Saturday randoms.

I think that I had a pretty productive day. I was able to do some cleaning that I had been putting off...but today, I told myself that I had time to do some cleaning. Although, that presented a challenge in itself because what I had wanted to clean and reorganize was my closet. One of my closets at least...the one that holds most of my arts and crafts things. Now, can you see where the challenge is?! *laughs* I do get distracted pretty easily...and come on now...this is my arts and crafts closets...I might as well call it my "distraction filled closet!" *laughs* I told myself that I really wanted to get this done...so I just need to write down all the projects that pop in my mind as I reorganized my stuff...*laughs*

But we all know that didn't work. I knew I was already setting myself up for failure when I told myself I was not to do any craft related thing today. *laughs* So I didn't...I just told myself if I were to do something...it can NOT take all day. *laughs* I can get distracted that easily!

Well, as I was going through the things that I wanted to keep and the things that I wanted to bring to school I found my earring hooks and wire...then I found these really cute faux pearl beads...and I remembered that I had soooo wanted to make myself peacock feather earrings...but I just "never had the time to get to it..." I already knew that it wasn't going to take me that long to make them...

Plus, I had the peacock feathers for a while now...they were sitting near my earring holder that my brother-in-law made me, a daily reminder that hey, I still need to make them! I actually have several peacock feather earrings...but you can never have to much, right?! And I can always give them away too...(I love feather/wings earrings, so that's why I started making my own since it's more fun that way, cheaper...and I can custom make them how I want them!)...

It took me about 10 minutes or so to make these! I think they turned out cute...and I love how they are so easy and fast to make! Super basic earring making skills, I swear! :) Since I had to "peel" and remove the top part of the feather to make a place to me to wind the wire around the feather, I had some extra feather pieces left...and so I tried something...

I'm not too sure if I like them. They kind of look like jelly fish or something. *laughs* They looked cute when I tried them on...but I'm not really too hot about them...we'll see if I'll wear them sometime...or if I'll take it a part and try something else with it...I can already see what I can do with them! Hm...like remove the faux pearl bead thing and put a faux colored gem (maybe like turquoise, ocean blue, or even emerald/hunter green) and add bling-bling chains...we'll see...maybe they will grow on me like this...but yeah...These also took about 10 minutes to make...not that long at all...

And I went on to continue to clean my "distraction closet." :) But look what else I found in my closet!

I got this wonderful little box of suggestions on how to "add more joy to life" from my dear friend Agape Joy. I miss her. She lives in Australia...I met her in the Philippines and we were really close...and that's what makes me sad, because although we tried to stay in contact...life is like that. I know that I can still call her friend, although I have no idea when/if I'll ever see her again. Her and her sister VimVette...I miss them too...but she gave me this box...

...and I have no idea what it's doing in my closet, so I have taken it out and it is here next to me on my study desk...I want to share some of my favorite suggestions...

Laugh and say I love you...wow, powerful reminders. It's such a simple things, yet complex how these two things can create joy in your life! When I was going to school in the Philippines, in the Administration building there was a paper that someone had taped to the wall one day and no one had ever taken it down for as long as I was there...and it said, "A day without laughter is a day wasted." It was a good reminder to find something to laugh...or at least smile about. 

And letting those you love know that you love them will never get old. I think that it's good to be told that someone loves you...and I also think that it's also good to let those you love hear you say I love you...even though I am big on "actions speak louder than words"...it doesn't hurt to say it as well.

I love star-gazing! Oh my goodness, have you ever just laid down on the ground...and just looked up. The heavens is such a beautiful place...at all times. Seriously, there is not a time where nature has failed to give me a blessing whenever I looked up. Whenever I get home late from work...it sucks. I mean, I work at the preschool...and don't get me wrong, I love it! But at the end of that work day, I'm exhausted. Then I'll go to my other job...and yes, I'm tired...but you know, by the time I go home...the moon is amazing! Hawai'i has a lot of clear nights...and I'm telling you, the moon is gorgeous...and then the stars...wow, its gorgeous. The moon reminds me of "A"...and the stars is my reminder that "M" is thinking of me. He promised. And wishing on shooting stars is serious business! 

