It's Aloha Friday!

Image: Kalua pig being removed from the imu by tweber1

"It's Aloha Friday.  No work 'til Monday..."

When I lived in Hawai'i, I really enjoyed Fridays. People all over the Islands put on their best Aloha shirts, dresses, and muu-muus, beautiful flower leis, and hair flowers (left side for married/taken/unavailable, right side for singles), and of course, in every store and establishment, you hear the fun-loving rendition of "It's Aloha Friday - No Work Till Monday...."

It's a celebration of the Spirit of Aloha, Hawaiian culture, and the end of the workweek.

Here in Sarongville, It's Aloha Friday! is a compilation of awesome randomness I've come across online or IRL throughout the week.  It's our way of celebrating the arrival of the weekend.  Enjoy!

It's Aloha Friday

earth hour.

We're doing it, and you should totally do it too.  Tomorrow, March 26 at 8:30pm local time, people all over the world will be unplugging for Earth Hour.  Yes, folks, once again, we earthlings, terrans, homo sapiens, Sol 3 inhabitants will be taking our stand in the fight for our planet against climate change.
This isn't our family's first time doing this.  We did it in 2008, 2009, and 2010.  We even did a second one in 2008, when we didn't have to!  We're such keeners.

Don't get me wrong -- we're environmentally fanatical already, so this is just another fun family activity... with more meaning than just going out to eat greasy fries, loitering at the mall, or sucking on Slurpees like hummingbirds.

welsh cheddar.

Roomie came home with something new to try.  Relieved that it wasn't some new weird sex thing, I gave it a go.  I know, my ND told me to avoid this but I couldn't help myself.  It's welsh cheddar.  And it was GOOD.  Mild to start with a sharp zing that sneaks up on you like a kiss from the hot dude from Theatre class that you'd been dying to lure into the sack but thought he was totally out of your league.  Ahem.  Try it.  You'll love it. 

save sgu.

I'm still pissed that SyFy has canceled Stargate Universe.  Bastards.  Oh, apparently, said bastards don't even like science fiction.  No, I'm not kidding.  The new owners don't like sci-fi.  Further proof?  Exhibit A: the name change from Sci-Fi to SyFy.  Exhibit B: wrestling.  Oh, yeah, WRESTLING on a science fiction channel.  I agree with the fiction part, but what's scientific about it?  Exhibit C: the new lineup of shows is mostly reality tv. 
Because I officially think this blows, I've joined SaveSGU on Twitter and Facebook.  You should too.

Listen to me.  I'm starting to sound like some sort of pusher -- join Save SGU, do Earth Hour, try Welsh Cheddar... DO IT NOW!!!

mathematical snoopy.

Guess what almost went out in our on-going, 3-year declutter-fest.  Yup, my addition/multiplication Snoopy ruler!  I only have 3 toys from my childhood that I would never want to part with: my bristle blocks, my wooden turtle toy, and my snoopy ruler.
I hope explains why I'm not striving to be a minimalist, but a minimalish-ist.  Yes, it's a word.

spring break.

Next week is Spring Break in these parts, and lo and behold, we're all actually healthy.  [...knocking on wood...]  Mini will get her retainer(s).  Lam will drag us out to hang at the mall.  And hopefully, we've truly seen the last of the I-have-the-flu-and-feel-crappy looks... like the one on that dude above.

It's Aloha Friday

+ germ-killing salsa.

Don't judge me.  I've been sick.  Iced tea and fiesta dip are all I can handle.  Fever of 38.9C finally broke on Wednesday, but I'm still blowing my nose, coughing up swamp scum, and feeling as weak as a baby.  Opening a fruit roll-up for Mini reduced me to tears.  Really, Suri Cruise and her little high-heel shoes can kick my ass easily.

+ bikini.

Mini outgrew her one-piece bathing suit.  Our baby girl had to wear her bikini to swim class.  Roomie's eyes started to bleed, then his brain kersploded.  Blam.

+ sash.

Lam earned his white sash in Kung Fu and received it at his class on Wednesday. So, be nice or he'll kick your ass.  Aw, I'm so proud of my little hired goon.

+ chicken.

