sunshining.

Didn't you know you can turn most nouns into verbs?

And I wasn't really officially nominated for the coveted Sunshine Award, but Stephanie over at Not Entirely Perfect said that she nominated whoever wanted to participate so I decided to..give some of my sunshine to my blog.

1. what's your favorite tv show currently on netflix?

I don't watch Netflix, but my dad just gave me his password (thanks dad!) so I will finally jump on the True Blood train.

My thoughts exactly.

2. what color do you look the best in?

Olive green! But, I feel like I look like a tree at the same time so I don't buy it often.

Ok, I couldn't find a decent picture to back up my "I look like a tree claim" but it's a green dress and I'm brown=tree. Yes, good logic.

 

3. which disney princess (the animated kind, not the miley cyrus kind) are you most like?

At first I wanted to read which one do you "look" like cause clearly I'm the spitting image of Pocahontas. I would say I'm most like Mulan. Mostly because she is such a people pleaser. But, when push comes to shove she gets shit done. It’s like, “I’ve got a sword, I’ve got long hair, let’s do this." 

4. favorite cartoon to watch growing up?

The first cartoon that pops up is the one named Sailor Moon! I was a bit obsessed and wish I could find that picture of me in my awesome Sailor Moon t-shirt at 8 years old.

5. go to drink at a coffee shop?

Caramel Macchiato. "Skinny"...cause that matters.

6. favorite blog(s) you've found recently that you want to share?

I've been MIA from the blogging world so I haven't gotten to read too many new blogs but the day that Brin from Bold Butter Baby started posting instagram pictures of her homemade cookies I've been hooked (and drooling) over her blog ever since! She's pretty hilarious. 

7. first store you look at when you have money to spend?

J. Crew

8. what's your instagram account? so i can follow you of course.

dayrjay 

9. thing about fall you're most looking forward to?

pumpkin spiced lattes and gamecock football!

10. what's your favorite thing to win in blog giveaways?

I've never won anything in a blog giveaway. I need some new candles so I would like to win that. 

So with that I nominate...my lady at sweet tea and sunday mornings. cause she's freaking adorable and she's my maryland sunshine!

1. What made you start a blog?

2. If you were a holiday which one would you be?

3. Do you think Miley Cyrus needs to go to church?

4.Sunrises or Sunsets?

5.If you could be friends with any celebrity who would be your famous BFF?

6.What's your most expensive piece of clothing?

7.What song do you have on repeat at this moment?

8.What's your most used phrase?

9.What are you most looking forward to at this moment?

10.Do you have any unusual fears or phobia?

things I hate but am guilty of.

A lot of the times I find myself saying, "I hate this" but then a few days later catching myself doing it anyways. Why am I so hypocritical?! Today I share some of my repeat offenders.


"Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars.

Every once in awhile I don't enjoy mainstream music, it gives me a headache...but the ironic thing is I know the words to this song like it's my favorite.

Watching a Movie More Than Once.

Now, I don't really hate  this. It's just sometimes when I'm watching Legally Blonde on USA for...the millionth time, I catch myself saying, "Why the hell am I watching this again?!" and then I stop procrastinating and do the bend and snap. 

Song Lyrics as a Status.

Way to be vague and passive aggressive. Two things I'm completely guilty of from time to time. It's like a musical but on Facebook. 

Facebook Conversations.

I use Facebook solely for people investigation, as do most people(admit it!). Every once in a while I upload a picture and sometimes I get sucked in to a Facebook conversation. "OMG your cats are so cute! How are they doing? Do you have a job yet?"  You can text me to see how my cats are doing and my lack of job. Although I'm guilty of Facebook stalking investigating, I don't really want other detectives knowing.

What are some things you find yourself "hating" but doing simultaneously?

Happy Thursday! Glad to be back!

Another blogger saying 'Merica.

To be completely honest I'm not sure how this shortened America got started, but I like it.

I like it a lot.

