Amazing Grapes

Fabulous Friday?

2012-03-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Did your week turn out as good as we set out for them to be?

Mine completely wore me out, to be totally honest. I have few words in my head right now, so I’ll say thank you for your great response to yesterday’s post. I think we all could use a bit of pause in our lives for the good and bad judgment.

I’m feeling a little flashbacky, so enjoy my random trip pictures this Friday.

it was just a little bit windy.

In San Francisco over Christmas. Blurry, but I still like it. The love took it.

Have a superb weekend everyone. Enjoy one another’s company and give your loved one that extra squeeze.

I judge you

2012-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

I think just about everyone would say they’re a good judge of characters, (whether they really are or not). Who wants to say they’re horrible at it, and risk the chance of someone taking advantage of that?!

Well, I guess me, cause I’m not that great at it. I think I am. Or used to be…maybe once upon a time, but I feel like I’ve lost the ability to properly and accurately judge a person.

There’s the obvious ones, of course. I can spot a child molester easily. {creepy, right?} But of course, that isn’t a normal type of judging given the fact I’m rarely at parks or near kids. But rest assured, if I’m hanging out with you and your kids, I’ll be on full alert.

I used to be bold with my judging. I remember walking into Longs to grab milk. I was still partially in my uniform since I just got off of work, so I was a target to everyone, but I powered through the doors, keeping my sunglasses on (because I believed keeping them on made me even “tougher”) and this semi rough looking man was staring me down. As I walked toward him-past him to grab the milk-and past him again. I watched him through my glasses following my every step. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore…(because I was “tough”) and whipped around and said, “What?!”

{let me just say, “work Emily” was so bold. Especially when she just got off of work since she was still coming down from being around inmates}

::and yes, I just referred to myself in the third person::

That’s not me anymore. I’ve judged people so easily off of how they look or how they “read” only to find out I was all wrong. They turned out nicer than I perceived or ended up being a horrible person inside when I thought they were kind.

I’ve been burned countless times for believing someone is kind hearted. Shared things, opened up only to have me search every inch of my brain, hoping to remember all that I said so they won’t use it against me later, but always forgetting that one piece of information they’re waiting to play.

It’s left me guarded. Unwilling to share myself with others because I can never be too sure if I’m reading them all wrong, regretting opening up. My discerning button is broken and I’m not sure how to fix it.

I’m sure I’ve been judged because of it but that’s a given. I’m easily seen as a snob by most girls. Believe it or not, I’m really quiet. I keep to myself (which isn’t new) and apparently if I’m not smiling, or rather, if I have my ‘normal’ every day expression on, I look like I’m mad and unapproachable. I can’t tell you how many countless times I’ve been told that…or that they thought I was stuck up.

Its so funny how we judge each other. Whether wrongly or accurately, its done. Whether its before the person even utters a word or after they’ve uttered 10,000 words, we do it. We’re constantly evolving our judgment of each other. Which, I don’t think is a bad thing. Reevaluating a person’s character is needed at times, if not your own.

But maybe holding off on that initial judge until you truly get to know the person, is wise.

I know I could pause on occasion.

3rd and final round of pictures and a request

2012-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’m rounding out the February photo challenge today. Showing my final pictures of the last 9 days. If you missed it, which how dare you… then you can catch up with the first round and second round while we wait.

Day 21: Fave photo – I didn’t have a favorite since I was traveling that whole day, but my friend took this of me and her daughter (who, she prefers not to show her face) on her front porch.
Day 22: Where you work – at this moment, I work from my dining table. And truth be told, it isn’t that clean anymore.
Day 23: Your shoes – I love my moccasins. I live in them, literally. Even right now, I’m at the table, with them on. They’re the most comfortable shoes ever.

Day 24: Bathroom cabinet – I use maybe 10% of what’s in there and what I do use is all up front. I should consider getting rid of the things in the back, but I find I’ll probably need them soon enough. Isn’t that always the case?
Day 25: Green – a picture I was editing for someone who is actually buying them. Very excited to know they’ll be displayed in someone’s home.
Day 26: Night – what’s the best way to fix a cold night? With fire and soup of course, and a big thick blanket to boot.

Day 27: Something you ate – sorry if this looks gross. It now looks gross to me, but its eggs and toast. Nothing fancy, just breakfast one morning.
Day 28: Money – I got this dollar ring when I turned 16 from a customer at the café I used to work. He was a biker riding through our town and when he learned it was my 16th birthday, he fashioned this for me. I’ve had it for almost 15 years and never plan to use it. I always wished I could make these w/the 1 showing.
Day 29: I’m listening to – Michael Jackson’s “hold my hand”. G-man plays this song regularly for me and every time I hear it now, I think of him.

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In other news, I’m helping gather donations for a live/silent auction for a non profit organization, Rick Alonzo Ministries and wanted to see if there’s any handmade businesses or business owners who would want to donate something toward the fundraiser.

Not only are they raising money for his daily ministries to help the youth and high school kids, but also to fund a South African missions trip later this year to help and spread the gospel.

If you’d like to donate anything, please let me know. You’ll receive a contribution receipt for your donation.

Happy Hump Day!!

{{update: to clarify, I’m not going on the mission trip to South Africa, but rather Rick Alonzo is. I’m only helping gather donations for the auction to raise money for him going.}}

My fox lent

2012-03-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Tell me I’m not the only one who says fox instead of faux, for fun?

I don’t do lent. Never have, and honestly, I probably never will. A lot of people do, for all different reasons, but its just not for me.

With that said, I realized there’s been something I’ve stopped eating. Something that I love. If you know me, you already know what it is because I’ve declared my love for it over and over again. I would eat it every single day, sometimes twice..sometimes three times a day, that’s how close we were. Not to mention I’ve sworn on it, to keep a promise.

Cheese!

I didn’t do it intentionally at first. Once I got back home from HI, I had no food and it was too expensive at my local stores, so I vowed to wait for the big Costco run to get it. But then by day 6 of not having it, I started thinking about not getting any at all.

I was telling my friend over the weekend how I’ve stopped eating cheese (by cheese I mean my sharp cheddar cheese), and I went on and on about it until she said, ‘except for that pizza you had Wednesday.’

Darn! Would you believe I completely forgot there was cheese in pizza?!!

Well, that one day I had 2 medium sized slices, I felt horrible. I don’t know if it was the pizza itself or the cheese but I certainly didn’t feel well after.

Every day before and after, I’ve felt great. Flat stomach, no bloating (TMI?), light and generally good. I’m still figuring out whether or not it’s me cutting out cheese as the reason or that I’ve been eating pretty healthy but I like the way I’m feeling.

I’m going to see how long I can go without having my beloved cheddar cheese. Some days are pretty tough, especially when I see my tortillas and tortilla chips sitting there all sad and lonely, wondering why I haven’t had nachos or quesadillas since I’ve been home, but I’m hopeful I can overcome!

Did you give up something for lent? Or in general just to do it?

I’m learning that the older I get the more my body doesn’t like certain foods. Maybe it never liked them and I would ignore it but I can’t ignore it anymore.

A thankful me - 9

2012-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hello hello hello everyone. This week is going to be great. Can you feel it?! It has to, it just has to. It won’t be the same as last week, there’s no way that can happen…not that it was a bad week, but boy I don’t want it to repeat.

I want something new, something different, something progressive. I’m dying for progression, know what I’m saying???

No? yeah, I don’t really either.

This week I’m thankful for:

- finally selling my microwave I’ve been dying to sell for over a year now. God has definitely been on the money lately. get it? on the money..selling..
moving on
- helping my friend shop for a whole new wardrobe. She got so many great things with Kohl’s great clearance sale. I’m so excited for her. Kohl’s is the best.
- getting a $40 pair of perfectly fitted shorts for only $2.70. I couldn’t resist. I don’t think anyone could have resisted that!
- fresh garlic. I’ve been a bit obsessed with it lately rubbing it on my sourdough toast for a snack. Going through an entire loaf of bread in one week all on my own isn’t a bad thing, is it?
- getting to shoot another family Sunday in a beautiful orchard.

- skyping with a dear friend
- Jeremiah 29:11-13 Verses I’ve been focusing on.
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Remember, this is going to be a great week! Even if you have to tell yourself over and over again.

On average, 1.5-2 hours

2012-03-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

How long does it take for you to write your blog posts?

Mine literally take 1.5 hours or longer…each! Is that too long? There’s moments when I can knock an easy light one out in about 30 minutes, but that’s very rare. Other times, if it’s a deep one for me, it can take upwards to 4 hours. If I’m distracted by the tv or radio, forget about it. Figure to tack on an additional 30-60 minutes.

Maybe there are some of you that are like me. Who really take their time with each post. Write, read, re-read, write some more then re-read again (or 5 more times) before publishing…then re-read again before finding that problem, fix, publish, then close it down.

If you’re anything like me, you’d know that its great when someone acknowledges the post you take time to write by leaving a comment. But are you noticing that maybe not as many people are leaving comments like they used to?

Maybe not, but if you have, it could be of the evil “captcha”. Heard of it? Its also known as ‘word verification’ or ‘the thing everyone and their mother is hating right now’.

Why is everyone hating it? Because of those 2 words right there? They made it 2 words now to enter and a lot of the time, its very very difficult to read. A lot of bloggers are up in arms about it and refusing to comment the moment they see they have to enter these 2 words.

But how can I remove this when there are spammers out there!? Let me tell you. I’ve had verification turned off for almost a year now and have not received 1 spam email. Maybe I’ll eat my words soon but there’s a tab in your dashboard that you can check as often as you’d like.

So, how can you possibly take that step to removing it and have everyone sigh that big huge sigh of relief? (including yourself…trust me) Its simple:

Login to your blogger dashboard. If you’re using the new blogger settings, switch back to the old one.

Click settings.

Click comments. (oh, and while you’re there, switch to pop up window comment, while you’re at it)

Select NO for where it says "Show word verification for comments?" and save!

Easy as that! Any questions???

Ask away…oh oh and for kicks, check to see if your email is attached to your comments. From the dashboard>edit profile>check the box that says ‘show my email address’ and save. Viola! Now, when you leave a comment on a blog, they can reply to it.

Ok, I’ll stop overloading you on a Friday. Have a fabulous fun safe silly weekend for me, okay!?

Let me explain

2012-03-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

How can I bring up a subject for the 2nd time in 1 week without having anyone think the wrong things…

Well, let me point out that A. I’m curious. All the time I’m curious about things, just can’t stop. B. I’m one for information. Just ask my youngest older brother AKA the one closest to me who had to grow up next to me, what his nickname was for me in high school. {info Emi} It wasn’t meant to be a nice name. As he put it, ‘Emi always had info no one cared about. Info Emi is filled with useless information.’

Gee, thanks so much. But it was as such that I said things that others might not find as interesting as I did/do…for instance:

Did you know no 2 bird species flap their wings the same?!?!

{didn’t think so}

…C. I like to be prepared for that far off distant day, because I hate not being prepared. D. I have the opportunity to ask a wonderful forum of women who have the experience and knowledge and why in the world WOULDN’T I want to take advantage of that at this very moment when it doesn’t pertain to my current life?! aaaand E. now this may come as a shock to my mom, sister and any other family and friends who read my blog…
I admit that I in fact DO NOT know everything!
{I’ll wait while you get back in your chair}

SO with that said, I have a question. {yippy}

What’s your take with white noise machines and babies? Do you use them? Or a loud fan to drown the noise out while they sleep so they aren’t disturbed? If you keep this on and they get used to it, does it make it a lot harder when you aren’t using one when they sleep?

How come, if you do not use one, use one? If people ring your doorbell all the time and wake the kids, would a white noise machine or loud fan drown out the *ding dong*? Or will the kids hear it any way?

I’d think I’d want to use them if it meant I could keep baby asleep a little longer with noise. But I can see getting the baby to sleep at any moment with any sound, so they will sleep anywhere.

Now let’s hear it. Are they good to use? Worth it? Do they do the trick? And do you even bother? Why or why not?

you all did so great at my caffeine/baby question that I know you’ll do great with this one. :)

You’ve got a friend in me

2012-02-29T06:00:00.001-08:00

via

Can you think of that one friend who’s more loyal than the others? Who would do anything and everything for you if you asked? Or even didn’t ask?

I have this friend, we don’t talk much now but the occasional text here and there since we live in different cities now, but when we were in the same town, we were pretty close. We were unlikely friends. No one understood our friendship and we actually got a lot of flack for it, especially him.

yes, *gasp* it’s a guy!

He was my partner at work and as a lot of partnerships go, you tend to get very close with each other. Only thing that made it extra odd was he’s a big tattooed tough, deep mumbling voice guy who doesn’t take anything from anyone, (read: looks like a thug) and I was a straight lace, by the book girl who had people take bets on when I would cuss.

I remember this one time when I found an ad in Craigslist for a free bed in a city 1 1/2 hours away, I called him up, asked if I could borrow his truck and next thing I knew, we were on the road. Anyone that saw us together would do a double take…if anyone’s been to San Luis Obispo, CA, you know if you saw a “thug” walking into a yogurt shop with a white girl, you’d be looking for an exit, trust me.

We were eating our yogurt in his truck that night, when these teen boys parked next to us, clearly drunk (nice, right?) and as they walked by the back of the truck, they jumped on his bumper and walked away. He jumped out of the truck, “said some words” and those boys were practically peeing in their pants, apologizing a hundred times.

What made it even greater was an hour later, he was having his smoke by the back of the truck (since he knew I hated it) and the boys had to walk by him. They were still apologizing as they got in their car.

I realize this is odd, me talking about my old partner.

We weren’t anything more than friends, believe me. Everyone speculated but he always stood up for me, setting the guys straight, even though it resulted in them calling him Mr. …and my last night. gotta love that.

I’ve been thinking about loyalty. Not many friends can say they have that loyal friend.

Even though this might be awkward, I can’t think of any of my other friends that would choke another man to the point of making them cry because he called me a b****.

Is it odd that I chuckle at that every time I think about it!? I realize how bad it is to choke another person out over a word, but the level of devotion he had, is beyond my understanding. And what makes it even more so, is I wasn’t even there when the guy called me this. It was my day off, which just makes it even ~~funnier~~ crazier to me.

Sorry, I realize a lot of you aren’t accustomed to my work stories or ‘prison Emily’ but I think about him often and how we were the unlikely pair. I always tell G-man it would be so fun for them to meet. I have no doubt G-man would thank him for watching over me at work.

Do you have a friend like this? Not necessarily one that would choke someone, but who would do anything for you?

::did I just freak you out by this story?!::

The “A” team

2012-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Back in December, my friend asked if I’d do their family pictures. I asked if she was sure 3 times before agreeing to do them. {a person can never be too sure, you know?} We set a date after Christmas and were gearing up for the day. Then the day before they ended up getting sick and we had to postpone.

Almost 3 weeks later, we were back on with the weather being more beautiful than the original day albeit a little chilly. {I love it when that happens} If you remember, I teased with this picture all that time ago.

We had a couple locations in mind. The old train station and the beautiful walnut orchard that I truly can’t get enough of. Since weather has been so odd here, it felt like fall (in January) with the leaves on the ground all crisp and golden. It was perfect. {except when you wanted to talk. the leaves crunching drowned everything out. a gun could have gone off and we wouldn’t have heard it.}

I had such a difficult time narrowing them down. There are so many that I love.

It was a crazy fun day for everyone. I can’t even tell you how much I learned, only to show me just how much more I need to learn, but I had fun in the process. And as long as momma’s happy with them, I’m happy.

If you’re thinking you recognize the husband, you probably do. He’s the one that did the amazing artwork I talked about in January.

A thankful me - 8

2012-02-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the last week of the month…I cry.

Okay, maybe I’m not crying, but I might be. Me and time haven’t been friends lately. This is my first week back home and true to myself, I’ve been holed up inside my apartment away from everyone. After having to go to the grocery store Wednesday since the fridge was empty and my friend dropping off my house key later that day, I stayed indoors and didn’t talk to pretty much anyone.

I only just talked to my mom for the first time yesterday, and that’s only because she called. –sorry mom.

I don’t deal well with being back home and normally its easier if I avoid people and questions and well…everything. {its mature, I know} but its how I cope.

I’m doing better today (hooray), so have no fear this is in fact an upbeat post…contrary to popular belief.

