To the sea.

It has been way too long since I have been able to do my nails. I was talking to my friend who has done her nails twice already since I've have time to do my nails the last time...she is a good friend of mine and we try to find and make new designs for our nails. This time I've been feeling like escaping...to the sea.

For the past couple of weeks, things have been been crazy, and the sea has been my calm, relaxing place. So what better then to once again paint my nails in a way that when I  can't get to the beach, I can just look down and have a moment of relaxation when chaos is all around me.

The colors I have chosen were obviously the colors of the sea...different blues (two with glitter and shimmer of course!)...and then I wanted to put starfishes on my nails as my design so I decided to use orange and white. And of course, I like using quick drying top coats and oils.

This is my left hand. I like how it came out. I think, though, next time instead of making the dots white, I would use a lighter orange so that it's not very bright, the dots, that is.

Here is my right hand. It's always harder to get my right hand done...but it's not as hard as when I started to to do my nails all the way back in Jr. High. It's a little bit sloppy around edges...but I like it.

So, "to the sea" I go whenever I can't get there, I just need to look down and see my nails. And then I smile. 

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you can not do."-anonymous

Classroom Changes.

These past few weeks have been extremely tough. Nothing that I can't get through...but still tough and pretty stressful. I guess it's good that I have made it a conscious effort to exercise every day; to run as much as I can. And it does help a lot. I have only been running for three days, and I honestly thought that it would take longer for me to get in the hang of running again, but I'm glad that it hasn't. I am so blessed to live here in Hawai'i and that makes running a lot easier because it's such a beautiful place to run...the view is soooo amazing.

My classroom is getting there. I keep forgetting to take pictures of the changes that I've done with it. I think that it's going to be good. The theme that I am going for is bugs. At first I was going to do caterpillars and butterflies...but then while I was making the huge caterpillar for my wall decoration, my lil keikis were telling me that they also wanted ladybugs, bees, and ants...oh and I can't forget the flowers for the bees. *laughs* So I have decided to just make a bunch a insects and ginormous flowers for my decorations. And it's going....slowly, but surely.

As for the layout of my room, I'm more happier with it. I was pretty upset when I had to switch rooms with out any notice...and I wasn't able to plan out how I wanted my room to be, but since then I have rearranged a few times and how it is now, I think I am now satisfied with it. My kids seem to like it as well...and I am loving all the new things that I am getting in my room. I just now need to transfer all my teacher stuff from my teacher cabinet to my room. Right now, JessiLynn and I have an understanding that we will just walk into each other's room and get what we need. We both have been frustrated with how things panned out...but then she's an amazing person and we both got this.

I just can't wait until we get our infant and toddler program up and running. It's been a hard thing to do, especially since I didn't know that it was going to fall a lot on me. I didn't ask for it, but then at least I know how to start one up now. It's a slow process...but it's getting there.

Well, I need to go to sleep, I feel myself dragging right now, but I just wanted to say...yay! I've been keeping my goal and running everyday! Hopefully I can keep it up! :)

http://www.lovethispic.com/image/30066/dont-quit

Day One: Running.

I just got out of the shower...and I thought that I was going to take a nap, but actually, I feel good. I haven't run in such a long time. Well, I take that back, I have run...but not proper run. I woke up at 6:00AM to get ready to run. I made sure the charge my nano iPod, because I find it hard to exercise without music. Well, actually, I have a hard time getting through my day without music...but I hate running and music is a good distraction.

See, just looking at the fun socks that I bought yesterday makes me happy. Yes, it's the little things that make me smile. :)

So, here I am ready to go. I decided to just run the Lanikai Loop, which is just two miles long and shouldn't take too long for me to run. It was as lot harder than I thought to go back into running...but I have decided to do it...and so I will. I have confident that I can...and I did. I thought that I was going to stop...but then the different things that was going through my mind were things like:

--Just. One. More. Step.

--You're not tired! Your body is...but not your mind.

--You've ran 8 miles straight before...you can do just 2!

--Hurry! You have things to do!

--The end is just around the corner.

--Just keep going.

--Your feet do NOT hurt.

...and things like that. Part of me was laughing at myself, and another part of me was trying to block out everything. And most definitely, the music helped a lot.

Before I start to do my school related things that I need to get done, I made myself some yummies to consume. I made a smoothie made out of acai, strawberries, bananas, a handful of granola, honey, and Matcha powder. And it was yummy as anything! And then my pot of Irish Breakfast with honey. It was a good start of a day. And now to get my day rolling...

"She who leaves a trail of glitter is never forgotten."-anonymous

Family Day.

