Life is good

Life is good at home. I recently took a trip back to San Jose to visit my family, relatives, and friends. I had such a wonderful time I nearly forgot that my other "home", which is not much of a home, is in Hawaii. I love it when people ask me, "So, what did you do at home?" I would always answer, "Nothing, nothing much. Just sleep, eat, TV, shop, and babysit." Last time I visited home was back in April of last year, and only briefly. It was a business trip to a conference in Denver and I made a stop at home for a day before and after the conference. Therefore, it was especially difficult leaving this time because I had not seen my family for so long. I wanted to stay but reality is cruel, because it is rarely perfect.

I had dim sum with my grandma and ate the most delicious bao. It was a steamed bun with sweet mushed-up taro on the inside. My parents very much wanted to order one on the first day we went dim sum but the bao were sold out really quickly. We didn't even get to see them come out of the kitchen because people take 3-4 orders! Before I flew back to Hawaii, we went dim sum one more time. We were not thinking of that particular bao but the cart came and we ordered 2. We were all so happy.

My house is full of beautiful blooms. When I woke up that first morning upon my return and looked outside, I saw this tree with so many pink buds. I thought, is this tree new? It wasn't. I went outside and took so many pictures because while I live in Hawaii with plants blooming all year round, I couldn't believe how amazing it was to see winter blooms!

Here is another wonderful bloom, an orchid with green flowers that I bought for my parents. The flowers are big and cute. My mom described the flowers as smiling little bashful girls. See for yourself!

Here is what I spend most of my time doing, babysitting these two wonderful monkeys. My niece is 5 years old now and she is so adorable. She ran around the backyard dancing like a ballerina. Then she told me to take a picture of her with a mini pink rose that totally speaks to her bold character.

My nephew (3 years old) is a little more reserved but when he expresses his likes and dislikes, you better listen because he can be very persuasive! He has the cutest smile and attractive eyes. One time, he saw my dad watering flowers in the backyard. Since then, he followed his footsteps.

I will always miss home :)

Stairways everywhere!

Dang it, I am doing it again - forgetting to blog about the house. Christmas is almost here and we are trying to wrap up the renovation. At the same time, I have committed myself to baking 20 loaves of banana bread. While I am totally diggin' the holiday spirit, multitasking between baking, designing, renovating, working, traveling (outer island), and cleaning has taken a toll on me. I have been sleeping much less and exerting more energy during the day to get everything done.

The paint job is almost done so I will be posting pictures of the final look later on. As for the backyard, it is a mess. But we did manage to squeeze in a small staircase to the yard. The guys that build this are awesome!

Enough about the exterior of the house. Let's take a look at the inside and what was done. Below is a picture of the upstairs area. We demolished the straight staircase and covered the puka with plywood. The family area is much more spacious now.

Below is a picture of the downstairs area with the straight staircase on the far left. The wall in the middle separated this area into two small sections - freakin' weird!

So, we took the wall down along with the staircase to open up the family area.

More to come later...

Transforming the Front of the House

This will be an exciting post. Here is how the house originally looks. Now, don't blink!

In converting the front carport into a bedroom, concrete is poured at the base of the new front wall so rain won't seep into the room. The photo shows the framing for the concrete. The window on the side is also changed into a bigger one, by mistake. Our contractor bought the wrong size window. Instead of returning it, he ended up cutting a bigger hole and installing the larger window. That is good for us because it lets in more light into the downstairs area.

The front bedroom will have two 3 x 3 feet window looking out into the street and the neighbor's dog, Marley :)

This is our supercool front entry. Instead of entering the house downstairs through the now non-existent carport, we enter the house from the upstairs.

Viola! A new look for the front of the house. The actual front door was not delivered yet so we temporarily installed the back door so we could have some security.

Side of the House

Compared to the back and front of the house, the side of the house didn't undergo that many changes - the outside look at least. In creating two bedrooms, we moved the existing bathroom and enclosed the front carport. Each of the two bedrooms have one 8 x 3 feet window with a view of Manoa Valley and maybe even the tip of Diamond Head...I'll check to make sure.

