No earrings

I once said that someone could know something is wrong if I'm spotted without earrings on. Well I'm currently without my dangly friends. I obviously didn't mean to forget earrings, I feel incomplete without some huge thing hanging from my earlobe. When I miss something like putting on earrings, its a sure-sign that something isn't right.

I had a great Christmas. Kien and Brayden's grandparents all came over, Kien loved his presents, we all ate and drank mimosas and bloody marys and laughed and spurted out ridiculous spiritual theories and had a great day. My parent's left about 6:30 and Ryan and I were getting the boys ready for bed so we could snuggle up with Christmas movies on the couch. It was an amazing holiday. Amazing until about 7:15 Christmas night. 7:15 was when my mom opened her garage door from the kitchen to find flames. 7:15 is when she screamed at my dad "FIRE". 7:15 is when she called 9-1-1 as she ran from her home. 7:15 is the last time she'd see her house in one piece with green walls and brand new bamboo floor.

Everyone is fine, physically.

Physically our bodies are unharmed (with the exception of my knees because I tripped over the fire hose when I got to the fire). Physically. And we are thankful for that. Thankful and grateful and all of that relief that comes with seeing your family after you could have lost them.

The house is gone, physically. In spirit it will always be there. There's no changing memories of a place. Of a home. A place that was home for so long. January would make 19 years since my parents bought the house. They just finished a 2-year long remodel on it. Last week they had a solar water heater installed.

BUT we need to look forward. No more looking BACK, no more dwelling on the past. FORWARD.

Over the last two days I have witnessed a community coming together for a single family, and I've seen some of the biggest hearts I've known. It's inspirational to say the least.

Physically o.k,
Lyn

http://www.hawaii247.com/2011/12/26/christmas-day-fire-destroys-home-and-porsche-in-waikoloa/

Shelling

Over the last few days I've had the chance to take the boys to two beaches. Day one we hit up Anaeho'omalu ("A-Bay") in Waikoloa Beach Resort. It was a beautiful day, a little breezy, but beautiful. Kien and I found a lot of broken shells and a few super good finds. For the amount of broken cowrey's we found, I wouldn't say it's the best shell beach.
Then on Sunday Ryan was able to join me and the little boys at Old Airport beach in Kona. There's a little cove that is never crowded that I just LOVE. We used to go there all the time when Kien was little and as I sat there yesterday I wondered why we don't go more often. It has tide pools to play in and even a small sandy area surrounded by rocks that makes it like a baby pond. The shelling there was a lot of the same from A-bay. Lots of broken bits, a few good finds, but the perk of Old A's vs A-bay was that there were opihi. I'm sure the shells were left over from locals picking opihi and cooking them up and leaving the shell. How ever they got there, I was glad to find the shells. Those polish up real beautifully when sanded and ground down enough. It's a lot of work but the reward is killer.

Irregardless of how the shelling was, I had two beautiful beach days with my guys and I loved it. Brayden loved the rocky sand at Old Airport, he liked it between his fingers and kept throwing handfuls. Anything to keep it out his mouth pleased me :) for not being home, Kien was great. He's a homebody, but yesterday he was out in the tide pools and swimming and having all sorts of adventures.

On a family/beach high,
Lyn

A few of our treasures from A-Bay

Ryan and Kien

Waking up hungover

Could be the number one greatest BAD ever. Before kids I could sleep all day. Now we wake up to Kien screaming and crying "Daisy pooped in the house!". Daisy=cat who was shut out of the garage all night, garage= where the litter box is.
Oh. Boy. Wake me up when breakfast is ready, or don't.

Water and painkillers,
Lyn

Easy DIY craft to share

This craft is thanks to Lauren.  It's amazing so I had to share it even though I haven't done it yet.  It's a new craft with (drum roll please...) EPSOM SALT.  Okay, that was total sarcasm with the drumroll because Epsom Salt crafts are no new surprise anymore. It's everywhere.  The makers are loving on this attention and the world will soon be covered.  We'll probably drive past an Epsom Salt covered car soon. I'll take a pink one please.  

All you need to do it coat your item (in this case it was a Mason Jar, Glade Candle's old holders, and Christmas Ball Ornaments) with Mod Podge or glue, roll the gooey item in the salt, let dry, and spray with three coats of sealer.  Amazing right? You can add color to either to salt or the glue.

We're looking forward to doing this trick to fabric flowers, Easter eggs, and shells for jewelry. 

Here are some pictures of the projects.  I'll snap some with the camera later but for now these cell-phone pics will have to do.

