Aloha peeps,

First things first. I want to take time out to congratulate and express my insane admiration to Will Lopez for donating bone marrow today. You're amazing. I'm so so so proud of you. You're saving someone's life. Thank you for being such an amazing person. Lucky to call you a friend.
Since a lot of my readers probably don't know Will, I'll leave you with a little story. I texted my Besties! group last Friday (because they were all chatting about their weekend plans and I felt left out) and I said "Take a shot for me!". Will immediately responded "Fire dance for me". ahah. Workin' on it... But seriously, he's amazing and he gave bone marrow today! Hip Hip Hooray!!

So more about today. Clarissa and I were off. They are doing a rotating schedule so today it was the two of us that didn't have to go into work today. We went to Mana to get some groceries and bumped into every person she has ever met. Brandi, the woman who does the henna, works at Mana and we got to chat a little bit about what we might do for my shoot. I'm really excited about it. Should be a fun time. She did the Henna for Chihero (Chi) and we went to that shoot in Kula this evening. Her belly looks amazing. It was a family photoshoot with her two children, Liam and Kaisha, and her Husband, Hala. Chichero is pregnant and Brandi did this amazing design on her stomach for the photoshoot. We went to Thompson Road, which is a private road Oprah lives on to shoot which is literally all the way out in the boonies. Absolutely mindblowing location. We were literally in ripples of the mountains up country and looking down at the ocean. Unreal. The lights were on in Oprah's but I assume it was her housekeeper or someone else in there.

Clarissa doing her thing. Awesome.

Clarissa had done this shoot for them a few years back when Kaisha was a little girl. I loved this photo. It was up in Chi's house.

Liam. Adorable.

 Kaisha taught me a little bit of Hawaiian! So cute. I know my colors now!

Oprah's house. It looked WAY closer in person than on my phone but whatever. HAY GIRL!

 Ocean Background

Mountain background

We then bumped into this woman named Cindy at Mana as well. She works at this store called Lilikoi which is a body/fragrance/women's beauty store. I smelled the most fragrant candle called Crisp Champagne. I've never smelled that smell before. I think I might have to buy the candle. It smelled like vanilla and champagne and some sort of light floral note. Nothing I've ever smelled before. It's like the smell of tuberose, I doubt I'll forget it because I've never smelled anything that fragrant. 

So we continued our journey in Pa'ia and ended up at this store called Alice in Hulaland. Cute wordplay. Anyways, as we were leaving some man stopped me at the door and goes "My mother told me to give three compliments a day and I hope you take this in the most polite way, but you have the most amazing hair. I love it." This man made my entire day. I'm telling you, I'm a rarity in Maui. They have no black/brown people besides Hawaiians or darker latinos. I stand out...and we already know I'm relishing in the attention. YES PLEASE!

So onto the best part of our trip to town. We went to this store called Tamara Catz. Because Clarissa was in wedding photography and had lived on Maui previously, she knows everybody. I think her and I were going a little stir crazy in the house and so I'm really glad someone is here who can take me around. Corine has her husband coming in this week and her mother arrived last week so she's kind of doing her own thing. Thank goodness I have Clarissa as well! Anyways, back to the story. We went into Tamara Catz because Clarissa wants to do a bridal photoshoot with ME (!!!!!!!!) in the Cane House potentially. They don't have any pictures with any African American brides at Haiku Mill and as I said previously, there are no brown people in Maui. So far I have counted four, not kidding. Anyways, we walk into Tamara Catz on a whim hoping Tamara will be in because she usually is not and DING! SHE WAS THERE. We talked a bit and apparently Tamara is doing a shoot Friday and wants me to go see how they do it. They were looking for a "different" look and I literally worked into their plan perfectly (because I am brown. Not kidding). Anyways, she said she'd gift me some clothes or we could do a trade if I do the shoot with her. Very cool. As they were discussing their vision and ideas, I sat down to look at her books on the coffeetable/table in the store. Her clothes and swimsuits are everywhere. I saw multiple Sports Illustrated ads, Marie Claire, Self, Victoria's Secret, Us, InStyle, Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Seriously, wild. I don't think Clarissa came to Maui with intentions to shoot but as we're both kind of stuck at Haiku Mill, it's really nice to just go out and I know she uses her photography as her passion and an outlet. I'm just excited to do something fun and different. I love having pictures of myself, and I don't mind being shot by an awesome photographer AT ALL. It's a nice way to get out of the house and do something different. Really, its a pretty sweet trade. It works out in both of our favors. And I get to keep professionally produced photographs for my portfolio as well as co-mingle with AWESOME people in the wedding industry. It couldn't be a better trade. I'm over the moon.

 I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS DRESS. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL IN THE STORE. They had one with a black and white top and I literally kept going back to look at it. SO beautiful.

Anyways, after that, we went back to Des Amies and had crepes for lunch. SERIOUSLY, the most delicious things ever. I've had tons of sweet crepes but I tried a bit of Clarissa's savory crepe and it changed my entire outlook on crepes as meals. It was some Maui tomato, parmesan, mozzarella and basil crepe. UNREAL. It only had a little (and then ate the rest of my nutella crepe) but it was amazing. So delicious. Food tastes better here, I promise. I have died and gone to food heaven.

Also. Serious question. Would you rather have NUTELLA or BACON?! That question blew my mind. I love them both. Help. lol

.....AND THE WHALES ARE COMING TO GIVE BIRTH SOON! I CAN'T WAIT! AND I'M HOPEFULLY GOING TO SEE THE DOLPHINS. Seriously, there is too much I am trying to do here. I'm so excited. I have such a large list I want to tackle. Hopefully I'll get through it.


With warmest aloha,
MJ

Also, it is almost midnight here. Prayers to all affected by 9/11 and the horrible acts of September 11, 2001. Blessings and may this day be one of remembrance. We will never forget.