Lydia and Weekly Organization

Hi! I'm sorry I've been gone. School started and I didn't have time but I have some time this morning.

My best friend, Lydia, is an amazing person. She recently moved to New York now and is taking the world by storm.  She's a Beach Body coach, works at 24 Hour Fitness, and is one of the most talented vocalists in the world. She has a blog with the intent to motivate people towards a healthy lifestyle and fitness. She recently posted about refocusing your life here. I'm so happy she found a new system that is working for her. She talks about how our weekly goal lists weren't working because it ended with us feeling like a failure if we didn't accomplish everything on that list.

I love Lydia's idea of refocusing but I do my own version of it. I start each week with a list of all the things I have to do such as homework or work and I also put things down that I don't necessarily HAVE to do but would like to do towards the bottom and I love the feeling of crossing things out on my list and throwing the paper away at the end of the week. Sometimes looking at the calendar on my phone or iCal on my computer, I might miss something, so having a physical list to look at keeps me up to date on assignments, work shifts, and plans I've made with friends.

Which organizational system works best for you? Are you a tech person like Lydia or more of a paper and pen person like me? Lydia and I are always looking for new ideas to help us stay organized and we'd love to hear how you keep track of your life!

I Cain't Say No!

You know what's awkward?
Practicing for an audition in front of your parents singing about how you're "just a girl who cain't say no."

Here's a video of me singing last semester. A song with a con artist trying to convince me to sleep with him:

Travel Tip Thursday!

So two Sundays ago my cousins and I went up to the North Shore. Except we had to come back early because I started crying because I couldn't move because my arm hurt. (This was before we went to the doctor so all I knew was that I was in a LOT of pain) Anyway, we took some fun pictures and you can't even tell I wanted to cry the whole time/cried a lot.

Waimea Bay:

And then we went to the Coffee Gallery in Haleiwa for pineapple shakes and chocolate chip shakes:

My friends, my mom, and Starbucks think I'm crazy

On my bluetooth with my mom driving one armed to pick her up from work:
Nakita: The Pupper (what I'm calling him since Mom doesn't want me to use people's names. Oh, and by people, I mean our dog, or BC as she calls him) is staring at the car right now.
Mom: Wait, I thought you were almost here?
Nakita: I am.
Mom: Wait where's The Pupper?
Nakita: Staring out his window at the house. Where do you think he is? I'm driving to your work!
Mom: He can't be at his window and you be where you are. I am so confused.
Nakita: NO ONE UNDERSTANDS MY SARCASM!
Mom: You can't say he's staring AT the car. That means he's OUTSIDE of the car. You should've said, "He's staring in the car!"
Nakita: No. That makes no sense. He's sitting in the passenger seat staring AT the car because your voice is coming out of the speakers.
Mom: Oh my gosh. I'll see you when you get here.

Why Starbucks thinks I'm crazy:
Nakita: Can I have a tall nonfat hot chocolate with whip? It evens out you know.
Barista:(laughs at me) Do you need a drink carrier?
Nakita: No thank you, I'm saving the world.
She just walks away.
I just didn't finish my sentence. What I meant was "No, thank you, I'm saving the world one drink carrier at a time." I say the same thing about plastic bags at the grocery store. I think the checker outter people at the store think I might be crazy too.

What happened on my cousin, Monica's voicemail:
Nakita: Hey, it's me. So, are you working tomorrow? Because if you're not working tomorrow...EFF I HUNG UP!!!!
(call her back. I hear her voicemail message and immediately hang up because I can't leave voicemails so out of habit I hung up. Again. Call her back.)
Hey sorry. I hung up on accident because I pressed the stupid button. And then I called you and hung up out of habit. I'm dumb. Anyway, when are you off? I want to go hiking. Tomorrow. To Pillboxes. Let's do that. Also, there is Zumba at 9. We should go to that first and...
Her voicemail robot: You're message has been deleted please rerecord blah, blah, blah.
Nakita: I. can't. Can you just call me please? GAHHH!!!!!!

On Facebook chat:
Nakita: YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND?!
Levi: Yes. You added him on The FB. If you came out more often, YOU'D have MET HIM...Yes, I'm yelling at you....
Nakita: I TORE THE CARTILAGE IN MY SHOULDER! I'M INJURED! and on a lot of drugs. and by drugs i mean vicodin. also, i'm doctor ordered not to drive. i don't drive anywhere past the costco shopping center.
Nakita: because i can't NOT drive. the doctor doesn't understand
Nakita: i'm on a lot of vicodin right now.
Levi: Which means you're kookier than ever?!?!?! Bahahaha.

Brilliant!

I love my best friend, Carly. She made me a pretty sling so I don't have to wear boring ones. It was custom made for me this afternoon! I made my mom take a picture of me wearing it before I rushed out of the house to go to work.

Things I've Learned Wearing My Arm Sling

So I tore the cartilage in my shoulder therefore damaging a bunch of nerves and tendons or whatever in my arm and neck. They told me to wear an arm sling, not drive, and gave me Vicodin.

