Stay Tuned

I apologize for not blogging yesterday. I had a lot of things going on and by the time I got home I was done! I went straight to bed. I fell asleep reading the last two verses of my chapter, for my scripture reading. I’m trying to be more consistent. I finally woke up and finished the chapter and went to sleep. I think I said my prayer… Hmm. I will put pictures up from the 29^th and today- the 30^th- tomorrow. Today is the last day of the truth challenge. I’m actually kind of sad. I’ve had fun posting something almost every day with a purpose. It was fun while it lasted!

Yesterday and today’s challenge…

Day 30: A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

Dear Leonani-

Good job in finishing the 30 Days of Truths Challenge! It’s been quite the adventure. I think we’ve learned a lot about ourselves. And I think we’ve come to terms with other things, too. Well, as today’s challenge instructs, I am writing to tell you, me, what I love about us. This is so difficult to word- as far as addressing us.

I love our, my…

Smile

Laid backness

Ability to make others smile/happy

Ability to find/look for the good in others

Happy-go-lucky attitude

Ability to get along w/ pretty much any and everyone

Eyes

Feet

Patience for others

Humor

Testimony and how it grows in so many ways all the time

Love for cooking/baking

Interest in different things and trying them out

New found loves- whatever they may be

Remember to be happy and to make yourself happy before trying to make the rest of the world happy. Global change must first start with us. Love yourself as Jesus loves you. Don’t give up and “just keep swimming.”

Love, Me!

Today’s song is from the movie “Hocus Pocus.” I have not seen this movie in years! I know it comes on every year for Halloween and is played constantly from the beginning of the month (almost) but I always seem to miss it. This year I got it on the DVR and I am going to watch it tomorrow! J This is the one Winnie (Bette Midler) sings at the party with all of the parents. Did you know that Thackery Binx (the cat who used to be a boy) is played by the same guy who is McGee on NCIS? He is so young in the movie, I almost didn’t believe it. J But the movie did come out in 1993 so I guess that’s what happens when a movie is 17 years old! Holy cow!

I Put a Spell on You- Winifred Sanderson

I put a spell on you

And now you are mine

You can't stop the things I do

I ain't lying

It's been 300 years

Right down to the day

Now the witch is back

And there's hell to pay

I put a spell on you

And now

You are mine

Hello Salem

My name’s Winnie. What’s yours?

I put a spell on you

And now you're gone

Gone, gone, gone, so long!

My whammy fell on you

And it was strong

So strong, so strong, so strong!

Your wretched little lives have all been cursed

'Cause of all the witches working

I'm the worst!

I put a spell on you,

And now you're mine

Watch out, watch out, watch out, watch out, she ain't lyin'

If you don't believe

You'd better get superstitious

Ask my sisters!

She's vicious

I put a spell on you

A wicked spell

I put a spell on you

Sisters!

Ah-Say-Into-Pie

Oppa-Maybe-Uppen-Die

Ah-Say-Into-Pie

Oppa-Maybe-Uppen-Die

In-Kama-Koray-Ah-Ma

In-Kama-Koray-Ah-Ma

Hey, High, say bye-bye-iii-iii

Bye-bye

Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself, and why.

I hope to change my lack of self discipline in money, and eating. I think it is somehow programmed into my brain that I need to spend almost every penny I have in my account. I am working so desperately to stop that programming and to stick to a budget. I’m still new at it so it’s still hard, BUT… I am seeing some progress! J As far as eating goes… I just LOVE food. I don’t like to reject food and I don’t like to waste it. So I eat it. All of it. I know that it’s not good for me to do so but such is the life of a Polynesian. I have decided that I need to be more mindful of what and how much I eat and also that I need to exercise, consistently. I’ll get there one day!

Today’s song is also from “Hocus Pocus,” the one that Sarah (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) sings. It’s short, but fun! Be strong, be happy, and find the joy in your life!

Come Little Children- Sarah Sanderson

Come, little children
I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment
Come, little children
The time's come to play
Here in my garden of magic

The Best

Happy birthday to my Mommy! Another year has passed and you are still the same age. Wait. How does that work? Maybe once you become a mommy, you stop aging. Hmm, I hope so! J You are the best mommy anyone could ever ask for! I know you will probably never read this but, just so the world knows, I love you and would never want a different mommy! You are the most awesomest and I love you so much! Thank you for always being a great example to me of so many Christ-like attributes. I hope to continue to become more and more like you! I love you and happy birthday! Oh and sorry again that your present is late. L But hey, I sent you one this year! Finally! J

Today’s challenge…

Day 28: What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?

