Moving...

Hello all...

I posted earlier that I was moving my blog to WordPress and with all the controversy about Google lately, I think it's time for the move.

If you'd like to continue following my blog, you can visit it here.

I'll still have this blog up until the end of the weekend so all of you have time to see this post about my move prior to deleting my blog and my Google account.   

Hope to see you following my new blog.

Jessica's Law

I have a pretty heavy topic to discuss today; our children and protecting them from sex offenders.  

Since becoming a Mommy a little over a year ago, this very subject has been tugging at my heart-strings more and more everyday.

Each state has its own laws.  Some states are pretty great at making sure those evil doers that prey on the innocent never do it again.  Others, not-so-much.  Sadly, our current state, Hawaii, happens to be one of the more lenient states.  

"Jessica's Law" or the Jessica Lunsford Act, mandates a 25 year minimum sentence and maximum of life in prison for first-time child sex offenders.  Jessica's Law has been passed fully, or in part, in 43 states.  Read about what happened to Jessica Lunsford here. 

I recently saw Bill O'Reilly interview Senator Slom regarding this law and why it hasn't passed in Hawaii.  Here's the full interview.  While I love almost everything about Hawaii, I can't help but feel disgusted that this beautiful state we currently call "home" hasn't passed Jessica's Law.

Our kids, known as "Keiki", are said to be one of the most important things here in Hawaii.  You wouldn't know that by looking at the laws to protect them again sex offenders.  

Senator Slom tried to bring a bill modeled after Jessica's Law to the senate but was unsuccessful.  Senator Slom mentioned, in his interview with Bill O'Reilly, "Instead, a bill came forth that was supported by the local prosecutors and by the judiciary chairman and that bill made sexual offenses a minimum of six years, eight months; but it only applies to offenses against children 11 years of age and under."

Are you freaking kidding me?  Six years, eight months?!  SIX YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS!!!  And this only applies to those aged 11 and under?  What about the rest of the "keiki"?

I'm going to write several letters to Congress and the Senate here in Hawaii about Jessica's Law.  

Will you?

7 Rules of Life

I've recently stopped going on Facebook as much as I used to.  I find it a big time waster but I HAVE to have a FB page for my business, so my personal page stays up.  I rarely post to it and the only time I log in and see anything on my newsfeed is when I log in to access one of my clients FB pages or my biz ones.

Today the first thing I saw was a post by my Grandma and I thought I'd share because every word is full of wisdom.

7 Rules of Life

1. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
2. What others think of you is none of your business.
3. Time heals almost everything, give it time.
4. Don't compare your life to others and don't judge them.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.
5. Stop thinking too much, it's alright not to know the answers.  They will come to you when you least expect it.
6. No one is in charge of your happiness, except you.
7. Smile.  You don't own all the problems in the world.

Most of the rules, I follow, but one I need to do a bit better with, number 5.  Its hard for me sometimes.  I'm always thinking to the future and wondering where we'll be.  Clearly all the moves and changes that come along with them are always on my mind being a military family.


Do you follow these rules?  Do you have problems following any of them?

Happy Wednesday.

Save on web hosting

Are you looking to move your blog from Blogger to self-hosted WordPress?  Are you starting a new WordPress blog?

I'm in the process of moving this blog to WordPress and with it have learned a ton.

The first thing I had to do was get a domain name and web hosting account set up.  My wonderful Father-in-Law (FIL) does a ton of web design work and recommended Go Daddy and HostGator.  So onto getting them set up, I went. 

I've had some time to work with both now, and really like them.  Customer service is great, which is important to me, and if I have any questions, which I've had many, they are very helpful.  I'll share more about all of this in a new post.

Today, I have a coupon code for you to save 30% on web hosting set-up with HostGator. 

Simply click this link, and enter the coupon code, NEWYEAR30, when checking out.  :)

Until my next post...

New Year and New Years Resolutions...

