Fall...

I love Fall.

      It is one of my favorite seasons. I love it when the weather turns cooler, but standing in the sunlight still keeps you warm. I love it because the leaves start to change colors. The Fall always brings out the sensation of a new year starting. (I know the year technically starts in January, but the Fall will always be the beginning of the year in my eyes... I have been in school for too long) Fall also means that football season is upon us. I love football. Well, I love the University of Alabama football, my boyfriend says there is a difference (but what does he know) because I don't care about any other football team, but why would I? I don't think I realized how much I loved Fall or football until I moved to Hawaii, where the leaves will always be green and high school football will always be more important than college football.


     My family has had season tickets to the University of Alabama since I was 3. I spent almost every Saturday during Fall at the University of Alabama growing up. I didn't know there was anything different. Seriously. I remember being in 7th grade and asking my good friend what he was doing that Fall weekend. He wasn't sure. I thought he misunderstood me, I repeated myself and asked him what football game he was going too. He said he had NEVER been to a college game. Me: Mind Blown. I was in disbelief he had never been to a college football game. What else is there to do on a Saturday?


From my perspective, Growing up in an Alabama Football household means:


1. There is no other football team more important that University Alabama
2. Any team with the color orange in their school colors are our mortal enemies (especially if blue is the other color)
3. Saturdays mean waking up early to travel to the football game
4. We didn't own anything that was orange
5. I was not allowed to color orange and blue beside each other (I honestly don't know if my parents made this rule or if I made it up myself. But even to this day I will not put orange and blue beside each other, it's just not right)
6. We are not allowed to get married in the Fall because my dad would not pay for it or attend the wedding because he would be in the Stadium (He is not a mean guy, he just loves his football)
7. Don't be a fair weather fan. Support your team through good and bad (fair weather fans get on my nerves btw)
8. If the game is an away game, EVERY t.v. in our house will have the game on it.
9. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (I think they bribed me with these to go to the games... it worked)
10. Rain, shine, snow, tornado, or hurricane, if the game is still on we are going.
11. It is never just a game.
These are the things that I learned growing up. I probably made the majority of these up and just thought my parents taught me these things, but either way I still believe them all.


This past year I wasn't able to go to any regular season games, which made me more sad than I would have ever thought. I didn't realize how much Alabama football was apart of who I was until I wasn't able to go to the games.

However, I did get to go to the National Championship!

Before the game, Texas fans still looking happy...

National Champions!
2nd National Championship Game our Family has attended and seen Alabama win!

I will actually get to go to 2 season games this year and I couldn't be more excited! 


Here are a couple of videos to get you excited about the season starting this Saturday. 
Look at below 2 post. It would not let me add them to this post.

Where We Are Going...

Where We Have Been...

Shoes...

I love shoes. I need shoes. I want shoes.

You might call it a slight obsession...

Shoes define you as a person.

I feel like you can tell what type of person someone is by what type of shoes they wear. Some people buy the outfit and then buy shoes to go with it. I am the exact opposite. I buy the shoes first and then look for an outfit to match them.

Living on an island has decreased my shoe collection, sadly. (You can only fit so many shoes in a suitcase) I only brought 8 pairs of sandals with me to the island and that is the least amount of shoes I have ever had when I lived somewhere. I miss my heels. (There is just something about putting on beautiful heels that just makes you feel good inside)


Anyways, my obsession got the best of me recently. I haven't really bought shoes since I lived here, but I caved in last weekend and got new heels!!!! I LOVE them!
Right before I went shopping I was on the phone with my dad and this is how it went:

"Hey Daddy, guess what I am going to do?? I am going to buy new shoes!!" - Anna

" (Heavy sigh) Oh Lord help me..." - Dad

"Daddy, I haven't bought shoes ALL year and I have been waiting for this moment and I am going to enjoy it." - Anna

"What kind of shoes are you going to get? (with the sound of agony in his voice)" - Dad

"I am going to get black heels!!" - Anna

"Anna, You have 3 dozen pair of black heels at home. (He was exaggerating) How many blacks heels does a person need? Aren't they all the same?" - Dad

"Daddy, don't be ridiculous, those are not in season anymore." - Anna

"What do you mean they aren't in season? Black shoes are always in season." - Dad

"What do you know about seasons anyways. You only own 3 pairs of shoes." - Anna

"Anna, just remember money does not buy you happiness." - Dad

"Well... money buys shoes, shoes make me happy, so in a round about way money does buy happiness..." - Anna

"Just don't get too crazy" - Dad


I love my new shoes...

