High Five for Friday!

Linking up with Lauren this week for High Five for Friday.
{"it's a chance to reflect on your week and remember some (five, to be exact) of your favorite things about it."}

1. I am really enjoying yoga lately. I have some minor back problems and yoga really does the trick. But i've also been sleeping horribly too and apparently yoga is a pretty good healer of this. So far so good. Plus it's a nice break in my day. Ya know, away from school and social media. I'd really like to learn the hard/badass poses! I've always been flexible but yoga makes me realize how much strength you really need in your core to do some of these poses and that it just takes time and practice for your body to lengthen and become more flexible. I am so intrigued with it. It's a constant work in progress. For now, these are poses I am pretty proud of:

camel pose

standing forward bend

the michabella pose

namaste


2. This week I tried the Limited Edition Red Bull's, Cranberry (red) and Blueberry (purple/blue). Totally digging the taste of them! I am kind of picky when it comes to energy drinks, so it's a pretty big deal in my book. These flavored ones better stick around or I am writing a nasty letter to Red Bull headquarters..... :D

And yes, I am aware energy drinks are horrible. I don't drink them that often.


3. I love me some maxi dresses! They're just super easy, especially when you live the island life. It's my way of dressing up. I recently bought a couple from Forever 21- super cute and awesomely priced! One and two. You're welcome.

4. After about 5 days of rain, it was so nice to see some sun!!! Jax and I were pretty pumped so we took a long morning stroll. It was still kind of cloudy so you can't fully see the mountains in the picture. I love this view from our neighborhood so much. After coming from pretty much living my whole life in Florida, I can't ever get over the hills and mountains! Gorgeous.

5. This boy... I'd be absolutely miserable without him to keep me company all day.

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Hubby and I are off to an Easter service tonight since I have to nanny all weekend. We are making a date night out of it with some fro-yo afterwards. What a lovely evening its bound to be!

Hope you all have an enjoyable Easter weekend!

Christ is Risen!!

Healthy Cookies

Due to this crappy Hawaii weather, I have been eating like crap. Whatever. I had a major sweet tooth craving last night but knew I needed to quit fattening myself up with junk. Thus I went to my favorite food blog. Score! These cookies have only two healthy ingredients!! Of course, I added some chocolate to it because you know, chocolate is good for the endorphins. So it's still healthy.

Healthy Cookies

adapted from Skinnytaste

Makes 10-12 cookies

 I brought out my fanciest plates, just for this post.

 

Ingredients:

• 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup of uncooked quick oats* 

optional- add chocolate chips, cinnamon, walnuts. I added chocolate chip shavings and 1 tsp of cinnamon.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  Spray a non-stick cookie sheet with cooking spray.

2. Combine the mashed bananas and oats in a bowl 

(and cinnamon, if you choose to use some).

3. Fold in whatever you choose to add to the recipe and place a tablespoon of each on the cookie sheet.

4. Bake 15 minutes. Eat & enjoy!

*For my gluten free peeps, use gluten free oats such as Bob's Red Mill quick oats.

Sweet craving cured.

POTW- Vitamins!

This week's Product of The Week is:

Vitafusion MultiVites

aka- the damn best gummy vitamins in the entire world.

"Vitafusion MultiVites provide an essential daily formula in a delicious gummy vitamin. They are specially formulated for adults and contain only natural, award winning flavors. They are the nutritious and delicious alternative." 

I have never really bothered to take vitamins. I hate pill popping. 1. I can never remember to take them. 2. I am lazy. 3. Pills just annoy me. I only take them if I absolutely must.

Well, I finally came around. I started taking women vitamins and amino acids while I was working out hardcore back in FL. Amongst the marriage and the move to Hawaii I slacked off and went away from taking those completely.  UNTIL... I found these gems. I saw them at the house I nanny for and so I decided to try them. AMAZING! Like I previously stated, the best gummy vitamins in the entire world. NO NASTY AFTER TASTE. (Flinstone gummy vitamins leave you with the nastiest after taste). I was sold. I take them just about every day now! Woo-hoo, I'm a big kid now!

What vitamins do you take daily? Suggest any?

A Blog Makeover

WELCOME TO MY NEWLY DESIGNED BLOG, MICHABELLA'S COFFEEHOUSE!

A huge thank you to Aubrey of The Kinch Life Designs . I am so in awe with how amazing my blog design turned out! I left it all in Aubrey's hands and boy did she deliver! Y'all she is amazing and was oh so fabulous and easy to work with.

This blog makeover was so needed. In life we are always changing, so it's only right that my blog would get a change too!

