Here it is! The official invitation to my birthday do over along with other birthdays for the month of August and September. Come down, have a swim, eat some food, and enjoy your Aloha Friday with us on Sept 12th!

If you have taken my coupon class, I go over using this site to help you do match ups. It's a great free tool for couponers of any level. The best part is, it helps eliminate the searching through ads. Of course, this only matches up to coupons from our Sunday paper inserts and any online printable listed on the site. 

However, it does majority of the work for you. You would then need to match up any other coupons you have in your binder that is not listed. For example, blinkie, catalinas, tearpad, and peelies. If you don't understand the terminology, please come to my next coupon class that will be held in Kapolei. You can RSVP here

This week at LONGS CVS is the time to stock up on hair color. This is just a snippet of what I found using grocerysmarts.com today.

In my one hour class, I will go over how to use the site. You should be visiting this site every week as sales rotate and coupons are usually good for a few weeks.

Enjoy!

My mom sent me this blog last week and I meant to share it then BUT the email did not list the authors name and I wanted to give credit to the original writer.  I finally found him on linked in. I thought it was a great blog providing insight to the usage of Facebook. He hit every nail on the head and as I read his blog I thought, how did he get inside my head???

You can find his original blog here. Please read this first!

AFTER you're done reading his blog, watch the video below. It's HILARIOUS!

The Consortium for Health Safety and Support, a program of the Domestic Violence Action Center, would like to extend an invitation to attend a 2 day conference scheduled on Sept. 8th and 9th 2014.  

This conference is geared towards all people who are interested in knowing more about IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) and how to intervene with those people who are perpetrating as well as suffering from the presence of Intimate Partner Violence in their relationships.  

Social workers, Pastors, Pastoral Counselors, Attorneys, Advocates, Therapist, Psychologist, Psychiatrist and community members hopefully will find the information shared during these 2 days very helpful . 

So please consider passing this flyer on to the people that you encounter in your work and in your personal life.  

Ty and Barb Schroyer have been working with men who are abusive for the past 30 years and were formally employed by the Duluth Domestic Violence Intervention Project, the agency that created the toolkit used nationally and internationally for addressing intimate partner violence. 

We are honored that they have agreed to share their expertise with us and we hope you will take this opportunity to learn successful strategies for engagement with those who do harm to their intimate partners. 

If you would like to attend please reserve a seat as soon as possible.  There is a charge of $30 for both days to help set off the cost of a continental breakfast and lunch.  You can use paypal to pre-register and to pay the $30 registration fee.  If you are in need of further information please contact newhopeleeward.org or call 808-678-3778.

My Amazon reviewer ranking got a nice boost and I am now in the 3,000 range! Cool beans! Many have asked how I have become a top reviewer and get all these free things. First, you need to write reviews. Make them good. Give clear pros and cons with detail. I don't say "it works" or "i love it" without saying exactly why I do. 

Some products may appear to be very cut and dry. But if you think about it from a manufacturers perspective, they want to know what works and what doesn't. Their goal by giving away free stuff for review is to know how to improve their products. Yes, getting it free is a bonus, but I don't allow that to alter my review. If I find flaws in a product, I will state so. Just cause it was free does not make it an automatic 5 star product.

If you are interested in seeing my reviews, you can visit my online profile. If you do, and find my reviews helpful, please vote helpful or not helpful at the end of my review. Helpful votes increase my ranking. I ask that you BE HONEST. If you have found my review not helpful, don't be afraid to vote as such.

I'm all about honesty and sincerity. I don't want my ranking to be a false number. I've stated that in a previous blog. 

Thank you!

To see the items I have received for free this year, click here.

Just a friendly reminder that I will be teaching a FREE coupon 101 class at my place starting at 11 am. The address will be given when you RSVP here

My first Tupperware party (physical and online) will begin at 12:30 pm. We will be demonstrating how to make your own ice cream and will be serving refreshments from Mixed Not Stirred. Maybe this time we'll do the stirring and sipping too! We've yet to try those drink mixes! *wink wink*

If you are unable to make the physical party, you can still join the fun and shop online by clicking here

You can RSVP for the events on my upcoming events page. Please let me know if you will be attending so we know how much food to prepare. Kids are welcome!  Bring your family and friends. We'll have a great time!

