"Love that Face. . ."

4.28.10. I am grateful to come home to my hunny bunny's smiling face at the end of each day. . .
Lots of work today, can't wait to get off early tomorrow and be off on Friday. Spent the evening shopping for Luisa's wedding with Bella and Aunty at Windward Mall. Had a nice dinner at Ruby Tuesday's and a very interesting and well-needed talk with Bella and Aunty about . . .many things. . .yikes. Advice I needed!!! And at the end of all of that, I get to come home to my hunny bunny's happy face at the end of the night. How lucky am I?

"Shape It Up!"

4.27.10. I am grateful for exercise, yes I said the "E" word! Here's a picture of me (in my future life). Wow I need a tan! Here's to working out and feeling great about my body!
Yes, I've climbed upon the Exercise band wagon again and am trying to incorporate it in my life. I have to make a change! It has to be now! If not now, when? Starting with 20 minutes of DVD aerobics a day, let's see how it goes. I GOT this!!!!

"B is for Bubble"

4.26.10. I am grateful for bubble baths at the end of a long day.
I love bubble baths and wish I could take them more often. To relax, enjoy and let the day wash off of me. . .at least Sonny can enjoy the bubbles and toys in the tub. Here's to a future of long, enjoyable bubble baths!

"I Know that My Redeemer Lives"

4.25.10. I am grateful for singing hymns of praise to the Lord every Sunday.
One of my favorite things about going to church every Sunday is singing hymns. I love hymns, they move me and strengthen my testimony all the time. I'll never forget when I was at the UH Institute during college and singing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and receiving a strong confirmation that Jesus lives. From that point on, this hymn has been my favorite. I want it sung at my funeral! I love that song and so many others and I love my Savior.

"HI H.O.P.E.S. and Hilina'i"

4.24.10. I am grateful for spending the day working with youth and playing music for youth.
Started the day at work prepping for the Youth Leadership Board and had an awesome meeting with them, got a lot of work down with choosing a name, guidelines and scheduling meetings and trainings. They are so awesome and I'm proud to serve them and with them. They chose the name, "HI H.O.P.E.S." as their Board name (Hawaii Helping Our People Envision Success)-coolio! Then I spent the evening playing music for the volleyball teams, Hilina'i, at their coaches' luau with Na Wai. Great people and wonderful Hawaiian food.

"Pasta Party!"

4.23.10. I am grateful for EPIC's potluck today. . .Pasta Party!!!
Ah, the monthly EPIC potluck, can we say yums? While Fosi and Sonny went off to PCC, I enjoyed a night to myself at home, with the dogs, awaiting the return of my men. Gotta love Fridays.

"Windy, Rainy Days are Always Better with Whipped Cream!"

4.22.10. I am grateful for rainy nights-with hot chocolate, sweaters and kisses to keep me warm.
Ah yes, back to work. . .on a windy, rainy day. Well, at least the day ended with teaching a fun lesson on conducting at the MI Personal Progress night and dinner with Fosi and Sonny at Zippy's. Two hot cocoas and a lot of whipped cream-yes, please!!! So glad my dogs are safe and warm in our room. Snuggling up tonight, hope I get out of bed tomorrow!

"Sick Days. . ."

4.21.10. I am grateful for hanging at home today. . .getting much needed rest and hanging with my dogs.
So I called in sick today and spent the day resting, doing laundry, other tasks at home and chillin' with the dogs. It was a rainy Wednesday and it was nice to be home. Fosi brought me bacon and eggs for breakfast and I took Sonny for a Jamba after school. Off to a Youth Conference meeting tonight and back to the grind tomorrow!

"Brothers and Sistahs. . ."

4.20.10. I am grateful to sing with my sistahs in life and music!
So it was kind of an 'irraz' day at work, but the evening ended well with a massage from Dinah, a delicious and healthy turkey meatball and whole wheat spaghetti meal made by yours truly, meeting with Bella and Lina, the lovely 'sistahs' I get to sing with and share my life with, and 'venting' to a 'brother'. Friends make the hard days good and the good days better. . .

"HA-Y-N. . .FOOD!!!"

