Free Stampin Up Idea book and Catalog!

Free! Starting Feb1 -April 30- log onto my Stampin' website right up there,order any amount and get a Free Idea book and catalog! Great time to make some Easter cards!

Windy city

I thought San Francisco was the windy city-but due to high winds I think Kailua should be renamed!Schools were closed and there were a few times our power went out.
It sounded really loud at night and freaked the little ones out- I fell asleep quite nicely. As long as it"stays outside" -I'm OK.

To be...Neat

I love Helen and the TV show Neat-she helps people conquer clutter and "live" in their spaces instead of giving their clutter room to live. Here are her suggestions..I'm slowly tackling closets and cupboards and feeling lighter with each step.I actually feel more creative the cleaner it gets -free to work on projects without all the "to dos" around me.



5 Key Questions to Cut Down on Clutter

We all rationalize keeping items for a future that doesn't arrive. Here are some key excuses that simply don't cut it. If you hear yourself using any of these lines, put yourself on high clutter alert. Print out these questions, frame them and keep them accessible to keep clutter at bay.

1. I’m going to fix it someday
2. I need it just in case
3. I’ll sell it in a garage sale or online
4. This will be worth something someday
5. Someone else may be able to use it

By creating a wallet sized card with 5 Questions to Consider Before You Buy - you can prevent yourself from acquiring unnecessary items that have a high potential to turn into clutter. When shopping, use these questions to guide your purchases:

1. Do I really need this?
2. Do I have somewhere to store it?
3. Do I already have something like this?
4. Am I buying it just because it’s on sale?
5. Is it something I've been interested in for a long time, or am I buying
on impulse?

I love the feeling I get when I take a bag to donate knowing someone else will be blessed getting the items and my family will be blessed because we can live,have order and not chaos in the rooms.

Emails

Today I started off my morning by checking my emails...I receive a few devotionals and a daily verse which I read everyday. My sister sent me her verse that was on her desk calendar...what a great way to start off my morning.I thought I'd share it will you!

Your heavenly Father knows your needs. He will always give you all you need from day to day.

May this encourage you too!

84 degrees

Yes -the temp yesterday here in beautiful Hawaii!I noticed I take living here for granted. I'm trying to enjoy the now, and not wish it away, while I'm thinking of tomorrow.I'm going to try and go walk on the Beach once a week. And with each drawer,closet and bag of stuff I give away -I feel less chaotic and stressed.The mound of clothes I was procrastinating about putting away -took all of 22 minutes.Ridiculous how much time I took avoiding doing it-compared to how long it actually took. Im going down my to do list and enjoying this beautiful weather around me.

Like a turtle

This has started out as a stressful new year-My van isn't working AGAIN-so close to be all payed off too!!! More money to fix- my house is a cluttered mess that needs to be decluttered and I had mice in my oven! GROSS-so its out and I'm waiting on a new one. My computer isn't working to let me attach my new camera-all those pics from Christmas!!...I prayed for wisdom &strength first,then made a list of things I can do,and I'll slowly start tackling each thing -better then ignoring or eating about it.
Slow and steady ...like a turtle.

New Beginnings!

I'm excited about the new year!-I know they'll be new memories,new experiences & friends. I'm motivated to declutter and downsize my stuff in each room. Each month I'm deep cleaning a room-giving stuff away so it will be easy to find things,easy to clean and I think it will be much easier to live.
I'm going to get healthy with my family-our own Biggest Loser competition!
I'm going to find more ways to get out and involved with church.
I've been playing board games at night with the kids.
Today my daily verse reminded me...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Sometimes letting the past be in the past is a hard thing to do. If you're attempting to create new habits or to let old habits go, be reminded that having the spirit of Christ in you allows you to be daily transformed - press into Him as you embark on the journey of this New Year!

Leaving on a jet plane..

I will be back again....after seeing my grandson and family!Merry Christmas!

In with the new...

Out with the old..
I just got an Olympus camera! 8 pixels 5X optical! On sale Sears!
Im going to get it installed today..Woo Hoo!

Room WIth a view

I know I take this view from my living room for granted..especially when I see the snow reports from my family and friends.I thought Id share the view for you.Thank you God.Nice job!

Rocketman

Yesterday I let the neighbor kids and my kids ride scooters around the house..(tile floors) They had a blast! Sawyer was without a scooter so he followed along on his little rocket.

Olomana Christmas Parade

Every year our neighborhood puts on a parade.The kids decorate their scooters and bikes,adults decorate their cars, then at the end, they go to the school for snacks and crafts.This year Levi and Lily threw candy to the spectators.I usually walk with them but this time I stayed home,took pics and watched.

Picasso?

