Escape

The day back to work and "the real world" after a nice Christmas break is something I generally dread.  I wish I could spend all my time with my son and my extended family.  Being a single mother is hard work.  Well actually, being a mother is hard work, whether you're single or not.  I think that being a single mother is just more lonely.  Blah....

We had a wonderful Christmas here.  Alaka'i and my nieces thoroughly enjoyed opening their presents and playing with them.  I on the other hand, was so tired from a night of completing wrapping everyone's presents that I was in a haze all day.  I felt bad for my son during the afternoon after my nieces went home with my brother and his wife because he wanted me to build an erector set with him that he had gotten as a present and I simply didn't have the energy.  That's the kind of thing that my ex used to do with him all the time.  Poor guy.  It's ok though, I made up for it after I had a good night of rest!

Going to work while my son's on vacation is especially hard for me because I know he wishes he could do more exciting things than just play with toys at grandma's or do workbook exercises to keep him sharp for school.  Today seemed like a Monday from hell even though it's actually Tuesday.  I was just bombarded with work and on top of it all, the prospect of sending my son to private school came up because public school just isn't providing him with a quality education.

The school in our district is more concerned with rushing curriculum to try to get kids to do better on standardized testing than they are with making sure the students actually comprehend and retain that information.  It's sad when you see teachers forsaking their students because the teacher's union wants to push something or because the teacher is just generally lazy or given a class much to large for them to properly teach.  I think private school is the way to go because the one I'm specifically looking at teaches not only a full and extensive curriculum but it also teaches the values that I believe personally.  I hope that they can take him mid term although I doubt it.  Either way, I have to gear up for sending him there next year.  Must. Save. Money!!!  I'm lucky that it's even an option to be quite honest, because many people don't have the means or opportunity to even consider sending their child to private school.

Do you ever wish you could just escape for a day?  Not escape your family but escape the stresses of life?  I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world but on work weeks, I scarcely get a chance to take in a sunset or appreciate the vast beauty God has provided around me.  I wrote earlier this week about stopping and taking notice. I think that was more a reminder to myself than anything else because the truth of the matter is that I don't do it often enough.

Let's escape together for just a second.  Imagine you're laying back in the partial shade, the sun's warmth touching your skin as a cool breeze blows your hair across your brow.  You can hear the waves slowly moving and splashing as the water and sand collide.  It's so peaceful, warm and welcoming.  Then just picture a handsome waiter bringing you a nice tall drink of your choice.  It doesn't matter if it's a glass of ice tea or a cocktail, just picture yourself sipping it as it cools your throat and you just relax and bask in perfect peace, warm and safe.

Ahhh... it was nice to take a break.  Now back to real life!! :P

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A decade to remember.

Exactly 10 years ago to the minute, I gave birth to my son Alaka'i.  I had been in labor for 3 days (went in at 5 am on December 21st & gave birth at 11:29 pm Hawaii Standard Time on December 23, 2001).  He is the greatest blessing God ever gave me and I'm so lucky to be his mommy.  It's a fun and exciting journey watching him transition from a precious baby into a growing young man.  Hopefully there will be many, many more birthdays to come that we can celebrate together!

We had a very fun but low key birthday celebration today.  We went to Chuck E Cheese for a few hours and let him and his cousins play every game imaginable and then we came home and had cake and ice cream and presents!!

Even though it's difficult to throw a big party so close to Christmas because so many of his friends are on trips and busy with holiday plans, I still try to make his birthdays memorable and filled with fun and presents.  I knew so many people who had birthdays close to Christmas who were lucky to get 1 gift on their birthday (if that) so I really make an effort to make sure he has at least a few presents so that he doesn't feel like his birthday and Christmas are combined.  He's not one to complain about things like that though.  He's the light of my life and I love him so much.  

I know when he gets older if he comes across this and reads it, he'll probably be a tad bit embarrassed but also a tad bit proud.  Alaka'i, you are an amazing son and I hope and pray that all of your dreams come true and that you live a long, happy and healthy life.  You deserve the best, my boy and I never want you to stop striving for your dreams.  I love you so much.  

Love,

Mommy

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Dry, cracked or scaly skin? Yu-Be will end it all...

Since it's getting chilly here (not very cold to most of you) and frigid throughout most of the world, I thought that it would be a great time to talk about a product that will help to soften and moisturized your dry, dehydrated or cracked skin.