Do you have a New Year's Resolution?  I've never been one to make them but this year I thought I'd make a few... yup, three.

Funny enough, they all start with the letter B.  HA HA HA... that rhymed.

Anyways... onto my Resolutions.

1.  Budget
2.  Blog
3.  Business

First up- Budget.

We've all seen how down-right-awful our economy is and, sadly, I don't think it's going to get any better anytime soon.  Matt and I haven't been one to pinch pennies, but it's starting to get scary so I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to look at our finances real hard and start saving more and spending less.

Several things have helped out before I started to make a "budget".  One of our Jeeps is paid off.  Having one car payment is nice.  I started meal planning a month at a time, which is a great time and money saver.  Not to mention whenever Matt asks, "Whats for dinner?" I know I can tell him and not have to think, "Oh no, I have no clue."

Recently I sat down with my trusty month menu board and put together 5 separate lists on my grocery list app.  Labeled Week 1, Week 2, and so on, I know exactly what I need to get at the commissary for that weeks meals.  Of course some things are a weekly add-on (milk, bread, eggs, lunch meat, etc.).

I came across a pin on Pinterest about budgeting and having seven (yup, 7) bank accounts to keep track and stay on budget.  (Check it out here)  Jordan's blog is packed with amazing info.  Since reading her post, I opened a few more accounts and got down to business with my new budget.  I'm starting off slow but as time goes on I'll be able to become a bit more strict.  Matt thought I was a little nuts, I think, but he gets it.  I now have a set amount for my weekly trips to the commissary, his golfing, gas for both Jeeps, haircuts, the whole bit.  It's all mapped out nice and neat.

It felt nice when I was done putting pen to paper.  I felt like I had some form of control of something in our crazy world.

Do you have a set budget for your family?



Onto number 2.

Blog.

Well I haven't done much of it.  Which is sad.  I love to write and I've had so little time to do it.  So I've told myself, "Self!!!  You enjoy writing.  After putting little man down at night, or while he is napping, DO IT!!!  Those chores can wait.  Write!"  So I'm going to.  Damn it!!!  I'm going to write!!

I've been redesigning a new blog over at WordPress for a little while and once all the kinks are out, I'll make the transition over there.  I really like Blogger... but it's time for a change.  With so many restrictions and various scares with privacy in today's world, I would much rather have complete control over all of my content which I just can't do on Blogger and I can on WordPress.  Since I own my own domain and hosting, it's all up to me.

The new design is completely done by me, which I also love.  It's become my new project and one day, job.  It's so much fun.  I've already got a few designs for some friends done.  I'm just waiting to install them.

Do you blog?


And the last B... Business.

This one is kind of connected to the last in that I'm getting into designing websites and blogs.  As I mentioned, I've already designed a few blogs for some friends, I'm also working on one for a gal in New York with a cookie shop.  I was listening to Tom Sullivan's radio show a couple months ago and she called about how having a specific political sign in her shop's window had affected her business.  Tom asked her how people could order cookies and she told him via phone.  Well he put her phone number on the air and wouldn't you know her phone was busy for hours.  I tried and tried to call to order some cookies.  By the time I could call it was after 8 PM her time (only 2 PM here in HI) and she was still taking orders.

We talked for a short while about being small business owners and she had mentioned on Tom's show that she didn't have a website.  Well that had to be remedied.  I told her I'd love to design her site and at no cost to her.  She was delighted and insisted I take some cookies as a thank you.  Who was I to deny cookies?

Since we spoke, we've emailed a few times, the election has come and gone, and I've got a bunch of ideas for her site.  Can't wait to share it with the world and all the cookie lovers out there.



So that's it for my resolutions...  Do you have a New Year's Resolution?


Happy New Year!!!

... have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Hello...

It's been a good long while since I've written and while I've been meaning to, time has just escaped me.  So just now I said to myself, "DO IT!"

