Instant Mommie Tip: Faux Infinity Scarf

I love Infinity Scarfs.  They are super versatile and less fuss than regular scarfs. Today I just wanted to share a link to a post that Jody from Homey Home Design posted last month.

She shared how to make a faux infinity scarf that is ingenious - one of those, "why didn't I think of that?" moments crossed my mind when reading it!

Whenever I find a dual purpose for an item I get so excited.  Hello time saver, money saver, space saver - and the list goes on!  Without further ado... 

Please enjoy her post:

click here for the post

Happy Easter Printable

I just found the power of color palettes and color pickers.  Can you say, new favorite thing ever!  I'm pretty sure I'm late to the game, but thats okay.  Better late, then never - right?

I made a super cute little Easter bag topper for my design store Ewa Makai on Storenvy (if you didn't know, Easter is NEXT month, March 31st) - and decided to make a free matching 8x10" printable for all my lovely readers.

You are going to love this printable because the colors are fresh and it is super simple.  Snatch this printable up to add to your Easter decor and update your Easter mantel.  Click on the picture, then right click and save the image to your computer.

I hope you enjoy it!  I really love making these printables - for the simple fact that it is affordable and adorable decor that doesn't take a lot of money, which is precious for this momma!  It is a fight (for our family) to be good stewards of our money.

If you'd like the matching {personalized} bag topper, click here!

take care, aukele

Definition of a Mother {shop printable}

I was inspired to make this printable after writing yesterday's post about wanting to be like my mom (when I grow up!).

This would be a great printable for you to get and frame to give to the mom(s) in your life for Mother's Day ... or just because.  Paired with a frame from a thrift store, dollar store or even Walmart - you could give a sweet and thoughtful gift for under $5.

The printable is only $2 and will be emailed to you in a jpeg format.  You could even send it to your local photo shop to print if you wanted to!

Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend :)  Take care, and go hug your moms!!

-aukele

I Hope I Can Be as Good of a Mom as you are, Mom!

source

This vacation I was blessed to spend two days with my amazing and incredible Mom.  Words cannot describe the love she has in her heart for me, her daughter. 

Though I am a motherly figure for CJ, I am not a birth mom.  Sometimes I play down my loving and caring attributes because of this; and when I think about the future, and becoming a "real" mom - my only hope is to be able to be just like her.  

Her love for me is so complete - it is so closest thing to feeling what God's love is like.  She is incredibly giving - even when she has nothing.  My mom is a selfless mom.  She always, always puts me first and sacrificed hard for my happiness while growing up.  She supports me, helps me, guides me, protects me, has fun with me, cooks with me ... and the list goes on.  Even when I let her down, she is still there - she has faith in me, she believes in me - my number one cheerleader!

Mom grew up with five other siblings - and being one of two girls, she and her sister "took care" of the boys.  She learned to be selfless at a young age.  While I am an only child.  Though I was a typical "only child" in certain aspects - most of my family says that I have a big heart and a big love for family.  That gives me hope in emulating my mom one day as a mother myself.

Being with her these past two days makes me want to be a better woman. "I want to be just like her when I grow up." I remember on Tuesday, while driving from home from shopping and lunch - we were talking about  children going to church.  I haven't been consistent in going to church and truly living a life with Christ in the center for a while - and I thought to myself that I need to get it together for my children.  Just as my mom is an amazing example for me, I would need to be the same for them.

I've always told my mom that I am so lucky to have her as my mom - and I 100% believe that, I can only hope that my children will think of me in the same way one day.

I love you Mom! :-)

St. Paddy's Day Printables

As a kid I was never a big St. Patrick's day person, but as I became of age I would entice my dad by joining in the festivities.  He loved to go to the block party downtown, and I'd be his date!

Now a days I rarely go to the block party, but I do like to make it fun for our lil guy!  So - here is an 8x10" printable for you to use! Add a lil green to your life...

Vacation :-)

AAALLLLOOOOHHHHAAAA!!!

Man it feels so good to be on vacation :-).  The last time I took a full week off was in May 2011, so this, my friends (as I said in my last post), is way over due!   This week I plan on spending some QT with my mom and also really working on this blog, a new blog I have started working on (it isn't live yet), and my salt shop.

instagram from today @ Nimitz beach with my cousin

Its Aloha Friday

Hi Everyone!

