I attended our quarterly meeting last night and once again, it has rekindled my love for Thirty-One.  It always does! Getting together with other women to talk story, share ideas, and motivate each other is so uplifting and encouraging and is one of the many reasons I'm still with them. The free amenity is also a bonus (PERK!).  This time we got a monogramed necklace by JK, a new line coming to Thirty one very soon. 

Now, on to the PURSES! I'll be honest and tell you at first glance I wasn't thrilled about the new Jewell line. They LOOKED nice, the price points were less than your department store purses. But not all the bags really appealed to me. 

Then I earned my free kits and purchased some of the products at the consultant sale (PERK!). After using them for a few days, I fell in love with the line.  There are a few bags I have some gripes with. But overall, the Jewell line is actually a pretty fantastic one. The bags themselves are not HEAVY like most purses can be. They have lots of pockets (my favorite thing about Thirty One bags), and they make bags in different sizes and colors. .

My favorite I've seen so far? The mini Diamond district. I earned mine for free with the help of my team (PERK!). Yep, I didn't pay a nickle for it!  This bag can hold a LOT without turning into a bulky mess. It has two outer pockets. One slip pocket where I keep my iphone. The other fold over flap pocket with magnetic closures. The interior comes with two open pockets that can hold your phone, a calculator, a packet of kleenex and lip gloss, and a pen. (to give you an idea of whats in my bag). I carry two kindles, my all about the benjamins wallet, a small notebook, another flat wallet, my hardsided eye glass case, a small tube of lotion, and a few other small things.  Yes, this petite bag looks deceiving. Even I was shocked. 

The handles are very sturdy and the perfect size to carry on your arm without getting in the way when you use the shoulder strap (included). This is currently my daily bag. 

The Street Style
When I first saw this on the video I turned my nose up at it. I saw this last night and felt bad for being so negative about it before I gave it a chance.  I'll be ordering TWO of these for our trip to Europe. Although I have MANY cross body purses in my arsenal, none of them have the look of this jewell purse. It just looks and feels like an expensive purse without breaking the bank. 

There are two large compartments which zip completely shut. In between those two compartments is a pocket that has a magnetic closure. On the opposite side of the bag is a handle. You can carry this as a clutch without the straps or use that to hang on tighter to your purse as you wear it when traveling (which is why I'm ordering these for our trip). Inside there is one interior zipper pocket and two credit card slots for your bare essentials. 

The bag and strap is lightweight. For full figured women like me, crossbody bags are not something we run to because it's not the most flattering (on my body anyway). This bag hangs nicely and is not too bulky yet big enough to carry everything you need when on the go.

The Paris
When I got this in my consultant add on kit, I absolutely loved this bag. I still do. With the Mini Diamond District bag now in my clutches, this bag is now in storage, for now. This is a super cute bag that also can hold your bare necessities. It's tall and narrow with one magnetic closure at the top. Because this bag does not zip all the way shut, you can load this one up with extras if you needed. The handles are very strong and this bag does come with a shoulder strap also. I prefer to carry this by the handles. It looks cuter that way.

I loaded this bag up and it held up well. My only gripe is if this bag decides to take a fall in your moving vehicle, the contents of your bag WILL spill out all over the floor of your car.

It comes with open pockets inside and all Jewell bags have button snaps where you can customize EVERY bag and interchange pockets. That's pretty cool!

If you have time next Saturday, Feb 21st, stop by Leeward Community College and check out The Great Malunggay Festival and Parade! Food food food! Games and entertainment! I can't wait to check it out!

I’m going to start from the beginning and walk you through my evening. I had a Tupperware dinner meeting so to kill time I went to get a nice long pedicure before dinner since I had some time to burn.  I had a few hours to burn. I was in a dress that hugs every curve and really cute shoes I got at Kohls. I was feeling purty!  After our dinner meeting, I ran upstairs to the movie theater to meet my family. They already bought my ticket and told me the theater was more than half full. I got there just in time. My son ran out to hand my ticket over.

We hurried into the theater so we could take our seats. The previews had begun but the lights were still on. Mom saved me a seat on the end and we were seated near the bottom half of the theater.  She moved her purse and I plopped my butt down on the chair and my ass was nearly touching the floor with my knees high up near my chest.  The fricken chair was busted. I’m in HEELS, a tight dress, clutching my mini diamond district purse, and BURST OUT LAUGHING.  I’m half yelling to my mom, “OH MY GOD! you guys gave me the BROKEN CHAIR! what the hell is wrong with this thing. I may as well as sit on the cement! “  We all burst out laughing in the already noisy theater. My mom insisted on changing seats with me. Finally, my son went to get popcorn (free with a coupon, of course!) so I took his seat next to my sister. I still could not stop laughing.  None of us could.

That’s when my son noticed my dress. It was a criss cross top and being well endowed, my cleavage was being obscene and distracting. Even to ME!  So, I had to macgyver my dress since I didn’t have a safety pin. I was using a gold coffee bag clip. It blended into the dress so unless you were really looking there, you probably wouldn’t see it. However, my son did. So, if you want to see that funny video he took, look for us on Vine. That whole scene was uploaded there. Thanks kid.  Now..on to the movie.

I’m sure EL James knew that turning this book into a movie could be lethal. Every person who has read it has their interpretation and ideas of what the movie should “look like”. Christian Grey looks different to every person who reads the book. Well, I saw the movie last night and regardless of all the very bad reviews out there, I actually enjoyed the movie.