I’m thankful for:
- safe trip home. From the airport debacle, to the stench of vomit on the plane, to not leaving for home until after the accident was clear on the 405, to the long dark drive home, I was so thankful to be done.
- my dear friend who picked me up from the airport and let me hang w/her and her daughter all afternoon.
- hearing a 1 1/2 year old say my name. It’s the most precious thing ever.
- my sweet friend who collected my mail for the 3 weeks I was gone and organizing it for me.
- hulu plus for catching me up on all the shows I missed. Once Upon a Time and Up All Night, anyone?! (my favorites!)
- getting to watch from the start, Major Dad. Watching a show as an adult that I used to watch as a kid is eye opening and hilarious. I can’t count how many times I’ve laughed out loud watching this show.
- getting to cheer at the season finale of Downton Abbey. I looooved it!
- losing myself in a really funny book.
- coffee.
- coffee.
- coffee. Without it, I’d be a lesser man *cough* err, woman.

Now for an absolutely random question for all you “been pregnant” ladies. Caffeine is bad, yes? They tell you to stay away from coffee when pregnant/nursing…? But what do they say about soda? Can that be drank? If you NEVER drink caffeinated soda but drink coffee in moderation, wouldn’t that be ok?

:: let me clarify, this is something I always think about since one day, in a land far far away, when a baby decides to appear in my belly, I wouldn’t want to give up coffee…ever! With that said, I never drink soda…so enlighten me, please. :) ::

See? I love it so, I used it for my ‘drink’ picture. OOh, how I heart you coffee.

And the 4th island is….

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Lana’i!

Once again we decided at the very last moment to go. Trust me when I say I don’t particularly like booking trips this way, but right now, its what we’re doing, so I just go with it. We actually agreed that very morning to not go to another island and in fact it wouldn’t be worth the money since it would be cutting it so short, but what do you know…we went any way, 5 hours later.

Actually we almost missed our flight, we were running so far behind, but when we arrived, we found out they canceled our flight for no reason (only because..’they do that sometimes’) ..uuuhh, ok. So we had to be put on standby for another airline and thankfully got on.

We stayed in the lodge rather than down by the beach. It was considerably cheaper, and I can’t even tell you how peaceful it is there! We talked about how we thought kids being there would find it incredibly boring, since there’s absolutely nothing to do but sit in quiet, but as we were waiting for the car one day, 2 little girls were handed hand towels upon arrival and one says to the other, ‘I think I’ll rather like it here.’ {literally those words. They were maybe 6-7. It was adorable}

So, no more talking from me, I’ll let the pictures show the trip.

Then we spent an entire day at the other resort at the beach…
{white legs staying white…}

It was an incredibly relaxing weekend and a great way to end out my time in Hawaii. We definitely want to go back and stay at the beach resort next time. It was a lot warmer, since the lodge was beyond freezing. It didn’t feel like Hawaii at all there, which was pretty neat.

Hope each and every one of you have a wonderful wonderful weekend.

Fulfilling the pins

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

I reeeeeeally enjoy pinterest. Like really. Where else can you pin a website to go back to later, than pinterest?
I realize there are other ‘pinterest similar’ sites out there but pinterest is the only way to go…

I have currently 90 recipe pins in my ‘yummy foods’ board. A little much, don’t you think? Sadly, I wasn’t really making too many of them, but that has changed my friends!! I was on a quest to make very healthy {yet still delicious} recipes while with my love and I’m happy to say, I succeeded.

I made:
these kale chips from Clara Photo Blog that we seriously loved.

roasted broccoli from the lovely Carissa at lowercase letters. I made this with countless dinners and we loved it each and every time.

chicken w/artichoke hearts from Gina’s Skinny Taste blog…I’m pretty sure we’ve all heard of Gina’s tasty blog before. I also made her thai chicken and pineapple stir fry. Both were great but I did have to add more sauce to both as they were a little dry. Pretty sure that was because of something I did.
Oh and I forgot I made her crock pot kalua pork and it was absolutely delicious. She says to cook for 16 hours and thankfully I questioned this with everyone and they agreed it was way too long. So I did about 8-9 hours and it turned out perfectly!

kale, white bean, sausage soup from the dear Sam at Fitness Food and Faith. This was tasty!! G-man wanted spinach in it but I actually loved having the kale in there. He added his signature Tabasco to it, but I had it as is and will be making it this week again for myself!

the loaded bowl from Clean Eating Machine blog. This WAS delicious!! G-man and I loved this. Its so colorful and yummy!

aaaand finally PB 'nana cream bites from Nom Nom Nom. These didn’t work exactly. The chocolate wouldn’t harden at all, but still tasted alright.
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I’ve also been dying for Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray. Once I found a ‘make your own’ Surf Spray, I couldn’t wait to make it. The first time I used my own spray, I used a blow dryer and it didn’t work that well. I was so disappointed. But I thought I’d give it another go and let it air dry on its own and it worked great! I love this stuff!

picture via Huzzah Vintage

Have you been making the recipes you pin? Or the projects you find? There’s so many wonderful ideas that so many have come up with, it makes me want to do more.

Flipping the switch

2012-02-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

There’s many times where I can go about my days and appear meek. So meek and mild that people think they can take advantage of me, because I don’t react or my guard is so down, that when someone says something nasty or rude to me, I don’t respond and it doesn’t phase me.

Then there’s those other times where I’m almost looking for it. Where I gear myself up, knowing something is coming and when it does, my switch is flipped and I react faster than my brain is working.

Yesterday, I was split. I was reserved but knew something was coming and simultaneously prepared for it.

While standing in the security line, I eyed the lanes up ahead. One went to the body scan (which I refuse to do) while the other went to the metal detector. I do this every time I go to the airport. I make sure I know which lane to get into for the metal detector to avoid all issues. But I texted G-man while the line crawled forward that I had a feeling I was ‘going to get touched today’. He laughed but with each step closer, I knew the TSA girl was going to be a problem.

Especially since she was blocking the metal detector forcing people to get in the already long line for the body scan. Granted she would let certain people through, but only a ‘certain type’ and knowing she would do this, just made me get geared up more for my turn with her.

via pinterest

I took my time, hoping she’d step away, but after I pushed my bins through, I pointed at the detector behind her and said I wanted to go through. But she wouldn’t let me. I again told her, I just wanted to walk through since others had, but she refused; telling me I had to go through the scan. I refused. At that moment, she lets the woman directly behind me go through the metal detector, while yelling, ‘WE HAVE AN OPT OUT!’ {wouldn’t you know that just made me more angry} I practically pleaded with her, not seeing the difference between me and other woman.

I’m told to go through, step aside and wait for someone to pat me down. I’m livid at this point and we have a long stare down before I walk away.

:::I can see the headline now: retired Correctional Sergeant in scuffle with TSA Agent:::

I blow up at the girl who has to pat me down. Cutting her off as she describes what she has to do, telling her to ‘just get it done, I don’t want to hear it!’ (because seriously, I've been patted down before and have patted down thousands of people, myself…I know the drill) She feels bad and starts checking my bags. I did have the sense to say I wasn’t upset at her, since she was nice to me and she actually understood.

I work hard on calming down after boarding the plane but the simple fact that whole situation caused me to miss getting food was making it hard to relax. After hours on the flight, I’m back to normal but know any little thing had the potential to set me back and the moment the window seat guy chose to not close the overhead bin for the 2nd time, without a care to the possibility of the bags falling on my head, I slammed it closed so hard, it hurt even my ears. And I thought..why?

What did I gain by doing that? By possibly hurting other’s ears to prove the point of my frustration over this guy’s selfishness and disregard for my safety? It didn’t phase him, but rather made me look like the immature fool for overreacting.

I have so much to learn in this little life of mine. I wonder if I’ll ever have a grip on that little switch that sometimes is so eager to get flipped. I truly wonder because I’m tired of looking like a fool.

Round 2 of pictures

2012-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’m on the plane heading home and I thought I’d give the photo challenge post another round seeing how it wasn’t so bad after all, the first time.

I’m still enjoying taking pictures daily. Its just so fun figuring out which picture to take for each assignment. Some are more challenging to figure out than others but I always manage to get the one that suits the day perfect for me. Is it the same for you too, if you’re doing it?

Day 9: Front doors…leading out to the lanai
Day 10: Self Portrait…those are my ‘bulging’ muscles in my arms, by the way.
Day 11: Makes you (me) happy… G-man making me banana pancakes for breakfast.

Day 12: Inside your closet…since I wasn’t home, I showed a glimpse of G-man’s uniform side of his.
Day 13: Blue…the gorgeous blue waters of Hawaii
Day 14: Heart… bacon hearts..ummm, delicious! Perfectly fitting for Valentine’s Day, as we all know.

Day 15: Phone…my simple iPhone case. It suits me.
Day 16: Something New… G-man’s new tinted windows that were done that day. Perfect timing.
Day 17: Time…I was able to get G-man to hold up his watch (a little begrudgingly, I might add) to show the aircraft carrier’s time coming into port.

Day 18: Drink…how can I not do my morning coffee for my drink. Its pretty much all I drink beside water.
Day 19: Something I hate doing… dealing with headaches…which all day I couldn’t figure out what to do for the picture when it hit me that I’ve had a headache all day…and I hate dealing with them. Again…perfect timing.
Day 20: Handwriting… I love cursive. Hopefully it doesn’t die away like they’re claiming it will. Though I’ll still always write in it for as long as I’m able.

Only 9 more to go..

After my flight, I have that lovely 3 1/2 hour drive home. Hopefully it’ll go without a hitch…hopefully and then, I’ll be back to my norm..not to mention I’ll get to tell you where we went over the weekend.

Have a happy Tuesday.

A thankful me - 7

2012-02-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Monday! I say I’m happy today and looking forward to a great week, but its pretty much a lie. Tomorrow is ‘doomsday’ in my book…ok, a little dramatic, but I’m choosing dramatic over optimism today. I go home tomorrow. Back to Cali and naturally, none too excited about it. {obviously}

We already extended my trip once, (I was supposed to be back on Saturday) and we talked about pushing it back a few more days since he’ll be leaving Friday for the mainland, but it couldn’t happen, so Tuesday it is.

I know what you’re thinking….so please…don’t say it.

I’m just going to look back at the last week and think happy thoughts from those days, cause there really were a lot of happy moments…minus my mini breakdown right before our Valentine’s dinner, Wednesday. …what?? you don’t cry right before leaving for a romantic dinner? Weird, I thought everyone did.

This week, I’m thankful for:
- a 4 day weekend with my love. We drove around the first day, saw an aircraft carrier come into port, ate amazing crepes, then saw Chinaman’s Hat. More later, but here’s a sneak of the day.

G-man kept snapping pictures, so I started to get silly. After this pose, he stopped (albeit because of laughing!)

- being here to help G-man with some important errands. ie. window tint for his truck and getting a spray in bedliner. If I could tell you how many times he’s said thank you..well..it would be a high number.

- deliciously healthy recipes I’ve found, pinned and made. I’m planning on showing all the recipes with links because they’ve been absolutely delicious. And they’ve all been G-man approved.
- a 2nd nice dinner night with my love.
- island hopping. Yes…we went to another island. (more on where, coming soon)
- friends who pray for me. Its always such a blessing when I hear that.

What crazy things went on during your weekend? Do share, I’m in the mood for some great conversation!!

A dinner and a birthday..or birthday and a dinner…

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today is my sister’s birthday! This lovely lady turns 35 today. Did she want me to tell you her age? Probably not, but let’s face the facts…35 is NOT old. {said by a 30 year old}

My sis and I are night and day. Our personalities are completely different. She is the social butterfly who loves being out and about and on the go. Meeting new people and sharing the love. ..where I?? am not. I’m the stay indoors, not leaving the house after 6pm, introvert who’s content making ‘internet friends’.

{can I get a ‘what what’??}

Any hoo, my sis is my only sis, so that makes her my absolute favorite sister. {naturally} Even though she looks up to me (the whole being taller than her, thing), I look up to her.

She’s funny, crazy and a goof and I love her.
Happy Birthday, Sister!

………………..

Last night G-man and I went on our Valentine’s dinner date. We decided to go the next day, just for kicks, instead of battling with the crowds. This is where we went…

I had gotten him a card and wasn’t sure since we were celebrating it the next day, if I should give it to him on the 14th or 15th. So after he got home from work, I placed it where he’d see it. He comes out, thanks me for the card but declared he wouldn’t open it because it was Valentine’s Eve.

That even though every calendar, phone, tv, radio, person says the 14th is Valentine’s Day, its in fact the 15th and will wait then to open it.

I promptly apologized for the confusion, tucked the card away and promised to have it ready the next day. I’m pretty sure we’ll never celebrate it on the actual day from here on out!

I did however make a tasty little dinner on the 14th that involved these tasty guys.

They didn’t quite want to stay together, I blame the new pan, but still were extra tasty!

I had an anniversary

2012-02-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Where have I been!? I completely missed my one year anniversary for my blog!! It was supposed to be huge and epic and monumental to the point of everyone being amazed and in awe and yet now…nuttin’.

15 days later, I stand on the dock looking out at the empty water where the boat sailed away without me. {nice analogy, no?} Instead of being all, ‘my blog made it a year, hooray. who would have thought all you lovely ‘buddies’ would want to read what I say’ {which seriously, I say frequently}, I instead talked about being given the go to Hawaii after my dad was in the hospital.

::Ce la vie::

It has been great blogging, though. I never knew just how much I’d love it and getting to know so many new and wonderful friends has been a great bonus. I’ve really enjoyed helping new bloggers with tips and tricks and am always happy to show them how to attach their email to their comments so us bloggers can reply to them.

{if you’re not sure what I’m talking about, email me so I can help you}
..and if you have any questions about anything blogging, comment or email and I'd be really happy to help in any way I can. I’m a giver…and sometimes a taker, but mainly a giver.

Since its technically not my blog Anny, I’m going to round out the Maui trip.

The last few days were complete relaxation. (except for the whole Road to Hana thing… we weren’t feeling that at all and turned around 1/2 way into it).

Though we did get fresh Krispy Kreme and see the rain pouring coming back! Which made up for it.

For the first time ever, we took a kayak out to see the whales. Now if you’re anyone who’s anyone, you’ve heard to take a 2 man kayak is relationship suicide. I never could understand that. I’ve heard stories of couples fighting the whole time, getting upset and frustrated with each other the entire time they paddled.

So when it came time for us to hop in, I was really curious how we’d fare. Wouldn’t you know there wasn’t a peep of frustration from either. We paddled in sync and when we weren’t, one would pause to get back in the rhythm. We were happy go lucky the entire time. Even talking about it and glad we weren’t among the couples who fight over paddling.

It was glorious out on the water. 3 whales were near by and we’d hear them blow air and pop up. After an hour of being out in the quiet and peaceful water, we saw one of the whales coming straight toward us. We sat straight up, eager to see how close he’d come. Popping his body up, going back under, then closer; popping up and going back under. We were getting so excited. Not 40 yards away, he pops up again, we sit in awed silence. Then from behind, a speed boat full of rowdy people comes flying in to see the whale…and he never popped up again.

We were so disappointed. As I sit back while G-man paddles us back in, we see his head come up about 200 yards away.

Our final days there, we lounged at the adult pool, sipped our cocktails and shopped our little hearts out.

Got pedicures together (his without nail polish of course) and ate some of the most delicious food we’d ever had. Each morning enjoying the special from their amazing chef and feeling special from the staff.
Waffles with baked pineapple and rum whipped cream…heaven in your mouth!

that’s me and G-man….I’ve got skills.
ok, that’s not me…

{I’m teaching G-man how to get the focus on the correct subject. …still teaching}

Reality struck us hard when we entered the airport where the woman behind the counter was unnecessarily rude and condescending to me about my carry on luggage. I told her I hoped she has a better day, and walked away determined to not have her ruin our good moods.

No more Four Seasons treatment, we were back in the real world again.
--------

Have you ever taken a kayak with your other half?! How’d you guys do?

Mushy day o’ love

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot what today is and almost didn’t even write about it. It might have been a nice reprieve for everyone seeing how everyone and their mother is probably writing about Valentine’s Day but alas, I’ve fallen victim to it as well.

Over the past Valentine’s Days, G-man would always get me flowers and chocolate. Mainly because we weren’t in the same state and it was the surefire way to celebrate the day. I’m always up for chocolate and flowers, so this girl hasn’t minded one bit.

In the start of our relationship, G-man bought me flowers just because and since I was traveling for my work at the time, I left them in his spare bedroom in the back of his house, where they wilted and died. And where he saw an uncaring soul… *cough*

It took years to change his belief that I hated getting flowers. Seriously…years! He thought since obviously I was so negligent with the first ones, I had no desire to ever get anymore. No matter how many times I would explain that there was no way for me to take those first flowers (since I was traveling for work) he kept on believing this fallacy, with that image of dead flowers permanently burned in his brain.

