The past doesn't have to hinder me. I can use it to move forward. That's what I am choosing to do. I haven't had a horrible past and all things considering, life is pretty good.
On August 31st, I signed up to be a Scentsy consultant. I'm not looking to get rich or make it a full-time job. I just wanted something to bring in a small bit of income and be able to continue staying at home. Plus, I buy a lot of Scentsy! I don't get a discount on product but I do get a commission. Okay, enough about Scentsy!
Life is crazy busy! School is going well for Annika. Lo is growing like a weed. And, we're enjoying our weekly hikes. That sums up the last few weeks.
a hui hou!
12 September 2011
29 August 2011
Makapu'u Lighthouse
In an effort to be more active, we have taken F3 (forced family fun) to a new level. There are several different hiking opportunities on the island of O'ahu. My husband has always wanted to be an avid hiker. I'll admit that I wasn't too keen on the idea of it at first. I'm not as active as I could be, nor do I want to be. But, I can try and I just might like it, right? So, our first hike was at Waimea Valley to go to the falls. Our second hike was Manoa Valley. Our third hike was a labor of love. We tried twice and failed. We were going to try one last time before moving on to another hike. The third time was a charm! It was definitely worth the wait. The girls LOVED it and the view was amazing!
A little bit of background on Makapu'u Lighthouse: The lighthouse was built in 1909. It was automated in 1974. It's a two-mile paved hike that offers wonderful views of the entire coastline of Moloka'i. Two smaller islands can be seen from the lookout: Manana Island and Kaohikaipu Island. It's a wonderful spot to do some whale watching in the winter months.
The hike was hard and I'm feeling the effects today, but, the reward was worth it. I love to hear Princess Cranky Pants say, "I love hiking!"
What will our next hike be? I can't wait to find out!
A hui hou!
A little bit of background on Makapu'u Lighthouse: The lighthouse was built in 1909. It was automated in 1974. It's a two-mile paved hike that offers wonderful views of the entire coastline of Moloka'i. Two smaller islands can be seen from the lookout: Manana Island and Kaohikaipu Island. It's a wonderful spot to do some whale watching in the winter months.
The hike was hard and I'm feeling the effects today, but, the reward was worth it. I love to hear Princess Cranky Pants say, "I love hiking!"
What will our next hike be? I can't wait to find out!
A hui hou!
25 August 2011
Busy busy bees!
With school back in session, life at the Miller house has been very busy. Homework, school lunches and after school activities, OH MY! I'll get back in to the swing of blogging. I just need to catch up on some sleep. HA ;)
I have a lot to share... hiking trips, F3, etc.
A hui hou!
I have a lot to share... hiking trips, F3, etc.
A hui hou!
08 August 2011
New blogging adventure(but, not)
For the month of August, I'm taking an online blogging class. I'm not new to blogging. I've been blogging for several years. My first blog started at Myspace. It was rudimentary, at best, but it allowed me to share my feelings with the general population.
The topic for week one was blogging goals. More specifically, what are MY blogging goals? I had no vision for my blog other than to record my memories of living in Hawai'i. It's a quick way to keep the rest of the family and my friends updated with the happenings of our lives. Last year was not a good year for me, in the blogging world. I was tired, overwhelmed and not feeling the bloggy love. I plan to change that this year. I realize that I've only got four months left in the year, but I am determined to blog more than once a week. I can do it.
I've already covered what I plan to blog about: my adventures in Hawai'i. Eventually I'd like to expand that to my adventures in baking and cooking. For the time, I'm going to stick with the most attainable goal of blogging about life. The main purpose of my blog will be to keep my friends and family updated on our life. It's so hard to call everyone I know to let them know what's happening. This may be a lazy way of doing it, but I'm not going to feel bad about it. As I've had this blog for two years already, I'd like to think that I'm going to be a long-term blogger because I'm excited about what I blog about(mostly) and I feel like it keeps me connected to the outside world.
