I just want to share that we just came back from our Vegas Family vacation decked in Thirty One.

I'm thinking about our next family vacation for October 2015. I want a head start on building up our vacation fund. 

Finally! Hawaii has their very own Halloween specialty store! They've been in the old Bank Of Hawaii Space on Ward Avenue since the beginning of the month. I've been so busy and on vacation the past few weeks that I missed this place!

While on the mainland, I noticed tons of Halloween stores all over the place and we never had one except for Party City. We all know what a madhouse that place can be!

Everything Halloween utilizes every square inch of the space. So give yourself some time to sift through every aisle. They have everything you need for Halloween from makeup, accessories, wigs, and full blown gorilla suits!

It was pretty awesome walking through there. The prices are high and you could get it cheaper online utilizing free shipping promos. But when you're in a pinch, and party city is overcrowded, you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

I'm thinking about next year already. If we can purchase large animatronic props through them to save on cost and shipping, it'll be awesome!

Currently, they have a sale on decorations. 20% all decorations. As of November 1st, everything will be 50% off. I didn't hear if they said just deco or everything in the store.

I'm not gonna lie, it can be a little intimidating if you're a scaredy cat. The entry way has large props set up to greet you at the door. Nothing was on (thank god) so I didn't yell on the way in.

There was this corner of the store that made me have to stop and look around before proceeding. It was creepy and I don't recommend bringing little kids to this area.

Even with 20% off decorations, the prices were still a little steep. But based on the quality of the props, I can see why they're not all $1.99. 

The latex heads and body parts were heavy duty. In fact, my hands smelled like they were sitting in a bowl of rubbers when I got back to the office! HAHAHA!! I didn't realize I was touching so many rubber parts while I was in there! Happy Halloween!

This always happens after coming back from vacation. The temptation and ideas of moving.  Being born and raised on an island, you don't get to see or experience what its like to "travel".  Driving anywhere for more than 30 minutes is considered a commute.  I was a Navy Brat and remember traveling all with my family. Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Dana Point, San Diego, and the Phillipines. All before I was 10 years old.

I remember riding on the back of my Dad's motorcycle when I was 9 years old in California. We'd ride for hours. From Santa Ana to Dana Point, to wherever the road took us.  My dad told me, if I felt myself falling asleep, bang my helmet on his back. How could anyone fall asleep on the back of a motorcycle with all the sights to see. And, it was cold. I remember our one trip to Dana Point to overlook the beach was amazing. It was a long but beautiful ride. In California lane sharing is legal. It was scary at first riding between the cars and hoping no one would cut us off. But you got used to it and soon it was nothing to be in between cars in traffic.

The point of that story is that although I grew up here on Oahu, I did live with my Dad for a short time in Cali and after coming back home, I always missed those rides and drives.  Driving up to Tahoe for a skiing trip was one of the most memorable road trips I've ever taken. We played with the radios and spoke to truckers on the way up. It was so much fun!  Then you come back here, to the rock. Where you drive 4 hours, you can only go in one big circle. Life never changes here. It's the same shit different day. The ONE thing that changes is the growth and development on this small parcel of land that only creates more congestion.

Of all the vacations I've taken, this one felt the longest which is odd. Normally, the week whizzes by and you wonder where the time went. This trip, I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could go home.

We drove out to Cali from Las Vegas on Sunday and hit up Disneyland for the day today. It was a nice day and not extremely crowded. It didn't get really crowded until about 4 when people started coming in for Mickey's Halloween Party. We were able to ride all the rides we wanted to with minimal wait times. Every ride was less than 30 minutes! Awesome!

Disneyland now offers Fast Pass.  For my friends who don't know, you go to the ride you want (that is fast pass equipped) and rather than wait in line, you put your park ticket in the machine and it spits out a fast pass for you to come back within a certain hour to ride (usually an hour after you get that fast pass). Nice. We just learned that they offer a child exchange ticket. So at the exit of the ride you wait there with baby and they give you this red ticket. You just go up the fast pass lane and hop on the ride. Had we known THAT earlier, we would've done that for all the rides!

Another thing we learned (because we haven't been here in YEARS!) was that you can bring your OWN food and drinks in the park. No more dishing out $20 for a meal. Technically, you're supposed to go to some picnic area to eat your own grub. But we saw people eating their food all over the park.  The last time we were here we had to hide our musubis and they were confiscating water bottles. Yes, it was THAT long ago.

