Currents

Time: 6:30am

Location: coaster train to san diego, again with the work commute

Eating: had saimin for breakfast, I am so NOT a breakfast person, it's like any other meal to me

Drinking: coffee with hazelnut cream

Watching: catching up on Duets and So You Think You Can Dance on DVR

Thinking: hope this week's easier than last, it was busy and stressful

Wanting: to have some downtown for reading, but not complaining about all the social activity ... it's been fun!

Needing: to get the kids ready for school, time to take the uniforms out of storage to make sure they still fit

Wondering: who I'll get to hang with in Hawaii, need to reach out and catch up with some old friends

Loving: my hubby ... grateful for our partnership ... he helps make life easier. Found this cool necklace on etsy and the sample had our initials ... cool.


currents idea from here

Mini Mission Monday

So I love the blog 365 Less Things blog but I can't always find the time or energy to do her weekly Mini Mission Monday. Update on the last one I attempted ... I talked about it here ... and for that week I managed to only do 3 out of the 7 challenges. I organized (and tossed) the kids shoe cabinet, I went through my stationary and greeting cards box (again tossed a few old ones that I don't ever see myself using), and put all the electrical cords and chargers back in the basket where they belonged.

This week, the challenges seem really easy. Sometimes I don't have to take time to organize and thoroughly clean an area. I might benefit from just tossing out a few things and feeling less cluttered. This is perfect during busy weeks where I feel so unorganized, decluttering is bound to help me feel better.

You're welcome to join me ...

Monday – There is usually at least one make-up item among the others that we once thought suited our pearticular kind of beauty but now wonder where we got that idea. If you have such an item but haven’t had the sense to throw it away yet, today is the day.

Tuesday – How many handbags do you have and how many of them do you actually use. Declutter one that that you haven’t used in a long time because you don’t love it like you once did.

Wednesday – Declutter one of those once favourite outfits that you never wear any more. Chances are it is now way out of fashion.

Thursday – Check your keepsake box for something you kept but now wonder why. Declutter anything that you feel this way about.

Friday - What is on your walls? Is there something hanging there simply out of habit that you don’t really want or even particularly like? Now is the time to declutter it.

Saturday - Have a look in your display cabinet there is bound to be something lingering in there that you long ago lost interest in. Time to send it to the thrift shop.

Sunday- Look in your jewellery box – Are you really going to wear all of those earrings again or that ring your old boyfriend gave you? Time to cull a few things in there don’t you think?

(excerpt from 365 Less Things blog)

(dinner out)

Dinner out for my dad's birthday was a great chance to get family pictures taken. While we waited for our table in the courtyard of Benihana's, the lighting was nice and the camera did a bit of magic.

It was fun taking close up photographs of our family. Natural poses, happiness in our smiles.

Even though my parents spend lots of time with the kids daily, it's never an opportune time to take pictures. So on these fun occasions when we get to go out together, I get to take these! With a little bit of complaining sometimes, but what photographer mom has kids that are not tired of her antics. Haha.

Scrapbooking these pictures was extra fun. Kept with joyful colors and notebook style embellishments. In Vietnamese, we call grandfather Ong Ngoai so I like to keep that in our family pages to remember that's that our real life. The kids call my dad this everyday.

We are quite blessed to have my mom and dad be such a big part of our lives. Here's to celebrating his 72nd birthday. Many more to come.

A quick weeknight dinner out, a quick excuse to capture these memories to last a lifetime. Fun times!

Prompt 14-What roles do you play?

This prompt asked the question what roles do you play. Here are the first ones that came to mind. I am so grateful that life is really full right now. I will continue to strive for balance between being the loving family me, the hard working career me, the supportive community service me and the fun loving social me. This is how I role. 

Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 13-Who inspires you?

This prompt asks the question who inspires you? My momma. Not because I want to be like her, unfortunately our personalities are so different, but because she is awesome in her own way. Through the years I think we've learned to agree to disagree and through the years we've grown in love and respect. 

She is awesome for her unconditional love for her family. She would do anything for any one of us. 

She is awesome for being a great role model. She raised my brother and I well and now has a huge impact on raising my kids. I think they're turning out well too. ;-)

She is awesome for her talents ... cooking, sewing, knitting and gardening. 

She is awesome for her sense of adventure. She lives to travel and will keep going till the end. 

I am inspired by my totally awesome mom. Thank you for who you are and all you do. 

Challenge idea came from here.

(puppy love)

On our recent trip to Las Vegas, the kids got to spend lots of quality time with the Cupp's pups ...  Aiko and Sasha. Lena normally doesn't like dogs but every spare moment this weekend was spent with these dogs. She cuddled with them, napped with them, hugged on them. Her favorite place to be was on or next to one of them.