1. EVERYONE you see at work, Starbucks, Zumba, and everywhere inbetween will come up and ask you what you did. It goes something like this:
"I tore the cartilage in my shoulder"
"My goodness! Did you fall?"
"I'm 22, not 80! I did NOT fall!".. okay I don't say that, I think that. And say something like, "No, it's from hurting it and then just going on with my life instead of going to the doctor." or "Kayaking" or "Work". All these answers are true. I answer depending on how I feel.
And then they say something encouraging.

2. If you are injured but haven't gone to the ER yet and your shoulder hasn't reached the point where you can't move, it just hurts to do stuff, and you're in Zumba and you stop to stretch. People look at you like "Why is one of the youngest girls in the class winded?"

However, if you have an arm sling, everyone comes up and congratulates you on being a trouper and coming to class. After they ask you what happened. And if you fell.

3. People tip you at least 20% if you're injured and at work. They feel bad for one armed waitress. And they act shocked when you bring an entire tray of food and do everything with just your right arm.

4. If you wear the arm sling, your neck starts to hurt. But if you don't wear the arm sling, you think it might be better to just chop off your arm because that would hurt less than trying to keep your arm in sling position.

5. I thought the whole rest, don't do anything except go to work would be easy. Sit and watch TV. Apparently I get stir crazy

6. If I take a Vicodin, and I'm laying on my couch resting because my room is a disaster, and How Do I Look? doesn't come on. I cry. Because apparently I cry whenever I'm disappointed when I'm on Vicodin. And then my dog licks my face. Which makes me feel better.

ER

Nakita: Why is your roommate in the hospital?
Joey: Because I beat him for not doing the dishes.

Of course.

Mail with Two Fake Adults

Nakita: I'm surprised Mom didn't immediately rip up this credit card offer.
Little Brother: Oh, Mom AND Dad said I have Jury Duty. Look at these envelopes.
(2 Jury Duty envelopes with names of people we don't know)
Nakita: I don't think YOU have jury duty so much as some people who used to live here do.
LB: No! I KNOW they wouldn't lie to me. We have to find it.
LB: ...Maybe, they put fake names. So the murderer can't know who is judging them.
Nakita: I doubt that.
LB: No! I'm sure of it!
Nakita: I'm pretty sure it's a federal offense to open someone else's mail.
LB: No, I'm sure they just put a fake name here and I'll know when I open it that it's for me.
Nakita (as he opens the letter): Yeah, that's realistic.
LB: Nope. Not mine. I guess no jury duty?
Nakita: Guess not...
LB: What are the chances of two people with completely different names getting jury duty who supposedly live at the same address at the same time?
Nakita: It's a conspiracy.

Walk away as the little bro sits contemplating the possible conspiracy.

7:45 am

7:40- Wake up.
8:00- Physical Therapy about 4 or 5 miles down the road. I have 5 minutes to brush my teeth, change, and rush out of the house. Then I realize, Mom has my car.

7:45:
Nakita: Daddy, Daddy, I'm sorry I'm waking you up but can I borrow your car?
Dad: I was listening to the doctor. You're not allowed to drive.
Nakita: Okay then, can you take me to PT please?
Dad: I am sleeping.
Nakita: Okay, so I'm going to borrow your car.

10:00-Sitting on the couch watching TV.
Nakita: Good morning, Dad. Thanks for letting me borrow your car.
Dad: When did you borrow my car?

5 Favorite Oahu Boutiques

If you come to visit you should go! They're the best. I love places where you know the owners and they know what you like and you walk in and they say, "Nakita! I have something that will look fabulous on you! AND it's on sale!" (because they know I don't buy anything unless it's marked down)

1. Drift Boutique.

They're amazing. Laura and Ale-the owners, are two awesome ladies who give me the best fashion advice and they're so talented! A lot of the stuff in the store are things they've made and designed. Recycled and chic. My two favorite things.

2. Pualani Bikinis.

There are two locations. One in Kailua and one in the Kaimana Otani Hotel. Both carry mostly the same things but my favorite is the Kailua location. These bikinis are well worth every penny. Best quality bikini you will ever buy. And it's easy to find parking and the owner Lauren is as sweet as can be.

3. In My Closet.

The two ladies who own it, I'm not sure what their names are, but I really should. Almost all my clothing is from them. Different from my beach-y attire, they're more chic and edgy. I love their stuff. Best part-they always have an awesome sales rack. I've only bought one thing full price there-my birthday dress for my 21st birthday. Other than that, sales rack is key!

4. Oogenesis.

This store is in Haleiwa and while I don't actually own anything from here, I fall in love with so many different things every time I walk through. If you have a couple hundred dollars to drop on a dress-this is the place to do it!

5. Local Motion in Koko Marina.

While this is NOT a boutique but a chain surf store around the islands, I absolutely adore this store. I don't really leave Hawaii Kai anymore and so if I feel like window shopping and just looking at cute stuff, I wander through after I get my afternoon coffee. Usually I pick up a new Sun Bum chapstick. The guys who work here are super nice and if you don't want to drive far, they'll order you whatever you want (for me it was a Tiffany blue and white Billabong beach umbrella). They're really awesome and if you're on vacation here, stop by on your way out to Hanauma Bay. :)