Category

Lifestyle

Category

The Twins Celebrate Their Birthdays

17 Comments

I’m sure you’ve seen it all over social media… and many of my friends and readers have stopped in to send their birthday wishes (for that I thank you), but I really wanted to round up the Twins birthday anyhow, since it seems that I’ve been slacking in the personal department on my blog lately.  On Monday, (September 8th) Luke and Isaiah turned into 5  year olds.  I’m not gonna lie, I cried and bawled my eyes out as I do each and every year my children have a birthday (all of my children, including Kevin who will be 11 in January) lol.  Let’s face it, I’m an emotional wreck when milestones are reached, but proud to look back at all of the accomplishments.

Luke & Isaiah's Birthday

So – the twins packed up some goodie bags for their classmates and my hubby and I made our way to their classroom to celebrate their birthdays.  Their teacher took our photo where the boys were adorned in their birthday crown and a few leis (ya know it’s a Hawaii Tradition, right? lol).  They spent the rest of the day with their friends and after school let out – we went to an early birthday dinner… the twins chose Genki Sushi (since they love Sushi) and then ended the evening with some games at Fun Factory.  I have to admit – I am always amazed at how much they have grown, literally right before our eyes.  It seems like just yesterday that I gave birth to them.

Luke & Isaiah's Birthday

On September 8, 2009 I gave birth to two wonderful little guys… but the road through pregnancy and the day I gave birth was quite a journey.  Twins run in my family (both my mom and my dad have twins in their families) and in my husband’s (both his mom and his dad have twins in their families), so while we knew it was a possibility – we didn’t really think it would ever happen to us.  My pregnancy was difficult – I lost 63 lbs through out the time I carried the twins in my womb… I weighed less at the time I gave birth than I did when I found out I was pregnant (this happened when I was pregnant with my eldest as well), and because of this – I was sick through most of the 7 1/2 months I carried the twins.  My iron levels were so low, but the doctors had to give me a vitamin supplement that would not make me so sick – because I lost so much weight, increasing my iron would make me much more sick.  Because the twins shared a placenta, I was monitored closely and was considered a “high risk” pregnancy because I was carrying multiples, but also high risk because of Preeclampsia and not to mention I wasn’t gaining any weight but losing a lot of it.  On the day I gave birth to my beautiful baby boys, I actually went in for a Pre-Op appointment (since my cesarean was scheduled a few days later), but was rushed to emergency surgery because my doctor had feared that I would have a stroke or heart attack in the middle of the night (before giving birth) and would not live through the evening if I didn’t have my children within a few hours.  To say I was afraid and scared would be an understatement… but my thought was that I needed to make sure my twins would be okay.

twins

It’s funny to look back at that day, knowing I had so many emotions built up inside and not knowing the road ahead would also be a challenge.  After the birth of the twins (which was a miracle in its own), I dealt with severe Postpartum depression.  I didn’t think it was that bad, but I couldn’t shake the sadness in my mind and because of this, my doctor requested that my husband resign as a Police Recruit to stay home and take care of me until I had gotten though the rough patch in it all.  Mind you… it’s now five years later and I still deal with postpartum depression (off and on over the years) so my emotional craziness is a whirl wind and roller coaster all wrapped up in one.  But, they say that if you walk by faith, not by sight… that God will guide you through, and here we are today.

Luke & Isaiah's birthday

Since one birthday in a year is never enough… on Tuesday, while out running errands as a family, we decided to have some dinner at Ruby’s Diner (more on our experience in a later post) and the twins were once again honored for their special day.  We will also be hosting a small family gathering at our house on Sunday and I’ll be sure to post updates here when the busy day is done.

So, I bet you didn’t think you would be getting such an earful worth of information by reading this post… lol but honestly, while we celebrate birthdays each and every year, I’m so thankful to also be celebrating life.  To say I’m thankful each and every day for these little guys and their big brother Kevin would be an understatement because thankful doesn’t even cover the feelings I experience inside.  Love… that would be the best possible word to describe it.  I had no idea that when I got pregnant with Luke & Isaiah, that all of this would have happened in my life… but I wouldn’t change any of it for anything else in the whole World so long as we have our babies.

Happy Birthday Twinnies!  May your lives be filled with an endless amount of love and joy and may God bless you always.