I came across Yu-Be at Sephora a month ago when I got it as a free sample when I ordered something.  I instantly fell in love and went in search at my local store for more products.  Unfortunately, my local Sephora was fresh out of their tubes of Yu-Be cream so I went online to sephora.com and was pleased as punch to find that they had larger sizes of this amazing product as well as a lotion!

This is the most popular and widely available version of the Yu-Be Moisturizing skin cream.  At roughly $16.00 for 1.25oz, it's not what I would consider cheap but it works much better than any other moisturizer, oil or vaseline ever did on my rough elbows and knees.

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All Wrapped Up?

Christmas came by quick this year didn't it?  The last 10 years of Christmases have been super busy and hectic for me because my son's birthday is on December 23rd.  I have to juggle his birthday and Christmas and boy is it exhausting at times!!!  He's turning the big 1-0 this year so I am planning something special.  

While I was going through my secret Christmas hiding place (that locks so no one can peek) and realized that I haven't started wrapping presents yet!!  Am I the only one who is (not necessarily by choice) waiting until the last minute to wrap presents?!   I have a few more days to get a jump start on wrapping but it's somewhat overwhelming because of the birthday.  I could make lots of cute and smart plans to wrap and get it going so I'm not stuck at the last minute but knowing myself and my schedule, I'll probably be pulling my hair out on Christmas Eve trying to cram major present wrapping in just one night.  

Have you wrapped all your presents already?  Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet?  I'm not!!    Nothing like waiting till the last minute! Heh. 

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House of Pure Aloha

The word Aloha (ahh-loh-ha) has over time, become synonymous with saying "hello" and "goodbye" but it's much more than that.  Aloha also means to show love, compassion, mercy and kindness.  It is a Hawaiian value that when practiced properly, exudes pure and welcoming love and warmth to everyone you meet.  In my nearly 30 years of life I've watched the true Aloha spirit dwindle and fade as greed and stress have monopolized so many peoples' lives.  There is one place though that truly maintains, exudes and shares the true aloha spirit and that's Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha.  Tucked away in the newly renovated and growing Aina Haina Shopping Center, HOPA has become a regular stop on my daily jaunts to and from work and home.  Once known as "Doe Fang", Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha has not only been newly constructed, but the focus has shifted in a positive direction.

What is Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha?

At the House of Pure Aloha, there are no strangers – only ohana yet to be met.

Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha, also known as “HOPA”, is a Hawaiian treat shop where you can enjoy all-natural homemade shave ice and other delicious treats, a social enterprise out to make a difference in the world, but most importantly a welcoming house for all, to come together as ohana and authentically experience Pure Aloha and the real magic and beauty of Hawaii.

Our story is about a simple childhood dream transformed into an important life calling: to inspire a worldwide movement of Pure Aloha – one shave ice at a time.

My son and niece absolutely love going to HOPA to get fresh shave ice whether it's hot or breezy outside. The shave ice is light and the dozen or so syrups are made from all natural, locally grown ingredients.  I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy it as much if not more than they do.  I love this place.  The fact that they use all green and recyclable packaging really adds to it.  It's so refreshing to have an ecologically sound business that not only says they care about the environment, but they live it.  

The fact that all of the syrup is all natural is one of the big winners for me.  I have a 10 year old and I appreciate the fact that he's not getting a stomach full of high fructose corn syrup when he has a shave ice here.  They also give a lot of shave ice for the money.  Bottom line, the shave ice is healthy and delicious and you get a good amount for the money.  It's all natural and I don't have to worry about my son's blood sugar level when he eats shave ice here.  Add to that the fact that it's a family owned and ran business and they're always friendly and welcoming, and you have a real winner.  Added bonus, they support LOCAL farmers!!!  

The syrup they use for their shave ice at Uncle Clay's is all natural and made with ingredients from Hawai'i farmers.  I appreciate that I'm getting fresh ingredients and it's supporting the local economy.  I'm all about supporting local businesses. 

Whether you're in search of a healthy treat or looking for something to cool you down on a hot Hawaiian day, I suggest you take time to come visit Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha.  Uncle Clay and his nephew Bronson really had it right when they came up with this idea.  It's a great place whether you're a local or you're visiting Hawai'i on vacation.  They're always welcoming and kind.  If you're like me and you're trying to watch what you eat and limit the sugar and processed food you intake or you're a parent looking for a sweet treat that won't have your children bouncing off the walls on a sugar high, HOPA is somewhere you have to visit.  You and your kids, will leave very happy!! 

