Smiles.

Mondays. I don't even know what I have against Mondays. Well, I don't think that I really have anything against the poor day...I know that it's all in my mind...but I will say that no matter where I go, it seems that when Monday rolls around, the kids are just a little bit more rowdy than normal. Nothing that I can't handle...at least not yet. *laughs* But it was a very...how can I put it...it was a very ladidah day. *laughs* But I will say that it is always good to see my kids again after being away from them for even just two days.

That's the funny thing about kids, you don't even have to spend a lot of time with them...before they capture your heart and you just think about them...not all the time...but they are there in your mind. I miss my keikis...my 2 year olds. I miss them something awful and I wonder about them all the time. Goodbyes were always so hard for me...and with my lil ones it's even worst because part of me wants them to forget me because I hate hearing that they are still having a hard time that I'm not there, but I don't want them to forget me.

I try very hard not to visit all the time...I think since I've left, I've been back a few times...like 5 times. But in the times that I've gone there, I think only 2 times that I've actually gone up and let them see me. I don't want them to think that I'll be coming back, but I so want to see them and hold them in my arms again.

Do not get me wrong, the kids that I have right now have also enchanted me and I love them. It's funny because I have only been here for...going on my 4th week now...and it warms my heart that in the morning its my classroom that they all want to go to when they get dropped off. It's different here because they are allowed to choose which classroom they want to go to before we all go outside to play. For the most part, all us teachers are in our own classroom, just prepping for the day or whatever, and since I've started working here, I can always count on at least 95% of the kids to come into my room. And I love it. I love being with them...and just listening to them talk and their random stories and facts of life are so interesting to hear...and I just love them. They make me smile, and seriously, I can't even imagine my life not being around children. They are truly the joys of life.

Well, today I did stop by my former school because my friend there just needed a friend. She is going through something horrible at the moment and it really does kill me that I can't be there for her. I mean, physically anymore. Since we use to work together I would see her everyday...but now we don't see each other everyday. But I will say that I have talked to her EVERY day...and I feel for her. I admire her so much because she is such a strong person despite the "lemons" that life has thrown her. But even strong people have their breaking point...and although she is not to her breaking point, I can hear the stress and heartbreak in her voice, so I decided to stop by on my way home just to say hi. She had to go pick her boys straight after work, but I figured a hug can heal so much pain even if it's just in passing.

I'm pau work at 3:30pm and she finishes at 3:45pm, and it takes less than 10 minutes for me to get there...so it works out. I had told myself that I was not going to go up onto the campus because I don't want to give my keiki's false hope that I'm back, but they heard my car drive up...or at least someone was looking out of the window and saw my car, and even though I didn't go up, I could hear them yelling my name...so I did look at them and tell "my darling loves" hi. They blew me kisses and told me that they missed me and that they drew pictures for me. That makes me smile...usually if a child misses a parents, tutu, papa, sister, brother or what not...I tell them that they can draw them a picture and when they see them they can give them their present...so when they told me that they drew me pictures, it made me smile. They miss me...just like I miss them. So much.

Well, like I said it was really fast that I saw my friend because I didn't want her to be late and I hate things that I needed to do as well, and so it was really quick...but then as I was about to leave, I see this little sunshine detach her self from her mom, scream my name and came running towards me with arms wide open. I was standing down hill...and I can see that her momentum was making her go way too fast and I was at the parking lot...and I hate when children are running with no one holding their hand at the parking lot, so I ran up to her and grabbed her and swung her in a circle (something that I have always done with this child) and her arms encircled my neck and she said, "Aunty Chartee, you came back to me." My heart shattered. It was good seeing her again though. Her mom is an amazing person as well. Super sweet and very generous and just someone who I was very happy that I got to know. They asked if they could take a picture of me because the little girl had bought a picture frame and told her mom that she wanted a picture of me in it with her...and that made me smile. Mom was telling me that she was hoping that they would see me again...and I am so glad that I was able to see her again. After I put her down, the little sunshine asked her mom if she can give it to me. I was puzzled as to what she was talking about, and her mom explained to me that they were at Starbucks a few days ago and little Gracie wanted to buy me a gift card, so mom told her that they can buy me one and that she will hold it until they seem me again. Mom told me that the little girl would ask everyday, "will Aunty Chartee come back to me today?!" Oh my...there goes my heart again!

So, little Gracie Sunshine gave me what she had kept for "a long time" just to give it to me. 