 I also feel like when you say 'Merica (or 'Murica in the most southern states)  you should to have Budweiser in your hand. Or a PBR.

I hope on the birthday of the home of the free and brave that you remember where you are from! And that through all of the negative media and politics, you are proud to be an American.

I am!

So is Tom Raper. Ultimate 'Merican

rules on being a friend.

Disclaimer: My inspiration for this post was from my celebrity best friend Mindy Kaling. She thought of it first, I ran with it.

I believe that a "forever friend" is made when you have made it past high school, had a least one major "we will never be friends again" fight, and then a consequent make-up of that friendship ending fight.

The hair pulling debacle of 2006 with my best friend of now 10 years started for some unknown reason in the girl's locker room.  No one told on us because no blood was shed on us, except for the ears of the innocent female bystanders due to the high pitch screeching that was our "argument."

Now that fight is long over and our friendship has survived lots of changes that come with life; school, distance, men,  and a sweet little baby named Clementine. 

I think that when you hit a certain amount of friendship years, the realization that you've made it so long is based on a unspoken list of rules between the two of you (or three or four of you) here's a few that I believe to be vital in maintaining a forever friend:

Clothes are fair game.

No matter how old we get, I still take a peek into the closet of my closest buddy. Even if her boobs definitely have doubled in size and mine have gotten smaller.

"That's cute, but I wouldn't wear it." Honesty Clause.

It is your duty as a true friend to let your girl know when she be looking ratchet. But you can never say it like that! Subtle and gentle, like a dove soap bar. If you wouldn't wear it, then that's the best approach to basically saying "That's the ugliest thing I've ever seen, take it off and burn it!"

If you're depressed, I'll be there for you.

As everyone knows, depressed people are some boring people. They can ruin your day and no one wants to hang. I know this because when I was depressed, people fled. Except my best friends. No matter how tedious it seems, you never abandon your friend at his/her low point! Being there for someone in their low moments is not babysitting, it's showing someone they are never alone.

If our phone gets disconnected, there's no need to call back.

We get it. I"ll talk to you later. Our conversations last ridiculous amounts of time anyways. It's a blessing.

The biggest rule I have is that no matter how busy life gets, we keep in touch. Ultimately, I would like to be neighbors with my best, but that can't happen at this moment.  We've have talked about it in great detail though. 

Happy Tuesday!

Why Michael Phelps and I are connected.

No, not because he decided to smoke that dope at my Alma Mater or that he too can eat 10000000 calories and still have the abs of an Archangel.

lolz jk I don't have abs. 

But, we do share the same day of birth.

(I don't do cake pictures.) Leave it to me to find any excuse to relate myself to any type of celebrity status. Although I've tried to turn my birthday into my birthday month (with little success I might add) it helps knowing that Cheryl Cole( not to be confused with Cheryl Lloyd) will also be living it up on this day and that my universe is connected with that of Olympic medalists and X factor winners. Check out www.famousbirthdays.com to find out which celebrity will ultimately be stealing your birthday thunder. the struggle of turning 16.  Happy Sunday!

dragging it out. ((birthday weekend))

Since my birthday is on the day of rest in the biblical sense, I figured I'd drag out this weekend and claim it as my own.

I've been back and forth on what I want to do this weekend since living in Hawaii more than likely means you're going to be poor. It won't be long before my husband and I join the hundreds on the beaches of Wakiki.

Actually ya'll I have a heart and it makes me sad sometimes when I see this.

I guess we'll do some adventurous hikes and by hiking I mean hiking over the sand dunes to get to the beach while I sip my water (aka margarita) in my water bottle.

Don't mind if I do.

Yep, dragging it out. Relaxing and sippin' that pimp juice. 

Best birthday ever about to be in effect.

and linking up with the infamous Whitney with a song to celebrate...what else..my bday!

Have a great weekend =)

kid at heart.

What happened to the days of pure imagination? Where there were no worries about the consequences of actions? When curiosity may have killed the cat, but he always came back to life in that next episode of Tom & Jerry?

