The nearest book store...

Is now maybe twenty miles away.  It totally bums me out that Borders closed and I'll be damned if my kids grow up not knowing what a book or book store is.  I am doing everything I can to advocate for traditional books.  While I cannot deny that the books on our Ipad highly motivate my kids to read, there is something to be said about loving a real, live, book that wears with age and love.

So, we packed up the kids in the van and drove thirty miles to Barnes and Nobles Kahala.  They have a beautiful section for kids that's clean, inviting, and stimulating.  When Dannika entered the kid section she squealed and got so excited seeing all the colorful, pretty books.  She didn't know where to start and could not contain her excitement.  She was grabbing this book and that book and seeing how excited she was made me know that no matter how expensive gas ever gets we'll go back again and again.

So, as we were running around looking at pretty books a family approached me and asked where we were from.  I told them and then they asked if my daughter's name was Dannika.  Turns out that the daughter is Dannika's "buddy" at school and they had also travelled the 30 miles to the nearest book store to get their kids books.  Dannika and her buddy looked for books then say in the Pooh forest and buddy read to Dannika all the books that she had chosen.

It was one of those days that the planets aligned and magic happened.  Priceless.  The power of a book.

Shopping and Mommyhood

Back in the day--before kids, that is if I needed something I could jump in my car and drive to Ala Moana. If said thing that I absolutely NEEDED wasn't to be found at one of Ala Moana's 290 shops (per alammoanacenter.com) I didn't think twice about jumping in my car and driving to Kahala Mall to continue the hunt.  Still not found?  Well there's always Pearlridge and even Windward Mall.

Those days are GONE.  Now that I am a mom with two active kids shopping has become a SPORT.  One that I have had to become a professional at.  One that I have had to become ruthless at.  Now that I am a mom I need to be able to get in and out quick and get the best deal possible.  Now that my kids are five and four years old I have become quite an expert mommy shopper.  If you need some sort of frame of reference I am like the Usain Bolt (fastest man in the world) of shopping.  I can get in and outta the store in record time with some pretty cool things.  So how do I do it?  Read on...

First of all I do a lot of scouting.  The internet and Social Media have become my most important resources for my shopping expertise.  I spend a lot of time "internet shopping" to get an idea of what I want.  The popularity of Facebook shopping has been the best invention.  I simply open my Facebook account, cruise to the pages of my favorite stores and see their latest arrivals.  If I see something I like I either leave a comment to ask questions or save a size or call the Boutique depending on what their level of Facebook customer service is (Fashionista's Boutique with Alyssa Fung and Aly Case are the BEST!).  I can buy over the phone and even get roadside pick up for my goodies at Fashionista's Market or I can go to other boutiques, let them know I have things on hold and try on fast.  Or, if I hadn't contacted the boutique I can ask for the "black one sleeved dress on the Facebook page" like I did at Adore today.  For someone like me who doesn't have time to look through racks, this new Facebook phenomenon has been a GODSEND!!!

Same pretty much goes for internet shopping.  I browse the new arrivals page of Old Navy, Gap, BR and Piperlime once a week.  If I see something I like I either buy online (free shipping) or make a mental note in my head.  With Gap Inc's free shipping I buy, try on at home and take trip to the store if it doesn't fit for free returns.  Piperlime is even better.  They have free MAIL returns. If I don't like, I pack it back into the box and drop it off at the Post Office.  Doesn't get any easier than this.  No need to go to the mall, wait for a dressing room, or be trapped with a crazy kid half-naked in a 2 foot by 2 foot room with bad lighting and skinny mirrors!!

And if you are an online shopping junky like me then make sure you google for online coupons for whatever site you're purchasing at.  I always find great online coupons for White House Black Market.  If you're not into Google, then like the Businesses page on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.  This will give you first hand accounts of sales, deals, and coupons to be had.