And we all know that I love receiving letters in the mail...so I write letters to get letters. And I do have a collection of postcards that I randomly send out to my friends and families around the world...for just a fun "pick-me-up" to those I love. :)

I think that human touch is a very important thing...and that is why hugs exist. I love what the Disney princess said about when you hug a child, always be the last one to let go because you never how much or even how long they need it. But I also think that that goes for all ages. I use to consider myself a very hugging person, but as the years go by, I realize how much I flinch away touch...but I am trying to work on myself to give out hugs. With children it's no problem...I love the hugs from my keikis...it's the best. And when my lil DollGirl gives me a hug...it not only makes me smile, but it also warms my soul. 

And I know that I really need to work on "letting go"...forgiveness I actually hard to do. And I do think of myself as a forgiving person, but I can hold a grudge, and I need to work on that...letting go and forgiving. A teacher once told me that if you pray for someone, you find out that you can't "hate" that person...and its true.

I think that everyone should do this on a daily, if not hourly basis! I have to admit, that I don't...but I realize that when I do, I am reminded that life is good. God is good. All the time. God is good. 

10.  Nail Polish: I walk into my room and see my nail polish and I do try to paint my nails at least once every two weeks (speaking of which I need to paint my nails soon!)

09.  Blankets&Pillows: I love sleeping in a "nest" of pillows and blankets...the best place to sleep (for right now, at least.

08.  Music: Ahh! What would I do with no music?! Slowly die maybe...

07.  Warm water: I should say HOT water...I love hot showers, hot baths...and even at the beach, I love the warm waters of Hawai'i.

06.  Living in Hawai'i:  I do not regret moving here. I love it here...it's home.

05.  Rain:  It rained a lot today. "Dance in the rain"

04.  Friends:  I'm not as "people person" as I was when I was younger...but I do value and cherish the friends that I do have now.

03.  Family:  I love my family. Simply and unconditionally love my family.

02.  DollGirl:  She is a reason to keep going. I love her SO much.

01.  Life:  Thank you, God, for giving me a second chance with every breath I take...help me to never take that for granted.

I would say that today was a pretty productive day. Finally a day to myself with no (pressing) obligations...pretty relaxing "me" day. I ended the day with an Acai bowl with granola and a pot of my favorite tea: Ginger Peach.

"Thank you God for giving us this day of rest...I sure needed it."

"When people walk away from you, let them go. Your destiny is never tied to someone who leaves you and it doesn't mean they are bad people, it just means that their part in your story is over."--anonymous

Fun stuff.

Today was a good day. I like good days. All my keikis came in today...and we all had a good day. It's been kind of chilly lately so my lil ones all wanted hugs and cuddles throughout the day...and I think that I am a very affectionate kind of person, but I really do not like to coddle my keikis all the time...but don't get me wrong, I LOVE hugs and cuddles with my keikis...I just don't want them to be held all the time. But today I really did enjoy all the hugs...I love working with 2 year olds...they love just randomly coming up to you to give you hugs; this age is just so much fun...and yes, I just love them. I am so blessed to have this job...

Well, when I got to school this morning I knew that my director was not going to be in today because she had a day long conference meeting that she had to go to...but I guess before I got there she stopped by the school because I saw that my order from Thirty-One Gifts was waiting for me in my classroom...so that was a pleasant surprise. :) And then, when I got home, noticed that I finally got my passes to the Honolulu Zoo! Yay! I love animals and I so enjoy going to the zoo and/or the aquarium...especially to the aquarium...although swimming in the ocean is SO much better...minus the sharks and eels though! *laughs*

I have this unhealthy obsession for Thirty-one things! I'm so serious...I really recommend their bags and accessories. The bags are very well made and very sturdy...and their accessories are super cute and I can tell that they will last for a long time. I actually love getting things from here for presents...because at least for the ladies, who can ever have too much bags/totes/organizers/accessories?! Maybe one of these days I'll write a blog post on all the Thirty-one things that I have so that you can decide if you would like to buy something from there...maybe, maybe not. :)

I wanted you to see, or at least estimate the size of this Large Utility Tote...and as I was looking around my room that Bath and Body Works lotion in Bali Mango (oh my goodness, that lotion is SOOOO yummy smelling!!) caught my eye...so it's there so that you can kind of see how large the bag is.

