Monday Music Moves Me Linky Party

It has been like FOREVER since I partied with these guys. It’s so much fun to participate in this linky party.

It’s time for



and today’s theme is music to work out to.

Well it’s been a LONG time since I’ve worked out and I’m on doctor’s orders not to so that I don’t go into labor too early. Sucks for me huh… not !

When I do work out, I like to jog or train martial arts. I suck at jogging. But when I do work out or prepare for training I like to listen to… drum roll please….



Have fun on the music train!!

My kitchen faves!

Centsational Girl is having a super fun Favorite Kitchen Gadgets {Linky Party}

It looked like so much fun I had to join in.

My Kitchen MUST-haves....

Absolute must have in my kitchen, this thing gets used almost daily!

Rice cooker

This Crock Pot is a life saver at times!

I cannot even explain how amazing this dutch oven is from Costco and I scored and got it for $27.97

I also can't get enough of these Pampered Chef bamboo spoons!

They're great! (in the tune of Tony the Tiger)

They don't stain and they are easy to clean and they don't scratch any of my pans.

This little guy is great and looks so fancy schmancy when your girlfriends come over.

When baking I will not even attempt it without first my Pampered Chef Mixing Batter Bowl

and my handheld mixer

(mine is just a sunbeam and it works just fine)

and speaking of kitchen gadgets I have to include my

Wishlist....

I would love to have one of these babies...

Silpat

Yes, I would kill for one of these

Kitchen Aid Mixer in Pistachio

I would make pesto for everything if I had a food processor.

I'm not exactly sure why I havent picked up one of these yet.

Maybe my husband sees this post somehow and gets me something off my wish list for Mother's Day. 

oh for the love of kitchens....

I am just dying for this linky party over at Thrifty Decor Chick called Show Us Your house.

The theme right now is Kitchens!

I am L-O-V-I-N-G all the great ideas and inspiration I am getting!

Go check it out!



January - March Recap

I've never done a recap before so when I read about the 2011 Review Extravanganza I thought what a fun idea! Its always good to reflect on the past year anyway right?

So thats what I did. I went back to see what I did throught the year, first up is
January - March Recap, what did I do?

I sewed with Bias tape for the first time.

I joined the 21 days to getting organized challenge over at A bowl full of lemons.
It was great I organized under my kitchen sink, my dresser & drawers, the medicine cabinet (when was the last time you checked the expiration date on your meds?), under the bathroom sink, toy organization and my recipe books.

It was a lot of cleaning and organizing let me tell ya, but I needed it.
They were small enough projects that they were easy to tackle... now can someone else do another organizing challenge please? I need to start cleaning again.

My girlfriend put on a beautiful Sunflower Baby shower.
And its time for her daughters 1st bday so I just can't wait to see it all put together and share it with ya'll! She goes WAY over the top and doesnt miss a single detail!

I practiced a bit with my photography and learned about bokeh and macro.

My lil man celebrated his 2nd bday in February.
I reminised about being pregos and giving birth.
And I reflected on my son's first two years, boy do they grow so fast!

We had a little celebration for him at our home and had a great time.

Hawaii was hit with a tsunami warning on 3/11/11 after the horrible Japan earthquakes.
Thankfully we were not badly affected by it.

I shared my story about karma that till today when I read my own story, I still get goose bumps and tear a little.

And speaking getting teary and geting goose bumps....
I told you about the little gift I made for my friend Kai.
It was supposed to be uplifting and keep him positive.
Little did we know that times were only going to get tougher for him.
Few months into the year, they found a large tumor on the base of his brain.
Thank God for miracles, hes doing fine now.

Hmmm what a way to start the year! Thanks for keeping up with me... next week April - June Recap!

Hoo Are you? With Night Owl Crafting

 It's been a while, but Night Owl Crafting is doing their weekly Hoo Are you again!

Here are my answers! 

 

1. Is all your Christmas shopping done?

 

NOPE! But I'm in good shape. I did most of my shopping through out the year when I found great sales so I just have a few last minute things to pick up and then the rest is just baking.

2. Do you decorate for Christmas and if so when?

 

Yes, I decorate usually Thanksgiving weekend or the weekend after.

