It's about time to blog about Hawaii!

Okay, I know I'm awful at blogging but I have an excuse...I've been crazy busy. Okay, so it's not a good enough excuse but I have been really busy. I was having fun with that 30 day game so maybe I will continue it, but in the meantime I think I should blog about my amazing Hawaii experience!

Hawaii at first glance:

Sunny. Aloha. Kind. Humid. Flowers. Green. Beautiful. Sweet. Exotic. Live. Love. Laugh. Home away from home.

 Sunset Beach

I had the opportunity to spend the month of June in Hawaii on the island Oahu. I got there Friday night, June 3rd, and was nonstop from the moment I got there! Hawaii is just beautiful with so much to offer, while I was there I went to soo many different beaches, the Polynesian Cultural Center twice, the swapmeet, Waikiki strip and mall, watched the street performers, tried surfing a few times, The Cheesecake Factory, Kahuku Grill, Tita's grill,  Haleiwa, played the dance game on the Kinect, went hiking, watched beautiful sunrises and sunsets, made amazing new friends, always had a flower in my hair, never did my hair, never wore make up, relaxed, lounged on the beach, spent time with my family, did missionary work, spent time at the Laie temple and visitor center, played games all night, went to a luau or two, and just lived and loved it! I did all of that and soo much more!.

I tried surfing and wow was I surprised. Surfing is such an unique sport! I didn't realize how hard it really is until I tried. Paddling out was exhausting, I made it maybe 100 feet before my arms and upper back felt like they were jello. I gained a whole new respect for surfers. Not only did my arms and back ache, but my ribs from laying on the board hurt as well. Balancing on the board, that was a whole body work out trying to find the perfect balance. But I gave it a try and I'm going to continue to try. I think it's a really great experience that everyone needs to try at least once.

 Ready to hit the waves

  Castles Beach

I went to Waimea bay. It was so beautiful, I know I keep saying that but everything there is absolutely beautiful! The water in Hawaii is perfect, with the perfect temperature and the perfect color. At Waimea bay there is a lovely beach with tons of room for everyone, there's also cliff jumping for anyone who wants to take a chance. The one thing I love most about Hawaii is how chill it is. Everyone is on "local time" they don't care what time it is and are just enjoying life.

Hawaii is such a beautiful place, definitely a place for anyone and everyone! :) 

 Me, Maya, and Shez

The Polynesian Cultural Center is such a great experience! It's a wonderful way to learn about different cultures and it was extremely entertaining. It was especially great for me to learn about my own culture :) I was lucky enough to go twice! Everyone is able to join in the activities and shows at each of the 8 island villages and exhibits. My favorite village was the Samoan village full of the "happy people." In Samoa they showed everyone how to make fire, open a coconut, make coconut juice, climb a palm tree, and smile. It was really entertaining. The Tongan village was hilarious, they did a drum show with volunteers and I can't explain it well, but it was hilarious!! I really enjoyed the canoe show as well, where each island is represented by their style of dance on a canoe that flows through. I was also really stoked about getting a tribal tattoo from the Aotearoa village. I got the chief tattoo that had a lot of really intricate designs. It was really cool and it made me feel really cool. It amazes me that they are able to find so many talented and outgoing people. While I was there I was greeted by every employee there it felt like, and all of them had a big smile on their face. 

After going to every village, we were able to go and enjoy a luau. And let me tell you, it was delicious! They served all of my favorites, kalua pig, pineapple, salad, rice, teriyaki chicken, dessert, and so much more. The best part was that it was buffet!

Then after eating I got to enjoy the night show, "Breath of Life." The night show was a presentation of a little something from every island combined into a great story that had a great moral. I really enjoyed the show, and the whole day for that matter! It was really enjoyable to learn more about culture, but not just any culture, my culture. The PCC was a really great way for me to learn more about my culture, and a great experience for everyone as well!

 Me, Maya, and Shez at the PCC

 The canoe show

 My sick chief tribal tattoo

 Shez modeling his booty and Maya pinching the tiki's butt haha

 Mahalo!

 Waiting for the night show

  

 **Note to self, it's a lot easier to keep up on your blog rather than trying to catch up!!!!!!!!!

Haleiwa is a fun little surf town. I loved just chilling there, having a shave ice, eating Macky's shrimp and walking down the street checking out all the surf shops. I really feel so blessed to have had an opportunity of a lifetime, Hawaii changed me and my life forever. All the little experiences just built up to a better me!

