Welcome to the "Aloha Friday Hop", hosted by What Jean Likes and Local Sugar Hawaii! Aloha Friday Blog Hop is a brand new weekly feature that will run for 6 days and occur every Friday at 12 midnight Hawaii Standard Time. Aloha Friday Blog Hop is a great way to meet new people and learn new things as well as increase your blog followers! So let's have some fun!!
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This is all about sharing the Aloha spirit with other bloggers out there and helping each other to gain some exposure and find some awesome blogs to read!!! You don't have to be from Hawai'i to participate! In fact, we encourage and welcome people from all over the world to join us on this Aloha Friday Blog hop!
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Happy Aloha Friday!
Remember, if someone follows you, follow them back! Show some Aloha!
I came across random old pictures of me as a child. I thought I'd share. Considering I remember every single one of these moments (except for the first picture when I was a baby) is something I'm proud of. Can't believe I'm 30 already. I swear it wasn't that long ago that I was posing for my mom to take these pics!!
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| Wow I look super Asian here!! I was about 8 months here with my older 1st cousins Kalama (holding me ) and Keola. Just a little info about me..I'm very mixed ethnicities. My dad is Hawaiian, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese and my mom is French, Irish and Native American (Lakota). |
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| Me and my little brother Peter on Santa's lap in 1984. I hated Santa that year. Check out my brother's sidecomb!! Haha he looks so much like his daughter! |
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| Playing games with my little brother. This was an awesome day. :) |
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| Being a ham in my Easter hat. I think this was 1986. |
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| This is me around 6 years old. That face of mischief was because I accidentally ripped my picture. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this look on my son's face!! |
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| Gosh I was such a ham! |
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| Me and my brother circa 1989. I don't remember why I was having a brat attack that day. Maybe it's because I cut my brother's bangs so my mom went and chopped mine to teach me a lesson ? haha |
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| Little brother Peter and I with my mom. Love her 80s earrings! LOL |
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| My bro and I on a plane to Seattle. He had just finished having a fit over the flight attendant seating him all alone 5 rows away so they traded his seat for the one next to mine. He was always really good at getting his way! |
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| Me before a hula competition when I was super into hula as a kid. |
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| Me and my cousin/bff Kai!! Love this pic of us. :) |
Just a photo post more than anything else. No deep sentiments or thoughts or rants to post tonight. I'm just too tired to do so!! These photos were taken about a week ago in North Shore Oahu at Laniakea beach. There was a haze from the vog (volcanic sulfur based fog that travels with our south winds from the Big Island to Oahu) that created a neat effect on the sunset. Thankfully the tradewinds are back and my severe vog allergies are gone!! Yay!! Vog creates some nasty allergies for me including sore throat, headaches and light sensitivity just to name a few. I could never cut it living on the Big Island. Still, I'm so thankful to live in such a beautiful place that I will gladly endure the occasional vog with a smile.
When I was taking the sunset photos I caught a glimpse of light through some beach plants that was really beautiful and created the prettiest burst of light that I had to snap at least one photo of it!! I hope you enjoy looking at my photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. :)
I hope you all have a lovely and blessed day!!
I'm up at 3:30 am listening to the sound of the wind blowing tree branches and the sound of the rain hitting the ground outside. It's a comforting and peaceful sound. I rather enjoy it since Hawai'i is usually sunny and bright 3/4 of the year. I must confess that I liked rain more before I became a photographer. The photo above was of the overcast sky the other day. You can see rays of sunlight peeking through the mass of clouds. Very lovely.
I find myself sitting here wondering if what the weather man called "intermittent showers/partly cloudy weather" would linger through the weekend and hinder my plans for photo shoots. I don't know why I can't sleep, probably because like a dummy I decided to work out around 11 pm and gave myself a second wind.
I suspect it will be cloudy in my neck of the woods and sunny in the drier areas so I think I'm going to be driving a lot tomorrow....errr today! How's the weather where you live? I know most of the world is just starting to get sunshine and warmth to relieve them of the cold winter.
