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Sunshine and Happinest - Stories

Bringing you along for the ride as we chase our dream of financial independence, building our dream home & garden, DIYing until our hearts are content, adventuring, learning from our mistakes, finding silver linings, spreading joy with our chickens, and maybe even growing our way into a mini homestead.

Adventures, Family April Chau Adventures, Family April Chau

Adventures of The Heart- Hawk Mountain Edition

This past October 13, marked the 18th anniversary of my dad being Killed In Action in Mosul Iraq. Our family misses my dad every day, but somedays and sad anniversaries are harder than others.

I could feel those old familiar feelings of sadness start to loom, and while I did my best to push on, I could not full escape the weight of my emotions. My heart told me to: Surround Myself in Nature, Climb a Mountain, and Wait for The Birds of Prey to Soar overhead.

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Garden, Food, DIY, Adventures April Chau Garden, Food, DIY, Adventures April Chau

Garden Bounty - The Story of Our Beets

Sometimes, the challenge of attempting to grow something new is thrilling, like unraveling some mystery of nature.  Sometimes, the growing is rewarding enough.  Just to wander past the flowers in the garden or know that you finally succeeded at sprouting a new plant can spark joy.  But, THE HARVEST, is an entirely new level of satisfaction!  Not only did I watch something appear out of the dark depths of the underworld, and marvel as it grew mighty, but to taste the spoils of victory, is THE BEST!! 

So to wage war with the elements of nature, and dare life to triumph, and then allow the glorious victory to go uncelebrated, seems like a crime, and indeed it is!  Sadly, we committed that exact crime a few years in a row. Maybe I should back up…

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Family, Style, Adventures April Chau Family, Style, Adventures April Chau

Top ‘O The Mornin’ To Ya Just a Girl Trying to Remember Her Dad

The first time I slipped on the jacket, I heard a rattle in the pockets, only to discover my dad’s bowtie & shiny shamrock necklace waiting there for me to discover!  I could just see his grin, as I found them, and slipped them on!  I added my own little twist with my boutique’s first ever St. Paddy’s Day leggings collection, and a crazy top hat, and a tradition to share the story with my friends inside the boutique, but my FAVORITE PART of this story, (UNTIL this morning), was…

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Style, Adventures, Family April Chau Style, Adventures, Family April Chau

New Year * New Beginnings Why Do New Year’s Resolutions Get a Bad Rap?!

The meme went something like this: “don’t expect a resolution from me, I will remain the same loudmouth, delightful…”

Like I said, it is cute and funny, but after overhearing several conversations this past week, where people were complaining that they don’t make resolutions for various reasons and seeing several other posts referring to resolutions being a waste of time, or negative in some way, my brain started being triggered.

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Style, Garden, Adventures April Chau Style, Garden, Adventures April Chau

Mission: Overalls

Here, I am on the precipice of another new beginning, and that means, I need to pick the proper cape! Today that cape is crafted out of denim, and buckles! As we prepare to fully launch this blog, our YouTube Channel, and Sunshine & Happinest Adventure, I decided that my uniform (or cape) for the task will be, OVERALLS!

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Family, Style, Adventures April Chau Family, Style, Adventures April Chau

Headline: Ballet Mom Cries

As the climax of the Snow Queen's dance came to a close, I tried my damndest to not cry (like ugly cry), because I thought the other parents would think that I was absolutely crazy (vulnerability is hard for me)! Tears still leaked out, but I played it cool and hoped they would dry on their own!

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