I have been getting an influx of awesome products for free this month. I've gotten so many, I had to keep separate email folders to track them all to ensure I completed my end of the bargain and provide my reviews.

Because I was also curious, I actually went through and linked all of the items I have received for Free so far. 
Based on the prices I see today, I've received about $350 of goods for my reviews. I estimated it to be over $500 because at the time, the listed prices on some of them were really high. 

The only thing I don't recommend are the silicone tongs you see below. The handles are silicone but the grabbers are smooth plastic and not very sturdy. It's good for picking up light weight items only. It won't grab heavy products or even spaghetti noodles. The only good things about those tongs is the spring and the lock. It's very sturdy. The rest, not so much.

My favorite product I've received so far has got to be that selfie stick. It's a bluetooth remote control so I can also use that as a remote for my iphone when I have to take group pictures. No more self timer apps and running to get to my spot.

The item I never leave home without is the life charge battery case. It's light weight and provides extra power when I need it.  I'm sure the juicy pack will be 2nd in line. I'm still charging that up and have yet to use it.

We're launching the new Fall Thirty One catalog with a bang! Since I didn't properly celebrate my birthday in August, I'm going to redo it in September. Kids are welcome to come but please keep an eye on your children. 

We will be sampling products from Mixed not Stirred served in nifty Tupperware containers and will have new Fall bags out for viewing. 

Please RSVP by Sept 5th so we can prepare accordingly.  Thank you!!

Losing one pet is difficult. Losing two in the same month, devastating. We put our 10 year old Rottweiler, Xena,  to sleep this morning. She was suffering from an autoimmune disease that was attacking her body from the inside out. First her eyes. She had a decrease in tear production and was slowly going blind. Her skin had issues and we were finally getting it under control with medication and essential oils. 

We noticed over the last few weeks that her back legs would get weak every so often. She was still mobile and got around just fine, just slower. Last night, out of the blue, she just collapsed and lost all control of her back legs. She sat there and didn't move. She tried to lift her upper body up and move and her back legs would not cooperate. We used a large towel as a sling and helped get her onto her elevated dog cot. From there, she didn't move for a while. Later, we found her a few feet away near the front gate. I don't know how she managed to get there. We moved her back on the dog cot for comfort. Looking at her immobile, not knowing if she was suffering from pain, we decided to take her to the vet. Rotts have a high tolerance for pain so they don't wince or whine unless it's really bad. 

We get her to the vet in the morning and I watched the vet do tests on her. Her upper body and mind was completely fine. She was alert and aware of her surroundings. She'd look for us so we kept close and let her know we were there with her every second in the office. As the doctor grabbed her back toes and pinch them, I look at Xena's face. Nothing. She moved her legs around, nothing. Xena was numb. She couldn't feel anything in her legs or hind. The vet said we could run xrays and check her spine. It appears she has nerve issues which explains her paralysis and numbness in her legs. We could then go from there. 

I interrupted her and said, even if we ran all these tests and find it truly is a spinal/nerve issue, at 10 years old, what more can we do for her that will improve her quality of life? That's when the Dr said, that is also another thing to discuss. She's an older dog, with the state that her body is in now, it may be best to put her down considering her age and her condition. I cried. We knew it was time. To let her suffer through more of her issues and immobility at 10 years old would be selfish and unjust to her. 

The night before, our family discussed this possibility. As much as we don't want her to go, we had to do good by Xena. She has given us 9 years of joy, happiness, loyalty, protection, security, and unconditional love. For us to let her continue on like this was unfair to her. What made it extremely difficult was knowing that her mind was still fighting. She was there. She was awake and aware of everything around her. It killed me to say, "We will let her rest."

This time, Shelby was with us. She's 15 now. The previous times we had to put our dogs down, we kept this pain from our children. With her now of age and being the main caretaker of Xena, I gave her the choice to be there. I explained to her that the last sense to go is hearing. Although she may be slipping away, she can hear us until her very last breath. So being there with her, talking to her, petting her, showing her all the love we have for her in her last moments is the best thing to do. To let her know we were not doing this out of anything but love. Shelby agreed to be there.

