Five Things Friday [#8]

Yay!  It's Friday once again. :)  Time for yet another Five Things Friday post.  Inspired by a link up from my friend Erika from Rouge and Whimsy, this post helps to focus on the positive in life instead of the negative by listing five things you are thankful for or five good things about the week.  

1. I'm so thankful that the husband is home for a while.  I forget how wonderful it is to not be the only one to take out the trash, fill up the dogs' water bowl, or run to the grocery store when I've forgotten an ingredient.  It's little things like those that make really put a smile on my face.  Not to mention, the humongous smile on my face and in my heart the other morning, when he surprised me with a very tasty breakfast burrito.  I mean, what more can a girl ask for?

2.  I know I have my moments when I get frustrated living on an island in the middle of the ocean, but this week, I've had several moments when I've looked around and thought, "Man... I actually live here... on this gorgeous island with this gorgeous weather and this unbelievable scenery."  I love when that happens.  And I love that pineapples are grown here so that it's super cheap to make yummy things like the pineapple salsa that I made earlier in the week.

3.  This week also brought on several new sales of hats and scarves to ship out.  Boy, did that ever put a smile on my face!  Not only does it mean that someone appreciated my work enough to buy it, but it also means I get to donate to a local animal shelter!  That really puts a smile on my face!  (In honor of my excitement, I've got a coupon code going until Sunday.  Use SAVEAPET at checkout for 10% off your purchase.)

 

4.  I'm also pretty thankful that I'm still on a motivational high from my new barefoot running shoes I purchased a couple of weeks ago.  I'm still excited to get up and run in the mornings, and I feel myself getting stronger and healthier each time.  Gotta love that.

5.  On Sunday, I'm getting a haircut!  That always makes any week better, and this was no exception.  It's given me something to look forward to, and I can't wait for that "fresh cut" feeling. :)  Yay for haircuts!

Hope you all had an awesome week!

Rovers and Rompers...

Hello all!  Hope you're having a great Thursday.  It's almost the weekend!

I've been enjoying some time with the hubs and the brother-in-law lately, so I haven't really been all about spending time on the computer and blogging.... sorry... 

I did, however, decide to check in today, say hello, and share a story with you. :)

The other day I was running errands with Kent, and we had to stop by the local satellite city hall so he could do something for his cruiser.  That local satellite city hall happens to be in the mall, so I snuck off and went down to Forever 21 to see what I could find.

And I bought something that I said I would never buy.

A romper.

Yep, a romper. (Where the heck did that name come from anyway??)

I put it on just for giggles, and I actually liked it.  Plus, it was so ridiculously comfortable that I couldn't leave the store without it.... not to mention the super awesome sale price it had stuck on it.  Sooo... I bought it and wore it yesterday. 

I made Kent take a few photos so you guys could see.  (Mind you, I am no model.  I was cracking up in half of these as I was trying to "pose," so bear with me... haha!)

 I didn't think it was too bad for running around in 80 degree weather here in Hawaii... cool and comfy, that's what I like. :)

While we had the camera out, I snapped a few photos of Kent and his best buddy.

I know Duke looks out of control in two of the photos, but he had just correctly performed some commands, so Kent was talking in his best high pitched voice and praising him to get him super fired up. :)  I just thought they were too funny not to share.

Then, I had Kent snap some with my sweet buddy Murph.

I love that little guy!

He posed nicely for a few photos, and then he saw a bug or a bird or something out the window, so he wanted down.  Then, this was the face I got...

Priceless...

Til next time!

Yum!

The past few weekends, I've stopped at the Hale'iwa farmer's market on the way to the beach on the North Shore.  Each time I've picked up some jam or bread that is okay to sit in the car for a bit, but each time I've really wanted to get this pineapple salsa that one of the vendors is selling.  

This stuff is soooo good.  I mean I wanted to eat a whole container of it by myself. 

I love pineapple, and I love spicy things, so this vendor's salsa hit the spot.  Unfortunately, it couldn't sit in the hot car while I played at the beach, so I decided I'd hunt around for a similar recipe and make some myself.