Here is a photo with the large windows and new siding in each bedroom. Hopefully the low-e function of the windows is at 100% efficiency because this side of the house gets quite hot sometimes. The window upstairs is the kitchen.

Transforming the Back of the House

It's actually good that I waited until almost the end of the project to post. This way, I can describe the transformation from the old house to the new. Let's begin with the renovation of the back of the house. This is how the house originally looked. I was standing in the covered carport taking this photo. The big window was in the family room and the smaller one was in the laundry room. Wires were everywhere and not to mention the ugly sewer pipe.

This side of the house had the most changes, mostly because we wanted to open up more windows to brighten the room and also to create a back entry. Turned out that most of this wall had termite damage so we couldn't save any of the wood. Starting from the left is the bedroom, then the bathroom (2 windows), the open laundry area, and then the back entry. Just a little secret - the bathroom is the only room with a double-hung window. How cool is that!

We had a little controversy with the back entry stairway. We had wanted a stairway that allows us to enter straight in the door or at an angle. The only way to do that is with a triangle staircase. Since that wasn't "to-code" and we didn't want our neighbors to report us, we decided to go the "legal" way and build a normal looking stairway. Tyvek is used to block out moisture from damaging the drywall. The windows were being installed.

Viola! All the windows are framed and the siding are nailed in. All that is left is painting.

Booo! Tricked ya :) I am not posting photos that reveal the color of the house until later. Save the best for last!

Our House Friends

I don't think I will ever catch up to the present day renovation status. There is just so many details, so many stories to tell. Before showing more photos of our soon-to-be beautiful home, I want to dedicate this post to introducing our house friends who have been keeping us company all this time.

Let's introduce our mama green gecko. She hangs around the front of the house as well as the lanai, playing in my plants. (I think she is a plant enthusiast too!) Sometimes, she is with her baby green gecko inside the house around the lanai sliding doors. Since I planted my epi orchid on the palm tree next to my front door, mama gecko has been hanging around there more often.

Here is our silly window gecko. Bryan tells me geckos like the window surface because it is smooth and gecko feet can hold on to glass better than walls. He also discovered that this gecko comes around our den window at about the same time everyday, between 8:30 to 10PM. I didn't believe him so I started my little investigation. After dinner, I would poke my head in the den and there he was, stuck to the glass in the weirdest position possible. Bryan and I have so much fun just looking at him. When we began painting the exterior, this gecko stopped coming and we missed our little friend so much. Once the painting was complete (at least for that side of the house), he came back that same night!

How about this little guy, the bathroom baby gecko. One day, Bryan came out of the bathroom blushing and said, "he is violating my privacy." I looked in and saw this baby gecko hanging by the toilet seat cover. He has taken residence in my bathroom fern plant. However, I have been seeing him in my kitchen orchids. I think I need to make him a "I've Moved" card.

Finally, the friend that we will always remember. We first discovered him outside the bathroom on the carpet. He was the size of a nickel, very tiny. Not only did he move slow, sometimes he didn't move at all. That was how I took this photo. For a couple nights in a row, he was moving about at the same place. We would walk in the room very cautiously so we don't step on him. Then one day, his skin color changed from a light green to a dark brown. I got down on my knees and looked at him. Ants were all over him. We were depressed the whole day. I buried him next to my mamaki plant in the backyard. One lesson I learned: When geckos don't climb walls, something is definitely wrong.

Problem Drain

Renovation is only beautiful at the end ... the rest is a total nightmare. The truth is, you won't know what's wrong with the house until you open it up. Two out of the four walls had extensive termite damaged. We ended up having to replace all the framing.

If not termite eaten wood, it was wood rot. The drywall in the living room was also screwed up. Luckily, the mold wasn't present in other areas of the house.