They took Xena to the back for prepping. We all sat in the room quietly weeping knowing this was it. The moment we have been dreading for the last 9 years. I thought about the day I took Xena and Zeus home. I saw an ad in the paper for two Rottweilers asking over $1000 for both.  It was a military family who couldn't care for them anymore. They had a lot of kids in the household and the older son who originally acquired them (who also had their papers) moved out of the country and left the dogs behind. I went at lunch to meet them.

As soon as I arrived at their house, Zeus' monstrous head was at the door ready to greet me. Xena, right behind. As large and buff as they were, I was in love with them. They were well trained and were awesome with all the kids in the house. They ran around the house in circles and were so excited to play. I spent some time with them and saw their temperament and just knew I had to have them. I asked her how much she wanted for them. She said, "I'll take whatever you want for them. I need them out of here. I can't handle it anymore." I offered her $300 since that was what I had with me and she took it. I ensured the entire family that they would be loved and treated well in my home.

When I got back after work to pick them both up, the kids were crying and devastated that I was taking them away. I got their email and said, I promise to keep you posted on how they're doing. After I took them home, I sent them an email and never heard from the family ever again. I don't even remember their last name to find them. 

Their original names was Dixie and Angus. We changed it to Zeus and Xena. When I got them home, they met Roxie. The three of them got along so well. Zeus and Xena were 1 at the time. Young, vibrant, and barely in their prime. Roxie, was about 9 years old at the time. She had her white muzzle, slow gait, and rarely got excited anymore. These two would run circles around her. But being young and full of life, they brought the youth out of her. Roxie was once again moving around and playing with them. I was thinking of all the happy and fun times Xena had with our family. Her playfulness, her litter, her speed, her agility. She was my mad dasher. 

They wheeled her back into the room flat on the stretcher with her catheter in her right paw. She was strapped down on the stretcher covered in a blanket. They brought a fluffy pink princess blanket to cover her with which was a nice gesture. We all cried as we pet her and I talked to her. I told her how sorry I was to do this to her and to please just rest. She lived a great life. She was an awesome dog, family member, and mommy. I told her no more suffering. No more pain. No more feeling uncomfortable. We spent some time with her before calling the dr back into the room. At one point, I knew she knew what was coming. She started reaching her front paws out towards my husband. It seemed like she was saying, please take me home. We knew doing so, and turning back would only mean more suffering for her. Xena, she was my fighter dog. She was stubborn and tough. She never gave in. We continued to tell her how much we loved her and that we didn't want to watch her suffer anymore. 

When the Dr came back in she explained every step she was taking which was comforting. She flushed her catheter first. She then sedated her which helped relax her. It took a minute or two. Eventually, she rested her head down on Shelby's hand and laid down comfortably. The reality of everything hit me like a ton of bricks.  She flushed her catheter one more time and told us when she was ready to do it. I wanted so badly to say, "No, stop!" but I knew this was the best thing for Xena. She let us know when she was about to administer the dose and slowly Xena fell into her sleep. 

Xena fought every second. She fought for her breath and I couldn't bear to witness this. I just held onto her and continued to pray that God take away her pain and welcome her with open arms.  When she took her final and last breath, I cried out loud and just tried so hard to just think of the happy times with her and not this painful one of having to let her go. The doctor checked her heart and let us know she was gone. A part of me was relieved. She was no longer suffering. No more blindness. No more dry eyes. No more bad legs. No more infections. She was resting in piece. She was at the rainbow bridge playing with Harley and Roxie and my grandparents who I'm sure picked them up in their loving arms.

I covered her in the princess blanket, kissed her one last time, and said good night Xena and good bye. We love you.

When we got home, Zeus was whining at the gate and jumping around in anxiety. How do dogs know? That will always be something that amazes me about them. We walked in the house without Xena. Zeus looked at us and sat back down quietly. He knew. He's been very quiet all day. He hasn't stepped onto his cot that lay beside Xena's. He's been laying on the concrete near the door. When we go in and out he whines. He's heartbroken and sad, I know it. He and Xena have been together for 10 years. His mate is now gone. 