::hand to forehead::

Thankfully all that has changed. He now knows I love getting them..though oddly, he doesn’t capitalize on that knowledge very often…hhmmm maybe I should have another ‘talk’ with him about this…

Of course, I need to remember that instead of bouquets of flowers, he takes me on vacations and randomly declares he wants to buy me a new bathing suit or sweater or shoes/hat/bag..you name it…and not because it’s a forced holiday…but because he loves me and wants to.

I said it yesterday and I’ll say it today; I’m blessed. I don’t deserve it, God knows, but I’m blessed more than I ever thought possible with this man that I love so deeply. Each year, each month, each day, more and more.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day, whether its with your close friends, an intimate evening with the one you love or your family…or just you (as I’ve spent many a V-day alone). Enjoy those sappy movies, eat lots of chocolate and know that you’re loved.

Share your plans (PG, of course) with me… doing anything special today?
Or waiting to celebrate on another day? ..which G-man and I just might do.

A thankful me - 6

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

It’s Monday!! Can I get a woot woot!?

Ok, maybe a little too much for the start of a new week, but I say let’s start out with a bang!
My weekend was so darn good and very relaxing. At one point, I happened to glance up at the water and this whale was slapping its tail over and over and over again. G-man and I had never seen one do that repeatedly before. It was so amazing. We were going crazy!

Not to mention, being a little envious of the whale cruise that was literally 20 or so yards from the whales.

This week I’m thankful for:
- a gym membership. G-man got me a membership to the YMCA that’s literally right next door and even though I really dislike going to gyms, its been nice to go over and workout.
- shopping with G-man. He got a new shower head and bedding and wouldn’t you know the little things really mean a whole lot! No more getting drizzled on. ::hooray::
- visits from friends who never come into town. aka the city. Its well known that if you live anywhere on the island, away from Honolulu/Waikiki, you never ever come into ‘town’ and it’s a big deal when you do.
- being with my love. I’ve been enjoying every single minute with him.
- beautiful sunsets. yes, I’ve taken many many more sunset pictures. We all know I can’t get enough. I’ll never get enough!

- gorgeous views. I’m blessed. I’m really really blessed.

What are you thankful for this Monday?
I hope everyone has a wonderful start to their new week.

Just blate it out

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Note to self: Photo challenges are boring!!

I think I heard crickets all day yesterday. But that is A-Okay because today its all about my ever so awesome double blate. The highly anticipated..{by like 2 of you} story is finally here.

::deep sigh of relief::

I can’t even tell you how much I wanted to meet with Angie. We talked and plotted it out for the longest time, dreaming of the day we’d be able to meet up. While G-man was in Y Country in January, he told me to look into another island to visit when I came out. Of course my first thought was Maui.
1. because we still hadn’t been and I was dying to see it, and
2. because obviously Angie was there!

I immediately emailed Angie for all the details on Maui so I could make it extra glamorous for G-man. We were so excited! (Angie and me, that is) And then my Dad had the heart attack and everything was up in the air. Instead of me flying to HI, G-man was about to fly to CA to be with me, but Dad got better, and away I went.

{I realize that sounds rather flippant but I assure you, it was not}

As you know, we booked the trip and within 4 hours were on a plane heading to Maui and I was thrilled to know I’d see Angie soon.

If you don’t know her, she’s the sweetest kindest person you’ll ever meet. And so darn cute, to boot.

On Friday night, we hopped in the car and our driver {yes! we had a driver} took us to the restaurant where we all were going to meet up. G-man was nervous. Seeing how he doesn’t blog, doesn’t go on blogger dates and is really rather shy, he was a little uncertain about it all and being included. But I just kept reassuring him as best I could. ‘Its Angie! Everything will be okay!!’

We had such a great dinner. The guys talked while us girls talked and it was so nice getting to know Angie personally. She’s definitely someone to get to know. And truth be told, Angie is the only blogger that has seen G-man’s face. She felt honored. haha

I think the next time we get together, we should shoot for a quiet place where I won’t have to talk above music because apparently, I’m not good at the ‘quiet voice’ and I’m sure the whole restaurant didn’t want to hear me talk about prison and inmates. what really? people don’t want to hear about that stuff?? **batting eyelashes* *whoopsee**

Thanks so much to Angie and Phil for taking time out of their day and driving all the way over to us to have dinner. You both are the best.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!! What’s there to do now that football is OFFICIALLY over (praise the Lord) *cough* did I just say that?? *cough cough*

Angie blogged about our blate too, if you wanted to see her side of it.
Happy Friday!

February photo challenge

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Taking an itsy bitsy break from Maui for a day… I was seeing the monthly photo challenges go round and round and always thought they’d be fun, but always would shy away from them cause one or two of the days didn’t interest me.

I’m lame, you can say it, but when the February challenge popped up, I was game. After a bit of investigating, it looks like it started from Chantelle over at Fat Mum Slim.
Here’s the list:

If you’re following me on instagram then you’ve been seeing me post each day, but I thought I’d throw them around here as well. If you’re on the fence about doing one, you really should. Its really fun to do, quick too and I’m enjoying seeing everyone else’s that is doing it as well.

1. View: Hawaii
2. Words: Menu…I was starving!
3. Hands: I was tickling his hand
4. A stranger: Infinity pool at the Four Seasons
5. 10am: We were checking out and I felt like Ross from Friends snatching up all the L’Occitane shampoos, conditioners and lotions.
6. Dinner: I forgot and snapped my after dinner tea
7. Button: The elevator..which floor is mine?!?
8. Sun: I leaned out of the window on the lanai to capture the sun peaking around the hotel building across the street.

Tomorrow I jump back into spilling the beans about Maui and my blate!. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thursday!!

Whales whales everywhere

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Waking up at 4:30 in the morning is not an easy thing to do. Especially when you’re on vacation. But I drug myself out of bed to get ready because we had us some whales to see and nothing was going to stop us from that!

I threw on my jeans because, even though its HI, I still get cold..much to G-man’s teasing. The valet gave us bottled water and towels and had our jeep waiting for us as we came outside. I couldn’t believe how windy it was. I was secretly getting nervous I’d get seasick on the boat since I now get carsick and airsick {is it called ‘airsick’?? …my mind has gone blank}

We finally arrive to a huddle of people in the pitch black morning waiting to hear the instructions and board the boat. As we all shuffle forward, I’m getting anxious to get going and was finding myself getting annoyed by the slow walkers in front of us. {as if the 2 extra minutes will really make a difference}

We’re finally out to sea and within 30 minutes the sun begins to rise, painting the sky a beautiful shade of pink.

As the sun kept rising, I was finally able to take pictures of the whales that were close by. 2 in particular hovered near our boat, circling for a long time before moving on. It was beautiful. Everything about these whales are beautiful. To be so close was such a wonderful experience.

We kept willing them to breach the water but none seemed in the mood to play, but we were in awe of their size, their sounds…everything about them.

As we neared the end of our cruise, we began to head back to the dock. Everyone began to relax and not look around so eagerly for whales. This little boy seemed utterly content resting on the rail, staring out at the water.

Far out in the distance, the whales were still popping up and diving back under.

One waved goodbye to us with his fin.

It was a beautiful morning. Despite the wind, I thankfully never got sick. It started out with us wrapped in the towels to stay warm to me non stop taking pictures, craning my neck to see every angle so I wouldn’t miss anything, to feeling the warm sun soak into my skin.

I would go on a whale watching cruise every day if I could. G-man and I can’t seem to get enough of them. Even being back “home” in Oahu, we still stare out the big windows in hopes of seeing the whales jump. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, {naturally, the hard way} its that a camera isn’t necessary to capture every single thing.

Running for my camera since the whales were beginning to jump close by, I ended up missing one whale jump and flip out of the water, only to have it never jump again that day. {I’m told it was spectacular} Sometimes, its best to just be there in the moment and not always feel the camera is necessary.

Lesson learned.

Pampering in Maui

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

I learned something about myself on our trip to Maui. I don’t think I realized it until G-man pointed it out, {while laughing, mind you}, as we were being taken to our hotel from the airport.

When I’m excited about something..or going somewhere, I apparently point out every little thing as if it’s the neatest thing ever.

For instance:
ooh, the speed limit is 45mph the whole way…gosh that would be hard.
do you see the tree over there..its pretty isn’t it?
look at that store..that should be fun to visit.
oh look! an outback AND a red robin..who knew??!
look over there..did you see that…oh oh what’s that…

And apparently, he finds this rather funny. But he knows I’m very excited about our trip when I do that, thus it doesn’t bother him and just makes him happy because clearly I’m happy.

{can I just say how hard it was to keep quiet once I knew I did this? literally biting on my tongue!}

When we booked the Four Seasons, we had the expectation of the Hilton on Kona, on our last trip, so we weren’t thinking too much of it. We packed extremely casually, just about no nice clothes, and had no intention of ‘snazzing up’. It was going to be a 100% relaxation trip.

Upon arrival, the valet opens our door and the greeter gives us a lei. They whisk our bags away and the greeter escorts us to the front desk to check in. She asks if we’d like a ‘welcome drink’ and darn if we were going to refuse.

::Mint ginger lemonade with a skewered pineapple::

Our eyes were bulging at this treatment and I have no doubt that even though we were acting like it was no big deal, our faces showed otherwise.

The man checking us in; hands us wet towels to clean our hands, gives us a list of complementary activities while the live band entertains the cocktail lounge behind us. The bellman escorted us to our room, where he proceeded to give us a tour of the entire room and all its functions. From bathroom, to personalized mini bar, to television, to the hotels information book.

Once he left, we stared at each other in amazement and rushed over to the welcome plate of assorted cookies, talking about the beauty of the hotel.

We made reservations at Duo and started our way downstairs. Men and women were impeccably dressed. Dresses, designer outfits, heels, hardly anyone was in ‘casual clothes’. I immediately began to feel self conscious, thinking I underdressed.

Once we’re seated, the server comes over and greets us by our names. ‘Mr…and Ms…how are you this evening??’ He asked if I wanted a drink and I casually mentioned I was considering a warm one when he asked if I was cold. {we were sitting outside} I said I was and he offered to bring me a shawl. a shawl!! Which he draped over my shoulders.

The food was some of the best we’d ever had and the service was phenomenal. He ended the dinner by bringing us a plate full of cotton candy and wet towels to clean our hands with. It didn’t matter I was full, I ate that cotton candy like it was the last food on earth.

As we took our walk back to our room, we began to realize the Four Seasons wasn’t anything like the Hilton. We didn’t know how much just yet but had a feeling we were about to find out real soon.

But first thing we needed to do was get some sleep. We had a 6:30am whale watching cruise to make and did not want to miss it.

A thankful me - 5

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy happy Monday to all of you!! I feel like I’ve been gone for so long and have to admit, I’m glad to be back in full swing again. It was nice being away from everything electronic though. I barely had my phone with me the whole time..heaven!

I have so much to tell you about our trip to Maui but for now I’ll sum it up in one word: Pamper.

We had no idea we’d be pampered as great as we were…it spoiled all future trips to all ‘normal’ hotels.

I can’t even tell you just how much I have to be thankful for, so I’ll boil it down to a toppers.

I’m thankful for:
- my Dad’s health. Talk about taking it all for granted until there’s a chance its all taken away.

- spending some great time with my family, catching up and enjoying each other’s company.

- all my sweet friends who were there to offer help and be there at the drop of a hat last week.

- being given the ability to come to Hawaii. I forget its Hawaii and sometimes see it as just another place to be, but being here really reminds me how blessed I am I get to be here as much as I do.

- a spur of the moment trip to Maui. We booked it that day and was on a plane within 4 hours.

- a great opportunity to have a blate with my beautiful blogger friend, Angie. {more on that later}

- unbelievable pampering by the hotel. Everything about the experience was world class and left us in awe.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I can’t wait to catch up on everyone from last week! Give me a recap in your comment. Tell me how you’ve been!!

Island hopping

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

I think the number one most important thing to do, if given the chance; is to island hop. And that’s just what we’re getting to do.

The few times G-man and I have been able to do it, we went to Hilo on the Big Island. It was great. We took a helicopter ride and got to see the lava flowing into the ocean and the waterfalls. It was beautiful.

Then we got to go to the other side and visit Kona. We loved Kona. Everything about it was just wonderful.

And this time, we get to go to Maui. I’m extra extra excited to go there. I’ve been eager to go to Maui for many many reasons. Reasons I’ll dive into after we get back, but we jetted off last night and get to live it up for the rest of the week.

Completely…well, almost completely unplugged.

And don’t worry, you can bet your sweet little fanny I’ll be taking lots of pictures.
I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and a great Superbowl Sunday!!
Who are you routing for??

Given the go

2012-02-01T09:34:00.001-08:00

I’m here

On Friday, remember when I mentioned I was going to do something fun over the weekend and I couldn’t wait to tell you…? It wasn’t my Dad having a heart attack, that’s for sure.

I had plans to go to Hawaii.

So after canceling the flight and staying with my parents through Monday, I was given the clear to go. G-man booked a new flight, I traveled aallll day yesterday and here I am today watching the sun rise over the ocean.

Its kinda pretty. Ok Ok, its gorgeous.
I’m actually in one of those buildings right now.

Thank you again, everyone for your sweet and thoughtful comments yesterday. I promise they haven’t gone unread and I will reply when I can have a moment with them all.

Have a superb Wednesday and Happy February 1st!!

No foreigner of words

2012-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

The past 5 days have been nothing but insane. Not to mention exhausting.

I never thought I’d ever say the words, ‘my Dad had a massive heart attack’ but I’ve said it several times in the last 5 days and know I’ll continue to say it, because he did. Friday.

I was in the middle of vacuuming when I saw my phone light up with a call from my mom’s cell and I knew it wasn’t good since she was supposed to be at work.

Things were definitely crazy. Calling my brothers, arranging all of us to drive or fly to be together. My sister was already at the hospital, waiting to hear more as he was getting worked on. By Saturday morning we were all in his CCU room together. It was weird, seeing him on the bed hooked up to monitors, but he was in good spirits.

My brothers were on the mark, cracking jokes one after another, having us be the only room in the entire CCU, making a lot of noise, laughing.
first time in 4 years we’ve all been together. {for the record, my sister has a scarf under her coat..}

He was given the clear to go to a normal floor and unfortunately had to share a room with a mental druggie who ‘mysteriously broke his ankle in 3 places.’ (he claims he ‘fell out of bed’…)

{I did overhear him say on the phone that “they broke it real good”…who knows what that means}

The weekend was long and exhausting. For my mom and me, and especially my dad. We stayed with him just about every hour of the day, talking and keeping him company. Coming back worn out and smelling of hospital.

Finally, Monday morning he was given the clear to go home. But not before his druggie roommate caused a commotion by refusing the nurse’s orders and hitting her in the arm. I can’t even tell you how done we were at that point.

He’s going to have to make lifestyle changes. I don’t imagine it’ll be easy for him, but I hope he knows how important it is to stick around just a little bit longer. For selfish reasons, of course.

Thank you to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers for him and my family over these past 5 days. They’ve been more than appreciated and felt. They said if he’d waited 15 minutes more before coming in to the ER, he would have died. A crazy thought.

Those words, I’m thankful for, will continue to be foreign for me.

My indestructible Dad

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

My Dad is strong.
He does not get sick.
He does not get hurt.
Nothing bad ever happens to him.

He doesn’t age. He doesn’t have gray hair and he never has ailments. He doesn’t get pain in his chest, numbness and loss of feeling in his arm and he never has constant headaches.

He’s as strong as an ox. He doesn’t need doctors to stick him or poke him or examine him.

He’s healthy.

He’s always going to be around. He’s never going to not be there because he’s my Dad, and he’d never die.

And he knows that.
I’ll never not have my Dad around to hear his jokes.
I’ll never not have him around to watch movies with.
I’ll never not have him around for all those little moments in my life.

I may get older but my Dad won’t.
He’s indestructible.

I love you, Dad.

Its freeing to do..this confessing thing

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday!!

Who else is suuuper excited for their weekend? Raise of hands, please…

I felt like confessing some things, so lets get right down to bid-nis

I confess…
I fear on a daily basis that I’ll type G-man’s real name and not catch it.

Thankfully I have yet to do this.

I confess…
I have caught myself on several occasions from calling G-man..’G-man’ to his face.

