Today is Special!

Why? I don't know. Every day is special really. But today is extra special because it is 1-11-11. Did you get to make a wish at 11:11? I did, and I have one more 11:11 to go! No, I will not share what I wished for, so there :)


Now, it's time for some awesome link-ups where I get to answer questions about me. So here goes!

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1. Is there a band/artist that you HATE? 
I don't really like screamo bands/artist. That is definitely not my cup of tea, but I can't think of any band or artist that I truly hate off the top of my head. Hmm...

2. What do you do when you get a gift that you do not like? How do you react?
I get excited about every single gift I get because IDK, I'm just awesome like that. Even if I didn't like something, I'd be incredibly grateful for it. A grateful heart is a happy heart.

3. How is your work office/cubicle decorated?
Well...seeing as I don't work....

4. Do you use all of your vacation every year?
Like I said no work=no vacation. Well, I guess technically it means that I'm always on vacation, but you know...

5. Did you have a real or fake Christmas tree?
Real! I love real christmas trees, but they're so expensive. I think I'll probably invest in a fake one in the early years of my marriage.

6. If you could have anything for dinner tonight, what would it be?
Chili and hot dog and rice. Which is, in fact, what we're having :)

7. Do you bite your fingernails?
Nope. Never have. 

8. How many cups of coffee do you drink each day?
zero. 

9. Do you have a nervous tick?
Uhm...well, I usually get the hiccups really badly whenever I'm nervous.

10.  How often do you vacuum?
Never. My bedroom floor is wood so I just sweep and mop. But when I did live in a house with carpets, I'd vacuum like every week, sometimes even every few days.

---

1. Are you fond of cooking? 

I'm more of a baker than a cook. But I actually do like cooking, kind of. I like it if I have all the ingredients in front of me and ready to go. 

2. What kind of food do you prefer eating when you are out? 

my favorite restaurant of all time is Zippy's. It's a Hawaii restaurant and they serve all kinds of food, so i change up my order depending on my mood.

3. Which do you prefer, sweet or salty?
both!
4. Where is the last place you ate out at?
Golden House Chop Suey for dinner last night!5. What's for dinner tonight?
Chili, rice and hot dog! yum!

Nights Out With the Ladies

Since I haven't kept up with my whole blogging plan thing, I figured that I'd at least share why. And show you who to blame. So here was my weekend in pictures :)

 hiking through a lava tube in the dark. fun stuff

 reached our destination. that means pictures! 

 ashley, alofa, & i

 makaha ward single ladies again :)

 wai'anae wards beautiful single ladies.

 ashley's ice cream!

 i really don't get why we're all still single ladies. it's a crime, really cause we're all smokin' hot.

 this was the best shake i ever had in my life.

 why yes, that ice cream sculpture was delish!

 a stop in la'ie obviously means a stop at the beautiful temple!

 i'll go inside one day...

 saturday night lava flows at buca di bepo!

 my friends are totally hot. hook 'em up!

So yeah, that's why I haven't kept up with my regular blogging schedule. :)

I'd like to thank the Academy...

OMGosh you guys! I got my very first blog award!

How incredibly cool is that? Let me tell you, it is flippin awesome because 1) I've never gotten a blog award before and 2) Well...uhm, I've never gotten a blog award before....

The gorgeous Kalina over at Te Amo Mucho awarded me with The Versatile Blogger award. Which apparently means that I am way super awesome :). Seriously! You all should really check out Kalina's blog, like right now. Because she is awesome. And plus, Kalina is a beautiful name so yeah, just go read it now. Thank you again Kalina! You ROCK!

OK, so now I'm supposed to follow a few simple rules:

1) Thank & Link back to the person who gave you the award (check)

2) Answer 10 questions (almost check!)

3) Pass it along to 7 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy (i don't know who to choose, you are all awesome!)

4) Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award.

Simple, right? Well...except for maybe deciding on just seven blogs to pass the award on to. Can't I just give it to all of you?! Well...maybe I can avoid deciding so soon by answering the questions:

1. Why did you create this blog?

I created this blog as a way to not only put my thoughts and feelings about things out there, but also as a way to find people that I relate to. And I definitely have found many!

 

2. What kind of blogs do you follow?

I follow a lot of crafty people, since I'm getting into the whole crafting thing myself. I just follow whomever I want to follow, if there is just one post that catches my eye, chances are that I will follow you.

 

3. Favorite Make-Up Brand?

I adore M.A.C.! But, trying to buy MAC make-up in Hawaii is crazy, it's so expensive here. So mostly, I use Avon. Which is a very good brand, don't get me wrong, but if I had my way I'd definitely use MAC all day, every day.

 

4. Favorite Clothing Brand?

I love everything Old Navy.

5. Indispensable Make-Up Product?

Mascara or eye liner. I don't need any other make-up as long as I have those two on hand!

 

6. Favorite Color?

green, for sure!

 

7. Favorite Perfume?

Costa Rica by mark. It smells amazing. I've been using it for years, it's definitely my signature scent.

 

8. Favorite Film?

Right now, I'm pretty much obsessed with Tangled, so we'll go with that.

 

9. What country would you like to visit and why?

New Zealand! Homygosh, I am so dying to go there, it's crazy! I've been dying to go there since High School. I love how the Maori culture is so similar to the Hawaiian culture and I'd love to learn more.

 

10. Would you rather forget to put on mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face?

Forget the mascara, My eyelashes are naturally long and curly and it looks like I have mascara on, even when I'm not using it, so it wouldn't make too much of a difference.