I asked Romel, "Did we do the right thing?" He said yes. We did. If we didn't put her down, her life would be horrible. She cannot walk. She cannot see. Her body was fighting itself. He asked me why I was questioning our decision. I said because watching her slip away, she fought to breathe. Her mind was intact. She was still alert and knew who we were. She was fighting. Romel reassured me, had we done testing, had we taken her back home, she is completely immobile. What kind of life would that be for her? I cried as I cut my vegetables and prepared lunch. I prayed quietly asking God to please ease my mind.

Writing and putting together a video memorial for her has helped me relive the good times with her in her younger years. I again asked myself, why have pets already? Every time one goes, our hearts break and we're sad. I have to keep reminding myself that it's not the destination, it's the journey. Our lives are filled with so much love from our pets. 

Good night Xena girl. You will be missed and you are loved. Rest in peace my smiley girl.

I've had this card for a few years now. Because we "sweep", the APR means nothing to us (In case many of you are looking at how high the APR is on that card).We pay the card off every month. Last night we tried to use the card for groceries and it wasn't going through. I knew it wasn't because we were over the limit, I had just paid the balance off.  This morning I get a text from the Best Buy Fraud alert system asking to confirm if I had purchased $25 for games/arcade. I texted NO and they called me immediately.

We went over all recent charges as well as ATTEMPTED charges which included our grocery trip last night. I was told the charges were well over $500 for this site called Steam Powered games??? I've never even heard of them. Thanks to their sharp security efforts, the charges were caught and my card was blocked which included our own charges last night.  Another win for Best Buy. Not only are they great with security and fraud, I get tons of rewards back by using this card. I never pay for ink for my printer or any other purchases at Best Buy. Because of the high usage on the card, I am an Elite Plus rewards member which means I get free expedited shipping and additional savings on purchases at best buy. Super plus!

The charges will be forwarded to their investigation department and I hope they catch these scumbag leeches who try to steal from the rest of us who work hard for our money!!! 

Thank you Best Buy for looking out!! 

My birthday was spent worrying about my injured dog. My birthday week was spent mourning the loss of his companionship. I'm going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to have a birthday do-over. 

You are all invited!! I encourage you to bring your kids with you! After the difficult week I had for my real birthday, I decided to do it right this time and it fell in perfect timing with the new fall season.

I will also be launching the new Fall Thirty One Catalog.  Eat, swim, wade in the cool water of the pool on the warm balmy summer night and flip through the new catalog. We'll have loads of fun, I promise! We'll have lots of appetizers and dips to try from the Mixed Not Stirred Line too.

When: Friday, Sept 12 from 4 pm to 10 pm
Where: Crosspointe near the Aloha Stadium. We will need RSVP's so we can provide you with the code to enter the gates.

We will be celebrating multiple birthdays and will have some food prepared. You are more than welcome to bring your favorite dish too! Bring your swimming gear and towels! 

I look forward to seeing you all there! It'll be a blast!

Please email me to RSVP to the event. Thank you!!

Heard of it? If you're in Hawaii, probably NOT. My cousin, Johanna, is the only consultant in the state of this new line of mixes. I gotta tell you, IT'S GOOD. If your house is the one everyone seems to always end up at, you need to check this out. Last minute guests? Unexpected company? This could be the grace that saves your face and earns you some awesome cheese points too.

I will be serving some of the dips at my Tupperware Party on August 24th so come down to have some fun and eat some delish pupus. We'll also have a bread made up too so you can sample that as well. I'm hoping to have the cinnabun spread made cause that one is the best one my family loves. Fry up some fresh tortilla chips and dip it in that spread and you're in churro heaven.

Please visit my online party and have a look see. Come down to my place on the 24th and lets have a real PARTY! 

Maria's online party

I'm a commuter. I take the bus to work and am always on the go. I carry my macbook with me daily so I can get work done before I start my day at work, during lunch, and while I wait for my ride in the afternoon. My bus ride to the office is about an hour long. It's a great time to catch up on things.

In order to use my computer, I hardwire my iphone to use as a hot spot. I could connect it wirelessly, but in certain spots the connection will drop. Hardwiring guarantees a strong connection. I would place the phone on my lap while using so I wouldn't drop it or lose it. My lap is all I have as a desk when I'm on the bus. I had an idea and decided to just do it. I don't know if anyone else has done this or if there is already a product on the market out there like this. So, I may have possibly just created a new thing for computer users like me. 