A family favourite.  400F.  45 minutes.  Add Diana sauce on top.  15 minutes more.  Yum.

+ bedtime reading.

I just finished re-reading Ransom by Julie Garwood, my fave historical romance author.  Or "lady porn", as Miss T calls it.  Next Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood.

It's Aloha Friday

+ on ice.
I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to take Mini to Disney on Ice.  Roomie thought I was nuts.  Mini isn't interested in stuff like that anymore, Nenette!  Um... what do y'all think?

+ aloha, playah.
My bff Miss T returned from 2 week trip to Hawai'i.  She brought back some lovely gifts for us: a little purse for me, poi for Roomie and me, and necklaces for the kids, which they wear every day and won't take off even for this pic. 

+ s'mores.
Kids wanted s'mores.  Didn't have graham wafers.  Still really good though.

+ sci-fi'd.
I'm becoming more and more obsessed with "V".  Good thing, since one of my current faves -- Stargate: Universe -- has been canceled.  Boo.  :(

{image from starbaseatlanta.com}

+ pork chops.
Yummy.  Even my kids think so.  You know, the ones who think me giving them new delicious food is a new and twisted form of torture.
It looks odd but tastes delish.  Here's how you make it.

It's Aloha Friday

This new weekly feature was totally swiped from Emily whose blog I totally adore. It's about the 5 notables I want to share with you that took place the previous week.

+ wanna muff?
I made banana muffins yesterday.  With brown sugar.  And I'm proud to say that I. HAVEN'T. HAD. ANY.  Yes, you may applaud now.  This is a big deal, darlings.  Especially since they look this yum.

+ sick mommy.
Mini's been sounding like Kathleen Turner lately.  Sick with the sniffles and a nasty cough.  She hates feeling like crap, but worse, she hates that she's not allowed to do anything but "stay on the couch and rest!".  So, she's happy that her little baby comes by to visit often.

+ ring.
It's been almost a year since I've been able to wear my wedding ring.  Sad.  My fingers are just too chunky.
Now, I've lost enough finger fat to wear my gold snake ring!  Love the gold.

+ in the doghouse.
The other day, I told Roomie that, when he sings The Police's "Roxanne", he doesn't really sound like Sting (hubbahubba)...

... but more like Mr. Hankey...

He was not amused.

+ wtf?
I've been thinking about Red Dwarf a LOT lately, then just today, Roomie found this video.
"Oh, Ace, I love you..." and your crocodile alligator too...

It's Aloha Friday v.III

I can finally throw away all my other lipsticks! I've truly found the lip product of my dreams!... Okay, not exactly of my dreams because the lip product of my dreams would also give me the power of flight and invisibility...

Anyway, yesterday, I went to Organza, one of my favourite organic grocery stores, and picked up an EcoTint by EcoLips.
So, I got the Mocha Velvet shade, and it was PERFECT! Because it's a sheer tint, it gave me a bit of brown yet allowed the pink of my lips come through for a beautiful shade of burgundy-brown.
This luscious stuff is 90% organic and made with all-natural plant oils, beeswax and earth minerals. Cruelty-free. And I'm not afraid of eating this stuff! It made my lips so soft and supple. No dryness or cracking at all. A definite keeper.

If you want one too, it's just $4-6 at your favourite health food store or online.


I'm just not a blingy-bling-bling kinda gal, but Hawaii has such a distinct style of gold jewelry that I was hoping to get something small just to remind me of my stay on the Islands.

Unfortunately, the authentic stuff, although beautiful, tends to be much bigger and chunkier for my tastes, so I didn't think I'd find something I'd actually want to wear.

Well, I was quite pleasantly surprised to find this dainty little thing.
Isn't it cute?! It's the Bamboo Heart Initial Ring from Hawaii City.

At $80, it's something I have to save up for. Maybe I'll get a paper route...


A new night-time tradition...

Me: *reading bedtime story* "... The End."

Mini: "Mommy, I can't sleep." *yawning*

Me: "Yes, you can. Just close your eyes."

Mini: *squeezing eyes shut then opening them* "I can't!"

Me: "Just close your eyes, and think of wonderful things... like your mother... so close your eyes and think of me."

Mini: *giggling* "Oh, Mommy, you're so funny!"