OK, I'm passing this award on to:

1. Stephanie at The Odd Duck {she is just awesome, check her out now.}

2. Celina at (Not) So Single {i love reading her adventures in married life. she & her husband are adorable}

3. Lauren at Busy Bee Lauren {she has the cutest style ever & she takes awesome pictures!}

4. 'Ihi at Pupuka Baby {she's the only one on this list that i know personally. she's super awesome and i heart her, so there}

5. Smiling is Good for Your Teeth {she & her fiance are adorable & i love reading all about her wedding plans}

6. Jenny May at The Swede Records {she's super pretty & i just love reading all of her blog entries!}

7. Rachel at Life. {she's super funny & i feel like i can relate to her. idk}

I wish that I could give away 500 billion of these awards cause you are all awesome. But, congrats to those lovely ladies up there & thank you again Kalina!

Pay It Forward

Dudes, I totally missed all linky parties yesterday. Because a) I was too lazy to read through my google reader to find any blogs doing link ups and b) I was gonna do it last night, but instead I opted for a fun night with my ladies. I think I made the better choice :)


I'll probably share our night out later with a Show and Tell Saturday post. Uhm....if I even make one. We're going out again tonight (hopefully) for a dinner at Bucca Di Bepo. Basically, our adventure last night included: hiking through a lava tube and sitting on some cliffs to watch the ocean (at 10:00 at night!), eating the most delicious ice cream ever and talking until 12, around the island trip for the entire night, stop at BYU-H, stop at the temple, Jack In A Box in Kunia, and then finally home at 3am. I am proud to say that I was a total trooper! Stayed up the entire time baby!! LOL


Anyway, I've decided to jump on the bandwagon (I love bandwagons!) and play the Pay It Forward game!

(Isn't this picture the cutest?!)

So basically, the first three people to comment on this post will get the chance to play along with me. If you're one of those three people, I'm going to send y'all something super special (and handmade!). My mind is already brimming with ideas about what I'm going to send you! For sure it'll have a little touch of Hawaii, so, if you want something handmade in Hawaii, be one of the first three to comment on this post.

There is a slight catch. If you do decide to comment here, you also have to (well...if you want to, i guess) pay it forward, meaning post about this game on your blog & do the same for your first three commenters. That way, everyone will have a chance at a little touch of happiness. I don't know about you, but I absolutely adore getting letters or packages in the mail. It helps me to remember that someone is thinking about me. And, if it's something handmade (or purchased) for my sake, it's a further reminder that someone thinks I am awesome. Getting awesome packages from people with awesome stuff included always brightens up my day!

If you are one of my first three commenters, shoot me an e-mail with your address. I promise I won't sell it or exploit you in any way :). My e-mail address is: tayirl@hotmail.com. Short, simple and very easy to remember! I promise that whatever I make for you will be special and unique to you, you'll be in my thoughts as I make it :). 

So guys, are you ready to pay it forward?

Today I Am Grateful For...

friends who always know what to say when I need it.

the scriptures & words of the prophets, that guide me to

the right paths, even when i try to resist.

my comfy bed that takes care of me when i feel icky.

& i am especially grateful for the fact that

I was smart enough to keep journals over the past few years.

It's so interesting to go back a few years to read

& to see what I was like 

& how much I've changed.

I've been keeping journals since fifth grade,

with a few years missing, here & there.

Sixth grade me was especially hilarious.

I was always a very imaginitive kid,

but i'm pretty sure I was borderline crazy in sixth grade.

Seriously.

I thought I was going to marry Harry Potter.

Or at least the dude from Dream Street,

do you even remember them?

Yeah, Jesse McCartney was in Dream Street.
He's the cute blonde one in the grey shirt.

I was going to marry him (I still can, technically...)

The entries changed very little as I grew up.

I mention marrying someone in every journal I own.
Of course, the people have changed over the years.

But it hasn't changed much since 2009 to now.

Which means that I've liked

(or loved, whatever.)

the elder dude for three years now.

WOW. I just realized that. 

Crazy Stuff.

Anyway, as much as I have changed

from the time I was in sixth grade til now,

an almost 21 year old (wow, again)

I've essentially stayed the same person. 

I still believe in love.

I still have the need to be loved

& to love in return.

It's amazing how things can change so much,

but still remain the same.

I'm thankful that through all the changes that have happened in my life,

I've still remained true to who I am.

I still know who I am & what I want,

I'm still me!

(and me is way hilarious. old me, new me. whatever, i am hilarious!)

P.S. Did you keep a journal when you were younger? Do you ever look back at them now and laugh at how silly you were as a kid or are you shocked at how much you've changed since then? Feel free to comment and let me know!

When You Wish Upon A Staaarrr....

Today is supposed to be the very first Wishlist Wednesday. Buuuuttt...I decided that I didn't want to do that. Instead, I'm sharing some of my sewing funness with y'alls!!

A little bit of background on this whole sewing thing, uhhm...I just started sewing on MONDAY! Yep, on Monday. And I've completely finished one project and I just need some backing to finish my other one. Here are some pictures!

This is my finished pillowcase!
I made this baby from a random piece of fabric I found in my room.

It was really simple to make and I finished it in under 1 hour.

This is the start of my blanket/quilt thingy.

I bought these fabric squares from Wal Mart to practice on.

I sewed the squares together in rows of four on Monday night,

then last night, I sewed the rows together.

Now I just need to get backing to make it look more uniform!

my wishlist for wednesday

- i wish that i could afford all the billions of patterns i want to try.

- i wish that i had more fabric to play around with.

oh!  and guess what?!

i won a giveaway for the first time ever!
it was on Students Saving Bucks

& it was for a  Mango Languages Bundle!

I'm so excited to have won!!

Now, I just have to decide which language I want to learn.

I think I'm gonna go with Japanese so that when the dude writes,

I can actually understand his broken japanese :)