I’ll get as far as ‘Geeee’… and then switch to his actual name. To the best of my knowledge, I don’t believe he’s aware of this nickname…

I confess…
The name he goes by is actually his middle name. ..and naturally, it starts with a G.

I confess…
I only use his first name when I mean business…which is rare, to be totally honest.

And the few times I do use it, it sounds foreign, like I called him by the wrong name. Especially since my brother in law has the same first name and actually goes by it. So it feels all sorts of wrong for me. However with that said, I love his first name.

I confess…
I think God has a sense of humor. I always prayed for ‘my man’ to be taller than me, {being 5’11” and all}.

…G-man is exactly 1 inch taller.

I confess…
I hardly ever wear eye makeup beyond mascara and one day I decided to wear eye shadow and all day long G-man couldn’t stop saying how beautiful my eyes were.
{which was great…not gonna lie}
but he couldn’t pinpoint why they were more beautiful {his words} that day.

I never told him it was the eye shadow…

I confess…
I think about wearing eye shadow more..

I confess…
when I was on a skype date with 2 lovely ladies, G-man called and I muted my microphone to take the call…or so I thought.

I ended up muting my speakers instead and they got to be privy to the entire conversation, unbeknownst to me. Thankfully nothing incriminating was said.

aahhhhhh, I feel so much better.
I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. I get to do something extra special that I can’t wait for and can’t wait to tell you all about it next week!! Yippy!!

Color obsessed

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for your sweet comments on yesterday’s post. Its been something that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately and felt like I had to say. We definitely aren’t alone and its nice to see everyone being encouraging..just what we need more of. = )

This week has actually been a really tough week for me. The beginning was, actually. Looking over myself and seeing all that’s going on…or not going on in my life was putting me in a major funk. Top that off with not being able to have any communication with G-man for days and days was wearing me down! Satan sure knows how to work in those moments.

Stephanie told me she once had to go 11 weeks without hearing from her husband when he was on deployment years ago and I’m not sure I could make it, if that was my case. Just going these 6 days have been really hard.

I should hear from him Saturday, since he’ll be back in the states though, and I can’t wait!
*updated. I heard from him last night!! A complete surprise and I almost didn’t answer the ‘blocked’ number, but so glad I did.

::~~:::~~:::~~:::~~:::~~::

For Christmas, G-man got me a giftcard to one of my..no, my favorite clothing store and days after getting it, I got online and picked out 9 tops. If it wasn’t for taxes I wouldn’t have had to pay a penny, but as it was, I only paid $7. I couldn’t wait to get them and was seriously jumping for joy at getting all but 1 top on sale.

And then, not 2 days after placing the order, I get the store’s email promoting a $20.12 off all orders over X amount…my X amount…I could have saved $20!! Isn’t that how it always is!?

Alas, I got them all and only liked 5 of them, so off to the store I went to return them and pick out fun new clothes.

I learned 2 {not so new} things about myself that day.
1. I have an unhealthy obsession with gray. and..

keep in mind there are 3 more gray shirts that were still in the dryer when I took this picture…
2. I have an unhealthy obsession with purple. ..oh, and

3. I’m scared of pattern. (I didn’t buy this)

Ok so that’s 3 things…
My mom is probably nodding her head agreeing. I can’t even count how many years of effort she’s put into getting me out of solids.

I’m like a leap year. Every 4 years, I finally muster up the courage to buy a stripe over solid…then a design on a small part of the shirt…then a plaid. At this rate, I’ll be 70 before I feel comfortable wearing a full patterned top. I’ll be that crazy old lady with the eccentric clothing.

Would you still talk to me?

What color are you obsessed with?

I’m not like you

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

No matter how hard I try to fit in. Squeeze into your little click or force laugh at a fairly inappropriate comment or start acting like you to see if you’ll notice me, I just will never be like you. And finally? After all these years, I’ve learned it doesn’t matter.

I don’t pretend to understand how a good friend of mine can be friends with me and a person that, no matter how I slice it, just can’t like. It makes me question me..and then my friend. But mostly me. Why can’t I like this person? Am I not open enough, kind, willing to accept, able to love them regardless of their flaws?

Have I just become so hard in my personality that I don’t even give a person a fighting chance?

Its safe to say everyone who blogs realizes there’s clicks. Girls who stick together, who (some) tease or pick on other bloggers who aren’t in the click. Just like school or work. I don’t think we ever escape the ‘cool kids’ in any part of our lives. I think some bloggers think because we’re adults, we’re “above” all the scheming, lying and trash talking, but you can all think of that one girl at work who is the office gossip. Or who likes to spread rumors, for pleasure, to get ahead or because they feel its their duty. They’ll always be there.

I admit, when I saw what some would call the ‘cool girls’ in blog land, I attempted to befriend them. Some it worked and I learned they’re genuine and in no way put themselves in the category. Others, wouldn’t even give me the time of day {for whatever reason} and as I silently, invisibly {to them} watched them through twitter and their blog, I saw who they really were and was happy they didn’t ‘accept’ me.

I’m me. Not everyone will like me. Heck, I don’t like me some days, but not everyone has to accept me either and I am content with that. I’m learning I don’t need the ‘cool girl’s’ approval in life. I’m happy where I am, who I am, and with the friends I already have and hope to make. Because all my friends are genuine. They aren’t fake, starving for attention, pretending to be something they aren’t. Lying to get noticed or being controversial and making waves for fun.

They are real and loving and they like me because I stay true to myself and don’t compromise. I’m not a ‘make friends to say I have friends’ person, I’m a builder of relationships that last. I fail sometimes but those few I have, I know I’ll have for life.

I think the moment we stop being who we think people want us to be is the moment we’ll truly be happy with ourselves and how God intended us to be. Conforming to a group to fit in, is definitely the last thing, I think He wanted for us.

A game of tag, anyone?

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’ve been tagged by, not 1 but 2 beautiful bloggers in this fun little ‘game’ so I thought I better play, cause this girl doesn’t turn down a game!

Let’s discuss the rules before I begin to overshare.

1. you must post the rules.
2. post 11 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 11 new questions to ask the people you've tagged.
4. tag 11 people and link them on your post
5. let them know you've tagged them!

Now, let’s begin
1. I can say ‘larger is better’ in 3 languages. Italian, Hawaiian and English. A car commercial years ago taught me this little phrase. A car commercial. and no, I haven’t ever used it.

2. I won’t text or call any of my married friends after 5pm unless they contact me. I feel its interrupting their family time.

3. I didn’t know I could take an iPhone picture with my volume button until the iPhone commercial showed it. My life was changed.

4. I just canceled my Directv since there’s nothing good on anymore and tv bores me.

5. I’ve been to Hawaii 10 times in the past 1 1/2 years.

6. I don’t work {for good reasons} which lets me run away often. And in case you’re wondering more, this is what I was waiting for and this is what I used to do.

7. I’ve been driving since I was 14 1/2 years old.

8. I’ve been pulled over more than 15 times and have received..somewhere near 12-14 tickets BUT only 2 have been on my record…though only 1 should have been.

9. One cop that pulled me over, immediately bought my coffee after letting me go. {what can I say….}

10. One time I was driving down the street and spotted a dollar laying in the road. I flipped a U (hoping no one would see it) and it ended up being $100 bill!

11. I watched Tangled last night..alone..and laughed..out loud. {no shame}

So, since Tabitha with My Cliffnotes and Ashley with Episodes of a Mixed Girl both tagged me and both asked 11 questions each, I chose the 11 best {for me} to answer. Yes, I took liberty on this.

1. What is your favorite book and what are you currently reading?
hmmm, I’m going to claim a series. The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. By far some of the best books I’ve ever read.
I just finished The Help a week ago and haven’t picked up anything else yet.
2. What is your favorite room in your house, why?
my living room. Its very cozy. My butt print on my couch is proof of that.
3. What is your go to store, and why?
Target. There’s no need to explain that…its Target.
4. Favorite color to wear and why?
green. Everything green. It makes my eyes pop.
5. Favorite thing to watch on the tube?
I’m actually really getting into the show Once Upon a Time. oh and Up All Night is hilarious, and even though this season is sucking, I love How I Met Your Mother.
6. How would you style a basic white-t?
with denim jeans, black belt, and a contrasting necklace. If I had a hot leather biker jacket, I’d wear that.
7. Favorite breakfast food, and why?
breakfast burrito with bacon, eggs, lots of cheese and light pappas. Cause its just so darn yummy!
8. What is your favorite movie?
Frequency. Loved it so much I watched it with the directors’ commentary. (which was very interesting)
9. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
that my alarm, across my room won’t stop beeping.
10. What was the last thing you ate?
a ‘fried’ chicken dinner with rice and a diced tomato sauce. Very very tasty.
11. If you had to choose between Facebook and Blogger? Which one?
As many of you know, I dumped Facebook just 2 weeks ago and clearly agreed to be monogamous with Blogger. We’re very happy together.

You still with me?! Ok, now I’m chasing you down to tag.

Jossie at Schauerhamers (say that 5 times fast)
Erin at Erin Clicks
Natalie at Scribbles n Things
Sam at Fitness Food and Faith
Megan at Mackey Madness
LeAnna at Thoughts n Whatnots
Tatiana at Living Life and Loving It
Carissa at Lowercase Letters
Becky at This Road Called Vida
Allison at The Blogivers
Jennifer at Jennifer Blair Photography

brace yourselves for my intelligent questions.
1.How old were you when you had your 1st kiss?
2.Do you remember your first kiss’s name? If so, what is it?
3.Where’s the furthest you’ve traveled?
4.Where’s your favorite place to getaway?
5.What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
6.Do you prefer a wood fireplace or gas fireplace? and why?
7.What was your very first car?
8.If you were forced to choose between a chapstick, toothbrush or hairbrush to go with you on a deserted island, which one would you pick?
9.What past time period would you like to live in? and why?
10.Which food could you not live without?
11.Which food do you believe is of the devil? {figuratively speaking of course}

and now for a completely random unrelated picture..

A thankful me - 4

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

How is this the last week of January already?! I think I’ve lost all ability to keep up with the flying time.

{sign you’re getting old…you comment frequently on time passing}

I hope everyone had a fun weekend. Mine consisted of cleaning out closets and cabinets. Not to mention my pantry and then organizing it. Seriously! I can’t stop starring at how pretty my pantry looks.
See? See? See? I’ll randomly open the door just to stand there and admire it.

This week has been a good week, quiet but good. I’ve hardly heard from G-man and know I won’t hear from him until he gets home next weekend. Friday morning was last I heard from him in email telling me he wouldn’t be able to talk until he got home.

I still email him daily, even though I don’t even know if he’s getting them. It helps me though.

This week I’m thankful for-

- the few times he was able to email me. They were short quick little notes, but I’ll take those over none any day.
- all the leftovers I finished from when he was here. I realize that was 2 weeks ago, but they lasted…for the most part. It kept me from having to cook.
- my parents letting me connect to their Netflix and Hulu Plus accounts on my PS3 since I canceled my Directv. It has gotten me through my nights!
- Sweet LeAnna getting me properly hooked on Downton Abbey. I only watched the entire 1st Season in 1 night. That’s 7 hours straight. Didn’t make it to bed until 1am. And now catching up on Season 2 online.
- having my friend come over to watch The Help with me. We hadn’t hung out in a long time and it was great catching up. ..the movie on the other hand. Wasn’t into it like everyone else.
- taking my friend’s family photos.
a sneak peak

- making it a rule to keep my laptop on my {hardly used} dining table. I’ve banned it from my living room. Its made a huge difference with my productivity.
- my Esthetician sister in law who’s been beyond helpful with all my skin and product questions.

So, tell me. What makes you thankful today?

5 pickles in a field

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

a play on my sister’s last name that only my family will {potentially} find humorous…

I am no longer the worst sister in the world. I have officially finished editing my sister’s family pictures I did on Christmas Eve and mailed the cd to her just 2 days ago. A 3 1/2 week turn around ain’t too shabby.

I jest. {have no fear Michelle, I won’t take that long on yours.}

The day couldn’t have been better. G-man and I had driven in from San Francisco with an hour or so to spare before meeting up with my sister and adorably as we were getting in the car to head over, G-man tells me to pop the hatch without looking.

He slides something in, closes it and jumps in the passenger seat. As I’m going down the road he tells me I should pull over to open up a small little box all wrapped up, saying it was a ‘personal gift’ he wanted to give me just the 2 of us.

I open it, eager, and it’s a remote control for my camera. {clearly he was joking about the personal part} but he thought I might want to use it for the photo shoot. I thought that was so sweet. When we got to my sister’s house, he opened the back and there sat a tripod for my camera. Love that man!

Unfortunately, I didn’t use either that day but love them all the same and have used them since!

We met up on someone’s property with pretty trees and a beautiful line to the sun setting.

My nephew cracked a joke which had them laughing up a storm. It was about diapers, in case you’re wondering.

We could discuss why I kept them in the dirt and not on the pretty field behind them, but let’s just pretend I wanted to be “different” and “artistic” with it, and not a complete rookie with a lot to learn. They’re still adorable in my book.

This has to be one of my favorites from this session. I love my niece’s face and my brother in law looking at me with a peak of my sister’s smile.

..and of course this one is among them as well.

A shoot can’t go without kissing, in my book.

Hello, my beautiful sister.

I absolutely love my niece with her, ‘just one minute, please’ finger. I respectfully waited until she was done with her call before we resumed.

She still didn’t want to part with the phone though…

A big hearty thank you to my sister and family for being so willing to let me practice on them. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I sure learned a heck of a lot.

I hope you lovely ladies have a wonderful weekend. Drink some coffee for me..sans creamer of course. *wink wink*

How I kicked the nasty habit

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

I used to have an addiction. I’m not proud of this. A little ashamed, in fact. I think about the damage its done to my body over the years I ingested it, and cringe knowing I might never recover...

My addiction…coffee creamer.

Say it ain’t so!!? ..oh its so.

It started out normal. I grew up with milk, then 1/2 and 1/2 but as I became an adult, the choices were overwhelming. Vanilla, Hazelnut, Irish Crème, Cinnamon Vanilla…then all the holiday creamers…oh the possibilities were endless!!

But there was one. One that grabbed me and swore it would never let go. Cinnamon Vanilla. We were instantly in love. I spat out everything else. I took it everywhere with me to ensure the best coffee experience. People warned me of the risks, but I didn’t care. I was in love and no one could tell me otherwise.

Then one day, all the stores stopped selling it. It was like they were intervening. Meddling where they didn’t belong. I searched high and low, going into groceries stores I never would normally go, in hopes they would carry it. Not one did. I felt broken.

Until, on a whim, more than 120 miles away, I pulled into the parking lot of a store. My hopes were low as I walked toward the dairy section, and what did my eyes behold? My creamer. My beloved creamer in 2 whole rows! I grabbed 3, embraced them tight and ran to the cashier with a smile as big as can be.

Once my supply ran low, I returned to that same store 120 miles away and saw they didn’t have as many and feared they were beginning to meddle as well. I grabbed the last 2 and made my way home, looking in the backseat with adoring eyes at my 2 beloved creamers tucked tight.

It struck me not much longer after that, my possible addiction. I didn’t want to face it fully but knew I needed to acknowledge something was there. G-man was there to encourage me. Filling me with facts of my beloved creamers poisons all while rubbing my back, soothing me.

I started slow. Only using 1/2 the amount with heavy whipping cream. Then less, then less…until I was completely out and only had heavy whipping cream in its place. It took months to adjust but loved the flavor of coffee again, on its own. Then reality struck….heavy whipping cream wasn’t a great choice either.

With a heavy heart, I began the transition to 1/2 and 1/2. A slow slow process that again took months of fine tuning the right amount of sugar with it, to make me love it once again.

Now I’m hooked. 1/2 and 1/2 and I are best friends. We share our mornings together and laugh over the difficult days filled with withdrawals, but I’ll never regret my choice, my decision, to kick that nasty habit…nay…addiction that was flavored coffee creamer.

*if you face similar addictions, know you aren’t alone and that you have a support group standing by to help you through your difficult times ahead. Don’t let flavored coffee creamer rule you one more day.

Liebster Award

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

The ever adorable and sweet Claire with Fast Forward Girl awarded me with the Liebster Award. It goes to anyone who has under 200 followers and who they feel deserves a little more recognition. Color me happy, she picked me!

The rules of said award are as follows:
1. Show your thanks by linking to the award giver.
2. Leave links to 5 of your top blogs and leave a sweet comment letting them know.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Enjoy and bask in the love.