An even better tip is to join sites like ebates.  You visit ebates before shopping, go to the site through ebates and you receive cash back for each purchase.  Sometimes it's only 1%, but others it can be 10% and up.  Sure, getting $0.67 back doesn't seem like much, but over time you can get $200 plus dollars back like me!!!  And if you get friends to join you can get $5 back for their first purchase or earn points toward your own Ipad!!!

My last shopping mom praise is a shout out for the Starbucks Drive Through in Waipio.  There are days when you just cannot get out of the car--the kids may be bouncing off the wall, they may be fast asleep, you may have even left the house with two different shoes or sans makeup...and with the day that you're having you need some Caffeine!  A fast drive through the Starbucks can help relieve the jonesing for caffeine.  Believe me, I have driven out of my way many times to hit that drive through for my own sanity.

These are just a few of my shopping tips to save time and money.  More of my little secrets will be revealed...but for now van mommy gotta run and get those kiddies in bed!

Eat Local Challenge!

Kanu Hawaii is a hui that encourages people to make commitments to make the world a better place.  They recently launched their eat local challenge:

http://www.kanuhawaii.org/challenge/details

From their website:

Commit

Kanu Hawai‘i’s Eat Local Challenge will commit thousands of islanders in the effort to build a more sustainable, secure, and healthy local food system.  Building on the successes of the past two years, the Eat Local Challenge is expanding  from one week to the entire month of September. The month will feature weekly mini-challenges:

Week 1: Education: Learn about Hawai'i's local food system
Week 2: Grow your own: Plant/harvest local foods at home and in the community
Week 3: Choose local: Find local food at restaurants and markets
Week 4: Eat strictly local: Strive to eat only locally grown foods for one week

Our family has always had a garden and supported our local businesses by trying to buy local.  I know there is much more that we need to do and we are going to step up to the challenge.  I brought the kids to the Farmer's Market this morning and talked to them about the importance of supporting local farmers.  Not sure if they understood what I was talking about, but at least the Sunday Farmer's Market is a part of their lives!

Here are a few pictures of our day this morning:

Getting ready to shop with our re-usable bags from one of our favorite local businesses "Fighting Eel"

Noah buying water cress from the Nalo Farms truck.  We'll combine with some local tofu to make a yummy and healthy Tofu Salad.

Noah is buying some snap peas.  He loves carrots with Ranch Dressing so I am hoping he'll like these with the dressing too.  Trying to instill within them the importance of eating veggies!

Dannika buying an avocado.  We'll be combining with the tomatoes and Chinese parsley we purchased as well as some red onions and some lime to make a delicious pico de gallo.

Dannika showing us her goodies.

Noah showing us what he bought.

It was a great day.  We saved money and we supported local businesses!!!

The Making of a Soccer Banner

This is another prime example of how my thinking gets me into crazy situations.  It went something like this:

Me Reading:  Make a team banner for your team to carry at Opening Day Ceremonies.

Me at Soccer Field:  Anyone want to be in charge of making the team banner?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller...Bueller?

Me Thinking:  I guess I am making the banner.  If I make it out of paper it might rain and the girls are going to get it all crumpled and torn..all that work for nothing.  Man, if I am going to have to spend time making a banner I may as well make it out of material so that it will last a long time then we can put it up at all the games.  Yeah...that makes perfect sense!  Why would I spend two hours on something that we can only use one day and done.  A banner made of material it is.

Sounds perfectly logical right?  These ideas always do when I am talking to myself.  I figured I'd get the girls to do some drawings, take their picture then print it out on transfer iron ons...and voila, cute team banner!!!

So I set out to Walmart to get all the things I needed for this little project a few Sundays ago.  It gave me exactly 5 days to five days to finish before the big parade.  50 bucks later I had some material, some iron ons, and puffy paint.

First step was to stitch the material that would become the banner.  I bought a heavy canvas and hemmed the two sides so that the material wouldn't run and then stitched a band at the top of the banner to be used to run a piece of rope through in order to hang the banner up.  Easy part done.