Lucky for her they loved her too. They loved the attention and let her be all over them. :)

These sweet pictures I captured for sure showed their connection. So adorable, so precious!

Had to keep the scrapbook layout pretty simple to keep the attention on the pictures. And the cardboard letters I've never used before. I never seem to come up with a title short enough since the letters are so large. This time, however, it worked! Such sweet puppy luv!

(Benihana Birthday)

For my dad's 72nd birthday this year we took them to Benihana. They've never been and thought it was both delicious and fun. I think they've been to a teppanyaki place like this before but each chain has it's show characteristics. So much so that my foodie kids claimed Tanaka of Tokyo in Hawaii is better.

When we visited Hawaii earlier this year, we took them for their first time to Tanaka of Tokyo. It was where Moi and I had our first date 12 years ago. Kainani was most impressed with the personality of the chef, the fire volcano and the yummy food. She was the one that said let's go again.

Here at Benihana in Carlsbad, the chef was experienced and skilled but didn't crack jokes or have as much interaction with the audience. In the end, the food made up for it and was delicious ... steak, shrimp, scallops. Yum!

Scrapbooking this was most fun. I tried to keep a more masculine feel with the blues and plaid since the theme was my dad's birthday. Still had to include some fun bling, but overall a simple design.  

Prompt 12-Favorite Places

Today's prompt asks what are your favorite places? Document them.

For me that's easy. I've been so blessed to have lived in some amazing places and each place will forever have a spot in my heart.

Right now we call Oceanside CA home. This gorgeous pier and beach sunset view we get to see almost daily. Our train commute to work is along the coast and drops us off here every weeknight. Most beautiful in the fall and winter once the summer crowds are gone.

Paris ... what's not to love. Je parle le francais. J'aime bien Paris! The culture, the food, the language, the hustle and bustle of big city life. That part of me still exists to desire exciting big city life.

Japan was a short stay so many years ago. I dream of returning with the family some day. Until then I remember most the kindness of the people, the history, the food and like a first love you never truly forget, this was my first adventure in travel.

Hawaii you have the biggest part of my heart. I saved the best for last and am sure I will return to you one day. Life in Hawaii holds so many memories, good and bad, but having lived there, it's evidently always going to stay with me. The easygoing lifestyle, the weather and the beach and the mountains, the ono foods, the people that are our ohana, this place feels like coming home again.

Challenge idea came from here.

(a vegas 4th)

We had a really nice loooong weekend celebrating the 4th of July this year in Las Vegas.

Our pyrotechnic friends (haha) have made a tradition of having a large display of fireworks each year for the 4th and now we are included in this tradition. Each year gets better than the last. Awesome!

While there, we squeezed in a little time on the strip. Our friend works for the Palazzo/Venetian complex and we hung out there shopping and lunching. It's not our first time but always amazingly beautiful how the indoors is made to look like the outdoors. We took a stroll down the canals just like in Italy ... not really but we pretended. It was still gorgeous, complete with an impromptu "street" performance of Italian opera.

Once home, I stole a few hours in the early morning to scrapbook. I can't wait to find time, I just have to get it all out and just steal time.  This is one of the kits I got from the last Ever After garage sale. Page layout came together pretty quickly because I challenged (or forced) myself to use what was in front of me.

In a few hours, I made 4 double page layouts. Woot woot! More to come as I get them blogged. A Vegas 4th was a blast! And I mean that literally!!!

Prompt 11-How do you love?

Journal Prompt from i heart run with scissors:  How do you love?  Through dating, and marriage, I had always heard talk about the five love languages.  I never thought much about it because I was pretty sure I knew exactly how I loved :)  Once, I read the book, it made so much sense to me!!!  What is your love language, how do you love?

I personally have not read the book but today's journal prompt makes me want to. I took a quick quiz on the website and discovered I love first through quality time. I need to know the ones I love want to just be with me hanging out and enjoying each others company. Quality times are the best times. Not a lot of fuss.

A pretty close second for me is acts of service. I never expect kindness or favors but when a loved one does something nice without being asked I feel loved. Clean the house? Cook dinner? Play with the kids? All rank high in my book.

What's also true for me is that receiving gifts is the lowest. Maybe that's why it never dawns on me to make a big fuss with birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. I really don't love through receiving gifts. I'm a romantic huh? Or a cheap date!

Some of the other ways people love are words of affirmation ... being told nice things. And physical touch ... those couples we see in public who can't keep their hands off each other. Problem is ... how you love may not be how your loved one loves. It would be wiser to love the way they need you to rather than the way you need to and vice versa. I think this book is worth a read.

Curious to know how you love? Take the quiz here.

Challenge idea came from here.

Mini Mission Monday @ 365 Less Things

I've been reading the 365 Less Things blog hoping to get motivated but then the week gets busy and I do nothing. Putting it out there might hold me more accountable. The blog holds these "easy" decluttering challenges called Mini Mission Mondays.