The people they chose to portray Ana and Christian were close enough for me. Dakota Johnson (daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, what?!) did such an amazing job of bringing Ana to life. After leaving the theater I wondered how her parents must have felt with all that nudity. Well, knowing who her parents are now, perhaps it wasn’t as hard to explain to Dad about her next gig? It’s a job. LOL

Back to the movie, I promise NO SPOILERS. First, obviously the book is MUCH better and deeper than the movie. It was a much softer version of the actual book but still conveyed the story very well. Once you get over the imagery of the main characters and put the one you had in your mind aside, the movie was very enjoyable. Reading the words on a page, you are left to create the sound of the dialogue up in your mind as you read a two dimensional story.  I didn’t realize how funny the interactions between them was until I saw it being acted out.

For those who read the book, it was really hard to get through some of the scenes without remembering the thoughts running through Ana’s mind.  I found myself searching for the words from the book. The electricity she felt through her entire body. Her quivering thighs from a simple kiss or touch of his fingertips. You can’t “show” that kind of stuff on film which is why I love the book so much. As a reader, you ARE Ana. You’re in her head. Not a spectator.

I thought Ana and Christian had great chemistry on screen and they were fantastic together. Dakota Johnson was amazing as Ana. The Ana that was in my head was gone within the first few minutes and she became her.  Jamie Dornan as Christian was just so-so.  I had a hard time getting over that one. It took me longer to let go of “my” version of Mr. Grey as the movie progressed but by the end, just like the book, I was so into the movie that I forgot what I pictured him to look like and he became Mr. Grey.  Regardless, Mr. Grey was still smoking hot! 

I will not spoil the film for my blog readers. I will say this, go see it. Open your mind and get rid of what you think the movie should be and allow yourself to be immersed in the version in front of you. Then go home and read the book(s) again. The devil is in the details. The one detail I thoroughly enjoyed was the way Christian wore his JEANS in the red room. ugh...Go back and read the book again! LOL  You’re going to want to. Enjoy! 

P.S. the soundtrack is AMAZING and I’ve already purchased it on itunes. haha! 


The theaters will be full so I highly recommend you get your tickets online and get them early. This was promoted to be released on Valentines Day. As you can see, it "came" early. 

UPDATE: 3/2/15
After meeting someone who has participated in BDSM activities, it gave me a different outlook on the Fifty  Shades excitement and made me realize something. When the movie first released, in fact, even when the book became a best seller, I found many reviews completely bashing EL James’ work.

After speaking to those who actually lived the life or participated in the real thing, I saw how they could detest the book and movie so much. This reminded me of how many of us out there do NOT participate in BDSM and will never have a full understanding of what it is or how its practiced other than what is put out in the main stream. For most of us, it will always be a “fantasy”.  Which explains WHY her book was so hot.  She may not have been the first author of erotica books. But hers hit the right nerve (or the right connection) and “exploded”  on the scene.

All of the stifled women of the world and those who would NEVER think of being tied to a bed and tortured with sex acts could live vicariously through this book. In reality, BDSM is nothing like the way its portrayed in the book or movie. NOTHING.  I, of course, am not speaking from experience. I am speaking on behalf of those who have shared their experiences with me. It enlightened me and I felt it should be shared.   No matter what your woman tells you, there’s an inkling inside of her that wants to be tied up and submit all power to you.  Just THAT alone, is erotic and sensual and requires complete and 100% of trust.

Why do I love Fifty Shades so much? For one, I don’t care about the premise of the story or if the depiction of BDSM is real or not. For me, it’s not reality, it’s a story. We watch movies to escape ourselves and let our minds stop “thinking” for 2 hours and just be absorbed in what our eyes are seeing. That’s what Fifty Shades is for me. I can read it and watch it and just take it all in. Even if it is just fiction. 

This is one of my favorite tagalog movies. Not just cause I love Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion, but the scenery of Santorini, Greece is amazing. It was this movie that made me want to go see Europe. :)

Get a head start on the mid month sale for February! Cute stuff in time for you Easter Fans! Don't forget to check the last page for the 3 piece stacking canister set on sale.

Being this was my very first time getting a passport for my kids, I wanted to share my experience to help others who will need to do the same. We opted to go to the Ewa Post Office on Renton Road because they allow walk ins with no appointment necessary.

If you choose to go to this location, note that they are only open from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. So get there before they open to get in line. The best day to go is a Tuesday from what I was told.  If you are in line and NOT at the window by 1:30 pm, you will be asked to return as they cannot process your application before closing at 2 pm.

This location does NOT have a copy machine so please have all your copies made prior to arrival. There is a credit union next door that will make copies for you for a fee.

Have the following documents ready:

* Application form. You can do them online and print it out: https://pptform.state.gov/FraudAbuseNotice.aspx

*ORIGINAL birth certificate(s). Make copies for yourself. They will be taking the original and mailing it back to you.

*ORIGINAL ID’S or Passports for Identification (Parent and child 16 and over)

*A copy of your ID front and back for each application. If you’re applying for a child 16 and under, both parents must be present. For more details on applying for minors, click here: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/first-time.html

*You will need a passport picture to attach to the application. You can get one made at Longs, Walmart (this is where we went $7.XX for 2 photos), Walgreens, and Costco to name a few places.

The application will tell you where to place the photo and staple. I had mine stapled onto the form before arrival to help make the process faster.

The cost for each passport was $110 (non expedited) and the post office charges a fee of $25 per application for processing.

You can pay for the post office fee via credit card but will need to pay for the actual passport fee by check or money order.  You can view more payment terms here: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/fees.html

For more information on getting a new or renewing a passport, visit them online at:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports.html

To find the nearest passport acceptance facility near you, go here:

http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

I hope this blog helps makes the process easier and less intimidating. Please note that most post offices require an appointment be made. Be sure to read the fine print when looking for an acceptance facility.