4.19.10. I am grateful for Hawaiian food: poi, poke, laulau, lomi salmon? Yes, please!!!
Yes, there's nothing like mea'ai 'ono to get you through a hum-drum Monday when you just feel like you're draaagggiinnngggg along! Posted up the rehearsal video of Na Wai and Katchafire yesterday and it's getting a lot of hits. Monday night was the boys playing tennis while I chilled at home and shopped for the week. Sandwiches were delish!

"Beautiful Sundays. . ."

4.18.10. I am grateful for these Sunday things: men in white-collared shirts and ties, taking the sacrament, Sonny in primary, great RS lessons, no tv, peace and quiet, church friends, great weather and Sunday dinners.
Sunday, Sunday. I love Sundays like these, woke up early, but did laundry, homework with Sonny, scripture study, relaxed and went to church. Sundays are always the most beautiful of the week-blue skies, sun, cool breezes. I often wish I was on a beach somewhere or on another island or driving around the island. I need to visit the graves soon, its been a while. Dinner was ono poi, laulau and poke and then watching the Ten Commandments. Fosi had church meetings and SED. I love that every Sunday sees my husband and son dressed in their Sunday best. So grateful for the gospel, for God's wisdom in creating a Sabbath day-a day of rest, a holy day.

"MAYJAH RAYJAH!!!"

4.17.10. I am grateful to perform with awesome musicians at the Mayjah Rayjah!
It was one of those days-the days where you are grateful and humbled to be a musician and for the opportunities that provides. Started the day shopping at swap meet for the concert, a reggae hat and shirt for Sonny, reggae earrings for me. An awesome 11:30 rehearsal with Katchafire at the Vibe Asylum-first time they played the song and after just an hour, it was tight. LOVE THEM! Headed to the Mayjah Rayjah that night with Fosi and Sonny and just hung out, listened to music, met people, took pictures. It was mellow enough, Peewee and Dinah caught ride with us. We did a decent job with Katchafire singing, "Just You and Me"-wish the mics were louder. Jonah, Lala and Maka came and hung with Sonny side stage. After the concert, Fosi, Sonny and I ate with Peewee and Dinah at Zippy's. It was a great full day!

"Friday Night in Bed. . ."

4.16.10. I am grateful for keeping warm and cozy in bed on a cold Friday night!
Well. . .I was planning to be out and about with a couple of co-workers, but as it turned out, I'm in bed with socks on, a warm blanket and my son and dogs. Throw 'New Moon' and a free Jamba Juice into the mix and it's a pretty great evening after all. The day started off with pan de sal and then I recorded for an emotional and heated OC, but it turned out to be a learning experience. Celebrated Bella's triumphant (but difficult) jury experience with a 'guilty' verdict for a sex offender. Tomorrow is the concert-Katchafire, here we come!!!

"Cookies and Milk. . .not just for Santa"

4.15.10. I am grateful for cookies and milk in bed! Just have to watch out for crumbs!
After a long day at work and working on church stuff, its nice to crawl into bed to watch tv and enjoy a little snack. Lunch time games (name games and song games) add something interesting to the day, as well!

"Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. . ."

4.14.10. I am grateful for my pillow! It's the place I lay my head to sleep, the place I dream, rest and awake to another day! And it's soft!

Ah yes, every woman looks forward to that special moment in the day when she is able to lay her weary head down. Sometimes she lays down with a troubled head, a head full of ideas, hopes, dreams, fantasies, and more likely than not, a plain 'ole tired head that needs rest. My pillow is where I dream every night, and where I lay next to my husband and can gaze over to my dogs and son, so I have a great vantage point from my pillow. Sometimes I don't want to get up in the morning, but I'm grateful that I can and that I have a lot to look forward to and be grateful for. And on my pillow, even with my eyes closed, I pray and give thanks to God for another blessed day and night and the chance to do it all again tomorrow. . .

"I-I-I Love Little Boys. . ."