I am so glad that God gave me the gift to be able to work with kids, because I can not even imagine a life without being around them as much as I am. Yes, there are days where I feel as if I just want to get away, but just one hug from a little one can make my hurting heart heal. Even though there is a big percentage that they will forget, I can only hope that they will not forget how I made them feel. That their teachers love them...that we do carry them in our hearts and that, at least for me, I will never be too busy to give them a hug.

Fun with pink.

I needed to do my nails so bad! I hadn't done my nails in nearly two weeks...but I also knew that I needed to do them fast...because I had a lot to do before going to work. I just got home and I am so glad that I didn't have to stay too late, because I just wanted to come home already. But I am actually proud of my nails. I told myself that I was going to do my nails at 3pm...because I and to be at work at 7:pm...and I wanted to make sure that they would be dry so that I wouldn't mess them up.

I painted my nails in one of my favorite go-to design when I am in a rush...this design doesn't take more than 20 minutes to do...if that! I decided to do it in pink because it is my favorite color...and I just like this color combination of pink, black, white, and silver...and of course the silver had small glitter flakes...so it is SO me. *laughs* I speed up the drying time I sprayed hairspray on it after a few minutes of letting it dry on it's own. It really does speed up the drying process. And that was good thing because I had lost track of time and I literally finished my nails at like 6:15pm! And look at that! They didn't even get messed up. :)

Today I worked with orchids...and it has been a LONG while since I posted up one of the flower arrangements...I still like doing bouquets...but occasionally if I finish with the bouquets fast enough, I help with the center pieces. I only was able to remember to take a picture of one of the arrangements that my friend actually finished...and it's gorgeous...in person it was an amazing piece. In picture, its was kind of hard to capture the amazing colors and textures of this arrangement...but check this out...

It is just bursting with orchids! My phone was unable to capture how vivid the colors are...but trust me, it was gorgeous. :) Well, now I am just going to crawl into bed...write a little bit in my journal and then knock out. :)

Heart.

I think today was the peak of my sickness...not feeling wellness...and all that ladidahness. I was this close of asking Karlie if I could go home...but I just couldn't because I have never stayed home because I was sick...yes, I have never called in sick before, and I wasn't about to start. I always tell myself that if I am not at deaths door...then I can get up and do my responsibilities. And my responsibilities lies with the children. But let me tell you, I was counting the minutes of when I could just go home and just flop on my bed and knock out for a few hours...and I know that I was praying and hoping that I will be able to go to sleep.

Just as I laid down and was about to go to sleep, Karlie texted me asking me if I wanted to go see a movie with her. It was a movie that I had wanted to see, but in all seriousness, I was not feeling it. I seriously was not feeling it, and so I told her so, but I also told her to let me know the next time that wants to go to see a movie and if I wasn't working or had anything planned then I wouldn't mind going with her. We made tentative plans of when we could go see the movie before it went out of theaters.

And once again, I laid my head down. Then I get a text that my sister was less than 10 minutes away and heading my way to bring her in-laws to see my place! What?! Come on now, give me a break...so I called Mandy, who was also taking a nap and told her the news...so we went crazy trying to clean everything up...we have been told several times that our house is always clean...but to us it is always messy...so I guess the whole "you are your own worst critic" applies here...but anyways...just as we put the last finishing touches of cleaning our already clean house...at least making it presentable...they knocked on our door and they came in.

They didn't stay for long...just long enough to take the grand tour of our house and then they were on their way to Friday Night...which I had gracefully bowed out of because, like I mentioned before...I am SLEEPY and I just wanted to lay down. Usually I would just push my tiredness away and just hash it out...but I know that my body was THISCLOSE in nearly just knocking out no matter where I was...

As I walked my family out to their cars, I happen to look inside the mailbox and look what I see!

A package just for me! Of course I am too tired to even open in right away...I went inside, fell on my bed with the package right next to me...and knocked out for 2 hours. And now I am awake and the first thing I see was the package...so I opened it.

A dark blue box...

...with the golden anklet that I had bought for myself! I have been looking for the right anklet...and I saw this one and fell in love with it! I had totally forgotten that I had even gotten it for myself because it was taking forever to be shipped to me...but now that i see it, I remember ordering it! And it is just as cute as it was when I saw it in the pictures! :)

And look at that! It was made in Thailand! :) 

Check out my nail!! My bare nails! I am letting them "rest'"for a bit with no polish on them before I paint them tomorrow. I already cleaned, groomed, cut, and shaped them...I forgot to apply nail strengthener to them...but I will as soon as I finish this post. But I know that I want to paint them pink. But I will let them rest for the night.