Signature Honey

 

Keep Reading
By

I Accepted the Challenge – The Ice Bucket Challenge

4 Comments

I have accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge to help Strike Out ALS.  I was challenged by my fellow Hawaii Beauty Blogger Buddy – The Fab Kath aka FabZilla.  Now, I have been contemplating what I would do about this over the last few months if someone actually challenged me and originally, I thought I would not take part because of the waste of water.  But, after watching several of these, probably over a 100 of them, I figured I could taper and adjust the challenge to be more of what others are doing now – a small bucket of ice and water and that is what I did.

ice bucket challenge copy

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

Watch the video embedded below to see if I was an Ice Bucket Challenge Survivor or click here to watch directly on YouTube.

Now – there are several different reasons behind using the ice and cold water for the ice bucket challenge.  I have heard several different reasons and here are a few:

  • For cancer patients – the ice cold water when poured on your head is the same feeling that cancer patients feel when they are going through chemotherapy.
  • For those suffering from ALS – the feeling of ice cold water when poured on your head is similar to that of someone who suffers from Lou Gehrig’s Disease, the feeling of  your mind being trapped inside your body.

The awareness of this disease as well as donations for the cure have spread across our nation and the ice bucket challenge has gone viral.  While everyone has their reasoning behind doing the challenge I think that most people had no idea about the disease or what it entailed until all of this was pushed into the scene.  My family has lost many loved ones to disease or cancer over the years and I think that this was a great way for me to bring awareness and knowledge to the table as well as allow those that have passed or those that are suffering to benefit.  Now – the challenge is not just about pouring a bucket of ice and water over your head, but each person who takes the challenge should also be donating to the cause.

I will be donating money made from my blog and YouTube channel in the months of August and September to the ALSA.org foundation as well as the Cancer Institute Research Foundation.  I appreciate all of you that have taken the time to read and watch the video.  Remember… even if you decide not to take the challenge and pour a bucket of water on your head, making others aware of the situation or donating to find a cure are steps in the right direction.  Together, we can all make a difference.

Make your donations or learn more about ALS at alsa.org

Signature Honey

Keep Reading
By

Custom Canvas Artwork by Canvas HQ

No Comments


I am a lover of all things photography and most of my blogger friends don’t know that I actually photograph weddings and portraits and have been doing so for years.  Having worked with a variety of clients and vendors, I always find it very important to work with a client that provides great service and standard for their customers and because I live in Hawaii, it is important that shipping is affordable and it gets to me quickly so I can deliver the product to my clients in a timely fashion.

PRESS SAMPLE

Canvas HQ

Canvas HQ is a printing company that offers high quality (get it – HQ) work, quick and fast, affordable but nonetheless a great product.  Printing anything from small scale Canvas prints to Artwork size large scale prints, Canvas HQ does it all in a jiffy.

Canvas HQ

My artwork piece arrived shortly after placing the order.  I ordered a 14″ x 11″ semi-gloss canvas ($53.95) and it printed and shipped in about 1 day and was on its way to Hawaii.  Shipping was free (though shipping may be determined on the size or price of your canvas piece) and was sent via Ground UPS.  It arrived in about 8 days and was delivered to me safe and snug.  As you can see from the photo above, the canvas was shipped with a plastic bag or covering over it and taped into the box so there would be no movement.  The box itself held the canvas piece into place and everything arrived well and safely.

Canvas HQ

 

The frame is 1.5″ thick and I opted for a black frame instead of an image wrap or mirror wrap that are also options available.  When I normally order canvas prints for my clients, I select the image wrap to continue their photo around the frame, but I thought the black for my photo would make the picture stand out more.  The quality of the canvas material is nice and definitely uses high quality products (or as they say, ingredients) to create my artwork.  The colors were true to color from what I seen on my computer, so I also loved that as well.

Canvas HQ

 

If you like to mount your artwork on a wall, Canvas HQ also provides Free Hanging Hardware.  It’s easy to use and install which makes that a definite plus.

Overall, I’m very impressed with the product as well as the company.  I have used many different canvas and artwork printers over the last few years and I consider this one to great quality – awesome value.  My family is definitely enjoying our artwork and I will continue to be a customer of Canvas HQ for years to come.  It’s difficult to find a canvas printer that can offer you a great price point but still give  you the type of artwork you would pay hundreds for.  I especially love canvas prints because I am a photographer of nature and they are the best way to display your art when it comes to landscape and floral.  If  you are considering purchasing a canvas for the first time, I definitely recommend checking out Canvas HQ.