I think I found a pretty good one. :)  And I thought I'd share. 

I doctored it up with a little more pepper than what the recipe called for, but you can make it however you like.  Hope you like it!

Pineapple Salsa

Great with just chips or with grilled chicken, pork, or fish.

  

1 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple (I just used a whole pineapple and eyeballed the other ingredients accordingly.)

2 tablespoons finely chopped purple onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped green onion

1 tablespoon finely chopped red bell pepper, optional

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon honey

dash ground red pepper, cayenne or chipotle (This little bit of cayenne didn't get it near spicy enough for my taste, so I kept adding and it turned out fine.)

2 teaspoons finely minced jalapeno pepper, optional

juice of 1 fresh lime, about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Just mix all the ingredients in a bowl, chill for a few hours for flavors to blend, and enjoy!

This recipe came from this website

New Adventures

Well, despite the fact that we've been living in Hawaii for two years, I had not visited Diamond Head, a volcanic crater that is one of Oahu's most famous landmarks.  Since my brother-in-law is visiting, however, we've been doing more "touristy" things, so we decided to drive on over and check it out.  I didn't think there was much to the "hike" up to the top of the crater, but the view was pretty amazing.

I still can't believe that I'd not been up here in the two years we've lived here...

The views are so amazing...

 

The view of the city is especially awesome.

Diamond Head crater was formed about 300,000 years ago during a single explosive eruption.  It really is cool seeing the crater from one of its ridges.

I'm sure I'll be going on a few more mini adventures in the coming weeks, and I'll be sure to take some photos to share.  Hope your week is off to a great start!

Boo!

I know it's not even October yet, but I thought I would get a head start on a little Halloween decor.

I just love Halloween.  It's not necessarily the costumes or candy or spooks.  I think it's just because my birthday is the day before Halloween, and I associate all things Halloween with the happy memories of my past birthdays.  As soon as I start seeing black witch hats, orange pumpkins, candy corn, costumes, spooky spiders, and ghosts, I know that something fun is coming for my birthday.  

Anyhoo...  I made a Halloween wreath that I thought I'd share with you guys.  (Plus, I thought I'd show you how I made it.)

Here it is...

I started out with a few supplies.

(I didn't use everything pictured because the wreath sort of evolved as I worked.)

You'll need a wreath form, orange yarn, black yarn, black ribbon,black glitter foam, and some little foam Halloween decorations (bought or make them yourself).  

Start by wrapping the wreath form with orange yarn.

Then hot glue some pieces of black yarn across the wreath, making sure all lines intersect at one point.  Create the web by tying another piece of black yarn to the center and working your way around, tying to each strand along the way. 

Create a bow out of the black ribbon, and hot glue it on, cut out and glue your foam letters, and add your foam ghosts and bats.  Viola!  You have a super snazzy Halloween wreath!

Hope you guys like it!

New for Fall...

Okay guys... I know I've been mentioning my crochet work for a pretty long little while now.  I was busy trying to get somewhat "stocked" before I formally introduced them.  

Well, I finally decided that now is as good a time as any. :)

Take a look at some of the new hats in scarves you'll now find in my shop!  Christmas shopping anyone?

My sweet friend Sarah was sweet enough to be my model.  Thanks Sarah!

I've been so touched by so many animal stories lately. For example, a couple of weeks ago my family back home in Georgia saw a woman put out a tiny black puppy about 70 feet from the highway as it was beginning to get dark and drive away while the poor pup wondered what it did wrong (how can someone be so cruel?!?)... luckily, my sweet family took it in and found it a home.  I've also been catching quite a few episodes of Animal Cops when I'm stretching after I come in from my morning runs.  All of these things have been speaking to me, so I made a decision.  Ten percent of the profit from anything sold in my shop will be donated to an animal charity.  It may be the Humane Society, it may be the SPCA, or it may be a local shelter.  I'd like to help as many as possible.