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

This week I'm up for the challenge. I'm supposed to gather all like items, purge and organize. I think I can ...

Monday-small tools
Tuesday-shoes
Wednesday-stationery
Thursday-small kitchen appliances
Friday-hair accessories
Saturday-household cleaners
Sunday-electrical cables

Cool thing is I really DO have a "home" for all these things. They just don't always end up where they belong due to a bad monster in the house that misplaces them for us. Haha.

Let's see how the week goes. I will get up from laying poolside. Haha. You up for the challenge? Go here.

Prompt 10-Summer Projects

Today's prompt? Make a list of projects you want to finish this summer.

Number 1-20? Scrap with these kits. I'm famous for unfinished projects and these baggies all represent a mini book or series of layouts I've been meaning to do. I really want to actually have time to play.

Number 21-50? Purging around the house. Lots of small little things I'd like to declutter, fix, organize, finish or just get rid of it. So much easier said than done. Spring cleaning becomes summer and maybe even fall cleaning. Haha. Lol.

Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 9-Scream it out!

If you could scream something at the top of your lungs right now what would it be?

THIS is what I want to scream at myself all day long. Frustrated at work? Disappointed by someone? Irritated with the kids? Stop and assess the situation for what it really is. Usually when we want it to be something else we hurt ourselves with that thought of how it should be. If we learn to accept what is and let go of the thought (shoulda coulda woulda) our unpleasant feelings will also go away.

I'm reading a book called Loving What Is by Byron Katie that talks about just that. Techniques, examples, real eye opening and hitting home for me right now. I want to love what is and be at peace more often. I want to scream this quote to myself over and over again.

Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 8-Design your dream home

Today's journal prompt is to imagine your dream home. If you could design the home of your dreams what would it look like?

My answer? Simple. Cozy. Reflections of love and life and family. This is the perfect spot in my current home. Our family room great big couch where all 5 of us can lay on at the same time. The sofa table behind that my hubby built to hold my wine glass. The picture gallery wall is colorful and has some of our favorite quotes.

What can I say? I have a dream home and I'm living in it. I'm blessed and grateful that our family has this place to call ours.

What does your dream home look like?

Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 7-Happiness ...

... is living life to the fullest. And what a life I've been blessed to live. Filled with ups and downs, adventures and simple everyday routines life has made me who I am today and every place I've been and every experience I've had remains a part of me.

By far the biggest influence is summertime all year long, aka life in da islands. The carefree attitude of living local style by the beach in Hawaii brings me happiness. I feel most content when I'm just hanging out in summer clothes, with summer weather and long summer days. One day we shall meet again ... I can't stay away forever!

Growing up with a seamstress mom, I am very happy being crafty. I love to sew, to scrapbook and to make things pretty. I remember recycling junk into "art" in elementary school for GATE, sewing classes all through high school, decorating my teeny tiny apartments during college and beyond years and discovering scrapbooking with motherhood. Happiness is creating absolutely anything.

Happiness is shopping ... actually traveling and shopping. I'm not fond of just shopping itself but to explore a new city with its many boutiques? Happy, happy, joy, joy! Memories of Japan (cuteness), Paris (sophistication), Venice (artsy), Chicago (food) and New York City (everything) are memories of shopping and citified adventures.

And I'm pretty happy in a bakery. Not for the sweets but oh for the crusty breads. My year in Paris was often spent buying a baguette in the morning and then carrying it around in my bag all day long. Those were the best (most simple) sandwiches. Now, I usually rate a good restaurant by its bread. Give me sourdough crusty french bread any day ... with some brie and I'm extremely happy.

Happiness is so many things ... these are just a few of mine. And to illustrate, one of my blog finds, Inslee Haynes. She does these wonderful fashion illustrations by watercolor. Pretty and happy!!!

What does happiness mean to you?

Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 6-What summer feels like ...

Prompt 6 was:  What does summer feel like?  What does summer look like?  What does summer smell like?  What does summer sound like? and What does summer taste like?  Use all of your senses to describe this wonderful season.  Have fun!

For me, it looks like shorts and slippahs. It looks like a carefree attitude and "hangin' loose".

Summer sounds like boom and pow. Fireworks tradition that started last year may just be a part of our summer for years to come.

It tastes like fresh fruit. My favorite time when all the tropical fruits also become available ... mango, nectarines, guava, lychee, papaya, cherries and more!

And summer also smells like lots of chlorine. Spending lots of time at the beach and pool with the kids is a given.

What does summer feel like to you?

Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 5-I Believe

Prompt 5 asks the question what do you believe in. Without spending too much time overthinking it, these are some of the things that came to mind. I do believe in god first. Faith that there is a bigger plan for all of us and our paths are meant to help us grow. Therefore, change is good and there's always a lesson to be learned.