I've got a lot to say. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it's not. And, I can't appeal to every reader all the time. But, I'm not dry toast either. I'd like to think I'm somewhat entertaining at times while also being informative. It's a good mix.
I can only hope that I'm bringing a spot of sunshine to someone, somewhere. I'm going to keep blogging until I feel compelled to do something else.
A hui hou!
The topic for week one was blogging goals. More specifically, what are MY blogging goals? I had no vision for my blog other than to record my memories of living in Hawai'i. It's a quick way to keep the rest of the family and my friends updated with the happenings of our lives. Last year was not a good year for me, in the blogging world. I was tired, overwhelmed and not feeling the bloggy love. I plan to change that this year. I realize that I've only got four months left in the year, but I am determined to blog more than once a week. I can do it.
I've already covered what I plan to blog about: my adventures in Hawai'i. Eventually I'd like to expand that to my adventures in baking and cooking. For the time, I'm going to stick with the most attainable goal of blogging about life. The main purpose of my blog will be to keep my friends and family updated on our life. It's so hard to call everyone I know to let them know what's happening. This may be a lazy way of doing it, but I'm not going to feel bad about it. As I've had this blog for two years already, I'd like to think that I'm going to be a long-term blogger because I'm excited about what I blog about(mostly) and I feel like it keeps me connected to the outside world.
I've got a lot to say. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it's not. And, I can't appeal to every reader all the time. But, I'm not dry toast either. I'd like to think I'm somewhat entertaining at times while also being informative. It's a good mix.
I can only hope that I'm bringing a spot of sunshine to someone, somewhere. I'm going to keep blogging until I feel compelled to do something else.
A hui hou!
02 August 2011
Confessions of a Not-So-Perfect Mom
Yesterday was one of those days. You know the kind that I'm talking about. The days that you should have stayed in bed. The days where everything plots against you. The days where Mt. Laundry has a higher elevation than Kilimanjaro.
It was Princess Cranky Pants' first day of third grade. I wanted everything to be perfect. I would make a delicious lunch, all lovingly wrapped and placed neatly in her lunch box and a note inserted wishing her a happy day. That's the only part of the day that I actually succeeded at. It went downhill from there. Getting four kids ready and out the door by 0730 is no small feat. And I'm not entirely sure why I had the lofty goal of perfection.
Confession #1-Two of the four lovebugs were fed prior to leaving the house. In my defense, only ONE of those lovebugs was going to school and my logic was that the others could wait. The bebe was fed and the child going to school was fed. The fourteen-year-old is quite capable of feeding herself and the six-year-old lolly-gagged. This was all remedied upon arriving at home after dropping Princess Cranky Pants off at school.
Confession #2-I have unrealistic expectations about when chores are to be done, especially the dishes. I prefer to have a clean/shiny sink before heading to bed at night(thank you FLYLADY) and I get twitchy when it isn't. But, if I don't communicate that I want it to be done that way I don't have the right to be angry when it's not. So, I did it myself. And while I was slightly angry at first I got over the anger, sucked it up and put on my big girl panties.
Confession #3-I have a love/hate relationship with laundry. I love to do the laundry, but, I hate when it's all brought down on one day. I have a schedule. Laundry days are Monday and Thursday. It may seem crazy, however, I find that it allows me to have some freedom during my days. I don't like to be doing laundry everyday. I like a little bit of variety. I don't even wash diapers everyday! I tackled Mt. Laundry with vim and vigor and not with grace and poise as I should have. And that's okay. Nobody is perfect.
Confession #4- After a particularly stressful day (like yesterday) the last thing I want to do is cook dinner. I think that my husband should do it. As payment for all that I do during the day. I have no monetary compensation, though my payment and benefits are priceless. I am able to do the one job I LOVE to do, stay at home with my kiddos. It's not fair that I expect him to cook dinner after he's had a long day at work too. So, we compromised. We had Subway.
Life isn't perfect. I'm not perfect. I need to stop holding such a high standard and accept the imperfections that make life beautiful.
