I have often day dreamed about winning the lottery and buying a magnificent house.  But the truth is, I am happy in any home as long as I have my family beside me. It's not the exterior or luxurious interior furnishings of a home that makes a house a home, it's he family that is residing in the house that makes it worth calling it home. Without my family, any house I live in would just be a piece of property.  It's the love and memories that are created and shared that makes it a home.

Banana trees in your back yard.  Perfect!!

Growing your greens on your counter. Fresh!!

Growing up in Waimanalo, my father grew banana trees, coconut trees, & a lime tree.  We were the only house on the block that looked like a jungle. We also had various herbs around the kitchen sink. My mother used the leaves from the lime tree in her cooking, we ate the apple banana's when they were ripe, the coconut tree never gave fruit (not that I can remember) but it provided great shade. Where job corp is in Waimanalo, there was land that you could rent, my dad rented it out and grew tapioca other plants.  He would  pay me 5 bucks each week to pull weeds, while he and the other men (mostly filipinos) drank and talked stories.  

I didn't appreciate it back then, but my dad lived a sustainable life.  He never wasted food and grew most of what he wanted us to eat.  

"Thanks Dad" 

Ever thought of living in a shipping container?  Back home where I am from, I know a couple of people who have done it.  It didn't look like the container homes below, but it's probably because resources are limited in Palau.  Take a look at some of these shipping containers transformed into beautiful homes.

1st container exterior

1st container's interior

 2nd container's exterior

 2nd container's interior

 3rd container's exterior

3rd container's interior

You can click o the link below to view other container homes and find out more info.

http://www.criticalcactus.com/shipping-container-homes/

Thanks for reading my blog. :)

Wasting water is a big thing with me.  I take shorter showers, I try not to leave the water on when washing dishes and I don't wash my car (the rain does it for me).  I came across this cool water saving contraption.  This is an Eco friendly toilet I found when researching bathroom sustainable ideas.  Here is a great simple system that makes use of the fact that toilet water doesn't have to be as clean as it usually is.  This concept uses 50% reused water and 50% new water for a toilet system.  It's half-ways to nature friendly toilet. 

The White House

The United States of America's White House, current home of the 44th President, Barack Obama and located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. It has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.

There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.

With everything going on in the presidential race, I thought it be perfect to feature the perfect dream house that houses every kids dream job .  Let's just pray that it will house the perfect 45th President. 

The link below has some important facts about our White House.  

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about/inside-white-house/interactive-tour

BELGIUM'S UNIQUE HOUSES.

It has been an eventful week leading up to Easter, with U.S.' presidential race DRAMA, POTUS' visit to Cuba and the attack on Belgium it was hard for me to stay focus on my blog.  I thought "hey why don't I research Belgium"?

Hannes Coudenys, 33 is an internet blogger who also wrote a book after his blog about some houses in Belgium caused a buzz.  His book is titled "Ugly Belgium Houses".   Click on the link and below, to see the homes.  I don't think they're "ugly" but they are quite unique.

Brussels is the capitol city of Belgium.  It's located in the heart of Belgium. They have shops & cafes inside 17th-century guild hall/houses ( a hall used for guilds to have meetings) & 19th -century Maison du Roi houses the Musee dela Villa de Bruxelles history museum and much more.  I will definately visit Belgium.

Guild Hall / House

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3083261/Weird-wacky-just-plain-dull-Photographer-online-hit-blog-documenting-ugly-houses-Belgium-lands-book-deal.html

Many of you who are reading my blog may be a lot younger than I am and I would like to give some advice on owning a home.  It doesn't matter where you want to live, your dream home could be here in Hawaii or in Buford, Wyoming it will cost money.  You are never too young to start saving for a house.  Whatever job you hold or side money you make, you should put at the least 10% and at the most 20% + of that money in a account designated for your future house. I would encourage anyone, to have a goal of paying off your house in cash.  On that same note, you are never too young to start saving for retirement either, always say "yes" to a 401(k) from your employer and if they don't sponsor one, open your own IRA (5-10% of your paycheck i would suggest you contribute).     

- pay off all debts (if can't afford a decent down payment than that is a sign you can't afford a house)
-set a goal of how much your future house will cost and start saving
   (example: $100,000 home cost  save $1000 a month )
-Budget your current living expenses
  (always have a plan for each dollar you make ; Make $1000 a pay check - 25% to car/gas/food  25% bills 10%entertainment 10% emergency fund 10% retirement  20% to future home savings)

Here is a story I read on a Dave Ramsey website:
Starting small
Matt W. from Chattanooga, TN, bought his first home—a 1939 two-bedroom foreclosure—with a $19,000 cashier’s check. It wasn’t in the best part of town and needed a lot of TLC, but Matt and his new bride poured a lot of sweat into renovating it. Their hard work and patience paid off. Last year, they sold their honeymoon cottage for $64,000!

Just some advice I wanted to share, I wish someone told me this when I was younger.