Chickie G

Rayli sends this out to Aunty Jamie!

2010-10-06T02:51:00.000-07:00

Rayli knows Aunty Jamie loves Black Eyed Peas!
Skip to around 2:13 and see Aiyanna showing her support in the background lol!

been a long time coming ...

2010-09-19T01:33:00.000-07:00

life has been crazy.
crazy in all aspects.

new house. new internship.
new exciting chapters.
new perspectives on life and love.

crazy can be CRAZY
but it can also be an insanely great thing.

if life were mundane, would we grow as individuals?
would we appreciate love and kindness if we never experienced heartache and pain first?

so I am learning to embrace my trials and tribulations.
i will stop calling them obstacles but rather opportunities to learn something about myself.
although it is unreasonable to believe i will always be able to smile when the goings get tough ...
i will no longer wallow in a pity pool and allow grief to sway or consume me.

i won't allow myself to believe the hype.
i will just allow myself to love and accept me.

i've made mistakes.
i haven't lived up everyone's expectations or standards.
yes, i have room to grow.
but i refuse to punish myself for not growing fast enough.
i am who i am.
i am learning to love me for me.

i truly believe that once i love myself,
trust my heart,
speak my truths ...
everything else will fall into place.
just like it was meant to be.

my mindset is changing.
i used to think, "hey, if i only did this, this, and that ... things would have been better."
"if only i were skinnier, prettier, smarter ... they would be happy."
but no, i don't have the power to control someone's happiness.
that is their journey
and i am only in control of mine.

sending out much love ...
everyone in the world deserves to know that they are loved, appreciated, and supported!

Boo Mr. Plaque!

2010-06-18T02:05:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a Mommy who thought it would be a great idea to schedule everyone's annual dental cleaning appointments on the same day.

"Yay, only one trip to town and we can knock these appointments outta here!"
(how would I ever survive living anywhere else ... "to town" is only a 15 minute - 1 hour drive here, totally dependent on traffic ... *ah, stuck in my Salt Lake to Pearl City bubble*)

Nice day ... smooth traffic ... open parking stall ...
"I'm such an awesome planner," says the Mommy.

Daddy's presence was of course requested.
What a smart Mommy ... she knew she may need some backup and someone to read books/entertain between her snapping pictures and getting her teeth cleaned.

But of course, Daddy doesn't read books as great as Mommy ...
and although Jydon was thoroughly pleased, Rayli was less than impressed.

So Daddy put the book down ...
the tween pulled out her ipod ...

Jazzy built a lego Mommy ...
and hungry Rayli decided to munch on plastic ...

Continuing with tradition,
Jazzy drew Miss Ellen, the sweetest dental hygienist, a picture for her wall ...

and hung it up to her picture from last year's annual visit.

Rayli pretended she was a scared princess ...

but we all know she loves the dentist ...

and those cool shades she gets to wear :)

not to mention the wicked cool glove balloon she gets to make!

Three hours at the dentist office, four hungry kiddos, two pooped parents ...
and three return visits scheduled. Jydon and Mommy have cavities :(
Eek!

Rawr ... I Need a Pedi!

2010-06-16T03:23:00.000-07:00

About a year ago, I gave up going to the nail salon.
Why?
Lack of time.
Saving money.
Working on growing my natural nails.

But I really miss getting pedicures and I KNOW I will be making a pedi-trip very soon! The nice thing is that the hubs enjoys going with me ... he says it's the only time he can get away with another woman rubbing his feet and hands and not get in trouble ;)

So we will probably be spending some QT at a nail salon in the near future. Woop woop, can't wait!

In the mean time, I picked up some new polishes at Sephora on Saturday. The pink shade is "Arm Candy" and the brown shade is "Rumba Romance"
both by Sephora by OPI.

And although I didn't follow a specific tutorial, I was inspired by youtube as always!
Once my facebook status said something like, "went on youtube to listen to some old school R&B songs and four hours later, here I am watching tutorials on how to do nails."
I got a lot of LOLs but if they only knew ... dead serious!