We had fun and it was a little chilly in the AM and when the sun set. During the afternoon it did get hot and I can only imagine how hot it gets during the SUMMER! I don't think I'll ever come during that time. Not just because of the weather, but because of the lines.

My favorite ride of the day, Pirates of the Carribean. The worst ride, Space Mountain. That ride made me dizzy and gave me a dull headache. It was very loud and disorienting. Emily's WORST ride, Snow white. Her best ride, Finding Nemo. She's definitely a water baby!  For those that ask why I don't ride Splash Mountain, it's cause I choose not to. The first and only time I rode it was with my Dad. I remember his face after we got to the bottom. The water all over his balding head and that big smile and laugh that came out of him as I looked at him with tears in my eyes. Yes, it was fun but I honestly thought I was going to die. I remember he kept telling me, it'll be fun, don't worry. I had NO idea what a big drop that was going to be.  It's the one ride I don't want to share with anyone else but him. So, I just don't go on it. I'd like to keep my memory of that ride with just him. Maybe one day, I'll get back on it. One day.  

The ride looks different now. I remember when we rode it, there was no thorny bush or something at the bottom. You could see the ENTIRE drop from the walkway on the way to the entrance. Now, the drop doesn't look that long anymore. I remember when my Dad took me, we parked in an open parking lot (not a huge garage) and the goofy tram picked us up. There was no California Adventure. That whole area was a parking lot or something. You literally got dropped off right in front of the gates to the happiest place on earth.

We all had fun, will be paying for this after we get home, but the memories will be forever remembered. If only RJ could've been with us. 

What better way to spend my afternoon and evening than with girlfriends?

My awesome friend Robin took Shelby and I around tonight. We had an early dinner at Cafe Rio which was much better than Chipotle. Visited Ethel M's for a quick factory tour and picked up some chocolate to munch on. Then hit up Kohls. Yes!!  Thanks Robin for taking us around tonight. 

After a nice LONG nights sleep, we slept in till about 9 am this morning. YES! Vacation mode!

We had pork adobo fried rice for breakfast and some maple sausage. Yum! Again, LOVE being in our timeshare! Then it was time to hit the road for some adventures at the Bonnie Springs Ranch.

We had a nice time. It was very dry out there and dusty. So a tip for those with kids, strollers are a little hard to push around because the grounds are rocky and sandy. Wear shoes, a hat or visor, and bring your sunglasses. It's super bright out there.  P.S. for my military friends, ASK for a military discount. We got one and paid only $21 for the four of us! Thank you for supporting your troops!

So, we had no idea what to expect. All we knew was it was an old coal mining place that the Ghost Adventures did a show on. So they have shows every half hour from 11:30. There are only TWO actors and they were entertaining. First show was in the Saloon. It was a cute show that kids will enjoy.

Next show at noon was a shoot out and hanging. The actors require audience participation and it was really an entertaining show. 

Last thing we did was the Wax Museum tour. Interesting and quick. Don't expect madame tussauds. But it was still pretty cool.

In between the shows, we walked around the area and took pictures. It was well worth the $21 and we had a nice time. They also have an old tyme photography store where you and your family can dress up and take old time photos.  If you're going for the train ride, it only operates on the weekends and holidays.

It's been three years since we've been back to our timeshare. Our home units. Last year when we came we stayed at the Grandview next to South Point. They each have their pros and cons and I'll list them at the end of this blog. What I want to share first, is what our 2 bedroom unit looks like.

Now, my opinions on the differences between the Grandview and Holiday Inn timeshares.

So, after actually typing out the pro's and cons for both, it's pretty apparent that my favorite property is my home location here behind the Flamingo. 

For us, purchasing the timeshares made no sense to us at first. We felt "duped" the first few years because we NEVER used it. We were very young, in our early twenties to be exact. At the time, it was hard to take off a full week of work. With young kids, it was hard to travel. And we didn't really have the money to take long vacations either.

Now, in our thirties (hitting our forties very soon), and settled in our careers, taking a week off for vacation is a regular thing. Being able to book a timeshare ANYWHERE in the world is such a relief. We never have to worry about where we're going to stay no matter where we go. And we NEVER stay in a hotel, EVER. We always stay in a fully equipped condo. We save tons of money by buying food and cooking at home. It's what we call a TRUE vacation. Where we can relax and do NOTHING if we wanted. Ten years into the timeshare life and we are NOW enjoying the benefits of them. It's awesome.

