::citrus lane::

I'm not sure how I came across CITRUS LANE...but i'm so glad that i did.  What it is, is a monthly subscription service that sends out a package geared towards the age of your child.  In it contains 4-5 items for you and your child to test out.  They are a combo of full sized and travel/sample sized products.  May was our first month trying it out and we are pleasantly surprised over it.  It's $25/month for a month-to-month subscription, or you can purchase 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscriptions.  I searched the internet for a coupon and got a 6-month subscription for $100.  This includes FREE SHIPPING to Hawaii!!!  A miracle!!

Each month's package has a theme.  May's theme was: Fun in the Sun. In the package we recieved 6 different items: an iPlay Sun Protection Hat in pink, Green Toys Sand Play Set, Plum Organics Teensy Fruits in Apple, Episcencial Sunny Sunscreen Travel Size, CleanWell Disinfectant Spray, and Joyus $15 Gift Card.  After bringing home a new baby, Kaiya was extra excited that a package came for her!!  :)

 (Sorry for the blurry pics.)  Kaiya LOVED the Plum Organics Teensy Fruits so much that she told me she wanted me to order more right away.  Being that we are on Kauai...I would have to search high and low for someplace the might sell these.  So I just went ahead and ordered it from Babies R Us at the same time I ordered a stroller for Keelan.  The sheet that came with the package that includes descriptions of the items says that they included 2 packets, we received 3!  Lucky for Kaiya!

 Kaiya and her cousin, Caleb, got right to playing with the Green Toys Sand Play Set.  Even though there was no sand near them, they pretended to scoop sand and water like they were at the beach.  Along with pretending that it was a big fork. 

  I have yet to try out the sunscreen or disinfectant spray, but they are all ready and waiting to be used in my purse.  Both Kaiya and I anxiously await next month's Citrus Lane arrival!

::introducing::

KEELAN KAZUHIRO LEONARD

05/14/2012

6lbs. 9.2oz.

18.5 inches

born at 35 weeks + 2 days

Kaiya is in love with her little brother.  She is always asking to hold him, kiss him, hug him, where he is.  She is a great helper!

 

Keelan had a hard day the day he was born.  He spent his first two days in the nursery being watched 24/7 by a nurse.  The nurses and staff at KVMH are AMAZING.  They all took such good care of Keelan we are forever grateful.  Dr. Carolan also confirmed that they all did an amazing job.  He did not have to spend any additional days in the hospital, which is great news for a preemie.  He's a little guy...compared to his sister.  But compared to other preemies his age, he's actually kind of big.  I can't imagine him being any smaller!

He is one week old today. He spends most of the day sleeping.  He doesn't cry much (knock on wood!), and when he does cry it's such a cute scratchy little cry.  He has lots of hair as you can see, and he turns really red when he cries.  He looks just like Kaiya did when she was born...just not as chubby.  :)  I'll try to update as often as I can...being that I will be home for the next 2-3 months.

::what's new::

Ok ok...the looooooong break of silence has ended. As mostly everyone knows by now...Kaiya is going to be a big sister!! And in only a few short weeks! I'm currently 34 weeks with a baby BOY!!!

::kaiya turns two::

Little Miss Kaiya turned TWO on September 14! I know, it was almost a month ago. We didn't have a big party, just some cupcakes with the family and a little celebration later in the week at potluck. She scored with the presents and got an art table, a tricycle and helmet, a bunch of clothes, and a ton of books. And a whole assortment of Hello Kitty loot! I'm not sure she totally understood the whole birthday ordeal, but she sure enjoyed the Happy Birthday song and present opening! And when you ask her how old she is she says three. For some reason, she can't grasp the concept of the number two. Even when she counts, she says one...three...five...haha.

I started an email address for kaiya...no she will not be sending out emails any time soon...but I will be the one emailing her about the happenings of her life and the important events in the world. So when she's old enough, she can read through them and watch videos and see pictures. If you would like to join me and write something to kaiya that she will see in 15-20 years, let me know and i will give you the address. I'm sure she will be thrilled when she comes across your e-mail in the future. Fun idea huh?

::who doesn't love all things mini::

Mini tabasco, mini ketchup, mini hand sanitizer, Tide ToGo...I LOVE all things mini/to-go. So when I came across this post on DIY single use antibiotic packs (via Brian's Backpacking Blog) on pinterest...I had to pin it. And I have to try it. I'm just trying to figure out what I want to make into single use packs first!

::manic miscellany monday::

this is my first time actually linking up to another blog...I'm so unfamiliar with it, is that even what it's called?!?

anyway, I'm not sure how I found lowercase letters or miscellany monday...but I like the idea of random postings to kick off the start of a new week. So here is my first (possibly, but hopefully not the last)...

::one::

Today, july 11, 2011, is quite the milestone in my life. A short 20 years ago (I can't believe I can say 20 years ago and actually remember...the reality of getting older) my family moved from southern California to the beautiful island of Kauai. I am the first to admit...this did not make the then-10 year old happy one bit. Who wouldn't want to live in paradise right? Well...20 years later (and having spent 10 years after high school on 'the mainland')...I now have a new appreciation for the once loathed slow-paced Garden Island. I mean, one look at the photo above of Kalalau and anyone in their right mind would love to make this place their home...I blame it on being 10.

::two::

Warning: Do not let this cute little girl fool you!! Karma is biting me in the ass...with a vengeance! The terrible twos. Kaiya is lucky she's so cute. She is and has been in her terrible twos I swear before she turned one. She thinks EVERYTHING is hers..."hey, that's mine!". She beats up her cousin. Her favorite word is, of course, NO! She throws a mean tantrum. She does not have an inkling of an inside voice. The list goes on. BUT...she is the cutest and smartest little 22 month going on 15 year old I know! She also loves to give hugs and kisses. She loves playing in the water. She loves her family. She loves her dogs, "FafyLennox"...Foxxy and Lennox. She loves animals and knows a lot of them of you show her a picture. She loves to go riding and shopping. She loves to hear herself talk. She is simply THE BEST!!