Here's a little sunshine on your cloudy or rainy day. These are photos I took last summer. I hope you enjoy them.
Both of the photos above were taken at sunset at Waikiki Beach on the island of Oahu.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend and a Happy Easter!!
I don't know about you, but I've been stressed lately. Even as I'm trying to creatively weave words and phrases to describe my emotions and experiences as of late, thoughts concerning my work and my family are circling my mind. I'm blessed and so thankful for all that I have but sometimes it just takes its toll.
I was going through the motions the other day with being overloaded at work and then on top of it, having to help my son learn something that his teacher failed to impart on him because she's alone teaching a class of 30 students. I honestly don't know how teachers deal with the stress of having all these young minds to nurture and teach especially considering the current economy and the overcrowding at public schools. I don't envy her, let's just say that. Nevertheless, there are days when my son comes home completely confused about what geometric theory he is supposed to apply on his 4th grade math homework. It's frustrating. I don't mind helping him but I'm not an awesome teacher. If I wanted to be a teacher, I would be one. I am not the most patient human being ever to walk the earth. Let's just keep it at that....
It must be hard for my boy to live up to my expectations. I am slowly learning that he is not me and I can't expect him to be amazing at all the things I flourished at when I was his age. It's a difficult lesson for me to learn but it's a daily challenge I'm actually starting to adapt to. He is his own person and though he has many similarities to me, I need to stop trying to make him a version of myself. He is kind, gentle, sociable, funny, determined and sensitive. I too am sensitive but I was rather quiet at his age and devoted all my time then to school work and karate. He is perfect just the way he is and I need to help him learn what he needs to be a strong, smart and independent man without pushing him to be something he's not.
Boys are different and I have to remember that. I think it's hard for me because it's just me and my son. He doesn't have a father to guide him and do the boy things with so I have to be both mother and father. I have to play sports with him and get in the mud with him when he wants to. I have to teach him and read with him and watch sports with him. He has so much life in him and I want him to live it and not miss out simply because I am not married and he doesn't have a "dad". Better no dad than the one that helped me make him (truth be told!). The "donor" (I'll just call him that because he did nothing for my son and left when Alaka'i was a baby) was not what you could consider an awesome human being. Selfish, mean, cruel, pathological, dishonest and violent. Thank God I moved on and away from him before he could hurt my boy or worse, impart his bad behavior and habits on him. Anyway, I'm doing all these boy things with my son and then I have work and chores and all that other fun grown up stuff like making and balancing a budget. On top of that are bills and the ridiculously high cost for groceries and gas costs (literally emptying my bank account). At the end of the day I am left utterly exhausted and feeling like I have no time to do anything I really want.
Such is life. You gotta make what ya' got work!!! I manage it all rather well despite some setbacks here and there. I always feel guilty like I should be spending more time with my son Alaka'i. I think every parent out there can relate to that, whether they work or not. No matter how much you do with your kids, you always feel like you could or should do more. We want the best for our children. That's what makes us good parents. I just re-read what I wrote above and realized I went on a slightly ADD tangent there. Sorry about that!! Chalk it up to the fact that I'm exhausted from my day job and my mom job.
I wish the hours in the day where I'm not working were longer. That way I could spend some awesome quality time with my son Alaka'i and also fit time in to take photos and enjoy life a little.
I actually wrote this blog with the intention of relaxing and "winding down" and posting photos I took about a week and a half ago when I had a few spare moments. It's the first chance I've had to really write and post so here it is. These photos were taken at Wailupe Beach Park in Honolulu, Hawai'i. I am so lucky to live in Hawai'i where the weather is warm and the scenery is beautiful. <3
Enjoy these photos and whether you're stressed or exhausted from work or from being a parent (tougher job than ANY "day" job I've had), sit back and look at these photos and imagine you're on this beach with the drink of your choice, just relaxing. Ahhh..
