About

Hey! Thank you for visiting the Casa Bouquet. There’s a lot going on here that I hope will inspire you to embrace many kinds of joy so you can grow and bloom, no matter your age! Classic movies (arranged in film festivals), activities for children (especially science), home (recipes, sewing, crafts), travel with a history and food focus (Hawaii!), and self-care are all part of the bouquet I’m offering you.

I’m Lisa and I would like to tell you a little about me and my world.

• My husband and I married 25 years ago and blended our families. A wise friend at church, Jesse, asked us to consider that our new family would have 3 last names. He suggested we name our home. We came up with Casa Bouquet. It’s a gathering together of flowers that make a lovely whole.

 

 

 

 

 

• I have a PhD in Science Education and retired from NC State University after thirty years as an educator.  I still work as an educational consultant. The Gardener is an environmental engineer. Our grown daughters are “Margo”, “Edith”, and “Agnes”. We have three grandsons and a granddaughter.
  
  

  Agnes, Margo, and Edith

• My number one hobby is Hawaii. I know it’s strange to have a state as your hobby (how many people say their obsession is Iowa?) but I have fallen in love with the people, the culture, the beauty, the food, and the history. I began hula under Kumu Kealohalani Wright and now I study with Hālau Nā Pualani Kūikanani under Kumu Kauʻi Dalire. You’ll find lots of information and opinions on Hawaii posted here.
• I also love sewing and crafts, cooking, TV and old movies, and travel. Jane Austen: I’ve read Pride and Prejudice over 40 times! I also love children’s books and detective novels.

Come along as I work on finding an abundant life and embracing joy! Subscribe in the sidebar and you’ll get email with new posts.

{You can contact me at lisa[at]casabouquet.com}

On the Menu

Culture: I love old movies, TV, reading, music, and history. In “Lisa’s Home Bijou”, I’ll share my reviews of classic films and hopefully inspire you to have a few film festivals of your own. I am proud to claim Betty Grable as a distant cousin. My “film career” began when my parents named me for Leslie Caron’s character in “An American in Paris.”

Home-making: Have you ever gone to the library to read Godey’s Lady Book or Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management? I want home to be a haven. Sewing, crafts, cooking, and finding a cleaner, healthier lifestyle are all important to me.

Education: Why can’t school be more like summer camp? In my career as a university pre-college outreach professional, I had the opportunity to plan summer educational experiences for middle school and high school students. And I found that joy of learning still exists! By approaching lessons and units with the perspective of camp counselors, you can inject the wonder and motivation that so often disappears in our testing-crazy times. Tutu is a name for a grandparent in Hawaii. When our grandchildren come to spend time with us, we say they are at Camp Tutu! Welcome to Camp Tutu, my way of energizing science lessons!

Travel: I love Hawaii; it’s my happy place. I am excited to share my love of our 50th state. I hope to inspire you to fully learn about and enjoy this Pacific paradise. I’ll also share other travels with an emphasis on food and history.

Style: Self-care can often end up last on our list. But it’s important for feeling good and keeping you in shape to give to others. Nail polish and beauty products are so much fun. My mother never left the house without her “face” on and her favorite nail polish was Cherries in the Snow. Try out some of my tips and suggestions.