This year I havent gone all out with the lights on the house and the lighted tree and reindeer in the yard because we just plugged some new grass and I have to water often!

 

3. Do you bake during the Holiday season?

 

Yes, I make myself crazy baking every year, but I have to. I just can't afford to buy gifts for everyone, and who doesnt like a homemade sweet treat? 

 

4. What are your favorite smells of this time of year?

 

I'm  not a peppermint fan, I do like cinnamon, cookies and the smell of fresh trees. We never have a real tree but I catch a wiff when we go to the stores.

 

5. What are your favorite things to do during the Holiday Season?

 

I love to drive around and check out everyone's houses all decorated with lights.



Oh Monday, why do you come so soon??

**note**
I started this post on Monday and fully meant to publish it, well, sorry, it didnt happen.
I'll post an update soon.


Seriouslly? Why does Monday come so soon?

Friday takes forever to get here and come the end of the week and you blink and Monday is here!

It pretty much stormed all weekend long here with flash flooding and they even closed down the bridge going into Hanalei.
We were supposed to go to a wedding on Saturday evening, but the lil guy came down with a fever and we were not going to bring him out in the weather we were having.

We had very restless nights the past 2 nights. The poor lil guy is taking his athsma meds and seems to be more comfortable, except that he's acting crazy!

Well, what comes with Monday's?
MUSIC!
It's time again for:

This week is a freebie and this is just what I need to brighten up my day!

No Christmas in October!!!

Today I'm having a double feature! I'll be linking up to Fawk You Friday with my gal Bobbies

and for the first time I'm joining Mamarazzi for some Friday Confessions.

I Confess...... I've always hated Christmas. It's along story, but its just too stressful for me and it's not that joyful time of the year that it should be.

I Confess...... Since having my son, I kinda like it now, like I have a reason to enjoy it and I enjoy seeing him enjoy it. But I still play the grouchy scrooge.

I Confess..... I'm secretly excited to put up my Christmas decorations and lights. I'm excited to take my son riding around to see all the Christmas lights. I'm excited to bring my son to our local Christmas lights parades.

I was horrified when I went into Kmart and Walmart on the first of October to find a HUGE display of Christmas items.
Absolutely horrified.

Yes, they are beautiful and I really do like all the decorations, but seriously, do we have to start before Halloween?

I say Fawk you to how commercialized the holiday has become!

It is a beautiful time of the year, but we shouldnt forget what it's all about.
I won't go into what its about since it means different things to different people.

I also saw Fawk you to the sickies that are going around right now. My son and I have had a lingering cold, me for 2 weeks now and my son for one week. Please oh please let us get better already.

I do confess.... that I love that since my son isnt feeling well, he's been wanting to be comforted and held and cuddled, something he normally wont do. Makes this mama still feel like her baby wants her.

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Happy Bday Flashback

I havent participated in Friday Photo Flashback in quite some time, but I got this picture from my friend and I just had to share it.

In honor of my friend Pua's bday which was yesterday, I share this photo which was taken at her birthday party 20 years ago.

Did you hear me say that?

This was taken 20 years ago!

Never have I ever imagined that I would say that!

How did I get old enough to say this pix was taken 20 years ago? I swear that pix was JUST taken of us!

We often talk about having a weekend do over in this exact spot, except this time we'd have our kids with us. How fun would that be?

I promise after sharing this photo if we do this again, I'll have another one to share.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Alpha Blocks

I've been spending some time cleaning out my 'junk' and trying to simplify.

I admit I'm a bit of a hoarder, not toally just a little bit.

I found this fun picture frame I got YEARS ago.

It's fun and cool and the blocks spin and you have 12 photo openings all together.

These pictures are probably about 12 or more years old.

I took it apart and took all the photos out.

Then I cut of different colored paper to use as a background.

Then I took out my cricut and cut out the alphabet.

I glued the letters onto the different colored blocks.

Then I put them all back together again.

Now, we have something more than just flashcards to practice our alphabets with!

My lil man actually loved it and had so much fun.

I know it only holds the first 12 letters, but its a start and he's only 2.

