Hawai'i

“I’m a peace builder.”

2 May 2013

I’m studying Exercise and Sports Science at BYU-H and also peacebuilding!
There’s a super duper fantastic intercultural peacebuilding program at BYU-H and I’ll be getting the certificate. It’s sort of like a minor. Anyway, I love the program a lot and it is helping me become a much better person. mckaycenter.blogspot.com
So there are posters around campus of peacebuilding students of different majors. And my dear friends decided to draw a mustache on one of them. I secretly watched her do it. 

So funny so funny. At least it says “I love Chelsea girl.”
My I love these great friends of mine. :)

Hawai'i

Empower Your Dreams

10 April 2013
I leave this island tomorrow. I’ll be Alaska bound soon! I took my last exam this morning and am working hard at finishing up my last two papers today.
A couple weeks ago there was an entrepreneurship conference on a blessed Thursday and we had the day off school! So here’s an account of that day’s adventures. 
Miss Alyssa and I went to Veltzyland with my little surfista roomie Taylor. She caught some lovely waves and we took pictures. Wish I had some to share.
We also befriended this big ol’ monk seal! And by befriend, I mean we’re not quite friends yet. I apparently got to close and he lifted up and barked at me! Scary… btw this is Alyssa in this picture, not me, in case you were confused. 
(Sometimes I think pictures of her are actually pictures of me.:))
Then we fetched a couple other ladies and headed back to the North Shore. 
I’m really grateful Taylor has a car for us to go on adventures once in a while.
I’ll be needing a car this fall when I come back for my last year. 
It will improve life muchly! Although it’s already pretty great. 
We lunched at Haliewa Eats. Thai food. Soooo good.
I got some summmmmer rolls. Yum.
And guess what Alyssa and I got… starts with PANANG and ends with CURRY.
I love it. Divine.
A trip to Haleiwa usually includes a stop to visit the honu/sea turtles! :)
Keryna was soooo excited and it made me really happy.
The waves and current were too big and strong to play in the H2O 
so we laid in the sand.
And went to a yummy bakery and got smoothies. :)
And then on our way to THRIFT STORES we checked out these bubblegum trees at the Dole plantation. They’re like rainbow trees or something. I don’t know still. But they don’t taste or smell like bubble gum.
Pineapple ice cream was in order as well.
Then came thrift stores and a night at Taylor’s workplace of Cholo’s for a Mexican fiesta. 
Such a good day.
Empower Your Dreams.
That’s what the entrepreneurship conference was called. 
I feel like I did that. :)
Favorites, Hawai'i

March 17, St. Patrick’s SUNday

2 April 2013
Sunday morning we spent at church, which as per usual, is quite lovely.
I do enjoy going to church. And I know it’s the place to be on Sunday.
After church, our casa is the place to be.
We had a most delightful GREEN FEAST. :)
Green key lime ice cream. Green salad. Green pesto/feta/tomato quinoa. Green veggie and rice curry. Green sugar snap peas. Green guacamole. Green chips. Green edamame. And Green mac n’ cheese.

Our neighbors and goodies friends came.

 

I had a little bit of everything on my plate! :) Yum. It was pretty good actually.

Cherisse made herself some special green water.

And the Cabrinha brothers shared their HUMAN BAGPIPE skills. (see video on Facebook)

Also as per usual on this island, there was much beauty to be found.

I made delicious cookies while listening to conference.

And we had some paper snowflake lessons.
These kids were my best students yet!

Then when they came back from a whale watching beach walk, we feasted on the cookies. So good.

Around here cookies go pretty quickly.
But these one’s were so good and were consumed at an accelerated pace. :)
I originally got from sweet treats: dark chocolate coconut oatmeal cookies.
But I modify it a bit.
Mix until creamy:
 1/2 c softened butter
1/2 c applesauce
1 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
(or a little less sugar never hurt)
 
Mix in:
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
 
In separate bowl combine:
2 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup coconut
 
Mix dry ingredients into wet and add
2 1/2 c oats
lots of dark chocolate chips
and maybe some white chocolate chips.
 
Cook at 350 for 10-12 minutes.
That was probably one of my favorite St. Patrick’s Days ever. :)
Especially with those cookies.
Hawai'i

March 16th, Saturday, birthday week

2 April 2013

To continue with the birthday week of festas, saturday morning we woke up after another sleepover party and had a grand crepe feast! Fresh fruit, nutella, and there were even eggs and bacon for some other peeps too, not for me. But nutella… I like that stuff. We had POG too (not to be confused with POGS.) POG is Passion Orange Guava juice, a classic here in Hawaii.

Okay, I loved that my roomies put this tent in the living room. Such fun. I love all these peeps.

And then I had an applied anthropology field trip to a Hawaiian heiau.

A heiau is an ancient Hawaiian, sacred ground, similar to our temples today. We did some archaeology work there with students from University of Hawaii.