I wanted to find a way to securely attach my phone to my laptop so I could just pick up and go without worrying about where my phone was. I took my armband phone holder which I never used. Why? Because the pocket was too small to fit my iphone and case inside. The iphone had to be "naked". I'm not skinny. So the armband was a little tight on my arm. And, when I was going to the gym, I never needed to listen to music. The music blasting over the speakers was loud enough. I never took it running around the neighborhood because I hate running unless its to chase a bus.

So, I cut the phone holder off of the armband. I then cut the velcro pieces off the band as well.  I used the small velcro piece to attach to the back of the phone holder. I used Aleene's Permanent Fusion fabric glue. Because the fabric is neoprene (wetsuit type material), I used a lot of glue and it took a while for it to bond. I wasn't sure if it would hold so I hand stitched the velcro piece on as well. 

The opposite portion of the velcro was stitched onto that thick neoprene armband and I was concerned that the glue wouldn't hold if I affixed it to my Macally laptop cover via glue only. So, I bought some adhesive backed velcro strips. That also took about a full day to fully set and hold strong on the cover. 

Because this case was meant for an Ipod, not an iphone 5, the holes for wires were only on the corners. I cut a small slit at the bottom in the center for my charger/usb connection and voila! I've made my own hotspot commuter case for my macbook! Now, I can work up until my stop without worrying about gathering my things. I just close the case and go. Woo hoo!

The velcro strips I bought was about 18" long and I cut it to my desired length. When you do this, the little fibers come loose. I used regular white school glue on the edges to keep it from fraying. The little frayed pieces looked pretty funky on my desk. LOL! I won't say it. One more thing, because this was an armband for "running", the border of the case is reflective. Safety first! 

Let me know what you think! 

I can't say enough good things about this place. I have been in and out of this clinic for 19 years. It started back in 1995 with our first two Rottweilers, Cujo and Roxie. They always took great care of them. When Roxie had her litters, they handled everything with the pups. It was a huge task handling 10 puppies. They were always friendly no matter how busy the clinic was.

Through the years, they took care of the many dogs that have become a part of our lives. In 2007, Roxie had growths on her back legs. She could no longer get up. We created a stirrup with a big towel and "walked" her into the clinic. Her mind thought she was walking but her body was not. We knew what they were going to tell us in regards to her situation. Still, we wanted tests and xrays done to confirm what we already knew. 

Roxie had growths on her hind legs. She had other issues as well and although we prepared our minds for what was to come, you're never ready to hear those words. "We recommend to put her down."

We asked a few close friends to be with us. This was the first time we had to go through something like this and Roxie was Romel's dog. She waited for him for 15 months to come home from Iraq. I still remember that day. She saw him get out of the car. She was overweight at the time. Although she could not jump on him, she hopped on her two front legs like a bunny as he entered the gate. She cried and whimpered as he cuddled and hugged her. I couldn't keep a dry eye watching them reunite. Now, we had to say goodbye and I knew it was going to be difficult. We needed our friends who were also close to her to be there.

I still remember it like it was yesterday. They had Roxie in the room waiting for us. As soon as we walked in, I couldn't contain myself. As soon as she heard and smelled us, she whined. She couldn't move anything but her head up and down. I knew she was uncomfortable. We took a few minutes to say our goodbyes. Pet her and kiss her and tell her how much we loved her and it was all OK. When the time came, we all broke down. Romel said, "Thank you Roxie girl. Thank you for 11 years...now rest.." as he held her head and kissed her as she closed her eyes one last time. She quietly went to sleep as we all held a part of her. I wanted her to know how much we loved her and that she was not alone in her last moments. 

We had her cremated privately and her ashes sit with us in the living room. 

2014, we go through the same thing with Harley. This time it was just Romel and I. This time, I was not ready. This time, I was angry. Angry at the careless and ignorant driver who hit him and did not care. I am positive that Harley let out a loud yelp when he was hit. He screams when I accidentally step on his tail. How much more a car! I don't care if they didn't know they hit him. I'm still angry at everyone in my area. Every potential car that moves in my neighborhood. I hope Karma bites them back tenfold for what they did to my dog.

