One Fine Day ~ The Day Before Memorial Day on Lido Beach ~

I went to Lido Beach (yes, that's right, our favorite beach) the day before Memorial Day on Sunday with my dear friend A and her son D. We decided to snap some pics on our own and see who takes better self-picture : Maki or A? I took this pic and A took the one below...

A is such a beautiful lady - she looks just like my favorite actress Kate Beckinsale. I'm serious. It wasn't so crowded at the beach, but it took us 30 minutes to find a parking spot. A who was there before me called me almost in tears that she hadn't found parking. I got there, we circled around the road and I told her on the cell, let's park at the circle (St. Armands Circle) - we walked 15 minutes to the beach, but it was worth it.

When we got there, I reapplied sunblock on Ju Ju and Soapy. You have to do that - sun is so strong in FL. Then off they go, they were in the water non-stop. The water was beautiful, nice and just right temeprature. Birds were flying over us and waves hitting the beach. It was such a lovely day...

Girls and baby D enjoyed Fishy and Japanese tea (mugicha) which I frozed them in the bottles so that they wouldn't get warm.

Soapy???? What happened? Looks like a cave girl. LOL...

Soapy and Me. I don't know why, but lots of seaweed that day. A ton of them. It was kind of annoying, but still it was nice to be in the water.

Ju Ju is a mermaid. She doesn't come out of water - She is in the wanter through day and night. Even this day, she was in the ocean, then in the pool once we got back to grandma's. She truly enjoy being a swimmer.

The robot apparently managed to put a cap on the pipe. It's past midnight and there is no one from BP or Coast Guard to brief on this important event. Anyway, I'm pretty much giving up and come to understand that this oil will not stop until August. I was hopeful before, but I am not anymore. I think it's time for us to face the reality and approach this spill from a different angle.

All I hear nowadays is people criticizing and blaming on BP. It's no brainer that BP is responsible and should be held accountable. But right now, what we need to do is not protesting against the oil giant, but work together to find THE way to solve and clean up the oil that contiune to spread out in the Gulf. 37% of Gulf is off-limits for fishing. That's a huge number. And it's been reported that the oil is reaching toward Panhandle of FL, about 4 miles away, and it could reach to crowded beaches in Tampa area by end of this month. That's our reality. Many of wild birds that have been covered with oil and rescued are transported to Tampa area bay and beaches and released to the wild.

When this whold thing started, I said in one of posts that "what if oil starts to show up here in FL?' - now it's becoming a reality. I'm terrified. Every time when I see dark oil gushing into the water, I feel like I can't breathe. And every time when I see the oil covered ocean on TV or in the photos, I can almost feel our planet is gasping for air. I cry every day because overwhelming emotions fill me up and I can't help it.... Now, my girls know about oil and they ask me about it every day and night. "Did oil stop, Mommy?"

I believe it's important for them to understand what's happening to their favorite ocean. The girls and I watch CNN together and let them see BP's live feed or the images of affected animals or coasts...

I pray that if we can't stop this for a while, at least we can contain and clean it as much as possible... And I pray for BP, too, so they can come up with some answer to this non-sense.....

Are You Ready For Some Bikinis!?!?

{Maki's "it" bikini this summer}

Summer is officially here! I'm jumping and dancing with joy - my favorite time of the year...

I love bikinis and it seems I can never have enough.

I'm extremely in love with the bikini from Victoria's Secret shown in the photo above.

The color is so pretty and the shape is lovely.

It's the perfect bikini for me.

I want that blue handbag with bamboo handles along with it, too...

Have you started shopping for swimsuits?

Do you shop online or do you have to try them on first?

Here are some of bikinis I thought cute and gorgeous.

So girlies, Got Bikinis?

{Victoria's Secret Collection}

By the way, both this stripe and the blue ones on top are on sale for $9.99 each!
Ha!




{Vix}


Vix always makes gorgeous swimsuits. A bit expensive, but they are indeed beautiful creations.

I love this pair - the colors are absolutely gorgeous amd so perfect for summer..

{L Space}

I realize I really like Bandeau bikini the best...