So let me pick my five who I feel needs to get noticed a wee bit more.

Tabitha with My Cliffnotes: She has become my fast friend and fantastic accountability partner with working out. She’s hilarious and kind and is a great cheerleader when I need and getting on me when I’m slacking. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know her more.

Amy with Dwell in the Season: She is just the sweetest thing ever. Her and her husband are expecting their first baby, and it’s a boy! And it is such a treat being able to follow along with her as her belly grows more and more. She has fantastic sewing tutorials on just about everything and even though I don’t know the first thing about it, she makes me want to consider learning.

Katie with J & K: Katie is so fun to know. She’s an animal with finishing up her Masters and now starting her dream internship all while getting settled in their very first house they bought. She’s doing the 30 days picture challenge and has been showing some great pictures. Oh and she loves rap. I think I’ll always chuckle at that fact as she doesn’t fit the ‘type’. ;-)

Christina with He Makes All Things New: I personally know Christina. We used to live in the same town years ago and she happens to be my birthday twin. (I’m the older!!) She is sweet as can be, has a passion for NEEDTOBREATHE and the Lord…I probably should flip those, but she is a great person inside and out. Even though she hasn’t blogged since Christmas Eve, her heart is one to get to know.

Erin with Erin Clicks: This dear girl right here is my in real life friend who just started her blog 2 weeks ago. I can’t say enough wonderful things about her OR her photography as IT.IS.AMAZING. She’s my go to girl for tips, thoughts, ideas and anything under the sun. I love this girl to death! Like. love! Her humor is spot on with mine. And her kids….adorable. She calls one Moose…you must check her out.

Thank you Claire so so much for giving me the love! I feel it. Now ladies, go spread the love yourselves!

Since I must, let me ease your eyes with an orange grove I came across the other week. I still don’t know why there were hundreds of oranges and lemons on the ground. It was eerie.

If anyone knows, feel free to fill me in.

Artist in motion

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well before Christmas, my friend’s husband asked me if I would shoot an event he was doing that coming weekend at a nearby church. I happily obliged since I had yet to see him perform and had heard some great things about it.

Rick is an artist. But not just an artist who paints, he’s an artist who does martial arts while painting. Its an amazing site to see. But once again, he doesn’t just paint with his hands and feet, he shares the gospel all while doing it.

What’s even more unique about it all is he paints in the dark with black lights. Its pretty cool, I’m tellin’ ya. A challenge for someone who’s taking pictures but even watching it through my camera it was so enjoyable. And hearing his testimony and story was something, too! He’s led quite an interesting life.

A few minutes before the show.

It was right before Christmas, so can you see the storyline?

From the angel, to the star shining down on baby Jesus, to Mary holding Him.

To His ultimate sacrifice for us.

Rick’s traveled the world performing for all kinds of groups, kids, crowds and is so much fun to get to know.

He has a couple websites, so I encourage you to check him out here and here.

After his performance, they took me to a Vietnamese restaurant. My first experience.
Pho, that was good…minus whatever it was I had to spit out. And the smoothie with the tapioca balls in it, which surprisingly was pretty tasty.

Has anyone ever had that? Or remember what its called?

You’ll be seeing more of Rick and my friend because it was their family I just photographed yesterday! I can’t wait to share with you all!

A thankful me - 3

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well hello everyone! What a glorious Monday this is turning out to be, don’t you think?
{just say it with me} “Its-a-glorious-Monday.”

There, now we’ll all believe it.

I want to give a hearty hi to all my new followers {but I don’t like the term ‘followers’} so I’m going to say “buddies”. Hi Buddies!! Thanks for jumping on the ‘bus o’ fun’ with me.

This past week was a decent one. The first week since G-man left and I did alright for the most part. It usually takes a few days for it to sink in and return to normal operations and this time was no different. By day 5 I was in my funk. More so because he’s in “Y” country again for a few weeks, and we don’t get to talk hardly ever the whole time.

So radio silence is tough to take, sometimes. {everyone knows that term, right? I’ve been thinking a lot about work lately, so a lot of work phrases have been in my head…}

But let’s not dwell. This very week, I’m thankful for:

- his safe arrival in “Y” Country.
- a wonderful visit with my friend, who happened to bring me “The Help” to read. Finished it in 3 days. A little long and drawn out but otherwise a pretty good book.
- my mom for loaning me the movie. I plan on watching it real soon.
- G-man surprising me with buying Adele’s “Someone Like You” song. He knows I love that song even though its really sad and without telling me, bought it for me.
- my sweet friend who’s always so quick to give me Photoshop advice and constructive criticism over my photos. I appreciate her honesty so so much.
- my awesome sister for being my 100th “buddy”.
- all the link love last week. From Megan to Tabitha to Claire to Ashley. These ladies are the best.
- you. Seriously, you guys don’t even know how much each comment you leave, each joke you tell, brightens my days. Thank you for taking time to ‘talk’ to me each day.

This afternoon, I’ll be doing my friend’s family photos. I’m excited, beyond excited! Pray my confidence stays high. I’ve only done my sister’s family, so the nerves are still an issue for me.

Speaking of, here’s a little sneak of my sister and her fam.

Sis, I hope you like it, seeing how you haven’t seen this one yet.

Did you have a nice weekend? Anyone as disappointed as I was in the Saints?

It’s not a resolution

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’m not a resolution setter. Haven’t been for many many years. I see too many resolutions being made only to quickly see them get ignored with the old way of living quickly returning. I saw it plenty in my own self when I used to set little goals or resolutions each year. They’re just taken too lightly, in my opinion.

Beyond the masses making resolutions, I’ve also been seeing a ‘word for the year'. Picking one word that you want to be centered around for the year. Interesting concept. I hadn’t heard of doing this until I joined the blog world.

But for me?? I’m eliminating one word. Weeeeell, reducing. I’d like to look at it as a commitment rather than anything else, because when I, my own self, get tired of hearing a word constantly come out of my mouth, I think, ‘surely, everyone else is tired of it.’
{don’t call me Shirley…}

So, *clears throat* I hereby announce I will be reducing my use of the word:

DUDE!

No joke.

Dude is my go to word when I’m frustrated with someone, when I’m shocked over a statement, pretty much any opportunity I can use it…at the tv, at G-man, at a kid, at the driver in front of me…it gets said.

No more, I say…no more.
oh wait….before I commit..
Dude, seriously, that’s Michael Buble and he totally slapped my hand when he walked by! Aaaaaaaawesome!!

oh oh and Dude! ya gotta check out this sah-weet picture of bacon I took with my brand new 35mm lens I got from my love for Christmas. It’s epic.

There. All better.
What one word would you pick to reduce from your vocabulary? I fear, all you momma’s, when you ask me if I’m going to the potty or that you have to go to the potty (when no child is around but adults…) you might want to consider joining me… just sayin’.

Cause I will heckle you. Fair warning.

I’m a coper, you’re a coper, we’re all copers

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Its been 1 whole week I’ve been Facebook free. How oh how have I done it?!!?

Pretty darn easily, if I do say so myself.

In this week, I’ve been on it twice and that’s only because I helped 2 people on 2 separate occasions in their own Facebook accounts.

I haven’t missed it one single day.

Have I been on the internet less since? – No! I still manage to find other sites to suck my time up, so I’m still working on that, but its nice being ‘free’.

Have I started to build better relationships with my Facebook friends since? – No! I’ve only talked to 3 of the 132 friends I’ve had on there. But in all fairness, we weren’t really talking when I was on Facebook.

However, I have been communicating more with one since leaving. Hi Annie!!! *waving*

A week later I still don’t regret my decision to delete my Facebook account.

::~~~::~~~::~~~::~~~::~~~::

In other coping news, I’m coping with not having G-man around since Sunday. No worries, I’m not Debbie Downer over here. It is what it is.

I miss his company, humor, passion over football and the conversations he’d have with me as if I were his ‘guy friend’ talking stats and football history. My eyes may glaze and my ears may get a ringing sound where I only comprehend every 3rd word, but I sit there, give him full eye contact and with a smile nod my head and say ‘hhmm’ when needed.

It makes me feel special that he wants to share something he’s so passionately into with me. So I’m happy to “listen”.

Over the course of me jabbering about the G-man, I’ve had several people ask me to post a picture of him.

I wish I could. …but I can’t.

I somehow have led people to believe his line of work prevents me to post it, and part of me wants you to keep believing that, because that’s just cool sounding. Not to say it isn’t entirely true. His line of work can put him in danger. He does travel overseas, where I never say the country, because its for his safety.

But when it comes to the picture, its simply because he does not want me to post it.

I’ve asked. Waited a few months and asked again and each time its always no. I’m not going to ever post a picture without his authorization, so until that time, I’ll continue to show his hand, or arm, or back.
oop..and a leg

He’s a private man, this one. He doesn’t like being all over the internet. He still doesn’t grasp me blogging and I just about never bring it up to him. He actually doesn’t even read my blog. {shocker?} As he puts it, he doesn’t want to interfere with my creativity by reading it. Meaning…he doesn’t want to read it, not like it and tell me how much he doesn’t like it, so he just doesn’t read it.

For the record, I got him to read my first two posts when I first started, to get his opinion. We were both nervous. Him, because he knew if it sucked, he’d tell me and didn’t want to hurt my feelings and me because I knew if he thought it sucked, he’d tell me…and it would hurt my feelings.

In the end, he thought I actually wrote quite well, but declared he wouldn’t read anymore…the creativity and all.

So in the meantime, we all are going to have to continue to cope with the fact that I can’t share with you my one and only G-man. But one day, my friends. One day I will get that approval and you can bet your fanny I will post my little heart out until he or you scream stop.

Bake me a sandwich

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

I realize this is uncharacteristic. I’m not a food blogger by any means. I’m pretty certain food bloggers don’t take pictures with their cell phones throughout the whole process.

With that said, I had to share what I made for G-man and me the other night. I haven’t made this in ages and when it popped into our heads, I jumped at making it again. Its so darn yummy.

I broke it down {obviously} for you to make it super easy to follow and make.

Preheat oven to 415 degrees
Steps 1-4: Spread mayo (yes, mayo) on one side of each slice of preferably sour dough bread. Lay mayo side down on cookie sheet. Add a layer of Swiss cheese then {preferably} Bulls Eye BBQ (but I ran out…as you see)

Steps 5-8: layer with roast beef, then red peppers then more swiss. Top it off with more BBQ sauce and put the bread mayo side up.

Steps 9-12: Bake for 10 minutes, flip over, bake for another 7-9 minutes. Slice in half and serve it up.

Enjoy. Trust me, you will enjoy!

Sometimes and always…

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is epic that I get to participate in Megan’s link up. It took me an awkwardly long time to come up with my sometimes/always. It’s a lot harder than I thought it’d be, so I told her she needed to keep doing this for at least a month (from the time I told her) to make sure I’d have a chance to play along.

It literally took me a month. I’m not as clever as I thought.

Sometimes I turn the corner and barely miss running into the door frame.
I always do a ninja spin move to side swipe it only to slam into it any way.

Sometimes when I have a really bad headache, I take it easy and keep things real quiet around me.
I always manage to slam every cabinet door, chew really crunchy foods and stare into every light bulb around.

Sometimes I’m mindful of others around me in public and keep to myself.
I always end up having conversations with myself and they usually take place when I’m around strangers. I’ve been known to talk to the food that’s in my hand or on the shelf. {should I not share that?}

Sometimes I just want to go for a drive and cruise around not worrying about other drivers or how fast I can get there.
I always end up getting around the slower drivers which makes me become one of the ‘faster’ drivers on the road. I prefer to be in front of cars rather than behind.

That was fun. It’ll probably be my one and only Sometimes/Always post unless my brain can kick into gear and produce some more, but that was fun.

A thankful me - 2

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’m back to the grind. The grind of my daily every day life. G-man went back to HI yesterday morning and I drove back home from San Francisco fighting a headache that wanted badly to turn into a migraine.

I guess that’s the best way to top off a sad day. But it did improve when I sat down, turned on the tv and caught Tebow throwing the winning touchdown. Oh, and I can’t forget the highlight of my whole Sunday of seeing my parents and my mom giving me an entire jar of her delicious salsa. She’s the best.

This Monday, to keep positive, remain upbeat, and stay enthusiastic, I’m thankful for the following:
- G-man and all the things he does for me, like:
- rubbing my feet every single night

- washing all the dishes after every breakfast lunch and dinner
- scrubbing down my entire apartment to make it ‘sparkle’ so I could come home after dropping him off at the airport to a clean home
- never sitting down at the table until I sit down
- going to workout with me 3 days last week
- filling up my tank
and all the many many ways he shows his love for me. I truly love that man like no other.

- my new running shoes. They are pretty stinking great. And snazzy too.

- my town finally putting stop signs in a 4 way intersection. There weren’t any in either direction, so picture all 4 directions able to go through without stopping. Can we say accidents?! I literally clapped and cheered when I drove through and saw the new stop signs.

How’d the weekend treat you? Do anything crazy awesome, like watch football non stop? Oh, that was just me?? I know entirely too much about college football right now. Way too much. I feel its my duty to point out the National Championship game that’s on tonight. LSU vs Alabama baby!! SEC!!!
{someone hold me}

It’s the little things

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed everyone’s response to my post yesterday. I completely understand the reasoning for keeping your Facebook account and completely understand the reasoning for getting rid of it.

I had a headache yesterday and told G-man I had a lack of Facebook headache like you’d get a lack of caffeine headache. – I jest.

Can I just say how sad I’m getting? Not over Facebook, but over knowing G-man is leaving in less than 60 hours. Or just barely over 2 days. I hate focusing on it but I am. It has been beyond wonderful having him here with me. We’ve barely been apart the whole time he’s been here, I don’t know what I’m going to do when I go back to my completely alone routine.

Directly outside my front door are these flower bushes on each side of my walkway. Bright yellow flowers have sprouted up but what makes it so pretty to us is the fact that each and every flower has stretched themselves toward the sun. They’ve curled and bent every which way to make sure they can catch the sun’s rays for the day.

We’ve been loving walking out and seeing them stretching out for the day.

:: ~ :: ~ :: ~ ::

All my Christmas decorations have been taken down and stored away. My home looks empty and cold now. Thankfully I have G-man here to ease the emptiness, but who knows how I’ll handle the emptiness after he leaves.

This is no way started out as a Debbie Downer post but sure spiraled quickly in that direction.

I’m so thankful he’s here and the time I’ve had with him. I’ve truly enjoyed every single moment with him watching movies every single night. Him baking an apple pie, serving it with ice cream and coffee. Us baking brownies with an ice cold glass of milk. Him being intent on me watching the Rocky movies to see just how much it’s a love story more than a boxing movie, and me seeing it and holding back the tears in certain scenes.

It’s the little things I’m focusing on right now. I have to focus on the little things.

Facebook be gone!

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Aaahhhh!! I did it! I can’t believe I finally did it. After making the announcement on my wall, I gave it a few days for everyone to see and then found myself waiting an extra day…then another day, as I scanned each status and new picture as they were posted from the holidays. But last night I took the bull by the horns and deleted my personal Facebook account.

Oh glory be, halleluiah, amen! I’m so happy I did it.

I’ve thought a lot about this lately. For the past year, I’d say. If you remember, even back in July, I wrote just how much Facebook was boring me, so after some thought and some wishy washiness on my part, I finally girded my loins {in the non vulgar way of course} and canceled my account.

:::Phew!:::

I have many reasons…in case you’re asking yourself, why would she do that?!

Well, let me tell ya.

After writing about being bored with it in July, LeAnna send me her reason for cancelling her account. She had many valid points that I actually agreed with. So it left me thinking more about it.

Enter December and Becky giving her reason why she deleted her account all while linking to Neolani’s reason. At that point I was all pumped up. Doing the Rocky dance, gearing myself up for what would be the demise of my Facebook account.

I still hemmed and hawed a bit. Even though I never would comment on anyone’s status or pictures anymore, I still got on there at least an embarrassingly 20 to 30 times a day to scan everything real quick to see what was new and quickly jump off.

It became my wooby. My security blanket routine. Check email, check Facebook, check other email, check Twitter…rinse and repeat.

When I was getting asked from my Facebook friends why I was doing it, since it was a bit of a shock to a lot of them, I put it simply.
my exact answer to them:
Well, you can say I'm tired of being a creeper. Of jumping on FB several times a day to read updates and look at new pictures, never commenting but feeling its 'good enough' to know what that person's up to. I'm tired of people close to me feeling its ok to make a huge announcement via a status update and thinking its adequate, and not a personal call. And feeling frustrated over all the negative statuses and arguments. Of losing the friendship connections, never calling or emailing to have a true conversation, and vice versa. I've been considering this for months and today was the last straw for me seeing someone be rude to someone else. I want true friendships back. To have the effort be made to remain connected and involved in each other's lives.