Next it was time to do the lettering for our team name, "Red Unicorns."  I typed each letter out in a cute DJ Inkers Font, then reversed each letter.  I printed each letter out to use as a stencil.  I was planning on making applique letters so I had to iron on the transfer onto the red material, then trace the stencils onto the backing then cut each letter out.  After each letter was made, I had to place it on the canvas backing and iron each letter on.  If this would have been  a project that I wanted the applique to last a long time through washing I would have either zig zagged stiched along the edge of each letter (not an easy task) or used puffy paint to seal the edges--faster but not as pretty.

Next it was time to put the girls' pictures and art work onto the banner.  I created a little vignette for each girl in a drawing program.  I took a photo of their self portrait and paired it with the photo portrait I took of each of them at soccer.  Once printed out on the transfer adhesive all I would need to do is iron it on onto the banner.

Well, it wasn't so easy. You have to apply a lot of pressure when ironing or the transfer doesn't come off in one piece.  I learned the hard way after trying to iron on an image directly onto the banner.  It came out ugly and I was irritated.  Not one to put anything out there that's not pretty close to perfection I had to go back to Walmart to buy more material to cover up the mess...and that's when the craziness ensued...I decided that I would put all of the girls' vignettes on separate pieces of fabric then add them to the banner.  This enabled me to be able to clean up any mistakes and would also enable me to give each girl their panel at the end of the season (maybe sewed onto a canvas bag).  BUT it also created some problems...how would I adhere each panel to the banner?  The crazy idea I came up with was to cut each panel with pinking shears then hand-stitch each panel onto the banner.  It was crazy hard work but it gave the "look" of the banner a real homey feel.

To cap it all off I decided to have the girls put their hand print on a separate piece of material and then hand stitch that onto the banner as well.

It took me a good 5-6 hours to complete the banner and I was going crazy by the end of it.  Trying to do the sewing while making sure the kids didn't wreck the house was a challenge.  However, the pictures of the girls holding the banner are priceless and one parent told me, "I told my wife that the banner looked like something Martha Stuart would do."  So I guess it was all worth it.

By the way, it POURED at the Opening Day ceremonies and some of the paper/paint banners were RUINED.  Our banner got wet, got stepped on, dropped, and took a beating....but it still looks great and will be hung at our game this Saturday and for the next 8 Saturdays after that!  :)  I guess I am brilliant after all.

They grow up too fast.

Signs I am getting old...

• The ladies at Fighting Eel cater to my daughter when she walks in the store instead of me.
• I just watched 8 episodes of the Xmen cartoon so my son can catch a glimpse of Mystique who is his "favorite character because she is blue."
• My daughter knows how to maneuver around my Ipad and sorts the apps because I don't know how to.
• I turn on the radio and my kids are singing songs that aren't familiar to me.
• My friends are buying their teenage sons skinny jeans.
• My kids have no idea what an 8 track tape, record player, tape player or CD player are.  They think music comes from an Ipad.  
• The music in "the" stores are too loud.
• I put moisturizer on my face before I go to bed.
• Going out to dinner and home by 8pm is a wild Friday night out.  A drink at said dinner is scandalous!
• I drive my van and sing the praises of having automatic opening doors to anyone that will listen!
• I wake up early every morning to get an early start on everything.
• It hurts to walk every morning after a long run.
• I talk to anyone and everyone that I just met everywhere I go.
• Some days I opt to wear Birkenstocks instead of my heels.
• I drive a van and I'm officially an AYSO soccer coach.

Mirror Neurons

A year ago I watched a PBS clip about mirror neurons.  You can watch the video here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/mirror-neurons.html

In a nutshell we learn as we watch others and some of us learn in this manner better than others.  Recent events have led me to believe that my daughter has Gifted and Talented mirror neurons.

Earlier today I picked up my daughter from her last day of Kindergarten Kamp.  Being that her Kindergarten Kareer will start next week I wanted us to have some bonding time. The plan was to participate in one of our favorite mommy/daughter activities: shopping.