I have actually bought several of these totes, and it's weird to say that I don't own a single one of them! I had bought the them as "just because" presents for my friends and family...and they absolutely love them! I got my sister two of them...and she uses it for EVERYTHING! She brings it with her when she goes grocery shopping...because it's really hugs and it can carry a lot...she also uses it for when they go to the beach and just for everything. It's a very useful tote to have....so I decided that I will buy myself one. I had a super hard time trying to decide which print that I wanted...but I am so glad that I got this print...I love it!

February's promo was that if you spent $35, then you would get the Zip-Top Organizing Tote for only $10...it's originally $35...so I think that that was a pretty good promo.

So, I decided that since I did spend $35 on the Large Utility Tote, I was going to get myself this Zip-Top Organizing Tote. I love the fact that this has a zip-top...I really like that. I already have an Organizing Tote. But the zip-top part is new...so the one that I have originally is an open top one...but don't get me wrong, I still love it...and I use it nearly everyday since it is the bag that I bring to school with all my things. I love it, it holds so much...I tend to bring a lot of things around with me! *laughs* (Random fact: My bro-in-law likes to say that I always need to bring a "suitcase"where I go...*laughs*) But it is a very useful bag to me. I am not sure what I'll use this particular bag for...but I know that I'll find some use for it. Or, I might just give it away...but we shall see. :)

I know that I've mentioned this before...but I love getting things in the mail...(excluding bills and junk mail, or course!) And today, this was my surprise when I got home!

My membership card to the Honolulu Zoo! I went to the zoo, I want to say 2 weeks ago...and I saw that the day pass was nearly 1/2 the price of a membership card...so I might as well get the membership! There was different membership types...and I got the one for two adults and a child under 18 years old. There was no option for only one adult with a child...so I just added my brother on my card so that he can use it when he wants. And of course, DollGirl is the one who I had in mind when I go to the zoo. I actually gone several times, and I didn't think that it was going to be a reoccurring thing...which is why I just got the membership now. So I am really excited for that...now I can take DollGirl on a slow day just to enjoy a day at the zoo...plus there is a playground there that she loves to play in...but I would have to say that my favorite place in the whole zoo is the elephant...of course, since I love elephants! And they have this amazing gazebo that you can sit and inside just watch the two elephants that they have...they are so cute...I love elephants!

But that, my dear friends, were my surprises that made me smile today...but come on now, I smile everyday...who wouldn't?! I work two jobs that make me smile all the time! :) Keikis and weddings and flowers...wow, I'm so blessed. :) And I hope and pray that I never take that for granted.

"It may seem like the hardest thing to do, but you have to forget about the person who forgot about you."-anonymous

Orzo.

When I went to go see The Lion King, I had to go straight to town after work so that I wouldn't miss the show. My goodness, I sure did NOT want to miss that magical moment...but my sister knew that I would be way too excited to eat dinner. So she made this dish and even though I insisted that I wasn't hungry because I was just way excited, she convinced me to at least eat while I was getting ready. She knew that the show was going to be long and that I will eventually get hungry.

Let me tell you, I am so glad that I listened to my Ate ko, because this simple dish was so amazingly good that I asked her to give me the recipe! I literally was stuffing this in my mouth on the way out of the door it was so yummy! *laughs*

I usually hate cooking dinner for only myself because it's never fun to make myself a "wholesome" dinner when it's just me. And for me, its a lot harder because usually the stores don't sell their food in just one serving size. *laughs* Literally this recipe called for only 1/2 cup orzo and 1/2 cup white rice...so you would think,  oh, only 1 cup yeah right! *laughs* It was a lot of food, and if I had to estimate depending on how much food your family eats, but I think this could feed a family of at least 4 with some leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

I actually do not know what this is called...I just know that I had no idea what orzo was...but guess what you can find it in the pasta section in Safeway. :) But here is the ingredients/recipe if you so choose to want to try this yummy dish. I got it from my sister and I tweaked just a little bit.