I would freak out. First off, how did I get pregnant? Or how did I get someone pregnant? Crazy! Hopefully, I would be married before I got pregnant. If that’s the case then I would be so happy and yet so nervous! I’ve cared for kids ranging from newborn to whatever. There is no limit to the age that I’ve cared for. Yes, that means you! J J/k! But seriously, I KNOW what to do w/ babies and what to expect after birth and what not. But I’ve never experienced pregnancy or labor so those are the parts I’m most nervous about. I have a glimpse to what kind of mother I’ll be but I wonder if it’ll be any different since one day, I will- hopefully- have my own little bundle of joy. Will I be the type of mother that worries at every little sound that comes out of my little one or will I be the cool, rational type of mom I hope be? Only time will tell. If I was pregnant, I’d try my best to love every minute of it. Well, at least the minutes where I am not sick or in too much pain. J

Tell Me You Love Me- Leela James

I unpacked my chest for you
Do everything that you want me to
Can't believe I gave you all my love
What in the world was I thinkin' of?

I just let it all slip away
With every minute, hour of the day
And if it really meant to be, just share with me
Why do I still feel incomplete?

Tell me, yeah
I need to know, baby
I got to know
Tell me, yeah
Tell me that you love me

If I give you what you need
Would you do the same thing for me?
'Cause I don't want to be alone
I want you here all night long

'Cause when you leave me, baby
I'm thinkin' about you always
I'm ashamed to say
How much I want you to stay

Baby, tell me, yeah
I need to know
Say it now
I got to know
Tell me that you love me

Now you see
I'm not tryin' to make a big fuss over this
But I'm just sayin', you need to let me know how you feel sometimes
Say it, it's not wrong, expressing yourself?
That's what wo- women like that, you know what I'm sayin'?
You know, you got to tap into your romantic side
Shoot, return the love, baby, return the love

I need to know, I want to know
I need to know, I want to know
I need to know, I want to know

I need to know, yeah baby
I got to know, oh, tell me
Tell me that you love me, love me, love me, love me
That you love me, love me, love me, love me

I unpacked my chest for you
Do everything that you want me to
Can't believe I gave you all my love

Short

Today started off to be a good day. I woke up when my alarm went off. I got some exercising in. Isabella didn’t put up a fight when it was nap time. I was going to watch a movie with Pohai, and I was going to send off my mom’s birthday present. Somehow, between Isabella’s nap and my going to watch a movie, my world turned upside down. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Complete devastation entered into my little, happy world. I put on an indifferent face for as long as I could and then I could no longer hold the rivers back behind the dam. I burst into tears while talking to my sister about it. That was interesting in itself since my sister and I don’t usually talk to each other in times of distress. I mean, we talk but it’s never about the actual situation that is plaguing our lives at the moment. It’s tiny glimpses into it but then we move on to something else. I just pray that things will get better with this and that time will heal all involved. Somehow.

Today’s challenge…

Day 27: What’s the best thing going for you right now?

How do I answer this? Do I answer it in the sense of what they mean in movies, like my looks or a certain talent? Or do I answer it in the sense of the good things in my life? I choose the latter. I feel that my current situation is the best thing going for me. By situation (I am not referring to the Jersey Shore) I mean, I am a live-in nanny where I get paid and room and board. Carrie and Hector have been so awesome in helping me out to make money and not have to worry so much about extra bills while I go to school. And I help them out in watching their little girl. I wish I could talk about a few other things in my life but at the moment it’s not so peachy.

No song today guys. I suggest going back to Day 24 and pick a song you don’t really know or haven’t heard of, if that’s even possible, and check out the lyrics or video to that song. Be strong, be happy, and find the joy in your life!

Brand New

Day 26: Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so when and why?

Wow. Getting into the heavy stuff, eh? Well, I’ve never seriously thought about giving up on life so much that I wanted to die. But yes, I have thought about giving up on life. I don’t remember all the details because it was so long ago. I just remember thinking that my life wasn’t as awesome as I was expecting it to be and I wondered if I really mattered anymore. I had an “It’s a Wonderful Life” moment where I was wishing I was never born. Then I thought about all the things that would be different if I wasn’t around. I don’t know how much of it would have been true but it’s just the small things that I thought truly needed me for. I have also wanted to just check out of life. In the sense of going far away to start completely new, where no one knew me and I could be or become anyone I wanted to. But I’d miss everyone too much and I wouldn’t be able to keep up a new life without going back to the old one. Everything that I’ve gone through has made me the person I am today. Without, I would be completely different. And that’s just weird!