It's Alaka'i approved!! 

What are some of your favorite healthy treats where you're from?  Do you make healthy treats for yourself and/or your family?  Share your favorite places, snacks and recipes below!! 

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Stop and take notice..

Do you ever have the chance to stop and take notice of how beautiful the world around us is?  Even if you're in a large city with few trees and lots of smog, there are still so many beautiful things you notice as you walk along.  It could be a beautiful sunset, a pretty flower or the smile on the face of a stranger but we are surrounded by beauty every day.  The trick is that you have to look for it sometimes because when your perspective is off, it's harder to notice the simple beauty of places, people and all the things on this earth.  How lucky are we to be alive?

I came across this photo today and it's so beautiful and peaceful.  It's the view of a sunrise from a mountain top and it's simply breathtaking.  I hope to have the chance to photograph something as beautiful as this.  I love taking photos.  It's funny how through the viewfinder of a camera you notice so many beautiful things that you might have just missed otherwise!

Do you have any pictures that you consider truly beautiful?  I think one of the most beautiful things to see as a parent is your child smiling or sleeping peacefully and smiling while he's dreaming.  That to me is perfect bliss.

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Follow me on Pinterest!

Just got an email today saying that I got invited to join Pinterest.  What is Pinterest you ask?

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

If you already have a Pinterest account, follow me!! I just started so I have a lot to add, but it's great to connect with you all!!

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Writer's Block Wednesday

It's a stormy and gloomy day here in Hawai'i but I kind of love it.  It's one of those days where I truly have writer's block and it happened to occur on a Wednesday!!  I think it's due more to the fact that I'm about to leave and run errands all over town with my son and I've got that on my mind than the fact that I'm kind of stuck on what to write.  

Do you ever get like that?  Are there ever days where you're without inspiration or days where you lack the focus and decisiveness to write about one particular topic?

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Enjoying the General Splendor of the Holidays

The holiday season is something that I look forward to with excitement and a tad bit of dread.  The sheer mention of picking out a Christmas tree can cause me to cringe without even realizing I'm doing so.  The reason you ask?  Well it's because choosing the right tree is so difficult here in Hawai'i and because I've had some pretty tricky times setting up Christmas trees.  In Hawai'i there are several places with Matson crates full of trees but they're not as readily available these days as the economy has been steadily declining and the prices of trees are on the rise.

I come from a home of super picky Christmas tree lovers.  My mom was very detailed and specific on what kind of tree we had growing up and it's rubbed off on me I suppose.  Since I live with them because the cost of living here is so high, I have to accomodate the overall census and preferences of the household.  Big tree it is!!  Anyhow, there are so many different varieties of Christmas trees.  I prefer Douglas fir because the branches are stiffer and can more easily support the weight of all the ornaments I feel the need to adorn my tree with.  Last year I chose a tree that looked great at the shop but when I got it home, NOTHING worked to keep it from leaning.  Even a wire to the ceiling didn't do the trick.  It eventually fell on me one night, cutting my hand up terribly and I ended up ripping the tree down and got a new one.  Found out that tree's trunk was terribly crooked but that because of the fullness of the branches and their lengths, it appeared straight even though it wasn't.

Now that you have a grasp on why I tend to slightly dread the holidays, let me tell you why I LOVE them.  Christmas for me is a joyous celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  He's the reason for the season and the core of our celebration on Christmas.  I would be remiss however, if I didn't also admit that the reason I love this time of year is because of all the lights and presents.  As a child, it was such a treat to go and sit on Santa's lap and tell him my Christmas wish.  I always loved driving through the city looking at all the lights glowing and twinkling in contrast to the dark of night.  

One of my favorite things to do is stay up late and just lay on the couch and look at the glowing, colorful and sparkling Christmas tree.  Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I'm sure you can agree that the lights, adornments and general splendor of the season are a beautiful sight to see.

I am really looking forward to baking with my son and making decorations for the house with him.  It's so much fun to watch children create something they are so proud of and see the joy in their eyes as they hang up their decorations.  An added bonus for me is that usually the weather here in Hawai'i gets cooler and it's a nice contrast from the normally muggy, hot and humid weather that we are used to.  Not that I'm complaining, but I rather enjoy crisp 60 degree nights and cool 70 degree days instead of the 90+ degree weather we had this summer. It gets so hot and stifling at times!