With that being said, feel free to browse around my shop and find a special hat or scarf for yourself or one of your favorite people.  If you decide to purchase one, know that you will not only get a nice cozy piece for this fall  or winter, but you will also be doing a little something for some innocent animals. (Note:  This is in no way a guilt trip or something I'm doing just for sales.  I just want you guys to know what I've decided to do.)

If you see something you like, but you don't see the color you're looking for, shoot me an e-mail at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com so I can create a custom order just for you.  :)

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Jack

Hello all!  It's Tuesday and time for another installment of Tail Wagging Tuesday, a special pet feature.  This week my friend Sara let me share her sweet furry guy Jack.  Sara and I met at the dog park in my neighborhood, so I'm super thankful for Jack since he's not only a sweet little guy, but he also introduced me to one of my sweetest friends here on the island.  Here's what Sara has to say about her little guy.  :)

What kind of dog is Jack?  How old is he?
        We're not sure what breed he is, but we think he's mostly Italian greyhound and Basenji. He loves to run, and he's the smartest dog I've ever had. He's also very sensitive. We don't really know anything about Jack before he came to live with us, but we think he'll be two in January. 

Where did you get Jack?  What's his story?
        We had been promising our girls that we could have a dog when we came to live in Hawaii. I knew that I wanted to rescue a puppy that needed a good home. I looked for weeks trying to find the perfect little Curtis family pet. And there he was. The title on his ad said sweet little boy. He was so cute! He had been rescued by a woman who bred beagles, and someone had left him on her doorstep. At the time she had too many dogs, so she couldn't keep him. She brought him over to see if he was a match for our family. He was very scared and needed a lot of love and work, but I knew that he was meant to be ours.

How did Jack get his name?
        He has lots of names, Jack-a-mo, Jaque, big boy, Jack-a-mole. But it's kind of silly how his name came to be Jack. I wanted his name to be Coben, but my husband Jerimy was right, it just didn't fit him. Although I had always wanted a son, but we had two girls. If I'd had a son, I would have named him after my father-in-law Jack. I love my father-in-law very much, and I wanted to be able to honor him by naming his grandson after him. However, that just wasn't meant to be, so Jerimy said, "Well, this is the only chance you will ever have at a boy, so name him Jack."  His little ears perked up when we said Jack, so there you have it... I now have a boy named Jack.

What are Jack's favorite things to do?  Things that make him unique?  Crazy quirks or special sweet things he does?
        He has a million little things that make him him. I could go on forever. Because he has Basenji in him, he yodels, so every time we come home he talks to us and tells us how much he missed us and all about what he did while we were gone. It's really cute. If only he could really talk, I would love to know what he is thinking. When he looks at you, you just know he's thinking something, but he can't tell you.
      He's the best snuggling doggie. He just likes to be with his people. He loves doggie toys of any kind. He loves to fetch his ball and play tug of war. Every night he has to be chased from one room to the other. He loves it! He likes routine and doesn't like to get out of it, so Jerimy has to stay on his schedule every night starting at 7:00. Jack likes to go potty at 7:00, then it's upstairs for his game of chasing, then he waits patiently for the girls to get out of the shower so he can snuggle with them in bed while they are getting their stories read. Then he lays with me while I return emails. At 8:30 every night he must be covered up with his blanket in his bed only by Jerimy. It's so funny to see him wait there each and every night when we're running late in our routine. 

What makes Jack so special to you and your family?  What does he mean to you?
        I love how he goes to each person in the house for what he's needing at that moment. He comes to me to be loved on and  to be taken care of. He goes to Jerimy to playte. He goes to Abby to be fed or petted. He loves to lay with her when she's watching a movie. She rubs his ears and scratches his belly. And he goes to Maggie when he wants to wrestle or needs to go outside to potty. We make her do that a lot.
       He just gives us endless love. If you are in the mood to play, he is too. If you are in the mood to snuggle on the couch, he is too. He's taken a lot of work, but I think that has just made him more a part of the family. He had anxiety really bad when we first got him, and he couldn't be left alone for a second. But now he knows that we love him and that we will always come back for him. 