Signature Honey

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Keep Reading
By

Get Summer Ready With CafePress

No Comments

Summer is all about ease and simplicity and when it comes to personalizing something for myself or my family, I look for ways that will offer just that.  Who wants to be working when the days are scorching hot?  Certainly not me.  When I need to add a little “Honey touch” to something – I turn to Cafe Press for help.

cafe press

Cafe Press offers over 300 million different products to choose from… including clothing, wall art, home decor and even things like Monopoly boards and even flip flops (which are perfect for summer I might add).

cafe press

So are you Summer Ready?  Do you have all your hot summer gear ready for those days at the beach or on the water?  With a plethora of selections from Cafepress.com – you can certainly find any type of product for you or your family to customize your summer days.  Flip flops, towels and water bottles are all summer must haves and don’t forget that cool tote you can get to carry it all as well as the hat to keep the sun out of your eyes.  Spruce up your style by adding a little personal touch to your items and do it all for you or as a gift for someone you love at CafePress.com.

CafePress

Keep Reading
By

LumenX Mountable LED Bike Light

No Comments

Summer time is all about outdoor activities and enjoying the sun while it shines so bright on us during the day – however, we often do not think about activities that we can do at night or times when we are out and about after the sun sets.  Because of this, I’m always looking for ways to keep myself and my family safe while we may be on the road at night or out and about during the evening time – even if it is just a stroll in the park under the stars or an evening ride on our bikes.

LumenX LED Bike Light

Since my family and I live in Hawaii, sometimes we can be out on our bikes at 7pm or later before the sun starts to set on us and then we’re caught in the dark where drivers can’t see us coming.  While we enjoy the bike rides, safety is definitely an issue and can pose a problem for myself and my family.  But, now my family and I are happy to LumenX as a part of our Bike rides as well as regular walks in the park or out an about.

About LumenX

Our goal is to give simple solution to people who have problems with their safety by using our LED bicycle light during drives on a gloomy afternoon or even during night time. We aim to ensure that our product requires no tools to install with its easy integrated clip feature that allows for quick mounting. It can fit around types of handlebars, seat post frame tubes and many others.

 At LumenX, we pride ourselves on both good selection of best quality bike lights with advanced focusing lens design which uses only LEDs that are shockproof with a higher light output and lifespan than competitive incandescent bulbs. Our product has longer lasting battery life compared to others. Despite the excellence which our products uphold, our company maintains its low cost value to make it affordable to all.

LumenX LED Bike Light

This super bright LED light is $49.99 (on sale for $25.77) and is heavy duty and made to last.  Unlike other cheap lights on the market that have broken on us and didn’t last very long, this one is ultra-powerful, portable and a 2-in-1.   The light is super easy to install, which we love and if you choose you can decide to use the light unmounted, which is what I have chosen to do on several occasions.  The LED light is waterproof and will shine up to 500 feet.  If you are looking for a great light for your bike or just to use on its own – trust me when I say this one is well worth the cost because it is super bright and perfect for many uses.

Included with your light is a Red Tail light.  This is a great feature because it is easy to turn on – you simply press the little button and the red light will either blink or stay on continuously.  Passing vehicles can see you so you don’t have to worry about riding in the dark or not being visible to those around you.

LumenX LED Bike Light

I didn’t get a chance to remount the light on the bike to take photos of it – but I promise, I will take some bike photos and will post will instagram or update here… so stay tuned.

LumenX offers only the best quality LED Bicycle light which is made up of durable military grade aluminum. Our product has a flexible silicone water resistant body with advanced “O” ring seal for convenient safety features. Some unique features are bright CREE Q5 bulb, up to 500 feet light visibility with 1x – 2000x zoom and flash mode.

Our product has advanced focusing Lens design which uses only LEDs that are shockproof with a higher light output and lifespan than competitive incandescent bulbs. LumenX front bike light has dual energy efficient LEDs (1 red for the rear light and 1 white for the front light) for added safety. It has an energy-saving feature that ensures long lasting battery life which lasts up to 25 hours of constant light and 130 hours of flashing.

LumenX LED Bike LightWhile all of those features are awesome, I think what stood out to me the most is it’s zoom feature.  You get 1x – 2000x zoom by literally pulling out or pushing in the front portion of the flash light.  It’s simple and easy to do and perfect for nights when it may be a bit cloudy and you need to concentrate your light source to see better.  If you are the type of person that rather have a flashing light – that option is also in the light itself and is available for your use.  My husband and family all work in Law Enforcement and while they approved this light for use on the bike for night riding… they all said they wanted one for personal use or for use on the job as well – because the features it offers without the need for separate attachments is pretty awesome.

LumenX LED Bike Light

Overall – I really like that this bike light can be universally used, not just as a bike light, but the mount can be detached and it can be used as a regular flash light with bells and whistles.  If you are looking for something that is quality made and will offer you good night vision while out and about, this will surely be a great addition.  I can consider this bike light and reflector definitely… “Honey Approved” and it will be a favorite in our family as it has been already.

Signature Honey

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Keep Reading
By