Video Podcast Episode 3 : Celebrate Yourself : : Leo Season

I enjoy celebrating my birthday. I am not one to wait for other people to plan stuff for me. When I turned 16, I spent the entire day by myself at the mall. My parents gave me birthday money and the keys to my mom's orange Ford Aerostar van. EVERYBODY in high school knew my mom's van because I was always driving it and all of my friends were piled in it, even on our weekend cruising adventures.

The celebration of my birthday, like many people, is usually a day spent partying and having a good time. I used to celebrate 'the day' then it turned into celebrating birthday week and now has extended to the entire Leo Season. This means that I celebrate from July 23rd to August 22nd even though my birthday is August 4th. I make it a point to be a little selfish and do whatever I feel like doing. Celebrating for an entire month takes some planning but for the most part, I wing most of it. I don't worry about the money I spend on myself because I deserve it. I deserve to spoil myself. I worry about the money part later. You can always make more money but you can never go back and make more memories.

When people would ask me what I want for my birthday, I say the same thing. I like homemade stuff like chocolate chip cookies or banana bread. I also like earrings and ANYTHING with hearts on it or LOVE on it. I like smell good stuff like Scentsy stuff or Bath & Body Works home fragrances and candles. But my favorite thing? My favorite thing to get are handwritten cards and if they're accompanied with flowers -- even better! But if you are just itching to gift me something from Amazon, here is my current WISH LIST.

Best Video Card I ever received. The ONLY video card I ever received.

In a previous post, I touched on how I was raised to not value my physical beauty, that it was somehow bad to honor the reflection in the mirror. Also, kids are mean and can really mess with how a person views him or herself. I had to consciously overcome those feelings of insecurity in relation to my looks.

In similar fashion, I have to overcome the "training" I received from my mother to SERVE everybody before myself. I watched her put everyone's needs above her own, which ultimately stole her health from her. I have had to find the balance between the wonderful values I was raised with and the ME that says that I need "ME" time. So celebrating myself during the month of my birth, Leo Season, is about me making time to do ME. It's my most favorite time of the year.

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Birthday Wish List: NeenaLove Edition

Tomorrow's my 40th Birthday Eve birthday....I'm turning 39.

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EVERYBODY: What do you want for your birthday?

ME: I'm fine. I have everything I need.

EVERYBODY: No, really. What do you want for your birthday?

ME: I like homemade stuff -- stuff that people actually took some time to make.

EVERYBODY: Really? Are you sure?

ME: I'm sure.

EVERYBODY: There has to be something you like that can be bought.

ME: ...sure
******

So here's the high ticket items on my Amazon Wish List... a lot of these items have been there for awhile. LOL... but all of them are so me! So very me! One day I will get around to purchasing them. Here's the link to the rest of the ---->> Amazon Wish List <<---- br="">

 

Wolverine 20MP 4-in-1 Film to Digital Converter

 

Ninja Ultima Blender Plus BL830

 Nikon 24mm f/1.4G ED... Prime Wide Angle

 

Best Birthday Video Card EVER!

My older brother and his family's birthday video card.... LOVE IT!!! Adorable!!! My niece Naina put this together on her iPod. Amazing!!!

Birthday Review

Every year I seem to extend the birthday celebration beyond August 4th. I went through a phase where I didn't really want to spend time with anyone on my day. I just wanted to lounge and DO NOTHING or if I wanted to shop, I wanted to do it in peace and quiet. This year, that changed.

August 4th came so quickly. In an instant, I turned 35 years old. We had plans to go to Best Buy to pick up my birthday gift from the husband, a Nikon D5000. That didn't quite pan out as I had hoped. Husband felt the need to invite the Jehovah Witnesses in. Normally, this is not a problem at all for me. I enjoy a robust conversation about religion. This time around though, the women that came to the door did not come to share a message of hope, or love, or peace. They came to condemn me and my house for our belief system. I was very disappointed with that. The experience stayed with me for several days. Actually, it still comes to mind. I think of how limited their view is of the eternities. **sigh**

We went joy riding EVERYWHERE and ended up back home with plans of ending the day and evening at Dave and Busters, dinner at Buca Di Beppo's. That too didn't quite pan out as I had intended but I'm a firm believer that nothing is random. As we were readying to head out the door, I just had a funny feeling. I stalled for a good hour before we finally left the house. As we rounded the bend around Mokoli'i (Chinaman's Hat), going toward Kaneohe, the cars were beginning to back up. Indeed, just three cars ahead of us was a terrible accident. It was a brand new accident -- an accident I know I was spared from because I had stalled at home that extra hour. I was not disappointed at all to have to turn around and go home. Instantly, I thought of calling my cousin who works as a server at The Palm Terrace. I was glad to hang with my husband, my two sisters -- Michelle (and her boyfriend) and Marie.