We did some great traditional Hawaiian things. It was a spiritual experience.

The women wore ti leaves, for protection, and to stay fertile. :)

The drive home was beautiful. I love that here in Hawaii you just cruise around in the backs of trucks and it’s perfectly fine.

Later that day, I cruised around with my bike Charlotte.

Victoria, Keryna, and I pranced around in this magical field at sunset.

So many beautiful things.

I am so grateful for Charlotte. :)

And I’m grateful for Fijian curry. Okay, if you’re ever on the North Shore of O’ahu, go to Kahuku and go to the Fiji Market. Their curry and roti is so good. Mmm I want some now.

Then…. the Gardiner Sisters performed at a concert for Well Africa which was raising awareness about child labor in the cocoa plantations in the ivory coast.

My brand new leggings somehow ripped. Kind of a bumbummer. But it was such a great day!

I love festas and birthday week!!

Hawai'i

MARCH FIFTEENTH, Chelsea girl’s birthday

28 March 2013
I LOVE birthdays. Not just my own birthday, but anyone’s birthday. It’s a perfectly lovely reason to celebrate and make things excellent.
I started this friday morning early, smiling and excited for the day. I put on some animal print leggings and tie dye and was prepared for a walk on the beach.
Then we partook of a magically delicious crepe breakfast lovingly prepared by loving friends, Victoria, Alyssa, and Cherisse. It was delish. I was even presented with a birthday crown!
And as soon as I was done with class I went to the beach and wore said crown. :)
After beaching… came thrift storing!
We all left with some super great finds, which always accompanies a thrift store trip.
Mahalos to Cherisse, Alyssa, and the Cabrinha brothers!
And see that sweeeeet yellow vintage pyrex bowl? Stacy and Scott bought one at a thrift store, and I saw this one and of course wanted it, but thought it unreasonable. Especially since I head home for summer soon and I don’t really need it. Buuuut, dear Pono bought it for me. And I’ve been using it a lot ever since.
Then we came home and my other two roomies, Hailey (a super good oven s’more maker) and Taylor, were planning a little surprise camping trip! But it was raining, after they gave me (and Cherisse) birthday packpack backpacks, we had a movie party inside. Complete with a tent and concessions!
Cherisse’s birthday was two weeks before mine. We’re happy in our new thrift store sweaters and leggings! 
Matching leggings!
It was such a good night. 
We watched How to Train Your Dragon with a projector on the wall and had a big sleepover all over the floor. :) Fun times with some of my favorite kids!
I love birthdays. 
Hawai'i

March 14th, Pi Day, birthday week

28 March 2013

3.1415926535897932384
3-14… it was a great day.
After my super excellent peacebuilding class,
we headed to Hau’ula and hiked to Sacred Falls.

[I’m grateful for my iPhone, Gladys]
I love a good walk in my romper and with my backpack.
Twas beautiful. So nice to listen to the birds.
This must’ve been one big waterfall!
Tradition says that one of the ancient Hawaiian gods hid out in here or something.
I went with Alyssa and Taylor and her friend Brett.
presh. :)
The water was sooooo chilly willy and super deep and I was afraid of a Lochness monster.
I love a good Hawaiian jungle.
It was a great, easy little walk/hike, with no flash floods.

Farm.
PI day wouldn’t be the same without some time with these little math whizzes.
I opened my lovely birthday package from them. :)

And then came the Jurassic Park and Pumpkin Pie 

PI DAY CELEBRATION.

I made a couple pumpkin pies. It’s super easy.
And yes, the pie is really as big as it looks. ;)
We had lots of good peeps at our house party!
The pie was great. I love all of them! I love everyone.
And we watched JURASSIC PARK!
It was epic and so classic.
Hawai'i

March 13th, the commencement of my birthday week of festa!

28 March 2013
These two crazy twins are my good buddies.
We met here at BYUH in the fall of 2007.
We were all new little freshmen.
We had good times together.
And continue to do so.
Though these days it’s mostly via facetime.

On tuesday the 12th, we had a birthday dinner for Relief Society.
I was just so lucky to run in to Sister Krystal Jones as I was leaving!
We grew up together and she’s serving her mission out here.
It’s so nice to be able to visit her and talk about lovely mission things.
This picture was taken before she got transferred to the Big Island!
I’m glad I got to see her before she headed out!
On wednesday night after going to class and the temple, we went on a little adventure. By Kualoa Ranch there is a cool bunker and stuff and a ton of movie props inside. It was all quite reminiscent of Jurassic Park. :)
We even found bones inside. Eeee….
And some other cool props and movie posters.
And as are many places here on Oahu, this was too very well graffitied. 
I added a little C+C just for kicks. :)
To get to the top we had to climb lots and lots on these little ladders. 
It was a great night with great friends.
There are a ton of super cool things to do here on Oahu. 
There are lots of great people and lots of great food.
I think you can find those great things anywhere you are, 
but it’s just especially easy out here.
So grateful that I chose to study here at BYU-Hawaii.
Hawai'i

Prince Kuhio Day

27 March 2013

We had the day off today!
So we went to Lanikai beach in Kailua.
And then got açaí bowls and smoothies.
And then we did some great thrift store shopping. Good finds.
I love thrift stores.
I was with Alyssa, Luisa, Taylor, and Keryna.
I love those kids.