I was watching the TV show "I Love Lucy" and she is the same way with her hats. If you watch the video it is when Ethel covers her eyes when the walk in the hat shop. That is how I am with shoes. The first video is the first section and the second video is the last section.
Click here: http://www.filmclassics.byethost18.com/?p=727

Leaving on a jet plane..

My mom leaves tomorrow. I don't like when people leave. Living in Hawaii has made me realize that an airport can be the happiest place and the saddest place. I will be sad, but not as sad as usual because I am going home in 6 WEEKS!!!!!!

Here are some things we have done:

Waimanalo Beach

North Shore

Shared the BIGGEST Dr. Pepper Ever

Made Homemade Frozen Hot Chocolate

We will finish off her last day with Red Velvet Pancakes, Cheescake Factory, and Bubbies Ice cream! I have loved having her here! P.S. She is tanner than me and she has only been here 2 weeks. (That's what happens when you have a job...)

Sorry I haven't written in awhile. I will start up again once she leaves. 

Oh yeah, I let her trim my hair....

School...

There are a couple of things in life that I think are overrated...

1. Waking up early to go to work.
     - The day should really begin at 9a.m. or 10a.m. (Read "The Noise" to see my opinion about waking up early)

2. Working.
     - When I turned 16, my parents wanted me to find a summer job.  I told them that the word "work" was not in my vocabulary. They disagreed.

3. School.
    - I am tired of being in school and think getting a master or doctorate degree is overrated.

I am about to start my last year of school. I am excited that at the end of this school year, I will have my Master's Degree and be finished with school!! However, I am dreading starting school because I am tired of homework, class, papers, presentations, and working on my final project.

"Anna, Don't step in the... ugh" - Mom

My mom flew in this past Wednesday and we have been having a great time!

Today, I took her on her surprise day! She had no idea what we were doing all day, she tried to trick me to tell her but I wouldn't budge.  I have been planning this day for weeks! 

Here is a run down of what we did:

Breakfast at Cinnamon's Restaurant. This was featured on the Food Network on a Rachel Ray segment. They are known for their Red Velvet Pancakes... one word: AMAZING.

 Guava Chiffon Pancakes

Red Velvet Pancakes

After the amazing pancakes we went in search for "The Black Pearl." They are filming the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean here. I have seen the 'Black Pearl'  several times but we couldn't find it today. However, we will find it within the next week!

Next on to her surprise! She was a little nervous not knowing what I had planned. (I don't know why she was nervous, my surprises are always good and she always ends up loving them.) We arrived at Kualoa Ranch. I had taken my family to Kualoa Ranch for a Movie tour in March, so she was throughly confused, which is exactly the way I liked it. At the Ranch you can do a multiple of things: Horseback riding, Movie Tour, Jungle Expedition, Ocean Excursive, ATV, and a petting zoo. Can you guess which one I took her on??

ATV through the Kualoa Mountains!

When I first told her what we were doing she was a little 'apprehensive.' (That is the exact word she used) I figured if she could jump out of an airplane she could drive an ATV. I told her she would thank me at the end of it.

She LOVED it!

"They see me rollin' they hatein.." - Camillionaire 

We had a great time!

After we drove the ATV's through the mountains we went to eat dinner at Bob's Boston Pizza. One slice is 1/4 of the pizza. HUGE pieces for only $5. Its the best pizza on the island! Then we went to watch fireworks on the beach, watched live bands play at hotels, and finished the night off with Menchies - frozen yogurt. (Cake batter, red velvet, cookies and cream yogurt toped with small chunks of cheesecake and actual red velvet cake squares.. that's my kind of yogurt)

Just another day in Paradise..