Holiday centerpiece with Epsom Salt candle holders

Epsom salt Christmas ornaments

Happy Crafting,

Lyn

Waikoloa Christmas parade and Scentsy + Wine party

What's not to love about a community's holiday parade, especially when 60% of the town is IN the parade?! :) I took a million pictures of the adorable kids but still need to load them on my computer. And then, OF COURSE, my camera dies towards the end of the parade which was BEFORE Santa pictures. We got the one they print for you but the quality was not the best. Ooooh welllll. After the parade nd Santa pics we had to hurry home so I could clean and COOK. I spent more time cooking and baking yesterday than I normally spend in front of the stove in a week. Maybe a month. Ryan was an incredible help, I could NOT have done it without him. The party was fun, I had a few glasses of champagne, and lots of laughs with the ladies in my life. I realized as I was cleaning the kitchen last night that we didn't take ANY pictures. It was sad. But memories are something that won't fade (at least not for a while, unless we go senile earlier) and it was an evening of good memories and yummy food. *pat myself on the back for that one. I didn't even use any frozen food!*
Today I put in a good number of hours in to Created by Lyn by working on a logo and some new typography, as well as shopped around for some metal stamping supplies.
That was my weekend. Good times spent with good people <3

I love Christmas time,

Lyn

Crazy days spin the world

What's an adventure in life without the adventure? Today my story was crazy to say the least. Kien has some mystery illness, and after seeing our doctor today she decided he'll see an allergist/immunologist specialist person. I also requested some in-depth blood tests since he is always sick. He doesn't have BAD hygiene, no it's not as great as I'd like, but it's not BAD. A cold here and there is normal in school-age children, but for craps -sake I feel like he is sick 3 out of 4 weeks a month. Kien's doctor appointment was at the end of the day after the labs closed so he wasn't able to get his blood drawn for his tests. That's for tomorrow's excitement. Ugh.
Brayden took a little spill and hurt his leg, so after four hours in the hospital and two sets of X-rays, he has a little brace on so he doesn't hurt himself while his leg heals. He has HIS follow-up doctor appointment tomorrow, and we may bring him to an orthopedic specialist just to be on the safe-side. I don't want his physical development altered any more than it already will be. Brayden literally JUST started scooting/swimming on the carpet to move forward (he has been ROLLING everywhere like a steam roller. He steamrolls, looks around and repositions himself, and rolls again. It's hilarious) and now idk how much he'll attempt it while he has his brace on. It's so sad. He definitely won't be crawling anywhere since his sprain is on his femur, just above his knee. It's actually taking a lot of me to put this story out. I'm so sad. And I feel terrible that he's hurt, and at such a critical stage of his development. It hurts to think of either of my kids sick, but this is another level of my hurt.

On the lighter side of my day, somehow I completed and "sent out" three Created by Lyn projects. I honestly don't know how I did it since I was home for a total of about three hours today (including tonight) and Brayden and Kien were incredibly (yet understandably) needy. I didn't start-to-finish the projects, I just FINISHED and distributed them. So that must be it :) either way, it feels very accomplished. I even have a load of laundry in the dryer!! I can add that to the three loads on the couch I have to find time to fold tomorrow. Boy oh boy!!

My lights are going out (at only 10:37!), hoping to get rested up for another crazy day,
Lyn

weB LOG

Did you know that "blog" originated as a blend of the words "web log"?

No matter how different we are, our lives encircle one like-item.  That item is the internet.  We could literally become hermits and do everything online (I’m sure some people do).  When blogging opened up, the internet became a brand-spankin’ new place.  We are able to share with millions, our ideas, stories, gossip, and entertainment with just some keystrokes and a quick hit of the ‘publish’ button.

I’m fairly sure that each blogger has their own motivations for joining the community.  That is an aspect that sets all of us bloggers apart.  I haven’t found my niche yet, my direction to this blog, but I love to write.  I took a year of college courses for writing and I debate with myself all the time whether or not I want to continue that path.  I like sharing my stories, especially about my kids, and I enjoy words.  Words are my art.  I don’t have much output-skill; I can’t draw for crap; I can’t even paint straight lines on my walls; I can hardly even cut a straight line.  But I DO have creativity in my mind, and that’s why I’ve focused on creating things on the computer, and in writing. 

Before I decide which blog-path to embark, I’m just writing about my journey in life.

FAMILY

The biggest aspect starts with my family. I love my family more than my words can actually express.  I know that sounds cliché but it’s true.   I have a terrific life and it’s because of my family.  My husband is literally my other half, complementing me completely.  My kids are amazing.  Kien is a little brainiac and Brayden is sweet and adorable as can be. But they are also KIDS. Kien, who is five now, is no angel.  He has his moments where I’d prefer to pretend he isn’t mine; all kids do, and only a delusional mother would not say the same about their children.  Parents also know how humorous kids are, and I hope to share those stories via my blog so others might relate or just get a good giggle out of reading it.   I’d love to brighten someone’s day just by doing one thing that I love.   Just like how Kien brightens MY day when he reads me a new book, or Brayden lights up my world by laughing out of the blue.

CRAFTING

I haven’t done a lot of it because it costs money, but I LOVE to craft. I love decorations. I like to make pretty things simply and cost-effective.  That’s one aspect I hope to be able to share on my blog.

COOKING/ BAKING

I only believe in baking from scratch, except a birthday cake, which I’ll use a boxed-mix and spruce up in various ways. My favorite dinners are ones that I can start and have on the table in 20 minutes or less.  I’m a lazy cook and use boxed-macaroni and cheese or canned spaghetti sauce in countless dinners.  I know that baking from scratch and shortcut dinners completely clash, but it works for me.  I like to find shortcuts and easy recipes and I will share any awesome ones with you.