I love my golden heart anklet...I like how it's simple and I like how it's a heart. I like hearts. :)

The Pineapple Hut.

Since it has been more than a week since I was able to see my friends...I decided to stop by and see my friends Jess and Ashley and even Jackie. Although, I did hear unsettling news that I didn't want to go to the school per say to see them, and so I asked them to me at the shopping center down the road from the school. Since I got out of school earlier than them two, I decided to stop by the Pet Store to get some medicine for my fish. I suspect that maybe BamBam Jr. might have fit rot and so just incase I wanted to get him some medicine. I know that I am not a fish doctor, but it seems like he has the beginnings of the fin rot and so I wanted to take care of it as much as I can.

While I was in the store, I saw that Ash had called me and told that they were in the parking lot already and so I made my way over to them and it was so good to see them. While there we saw one of my co-workers now who knows Ash and so they had a fun, short reunion. :) Ash and I then took Jess home and I stopped by the school after everyone but the closers were there so that I can see and speak to Jackie for a little bit.

When I saw Ash and Jess, it felt good to talk to them again. To be with them again. I miss them a lot and I miss seeing them everyday at work. I am happy at my new job...it is a slower paced so I don't know how I will be in the long run. But I am happy. I do text them everyday though and we talk every day though...but seeing them and seeing them felt really good.

When I saw them, Ash had told me that she had gotten me something. She got me an awesome jewelry set! Our friend Suki knows the owner of The Pineapple Hut...and while Ash was visiting Suki she saw the owner and decided to get matching heart jewelry for both of us!

And I absolutely adore it! I love it so much...! And I love bangles...and I love rings...and earrings...well, I do love my jewelry! So, I'm glad that she got for me. We like to get matching things for each other. I don't even know why...but I love it!

So I am getting quite a few bangles that I wear...and they are SOO me! My "Love" bangle is from my DollGirl and my sister...they gave me that one for Christmas and I rarely take it off. The mermaid bracelet I got for Ash and I...matching jewelry again...and mermaids are so me! And then my heart and shell bangle is also so me. I love them. I want to start a charm bracelet again. I use to love those and so I want to start them again. 

I am also starting to like gold a lot where as before I use to only like silver. *laughs* I still like wearing silver...but gold is now an option.

I really love the jewelry that Ash got me. I am so glad that I have them and I so glad that Ash and I have another matching jewelry. And it has an inside meaning to both of us. The heart...and yeah.

But for those of you who are reading this, I highly encourage you to check out The Pineapple Hut...I'm sure that you would find something that you would like. :)

Lavender.

I have not been feeling well this week. At all. I am not enjoying this part of working in a new preschool environment. I had tried to prepare myself for this. I already knew that whenever I work in a new environment, much less a new preschool setting, I know that I will be getting sick the first couple of weeks. I did take my vitamin C and I did drink a lot of water and washed my has and just tried to prevent any sickness. The first week I started, I got sick. And now here I am in the middle of the second week and I am still sick. Not a fun thing...and I can't wait until I get better.

One think that i have been struggling with for some time is how I can't see to be able to sleep. I will not diagnose myself and say that I am an insomniac...but I will say that I have been having trouble sleeping...for a couple months now, but right now I'm really feeling the effects now. Not really horribly, but I do know that it is extremely unhealthy to be lack of sleep for a long period of time...and so I have been trying to find remedies of how to go to sleep.

That sounded wrong.

I know how to "fall asleep"...but my body just does not want to sleep. I can lay there forever and not go to sleep and that is extremely annoying. I actually just got out of the shower...because I just got home less than an hour ago. I just got back from work from Passion Roots. I love working there. It is a very relaxing environment amongst the stressful situation of having to finish a wedding prep...but I love flowers and I love working with flowers...except I hate wiring orchids, and that's what I had to do tonight...but it's all good because I was able to finish what I needed to finish. :)

When I got home, this is what I found. I know that I probably have a developing addiction of online buying...and Amazon is my favorite place. *laughs* But that aside, I was pleasantly surprised to see this waiting for me on the stairs going down to my room. Mandy had brought it in for me, and left it where I could see it...

...and I was kind of excited because I knew that what I got was something that I've read about and I wanted to try it out. Not only have I read about it, but people I trust have told me about it...and so I hope that it can work!