All this anger flowed out in a rage of hot tears down my face as I pet him to sleep. As I called his name softly in his ear. As I tell him it was ok and to sleep.

19 years later, this Vet hospital treated us with the same exceptional professionalism and tender loving care I have grown to expect. Even in my distraught and emotional state, they managed to remain professional and sincere. I don't know how they do it. If I had to do their jobs, I'd be an emotional wreck every day.

The accident occurred 3 days ago on my birthday. We put him down yesterday morning. I picked up his ashes this evening. I sincerely appreciate their efficiency. To have his ashes back home relieves me. Though I'm still completely heartbroken, knowing that he is now finally resting in piece and his remains are back home, I can now move forward with the grieving process.

Thank you Waipahu Waikele Pet Hospital (previously Waipahu Leeward Veterinary Clinic). Your staff and service has and always will be #1 for our family.

We took Harley into our home around 2005/2006 (sometime after Romel came back from Iraq). We estimate he was 3 years old at the time. The original family who bought him couldn’t care for him so my in laws took him in. With a female dog in their home, Harley was a lot to handle. He was humper. So we took him in.  When we first got him, he was a long haired walking Swiffer. We got him groomed and shaved down. He was a cute little dog under all that hair.

By the time we got him he was already crate trained. As with any new dog in a new environment, it took a few weeks of retraining to prevent him from marking our whole house. He was a very attentive dog with super sensitive hearing. He could hear people walking towards the house even when they were 2 houses away. He’d perk up, sit up, then run to the door. He never barked unless necessary.  He was the best house dog.

He got along with our Rottweilers outside. Aside from annoying them with his constant humping, which was the funniest thing to watch, they minded their own business. Harley was a Houdini. He managed to get through and around our gate no matter how much we tried to close up all the gaps. His body was flexible and he was a contortionist.

He escaped more than once. The first few times, we’d go crazy looking for him. We could never find him, but in a few hours, we’d find him sitting at our front door.  So, he was not allowed to go out of the house unsupervised. One time he managed to break through a window and through a screen when we weren’t home. We came home and he was gone. This time, he never came home. We posted signs. We drove around. We asked our neighbors. After 2 weeks of waiting and looking, we decided to accept that he was gone. Dead? Stolen? We never knew.

November 7, 2011, five years later.  I got a call from the humane society.

Ranger: Hello, I’m XXX and I have your male dog.

Me:  Sigh…my Rotts got out??

Ranger: No, I am in possession of a male Lhasa Apso named “Harkey”?

Me: WHAT?!! (I almost fell out of my chair)

Ranger: Yes, is this your dog?

Me: Wait. WHAT?! HARLEY?! You have HARLEY?! WHERE?! Where did you find him?

Ranger: I picked him up in Mililani Mauka.

Me: You don’t understand. He got out of our yard 5 years ago. We thought he was dead. This is like he’s coming back from the dead. Our family accepted that he was gone. Let me just take this all in.

Ranger: Well, his collar has a different name and address. I chipped him and you are the registered owner and your information is what came up on the chip. Do you want him back? He looks like he’s been well taken care of. He looks healthy and fed. The neighbors dog was in heat and he got out of the house.

Me: YES I want him back! What does his collar say?

Ranger: I can only tell you the name. It says “LOUIE”.

Me: I WANT HIM BACK!

There were many times that he managed to pop out the window and escape and each time he’d come back. He’d given us so many scares.

When we got Harley back, I was 7 months pregnant with Emily. I researched Lhasa Apso's temperaments with young children and was afraid that he'd be mean or bite the baby. Based on my findings, Lhasa's dont like sudden movements and I read many stories of the dog biting their kids. I was worried. When we brought Emily home, I let him sleep with one of her baby blankets that had her scent on it. I introduced him to Emily slowly. He would sniff her and watch her. The interesting part of it was, he was very protective of her. He never dared try to nip, growl, or even bark at her. When she cried he would run to her. I had a very different dog compared to the ones I read online. Still, we never left them alone together. We always kept our eyes on them, just in case.

