Thoughts of You make all the Gray Skies Blue!  Yesterday's Outfit of the Day includes a couple of special guests, so click on the "Read More" button below and see who joined in on the fun with me.

Considering yesterday was super busy for us - we still got a lot done and accomplished much. :) Here's our vlog from yesterday - Enjoy!
xoxo
Honey

Happy Sunday Lovers.  Gosh - it seems like forever since I wrote anything personal on my blog... I've been trying to catch up on reviews and posts requirements that I have had outstanding.  Don't get me wrong - I LOVE what I do, I just can't believe how busy the last couple of months have been and how fast time has flown by.  

Summer is just around the corner, which means I am super excited to be spending more time with my boys.  My hubby works crazy hours and crazy times so we are happy to have my eldest home during the morning/early afternoon hours during summer break, so we can catch up on much needed family time.  But, in the meantime - I've been busy with the boys, keeping them on their toes so that I can still manage to juggle my work from home duties, my blog, my YouTube channel and of course - Being a Full Time Mommy!  

Thankfully - through all the craziness of Motherhood, I have been doing my best to document our journeys and have been posting vlogs on YouTube.  I also post quick updates on Keek which has been allowing me to go back and reflect back on our fun times.   There is a huge benefit of working from home and it is that I can stop what I'm doing at anytime, without anyone's approval and play with my children.  PRICELESS!

My eldest has been my photographer in the last few looks, which not only allows me to get my work done but also to spend time with them too.  I love being productive and multi-tasking is my middle name. lol  And, since HoneyXO has been closed for a few months so I could focus on my busy photography schedule, I have been able to get a lot done.  I'll be opening up HoneyXO again soon - in just a few weeks... so it's back to the groove again ;)

Hope you are all doing well.  While motherhood and being a wife is a juggling act - trust that I would NEVER change it for anything in the whole World.  I truly am blessed to have such a support system.

Talk to you all soon!
xoxo
Honey

I must admit - in general... I have been slacking on my blog.  So, this post is well over due.

Last month's task (since today is May 1st) for BBHQ was to talk about our inspirations and motivations that drive the content on our blogs.  Those of you that have been following me a while, know that my blog has been my life's journey, the things that I love and are passionate about... My World.  

What Inspires Me to Blog?   After years of writing solely about beauty and having a separate blog for my life... I decided a few years back that I would combine the two together and make my blog more lifestyle oriented.  Everything I write about is inspired by my loves (My husband and sons) and the beautiful things I have had the opportunity in my lifetime to lay my eyes on.  Living in Hawaii and having parents that encouraged me to look at the Beauty in ALL THINGS, allowed me to first stop and look at the World around me - using it's wonders and beauties as my canvas for my writing.  

I have been told many times that writing doesn't come naturally to many people - while it has always been a natural thing for me, since I was very young.  Even if it may not be a natural thing for most - writing about what you know or what makes your feel good is always a sure bet to ensuring you have something to write about.  That's why I include my family on my blog, because they are not only my biggest supporters, but they are the ones that make me feel good about myself.   And, because of them - my writing comes easily.  I always joke with my hubby because sometimes I'll be writing a blog post and stop, turn to him and stare at him for a couple of minutes... completely in a zone.  Even if he always knows the answer to my question... he always asks: "Why are you staring at me?"  My response hasn't changed yet and has been the same for many years... "Because you are my biggest muse and inspire me.  You help bring my thoughts to the forefront of my mind.  You help me write."  

What Blogs do I Read for Inspiration?   If I had to list all of the blogs I turn to for inspiration - we would be here ALL DAY, and let's be honest... I already write long blog posts, so making it that much longer would be insane. lmao.   I do have a few that I truly love to read and can read on a daily basis without missing a day.  I may not comment but know that I am always reading your blogs because they make me feel inspired or just make me smile.

Kandeeland - My Favorite Mommy/Lifestyle Blog.  Many Know Kandee Johnson as a Beauty Guru and Blogger, but she is so much more than that.   While I do follow her Beauty Blog as well - I find that I read her Personal blog much more and enjoy it tremendously.  She reminds me that being a Mother is so much more than diapers and singing songs, but it is about having fun and still keeping a busy lifestyle - which is something I do on a daily basis. 

Beauty by Krystal - Krystal has a blog that I have been reading for sometime now and it is a blog I frequent several times during the week.  I also love to read her Personal Blog as well.  She posts often about discounts and sales and always keeps up to date with the latest nail trends and beauty products.  If you are not following her already - definitely check her out.

Suger Coat It - I love Melissa's Blog.  She is a Plus Sized lovely that shares her fashion passion.  Ironically - we have very similar taste... because I love the Casual type of dress as much as she does.  

What YouTube Channels Inspire Me?  As I mentioned previously, I love reading blogs that are lifestyle based or that focus on a wide variety of things.  But I also have my favorites that I turn to for beauty and fashion.  Here are a few of my favorites I enjoy to watch often.