So August 4th happened to be on a Wednesday. Saturday came along and my dear, sweet cousin Mahea took me and the fam parasailing. It was the most beautiful day ever and such a wonderful, wonderful experience!!

Super exciting day! The adrenalin was far too much for such a peaceful experience.

I'm not sure if the terror is apparent on my face. I was absolutely terrified but excited at the same time.

That's me in the air... flying high in the sky. 

Thank You Mahealani (the girl with the shaka) -- the most resourceful girl ever... especially when it comes to ocean activities.

So the birthday festivities did not end there. I got two pairs of earrings... gorgeous, gorgeous Polynesian jewelry using traditional materials in new ways. The end of the festivities were tickets for the husband and I to The Shaq All Star Comedy Show. The Hawai'i show was hosted by Charlie Murphy (Eddie Murphy's brother). First comic up was Aries Spears -- who was, by far, the funniest comedian of the night. I really thought I was going to pee in my pants. Second comic was Deray Davis. He took a little while to get into his groove but once he got going -- he was funny. The final comedian was D.L. Hughley and he sucked the big one! I am not a fan of D.L. and seeing him live CONFIRMED it. uggghhhh!!!

Husband and I after the show... so high from laughing so hard. It was like there was laughing gas in the room. Comedians were raunchy as heck but... laughing that hard felt so good!

These were the sponsors of the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Slack -- Thank you mucho!! These are the two that just got home from Iraq.... welcomed them home just a week or two before the show.

So finally, my birthday celebration has come to an end. I'm super excited about this 35th year. I'm ready for whatever is coming my way. Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful family, for my health and strength, for the abundance I enjoy, for true friends, for LOVE!

High Heeled Pointy Toed Boots

Sunday night, my niece text messaged me from my brothers phone:

Dear Aunty i just want to let you know that my birthday is tommorow remember that i totally LOVE would love high heeled boots for my birthday

I couldn't help but laugh at the message.

My sweet niece is, by far, the most expressive and creative child I have ever known. For instance, she has created a commercial for an industrial cleaner, complete with three different characters from three different places. One character is a male from Texas, and she does the whole Texas accent. One character is from Aussie and she does the accent for her as well. I can't remember the last character but she does a whole infomercial. It is really funny. And the crazy thing is that it all came from the mind of a seven year old. (She just turned eight on Monday.) She loves to draw, as do I. Everytime she visits with me, we draw and color. Apparently, according to her, I'm an excellent sketch artist. We design the latest fashions and create the hottest styles together. If ever I had a favorite, of course Aunty's never do **winks**, she would be it. She reminds me so much of myself but in a way-charged-up-more-creative-kind-of-way!

With the text message information in tow, I made my way to Ross on the night of her birthday. Since her birthday fell on a Monday, she spent it with her family at Build-A-Bear. I called her to wish her a happy birthday and to tell her that I would be dropping off her birthday present for her at her Grandparents (my parents) House the following day. She was excited!

While in Ross I searched the kids section for high-heeled, pointy-toed boots. They don't sell boots like that for children. I already knew! I was just hoping there'd be some costume stuff in the kids section. I made my way to the womens shoes section. A particular pair kept drawing my attention and I knew she would just love it. So I threw it into my cart. I kept walking around the store and came up with an idea to turn her gift into a "Let's Play Dress Up" themed gift since the boots were far too grown up and I just know her dad would NEVER let her out of the house with them on. I threw in two, very grown-up dresses, head bands, a belt, and a glitter/make-up set. I wish I took a picture of everything but was too excited about it. It was just the cutest gift EVER.

I spoke with my sister-in-law this morning and the gift was a HIT! She was so excited about the boots that she wanted to wear it to school. I hope they never let her wear it to school. It really is way too grown-up. **giggles**

This is the card I included:
The "Diva-Licious" Gift

"They don't sell high-heeled boots with pointy
Toes for little girls," said the store clerk

"But my niece wants that for her eighth
Birthday. She has to have it," I perked!

The store clerk shrugged and walked away and
Left me to ponder what needed to be done.

So I set out on a great expedition to find
A gift that was fashionable and lots of fun

This is what I came up with so
I hope you like it

Pull these items out when you need some
Glamour and Glitz

Little girl, you are only little but
Once in your life

So be little, have fun, and
Always choose the right

Don't be in a rush to grow up
And get old

Take your time, do it right,
And let the blessings unfold


She's been experiencing a tiff at school. I guess there are three little girls that are doing the "I'm not gonna be your friend" thing that little girls do. My niece is the outsider in the tiff. The three girls are telling people NOT to be her friend. Anyway, I wish I could shield her from the bad stuff. It breaks my heart to see her have to go through it. But she must and I know she will be fine. I hope my gift brightened her day!

**Photo Credit