If there is one thing that we learned throughout the house buying process, it would be this: Home Inspectors are useless. The Home Inspector never noticed anything that would point to all the termite and water damage. We wrote to him, asking how he neglected to point out that the master bedroom addition was not secured (with three bolts) to one of the pillers. He responded that he did not notice the missing bolts when he did the inspection. So what, we purposely put our lives in danger and took out the bolts so we can sue his okole? Only a dum dum would do that!

We had a bigger problem. During demo, we noticed that the floor boards were all wet. Then our contractors touched the hollow tile wall and it was wet, and paint was peeling off the walls. Turned out that water was seeping through the wall from the left side of the house.

We decided it was an exterior drainage problem so we began our investigation into the mystery leak. As much as we hate to, we did it the old fashion way - we dug behind the house to search for the so-called "French Drain" that the previous owners assured us was functional. We dug five feet from the top all the way down to the foundation and found nothing. Simple formula - no drain, water ponds, water go in house. The slope in the back wasn't helping the water drain either because the ground slopes toward the house and not away from the house. During big rains, our house could potentially flood when we are not even in a freakin' flood zone! This drain ordeal pushed our renovation schedule back by at least 2 weeks. It is Thanksgiving and renovation is still going. Grrr! Our contractor had to do a million things to remedy the situation and put in a new drainage system. After excavation, our contractor laid concrete to level the slope away from the house. To waterproof the wall, he applied two coats of super think sealant and attached GreenGuard waterproofing boards. We helped backfill the trench with new dry gravel.

Not only did we have to dig the left side of the house, we had to create a groove in the front so that water continues to flow downhill and not into the house via the carport. The carport is sloped in a way that water can pond in one corner and possibly seep into the house.

We are frustrated and angry that the previous owners would leave us such a mess. We are currently seeking a formal response from them about this non-disclosure issue as we have proof that they attested to the presence of a French Drain during sale of the house. If they refuse to take responsibility, we may hire lawyers to deal with them.

Demolition

This photo signifies the beginning of a beautiful nightmare. You have seen the upstairs of our home in the previous post. With the existing floor plan, we enter the house from the front carport, turn left to go up the stairway that is positioned in the front of the house. Compared to upstairs, the first story is weird. The space is divided into two areas with narrow hallways and no bedrooms. There is an existing full bath and 3 storage areas: one below the staircase, another converted from an old spiral staircase, and the third converted from an exterior entryway and can be accessed from outside. Overall, the area is dark and didn't flow well. So, we made the biggest decision in our lives (in addition to buying a house) - renovate. We had all these ideas but couldn't quite organize them in our heads. First, we wanted to bring back the spiral staircase because it is cool and unique! We also wanted the main entry to be upstairs because of the cathedral ceilings. Then we wanted to create two bedrooms, a laundry area, a bigger full bath, and a gigantic family room downstairs. We realized we couldn't possibly have enough room to make 2 medium sized bedrooms so we decided to partly enclose the front carport. We managed to get a home design program and Bryan worked on what is becoming a awesome floor plan. He is quite the architect :)

Our very first demo work was done in the bathroom. Before Bryan came home from work, I picked up a hammer and began busting the walls. Lucky guess, the first wall I hammered was one with an electrical panel and the electricity went out [poof]! Oooops, so I hammered another wall. Lucky guess again because the water line was behind the wall. Good thing I neva bust the pipes. With two close calls, I gave up and waited until my contractor came to teach me Demo 101.

Next is the stairway demo. This was easy because drywall was only on one side of the wall (the other side was the closet and the beams were exposed). If done correctly, you could take out the drywall in large single pieces to reduce the amount of drywall dust.

Here is what we did to the upstairs wall that borders the stairway. Scary in the early morning when I go work without falling in the puka.

That's it for now. Stay tuned for the story on the infamous French Drain.

Our Beautiful House!

Ooops, I lied. Instead of coming back from a hiatus, I went straight back in. I have good reasons for my 3-month hide-out. [side note ~ ew, never put wheat germ in your chocolate milk, yucky plahh!] For one, I bought a HOUSE! It's probably old news for many of you but I am still getting used to calling myself a homeowner. Let's take a look...