If Emily and I were on our bed and Harley was laying at our feet, no one and I mean NO ONE was allowed to even sit on the edge of the bed until I told him to get down. He didn't allow anyone near us. I was the only one he would listen to without his eyes glazing over into big black marbles.  Emily and Harley grew together. They played together and kept each other company. When Emily would sleep in the playpen as a newborn, he would stand watch over her and sleep right next to the playpen. If anyone came over and picked Emily up, he would follow them throughout the house and sit at their feet as they held her. 

When Emily learned to walk, he would follow her around the house. He would snatch food out of her hands if she wasn't looking and she'd cry. It was like they were siblings. Harley taught Emily how to be gentle. When she'd play outside with the Rotts, they could handle her banging on their sides or even a bump with a toy. They were 10 times heavier than she was and 20 times bigger. When she played with the Rotts it was like watching Darla (from Finding Nemo) play with a fish in a bag. She learned how to pet nicely, softly, and gently with Harley. 

A few weeks ago we picked up another dog. A boston terrier named Jax. His owner was ready to give him up due to constant chewing and nipping at his daughter. When we brought Jax home, he and Harley got along well. They had a few “alpha” moments but nothing we couldn’t handle. We trained Jax to listen to basic commands and potty train him in under a week. He’s never “nipped” at us or Emily. He’s jab at us playfully cause he wants us to give him attention. But never nipped at us with intent to bite. He’s a playful breed. Whereas Harley was a very calm relaxed breed who just liked to hang out at your feet.

The other night, August 3rd, Harley got out again. I didn’t know he got out. I thought he was in his crate when we left for church. When we got back, we saw that he was still not home. It had been almost 5 hours. That was unlike him. I started to worry. I posted it on facebook, instagram and on craigslist. My gut feeling wasn’t good. 

We left the garage cracked open for him to return. We left the porch light and backyard light on for him. The next morning I checked the backyard and there he was.  Curled up in a ball. As soon as I opened the door he got up and hobbled into the house. I knew it. I saw the black marks on his hind leg. He was hit. Romel came to the door and saw his face. He kept saying “his eye. Whats wrong with his eye?” I started screaming, “WHAT?!!!! WHAT?!!!”

Harley turned to me and I cannot get that image out of my head. I won’t go into detail of what I saw but Lhasa’s are prone to this eye issue due to their large bulging eyes. 

He sat down on the floor and didn’t move. I ran into the room and shut the door and kept telling them “I CAN’T I CAN’T I CAN’T. I cannot see him like this. I can’t..What are we going to do?!!! We need to take him to the ER. But who? Where?!” 

Thankfully the Waipahu Leeward Vet Clinic (Now the Waipahu Waikele Pet Hospital) offers 24 hour ER services. Thank God. We got dressed and rushed him there. I had to drive with tears in my eyes because I couldn’t bear to hold him and look at him in that condition. 

After exams, blood tests, xrays and everything under the sun, we thought we could save him. He had multiple small fractures in his pelvis and his eye would need to be removed. We thought he would be ok. His organs were all intact and the adrenaline pumping through his shocked body it was allowed him to make it all the way home. 

After 24 hour observation, they found that although his bladder was intact, his urethra was not. And it is something that was almost impossible to repair. Coupled with his pain and discomfort, our best choice for his sake was to put him down peacefully.

I was not ready to let him go. I left work and met Romel at home. We went down together to say our last good byes and be there for him as he went to sleep for the last time. When the brought him into the room, I couldn’t look at him. Knowing that although heavily medicated for pain, he sat in this broken state for over a day was hurting me inside. As soon as he layed down and I put my face next to his head and called his name. “my harley warley boy” he moved his body and let out the most exasperated sigh and groaning. I knew I had to let him go. He was suffering and I wanted so badly to fix him and take him home. When I heard the groaning and crying come out of him, I told Romel to call the Dr and tell her to put him down immediately. I cannot bear to continue to see him hurt anymore. I want him to rest. I pet him ever so gently. I ran my face up and down his back and kissed his head until the doctor came in. She was very empathetic and gentle. She let us know when she was ready to give him peace.  It was like Harley knew. He tried to get up on the table and readjust himself into a more comfortable position. 

As she pushed down on the plunger she calmly said, “Harley will just go to sleep. No pain. Very gently.” I cried as I kissed him and kept my hand on his body. I was not ready for this. Emily is losing her best friend. I’m losing my companion. And very quietly and calmly he went to sleep. I was shattered. But a part of me was relieved. To know that he is no longer suffering was the only thing that kept me from falling to pieces onto the floor.

