Attention Shoppers!

Even though I've only been doing this for less than two months, I have found that coupons can be fun and definetly saves you a ton of money. Albertson's is having an awesome sale. Check out GrocerySmarts.com enter coupon code g84ckv and select Albertsons.

They have a special that when you purchase $30 of selected products, you receive $15 back. Making it essentially a half-off sale! Some items are even free!!

Here's what I got on my first trip:
4 Always Infinity Pads
5 Pillsbury Studel Pastry
3 Bounty Towels (large 8 roll packs)
4 Honey Nut Cheerios
2 8lb bag of Iams Dog food
6 Fiber One Honey Cereal
3 Heart Smart Bisquick
1 Cascadian Cereal
3 Dawn Dish Soap
3 Crest Toothpaste
2 Minute Made OJ cartons
6 GM Cereals (Trix, Coco Puffs, Golden Ghrams)
2 Fiber One Toaster Pastry
2 Cheerios Snack Mix
1 Gain Detergent
2 Progresso Soup Microwaveable
2 Progresso Soup
1 Fiber One Pancake Mix
4 Green Giant Frozen Box

Total before sale and coupons : $305.42
After coupons: $153.03 (includes taxes)
$15/30 rewards: $90
Like paying: $63.03

I have 3 more $30 transactions to do this week. With all the rewards, I'll buy meat, fruits and veggies, milk, eggs, and anything else we need.

Check back here for an update.

Sofie

Please welcome Sofie to our family! She is a matlese-poodle. She loves Lauvale and follows him all over the house. When he leaves she whimpers. She's so cute. Here's a pic of our cat Saul (not very happy here) and Sofie in her new outfit. So fashionista!

Dream Big

My theme for the 2009 year is "Dream. Dream Big." Thus the songs on my playlist.

I had to train tonight on setting & achieving goals. I worked over 4 hours on my power point and let me tell ya, it's good! At training the computer crashes and I don't have my presentation. I'm like, "huh, oh well, how can I make it better.: I've had that high school cheer in my head..."that's okay, that's alright, shake it off. Shake it off."
So here's the thing, I have made the goal to Dream Big. I believe that before writing your goals and "to-do" lists, we have to have a dream. A dream isn't just fantasy land, but so much more. It's knowing and believing that you have something bigger and better ahead. It's about having a vision of your goals.
We are all born with a seed of greatness inside of us. I know that many have had struggles or challenges, but we come from the purest One of all...God. We are all children of God and he gave his son so we may live. We are made in his image and I know he has something amazing planned for each of us, but it is only given if we do our part. Dream it, Believe it, Do it, Achieve it.
For some reason or another, many of us lose faith in our dreams. We get beaten down by the daily rat race and forget to remember our long term and short term goals to reach our destiny. Dreams of becoming the best. Dreams of having a beautiful home/car/family/etc. Dreams of traveling. Dreams of abundance.
Find your dreams. We can achieve all things through Him. We are blessed, talented, creative, determined. We are unique. We deserve happiness. We are free.
I have gotten in the habit of saying positive affirmations thru the day. I wake up thinking positive and go to sleep thinking positive. This way I feel positive. I'm not saying I'm dillusional, but I'd rather live life happily than wallow in sorrow. We all have obstacles to overcome, but we can do it!
"Somehow I can't believe there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C's. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy and the greatest of these is Confidence. When you believe a thing, believe it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.” Walt Disney.
By dreaming of a mouse, Walt Disney has accomplished something amazing. All successes begin with a simple dream and grow beyond our dreams when we have faith and determination. Happy New Year! May this year be filled with joy and positive affirmations. Keep pressing forward. Dream Big.

Reason for the Season

We had a relaxing and beautiful Christmas. It has been an eventful 2008. Sape and I are always trying to better ourselves and do the Lord's will. We have plans this year to help families, improve our spiritual/financial/family lives. As some of you may know, we have'nt been able to conceive a child yet. This year we are looking to try in-vitro. Our insurance doesn't cover this, so this baby can cost us somewhere around $10,000! Keep us in your thoughts and send bebe vibes, as we would like to become parents this year. If it doesn't work, then we'll look to other options.
AFL was suspended this year and that sucks for us and many others in the arena football family. No warning was given and we're in limbo about it. Thank goodness for our Primerica business. I feel terible that Sape's been keeping in shape during the offseason and there will be no play time. Plus we were planning to be in Denver for a few months to get our Primerica office running up there. We're trying to find other solutions. We will attract positivity for these upcoming months.
Here are some of my fave Christmas pictures from our home. May we always carry this spirit with us throughout 2009. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Maui No Ka Oe

December 2008 Trip to Maui

New Nephew Kaua

Here he is! Kaua Terangi Toyokazu Okimoto, my newest nephew! I was so happy to see him when I went to Maui. My sister Teahi flew in the day I was leaving and I was able to visit with them just for a few hours. Bummer! I gave him a bath, lots of gifts, and many kisses. His parents are Curt & Ramona (Teahi) Okimoto who are photographers in Laie.

My Grandma

Last week I was able to spend 6 days with my 87 yr old grandma. We call her Popo which is a nick name for "apo" (grandma in Chinese).
She is a woman who I admire. Her husband died at sea when my mom was in college, leaving her to raise 5 children. She worked at Maui dairy, headed up U-E (she was like the Martha Stewart of Maui), Relief Society president 3 times, and volunteered at the Maui Memorial Hospital for over 15 years. She is a woman of faith.
The past two years have been difficult as she suffered strokes, blood clots, and a broken arm. She attends daily physical therapy and is still sharp for the most part. Some days are better than others, but she is preparing to meet her husband and Heavenly Father. As she tells me, "I'm going to be dead already." LOL! That's what she tells me when I call from the mainland. Gotta love this old Maui wahine.
My visit was more or less a farewell to her. It's beautiful and sad at the same time to be able to share your love with someone living. Often times we forget that our calling home (death) is not for us to decide, but that He gives us time to LIVE. This 2009, let's share the aloha and be grateful for our loved ones. We love you! Merry Christmas!

Disneyland

We went to Disneyland for our Thanksgiving weekend! We joined the Kaonohi family for an exhilarating 3 night trip to the Magic Kingdom of Disney California. It was one of the best Disney trips ever & Sape's first to a U.S. Disney park (we went to Tokyo Disney).
I'll have more updates once I get a hold of Anja's blog and Kimi emails me. I have to collect pictures from Anja & Kimi. We didn't have our new camera yet because it was being bought by Megan and Tommy on black friday.