Oh right, I'm not 6 years old anymore.

But, I tried to get in touch with my inner child when my husband and I stumbled upon Teddy Bear World.

Much to my dismay, teddy bears are now in the section of childhood disappointments, along with Santa, the Easter Bunny, and lunchables.

Move over clowns, creepy has a new face!

Mount Bear-More

Now, I may not be 6 years old but I do have the naivety of one sometimes, so when I saw the sign for Teddy Bear World I was honestly thinking Build-A-Bear (some may know this magical place of building your own personal bear).

I guess just as obvious as Build-A-Bears name is, Teddy Bear World was not kidding either.

A world of bears. Moving bears placed strategically in famous backdrops and times in history. They did not skimp on any details.

For example:

Here we have the White House lawn. Note again that these bears are moving... playing polo or whatever people do on the white house lawn.

Even better, please notice the bear peaking out from under the oval office desk. 

creepy alert.

I'm not going to lie... I was scared walking walking through "Bears in Dinosaur Land" 

mostly because bears, to my recollection, did not exist then.

And although I was thoroughly concerned that this place exists and the fact I paid $16 dollars to walk through the furry halls, Woody and I made the most of it! After all we are the tourists who fell in the bear trap! (all these puns!!)

presidental

Although I'm  considered an adult, every now and then it's funny to look back on the days where my biggest problems were learning how to fold notes to my friends or how to convince my mom that I had to have all my clothes from Limited Too!.  I still watch the Disney Channel and can sing every song in the movie "Thumbelina" (no shame.)

I'll never stop being a kid at heart. Just a girl with a new fear of teddy bears.

Have a beary good day ya'll!

daddy's girl.

infinity times infinity.

I love my dad so much I literally get teary-eyed when I think about it! May or may not be crying right now and I haven't even completed a sentence.

They say that women tend to marry a man like their father...I hope not because I'm already so much like my dad; opinionated, sensitive, sarcastic, and hot-tempered; two of me or two of him would be earthly overload I'm sure of it.

And despite "our" flaws. My dad is also the most caring, hard working, and humble man I have ever known.  He doesn't have to tell my brothers and I how much he loves us, because we already know. 

Love you daddy!

note: I love love love love love my mama too! I didn't have internet when Mother's Day was here so I owe her a shout out!!

instafamous.

Instagram is addicting for sure and so is the weekend recap over at Pearls & Curls.

friends #drinkydrinky

hawaiian chicken burger #goodeats

banana nut brownie. #nom

homemade creamy cilantro dressing #housewifestatus

#butterplease

the view from my run #hawaiilife

feeling dainty #floral #ootd

date night! #lovehim

sangria with dinner...don't mind if I do #alwaysdrinking

Happy Saturday!

motivation.

So when I first started this blog I wrote like 2-3 posts a day. I had a lot of time. I still have a lot of time but now, I'm just damn lazy.

Real life thought when I wake up in the morning.

My lack of posts result mostly in my excessive smartphone usage. So convenient, yet so evil. Also the fact that I feel a sense of misdirection on my blog. But, I guess that's what a lifestyle blog is...about your life and what you're interested in at that time. 

But it's not subtitled Blog in Paradise for no reason. I promise (myself) that in the coming week to keep it adventurous. I'm trying to make ya'll jealous I live in Hawaii, not sorry for me! ;)

One thing about Hawaii I'm loving are these Farmer's Markets! They have one in different parts of town basically every day. I have yet to buy actual fruit and veggies from the vendors but ya'll know I was down for some fresh cooked food! 

We tried a lot of food...a lot. It was "okay" cause I shared with my husband (but really it's not okay cause we ate a sheet ton)

Our favorite favorite favorite were these uh-mazing sushi sliders.

I hated that I had to share this. 

Living here in this new place I'm so obsessed with local eats and the farmer's market is clearly the place of my new resident dreams.

Ok, I hope your eyes aren't literally shutting reading this post, if they are I understand. But that's all I got for today people.

Sweetly,