Sweet Little Cupcake Aprons x 2!

Right before Christmas I heard that two sweet little girls were getting a play kitchen for Christmas! Well, what do little domestic-goddesses-in-training need while working in their kitchen? Cute little aprons of course! Even better if they have cupcakes on them!

Their mom was sweet enough to send me this picture of them:

Seriously. Look at these cutie-patooties in action. Could I have ASKED for a better picture? No way. It is PERFECT in every way!

(Apparently the pizza delivery guy is getting an earful for being late....)

Enjoy, girls! :)

Linked up with:

Merry (Belated) Christmas!

Hope you had a great Christmas!

We did things a little different this year. Instead of having a traditional Christmas tree we opted for a tropical one. A palm tree which we will keep up all year:

Not the best picture but you get the idea!

We also brought home "Elf on the Shelf". Oh my goodness! Why didn't we do this before?!? It was SO.MUCH.FUN. And with the help of Pinterest and my friend Michele (the QUEEN of Elf trickery) our Elf, Ed brought us a lot of excitement, anticipation and laughter!

Here are some of the places we found Ed:

On the shelf above the doorway.....

Hanging from the ceiling fan.....

Cruising around in Barbie's car......

Piggy back ride on (or choking out?) Santa......

Helping himself to some juice......

Writing on artwork!

In the refrigerator!

Opening a present! (Boy did he get an earful for doing that!)

Toilet papered the tree!

Busted the girls!

Took a ride on "Chomper".....

On Christmas morning he was found hanging out with the princesses!

 

 

We are already looking forward to next year to see Ed and his mischievous self! I think we should have an elf all year long! A Valentine's elf, Easter elf, 4th of July elf.....  :)

 

Fold-Up Car-Mat For Your Purse or Pocket (or Christmas Stocking!)

A long, long time ago (in a land far, far away) I made a fold up car mat  but I wasn't thrilled with the results. Then I made a larger car mat for my  nephew. Loved it but still wanted to make a smaller one to fit in my purse. Well, I finally made one that I am happy with! Since then I have made more but with different prints and different styles:

Vintage Cars

Cars, buses and trucks!

Airport on blue or red

Flip it over and drive on the tarmac!

Girls like cars too!

Flip it over and check out some Honolulu hot spots!

The car mats measure approximately 10" x 8" when open and 

2.5" x 4" when folded: 

 

The perfect size to stick in your purse, pocket or Christmas stocking! Each car mat can hold two of your kiddo's favorite cars!

If you'd like one I have several car mats listed in my Etsy shop and they include one new car with purchase! Unfortunately with only nine days (NINE?!?) left until Christmas I cannot guarantee Christmas delivery! 

I also want to thank my talented and crafty friend, Amy from Pineapple Spice for helping me come up with the design! Mahalo! :)

Why, Hello There!

Thanks for stopping by! 

I am alive and well, just been incredibly busy. I've been wanting to blog but every time I log on to do so I start thinking to myself,  "You really need to be sewing!" The other thing that prevented me from hopping on here is that I am a very chronological-thinking person. I didn't even want to publish my last post about voting in the DIY Halloween costumes (thank you to those that did, BTW!) because I hadn't blogged about my Halloween crafts! But at this rate I am never going to catch up....so there! I will let it go! (Well, for the most part. I haven't even put away all of our Halloween stuff because my intention has been to blog about it!)

So where do I start? How about I work backwards and start with the most recent project? Getting ready for Christmas! 

While there are 12 days left till Christmas (YIKES) there are only two more days of school left before Christmas vacation starts! What to get for the teachers? I really loved what I did last year for my daughter's teacher so why not do it again? I also made some for a dear friend:

Oh those dirty little kids!

Last year I made a set including one extra large bottle (hand sanitizer) and two small bottles (hand soap):

And then sets for friends: 

Truly fun and unique...and EASY to do! Want to know how to do it? Click on this link for instructions: Personalized Hand Sanitizer & Soap Bottles.

Whew. I did it. I blogged! Hoping to get back into the groove of it! Meanwhile don't forget, you can find me on Facebook under "Happy Hapa!" I check in there at least once a day!

*Post shared with:

 

Check out Katie's Nesting Spot's "A Crafty Soiree" for fun, Christmas crafting ideas!

Have a great week!