As day transitions to night, the glowing lights from the hotels and walkways below illuminate the beautiful view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head from my hotel room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Rainbow Tower.
Hello my lovelies!!! Sorry it's been awhile since last I wrote. I actually have been so consumed by my day job that I've had little time for anything else. :(
You may notice some pictures from posts missing. That's because I have transferred my photos to a different website as my hobby is becoming more like a side job and I wanted to better monetize my work. I am in the process now of going back and adding the new links for those photos so my posts don't look so bare.
You can check out my photos if you'd like!! I just started posting them on my photography website and have much to add. I'd appreciate feedback if you would be so kind. Here's the link http://www.whatjeanlikesphotography.com
Thank you to everyone who wrote me or commented asking me where I've been. I am alive and well and about to start back up with daily blogging. I hope you all are having a lovely week!
I've been so busy lately with my day job, I haven't had a chance to post anything. Here's a sunset picture I took last weekend on my birthday staycation. Hawai'i is so beautiful and I am so blessed to live here. I hope you are all having a lovely week. I am working on new posts which should be up tomorrow or perhaps later today.
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This is how I feel today. Tired, worn out and exhausted!
On my way home from a quick jaunt to the store, I noticed that the sun was about to set. It had been so hazy and voggy here the last few days but today was clear with just enough haze to make the sky look like it was glowing. This was a quick snap with my camera in the few moments before the sun disappeared behind the mountain as I stood at the boat harbor at Maunalua Bay in Hawai'i Kai. It's moments like these that I feel so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place, especially during this time of year.
Hope all of you are having a great weekend. I am working on new posts now. In the mean time, here's an "HDR" picture that I took with my iPhone and processed with the Camera+ app. Pretty cool.
Sorry I haven't written in a few days. My friend's mom died unexpectedly yesterday at the age of 51. She had nothing wrong with her that she knew, only a cold. She fell down and died. They're having an autopsy done but it's so sad and tragic that I've been a mess and haven't felt right about blogging my shallow and random thoughts right now. I have to take a few days.
Life is so short, you can die at any second. No one knows when the Lord will come for you. I pray that Jesus comfort her family and all those going through similar situations. If you love someone, tell them. If someone you love isn't on good terms with you, let it go and make it right. You don't want to have them die without the opportunity to resolve any problems or tell them you love them. Life is so short.
Rest in peace Suzanne. I know you're in heaven.
Life is so short, you can die at any second. No one knows when the Lord will come for you. I pray that Jesus comfort her family and all those going through similar situations. If you love someone, tell them. If someone you love isn't on good terms with you, let it go and make it right. You don't want to have them die without the opportunity to resolve any problems or tell them you love them. Life is so short.
Rest in peace Suzanne. I know you're in heaven.
I was spending the day with my mom after a long, hard week back at work. She treated me and Alaka'i to a late lunch at Neiman Marcus Mariposa restaurant. Thanks mom!
I ordered the Laksa Seafood Curry which was delicious and tasty. The dish was full of salmon, clams, shrimp, onions, bell peppers, eggplant and a few more treats and had a light curry flavored sauce. It was not as thick of a curry, actually more of a soupy consistency which I liked because it was light and delicious without being heavy like curry sometimes is. It came with a plate of about a scoop and a half or white rice. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
After this delicious meal I had an illy cappuccino with just the right amount of foam and my mom and I shared a rich and decadent four layer chocolate cake with ice cream and cherry syrup on the side. I only had a few bites because it was so rich yet utterly delicious.
Alaka'i had spaghetti and an ice cream sundae which I didn't have the chance to snap a shot of with my iPhone because he ate it up before I could take a picture. When my boy's hungry, there's no stopping him to take a snap shot. He wants to eat!!
It was a nice break from the hectic work week I've had. I know Alaka'i enjoyed his lunch and treat after having a long few days back at school. (Yay for winter break being over!!)
