Happy Halloween!

Halloween isn't my favorite event; but I will say that I love the whole feel of the party. I love the costumes; the candy; the treats; the lore and the haunts.

Here are a few of the costumes I thought would be great and fun but sadly would never wear. Just as a warning: don't invite me to your Halloween party. Why? Because I will be that ONE friend who will show up, NOT wearing a costume. I know, I'm boring that way.

But here's one I would love to wear, well, as soon as I find the guts to do so.



Why a flapper? *shrugging shoulders* Well, doesn't it look fun?




Another tradition for Halloween are the 'haunting' sites that you pay so much money to attend, for the pure motive of: it's so much fun. Again, I don't like 'haunted' anything. When I was in sixth grade, our Elementary school had a haunted house which I couldn't go through. But I went anyways (peer pressure) and well, that was actually the last time I went to one. I know it's fake but it's really not a thrill for me. I have nephews who have and will laugh through a haunted house. Which also goes for scary Halloween movies. Can't do it.

Here are a few haunts here in Chicago. They actually give tours all year through but the prices for October go up. I'm not surprised.

From their website:

Welcome to Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tours!
Chicago is one of the most haunted cities in the world, boasting a colorful but disturbingly dark and violent past. Many of the sites on our tours are notorious for their ghost sighitngs and paranormal activity. Others are not as well known. The stories behind many of these hauntings range from the truly chilling to the light- of heart. We've found that some spirits of our beloved but haunted Chicago seem to beg loudly for recognition and remembrance, while others remind us of their reality in a more subtle fashion. We think a few wish to teach lessons, while others remain playful. All, we believe, wish not to be forgotten.

We can't guarantee a paranormal experience will occur or be experienced on each and every tour. Nor can we say one won't. We can promise that you'll be haunted by Chicago's very real, often shocking past.

Come find out for yourself!

Our Chicago Hauntings Tours operate year-round from 600 N. Clark St. (at Ontario) in downtown Chicago, across from the Rain Forest & Hard Rock Cafes.
In the mood for a tour contact: chicagohauntings.com

I also found out from this site that the Museum of Science and Industry is a famous sighting for paranormal events. OK, how am I going to tell my children that we're never going to do a 'sleep over' at THAT Museum. Yes, I'm chicken.

Last but my most favorite part of Halloween are the treats. They can come in the scariest looking forms but as long as it tastes good, I'm all over it.

Here's a great Halloween treat, I came across, while shopping at Target. I'm not a soda drinker but I do love Jones Soda and here is their Halloween line for a limited time only.




Interesting flavors. Tonight we tried the 'corn candy' flavor. It will actually leave the same after taste, candy corn leaves in your mouth when you're done eating it. I love the size of the can and the flavors and decorative cover are perfect for Halloween.

For great and healthy Halloween treats, I'm usually over at the Family Fun website. I love the fact that each recipe has a rating.

So pretty much, I've made a confession of my contradictory behavior for loving Halloween. The only thing that I will do is 'eat' the treats. You won't find me wearing a costume; attending a haunted anything but I will be at the desert table trying not to oink out loud.

Happy Halloweeen!

unBEElievable

About a month and half ago, we had a really nasty experience with these yellow jackets. Actually it was rather horrifying. Imagine: Alfred Hitchcocks, "Birds" movie without the birds; replace them with yellow jackets.

We were taking a nice walk up a trail when my children and my friend Kristi's children were attacked by yellow jackets. These yellow jackets followed them for a quarter of a mile and still they persisted.

Altogether there were a total of nine (make that ten, Aaron went back to the nest, don't ask me why) attacked by yellow jackets. Those creatures were aggressive.

The paramedics showed up, each child had their own paramedic and to cut to the chase of the story, each child had about over thirty stings. I stopped counting after 30.

Even after I got home and had them strip down to their underwear so I could make sure they were bee free. I sent them to take cool showers. To my surprise, Yzhak is screaming and calling for me to come down because there were more bees. I had to tried to convince him that they were all gone. However, he was right. I got down stairs and there were still yellow jackets crawling out of their clothes.

