This is one of our favorite restaurants despite a few items that I don’t care for here. The food is excellent and the service is usually pretty good. Two things I don’t like? 1. when we walk up to the host/hostess they ALWAYS ask us, are you visiting? No. we live here. in fact we come here about once a month and have been coming here for years. Are you visiting is not a polite way to greet a guest. How are you, How is your day are more appropriate greetings. 2. When the host/hostess walks you to your table, the put the menus on the table and stack the napkins and silverware on the table. They do not set the table, they do not pass out the menus. that’s just rude, in my opinion. I have mentioned it to the manager and he said it’s a style of service. I say, you mean lack of service? so then I shouldn’t leave a tip then? but the friendliness of the servers (tonight we had anthony-excellent) and quality of the food are so good, we do overlook it.

seriously, can you not tell we are from here?

thanks for stopping by! Come back tomorrow for the Samantha Walker Creative Crafter’s blog hop!

Love Love and Blog you Later,

Joscie, rhymes with bossy :)

and two other faves from today.  Jalen and Jordan doing a magnet/compass experiment

and some yummy macarons we picked up after dinner today: coconut, vanilla, guava, mango, key lime.

the boys, on how to identify macarons:

Jalen- The coconut ones have little things on them.

Jordan- I hope it’s not bacteria!

those are so my boys. ha ha.

I hope you’re having a great day, thanks for stopping by!

Love Love and Blog you Later,

Joscie, rhymes with bossy! :)

Design House Digital

I made this layout for the 4 play over at Design House Digital.

the glitter incident

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• Zoey Papers 2 by Shannon Hegarty
• Genuinely You Elements by Karen Funk
• Tape it Easy by Agnes Biro
• Virtual Bunny Paper Set by Angie Hinksman

Two Peas in a Bucket

My latest two peas project random cell phone pics made the featured layout today! and my No.5 layout was in last week’s digital newsletter. :) it’s the little things that give me a rush. I also have a layout to share that I made, just for fun.

captain america

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Q & A

I had a few questions to address:

Thankfully, we are done with the testing. I really feel it is an interruption to our regular schedule, and personally I don’t do well with that kind of thing. The test is also based on what the schools are teaching and not necessarily what we are teaching/learning at home so that can be stressful, especially for the student. The school in our neighborhood has been very nice to us and I do appreciate that. (and thanks, I really had fun making the new header)

I haven’t tried Photosheet to make the smaller photos, I usually use photoshop to create the collages and then print at home. I can’t wait to see your project as you have time to work on it!

thanks so much (happy-scrappy) Sam! :) I made my templates and printed at home.  My template was 12×12 and I cropped it down to 6×12 to print each page.  The paper is some photo paper that i purchased at the store when they stopped carrying the wide format printers.  It was a 50 pack of 13x 19 photo matte paper.  I simply trim it down to 8.5×13 and then run it through my HP printer. (still dreaming of a wide format printer some day)

Veronica, I got a Canon 5D mk ii just before Christmas! I’m so so happy with it, I’ve been dreaming for quite some time.
Thanks for stopping by!
Love Love and Blog you Later,
Joscie, rhymes with bossy :)

I’ve got several projects in the works, so I’ll sign off for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Love Love and Blog you Later,

Joscie, rhymes with bossy :)

we used a recipe for “building gingerbread” *edible but not as good as “eating gingerbread”

Butter                8oz
Brown Sugar   8oz
Molasses          8oz
Flour                 2lb 3oz
B. Soda             2tsp
Cinnamon       2tsp
Ginger              1/2tsp
Clove                1tsp
Water                8oz

Cream together the butter and sugar, then add molasses and water, sift all the dry together and add slowly to mixer.  Bake at 325F until done, it all depends on what size your pieces are.  I normally at least double the recipe for a good size house.  Also all of the gingerbread MUST be totally cool before you start to build or the icing will just melt and not glue anything together!

and to put it all together, we used Royal Icing:

Royal Icing Using Meringue Powder:

4 cups (440 grams) confectioners’ (powdered or icing) sugar

3 tablespoons (30 grams) meringue powder

1/2 teaspoon extract (vanilla, lemon, almond)

1/2 – 3/4 cup (120 – 180 ml) warm water

Note: Food Coloring (I use Gel Pastes that can be found at cake decorating and party stores or
else on-line)

For Royal Icing with Meringue Powder: In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand
mixer), beat the confectioners’ sugar and meringue powder until combined. Add the water
and beat on medium to high speed until very glossy and stiff peaks form (5 to 7 minutes). If
necessary, to get the right consistency, add more powdered sugar or water. To cover or ‘flood’
the entire surface of the cookie with icing, the proper consistency is when you lift the beater, the
ribbon of icing that falls back into the bowl remains on the surface of the icing for a few seconds
before disappearing.

