"Flying the friendly skies .... "

Okay soooo ...I'm flying the friendly skies ... as they say ... Very interesting ... For all the years we've traveled ... I honestly can't remember when was the last time I've flown by myself ...  find it very interesting to see lots of people getting on and off planes... business trips, visiting airports all over the country as just a part of their normal work week... From the Big Island to the Big Apple... I know it sounds weird, especially in this day and age... but seriously, this IS a bit of an adventure for me ... in lots of ways.. Im excited and scared all at the same time.. but its ALL GOOD... Im ready for some rest, fun and relaxation ... Times Square, Central Park, Michael and Kelly, The Rocketttes, Broadway... The Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero ....  IYou know with the way the world is ... today .. Its DEFINITELY thought provoking to say the least... I'm a bit anxious to see Ground Zero in person... as it reflects soo much our thoughts and prayers for our Country.. Our  Country is in great need of POSITIVENESS... with terrorism and and upcoming election ... sometimes, I know some people differ, but for the most part... all we really can do is pray... 

I am really excited and very thankful ... for being able to go on this trip and to see a "real" city... especially NYC!!!  THIS CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS ...!!! LOL... I better get some sleep before arriving ... so I can write more about my adventures... and not sleep through these exciting days ahead..  

Aloha & A Hui Hou!!!

Don't get me wrong... but

Don't get me wrong ... I love my life and family... and they are the absolute best ...They are very thankful, giving and appreciative, and I wouldn't change things for the world.  But,  I would love to know how did it get so creatively convient to realize that when women get a job OUTSIDE the home ... that they are FINALLY working ... REALLY ??? SERIOUSLY???  I find this super interesting ... and kinda frustrating to say the least ... I'm not sure where this assumption comes from.. Where and how does a family think that all the cooking, cleaning, and housework actually gets done???  Miracle guardian angels???  Menihune maids???  Do they think that we have a magic wand in our arsenal ???  I found it very interesting that hear the approximate salary of a full time Homemaker - being as how this profession encompasses the following .. Private Chef, House Cleaner, Child Care, Driver, Laundry Service, Lawn Maintenance, and Property Manager .. just to name a few... If you added all of these approximate salaries up 

The Bottom Line
Total for a year of all service is: $52,260 + $6,127 + $31,200 + $4,168 + $936 +$1,560 = $96,261 per year... 

Well, for not having a four year college degree... it pretty much adds up to almost $100,000.00 a year which sounds like its really not too shabby... ... or about $1923.00 per week.. But, I failed to mention there are NO paid holidays, NO days off, NO sick time, NO vacation and NO retirement .... lol.. and yea .. just a little side note... ABSOLUTELY NO TRAINING WHATSOEVER.. lol.. not even a little bit of a manual to refer to... when you really get stumped... However, there are some women that are fortunate enough to have a mentor .. but not all.  I was fortunate to have married into a family that had a very experienced, inspirational, genuinely loving and caring mentor... as the family I was born into had a defective one.... it happens .. and I understand it totally could have been worse .. but the most important thing I learned being born into that situation .. was "what NOT to be like"... but that has really nothing to do with my entry this time.... 

I am quite entertained by the fact that people think that being home raising a family and running a household ... has exact hours .. and that we can kind of do ... whatever we want ... whenever we want... but anyone who has at least one child know that thats NOT the case... YOU ARE ON CALL 24/7 .... literally no matter where you are!!!  At least now we can try to problem solve and put out small fires through email, texting and FaceTime... THANK YOU APPLE.. but things are they way they are ... Once you're a Mother and/or Parent... YOUR JOB NEVER ENDS... so this is why you should make POSITIVELY SURE .. before you decide to be a PARENT .. but thats a whole other ballgame to be discussed at another time lol...  I've listened to many women who have more than one child .. and they say its easier ... and I can see that as the children will be able to help each other and their parents.. We decided to have only one.. and she is the best!!!  