I'm a glass half full kind of girl so I definitely believe in hope and that there's always light at the end of the tunnel. Isn't the saying this too shall pass?

And of course I live for love and for family. There is amazing and abundant joy when life is shared. We are meant to go on adventures together, discover each other and bring out the best in all of us with our forgiving and unconditional love.

I believe so much more simply because life is full. I'm grateful for the fullness and this journal challenge as an opportunity to stop and reflect.

Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 4-Journal it!

Prompt 4 was to go outside, sit and relax and journal whatever comes to mind. Well this week everywhere we turn it's red white and blue. Makes me think of what freedom means to me ... and since I'm a list maker, journaling in the form of a list.

1. Being american is freedom to live a life of opportunity. Right after college I had the chance to visit Vietnam and meet some distant cousins and family friends. At that time in my life I had my whole life ahead of me, climbing the corporate ladder and becoming "successful". They had nothing. Jobs were hard to get and a young woman could only look forward to finding a man to take care of her. I will never forget that moment when I knew how lucky I was to have opportunity. I can live my life anyway I choose.

2. I'm grateful to have the freedom to live a full life. Whether it's my parents for my good genes and my upbringing or my life experiences for shaping me or all the mentors that have shown me the way. I have a career and a good home life with the freedom to decide what that work life balance looks like for me.

3. I can honestly say I am free in love. Gone is the girl who loves to get loved back, the codedependent, the insecure. I'm free in my heart to love unconditionally. But what a bonus when the love I get back is also unconditional.

4. Free to raise my kids anyway I want. Believe me I don't want to do it alone but free to make both right and wrong choices with wisdom from others is a freedom I treasure. I think each child is different and I'm grateful for the freedom to change as I go.

5. I so love my freedom to choose my own beliefs. I was raised Buddhist, married a Catholic, discovered Christianity and am now helping my kids formulate their own set of beliefs. We need the structure of organized religion to help us find our way in life but having the freedom to see other views is a blessing too. Afterall, we're all trying to find our way.

Freedom is so many things that without it, life would be hard. As we celebrate freedom on this 4th of July, lets think about how that one word has so much impact on all the parts of our life.

Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 3-Name Acrostic

Prompt 3 was to use your name as an acrostic to tell a bit about yourself ... okay go!

Cheerful is the glass half full side of me. Always trying to stay positive and make light of negative situations.

Careful is what I am with my emotions. Maybe the years of emotional turmoil has turned me into the other extreme ... too scared to let go so really careful all the time.

Open minded-love new experiences, new places, trying something new. Teaching the kids to accept the diversity of the world we live in.

Overachiever is a bad thing. I work too hard on the job and in life. Set your sights too high and the only way to go is down. Disappointment and frustration prevails. People tell me I'm too hard on myself, when will I learn to let go?

N equals nice. Funny quote I saw the other day ... she's nice once you get to know her really means she's a bitch if you don't. Hmmmmmm. No comment.

N is for neat freak. Okay so I hate clutter!

N is also for noodle lover. Kaila helped me pick this one out. Mom, you always say how you could eat noodle dishes forever. Bring it on pasta, pho, udon, ramen, pad thai!

I is imaginative. I like being creative and thinking anything's possible.

I is also insensitive. The practical can-do overachiever in me is going too fast to stop and CARE. I also think that my defense mechanism of not crying too much over spilled milk makes me think the whole world should just suck it up. But that's not reality and that's insensitive. Need to stop and notice and care cuz that's really the nice thing to do. Plus I stand to gain by truly connecting with people, isn't that what life's all about?

We're now at E for eclectic. I really love so many different things. Modern, country, classic, vintage, crafty, beachy ... and worldly. Want to travel all over and discover even more eclecticism (is that a word?).

And finally, E is for emotional. Despite some of the prior descriptors above, inside I 'm still pretty emotional. I pretend to not be so I can be strong ... funny how some of our past experiences shape who we are. Being strong means not risking being hurt. But is that true reality? Life will hurt and life will bring joy, gotta have one with the other.


Challenge idea came from here.

Prompt 2-Create Goals

Prompt 2 was to create 3-5 tangible goals for this journal challenge. I recently picked up a book called Loving What Is by Byron Katie. At first I thought it was about simplicity and learning to live with less and just loving what is. Boy was I wrong! It's a psychology book about accepting true reality and reprogramming our thoughts to find peace with it. Funny how God puts things in our path just when needed ... I've been thinking lately about my frustrations and trying to figure out what to do about it.

Now I'm looking forward to journaling, discovering what my limiting thoughts are, rediscovering true reality and accepting IT rather than seeking acceptance from others. Living with "shoulds" for myself or imposing my "shoulds" on how others behave is only hurting me. This is a good sign from God and I am grateful.


Challenge idea came from here.