I was playing with my camera the other night taking bokeh (out of focus) photos of Christmas lights and my favorite ornaments.  I love how the lights glow warmly at night picking up all of the color and sparkle from the Christmas tree illuminating my living room. 

How do you decorate your trees?  What do you do for the holidays?  Do you have any ideas for decorating your home for the holidays?  Do you have any traditions or tasty recipes?  Share your experiences, tips and ideas in the comments below.  

Here are more pictures of my favorite bokeh shots and ornaments. 

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Love and Joy.

My son Alaka'i is the best thing I ever did.  He truly is the greatest gift God ever gave me and I thank the Lord every day for being so fortunate and so blessed to have him in my life.  

He taught me what it was like to truly love.  My heart opened in a way I never thought it could when I gave birth to him nearly 10 years ago.  Ten years.  Don't they go by in a blink?  It doesn't seem that long ago that I had a little baby in my arms and was celebrating Christmas 2 days after he was born.  My boy Alaka'i is a Christmas baby, born at 11:29 pm on December 23, 2001.  He was 10 lbs 4.8 ounces and 26 inches long.  He was a big baby and the best and most painful Christmas present I ever got!  (He was worth it though).  Alaka'i (ah-lah-kah-ee) means "the one who leads the way, the leader" in Hawaiian. I named him that because I wanted him to be strong and to choose the right path.  I was 19 when I had him and have raised him as a single mom with some much appreciated help from my parents.  I'm so lucky to have such generous, helpful and understanding parents. 

He provides me with an endless supply of  joy.  Even on days when he's not listening or focusing.  Even on days when he's being lazy and acting like he can't do something so that I will do it for him (which doesn't work because I'm wise to it hehe)..  Even on the worst days and through the most difficult times, he provides me with such joy.  Regardless of how he may irritate me or how he may upset me, I know inside how lucky I am to have such a kind and loving son.  He is one of the best people I know.  He is a good Christian, unafraid to share his love for God with whomever he encounters.  He is kind to everyone which is a trait I cherish.  He is outgoing and sweet and helpful.  I'm so lucky to be his mommy. 

Someday (sooner than later), he will be all grown up and not want me to hug him, cuddle him or kiss his cheeks.  Someday he will roll his eyes at me and wish I'd leave him alone.  For now though, he wants me around him (most of the time) and I'm so lucky that he does.  I cherish every moment I have with him. 

 This Christmas, I'm focusing more on what I'm thankful for than what I don't have.  I'm so thankful to have him.  My son Alaka'i is the best Christmas present a mom could wish for!  Let's all take a moment to reflect on what we're most thankful for.  In these hard and financially troubling times, it's important to maintain perspective so that we don't lose sight of what truly matters.  The people in our lives and the moments we have with them are more priceless than all the gifts that money could buy.  

What are you thankful for this Christmas?  Share with me your story or what you're thankful for in the comments below!

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A different view...

This is the view I had for nearly half of my life growing from an adolescent to a young adult.  The panoramic view of Honolulu from the Kamehameha Schools campus on Kapalama Heights is a wonder to behold.  Funny because I don't remember appreciating it as much then as I do now.  

I went with my sister in law and nieces this week to my alma mater because my oldest niece was testing for Kindergarten next year.  Kamehameha Schools was founded by the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the great-granddaughter and last direct royal descendant of Kamehameha the Great.  In 1887, three years after her death, the Kamehameha School for Boys opened with 37 students and four teachers. In 1894 the Kamehameha School for Girls opened.  From these modest beginnings Kamehameha Schools has grown to become a symbol of educational excellence for Hawaiians. Today, Kamehameha is a statewide educational system with three campuses on Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi serving more than 5,500 students in kindergarten through grade 12.

It really was an amazing school and I learned so much and had so many opportunities because of it.  I just wish now as I'm almost 30 that I took more time to appreciate how lucky I was when I was in school.  I wish that I took advantages of more of the programs that the school had to offer.  I wish I took photography.  I wish I didn't take it for granted.  

Just the same, I am so lucky to have spent 7th through 12th grade at this wonderful school up in the mountains.  When you're a kid you take things like that for granted.  It's funny how you can grow to truly appreciate something when you get a different view.  

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