So back to the topic at hand... when a woman decides or is forced to go back to the "full time" community by our lovely economy .. it can be quite an undertaking ... you have to reschedule just about everything .. and the so called days off ... haha are now consumed with ALLLL the things you weren't able to do during your previous job's week (i.e. Homemaker position ..) Its funny because you then realize and make it a point to really prioritize your work.  Including ... time for yourself... which is pretty much impossible if you ask me.. lol  ..

So in conclusion ... If you are a full-time Homemaker, please don't let anyone ever tell you .. that you are JUST a housewife... because you are MUCH MORE and always will be .. and if you have a "full time gig" outside of the home .. I applaud you and understand completely your task at hand.. as I recently joined the "full time gig" scene as well... so ladies.. find sometime for YOU and relax .. do a little something that you enjoy "just for you!!" YOU DESERVE IT!!!  Happy Sunday!!!

Aloha & A Hui Hou!!!

"Freedom of Choice..."

"Freedom of Choice...."

Are your  black or white???  Do you like blue or green ???  Would you prefer purple or orange....  vanilla or chocolate???  This is all about YOUR CHOICE... and YOUR FREEDOM TO CHOOSE .... As an Artist and a parent ... I find it very difficult to choose...   and try to encourage creativity .. within reason.. lol.. and thats what I really love about art, color and design ... and why I feel when it comes to these type of "creative" choices.. there mostly really isn't a right or wrong ... its what YOU LIKE ... PERIOD.  I mean lets face it ... it gets boring to have vanilla all the time.  I find that when I am surrounded by beautiful talented people and their work the more creative ideas start forming and I can get very lost in creativity.  I love to explore all types of creativity from art, design, color, painting, drawing, writing, fashion and beauty.  This is why I try to indulge is ALL the creative opportunities God has given me the talent to explore.  It makes me feel excited and alive..  There is too much to explore in our beautiful world to not take part.  Creativity surrounds us.   Have you ever thought of that???  God made this big beautiful world and each of us are different and have so many different things to bring to the table.  It would be horribly boring if we were all the same...  It would be like going to Baskin Robbins and all they had was vanilla... :(   Could you imagine??? No rocky road, no nutty coconut .. and no... mint chip??  So whether you choose blonde .. brunette... or auburn... its your choice.. Don't be afraid to try something different.. and most of all try not to criticize others for their creative choices...  its pretty much your personal right to make a creative choice...

Creativity is EVERYWHERE.. so I go for ALL OF THE ABOVE... LOL....

Enjoy .. 

A Hui Hou!!!