There are many tremendously talented people out there, all willing to share their knowledge.
check them out! I swear I could watch youtube for days.

Eek, so here goes my un-pedicured feet.
Took about 10 minutes. I love fun & fast things.
Maybe my Jordans will get some shoe closet time this week ...
feeling like rockin' some open-toed shoes now :)

The Sally Hansen nail art pen (in black) made drawing the squiggle outlines easy peasy. It is also good for making dots; however, the dotting tool is my favorite tool for this purpose.
I got the SH products at a local Target and a set of dotting tools off eBay. All pretty inexpensive, useful, and fun!

Oishii!

2010-06-02T20:11:00.000-07:00

Oishii = Yummy in Japanese
Kanpai's Sports Bar is the home of deliciousness!
I swear we will find every reason to celebrate and eat at Kanpai's ...
this time we were celebrating Anna's birthday :)

I would have gotten pictures of her awesome Red Velvet white chocolate cake, the lychee alcoholic beverages, the extra crispy fried gizzards, and the ono ahi belly BUT I was too busy eating lol! Oops!

How dare I disregard the golden "picture first, eat after" rule of dining out in the facebook/blog era!

*wafu steak*

*garlic fries*

*spicy garlic chicken & fried rice*

*fried rice with scrambled eggs*

*kim chee edamame*

Now if I could only enjoy walking on the treadmill as much as Rayli does ...

Story behind this picture:
I got tired of the kids goofing off on the treadmill so I said, "If you get on the treadmill, you must have on sneakers, you may not play around with the speed control, and you must walk for at least 15 minutes without getting off."
When I came back, Rayli was walking the treadmill and reading her animal book. Guess she shut me up huh?!

Should Have Been Studying ...

2010-05-13T15:14:00.001-07:00

but spent Mothers' Day lounging at Scott's Pool on Pearl Harbor instead :)

(you know you're at a military pool when there's a big carrier in the every picture)

The last two months have been tough ones ...
and therefore, lack of blog posts.
It is crazy to think how much your life can change overnight (for better or worse)
but I think that is what makes us such resilient beings!
It's our ability to bounce back, triumph over adversity, and move forward.

With finals week almost in the bag ...
it is time to celebrate and
I am sooooooooo ready for that!

The Joy of Food

2010-03-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, yeah so I'm suppose to be on a diet.

And yeah, it is true...
the only thing I can control is the distance between by hand and my mouth. (gee thanks Doc)

But oh phooey, I am a sucker for a good meal.
What is even better? A good meal with great company!

Mom brought home Vietnamese food from BaLe. Yum!

Mmmmm Summer Rolls [shrimp & tofu]
I love the peanut sauce it comes with but it was also another perfect occasion to bust out my Pietro's dressing too!

The sandwiches were the bomb!
I love the crunchy freshness of the carrots, cucumbers, & daikon.
Vegetables never looked or tasted so good. Delish!

My lunch dates, Mom & Grandpa K.
See his tray? He likes his meals a certain way and it usually involves about five bowls, Ensure, and a cup of coffee. After almost 95 years, I guess you know what you like and stick with it.
I don't blame him, its always interesting to see what he's eating and if you are Rayli (his 4-yo buddy) ... sit next to him and pick out of all his bowls.

and later that night ...

Did I ever mention my "tween" wanting to be a pastry chef?
The upside: She likes to try new recipes.
The downside: The aren't usually good for my diet or my cholesterol
but they do make me happy ... verrrrrry happy :)

Aiyanna's cinnamon rolls waiting to rise.

Aiyanna's cinnamon rolls waiting to be devoured.

Hope your day is just as sweet as those rolls are up there!

♥

Mom & YouTube

2010-03-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

My Mom discovering the joys of YouTube (thanks to her grandkids!)

fyi: here's the link they showed her
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2MgG-wkWe0

Child Labor? Say What?