P.S. How the title "Anna, Don't step in the... ugh" - Mom, came from:

We were walking to go see the Jurassic Park log, (the one they hid behind when the dinosaur was after them), and I wasn't watching wear I was walking. At that moment, in a sudden of panic voice my mom says:

 "Watch were you are walking!! Don't step in that Cow poop!!" - Mom

....but I had already put my foot down...

"Ohhhh I thought it was a rock..." - Anna

"No Anna...you do realize this is a cow pasture." - Mom

"Nope... good thing it wasn't fresh." - Anna

'Heavy sigh and roll of the eyes' - Mom

Have a good weekend

Freezer Demolition 101...

If you have read my recent post my mom is coming into town tomorrow! Therefore that means that I am in the middle of cleaning my apartment. It doesn't matter how old you are, but whenever you know your mom is coming to your house you always tidy up. You know I am right... just think about when your mom comes to visit, don't you clean your house too?

As stated in my first post I have a 1970's refrigerator. It run's fine, except when it comes to my freezer a.k.a icebox. My tiny box fills with ice and then it gets to the point where I can no longer close the freezer door. This has happened twice before but my boyfriend is usually coming soon and I just wait for him to fix it. (Don't think I am lazy.. if someone is willing to do it for you, why not let them?) I have never watched him defrost it, but he told me he used a hair dryer. So when I decided to defrost it myself I thought, how hard could it be?

Materials Needed for task: Hot pink hair dryer, Anthropology apron, cake pan, bottle of water, spoon,  deodorant, aviator sunglasses, knife, camera, prayer, 6 towels, a wide bathroom door, and an oven mitt.

Before: Look at the ice at the top, bottom, and bottom left - prohibits the door from closing

I had already started to scrap some with the spoon, but my hand was freezing and the ice wasn't coming off. I remembered that my boyfriend told me that he used a hair dryer. I thought "That will be fairly easy, I will get my hair dryer."

Hair Dryer next to the intimidating block of ice

I started to use the hair dryer and it was a slow process. It was antagonizing slow. (I have patience, but not for something like this.) At this time, I decide that while I was blow drying, I would chisel away at the ice simultaneously. (This should be a good time to say that I don't like doing manual labor... and yes I consider this manual labor. Once you do this task then you can question me on whether its manual labor or not, but not until then.) This was harder than I expect it to be. I was chiseling and blow drying and ice/water was getting everywhere. Once my clothes were half way soaked, I decided this would be a good time to put on my beautiful anthropology apron.

While I am chiseling this painstakingly stubborn ice, a chunk of it flies off and hits me square in the forehead. I couldn't believe the next thought that came to my head after the ice hit me.. "I wish I had safety glasses." (My parents have worked at a chemical plant all my life. Therefore, all I ever heard growing up was ,"You have to protect your eyes, wear safety glasses." Which I never did, because I think they look silly. Just my personal opinion, No offense to anyone that enjoys wearing safety glasses.)  

Lets recap: It's 10:00 p.m., I am wearing aviator sunglasses, an apron, an oven mitt, while using a hot pink hair dryer to melt my freezer. At times like these I feel like my life could be a T.V. show...

Half way done

Once I got to the half way point I had to stop to take a break. You think standing in front of your fridge and freezer would make you cold. On the contrary, it does opposite. I took a break to rehydrate myself and to reapply deodorant. (Just keeping it real) I continued on until I realized I had another problem.

That's right... drawer FULL of water

Remember when I said I was clumsy? The drawer was almost full of water. This is when I started to pray. I knew I was clumsy and the only way, I mean the ONLY way, I was going to be able to carry this drawer to my shower to dump it, is if I prayed not to spill it. (I had to take it to my shower, because my sink had dirty dishes in it from my dinner.)