A big thanks to Sara for sharing her story with us!  I am in need of more volunteers to share their pups or kitties or feathered friends in a Tail Wagging Tuesday feature.  If you or someone you know might be interested, please shoot me an e-mail at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com.  I'd absolutely love to do a feature on your furry or feathered pal!

Rare Treat...

I told you guys last week that I was super excited that my brother-in-law was in town to visit/stay for a while.  I've been trying to give him a feel for the island while still saving the good stuff for when Kent comes home.  Last Friday I decided we would take a drive around the island, stopping off at any points we found interesting.

We headed up toward the North Shore of the island, and we stopped off at one of the beaches locally known as "Turtle Beach."  There, you have a very good chance of seeing a sea turtle basking in the sun.  Since we left fairly early in the morning, I wasn't sure we would see a turtle, but we stopped anyway.  We walked along the shoreline staring into the water in hopes of seeing a turtle.  Then, all of a sudden, I noticed a really bit critter enjoying itself on the beach.  It was a seal... a Hawaiian Monk Seal!!!  One of the most endangered seals on the Earth!  I knew we were supposed to be at least 100 feet away, so we backed away, but I zoomed in as much as possible and snapped quite a few photos as we moved away.

I can't tell you how incredible it was to see one of these in the wild.  Photos do not do it justice.  Knowing that you are so close and watching an animal that many scientists only dream of observing is really, really amazing.  

After the thrill of seeing the monk seal, we continued on along the North Shore, just stopping when we felt like it.  It was pretty cool, and I always enjoy driving that route.  It reminds me of the beauty of the island when I so often get caught up in being here alone in the more populated areas.  

Here are a just a few photos from our tour of the island....

 

Ever see a chicken on the beach?  Well, come to Hawaii, and you will.

Hope you guys are having a fantastic Monday!

Five Things Friday [#7]

I really can't believe it's Friday again and time for another Five Things Friday post.  If you haven't read one of these before, it is a link up to an idea started by my bloggie friend Erika from Rouge and Whimsy.  I list five good things about my week or five things I'm thankful for in an effort to focus on the positive things in life instead of dwelling on the negative. It sure helps me.  You guys should try it sometime.

 

1.  My brother-in-law flew in today to stay with us for a while!  I'm excited to have another human being in the house to talk to, and I know Kent is going to have a great time spending time with his brother when he gets back soon. 

2.  It's been a really productive week for me.  I've finished a lot of crochet projects, and I plan to photograph them this weekend and get them in the shop by the beginning of next week. :)  I can't wait to share everything with you guys!

3.  The house plants I bought a few weeks ago are still alive!  I know. I know.  A few weeks isn't really anything to celebrate, but for me it is.  Usually I kill plants pretty quickly, so this is a good thing for me.  Let's hope I can keep it up.

4.  This might seem like a silly one, but I just saw the movie "Tangled" for the first time the other night.  I watched it with my friend Sarah, and I thought it was one of the most adorable things I'd seen in a while.  It's funny how little things like seeing a cute movie can totally make my week.

5.  As crazy as this may sound, I'm pretty pumped that my calves are so sore I can barely walk.  Last week I was thankful for some new shoes to give me more workout motivation.  Well, I got it.  My new shoes are some of the New Balance "barefoot," or minimalist, shoes.  I got them because both my hubby and one of my brother-in-laws had been running in minimalist shoes for a while, and they had told me about all the benefits.  I did some of my own research, and decided it was something I wanted to try.  It sounded like a great way to strengthen my feet and calves and basically correct my unnatural heel-strike running technique.  I've run in them every other day this week, and I can't tell you how great they felt.  Even though my calves are ridiculously sore, I felt like I had good form, and I really felt good the whole time I was running.  It was awesome.  I definitely have my motivation now.

Did you guys have a good week?  Anything in particular that made your week awesome?

"L" is for the way you look at me...

Happy Wednesday everyone!  

I thought I would pop in today and show you guys a new little piece I created for my entryway. :)

I was procrastinating seeking inspiration for new projects on Pinterest a while back and saw a photo of a similar piece.  I decided to put my own spin on it, and this is what I came up with. 

