Pandora

Pandora has been my sleeping partner every night this last week. I don't know why it has been my sleeping aid lately but is the only thing that can put me to sleep. Maybe my mind needs some distraction and I am restless in my dream world. My access is limited, and maybe I should add it to my smaller devices and not sleep with my Kindle Fire. Its midnight and I have to remind the boys that they need their sleep before the Xbox explodes. They love their gifts and sent "Thank You" cards out to the respective grandparents. They are so spoiled. I miss my grandparents. I cant believe that Nana has been gone for so long. Makes me want to hug my kids every chance I get. Even if that means that they roll their eyes and let me pull them close, again. Play on Pandora and put me to sleep, the sandman doesn't come quick enough. I'm going to sleep reflecting the year gone by. Here's to the hope of a better tomorrow. See you in the morning.

Good times

FIRST EVER QUARTERLY JINKS SPL SOUNDOFF! DEC.22 2012

Im not a GLUTTON ... I am an EXPLORER of FOOD

honu

#kailua_h

Hope

We must always have 

OLD

memories and 

YOUNG HOPES

Chicken

Im going to cook this before the year is out...

 

pretty good recipe strain the sauce before eating.
GARLIC CHICKEN (almost as good as Mitsu-Ken’s!)
3 pounds chicken (boneless, bite-sized, or wings & drummettes)
2 cups flour *(see note)
Oil for frying.
Garlic sauce: (this is the secret!)
2 cups shoyu
2 cups sugar
1 cup chopped garlic (for real, 1 cup!)
½ cup chopped green onion
2 Tbs. sesame oil
1 tsp. Chile flakes
Salt & pepper to taste.
Combine sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil, (sugar will carmelize slightly) and set aside. Dredge chicken in flour & deep fry. Dip in sauce and serve. Serves 12.

NOTES: Have tested the recipe; very similar to Mitsu-Ken’s.
*You may want to use 1 cup cornstarch and 1 cup flour for a crispier frying. Also, suggest straining the sauce before using to eliminate the minced garlic sticking to the chicken pieces! Excellent!

Mele Kalikimaka

Just finished our Christmas cards... now to get them all labeled and mailed out before the world ends... I mean, before Christmas. The kids are out of school and the milk is running low. My company Christmas party is today... Prime Rib dinner really, but we will take what we can get. I don't know where we are on gift shopping... but it really isn't that important. Spending time with family and keeping in touch with distant relatives are far more important this year. After the tragedy in Connecticut, its just another reminder that life is short. Spend time with those that matter and hug on each other a little tighter. No amount of presents under the tree can compare with that. #5878

Tis the Season!

MELE KALIKIMAKA

HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU

10

If you ever catch yourself feeling blue, as we all sometimes do from time to time, here are ten things that if you do three days in a row (I promise) will make you feel better.

1. In the morning write down five things you are grateful for.

2. Think about a random act of kindness you can do for someone that day.
3. Eat well (you know what that means); drink well (no coffee, soft drinks or alcohol).
4. Exercise hard for 20 minutes.
5. Write an old friend an email or better yet a letter.
6. Actively relax, meditate or pray for 10 minutes.
7. Take a walk in the sun.
8. Watch a John Hughes' movie like "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off" or "The Breakfast Club".
9. Sleep deep and long.
10. Remember that you are loved (I promise).

 

 

Courtesy of Frank Warren - Postsecret.com

#5818

Life

I have found that if you love life, 
Life loves you back.
            ~Arther  Rubinstine


#5813 

QTD

Maya Angelou

"If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution. Never whine. Whining lets a brute know that a victim is in the neighborhood."

So good!

Some people cant eat anything that is looking at them... then there are those that just want to suck the eyeballs out! #eatmonstera

Parade

My babes had such a fun time in the parade. 

Even my little one took a ride in the stroller!
Thank you Aunty Lala!!

Saundra's Husband

Saundra makes a list of her "husband"

Good Communication 

Honest

Believes in God

Thoughtful

Intelligent

Open 

Funny

Kind

Generous

Family Oriented

Outgoing / Inverted

Tattoos

Deep

cool aunt status

Kind Words

"Kehau, you are a pretty terrific sister....I've been missing mine forever! Sometimes I read your post and you say so little, but they mean so much...you are what mothers would want sisters to be!" -Aunty Tulane 

Youngin'

The island of Hawaii is still so young and still growing.

Surf Sess

Sunday Secrets

Posted

Posted up at my sisters house just kind of hanging out while she and her minions are busy working around me. I am just enjoying being here. Put the babe down for a nap and I am killing time til I have to leave, trade off the babe and head to work myself. Thou I am in no hurry, Hubby has already called. But being the good wife that I am, he came home to a clean house and half made bed. Hey, the dishes are done, and the toys are picked up. What more do you want? My company? My pretty face hanging around for your pleasure? I must say, I am pretty proud of myself getting it all done before I am usually even up out of bed. Yeah, me! Beside, I had to pick up a few things from here anyway. Like my 10 year old Christmas tree and ornaments. I'm so frugal!

Paradise

This is my island paradise where I call home. At least, for now.