I was struck by a recent episode on one of my favorite talk shows... Dr. Phil .. This is very sad to say the least .. but in this recent episode about a pretty abusive Mother that originally showed up on an earlier episode with anger issues and had two Daughters that were living around these issues .. She then returns for this new episode .. one Daughter had really turned her life around and is growing in a positive direction  and is doing awesome and the other is the more difficult.  She had no intentions of growing any further in a positive direction .. and her Mother decided to give her choices .. of college, job or volunteer ... somewhere to help others .. This Daughter .. decided on none of these ... instead decided to spend her life on the streets...panhandling ..  basically homeless .. But what bothered me the most .. was that she blamed her mother for HER DECISION .. Yes, her Mother wasn't right in her earlier behavior ... but apparently is now progressing on a better path .. She was given a choice .. which a lot of us just we're given that luxury .. As a Mother as I see it .. these kids these days seem to grow up with a strong entitlement that the world owes them something .. that they don't really need an education or a job .. or any kind of work ethic.. I'm seeing quite a lot of that lately .. I have a dear friend whose Daughter who has just recently been arrested this past week and now has been brought up on murder charges amongst other serious charges.  She is described as a "drifter" in the exact same area as the Daughter of the woman on Dr. Phil.. This area is described as a very high area for transients .. or drifters.  This young 18 year old woman .. barely a woman .. pretty much still a child herself .. has given her family problems from a very young age riddled with drug abuse, delinquency ... and as they say.. just was always hanging out with the "wrong crowd." It was a pretty troubled home... This is just so horribly sad .. as I know no one is perfect and I know for a fact that her Mother has always tried to do the right thing ... but it takes both parents ... Children don't seem to be brought up in a loving nurturing home and seem to act out in these serious ways... drugs, running away... etc.  and seems to be searching for something missing in her life.. I saw this in my own family where my own parents never really "loved"each other just merely existing with one another.. Both had their own holes in their lives to repair especially my mother ... she was never happy .. They always doted on my brother giving him everything possible.  However, in his search to be happy I believe he made his own choice to medicate his life ... numbing himself with alcohol.. then pot .. and to this day he's a 30 year crack addict.. My parents enabled him as they thought they were HELPING HIM.. but in actuality, it made THEM feel better rather than doing what was best for him.... thus they are now both dead and he is still searching and abusing making excuses .. I truly believe there has been a serious breakdown in our family structure and values... where couples are having children without planning, getting married for the wrong reasons and not really taking marriage and what it stands for seriously and respecting and treating the constitution of marriage as God intended and created it to be.  Not being serious as a parent and realizing that you are completely and totally responsible for a "life".  Teaching them right from wrong and getting caught up in their own problems without realizing how much their actions as parents and adults really affect our children... Although I don't see this first young woman who was on the show has gotten into drugs .. I can only pray for her future that she may come to her senses and rethink her decision to be on the streets... its very very sad.  I pray for this family and families out there that have lost their way... and are suffering each and everyday... 

Aloha & A Hui Hou ... 

  

"Its YOUR CHOICE..."

I believe .. some people just like to complain... just like to be negative... just like to ...period!!! They seem to just surround themselves with negative... "oh poor me ... oh why does everything bad happen to me... literally .. constantly... Its just super ridiculously annoying for one... but why does it ALWAYS have to be about THEM??  Do they just choose to do this on purpose??? Are they seriously just thinking and survive on thinking of themselves and how horrible things are for THEM??  Seriously?? Like there is no one else that matters...??  Like everyone is supposed to cater to them??? Their plans constantly change... their ideas .... their concerns ... their focus ... their EVERYTHING....  seems to ALWAYS ... be on themselves.... I just don't know how they can live with themselves ...  What a horrible existence... to be constantly complaining or finding fault with just about EVERYTHING..... A crazy horrible web of bondage .. living in the negative .... but I've learned through the years .. that it is totally a choice..  YOU CAN CHOOSE POSITIVE AND WE NEED TO CHOOSE POSITIVE NO MATTER WHAT... It may not always be easy.. ... but we need to try to  do your best to get though each experience.... or choose the negative ... and live your life as a victim.. THE CHOICE IS YOURS.. 

What you give out is what you get back ...

💚Soo I get an early call this morning from a friend ... who I pretty much just met ... we connected for a reason ... and she has connected me with an income opportunity that could prove to be very interesting and CREATIVE ... but she has had a rough time ... and was in need of $10 to get gas in her car ... I always want to help others as much as I can no matter what, although I knew in my own mind I am already short this week and yesterday was one of the slowest days I can remember at the store but also know that no matter how bad we think our circumstances are there are people much worse off than ourselves .. we connected she was happy and I headed on to work ... In this world of negative evil and turmoil I have learned that "what you give out ... is what you'll receive .." so my daily mission is to be thankful grateful ... and truly find the 💙POSITIVE IN EVERYTHING... so I opened the store and knew I had to get change ... so I started my journey to make change before customers began to show up as there was ABSOLUTELY NO ONE AROUND.. no sooner than I walked a few feet from the store ... right there laying in the middle of the boardwalk was a $10 bill!!! I immediately knew in my heart that God was behind me on my decision to help this friend in need ... 😊 I know my friend said she would meet up with me later to pay me back ... and I know $10 doesn't sound like a whole lot to some ... but lots of folks are really suffering out there ... and every little bit helps ... 💙❤️So please BE THANKFUL BE GRATEFUL...💙❤️FIND THE POSITIVE IN EVERYTHING!!!❤️💙Aloha & A Hui Hou

Everything happens for a reason

WS"Everything happens for a reason ... You hear this statement a lot ... But it is so very true ... 