Why Michabella's Coffeehouse? I love coffee and the feel of coffee shops. I also think reading blogs and a hot cup of jo go hand in hand, at least they do for me! So I thought I'd incorporate that feel here in my lil corner of the blog world! 

Oh, and I have my own domain name too!!! michabella.com

#officiallylegit

xoxo.

Sunday Currently

GO BUCKEYES!

reading The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. Amazing. An oldie but a goodie. Thanks to Janna for suggesting it. It's a book I feel every woman should read. I will probably read this book multiple times, it's full of goodness and truth. 

writing the Hubs and I's Hawaii bucket list. It was fun!

listening to lots and lots of rain. Ya, it's been raining all day. Yuck.

thinking about how excited I am for my parents to come here! And trying to plan out our trip home, and possibly getting a gun during that time! Woop!

smelling Just got back from the hair salon! Besides the lovely scalp massage when they shampoo your hair, the smell (and feel) of my hair after is always my favorite! 

wishing my husband's truck would quit having problems. Ugh. Luckily it's paid off so we shouldn't complain but it's a pain the a.

hoping I don't lose my sanity this week. Lots of 12 hour nanny days ahead of me.

wearing a color I love love love. OPI's Mod About You. Unfortunately, it's pretty much ruined due to a random even this weekend...mudding.

loving my hair. It's growing and I can finally notice it!

wanting all kinds of comfort food, but we are trying to eat healthy around here. Rainy, gloomy days always get me that way. I also really wanted coffee for dessert instead of the tea I am drinking in the picture above. It was too late into the evening. 

needing to do some yoga, it's so good for my back.

feeling content. We had a nice weekend together which was much needed.

clicking through bloglovin; a new blog I adore; downloading this cute freebie.

That one time...

...I hung out with seals!!!!!!!

My husband does his Army PT at this beach by our house ocassionally. He always ends up sending me pictures and talking about the seals that are beached there. I get so jealous, I want the chance to see them dangit! I have a huge heart for animals and I think seals are just one of the cutest sea animals, besides penguins!

Well what do ya know?! 

On my first trip to this beach I was graced with seeing Hawaiian Monk Seals! A pregnant mommy and her cub. Little did I know that they are endangered. I feel like every animal is endangered these days?! 

They were roped off but you could get super close to them. It was awesome! My friend and I made sure to sit as close as possible, we were so thrilled to see them cuties!

They oddly reminded me of Jax. The only movements they made were to sneeze, itch or shift from one sleep spot to another. A dogs life.

I really wanted to seem them do something! Thus after waiting a couple hours, the baby seal didn't disappoint. He decided to get up close and personal and take a lil swim. He actually looked like he was showing off for the camera and wanted to play! 

Besides seeing the seals, I actually really liked this beach. Full of locals, surfers, military. Felt like a Florida East Coast beach...home. It won't be my last visit, that's for sure!

I guess living here isn't too bad sometimes ;)

Next, I'd like to get up close and personal with some sea turtles!!

Book Club?

So I mentioned the other week about putting together a book club. A few people were interested and confessed that they are bookworms too! #bookwormsunite Anyway, I am familiar with a couple other blogger book clubs out there, but I don't really like them (no offense) so I thought I would do my own here in my space, with vlogs too!! 

Feel free to link up with me. I am going to do it no matter if it's just me, the link up is open to those who would like to join in. I haven't decided if I am going to do every Friday or once a month (first or last Friday). Thoughts on that? 

The first book club post will be next Friday, March 29. 

I'll be posting a vlog and talk about what I am currently reading. 

Hope you join me!

xoxo.

Hawaiian Herilooms

"Hawaiian Heirloom Jewelry's history dates back to England during the Victorian Era, when Queen Kapiolani and Princess Liliuokalani attended Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887. At the Jubilee they were presented with precious solid gold bracelets, with their names cut out in Old English Lettering filled with black enamel. The Queen and the Princess were so enraptured with their unique gifts that they had similar bracelets made for other Royal members upon their return to Hawaii. Thus, a legacy was created and it lives on today, stronger than ever. Hawaiian jewelry is often given to celebrate milestones; birthdays, graduations, weddings and anniversaries,  an heirloom that is passed on from generation to generation" -Royal Hawaiian Jewelry

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When I worked at a local mall here, I worked among locals. I remember loving one of the ladies bracelets. She had about 4 different ones. They were beautiful and there was special meaning or moment behind each. Some were given to her by her parents and then special occasion gifts. I think it's so special to pass on gifts to your future children and their future children...etc. I wish my mom would have done that with me and my sister. Thus, my opportunity to start something new for my family and hopefully for generations to come.