Today’s song is a song I hope is on my husband’s playlist for me. J But for right now, just pretend they sing boy instead of girl. Be strong, be happy, and find the joy in your life!

My Kind of Girl- Brian McKnight & Justin Timberlake

When I was younger never went too far
Held my feelings and never even wanted to start
So when I met you, I didn’t know
What you were gonna do with my heart

When you talk (I cling on every word you say)
When you move (Just like a breeze on a summer day)
When you smile (the sky turns from grey to blue, that’s what you do)
And you’re the kind of girl I think of
And you’re the kind of girl I dream about
My heart is telling me that I need you in my world (in my world)
Cause you my kind of lady (your my kind of girl)

When I'm not with you, where ever you are
Baby I'm counting the moments till I'm back in your arms
All I want is to have you here with me
Every night and every day, when you talk

(I cling on every word you say)
When you move (Just like a breeze on a summer day)
When you smile (the sky turns from grey to blue, that’s what you do)
And you’re the kind of girl I think of
And you’re the kind of girl I dream about
My heart is telling me that I need you in my world (in my world)
Cause you my kind of lady (your my kind of girl)

Baby girl I need you here by my side
And if your there everything will be alright
Cause this is the time for us, baby be mine

And you’re the kind of girl I think of
And you’re the kind of girl I dream about
My heart is telling me that I need you in my world (in my world)
Cause you my kind of lady (your my kind of girl)

No Limits

Day 25: The reason you believe you’re alive today.

This is kind of a weird topic. It’s not like I’m rock climbing everyday w/o a harness or anything. I’m the crazy adventurer. I’m alive because two of the most important people in my life fell in love, got married, started a family, and eventually had me. They’ve kept me safe and taught me all they could. It’s really as simple as that.

Today’s song is pretty awesome. I’ve liked it for a while but I never looked to see what all of the words were. It’s even more awesome than I thought. I love that T.I. tried to do good just before his incarceration and after as well. He’s realized his mistakes and tries to educate others that are going down the path he already went down. Good for him, trying to make a difference! I love the whole song, but I especially love when he says, “Don’t forget that impossible is nothin’, your environment's irrelevant, just don’t let your emotions over power your intelligence. Refuse to give up, your mistakes don't define you, don't dictate where you headin’, they remind you.” Be strong, be happy, and find the joy in your life!

Slide Show- T.I.

Eh , when I think about all my time and all my struggle
Through all my grindin’ and all my troubles
When I came out from nothin’ , all I had was a hustle
With a blindfold tryin’ to find pieces to the puzzle, no muzzle
I tell it like it is, that’s that, right or wrong, I’mma call it how I see it
Don’t forget that impossible is nothin’, your environment's irrelevant
Just don’t let your emotions over power your intelligence
Refuse to give up, your mistakes don't define you
Don't dictate where you headin’, they remind you
That time keeps tickin’, let your mind keep clickin’
Never stop thinkin’, be aware of your decision
Everywhere the collisions
And the potholes hidden on the road that you travel on your lifelong mission
Just listen everyday like a snap shot is taken, if you live you could learn
Have faith, be patient

‘Cause life is like a slide show
And all the places I go
And all the things that I know
Through all the highs and lows
‘Cause life is like a slide show
And all the things that I’ve seen
And all the things that I dream
You can’t take away from me
‘Cause life is like a slide show

‘Cause when I look back at a fly young cat
Who could rap with a dream, look where I took that
Beginning on bankhead, then I spread out
Vision in my head, all I had to do is to get it out
When I walked out of my house, and look at my street
All I see is the opportunity that lead me to truancy
I ain’t really have a role model to enforce me
Uncle Quinn in prison
they said next its gunna be you in it
As a juvenile caught cases so fluently look at my life and learn from it, don’t do it
If I only knew back then what I know now, how much better life it would have been if I slowed down
Maybe I’d have been Kanye, instead of seeing gunplay
But god got a plan, I’ll understand one day,
one day of life like a snap shot is taken,
if you believe you could make it
have faith, be patient