Hope your love days were full of hugs and kisses and fulfilled wishes!!

Super excited today, since once 5pm hits I am officially on vacation!! I'm' taking a full, straight week off of work, which I haven't done since May 2011.  WAY OVERDUE YOU THINK??

Today I just wanted to share a new, CHEAP printable, featuring the scripture Jeremiah 29:11, in my design shop on Storenvy.

The full printable does not include the white border and background - I was attempting the frame effect, which I will get better at.  I love scripture printables, they are an easy way to help us busy moms get some WORD in us when life accidentally gets in the way.

This bad boy can be sent straight to your email for your printing pleasure for $2.  So go get right this second... go on now.

Hope you all have a happy Aloha Friday :-) ... Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

from our family to yours...

...we hope you have an amazing day filled with love!

Valentine's Dinner for your Man

Today I'm posting my final Valentine's dinner idea -

This dinner menu is inspired by my Valentine!  His favorite thing in the world of burgers - and while that may not seem "romantic" - its the way to MY man's heart!  Of course we're going to spice it up for the special occasion.

I searched the web for the "best pan fried burger" - and am satisfied with this bad boy from the Stone E Soup.

I can't wait to try the dry heat and salt method.  I'm going to use some of Mr.'s favorite toppings like bacon and Tillamook cheddar, red onion slices and some peppery arugula with a spicy mayo (I'm thinking sriracha since he puts it on everything).  Now - I would prefer some good 'ol sweet potato fries, but the man would beg to differ. 

Valentine's Day Round Up

So... we made it through Monday! :-)  Hope your Monday evening/night is relaxing.

So if you didn't know, Valentine's Day is just a few days away - and I know there are quite a few procrastinators out there, many times I'm definitely one of them!  So today I figured I'd do a round up of Valentine posts posted here at Instant Mommie.

Please enjoy.

Featured Printables from Plum Adorable

Featured 3D Cards from eighteen25 and The Frugal Girls

Sunday Social - Childhood Days

It is that time of the week again!!

1. What was your first car? 

1992 Navy Blue Buick LeSabre (miss that big girl!)

2. Who was your favorite childhood teacher? 

Mrs. Sproat (4th Grade Teacher) - she stopped teaching a few years after our class to open up an Urban clothing store.  I actually just ran into her tonight at Walmart.  Always great to catch up with her.

3. Were you involved in any sports/extracurricular activities? 

I was definitely involved in performing arts (drama, choir, band) since I was a little girl all the way through high school.  When I was in 6th grade I started playing volleyball and was a setter and defensive specialist (and a MEAN server!)

 

4. What was your favorite birthday party? 

My mom did a really great job at surprising me for my 15th birthday.  The sad thing is that there were so many hints and a couple of flubs on a friend's sister's part - but I was totally oblivious!  My mom got me a karaoke room with a bunch of snacks and my closest friends.  We had a great time.  She knows me well!

5. Who was your teen celebrity crush?

Hands down, Justin Timberlake

(so much so I didn't like Britney Spears for a while - and even Cameron Diaz, lol!)

6. What show/movie did your parents not allow you to watch? 

Mom didn't like for me to watch a lot of shows that I would watch when she wasn't around - but one that comes to mind that she really despised was Married with Children.

Valentine Dinner Menu #2

Happy Aloha Friday everyone -

What a week it has been. Seriously. I've been pulling so many late nights at the office, helping Mr.'s sister do her taxes - I cannot wait for the weekend. Valentine's Day is only 6 days away and so I figured I would share another Valentine Dinner Idea.  Say hello to Crockpot Roast Chicken (with a bonus chicken stock recipe included) from the lovely Lisa at 100 Days of Real Food.  Partnering up with some winter Honey Roasted Root Vegetables adapted by Tina at Carrots n Cake.  And finishing out the meal is this incredible and gorgeous (might I add) Strawberry Pudding from Christina at Dessert for Two (by the way - I just happened to stumble on this site through Pinterest - but come on this is the perfect site for me in so many ways!).

To get this meal started, go ahead and (as in the previous post - start with dessert first). Do you see a trend! These menus are put together with the busy momma (or dad) in mind! You can make the Strawberry Pudding the night before and then garnish it with whipped cream (homemade or bought) right before serving.