I really want this top, but it's SOLD OUT already!

Yeah, the Bandeau top is lovely and the bottom is also pretty!

The back is sexy, don't you think?

I really like the top, but of course, this one is also SOLD OUT! :(

I think it's really pretty.

This is me looking at my little Soapy playing with my friend's new baby...

Oh summer, I love thee....

Sincere Gratitude on Memorial Day

My girls and I were having dinner when my oldest Ju Ju asked me, 'What's Memorial Day?" - So I explained it's the day we pay our respects and show gratitude towards all the men and women who dedicated their lives to this country. Well, it's kind of hard to understand the girl who is only 6.

She asked, "What does it mean to dedicate their lives?" I tried to use simple words and did all I can to explain to her, that many wars have been fought in the past and still today, and that many men and women go to far away to fight for this country and often times, they die to protect us from the bad guys. Her next question was of course, "Why do they have to fight?" - My honest answer was, "I don't know, but if they don't go, who would go to fight it? Would you want to go?"

Ju Ju: "I don't want to go to war, it's scary..."
Maki: "That's right, Ju Ju. War is scary. That's why all the service men and women are there to fight for you, and Mommy, so we don't have to go. And sometimes, they get hurt or they lose their life."
Ju Ju: "Oh.... That's really sad, Mommy...."
Maki: "I know.. So Memorial Day means to be thankful for the people who died for this country and pray for other people to come home safely..."
Ju Ju: "Okay, I'll pray for them too..."


Whether we believe in fighting the wars, I will never stop praying for those who're fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq for their safe return. And I feel tremendous saddness for those who lost their lives. Many of them are so young.. People can say whatever they want, but those guys are there to fight thousands and thousands miles away from their family and friends, and the country they love, because nobody else will.

So I can at least be thankful and pray for them to be safe and come home safely....

On a different note, Dennis Hopper past away Saturday. He was one of my dad's favorite actors - and we'll miss seeing him in the big screen... Rest in Peace, Dennis, you're one hard-core and

charismatic actor....

Have a great Memoria Day my darlings.....

xoxo

Finally, Finally!!!!!! {One Step Closer to My Sweet Home}

I got a great news today that the insurance adjuster finally approved the estimates provided by us, and that they will start the restoration process after the Memorial weekend!!!! Hooooray!!!

Do you know how long I've been staying at my mother-in-law's house - over a month! Oh boy....

I've been doing the window shopping for our living/dining room since most of our furnitures were damaged since the day 1 we got displaced. Now, everything will be covered by insurance and I can't wait to have everything back the way it used to be....

One of the things that I'm sad about is that I lost many things that I call my own; even just a pillow or pillows that you held tight watching TV...

The sectional couch above is simlar to the one I had in my living room. Now, I'm not buying that couch from Pottery Barn, however, I have been eyeballing some pillows from the store - and they are sooo pretty. And they look even prettier when you see them at the store...

You know I love beach and everything that reminds of it. So, I'll be a happy girl if I could get these.....

This is pretty with white pillows..

The red looks sooo charming..

White goes with everything...

Believe it or not, these pillows are my favorite - perfect for summer..

So, what do you think, do you like the design???

Oh My Blue Sea.... "Top Kill"

I don't mean to talk about the same issue over and over again..

But as of now, the Gulf of Mexico is on the edge of total destruction - if BP can't stop this mess, I know that the eco-life in the ocean of the Gulf is over...

Today is the day that BP will attempt to stop the gushing oil leak with "top kill" - one of the final options left to seal the pipe.

I used to think that off shore drilling could be a great alternative to foreign oil.

But now, more than ever, I support the other sources of energy; wind, water and solar to sustain our lives.

I realize "oil" is the major source of conflicts - wars have been fought because of it, and the politics have been played out based on it.

It's ugly business...

I'm taking our daughters to Lido beach today after Ju Ju finish with her school with her classmate and her mommy.

I want to believe that their summer is filled with ton of play time and laughter at the beach, but I just don't know...

I pray to god that BP will be successful with "top kill' - it has to end today...