2010-03-20T04:03:00.000-07:00

Thought it might be fun to show you my current stamping process ...

location: dining table & kitchen counter
(I should have took a picture of the unhappy husband ... what? hammering is not music to your ears? oh really?)

some handy tools: sharpie, 2 lb. "drilling" hammer, double stick tape
Jason also gifted me a metal-ish plank that was building infrastructure in its previous life (I think). It is the most awesome thing to stamp on ever. Goes to show you, tools can be created from all kinds of found objects!

A good heavy hammer is also a must. It makes the job a lot easier and it gives you a nice workout too! Can you imagine me with one nice super-toned arm? Ha!

Yes, I train them young.
This is my baby, Rayli, dapping away. Look Mom, I don't even have to look! I have to say her rates are cheap. I miss being a kid and thinking Skittles were currency. I once gave her $5 for helping me and she said, "I can't eat paper. I quit."

Action shot.
And look, no dress code required.
Show up to work in Dora Explorer pjs. You don't even have to comb your hair :) I'm such a super boss right?!

This is another employee of the month.
This is my Jazzy-Cakes, busy concentrating on the details.
I usually like to use Patina Gel to darken the stamped images but good ol' Sharpie can do the trick especially if you are short on time!

Time to polish away with a Sunshine cloth!
Go Jazzy Go!
She was thrilled since yellow is her favorite color ...
I must say, she is a gem to work with and she likes to get paid in Pokemon cards :)

Another must have ... a TUMBLER!
It's like a magic machine.
Dirty stuff goes in and shiny goodness comes out.
No extra work required and all I use is some Dawn dish washing liquid and maybe a few sprays of Quik-Brite. I've had this tumbler in my stash back when my kids wanted to tumble rocks.
If it ever dies, I'm gifting myself a Lortone tumbler.
I've heard they are the best of the best and they last a long time.

Making jewelry is fun ...
but making jewelry with your kiddos & people you love ... AWESOME!

For me, it isn't always about the finished piece, many times I find meaning and worth just through the process itself.
Hey, kind of like life right?

♥

Gooooo Hawks!

2010-03-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

Jydon is a mini-me version of my hubs.

Sports, video games, & girls.

For the past few years, James has volunteered to coach the kids' teams & its been a great bonding experience for the kids, giving them extra Daddy time.

We usually host the end-of-season party for Jydon's team at our house. This year, I thought it would be cute to make custom favors for the kids.

Here's a peep at the finished goody bag.
I forgot to pick up ribbon, so we had to use pink curling ribbon to tie the bags. We told the kids that we chose pink because it was Coach J's favorite color :)

I cropped the team pictures and added font using Photoshop. I picked up the photo key chains at Long's Drugs (on sale for a little over $1).

I stamped copper blanks and wire wrapped them to copper key chains. Doesn't the copper look just like lil' basketballs?
Considering I haven't stamped in over a year,
the project went smoothly except for the basketball stamp ...
what a headache but after some practice, I got a teensy bit better.

It's funny how you convince yourself,
"Hmmmm, this project will take a couple hours."
Ha! After the stamping, doming, sanding, polishing, tumbling,
and wire wrapping ... woooooo weeeeee.

At the same time, it also reminded me how fun stamping is!
Been a stampin' fool lately :)

The party was fun. James always knows how to throw a party ...
and get everyone soaked with water balloons.
(which is why I never have pics!)
I don't know who has more fun, the kids or the parents!

Football season, here we come!

*****

Also wanted to share the lunch Aiyanna made me today.

a lemon pepper chicken, tofu, and Manoa lettuce salad
topped with bacon bits & Pietro's Sesame Miso dressing.
YUM!

Pietro's ... affectionately referred to as the "crack of salad dressings."
Sesame Miso, Soy Sauce, and Ginger are my favorites ...
and I'm bummed I can't find them at the commissary!
If they aren't in your dressing aisle, look in the Asian section (made in Japan).

Also, decided to dress up the blog using a free background from shabbyblogs.com
Awesome & easy to use! Will play around more when I have some free time.

until next time,
be well blogworld.
♥

Cuff 'Um Dan-O

2010-03-15T00:41:00.000-07:00

Finally got some creative juice flowing and
oooh, oooh, oooh it feels good!
Another perk of working at a bead store ...
getting to clock out early and take a workshop!

