Thankful

Lately, I have been more and more thankful for everything that I have in life.  I have a family who cares about and loves me tremendously. I have a Husband who adores me and would move the world for me. I have friends who I love and care about where the feelings are mutual. I have a roof over my head every day and night. I have a job that helps pay the bills and allows me to live comfortably. 

I can't imagine why I wouldn't love my life at the moment. 

Life, I love you.  Thank you.

Extreme Couponing!

I am seriously inspired!  I've been wanting to catch this show for weeks and finally, I was able to see a few episodes this past weekend.  People getting thousands of dollars worth of groceries for only a couple of bucks.  Some people actually MADE money with their coupons!  Its so amazing!  It really just goes to show how much a little patience and dedication can do.  


What really inspired me were the people who got tons and tons of products that they would never need all of and donated them to charities, food banks, and many others that are in need.  It was very touching.  Sure, they can seem a little bit obsessed but can you really blame them?  I can't... I commend them!  Right now, they are my heroes!  :D


I started yesterday... with the Sunday newspaper.  There were some nifty coupons in there, but definitely not enough that could save me hundreds of dollars.  If you've got any ideas, tips, or suggestions, please send them my way!


This is going to be so much fun!!  

Touched

Before I go, let me share an article that truly touched me yesterday and that left me utterly speechless and nearly in tears. Bittersweet.

Prisoners Donating Money to Lakewood Families

(there is a video included on the link and may be more touching than just reading the article that I am about to cut and paste)

by ERIC WILKINSON / KING 5 News

Posted on December 15, 2009 at 6:13 PM

MONROE, Wash. - It's a cold and unforgiving place - a place you'd expect to find nothing but bitterness and hatred toward police. But at the Monroe State Reformatory, the heartless killings of four Lakewood police officers are softening even the most hardened criminals.

"The first thing that went through my mind was, 'oh no, not again'," said triple murderer Tony Wheat, who killed three gas station clerks during robberies 44 years ago and who is serving a life sentence at Monroe.

He's part of a prison organization called "Concerned Lifers" where those serving life terms try to mentor young convicts and keep them from reoffending. Wheat says the Lakewood killings shocked many inside the reformatory's walls.

"We thought, maybe it's about time we start showing some appreciation and concerns, and doing what little we can and show that even though we are removed from society, we are a part of it," he said.

Wheat and a small group of convicts, most of whom will never set foot outside the prison's walls, are now organizing a fund for the families of the Lakewood officers.

Lifer Herb Blumer earns less than 50 cents an hour making furniture for state offices. He wants to give all he can to the cause, realizing in a case like this it really is the thought that counts.

"I felt that this donation might be a message to let them know that we share their grief and we share their pain," he said.

Maurice Clemmons executed four Lakewood police officers as the say sipping coffee and going over reports earlier this month, leaving nine children without one of their parents.

Inmates say they want to honor the officers' families with donations, but also their legacies by making sure another Maurice Clemmons doesn't come out of Monroe.

Three-strikes felon Curtis Caton says there are plenty of prisoners who are indifferent or even happy about the Lakewood murders. And those are precisely the people he wants to get to donate to the cause.

"Then we can hopefully change them and say 'look, you don't want to be like that. There's a better life for you out there'," he said.

With lifetimes yet to serve in prison, these fundraisers have little to gain in their cause. They simply hope to help heal broken lives... and perhaps themselves as well.

"When that cell door closes on your cage at night, day after day, year after year, you think about the impact your crime had on the victims," said Blumer. "This is a way to seek redemption. It's a way to give back and atone for the things that you've done."

Touched.

As many of you may know (my FB friends), I flew back to Washington this past weekend to attend the Miss Washington USA 2010 pageant. My friend was one of the contestants and there was no way I would miss this moment in her life. Whats funny is that I usually would buy airline tickets last minute and not once have I bought it more than a week in advance. In this case though, I bought the ticket in early August and the event is mid-October. Now do you see how important this was to me?

Though she didn't win the title and crown, I know for a fact that she accomplished and deserved so much more than a crown and sash. Throughout this process, I've been inspired to be a better person and to follow my dreams. Not once had she ever doubted me and she never failed to give me words of encouragement trying to push me closer to what I want and what I believe in. That is exactly what friends are for and I am blessed to have such beautiful people in my life through it all.

I have a new outlook in life and have found many inspirations lately... wish me luck or not, its up to you. I don't really care for luck anymore nor will I sit here and question myself. I will just "do the damn thang" and by doing so, I will have my answers.

I am so PROUD!!

Mr. Yuong is not only a family friend of ours, but he was one of the most amazing teachers that I've ever had! I even became his T.A. for two semesters straight. ANDDDDDD... he was my Driver's Ed. teacher! LOL! It was so funny because in our driving group was Ranny, Ian (Korean), Trung, and I. He would make us feel so comfortable driving, yet taught us all how to drive. We're all GREAT drivers, I might add! HAHA! I remember one time he asked Ian if he knew what the bumps on the lanes were, and Ian said that it was for BLIND drivers! LMAO! WTF! My first time driving on the freeway, I took an exit and drove through an espresso stand and treated the group to some coffee. I didn't get in trouble... he NEEDED the coffee and so did we! I'm so proud to see this and trust me... this award is well earned and long overdue.

Talking to Ranny now... I think we're going to go visit him! Jenn will be stoked to hear this too because she also had classes with him.

Ahhhhhhh... I'm so happy for him!!

Star Struck...

After my Uncle's funeral last weekend, my Sister and I drove down to California VERY early the next morning. She had already missed a week of work and couldn't afford to miss any more. I helped drive a good 4 hours out of 19! LOL! I don't think she really trusted me with her car, but even she admit that she needed a break. :D

We got in early the next morning and pretty much spent most of the day recuperating in bed. The next morning, I had to be at the airport by 5 something am since my plane was leaving to come home at 7am. Yes, it was a VERY short "trip", if that, but I didn't want to leave my Parents at home by themselves for too long after all that they've been through.

While waiting for my flight, I noticed Somaly Mam there! Of course my bold ass went up to her to say hello! Surprisingly, she had heard about me! I'm guessing its through Ranny since she recently met her in Cambodia and I was the one who suggested her foundation to Ranns when she was trying to figure out which charity to work for. Chit chatted with her for a little while... then she gave me her card and told me to contact her! Ahhh... I know she probably gives the card out to everyone she meets, but I still felt special! :D She's so sweet and even more inspiring in person!

Barely slept on my plane ride because JetBlue is the worst airline I've ever flown with... and I've flown on quite a bit of different airlines. Got to SeaTac airport and I heard someone yell out my name. It was Nara, her Mom, her Sister, and her niece (the one who has a love/hate relationship with me). They were flying to LB for a week and were just about to hop on the plane I just got off of. Hopefully their flight was better than mine. I'm going to believe that it was just the morning turbulence caused by the morning clouds? Haha... okay whatever.

Parents picked me up and since we were already there... we had some Dim Sum in the morning. Yum! It was nice to sit down and actually talk to my parents for the first time in weeks. They'd been so busy with much on their minds. Damn... I love them.