I have been really into these Himalayan Salt lamps. Even though I bought one a few weeks ago...(or was that just days ago?!), it does make a very calming light in my room at night...and it is the perfect nightlight ever. It's not too bright and it's very calming...and I can't really say if I feel less stress around it...but I have been less stress overall because my new job is amazing and it's not as stressful. 

I also bought one for my friend, Jackie (she would be a former co-worker)...it is said that this helps with allergies and I know that it was her birthday recently and so I got one for her as a present and so she can have one. I hope that it works for her at least.

So, I had bought a new Lamp with a oil diffuser on the top. I have heard that lavender can help you de-stress and promote sleep. I couldn't see how it can hurt to try it out...so I got this bugger to see if it would work. I do know that if it doesn't work, then I can always buy smelling oils and diffuse the the oil in this lamp and have my room smell yummy. :)

As you can see my new one is a lot smaller than the one that I previously have. I really like this lamp and I am thinking of either bring the bigger one into my classroom, or putting it in my living room. 

So, the reason why I did buy this one was so that I can put the essential oils in that little cup on top of the lamp. The heat from the light will be the one that diffuses the lavender or whatever oil that I put in it. I really hope that it works...I really would like to sleep. 

I did read though that the lavender that came with the lamp is not the best...so I decided to look up a little bit more expensive lavender with better reviews and so I ended up also getting...

...100% pure oil Lavender by Woolzies. I did read a lot of good reviews about this one, and so since I didn't want to go broke...I thought as a starter this would be a good one. But I wanted to at least use up the lavender that it came with...

Here is the lamp when I have turned it on. It's beautiful, right?! I love how there is dimmer...and when it is at the brightest, it brightens up my room enough that I don't need to turn on my overhead light or my bedside lamp...I wouldn't read with it, because it would strain my eyes a lot...but I have written in my journal with no problem. I have compared the brightness with this one to the other bigger one that I had...it was nearly just as bright...I love these lamps, whether they work the way they say that they would or not...but it is a great, great nightlight; I would definitely recommend it.

I was not very happy with the lavender that it came with because when I opened the tiny bottle, I guess part of the cover broke inside the bottle. I could not take the piece out no matter what I tried...so I what I ended up doing is just pushing the piece all the way into the bottle and so it is just in there floating because I could not take it out...

So, it is in my room right now on and even though I am not feeling well and I know that my nose is stuffy...I can smell lavender. I have to say that it is not my most favorite scent or anything...but if it helps...then that is a good thing. I hope that it will help with my sleep problems though.

Fun Day! :)

Today started really, super early. Well, not that early, but early enough for a weekend that's for sure! Earlier this week, my sister had sent out a text saying that her in-laws were in town and they wanted to go to the JW Marriot Ihilani to do have brunch there. I love it down there...if it wasn't so far away from my family, I would love to find a place there and live there. Well, and if I had a job there too, I would HATE to commute everyday. But it is beautiful there...and so at 7:30am in the morning Amanda, my brother, and I made our way over to my sister's place to meet up with everyone. 

And I have to say that it was a really yummy brunch. It was so good to just be with family. I love how my mom and dad are here now. Even though I don't see them all the time, because they are staying with my sister, it feels good to know that they are just 20 minutes away from me instead of miles and miles and across the ocean away. And I get to see them more often than not...and I am happy for that. I don't want them to go away again. Hopefully they will stay. But I was also glad that my sister's in-laws were here as well because they are sweet, loving people and always so good to see them.

After we ate we decided to go to the lagoons and chill there for awhile. 

While trying to get a perfect picture of the place, my brother decided to get in the way. *laughs* So there he is trying to take a panoramic picture of the beautiful place. :)

As we were taking pictures, DollGirl was busy collecting baby coconut looking things...actually they just look like ginormous acorns! *laughs* She ended up collecting plenty of those baby coconuts...silly girl. :)

So there she is playing with her baby coconuts and my brother busy taking pictures of the lagoon. :)

And here she is telling me, "Aunty water please!" This girl was born to be a mermaid! :) Just like her Aunty. :) She loved swimming in the water with her grandpa, papa, and Aunty...she really just loves the water...the little water baby! :)

After our fun time at the beach we went home to wait for the Niner's game to come on. I don't really want to talk about the game because in my opinion...we threw the game away...we should have won that game...but we didn't...and I hope we do better next time. 