So I said a prayer. Looked at the drawer full of water and then said another prayer. I ever so slowly pulled the drawer out and I almost had it out, when the drawer got stuck. I quickly began to panic because the drawer was heavier than I anticipated and the water was splashing around everywhere. I said another prayer and the drawer came loose. Now for the tricky part. I slowly turned my body towards the bathroom door. As I slowly walked to the door, I quickly began to asses the size of the door to the size of the drawer. Before I began, I automatically assumed that drawer would fit through the door. (I know where assuming gets me... hadn't I learned my lesson yet) I panically looked back at the sink and there was no way for me to dump the water in there without making a huge mess. I looked back at the door and said, "Here goes nothing." (Side note: I looked up the phrase 'Here goes nothing' - definition: I am beginning to do something that will fail or be poorly done. That's exactly how I felt at that moment) I slowly started walking through the door and I heard 'splat' of water hit the floor, I took an another step and heard another 'splat' hit the floor. I didn't even want to look. I thankfully made it through the door and was able to dump the water down the shower drain. 

After Photo

FINALLY.... is all I can say. 

I do not even want to tell you what time I finished. I am happy with the finished product, but I am positive in saying that I will NEVER DO THIS AGAIN. 

The end. 

Clumsy...

Has anyone ever given you those keychains, bookmarks, or pictures with your name on it and it has the meaning of your name?

Name meaning: Anna - Grace, Graceful, Full of Grace.


I think I missed the boat in the "graceful" category. I was one of those children that their mom would tell them not touch anything breakable when we would enter a store. Or I would be pouring the soda and misjudge the fizz and have it overflow everywhere. I am the person that knocks things off the shelves at stores with their purse and don't realize it.  Back in the ancient days when you still had to connect to the internet by plugging the cord into your phone outlet; I would trip over the tiny cord which would rip the cord from the wall and kick whoever was on the internet off.  Or while watching a intense movie at home, I am the one that accidently drops or steps on the remote control stopping or muting the movie. I drop food/drink  on my clothes during meal times. Perfect example: My sister got the game Scrabble for Christmas. The scrabble letters were separated in their own plastic bag. I graciously offered to open the bag, but ended up pulling to hard and then all the 50 Scrabble letters go flying all over the kitchen floor. Like I said... I missed the "graceful" boat.

This past week my clumsiness was non-stop:

Sunday: I was washing my dishes and a bowl slipped out of my hands and broke the glass cup underneath it, leaving glass shards in my dirty dishes.

Monday: I was at work and I was lifting a cooler to put on a shelf. Water from the cooler spilled all down the front of my clothing. (Yes, I looked in the cooler beforehand and didn't see any water)

Tuesday: I was dropping things left and right at work. I dropped a laminated piece of paper on the floor and when I went to pick it up I got paper cuts under my finger nails. Half of my nails were dripping with blood all from one stupid sheet of paper.

Wednesday: When I was buying lunch, the lady swiped my card, I took my card and started to walk off without signing the receipt.

Thursday (Double Dose): I was putting new pictures in picture frames at work and when I was snapping on the frame  the glass broke into 3 pieces. I went shopping at Walmart, paid for the item I bought, and then started leaving without taking my purchased items with me.

Friday: I was putting on blue jeans and I sliced my finger wide open with my blue jeans. (Don't ask.. you wouldn't believe me even if I told you) We went to eat frozen yogurt and I dropped red velvet yogurt on my white shirt.

Saturday: I was walking to the beach and a bush decided to attack my leg. The bush won.

There has been a lot of bloodshed and broken glass this week...

Next week please be nicer to me.

Happy Anniversary...

The Two Little Love Birds..

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

First of all, thank you for getting married, because if not, I would not be in this world. Ha just kidding... maybe. It is a classical boy meets girl love story. My dad saw this beautiful, ravishing, young, and vibrant woman and knew he had to speak to her. My mom saw this handsome, witty, and mysterious gentleman and couldn't resist his charm. The rest was history...

Thank you for blessing Katie and I more than we could have ever imagined or deserved. Thank you for teaching and showing us God's unconditional love for us through the good times and bad times. Thank you for teaching us how to become independent woman who aren't afraid to chase their dreams and goals in life. Thank you for taking us on family vacations every summer to show us that there are other ways to live than where we were raised. Thank you for the clothes, purses, make-up, jewelry,  but most importantly the shoes you put on our (mostly mine) feet. (We all know important shoes are in my life)

Lastly but not least, thank you for your constant support in every decision we have made through our lives, whether it be to roll someone's yard, being late for curfew, the forgotten homework/books/test at school (mom don't think about it, this is supposed to be a stress free day),  high cell phone bills due to texting (mostly Katie.... ok ok fine it's really me), whatever things Katie did wrong (strangely, I can't think of anything she has done), letting us go where we wanted to for college, and then supporting us when we decided to move to new locations to start a new chapter in our lives.