I love this project not only cause my son really enjoys it, its educational and it was completely free using everything I already had!

I'll be linking to the parties at the bottom of my page.

Go check them out!

Hooo are you? 58



 Its been a while... but I'm joining Hoo are you again today.Click on the link above for more info or to join in. 

Here are this week's questions! 

1. Do you sleep with the window open or the fan on no matter

what the weather is like?

the window is ALWAY open, unless its raining so hard that its coming in.

the fan goes on mostly during the summer. its super hot where we are and we have no ac

2. What is your favorite comfort food?

hmmm thats a hard one, i would love to say my gma's fried chix but I havent had it since she passed. I would say.... tea and rice with furikake.

source 3. Do you ever go to a chiropractor?  I have never gone to a chiropractor. I have been to a physical therapist with a massage license but if I have any ailments I go to my Sifu (martial arts teacher) he was trained with the ancient art of Chinese massage.Boy is it painful, but let me tell ya, it works! 4.What is your most memorable Halloween costume growing up? Hahaha! I love Halloween love love it! When I was growing up I wasnt allowed to participate. In Elementary school, they would have a dress up day and a costume parade in the courtyard with all the students Kindergarden to 6th grade. EVERY year my mom dressed me as an angel, this one particular year, she dressed me as Lydia in the bible and everyone thought I was a homeless bag lady. Needless to day, once again, I was an angel every year after that again... untill high school that is. 5.Do you prefer the sunrise or the sunset? Ohhhh SOOOO NOT a morning person. I love sunset. I am so lucky to live where I do, the sunsets are gorgeous right out my back window. (sorry I was trying to find a pix but I dont have one!)

M4 on a Tuesday...

I know its Tuesday but just because I'm still on my anniversary high from last Friday, I wanted to share these two songs.

The first one I've shared before, it's our wedding song, Rest Of Your Life by Na Leo Pilimehana

This one we had on our wedding video

This one is for my dear, dear friend and his family.
He and I were friends since the 4th grade.
I just heard that his grandfather is on life support and they will be letting him go today.
My prayers go out to his family.

Flashback of 1978

Yup, 1978.

Today's M4 is songs from the year you were born.

Have a great Monday and Rock on!

Enjoy...

V is for Victory

Victory.... just a little one, but its still a victory or a small step in the right direction.

After a call from our sitter that our son had been acting out and wasnt himself, I sat down and talked with her. We talked about how things have been stressful around the house and a bit tense and maybe he had picked up on something going on. Out of the blue he started asking, "Mom are you happy?" which is completely strange for a 2 yr old to be asking.

I sat down with my hubby and we had a talk. I told him how I was feeling.

Things have just gone too far and if its affecting my son, we have to do what it takes to change.

And much to my surprized, he was listening.

On our way home yesterday evening, he turns to me and says, "Hun, when we get home, go take a bath with the boy and I'll cook dinner"

(granted it was just taco meat that needed to be cooked, I was more than thrilled with his offer)

Small steps.

As long as they are steps in the right direction.

Good job hun.

Oh and just to end the week... I got two great news....

1. I was featured over at A Glimpse Inside Alison has a great blog go check it out.

AND

2. I won a beautiful painting done by a fellow local gal Lindsay over at from the aisle to aloha!

Her blog is super cute and fun and so is her etsy shop!

Here's to a fresh start with a positive attitude.

till death do us part? thats a long time

Today I'm joining Shell and pouring my heart out..



In 9 days my hubby and I will celebrate out 11 yr wedding anniversary.

I think saying we hit a rut would be an understatement, I would say more like we hit a dang wall.

Our 'love life' is as stale as a can of soda left open in the fridge for a week.

Our lives have just gotten so busy that we forget the little things.
I very often feel overwhelmed and feel like I've become a single parent because he's not home almost 5 nights a week. I come home and have to put the dishes away from the day before, do the dishes from that day, cook dinner, give my son a bath, feed him dinner and after working ALL day I'm exhaused and become short with him and angry towards him when he's not there to pitch in. And on top of it all dealing with the terrible twos... uggghhh!

I feel like I've lost myself in the cycle of just doing everything day in day out and never having time to do what I like to do or just even having time alone to myself.