But before the game Mandy, Jem, and I decided to do some light shopping because they will be doing their engagement pictures next weekend and they wanted to go and get some outfits for it. I won't give anything away by telling you what they bought, you will just have to wait until they pictures go public. :)

But I needed to stop at Macy's anyways to pick up some stuff at Clinique...

I simply love their Clarifying Lotion. It really makes my face feel clean and fresh...I got the big bottle of it...hopefully it will last a long time. But we will see. :)

And I also grabbed more of my top favorite eyeliner. I love this eye-liner. Long time ago, my friend Melissa introduced me this eyeliner...and ever since then, this is a staple that I use nearly every day. I do have other eyeliners that I use as well, but this one is the one that I like the best. :)

I qualified to get a freebie! Well actually it was suppose to be three freebies but they ran out of the moisturizer...but that's okay...I have plenty. :)

While my brother went into the Window's store, I went next to to Bath & Body Works and grabbed me some car air fresheners. My sister had given me the cutest pink elephant air freshener case thingy...and so these are just refills. I love the smell of Caribbean Escape...and I also think the Frosted Cupcake would smell super yummy! And you can NEVER go wrong with Sweet Pea. :)

And last, but not least we stopped at Old Navy and I got me some shorts for school...and you can NEVER have to many slippers. :)

We stopped at Taste Tea and went back to my sister's place and watch the mind breaking Niners game and finally I am home and writing this post. And as soon as I'm done I will "go" to school. But for now, let me just take the time to say...today was a beautiful day. The sun was out...only few clouds in the sky...and I was with family. It was perfect and beautiful. :)

Ipsy GlamBag September 2014: Street Style.

Join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10. Michelle Phan curates the bags! Check it out here!

Like I said in my previous post, I am so happy with Ipsy because they have been sending me some awesome products that even if I can't use it personally, I know specific people that I know can use it. And I absolutely love how the products come in their own makeup bag/pouch. Plus, anything...well most things that are pink can always make me smile; I love how I get my GlamBag in a bright pink bubble envelope. And then, Ipsy has been doing such an amazing job at sending me my subscription at a timely manner! :) 

Such a lovely color. So bright and fun looking. :) I so look forward every month for this fun, playful package in my mailbox. :)

I have to admit when I first held the pink envelope in my hands, it did feel heavier than normal. But looking inside my pink envelope I see this shiny, silver makeup bag/pouch. OoOoo....fun! :)

Well, I see that this month's theme is "Street Style" and I simply adore this makeup pouch! I love the studs! :)

Dumping everything out, this is what I saw. I have to say that I am very disappointed that I didn't  get any of the nail polish. I did peek at the items that I could have gotten in my Glambag...and there were two different nail polishes that I could have gotten...but I didn't I see...and I am highly disappointed.

But that is not saying that I am not happy with what I see, because I am. I just wish that I had nail polish. Well, there is always next time!

First thing that attracted my attention was this Briogeo: Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. I love the look of this sample...and how much there is. I do not like though how there is no scent. Usually, I love anything that can keep my hair nice, smooth, shiny, and healthy. Although my hair is not "dry, damaged, or chemically-treated," I already used this during my shower a few hours ago. My hair is still semi-damp, but I can't really feel a difference...and again, I don't like how there is no scent to it. I like my hair smelling yummy and nice. :)

I have never heard of this brand before pertaining to makeup...much less lipstick. But I did get this Hikari: Cabernet Lipstick in my Glambag. I don't really use lipstick, however I wouldn't mind trying it to see if it looks nice on me, if not, I know someone who would use this color and likes lipstick. :)

Now, this is something that I know that I could definitely use. NYX: Hot Singles Eye Shadow in the color HS19 Innocent. I love NYX products.

Pacifica: Natural Water-Proof Eye Pencil. I don't normally use water-proof eye makeup. I'm not against it, but I never look for it. But I don't mind using this eyeliner to try. I remember when I was in high school I use to use brown eyeliner daily...so I don't mind this brown color.

Crown Brush: Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush. I can always use extra brushes! It felt really soft and it nice. Can't wait to try this brush out. :)

And that is what I got in my Glambag this month! I know that I can use everything that I got...even though I don't favor lipstick, I like the color and wouldn't mind trying it out. The Deep Conditioning Hair mask, I can't wait until my hair is dry to see if it made a difference. I did notice that it was already tangled -free...so that' was a good thing. :)

Well, I hope that you enjoyed your bag, I know that I enjoyed mine! :)