(It's hard to call it work because I'm surrounded by friends & I ♥ what I do!)
*If you are going to get a job, I highly recommend doing something you enjoy :)

So here it goes ...
*My Skull Cuffcake*

Technique: Rolling mill
(think super sized pasta machine made for metal)
Material: Sterling Silver 18gauge Sheet

Shout out to Cupcake Jamie who bought me a skull punch!
She's awesome & my jewelry yoda.

Out of all jewelry mediums,
I have to say working with metal is one of my favorites.

Why???
1. I'm lazy and I like immediate gratification.
With wire, I don't have to worry about sewing in loose ends, crimping, or any other "finishing" techniques. Whew! I'm not saying metal=cakewalk but it sure beats having a tangled mess of thread (yes, speaking from experience here.)***

2. Metal can be forgiving.
Sand it, texture it, tumble it.
Magically turn those errors into design elements.

3. I love the look & feel of it.
For me, metal can be simple & sleek or it can be intricate & delicate.
It can be dressed up or dressed down.
Lately, I've been into layers of chain, multiple bangles, & lots of charms. Sounds fun? You betcha!

[Metal = sterling silver, fine silver, gold-filled, copper, brass, etc.]

I'm thinking, I may oxidize it and use a steel brush to give it a grungy/industrial look but we'll see. I'll post pics if I do.

Well, this project got me going again and I am ready to make more!!!
It made me feel like I could be creative again ... and not suck at it!
I was feeling pretty uncreative & suck-tastic lately
but this was a perfect pick-me-up.
A total "create without boundaries" type of project. Yay!

If you are interested, check it out here :)
I would love to see ya there!

*disclaimer: I still love needle & thread, crimping, and finishing ... Just not when I'm lazy or on days that start with the letters T or S.

Grandpa K in the house!

2010-03-11T17:27:00.000-08:00

Note to self: breathe and enjoy every lil' bit of life
(and blog about it ... my poor neglected blog, I haven't forgotten you.)

Thrilled I was able to capture this moment ...
My hubs gave my 95-year old Grandpa a 'hawk and got him to throw up the deuces.
(I've never seen Granpda K so happy before!)

Just a reminder that even when you are feeling like crap ...
find a reason to smile.

Bangs = Asian

2010-01-07T03:13:00.001-08:00

It's funny how something as simple as bangs can make you look different.

Ever since I cut my bangs short, people have been commenting:
"Wow, you look so Asian now!"
Is that a compliment?
Did I not look my half-Japanese/half-Okinawan self before?
Cracks me up but I love it.

I think I will google some new hair inspiration.
Part of me wants to chop it for something new but my long hair is my security blanket.
Just not ready to let it go yet.
Holler if you have any new hair ideas :)

Sayonara ♥

p.s. eye shadow strike is overrrrrr. maybe I will also start wearing another color besides black this year.

Rock the Decade*

2010-01-05T00:42:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful & SAFE time celebrating the New Year!
I got a couple of neat shots before my pink camera died.
I guess it had enough of 2009 too ;)

Last year, Jydon & Aiyanna thought it would be fun to have a "who can come up with the neatest sparkler routine" contest. Well, Jydon was jammin' with his sparklers, fancy dance moves, behind the back action ... little did he know, his (brand new, fresh out of the mailbox) jacket was on fire. There he was still dancing his little heart out while his back was smokin'. Eek! The look on his face was classic and no worries, the only thing toasted was his jacket!

So I'm happy to report that everyone survived this year unscathed.

I've decided there will be no *official* New Year's Resolutions for '10 because enlightenment, personal success, and growth are not achieved or defined by a specific date. Therefore, I will continue to add to my "to-do/to-enjoy/to-become" list.
Hopefully, I can check-off the list faster than I can add on.

here's a peep:
hug my kids. listen with my heart.
sew myself a clutch purse.
exercise 3x week minimum.
limit caffeine consumption.
go to Sin City.
knit something.
study holistic approaches to asthma control.
sleep at least six hours a night.
use loving words.

