Today I finally got the birthday dessert that I didn't get last week. My favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting. The Squab & his friend wanted to cook something, but didn't know what. So I handed them the box mix & can of frosting that I bought for myself but never had a chance to make & said "have at it." I informed them that I had intended to make cupcakes, but if they wanted to go full cake it was fine with me. The following pics (are terribly blurry) are the "cake" that they made me. The Squab decorated it himself & the Chicken joined him in singing to me. ***I asked them to sing one of our favorite songs that I used to sing to them all the time. It's a non-traditional standard that some of you may not be familiar with. It starts like this..."Comet, will make your mouth turn green..." It tickled me so that they did it willingly, without hesitation or protest. I love them so.*** I have to say, this was one of the best birthday cakes I've ever had. Not just because there were no leftovers (because you can't count the cupcakes), but because I know it was made with lots of love & laughter. Sorry I couldn't share it with you, I know you would have loved it.
Aloha hugs until next time, -Clare ****Warning this post is about an extremely personal & emotional subject for me, that may be too upsetting to some people. It also contains some disturbing pictures. Read at your own discretion.****
On this day, oh so many years ago I was born. And the universe shuddered in anticipation of all the amazing things I would do & all the greatness I would inspire. (If you're unsure of this, read my post from August 1st & 2nd.) Yes, it is my birthday. Yes, I have survived much. Yes, I am extremely blessed & grateful. Yes I love bubbles, cawfee, rainbows & gruesome Halloween decorations. Yes, I am strange, but it seems to work for me so I don't think I'll change me much. Anyway, in honor of my birthday, I have a request of you. Yup, I'd like you to do me a favor & take five minutes today to just be. Be quiet. Be mindful of the world around you. Be appreciative of those people who make your life better. Be kind, patient, loving, understanding, generous. Be aware of all the beauty this world has to offer & find just one thing in your day that brings you even the tiniest bit of joy. Then do something for someone else that might bring them a little bit of joy. You'd be surprised how incredibly wonderful a smile from a stranger can make someone feel. To start you off I've provided you with a little inspiration in the form of a picture of the amazing dinner The Squab made for me last night. Now go out there, be fabulous, enjoy something & share some joy with others. If you feel like it, pop back over here when your done & share your joy. You never know who you might inspire with it.
Mahalo & Aloha, -Clare ****Warning this post is about an extremely personal & emotional subject for me, that may be too upsetting to some people. I'm not kidding, it took so much out of me to write it & I may have short circuited my keyboard with tears. Read at your own discretion.****
I just wanted to mention that there will be some changes coming to the website in the next few weeks or so. Not to worry, I won't be selling radioactive confetti or anything strange like milk.
Nope, just my randomly annual change it all up because I'm occasionally a chameleon. So, if you have any suggestions on content you'd like to see or things you think I can do better here, please let me know. Because now is the time for change; the ice cream man still charges a reasonable amount for his product, so the change will actually get used! Aloha hugs until later, -Clare
I'm sure you've all heard the saying "cancer sucks" & it's true. Especially when it hits close to home, as it has with so many of us.
My own ohana has been had many brushes with cancer (both my own & the Stork's sides). Some have had blessedly happy outcomes & others the absolute worst. Anyway I want you to take the time, if you would to check out the fundraising campaign I have linked below.
Now I don't really know Staci, I think I may have met her once, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is that she is important. Not just because she is a young mama who deserves a chance to see her kids grow up. Not just because she has an incredible tribe of family & friends who love her.
Staci is important, because we all are. Because she matters to someone & because none of us know what amazing things she can & will do when she beats this. It's our job as humans, to help whenever & wherever we can. So I'm asking you to take a few minutes, check out the campaign, help if you can & SHARE IT. And even if you can't help this campaign, I encourage you to try to find one you can. Or maybe stop & help a neighbor. Just go out & be the beautiful caring human I know you are. Mahalo my luvs! Aloha, -Clare Remember my previous post, where I talked about flooding Facebook with positivity from our own lives? (No? Read it here.) Anyway, I fully intend to keep that up, just not on a daily basis, because let's face it, I have issues. So here is my next "positive" pic. Aloha m'luvs! This is one of the scars from my recent knee surgery (from my p.o.v.). Healing nicely & looking like a butterfly ("because a dragonfly's body would be longer" <<< says my argument with the Stork because my boys don't know the difference). Have I mentioned yet that I love my orthopedic surgeon? Call me strange for loving this, I'm damned proud.
Zach is home, but not out of the woods yet. He still has a long road ahead. Check out the GoFundMe campaign to donate & see more updates.
Aloha & Mahalo to those who have shared, donated & prayed, please keep it up!
Aloha my loves,
This will be a quick post to ask for your love & generosity to be shared with some dear friends of mine. Their son was recently in an accident & is currently in the hospital. I'm trying to help in every way I can, but am not even in the same state. So we've (there is a group of us from high school) set up a GoFundMe campaign to help them with any expenses they might have while they are on this journey. The link is below & I ask that if you can't donate, please comment with some encouraging words & support. And share this with everyone you know. Here's the link in case the widget doesn't load right away. Mahalo, -Clare Yup, I'm now officially on Twitter. Be afraid, be mildly afraid. But still follow me, because I'm just learning & insecure about my place at the cool kids' table.
Notice I added the Twitter button at the top right? Proud of myself, I am. Figured that part out all on my own. So I'm @StuffedwAloha. Check me out! Aloha hugs until I figure it all out, ~Clare ...in a land called California, the mother of me was born! Yes folks that's right, November 4th is not just election day in the good ol' U S of A. It is a milestone in history, because one of the creators of one of the creators of the Squab & Chicken entered the world.
It was one year ago today that my father-in-law passed away. It was a devastating time for my ohana, but we got through it. And one year later, as difficult as it has been at times, we're still here, moving forward, living, growing & smiling. So much has changed in a year. My mother-in-law & almost all of the rest of the Stork's side of the ohana have moved to Texas. The Squab is driving. The Chicken is in his last year of middle school. My dad has moved here... A lot of changes. For some reason, this song has been running through my mind all day, so I'll see if I can get this to work. Not sure I can embed the video, so if anything I'll post a YouTube link. Cross your fingers. Well, if that doesn't work, I apologize. The ability to embed video is a premium feature I don't have right now. ;)
Anyway, just wanted to pop in & say...Hi, I'm still here. Aloha hugs until later, ~Clare |
More about "ME"Aloha my name is Clare! My main job title is Mom, but I'm also an artist, crafter, avid experimental cook & occasional rabid baker. I live in Idaho with my husband & two sons (the "we" or "us" part of this website), but was raised in Hawaii. Feel free to explore our pages as we grow & change. Mahalo! (Thank you) Categories
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