 So, I've been wanting something for awhile now. I wanted a piece of Hawaii. A piece that I can take with me and remind me of my adventure on this island. Something that could in the future be passed on to my daughter, should I be blessed with one (and hopefully she has small fingers or wrists like me). 

Since money isn't growing on trees in the Ward house, I had to settle with something among our budget. I love silver. So, I went with a beautiful Princess Scroll ring from Makani Hawaii Jewelry. The picture doesn't show all the beautiful detailing in the ring, but it is so gorgeous and it just makes me smile so big (as if I don't have a big enough smile, right?? lol).

*I do hope to get a gold bracelet before leaving this island. 

Husband if you are reading this-hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge.*

What heirlooms have been passed down in your family? 

Do you plan to pass on anything to your children?

i love products

Aloha!

There's no denying my love for products. Home, beauty, hair, dog, etc. Lately it's been hair products, as I am trying to grow the mane out. It's a beastly process. I am constantly fighting the "cut your hair short" demon and boredom with it. I am just really trying to grow it out while keeping it healthy and strong. I miss these locks:

{2005}


Aly of Analyze This use to do Product of the Week posts so I thought I would bring it back to life because I love sharing, as well as finding, great products!

My current favorite Hair Products:

Shampoo/Conditioner- Pureology Hydrate. It's done wonders on my hair! Worth the money.

Dry Shampoo- Suave Professionals. Cheap & Awesome. It's a win-win.

I only wash my hair every 3-4 days so dry shampoo has been a life changer for me. It's also great for adding some extra pizazz to my flat volumeless hair.
(Thanks to Promise Tangeman for that tip. I have a serious love for that girl and her voluptuous hair!)


Moroccan Oil- Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil. I always make tell my husband to feel my hair after putting this oil in. So silky!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HAIR PRODUCTS?


ps- Who else is loving Justin Timerblake's new cd?!?! It's so different. #myteenagecrush

tuesday reflections

Wknd Shenanigans

{Jet, set, go}


Hey hey hey! 

In short, my visit home was lovely and much needed. I didn't realize how bad my island fever was. 7 months is way too long, idk how people live here! Anyway, I got to eat all the food Hawaii doesn't have and I had the privilege of attending two weddings in one day. Both were beautiful. I love celebrating love. Would've rather had my boys with me though, I missed them dearly. Funny how that works, ya? Some days you itch to get away from them and then the moment you leave you are miserable. Husband confessed to implanting me with some device to cause this disturbance. He would. Crazy man. Save Me.

Linking up for the first time with Sami's Shenanigans!

+ I spent my Friday brainstorming the complete re-do of the ol blog. I am stoked. I am working with a super talented, super amazing blog designer and because of that it will probably take a month til the reveal. Get excited y'all. This girl is making a come back!!!!!

+ In case you haven't heard, Google Reader is dying. I'm on Bloglovin, which I am mad that I have just now decided to join. I like it much better.

+ I have finally finished brainstorming tattoo #9. This one is going to be a pretty big deal and one of my favorites probably. I can't wait to get it, yet I have to wait. Money doesn't grow on trees and I am still pretty nervous about the location and visibility of this one. Let's just say it involves roses, a bible verse, and my forearm. Eeek!

+ Jax and I got our yoga on this past Friday. I am trying to do more of this (and at home workouts), even though it (yoga) bores the crap outta me. It's just so good for my aging body.

Downward dog? I mean....how hilarious is that?! He loves that mat. LOVE.


+ I'm not sure if I have shared this on here or not, but I am a part time nanny to two adorable Hawaiian 1 year old twins. They are a handful. I had no clue what it really was like to have children. My mind has been scarred opened and my baby fever cured... for the time being. I love them like they are my own. My favorite things: laughs, giggles, cuddles. Anyway, I spend my weekend with these kiddos. I went to bed early, woke up way too early, and thus I am sleep deprived. It's 7pm Sunday night as I write this and I am aching for my bed. If you have children, consider me awed, you supermom you!

 {peace}


+ My lilies bloomed! They are beautiful.

+ Ended the weekend with this. I hadn't seen a rainbow in awhile. Made me smile.

+ How handsome is he?? Love my Soldier.

Cheers from the Rainbow State!

How was your weekend??

Homeward Bound

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I AM HEADED HOME FOR A VISIT!!!!

Oh friends, I cannot express how excited I am to see my family... and to get off this island (hello island fever!) I hope to take time to savor every moment with family and friends. And Chicfila, Chipotle, Sonic, Publix, Steak n Shake. Yup. #ilovefood

Also, I just want to let y'all know how thankful I am for each and every one of you. I read your blogs every day, I promise! I just don't always comment! #donthateme

Have a wonderful week friends!!! 

xoxo.