flashback friday: disney vacay

(it's been a looooong time since i've done a "flashback friday", and i'm pretty sure that there's quite a few things that I've missed since being MIA for the most of 2011 AND the entire 2012 year...this is me with an update mostly for documentation purposes. *grins*  have i thanked you lately for stopping by my blog??)

 

in april 2011, brandon's cousin was married in washington state, and it was for that big event, that my MIL made the executive decision that the entire kahaialii clan (21 of us, to be exact) should, must, and will fly up for the previously mentioned big event.  so we began planning in october of 2010 for the trip and then we thought, what the heck - why not throw SoCal in the mix while we're at it?  thanks to a decent 2011 tax return, we pulled off paying for airfare, hotel, transportation and meals for our family of four for a week & a half of pure bliss.  and chaos.  and constant diapering of a 7-month-old in public restrooms.  it was fun!

 

seriously though, we did have a blast.  even though nahe was too young at the time to remember and appreciate her first mainland experience, i'm still happy that we all made it there (and back in one piece!) together.  some of the most memorable (not necessarily the best - but memorable, because it's been a while and things from 2011 are a tad rusty...and also because not everything is raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens when you're living out of a suitcase filled mostly with diapers) moments of the trip?  right here...

• sightseeing the city of seattle, including the space needle, and children's museum.
• ahonui getting feverishly sick in seattle...thus, only getting out of the hotel room to see the space needle and children's museum. 
• jennifer & mark maiava's beautiful wedding reception in tacoma.
• nahe getting a not-so-fun rash all over her cheeks in seattle...we're thinking that her skin didn't care too much for the 50 degree washington weather.
• breakfast buffet at goofy's kitchen on our first morning at disneyland.
• smooth sailing on the "it's a small world" ride with ahonui, introducing him to the animatronic beauties from around the world.  i think it was his favorite.
• "soarin' over california" ride at disney's california adventure park...i think that's my favorite.
• watching the kids faces light up during the firework show and "world of color" water show.
• universal studios backlot tour...it gave my feet a nice rest and me & the kids a nice mid-day nap. =)
• curious george playground at universal studios - ahonui didn't want to leave that place...there were air bazookas shooting plastic balls - need i say more?
• trying to get our money's worth of our "unlimited food pass" at universal, so we stopped at every eligible restaurant to fill our already full bellies.
• a long flight home with a 7-month-old that simply won't sit still for more than 2 minutes.  lucky for us we had lots of aunties & uncles, and grandma & grandpa willing to take the wiggle monster off our hands a lot throughout the trip.

i didn't want to forget these things.  and although everything doesn't go perfectly while on vacation, i'd say it's pretty close to perfection when you've got free time with your family doing memorable, once-in-a-lifetime activities together.

grateful for hidden trails

it's not always easy for me to wake up by 6am every morning.  and it's really not easy to wake up by 6am when you go to bed at 1am the night before.  some things are just weird like that.

monday was one of those weird days.  i basically woke up just in time to get ready to go to work.  but since brandon didn't have to work that day, we decided to workout together when i got off of work...got it?  me work, brandon no work, so workout, after work.  whew!!  now that all that work confusion is out of the way...

today's thankful thursday is for the beauteous hiking opportunities right in our backyard...

instead of jogging down the boring same 'ol road together, we decided to switch up our workout by taking advantage of the mountainous terrain - up to the laie water tank!  what could be more enjoyable than muddy paths and rancid sewer plants, combined with jello legs and sweat-drenched attire?  oh yeah, bebe.

intense poo-filled aromas aside, we had tons of fun.  i honestly think that being one with nature, away from buildings, cars, and people is probably the best avenue to de-stress and unwind.  it was also a great way to enjoy a FREE and HEALTHY date so brandon & i could connect and spend real quality time alone together.

a while back we also "tricked" the kids into hiking.  we were pretty proud parents that day.

 

usually we plan on going to costco or walmart and stocking up for the week, but that saturday we had no such plans.  we actually didn't know what to do with ourselves that day, and sometimes you just can't stare at a screen (computer, phone, tv, even movie) any longer.  so we quickly packed a backpack with snacks and sandwiches and found shoes to put on the kids (yup, close-toed shoes....that never happens.).  then off we trekked to spend our day hiking up the laie falls trail.  surprisingly, the kids didn't complain once about walking for hours.  for all they knew, they were on a nature walk and exploring each step filled with rocks and bugs and wonder.

