a day for trying something new

this past saturday, brandon was given the green light to have the day OFF - and that caused for celebration.  because scheduled days off are typically earmarked for running errands, trips to town, and not always taking advantage of what paradise has to offer.  since he surprised us with an unexpected saturday off, we decided to have a "family field trip" together - to visit the pacific aviation museum on ford island near pearl harbor.  even though it took us a bit to get out the door, we were still so excited for a day full of fun and adventure! 

we made a quick stop at zippy's for lunch.  simply because empty bellies on a full day of fun are not allowed.

our drama queen in full effect

the go-to meal for da keiki: won ton mein...yuuuummmm.

then we google mapped and navigated our way to the pearl harbor memorial.  because the last time either myself or brandon has been to this historic site was back in elementary school.  so we got a little lost on our way there.  but it was all good...friendly military peeps are always willing to help with directions!  you have to park in the pearl harbor parking and then catch a shuttle over the ford island bridge to get to the museum.  i would have liked for all of us to go on the shuttle ferry to see the USS arizona memorial but apparently those free tickets disappear by morning and we didn't make it there until 2pm.  oh well, a little planning ahead for future family field trips is now in my mental notes.

on the shuttle bus to ford island

the USS arizona memorial - a shot from the shuttle on the bridge.

ahonui was our photographer - can't be mad about that.

flight simulator action!

we tried to get our admission fee's worth by staying until 5pm closing time.  we walked around the museum and checked out the actual planes that were part of the battle on december 7, 1941.  historical coolness!  we bought tickets for brandon & ahonui (creating a jealous, tantrum-throwing little sister) to do a 20 minute flight simulator (which i have a hunch was a huge influence on the decision to visit to the aviator museum in the first place. lol!)  we watched a short pearl harbor movie in the empty theater - we were the last ones there!  then as i rested my fat, sore, prego feet brandon and the kids walked around the hangar to look at all the planes and aircraft that got bus' up during the pearl harbor attack.  then barely made it onto the last shuttle back to oahu.  i was pooped after that, to say the least.

but we couldn't deny that we were all pretty hungry again.  so we made a final stop to the mall and walked around a little before the grindage.

he insisted on a picture with the stuffed giraffe's okole.  ohh, the innocence is so endearing.

and you just can't go wrong when you end the day with ben & jerry's!  it was most definitely a day to remember.  or as ahonui puts it..."this was the best day EVERRR!"

my favorite quiche recipe

as I was browsing through a few of my old posts, I noticed that I briefly blogged about a bombtastic savory pie in 2008 without disclosing the recipe.  whoops.  I didn't even really think much of it until I really read through the old comments kindly requesting a breakdown of the good stuff.  and since i'm kind of short on material to post about lately, I'll fill up my blogspace with a little yummy in your tummy...

 

the first step is to make the crust.  my family calls it a "no fail pie crust" because it, well - never fails!  here's what you'll need:

 

no fail pie crust

• 1 1/2 cup flour (I prefer whole wheat flour, just to get those extra health benefits)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1/2 cup oil



throw all the ingrediments (please note - no, that is not a spell error. hehe) together into a mixing bowl and mix together well.

after mixing, it should form a dough. press and spread evenly into a 8-9 in. baking dish...like so.

 

spam & egg pie recipe

(I suppose that I should clarify/adjust that it's a spam & egg pie - just in case some foodies get offended that I personally call this a "quiche"- whatev):

• 1 cup green onions, chopped
• 1 cup onions, chopped
• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper
• 1 cup milk
• 4 eggs, whisked together
• 1/4 lb. spam or ham, diced
• 1/2 c. mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• In a large skillet, cook onion and green onions in butter until soft. add mushrooms and cook for another 30 seconds or so.  over low heat, add flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. gradually stir in milk and stir until thickened and just begins to simmer.  remove from heat.  stir some of the milk mixture into the eggs to temper the eggs.  then add the egg mixture to the rest of the milk mixture.  add spam and stir until mixed together well.  pour mixture into the unbaked pie shell.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30 mins.

 

I usually prefer to double the recipe...all that effort deserves to be enjoyed for more than a single serving - or two.  duh.

 

 

enjoy!  and let me know if you ever make it...I eat this stuff up.  literally.

late father's day post

there are times when I forget how truly lucky and blessed I am.  and then father's day rolls around - and i realize how many "father-type" role models that I've been given.  it's true that my biological father passed away many years ago.  and there's not a day that goes by that i don't miss him, wish he was here to play with my children, or wonder what he's doing now...but when it's father's day, i remember how much our Heavenly Father loves me.  because i feel that i have not only one, but FOUR fathers and one hubby who is an AMAZING father.

