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EAT. PRAY. LOVE. LAUGH.
 
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Monday, December 26, 2011

Aloha Christmas 2011...Hello New Year's Eve...


It seems to me that as soon as fall begins, preparation for the holidays begin to surface.  Stores are putting up holiday decor as early as September in hopes of getting eager shoppers to start their holiday shopping.  Fall birthdays, Halloween, and Thanksgiving goes by, and the much anticipated holiday of the year has finally arrived...Christmas. After all of those festivities have finished...there's a calm on December 26th. The excitement of Christmas subsides and many are looking for the after Christmas sales on gifts, decorations, and holiday cards.

It makes me wonder if we get too caught up in the glitter of Christmas and forget about the meaning of Christmas.  Perhaps the hustle & bustle of getting the best deal is part of getting into the spirit of Christmas, or perhaps we may take it too far...?

This was my second Christmas away from most of my family in Hawai`i.  However, this year I was fortunate enough to be spending my first Christmas with my boyfriend and his family. This is also my second Christmas with my sister, my brother in law and my niece.   And the second year I have been away from my closest friends I like to call my besties.  They are the friends I have considered my family for years...and for them I have taken it upon myself to extend the Christmas love a wee bit longer, of which I am happy to do. Heck, if I could keep the Christmas decor into spring, I would do so...  There's just something happy about Christmas trees, lights, and holiday decorations.

One of these years, I hope be near my whole family during the Christmas season.  The family I've been born into, brought into, and my chosen family.  What a Christmas that would be!

For now...the happiness of giving and seeing the smiles on the faces of those you care about is perhaps the most priceless gift I could receive.  I'm  just happy technology has allowed us to stay connected to loved ones even if we're thousands of miles apart.  Another priceless gift.

.:*:. Speaking of glitter... How will you be ringing in the New Year?  .:*:.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

What I Like about Christmas...



Christmas.  It's only two days away! Festivities in the works and procrastination at its best, stress & worry are bound to make an appearance at some point.  I feel them creeping in and I'm doing my best to keep them far away.  Because, at Christmas, there's so many things that make me smile.  This week, I am happy to report a number of great things that have happened...

...Frosty mornings.  What I'm enjoying most about living in the midwest right now is seeing the change of seasons.  I may be a much bigger fan of warm weather, green mountains, and the beach, but mornings like the one pictured above, that's just marvelous!
...Christmas Lights. One of the few times you can really make your house and lawn shine & sparkle!  Growing up, my grandparents took my sister and I to see Christmas lights at Honolulu Hale and through different neighborhoods.  Hey, it's free, gas was cheaper, and you got amused children in the backseat, easy as pie! One thing I wanna see next Christmas: Christmas lane.
...Working. I am now a working woman again, I am so very thankful for all the prayers, positive vibes, and support from my loved ones...
...Spending time with my family up here.  Being able to see my niece at her Christmas show & horseback riding lessons, is just priceless to me =)
...Having dinner with my sis, binlaw, and niece.
...Getting pedis with my sister in one of the most beautiful nail spas I've been to.
...Spending time with my boyfriend's humangous family =)



and what I like about Christmas...
...the decorations, the lights, and winterized everything.
...the Huge Santa & mrs. claus in front of honolulu hale.
...the smell of Christmas Trees.
...truly the spirit of Giving.  It makes you happy, it makes them happy, it makes the world go 'round.
...the Christmas LOVE.

There have been so many changes this year which have required more patience and learning. So wanting something in particular for Christmas has been a low priority of mine.  But, every girl likes to dream and wish, so for me, I think I want to go outdoor ice skating for Christmas!!

I wish all of you a safe and beautiful Christmas!  May God bless you with love, laughter, and happiness throughout this Christmas season and well into the new year!!

I wanna hear from you fabulous readers...
Has there been something you've been wishing for this Christmas?  
What is your favorite part of the Christmas season?  

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Sweet Life. Thursdays.

Mixed cupcakes from Sucre:: taken by yours truly on my 3 year old black berry

Feelin' chilly over here in Omaha, and I still decided to go walking.  Sounds crazy, but I needed the fresh air.    Physical activity is a great way to clear your head, have some time to yourself, and get your blood circulating.  Which can also help make you happy!  So, despite the wind chill, and my cheeks turning a bright pink, I felt a little happy in my heart! 