I have to tell you, there is no love lost between me and those nasty suckers. I'll squash them first and ask questions later.

My children for a while have been very afraid of any flying objects on first contact: flies, bugs and flying dust. Don't even let me go on about the drive home.

We're safe but we're still--well--PARANOID. Can you blame us?!

Baby Talk

I have about a hundred of these little videos of Naia talking away. Aaron says that it's the sign of the beginning of our little chatter box. Our 'radio' broadcast of baby thoughts started at about two and half months and hasn't stopped since. But it's the sweetest listening music until she becomes displeased.



See, she's still going. Like the little duracell (it is duracell, right?) bunny.

When the DUE DATE comes and GOES!

So June 2nd was yesterday. AS in YESTERDAY was my due date-GUNFUNNIT!

IT's been a really challenging experience for me to have carried past 38 weeks. All four of the children that I've birthed all came before 39 weeks. I seriously, didn't know how good I had it. Even my Yzhak followed suit and came about two to three weeks early.

I've decided that I'm pregnant with a little girl who seriously has her own mind and TIME FRAME. I've decided for future reference to pocket away this experience when having to deal with ANY POWER struggle that she and I will have. Because you all KNOW she and I are going to have some words from the very beginning.

I've walked, and walked until my ankles have grown extra ankles. And my darling nieces have actually--VOLUNTEERED--to massage them. They're (the angelic nieces) are going straight to Heaven. I've tried hot foods and I think I heard her laughter. I've PRAYED--the HEAVENS knows I've prayed and still she's still inside of me, cozy as a pea and seriously holding on to the walls of my hip bones as to refuse entrance.

I've cried too. Yes, I've cried. You would too, if you've stopped believing that she's ever going to come out.

And I'm not the only one in wonder over her TIME FRAME. I have family calling every day STUNNED that she hasn't made an entrance.

I guess, writing about it helps just a tad little bit. Like smiling through eating a liver sandwich. Telling myself, "Liver is good for you." Yeah, right, because I'd rather have someone poke me in the eye.

Remember that saying? "Don't put off today what you can do tomorrow?" I'm trying to get the interpretation of that saying in Samoan from my Dad. Because I'm seriously going to call her my procrastinator.

Ok, so this blog is a little on the vent side, BUT CAN YOU BLAME ME!

Wish me luck she actually comes soon. Like today, in two hours after I've taken a well rested nap.

Craving Home!

I'm thinking of food. Specifically, island food. Ok, I'm really CRAVING local foods to the point of obssesion. I know that it only adds fuel to the craving being that I'm pregnant.

So because I'm not at home, I dream of the local "grindz" because that's all I can really do. Dreaming makes it just a tad easy. Although, I would rather have the real thing. Who would have thought that food would be one of those things you have to dream about, because at the moment, it really is out of reach. Seriously, when you think of something out of reach, certain things come to mind like: love, decent guys, beauty, wealth, etc, etc, just not food.

I miss the days of taking a walk to Sam's store by Hukilau Beach to grab pake cake. Now, I savor the memories of a late night movie, knowing that Zippy's is the pit stop treat for after-movie-activities. Living on the mainland, I realize that I can't walk into any grocery store and have a take out of prepared "raw fish."

But to get to the real point, I'm going to dream through google and post a few of my out of reach (literally)--local foods!

First on the list:





Leonard's Malasadas. These bad boys are a gift from our Potogee (Portuguese) family in Hawai'i. I can't find them anywhere in Chicagoland. With all the varieties of cultures they have here--not one--malasada.

My number two on the list: Waikane Store, tuna sushi rolls.



Nope, this photo was not taken years ago, it's just reminiscent of the type of Hawai'i that I remember growing up in: simple, untouched and great food. The building looks like it's gonna fall apart if you lean on the door frame but it makes the best sushi rolls ever. They are made FRESH. I've had them still warm when I've handed them to my children. As the Hawaiians say back home: Broke da mouth, good!

Third: Zippy's Saimin, Bento plate and Chili



I want some real saimin. The package "ramen" deal isn't cutting it anymore. It doesn't matter how much spam and eggs I put in it. It's still not the same.