The next day, wake up a little early, and start your Crockpot Roast Chicken before going about your daily business (or in my case, work). If you have qualms about leaving the crockpot on while your away - I highly suggest you googling a gazillion people who leave their crockpots on low all day while they are at work (I'm one of them) - and everything is just fine.

Lastly, when you get home (or closer to dinner time) pop the Honey Roasted Root Vegetables into the oven and then while they are cooking, take a quick shower and get a little dressed up for the night! :)

I hope you're enjoying these menu ideas.  Please feel free to comment or send ideas my way! :)

Valentine's Dinner Menu #1

I hope everyone’s February is off to a good start.

Mr. Instant and I like to spend Valentine’s at home.  I cringe at the thought of traffic downtown, long waits at restaurants, crowds everywhere – it kind of spoils it for me.  

Last year, Mr. Instant was amazing for Valentine’s Day.  The house was as clean as a whistle, he had a beautiful display on the dining table with flowers, chocolate, balloons, a card for me (&& some cards from family to him and CJ).  He whisked me away to the bathroom where he started the shower for me, played some light music in the background and lit a candle.  When I was done showering, he handed me a fresh, out of the dryer warm towel (serious brownie points, right there); then had my clothes laid out for me on the bed (comfy pajamas).  Once I came out of the room he had me sit down, brought dinner to me, served me a beverage and waited on me while I ate (wish we had eaten together, but it was so thoughtful I didn’t want to mess his thing up!).  It was a night I’d never forget!  Running a shower with a fresh out of the dryer warm towel and wait service during dinner is kind of hard to beat!!

From now up until Valentine’s Day I really wanted to concentrate on bringing all of my lovely readers romantic and amazing Valentine dinners that would make your spouse think you had slaved all day in the kitchen (even if you only got home an hour or so before dinner).  These dinners will be pack huge flavor while cutting cooking time (on the day of) and without a laundry load list of ingredients to purchase. 

I don’t know about you, but my family is definitely on a budget, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have a great Valentine’s dinner at home!

So in this first Valentine’s Dinner at Home post, lets tantalize our taste buds to the sounds of Shrimp Pasta with a Tomato Wine Sauce from Pioneer Woman; Garlicky Green Beans Almondine from Simply Scratch; and Romantic Brownie Sundae from Real Simple.

The Plan:

February 13 – PM
The night before make the brownies and raspberry sauce for the Romantic Brownie Sundae.  Now, it is your choice if you would like to make the brownies from scratch, or whip up a package mix.  Completely up to you.   Depending on the weather where you live, you can throw the brownies in the fridge or leave them out when you are done.  While the brownies are baking, whip up the Raspberry sauce (1 cup of frozen raspberries and 3 Tbsp of Sugar in a pot).  So simple, yet puts an elegant touch on the finishing, dessert course.  Once it is done cooking, bottle it up and put it in the fridge until tomorrow night.

February 14 – PM
Start with the Shrimp Pasta.  Once it is in the oven, work on the Garlicky Green Beans Almondine.  If the beans are done before the pasta; holding them in the microwave can help with the temperature.  If they get too warm, you can always jolt them in some heat over the stove real quick before serving.

The Service:
Serve the Shrimp Pasta alongside the Garlicky Green Beans Almondine and afterwards zap the brownies in the microwave for 10 seconds or so to get it nice and warm (and seemingly fresh out of the oven - *IDEA after the shrimp is done cooking in the oven, let the oven air out a little bit, turn it off then put the brownies in the oven.   It should warm up slowly while eating dinner).  Finish off the with the Romantic Brownie Sundae along with some champagne or as I would like it – a big glass of milk!  

Now turn on a good romantic movie like Hope Floats && enjoy your Valentine’s Night In!

via

Ewa Makai

Hey all - I just wanted to blast my new design shop today!  We're gonna keep this super simple!  One day on Instagram I was talking with a few ladies about storenvy - and so I figured I'd give it a try (yay to no listing fees and another set of fees upon purchase).