A great quote I came across this morning helped me to get back on the happy track: "Be so happy that when others look at you they become happy too."  This is the perfect quote for today.  Forgetfulness has been my friend this past week and so has grumpiness.  With all the negatives this week, there were some silver linings that has made my Thursday a bit sweet.  

...First things first: The Sweet Life Thursdays begins with --National Cupcake Day! Cupcakes are my top choices for a dessert or a snack and my one of my favorite cupcake shops is Sucre in New Orleans where we got those cupcakes above.  They are gorgeous, huge, and full of delicious sweetness.  So, sometime today, I'll be biting into a cupcake from Cupcake Island, here in Omaha. 
...Sweet life #2:  Completely understanding what I'm learning in Math, really makes life a wee bit sweet!
...Sweet life #3:  Spending some quality love time with my boyfriend, watching movies and just chillin'.
...Sweet life #4:  making new friends in blogland.  A new experience that's been so wonderful so far!

This upcoming week, I'm focusing on being more positive and happy, to stop letting those little things bother me, and just go with the flow.  I'll also be finishing up my Christmas shopping, card making, and sending out Christmas gift packages.  A lot to do, but I'm excited for everything that's to come.  

What do you guys have to look forward to this coming week?  What has made your life a little sweet this week?  



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Globetrotter Noob.


We love adventures... 

We're in the last month of the year, with all the plans, must dos, and fun stuff coming up, it got my noggin' thinking about what's to come next year... 

2012:  it's going to be a busy year. It marks a year of traveling outside of the country, finishing up my pre-requisites for graduate school, applying to graduate school, and who knows what else!! 

All of that is kind of a big deal.  It will be my first time owning, holding, and using a passport and with all of that, I'll be meeting a bunch load of my boyfriend's family...in the Phillipines!  It's exciting and overwhelming at the same time.  Will they like me?   We shall see.  Not only will we be visiting the Phillipines, but also Thailand, possibly Boracay, to go cliff diving here.   Oh, and lastly, Tahiti--all thanks to yours truly and winning miles via Hawaiian Airlines, we're thinking of this place: swoon!  And hopefully, make some time for our favorite place... 


I've done my fair share of traveling...within the United states: California, Washington, Idaho, Chicago, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Florida (Walt Disney World to be specific), and numerous layovers in between.  But, going out of the country!!? Noob, I am!  And boy, am I excited! Even more exciting, since my boyfriend and I are pretty adventurous, I hope and expect our travels to be pretty...adventurous.  When he came to visit me in Hawai'i for a week, we went hiking 5 out of the 7 days he was there!

Now, don't get me wrong, 2011 has been a great year! 
It is the year I spent the most time with my sister, niece, and brother in law.  
It is the year I met the man I've been dreaming of, along with his awesome family!
It is the year I first went Las Vegas! *cheers*
It is the year that I've fallen back in love with Hawai'i, and have been even more thankful to my wonderful friends at home.  True friendships are similar to true love, when you know, you just know!

What has 2011 been  like for you? What is 2012 going to be like for you?  DO Share! =)





Thursday, December 08, 2011

.The Sweet Life.Thursdays.

Sweetness comes in all sizes! 


Today is thursday.  And I think I'll dabble into a series of blogs on thursdays, rehashing the week that has gone by.  Thursday is a pleasant day because it's my last day of class, "in class," and it's the day my assignments are due for my online class.  So Thursday it is.  Each week I'll go through sweet things that I'm grateful for. Let's get started...

Whenever I find myself in a rut, which, lately, has been more often than I care for, I try to find the sweet things in my life that... will get me back on the optimistic train ride.  I've been so inspired these past few time laden weeks and months by so many creative and talented women out there.  If you've read my very first post you'll know how much i love writing.  It's been a back and forth relationship that I am now throwing myself all in to.  My creative side has been kicking in reading through Bethany's, amazing and beautiful DIY projects featured on her blog.  Sifting through so many different blogs  has been a wonderful ride and I'm glad to be getting my bloggy on!!

The rut that was recently experienced got me a bit irked at myself.  Why am I letting itty bitty nonsense bother me when I have sweet stuff all around me? To get back on that optimistic train again I found myself thinking about what I can do better as a person.  And in the end, it's admitting that I am somehow unhappy about something [check] then figuring out a way to make myself happy again, without expecting someone else to do it for me.  [check]  Today is a new day, yesterday is done, so it's what I do to day that's still to come.