CREATED BY LYN

A huge and somewhat new kick in my life is my business.  I started dabbling in graphic design around the time Kien was born, and then I started making our Christmas cards, birthday invitations, birth announcements, and also doing the same for my friends and family.  After years of pushing from one of my best friends, I finally officially started “Created by Lyn”. Boring name huh?  Once buying our first house, I got in major decorating-on-a-penny mode.  That’s when I realized I can make super cute home décor items on the computer for just the cost of the print (either at home or at a photo center) and a picture frame.  VOILA, Created by Lyn HOME was established.  My printer broke last year so I didn’t super-pursue that aspect because I didn’t want to sell something that I had printed at Costco.  Well I finally bought a – very nice – printer so I am in business! WOO HOO!  Thanks to my cheap-ass wanting pretty earrings but not wanting to shell out the cash for them, I finally got supplies to make my own earrings.  Once I perfect my technique, Created by Lyn ACCESSORIES shall be birthed. I’m also going to start to learn knitting, that will be fun :)

PEOPLE

I have a great support system in my friends and family.  Family also includes a large part of my 120+ aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I have a unique and strong arrangement friends who have been around for the long-haul and I don’t see going anywhere. Two of my absolute best friends live away, but distance has no effect on a true friendship.  Not that I’d want to, but I can go an endless amount of time without seeing any one of my friends but I know that when I finally see them again, the time apart will have no affect on us, except that we’ll have a lot of catching up to do :)

Holy-canoly this is going on-and-on. How do I wrap it up? Right now MyDizzyDaisies is about life; things, events, or people that actually impact my adventure.  I’m a wife and mom trying to get a small business off the ground from home; it’ll be a great adventure, and I’d like to be able to share it with whoever wants to follow along.  Maybe someone can even get something out of it. Even if it’s a little smile, my work here has been a success.

(At the risk of sounding like a hippy) Peace, Love, and Happiness because everything else is a waste of precious time <3

Lyn

Hoops galore

I have an earring obsession. I feel naked if I'm not wearing any. If in the off-chance I'm caught without earrings on its either because I was THAT tired or sick when I got dressed, or because Brayden ripped it out of my ear. Earring obsession paired with lack of free-flowing funds is not my favorite combo. So I decided to splurge on supplies and make my own! For the amount of money I could spend on a pair or two, I can make my own EXACTLY how I want. And that's exactly what I've done! I bought cheap materials so I could practice, and I've come up with five pairs and can't pick my favorite. I'm sending a pair as a Christmas present to one of my little (she will forever be little in my mind, but she just turned 15) cousin and I love my earrings so much I can't decide which to give her!! The awesome part of this situation is that I can make myself another just like it :) eventually once I've perfected the technique and have enough moolah for good materials (like sterling silver) I'll be selling these. But for now, I'm just LOVING on my new hobby :). I also made WINE GLASS MARKERS today. They are so cool! They'll be a little party favor for my Scentsy and Wine party I'm throwing on Saturday. I'll FOR SURE be adding those to Etsy as soon as I perfect that technique.

Hoops and shells,
Lyn

Fun stuff these last few days :)

Okay so it might actually sound lame to some super exciting single folk, but I have LOVED these past two days. Walked Kien to school which is a blessing in itself that I get to live so close to his school AND that I get to even walk him to school. When I was going back to work after maternity, one of the [many] things I cried about was that I wouldn't get to walk Kien to school anymore. Walking to the school isn't the only reason these days have been happy. I feel like I am slowly DOING THINGS. For example:
My room has been a wreck. It still is, but at least the clothes are hung, walkway is clear (wait, I can actually access my dresser?!), and so far I've filled an entire garbage bag of...garbage. 16 months of shopping receipts, cut-off tags, paystubs, ripped magazines... (don't worry, I recycle paper goods). I also cleaned off, PAINTED the back inside of the bookshelf, and reorganized the shelf. It's dust and clutter free. For now. Still lots to go but it's a major improvement. AGH enough about my bedroom.
I also spray painted a bunch of picture frames white and added some decor to the hallway. Like everything else in my life, it's a work-in-progress but it'll be fine how it is now and I can add on later.
I baked cookies on Monday. I made banana muffins tonight for Kien's class tomorrow. Those two things make me feel good :)

I got a custom invitation order through etsy! That was awesome too. Then the Etsy bug caught me and I bought a new printer so I can f-i-n-a-l-l-y print my stuff from home and sell more!! And, the last big purchase I can make for a while, or for forever, is a new (used) camera!!! About a year and a half ago my Canon Rebel Xsi was STOLEN. Today we received our new Rebel :) its not the newest thing but it's all we will use, and a price that can't be beat.
I also made more Christmas card templates!! So those are ready...

So many little things that make me feel so good inside. Or maybe it's the holiday spirit bit my ass. Whatever it is, I love it :)

"it's the most wonderful time of the year"
-Lyn