So, remember my delight when I said Laverne's was here yesterday? I went back today thinking I was gonna get my squid luau fix and I was surprised to see an ez up tent with a few people sitting under it with a buffet line of sorts.  I learned something new today about a business thats right around the corner.

Have you heard of Box Jelly?  It's Hawaii's FIRST Co-working space. I read about these existing in the mainland and how well it has worked for people like ME who run their own businesses and lack corporate space to hold meetings, conferences, and just an "office" to focus on work in.

Britney came out and greeted me and I joined their newsletter. I'm so glad I did because I could use Box Jelly in the future!! I was looking for a space to hold meetings for my friends in the town area and this just might be a great fit. 

Now, back to food. So, Britney told me that they are working with vendors to share co-space with and offer different menus on the daily. For those of us who around this area, eating Subway, Sushi, Mcdonalds, and Bale gets old quick. To have this option is awesome!

Different vendors every day allows us to have a variety of foods during the week. Not only does this help promote Box Jelly and what they do, but our local vendors looking for a place to provide their services. What an awesome collaboration! For my readers, if you or someone you know is looking for a spot to sell their food during the week from 11 am to 3 pm, please contact Britney at britney@theboxjelly.com.  Rabbit Food eateries too. For all the health nuts in the area that like eating leafy greens, no meat, and all organic. :)

What I'd love to see is SAMOAN FOOD.  Palusami and pani popo please. Thank you.

Today, it was Kosrae Inum. Micronesian food provided by the Kosrae Benevolent Association. The complete meal costed me $12. A little steep on the pocket but I figured I'd give it a shot since I've NEVER had micronesian food before.

My entree consisted of BBQ chicken marinated in soy sauce, onion, ketchup, garlic, and citrus juice (lemon/lime). It reminded me of the filipino version called Inasal. It was pretty good!

There was kalua pig and cabbage. I guess every culture has their pork and cabbage deal, huh?  Then there was this long rice dish with cucumbers in it. It was a little spicy and I later learned it's cooked with Kim Chee Paste. At this point, I was wondering what cultural food I was REALLY eating. 

The salad was like a cole slaw with a light dressing. Nothing to scream home about. But see that white log sitting on my rice? That is tapioca. It was FREAKIN ONO! It's like a shaped cassava cake with just enough sweet to satisfy your taste buds. It was a nice counter flavor to the powerful ones on that plate. I wish I had TWO of those.

On the far left is a slew of banana desserts. Banana Pie, banana cake, and banana fritters or tempura as they called it. I asked them what they call it back home and it was Banana Usr. I won't be catching any cramps on the plane tonight with all the potassium in my system now. 

The banana pie crust was really good. It reminded me of the crust of the pineapple pies from Tammy's Polynesian Market in Waipahu. But the filling caught me by surprise. First you taste the banana. Then the strong taste of nutmeg, cinnamon, or clove punches you right in the mouth. I couldn't handle it. The flavor was a too strong for me. So, I picked the crust off and left the filling behind.

The banana cake was tasty but not as good as what my son bakes up. I'm biased. I'm sorry.  The banana fritters reminded of me of my moms. It was pretty good. Nice bite sized pieces that were properly drained of oil. 

Overall the meal was satisfying. I think next time, I'll just get the main dish and no dessert. I wonder if they'll let me just get all chicken next time? Cause THAT, was finger suckin good.

Kulo (Thank you in Kosrae)

I'm driving around to look for a shady spot to park to take a break. I nearly broke my neck and banged a cat crossing the street cause I couldn't believe my eyes! 

LAVERNES!! SHUT DA FRONT DOOR!

I make four right turns and parked my van back in its place. I bolted for the wagon as my stomach rumbled. The only time I had the opportunity to eat Laverne's for lunch was when I worked in Waipahu and it was my mid day solace from being in hell for 10 hours. Yes, TEN!

I was so excited!! I snapped pictures FIRST because I knew I was blogging about this. They told me they've been here for three weeks. THREE?! Where the heck have I been! 

I got the kalua pig and cabbage plate and it's the perfect size portion for lunch. Not too much and not too little. Jussss right ah!

Enough to fill me up without giving me a kanak attack. Sistah still gotta work after lunch till 4. 

