My mom sends me the most ridiculous gifts. I tell her to save her money and not send me stuff anymore but she doesn't listen. We don't NEED anything, we're adults now and I just want her to shower my brother's kids with gifts. In this picture is a phone that plugs into your iphone and really works- but looks ridiculous! Some times I swear she still thinks I am 10 yrs old. Will bring it to my classroom for the kids to play with.

Over the break I really got some quality time in with my pooch!

I made Jordan take this picture for me at Safeway. He almost died of embarrassment! HAHHAH I don't care !!!

She's perfect!

Playing house! Hahahah Jordan looks drunk here, because he is! But it was all for shits and giggles! Maybe next year's xmas card- who knows!

My friend's baby, Noah. He's so sweet and makes the funniest faces. Like this one. I love hanging with him.

Our Tree

That's all so far... Will update again soon!

Look, I Baked!

 

I baked a blueberry pie for Thanksgiving weekend and I loved it! 

It was not only easy to make sure super yummy! 

Check out the pictures of my progress.

And yes, of course, I got my recipe and ideas from Pinterest... it's simply the best! 

Fresh out of the oven!!!

a slice of heaven!

My faves over Thanksgiving Weekend...

A rainbow formed over my house on Saturday. It made me feel really lucky!

A new app that makes little texts into fun little telegram looking letters. This is one I sent to my husband... hee hee hee

My favorite tea!!! Sometimes I want more than just water and this does the trick!

My mom sends me care packages still ( I love it).

She sent me this holiday table cloth that I am in love with!

On Thanksgiving Jordan and his nephew played a game of perfection. It was fun to watch.

What's the holidays without Elf! It was on Thanksgiving night! One of my all time fave movies!

My husband's family is a funny group of people!

It was an awesome day of all my favorite foods. Thanksgiving was simply delicious!

New nephew!!

My nephew is here! No name yet though. Mom and baby are doing well. I wish I was there to hold him:(

I just turned 27

I had a great birthday. I went to a friend dinner on Sunday and another one with my hubs on Monday. He got me a new bag and I am thrilled about it! 

My b-day was so fun and perfect in every way!

How Cool is this?????????

My class made the local news show!

Back in '09

I cannot believe this... I saw this picture of me the other day and haven't stopped thinking about it. This was me finishing my 1/2 marathon back in 2009. I did it in 2 hrs and 13 mins! I remember thinking back when I was in this shape how badly I wanted to drop another 10 lbs!!!! It's a sick disease in our brains to never be happy with the shape we are in at that time. I would like to get to this place again and be this fit. I'm working on it and I know I can get there!

3 Things I love....

NUMBER 1.... MY JOB! 

This school year is starting off on a great foot! I am so happy with the awesome personalities I have in my class and I am feel much more relaxed this year. Don't get me wrong we still have a loooooong ways to go and a lot to learn and discover. I feel great about this year and I am loving my job everyday!

NUMBER 2.... VEGAS BABY!

Jordan and I just booked a trip to Vegas for this upcoming December. It just so happens to be his 30TH BIRTHDAY!!! I can't wait to celebrate, dance, drink, and be merry for his big b-day bash. We are hoping some friends and family will be joining in on the fun too! Should be a good time!

NUMBER 3..... GOOD NEWS!

Good news is always amazing to hear. This week I found out that my step-dad got back his test results and he is in the clear after is surgery of cancer. As of right now, there is no trace of cancer in his body and that is AMAZINGLY GOOD NEWS! 

About The VMA's....

The VMA's were on last Sunday and it was like a roller coster ride! 

Here are my top 4 thoughts and review....

I died when Beyonce preformed at the VMA's. She is classy and sets the bar high for the  kids coming into the music industry these days. She topped off her performance by dropping the mic and  showing off her belly bump at the very end. It was very sweet!!!

Lady Gaga was hilarious! For once she stayed in only one outfit for the entire night. She dressed as a man. MTV didn't have a host this year but I think Lady Gaga should have been hired for the job! Every time the camera would go to Lady Gaga I would just crack up because of her persona she had ALL night long!! It was greatness!

I just learned about this singer named Jessie J. She was amazing. Her job was to sing the songs as the show was going in and out of commercial breaks. Jessie J. has an amazing voice and I think she stole the show!

Ugh.... katy Perry is just trying too hard! I just feel like she used to dress with the style of a glamor girl/vintage pin up, and now she's trying to be like Lady Gaga but fails. I don't know where to start...it's all just a huge mess and she needs to hire a stylist- stat! 

 

Overall the show was a little rough around the edges but then again I think I am just getting older and not really amused by all the new faces in the music industry. I do appreciate amazing talent and I think Beyonce and Gaga brought that to the table! THANK GOD for real talent. 

Realizing things....

This week, I have seen an old student of mine out and around campus. (Let's call this student Mary). Every time I see Mary she is happy and enjoying the day. It reminds me of this time last year when Mary was starting school in my class and having the hardest time with the big transition into kindergarten (and I mean HARD TIME). All year we bonded and became very connected. Now that summer has past and the school year has begun, it's such an amazing feeling to see this student flourishing and doing so well! Not only that, but she and I always say hi, walk to the playground, and play at recess. She always makes me smile! This week, I came to realize what it would feel like to care about your own child one day. I care for Mary so much it made me think of things. I got a small feeling or glimpse of what I think it'll be like to have a child of my own one day, and I can only imagine what parents feel when it's the real deal. Having kids is something I see in our near future plans and thanks to Mary it has made me so happy for that dream to come true one day! 