4.13.10. I am grateful for little boys! (And BIG boys, too!).
Another busy day at work with meetings and the like. Studio was canceled and so we had rehearsal for the concert on Saturday with Katchafire. Rehearsal with them on Saturday morning. We have a few things to fix on the Samoan song, but we'll have to wait until Wendall comes back from Vegas. It was cool to come home to Sonny and TJ riding his new skateboard. I forget how innocent they are and how to appreciate just relaxing and finding joy in playing, just playing. And little boys grow up to be big boys who like to play. . .and I like that, too! :)

"Monday Night at Big City Diner"

4.12.10. I am grateful for spending Monday night's FHE with my Big Boys at Big City Diner-can we say Ms. Teri Burger, Mamasan's Meatloaf and Guava Ribs? Yes, please!

Ah yes. . .Monday, Monday. Already another week I'm not ready for, tired, still tired. Maybe I was a little tired from chatting until almost 2am with my Australian friend down under, Ms. Roni. Left work early and took Sonny to buy $20 worth of whatever (I promised him) and took my boys to Big City Diner, then for yogurt afterward. Yum and double yums! Studio tomorrow night!

"Dinner at the Lemau Fale"

4.11.10. I am so grateful to Keola and Victor Lemau and their keiki for opening their fale to the Ulimas and Parkers tonight for dinner. The company was great, the salmon was off the hook, the kids had a blast and the music was nice. Faafetai tele lava!

Sunday was a day of laundry, homework, preparing for church, preparing for dinner at Victor and Keola Lemau's fale after sacrament meeting. I made mud pie and Sonny and I went to the Lemau fale for dinner. Such a nice family and cute kids, nice house. Austin and his ohana joined us and so did Derek. It was a good evening-lots of 'ono food, kids playing around, a little music and then we headed home. Wished Fosi couldv'e joined us. Maybe next time.

"Pese Samoa!"

4.10.10. I am grateful for another great day in studio, with Bella as the producer, 'pit boss', and my husband and his parents joining us for the first time. . .did I mention a new song laid down, as well?
Another great day in studio, different, cause we did it without Fiji. Bella and Wendall produced, Belz was the 'pit boss' and we were quite productive, I think we did a great job. Fosi, dad and mom were there helping with language. Kawika's daughter, Makalapua, came and then Jeff and Jaci. Derek and his sister, Desiree and niece came. He laid down the guitar again and it was good. The song has really come together, we just have a few more things to tweak on Tuesday night. Now I can enjoy another night of Merrie Monarch! Faafetai lava o le Atua!

"Back to the Studio. . ."

4.9.10. I am grateful for a fun day in studio working with awesome musicians. . .chee huu!
So after months of waiting and weeks and days of trying to fit everyone's schedule together, we finally got back into studio today. Well. . .not everyone. Lina was sick, but Fiji was fine so Bella (who was in a knee brace) and I met with him and we spent the day laying down the music for the Samoan taualuga son, "Siva Siva Mai". Derek came in on his lunch break to lay down the guitar and Laga laid down the keys, Maku from Nesian Nine on the bass. Added a twist to it, we'll lay down the vocals tomorrow and Derek will re-do his guitar, especially the intro (he needed a capo). It will sound really good when it's down. We have a few more things to clean up and Wendall is leaving, then Fiji, geez. . .we gotta get this done! We will, I have faith! Mahalo ke Akua for this opportunity!

"A Needed Day Off"

4.8.10. I am grateful for a day off and waking up late. . .now I know what Ma'a does when I leave in the morning!
So, today was supposed to be a studio day, but with Fiji's gout and Bella's tooth and leg, we cancelled it. But Lina and I got to go over the pese Samoa and I got to my Stake YW Presidency meeting, lots to do before Youth Conference in June. Nice to wake up and enjoy NOT going in to work! Got to eat lots of mochiko chicken from the cancelled session and watched Miss Aloha Hula. So lovely!

"Oh, Danny Boy. . ."

4.7.10. I am grateful for the opportunity we have to collaborate with great local artists like Danny Kennedy of the Mana'o Company.
So I'm still tired from the RFP journey, and I worked like half a day. Left early to prepare for dinner at home with Fiji and possibly Danny Kennedy to go over music and planning for studio. Fiji wasn't feeling well and had to cancel because we want him healthy and whole for studio tomorrow. We pray for his well being cause we REALLY need to finish up this album soon and in a real bang up way. Fortunately, Danny was able to come over for a little while and go over his ideas for the songs we sent him last night. He had some great ideas, we're excited to hear those changes on the album. Its a plus that he's really nice and really nice to look at (I'm just saying!). Had dinner and practiced the Samoan song, 'Siva Siva Mai' with Bella and Luisa. OK, studio tomorrow. . .here we go!!!