If you're in the area, and in the mood for Hawaiian, look for the Laverne's truck parked on Kamani Street near the Bali Aga furniture store.

If BJ were here, he'd be in line too. No ack! 

Good Evening or Good morning wherever you are. I had to run out to the stores to take advantage of the sales before they ended this week and man I cut it CLOSE!!! 

I had to run to Times before they closed and this was the FASTEST and DEEPEST grocery shopping trip I've done in a civilian grocery store yet! I normally take minimum 2 hours to calculate, weigh my savings, and decide what I'm gonna buy. I managed to get this all done in one hour which is pretty amazing because when I'm out for deep savings, I'm extremely picky about what goes in my wagon.  So here's my shopping trip breakdown. For those of you wondering what a "young girl" like me is doing with Poise pads. Never you mind. :)  It was $3.49 and I know people who could definitely use this. 

My breakdowns list the price I paid. Then, the sale price plus any coupons used, if any.Q = coupon
MQ = manufacturer coupon
OOP = Out of pocket

My times Kunia shopping trip tonight.

Poise $3.49. in closeout cart for $4.99 plus $1.50 mq
Bread $2.50 sale no q
Milk $2.19 sale no q
Kraft recipe makers 50 cents each. Stacked $1 store q plus $1.50 mq each
Honey Nut cheerios $2 On sale $2.50 plus 50 cent mq
Trix $1.75 on sale for $2.50 plus 75 cent mq
Herbal essence shampoo and conditioner $1 each. on sale 2 for $5 used $3/2 mq
Gala apples 4.28 lbs $3.81 on sale for 89 cents per pound
Pork butt $6.12 sale $1.39/lb
Gillette Mach 3 razors 99 cents each. Found them in closeout cart for $3.99, used $3/1 mq
Eggs $4.38 on sale no q

TOTAL OOP $35.60

Longs Waipahu shopping trip

Liners - $1.50 each $2 on sale plus 50 c mq
Oral B brush heads - Free on clearance $1.82 plus $5 mq
Floss - 59 cents each. Sale $1.09 plus $1/2 MQ
Halls - 70 cents each. Sale $1.39 plus BOGO mq in longs value book
Ajax soap - 49 cents. Sale 99 cents plus 50 mq
Listerine $3.89. Sale $5.89 plus $2 mq
Downy $1.99 each. Sale $2.99 plus $1/1 mq

I also used rewards. TOTAL OOP with tax $22.28

For those of you in the Kunia area, there were still more Gillette Razors in the closeout cart and many more items. They had about 4 carts sitting there full of stuff including some oil of olay things. I'm not sure how old they are. They were pretty dusty. I didn't see any money maker items in there, but I didn't dig that far in because I was pressed for time. 

The best part, I bumped into an old friend who I rarely ever see and he lives in my area. So much for a small island. LOL! But hello Warfe!!! 

I will continue to share my shopping trips on my blog to help keep my students MOTIVATED and ENCOURAGED to continue to coupon. It really does help!! And remember, don't buy it if you won't use it, eat it, or need it unless it MAKES YOU MONEY! Don't chase sales unless absolutely necessary. I don't want you wasting time and gas to save a few bucks. Cause it's just not worth it sometimes. Besides, there's no need to chase. Just read the ads, match up your coupons, and you're good to go. Just be aware that some really awesome sale items will be wiped out. 

Example: the listerine at longs. It was on sale for $3.99 and there is a $2/1 mq out there making that 1 liter bottle $1.99. Well, the shelves were wiped clean. Was I disappointed? Yes. But, sales will cycle and another will come along again. I could've gotten a rain check. But, it's quite alright. :)

Happy Couponing my Olipasinc-ians!

I was a little worried about the outcome of my day with the moving of class locations and everything worked out perfectly!  

Some students had some problems today and couldn't attend but I couldn't help but be thankful and remind myself that everything happens for a reason.  This person has been eager to learn couponing. She took the day off to attend. It's also her anniversary too. However, her reasons for taking off was for ME. :)  Well, this morning, she had a flat and couldn't make it. What if she had to work today? Then had to deal with a flat? STRESS!

So, the good thing is she was already off and could take care of business. No bad thing in this situation. She gets the whole day to spend with her hubby. I will always have another class.