 

after my father passed away, my grandfather became like a father to me.  i actually grew up in the same house as him and so he helped to raise me and my brothers before he passed away in 2009.  my mom remarried in 2004.  my stepfather is a man that has stepped in to be there for my mom and our family, and to endlessly grant the playful requests from all 12 of the grandchildren that stop by the house almost every day.  my father-in-law is one of the sweetest, most humble & patient men.  he helps to care for our children while Brandon and i go to work every day.  and i'm grateful that i can count on him to rescue us (and our broken van!) when we really need him.



 

"the place to take the true measure of a man is not in the darkest place, nor the amen corner, not in the cornfield, but by his own fireside.  there he lays aside his mask, and you will find if he is an imp or an angel, cur or king, hero or humbug.  i care not what the world says of him: whether it crowns him king or pelts him with bad eggs.  i care not a copper what his reputation or religion may be.  if his babies dread his homecoming, and his better half swallows her heart every time she asks for a five-dollar bill he is a fraud of the first water, even though he prays morning and night until he is black in the face....but if his children rush to the front door to meet him and love's sunshine illuminates the face of his wife every time she hears his footfall, you can take it for granted that he is pure.  for his home is a heaven.  i can forgive much in that fellow mortal who would rather make men swear than women weep; who would rather have the hate of the whole world than the contempt of his wife; who would rather call anger to the eyes of a king than fear to the face of a child." 

-W. C. Brann from Elbert Hubbard's scrapbook

my mother shared this quote with me when i was single, hoping that i'd find a man that would not only be a suitable eternal companion, but also a wonderful father to our future children...and i think that i found a pretty swell guy that fits the bill!

 

so this past Sunday i woke up early...i knew that he wouldn't want much since we're trying to cut back on most expenses, so i reverted to the old standby: breakfast in bed.  i made for him bacon and eggs, whole wheat pancakes (from scratch), and POG.  yummm...he got so full that he fell right back asleep for a nap before getting ready for church.  mission - accomplished. =)

 

 



happy father's day to the man whose children rush to the front door to meet him, the man that illuminates my face with love's sunshine every time i hear his footfall.  i'm so grateful that i got a good one, for sure.



week 12 healthy!

I must admit that I kinda slacked last week on working out...I got sick for a few days and then a bad case of sunburn really limited by movement abilities.  it was not a pretty sight.  I did, however, stick to my healthy eating habits for the most part.  I didn't want to lose too much momentum so I still packed my daily lunches, snacked often, drank tons of water, blended some yummy smoothies, and continued to make decent dinner choices. 



 

the boy happily slurping a kale, pineapple, orange, banana, peach, agave nectar smoothie.  the easiest way to get him to consume veggies!

daily breakfast: oatmeal, PB, and honey.

this week though, i'm determined to get back on track - exercise-wise.  I would really like to decrease my running time, and increase the length that I run.  lastnight I did 3.5 miles...which isn't much, but is still the most I've done in LOOOONG time - probably since my senior year in high school.  yeah, it's pathetic.  but better than nothing.  so bite me. =)

I want to continue to be outside more.  and now that summer is here, beach days should be inevitable!  it shows my children that it's important and a priority to be active, to be outdoors, and to appreciate living in Hawaii.  (it also makes them happy, and really, really tired! lol)  apparently vitamin D is essential for good health...and what better way to get those nutrients than soaking it up at the beach?!

I'm stoked to report that I've lost a few more pounds - and i'm excited about shedding more...a lot faster.  because jiggly muffin tops just ain't the biz.  NO EXCUSES!!!

happy Wednesday!

flashback friday: waikiki 2012

just over one year ago, Brandon decided to celebrate my bday a little differently...so we stayed in a beautiful corner rainbow tower room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village!!

luckily we had a family member who worked there that hooked us up with an awesome discount on the room.  because I don't think that we could've afforded it otherwise. we checked in on friday afternoon, and left Waikiki on Monday afternoon.  the 3 days went by way too quick and made us wish that we could live that life forever.  it's always so difficult to go back to your routine of school, work, transporting the kids to and from the grandparents, etc. after such a relaxing "stay-cation".