I bought a cute book that I scribble random thoughts, feelings, designs, etc. It has been a great way to get some of that mind clutter out and on to paper.

Goosefraba

2009-12-18T00:42:00.000-08:00

Whew, the last of five finals in the bag ... breathe in and enjoy this moment.

If you ever watched "Anger Mangement" with Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson, I'm sure you remember "Don't lose your cool, remember goosefraba."

Little did I know it is a real-life word. Eskimo mothers whisper it to calm their babies. I guess you do learn something new every day :)

So now it is time to head to the mall and start Christmas shopping ....
eek. I thought I enjoyed shopping but NOT REALLY.

Peace be with you during this crazy holiday season.
As I anticipate long lines, no parking, and my endless search for "MindFlex" ...
as my anxiety peaks before I even leave the house ...
as I kick myself [literally] for not taking care of this months ago ....
ahhhhh goosefraba ...
because it is really not the gifts [or lack] of,
it is about spending time and celebrating life with those you love.

merry merry :)

... on a personal note ...

My 94-year old grandfather recently fractured his hip and spent some time in the hospital.
Good news! He is out and both he and my Mom are living with us temporarily.

With radiation taking a toll on him to begin with,
I know his recovery will be long and hard.
(It was so cute to see him come home with his diploma from graduating from treatment. He wanted to make sure my husband saw it and knew he wasn't a baby!)

Patience. Love. Strength.
I know it must be so hard to lose your independence and have to rely on others for help.
We are all learning valuable life lessons together ...
and there are days where my heart breaks but why?
I should continue to celebrate with him and just remember, this is all part of his journey.
Our journey.

My Grandpa
My Hero

The first man I ever saw make googly-eyes at the bikini girls in the commercials.
The first man who ever taught me about initiative, hard work, and perseverance.
I am forever grateful for every life lesson he has taught me and continues to teach me.

a Ninja Hello

2009-12-05T10:13:00.000-08:00

Just a hello from our fur kid ~ Ninja.

Oh the things he let's Bubbles* get him into.

Looks like they will be going golfing today :)

*side note: Rayli decided she wants to change her name.

We must call her Bubbles from now on.

I remember when Jazzy wanted to be called Stefanie ...

kids are so funny.

Have a great weekend :)

Turkey & MakeUp

2009-12-03T16:45:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day!
Here's a shot of my hubby's deep fried turkey. Yum!
I still can't believe this year is almost over ...
I'm so ready to say goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010!

I've been meaning to blog about my "eyeshadow strike" for a while now so here it goes.
Several months ago, I decided to give up eyeshadow and cut down on makeup period.
Why would I do such a thing?

1) I realized I had no "going out" look. It was smokey eyes 24/7.
2) Adult onset acne. Boo.
3) I want to learn how to be comfortable in my own skin.

So it has been black liner only ... just like this.
A lot of people didn't even notice the change ... and now, I don't even remember how to apply eyeshadow when I do have a special night out! Eek!

No big deal right?
Well aside from my bead/crafty things addiction, I kinda have a small obsession with makeup.
Here's my cute *pink* Sephora train case.
Like an upscale Caboodle, remember those? I can't find them anywhere!

Look how much makeup fits in it! Three tiers of awesomeness!
Can you tell I'm a MAC-head?
There's also some Shu Uemuera, Urban Decay, and other random goodies.

I also found a great etsy shop (MixologyMakeup) that offers great mineral makeup. Fun stuff and excellent customer service :)

And today I totally caved in at MAC (Macy's Pearlridge) ...
here's my loot from today's trip to the mall.
Guess I will start wearing eyeshadow again ay?

That wasn't so bad right? Everyone owns this much stuff right?