Modivate me

I am searching for a little motivation. (and a dictionary) I sit here trying to gather my thoughts, but all I can think about is the laundry in the washer... my bed that should be fixed and the little girl that needs to be put down for a nap. I woke up this morning to tornado hit living room. You could tell that he was trying to get comfy, and lost. Some point in the night he wondered back to the bedroom. I of course ended up putting all the pieces back together and resenting him at the same time. 10:37am the clock tell me. Its time to pick up the house and try to catch a nap with the babe. I shouldn't be tired thou, I spent my night off in bed after Chinese take-out. I heard thru the great vine that my sister has rekindled things with her lover... why am I always the last to know. Perhaps she was going to tell me, but I didn't answer my phone because I was in court that morning. Time eludes me and I am waiting on the world to change. #5765

"the Wave"

92.1 FM the new radio station. They kicked off by playing 92,000 songs in a row. It has been two days now... do you think they have reached their mark?                  

Ohana

Ohana means no one gets left behind.

Parade

Good morning sunshine. Don't let the hat fool you, it isn't that cold. We are gearing up for the Christmas parade in a couple of  weeks. Last year SJ was bundled up and stuck in a car seat. This year we are going to really enjoy the festivities. For the last three years we have done our "Christmas Picture" at this parade, thus making it our annual thing. Its going to be so much fun this year. Not to mention the kids picture with Santa. But before we can do all of that, we have to have Thanksgiving!! I sadly have to work on Thursday, but that just means that I get to eat my turkey early!

wawae

love

Invest your time in the things you love. – The most important decision you will ever make is what you do with the time that is given to you.  Trust me, before you know it you’ll be asking, “How did it get so late so soon?”  So put your time to good use, and let yourself be drawn to the strange pull of what you love; it will not lead you astray.  Above all, live your life so that when you’re old, you never have to let the person you became fantasize about the person you were capable of being. #marcandangel
 

#cousins   #brothers  #goodcleanfun

jonesing

Got it good

Early Morning Poolside

Its November and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, you cant help but ponder on all the blessing around you and be thankful. Looking back at this year, there is so much to be thankful for. I realized that I have an awesome life. I get to be part of an amazing family, and wife to my best friend. My address says Hawai'i and I have a job that keeps the toilets flushing and hot water flowing. I see my boys on the regular and I spend more days with my feet in the sand than the average person. I may not be rich but I have real friends who support me and family that love me unconditionally. Im thankful I am   alive.

IQTD (Inspiring quote of The Day)

Shamara Tapia

SUCCESS woke me up, MOTIVATION made my breakfast, DESTINY gave me my agenda, and the LORD gave me HIS BLESSING :)

snow

Glad it not snowing where I am. Bring on the snow birds.

love

#5739

Jean

                 D-Jean and S-Jean

                          Love them both

                       with all my heart.

laughter

Laughter is the best medicine.

"Shells"

Spoiled

I am spoiled rotten. At least that is what a few may say of me. I can't help that my husband rocks! Instead of going out and grabbing lunch, he decided to make it himself. Most of it anyway. He came home loaded down from the grocery store and proceeded to make lunch. It was awesome to say the least. Sake and Maguro sashimi, Ahi poke and Tako poke. Side bowl of rice (not pictured) with furukake. Of course no raw fish would be complete without shoyu. I needed a nap before work after this tasty surprise. Maybe I am a spoiled. Maybe just a little bit.

Baby Girl

                                                                                                                                                   

The thing I thought I didn't want the most has become my newest object of affection. I have fallen head over heels and I wonder if she will be as hard on me as I was on my parents. I want her to have everything I didn't and more.

Salute

Salute to Papa Calito. Budweiser his beer of choice and fresh sashimi. We toasted the man we learned so much from. The man who taught us that family is important and to always wear a babushka in the kitchen. The life that fathered 10 children. The hard working business owner and provider. The history teacher who made sure that we knew where we came from, but more importantly, what we have overcome. Always had something cooking on the stove and fed all who came thru his door. My fondest memory my grandfather reaches back to my high school years. He spoke to me with no judgement in his eyes, no condemnation in his voice and said, "Family is all we really have. Go home and make things right with your dad." As always, he was right... friends come and go... family is forever. Time and distance are never a factor.  Rest in paradise Papa, you are missed but NEVER forgotten.

Red

I finally make it back to work, after well, an extended vacation. Even after coming home from the funeral, I had to stay home and heal from my teeth extraction. I made it into work with a mouth full of stitches and swollen gums. I get into work and I am greeted by my co-worker... "this place has so much drama". Not the warm welcome I was hoping for. Turns out, two of my best mates are out the door. One is already gone and the other is on their final two weeks. I am totally bummed. I was really looking forward to working the holiday season with them. Now I am working with a bunch of (use your imagination here). It is going to be a tough busy season without my key team players. Do I grin and bear it or do I try my luck somewhere else? I have years in this company and I am starting to feel the pinch. I don't have the time or the resources to go else where. I guess I just keep my head down and keep on keeping on. What choice do I have when Ive got bills to pay, debts to repay and nothing else on the horizon, as far as another job goes. I guess I am where I am. Good thing tonight was a good night, or else I just might have turned in my walking papers. Come support me as I try to get out of the red.

#Eat Monstera

Miss Lulu

 Little Miss Lulu.... Aunty Mama misses you so!