A hui hou!
It was Princess Cranky Pants' first day of third grade. I wanted everything to be perfect. I would make a delicious lunch, all lovingly wrapped and placed neatly in her lunch box and a note inserted wishing her a happy day. That's the only part of the day that I actually succeeded at. It went downhill from there. Getting four kids ready and out the door by 0730 is no small feat. And I'm not entirely sure why I had the lofty goal of perfection.
Confession #1-Two of the four lovebugs were fed prior to leaving the house. In my defense, only ONE of those lovebugs was going to school and my logic was that the others could wait. The bebe was fed and the child going to school was fed. The fourteen-year-old is quite capable of feeding herself and the six-year-old lolly-gagged. This was all remedied upon arriving at home after dropping Princess Cranky Pants off at school.
Confession #2-I have unrealistic expectations about when chores are to be done, especially the dishes. I prefer to have a clean/shiny sink before heading to bed at night(thank you FLYLADY) and I get twitchy when it isn't. But, if I don't communicate that I want it to be done that way I don't have the right to be angry when it's not. So, I did it myself. And while I was slightly angry at first I got over the anger, sucked it up and put on my big girl panties.
Confession #3-I have a love/hate relationship with laundry. I love to do the laundry, but, I hate when it's all brought down on one day. I have a schedule. Laundry days are Monday and Thursday. It may seem crazy, however, I find that it allows me to have some freedom during my days. I don't like to be doing laundry everyday. I like a little bit of variety. I don't even wash diapers everyday! I tackled Mt. Laundry with vim and vigor and not with grace and poise as I should have. And that's okay. Nobody is perfect.
Confession #4- After a particularly stressful day (like yesterday) the last thing I want to do is cook dinner. I think that my husband should do it. As payment for all that I do during the day. I have no monetary compensation, though my payment and benefits are priceless. I am able to do the one job I LOVE to do, stay at home with my kiddos. It's not fair that I expect him to cook dinner after he's had a long day at work too. So, we compromised. We had Subway.
Life isn't perfect. I'm not perfect. I need to stop holding such a high standard and accept the imperfections that make life beautiful.
A hui hou!
29 July 2011
And it just keeps going...
I've spent the last two days assessing my feelings. As in, I'm wondering if what I'm feeling is normal or if it makes me a horrible mother. I give my Mom kudos. She made this parenting while Dad is at work thing look easy. I'm sure that she had her share of trials and tribulations. And, I'm sure that she "blew up" a time or two. I certainly don't remember those times. I'm not sure whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.
I love my children very much. But, this is hard. Having them together full-time. I know it's doable. I'm not saying that it isn't. And, I don't want to gave flamed for my opinion. I can do it. I have done it. This will pass. I just need to keep telling myself this. It just keeps going and going and going...
I guess what bothers me the most about being a SAHM is that according to *some* friends(or one in particular), I don't have a real job. Well, you can just shove it.
Okay, enough venting. Tomorrow WILL be a better day.
A hui hou!
I love my children very much. But, this is hard. Having them together full-time. I know it's doable. I'm not saying that it isn't. And, I don't want to gave flamed for my opinion. I can do it. I have done it. This will pass. I just need to keep telling myself this. It just keeps going and going and going...
I guess what bothers me the most about being a SAHM is that according to *some* friends(or one in particular), I don't have a real job. Well, you can just shove it.
Okay, enough venting. Tomorrow WILL be a better day.
A hui hou!
26 July 2011
Endless Summer
This is the summer that just won't end. I know that I should be happy that summer is here but it's been such a hard one that I'm ready for it to be done. There was entirely too much travel and too much drama. And not the good kind. I feel like a drama magnet.
I was hoping to post a happy entry with lots of sunshine, rainbows and butterflies. I guess that will have to wait for another time.
For now, I'm back on island and happy to be back. Princess Cranky Pants is home and school starts in a week. I'm going to focus on the positive and enjoy the remaining days of summer with my lovebugs.
A hui hou!
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