It was thanks to HER that I was able to finally step foot in the Kroc Center in Kapolei.  It was her suggestion to meet there and teach my class. The place is absolutely beautiful!

We were able to meet in the small cafe near the entrance and the class went smoothly.  Then it was off to Ewa Zippy's to meet my 2 pm class. I had 4 students and another 4 at 3:30 because they were running late.  Thank you Zippy's for not kicking me out and allowing me to hang out there for a few hours. :) 

Tomorrow, I'm hitting up the West side and can't wait. Another beautiful drive along the coast. So lucky I live Hawaii!

Now, it's time to head out for my sons 2nd birthday dinner this week. Happy Saturday!

For those who want to learn how to coupon, pick me!! I'd love to teach you.

Thank you to those who came out today. I appreciate you giving me your time!

As I rode in to work this morning, I thought about the significance of the day. This day 18 years ago, I was a 19 year old newlywed and new mother. I thought back to that very day in my hospital bed surrounded by my close family members and new husband. I was scared, nervous, and had no idea where my life was going. I knew I had goals. I knew that this baby and this new life ahead of me would not stop me from finishing school. But HOW?! How do I do that now that I’m a wife and mom? College was hard before these added responsibilities. Now I’m supposed to do all that PLUS be a wife and mom?

Well, the only way I was able to attain my goals was with support.  My family and my in-laws were a HUGE support system. Without them, my family would not be where we are today. We had financial support with WIC, medquest, even welfare for a short time. It wasn’t easy by any means. Marriage in itself is always a work in progress. There is NO such thing as a perfect marriage and everyone rides the roller coaster. Some don’t make it back up the hill, others do.

I got choked up (yes, on the bus) thinking about my life. In my eyes and in my heart, I am a success. I might not be a millionaire according to the Bank of Hawaii. But my heart and my soul are rich. I am surrounded by love, support, and have everything I need to thrive.

Through the ups and downs, we’ve pulled through and continue to make every day work. I look at my family and I’m proud at what we’ve built. My kids turned out spectacular! They are respectful, obedient, have goals and dreams, and take care of each other. Not just family, but everyone around them. For a family that started out before we were even old enough to rent a car, we turned out ok. We made the right choices, followed the right path, and are still above water. There were times when I honestly thought, ok, this is it. We’re going down like the Titanic and there’s no coming back.  But, we survived. We didn’t go down with the ship.

I want to share my story with you. Because EVERYONE has a story and if I had the time, I’d want to know all the stories out there.  Everyone should share their story. There might be another person, another soul, another family going through what you have and they could learn from your experience(s).  Lift each other up, not kick them when their down. We all have choices. It’s a matter of making the right ones and sticking to it. If life was supposed to be nice and easy, we’d all be rich and happy.

The one thing I reiterate with my kids is to always be thankful for what we have. Cause we have more than others in the world.

Shelby: O M G! SO MANY DISHES TO WASH!!
Me: That means, we have lots of food in our stomachs.

RJ: THERE IS NO MORE SPACE IN OUR PANTRY MOM!
Me: Then we have lots of food and supplies to eat.

Dad: WHO DA HECK ATE ALL MY COOKIES IN THE FREEZER?! AND DEN PUT THE BAG IN BACKWARDS SO IT LOOKS LIKE ITS UNOPENED?!
Me: Your super smart kids.

Be Thankful.

"Sometimes I laugh so hard, the tears run down my leg." - Author Unknown

I had a wonderful time teaching the folks down in Hau'ula yesterday. The area is just beautiful! It took me an hour to get there from Honolulu and the drive was amazing. Here in Hawaii, the traffic here is ridiculous. It takes me one hour or more to get home from work (west bound). And I live 15 miles away!  My one hour drive yesterday was 30 uninterrupted miles of beautiful scenery. Lush green mountains, blue ocean, and roadside white sandy beaches.  At one point, I almost pulled over just to dip my feet in the ocean and feel the sand between my toes. I wanted to seize the moment! But, I had an agenda, so for ONCE I had to ignore my impulses and stay on track.

During my quiet and scenic drive, it allowed me some thinking time. I truly felt blessed and happy. I felt zen and balanced. That's a rare feeling in this stress filled world. I was happy to have such a supportive family that allows me to do this. Happy to have the opportunity to reach out to people and teach them something new. Happy to just be where I am today. I am so lucky. So lucky to be born, raised, and continue to live here in paradise. The cost of living is so high here. Homes are not as big. But to be able to afford to raise my family here and still make ends meet, is truly a blessing.

