I love baking…which means that I’m usually in charge of desserts for family parties and always looking for new recipes (there’s only so many times that you can make a chocolate bundt for the family before they start complaining). This is the my latest, easiest, yummiest dessert that has gotten rave reviews by everyone! Thanks to my gal, Lee (whose hubby is a “master baker”) for the ono recipe!

Ingredients:
- 24 cute cupcake cups (cute cupcake cups are a MUST;)
- 1 bag Oreo cookies
- 3/4 block melted butter
- 2 8oz. boxes cream cheese
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 2 small boxes instant chocolate pudding
- 3 c. cold milk

Directions:
1. Crush Oreo cookies. I usually put all the cookies into a gallon zip lock bag and crumble them with a rolling pin. Mix oreo cookies with melted butter.
2. Layer Oreo cookie crust in cupcake cups.
3. Mix cream cheese, vanilla, eggs and sugar.
4. Layer cream cheese mixture over Oreo crust.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
6. Mix pudding mix with cold milk.
7. Once baked, top cupcakes with pudding.
8. Decorate!

I cannot tell you the last time I developed photos. My camera roll on my iPhone is filled with hundreds of pictures. So, I decided it was time to develop some of my favorites and add some decoration to my plain, yellow bedroom walls. I was so excited to actually hold a photo in my hand. It was nice to flip through photos, instead of scrolling through a touch screen phone. Now it was time to display them, and I found the perfect way.

Supplies:

Rope/twine
Clothespins
Tacks/nails
Photographs

It is pretty self-explanatory. Measure your spacing, secure it, and have fun arranging your photos! Simple and stylish. The best thing about it, is everyday I am constantly reminded of how great life is:)

Can’t believe its already the holidays! Here’s this year’s gift wrapping idea: jars! Its easy, cute and reuseable! Have fun with it and add ribbons, raffia, stickers, paint, anything! So after you get those great gifts from Maui Thing, throw them in a cute jar and put it under the tree ;) Simple, affordable, and sustainable!
You can get jars anywhere! They’re sold at Wal-Mart, Longs Drugs and everywhere online!
Need some other fun and sustainable wrapping ideas? Check out our Christmas wrapping posts from the past few years here and here.

Want to get this tank for a gift? Buy it online here.

the shoreline of my favorite beach is decorated with driftwood. Each piece is unique, with a story behind its journey to shore. There are many things you can do with this free and resourceful piece of material. I have necklaces lying around my room waiting to be untangled and displayed. This was the perfect little project!

Supplies:
• driftwood
• hooks
• rope
• nail

1. Space out your hooks along the driftwood. Mark it with a pencil. Leave 1 ½ inches empty at the end of each side.
2. Slowly screw the hooks into the driftwood. Driftwood can be fragile, so take your time.

3. Make sure the hooks are secure and facing upright.

4. Cut your desired length of rope for hanging. Tie the rope at the end of each side in a knot.
5. Hammer in your nail, hang rope and then hang jewelry.
6. Stand back and admire your work!!!

Summer is gone and now it is time to fall in love with FALL! Remove the light and bright nail polish from your nails and lets paint the town dark and stormy. Think mysterious and secretive for this season’s nail colors. Red, navy, plum and green are the go-to colors for those 10 fingers. Can’t afford new nail polish? Call up your girlfriends and dig into their stash or better yet, grab some dark and mysterious red wines and have a nail party.

Heads up…Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Yes guys, thats your reminder, its soon! If you’re looking for a fun craft to do with the keiki or just some ideas for affordable, homemade decorations for your romantic Valentine’s dinner, here ya go!
All you need are these things
1. Old magazines or newspapers
2. Scissors
3. Stapler

Then cut the magazine/newspaper into 1 inch strips

Make loops with the strips, forming half-heart shapes. Staple to bottom of one straight strip.

Do the same for the other side, trying to make them the same shape and size so you don’t have a lopsided heart! Staple at bottom.

And you have lovely heart decorations!!! Put them around your house, in your windows…they’re sure to make you smile :) Come check out ours in our store!

A great DIY for the kids this year! Why order Christmas cards when you can make them with the keiki?! Click here for directions!

Need some new ornaments to personalize your tree a bit this season? Trying to be green? On a budget? Try this idea…it will take 5 minutes and all you need are toilet paper rolls and some household supplies!

Supplies:
1. Scotch Tape
2. Scissors
3. Ribbon
4. Glue
5. Glitter (optional)
6. A round photo about 1 inch in diameter
7. Toilet paper rolls (I used 3..you can use however many you want!)

Flatten toilet paper rolls and cut in half. Tape or glue (I find tape to be easier) the rolls together as shown in the image.

If you want to add glitter, put glue on the edges and sprinkle some glitter on the front. Then cut a photo into a 1-inch circle and tape or glue onto center. Add ribbon and hang on your tree!

I get tired of doing solid colors and I find that I always choose the same colors, my favorites! So I found an easy way to spice up new colors! Its the easiest thing and can be done in so many variations. Have fun!

You will need:
- Nail polish (a light or pastel color works best)
- Rubbing alcohol (vodka works too!)
- Newspaper (rip or cut into strips)
- Top coat

1. Paint nails. Let dry completely.
2. Dip nail into alcohol.

3. Press newspaper strip onto nail. Hold for 30 seconds making sure not to move it.
4. Paint over with top coat
* Make sure to do the newspaper print THEN top coat. Newspaper print won’t work over top coat.

Karey Oura-Kapoi, 37 year old mother and wife is not only a cute chick, she is also smart, personable and motivated. Tons of assets, so what’s the problem? None really because she could give a rip about how she looks. She doesn’t wear a bit of make-up, wears pants 2 sizes too big and styles herself with only the intent of covering her body because it’s a legal necessity. Lucky girl, she can actually pull this off because of her naturally good looks. So you may ask “Why does Karey need a make-over, if she’s fine with the way she looks?” Well because her mother said so. Yes we’re doing this for Karey’s mom, Karen who knows that Karey can do better and should present herself to her fullest potential. Thus “The KEEP KAREY KURRENT” project.

We believe that any make-over is about enhancing an individuals positive qualities inside and out. Not changing the person. So first we need to dig deep and find out what make’s Karey tick. Here’s her profile:

AGE: 37
STATUS: Married with son Ryder age, 4
WORK: Employee at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Owner of Island Soul Entertainment
LIKES: Softball, beer, good food, beer, good music, beer, family, beer, projects that don’t make money and beer.
DISLIKES: Hardballs, incompetence, wasted time, laziness, nice shoes, her post baby physic
HOBBIES: Work, volunteering, projects that don’t make money and beer.
LIFESTYLE: Overall Karey is an extremely active individual who is constantly challenging herself with ways to do better in the community and for the community. Besides her work she is a devoted mother, wife and daughter who tries to balance all of her successes while keeping family a priority. She does not have the time or desire to concentrate on her physical presentation. Low-maintenance, comfort and practicality are necessary functions for her lifestyle.

OUR GOAL:
Overall haul Karey’s style so that it speaks to her tomboy nature while at the same time representing her as a successful and motivated professional. Shift her busy lifestyle habits of junk food and token workouts to a daily regiment of healthier eating and consistent exercise.