Discovered this ladybug in the yard.

At the grand opening of Forever21 at Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki, 800 people waited in line to get in at 10 a.m. First in line were there at about 4 a.m. Gift cards valued at $10 to $210 were among the draws.

Neighbor's Christmas display.

Merry Christmas!

While in the mall for holiday shopping, stopped into Neiman Marcus for peek at spring, including the latest romantic styles from 3.1 Phillip Lim. On the left is his coat of leather and lace.

Met with Hudson at Ward Starbucks to talk about his modeling escapades in New York.

I wish I were as tall as my shadow at sunset.

During heavy rain today, I was trapped in my car for a long time. The droplets and streaks are on the windshield.

Drizzly weather is good for uprooting weeds I was throwing into a plastic bag, which attracted this fly, who was licking up the water droplets. It wasn't even scared when I put my finger near it, so I ran to get my camera in case it lingered around, which it did.

Met photographer Rae Huo for lunch at Ken Fong, and afterward, the tattoo shop across the way provided a great backdrop for a photo.

Lunch from Bob's BBQ at the office consisted of kalua pork, BBQ beef, mochiko chicken, fried noodles, Chinese chicken salad and rice.

This egret looked content after I watched him pluck and swallow two lizards off bushes at South and Pohukaina streets.

At Nikolai Tsang and Kristin Woods Minx party, I picked up camouflage Minx on my hands, which look kind of alien, and holiday plaid with a few sparkly crystals on my toes. Afterward, I wished I had picked something more festive on my hands, in line with the season.

At the grand opening celebration for the Patagonia Ward Avenue store, attended by founder Yvon Chouinard, a fisherman's net was passed over and held by guests during the blessing as a symbol of unity.

Sunset over Ala Wai Boat Harbor.

Kate Schuette models a piece from Escada's Spring/Summer 2011 Reflections line at the Ala Moana Center boutique, during an informal luncheon fashion show.

Harry & David goodies in the office a sign of the holidays.

Morning pick-me-up: 70 percent dark Waialua Estates chocolate, Samoan vanilla, cinnamon and Hawaiian chili pepper drink at Blue Hawaii Lifestyle.

The Spa at Trump hosted a spa open house, during which guests were invited for mini treatments including manicures, facials, shoulder massages and holiday makeup application from Stila. Haley Pancipanci was the youngest guest.

Took in Bernard Foong's fashion show at the Trump International Hotel Waikiki. Kristen Stephensonpino models.

Power outtage in Liliha provided an excuse to light as many candles as possible. Candlelight is so beautiful!

At the Kahala Hotel, 2-year-old Kamalu was one of the green sea turtles getting a weigh-in. The turtles are protected and studied, then released into the ocean at age 4.

Shopping for a car. My preferences would be for a BMW Z3 or Z4 or Audi TT. I like Mazda Miatas too, but they're a little light and crushable considering how many bad drivers are out there.

With turkey in abundance, picked one up for $3.98 at Safeway and cooked it up for a week's worth of post-Thanksgiving sandwiches. Almost cut my finger off in the process of slicing tho.

This bat was among the many rice-filled figures Edward Gorey stitched up to coincide with his dark/humorous illustrations. Part of the John A. Carollo collection at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Library's Special Research Collections, on view at the UH Art Gallery through Dec. 10, 2010.

Dinner at Le Bistro included this Penn Cove mussel and Manila clam fricassee.

Happy Thanksgiving, gobble gobble! Cajun turkey.

Met accessory designer Emm Kuo on Twitter, and in person. She's showing one of her Spring/Summer 2011 exotic skin handbags.

Took in the "Salud Y Vida" fall/bridal collection by Manila-based designer Renee Salud at Hawaii Prince Hotel.

On a stroll through Waikiki today, spotted this paint-splattered fellow.

At Sierra Dew's stencil workshop for GirlFest, I layered this bison over a peacock feather design. Fun!

Island Edge named Sina Thomsen, center, the winner of its inaugural Design Star competition. She's pictured with her fellow finalists Reise Kochi, left, and Randy Oridello. All are former Honolulu Community College students.

Crazy Shirts founder Rick Ralston came out of retirement to introduce a new contemporary aloha shirt/menswear concept, Rix Island Wear. Dennis Oda photographed Rick, second from left, with his models for a story I worked on for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Trying the newly open Tanaka Saimin—progeny of Boulevard Saimin—I sampled an old favorite, fried saimin. Was ono.

Hawaii Gov.-elect Neil Abercrombie tries on a shirt by old friend Rick Ralston on the opening day of Rick's newest endeavor, Rix Island Wear, at Ward Warehouse.

Stopped for lunch at Grass Skirt Grill in Haleiwa and was surprised, while eating, when this chicken pecked my toe. I don't know if it thought it was food, or was just trying to get my attention to say, "Feed me." It ate about half my garlic fries.

I interviewed tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy ahead of time, but met him for the first time at the opening of his art exhibition at Robyn Buntin Gallery, "Beyond Fashion: The Personal Art of Ed Hardy."

Artist/designer Sierra Dew at home in front of her inspiration board.

Joined the Foodspotting Web site. My first post was grilled salmon linguine from Good to Grill.

Visited the Edward Gorey exhibition at the University of Hawaii Art Gallery for Halloween.

Visited the sparkling, newly renovated DFS Galleria Beauty Department for the first time.

After the end of "Project Runway," but in advance of the airing of the Lifetime show's finale, I met with designer Andy South in his Chinatown studio. His life had been in a state of limbo. Between appearance and interview demands he hadn't worked on much so his manikins were naked, but he talked about the future.

Tim Gunn visited Honolulu for a Liz Claiborne, Inc., fashion show, and posed for photographs after the show.

At the opening of the first of the Edition brand of boutique hotels, in Waikiki, hotelier Ian Schrager, right, hosted a press conference to talk of his inspirations and aims. He's with Arne M. Sorenson, president and chief operating officer of Marriott International.

During a photo shoot with Anya Rozova for HI Luxury magazine, we did an impromptu photo in Kensei Takeda's bathtub, not for publication, just for ourselves, with a Neiman Marcus gown that didn't make it into the final edit.

Sampled the first of the season's matsutake during a Gochiso dinner hosted by Marukai at Zenshu restaurant.

Models show the feathers, furs and lace of Fall/Winter 2010 at Neiman Marcus during Fashion's Night Out at Ala Moana Center, Honolulu.

Following the Acid Dolls' Fall 2010 fashion show, "Urban Revolution," designer Cindy King, center, is photographed with fellow designers, from left, Nana Shibayama, Misha Pyle, Richard Togami and Matt Bruening.

At the grand opening of Sephora Waikiki, a rare treat: unusued testers! These are Aqua Lip Creams from Make Up For Ever. Love the warm colors!

Robin Renzi, jewelry designer and CEO of Me&Ro, helps "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" actor Mariska Hargitay with her jewelry prior to a dinner at Neiman Marcus's Mariposa restaurant for Hawaii supporters of the Joyful Heart Foundation Hargitay founded to help survivors of sexual and domestic abuse heal.