 

i'm grateful that i have opportunities such as these to enjoy being outside and away from the world.  i'm grateful that we have unblemished, year-round, safe trails so close to home that we can take advantage of.  i'm grateful that we have the option to save money and be active at the same time being outdoors in clean, fresh air.  and most of all i'm grateful to share these changes of scenery with my hubby and my children - and that they also enjoy it with me.

a forgotten gem

when i was a little girl, my brothers and i used to play in the huge empty field across the street from my house.  we'd create makeshift forts and hiding places (particularly for the times when my grandma would be looking for me to peel ten pounds of potatoes for dinner) in the tall, itchy california grass.  i look back at it now as somewhat of an escape...a childhood fortress away from the intense pressures of the complicated 9-year-old life.  (sorry, granny.  love you!)

i was told that the field used to be a junkyard and i vaguely recall piles of old, smashed-up, flattened cars that used to sit there.  those fugly cars have since been removed and it is now again a big, empty field with an asphalt-paved entrance to the malaekahana bike path.  and when it rains, the field transforms and it looks like we have the best view of our very own lake outside our window. 

i often forget about this convenient, neighboring field...a space to allow a safe running haven for my growing children, an endless exploring opportunity in the tadpoles and microscopic creatures lurking in the recently created lake (or swamp - depending on how your attitude glass is filled that day), a perfect kite-flying lot with no one else but us to witness our feeble kite flying skills, and a place to have a relaxing, family, sunday stroll.

 

it may be difficult for the kids to fully appreciate the possibilities of this field without the pile of rusty cars in the corner.  i think an easter croquet session should be in the works this year to instill in them a bit more familiarity with this field of possibilities for nature fun.  and then maybe now i'll know where they'll be hiding when i need someone to peel potatoes.

a rough start & a smoothie

on monday i began my healthy eating habits...no fast food, processed foods, and junk foods!  and then this morning i did a little jog on the bike path for the first time since january. 

i then finished up with a spinach, banana, pineapple, orange smoothie.  these babies are life changing.

it's not much yet, but it's definitely better than stuffing my face with $10 burgers from the new seven brothers burger joint down the road...because let me tell you, those burgers could be the death of me.

ANYWAY...

i'm really hoping that this will be something that i can stick to on a permanent basis.  i've found that in the past it's been too difficult for me to fit in anything "exercise-wise" after work because there's simply too much to do before my day is over...oh yeah, and before my narcoleptic tendencies kick in.

and while i didn't complete a full-on 5k run (more like full-on hanging the whole time), i got up and out there instead of staying bundled up in my warm, comfy bed.  so waking up only one hour earlier to work out is my "small, measurable goal" to help my overall, large health goal.  i think i'm doing pretty good for the first week...because every journey has to start somewhere.

the not-so-new-years resolution

i know that i expressed my new years resolutions back in january. and what's a resolution without a little progress report?  so to sum up a self-evaluation of my progress on these intended resolutions, i gotta admit that in some areas i'm doing okay, while others - not so much. so let's do a little recap here:

• resolution #1: get in shape: more on that soon...
• resolution #2: get out of debt: we put most of our tax return money towards our credit card balance. yay?
• resolution #3: get closer to Heavenly Father: been to the temple one more time since january (hey, that's better than a 7 year gap!).

it is obvious from previous posts what my weakness is...those goshdarn delicious delectables! my number one resolution has been tainted with my ultimate weakness, so to speak. i blame it on the food...not me.

this is not the first time that i've struggled with this problem, remember?  but then the wise words of my aunty norma pops into my head at this point reminding me, "Make sure you write the steps on how you are going to accomplish each resolution." she knows me too well.   none of this, "yup, i'll do this and this and yada, yada, yada..." will get you any true results without action.  so i enlisted some help from the "eating birdfood" blog, and this is what i found...14 steps?  piece of cake!  oooh, cake...

1. Set small, measurable goals that will help you get to your overall large goal. For instance – I will eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, incorporate leafy green veggies into 3 meals a day, drink at least 68 ounces of water daily, etc.
2. Keep a food and exercise journal. This is extremely helpful to track how much you’re eating – sometimes you don’t realize how many small bites here and there add up. You can do a hand-written journal or go digital and log your food/fitness from the computer or your smartphone. MyFitnessPal is a great resource for this.
3. Crowd processed junk food out of your diet by adding in nutritious whole foods.
4. Skip the pantry and head to the fridge. No one really keeps a lot of processed foods in their fridge because they’re usually self-stable. When looking for an afternoon snack tend to stick with something from the fridge (non-fat greek yogurt, fruit, veggies with hummus, edmamae, etc.)
5. Try new foods. Eating steamed broccoli and baked tofu every night can get old. Look for new healthy recipes online, in cookbooks or magazines so you don’t get bored with eating healthy. I know a good place for recipes.
6. Enlist support from your friends and family. Whenever I realize I need to get back to my roots and clean up my eats the first person I tell is Isaac because he then knows not to offer me sips of beer and chips.
7. Team up with a friend and hold each other accountable for eating healthy.
8. Eat something every 2-3 hours. This keeps your metabolism running and also makes sure you don’t get ravenous and end up eating whatever is in sight when you get home from work.
9. Keep nutritious foods on hand and ready to eat. Preparation is the key to eating healthy! Having fresh vegetables and fruits, lean protein, healthy fats and smart carbs each week is super helpful for staying on track. I like to make big batches of roasted veggies and brown rice or quinoa at the beginning of the week so I have healthy foods in the fridge ready to go for quick lunches.
10. Keep tempting foods that trigger you to overeat out of the house. For me this is cereal, packaged trail mix, granola and other packaged foods. If the tempting foods are already in your house because someone else bought them, I’ve found that putting them away in a (high) cabinet is helpful. Out of sight, out of mind.
11. Always bring a healthy snack with you when you leave the house for more than a couple hours. Apples, bananas, fruit and nut bars, homemade trail mix and carrots are super portable. And healthy bars like Larabar are always good in a pinch.
12. Eat and enjoy your favorite foods in moderation. Deprivation tends to backfire so if you really want a treat, then eat and enjoy it.
13. When going out to eat, look the at the menu for the restaurant online. Deciding beforehand what healthy option you’re going to get can be helpful so you’re not tempted by unhealthy options once you’re there.
14. Don’t let one set-back keep you from working toward your goal. Don’t get down on yourself if you slip-up - just make sure your next meal is a healthy one!