Tomorrow is going to be a fun day for me.  Or night, I should say.  I'm going to dinner with some of my closest friends and then we're going to the 10:00 premier show of Breaking Dawn part 2.  Of course you know, I'm a bit fanatical when it comes to anything Twilight, so I've been anticipating this day for a while.  As I write this very post, I'm listening to the soundtrack for the final installment of the Twilight Saga.  It's bittersweet for me.  Very much so.

It sounds silly, very silly, but this series has brought me so many wonderful memories with even better friends.  I wouldn't doubt if a tear or two is shed from my eyes tomorrow...

On a different note...

I've seen on Facebook & Twitter lately, so many people are posting about Thanksgiving and what they are thankful for.  While I've thought about it, I'm not clever enough to think of something everyday and I just can't bring myself to post on social media everyday what I'm thankful for.  I just can't do it.  So I'll do it here, not everyday, but now, say my thanks.

There are tons of times when the words "thanks" or "thank you" just aren't enough.  Does that make sense?  Like this week.  Celebrating Veteran's Day.  While my husband isn't a veteran yet, since he's still actively serving in the military, I feel that saying "thank you" to him isn't enough.  Saying "thank you" to the frail old man at the Arizona Memorial wearing a veteran's hat isn't enough.  I have to show them my thanks.  Not only on Veteran's Day, but more often.  Every time I see a veteran  displaying that pride via a hat or shirt, my heart swells with so much gratitude and love.

During our visit with family in Florida in September, my mother-in-law, Diana, and I made a quick trip to the post office.  While walking in I saw a van in the parking lot with a large decal on the back window that said "Proud WWII Veteran".  I walked past the van and noticed a sweet old man sitting in the passenger seat.  I got my flat rate boxes, walked past the old man with a wave and put the boxes in the back seat of our car.  Then I was compelled to go talk to this wonderful man.  I told Diana I'd be right back.  I had to say "thank you" to him.

I walked up to the van and asked, "Are you the WWII veteran?"  He smiled and said "Yes, I am."  I told him I had to thank him for his service and told him a little about my husband being a submariner and about his Grandfather who served as a paratrooper in The War.  It was a short but very sweet conversation and I felt touched just talking to him.  What he went through, I will never know, but I hope our short exchange brought him joy like it did me. 



As Thanksgiving approaches and Christmas after that, I find each and every year wanting to savor every moment with friends and family.  I want to soak in a few moments of along time to look back at yet another wonderful year that is almost over.  Time goes far to quickly and I think to myself, each and every year, "How am I here already.... again?".  It make me appreciate the time I do have with my husband, my little one, the hot cup-a-joe in the morning and the shrieking bark from the dogs.

While everyone is rushing around preparing for the holiday, I think it's easy to forget that it's a time to be thankful.  Take it in.  Be grateful for the little and big things in life.  Not just for the day or month, but like I said about Veteran's Day, EVERY DAY.



Next week we'll be spending Thanksgiving with family, which we haven't done in what seems like forever, so I will be especially thankful for that.  It'll also be our first Thanksgiving with Holden.  Our little love.

I'd like to thank you... whether I know you in "real" life or in the cyber one, thank you for stopping by my little piece of the big world-wide-web. 

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

let the move begin... to Wordpress that is.

I've been contemplating moving from Blogger to Wordpress for some time now and have finally decided to take the plunge and just do it.  I'll be sure to let you know once the move is complete.  I hope once the move is complete, that you'll "follow" me over there.  

New venture coming...

I've been a bit busy lately and have had so much to write about but just haven't done it.  I could make excuses, but I won't.  I just haven't written in a while.  I'm in the midst of a new WONDERFUL project and its taken a good portion of my time.  My goal is to debut it by November 1st.  Whether I'm able to reach that goes depends on several things, the biggest one being time.  Have a wee one to work around isn't easy sometimes.

He's so wonderful and I'm thrilled to wake up knowing I'll have his grinning face looking at me through the rails of his crib as I walk in his room each morning.

I'll be sure to let all of you in on my wonderful new venture soon enough.

