My oldest son just hosted his OWN book club! Yippee!

I am trying to "wean" him from me planning and organizing and leading the book club discussion and making the treats, and coming up with the ideas, etc. etc. etc.

He made the calls- reminded friends

Asked if they could munch on the many Christmas Cookies I've been baking

Thankfully Anjeny stayed behind.... (when she dropped off son and friend)

The boys needed a bit of "re-directing" back to the topic of books.

We read the first chapter together and made a reading schedule.

(5 chapters a week- they decided.)

Sounds like a good plan.

Well- I'm off to shuttle boys hither and thither.

Hoping everyone is happily planning and enjoying moments of the season!

New Book Club Ideas!

congratulations!

You are now reading the blog of
"An Accomplished" Sign Language Interpreter.

I got the results back -- of the certification test I took 10 weeks ago!
There are 4 levels of certification here in Hawaii... Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5.
(Being a level 1 means you are still a student and not qualified to really interpret anything yet.)

I'm a level 4! a FOUR!
I was very pleased with the results.
But I think it is interesting- now that I am trying to find blogs of interpreters... but interpreters I guess don't blog about work.

I mean- Yeah- I know the code of ethics and all... keeping everything work related confidential.
But interpreting is such a fascinating career- I would be very interested to learn about other interpreters and their experiences. How they keep up to speed on new signs? How do they continue to progress professionally?

just thought I would share my exciting news.
I think my husband is starting to tire of my saying... "I'm accomplished".

blog-give away-- don't miss!

This isn't even MY blog give-away.. .it is from my stampin- sistah... / my soul sistah... on my "partner in crime" friend Anjeny's blog.

Here is what she is giving away--

A little bit of something that touches a nook and cranny into her different hobbies.

1. pampering herself-- with chocolates and bubble baths

2. creating cards

3. crafting with her sewing machine---

I kinda can't believe she didn't invite me over to sew the day she made this cute crayon roll up and matching tote... I mean... I TOTALLY always invite her over when I am planning some sewing project!

( partly because I don't own a sewing machine-- but more so-- because she is a sewing guru!)

So adorable! I want to make some of these for CHRISTMAS!! Anjeny!!! when will we do that??

Anyway-- go over and put your name in the comment box if you need a little perk!

Luv ya Anjeny!

Did you see??

Oh My!
Did you see this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGL-nG3Mpwg
(okay- sorry I don't know how to add it directly to this post-- but go watch it!)
It is a bit old news... but I just saw it yesterday for the first time...
the footage of a Women's Soccer Game gone - ugly.

(It caught my eye-- because it involved BYU-provo, our sister-school here in Hawaii... and I thought: "Oh Dear.. what happened now??" Thankfully- the unsightly maneuvers were not from players on BYU.)

I didn't realize how physical soccer is! The common elbows and tripping...
it is rough..
just the normal stuff you can do while trying to get the ball!
- Another reminder why I didn't play soccer growing up.

I am not competitive.
Don't get me wrong-- I like sports..
but I don't have the killer instinct.
I'm willing to let someone take a shot on goal {or hoop...}
I'll try to block --once the ball is shot..
but I don't try to take out the player while in the motion of shooting...
(probably why I spent most my time on the bench during HS basket ball.)

But putting all my emotional baggage aside....

This video was so disturbing-- so of course I've watched it about 20 times.
I just can't stop thinking about it.. and then I start thinking...
' no.. it couldn't be as bad as I am remembering.... '
so I go back and watch it again...
AND IT IS!! JUST AT BAD!! AS i REMEMBERED-- OR WORSE!

I have a few things to say:

First: I am thankful my ugly moments have never been caught on tape. I mean that other player is seriously in the wrong- and could use some anger management coping techniques, but the poor girl has to see it over-and- over and over and now the whole world has seen it and will people give her the space to grow and move on??? I mean- how humiliating? But if she didn't realize how out-of-control she was... then perhaps this is a good "wake-up call"...


Second: I have to applaud the BYU team. Not only DIDN'T they fight back and retaliate
they stood their ground.
They didn't get intimidated.
They went on to confront her again and again and take the abuse.
They are some tough cookies!
(cuz at first glance-- they don't look that physically intimidating.. I mean... I'm just saying.... they are all willowy figured and cute.) But NO! They stood firm!

I am so impressed by that!
How many times have I let other people make me feel bad?
(just with their words... not actually punching me in the face or pulling my hair so hard I fall to the ground....)

I have stronger resolve now.
To stand up and stand my ground when I feel I am in the right.

