your collection? Anything you are really itching to create?

Corina: Oooh, good question! Well, I was super stoked on those crystals because, although crystals and prism pendants are super trendy right now, I haven't really seen too many like those. I plan to find some new and interesting ways to integrate those into my jewelry. As much as I love using feathers, that market got pretty saturated pretty quickly, so if I do make anything with feathers, it will (hopefully) be something totally new and different. Other than that, I am just constantly on the hunt for new pieces using natural elements, especially bone (sorry vegan friends!), which was a common material in ceremonial and daily garments of native peoples of North America. I can't go into too much detail, for fear of spoiling it, but I've got some ideas... ; )

Elise: Ohhh so exciting! I can't wait to see!  One last question really.. I know our readers are positive, creative, earth conscious, and love to be inspired by lovely ladies like YOU, what do you think people remember most about you and if you could tell the world one thing what would it be?

Corina: Toughie! Haha, hmmmmm..if I could tell the world one thing, it might be something along the lines of "look inward first, before looking outward at others". By this, I mean that it seems like people tend to focus on what's wrong with "everyone else", when really, we each have so many things we can work on in ourselves. I struggle with and strive to achieve this on a daily basis. We, as people, can always be better; we just have to start with ourselves to do so. And, as far as, what people remember most about me, I'm really not sure, but if I had to guess, I think it would just be the way I look (ha!). That sounds lame, but most people just remember me as "that tan girl with the light eyes" or something similar to that. I'm not very talkative to most people I don't know, either, so some might think I'm "mysterious"; I'm not, necissarily, I'm just pretty selective with who I let in on my life. That's my best guess!

Elise: Well thanks for spending the time to talk with me! It means a lot that you took the time out to let me put you on the spot after hearing about your mysterious ways!

Isn't she so fun?! I'm so stoked to know this girl, and I'm even more stoked that she is offering Salt Water Diary readers a %25 discount in The Indigenous Peoples shop! Just enter APACHE at checkout. Just in time for Valentines!

thats.what.I'm.talking.about.

Last week I posted about Billabong Asia and how the advertising they were using wasn't putting a smile on my face. But alas.. I have just found these BEAUTIFUL photos for the latest ads from Billabong USA. The colors, the gals, the boards, the suits..I LOVE these.. they are simply stunning.