We headed out toward town and had to drive around in circles to find parking outside of one of my favorite little boutiques.  I kept telling ms fashionista that we'd have to leave if we didn't find parking and she replied, "Don't give up mommy, keep trying!" So we kept circling wasting our $3.99 a gallon gas and parked at the expensive lot on the fourth turn.

We stopped at the first boutique and picked up a blouse that I had put on hold.  The boutique only had "big girl" clothes and I promised her that we would go to another store that had little girl clothes.  We walked down the block and came to the boutique.  I opened the door and pointed her toward the rack of girl clothes.  She immediately walked up the rack, and started oohing and ahhhing at the pretty colorful dresses.  Together we picked two dresses in her size and SHE handed them to the fabulous salesgirl.  Ms fashionista ran after the salesgirl and followed her to the dressing room.  Ms Fashionista told me that she could, "do it herself" and didn't need my help so I sat outside and waited for her.  After a few minutes I heard her squealing with delight and I told her to come out.  She ran out with a cute little blue dress on and started jumping up and down in excitement.  It was the cutest thing ever.

I sent her back in and told her to try on the second dress.  A few minutes later more squealing.  She came out when I told her and started parading around the store showing the sales aunties the cute little dress.  When she was done changing back into her dress I told her she could choose only one and she chose the pink dress (no surprise).  I grabbed the pink dress and brought it to the register to pay.  She grabbed the blue dress, walked up to the register and told aunty, "Aunty, put my name on the dress and put it in the back so I can buy it tomorrow."  Aunty sales gal stood there with her mouth hanging open and muttered, "I've never seen anything like this before."  I giggled too thinking...well, ms fashionista sees this happen at least once a week and dyamn she's a fast learner!

Now, if she can convince daddy to go back to Fighting Eel and pick up her HOLD tomorrow I will BOW TO THE MASTER!!!

Is Reading Comprehension Obsolete?

My previous post touched the surface of the effect on bookstore closing on society.  I still have much to write on that particular subject and while having my brainstorming conversation in my head about it it led me to ask the question, "Is reading comprehension obsolete?"

I ask this because most Ebooks and Ereaders come with the option to have the text read aloud.  I have one audible book downloaded to my Kindle, "Go the F--- to sleep!" read by Samuel L. Jackson.  It was free and recommended on Facebook so I said, "What the heck."  Samuel L. Jackson does an amazing job reading the text and the words are certainly enhanced by his ability. I laughed and laughed as he read because I could total relate to his angst, anger, and frustration.

In reality I did not READ the book. I listened to the book and believe that my "listening comprehension" was spot on.  I got the jist of the book, as well as the literal meaning of the text.   I could make personal connections as well as inter-textual connections of the reading. I am positive had I read the text I would be able to do the same as well.  Text readability was far below my reading level and it was engaging.  I certainly had ownership of the text having been a parent with the same exact feelings (and currently feeling that way) many, may times.

But how about that non-reader or emergent readers?  I spend a lot of time with my children around literacy activities.  My 3 year old and my 5 year old have a large bank of sight words and have their own strategies to decode words that they are unable to read. They love to have us sit with books and read it to them and they love to have the Ipad "read" books to them.  It makes me wonder...will they really NEED to read in their adult lives?  And if not, should I spend more time on building their listening comprehension?!!!

Audible books allow us to enjoy the gift of stories while we do other things such as drive, or shower, or cook a meal.  They are perfect for multi-taskers who feel as though they can't afford the luxury of sitting down and reading.  I really do not believe that they are aimed at the illiterate population.  However, as technology advances will the necessity of reading for comprehension die out?

Bye Bye Borders

The news that Border's Books would be shutting all its stores really hurt. I have a lot of great memories in Border's but it's bigger than losing a place that I would hang out at and bring my kids to.  As a reading educator I see the trend of moving toward online books one that will increase stratification in our society.  The haves and the have nots as it relates to e-books will have an impact on literacy in our society.