Until next time blogworld ~ xO

Study, Work, Sleep ... and Smile :)

2009-11-10T02:15:00.001-08:00

Wow, I am such a blog-slacker. Boo me.
Things have been so busy with school lately but I must remember to SMILE and enjoy life!
Thankfully, my kids provide me with an ample amount of free entertainment :)

My lil' ham loves to make up random songs and sing them on the webcam.
This keeps her busy while I attempt to clean up my bead room.
No I am not hiding, I am on the floor picking up 3mm crystals. Grrrr.

This song is dedicated to her preschool physical appointment.
Kids say the funniest things!

Creative Juice

2009-10-10T00:26:00.000-07:00

Okay so it's finally time for a *crafty* post. Woop woop!

The yummy ingredients:
Vintage lucite discs
Shell flowers
Gold-filled & vermeil beads, wire, chain, & findings

Technique:
Binding (a super duper easy way to jazzy up any jewelry project or component)

I'm pretty happy about how they turned out and I have some ideas for a similar necklace project. I will definitely post pics if it works out ... if not, it will end up in my jewelry graveyard :(

and since we are talking *creative juice,* I must share my daughter's work-in-progress. She's sketching a mural on her bedroom door based on Ed Hardy's tattoo designs. Right now it's in pencil but Grandma took her on a Ben Franklin run for paint so it will be in color soon. I'm glad she's enjoying this creative outlet and I am totally letting her do her own thing on this.

Until next time blog world ...
enjoy life and remember to do things that make you happy :)

Smile :)

2009-09-29T21:24:00.000-07:00

I promise to post some new things soon!
It's been a busy month ... anniversary, birthday, fun guest instructor at The Bead Gallery.

Then the not-so-fun busy stuff ... homework, papers, exams!
Just let me survive my Tax exam tomorrow and it will be smooth sailing for at least a week (maybe).

In the mean time, here's a video that makes me smile :)
I had no clue Rayli loved Angelina Ballerina (www.pbskids.org) this much!

Rayli's Jewels

2009-09-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

So even though I should have been studying or cleaning house ...

Rayli convinced me it was time to make some jewelry!

[YAY says Rayli!]

So she designed three bracelets that I whipped out for her.

I must say, she likes her jewelry big & chunky (well, for a petite 4-yo) and she insisted on wearing all three bracelets on one arm.

[she must get it from her mama ha!]

Rayli's Charm Bracelet

I chose the chain but she cherry picked all her charms from my stash.

Did I tell you I had a bead/charm/shopping habit?

The fun part was making sure I jump-ringed all the charms onto the chain so they would sit facing the same direction :/

Next were two bracelets made with Swarovski crystals.

Light Rose 6mm cubes (which I was happy to give up since they are my least favorite shape) and my new favorite, the 8mm-ish Graphic Cube. They look like chunks of ice.

Some basic wire wrap, charms and chain ...

I wonder if her older sisters will be interested when they get home.

I must say it was nice making something easy. A majority of my time is spent attempting to work on intricate projects that tend to involve 8,000 feet of wire and a ton of patience. This can explain why I have a drawer full of unfinished pieces. But guess what? I still felt a sense of accomplishment (that "Yay Me!" feeling) finishing these three bracelets. Rayli loved them and that's all that really mattered. So it doesn't always have to be about the level of difficulty ... as long as love and heart are there to back it up - it will always be fabulous :)

Sadly, it's time to head to class and work but I will get those pliers out again soon!

Want to look younger?

2009-09-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

Buy a backpack :) Yes, I swear it makes me look 20 years younger ha!

I finally caved in and bought myself a backpack for my school books. The kids got tired of sharing their bags with me and my purse is on the verge of exploding. Eek!

So although we walked into Border's for some Pokemon books for Jazzy, I walked out with this cutesy backpack (and a matching pencil case, big & small notebook and folder). Anyone that knows me can guess why I chose it ...

I am obsessed with skulls!!!
Doesn't it make my school books look fun? NOT! Hey, it's cute but it's no miracle worker.

(and BTW, I now want my kids to become text book distributors when they grow up. Can you believe that's $700 worth of books pictured above?)

So now for my Labor Day AIO wrap-up ...