He Is Crazy ~ Jump from the Heavens ~

Have you ever wondered what is it like to free fall from the edge of space? I know I will never find out. But Felix Baumgartner will be the first man ever to break the speed of sound - he'll attempt to free fall from 120,000 miles above! Can you believe it? It's like jumping from the edge of space. He's crazy!!! This is all for Red Bull Stratos. They will bring him all the way up to the edge of sky with a special balloon and he'll just jump off from it.

If he's sucessful of this challenge, it will open a new door to the space program, how to save astronauts from any type of explosions/accidents.

And Felix will do it for his own good as well as for the others.

I've lived my life always wanting to do something extreme because I don't want to have regrets.

But I know there is no way I can possiblly do things that he's done in his life.

He's truly an amazing individual - a risk taker, but in a fabulous way.

I just hope that he'll land on Earth safely and accomplish something no one has achieved.

Felix with Joe Kittenger who saw the world from 20 miles above. Felix is trying to break his record..

His helmet which will be used for the Red Bull Stratos.


That's him on top of Statue of Christ The Redeemer.

For all the real time information, go to Red Bull Stratos. And make sure to watch this video clip. It will take your breath away....

Have a fabulous Monday, darlings!!!

Give or Not Give...

I was driving to Target to get my kitties' food with my daughters when I spotted a homeless man standing at the corner of exit way from the shopping center. He was clearly in need of help and almost painful to watch.

I could hear myself talking, "Oh no... what should I do, what should I do..." and before I knew, I turned around and back to where I came from. My Ju Ju soon realized that I changed my route and quickly asked, "Mama, where are you going?" - I told her not to worry and drove close to the man and switched to the left lane, so I could give him a few bucks when I drove next to him. "Mommy, what's that guy doing standing there?," Ju Ju asked again. "I think he needs help.." I answered...

When I drove close to him, I saw him holding a sign that read, {Need Work, War Vet, God Bless..} - my heart sunk. I quickly reached to my wallet and grabbed $3, drove right next to him and stopped. As I opened my window, he looked at me, so I said, "Excuse me, here, would you take this and get somethng to drink..." and handed the money. He walked towards me, and said, "Oh, you don't have to do that...." I said again, "No, take it.." - He thanked me and I sped off. "Mommy, what's wrong with that man, he looked kind of scary...," I heard Ju Ju saying in the back.... His face, arms and legs looked all burned from standing outside for so long - or from drinking, I just don't know.

There is a fine line between helping the need and helping the addicts/alcoholic getting their fix. I often see this young homeless couple in their early 20's standing in the middle of main road in my town, waiting for some kind drivers to give them money: clearly drug addicts who have no intention to make their lives better - I have no sympathy. They can starve themselves if only thing they want to do is to shoot up and be stupid.

But when it comes to the older people, I just don't know what to do. Many people are having really tough time these days. I've read many articles on newspaper about how quickly the Afghan and Iraq war vets are becomng homeless due to their injuries and not being able to work or their emotional scars have caused them not being able to hold jobs. Or people are losing their jobs and takeing forever to find a new job. I know too well how hard it is to find a good job because my husband had had tough time with it... Or there are many people who have jobs, but are homeless in Hawaii due to the increase in living expense and housing which is a major issue right now. So you never know how and why people become homeless and to bring your life to the lowest point you could ever imagine. It's tragic. It's really sad...

I told my daughters about the man that he needed a help because he's a homeless. "What is homeless?" - of course that was Ju Ju's next question, so I had to explain what homeless means. I think it's hard for them to understand because they are only small. Some people are very harsh about the way they look at homelessness in our town. I agree with some extent because many of them can help themselves if they really want to make their lives better. Some people however, I believe, don't even know how to work or start their lives again because they lose hope.... I feel really sad at times....

One of my favorite movies is called "The Fisher King" - Have you seen it before? It's about a DJ who has caused a horrible murders befriends with an ex-professor who became a homeless man. The professor loses hope after losing his beloved wife - lose everything...

I changed the way I look at homeless people after I saw this movie. Sometimes, you just don't know the history behind it...

What would you do if you see a homeless man/woman on the street?