(Beware:  It's not hung perfectly.  I didn't have enough Command strips, which are my hanging method of choice, so I had to use nails, and it's hard to get those just right.)

It's a four piece mixed media piece, and I think I kinda like it for my house.  I haven't quite decided if I want to keep it in my entryway or if it will be re-homed to the lanai, but either way, it's sticking around.  

I used four 4x6 inch canvases, painted them in my colors, added some gold swirls, painted on some letters, glued on some tiny beads, and hung them up with a ribbon on top.  Viola!

I designed it to be hung as pictured, but I'm sort of debating on hanging all four letters side by side.  What do you guys think?

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Sharpie

This week's special pup belongs to a friend from back home who also happens to be new to the blog-o-sphere. Mary Beth is just starting out with her blog Berry Sweet Branches, so hop on over and show her some love. :)  For now, we'll see what she has to say about her sweet furry friend named Sharpie.

What kind of dog is Sharpie?  How old is he?

      Sharpie is a Shar Pei mix (not sure with what). He is around 4 1/2 to 5 years old.

 

 

 

Where did you get Sharpie? What's his story?

     I adopted Sharpie two and a half years ago from an adoption organization called Reese's Rescues, and he was being kept at the Animal Care Hospital in Lawrenceville, Georgia. I was a sophomore in college and had transferred from the University of Georgia to a smaller college in Alabama to be close to a guy I was dating at the time. The relationship with said guy had become unstable, and on a weekend visit home to my family, I was enjoying my time with them while also keeping the future of the relationship on the back of my mind. I believe Sharpie was a gift from heaven and was sent to be my little guardian angel because almost out of nowhere, I gained a very strong urge to adopt a dog during my weekend visit home. I have always loved animals, and my family had always had a dog along with a myriad of other pets while I was growing up, but at that point in time, there was no friendly pooch around the house. I began searching online, not even sure of exactly what type of dog I was looking for, and I came across Sharpie's profile on Petfinder. As soon as I clicked on the link that brought up his picture and information, I instantly fell in love. I know that sounds cliche, but I literally knew he was meant to be mine. I immediately inquired about him, and as soon as I received the response that he was still available, I was ready right then to go get him. Long story short-- the relationship ended over the weekend, and I decided to adopt Sharpie and move back in with my parents while I figured out my life situation.

      So, on Monday, I arrived at the Animal Care Hospital as soon as I could to meet Sharpie. I was so excited as I sat in the little room waiting for them to bring him in. They told me that six months before when they arrived to work to open up the office one morning Sharpie was tied to the front of their building. They said he had no fur and was covered in fleas, so they took him in and nursed him back to health. I wondered how anyone could abandon him, but the excitement that I had in looking forward to meeting him helped me push those troubling thoughts aside. As soon as he came through the door, he ran up to me with his wagging curly tail, and my heart melted. I could hardly concentrate on the drive home as he rode in my back seat with his cute little bandana around his neck and looking just as happy as I was. I think he knew he had found his forever home.

     This time for me was a real struggle because I had ended a serious relationship, started the process of moving home, and was about to have to make some major decisions regarding school. Sharpie Man (as I like to call him) was right by my side through it all. He seemed to know when I was having an especially bad day, and he could always make me feel better. He really did help me through the struggle by being the most lovable companion, and he encouraged me to go for walks and helped clear my mind. Without him, my life to this point may have been very different.

 

 

 

How did Sharpie get his name?

     Sharpie is the name that the employees at the Animal Care Hospital gave to him, and I really liked it, so I decided to keep it. A lot of the time now we call him Sharpie-Man (especially when he is doing something cute).

 

 

 

What are Sharpie's favorite things to do?  Things that make him unique?  Crazy quirks or special sweet things he does?