After browsing a few storenvy stores, namely ....  Hayley's World  Oh, Hello Friend  && Kimberly's Kitchen

I decided instead of transferring my existing etsy listings over to storenvy that I would create another shop based on one of the things I love to do and would love to learn more about, design.  Right now I design printables, bag toppers and photo cards.

So - I present to you... EWA MAKAI

You Warm My Heart Custom Bag Topper

Happy Heart Day Custom Photo Card

Lucky I'm in Love with My Best Friend Custom Photo Card

I hope you are able to stop by and browse around.  Not that I have a bunch of products, but I'd love to know your thoughts on the store and what you would like to see in the shop!

Have an amazing day! (PS: this week on instagram will be moved to Saturday for this month).
fdfd

Sewing Machine Battles

The Saturday before last, I battled it out with my darling Brother XL3750 sewing machine.  First I had to relearn how to (don't know the term), but spin thread onto my bobbin for the bottom stitch.  Then for some reason I thought I had to do the same thing to put on the spool for the top stitch, but then I realized you can just put the thread spool thing... on the spool thing.  You know what I mean??




sorry for the not so pretty instagram shot


um, I need to get it together with this sewing lingo!

Anyway - after I figured that then I had to re-teach myself how to use the automatic needle threader cause I didn't realize my handbook was at the bottom of my sewing tub.

For the most of the afternoon I struggled with getting the tension right and adjusting the stitch length - in part because I didn't know what different controls were for and couldn't find my handbook.  I got so fed up with trying to get it right that I just started working on my quilt.  Needless to say - It all went no where till I was over trying to work on the quilt today and decided to just work on an easy beginner project to get back into sewing.

Lately I've been in love with these little mug rugs.  I've been googling a ton of different ways to do them - and even purchased one from Hayley's World (if you purchase something from her, tell her I sent you!).  So I figured I would try my own.  For my first sewing project in over a year, this wasn't a total disaster.  I did learn quite a bit from it.  NOTE: I need to get basting spray and practice my binding.  This will actually help with my quilting since I'll need to bind that big thing anyway.  I'll probably do a few more of these mug rugs before I start working on my quilt.

For some great tutorials, check these out!
Smashed Peas & Carrots
Sew Adorable Fabrics

Social Sunday - all about 2's

Hi There everyone! Have a fabulous Sunday! Don't forget to link up!

1. If you were stuck on an island what are the two material items you would want to have?

Wow, this is a hard one!  I would take a pocket knife and a pan to cook my fish on a decent surface.

 

2. What are two TV shows you'd watch over and over?

Duck Dynasty - seriously, that show is so funny; and ... I dunno.. maybe America's Funniest Home Videos??

 

3. If your house was on fire what two things aside from family, pets, etc would you grab?

my laptop and my Hawaiian bracelets.

 

4. What are your two most favorite articles of clothing?

 Jeans and Cardigans

5. What two movies that you saw in the past year would you recommend to us?

This is hard, I hardly went to the movies this past year and if I did, they were mostly kid movies - however, I did see the last Twilight movie.  I enjoyed it.  That one and the third, Eclipse, were my favorite Twilight movies. Another movie would probably be Ice Age: Continental Drift.  It was a cute kids movie.

 

6. What are your two biggest guilty pleasures?

My two guilty pleasures include my Louis Vuitton and Hawaiian jewelry

Lomi Salmon Dip

Happy Aloha Friday All!

I'm so glad it's the end of the week; and to top it off, have some family in town - which means we are going to have some great laughs, a few competitive card games (Cribbage and Trumps), and great food.

In lieu of this (oh and the biggest football game of the year on Sunday), I thought I'd share a local favorite, Lomi Salmon Dip.

Now - if you don't know or have access to Lomi salmon that is ok, you can still make this amazing dip.  Click here, here, &&& here for some ideas on how to make it  (personally i like the directions to just use salt, salmon and plastic wrap to get the salmon used in most lomi salmon recipes).

Ingredients:
1 pkg cream cheese
1 tub of Lomi salmon
Ritz crackers

To make this dip you take an 8 oz package of softened (bring to room temperature) cream cheese, and mix it with a 14 oz tub of Lomi Salmon (drained, juices reserved). Once combined add in Lomi salmon liquid to bring it the dip to a desired consistency. Serve with Ritz crackers.Optional: let set in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!!

-kele