Bellows Beach was cold and rainy! Here's proof that it's not always warm & sunny here.

Fun but not so much.

So we made up by going to the Mall for some retail therapy and dinner at Sizzlers :)
Steak & Scampi ... sorry, photos of my hives not included.
The things I go through to eat seafood. It could be worse, I could be allergic to coffee.

I promise to post jewelry/crafty pics soon!

Hope everyone had a fabulous 09/09/09.
What a special day especially because Jamie & Jason celebrated their 10th Wedding Anniversary today! A very special occasion for two extra-wonderful people ♥

Through the eyes of a child ...

2009-09-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

So I am finally getting around to uploading the pictures Aiyanna took during her Big Island field trip (last school year). It's funny to see life through the eyes of a 5th grader!

Wooden statue butts were a must-see when I was that age too ;)

But she did take some nice shots and it almost makes me wish I had let her borrow the "good" camera. I think photography is such an awesome way for kids (and adults) to express themselves. There's no better way to capture a memory or feeling forever.

The coolest thing about putting a kiddo behind the lens is ... an untainted point-of-view. It's so refreshing to see things with the sense of awe, wonderment, and admiration of a child. If we really took the time to step back, we would also see how amazing & photography-worthy every little piece of this world is :) That makes me want to get my "good" camera fixed right now or at least charge the battery for my not-so-good camera.

So that's my little blurb for today ~ off to school now! Maybe my next picture will be of my textbooks ergh!

Here are a few more of Aiyanna's pictures of the Big Island ...

Have a Beautiful Day ♥

After the kids are tucked in ...

2009-08-28T00:27:00.000-07:00

I get to watch all of my recorded shows. Honestly, it's been a while since I really followed a show. I usually catch whatever the kids are watching (Aiyanna's been hooked on the Food Network and Animal Planet lately).

Surprisingly, James found this new series on HBO called Hung while channel surfing. Now, we make sure the new Sunday episodes are recorded. It's nice that there's something we can both watch together :) ... not to mention Ray Dreker is a hottie!

Hung in a nutshell...

I am also hearing a lot about the True Blood series which I have yet to see. There's only Season 2 episodes on HBO-on-Demand, so I am holding out until I can get Season 1.

Let me know if there are any other must-see TV that I'm missing! I feel so out of touch since I hardly watch TV, listen to the radio, or read the paper. Please fill me in ... don't let me enjoy this state of ignorant bliss ;)

New Hair Cut!!!

2009-08-25T03:13:00.000-07:00

For Mrs. Yum Yum! It's funny how a "puppy cut" actually seems to melt the dog years away. We got Mrs. Yum Yum in 2002 (she's the same age as Jazzy) and Aiyanna got to name her.
It was either Mrs. Yum Yum or Fuzzy Gingersnap Cracker.

(grooming by Yuppie Puppie at Salt Lake Shopping Center)

Check out Aiyanna's new grill!
The tween has been begging for braces since the 2nd grade. When I say begging, I mean BEGGING! Every Christmas, birthday, special occasion, allowance payday = BRACES! So, she finally got them and she is thrilled! She even takes pictures with me now :)

And I know I may be late on this trend but I am loving plaid lately!
At first I thought I may be too round to wear anything patterned but I'm trying to get over it. Those who know me would be shocked to see me in something other than a black tee and jeans
... oh how I wish I were fashionable!

Yes, I do still love making jewelry!
But no, I haven't had time ... phooey!

I did manage to use these awesome pendant charms that J&J brought back from Cali. The star was a gift from cupcake Jamie :) and the two keys were just too cute not to get.
I love the layered look ... and I love baby rolo chain too!

These are the only kinds of projects I have been able to squeeze in lately. I did wire wrap the clasp and ring on... so that counts right ;) ?

Dear Bloggie ...

2009-08-19T03:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Bloggie,
I'm sorry I've been neglecting you yet again.
It's not you, it's me.
Not only has the misplaced camera battery charger put a strain on our relationship.
I have also met someone else.
Please forgive me and...
blame the
Banzai Roaring Rapids Water Park!