Shortly after getting married pretty close to 30 years ago now ... My relationship with my mother started to deteriorate ... I didn't realize it at the time but looking back on it now ... It did start way back then .. She was very jealous, bitter and resentful .. But I kept denying it in my my mind ... brushing each incident under the rug ... making excuses ... and just trying to enjoy my new life ... It's pretty sad to admit this and it's worse to know it was my own mother .. 

Just a day or two ago ... an older woman came in my store with very basic clothing on carrying a paper bag ... and I knew by looking at her she didn't have much ... We started talking about the store and the items we carry and the she proceeded to show me her own art ... People like this come in our store all the time as we carry and support at least 40 local artists and craftsman and lots of beautiful local creations.  We buy all kinds of local creations from jewelry, paintings, body products and food items .. So our conversation went on and I really loved my new friend Marilyn's jewlery, trinkets etc.. Especially a gorgeous, very natural looking puka shell necklace and interesting round beautiful wooden box that she told me she paid a quarter for at the thrift shop and that she thought it was a really great find and loved it very much.  Shen then started to tell me a story about how she wanted to give her Granddaughter a gift but had no money.   She then created a beautiful gift for her Granddaughter using a special pendant and gave it to her with great joy and pride ... Only to find this gift in the trash a few months later ... At this point I was pretty much in tears ... knowing that she created this gift with her own two hands cause she wasn't able to buy a gift.  She also told me how she uses safety pins to drill through her shells so that she can string them ... I have created a lot of jewlery with shells and natural items and started with a hand drill and trust me it's very tedious and hard work doing this type of work without the aide of an electric tool.  Marilyn's work is very beautiful and truly creative and shows her deep talent, but more importantly her genuine love.  

Something my own mother slowly deprived me of.   I told Marilyn that I would speak to the owner to see if she would buy some of her creations so that she could make some money, especially the beautiful pukka shell necklace ... I told her I knew that she could get at least $100 for the puka necklace alone ... and if I had the extra I would surely pay her ... She was surprised and I could tell that she would ever expect to get that kind of money for her work ... She then started to pack her stuff up and put her things in her bag and little containers ... I saw her empty the round wooden box thinking she was reorganizing and put the puka shell necklace inside ... She then turned to me and handed me the box with her beautiful smile ... and told me " I want you to have this.. " I was stunned and then really started to cry telling her that she couldn't just give me this ... She said "I can do whatever I want!! and I want you to have this!!! I didn't know what to say but gave her a huge hug!! I told her then I would make her something special of my own creation !!! Oh no you don't have to do that ... I told her back " I can do whatever I want!!" Lol .... 

I gave her another hug ... and she went on her way to collect more shells ... natural Hawaiian treasures found on our beaches ... and using her beautiful God given talents .... ❤️ Marilyn's visit made my day that day ... and I am creating her something special to carry all her creations, supplies and personal belongings in ... and we are going to meet again in the next week or two ... We did share phone numbers !!! She did have a cute little flip phone and we verified our numbers by calling each other right then and there ... She also showed me some pictures of some other family in her phone ... This day I made a dear friend in just a few minutes that I felt more caring and genuine love from ... than I did from my own mother in the last almost 30 years ... not because she gave me something but because she was real and genuine .. Each day we need to remember and cherish as another special day God has given us to help one another and make each other's day !! ❤️❤️

Aloha & A Hui Hou ....

What are YOUR successes??