Parents' Magazine's DIY Halloween Costume Contest - I Need Your Vote!

After posting pictures of the lovebird costumes I made for Halloween my friend Yong encouraged me to enter Parents' Magazine's "DIY Halloween Costume Photo Contest." At first I was reluctant but then I figured, "why not?" Plus, Yong is the photographer and creative genius behind "True Colors Photography of Las Vegas". Who am I to not take her advice?

To my surprise I received an email today notifying me that my photo is currently in the running to become one of Parent Magazine's weekly Reader's Choice finalists! How cool is that? (Granted, for all I know EVERYONE that entered may be a finalist...but who cares! Ha!) 

With your vote I could win an award certificate, which basically makes me feel better about spending all that time on the costumes. :) 

Grand prize is $250 - but that is in the hands of the editor. 

So if you're feeling generous, go ahead and vote for my costumes and my girls! 

Here's the link:

Parents' Magazine DIY Halloween Costume Photo Contest - Lovebirds

Thanks!

Through the Eyes of a 4-year Old.....

What makes a 4-year old bust out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter? 

When chicken breasts looks like a butt:

I swear I would have never noticed. *Sigh*

*A note to my sweet nephew and daughter: Is this what is considered a "chicken-hot-bootie?"

Loving Lovebirds!

I was finally able to take a picture of the lovebirds together!

 

We have a few more Halloween functions to attend so the girls are definitely getting some use out of their costumes! (Thank goodness!)

Have a great weekend!

Halloween Preview

Just a few more days until Halloween! Fun, fun and more fun!

Here's what I've been up to......

Halloween Lanterns with Christmas Lights Inside

My kids are going as Lovebirds this year. I don't have a picture of them together yet but will take one this weekend:

More to come!

And the Winner of the Halloween Bunting is......

Number 12! "Smother Mother!"

Congratulations! Smother Mother, please check your email! I will send you a message on how to claim your prize! (Basically, what is your address?)

Thanks to everyone for their interest!

Happy Hapa in a Magazine!

Months ago I received an email asking if I would like to have "Happy Hapa" featured in a local magazine. 

Whaaaat? MY Happy Hapa? Seriously? 

Apparently the magazine was looking to showcase handmade baby/children items made by Hawaii artists. The email was intriguing but I didn't think it was real. I mean, with all the shops in Hawaii, why mine? (I know! I know! Why NOT mine?) 

After doing a little bit of research I came to the realization that everything was legit! How could I say "no"? I absolutely, undeniably HAD to SEIZE the opportunity!

The first step was to answer some interview questions. Not surprising I spent way too much time over-thinking every single one of them. Next I had to decide which pictures to submit (again...overly obsessed). At this point only my family and a few friends knew anything about what was going on. I was afraid if I made it public I would jinx myself and the whole thing wouldn't happen. 

Then I crossed my fingers and waited.

And waited.

And waited. 

That is until my girlfriend, Maureen called to tell me she spotted the new issue and that Happy Hapa and Momo were in it! Here's the magazine:

And here's the "mention" with a picture of Momo (upper right) wearing the "Rock Skirt" that I made!

NO WAY!!! (YES WAY!!!)

I didn't even notice that another Happy Hapa creation was in the back of the magazine until Maureen messaged me (Thanks Maureen!!!)

I honestly didn't know which picture(s) was going to be selected for the article so you can imagine my delight when I saw Momo in the magazine. What was her reaction to seeing for the first time?

"That is weird."

But maybe to a 4-year old "weird" means "cool?" Because she seems okay here:

I am super stoked about the whole thing! It's amazing how seeing one picture and two little words ("Happy Hapa")in a magazine can brighten up your day! :)

Thanks so much to Sascha from "Where Oahu" magazine for the opportunity! :)

Halloween Bunting Giveaway!

It's almost HALLOWEEN!!! So to get into the spirit of things (and to revamp my blog) I thought I'd host a giveaway!  

This giveaway has to be a quickie, since Halloween is only 19 (EEK!) days away! 

Here is what the winner will get:

 

A reversible Halloween bunting (banner, pennant) made with fabrics from Riley Blake's Halloween line. It is double sided so you can hang it across the room and both sides will show! Reuse it year after year!

Here are the fabrics:

I am going to make it easy to enter (with additional chances to win for those that want more chances!) 