This is a 2 story cottage-style house that sits on top of a 10 degree slope in one of the shortest dead end streets in Manoa. I have wanted to live in Manoa Valley since I moved to Hawaii. People say "everything grows in Manoa" because the Koolau Mountains that border one side of the valley bring with them rain and trade-winds, which make perfect weather for plants. Certainly, plant enthusiasts such as I are attracted to the lush green environment of Manoa. During the summer, Bryan and I run this valley because of the cooler weather.

The houses in Manoa are very distinct - an eclectic collection of victorian, cottage, swiss chalet, roman, american, japanese, chinese, and island style homes. It is quite difficult to find two of the same style of houses in the entire valley. The streets are filled with color, from warm tones of yellow and orange to bold red and black homes. White houses look majestic, yet the aqua blue and orange trim house that sits atop the mountain tells a different story. Manoa has character and that is why I love it.

This is the living-dining room area. We fell in love with the cathedral ceilings the moment we stepped into the house. The ceilings are 15-20 feet high and the space is so open. The wood laminate floors are relatively new because they still shine. Our furniture and decorative elements match with the feel of the home :)

The lanai gives a view of Diamond Head, the ocean, and the Koolau Mountains. What more can I ask for!

Guess why I love the kitchen? It's GREEN! My red Le Creuset spatula set look fabulous in the green kitchen. Oh and all the windows have a view of the mountains. I have never enjoyed washing dishes so much! The layout of the kitchen is a bit weird but nothing we can't fix.

I love my house...well, the 2nd story at least. Stay tuned for a peak of the 1st story of the house and what we are doing to make it awesome.

Chop Suey

Since I don't quite remember what happened during my hiatus, I have taken a Chop Suey approach - random pieces of information that are disconnected but have somehow consumed my every last bit of energy in the past few months. Let’s start with Shaun the Sheep. As Britain’s most beloved star, this adorable character made his debut in America as the perfect icon for Serta Mattress Co. I was given the opportunity to meet this fellow and his gang, and even hug them and pick their noses. Contrary to popular belief, Shaun is not soft but rather firm like a good ol’ sturdy mattress. Their white and fluffy bodies portrayed so soft and heavenly, part of animation being a beautiful and harmless lie. I can’t believe how much these guys sell for: small at $10, large at $400! As much as I love this creature, I did not buy a Serta mattress but I did enjoy napping with the mascot.

Mattress shopping is tiring - ironic but true. I am used to sleeping on one bed for at least 6 hours. Going from bed to bed, trying to differentiate the softness between them became impossible the more beds I tested. Pretty soon, my opinion of each bed was “soft, they are all very soft” until…I met THE ONE. Simmons Beautyrest Worldclass Atkins X-Firm – the ultimate perfect bed. It was all very complicated and contradicting, like falling in love – soft but firm, springy but not bouncy, flexible but holds its shape. This bed is absolutely amazing.

On a different note, Bryan and I went to the Hawaii Book and Music Festival at Honolulu Hale back in May. The highlight of this event was getting to see Jake Shimabukuro perform. He is a very talented musician and plays so passionately. I love how he turns melodies normally played with a piano or another instrument into an ukelele masterpiece.

I'm back!

Hi peeps, sorry for my little hiatus but I am officially back! I wrote an angry post back in the beginning of July about working in limbo at my state job but it was too gloomy and sad for the blog's taste. The post is still sitting in my flash drive and who knows, I may decide to post it the next time I explode with madness and frustration.

Before I dive into a discussion about some of the exciting things that happened in the past few months, I would like to indulge you in the thought of having another me...well, a more successful version that is. Not only is she a TV star and a foodie, she is a writer and producer of a radio show about shopping and eating. Oh and did I mention she is somewhat sexy and I love her hairstyle (the one on the homepage of her blog)? Check her out here. Gosh, if only I wasn't as lazy and dumb, that could be me :( Hmmm...I wonder if there is an evil-er version of me.