i feel that i must now recommit (is it possible that i'm getting a little too comfortable with that word, "recommit"?? i think so. shucks.) myself to not just do better in this area of weakness, but sort of transform my attitude and become motivated to create a healthier, more confident ME! because supposedly, a healthy mother, is a happy mother. and i would kind of like to be that happy mommy once in a while...

sleepy time battles

i've been trying to get the kids to sleep in their own beds on a more consistent basis lately.  ahonui tries to fuss and complain about it, but after 10 minutes or so, he's out for the count on his big boy top bunk.  must be something along the lines of running non-stop during recess and lunch at school that does it for him.

but nahe...oh man, this girl is somethin' else.  she tends to trick me by getting me into bed and falling asleep so she can quietly sneak out and wreak havoc (e.g.: find chewing gum, candy, and my credit cards to play with and get naaahtz in the living room) without mommy's supervision.

and lastnight she tried to pull a fast one on me.  i put her down on her bottom bunk, laid with her so she would fall asleep, sang her a few songs, and as usual, i unintentionally put myself to sleep...gunfunnit!  much to her disappointment, i woke up when i felt her try to move around my feet to get off the bed.  i got upset from her deceptive success and made her go back to bed.  i began raising my voice because she wouldn't listen (and also remember that deception part?  arrgh.) so she ran to her daddy for protection from mean 'ol mom.  she then started putting in requests, claiming she was hungry, wanted to watch tv, needed to eat a vitamin, etc. anything to get out of closing those tired, little eyes.  i finally got her away from daddy's arms and walked her back to the bedroom - by that time, compromising my consistent efforts by going onto mommy & daddy's king size. *sigh...*  and another one bites the dust.

 

needless to say, she conked out soon after that. snuggled up warm and close in the crook of my arm.  compromises aren't always so bad, right?

triple D deliciousness

ever since food network aired their show, diners, drive-ins, and dives (also known as triple D), i've been eager to sample some of the goodies at these "must visit" locales.  i was pleasantly surprised to see that a few of their episodes included hot spots that were not more than 20 miles away from laie...yayerr!

so last week thursday, i went into waikiki for an appointment with my oral surgeon to follow up on the healing of my wisdom teeth gaps.  fun stuff, i know.  on the way there, i told brandon, "let's go check out the he'eia place for lunch." to which he didn't put up a fight.  "whatever harm wants..." is a typical reply from the hubby in regards to choosing where to eat.  so off to the he'eia kea pier general store & deli we went!

the view in itself was amazeballs...the food was definitely yummy.  the portion size, however...let's just say that it wasn't meant to fill a polynesian belly.  and although these places may not be everything that it's been advertised to be, i love checking out these hidden gems because it allows us to try something new & different, and hopefully finding a new favorite eatery.  note to self: next visit order five guava chicken burgers to satisfy the tummy.

we then had to run a few errands after my appointment, so by the time we were done, i had mustered up a fresh new appetite...aka - dinner!  so we stopped at fresh catch in kaneohe.  i wouldn't consider myself a poke expert, but i must say - this poke was da BOMB!!!!  not too sweet, not too spicy, nor too shoyu-y (that's right, i invented a new adjective)...but perfect.  and as you can see, the fresh ahi chunks were of great quality.  there a few things more frustrating than low grade pieces of fish soaked in a great poke sauce.  this place is an absolute keeper for the poke bowl cravings.