Yesterday I knocked out like nobody's business! And let me tell you why. So, on Thursday night I decided to pull an all-nighter to prep my classroom for the summer...and just do a lot of school stuff. So I didn't go to sleep until 4am. I knew that I can survive the day on 3 hours of sleep. I've done it before...and I thought that since the next day was Friday, I'll have all weekend to relax. But guess what?! I get a phone call FORTY-FIVE minutes later. It was my friend Jess who is sick. And has decided to call in-sick. Which is fine because she has been really sick the whole week. She stuck it out like the amazing person that she is. And I actually didn't mind taking over her shift. Oh yeah, that is why she called. The only problem, she is an opener. She goes to work at 5:30am...which means, I had to go to work on 45 minutes of sleep when I thought that I would at least have 3 hours. I thought that I would have been able to make it...but then several people called in sick...and guess what?! I was asked to close. So I worked a VERY VERY long day. So like I said, I knocked out.

And while I was knocked out, my sister kept calling and texting me (among other people!) I may be knocked out...but I am also a very light sleeper...and if someone calls and I see it's someone that is family I will always pick up the phone. So, it being my sister, I was picking up the phone. But it was nothing really life-threatning...just plans on what she wanted to do today. I was barely functioning when she was calling me...but I got the gist of the fact that she wanted to have a family day at Ka'ena Point. It was confusing...but you know what?! It was super fun! Look at this view!

We decided to plant ourselves at this beautiful North Shore place...and just look how perfect it looks. That is au natural...no filter...just the pure beauty of Hawai'i. I love it. And you know what else I love....

....coral?! One reason why I love this place is because of all the wonderful coral here! And a lot of fun tide-pooling! The water was so clear and it was a fun, family day. We all did our own individual things, but we also did things together. And it was fun. And I was able to get a lot of coral, shells, and sea glass for my collection. 

After that, I went to my sister's house to spend more time with her and her fambam. While we were there, we decide to walk around and go get dessert at our favorite frozen yogurt, Menchie's. Before we went there, my sister wanted to go to Executive Chief to look for more bread pans...but guess what I got?!

...I got more tea for me! I so need a new storage for all the tea that I have! But my all-time favorite tea is Irish Breakfast. So I got me some Irish Breakfast...and then I got some Matcha Tea...I love me some matcha tea. And then we walked to the other side of the street and got me some...

...new running shoes and socks! I have decided that starting tomorrow, I will try to exercise EVERYDAY...and run whenever I can. I got these shoes on sale and they are the same brand that I got my other pair of running shoes. And those socks are just so happy. So some motivation for me. :)

And then guess what?! We finally went to our favorite frozen yogurt place. It's a place where "we make you smile."

Even my DollGirl had some to, and boy did she love it a lot. Her face was priceless. But you know what was even better?

When we gave her the choice to finish her little sample of frozen yogurt or have strawberries, she chose the strawberries...it was cute. 

Yep, it was good day today and it was a fun day. But as for now, I need to go to sleep early because I plan to wake up to go running. Day one of running...here we go!

"You don't have to live forever. You just have to live."-Tuck Everlasting

Chumpa Chups.

It is going to be a long night. I plan to stay up all night to prep things I had forgotten to do, well, what all us teachers have forgotten to do. Prep for summer. Since we are an all year-round school, we don't ever have a break. Which I super disagree with, but I won't be here forever...but things have been so crazy lately that we all have forgotten. With the switching of directors, switching of my classrooms, trying to get ready for the new classroom, writing up progress reports...we all forgot plenty of things. But hopefully tonight I'll be able to get what I need done.

My little darling, Olivia gave me these before going home. She reminds me of why I have sleepless nights. For the keiki.

"If you obey all the rules, you will miss out of all the fun."-anonymous

Birchbox May 2014: Freewheeling.

So, yay! My BirchBox came in the mail today! Yay! I actually didn't think that it would come so quickly, because they had sent me an email earlier in the month that it was sent out late...and I have noticed that when it does leave the Birchbox headquarters, I have gotten my boxes late...so I was thinking that I was going to get my box late, super late, this time around...but look at that...it come before the end of the month, and it was a wonderful surprise.

This month's BirchBox came to me YELLOW! Such a happy color! I love how the boxes come in bright colors...they make me smile and I hope put a smile on someone else's face when they such a happy color. :)

With this box, I noticed something else that I missed from other boxes...I LOVE the patters that are in the box! It still came in the typical box in a box type of thing, but when I opened it, I saw the beautiful design that my box came with. Loved it. :)

So, I suspect that because the box came yellow, so they matched it with the tissue paper...love it. As you  can see, this months theme is Freewheeling. It's Spring and everything is "bursting into action. With this much freshness and optimism in the air, is it any wonder we can't seem to sit still?"