ItsJudysLife

GossMakeupArtist

BeautyBroadcast - Emilynoel83

I am also a huge lover of Pinterest and while it doesn't really get my attention as much as I would like, I still turn to it when I'm having a brain blank or writer's block.  Sometimes you never know what you'll find there.  I also LOVE Magazines and take some inspiration from many of my magazine subscriptions.

How do I describe my style of blogging?  How has it changed?  Honestly, I would be lying if I said my blogging style has changed from when I first started, but it really hasn't.  I am pretty lax when I'm writing basic daily blog posts and when it comes to reviews - I like to be very detailed.   It has pretty much been that way since I started blogging so I don't think I have changed it up much.

How do I handle competition from other bloggers?  Wow - this was a curve ball kind of question.  Hmmm.... I have never really thought about that.  I am sure others may think about it and may have problems with it... but honestly, I'm so darn busy - I really don't have the time.  I am always supportive of other bloggers, so long as no one is using my images or content without my approval - I don't really pay attention to anything else.

Share a photo that inspires me!  I'm sure many people have seen the photo of my boys (above/black and white) before as I took this image in 2010 I believe and I have posted it several times.  It is my favorite.  This image inspires me because 1.) These are the little people that drive my success and 2.) It reminds me that life is a Box of Chocolates... sometimes you just have to dig in and take a bite of one, even if you are not sure what it tastes like.  When you are a child, sometimes you don't think about whether or not others will judge you or not like you, you just do as you feel and do what makes you feel good.  

Hope this helped to bring some of you a little inspiration!  Don't forget... Sparkle is NEVER Optional!
xoxo
Honey

Yesterday... I had the awesome opportunity to take a drive to the West Side with my sons and my little sissy.  We watched a gorgeous sunset, returned an item at Sephora and walked Front Street.  Check out our day on my latest vlog - posted below.  It is a little long - but we had a long day and I just didn't think I wanted to cut out too many parts. :D
xoxo
Honey

To My Darling... 
You are so much more to me than just a husband, You are my Everything!  
You make my World spin and make my heart skip a beat.  
I am NOTHING without you.  
This very moment, and every one before and after are cherished memories
and I'm so thankful that I've been able to spend them with you!
You are my dreams come true - my soul mate and my best friend 
and you make me so happy.  
No one has ever loved anyone as much as I love you! 
I look forward to the rest of our forever and eternity together!
xoxo
Always & Forever!
Honey

Our Song
All My Life - K-Ci & Jojo

"All My Life... I prayed for someone like you!"

If you've been watching my Vlogs this last week, you will see that we are celebrating because it is Spring Break... yay!  My hubby took off a few extra days this past Saturday and Sunday, so we took the boys to Lahaina (the west side) and had some fun, ate out and even saw some whales.  Days like this are few because my husband's schedule has him so far from home for over 10 hours a day (including his drive to and from work), so we look forward to his days off.  

This past Wednesday, he surprised us and took us on a little drive.  We headed towards the East coast of Maui into Hana and Haiku and stopped at a few places (you will see in the video) and just had a ton of fun.  I truly enjoy these kinds of days... definitely days to "Cross off my Bucket List".  Sometimes, the hustle and bustle of every day life has you so wrapped up in the busy days that you forget what surrounds you daily.   And for me... I forget that I live in paradise.  Having been born and raised in Hawaii and being that I have traveled to other places... sometimes I think Maui is definitely too slow for my liking.  But it is nice to step away from my everyday and just smell the fresh clean air and feel the ocean breeze on my face.  It is especially awesome to experience all of these things with those that I love with all my heart.

It still amazes me... no matter how many times i have experienced it... that life will change in a heartbeat - whether you are ready for it or not.  Sometimes, it's that one instant - that one moment in time, when something doesn't go your way or something quite significant happens and you realize... "Hey, I have to do something different!"  I guess you could say that last week I experienced a lot of those "ah ha" moments... where my eyes opened and my mind did a double take, realizing that the path in life that I am taking is not the right box of chocolates.

Dear Monday... Hi!  Welcome Back!  Why have you arrived so swiftly? I have only had a second to blink and here you are again.  Please take your time coming back again, I enjoy my weekends and I really am not so fond of you. 

To My Dear Heart...  You never cease to fail me.  When I have that uneasy feeling inside, I know it's because my heart is not truly at ease.  I need to learn and remember to listen to you, my heart... you will never steer me wrong.