Stay tuned :)

Puu Pia Trail

I finally realize that I cannot effectively manage 6 blogs plus a Facebook and an Etsy account. My Artsy blog hasn't been updated for 2 months now, which ultimately affects my Etsy account because no art means nothing to sell. I have also failed to update the Pediatric Basketball blog with the more recent games. What have I been doing the past 2 months? I have no idea! I guess I just wasn't in the blogging mood with everything that is going on.  I am also sneezing up a storm this morning, which I blame on the vog (volcanic ash from the Big Island). 

I have been wanting to share this amazing hike that took place in March. Bryan and I have always loved Manoa Valley and will jump on any opportunity to hike the trails that allow us to explore the beauty of the valley. Puu Pia Trail starts above Woodlawn and ends at the top of a puu (hill) with a 360 degree view of Manoa. The trail is mostly gently sloping with occasional steep ascends / descends. The photo below attempts to show the steep and rooty parts of the trail.  

Near the beginning of the trail were bunches of hilo holly that I originally thought were Christmas Berry, which has thinner leaves. I love the rich red color of the berries.

Half way up the trail, we were surrounded by beautifully arched Eucalyptus trees. Though it was sprinkling a bit, we were well protected even if heavy rain fell.

Near the top of  the puu, we had a great view of the back of Manoa Valley. 

We walked a little further up and saw that the trail was suffocated with Fiddlewood. Though a major weed in the Koolau Mountains, a closer look at the string of tiny white flowers makes the weed look almost beautiful and wanted. 

Ah! We were at the top of the puu, looking at Honolulu city from the back of Manoa Valley.

Here is a closer look at the houses in Manoa. Bryan took this picture and he did a great job!

I stitched five photos together to create panorama of the Koolau Mountains that surround Manoa Valley. You can also see a little bit of the trail that leads to the puu. 

On the way back, Bryan stopped to poison himself with more delicious bug spray. When he was done, he almost stepped on this poor little toad who was enjoying his bask under the warm sunlight. Look! He gave Bryan a stink eye! 

After the hike, we went to refuel at Genki. We took this video for our great friends, Ryan, Emily, and Poki. Enjoy!

Green Heaven

One fine day, we decided to visit our favorite Ho`omaluhia Botanical Garden. So much has happened and so much more will happen at this special place. I could almost imagine myself at 90 years old (lucky I live that long), sitting beside the lake with my old old husband, reminiscing of the good ol' romantic years while enjoying the beautiful and peaceful scenery surrounding us. How wonderful to lie on the grass and let the soft wind lift all the worries and stress off our shoulders. Everyone needs a bit of green heaven.

On our weekend excursion, we discovered a small park near Ho`omaluhia.  Heeia State Park is not much as seen on the trail map, until you do a little exploring of your own. A short walk to the opposite side of the park is set of stairs that lead to a secluded area, that some tidying could transform it into a cozy wedding ceremony site. The arched trees form a passageway to a mangrove beach.    

The water was quite calm and clear. With the carpet leading to the beach, we were sure some lucky person found this gem and made this his special escape.

Honolulu Auto Show

It's that time of the year again, when I indulge myself with cars that I will never buy and those that I cannot afford. This post is long overdue because the Honolulu Auto Show was in March ago. But, better late than never. Here's a car that I can afford (in the future) but will never buy. I was practically sitting on the floor in this car!  Bryan said this car reminded him of my niece, Ellyse :) ... and that uncle Bryan will buy Ellyse this car when she is old enough to drive.  

Here's one that I will never own because it wasn't for sale. This car use to be a piece of junk, I mean really junky non-drivable trash-worthy junk. But a group of motivated students salvaged it and rebuild it as part of a class project. Some kind of class project this was! 

My Dream Car #2. The Nissan GT-R was this year's Motor Trend Car of the Year. It is about 70K, so it's something that I cannot afford to waste by driving in the slow freeways of Honolulu. I also loved the 2009 Nissan Maxima, which is my "realistic" car of the year - a car that I will buy if I need a car.