     Some of Sharpie's favorite things to do are sleep, chew on bones, do tricks for treats, sleep, be brushed, and sleep :) He loves to curl up and take a good nap, and most of the time you will find him curled up on his bed sound asleep. When he's not napping, he also likes to do tricks for treats. He is one of the smartest dogs I have ever known and knows commands to sit, lie down, stay, come, heel, shake, crawl, take a bow, stand on his hind legs, play dead, sit like a meerkat, and leave a treat until given permission to gobble it up. Sharpie hates water--he will even tiptoe around a puddle outside, but he does perfectly during a bath (kind of strange).  He also hates cameras, so it's hard to get a good picture of him. He has little ears that are the exact size and shape of a Dorito...sometimes we call him Dorito ears :)  And when he growls, he literally sounds like a panther (I wish I had a recording to share). His growl and bark make him sound extremely vicious, but he is one of the most gentle and sweet dogs I have ever known. He also likes to sit on my feet. It doesn't matter if I am sitting or standing, but if I stay still for a little while, he will either sit or lie down on my feet (which is great during the winter). He is also an ice stealer (so he thinks). If I'm getting ice out of the freezer and drop a piece, he will sneak into the kichen (he normally isn't allowed in there), grab the piece of ice, and then jog back into the living room to eat it. It's like he thinks he's getting away with something, but most of the time I drop a piece on purpose just because I want to see him get it. The sweetest and coolest thing he does may be his smile. If I have been gone all day or have had to leave him with a friend for a short time, when I get back, he waddles up to me and literally smiles. His top lip and nose scrunch up where all you can see are his front little teeth, and he only does this in these situations. I love knowing he gets so excited about my return, and I love proving to him that I will never abandon him.

  

 

 

What makes Sharpie so special to you and your family?  What does he mean to you?

     Sharpie is such a special dog to me because he is the first dog that I can truly call my own, and he is my comfort buddy. He has been there for me through so many difficult times as well as the good times. He is such a great companion, and I love knowing he is at the door waiting for me every time I get home. Sharpie Man is such a great companion, and I am so thankful that he is a part of my family.

 

 

A great big thank you to Mary Beth for taking the time to share her sweet story with us!  

 

 

P.S.  I really need some new interviews to keep this feature going!  I know you guys love your furry and feathered buddies, so if you would like to share one of your sweet stories with us, please, please, pretty please shoot me an e-mail at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com.  I'd love to hear from you!

Markets, Beaches, and Burgers

     Yesterday was a bit of a somber day as it was the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.  I watched several tributes on television and a handful of shows about that terrible day, and they all made me terribly sad.  Like everyone else, I thought about where I was on that day, and I remembered watching in my 10th grade World History class as the second tower was hit.  I also remember thinking at that moment that I was witnessing something that would change this country.  Little did I know at the time just how much it would alter the course of my own life. 

     In thinking about all of this, I thought of staying at home all day to watch different coverage of this memorial or that as a sign of respect.  Then, I decided that that wouldn't be the thing to do.  This country is based on freedom, and that's what so many people have been fighting for throughout the last ten years.  I thought the best thing I could do would be to go out, enjoy the day, and enjoy all the freedoms this country provides.  I also felt that enjoying my day that way would be a bit of a symbol of this country's strength and resilience, so my friend Sarah and I went out to enjoy a morning on the North Shore of the island.

We started out at the farmer's market in Hale'iwa.  We nibbled on samples of LOTS of yummy foods, checked out beautiful arts and crafts, and enjoyed the lovely flowers for sale.  I came home with some delicious bread and some coconut-pineapple jam.... Oh so delish!

Our visit to the farmer's market was followed by a little trip to the beach to catch some sun and watch some people surf.  Gotta love a beautiful beach...

After the beach, we were starving, so we stopped at one of my favorite burger places... Kua'aina Burgers.

Sooooooo good!

Yup.... That's a whole half an avocado on my burger. And you know what?  I ate the whole dern thing.  

Oh. So. Yummy.

And yeah, those are our "I'm eating" faces.  Great, right?

All in all, we had a great morning enjoying some of the simple pleasures this strong, resilient country provides.  Hope you all had a nice weekend, and hope your week gets off to a great start!