Well done BYU Cougars!
Next time I get stiffed at the drive thru... I am pulling around until they get my order right!

Hope everyone is doing great!

Fundraiser-yippee!

As most of you know--

we are a hockey family living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

We are so lucky to have found a competitive roller hockey league here on the island.

One that challenges to the kids by playing other teams and holding tournaments.

(When we first moved here, we put them into ICE hockey and there aren't enough players to even have two teams- on the whole island! So they just practice and play each other. While they like the aspect of ICE hockey... it's not much fun just playing yourself week after week, month after month, year after year.....)

So we switched to Roller Hockey.

(Another factor was as the kids advanced up in the program the game days were switching to Sunday and we try to keep that day set apart for worship.)

So it was a good change.

We could get all our hockey fix in on Saturdays and the kids get to play multiple teams on multiple islands.

BUT NOW.

My two oldest sons (because their teams are so good-- not to brag or anything....)have the opportunity to travel to the MAINLAND and compete in

San Jose (SHARK territory) and compete
with other teams in our "region"!

HOW exciting and COOL is

THAT?!?!

We are very excited!

But as coolness starts to warm up - reality has hit-- as we plan the trip-- that ugly reality of finances. ($$)

So we are trying to raise some funds. There are so many expenses-- details.. charges for hockey bags on the airplane.

( I suggested the team just wear their gear ON the plane and check their skates in their luggage.Can you imagine the stink? It would be like flying in a smelly sweaty locker room...

:0)

To expenses of plane tickets, tournament fees, hotels, meals, etc..

So anything we can raise will help!

Some of the families are doing car washes, selling baked goods, etc..
I thought I would sell (on ebay)- some Christmas Cards.

So DETAILS......

Each set of cards was ofcourse... made with love and my own 2 hands....

but is a set of 10 cards with envelopes. (2 cards of each design.)

Each card has multiple layers of card stock and some kind of embellishment- be it brads, ribbon, "hodge-podge" element, etc..)

This first set is called-- "Rustic" cards are made with olive green , not quite navy, brown and burgundy Stampin UP card stock.

This second set is called "Preppy Christmas". (Old Olive paper, more mustard, Burgundy.)

This set is called "Peppermint Twist"
(Real Red, Pink, old olive green)

(There is a 5th card-- just not pictured...)

"Classical Christmas"
(dark green, real read, white)

"Blue Christmas"

Card Creations

I've been asked to host a Christmas Card making night.

I know.. I know.. I'm so flattered!

My creations are in such high demand!

lol- nothing could be farther from the truth-- I think they knew I would never host another card making night-- after the last one I hosted and no one showed up!

But here is my new favorite set from Stampin up! It's called Season of Joy- or something like that. What I like about it is... well it's got some swirls in it-- and as you all know.. I'm strangely partial to swirls.

This blue one is not my personal fav.. but it is my sons favorite one of the bunch.. so I thought I would keep it in the mix that ladies could make. I know I have one stampin- sistah that likes blue.

The next one-- green Christmas tree is my husbands favorite.

He likes Christmas cards with Christmas trees and they have to say... Christmas, not happy holidays or such..

(I found these big gold brads at Walmart- 100 for less than $3.00. I liked them so much- I used them in all the cards.)

I liked the blue in the first card- but thought the red was too harsh. I wanted to incorporate a traditional Christmas color in the blue card-- and I like the green better.

Lastly is the poinsettia card. I think this card is my favorite.

Very traditional colors- red and green, Merry Christmas...

I know very generic..

but it's kinda simple and sweet

........just...

.....................like

....................................me (blushing)

eh hem.. okay back to reality.

If you are a local friend--- you are welcome to come and make cards next Thursday night at 7pm. They are simple cards/few layers so it will be just a dollar/card with envelope to pay for supplies.

If you have scissors and glue sticks - I recommend you bring your own. Then you will be able to cruise without waiting to cut out flowers or such...

I have limited card stock in each color (enough to make a dozen or so of each card total.)-- so if you are planning to make TONS, give me a heads up so I can beg and borrow supplies from my Stampin UP sistahs Anjeny and Jocelyn.

I know it is not even Halloween yet!

Forgive the Christmas intrusion! Just- those of us who make our Christmas cards.. we have to start early if we ever hope to have them made and addressed and mailed before Christmas!

On a Halloween note: My youngest is sooooo excited. He has been practicing!

momma, momma! I say- "tick or teat" then he mumbles something about candy.. .then I say "tank-Y-O-U".

This year will be a fun year going around door to door. He has caught the vision- but is still in awe and wonder about "why?? do people give me candy?"