The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing
hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

Makes about 3 cups

Jordan was the one who came up with the idea of adding skittles to the tops of the gum drops and I must say, I love the look. Jalen and I both followed Jordan’s lead.  He told me he was making a pattern, alternating red and green. He also made a sort of gate with the candy canes and a walk way.

Jalen’s house is the one with the candy cane on the roof and alternating red and green skittles stripes.

My house is the last one with the candy cane hearts and red skittles.

It was a fun venture.  We made two batches of building gingerbread, which for the amount and size of houses we were making, it was just too much.  Also, the rectangles we cut were not quite the right shapes so we had gaps.  For next year’s gingerbread villages, I’ve ordered Gingerbread House Cutters (B1101) from foose.  It was quite fun :)

We also made some eating Gingerbread, sugar cookies and white chip chocolate cookies. I’ll be sharing those soon. and can I add. the house smells lovely. I <3 Gingerbread!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love Love and Blog you Later,

Joscie, rhymes with bossy :)

We hit the freeway to head on down to the Blaisdell Center for the Made in Hawaii Festival.  It was a classic holiday lots of traffic in the middle of the day kind of day. 89*, blue skies, white puffy clouds.

We just traded in the boys’ old DS and DSI for the new 3DS. The boys have been playing this game where you have to move the console around to play. it’s quite funny to watch.  After we finally made it through all the traffic, the LOT WAS FULL. not fun. We circled this large city block. twice. and no spots available. I finally told troy to head back up the way we came and we scored a parking spot at the First United Methodist Church. $5. and made our way down to the event.

We brought some stale bread to feed the fish. It’s always a winner.

Jordan is a master manipulator and got Troy to carry him. Jordan weighs 50lbs.

As we made our way through the aisles, there was a lot of food, jewelry, tshirts, hats and the like.  This was the first booth we came to where I loved the items at once. Hello, houndstooth? wood grain? polkadots? neutral +1 color? yes please.

treehouse designs facebook | Store Paia, Maui

it was a tough choice but I got a neutral woodgrain purse:

Jordan and Jalen liked these Angry Birds and thieving pig earrings and pendants. We did not buy. gorgeous, but too much for the budget.

Another favorite stop, The Hawaiian Force  Hilo, HI

Jordan got two shirts, Troy got one and I got one.

We also picked up a few Tshirts from Papaya Press dba idkwhat2wear | facebook Mililani, HI

Organic Honey and Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter from North Shore Goodies Waialua, HI

Melting Moments Cookies from Sweets Fanatic Honolulu, HI

Other exibitors I liked but didn’t buy:

kyote designs – modular jewelry

Sweet as Sugar- Cake pops and other custom baked treats

Nuinani- clothing, bags (save 10% on an online order code: NUI10)

There were others that I did not get a card from and can’t remember their names. It was so busy and no hassle Joscie was on a mission.

On our way back to the car, I could not resist snapping this shot of the Academy Art Center. I always say I love their yarn balls… although they look more like grapevines but whatever. they are cool.

After coming home and relaxing for a bit we headed down the street for an early dinner at one of our favorite Chinese Places Wah Kung.

That pretty much wraps up our family fun day. Thanks for coming along. Guess what? I picked up an extra bottle of organic honey to giveaway along with some tea. Are you interested? leave me a comment and I’ll pick a winner on Monday, international comments welcome too.

Love Love and Blog you Later,

Joscie, rhymes with bossy

We have put a few miles on the trail a bike, some with me pulling and some with Troy pulling.  On the time when Troy pulled, I noticed that Jordan’s feet would slip off the pedals sometimes and reminded him to put his toes, not his heels on the pedals.  He also has a habit of trying to lean to see around the front cyclist, and I also reminded him not to do that.  about a week ago we were all riding down a bike path near our home and Jordan took a tumble off the trail a bike.  I was pulling him and when I felt the bump and stopped.  I looked back and about 10 feet back Jordan was sitting on the path crying.  We checked him out and he could move and wasn’t bleeding much so we rinsed his abrasions with the water we had and made our way home.  It was about a mile from home so we had to stop a few times on the way as he wanted us to keep pouring water on his scrapes.  Once we got home, I gave him some tylenol and ice packs for his injuries.  He had a scrape on his knee, elbow, shoulder,  and rib cage, all on the left side.  As we sat at home for a few minutes Jordan started shivering and I thought though it might be the ice, he also might be going into shock.  We put a jacket on him and loaded up into the van for another trip to the ER.  I must say this for Tripler, they handled him relatively quickly and gave him an all clear. (thanks GOD!) We all wear helmets, everytime.  I urge you to do the same.