‘Cause life is like a slide show
And all the places I go
And all the things that I know
Through all the highs and lows
‘Cause life is like a slide show
And all the things that I’ve seen
And all the things that I dreamed
You can’t take away from me
‘Cause life is like a slide show

Looking back on my life time
See the slides go by, at times i wonder why
Looking back at where I’ve been
I remember when, you remember

‘Cause life is like a slide show
And all the places I go
And all the things that I know
Through all the highs and lows
‘Cause life is like a slide show
And all the things that I’ve seen
And all the things that I dream
You can’t take away from me
‘Cause life is like a slide show
‘Cause I see, cause I dream, life is like a slide show

Multiple CDs

This is a long one. Get ready!

Day 24: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs (Just post the titles and artists).

My playlist is for my future husband. J I have friends that have written letters and what not to their future husbands, I think it’s time I do something for him, too. There really isn’t an order to this, but I made the playlist on my itunes first, so it was alphabetically by album. It’s long but, this is actually the short list. J Most of the songs are self-explanatory so I’ll just comment on the ones I think need it.

For My Husband…

Beautiful Soul- Jesse McCartney

1234- Plain White T’s

Sharin’ the Night- Fiji

Wonderful Tonight- Michael Bublé

Something Like You- *NSYNC

Crazy Love- Michael Bublé

So Close- Jon McLaughlin

I’ll Stand By You- Cory Montieth

When the Sun Goes Down- Kenny Chesney (This one is just a fun song!)

(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You- UB40

I Like it, I Love it- Tim McGraw

Without Love- Hairspray Soundtrack

Blue Light- Ho`onu`a (Forget the red light, in Hawaii we do the blue light! J)

He Will Carry You- Mana`o Company (Thought I’d throw in a spiritual song. One of my faves.)

Save the Last Dance for Me- Michael Bublé

Then He Kissed Me- The Crystals (I loved this one growing up and always thought about my future hubby. It’s from “Adventures in Babysitting.”)

Flaws and All- Beyoncé

I Love You- Aaradhna

This I Promise You- *NSYNC

Everything I Own- *NSYNC

Let Me Be the One- Damon Williams

Ain’t No Other Man- Christina Aguilera

Our Love is Divine- Opihi Pickers

Whatta Man- Salt ‘N’ Pepa

Lucky- Jason Mraz & Coby Caillat

I Wanna Grow Old with You- Adam Sandler (Just a fun song about inside jokes. Can’t wait for the ones we’ll have!)

Just the Way You Are- Bruno Mars (Definitely self-explanatory, even though I posted this one a few days ago. J)

I realize that this would end up being two CDs but I’ll just keep it on my itunes and play it for him later. That way I won’t have to make multiple CDs. J Did you think there was going to be more *NSYNC songs? Truth be told, I kind of thought so, too, but I guess that ship has sailed. J No song for today. I just posted 28, so pick one. J Be strong, be happy, and find the joy in your life!

Star light, Star bright

Day 23: Something you wish you had done in your life.

Wow. What haven’t I wished… I wish that I was more passionate about something. Like music, art, dancing. Something. And continued on w/ it. I took piano when I was eight, for a little while. My teacher moved soon after I started and so I quit. Plus I knew we really didn’t have the money for lessons anyway. I wish I continued on w/ hula. I started in the fifth grade, which is totally late, but that’s when we moved back to Hawaii. But I had to stop because of my knee. Idk how it happened but it got messed up. The doctor said my muscle grew over the bone weird or something. Certain moves in hula aggravated it. Which is why I didn’t really play sports either. I did play soft tennis but that didn’t last long either. I’m thinking about taking ballroom dancing lessons. I think it would be fun and it’d give me something constructive to do. Or maybe going back to the piano. Idk, there’s a lot that I want to do. We’ll see what happens.

I really just like the video for this song. It’s pretty cool. I love the guitar part, too! Awesome! Be strong, be happy, and find the joy in your life!

Cousins- Vampire Weekend

You found a sweater on the ocean floor.
They're gonna find it if you didn't close the door.
You and the smart one sit outside of their sight,
In a house on a street they wouldn't park on at night.

Dad was a risk taker, his was a shoe maker,
You, greatest hits 2006 little list maker.

Heard codes in the melodies, you heeded the call,
You were born with ten fingers, and you're gonna use em all.