 

then on saturday, we headed all the way down yonders to the koko head shooting range for a few hours of fun/target practice.  and since koko head and waimanalo is way more than just a hop, skip, and jump away from laie, i decided that our proximity to sweet home waimanalo that day was my opportunity to seize some ono kine grindz.  and seize i did...

 

i appreciate that this rustic establishment uses fresh and local ingredients for their dishes.  apparently they grow much of their own fruits and vegetables on their farm for the salads and smoothies...way to support the local economy and provide sustainable means to support your business!  anyway, the food was delicious, staff was friendly, and the fact that i didn't feel "weighed-down" from a heavy lunch was even better.  the next time the hubby wants to enjoy a little target practice, i'll be targeting this place for sure.

 

a quick and easy way to find the entire list of triple D deliciousness on this little rock?  i found it for you here.  happy grinding!

growing community

i'm not sure how i feel about the expansion of my little town of laie.  i understand that it can economically benefit our locals, create independent long-term sustainability for the community, give my family more options on where to eat out, and possibly give me a home of my very own.  my employer, byuh, is currently working on a ten year expansion plan for the university, which includes new married and single student housing, as well as a new multi-purpose building, among other things.

the thing i struggle with is, why do i feel a sense of hesitation when all of this talk of change and growth is only supposed to improve my beloved hometown?  i love the fact that i can literally walk outside my front door and there before me lies a mile & a half bike path created solely for my own convenience, safety and health!

yeah, it's an old picture, but it's cute. and there's the bike path in the back.

and i love that i can drive 2 minutes away to get the best froyo EVER!

ono yo...onolicious!

or that we can now enjoy our own little burger joint that's open past 9pm...

seven brothers at the laie shopping center

so why am i skeptical when i'm told that homes will most likely be built to house my future family of ten? (hehe.)  i would love to bite on that dangling carrot...but i really don't want to get my hopes up.

also, i'm a pretty big fan of the small town feel of laie.  to be quite honest, it has already gotten a little too crowded for my taste.  i'm shocked that i often need to wait behind a car or two at a stop sign.  me no likey.  it's not that i'm giving in to my impatient tendencies here...but more along the lines of: "why-are-there-so-many-people-here-that-there's-enough-to-have-two-cars-in-front-of-me-at-a-stop-sign?!" kind of feeling.  with the continually increasing enrollment at byuh, we're only getting more students, more teachers, and more staff.  does this create a sense of job security for me?  not really.

i've completed the envision laie survey so that my opinion on the future of laie could be taken into consideration.  i (when able, sometimes) go to the community meetings.  but mine and my family's future in my favorite place in the world still seems uncertain.  even if i don't want things to change, even if i want my kids to be able to walk alone down the street and play at the park without worrying, it's out of my hands...change is already happening.  change is inevitable.  and all we can do is hope, give our two cents, and continue to work to ensure that these changes come out in our favor.

sneaky buggah

there was a time when i was able to shove practically anything down my children's gullet.  leftovers, store-bought baby food, failed experiments in the kitchen...if it was somewhat edible - they ate it.  unfortunately, those days are now long gone.  since nahe is oblivious to what's in her food, she's more tolerant of the delicious mysteries in front of her at mealtimes.  ahonui - not so much.  even if i threaten and force him to finish or even just sample my home-cooked goodness, he sends back threats of regurgitation.  so not cool.

 

if i were serving boiled brussel sprouts, tripe stew, or even liver and onion type dishes at mealtime, then yes - i would be more accepting of his disdain for the sustenance that i've provided.  but no...i feel like i'm dishing out some kid-friendly, ono kine grindz!  i'm talking, hot dogs w/ mac & cheese (and maybe some hidden broccoli in there), chili and rice (and perhaps there were tomatoes and corn involved), and more meals along those lines.  so i constantly find myself thinking, "what's the deal with this refusal to consume my hard-earned concoctions from the kitchen?" 

 

so in an attempt to create more nutritious and balanced meals for my family - that they'll actually eat, i invested in a book called the sneaky chef for a little help.  while it turned out to be beneficial in giving me a lot of little tips and tricks to incorporate fruits and veggies into daily life, i never really got any momentum going on using any of the recipes from that book.  (story of my life - buy something to improve your life - and end up not really applying it...does this sound familiar to you??)

 

then i stop at jamba juice during a trip to town, and along with my usual caribbean passion smoothie, i get a little impulsive and throw in a slice of their toasted zucchini carrot bread.  if those little slices of heaven weren't so unbelievably pricey i probably would've gotten a few more to indulge in.  and so, in that single slice, i felt inspired to begin my quest to find this recipe...



i present to you...my little partially-eaten whole wheat zucchini carrot bread loaf (in brandon's masculine hand, not mine).  i now have no trouble getting the kids to gobble up their veggies and fiber!  now if only they were requesting a zucchini carrot loaf for 3 meals a day, 7 days a week.  hmmm....