1/2 cup orzo

1/2 cup white rice

1/2 onion, diced

2 cloves/pieces garlic, minced

2 cups chicken (or any kine) broth

Whatever vegetables you want to use 

(I used zucinni and asparagus 

(I seriously NEVER thought I would willing buy those two vegetables! *laughs*))

1)  Sauteed onion in 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil on med/low til onion is see throughish

2)  Add orzo and turn heat to medium and stir until orzo is golden brown

3)  Add minced garlic and stir for 1 minute

4)  Add rice and chicken (any kine) broth

5)  Increase temp to high and bring to a boil, uncovered

6)  Reduce heat to low (2), cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes until rice/orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed.

7)  Depending on what your vegetables are, add them 5-10 minutes before it's finished

8)  Remove from heat and leave alone for 5 minutes

9) Fluff with fork (taste to season) and enjoy!

Actually, the way that my sister and I cook is by "eyeballing" it...so everything that is written is an estimate. That is the directions my sister gave me. I ended up adding 1/2 cup of broth more when I added the vegetables...and I just placed the vegetables on top of the orzo/rice and so it practically just got steamed. And I really don't like mushy vegetables, so I didn't steam it all that long either.

My problem whenever I cook, is that I cook SO MUCH! And so look at that! I got leftovers...which I don't mind because it's sooo yummy! Plus, I'm going to let Amanda know that she can bring some to school for lunch if she wants too. Oh yeah, and it didn't take that long to make...if anything the longest part is the simmering part. So I would say that it took me like 12 (if that) minutes to prep everything...then when I was waiting for the rice/orzo to simmer I cut up my vegetables. So, it's pretty quick to make...I like that.

I am often accused of being childish. I prefer to interpret that as child-like. I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things. I tend to exaggerate and fantasize and embellish. I still listen to instinctual urges. I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind. I never water my garden without soaking myself. It has been after such times of joy that I have achieved my greatest creativity and produced my best work. ~Leo F. Buscaglia, Bus 9 to Paradise

Study Break.

I am actually quite proud of myself. I told myself that I was going to study...and so I did study all day long. Right now, I am taking a slight break to update this blog...and because I just need to think of something else other than school at the moment!

I told my sister that if she wanted me to come over for the weekend, she had to at least give me one day of studying...and so she said that was fine with her. I actually liked studying here because whenever I took my breaks, DollGirl was awake and I would play with her for a bit. She was a wonderful distraction...*laughs* I don't have that at home...where I have different distractions (namely my uke and piano...*laughs*) I completed 3 tests...and I got 100, 100, 95 on them...I love how I can get my score right away...and I'm glad that I did it! Hopefully I'll be able to graduate in no time!

I swear I had forgotten how much writing that I have to do when I go to school! My goodness...so much writing. I know that I can just type it all out...but I know myself enough that I learn better and retain the information if I read and write it all manually. But wow, my hand is sure cramped from all that writing! But I did it! :)

When I was done with my last test, my sister came into the room and told me that I should take a break because some of our friends were over and that DollGirl was going to sleep in an hour and I should go and play with her. When I went outside to join civilization...look what I found waiting for me!

Homemade soup in a bread bowl! My sister is soooo good to me! The soup was broccoli and cheddar...one of my favorite soup! We were suppose to go boating today (although, I did tell myself that I wasn't going to go anyway...because I needed to get these tests done! And there is always next time, hopefully!)....but a storm blew in...and so it wasn't safe to take the boat out. It's been on and off cool and hot...so this soup sure hit the spot in comfort! I love homemade bread!

My family and friends even left me some cookies...chocolate mint chip coookies...oh mandope, I have got to say that this is my favorite. Shoots, I say that about most things. *laughs* I sure and stuffed and I really do not want to go back to studying....but as soon as I finish this post, I shall push on through with my schooling. I am really hoping to graduate earlier than planned! That is the goal at least.