In the mean time, Happy Fall.

Taco Soup

Years ago, when Matt and I were stationed in CT, we were newly engaged and planning our wedding.  Matt introduced me to a wonderful couple, Bryan and Erin, a few nights after moving across country.  Bryan had worked with Matt on his previous boat so they had known each other awhile.  It was nice to know a great couple so quickly.

One night, Bryan and Erin invited us over for dinner.  Erin made a delicious soup and garnished it with cheese and sour cream.  What isn't good with cheese and sour cream??  I can't remember what she called it and it was a little different from what I make today, but that's what makes this recipe so great.  It's so easy to modify and SUPER easy to make.

Gather the following ingredients and your trusty slow cooker.

a can of green beans (use whichever cut you like, there are several different kinds)
a can of corn
a can of stewed tomatoes
a can of diced tomatoes with green chilis (Choose your heat level, we like mild. Don't want spicy?   You can use regular ol' diced tomatoes)
a can of kidney beans
a can of black beans
a packet of dry ranch dip mix
a packet of taco seasoning
one pound of ground beef or turkey, browned, or whatever meat you like (optional)
your favorite toppings; cheese, green onions, sour cream... anything you like on a taco.  :)


Now open up all those cans and dump their contents into your slow cooker.  The only ones you don't want to dump, as is, are the black beans and stewed tomatoes.  The stewed tomatoes can be a bit large sometimes, so I like to take a knife and cut them a little right in the can.  To prevent the tomato juice from getting all over, pour it into your slow cooker and then cut away.  Doesn't have to be perfect.  Just needs to be a bit smaller then they are initially.  The black beans need to be rinsed.  Rinse them in a strainer and then put them into your slow cooker.  Then take one of those empty cans, fill it up with water, and add it to your soup mixture.  If you want meat in your soup, add it now.  This time around, I made it without.
Pour contents of both ranch and taco seasoning packets into your slow cooker.

Stir it all up real good, turn your slow cooker on, and walk away.  As far as how high or for how long, that's up to you.  If you'd like it sooner then later, put it on high for 4-6 hours.  Not in a hurry?  Put it on low for 8-10 hours.

While I love my soup with cheese and sour cream, my husband loves it as is.  He's a bit of a plain food guy.  He doesn't even like salad dressing on his salad.  Weird?  I know.  But I love him.

I also like corn bread with this soup... he prefers saltines.

I love cheese.  It's one of my favorite things in this world.  This go around, I shredded up some pepper jack.  The funny thing with pepper jack is, one block could be as mild as ever and the next could be kick-in-the-mouth hot.  This one happened to be the latter.  Woooh.  My mouth was on fire.  Oh, but it was so GOOOOD!!!

I hope you enjoy this soup as much as we do.  It's so easy, so good, not all that bad for you, and can be modified any which way you want.  Different beans, more beans, meat, no meat, more veggies... the possibilities are endless.

Thanks Erin, for introducing me to this wonderful soup oh-so-many years ago.

Yummmmm!!!

{currently.}

READING Lots and lots of blogs.  I'm so far behind on so much of my blog reading.  WRITING  An upcoming blog post about my recent trip home.  It was good to see so many wonderful people I've missed, but it's great to be home and getting back into our normal routine again.  LISTENING Talk radio... I really should turn it off because it's just making me mad. THINKING  I can't wait for Matt to get home.  SMELLING  Blueberry Cheesecake Scentsy yumminess.  WISHING  I had a drama free family.  But does that even exist?  HOPING  For orders back to CT next time we PCS.  WEARING  My favorite jeans (which really need to be thrown away but I can't part with them) and a t-shirt.  LOVING  How my little man smiles at me.  He's truly the sweetest kid.  WANTING  A H-U-G-E cupcake with my besties Liz and Fay.   NEEDING  More time in the day.  FEELING  Tired, but more rested then a week ago.  CLICKING  On various projects I've been working on to post in my Etsy shop.