Best Friends Day

Apparently, tomorrow {or today for those of you reading this a few hours from now} is Best Friends Day. Who knew there was a day dedicated to that?! Obviously not me. So today, I dedicate this post to my closest friends. =)

First up, is the hubby. I know...it's sort of corny to say that he's my best friend, but it's the absolute truth. I would rather spend time with him than anyone else and he knows pretty much everything there is to know about me. I like it that way. =) Plus, I can be an absolute dork around him and never even think twice about it. I love that!

circa 2007

See? We're a big 'ole pair of dorks. =) I feel sorry for our kids already, ha!!

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Next up is my bestie. =) We haven't always been best friends {we've had our moments} but I've known her since I was 11 years old. We've been through a lot in almost 14 years!! Middle school, high school, boys, college, marriage and now babies. {Well, a baby. She had one...I haven't yet. Obviously. =P}

circa 2004

circa 2004

2009

2010

Not only does this girl know pretty much everything about me, she also knows the way I think. I can call her up at {almost} any time and I know she's there to listen to me vent. And if when I need it, she's always there to speak God's truth into my life. She's also taught me how to sew {via Skype}, given me tons of books, and gone shopping at Hobby Lobby for me a few times. =) Oh, and we can't forget that she traveled about 7,000 miles last year to spend my birthday with me because Joe deployed. Seriously, I have the best bestie ever! 

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Little did I know when I got married that I'd also gain another best friend. My SIL, Anna, {whose name frequents the blog} is definitely one of my best friends. =)

2010

Our personalities clicked almost immediately. Fortunately, Joe and I lived about a mile away from her when we lived in NC. Joe and I spent quite a bit of time with her and her husband while we lived there. And when he went off to basic, I was able to spend lots of time with her. Of course, it helped that she was pregnant with my niece and wasn't allowed to do much. =P We don't get to talk too often because she's busy raising my niece and nephew...and she has some sort of aversion to the phone. =P Haha! That's ok, though. I love her anyway!! I can't wait to spend some time with her at the beach {in NC} this summer!!! Oh, and since I know you're reading this, Anna, we need a new picture of us!!

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Next up are my island besties. =) I've met quite a few people since moving here and only a few of them have stuck with me. First is the girlie I wish I'd met earlier in this deployment - Annie. We've been having a blast together lately! I can only imagine how much her company would have helped in the beginning of this deployment.

Then there's Miranda...because you just can't help but love her!! Oh, and she has the cutest little boy ever and is due to have what's sure to be a very cute little girl in October!

Then there's Mrs. C who helped me unpack the rest of my house after Joe deployed, and helped me find a church. Not to mention she kept me company in the beginning of the deployment and watched Jasper for me when I visited family over Christmas. =)

And then.... ;-) There's Chantal who introduced me to several great girls along with the spouses' club on post!! Oh, and we also went to the Daughtry concert together and the end of a surfing competition. =)

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And I can't forget about my blogging bestie, JG. =) We've never met, but we've shared a ton of text messages - mainly about OU football games - and many conversations on Twitter. I'm determined that one day we will meet! =)

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What can I say? I've been blessed with friends, even if I don't get to see or talk to them every day! I'm lucky that I met and married my very best friend... I'm lucky that I met my bestie when we were young and that we were able to work through all of our junk. I think it only made us better friends now. =) I'm lucky that I've met so many great friends since moving to Hawaii, mostly thanks to blog land. Blogging has allowed me to "meet" so many great friends even if we never meet in real life.

Happy Best Friends Day!!

Saying Goodbye...

totally sucks.

I dropped my bestie off at the airport about an hour ago. *sad faces*

Is it weird that dropping her off was almost as bad as dropping my hubby off? Granted, I didn't cry as much dropping Melissa off, but...I was still upset. I was good, though, and didn't cry until I was in the car on the way home. {Probably not the safest thing in the world to do, but it couldn't be helped.} We had such a good time, and I'm so glad that she was able to come visit. My birthday would have been a total suckfest without her. =)

We took in "the sights," did some pretty good shopping, ate some expensive good food, made cupcakes [and attempted to decorate them], did some crafty things but only got one project accomplished, and hit the beach a few times. All in all, I think we had a pretty good, full week. I just hope she had fun, 'cause I know I did! It was nice to have another person in the house. And now, I'm alone again. *sad faces* It sucks... I know I'll be ok, but I just feel *bleh* right now, ya know? I am in serious need of a routine...

Anyway, I'm going to share some pictures of our entirely too short week together.

Melissa & I at Waimea Bay after getting slapped by a wave we weren't expecting... =)

Our pretty much identical pedicures [after a visit to the beach].

Us at Dole before riding the Pineapple Express (not as cool as it sounds, lol!). And for some strange reason, my eyes look green! I swear they're blue... It does happen on occasion though.

Melissa sitting under broken umbrella #2 at Sunset Beach.

(Not the one in NC. Apparently, there's one in HI too.)

I stole her hat so I could read without squinting while she sat under the broken umbrella. The umbrella idea was a complete fail. It probably would have helped if I wasn't such a tightwad and had shelled out more money for a decent one. Oh well.

Melissa and I at the luau last night. =)

The luau is right on the beach - perfect for a good photo-op!!

I miss her already! And don't you just love her momma-turtle-and-baby-turtle necklace?! I love the little shops at North Shore...they're perfect for finding unique things like that. =)

I'm sure I'll be back later with a more detailed version of her visit. I've missed blogging!! My inbox has been so lonely without all of your sweet comments!

Oh! I almost forgot! My sweet Papa is going home from the hospital tomorrow!! =D His surgery was on Friday (it just had to be on my birthday...) and it went really well. They're sending him home with boatloads of medicine, and they have told Mom and Nana that the surgery definitely remedied the aneurysm and should shrink the tumor. No blood supply should make the tumor shrink [and hopefully die]. Thank you so much for your prayers and comments. God is awesome!!!


Don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends Sunday at 2400 EST! I know at least some of you want something from Hawaii!! ;-)

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.

 - Thomas Jefferson

Ah, well said, TJ. Unfortunately, the wisdom of our forefathers has often been ignored and written off. "Frugal government?" What is that? What does frugal even mean? Our government loves to spend money.  In fact, if we have a problem, we should just throw money at it and see what happens! Yeah, that's a good idea. 

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I have some news of great crafty things for you today! 

Tomorrow, my bestie's blog is being featured on Sew it to Me! She makes all sorts of crafty things...most of which she sews. And she is awesome. She's made me a potholder and a key chain thingy. She's made a blankets for her nieces and nephews...and the list continues.

Recently, though, she's made a coupon organizer and a cash organizer (for the envelope system). She is now selling them on her blog for a very reasonable price. =) No, I'm not just saying this because she is my friend. Deep down, I'm cheap. I hate to pay full price for just about anything...seriously. =) So, when I say I'd pay that much for it, it's a deal. Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Coupon Organizer:

Cash Organizer

If you're wondering what the difference between the two is, the cash organizer is smaller. =)

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Alright, so in my last post, I presented an idea of a giveaway. Since JG from Me and My SoldierMan was nice enough to give me a shout out in her blog today {love her!}, I thought I would go ahead with this idea! So here is the deal:

If I have 100 followers by...oh, let's say May 1st, I will do a giveaway. This won't be just any giveaway, it will be a Hawaiian giveaway. =) If I have 100 followers when I get to Hawaii, I will find something that is uniquely Hawaiian. Something you just can't get here in the states. Mrs. C has already offered to help me shop for the perfect Hawaiian item from one of those little great boutique-y places. =) So, your job is to help me get 100 followers! That is, if you really want something from Hawaii... =)