"From RFP to Bombay"

4.6.10. I am grateful for a hard working team and the end of a long journey!

RFP is done and we celebrated by going to Bombay, an Indian restaurant. My first time to an Indian restaurant and it was a little spicy and pricey, but 'ono and I enjoyed the company and the nan bread. Lydia, Dr. B, Dayv and Idea treated (bless her heart!). Nice to relax a bit and looking forward to Thursday and Friday off!

"Don't have to be down under to enjoy Aussie food!"

4.5.10. I am grateful for finishing the RFP and celebrating by taking my boys to Outback!

So our long journey has come to an end. . .days, nights, wee morning hours and the RFP is finally done. It could have used a little more tweaking but it's beautiful and we all worked so hard. I was surprised by a mahalo card from Arlynna and I took Fosi and Sonny out to Outback to thank them for all of their support during this time. Whew! Job well done!

"Easter Sunday at EPIC. . ."

4.4.10 I am grateful for burning the midnight oil with hard-working, dedicated people-even on Easter Sunday.
So. . .I spent Easter Sunday at EPIC while my family enjoyed family, food and an Easter egg hunt at home. Arlynna, Dayv, Laurie, Idea, Lydia, Dr. B and I worked on the RFP all day. Lots of food, chocolate and another power Jamba got me through the day. Went home at 1am, gotta finish it up in the morning. Tired, back sorry, need a massage, need sleep. . .back to work tomorrow. Can't wait until I'm off this week! Almost pau!!!

"Wow, I Get a Night Off?"

4.3.10. I am grateful for a night off with Snickers ice cream (notice how much I've been grateful for food lately?)
Worked all day on a Saturday, headed to a short gig at Kaimuki Grill, 6pm. Sang three songs for Davey D's niece and he texted us that he's giving us 4 tickets to Eclipse on June 30! Yeah baby! Supposed to go to 'Hair' with Kalani and the gang, then to listen to D's band at the Shack, but I was exhausted. I stayed home to rest and watch tv and chill with the family. Niu and the gang were over for the weekend, so Sonny was thrilled. Nice to have a night off and enjoy a little R&R.

"Comfy with Comfort Food. . ."

4.2.10. I am grateful for comfort food-it helps me through the stressful days!
Day whatever of RFP hell. . .nah, lots of work, long nights and long days, but hey, it gotta get done! Debbie's birthday today and got to wish her happy birthday. Stayed at work until 2 am. . .*snoring*.

"Next Stop. Zippy's!"

4.1.10. I am grateful for Zippy's to go! 24 hours a day, it's great at 11pm after a loooonnggg day at work!
Another long day at work. Got home at 11pm, after working all day-speaking at a conference, working on the RFP. Took a little break to come home and went to the chapel to visit MI/MII while they practiced for the 'Glee' performance. Another three days of this. . .hope I can make it through the weekend and finish the RFP, maybe go out Saturday night and enjoy General Conference and Easter on Sunday. I'm so grateful for Fosi taking care of things at home and Sonny while I've worked late this week. He bought me dinner at Zippy's and kept it in the microwave for me so I could enjoy it when I got home late-yum! I must admit, I am extremely tired, but I had another Jamba Juice today and I'm watching a DVR'd show right now to unwind, so. . .another blessed day.

"I'm Wild About Strawberries Wild!"

3.31.10. I am grateful for Jamba Juice: Strawberries Wild-helped me get through another 12-hour day at work!
OK, so I've been working looonngg hours because of the RFP and I see another looonnnggg weekend ahead. But, it's worth it. I don't have much to write because it's just been work, work, work. But I do enjoy the little moments here and there, small bits of respite: a piece of dark chocolate, mac and cheese, kalua pig nachos, Jamba Juice, Breyer's Snickers ice cream. . .wow, gee, did I eat ALL of that today? I won't be able to fit in my jeans soon, thank goodness the RFP is due next week!