 

here's some of the highlights of our little escape:

• chillin' on our wraparound balcony overlooking Waikiki beach and diamond head.
• swimming in the hotel pool with the kids.
• enjoying a mac 24/7 breakfast with the man vs. food HUGE pancakes
• watching the amazing fireworks from our room's balcony.  so convenient!
• grinding at cheesecake factory with Brandon's brother's family, and his AZ mission companion.
• macaroni grill birthday dinner (sheesh, does it sound like we eat out a lot or WHAT?)

birthday celebrations are the best!  haha.

week two into healthy

i gotta say that i'm kinda proud of myself.  it's true that in the past that i've not done so well in sticking to a diet and exercise plan.  i've tried it here and even here...and i still somehow find myself back to square one.  it's been quite discouraging, to say the least.

this time around though, i feel like it's different.  i'm not sure why.  there hasn't exactly been an "a-ha!" moment of clarity.  it's not like i've had anyone tell me (lately) that i look pregnant when i'm not...no getting kicked off an airplane because i take up two seats...nothing like that.  i think i'm just tired of NOT being better than i know i can be.

so each morning i'm waking up by 5:45 to be out the door and on the bike path by 6am. 





it's gotten a lot easier to not allow myself to sleep in.  i'm so very impressed with my body clock these days.  but even if I don't wake up on time, then i'll do my jog at night.  i used to think that i could do a workout in the afternoon, say - after I get off work - but the 80 degree mid-day weather quickly snaps me back to reality and laughs in my face.  so i'm sticking to my morning workouts and actually enjoying it - and looking forward to it!  that's never EVER happened to me before...ever.  in my life.

 

during my freshman year in high school, we had to run 3 miles every other day for PE.  it was pure torture.  any of my classmates could attest to the fact that i was the slowest, laziest, yet skinniest girl out on the track.  humiliating fact: instead of running a 15k with all the other freshmen at the end of the year, an exception was made on my behalf so that i was assigned to only run a 10k with the overweight, obese, and apparently extremely slow 9th graders.  there was like 6 other kids with me.  mmm hmmm.  that's how much i hated running.

 

now that i'm older and of course so much wiser, i know that my metabolism is only going to get slower and it'll be so much harder to rid my body of it's excess weight later.  i'm now sucking it up when i feel side pain, i push forward when i feel like i'm gonna faint, and i tell myself, "...you can make it to that next telephone pole".  and with each triumph, the resulting rush makes me feel like i can do hard things.

 

each morning i'm blessed with views of a pristine ranch on one side, and a golden sunrise over the ocean on the other.  it makes my workout that much more worthwhile.  i love that i'm finally making time to enjoy living in hawaii (and laie, for that matter) now...because who knows how much longer we may be here.  you just never know...

i'm also being more careful in what i eat in order to aid my weight loss efforts.  but when i get to grind meals such as salmon with spinach, i really don't feel deprived of any yummy goodness.  after my morning workouts i pack my lunch and some healthy snacks to take to work, so i'm less tempted to buy something evil from the not-so-fresh seasider snackbar.

it's only been two weeks and although I've only lost about 5 pounds so far, i feel like i'm making a change in a healthy direction.  and i really hope this change will stick and positively affect the rest of my life.

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....

a second attempt at first bread



the president's day holiday gave me a little extra time on my hands.  so i decided to give homemade breadmaking another try...because my first attempt did not go so well.

 

i don't know when, if, or how others learn to make bread from scratch, but i find it a bit strange that this 31 year-old had to resort to youtube tutorials and "yahoo answers" for training on a common homemaking practice.  naturally, most of my cooking and baking abilities were taught to me at a very young age from my grandmother and mother.  i've learned to get a little more creative and adventurous with recipes by watching a whole lot of food network.  and finally i've had to adjust my knowledge of early culinary teachings to concoct delicious, satisfying, yet healthy meals for my health-conscious hubby.  this means substituting ground beef for ground turkey, white rice for brown rice, white flour for whole wheat, vegetable oil for olive oil, margarine for real butter (while also limiting the amount used), and processed foods for...well, foods made from scratch.

 

so after brandon gifted me a kitchenaid stand mixer this past christmas, i was left to my devices to produce even more yumminess - from scratch, that is.  and so i finally thought to myself, gosh darnit, it's about time that i learned how to make our own bread.