Before I begin.  Let me admit that I have a Kindle and read books on my Kindle, computer, and sometimes (but not often phone).  I also order a huge amount of my personal books from amazon. Heck, while I am confessing my sins, I also bought my husband an Ipad and downloaded beautiful, engaging, and interactive books onto it for my kids (at 3.99 a pop, they're easy baby sitters).

Perhaps I should stop here.  Because I've just admitted that I'm responsible for the demise of Border's Books.  People like me as well as avid readers like my parents who buy all their books used from Goodwill once a month when Seniors get discounts on them.

********

But this is supposed to be about my fears of  the effects of the closing of Border's on literacy in the Central and Leeward areas.  The Miliani Border's Express and the Pearlridge Border's were the lone book stores after the Waipio Store was closed.  Now that they will be shutting their doors the nearest book stores will be Barnes and Nobles at Kahala Mall and Ala Moana.  While I have no problem jumping in my car and driving 20 or so miles to get a book that is not the case for all.

And when I say all, my biggest concern are families of poverty and limited English proficiency.  These populations are the ones that will suffer the most with the loss of these stores and physical books.  Children in these homes will be less likely to visit book stores, receive books as gifts, and be highly unlikely to purchase Kindles, Ipads or E-books.

As an educator I've always stressed and encouraged parents to read with their kids at home.  Even if parents were not literate we still taught them to sit with their kids, open the book, and look at pictures.  We often gave books away to families.  The shift from physical books to E-readers has me fearful.  As physical books become more scarce how do we encourage reading and literacy in the homes that cannot afford such technology?

********

As a reader and lover of books I have always collected books.  I have a huge library of books ranging from children's books, to coffee table books, to books in Spanish. I love to hold them and look at them as they have deep and significant meaning to me.  Since converting to a part-time Kindle user I still buy physical books if they have meaning.  I like the ease of holding a Kindle while reading and the ability to transport large amts. of titles so easily..but nothing beats holding a beloved book in my hand.  The solidity of holding Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows connects me to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.  I have 10 different versions of the Little Prince...Spanish, hard cover, paper back new, paper back highlighted, french, Special Edition Hong Kong. All collected and loved.  I wonder if the generation of readers who are growing up on electronic copies will have the same affinity for books as those of us who have kept libraries for many years.

********

I am taking my kids to the book store tomorrow and I am going to let them spend an ungodly amount of money on books.  Then I am going to have them pose and take pictures both inside and outside of the stores.  Someday they're going to be showing their grandkids these pictures to show them what a book was and what a book store was used for.

Just a sad day for a bibliophile like me.  

Teachable Moments...

I am a mommy by choice and a teacher by trade.

Education is in my blood and I've wanted to be a teacher since the first grade.  I loved to play school as a child and as an adult I continue to be passionate about learning and teaching.

No longer a classroom teacher I spend a lot of time working with adult learners.  I've chosen this path with  the hope that I would be able to impact a greater amount of students by working to ensure that all students have a highly effective and qualified teacher.  Nevertheless, I miss working with kids.  Their inquisitiveness, spontaneity, innocence, questions, and excitement kept me young.  There's just no job out there that can make such a huge impact and be so fulfilling.

Now that I am a mom I get to use the strategies that I learned at the College of Education, from my colleagues at work, and from my mentors every day with my own children.  Some of the strategies I employ are subtle.  Simple acts like asking them how their day was at school when I pick them up and imploring them to answer with details and descriptive words build vocabulary and language skills.

Some days I bump up the teachable moments by ramping up our vocabulary words.  I've taught my three and five year old the terms synonyms and opposites.  When using adjectives I always ask them for more ways to say typical words.  For example, if they tell me that dessert was good, I ask them to tell me other ways to say good.  They use words like fabulous, and fantastic.  The three year old has taken to using the word, "similar."  He will point out objects around him and tell me that the "circle is similar to the ball."  Gotta love that!!