It's awesome to not have to spend a gazillion hours packing up for a beach trip.
(Although beach days are priceless!)
And like lil' Rayli says, "Heyyyyy guys! There's no sand in my booty, this thing is aweeesome!"
Gotta love kids.

It's also nice to see the "tween" out and playing with her younger sibs.
She's even smiling :) Yay!

Who said you can't swim on your front porch and have grilled hot dogs under the carport?
Nothing beats fun, sun, and a clean restroom nearby. Ha!

*side note: notice that orange & white motorcycle in the background. that's J's new baby (I've been replaced). Now he has two bikes ... but yet only one butt to ride them with.
I better not hear a peep about how many beads (or shoes) I have.
Not a single peep.

YouTube-a-holic

2009-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've caught the YouTube bug again!
With all those clickable links, what's a girl to do???

... dream she could dance like this ...

... and sing like this ...

I could watch these videos for days!

Creative Chaos?

2009-08-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Maybe I like to call it that because it makes it sound purposeful.

But the truth is, nothing creative has been going on in my bead-room/office for a while. Sadly, the only thing I do when I come in this room is clean, work (on non-fun stuff), and occasionally cry.

So maybe by forcing myself to post "before" pictures, I will feel more inclined to get organized so I can happily post "after" pictures. I would also love to hear your tips on organization &/or de-cluttering. I have soooooo many beads, it's ridiculous!

*** WARNING: serious chaos pictured below (this chick needs help) ***

Okay, so I warned you. I will surely keep you updated on any progress I make. My goal is to get organized so the only thing I can think of when I'm in this room is ... making jewelry or just being creative.

... and since we are on the topic of posting scary pics ... here's one of James getting captured by Jason (from Friday the 13th) haa!

I ♥ Photo Booth

2009-08-01T04:18:00.001-07:00

Ever since I bought our Mac, PhotoBooth has been a household favorite!

With the click of the mouse ... I can be "normal" Mommy ...

... or "take me to your leader, I come in peace" Mommy.

You know the kids have a blast and I've learned a lot about them through this process. For example, I didn't know Rayli was secretly an evil genius ...

... and that Jazzy was the "brains" behind her operation to take over the world!

Awesome :)

Fairs are fun ... for who?

2009-07-30T05:59:00.000-07:00

Definitely not everyone! Here I am cracking up at 3am looking through some old pictures I took at the fair. I am convinced this ride provides the best entertainment there. Why??? Let's take a closer look at this picture (click on the pic to super size it) ...

I love how the Dads (my husband is the one in the hat) are having a blast and the kids ... well, not so much lol! I'm sure Rayli will appreciate that Mommy captured 30 shots of her finest moment at the fair!

but she wasn't alone ... can you spot the unhappy kid?

I guess Rayli and Jydon take after their motion-sick Mommy. Yes, take me to Six Flags with you. I'm great at holding purses/bags, taking pictures, and grabbing refreshments :) It's always nice to have a ride-phobic friend like me!

I'm here :)

2009-07-30T02:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it really taken me over two months to post my first "real" blog entry?!! I guess I was waiting for time ... free time .. to learn everything I need to know about blogging before jumping in. It has always been this "I'm gonna suck at this" fear that holds me back. Ergh! I still don't know a thing about blogging but I just want to let loose ... and post away :)

(It also helps that I found my camera charger, actually took some pictures, and semi-fixed my internet connectivity) ... things are looking better already.

Thought I would post a fun summer beach pic of my four kids. They are headed back to school tomorrow ... yes, already! This officially makes me Mommy to a 6th, 2nd, and 1st grader.

Lil' Rayli (or "Way-li" as she says) will be an only child tomorrow when the kids are in school. She has two reactions when this normally happens: 1) bounce off the walls screaming "the only child rocks" or 2) angelic ... meek as a mouse. For those that know Rayli, I know #2 seems difficult to believe! We will see :)

2009-05-26T00:16:00.001-07:00

Eeek my first blog post ... I hope I can figure this out :)