::three::

potlucks. Ever since I can remember my family has gathered every week for potluck. The picture above is our Mother's Day spread...I think. Maybe it was Father's Day? Either way...this is a typical Saturday or Sunday at Grandma's house. A tradition that will hopefully continue for generations and generations. The little kids...going around hugging and saying hi to everyone, and hugs all around again before leaving. The food...Lauya, Chicken Papaya, Baked Spaghetti, Uncle Sonny's Adobo, Aunty Flo's 'Adobo', Aunty Aileen's Sesame Chicken, and much much more...the staples that we could eat week after week. If only every family did this, the world may be just that much better.

::four::

S'mores Candy. I came across this recipe for s'mores cracker candy and decided I had to try it. Super simple. Super quick. Super yummy. Try it...now. FYI...super sweet too.

::five::
One-piece swimsuits. It never crossed my mind that I would be wearing a one-piece bathing suit. But...after trying on numerous bikinis and not being happy with what was staring back at me in the mirror...I saw one at Macy's that was actually cute. So I thought, what the hell...tried it on and not only liked what I saw...I LOVED it. And may possibly never go back to buying another bikini again. It miraculously sucked everything in and kept it there. Amazing after having a baby! I am now a one-piecer convert.

::six::

The Box Lunch. Gotta love it. Is this just a Hawaii thing? It has to be. Look at the variety of foods. Great for school field trips.

So that is my random miscellany monday rant. Hopefully I'll see you again next week with more miscellany manic monday madness... 

::kamehameha parade::

...this is an old post that I'm just now getting around to posting...

Last week, I mentioned we had a Kamehameha Day Holiday. This weekend, they celebrated with a Kamehameha Parade which started pretty much right outside our front door on Rice Street. There aren't nearly as many people that attend as the Lights on Rice Parade, but since it's right outside we figured we would check it out.

The parade was a first for us all. We were greeted with the Royal Court, princesses representing each island, pageant queens, the Mayor, Uncle Avery, and Kaiya's fav...horsies. Speaking of the Mayor, he came right up to us to say hi to Kaiya!! All in all...a great cultural experience for us all.

::deborah lippmann::

On our weeklong vacay in Honolulu...I stumbled upon the Deborah Lippmann collection. Helloooo. It's kind of expensive for nail polish and stuff, but I reasoned with myself by vowing to give myself pedi/manis if I tried it out. I am so.glad.I.did.



Without hesitation I immediately bought Happy Birthday (a super glittery fabulous polish) and Steppin Out (a foot cream). I wanted to buy Get Off (a callus softener) but they were out. Bummer. The lady said to check Nordstrom..but they were out as well, but a shipment was coming in. So I put my name on a waiting list.


In the meantime..I also got this starter kit and I'm convinced I'll never buy cheap-o nail products again. So either I'm a sucker...or Deborah Lippmann is truly a nail polish/mani/pedi genius.

The nordstrom lady just called saying Get Off was in...so I placed my order, along with The Stripper (polish remover) and the Anniversary Special "Get This Party Started". Sooo excited!! Who gets excited for nail polish...I'm getting old.

If you ever come across Deborah Lippmann products...at Nieman Marcus (which we only went in originally to change Kaiya's diaper) and Nordstroms...I would splurge, treat yourself and try it out.

::back to life. back to reality::

We've been on vacay mode for the past two weeks. The entire family...Barsness, Taba, Nagamine, Querubin, Raralio and Agcaoili clans headed over to Oahu to celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs. Chris Q!! It was so much fun having everyone together at such a beautiful happy occasion. We (Barsness/Taba/Nagamine's) took advantage of the opportunity and took up residence at the Ala Moana Hotel for the entire week. Let me just say...I could 100% get used to having Ala Moana as my backyard!! So convenient and much needed after shopping at the oh-so-big 1 main department store Kukui Grove for months. I enjoyed every minute and failed to eat healthy or keep up with my marathon training. I'm still paying for it. So yes, we mostly spent time shopping and eating. But we also went to the Honolulu Zoo and Pearl Harbor. Eric and I treated ourselves to a 3rd Anniversary dinner at Morimotos Waikiki. Kaiya and I spent an afternoon catching up with old OSU girlies. Simply said...it was a fabulous vacation! I didn't take many pictures, but when I get around to uploading them I will post them. Here is one of Eric and Kaiya on the loooong 20 minute flight over marking the start of the vacay. And here is Kaiya and Yasuboy as we wait for our rides to arrive at the airport.

::cold brew::

I recently came across this pin for 'the perfect iced coffee' on pinterest and it automatically made me want to try out some cold brewing myself.

It just so happens on that same night, Eric brought home a large gallon glass jar telling me that this is what he's been using at work to cold brew coffee (which he mentioned to me last week). So awesome how we are on the same wavelength!! Unfortunately...we had no coffee in the house. The start of iced coffee had to wait for another day.

So we got some coffee...and added some vanilla beans and let it do it's magic...after a good stir of course.

24 hours later...more like 30, really...and a quick strain through some filters gave us a gallon of cold brewed coffee goodness. We then transferred it to chill in the refrigerator. Then some added ice, and a couple of tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk (shooting for the Vietnamese version)...and voila..a great morning pick-me-up after a sleepless night due to 104+ Kaiya temperatures. Poor baby girl.