Everyone seemed to appreciate my reason and asked for my information to keep in touch. Will we, on the few that did? I don’t know but we’ll soon find out. But I’m ok on the ones who were only ‘comparing themselves with me’ to separate myself from them. Or the ones who I hardly knew that were 4 years older than me in high school to not stay up in my business and me not being up in theirs, not to mention all my old co workers.

I’ll miss hearing the little things that my close friends and family will write and share but this will {I hope} encourage us to stay more in touch than before. And I do have this blog. This here blog shows more of me than any Facebook page could ever. With my family being far away and a chance that one day they’ll be even further, my blog will continue to provide them up to date information about all the happenings in my parts.

So there, my friends, is the reason I deleted my Facebook account last night.

Have you been thinking of deleting yours? What’s your reason for hanging on?

A first for me

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’m so happy to show you my first ever baby shoot. I got the official OK from the momma to show the pictures when she came over a couple weeks ago to get the pictures and with the holidays and G-man being here, I just haven’t had a chance to show them…until now.

Even though she’s my friend and she was gracious enough to let me practice on her kids, it was still intimidating to do. I have a lot to learn but I can’t wait to keep learning and improve.

We started out outside where she had beautiful leaves covering the ground.

A little shy at first but he slowly began to come around.

One thing she said she wanted was a close up black and white. I’m hoping I obliged her.

He’s a serious little baby. Only garnering a few smiles from time to time but he was a cutie putting up with me and momma as we did our best to get him to smile.

I can’t go without mentioning his sister. She is a beautiful, equally serious little girl who loved taking part of picture taking running over to my camera to see it after it was taken.

We moved inside to get some pictures with the Christmas tree and I just love her expression. I think it epitomizes all older kids reactions to their little brothers or sisters.

There’s that smile!

But with all good things…they must come to an end. This solidified him being done.

I loved doing these and though I’m not sure I’m meant to be a baby photographer, I enjoyed getting to experience this opportunity.

I did get to do my very first family photo shoot with my sister and her beautiful family over Christmas. Those will be up some time next week since I haven’t had a chance to sit down and edit them, not to mention let me sister see them. I’m such a mean sister but they’ll be coming soon enough, promise!

Hooray for English speakers

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Since I’ve been reminiscing about last Christmas and New Years in Europe, I figure I should finish off our trip, which ended in England.

The moment we boarded the train to take from Paris to London, we cheered. And the moment we stepped off onto English soil, aka the train station platform, we cheered some more declaring how happy we were to be in an English speaking country.
this truly conveys our happiness to be in London.

In Paris’s {small} defense…thanks to Tabitha, who happened to be in Paris the exact same time we were!! (that’s just crazy!), she filled me in that they had a terrorist threat New Years Eve night so they canceled the scheduled fireworks.

OK, I forgive them then…

We had 1 full day in London before going up into the New Castle area to stay with friends, but the night before, a certain someone got really bad food poisoning and we never left the room that whole next day.

This isn’t to say I wasn’t pushed, encouraged and darn near yelled at to go and explore on my own, but I did not want to go by myself. To this day, he gives me a hard time about it but I just didn’t want to go see everything by myself or be alone…or truly…get lost.

Ladies, would you please tell me this is ok?! Would you do the same? Opt to go out on your own, seeing all the sights while your man is laid up feeling the worst of the worst? Or would you want to stay in the room and hangout with him even though it meant missing out on the only day in London???

Thankfully, before dinner that night, we bought an international battery charger for my camera ($85 *choke) and I was back up and running using my sweet camera.

Since we both were still feeling sick, me from Paris and he from the food, once we got to our friends’ house we didn’t want to do anything but sit around. Eventually, they took us into New Castle and though it was freezing (to us), it was nothing short of beautiful.

You may remember {those who’ve been with me from the start} this used to be my blog banner.

Our friends, were nothing short of perfect as hosts, taking great care of us the entire time. Driving us around, showing us Alnwick Castle. The original Harry Potter movie castle, to be exact.

Taking us to an amazing amazing restaurant that is in a tree. A tree house restaurant. It. was. beautiful. The food was delicious too.

Toward the end of our stay, they took us into Seahouses to see the Bamburgh Castle. It was breathtaking.

…and positively freezing. I’m pretty sure I was shivering the entire time I was in England. The entire time!

We got back to London for one last day before making our flight back home, but at that point we were done with the whole trip and never left the hotel. We’re lame, its ok, you can say it.

We splurged on 1st class for our flight back to San Francisco and boy oh boy it was luxury at its finest having our seats fold down into a bed. Where the flight attendants make our ‘beds’ for us. Unlimited everything. Treated like celebrities and actually, “Carrie” from Days of Our Lives was in 1st class with her family. Yup, we felt cool.

The whole trip, I never used my flat iron. My beloved flat iron since I didn’t have an adapter. I attempted it in Rome..it failed. I attempted it in Paris…I made the outlet spark in the wall. I didn’t even bother in England, but once I got in the hotel room in San Francisco I ran into the bathroom and plugged it in.

I was nervous not sure what it would do, so I grabbed a towel, wrapped my hand in it and flicked the switch.

It burst into flames.

It was such a sad day as I laid my beloved flat iron to rest. But a wonderful trip that I would do again and again, even if I couldn’t use my flat iron again.

New year of thanks

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012 to everyone. I’m wondering if me writing 2012 will come easier than 2011. I caught myself still writing 2010 in October. I apparently hadn’t come to terms with it yet. Anyone else have that problem?

I did the coolest thing Saturday night right before the clock struck 12. We didn’t have the tv on any countdown shows but instead watched the clock on my phone at 11:59, and after awhile of watching it, I started counting down from 10 and right after I said 1, it changed to 12!

We were so excited. I realize that might be a boring story but we thought it was the coolest that I was spot on.

We spent the first day of the year watching football. All. Day. Long. Were you aware it was on all day long??? It was… I’m just happy the Raiders lost.

That is all.

This new year, new week, I’m thankful for:

- all this time with my love. I can’t get enough of this guy. Its been so so so nice having his company this past week. I’m loving every minute of him being here.
- a wonderful Christmas and New Year season.
- time with almost all my family. We had everyone but my other brother together. I finally got to see my new niece who’s 6 months old and she is so precious. So so precious.
just woke up from a nap on Oma

- my other niece who I haven’t seen in a long long time being excited to see me. There’s nothing like being nervous they’ll forget their Auntie. When I walked in the room, her face lit up and she ran over to hug me. That seriously made me so happy.

- a Terminator-athon with G-man. Every night for the past 4 nights, we’ve watched a Terminator movie. I highly recommend doing this. Everything all makes sense when you watch them in a row. It answered so many questions we had about them.

- knowing I have 1 more week with G-man.

- seeing a crazy dangerous teenage driver speeding and weaving in and out of traffic on the freeway. Then seeing him 1 1/2 hours later pulled over by a cop in town. Seriously, what are the odds of seeing him again in town…and pulled over??! We were happy to see him pulled over.

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful weekend. We went out to eat super early to avoid all the crazies and couldn’t believe how erratic everyone was driving on our way home, at 6:30. I was so relieved when we got home without issues. What is it with New Years Eve that makes people think they can drive like maniacs? Don’t they know cops are all over the place??

I digress.

Happy start to the New Year to you!

Paris is love…or so they say

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

What girl doesn’t want to go to Paris? Especially on New Years?! Because I’m a girl, because it was New Years and because its Paris, I convinced G-man to stay a total of 4 days The 2nd longest stay of our 4 stops.

This would prove to be a horrible decision.

The moment I sat on the plane in Italy, I began to sneeze. and sneeze. and sneeze. Within minutes, my sinuses were so clogged I couldn’t breathe through my nose. My head began to pound and I felt terrible.

It helped {heavy sarcasm} that the plane had no running water in the lavatory…or no sink for that matter. So there was no way I could wash my hands before or after using the {what they thought was probably clean enough} lavatory.

It was a middle eastern plane… ‘nuff said.

I’m probably going to get ostracized for saying I didn’t like Paris. But I just can’t lie. I didn’t like it but a tiiiiiiiiiny bit.

It didn’t help that I was really sick the whole time. And I’m sure it didn’t help that it was frickin’ freezing either. And I’m sure it didn’t help the fact that our maid…our maid was the rudest person I’d ever come across ever, treating us like scum. Or that it was so cold, my camera battery died on the first day there and I didn’t have a charger or replacement. Or the fact that all the food was horrible. {there were a lot of factors..}
me at breakfast…after a horrible “American” breakfast

But, we saw the sights. Though not a lot. I slept… a lot. Like, a lot! One day, I fell asleep at 2pm, G-man woke me up at 8 to give me food, then I slept again until morning. It was bad.

We took all the stairs to the rooftop where it was bitterly freezing and me sick without my hat…

Midway point on the Eiffel Tower. It was so cold on the top they issued a frost bite warning and closed it off.

By the last full day, we were seriously debating eating the hotel bill and leaving a day early to spend New Years Eve in London. I was pushing hard for this. Eating all my words for having us stay in Paris so long, but G-man did his research and said Paris was supposed to have one of the best New Years fireworks in the world. So we stayed…
…and this is all we got.

It sparkled at 12am. …just like it did at 11pm. ..just like it did at 10pm… just like it did every hour on the hour leading up to the New Year and all the days after New Year.

There were no fireworks. There was no countdown. There was no announcement. It sparkled and then it stopped.

worst. new years. ever.

At that point, we looked at each other and laughed. It solidified our entire Paris trip, ending in the biggest let down possible. When we found out London had some of the best fireworks that night, we could only laugh more.

I’m not sure we’ll ever see Paris again.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful and SAFE New Years. Let’s all make it home safely if you’re going out.

Roma Roma Roma

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I’ve been enjoying this little trip down memory lane. Going through pictures of what I was doing this time exactly a year ago, its fun. Its weird thinking I was there.

I find I catch myself saying (to myself) that I don’t really travel or get out much. And then I quickly remember this trip and all the trips to HI and though it sounds conceited, I don’t mean it that way. Its just easy to forget all the places I’ve seen and dwell on the ‘never leave the house’ days, sometimes.

We went to view the Sistine Chapel..and did you know you can’t take pictures inside? Nor can you speak. They’re very hush hush in there. I’m not quite sure why, but they constantly ‘shush’ you and yell out no pictures. So everyone walks around whispering to each other and when the whispering gets louder and everyone starts talking to be heard over the whispering, they shush us all again.

Another thing everyone was doing was take pictures. Did you know you can take just as good a picture from your waist as you would from your face?

How can I be in the Sistine Chapel and not take pictures?! I’m sorry Rome, this is just one rule I can’t abide by.

We loved it there. Absolutely loved it.

On our very last day there, I was able to persuade the owner of our hotel to watch our bags as we jetted out to see the last of the city, before our driver arrived.

In a flurry we walked through the Bocca Della Verita, where Audrey Hepburn went for ‘Roman Holiday.’ Can you tell, I love that movie? …and where we were yelled at {in Italian} by the person in charge of the church for being in an “off limits” area {that we weren’t aware of.}

We took a quick trip to the top of a museum to see all of Rome. It was a gorgeous day and a gorgeous view.

Finally resting back in front of the Coliseum before heading back to our hotel where the owner was none to pleased with us for being gone so long.

Within minutes of us returning, the crazy Italian driver arrived, packed our bags in the back and whisked us to the airport bound for Paris.

What I didn’t know the moment I stepped onto the plane was it was going to be the worst leg of our trip…

When in Rome

2011-12-28T11:14:00.000-08:00

It goes without saying that you always get the best weather on the last day of your trip. And that’s what happened when we were in Rome. We were prepared for cold, but going when Europe had the worst winter they’d seen in over 100 years, might not have been the best choice.

But the last day was ‘warm’ and it was beautiful.

Our goal while there was to be gone from the hotel as long as humanly possible. We succeeded. Out by 8:30-9am and wouldn’t return until 9pm that night, every day. We were exhausted, but were loving every single minute of being out and about Rome.

We set out for Vatican City our first day, spending hours walking around St. Peter’s Basilica.

Moving onto the Spanish Steps where Audrey Hepburn got a gelato in one of my favorite movies, ‘Roman Holiday’ and finished our hours of walking at the Trevi Fountain.

We stayed in a little tiny hotel that was one block from The Coliseum and the next day it was on our to do list. That day made it the coldest day in Rome while there, and we were outside the entire time. To say we both were freezing is an understatement.

It was an amazing site to see. I’m dying to go during the Spring so I can actually walk below, through all the tunnels. Its closed off during the Winter due to all the moisture. I was so disappointed when I found this out, as it was one of the main things I wanted to do.

Has anyone had the chance to walk below through the tunnels?

Can we acknowledge the fact that the very very top of the Coliseum is where all the women had to sit? Talk about the true meaning of nose bleed seats.

I’m thankful for 45

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness, its over!! But why?! Don’t you hate that it lasts just the one day? I know there’s a lot of people who are relieved its over. All the stress of planning, cooking, wrapping, decorating. I’m sure many are saying good riddance, but I love it all.

Even though I stressed a bit over the gifts, I still loved every minute of this Christmas season. L-O-V-E-D

So this day after Christmas, I’m thankful for:
- G-man arriving safely into San Francisco and me not having to pick him up when he landed. I’m sorry, he arrived very early. It would have been painful.
- the hotel shuttle getting him at the ungodly hour. {I was awake, for the record}
- a more than fantastic time with G-man in San Francisco. It was truly beautiful weather. Warm even. …to a point.

- all the wonderful Christmas cards and love from friends, family and blog family. You all are the best.
- a wonderful weekend with my family.
- spending Christmas with my parents. I love them dearly. So so dearly.
- getting the honor of photographing my sister’s family. Can’t wait to show you those when things are all said and done.
- God. God, God, God. He has blessed me more than I deserve. I whine and stress and He delivers. I give him 2 options and He leads me toward 1. He is my Savior and He will never leave me.
- God giving me G-man. I’m so in love with this man its ridiculous.

Let me ask you. How long do you keep your decorations up? I’m in love with mine and hate the idea of taking it all down and having everything look blank once its all put away. I’ve been known to keep it up till mid January.

So, when do you take yours down? How was your Christmas, too!?

I’ll be a little absent around blog world since I’m still with the fam, so you’ll have to tell me how it went.

Tree for me

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!! Yes, I just went there.

I’m far and away in San Francisco hanging out with my love and couldn’t be happier right now. He got in bright and early this morning, so I’m happily enjoying his company. I know I said last week he was coming in Thursday but clearly I was wrong.

It happens about once a month.

Since I adore Christmas trees, I thought I’d show all the ones I’ve gotten to be around with my travels this season.

Honolulu, HI

G-man’s Christmas tree that I surprised him with last year. Completely out of the normal, where Christmas trees are concerned, yet to me, it seemed to fit perfectly out on his lanai.

The Hilton’s lobby in Kona, HI.. I don’t quite know why it wasn’t lit.

The sports lounge at the Hilton.

The lobby in G-man’s building

And my humble tree…
sorry for the recycled picture…I couldn’t find the individual ones.

I wish you a wonderful wonderful Christmas weekend. I hope you get to start new traditions or continue the ones you’ve had set for years, this season.

If you can, watch this video. One thing I love about G-man is his soft side. He’ll find videos or stories that he knows I’ll enjoy and he sent this to me last night.

I cried it was so beautiful.

Merry Christmas everyone. From this humble girl over here on…

I wish you nothing but the warmest of weekends.
xoxo

Jumping back in time

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I was doing this time last year {maybe because I’m working on a photo album} and though we hadn’t left yet, G-man and I went to Europe to celebrate Christmas and New Years.

My first trip out of the country. {I don’t count Mexico..} My first stamps in my passport. I was beyond thrilled.

We left Christmas Eve and arrived in London Christmas day. We treated ourselves a bit on the flight and flew Virgin Atlantic in their Premium Economy seats. The ‘just below first class’ section. It was wonderful.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget having to go the bathroom to the point of the wiggle dance, before taking off and literally the moment we took off, the ‘fasten seatbelt’ light turned off, the flight attendant assured me I could go and I almost tumbled down the back of the isle because we were still climbing so steeply.