To My Children, My Hearts... This week, someone told me (in so many words) that they found it hard to believe that I don't need "Me" time or a break.  I took that offensively and just about screamed at the top of my lungs.  How is that hard to believe?  I spend 24 hours with all of you (with exception to Ka'eo - who goes to school for 6 out of those 24 hours).  While you all can be handful and I can be exhausted (mostly because of other people I deal with daily), I would never trade my time with my boys for "me" time ever... Maybe I'm weird, or just an unusual mom... maybe it's because I do have my me time... while still hanging out with all of you... or maybe it's because my entire existence exists because of you and your father, and without you - My life ceases to exist.  Funny thing is, I'm the only girl/woman in the house, but I still rather paint my toe nails while you sit down and play toys and we sing songs together... or film my videos with little voices in the background.  Why?  Because that one day... when I may all of a sudden decide that I may need to go out and get a pedicure or have my nails done or something else, and leave you with someone to watch you, if something should ever happen to you... I couldn't go on living any longer.  If something should happen to me... you may not ever know how much your mommy loved you so.  Yes, we all need time to ourselves from time to time, I'm sure... but I enjoy my time with all of you.

To My Wonderful Husband, the Love of my Life... this past week has put a lot of different things in perspective for me.  I hate that we spend so much time away from one another... that our work has us running around like headless chickens and our together time is always sacrificed for other things.  We need to make more time for one another... I see a Spa day in our future soon. :D I love you!  thank you for always believing in me and for supporting me endlessly.  Thank you for being my shoulder to cry on and most importantly, thank you for loving me!

To this stupid congestion, cold and cough...  Seriously, you need to get to steppin.  I'm so tired of being sick, of coughing and of my asthma being so ridiculous since you've been around.  I'm tired of feeling so worn down.  And, most importantly - I'm tired of seeing my family so miserable because you just won't get out of our house... all the cleaning, sterilizing and spraying antibacterial stuff is not working.  So I ask you nicely - get out of my house and away from my family. Thank you!

Dear Me... I don't need to remind you that you are a Phenomenal Woman... but I know that sometimes women just need to hear it.  This past week was a challenge, this week will be one as well.  So pace your self... take a deep breath and remember that you are AWESOME!  At the end of the day, you are the one that holds the key to your Dreams and your Destiny... Don't Let it Go!

Don't Let Anyone Dull Your Sparkle!

If you have been following me on Facebook, you probably have read that our family has been under the weather the last couple of weeks.  It's taken its toll on all of us but as a family - together we overcome.  Because of this - my children have been very sensitive and emotional so it has inspired me to write what I have.  

At the beginning of this week, Monday to be exact - my eldest (Kevin, we call him Ka'eo) who has been battling chest wheezing, coughing and an ear infection walked into my room at about 4:30 in the morning... whispering to me... "Mom, I don't feel well."  He was so soft that it didn't wake my husband, but I jumped up and took him into the kitchen where I gave him some medicine, something to drink and had him jump back into bed and try to get some sleep.  I went back to my room, laid my head on my pillow and slowly fell back to sleep once I heard over the monitor that the boys room had gone silent as they slept.

As you know - I also have Twin toddlers... 2 boys named Luke and Isaiah.  Both boys are newly potty trained, it's only been a week and a few days.  While they are doing very awesome, they too are also not feeling very well and have been battling a heavy cold, bad congestion and coughs and have just overcome their ear infections.  

Two nights ago at 4:00am, my eldest of my twins, Luke walked into my bedroom and took his little hand and tapped me softly on my shoulder.  At an instant I arose and asked him if everything was okay.  He held his underwear in his hands and then took my finger in his hand to pull me into the bathroom and explain what had happened.  I realized after getting to the bathroom that he had gotten up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night but since he was still very much asleep while doing so, even if he made it to use the bathroom, he managed to not move quick enough initially.  I cleaned up the mess, cleaned and changed him and put him in his bed to go back to sleep.  I laid down and listened to the monitor to ensure that he had fallen back asleep and then put myself to sleep as well.

While I know the two stories I just talked about were pretty lengthy - they definitely had a reason for what I had explained.  As a mother, even in my most tired state of mind or even if I was in a deep sleep... it would take very little for me to wake up if it involved my children and husband.  As I sit here typing this, I'm reminded of how important my role of a mother is and how much my children mean to me.  They are my World... and I am the person I am today because of everything they teach me.  If you ever want to learn compassion, look to a child in their innocence - a kiss on a boo boo can make everything better.  If you need to learn patience, watch a child while at play and imagine how the gears in their head are turning... while it takes them a little longer to figure things out at their young age, that doesn't keep them from continuing to try their hardest to accomplish their goals.  And, if you want to learn love... look at a child and how they love unconditionally.  Their little hearts are ever growing, making room for everyone they meet along their path... loving without a negative thought on their minds.  

I am proud to be a mother... not because it's my obligation or my job, but because it is one of the most important things I will ever do in my lifetime.  And, as a mother I look back at my childhood years and remember the inspiration my mother gave to me.  She paved the way to help mold me into the mother I am today and for that - I'm thankful.  I look at motherhood not as giving up a part of me for someone else, but as opening my heart to little people that make me a better person.  They are not my obligation - but my loves and my life and there is no where else I'd rather be but with these wonderful guys. <3

To all the mothers out there - the video below is for you.  Because while I know many of you sometimes feel unappreciated or even forgotten... trust that your children - no matter the situation, will never ever forget you and will always love you!