13.2.12

remember

just a reminder that if you have been missing my blog posts - to head over to my new blog at
www.thebeekeeperswife.com

you can sign up to get posts delivered to your inbox in the top left corner - don't forget to confirm by clicking the email you get from feedburner!

oh happy day!  we'll see you over there!

1.1.12

New!

it's up.

finally. ready.

or as close to ready as it's going to be.

come on over and check out my new blog: www.thebeekeeperswife.com!!!

i haven't decided what i am going to do with this one yet, but for now, the fun is all over here 

check it out

subscribe to the new fun for twenty twelve!


13.12.11

surviving or thriving?

there are so many words that this title brings to my mind right now.  it is a question that i have been asking myself on a daily basis for the past couple weeks.  am i just surviving or am i thriving?  last week there were a couple days where i am pretty sure i was just surviving.  but the goal is that when i feel that way... to thrive.

thrive.

our lives are busy.  that is just the way our culture rolls.  ask people how they are doing and you will generally get one of two answers.  the standard "good/fine" or "busy/crazy."

when someone asks me how i am doing, i want to be able to replace my standard "fine/busy" with "amazing" or some other fabulous adjective.  

our pastor had us take a little stress test this last week.  christmas is worth a lot of stress points.  

my life is busy -- however, it is a life that i have created that way.  i could go to work and then come home.  i could eat my dinner and go to bed.  that's not too busy.  i could choose to celebrate holidays by buying a present and calling it good.  maybe putting up a christmas tree.

that isn't what i choose.

i choose to make an advent calendar with fun holiday activities that i probably won't complete more than half way.
i choose to pull out boxes of christmas decoration to make my house festive.
i choose to send a ridiculous amount of christmas cards.
i choose to spend an entire day baking christmas cookies.
i choose to go to parties and get togethers and socialize with people i care about even though i feel exhausted, my dishes aren't done, i'm still doing laundry from my trip i returned from weeks ago, and my office looks like a black hole.
i choose to make a december daily book (which i may or may not finish in december)
i choose to try and watch all the christmas movies ever made.

my life is what i make it.  

i am choosing to look for more ways to serve others this holiday season.
i am choosing to try and embrace the "busy" of the season instead of spending it "stressed out"

i am choosing the reality of my life (messy bedroom, dirty dishes, too many undone projects) and loving it instead of wishing it looked like something out of christmas catalog.

my life is what i make it.  holiday or not.  each day is a gift.  everyday a friday.



my day tomorrow is looking kind of long. i feel tired already...  but -- i have two things i am going to look forward to.  

1. i want to make someone else's day bright and cheery
2. the eggnog/silk nog we are going to drink while decorating our christmas tree.  


what will make your tomorrow be a great day? 



tonight we bought our tree.
we picked it out in record time.
not too much twirl and whirl this year.
our house smells like the woods. 
it's great.





11.11.11

thankful: days 3-11

since i haven't been on a computer for the past week, i didn't post my thankful thoughts...but tonight, i have a few minutes -- jon said i couldn't go to sleep at 7pm...

11.  salsa - we had tacos tonight from a little place - tacos with pineapple salsa.  i love love love salsa.  so amazing.
10.  a safe helicopter ride.  on monday we took a helicopter tour of kauai.  it was amazing.  so amazing that i wasn't even scared because it was beyond breathtakingly beautiful.  i figured if we crashed that at least it would be in happiness.  i was still thankful when we landed safe and sound as the weather was a little crazy this last week.  yesterday a helicopter crashed off of the island of maui (well molokai to be exact) killing 4 tourists and the pilot.  they are still determining the cause, though it is likely that a sudden downpour had an effect.  i was thankful before...but last night i was extra thankful when my sweet dad called to make sure we were ok and told me about what he had heard on the news.  crazy to know that just a few days before it could have easily been you.  anytime, anyone, any place.  i am thankful for each day. each moment. 
9. starbucks pumpkin spice latte's -- especially when they are calming my soul
8. the best gluten free bread i have ever had made into a delicious supper sandwich - freshly made from the living foods market on kauai.
7.little coffee shops that make me happy - little fish coffee in  hanapepe. - your homemade chai and delicious musabi warmed my soul.
6. outdoor dining - especially when you can hear and see the ocean - but my patio at home is just as fabulous
5. nature. beautiful canyons.  fresh pineapple, papaya, and apple bananas
4. macadamia nuts - oh my goodness.  i am an addict.
3. airport staff who go the extra mile to make sure you get on your plane and your bags follow.

we are having a lovely time on our trip.  i don't think i have ever ate so much dessert in a one week period. period.

2.11.11

thankful: day 1 + day 2

1.  lady bugs - i love them -  a couple weeks ago we went hiking and i saw more lady bugs than i have ever seen in all my life - clumps of them (like below)  every where, for miles.  wow.




2.   a friend who help you pack - it went much faster with your help.  thank you thank you kim!



jon and i are going on vacation.
it's going to be good.

i'm not planning on being near the computer,
though thoughts of posting my thankful thoughts are spinning in my head...

until then

chat when we get back??




24.10.11

in my make up bag


(check out this ny times article on their latest campaign: Beauty Might Not Be Blind, but the Casting Call Was)

for the past few years i have used Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals products.  i just love them and continue to love them even more.  i have never really been one for "make up" other than using it to liven up my "morning" look ... i don't really "play"  and i've had the same routine for the past -- forever...

i was introduced to the line when my sister-in-law started carrying it in her salon, MisBehaven.  i went to a salon event where a company rep gave me a mini make up make over and an introduction to the products and i decided i was in love.

*the products are easy to use
*possibly more or less than you usually spend, but a quality product
*long lasting
*most have an amazing rating with the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Database
*fun - i heart the kits + brushes (the cheapest way to buy brushes is through a kit - double goodness)
*natural

anyhow...

the reason it's on my mind is because kim and i went to a make up party at the salon on sunday evening.  we had an amazing time.  two wonderful estheticians/make up artists (kael and ciara) , a talented hair stylist (brittany), girls, pizza, and great make up made for a fabulous evening.   we cleansed, we had our make-up done, we had our hair done, we ate, we chatted, we shopped... and then kim and i left for a night out-- at wal mart (yes, we are a little lame and didn't stay out late).

i learned how to back-comb, how to put my hair in a side bun, and how to use some new bare minerals products and several make-up techniques.  fabulous.


                                     


                         
                                   




i was so very proud of myself - because the next day, after a little trial and error, i recreated my look...
this was an unheard of feat in my book


thank you thank you Misbehaven team + our sweet hostess!

p.s.  we had so much fun we've decided to host our own party later this season - if you live near to us and our interested let me know and i'll make sure you get an invite








21.10.11

TGIF


May your weekend be as lovely + relaxed as Winter's



...expecting a call from my mother right.  about.  now.

20.10.11

one saturday afternoon

we took some hot chocolate.  we took a camera.  we took some photos. 








embrace the season

19.10.11

hello wednesday





so awhile back i used to blog a lot
those would be those good ole' summer days

the days before my iphoto crashed and i thought i had lost all my photos and it was horrible
beyond horrible

then it was almost fixed for a few weeks
now - as of this weekend
 it is fixed

hooray!

i have pictures again
i can share my pictures again

it is good.


3 links for you tonight

1. We Can All Become Job Creators - helping create jobs one coffee cup at a time.  love it.  i will support it.

2. Amazima  - a friend shared this tonight - i added it to my list of favorites

3. Notes from a Dragon Momma  - this is sad, but i also find it inspirational