My Mom

My mom had a colonoscopy that detected a mass near her appendix and her doctor scheduled her for surgery to remove her appendix and 30% of her colon.  The surgery was on Thursday and she’s going home today.  Thankfully the hospital is minutes from my home and we were able to visit quite often and also thankfully, the staff did not enforce the 14+ age requirement for visitors so the boys were able to visit as well.  We are praying for an all clear on the pathology report.

Memorial Day Weekend

• We were lucky enough to enjoy a 4 day weekend with Troy for Memorial Day.
• Thursday after visiting my mom we headed down to Dole Cannery Theater to watch Kung Fu Panda 2.  It was a cute and funny movie and not a single too loud comment from Jordan, thankfully.
• Saturday we did some building/tinkering with some drawers we picked up at Re-Use Hawaii. Troy cleaned up the back yard and we gave away our plastic picnic table and sand/water table.  Yay for recycling!
• We went to Lowe’s to pick up some paint. while waiting for the paint to be mixed we saw some kids doing gymnastics on the cart. parents completely oblivious. :(
• We were driving down Ala Moana Blvd and the ambient temp gauge started going crazy in the van and the a/c started blowing hot air at the same time. unless of course it was 118* outside!  I was so bummed and freaked out about a return trip to the dealership.  GOOD NEWS: when we got home, troy took a look and found a big plastic bag that had blown up under our car that was right on the sensor and what ever it was doing, it stopped and everything works fine. YAY for Troy! :)
• we ate out a lot. zippy’s, outback, bubba gumps, chili’s, slush floats from Rainbow Drive In after the aquarium.
• I picked some of my sugar snap peas and ate them. so HAPPY! i want more.
• We took a trip up to Punchbowl (National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific) to take flowers to my dad’s grave on Monday.
• We also took a trip to the Waikiki Aquarium by Jordan’s request.
• Almost every morning around 6:30am Jordan makes his way to my room and crawls in the bed, he is a bed hog.
• We were on our way to lunch at Ala Moana Shopping Center and saw a lady on a moped veer into traffic (thankfully the truck stopped) but as she tried to move back out of the way, she fell over. Troy jumped out of the van to help her up and over to the sidewalk and I pulled the van over to the side.  Another person stopped who happened to be an ER nurse.  He helped assess the lady while someone else called 911.  The police and ambulance showed up and then we were able to leave her in their care.

so that’s pretty much what has been going on with us.  What’s going on with you?  Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you.

Love Love and Blog you Later,

Joscie, rhymes with bossy. :)

Troy had the day off and we went down to the Honolulu Zoo.

self portrait.  Thanks to central air I sleep in my christmas flannel pj pants year round.

Pastor Jim during Children’s Time talking about eating MnMs.  Jordan is sitting directly behind Pastor Jim, patting his shoulder and talking about playing his DS.

Jordan playing with his TAG reader with headphones.

Running errands with the boys.

I love seeing these signs up on the fence welcoming home service members and reuniting families.

We had dinner on the ship on Troy’s duty day.  The boys scored coins from the CO too.

Happy Birthday Troy! :)

I made biscuits for breakfast this morning, some circle and some elephant for our little elephant lover.

Thanks for stopping by!

Love Love and blog you later!

Joscie, rhymes with bossy

Today’s picture of the day: Happy Birthday Jordan!

My picture of the Day for yesterday is my (step)brother Kam and my sister in law Melissa.

Today was a day for tying up loose ends.  Getting safety inspections for truck and motorcycle, mowing our little patch of lawn in the back… I think we are about as ready as we can be.

In scrappy news, Tattered Angels is releasing a few new products that I am super super excited about!  Liz posted the first sneak peek on the Tattered Angels educator blog today.  She listed all the new educators and there is a great giveaway, so check it out!  My first tattered angels project went live on the blog today too! Here’s a peek:

Thanks for stopping by!  Love Love and blog you later,

Joscie, rhymes with bossy!