I don't really shop at Neiman Marcus except for makeup and perfume but it's such a pretty store. I have always loved the long strings of gilded butterflies (fake ones of course), strung from the 3rd floor ceiling and dangling down to the 1st floor. Very pretty and delicate. I like how they seem to sparkle and catch the light. I think they're actually made up of feathers pinned together and spray painted gold. Gorgeous nonetheless.
When Alaka'i was really small we'd come in here once in awhile and he liked to blow the butterflies as we went up the escalator in the store. When they moved, he used to think they were flying. So cute. Even today, I caught a glimpse of him blowing them with that same wonder in his eye. He's so precious to me.
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
All pictures taken with iPhone 4S and Camera+ app.
All pictures taken with iPhone 4S and Camera+ app.
In an otherwise hectic and crazy day for me, I managed to take a minute to take pictures of pretty plumerias blooming on a street nearby. It was a nice break from the wild and insanely busy work day and multitasking that has become a regular occurrence in my life as a single mom.
I spent the first day of 2012 with my son doing fun things that he enjoys since he goes back to school very soon. We went to Dave and Busters, watched an amazing movie called We Bought a Zoo (which I really liked) and drove around taking pictures of random things as we drove.
All the pictures were taken by my son with my Panasonic Lumix camera as I drove through Waikiki during sunset and down by Kahala mall's empty parking lot as the day turned to night. The pictures are quite lovely!! I didn't have my camera with me because I didn't want to carry that bulk around with me to the movies and to Dave and Busters but I'm enjoying the pictures Alaka'i took.
We Bought a Zoo was a funny and heart warming movie. I knew it was bound to be one of those tugs at your heart strings kinds of movies but I wasn't very excited to see it, to be honest. Once I sat down and watched the movie, adults and children alike were laughing and feeling the emotions that the actors did an excellent job at portraying. I highly suggest you see it!!
What have you done so far in 2012? Have you started any of your resolutions yet?
I know it's 2 days late but I've been really busy with my son and squeezing as much fun out of these last few days of his winter break as possible.
It's illegal to pop fireworks in Hawai'i now unless you have a permit which only allows for those little lame poppers you throw on the ground. Because of the large mix of Asians in Hawaii culture, fireworks are kind of a big deal during New Years celebrations. My son loved lighting sparklers and small fountains that shined beautiful light and colors when you lit them on fire. It was never legal to have huge aerial fireworks but just the same, the government kind of killed the fun and excitement of New Years and future 4th of Julys for my son and so many other children like him.
That is why we journeyed to Waikiki and braved the huge crowds of people so he could see some fireworks. It's really lovely and magical to watch a light show in the sky as the new year rings in. There were only a few places doing it and we thought that because it's Waikiki, this show would be the greatest. It was pretty but very much lacking, in my opinion. It wasn't as good as previous shows I've seen there and it went by in about 5 minutes and it was done. Next year I think I'm going to go to Ko Olina on the other side of the island because they had an amazing show.
Despite my disappointment, I managed to get a few pretty shots of the fireworks as they lit the night sky. Thankfully I was fully prepared with my camera all set and ready to shoot. I enjoyed the modest firework show in Waikiki, especially the color of the black ocean at night reflecting the sparkling lights from the fireworks above. All of the displays were lit from a barge out in the sea so it looked like the fireworks were jumping out from the ocean which was pretty neat.
I feel so lucky to see such beautiful things in my life. There are people who don't ever get that opportunity. My son was using my small Panasonic point and shoot and got some pretty good shots considering it was handheld by a 10 year old. He is really proud of them so I thought I'd share. Here are his shots. The last is one he did after he realized he could make shapes by moving the camera as he took the shot.
What are your New Years resolutions? I usually have a hard time keeping mine so I made them simple for this year. Spend more quality time with my son/be a better mom, be a better Christian, be more forgiving and kind and get healthy in 2012. All of these are doable if I refuse to give up on them. That's my goal and my mission for this new year.
Share with me your resolutions or goals for this coming year. Do you have any that are really difficult to achieve?
Happy 2012 everyone!!