This Zip Pac is my favorite. It has ALL the meats needed for a meal: chicken, beef, spam and fish. Only in Hawai'i. I love it!

And finally: Da Chili



This stuff, I've actually had for breakfast and it is GOOOOOOOOD! We'd leave it in the famous bucket and kept in the fridge til the next day. Y'know what they say about food the next day? It's true for Zippy's Chili.

Are you hungry now? You want to take a trip back home? What's your favorite dive from your hometown? And why hasn't anyone come up with the "Beam-me-over" transport machine?

The Famous Question or Questions!

I'm going to have to warn you, it's one of those post. The one I hope is worth reading.

About a year ago, I had read one of Fran's many wonderful blog post and decided to "steal" this idea from her. So, Fran, if you're reading this: Please sue me later. Best after the baby is born and/or is walking or in college or hopefully you forget.

IF you're on facebook or even have e-mail you've probably seen the trend of answering questionnaires or questions and passing them around. It's a pretty good way to learn about someone or remind yourself that maybe you really don't know someone. Or just create more questions you didn't want any answers for or cared for in the first place.

,

So without anymore explanation, here we go.

1. Love is...too damn complicated.

2. Marriage is...just like love but even more damn complicated.

3. Somewhere someone is thinking...she sure likes the word damn.

4. I'm always...moody or hungry.

5. I have a secret cheesy crush on...my husband--STILL.

6. My cell phone...is busted and should be given a proper burial in the garbage can.

7. I've come to realize that my last kiss was...everytime I see my husband. I don't count the kiddie kisses.

8. I am listening...to disobedient children demanding to be heard. I'm not a great "listening Mom" when I'm trying to blog.

9. I talk...with the sexiest voice ever! Which is why, I still can't understand, why, when I answer the phone people are always asking to speak to "your Mom."

10. I love...answered prayers.

11. My best friends are...only an e-mail and a phone call away.

12. My car is...isn't going to die soon. *knock knock on wood* Or destroyed by a tornado; go up in flames. *knock knock on wood*

13. My love life...Gah! Like I said before it's complicated and hawt at the same time. It's called marriage. Reality's true soap opera.

14. I hate it when people ask..."You're pregnant?" Yes, you friggin idiot. It's not a tumor and don't you even say anything about being fat. And don't say a word about how many children I ALREADY have!

15. When I wake up in the morning...I want to throw my husband's cell phone out the window. It's his alarm clock which he NEVER gets up to.

16. When I go to bed at night...it's usually at early morning.

17. Right now I'm thinking about...how disciplined I'am in not making a trip to Baskin Robbins for a chocolate shake.

18. Babies are...difficult because they didn't come with a manual, atleast one that has ALL the answers. They are definately hard work that are loved by tired moms' all over the world.

19. Tonight I will...wind down; read a good book; make a list; not look at a full length mirror and remind myself how sexy I really am. Tonight just might be the night, I'll actually believe it.

20. I really want to...go to Baskin Robbins and buy me that chocolate shake. But I will be relentless in resisting.

Why Chocolate makes me feel sooo happy!

For an eternity there, I really believed that I lost that "loving feeling" with chocolate. For the first 18 weeks of my pregnancy, I seriously doubted my ability to desire chocolate and for this lovely aphrodisiac to make all my troubles go away. Ha! I laugh at my inability to believe in the romantic affair I have with this melt-in-my-mouth confection. BUT it's back: my serious love affair with chocolate. It is definately not helping with the thighs or muli but hey, it's about the emotions that I feel when I eat it. Right now, I'm going to ignore full length mirrors and pop a Hershey kisses in my mouth.

After popping chocolate in my mouth, I literally feel nothing but the chocolate and happiness rushes out from my mouth to my fingertips. What an easy high. NO, don't go there, I'm not an addict--ok, I am. BUT I'm a chocolate addict which I can proudly say isn't evil enough to be locked away for life.

What about you? Do you have a love affair with chocolate or would you rather gag and run in the other direction? In which I will have to say, "More for me--sucker!"