"Snowman"
Sawyer Age 3

Christmas Party/Open House

We hosted an open house last night. First one since we lived here!
We invited neighbors,coworkers,friends,bosses and the property manager.We all had fun,the time flew by and I felt bummed I didn't have time to visit with everyone.This year Brian put lights up outside, so we also sat outside on the lanai.I made easy things-carrot cake,blueberry,cranberry,banana bread,and had cheese,crackers,veggies,apple cider,eggnog and coffee. I made Ginger girls and boys for the kids to decorate.I'm hoping open house will become a Christmas tradition.

Nutty Day-Good Day

Today I cleaned most of the day and I took before and after pics...too yucky to show how messy each room was...I also took pictures of my other decorations .These trees on top of the tv cabinet were 40% off, Yeah I love a deal, and the nutcrackers are from Thrift stores,Costco and one really nice one from Germany...(a gift) I share the prices because I love to get and/or hear about good deals from my family and friends!

ginger girls

At the MOPS steering party I made Gingerbread girls and we all had 5 mins to decorate a cookie...here are the "girls"-Erin's Hula girl cookie was voted the favorite.

Cutest happiest Baby boy

Ryan McGinnis 2 months Merry Christmas!!!

Glass Ornaments

I've been buying glass ornaments from the different places where we've lived over the years.This year Macy's had a ton of Hawaii inspired ornaments 1/2 off already! I got a hula girl,woody car, and Santa with a ukulele!





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After School...

Sawyer was playing oh so quietly...heres why...
Thankfully the blue "lipstick" washed right off!

portrait of mom

Sawyer was playing this morning and I heard him say "mom" "mom" heres why...
Lovely arent I?

Batman visits

Sawyers been wearing his costume whenever he gets the chance.I finally got him to stand still for me & lately he's been saying "Ho-Ho!"

"Flowers in the air"

Flowers everywhere! I went to take out the garbage for pick up and saw this little plumeria flower on the driveway. I thought,"Hum,pretty",then I got to looking at the flowers everywhere around the front yard. In the trees,on the bushes,by the front door,side of the house,etc...I know it is freezing in some parts and I know I take for granted all this beauty God put around me.I decided to share it with others.

Rain Day

Yesterday it rained again (alot) and the kids played outside, because its still warm and fun. They used the big leaves from the backyard for umbrellas.

The Consequence Jar

I've been dealing with a lot of arguments and "attitude" from the kids-whether its bedtime,chore time,school time, etc...and because time outs & grounding hasn't made much difference -I came up with the "consequence jar".Inside I put numbers and I made a list of things to do around the house.(unload dishwasher,fold clothes,sweep kitchen,etc...).If theyre fighting or have sassy mouths-I've been telling them "that is unacceptable behavior or talk " and go to the jar and draw out a consequence. Yesterday after drawing three-their attitudes were much better today.Im hoping it helps with all the bickering and complaining.

This little light of mine...

...I'm gonna let it shine. Brought these lights home and placed them in the kitchen window...it reminds me of the sunday school song and being a light in the world no matter what we're doing or where we are.

Saturday Craft time

Saturday was rainy,rainy,rainy...perfect time to work on my crafts! Ill show the finished projects at a later date...but overall a fun day for me!

Christmas outfits X3

I spent Friday morning running around from store to store trying to find Christmas outfits. It took most of the day looking for the correct sizes,colors,and prize point. Eventually The Children's Place had the boys shirts and pants(additional 1/2 off the clearance price!) and The Gap had a few tartan plaid dresses left! I rushed home to get the kids,feed them,take some pics by the tree and then go back for their Christmas program. Of course,not many pics turned out (blurry shots or not all looking at the camera)but I did capture the moment.

"Have you seen the powder man?"

"He lives on Island Lane" Yeah,Sawyer was quiet and when I went in the living room he was walking around sprinkling different objects with baby powder.

Box Frustration!

..Two days ago I went to get a square flat rate box to ship a few items off to Nebraska,but my Post office was out of that size,so I grabbed a few of the flatter Flat rate boxes.This size did not work for the items I was shipping,so I went to a different P.O. and grabbed some of their boxes by their counter(crazy busy in there)When I came home I realized I had grabbed Large flat rate ones....so today after the rain calmed down I went back my PO, and saw they had gotten in square shaped flat rate boxes,however, once again, when I got home I see these are only for APO addresses.!!URGGG!!!! I think I wont be shipping anything until I'm ready once again to brave the parking lot,the rain,the crowds and have absolutely zero children with me.

Winter time in Hawaii

Down pouring,wind,power outages-welcome to the winter season here in Hawaii.Instead of snow days (no school) its Flood warning day. Unfortunately the weathers winning-the potted palm tree -not so much.Lily hates the weather like this-I keep reminding her who controls the weather. And Levi likes the weather,no school days. Sweet Sawyer-doesnt know,doesnt care.