Interest in colors I discovered myself.
If your art-life is gritty, you'll be toastin' my health.
If an interest in culture, you should be lining the walls,
When your birthright is interest, you could just accrue it all.

Me and my cousins, and you and your cousins,
It's a line thats always running.

Me and my cousins and you and your cousins,
I can feel it coming.

You can turn your back on the bitter world.
You can turn your back on the bitter world.
You can turn your back on the bitter world.
You can turn your back on the bitter world.

Me and my cousins, and you and your cousins,
It's a line thats always running.

Me and my cousins and you and your cousins,
I can feel it coming.

Me and my cousins, and you and your cousins,
It's a line thats always running.

Me and my cousins and you and your cousins,
I can feel it coming.

Space. The Final Frontier.

Day 22: Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.

I wish I didn’t wait so long to go back to school. I went to a community college, the fall after graduation. I only took two classes, because that’s all I could afford. After the term/semester was over I didn’t go back to school. Part of it was because I moved from the Big Island, back to Oahu. The other part was that I wanted to work and save up for my mission. I worked full-time and made pretty good money. The sad part… I didn’t save any of it. I would’ve been able to pay for my mission, myself, if I had saved. I’m so grateful that I went on my mission! For sure! I just wish that before and right after, I was in school. I could’ve been done w/ graduate school already. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

I first heard today’s song on the “Twilight” soundtrack. I totally love this song! It’s not about anything particular that I wanted to share it’s just a song that I really like! J Be strong, be happy, and find the joy in your life!

Super Massive Black Hole- Muse

Ooh, baby don't you know I suffer?
Oh, baby can you hear me moan?
You caught me under false pretenses
How long before you let me go?

Ooh, you set my soul alight
Ooh, you set my soul alight

Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the super massive
(Ooh, you set my soul alight)
Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the super massive
(Ooh, you set my soul)

I thought I was a fool for no one
But ooh, baby I'm a fool for you
You're the queen of the superficial
And how long before you tell the truth?

Ooh, you set my soul alight
Ooh, you set my soul alight

Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the super massive
(Ooh, you set my soul alight)
Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the super massive
(Ooh, you set my soul)

Super massive black hole
Super massive black hole
Super massive black hole
Super massive black hole

Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the super massive
Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the super massive

Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the super massive
(Ooh, you set my soul alight)
Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the super massive
(Ooh, you set my soul)

Super massive black hole
Super massive black hole
Super massive black hole
Super massive black hole

Here and Now

No, it's not about the Luther Vandross song... I’ve been reading “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, since yesterday. I’m a few pages from the end and can I just tell you… It is AMAZING! Karyn’s Day 17 challenge post was the inspiration for this reading. Luckily, Carrie had it on her bookshelf so I didn’t have to go out and look for it. In all honesty, I wasn’t going to look for it. Ha, maybe it’s a good omen. J My favorite line from the book, so far, is “Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves His children. Each day, in itself, brings w/ it an eternity.” One of the characters is telling the shepherd (the main character) that he learned not to live in the past of for the future. But instead, live each day for that day. You are so much happier when you live today. You are focused and ready for what life has in store. I realized that I do what the man did, too often! I look back so much that I have a permanent crick in my neck. But at the same time I dream about the future so much that I have a constant nose bleed from having my head so far in the clouds (sorry if that was too graphic for you :P). I can remember the good times, there’s no problem w/ that. I can no longer LIVE in the past! I must move forward. I must catch up to the present. I cannot constantly dream of the future. I can set goals and hope for a great future but I must be focused on what today brings and how the present will determine my future. This book is amazing and I hope it will help me to make the changes that I NEED in my life.

Today’s challenge…

Day 21: Scenario: Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?

Rush to the hospital to be by her side! On the way, pray for her recovery and for forgiveness. Once I’m there by her side, apologize and send the good vibes her way. We say dumb things all the time. Luckily, there’s forgiveness (Forgiveness… Is more than saying ‘I’m sorry. Haha!) and if I know her like I think I do, she’ll forgive me and we’ll get over it and move on. She’s more important than a silly fight and our friendship is stronger than dragon breath. J

Today’s song is in reference of my breakthrough. I love this song! Honestly, I didn’t hear it until they sang it on “Glee” but then I started to hear the original all the time, after the show. Believe in yourself. Accomplish the things that you truly want to. Never stop listening to your heart! Be strong, be happy, and find the joy in your life!

Don’t Stop Believing- Journey

Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time

Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people

Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlight people

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people