On another note, my mom went back to California today. She and my step-dad have been here visiting for 2 months. I got so used to having them here and near by me that when I took them to the airport today I got really sad. My heart sunk and I realized how much I loved having them so close. It was a great visit with lots of time spent together. We did some fun things and had good laughs. They plan to come out again in February (possibly). I can't wait. I miss them already.

WHAT?!?! Hanna got kicked off?

I am a big time fan of  The Glee Project on the Oxygen channel. It's a talent search show for the next Glee star and it's amazing. There is a group of  young adult actors/singers/dancers and they are some of the boldest and most talented kids I've seen on TV in a long time. They blow the Idol kids out of the water (that's just my opinion). 

So, last week the fun, bright, witty, talented, related-able, real, hilarious, brave, girl named Hanna got kicked off the show. It was a shocker! I was rooting for her since the beginning. I really wanted her to be there in the end because I felt like she could add a lot to the cast of Glee. I will miss watching her perform and sing. Now, I am VERY curious as who could win the spot on Glee. One more show until the finale show. I am at the edge of my seat!!! 

This is Hanna. I'm not worried, she'll get a gig b/c of this show!

A little paint and window coverings!

Ok, we got our act together and made a change in our master bedroom this weekend. Here's the before and after pictures! 

Here is the BEFORE....

Added is the new window coverings... the green stuff is painters tape.

We picked out the new color and got to work! 

AFTER: our finished product! We are thrilled with the results.

My feelings on.....

This is how I feel about summer ending tomorrow....

   This is how I feel about meeting my new class of kinders and their families!

I teach at a year-round-school and we start tomorrow in our classroom and with meetings. The kids come to school August 1st....wish me luck!

Be Our Guest!

THE O'CONNOR'S CAME TO STAY!!!

 

My niece is 3 yrs old and so much fun on her visit to Maui with her mommmy and daddy!

She came to visit us and we did so many fun things that the week went by too FAST!

Some highlights were...

* We watched Beauty and the Beast and found that we both looooove to sing along to Be Our Guest! 

* I introduced her to Enchanted and she's now a fan of that movie, like her aunty! 

* We swam at the Grand Wailea for 2 days non stop.

* We went frog hunting at night. Not to kill them but to spot them with flashlights.

* Enjoyed some rainbow sorbet. After we ate all of our dinner of course!

* Had a all round great visit!!!

Things going on....

I'm keeping this posting short and sweet. Busy enjoying my sweet time of summer break... school is starting up soon ... =( SAD FACE aka not ready for it. 

Dinner.for.my.parents.

 

My mama taught me how to set a table.

Our guest room is all set! 

Sophie girl is still looking cute these days!

My bucket is full :)

I like to think of  happiness like a bucket that gets full when I experience true bliss....

This month I have felt like my bucket is over flowing....and here's why:

My husband and I moved into our new house and it wasn't just that, but the loads of help and support we got from both our parents. My husband's parents painted and laid the flooring for our entire home and worked non stop for 5 days. They continue to come over and help get projects done. My parents have also been amazingly generous. They are constantly lending a hand to get the finishing touches for our new nest and my mom is great at doing small tasks that take up a lot of time. The support and love we've gotten from them have been overwhelmingly great and I don't know how to thank them! 

As the summer began in May, I began working 2 days a week at a new salon in Wailuku. It has been SO MUCH FUN! I am so grateful for meeting two new fabulous and kind friends. These girls are always telling me they love me, they appreciate me being there, and all I can say is NO, THANK YOU! It's been so much fun that I don't want it to end. I get that lump in my throat thinking about it. I am loving the time I spend there and the best part is I got two new friends out of the experience. Priceless!

This summer I also started a tutoring "company" with my friend Jessica. It has been so fun and rewarding. The kids who have joined our sessions have been sweet, focused, and a joy to work with. I am so thankful to Jessica for opening up her home and letting the tutoring sessions take place there. I feel like I have gotten to use my skills to help kids learn and also bond with Jessica as the summer rolled on. We have gotten to hangout more and more. Not to mention she has two VERY cute little boys who I love to hang with as well. 

I've noticed I have been relaxed and I think it's important for me to stop, notice, and aknoeledge that this is what happiness feels like for me. Or how I like to say by bucket being full. 

There's more on my horizon that is looking up as well. My brother and his family are coming to visit and stay as our first house guests! Also, I am focused and working on a healthy lifestyle to get some lbs. off and I've hired a personal trainer to help along the way- who I love. Not only that but, I got my mom to workout with us ans she's kicking butt! 

***Thank you to all my blog readers and followers! It's means a lot to me!***

Until next posting.... :) 

~Gina 

...The....4th....

The 4th of July 2011... aka the first holiday we spent in our new house!

Here is Dwightster (my step-dad) teaching my nephew a magic trick. Once Dylan got it down he went around and did it to every person at the BBQ... love to see that Dwight's tricks still work!

My mother in law made a fabulous cookie cake for the BBQ! I asked for it and she made it! It tasted so good and looked awesome!

Beach Day on the 4th.... we were happy campers with this as our view! I am in love with the clouds in this picture. I took a deep breath at this moment and it felt good!