what time has taught me

February 9, 2012

*stepping out of your comfort zone will not only make you stronger….it will make you a better person.

*red wine is good for your heart.

*if you keep saying “what if” then you’ll never get to say “i did”.

*sheltering your children does not prepare them for the future.

*once you get your first grey hair…it’s all downhill from there.

*carrying your camera around with you is important.

*nothing compares to a Hawaiian avocado.

*i spend way too much time on Pinterest …..pinning pretty clothes that i can’t afford……

styling for a house i don’t live in anymore….and food that i can never get to look that good when i make it.

*a house doesn’t make a home.

*if you don’t breastfeed…..it’s not the end of the world. 

*turning the clocks forward on some nights and putting the kids to bed early is not a bad idea….

it’s pure genius.

*values and views vary from person to person…..hold onto what you believe.

*if your third child does not wear underwear…….the occasional shart will make you think

you just weren’t strict enough.

*being closed minded only hurts yourself.

*you have to live life moving forward not back {courtesy of Spy Kids 3}.

*making minimum wage humbles your character

*your spouse should always come first.

*it’s okay to have “me” time.

*it’s not okay for your cleaning lady to find your vibrator.

{just kidding mom}

*communication is the best asset.

*not everything will go according to plan.

*there is something magical about not knowing what comes next.

*a good hair cut by a good stylist is worth every penny.

*there is nothing more deflating then to have to do the walk of shame out of a cheap hair place.

*a temperature of 99.2 does not constitute a phone call home from the school nurse.

*being on the beach in the middle of February is good for your soul.

*it really isn’t about what “school district* you are in.

*you can’t rewind time…but you can help shape the future.

*i don’t really like grapefruit juice without the vodka in it.

*don’t make a list of things you want to do…make a list of things you are going to do.

*always keep a journal next to your bed.

*just make sure that you don’t look in that journal a few years later to find the pages filled with

get milk. sign permissions slip. make pap smear appointment in morning.

*there really is something to be said about drinking 8 glasses of water a day.

*with the right attitude…..a jump in the pool can also be the kids bath for the day.

*you can wash a shirt…you can wash your socks….but you never have to wash your jeans

*kids grow up.

*time flies.

*life is what you make of it.


Tagged family, Kauai, life, style Filed Under Uncategorized 39 Comments

Vodka has less calories than wine

February 3, 2012

I’m home! 

I wrote on my facebook wall yesterday after i landed….that it’s pretty special that i can say that i’m 

coming “home” to Kauai. On the flight home i was sitting next to a family with three kids all around the same ages

as mine….and they asked how i love the North Shore and how do i deal with all the rain.

Most tourists stay on the South/West side because of that reason. It’s drier…it’s warmer….and they think 

it rains all year long here on the Northshore.

I told her we all tell everyone it rains all the time because it’s to keep the tourists on that side of the island;-)

Oh…we get rain alright. For two weeks before Thanksgiving it rained for 10 days straight…..but it’s because of the rain…

that makes the North shore of Kauai one of the most beautiful places in the world. But our average here on the North side is

a balmy 82 degrees.

check check

Today is the ending of week 13 of my circuit training with Gabby…..

{i missed a few classes while i was in New Mexico..and i might have had some huevos rancheros one morning}

but i stepped on the scale last night and i’m down 12 pounds.

12 pounds!!

{Free tip:….by folding your arms up and resting them on your hips…

….it makes them look thinner then if you  just let them hang by your side}

There are still a good 12 weeks of class left….which means i’m not done yet!

Gabby and her family live here for 6 months out of the year…..

she does the classes FOR FREE….{read more about it HERE}

and it’s by invite only. I was lucky enough to score an invite by a friend

that was already in the class. 

The classes are three days a week….and on the alternate days i’ve been walking a 4 mile loop.

I hate running. {even though i did that 5k last year…..but i think i was drugged when i signed up for it}

I never felt that high that people talk about when running….so just doing the long walk works for me. I also

am walking in one of the most beautiful places in the world….and i get to see the ocean as i walk.