Romel stood by me the entire time and we both put our faces near his and told him quietly, “good boy Harley. Go to sleep. Its ok…we’ll see you again. Rest now. Just rest. We’re so sorry….good night Harley boy…its ok….” I continued to let him know I was there by calling him my Harley warley boy. I wanted him to know how much he is loved and that we never wanted it to be this way. 

Letting go is ever easy. It’s always painful. I’ve gone through this before and each time is never easier than the last. As loving pet owners, we made a decision to let our beloved dog go.  

On our way home, I thought, why do I do this to myself. Why have pets? We have three more dogs at home that we’ll have to grieve for when we lose them. Why do we as humans put ourselves through this? 

Because it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. My entire life, I’ve had a dog. I can’t imagine my life without one. 

Harley was my companion when I was bedridden and pregnant with Emily. He guarded us like a rabid dog. No one was ever allowed near the bed if we were on it. He’d go into full attack mode and nothing could break his trance besides telling him to go into his crate. Emily just lost her playmate and best friend.

When we got home, Jax seemed to know something was wrong. He normally jumps around and runs back and forth. This time, he quietly followed me around the house and didn’t make a sound. The entire day he has remained solemn and mellow. No barking. No running. No jumping. No toy playing. He just sat there and watched me sob and cry.  

Is that why the opportunity to take Jax came? Was he meant to be here, now? Because having him here during this extremely difficult time has helped me a lot today.  Emily has asked me “Where’s Harley?” multiple times today and I just tell her that he’s sleeping. She’s too young to understand death. She tells me OK he’s sleeping and then goes straight to Jax to play.  Him being here will never fill the space that Harley has left but his presence is making the grief easier to get through.

I know it’s gonna be a while before I slowly stop feeling the immense pain of losing Harley. Only those who have pets or love animals can understand the sorrow of losing one. For others, they’re just “animals” or “dogs”.  I don’t expect everyone to understand. 

I decided to blog about this now because writing is therapeutic for me. It helps me to get my feelings out and digest it so I can move on.  My hope is that my story and our loss can help others who have just lost a pet. You are not crazy. You are not alone. Pets are family and it’s ok to cry and mourn their loss no matter what kind of animal they are.

We will miss Harley very much. And one day, we will meet again…at the Rainbow Bridge.

The Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge Just this side of heaven is a place called the Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge. 

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together

You can always go to http://longs.staradvertiser.com/ to see the weekly ads if you don't get the Sunday Paper.

There are bic items on sale that match up the $1/2 MQ in todays paper. 

I truly enjoy reviewing products and after years of doing so, I can't believe I'm being recognized for them. So, to continue my love for writing them, I will share the items I receive and my reviews here on my blog. 

I was contacted by a rep from Kazu Trading. This company provides organic products (teas, oriental foods, and the like). I just received my packet and can't wait to try them all. So far, I've tried their genmai organic brown rice tea and it was wonderful! Genmai is one of my favorite types of tea and this one had a really nice smooth flavor with no bite at the end. At $14.29 for a 100 pack set, that's a nice price for genmai. I was buying mine from Marukai and was paying more than that for the loose tea. It's a pain to load in the tea ball and have to clean up the soppy leaves afterward.  This was so much easier and tasted great!

The tea powder in the bag is very fine and steeps quickly. I don't normally drink my tea in a foam cup. For photographic purposes needed to so you could see the color.  My office mug is black.

As you can see in one of the pictures, there is very little sediment at the bottom of the cup. Yay. When I used the loose leaves, I always had a creeper that made it out of the ball and I'd have leaves in my teeth. 

Thank you Kazu Trading for the sample. I will soon be sampling and reviewing the 100% green Matcha tea and organic nori very soon!

Are you ready for the back to school jam? Traffic is going to be a mess next week. I made sure to get my bus pass! For those who need this, I'm posting the 2014-2015 DOE public school calendar. As a working mom, I remember how much I used this calendar to keep track of when my kids were in and out of school. 

Be sure to print, share, and save it! 

I pulled this calendar from the Hawaii Public schools website.