Then I wandered around and saw some whales in the ocean blue.

And then came spelunking!
Under Laie Point.
It was supa cool.

We got a crazy amount of beach glass!
Love it.

Did you notice I have a plumeria on my left ear? :)
I’m grateful for Prince Kuhio.
And all the lovely blessings I receive daily.
Hawai'i

I miss these little misses.

5 March 2013
I go to school on Oahu.
Some of my fam was visiting Maui.
So I went and played for an extended weekend.
It was the best ever.
Chris boy came too, and he took many fantastic fotos.
These two little girls are my sister Holly’s.
Natalie and Katy are my most favorite.
I want to beach with them more and more and more.
Hawai'i

a good aloha time

25 February 2013
My Chris boy just came out to visit for a couple weeks. 
Omg it was so good and so fun and so happy and so sunshiney 
and full of good food and beautiful things.

And at the beginning of the trip we were on Maui for 
a few days and I got to play with my nieces 
and mother and sister and brother in law and it was so so fantastic. 
I just might say it was the best weekend ever.
Hawai'i

This semester is great.

25 January 2013
I watch lots of sunrises.
visiting my friend Sister (Krystal) Jones at the temple visitor’s center
Meet ups with old friends and açaí bowls!
beach adventures with lovely neighbors/roomies
beach jaunts
explorations of Hawaiian ruins with old friends and new times
snowflake making and cookie giving
study funz with the roomies!

Hawai'i

back in Hawaii!

24 January 2013

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on
the blessed and happy state
of those that keep the commandments of God. 
For behold, they are blessed in ALL things,
both temporal and spiritual;
and if they hold out faithful to the end
they are received into heaven,
that thereby they may dwell with God
in a state of never-ending happiness. 
O remember, remember that
these things are true for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Mosiah 2:41

I’m back at BYU-Hawaii.
It is very wonderful.
Feels so great to be back.
Many good things to come.
Btw, I loooove my roomies and my neighbors.
Classes are great.
And Chris is coming to visit and play soon!
Alooooha.
Alaska

Snow happy!

4 January 2013

Today is such a beautiful day.
And it is snow fun playing outside with some of my favorite kids!

Alaska

It’s 2013.

2 January 2013

A new beginning is always nice.
Good things to come these next 365 days. Good things here right now actually. And oh the good things of the past year. More blogging to come soon hopefully.

Alaska

18 December 2012

It is so lovely to be home and with my most favorite family peeps again.
I love Christmastime.
There’s lots of good things all over the place everyday.

Lower 48

Alma 17:13

21 November 2012

And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken. (Book of Mormon, Alma, Chapter 17)

E aconteceu que, tendo chegado às fronteiras da terra dos lamanitas, separaram-se, confiando no Senhor que voltariam a reunir-se no fim de sua colheita; porque acreditavam que grande era a obra que haviam empreendido.

Y sucedió que cuando hubieron llegado a las fronteras de la tierra de los lamanitas, se separaron unos de otros, confiando en el Señor en que se volverían a reunir al fin de su cosecha; porque creían que la obra que habían emprendido era grande.

Both of my favorite twins are home!
And I’m here in AZ with them.

Lower 48

novembro

6 November 2012

This month is so very lovely because so many good souls are focusing on and sharing what they are thankful for.

Back in November 2009, I did a blog post everyday on what I was thankful for at the time. Now, many people are sharing their thoughts via Instagram and Facebook, me included, but I thought I’d come back to my blessed blog to talk about gratitude.

First of all, I don’t know what happened to me and why I became such a blogging bum. I guess a lot of it started with the illness and near death of my computer, Lucy. She’s still not well. I’ll need to buy a new one soon. And when I joined in the iPhone revolution, I also felt less need and desire to blog. Weird.

I like being able to look back and see all my thoughts and moments captured. Good times here with happychelsea.

Anyway… gratitude. Gratidão.
I’m happy when I’m grateful.
I’m grateful when I’m happy.

“”to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.””
-President Thomas S. Monson

Lower 48

Solimar Beach

29 October 2012

I loooove family beach day. :)
We tried surfing and it was so fun and funny. I love the ocean. And I love Stacy and Scott and my time here in California.

Water makes your whole body happy.

About Me

About Me

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." -Mother Theresa

Today is a good day

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