It clears my mind.

{well….and a good vodka with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice}

I’m pretty sure vodka has less calories than wine…but don’t quote me on this bit of info….

i just know that working my ass off…..and drinking vodka….

{okay…..maybe investing in a juicer and drinking green juice every day has helped a teeny tiiny bit}

has lead me to lose 12 pounds.

Tagged life, style Filed Under Uncategorized 21 Comments

knock knock

January 23, 2012

My mother in law called yesterday and left me a voicemail …….

she said…..

i have a new computer and i don’t think it’s working because i’m pulling up your blog and it still has the post

from two weeks ago.

I’m still here….check check….double check.

I apologize for not posting as much this month …..but this one year thing is just flying by….and we are trying to wrap our

bodies around as many memories as we can…..so the posting might be far and infrequent some weeks and 

visa versa.

We’ve just had a really busy last few weeks…..and life has just gotten in the way.

Good times have been had lately.

I would officially like to state….that last friday i finished my 10th week of training with Gabby Reece….

and i’m down a whole 10 pounds {on a good day…and without a scoop of nutella finding it’s way into my mouth}.

Only 11 or so more weeks of class left…and Gabby packs up and heads with her family back to California….

but i am so happy to have been invited to join her class….and it’s paying off.

……

Some of our best friends flew in from Chicago last week and spent the week with us…..

they arrived last Monday night…..and we initiated them with our first big monsoon rain of the year on Tuesday.

It rained so hard on Tuesday that the kids school called an hour after they were dropped off to tell us that 

school was being cancelled and the kids were being sent home.

{does anyone just hit the ignore button on the phone when they see the school calling…}

I reminded the school that we just had a three day weekend….and did they take that into concern when calling me

to let me know that they were coming home.

Apparently not.

The kids school is on the other side of a river…so when it rains…..and it rains hard…..the bridge is closed to traffic

going in and out of Hanalei…..so the school kids are put in priority….and bussed right out.

So we all hung out all day……with pouring rain….and power outages…..as one big happy family.

{and somehow there were a few additional children that came home with us as well….}



Last Thursday we decided to have some of our friends over for a cocktail party….

we had our new friends…..along with our chicago friends…..and it was a fun evening.

I made brie and fig bites….

{i might have a problem with eating brie….by the spoonful….}

and i’ve been dreaming about these ever since….so i’ll take some more photos for you and post the recipe this week.

{warning: do not weigh yourself after you have eaten all of them…..not a good idea}

we all drank some good fine wine…..

and wine goes very well with brie.

I was also able to bring my friend Alison to one of Gabby’s classes with me…..

and not only did Alison get her butt kicked kick butt

but Bethany Hamilton showed up for class as well that day….so needless to say….even though we 

were sweating like pigs on slaughtering day…..but we got to sweat with Bethany.

{and no….that is not me bending over behind Alison puking……}

We spent a lot of time at the beach…..

{they left their kids back home in chicago….so obviously….i let them take over some of my parenting…it only seemed fair}

We also did what we normally do when we have friends visiting…..

we rented some SUP boards…and sent them out into the water.

{i monitored the cooler….it’s my delegated duty you know….}


Yesterday was their last day here….so we headed over to the South side of the island where they had been

staying for the last few nights and joined them all day poolside.

We drank some more fine wine……

the boys kept checking in with us ……because they were parked in the bar watching football…

and i barely saw the kids the whole entire day because the hotel had the most amazing pools…

we felt like we were on our own vacation all day.

The kids did keep coming back to be fed though…..

I have a feeling my mother in law might just be calling me today and wondering if i might want to 

check myself into Rehab with all the photos of fine wine drinking last week.

So before she calls….let me just state that as of Today….i’m going off the fine wine drinking this week.

I’m switching to Vodka.

It makes my green juice taste SO much better.

Tagged Kauai, life, style Filed Under Uncategorized 14 Comments
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