Someone asked me "What are your successes??" I stumbled for a bit but then I came to realize that we all have successes EVERY DAY... We all start each day with a new CLEAN SLATE ... We need to make it a point to remember ...

Our lives should be lived as though we are able to do, be, or create anything we would like ... Because God gave us the power, knowledge and minds to do so ...  

So take each day and be thankful, grateful and excited for the newness that each of our days brings us ..., 

Aloha & A Hui Hou!!! 

You get what you give out ...

Sometimes it amazes me on how people can treat one another ... even after years of marriage ...  Even though they are angry frustrated and miserable with themselves ... don't admit it and then you're the one that gets the brunt after you react in a negative way ... I've learned through even a short amount of recreating myself that you can learn a positive thing through any and every event ... Training your mind to remember and pushing yourself to be POSITIVE IS KEY...   FIND THE POSITIVE IN EVERYTHING!!! GOD DOESNT MAKE MISTAKES !!! ❤️❤️❤️

Follow Your Heart❤️

I'm not so sure what or how things will end up tomorrow but I know in trusting things will work according to the plan God has for me ...

I used to worry about every single thing ... some horrible family trait ... but I've chosen a new path ... It's a new direction ... positive and filled with energy and most of all FAITH .. A strong deep faith in God ... a great way to begin a new year ... and moving to grow and enjoy God's plan and direction .. I am a true believer in ... intuition, faith ... that real feeling when you know something is right ... that strong "gut " feeling when you REALLY know what to do ... So follow your "heart❤️"... 

Aloha🌴 & A  Hui Hou!!! 

Pursue Your Passion ...

We all should be able to pursue our passion...whatever it might be ... whatever is your dream... Everyone should be encouraged to pursue and live your dreams... 

God has a plan for all of us ... 

Believe in yourself ... pursue your passion ... 

"it's NEVER too late.. "

Its NEVER too late... to begin ... to make a change ... to start a new career ... workout... finish or even begin college.. or certification... Its YOUR choice .. Its YOUR DECISION...

I grew up in a time... where women were not always encouraged to attend college... or pursue anything but getting married and having a family.. getting an "MRS" degree .. Now dont get me wrong .. there is really nothing wrong with that at all... IF thats what you want... I did want that.. but more importantly at the time .. I wanted to GO AWAY to college... Unfortunately, at the time .. instead of encouraging .. this continuing education .. my parents encouraged the easy way out.. mainly because of the lack of funds.. Absolutely not what I would or have done.. but that was then and this is now... 

Now is a different age and time.. Now we all encourage anyone to be self sufficient .. and to take the time to do what it takes .. take the time to improve yourself.. With the new technology and vast opportunities.. .. that are offered these days... the sky is literally the limit... there are so many endless ways to improve yourself... it is truly amazing ..YOU just have to make the DECISION.. RIGHT NOW.. TODAY!!

It truly is NEVER too late.. 


Aloha & A Hui Hou!!!

There is a NEW YEAR upon us!!!

Aloha all!!!

It has been awhile .. since my last post ... but trying to start our New Year off right!!! 

I am beginning this New Year with making some changes.  They say that if something doesnt work... that you have to make changes... and to make changes we NEED TO TAKE ACTION!!!

I started and discovered blogging a few years ago.. and just never took it seriously... we this New Year is going to be different... Thats right ... "Its Just What I Think" but .. like they say we are all entitled to freedom of speech.. and thought.. So... this is why I am exploring blogging ... and getting my thoughts out on paper so to speak... 

Today was a day of reorganizing ... regrouping... cleaning.. setting goals and beginning our journey with a little more defined idea ..  on what.. where and how ... we will do in this new year.... Whether its in our minds, on paper or on a dream/vision board... its good to do this... it helps us understand ourselves ... and others.. So take some time... if its too late today.. in the next frew days... make some goals!!! Make some plans!!!  TAKE SOME ACTION!!!

AlohA & A Hui Hou!
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