Now, lets add the pressure of making ends meet and stressing about our financial situation.

I'm sure these are just normal things that every couple goes through and like always we work through it and it all works out but for the time being I am just having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Dont get me wrong, I love my hubby dearly and couldnt imagine life without him.

Interestingly enough Helen over at I'm living proof that God has a sense of humor shared with everyone a new book called Make Love Not Scrapbooks, By Jen who has a blog called Jen's Love Lessons.

Sounds like a good investment.

U is for Un-freaking-believable...

YES! Un-freaking-believable!

I'm linking up to a new party called Alphabe-Thursday's
(yes I know its Friday!)


and I cant forget about

(FYF for coming to quickly!)

Is it really September already!?!?
Where is this year going?

I went into Walmart the other day and they had their Halloween stuff out, way to put the pressure on guys, thanks.

I swear as soon as Labor Day hits, all I see are Fall and Halloween decorations and crafts, thanks, thanks for rubbing it in!

Now I'm really starting to have anxiety about Christmas, as if I didnt have enought on my plate.

Also, are you serious people??

Seriouslly?

Un-freaking-believable.

This week really flew by on me.

We had a lot going on this week but we did get a lot accomplished, speaking of which one more thing to say Fawk you too....

Damn housing market!

If you read my blog you've hear me rant a few time or so about our mortgage and house, but that's another story.

Hope you all have a great weekend!



Happy Labor Day... 70's Edition of MMMM

It's Labor Day and Im off today! Yippie!

The hubs is working though, bummer, so its just me and the boy today.

We had some friends over for a cookout last night and some wine.... lots of wine, to be perfectly honest, I'm a weee bit hanging today.

But we had a great time so its all good.

Monday also brings Monday Music Moves Me!

And CheeeHooo I am the spotlight dance!!

This week's theme is 70's and I chose this one for, well obvious reasons... enjoy your Labor Day!!!

Monday Blues....

Bleh, is it Monday already?
I was hoping to have a productive weekend, but I came down with a cold.
Thank goodness my son isnt sick though.

The hubs took him fishing for a few hours on Saturday so that I could rest.
I should have rested, but I spray painted instead.

Then the hubs comes home tired and grouchy on Sunday... always the same thing when he goes fishing. I told him not to come home until all this gear is washed and he takes a nap.
Then we argue... seriouslly it gets old.

So today I'm at work and still kinda congested. Not to the point that I cant breathe but to the point where when I breathe in and out, my nose makes a whilstling sound!

So it's Monday, oh why do you come so soon?!

And time for....

Lots has been going on in our household lately.

Nothing that I really wanna talk about but lets just say this song sings to me.

(sorry, no pun intended)

Who put the M in Mondays!

Today is brought to you by the letter M



FYF... Get it together blogger!

Besides my smelly closet that made me discover the leak in my shower... and the fact I had to do the work...

(I wont go there, I just dont have the energy)

My beefs this week is with blogger

Whats going on?!
I have been having problems posting comments and staying logged in.
Is anyone else having these problems?
I have seen some great stuff and I try and try to comment and share the love but I just can't!

Come on Blogger!!!

Hoo are you?

 Here are this week's questions!   
1. Have you ever attended a professional sports game?Yes I have, once in high school we were at a DECA conference in St. Louis and went to a cardinals game 2. Have you ever been to a concert and if so which one was your ultimate favorite performance?Yes several local performers but I honestly havent been to a concert in YEARS!! I think my all time fav was UB40. I think I was in the 6th grade! LOL 3. Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World?Disneyland yes! Disney World no, but would like to one day. 4. What is your favorite theme park?I have only been to a few, since we dont have them in Hawaii! I have always wanted to go to waterloo (is that what the water park is called?) I love watching those shows about the different theme parks. I had a great time at 6 flags cause I love coasters! If they suspend you and go upsidedown the BETTER they are!! 5. Do you have a favorite vacation spot?
We dont vacation enough to have a favorite spot. Infact we dont vacation. It's too expensive here to go anywhere. I am looking forward to a vacation that I demanded for our 20 yr anniversary. I demanded that my husband take me to wine country.