 Me and Maya at a Thai food shop in Haleiwa

 If anyone understands this sign, please inform me. Haha

 Mmmmmm :) soo good!

 Bree, Me, and Shez at Macky's shrimp!

 Dang good shrimp!!!

Leaving Haleiwa

Waikiki was fun too! I loved how in Hawaii the North Shore is beautiful, it's chill, not crowded, but if you feel like going to a "city" you can head down to Waikiki to shop, walk down the strip, eat at expensive restraunts, go clubbing, and so much more. Walking down the strip was definitely entertaining, there's people from all walks of life. I really liked all the dance acts, they danced with passion and you could feel how much dance really meant to them. There were people reading out of the Bible shirtless, guys with parrots, a "love guru", a girl doing a hula hoop act, bracelets for sell, self portrait artists, statues that move for money, and so many other things. I went down to Waikiki a few times for Cheesecake Factory (mmmmmmmhhhhmmmm) and Forever 21. I tried my first malsada at Leanard's in Waikiki, and woweee they were delicious! Malsadas are a mixture between donuts and scones...delicious! Literally melts in your mouth. I think Hawaii is seriously the best, you get the best of both worlds...rural and urban all within an hour of each other!

 Maya, Me, and Shez at the Cheesecake Factory

 Just eating our cheesecakes :)

 How about a picture with a parrot?

 

 "Shez the bird pooped on your head..." JK!

 The view at Magic Island beach

 Yay it's our turn to get in!

 Megan, Trey, Kevin, Me, and Shez at the Cheesecake Factory again!

 Driving!

 Trey working the pole haha

 We run the world!

 Megan and Me

 Haha

 Some resort, way too beautiful if you ask me...

Leonard's malsadas, Ladd was soo excited!

Driving home from one of our many Waikiki adventures!

Okay so this is as much as I can do today, but the Hawaii adventure is to be continued...cause really, I've only begun to tell about my amazing trip! 

TO BE CONTINUED...

A Picture Of The Cast From Your Favorite Show.

Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Well I know this is probably cheating, but I have four favorite shows, but I will only post my favorite show right now. :)

I love the Ghost Whisperer with Jenifer Love Hewitt! She is absolutely adorable and I just love the whole show. I like how she helps people to find the light and leave a peace with the loved ones still living. It might sound a little morbid but it really is an awesome show. And I love watching how in love her and her actor husband are.

P.S. My mom introduced me to this show, weird right?

A Person You Used To Be Close With.

Day 2: A person you used to be close with.

 Teesha Rae Nelson

Well I'm still close to her but we aren't as close as we used to be. Teesha Rae Nelson. I love Teesha to death! We have been friends since elementary school, she didn't like me then cause I was a brat (let's face it, almost every little girl goes through a bratty phase) but eventually we grew to be best friends. I wish we were able to spend every day hanging out, making cookies, laying out, calling boys, watching One Tree Hill, burning bugs with magnifying glasses, drinking Pepsi from her dad's shop, spying on the cute guys at her dad's shop, climbing trees, having sleep overs in the trailer, and all the other million funny things we did. I wish time didn't pass so fast and that we weren't forced to grow up so fast, but I know that I will cherish the times that we have had FOREVER! And no matter our crazy schedules, I know that Teesha will always be there for me and that we will always be best friends. I love Teesha and I am so grateful for her friendship. We've had our ups and downs, but somehow our friendship always shines through.

Ten Facts About Yourself.

Well I've seen a few people do this picture/game thing and it looks like fun (and I never know what to blog about) so I thought I'd give it a little go. So here we go...

Day 1: Ten Facts About Yourself

1. I love dessert; cheesecake, chocolate anything, cookies, you name it!

2. I love restoring old or beat up furniture. (I would love to open a store like Urban Renewal one day)

3. I LOVE giving gifts, I put so much thought into giving gifts.

4. When I go out to eat I like to order dessert first, cause you can always take your left overs from dinner home but you can't take dessert home :) I learned this from my Mom!

5. I love to dance, I dance for Kalamity and we dance for "calamities" within the community, I absolutely love my Kalamity Fam Bam.

6. I work at Pizza Factory Express, and I look forward to the day when I won't have to work there anymore.

7. I am the oldest of four, and the oldest grandchild on both my mom and my dad's side. Talk about responsibility.

8. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I absolutely love everything about it. I love my Savior and my Lord, I love the gospel, I love everything that is taught, and I know without a doubt in my mind that it is true! I am so blessed to have it in my life.