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment!(Please make sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner!)

That's it! That's all you have to do! But if you want more chances to win here are some options. Each will get you another entry!

*Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect or Networked blogs. Be sure to comment to tell me that you do!

*"Like" me on Facebook (Happy Hapa). If you already do, THANK YOU! Leave a comment telling me so!

Giveaway will run for one week starting today - winner will be chosen via Random.org at midnight, Hawaii time on Wednesday, October 19th and announced here on my blog as well as sent an email notification. Winner has 48 hours to respond with their mailing address - if not a new winner will be chosen.

Open to U.S. and Canada residents. 

Can't wait and want one now? I have one listed in my Etsy shop!

Happy early Halloween!

Wordless Wednesday - Still Hot Here!

 

While our friends on the mainland are talking about cooler weather we had temperatures in the nineties this week! Wherever you are, Happy Hump Day! Enjoy the rest of your week!

For more Wordless Wednesday visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

*Thanks to my friend Dani for this awesome shot of Momo! Dani, did you start blogging yet?!? :)

King's Hawaiian Bread - Digital Rewards Program!

 

King's Hawaiian Sweet Bread....if you've ever had it you know you want some. If you've never had it....you are missing out!

King's Hawaiian Bread brings me back to my childhood days growing up in Japan (of all places!) I remember my father would always bring home a loaf or two of Sweet Bread after traveling to Hawaii for work. We always looked forward to that big, round aluminum pan full of sweetness! So much to the point that we wouldn't bother with utensils - we would eat it straight out of the pan, tearing pieces off with our fingers!

Now that we live in Hawaii we are lucky to be able to find King's Hawaiian products just about anywhere we shop for groceries. The "Savory Butter Rolls" are a staple in our house. They are the perfect size for kid's sandwiches or to take to potlucks! If you've been following my blog you may remember this post I did about King's Hawaiian Bread:

Mini Turkey and Cheese Sandwiches

Click on the link to find the recipe!

Well, our good friends over at King's Hawaiian are making things a little bit more fun by starting a "Rewards Program" - the first of it's kind in their 60-year history! Earn points and prizes, enjoy free downloads (coloring pages, recipe books, etc.) and enter for a chance to win FREE BREAD FOR A YEAR! (52 coupons valid for $4.99 of King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread.)*

Interested? Want to sign up? Check out their Rewards Website for more information and contest rules! 

Thanks, King's Hawaiian!

*Apologies to the residents of Hawaii as we are excluded from winning the grand prize of free bread for a year. But don't let that stop you from playing or keep you from enjoying King's Hawaiian bread. After all, we can get it just about anywhere! :)

Happy Blogiversary, A Pocket Full of Buttons! Giveaway Time!

Happy 3-year blogiversary to my girlfriend, Stephanie from A Pocket Full of Buttons! Three years of blogging about motherhood, sewing, photography, bento, cooking, baking, traveling, dogs, etc! It's been an awesome couple of years and I (along with her loyal followers) are looking forward to many more! 

In celebration of this milestone event I have offered up a kawaii crayon purse to give away on her blog:  

  

Kid not included. ;)

I'm really not sure if I'll carry any of these purses in my shop so be sure to enter the giveaway if you want one! (Think Christmas!!!) For more details on the giveaway and to enter click here: A Pocket Full of Buttons

Congratulations, Stephanie! I am looking forward to many more years of happy blogging! :) 

Crescent Breakfast Ring

Gotta love Pinterest and all the fabulous food finds! As a matter of fact I have one board full of recipes that I eventually want to try. This morning I got to do just that! I made the super simple "Crescent Breakfast Ring" which consists of crescent rolls, eggs, bacon and cheese. That's it! So simple but the presentation makes it look like you slaved in the kitchen! Here it is after coming out of the oven:

And then sliced:

Oh yeah, baby. 

You can find the recipe at "Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hypo." Just click on the link! The recipe is good as is but next time I might add some sharper cheese, onions, mushrooms and peppers. I'm sure my family would probably love to add some scrambled sausage!

THANKS to Pinterest and good friends with good finds! I'm talking to YOU, Courtney!!! Keep pinning so I can repin! :)

PS Anyone need/want an invitation to Pinterest? Leave me a message with your email addy!