i am...mai

Catching up with the League and Lisa Ling

So you'll notice that I'm going to jump around a bit as I share things as they come at me.  As much as I'd like to keep this all in chronological order as they happened, I've come to terms with the fact that that is just not going to happen.  I mentioned earlier how I've got lots of catching up to do, and today was Junior League catch up day.  Okay, we'll call it partial catch up day because there is no way I can finish up all I have to do for the League in one sitting.  *sigh*

My new camera was put to great use for three League events this month.   THREE EVENTS?!?!  No wonder I don't have time to blog anymore.

The first event was the Junior League of Honolulu's HerStory Conference, which took place at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.  This was my third time attending the conference, but the first time I attended as a full day participant.  The other two times I worked (volunteered.)  The event was just awesome.  Wonderful speakers, a delicious lunch, and Lisa Ling as the keynote speaker.  She ROCKED!!!  

Then we had our General Membership Meeting, which was actually fun as far as meetings go.  The Arrangements committee planned a cute little game involving animal sounds that had everyone on their feet and moving about the room, and look at these sweet centerpieces!  (I'm always on the lookout for simple yet creative decoration ideas.  This one goes in the idea folder.)

Finally, the Board was invited to attend My Story's fall graduation.  My Story is a personal development program geared towards girls aged 11 to 14 years.  The League holds sessions twice a year for up to about 14 girls each session.  The girls are incredibly sweet, and it is just a blast to share in their excitement as they complete the program and receive their certificates and lots of goodies. 

 

More pictures from all three of these events are available on flickr.

Happy Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day.  Christmas is still my favorite holiday, but I've got to put Valentine's Day up there alongside my second favorite, which is Halloween.  It's just another one of those special times of year when people truly get into the spirit of a holiday.  The decorations, the sweet treats, the costumes -- or in the case of Valentine's day...the sea of red attire and heart shaped accessories... just lifts me up and puts a smile on my face.

I had to get up at 6:15 (ick) this morning to go to the JLH legislative breakfast.  As I got into the car to leave this morning (Rob and Arwen still fast asleep), I found a beautiful heart-shaped box of chocolates with cards from Rob and Arwen on my seat.  I love my husband.  Traffic was a mess, but it still managed to deliver me to the Pacific Club in time.  Amazing.  The breakfast was delicious, the representatives that attended were all a pleasure to meet, and the whole event went really well.  Nice job JLH.  And I returned home in plenty of time to share in some Valentine's Day fun with Arwen.  Yay!

Three is a great age for holidays.  Arwen really "gets" them now.  She kind of understood them before, but now she totally gets them.  She looks forward to them.  She enjoys the giving and, of course, the receiving.  And her excitement and sincere appreciation for all that goes into the day just makes all the fuss worthwhile. 

First, Arwen opened up her box of valentines from school.  What fun!  She ooo'd and ahhh'd over every little card and treat in the box.  The mail came just as we finished and amidst the bills and junk mail was another valentine for Arwen from Grandmom Cats in Philadelphia.  Arwen loves getting mail!  Then Grandma Sally sent us an email telling us to take Arwen into the laundry room for a Valentine's Day surprise.  Still in her pjs, Arwen went out to find treats waiting for her on the dryer - complete with a handmade heart banner wishing her a Happy Valentine's Day.  It was a cute surprise, and she loved her banner so much that we had to take it into the house to hang up, so she could continue to enjoy it all day.  

We decided to deliver a surprise to Grandma Sally in return by visiting her at her workplace, Mid-Pac.  She asked me to bring Arwen by a while ago, but with Arwen in school full-time now, it's been hard to time it right.  Fortunate for all of us, Arwen's got a 6 day vacation that started today because her teachers are all away at some Montessori conference on the mainland.  Grandma's working.  Arwen's off.  Time for a surprise visit.  Grandma Sally enjoyed the chance to give Arwen a tour of the office while introducing her granddaughter to her co-workers, and Arwen really liked getting to see Grandma's school.   

The rest of the day was pretty mellow.  We dropped Rob off at work, napped, watched a little tv, and then head to the mall to pick up some dinner and walk around before heading home to watch LOST.  But then we received a call from Grandpa Fred and Grandma Fran, who had some Valentine's Day goodies for Arwen, so we hung out at the Starbucks to wait for them. 

After a nice visit with her grandparents and a browse through her bag of Heart Day loot, Arwen offered up a round of hugs, kisses, and Happy Valentine's Day wishes to say good bye.  As we pulled out of the parking lot, Arwen said, "I wuv them so much."  Such a sweetheart that loves as much as she is loved.  Can't think of a better valentine.