Tonight we really took the teachable moment to a higher level since I had just attended two days of the Model School Conference put on by the International Center for Leadership in Education.  Inspired, I led my kids through a 30 minute science lesson on Floating and Sinking.  I taught them the concepts of "float," "sink," "predict," and "validate."  Tough terms for pre-kindergartners?  Not at all.  I asked them to make guesses whether their shampoo bottle would sink or float.  When they told me float I explained that they just made a prediction. We then threw a number of different objects into the tub after making predictions for sink or float.  When nothing sank I asked them to think of objects that might sink in the tub and they told me stone.  I asked them to validate that a rock would sink by thinking back to a time when they saw a rock sink.  They immediately made connections to our day at the beach last week when they were throwing rocks and they were sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

There are many more time fillers that do with my kids.  I keep a stack of index cards with sight words in my bag and van to help them practice memorizing basic words they should have in their repertoire.  We do a lot of counting, adding, and subtracting of objects.  We look for patterns that exist in the world around us.  I talk to them pointing out objects that are new to them and naming them and giving them definitions.  When we are out and about I ask them to tell me what they like about something.  At the museum, I ask for specifics about what they like about the art as well as what they don't like.  I ask them to compare to other experiences we've had.  And of course we read and experience the world as much as possible.

These teachable moments make learning fun for my kids and I and really encourage the both of us to be life long learners.

Thankful.

This past week has been filled with peaks and valleys and I am sitting down to reflect on what has been one of the craziest weeks of my life.

On Monday I landed in the ER.  I got some news there that baffled me and was sent home to recover and reflect.  For the next two days I laid in bed with a crazy pain knowing that something was not right.  On Thursday I returned to the doctor and in the span of a few hours found myself being prepped for emergency surgery.  As I lay on the gurney all I could think was that I can't die because I wasn't able to tell my parents or my kids that I loved them.  I kept fighting the fear out of my head.  I wouldn't let my mind wander and I held the tears tight inside my eyes.  My voice trembled when I spoke and I fought hard to keep it together.  I kept thinking back to all the information that I had googled earlier in the week and assured myself that many women in my situation made it back alive.  Routine surgery.  Routine.  Still I couldn't help hearing the echos of all the complications my doctor had told me about or the forms I had to sign acknowledging my understanding of the gravity of the situation.  I also refused to wonder whether my husband would be able to raise my two kids or whether his third wife would be a good stepmother.  As the anesthesia entered my system I just let me mind go blank with a hint of wonderment if I would know if I died.

Minutes after looking up at the lights of the Operating Room I heard, "Mrs. Pila, wake up!"  I looked up and I was back in recovery.  My husband was besides me and I was, apparently alive.  I had no idea how much time had passed nor whether the surgery was successful.  All I felt at the moment was that I was thankful that neither my husband, my parents, nor my children would have to grieve tonight.  I was happy that they would not be feeling any sort of pain on my behalf.

My miracle of a doctor came and told me the 411 and that the surgery was a success.  It had gone by fast (an hour) and I would be going home soon.  I tried to concentrate on the words I was hearing but I was too groggy so I let my husband handle everything and just concentrated on each breath that I was taking alive.

I got home less than 3 hours after surgery, and 6 hours after initially going to the doctor without a clue as to what the night had in store for me.  I logged onto FaceBook to try and relax and learned that my friends were praying for me.  I fell asleep feeling somewhat relieved that major drama had escaped me.

The next day was my first born's preschool graduation and I skipped it even though it hurt to do so.  It wouldn't do anyone any good for me to pass out in the heat.  Normally I would have been crushed about missing such an important event.  But all I could think of was this....It didn't matter that I would miss ONE EVENT because I was alive to witness the rest of her life.  Thank GOD I would get to see the little insignificant things as well as the big thing that were to come.

It was later that night that reality hit me in the head.  I kept replaying the concerns of my doctors and my technicians on Thursday.  Their incredulity that I was walking. The questions they kept asking me.  Their shock.  Their concern.  Their immediate reaction.  It hit me like a sudden wave just how lucky I was to be alive.  I was overcome.  Overwhelmed.  The tears finally came.  I was lucky to be alive.  I had been given a chance to love and to live.