9. I have an amazing boyfriend that becomes even more amazing everyday (don't ask me how, cause I have no idea!) His name is Jeffrey Preston Hauck, but I call him Jeff, Jeffycakes, Jeffycakes boobear, sweetie, pumpkin, lolly pop, sugar muffin, etc. Hahaha I'm just playing with the last few :) but I think you get the point, I adore him!

10. I have so many role models in my life, but the ones that directly impact my life everyday are my beautiful Mom, my talented and understanding sister Cec-so-sweet, and my big hearted Aunty Tia. All of them influence me more than they could ever know. I have no idea the person I would be without their love and influence on me. I love all of them so extremely much!

 

Happy Mother's Day.

Happy Mothers Day to the greatest Mom in the entire world. (I know everyone says that about their mom, but my mom really is the greatest!) I wanted to do a little something something for my mom that can only apply to her so I came up with an acranem for her (Okay so what? I'm in college and I don't know how to spell) I'm only doing my mom's first name cause if I did her whole name we would be here a while (Her whole name: Tonya Irene Dole Sinataonga Ah Quin Horlacher)

T- is for Testimony, I know that my mom loves the Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. She shares her testimony everyday in the way she loves people, in the way she serves selflessly, in the way she smiles. Even from when I was little, I have always known and felt my mom's testimony.
O- is for Obedient, my mom is one of the most obedient people I know. She has always had an obedient heart, and she always will do the right thing. I really admire my mom's obedience.
N- is for Neat, "cleanliness is next to Godliness," "everything has a home, and once your done with it put it back," "how can you live in such a mess?" all are quotes from my mom. This is one of her talents that I need to pay more attention to. Haha
Y- is for Young, call me crazy but it seems that my mom gets younger and younger every year. My mom is full of life, she's young at heart and young in her looks, she's beautiful :)
A- is for Attitude, anyone who  knows my mom knows that she always has the best attitude completed with a smile! Always!

These are just a few of the things that I love about my Mom. Like I said before, she really is the greatest Mom EVER! I am so grateful for her. She is my role model. I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for her (I think I'm in a pretty good place) haha so there is just one more thing to say...

THANK YOU MOM! I LOVE YOU ETERNALLY!

 My Mom back in the day...Yeah she's a babe!

Thank you Mom... I will be eternally grateful for you.

Happy Easter!

Easter is a beautiful holiday! It's a time to reflect on life, not only our own life, but our Savior's life. I am so grateful for the living Christ, my brother, my friend, my biggest supporter, my comforter, my everything! I know I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for Him and His everlasting atonement. Thanks to my Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ, I am able to enjoy this life and strive to reach my full potential. I never could have dreamed of having all that I have, and I will always remember where it all comes from and I will always be grateful! HAPPY EASTER!

The Lord Loves You Cam.

I woke up today a little down. For no reason, but every reason at the same time. I know I am richly blessed and that I need to always remember that. But I have the problem/blessing with always wanting to do more, to always wanting to be better that sometimes this really stretches me out of shape. I woke up really thoughtful of my life and the things going on in my life. I have a wonderful family that loves me more than anything, I have an amazing boyfriend that would do anything for me, I have my Savior that has already done everything for me, I have my God that wants me to return to Him, I have this gospel to guide me back to Him, I have my Kalamity family that is always there for me, I have so many talents that bless others, I have a job, I have a working car, I have everything I could ever ask for, I have friends that won't ever forget me, I have everything I could need. But am I giving enough?

I've been thinking about this all morning. After getting ready this morning, I sat down to read a little and this is what I came across..."Some take the plan of salvation too lightly and do not try. Others try too hard. In fact, most faithful people at some time mistakenly think that they have to do more than possible. Thus smitten, they stretch themselves out of shape...This view is wrong because it is not guided by faith in the wisdom of God; it does not quite trust his simple requests. Sometimes it is oddly convenient, selfish in a way, to live a life of extremes and distortions rather than to keep things balanced. But the Lord is pleased with a life lived in balance. He asks that we do what we can and no more. He will do the "more" part. There are many versions of doing all we can, and each of them is balanced..."

WOW, does God know me or what? Feeling overwhelmed and blessed I knelt to pray and pour my heart out. At the end of my prayer the Spirit whispered to me, "The Lord Loves You Cam." I know this is true. And I know he is always there for me.  :)