I love you both more than you can imagine and I miss you greatly. I do not know where I would be in life without the two of you. (Seriously, I think if I different parents they wouldn't have put up with my shenanigans and I would be living on the street by now or at least have ugly shoes) I hope my marriage one day will be as full as love as the two of yours have been.

All my love,

Anna

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And they lived happily ever after...

Mamacita...

Mamacita, mom, mommy, mother, kare kare, and cutie are just some of the names I call my mom.

Isn't she cute!!

She is the finder of lost things, I have lost a lot of things. The ultimate stain getter outer and she has seen a few stains in her day between my dad and I. She has the biggest sweet tooth, even though you never would be able to tell because she is the size of a pencil. She is a workout fanatic. She supports my crazy ideas. She is an alarm clock that has a broken snooze button. She has a tough outer exterior, but she is a softy on the inside. (She is going to kill me for telling everyone her secret) For example: I told her how I see the same homeless guy over and over again everywhere I go. Her first response: that probably means you should pray for him every time you see him. (Isn't that so sweet! Makes me love her even more!) She doesn't like excuses, but always pushes you to do your best. Anyways I say all that to tell you that:

She is coming to visit next week!!!

I haven't seen my family since March so I am super excited she can come! I wish my dad and sister could come, but I will see them in a couple of months! Here is our schedule of activities: beach, ice cream,  fireworks, frozen yogurt, surprise I have for her, good local restaurants, shopping, working on our tans and more ice cream!

See you next week!

In a Year..

            This time last year I was packing bags, eating at restaurants that wouldn't be in Hawaii, searching for apartments/jobs online, sad to leave everyone, nervous, and excited all at the same time. This August marks the 1 year mark of living in Hawaii. I can't believe how fast this year has flown by! I knew moving here was God's plan for my life, but it was a difficult and an exciting move. Who wouldn't be excited to move to Hawaii? I was so thrilled to move here because I love the beach and mountains. However, leaving everyone I loved was a different story, which made things difficult. Thankfully, I have a very supportive family, boyfriend, and friends who love me unconditional and have been there for me during this whole process. I have grown more than I could have possibly imagined in my faith and becoming independent. (I would consider myself independent before I moved out here, but it's a different kind of independence when your family is halfway around the world.)


In a year..

• I moved away from everyone I loved to start a new chapter of my life
• I have become a manager and a boss
• I have lived through a Tsunami (not big at all, but it was still a tsunami)
• I bought a used car and sold it and then bought another used car
• I changed my residency to a new state and now I am a kama'aina (local)
• I have learned how to cook
• I went skydiving with my mom and sister
• Went to a National Championship Game and we won!
• I have learned how to do home repairs
• Have had two apartments, same building but different floors
• Went to another island
• Have only been able to go home one time (sadly) because it's hard to take time off of work
• I have made great friends that are from all over the world
• I spent my first holidays away from my family 
• I know how to speak and understand Hawaiian slang a.k.a pidgin english
• I got to spend New Years with my best friends from college. 
• I have seen more parades in one year than I have in my whole life
• Have had family, boyfriend, and friends come visit 
• I have worn flip flops every single day of the year except when I went home (it was winter)
• I have had a gecko live with me because he thought he was welcomed here... he wasn't
• I have judged a beauty pageant 
• I got to see 50 ft waves
• Have seen the TV set for Lost and saw Hurley from the show and the "The Black Pearl" and "The Flying Dutchman" ships for the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. 

I feel like I have done and learned so much more, but I just don't seem to remember them at this moment. It has been a great year and I am looking forward to see what next year has in store. Photo recap of the year:

Cutting my first pineapple in my new apartment

David's first visit to Hawaii

New Years Eve with The Dozen

National Champions

My family came to visit

Skydiving on the North Shore

Tsunami Day 2010

David and I on the Na Pali Coast in Kauai

Laura and I at Pearl Harbor 

Aloha :)