The new friends and families I meet are what motivates me to do this. Some people have a fear of speaking to large groups. I enjoy it. PHYSICALLY meeting new people and building new connections are what we lack today. People have conformed to the new tech savvy world and we've lost the human touch, the human connection. When was the last time you called a customer service number and got a human being to answer the phone? Sometimes its hard to get a human being to help you in a grocery store!

Back to Hau'ula: After the class, I decided to continue North and come back down past Schofield Barracks on my way home. There is a lot of road work on the freeways at night and the distance either way is the same. The drive home past Turtle Bay, Waimea Bay, Sharks Cove, Helemano Plantation, and Dole Plantation was relaxing. It was dark, but being on a 2 lane highway without traffic congestion and flowing at a consistent speed was bliss compared to the hellish traffic I deal with on a daily basis. Total miles driven: 70

So this evening, I have the pleasure of meeting with an FRG group on Schofield. I miss being an active duty military wife. What I don't miss are the deployments. :) I look forward to serving my fellow Army Wives tonight. HOOAH! 

How would you like to get the Sunday paper full of coupons delivered right to your door? And for 56% off the regular news stand and paperboy price!!

If you'd like to take advantage of this crazy deal, contact me today for an order form. It's a great way to build up your coupon inventory and you're guaranteed to get your inserts by being a subscriber. 

Coupon theft is all the rage now. So if you prefer to get yours from a rack or supermarket, be sure to check your paper before leaving the store.

Eliminate the hassle and have it delivered to your doorstep for the same cost as a box of candy from the corner dollar store! Contact me today!!

Due to the many missed connections thanks to the ever delayed Route 42 bus, I decided to hop on a different bus yesterday afternoon. One that takes me on a different route and a different bus stop to get on my Express bus home.

By the time we got to Fort Street Mall, the bus was completely PACKED to the gills. I couldn't see out of the windows, I could barely hear the automated voice telling me where I was, and worst of all, I couldn't get out of my seat to get close to the door.  For this route, I had to get off the bus somewhere near Fort Street Mall and walk down the street to another bus stop to get on my connection.

Well, because the bus stop was backed up, we stopped near the intersection (our tail end blocking a portion of it), and the driver was letting more people in. At the VERY last minute, I see the lady who rides my bus home jump off! I pushed my way through to look out the window and lo and behold, I missed my stop. I figured the driver would pull up a little more to the actual bus stop and let more people out (or in for that matter) and he didn't. DAMMIT! "Don't panic. Just pull the cord to stop the bus and get off at the next stop. It'll be ok." That's what I told myself repeatedly to avoid panicking. It's 4:10 and my bus is leaving in 5 minutes!

Well, the next stop is about a mile away! Thankfully, there was still a stop before the bus headed down to Kaneohe. But now, I'm at the corner of Vineyard and Pali at the YMCA. O M G! NOW WHERE DO I GO!! Ahh! Don't panic. DON'T PANIC. In my mind, I realized, there are no buses that go down vineyard, per se. I would have to walk two or three blocks down to Liliha to get on the express bus. Or walk back a mile to the Beretania/Pali bus stop (which is the one I was SUPPOSED to get to in the first place).

I pick up the phone and call a technician (co-worker) to see if he was still in town. You wanna talk about the value of a NANOSECOND!? He was right around the corner headed in my direction on his way home. HALLELUJAH PRAISE THE LORD. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Time to bring my heart rate down. So, he saved me from a hell of a long walk in the blaring hot sun, surrounded by downtown traffic without shade (I didn't have my umbrella), and getting home at 6:30 pm.

Even if he wasn't there to take me home, I would've figured out a way to get there. And I would've enjoyed the journey and adventure that the Bus would've taken me. I just didn't want to miss my Ewa Beach Community  Development Organization monthly meeting at 6:30. :)

Now that was a pretty interesting way to end my day. Thanks Tech for the rescue!!

P.S. Note to The Bus management, PLEASE get ALL of the buses in your fleet equipped with GPS. The ones that don't have it are NEVER on time! Your riders VALUE the gps system and the bus app.

I am just a busy bee!!

I was able to secure a coupon class every night this week up until Sunday! And all over the island!