Or the time we switched seats with a more than accommodating passenger and G-man telling the attendant that he’ll buy any drink the guy wanted…and not knowing that all drinks were free.

We had a tremendous laugh over that.

awesome iPod photos for your viewing pleasure…

Once arriving in London, we needed to connect to our official stop…Rome. So we rode the airport train to our terminal. We were really excited!
(my first picture in London!)

Being Christmas, the people at the airport were more than eccentric. That would be an older man..with a blonde pigtailed wig…and a candy striped scarf.

Once boarded, I watched the sunset as screaming Italian families were crowded all around us. Once they handed out very very questionable (to us) sandwiches, we passed out. Mouth wide open, drool filled passed out. I’m sure everyone around us were saying ‘typical Americans’ but we didn’t care. We were so exhausted from a full days travel all we wanted was sleep.

As we descend to land, we prepare ourselves but nothing could have prepared us for the landing. Never in my life before or after, have I ever felt the plane go sideways upon touching the tarmac. Both G-man (the pilot who’s landed on aircraft carriers) and my eyes were wide open in shock and were thanking God that we made it safely.

It was a whirlwind start to our trip.

Girls gone wild

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

In my little town, we have the one road that’s deemed “downtown”. It consists of trees lit on each side, all year round. Music playing from speakers attached to the buildings and far too many bakeries all striving to draw you to them rather than the others.

During Christmas time, they place this beautifully massive tree directly in the middle of the road. Once I saw that, I knew I had to go late at night to capture the pretty twinkle lights. I encouraged my friend to come along. 1. because it would be a lot of fun and 2. because she had a tripod.

– I kid. But she really did have a tripod…and it definitely came in handy, not gonna lie.

Its nice being able to stand in the middle of the road and know that its highly unlikely a car will come around because its after 10. Oh, the treat of living in a small town.

We started out slow and mild; being responsible mature adults taking pictures of a pretty quaint town, moving aside when the random car drove by. But in no time flat, we became like teenagers running around the street, laughing, jumping and taking pictures atop a metal horse.

We thought it would be fun to get the long shot of us jumping... can’t say that it worked…

…then of us running…

…and I can’t quite explain why I felt I needed to act like I was riding a bull. but I did.

Beyond not being able to feel our fingers, we had the best time running around town, garnishing the random stares from the few passersby. I’m so glad we were able to have a night out on the town. It might not be how some girls go wild but its how this one does.

Merry Christmas!!

Learning is like wine

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Some people like it and some people don’t.

I realize there will be a lot of people who will read this and yawn thinking this is old news. But in my defense, I learned these on my own and figured someone could benefit from my sleuth-ee ways.

The iPhone. Most have one, but most don’t know the little things that make having it that much better. (this is all for the latest version) For instance:

- When your screen is locked, and you hit the home button twice, the camera and your ipod will come up allowing you to go to either without entering your phone.
- To take a screen shot all you have to do is press the power button at the top and the home button at the same time and ‘click’ it’ll take a picture of whatever is on your screen.
- While in your phone or app, hit the home button twice and the quick menu will come up on the bottom allowing you to go back and forth from apps.

- When your phone is locked and you see a text, tweet, call or app sitting their, slide the app (as apposed to the ‘slide to unlock’ feature and it will open directly to that app.
- After typing and you see you misspelled a word that’s toward the top, touch the screen near the misspelled word and the magnifier will appear and while still holding down, move your finger to the exact spot you want to fix.
- Your location may be showing for each and every picture you take when posting to FB, twitter or email…and anyone can search you and find where you are by clicking the picture. Be sure its off by going into Settings> Location Services> Camera and it’ll show whether its on or off.

Gmail:
The majority of us bloggers have it and many aren’t too keen on the new layout they have, but did you know you can virtually make it identical to the old version? G-man has gmail and was pretty upset about the new version, declaring he would find a new email provider because he hated it so much. But! Emily to the rescue and I talked him down from the ledge by showing him how to make it just like normal.

- After switching to the new version, each email in the inbox will be HUGE and far apart, but if you go into your settings, that little bolt looking thing directly above your email on the right; it’ll give you the option to have your display density be:
Comfortable
Cozy
Compact
Make it compact and it’ll look like it used to.

Now have you ever deleted an email within a long line of emails you had with someone? Or saved 1 email out of the entire conversation only to delete all the rest?

This was G-man’s biggest gripe with gmail. He hated when he’d save 1 email, delete all the others within the conversation, clear out the trash bin and find the email he saved was permanently deleted along with the rest. Its because it was still ‘attached’ to the ‘conversation’ as gmail puts it.

Once again, Emily to the rescue and I showed him all you have to do is:
- go into the settings> (The very top bolt looking thing) Mail Settings> General and turn ‘conversation view’ to off.

He was eternally grateful at that point as I successfully talked him down from jumping ship to another email account.

OK! and finally this one you may just not know as its an insiders tip.
Directv:

Did you know you can update your DVR or box software? Did you know it needed updating?
If you see its getting a little slow, it might need an update.

- Hit the red button on your DVR to reset your DVR
- When the screen says, “Hello, Your DIRECTV receiver is starting up’, press 0-2-4-6-8 (no dashes, just the numbers)
{it must be done in that screen}
From that moment, it won’t look like anything happened but eventually it will say its updating the software. Go do the dishes or a load of laundry at that point since it will take 25+ minutes. So make sure it won’t interfere with your tv time when you do this.

{mine clearly needed an update}

Whew, I know that was a lot but maybe someone can find the tips helpful. It’s a season of giving after all…

I know there are far more tips out there that I don’t know about and I would love to hear them. What great tips have you learned?? Share share share with the class!!

I’m thankful for 44

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Holy moly! One week left!

Though I didn’t have any parties to attend, I managed to party like a rock star any way.

That’s not true. I slept in on Saturday, edited pictures, worked on a photo album that has been the bane of my existence, made puppy chow and took pictures for Rick Alonzo’s Ministry.

I think this week will be both crazy and calm for me. Where I have a ridiculous amount of things to do but I could easily do them all in a day if I get myself to do it…which I probably will draw it all out nice and painfully slow, if I know me well enough.

This past week I’m thankful for:
- seeing and hanging out with a friend 4 times in 5 days. That’s practically unheard of when that dear friend is a mother of 4!
- attending a nice brunch put on by our Women’s Ministry within my church. Can’t beat great food and beautiful singing. {yes, I know it was over a week ago, for all you locals.}
- a late night photo session of our little downtown area in 34 degree weather. There’s nothing like living in a small town where after 10pm, seeing 15 cars drive by in 1 1/2 hours is considered a lot.

- a beautiful camera strap made lovingly (it was made lovingly, right?) by my sweet friend, LeAnna. I’m in love with it.

- G-man playing the word “love” in our game of Words With Friends and saying he did it to make me smile. {it’s the little things for me}
- the ant man coming and killin’ all those little buggers. He was all excited when he found where they were coming from.
- cheese. Yes, cheese. Its simple goodness has kept me fed literally every single day. I don’t think since I’ve been back, 2 weeks now, I’ve gone one day without cheese.
- being given the chance to witness Rick Alonzo in action of sharing the gospel through martial arts and painting and have the honor of documenting it through pictures.
It was nothing short of amazing. A sneak peak

How’d your weekend fair?

Oh, I almost forgot. I got my goodies from Sephora and this is what I got:
Stilla eye shadow pallet, Buxom mascara (never used it but it has great reviews) and Too Faced eyelid primer for those darn oily lids, in ‘candlelight’. I haven’t used them yet since I had my lady humps removed but I hope to this week.

Stick a fork in me

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Did I tell you about the time I got a $60 parking ticket for parking in front of my friend’s house for 5 minutes? Her neighborhood, which is a very old established neighborhood doesn’t allow parking on one side of the street one day a week for street cleaning. Would you believe I just arrived, not noticing no other car on that side that one day!?

Within 5 minutes of being inside, her husband runs out the door and proceeds to beg the cop to not give me a ticket. I follow suit begging but to no avail. I imagined $30 but once I saw $60, I about flipped my lid.

Or the time I dropped an entire pan of perfectly cooked bacon on the floor? For no reason? I about cried over the travesty.

Or the time I did the sock bun that everyone in blogland and pinterest has been raving about and totally and utterly failed!? Which solidifies my need to stick with ponytails.

How about the fact G-man bought himself shirts and is letting me wrap them to pretend they’re Christmas presents from me? A complete win win for us both is how I see it.

And that yesterday I did a 4 month old photo shoot and was pretty nervous. Babies are.not.easy! I commend all baby photographers. Until I get the momma’s approval, I can’t show pictures yet, but I hope to soon. He is a cutie!

Any plans this weekend? Are there any Christmas parties this weekend? I have none, zero, nada to attend. I do plan on making Jenni's puppy chow though. My first treat this entire Christmas season. I’m horribly behind everyone on the treats making.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Bare chested Santa and bikers

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

If that title doesn’t make people jump over here, I don’t know what will. Pssh, I kid. Who in their right mind wants to see a bare chested Santa…willingly?!

I realized I never showed the pictures from when G-man and I went to check out the big display in Honolulu. Nor did I show when the Toys for Tots bikers came through. No…don’t go away, its interesting, I promise.

Thousands of bikers ride in Honolulu. They start out at Ala Moana Beach Park and go through Waikiki. I don’t understand how so many bikes are on the island. Seriously! Its an island.

Have I mentioned G-man’s apartment is perfectly located for all these major events? We’ve sat on his lanai for the Honolulu Marathon, Toys for Tots rides, parades, whale watching… Its perfect.

It took over an hour from start to finish and some of the bikes were pretty neat looking. (I’m into bikes a bit)

It must take either a very strong man to ride a hot pink bike…or one who doesn’t know how to be a man….hard to say.

I’ll probably be the only one who finds this interesting but they were talking the whole way down the road…and I could hear their conversation from high up. {they had to talk over all the motors}

This one’s just cool and looks so comfy.

Be happy I didn’t show the video. Even I was incredibly bored by it. I thought it would be neat to show all the bikes rumbling by. After 15 seconds, I questioned why I continued recording for 2 minutes more.

Later that day, we saw the Honolulu City lights where Shaka Santa (aka bare chested Santa) was. Its weird, I’m not going to lie. I get the concept, but it’s still weird.

I embraced it, mind you. HI is all about going with the flow.

Snowmen with surfboards and scarves? Okay…

1 week from this very day, I get to have G-man here. These days are creeping by but going only 3 weeks before we see each other again is nothing compared to normal so I’m not going to complain. Not one bit.

Thank you to all you sweetie pies for yesterday’s kind words about my decorating. You guys sure know how to make a girl feel good.

Decorate me happy

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

The day has arrived for all to see if my decorations really are as great as I made them out to be or if they fell flat.

I will let you be the judge. The ever so kind and sweet judge.

Is it weird I took 200 pictures of my decorations over a course of 4 days? Yes?? Well, forget I said that then… I would decorate, stand back, adjust and be satisfied…then the next day I would change things around, stand back, adjust and be newly satisfied….only to change it all around again the next day.

Well friends, I’ve banned myself from changing things again. Although, I want to add lights but this idea came post-banning...so therefore, no lights will be added. And I want to make an ornament wreath (yes, you heard me correctly) as my centerpiece on my dining table, but knowing me, I doubt I’ll actually do it. Who knows though.

So without further ado…oh but before I do, let me state that I’m not colorblind. I’m well aware of the colors of blue I’m sporting. My goal was to use Christmas decorations I already had without buying any new this year and this is what I came up with.

Every year, my parents would get us kids an ornament that represented us from the year. I love this tradition and plan on continuing it for my future, which is why you see the F-18. I got that for G-man one Christmas and wrote his info on it just like his own jet, when he flew. I tilted it up to make it look like its taking off. (I’m corny, I know)

I hung ornaments from the ceiling this year and love how it turned out. However, as each day passed, I found I kept changing how it looked. I never realized before starting just how much they needed to look grounded to look good.

They looked a lot worse before I put the wreath up, but you can see how they look lost without anything around them. It worked to a point with the garland framing it but it stopped short on each side of the tv and just seemed awkward.

I finally decided to pin up both sides and prefer this the most. I think if I hung lights around the windows it might complete it but the ban and all. I’m enjoying the simplicity of this anyhow.

My modest entry. {my dad built that bench for me, by the way}

Now for my dining room. I was gifted with these lead crystal champagne flutes awhile back and until I get to properly use them, they work perfectly as a part of my decorations, I think.

After hanging the ornaments, I strung extra ribbon through them to have them drape down.

Now you’ve seen my happy decorations. I also have all the beautiful Christmas cards displayed on one of my walls so I can continue to see them and smile.

Have I mentioned I love this time of year? I love Christmas and the beauty of it all. The warmth, love, and {mostly} happy attitudes.

You’re so vain

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

By you, I mean me.

I didn’t realize I was SO vain. I mean, I knew I was a bit…who isn’t? {let’s be real} but I felt incredibly vain on Friday when I went to my Dermatologist for a follow up on the little skin issue I had.

I'll be honest, I fully expected her to walk in the room, see my face all happy and clear and her declare that I look fabulous, hug me and beam at the progress. {ok, maybe not hug me…}

Instead, I got nothing.
::ho hum::

So, I graciously moved on from the awkwardness that was, a room without praise, and proceeded to go down my list of random questions pertaining to skin. I won’t ~~embarrass myself~~ bore you with the types of questions but we honed in on 2 itty bitty bumps on my left eyelid and by my right eye. So little that no one in my existence has ever taken notice but big enough that I see and feel them daily and believe everyone can see them from 10 feet away.

Because of that, it was imperative they be removed immediately…especially since it’s the end of the year and I’ve met my deductible…ok, I met my deductible by June, but I know you understand!

While I’m on the table being numbed up, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly vain that I was getting this done. As the nurse/helper guy was injecting my eyes to numb the skin, he said the ‘pinch’ {which I practically didn’t feel} was just how getting botox felt and I said I could totally do it then, since it didn’t hurt at all. Which made me actually consider doing it. …for like .05 seconds. *I have no interest in actually getting botox…for that purpose.

As it turned out, a skin tag {eeeww, gross} was removed from beside my right eye and a cyst like thingy {eewww, even grosser} was removed from my left eyelid, leaving me with bruised and scabbed eyes. {sweet}

I will now proceed to justify my actions to you..ok, and to myself:
I did this because…
- who wants bumps on their face? Not I.
- I knew, over time they would have grown and enlarged.
- please see first justification.

The doctor did unfortunately tell me that I’m prone to these here bumps and to expect them as I continue to age… At that point, I told her she had pepper in her teeth.

Ok, I told her that before she decided to inflict permanent emotional scars on me.

Do you tell perfect strangers they have food in their teeth?
Sometimes, I do but sometimes I chicken out.
I did wait for the nurse/helper guy to leave the room first before doing it so she wouldn’t be completely embarrassed.

Maybe, I’ll just grow facial hair like this guy…then no one will see my lady humps…

via pinterest

can I just say this looks just like an inmate I used to have in my building, years ago? I almost couldn’t put this picture up because I didn’t want to think about the guy, but its too funny not to.

I’m thankful for 43

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Whoa, wait. Less than 2 weeks from Christmas?! This is crazy. I know I’m not the only one enjoying all the Christmas movies, though. Am I right?

Any favorites among you all? I’m watching 12 Dates of Christmas right now and its corny but ok. I might like it more had I not started it an hour in, but its not like its hard to figure out. As is the case with most Christmas movies.

Today, I’m thankful for:
- having the entire row to myself on the flight home. That just about never happens!

- a safe trip home where I’m most thankful for In and Out giving those lap mats. A great big ketchup filled french fry landed right in my lap, driving home!
- the love and support from friends near and far.
- all the cutesy predictable Christmas movies.
- being finished with my Christmas decorations. I can’t wait to show you guys, I love them! I have themes in my 2 rooms I did. I say themes… One is blue and silver and the other is red and gold. {that’s it}
a sneak peak..instagram style

- knowing God has the reigns in my life and being reminded of it.

Are there certain Christmas movies you watch every single year as a tradition?
Has anyone not started shopping yet? And who’s finished!?

I’m thinking this week is going to be a great week…can I get an AMEN?!

A touch here, a touch there

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas has begun to show itself around my apartment. It may be all over my floors right now, but its still showing itself.

It took 3 days after setting it up to finally put the ornaments on the tree. Its an adorable tree. 3ft. high. I put it on a box and grabbed an embarrassingly too short skirt I own {and never wear, mind you} and used it as the ‘tree skirt’. Sadly…it fits around the box perfectly.