 

after watching numerous amounts of youtube vids on the basics over several weeks time, i felt confident enough to give it a whirl.  so like i said - that first time i tried to make it...was the ultimate fail.  i'm not sure what i did wrong, maybe the water i used wasn't warm enough for the yeast, perhaps i didn't knead the dough enough, i don't know.  but i have to admit that it was kind of discouraging to throw big rocks of whole wheat into the trash because you failed.

but yesterday i figured, WTH - practice makes perfect, right?  so the measuring, mixing, kneading, and rising went into play.  and i'm now pleased to present: my perfect little loaf of fresh, whole wheat, homemade bread...from scratch!

and although i don't think my grandma nor my mother meant to exclude this essential homemaking skill, i vow to spend a little time with my little girl in our little kitchen showing her how to make a little loaf of bread.

grateful for my valentine

valentine's day holds a special place in my heart.  no pun intended.  why, you ask?  well, since you asked...this will take you there!

i love this man.

while i can't say that we have incredibly romantic valentine days as much as the first one we shared, i can say with a surety that with each passing year it comes around with a lot more love.  every february i would hint to brandon that i'd appreciate (not want, not need, not "you must do this, or else" - just... appreciate.  lol) the whole commercialized v-day sha-bang.  i'd add to these hints with "because it's our special day!" to build on the importance of flowers, balloons, etc.  he'd usually follow through on my requests with special deliveries to my office, so that i could relish in the covetous glances from female co-workers and incoming students.  i'm so mature, i know.

but this year i grew up.  i told him, "no need anything this year."  and i actually really meant it.  we're not entirely poor, but we're not exactly loaded either.  since the money that he spends on "sweet nothings" comes out of a joint account - i'm pretty much paying for the lovely-smelling ginger leis myself.  i guess it took me 8 years to figure out that those dollars could be better spent elsewhere.  i'm so bright.  needless to say, brandon was elated and relieved to be freed from the shackles of vday creativity.

however - this morning i woke up to the sounds of clanking in the kitchen.  brandon usually makes cereal or oatmeal for ahonui before the boy heads off to school.  but this morning was different.  i know pouring milk into a bowl didn't require that much noise.  a few minutes later, as i'm laying in bed, here comes brandon with two plates: scrambled eggs with diced onions and pocho (portuguese) sausage, and pancakes!  breakfast!  in bed!!!  simple, sweet, and saving money...the best way to melt my heart.

i used to pride myself on the similar characteristics i felt that i share with my late father: a patient, positive, laid-back, and good-natured attitude. no, not egotistical one bit, thank you very much. seriously though, i thought that i would rate pretty decent in sticky situations with a cool head and slow to anger demeanor.  lately though, i'm finding that my fuse has gotten a lot shorter, i'm reaching my boiling point a lot quicker, my limits are narrower, i'm maxxed out of patience, i have a low tolerance for stupid, to be quite honest.  and it makes me sad...because it feels so unlike me to behave as such.

so late lastnight, as we left angel's ice cream shop after celebrating vday as a family, i almost hit two oblivious college kids crossing the street during my green light and their red hand.  i got so frustrated, that i screamed and displayed some unladylike obscenities because they were casually strolling across instead of scurrying along like they should have been.  as we continued on the road, brandon started quietly singing "i love to seeee the teeeemple...".  and i couldn't help but laugh, calm down, and take a deep breath.

i'm grateful that my better half can keep me in check, and bring me to a better place.  i love that he loves me despite my shortcomings, and that he can be patient with others when i'm running low on the stuff.  there's a dixie chicks song that i listen to when my day gets a little crazy.  i'd like to think that the lyrics describe what brandon does for me so often...and for that, i'm grateful.

"And I come to find a refuge in the

Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me"

love you, bran.

makahiki ekolu

three years ago today brandon & i were married and sealed in the laie, hawaii temple.

we really treated ourselves this past weekend in waikiki. even though it was only two days of a vacation, i don't think i've been that relaxed in a loooong, long time. we spent our days getting our money's worth from the hotel room (get your mind right...) - watching tv, sleeping, and surfing the web. i slept and slept and slept...and sure enjoyed our humongous plasma flat screen tv from the bed. we spent our nights eating out in nearby restaurants like cheesecake factory, charthouse (which i loved, but brandon did not due to the small portions), and mac 24-7 (a cute, hip restaurant conveniently located in our very own lobby that served the most enormous pancakes i've ever seen!). we also planned on going to the movies, but we were so clever to figure out that our in-room movies were cheaper (and waaay easier to get to)! so we were able to catch up on a few flicks AND save money at the same time in the comfort of our hotel room. we are so economical.

i know it may sound strange, but honestly, all i wanted to do was just lay around and do nothing. i didn't want to have to think about which one-way waikiki street we couldn't drive down, or which expensive polynesian show (that we most likely have already seen) to catch, or how much money i couldn't spend on a coach bag. those things were not on my agenda, and i'm so happy that brandon concurred with my lazy request.

it was a wonderful way to celebrate three wonderful years together.