I look forward to teaching in Hau'ula tomorrow evening, a small FRG group on Schofield on Thursday, my fellow peeps in Ewa and Ewa Beach on Saturday and my friends out on the west side in Waianae on Sunday. 

No sked em...GO GET EM! 

Anybody else like learn? CALL ME UP! I teach you!

Yes, I can go from college graduate to sister mary alice in a second! Whatever it takes to be able to get everyone to understand and relate. I do 'yem.

P.S. Thanks to my family for supporting me in doing this. I don't have to worry about who's going to watch the baby, feed my husband and kids, or put them to bed. Cause Lord knows I'll be coming home late every night this week. 

The best part is, we're on vacation next week. So that is my motivation to get it done.

Work hard, play hard. FAMILY TIME! Disneyland here we come!

I just completed one of the most jam packed weekends all year. 

I did a community garage sale at Crosspointe. Not only did I make new friends, I was able to learn and share with many people that stopped at my table. It was a long, hot, and sweaty day, but loads of fun.

Today, I had a triple threat party in Kaneohe and it was extremely muggy. Thankfully, the Harbottles, turned the AC on for me and the essential oil therapy recipient. I had SIX today. Whew! Yes, SIX essential oil therapies all morning. It had me so zen, I was tripping over myself and their Rottweiler, Lia, was completely mellowed out by the oils. I wanted to take a picture but I had my hands full.

After the therapies, I was able to head back out to the garage and help with the bag cash and carry sale. Shared the upcoming sales, and move some old stock off my "shelves".  Then came the essential oil learning power hour. I don't know why, but everytime I do this and I share my story, I can't help but become overwhelmed with emotion and start crying. Especially when I tell people the situation we just endured with my sister being extremely ill and now positively confirmed with Lupus.

After a short break to snack and talk story with our guests, we rolled into the coupon class. The lucky people who came got free gifts and MORE expected via mail. :) 

I just want to thank the Harbottle family for once again sharing their home with me and allowing me to spend my day with them. 

Here comes Monday.....

Recently, the bus has been packed to the gills with riders. Much more people than usual. I figured with the furloughs, traffic would be lighter and the bus would be emptier. It's quite the opposite. Well, traffic has been a tad bit lighter. But stalled cars and accidents on the roadways back it up anyway.

So, I'm working on my projects on my laptop and am so engrossed, I don't even know where we're at on the road. All of a sudden I hear a loud beeping from the bus and it doesn't stop. It continues for a few more minutes and I hear the people next to me mention a weird burning plastic smell. So, we come to stop (I still think we're on Kunia Road). The bus driver shuts the bus down and turns it on multiple times. The whole bus goes dark and then "reboots". Finally, I hear the driver say, "gotta wait fo anaddah bus". I hear the passengers groan. Directly following that, I hear a few people calling their jobs with the "annoyed" tone in their voice. It made me glad that I have a boss who's understanding and I don't have to worry.

So, we all sit and wait. While others were irritated by the delay, I found it refreshing.  I see these same people every morning and we never say a word to each other. The most communication on the bus is a nod, or a quick hi, can you move your bag? Or, can I sit there? At 5:30 in the morning, most people are trying to recoup some rest into their sleep banks from getting up at 4 am.  So, it's quiet in the bus (both coming and going). Being able to chat for a few minutes with these silent neighbors I see every day was nice.

Eventually, another bus pulls up and it's only at this point I realize we're sitting on the freeway median near Waikele!  Everyone files out of the bus to pack ourselves onto other express buses passing our way. Two buses stop for us. I desperately wanted someone to take my pictures standing in the middle of the freeway. But we had to hustle. 

I had to settle for taking pictures of all the action and staying behind the camera this time. So, here are all my fellow bus riders scurrying to one of our rescue buses. That bus in front was already full of riders, so they only had room for a few people to jump on.  Luckily, another express bus was right on his tail and there was room for the rest of us to squeeze in. 

As I made my way in between the parked buses and onto my new chariot (via the back exit door), I looked behind the bus and saw the line of cars waiting for us to load up and move along. For a split second I felt bad for holding up traffic. Not me personally, but our bus.

Then that moment passed as fast as it hit me and I realized, why should I feel bad? WE'RE using mass transit. Something that most people refuse to use or even try because of the fear or inability to be strapped to a bus schedule. So, they can wait for 2 minutes while we shuffle in and out of buses that we now have to stand up in the rest of the way. Heck, we got places to go too.

