Tag: Chamorro

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Studs for days

IBHolidays2

My good friend Healani gave me this red leather clutch for Christmas. I think I’m obsessed with it. Thanks Lan, for such a useful and chic gift. Love you!

Now that Christmas is over, I can finally relax! Well, on a smaller scale. I’ve been trying to work as much as I can to prepare for my trip. I still haven’t bought things for my family back in Saipan. They usually don’t like the local stuff here. No surprise, they have all these Japanese products available back home, why would you want something from Hawaii when you already live on a beautiful island?

On another note, the holidays have inspired me to glam up a bit. Just because I knowingly  slack in the makeup department, I decided to try something new.

IBHolidays

Here’s one from Instagram showcasing just how “daring” I can be with makeup. I swear some girls can pull off the bright lips but I feel kind of funny so I wiped it off before Christmas dinner with my family. It is a pretty color though, it’s Make Up For Ever in 36 and the coverage is awesome. Everything else I use is from the drugstore, I used L’oreal liquid foundation, NYX eyeliner and Maybelline mascara.

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Uniku Marianas by Karen Cabrera

There are two places I truly call home: O’ahu and Saipan. I’ve featured many international artists on my blog, but there is one artist who I’ve admired, for a long time, who truly captures the beauty and raw-ness of Saipan. Her photos on her website Uniku Marianas, have the power to pull strongly on those feelings of nostalgia and they often make me homesick.

I’ve been familiar with Saipan artist Karen Cabrera for a while. In fact, I used to go to school with her sister at Mount Carmel School. Although we’ve never really spoken to each other, I’ve seen her work all over the internet and social media outlets on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. As you can see, she’s a cunning photographer, who seems to be seasoned with patience and the best equipment. Judging by her interaction with online admirers, she’s also rather modest about her work. Her sister, professional photographer Michelle ‘Turtle” Cabrera promotes her work.

 Perfect Day to be Out by Karen Cabrera

These are not your ordinary nature photos. These are photos of an island’s beauty that has endured a dark history of war, colonization (x3), political corruption and recently, the mini-diaspora of Chamorros who seek better opportunities and lifestyles outside of the Northern Mariana Islands. Thanks to Cabrera, those Chamorros (myself included) have actual, stunning images to reminisce and bring them closer to home.

 Uninhabited by Karen Cabrera

Karen, if you read this, please don’t stop what you do, whether you’re snapping photos in Idaho, California or Saipan. Your photos are my method of escapism from the city life and they make great visual material when I brag about Saipan. 🙂

Karen’s main website: exquisitektc.com