I know that this picture is a little bit blurry, but as I was eating my wonderful tasting soup bowl, my lil DollGirl wanted to come and sit on my lap. It was nearly her bedtime anyways, and so I pulled her up on my lap and look what was behind her back!

...one of her millions of little toys that she wanted to give to me! Isn't she the sweetest! I love that lil' cupcake so much! :) Well, she is bathed and sleeping now, and as my family is outside in the living room watching Thor 2 (which by the way, I had a hard time not watching because I think Thor is hot hot hot!), I will be in here trying to study away and try to take one more test before I call it a day. :) Here goes to studying!

"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many."-anonymous

Made it!

I made it! This was a tough week...but I did it! I generally do not like confrontations, however I had to confront my new assistant about our lack of communication. And that was not a fun thing. But I did it...because it was starting to show a little to much in our daily activities...and I was NOT going to have that in MY room. It was hard, but it was something that needed to be done. So I'm gad that that was over and done with!

My sister called me while I was on my way home...so like a good person I am, I ignored her phone call because I was driving. *laughs* But as soon as I got to my destination, I called her back. I am currently at her house right now...and it feel good to be with family again. I miss my family when I'm not with them...so it's good to spend time with family. Before I came here though, I stopped at Safeway on my way home because I was running out of food...and I really wanted some granola to do with my Acai bowls...

As I was passing the 1/2 price kiosk...look what I found!!

Mounds has got to be one of my top 3 favorite candy in the whole entire world! I know that I'm trying to stay far away from sweets...but I couldn't resist...and plus I haven't had any in such a long time since they are hella expensive here in this island of Hawai'i...so I decided to treat myself and guess what?! It turned out that it was one 99 cents...so I scored on that one! I am proud to say though I did NOT gobble it up the second I was home...nope, I didn't! In all honesty, it's still there...at home, on my nightstand waiting until I come home. :)

Another thing that I got for myself was....

...this. Taking a shower/bath is VERY relaxing...and so I saw this and I spontaneously grabbed it and put it in my cart...not because I necessarily needed one but because I seriously never have seen one in this color! And this color makes me smile! I love this color! This bright, happy pink color! So I bought it. :)

Seriously, that God for Fridays...and the weekend! I sooo need this weekend...athought I already know that I'll be studying and working all week. Oh well...it's a break from my normal preschool week days! 

"Remember that you were given this life because you're strong enough to live it."

Birchbox February 2014: Step and Repeat.

Guess what came in the mail today?! My very first Birchbox!! :) That was fast! I think that I officially signed up less than a week ago...and bam! My box is here already! Do you want one?! Well, feel free to click here to sign up for one...it would be so wonderful if you signed up here that way I can get some Birchbox Points for referring you...but if you don't want to, that's okay too! As long as you sign up somehow to receive this box in the mail...that's good enough for me!

(Do you like my "All you need is coffee" decal in my kitchen?! :) I love it...it's actually not "mine" per say. Amanda got it as part of her Christmas gift last Christmas from my sister...and it fits both of us perfectly. We are both coffee lovers- but I do love my cup of tea as well! :))

Where did I hear about this?! Well, I went looking for it! My friend is subscribed to another beauty box thingy...and I wanted to do that one, but it's more on the pricey side and at least to me it didn't seem as if there wasn't a variety in the things that they send. Her's were more for the nails/hands kind of things. But don't get me wrong! I sure do love my share of nailpolish! But I liked this one because it is only $10 a month and in the States there is no shipping and handling fee. I have heard and read a lot of mixed reviews about it...but I really can not see where you can go wrong when you pay $10 for beauty supplies that is catered to you personally and yes, there are samples but they also send full-sized items and that in itself always pays itself out. Well, this is my first box and I have to say that I'm pretty excited to try the things out!

I adore receiving something in the mail! It's like a mini surprise! And this is no different. Although, I know that it was coming, I didn't think it would come SO soon...I really don't know when it would come...just that it will come every month...so that is a surprise every month...guaranteed! :)

Opening the original red box that it came it, I came across another box inside. I thought that was cute. :) Then opening the box, the first things that I saw was a card on what the theme of this particular box was of. This month of February it was "Step and Repeat" in honor for the award season this month!