  • Sweet stuff number 1:  my $9.99 Christmas gift to myself. Jewelmint's. pomander 32" pendant.  This pretty little number was just in my budget and had a vintage charm to it.  It was inspired by Kate Moss' own pendant which belonged to her grandmother ( or something of the sort) and what's neat about is you can open it up and place a piece of cotton in it with a spritz of your very own perfume!! GENIUS! 
  • Sweet stuff number 2:  Kung Fu Panda cub.  Enough said. 
  • Sweet stuff number 3: Krispy Kreme red velvet doughnut.  So deliciously wonderful!  Thank you to my boyfriend's sister for this super sweet treat.  
Now, this may sound a bit sappy, it's just imperative that I put things in perspective... but my absolute favorite sweet stuff is this guy...

We come from two very different...worlds, in a way. And our differences come up from time to time.   In the end, however, I will always go back to him and what we share.  It's the sweetest gift & blessing, that I will always be so happy for.  And that is worth more than any differences that we may have.

What do you think of or do when you're in a rut and in negativity-land? How do you get out of that rut? 

Friday, December 02, 2011

Books.

An old time leisurely past time that many adore and many loathe. I'd place myself in the adore category, but at times, the loathe category. It's been a wee bit long since I've last posted...  There's just been so much going on. Transitioning into a new place and moving.  I think you can learn a lot about someone when you're moving.  It's a stressful time.  Especially moving to a new STATE.  Yes. I did that.  With my BF.  He helped me.  Has been patient with me. And has loved me through it all.  Blessed...is just an understatement.  I thank God for him everyday.

Back to books.  I am starting school in two days, and I'm buying my book today.  I have my book for my other class. But, I have to physically go to the bookstore for my other book. This may sound normal for all you blog readers out there... but for me it's a little nostalgic and weird.  I've been in online classes all winter & spring last year...and this class is the first IN CLASS class I'll be taking since I graduated with my bachelor's.  Exciting, weird. It's Math.  Meh. On a good note, I'm hoping I can sell my other unnecessary books I accumulated last spring.  Hopefully it all goes swimmingly.

I'm hoping this book is much less than an arm and a leg. I'm hoping a pinky finger...funds are low. And I'm still job searching.  Staying optimistic though, who knows, something might turn up in a few days! *crossing fingers*

Have any of you been battling going back to school after being away for awhile? Or job search been rough?

Your thoughts and positive vibes would be greatly appreciated =)

Sunday, September 18, 2011

You Only Live Once

A couple of weeks ago I watched the movie adaptation of the book, One Day, by David Nicholls. 
One of the things I LOVE about watching movies is the beauty of taking a break from your own reality and getting a glimpse of a story that may be similar or very different from your own.  This book/movie would absolutely be in the category of romance drama/chick flick---which is also the reason why I went to see this movie by myself. 

  

One Day, made me reflect upon my own life experiences and what I could have done when I was younger and what I can do now.   It also made me grateful of some very big decisions I've made in the past year.  One of my BIGGEST decisions was leaving my job, my best friends, my family, and my home that I love dearly, to help my sister with my niece all the way in Nebraska.  Now, moving from Hawai`i to Nebraska is a pretty huge leap--- both places are different in so many ways---yet this decision has made all the difference in my life.  I've learned a ton about my family and about myself and I can lovingly and humbly say it's the very place I've met my boyfriend.  From this very decision, much bigger decisions have been made and I can finally say my life is going in the direction I've been longing for and praying for.  I thank God for my blessings everyday.

Taking chances and jumping into something out of your comfort zone is scary and nerve wracking for some. This movie got my noggin' thinking, if all of us were to take the chances we were reluctant towards or felt any hesitation about, where would our lives be now?  Would it be more fulfilled?  ---> Perhaps! OR Maybe, even if it was the wrong decision, you could, at the very least say, at least I learned from it and that experience has given me knowledge I lacked before.  Even if there's an inkling of a chance that may be there---TAKE IT---or ask questions, be curious!  There's always room for an adventure!!  YOLO.

.:*:. Tootles til next time .:*:




Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Gimmee some Great deals!!

Everyone loves a great deal.  With all of the spiffy technology nowadays and almost everything being right at your finger tips, it's no wonder that online companies are "cashing" in on that.  There are so many great online discount memberships that a girl can go online shopping or buy a facial for half the price originally.  Here are some of my favorite online discount memberships that I've purchased and reaped the thrifty benefits from.