After putting all the ornaments on, I realized I hadn’t decorated it but there was no way I was going to start over, so haphazard strings of ornament bulbs are laced around it.

Its not my finest work.

I’m actually going to do something I saw on pinterest in my living room but won’t be able to do it until the weekend, so I’m going to keep it hush hush until its complete.

I admire all those design bloggers out there. Or anyone who has any design sense with their decorations. I feel right now, I have very little and my mantle is showing it looking beyond bare, right now.

Its been a funky week for me and I don’t feel like many words today, so I wish you all a wonderful weekend filled with twinkle lights.

A day late and a dollar short

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Gosh, if I knew where my head has been these past few days, I’m thinking things would be a lot smoother for me.

I discovered last night upon opening my garage door, that the loud scraping noise I heard when closing it Monday night {after getting home from the day of traveling} wasn’t the hinges needing WD-40 like I thought…but in fact my hatch door, that was wide open, scraping against it. Now I have this 5 inch scratch on my car.

I could cry. I’ve never done that before and don’t understand what’s going on with me.

And then I realized yesterday was the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and shoot I’ve been there a couple times, and my love’s in the Navy, so why wouldn’t I talk about it?!

A day late but hey, better late than never..besides, its not like it ended in one day.

Please disregard the bad short hair. This was taken December of last year.

Oil still leaks to the surface 70 years later. That amazes me.

This submarine {I believe} had the most kills among all the submarines during the entire war.

This tower was {beyond being used that day} used in the movie Pearl Harbor

USS Missouri

This dent was from a Japanese plane slamming right into it.

Lindsey with Aisle to Aloha said this year is the last year the survivors would be speaking on the anniversaries and if this is true that really makes me sad. I had the opportunity last year to go and hear one of the last Arizona survivors speak. A man who, I was told, never speaks or shares his story but went while I was there and I didn’t go.

This goes to show when you want to do something, you better just go ahead and do it. You never know when it’ll be your last opportunity.

If I were a blonde…

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Let me throw up my disclaimer early.

::Blonde jokes…there’s a ton of them. If you’re blonde; real or boxed, I’m not saying you’re dumb. Kapeesh?::

If I were a blonde, I could say I had a complete blonde moment the other day. …and every other time I do something completely and utterly stupid.

Take for instance my fireplace. I spent well over 30 minutes getting it to light (its gas). I held my fire starter thingy up against the pilot, while pushing in the pilot ignition over and over and over again and it would never ever light.

My thumb was killing me from pushing it in for so long. I finally gave up (even though I lit it just fine the previous year) and called my landlord to have maintenance come out and light it for me.

I was baffled at it not wanting to light and couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was wrong with it. I would sit and stare at it, completely confused.

Then yesterday, maintenance walks in and you want to know the 1st thing he does?!?

TURNS ON THE GAS!

I’m an idiot.

Obsession doesn’t even begin to cover it

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

People! I can’t get enough of Hawaii’s sunsets!!

G-man said I was obsessed. …this was after he walked in from work telling me I needed to run out the front door to see these clouds over the mountains.

..and after I went back to the lanai to continue taking sunset pictures and declared I wanted taking HI sunset pictures to be my day job.

…but before he stepped out the kitchen to witness what he said to be the most beautiful sunset he’s seen since arriving 1 1/2 years ago.

At that point, he pulled out his chair, opened the windows more and stared at the sky for over 5 minutes. He had no more teasing to do after that. I will give him credit though, I hadn’t planned on shooting the end of the sunset. My camera was already put away but he said if I were going to shoot a sunset, this one was the one to shoot.

I ran and got it and am so glad I did because I can’t imagine not having these pictures!

::I say in a whisper::
If I were totally honest with you, myself, and even G-man…I’d admit I’m ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED!

**every single image is SOOC (straight out of the camera) no retouching was done.

I’m thankful for 42

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

What’s up my fellow ladies? I’m coming to you super hyper right now. {ever write when you’re hyper?} I wrote this over the weekend, since I’m currently flying high right now.

No, not that kind of high…the airplane in the sky high, so I had to be Jonny on it and have this up and running to ensure you’d be sighing that huge sigh of relief today. …what? You don’t sigh in relief when you see a post from me? Weird, could have sworn y’all did.

The day has finally come when I had to face the facts and board that plane once again back to the ~~mother ship~~ mainland. Wanna know something crazy? I’d say about 90% of native Hawaiians have never been to the mainland nor will ever. Feel free to dispute me..but why bother? Its probably darn near true. It is a very high percentage, though. I know that!

Although! {I did warn you I was hyper…} my friend did tell me, the one place they’ll go is Las Vegas since there’s always package deals that are on the cheap cheap there. heh…something to think about today..or forget.

Wanna know what I’m thankful for this week? Brace yourselves…

- not flying (or landing) when it was 100mph winds in Los Angeles. I knew there was a reason I pushed my flight back a few days…it was solely because of the wind… –right.

- getting $161 in goodies from Sephora for only $16. Special shout out to winning the $50 gift certificate and even more LeAnna for giving me her $15 off certificate as well. I scored big!!

- not having a fire start after the plastic lid fell on the heating coil on the bottom of the dishwasher. Be extra careful when you have the heated dry on and you leave the house. When I walked back in from working out, I smelled burnt plastic and knew something fell.

- G-man making breakfast 2 mornings in a row and rocking it. And then doing all the dishes. Love love love him!

- seeing shaka Santa. I missed him last year and there was no missing him this year! We were determined… ok, I was determined.

if you think about it, say a quick prayer I get home safely tonight. Once I land, I have to take the airport bus to my car an hour away and then drive 3 1/2 hours home. Then I get to tackle the ants I hear are wanting to take over my kitchen. I’ll be hitting them with holiday cheer when I get home.

Oh oh oh and I do believe I’ve told a bit of an awkwardly true story about something that took place over many years with a bit of a creepy person on Tabitha's blog today. Feel free to heed my warning at the end and give me some lovin’. {{thank you}}

Typical Emily trip

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

In typical fashion, today was the day I was supposed to fly back home, thus ending my stay here in Hawaii.

Who wants to guess what happened instead?

If you guessed that once again, we changed my flight to keep me here for a few more days, then you’re correct!!! It wouldn’t be a typical trip for me if we didn’t push my flight back a few more days.

::for the record, I did not cry, whine, pout or grow depressed to make this happen. unlike last time
My plans simply got canceled back home, allowing me to stay::

So, here I sit, relaxing with a few more days left to go. And I’ll be honest, I’m going to be leaving here just as white as I was, when I came. I’ve donned my bathing suit once and it stayed under my clothes the whole time. I’m kind of done with laying out and getting tan. Skin cancer is way to high in my family to keep risking it like I’ve done in the past.

This leaves the door wide open for me to eat eat eat…why bother if I’m never going to wear my bathing suit, right?? –right!

Wednesday, my friend took me to my now favorite crepe place ever, Crepes No Ka 'Oi! Hands down, the best crepes I’ve ever eaten.

My friend’s a regular there and as soon as we walked in, the owner said to her, ‘hey, you haven’t been here in awhile!’ I love going to places where they take notice like that.

We started out with a savory crepe. I seriously never knew there were such things as savory crepes. When G-man and I were in Paris last year, all I saw were sweet crepes being made everywhere and had no idea savories could be created, but oooohh can they be created here!

I was too eager to think of a picture before cutting it in half for us to share, but we got the Godfather Crepe that has tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella inside. A caprese salad inside, if you will and it was absolutely delicious. I could have eaten the whole thing, if I could.

Then for our dessert crepes, I got the s’mores crepe and as you can see I was already diving into it when she quickly reminded me that I wanted to take a picture of it. oops

She got the Banane au Nutella crepe with granola added on top.

Its her absolute favorite…if you couldn’t tell.

They have so many to choose from and once I told G-man about this place and showed him these pictures, his face lit up and declared that we had to go there this week. Trust me when I say, I will not complain.

If you ever come to Oahu, you must must must check out Crepes No Ka ‘Oi in Kailua. Its right across the street from a dingy bowling alley. (I’m all about giving landmarks to help find it)

I hope everyone continues to enjoy this Christmas season this weekend. We had plans to go see the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony here in town, but just yesterday someone broke into the electrical box and stole the copper wire worth $21,000. who does that?! Seriously! So now they have to postpone the lighting ceremony. People are so weird.

**update: the lighting ceremony is back on as scheduled!!

Merry Christmas!!!

no money exchanged hands for this post…I just love this place too much and wanted to say so. They have no idea I raved about them.

It’s in the stars

2011-12-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Before I talk more about the awesomeness that is Kona, let me give a hearty wave to all my new followers. I’m thinking the majority of you came from Tatiana’s blog, which by the way, for those who don’t know I guest posted Tuesday…you may read my intellectual story here, so thanks for liking me enough to want to follow along with me.

But before you jump over to her blog and leave me some love, let me first set it up for you…lest you think I’m a wacko within the first paragraph. Right after I say I’m confident, imagine a little line that says, “I prefer confident over cocky. It just sounds better.” and then proceed to read the ‘donkey’ comment. It will make A LOOOOOOOOOOT more sense. Promise!

With that, I’ll round out my 3 days of blabbering about Kona. You’re not getting sick of it, are you? {don’t answer that}

I know I teased you all with my amazing Jupiter picture and you’ve been dying to know how I ever could have gotten such a great shot, well I was 9,000ft up, that’s how.

We went to Mauna Kea. It’s a dormant volcano with an unobstructed view of the gorgeous night sky. The only thing that’s obtrusive about it are the people there. We thought it would be great to see the sunset from 9,000ft up all while hanging out until it got pitch black to enjoy the stars.

Thankfully we completely missed getting there in time for the sunset and were glad for it because everyone and their mothers were there, being loud, rude and well, obnoxious.

Note to anyone going. Bright lights kill the eyes, especially when its pitch black and you’re star gazing, so turning on your headlights is one of the rudest things you could ever do. But you can ensure many people did it.

Oh, and if you get the slightest bit car sick on windy roads, I encourage you to take something beforehand. I got incredibly nauseous going up and down. More so down. Even G-man was getting queasy and he was driving!

Once everyone left, we were able to have the vistors center virtually to ourselves. Looking through all the telescopes at Jupiter, seeing its rings and 4 moons {which was an amazing site}, seeing Orion’s Nebula and the 7 Sisters. Its freezing up there, though. Bring winter clothes if you ever make the trip up there and get a 4 wheel drive, in order to make it all the way to the top to the Observatory.
This is pretty much what I meant to capture

Which this Robert guy did.

But as we know, this is all I could get

Wow, I feel this was a random bit of word vomit going in many different directions. Sorry about that. So, I’ll just leave you with:
Guest post
Stars = pretty
9,000ft = cold
Tomorrow = a whole new topic

Kona with a side of fin

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

When we took the 20 minute drive to our hotel from the airport, I kept staring out the window, as the driver kept saying, ‘and there’s a wild goat..and there’s another..and there’s another’; thinking to myself, ‘this is it? Its one big lava field, why would anyone come here?’ Not 24 hours passed and I’m staring at awe at the lava mixed in with the beautiful greenery and the water crashing over the jagged lava rocks and think, ‘why wouldn’t anyone come here?!’ It was incredibly beautiful.

I think it surprised G-man how much he liked it there too. All he kept saying the entire time was how relaxed he was. How incredibly relaxing being there was. He even called the front desk on our last day to stay another night, but they were all sold out due to a concert, that’s how much he wanted to continue his relaxation.

One thing I enjoyed the most, was seeing the dolphins perform. Anyone can pay to interact with them, but we sat back and watched the kids and their parents have all the fun.

Did you know they not only do flips but they also twist and spin in the air? I’m amazed at what they can do.

its universally known that I am not tech savvy…so showing you a dolphin flip in the air in 3 pictures is h.a.r.d! But this is what I ‘created’ for your eyes only. you can thank me in a comment

Have you ever seen dolphins in person before?
Has everyone seen Angie’s post AND video of her swimming with wild dolphins?! It’s so beautiful! You have to see it if you haven’t. Even G-man thought it amazing.

Oh oh..and before anyone forgets…today is the last day of November. Just in case it slipped your mind. again…you can thank me in a comment.

Spontaneous is not my middle name

2011-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Contrary to popular belief, I’m not spontaneous. I appreciate a well thought out plan. Mentally relax knowing an itinerary was created with dates and times. Activities scheduled well in advance at the lowest possible price.

I know in August, I jetted off to Hawaii at a moments notice for a couple weeks and last Thursday we took off within 2 hours of booking a trip, but we aren’t always this way. During the trip we talked about going again, only this time, booking activities, excursions and reservations since this trip there was no way to do anything scheduled. But still, we had such a great time. It was unbelievably relaxing.

We debated which island to go to. We’ve been to Hilo on the Big Island already and wanted somewhere different. I pushed Maui big time since the ever so sweet Angie w/Living Aloha is there and I’m dying to meet her but we ended up going to Kona on the Big Island instead.

::one day, Angie…one day::

We stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Beach Resort and oh my word, it was ah-mazing!! If you go and stay there, stay in the Ocean Towers. First off, the grounds are over 60 acres, so bring some good walking shoes, though they do have a tram and boat ride from end to end. But there are 3 separate towers and the Lagoon Towers had the majority of the families there. So if you’re looking for a kid break, shoot for Ocean Towers.

We made it to the room just in time for the gorgeous sunset.

After, got some dinner right next to their dolphin quest and can I just say I was so excited to see the dolphins?! I’d never seen them in person before so I was like a kid, craning my neck at dinner to see their heads pop up.
ack! they’re so cute!!

Throughout the weekend, we walked the grounds, watched college football at the pool, saw the dolphins perform, got up close and personal with some sea turtles, ate enough food to feed 5..or 6..or 10 and much more.

I realized on the last day, within the last hour before taking a cab to the airport, that not one picture was taken with me in it. Let alone G-man, besides the dark one above. Not intentional at all. Guess that means we’ll have to go back to take care of that.

Enjoy the pictures.

let the record show, we did not put those stones there to make it look like the dog statue pooped…but we did think it hilarious..hence the picture

Birds in the lobby

Turtles sunbathing

I’m thankful for 41

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Cyber Monday!! This is my shopping day. I thrive on this day. I despise Black Friday and would far rather sit in my comfy home with my laptop in my lap and click away my savings. Besides, who wants to get pepper sprayed by an idiot for a stupid video game!? No thanks.

The last time I did Black Friday, I was standing in line being shoved from behind by a woman repeatedly…and well..in my ‘not my finest’ moment, shoved her back with my back, turned around, made eye contact with her, and that was the last she touched me.

That was 7 years ago.

So today, on the last Monday of the month, I’m thankful for:

- my bluetooth. I’m serious. This is the best bluetooth ever. I can’t believe I used to hold a phone to my ear to talk. When this puppy’s battery is low and I have to hold my phone, I want to cry.
- safe travels to Hawaii. I actually had a great flight. The flight attendants were so friendly, as were my seat buddies. A rarity.

- great times with my love all week.With the impromptu trip to Kona, it has made this trip all the more wonderful. Can’t wait to show you all the trip!
a sneak peak of the view from the room

- my haircut. I’ve been waiting and waiting to get back here to get a cut. I know no one can tell, but it feels great. I even texted the before and after picture to G-man and he was confused why I sent it to him.
I do look oddly chesty in the before picture. I promise, I did not stuff.

- seeing all the Christmas decorations everywhere!! I love it. Can’t wait to see how everyone will decorate this year.

- seeing Jupiter. People, this has to be the best picture I’ve ever taken. Please take note as I’ll never take anything as good as this, evah! I made sure to watermark this picture too, because I know many will attempt to claim it as theirs.

I’ll explain more on this experience another day, it was great.

Do you have a bluetooth that you just love and can’t live without?

Who’s finished with their Christmas decorations already?
I can’t wait to get back home to get my decorating on!! G-man only has so much at his place but you can bet your sweet fanny I’ll be decorating his place too.

Up up and away

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’m in a speed demon of a hurry. We’re minutes away from leaving to go to the airport on a spur of the moment island hopping trip.

I say spur of the moment…we talked about this over a month ago but didn’t decide until just 2 hours before leaving Thanksgiving day. Bought the flights, hotel and everything else just 2 hours before leaving.

So with that, I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving. Don’t go crazy today at the stores. I don’t want to hear you were the one shoving that woman out of the way to grab something… I kid.

I can’t wait to tell you about our relaxing trip!!!!

Alooooooooha!!