So, which one do I get one? Holy crap, look at all the people already on the bus! 

So my new position on this express bus was on the stairwell next to the exit door. I looked at the filipino woman near me and smiled and said, "Gosh, I feel like I'm in the Philippines. We should just hang out the sides and sit on top too!" She agreed and we both laughed. 

Some people have issues with being crammed like sardines. In the PI, there is no such thing personal space rule.  They'll stand right up on you if they can. It's all about getting where you need to go.

(Shameless Plug) I had my Thirty-One Vary You Versatile bag inside of my Thirty-One Medium Utility Tote (brand new item coming out in November). I normally just carry the purple bag but I had my laptop and didn't have time to shove it in the bag so I dumped everything into the utility. I have my purse, laptop, umbrella, bags of microwave popcorn, a few pouches of pop tarts, and the morning paper.

The bag fit perfectly under the seat and out of everyones way. This bag is MUCH easier to tote around than the large utility tote. Getting on and off the bus with this bag is a breeze and I can easily just drop my stuff in it. No more worrying about leaving something behind on the bus or at work.  I also have the cover for this bag.  Unlike the large utility tote, this fits comfortably under your arm and you're not jabbing people in front or behind you with the stiff lip of the bag. 

I already foresee this bag being a HUGE hit in November. Especially with the special, spend $35 and get THIS bag for $7! Say what?! 

Here's the view of the back of the bus. Hi friends! Say Cheese, you're on Maria-cam! And there's me in the mirror. HI! 

So as I stood there on my ride in I couldn't help but think of the Aloha Spirit we have here. Not ONE person grumbled about being delayed a few minutes due to our bus failure.

Commuters often have to connect to different buses once in down town. We value every MINUTE and almost everyone wears watches set to "bus time". One or two minutes too late and you miss your connecting bus. That means you have to wait 20 or 30 minutes for the next one. Thankfully, our bus system is so efficient, once your in the vicinity, you can basically catch almost any bus to get you to your destination. And most bus drivers are friendly and helpful. I stress MOST.

So that was my morning. By the way, I managed to walk into work right on time. Can you believe that? Even with a 20 minute delay. Whew! Till my next adventure...

I take "The Bus" to work every day. Did you know that Honolulu's bus system ranks top in the Nation? Yes, it's that awesome.  Not only does the bus save me money, maintenance, and gas, it also keeps me sane. The traffic here is horrible. It takes me an hour to work in the morning and an hour or more on the way home. I live 15 miles away from the office.  The only way to avoid traffic in the morning is to leave at 5 am. I don't start work till 7.  Now, with the bus, I catch the 5:30, sleep for the hour ride, and get to work by 6:40. That gives me enough time to get a coffee or read the paper for a bit.

The cost for a bus pass is $60 a month for adults and $30 for youth. They do have disabled and senior rates as well.  When I drove, it costed me $60-$70 for a full tank of gas every 10 days. Now, I spend about $70-$140 a month on gas, depending on how busy I am on the weekends.  Using the bus, I save almost $3000 a year on maintenance and fuel costs.

By being a bus rider, I get to see and meet different people. I get time to RELAX. I don't have to "fight" traffic. I can read, sleep, snack, car watch (while they crawl in traffic and we zoom by), and just "think". It's kind of nice to have that time to just turn your brain off and zone out.

When I tell people I ride the bus, I often get a negative or surprised reaction. As if riding the bus is a bad or dirty thing. I attribute that to ignorance. They either look down on people who prefer mass transit. Or, they don't know how easy it is to ride the bus. The buses now are much nicer and sometimes cleaner. The express buses are filled with office people not homeless people who don't smell very nice. The express bus takes you straight from your town to downtown Honolulu. If you take the regular routes, those stop at every stop. So obviously those routes will take you 2+ hours to get to town from the West side.  If only more people understood, knew, and would give the bus a try.  After over a year of riding the bus, I dread having to drive long distances. Or even to go to a place where I know parking sucks.

Yeah, driving is so much more convenient, for some. I find riding the bus easier than driving, and its less stress. With the new apps that give you real time information on bus locations and arrivals, using the bus is so easy. I remember when my Grandma memorized the bus time tables and have us hustling behind her scurrying to get to the bus stop on time. Back the, the buses did not have air conditioning. They actually had windows you could OPEN!