I really appreciate the fact that they add an information card listing the items that includes the things that are inside my box. It even gives directions/suggestions how to use the item. And it names the prices of the full-size item...this time I received a full-size Liquid Eye Liner...but as you can see it's $18 and so it more than pays then what I paid for the whole box! I have to say that I was slightly disappointed when I saw that I did not receive any nail polish...but that's okay because there is always next month and also I am super excited for the hair oil...so it cancels out the disappointment! :)

When I opened the red tissue paper, this is what I saw. I adore the gift box they added! I can never have too much of those gift boxes! I can always reuse them for something else...! :) But I was excited to see the tea because we all know that I adore tea! And I can also never have too much tea! :)

When I opened the gift box and looked inside there was more tea. I'm not a huge fan of English Breakfast, however my sister is, and so I might just give that one to her. I am excited to try the Lemon green tea though. I can't say that I've ever had lemon tea before so I hope that it's yummy! I also have never tried the brand Ahmad Tea London before, so I hope I like it...and if I do, I'll have another brand of tea that I like. On the info card, it says that it's a British brand of tea, so we shall see...

This perfume sample was also inside the red gift box. I don't like a lot of perfume samples, because they aren't my favorite...but I don't hate them either. They are good to keep in my bag for emergencies! So I like that I got this one. I did smell this one already...and it smells really fresh and something that I would wear. Lets see, if/when I finish this little sample, I might be tempted to go out and buy the full-size! For some reason when I smell this (I sprayed some on my wrist already!), it brings me home back to California, which at the moment, I am missing so much. I think that it might be that it has a slight after-smell of a hint of oranges and spring time.

I am super excited to try these two items! I am blessed to have super shiny, super straight hair...but living here in Hawaii and being out in the sun a lot and in the ocean several times a week can't be the best for my hair. I do notice that I have NO split-ends here though (In CA I remember always getting split-ends! So horrible!) So I am happy that I got this sample in my box. The bottle is super cute too!

I am an eye-liner girl. I love eye-liner. I have read really good reviews on this Cynthia Rowley Liquid Eyeliner...so I'm excited to try this out. If I had to say the one make up item that I can't leave the house with out, it would be my chapstick, if that was even in the category of being "make-up"...but then running second would be a tie between lip gloss and eyeliner.

I am not to sure about this bar of soap. It does smell really good though. I might not like the tastes of Jasmine, but I do like the smell of it. It reminds me of the bar of soap that you would get in a hotel...but I'll use it and see how I'll like it. I do like the presentation of it though.

And that, dear friends, is my first box from Birchbox. I like it...and I'm glad that I found this and I'm looking forward to my next box already! I hope I get nail polish in my next box! :) 

"It doesn't matter who hurt you or broke you down, what matters is who made you smile again."-Anonymous

Nail Blahs.

I was looking at my nails and realized that I haven't done my nails in awhile, and so I was looking thorough my pinterst page and looking at my Nail Designs board and saw this pin and decided to do my nails similar to this design. As you can tell, my pinky is completely different...but for the most part, I did try to do what the person did.

I like Elf nailpolish...they go on pretty smooth, however I'm not a big fan of how thick it can go on. But it was okay. And I really do like the Kiss Nail Art Paint...I use it a lot in my designs!

E.L.F nailpolish: Flirty Fuchsia Kiss Nail Art Paint: White

E.L.F Nail Polish: Teal Blue  Kiss Nail Art Paint: Black

I wasn't a fan on how I had a hard time remixing the Teal Blue Nail Polish...however it worked fine. Each hand was basically the same design...it just changed up the base color of the hands and did opposite of each other. I really liked the simple design of the middle finger...I might one day do that one on it's own! It's cute!

Left Hand

Right Hand

It's a fun design...that makes me smile and so that's all the really matters. I didn't get the change this time to ask my keiki what they wanted on my nails...and so this is what it is..lol. :) Next time if I do this one though, I might choose a bluer color...but I think that it turned out just fine. :)

"Someone you haven't even met yet is wondering what it would be like to know someone like you."--anonymous