New Years Resolution

Last year my New Years Resolution was to do 1 thing new each month. I did a really good job at the start of the year and then I kind of lost focus, but I was able to pull it together.

January

Danced at a new nightclub called Trinity

February

Vacationed in Mexico

March

Photographed the birth of Rylie Maluhia

April

Judged a grilled cheese contest in Spokane.

May

Photographed my first destination wedding in Chicago

June

Created a Baseball Tour for Cassie and I and watched baseball at the Dodgers and Angels stadium

July

Watched baseball in San Diego and in San Francisco (Giants)

August

Voted to strike and then walked the picket line for a better education of my students.

September

Ran/Walked in my first 5k race as an adult in Bellingham with Becker

October

Went to Notre Dame and watched the football team play UW

November

Celebrated "A" day and went to Apple Cup

Attended Ia Oe E Ka La in Oakland, Ca and Emily’s wedding in San Francisco

December

Road the Link Light Rail into Seattle and went shopping for Christmas Presents

This coming year I have one, but I'm not going to share now!

Break Goals Update

Over break my goal was to work on my photography and some website things.

The photography part was easy. I loved having my camera back in my hands and being able to capture the images of the season. I also worked on uploading them to my mac and worked on getting accustomed to the new editing features offered.

But working on the websites and trying to figure out where I wanted my business to go over the next few years was a bit overwhelming. It seemed that after I made one decision, then another angle would present itself or I would then have to go back and make changes to things I had already done to make everything work together.

I was hoping to have it all done by the end of my winter break, but it's not really ready for public consumption yet. I need to make sure that all the different sites/blogs are created to really showcase Chock'ful of Life Photography and are unified in their looks and design.

Therefore there is no big unveiling today, but hopefully it will be soon.

Break Goals

This break I've decided to focus on my photography. My goal is to take my camera every where I go (kind of like when I first got it) and take at least 4-5 pictures a day of just the simple things. It doesn't have to be big or anything. I want to capture the everyday things as well as the events that will happen over break.

I also will be working on fixing up my business blog and hope to go live right around New Years.

So here's how the goal is going so far...

My hula sisters took the opportunity to try a new way of grooming and came to Kent to get their eyebrows threaded.

I shared some christmas cheer with others when I stopped wrapping presents to go and help a stupid car not be stupid any more. I soooo hate dealing with cars!!!! (Oh-and guess what, that lovely mechanic that rotated my tires and didn't tell me that one of them was bald hasn't called me about the part that he ordered for me that I should have been over 2 months ago now!)

Cassie and I took the Link to downtown Seattle to finish up my shopping. It was super nice not to have to worry about traffic or parking once we got down there. We caught the train right at the airport and 8 stops later we were right under the Westlake Mall. I would recommend going this way to everyone I speak to. It was so nice and only cost $5 round trip! I would have paid more than that in gas alone.

So far so goood!!!!

2009 Recipe

Took a little time today to read this forward and although I hate passing these things along. I thought this was a good one to do so on. I am going to start using the recipe and have even printed it off to go on my bathroom mirror, so I can read it every day.

Great Recipe for a peace-filled life……

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk (run) every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, and walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.

My Dad and Me

He is such an amazing person and has overcome so many odds, although you would never guess this by looking at him and the man that he is today. He continues to better himself each day as he practices his ukulele skills, cooking skills, and not getting picked on skills. I am so proud he is my dad that I even took him to be my show-n-tell in second grade and would greatly appreciate his help and presence in my own classroom today. You know, I haven't seen his beautifully hand-made Ms.Chock's Dad shirt, yet.
My dad and I have been working hard on the same goal for the past few years and as we continue to make small success in achieving this goal, we are constantly pushing each other to keep going and not fall down. He tells me that I'm his role model in achieving this goal, yet I would say that he has been a role model for me in my life.
Presented below are images that have captured our progress throughout the process of achieving our goal.

The Before:
Wedding in May of `04
Spokane in June of `04
Christmas in Montana and at my parents `04 In the process: Kalae and Bil Wedding, June `05

My Birthday Jan '06

Family Day in Seattle Feb`06
Lovefest in Moses Lake August `07

The Present:Easter March `08

Spokane May `08

New Updates

I am home and have spent a fair amount of time updating my blog, please check it out. You will have to look at older posts to see them all. They are all not uploading on the first page.

Also check out Capturing My World, there is new stuff there as well.

Goals for Spokance Vacataion:
1. Practice hula- check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check
2. Read a new photography book-read two, finishing the third
3. Workout 4 times- accomplished it three times, missed the fourth
4. Morning mass-went once, was hard without transportation, but will do better next time.
5. Complete
6. Continue to complete each day.

All in all I think I did a great job.

Daily Update

For the weekend:
1. Practice hula- check, check
2. Read a new photography book-read one, working on a second
3. Workout 4 times- still need three more times
4. Morning mass-check
5. Complete
6. Continue to complete each day.

It has been snowing here continually. It doesn't really work well with open-toe shoes or shoes with no backs. Needless too say, I've had some pretty wet feet and socks.

Daily Update

1. Practice hula for half hour -check
2. Read a new photo book- finished fic. now will move to photo book.
3. Workout- check
4. Morning mass-check
5. Completed
6. Completed, but will continue to do.

Goal Update

Daily Update:

1. Practice hula for a half hour -check
2. Read a new photography book-haven't gotten to it yet, but have two that are waiting to be read. I am in the middle of Tied To The Tracks by Rosina Lippi right now. hope to start the photo books tomorrow or the next day.
3. Workout 4 times- will do it tomorrow, pushing Leia home from church through snow uphill both ways.
4. Morning Mass every morning- missed it today, 0 for 1 right now
5. Christmas Cards start and finish-check. Packages labeled and awaiting stamps.
6. Play with my niece-check. All day! Dad and Mom, I know your so "J" Get to watch her tomorrow as well.