I love how they send a card every time saying what they sent you and what it is and suggestions on how you can use it. And I love how in this box they added a bonus for me! :)

Wow! This box is full looking! It looks more like facial care than make up this time around...but that is okay since I like to use facial care in my routine. I do have to say though that I don't really stray from what I normally do, but not because I don't want to, but because I like to know what I'm putting on my face because I put it on my face...and I do trust Birchbox...and I like how they explain what things are....So lets see what I got!

Well, this is one of the three cardstocks that I got in my box (the information card being one of them!)...but then I don't think that I can join in on this competition since I don't own any Supergoop items...but it did have statistics of sunscreen in the back...so I guess I can use that information.

This is the Number 4 High Performance Hair Care Volumizing Shampoo. It's full-size is $38. I like trying new hair care things...and I will for sure be trying this out!

This is derma e's Hydrating Night Creme with Hyaluronic Acid. It's full-size is $29.50. I think it would be interesting to try this one...but I'm not sure about the whole "acid" part! I don't know about putting acid on my face! We shall see.

This is my bonus in my box! It is a sample of the Number 4 High Performance Hair Volumizing Condition. The full-size is $36. Although, I am excited to use this...I have a lot of hair. My hair is thick, long, and takes a lot of conditioner...but I still don't mind trying this one.

This here are Jasmine Seven's Fresh Feet Wipes. For a 3 pack of 10 wipes it is $9.95. I do have this thing about clean feet...but I don't know if I would carry around this...because I already carry around something like this. But I can use this of course.

Now to open the small blue box in my box...the first thing that I pulled out was Jouer's Luminizing Moisture Tine in Deep Bronze. I'm not sure if it's in my color...but I'll be willing to try this.

And the other thing that was in my little blue box was Caudalie's Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil. The full-size is $65. Wow...that should be good to try! 

And last but not least, I got this coupon for Kate Spade Saturday for $25 off when you spend $75. I don't really go to Kate Spade, but I do know that Amanda goes there, so I know that I will be giving this to her for her enjoyment. :) I do like what their definition of what "Saturday is..." cute, ya?!

Well, I have to say that despite the fact that I didn't get any make-up in this box, I did like the samples that they gave me to try for facial care. I liked this box. :)

"True friends are the people who say nice things about you...behind your back."-anonymous

Mail Surprises.

Today was a pretty eventful day. Today was our preschool graduation for the older keikis in my school...and I am proud of each one of them! I am also very proud of my keikis who had to sing three songs for the graduation. They sang "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," "I'm a Little Tea Pot," and "A is for Aloha." Three songs that had a lot of motions to them...and you know what?! They did an amazing job! Not only did they do an amazing job in their songs, but also the program was about 45 minutes long...and guess what?! For the most part they were able to sit still...well I'm using the word "still" VERY vaguely...but they did a good job not going crazy and "rascal" on me! So yes, I am very proud of our 25 graduates...but I am also proud of my 12 lil keikis. :)

As I was going home, I get a text from my friend Ed asking if I wanted to come to the studio to help him and Evelyn re-organize the studio...that is one of my biggest pet peeves, when the studio gets to be in a real big, chaotic mess! That is NOT acceptable to me...so I know that Ed is very good at keeping things organized...same with Evelyn, but every so often we will get together and do a massive clean out/organization day...and so I guess Eve and Ed wanted to do so today. So, I did....

 ...it was a long day. But when I got home, look what I got in the mail!

I got my months Birchbox (which I will be writing a review on it right after I finish this post), and a envelope from my cousin who is working in Malaysia! I have a feeling I know what it is!

When I was younger, I use to have a fascination with stamps from different countries...not as much anymore...but I still like looking and admiring the different stamps. I guess, that comes from being a penpal writer from all around the world.

As I was opening the envelope, I saw that she had put my nickname on the back. I miss my cousin. When I was in the Philippines, she was not only my cousin, but also like my sister. She took care of me, and she was there when I needed someone to be there when my on family was far away. I know that she has always been my family, but one thing about being born and raised in California, I didn't get the opportunity to get to know my family that was in the Philippines, but when I went to school there, my cousin and I took to each other and she reminds me so much of my very own sister. "Che" is the nickname that I allow people to call me if I call them my friend or family. I do have plenty of nicknames...but this one lets me know who really knows me or not. And so when I saw my nickname that she put there, it made me smile.

Just like it thought, it's her wedding invite! She calls me from time to time and she was telling me that she was going to send me a wedding invite. It love the way that she did it! She was so crafty about it...and it's super cute! I'm just kind of bummed that the clothes pin broke...but I still think that it was cute and a good idea.

Unfortunately, I doubt that I will be able to go to her wedding, which is in the Philippines. But I do wish them a long and happy life together. I know that no matter what, I can always count on my cousin. My Ate Theya.

"If it were easy, everyone would be doing it."-anonymous