These great websites showcases deals you can get in the city you live.  If you're heading out to another city sometime soon it's easy to click on a different city to see what kind of deals they are featuring. These deals usually only last for a day, unless otherwise specified.  All you gotta do is sign up by inputting your email.  Yes you'll get daily emails about new money saving deals for restaurants, massages, spa treatments, and even car detailing.  If you'd rather not get bombarded with loads of excess emails you can always unsubscribe, just remember you'll be missing out on that $30 hour massage your best friend got yesterday.  
Here are my favorites: 
This one is great because you just choose what city you live in--just like many of the other websites--and you can subscribe to more than one city as well.  Especially if you're a jet setter and are flying to different cities throughout the year for work or family.
Just like Living Social, Groupon is a deal a day in the city you live.  When you visit the page and scroll down there's some great tips for using groupon and a cute big fat cat to greet you.
Both of these sites also offer getaway deals for the travel saavy or kid at heart.  I haven't purchased any yet, however, I've read through many and very much wished I could partake in them! 


For the lucky ones who live & play in Hawai'i--here are some online deal sites just for you!
Mokoli'i Island--off of Kualoa Ranch

    Hot Deals Hawaii has deals sent to your email everyday, from many different companies around Hawai'i.  Play Hawai'i sends you an email almost everyday too. Some of their deals last more than one day, so don't sit on your decision too long, or it will absolutely expire!
      For the ladies, and for spiffy guys looking for a great deal on some awesome clothing, furniture and all sorts of stuff, I share with you...

      This site is bomb!! All you gots to do is signup to get daily emails, just like all of the above ^ and each day they'll send you an email with a collage of different brands that have discounts for that day.  Some are quite steep from 50%-70% off the original price. I've bought two cute dresses from the Bobi brand for $15!!!! awesome!  They also have artwork, jewelry, vacations and children's clothes too.  This one you'll have to act fast because they sell out of the good stuff quite quickly.  This site is probably one of my favorites, every day there's at least one thing I want to buy.

      So there you have it guys, my favorite discount deal sites.  I hope you can share in the joy of saving some money and/or trying someplace new at a discounted price, and finding that perfect dress or pair of jeans at a great price.  

      .:.:* until next time.. Ciao =) *:.:. 


       







      Wednesday, August 03, 2011

      There's a first for everything...

      First love; first  kiss; first heartbreak; first job; first paycheck. And this will be my very first blog post.

      When you finally, no matter how long it takes, get to that point where your head and your gut meet in harmony, and you go right out and do that that thing you've always had in the back of your mind to do, well it feels mighty great doesn't it?  This was it for me.  
      And that ^ is how I felt!! Writing was something I've always enjoyed, it's something that can be revised and revised and revised, and it's a way to share with others what you know, or take someone to an imaginary world or just to tell someone how you feel.  I hope reading is just as fun for you as writing is for me ;)  

      Now, getting down to the nitty gritty of my blog an explanation of my address & title should be addressed. First off, I'm from Hawai'i so that's where you get the HI.  The number 5 is a play on Hawai'i 5-O and HI5 recycling in Hawai'i, you get 5 cents back when recycling bottles and cans.  It's clear there's no Hawai'i 5-O actors or references in my blog nor can I recycle cans and bottles through this webpage, however, I will have 5 categories of interest in my blog.
      1. Life wisdom: through experience or research
      2. Travel Experiences
      3. DIY projects & food recipes
      4. Makeup & Hair products and services
      5. Fashion & Deals 
      This is a place where you can learn something and for me to keep in touch with friends & family I may be unable to see as often as I'd like.   Now, let's roll.  


      This year has been a year of great change in my life as well as others around me.  One of the lessons I've learned so far, from experience and from my boyfriend, is being strong in who you are.  Life happens and it can be rough. And I mean, ROUGH.  You never really know just how much you can handle in life until it throws you a curve ball, or two, or three, or 5.  When you know who you are as a person and what you have to offer others and the world, life gets just a little bit easier.  Having the strength to continue on through the rough patches in life can be a challenge and may bring you worries and discomfort, but finding this strength, through prayer and giving those worries to God, will truly help you on your way.  Surrounding yourself amongst those who are your true friends and amongst family that love and care for you, will take you a long way.

      So when you're discouraged, believe in yourself, what you have to offer, and remember you have friends and family that are the angels that will help you through those curve balls life throws at you.

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