I was in a funk and really needed to get out of the house and so I decided to go ahead with a birthday celebration that I had been planning for a long time.  The venue would need to be changed but I wanted to get dressed up, smile, and be surrounded by people that loved me.  I kept my 3 hour hair appointment, I put on a short and sexy dress, and I went out to see my friends.

I don't think many of them realized the funk I was in nor the severity of the surgery I had just had.  And that was best because they showered me with love, had me laughing and was the best medicine that I could have asked for.  I was doing exactly what I needed to do.  I was taking it easy and I was surrounding myself with an amazing force of powerful energy that was keeping me going.

My crazy friends bought me a coffee maker that I had my eye on and wanted for a long time. I couldn't believe that they lugged the heavy machine to the club for me.  It took me by crazy surprise and I had no idea what I did to deserve such a thoughtful gift.  All I knew was that I was lucky to be surrounded by such an amazing support system and that things were going to be okay.

The next day was my actual birthday and my husband had plans for me.  He took me to the mall and brought me to Louis Vuitton.  When we got there one of the Sales Associates that I often "worked with" greeted hubby and told him he'd bring the bag out.  Out came a bag and they all told me to try it on.  I wasn't sure about that exact bag and told the hubby so he asked me which bag I wanted to try on.  I pointed to a bag and it was brought out for me to put on. Hubby looked like he wanted to buy the bag for me. I wasn't sure why.  I wondered if he'd have bought me the bag had I not experienced the near-death experience.  I wondered if he knew that it was "just a bag" and not that important.  In the end it didn't matter.  I knew that he felt that he needed to buy the bag and that for him  it would be part of the recovery for the craziness we had just experienced.  So I told him which bag and he went in to buy it for me.

Later that night we went out to dinner which has always been the norm for birthdays.  We liked to live big and my hubby loves fine dining.  I put on a short sexy dress and wore my new bag.  We enjoyed our dinner and time together, and it was nice. Life had continued.  We were back doing what we loved to do.

Today it's four days since my life changing surgery.   I am taking it easy and recovering as best as I can.  I am sleeping like I have never slept before.  I am eating a lot of rice and McDonalds and not worrying about putting some of the twenty pounds it had taken me 5 months to lose.  I am not running and I am okay with that.  I am madly thankful though.  Madly.  I am thankful for my friends who love me as I am, and who send me strength through their friendship.  I am thankful for my parents who stepped up and have been taking care of my kids while I have been sick.  They have kept it together so that I didn't need to worry about my kids at all and have been able to focus on getting my body healthy.  I am thankful that I took the time to get my body healthy so that it was strong enough to take the beating that it did and stay  healthy and bounce back.  More than anything I reflect on whether I would be here today if I had not made the effort to lose the weight and be healthy.  Maybe the biggest result of this whole ordeal is that I have a reason to commit to this healthy lifestyle change for LIFE.  I am thankful for my husband who was there for me every step.  I remember my doctor thanking him for bringing me to the appointment and being there for me.  As I reflect it makes my heart cry for them women out there who don't have husbands who support them.  And, I am soo ever thankful for the fact that I will be able to do nothing and everything with my two little kids this summer.  I will indeed put on a little bikini and rock my new scarred up fat belly with them at the beach.  I will laugh at their antics. Take deep breaths when they push my buttons and I will hug them and kiss them endlessly.  So thankful for life.

Happy Mother's Day!

Just a few hours left of one of the most memorable Mother's Day I've had as a full-fledged mom.  Hubby went over the top this year.  Saturday night I had a fabulous time with some amazing women and this morning I woke up to the smell of spinach omelettes and Portuguese sausage.  This in itself was a huge gift since hubby usually leaves for work by 6:30 on Sundays.  Having breakfast cooked was such a treat.  After breakfast hubby presented me with the cutest little flyer.  It was my schedule for the day and included shopping at two of my favorite boutiques:  Fashionista's Market and Eden in Love and brunch at one of my favorite restaurants:  The Pineapple Room.  He then had the kids present me with three cards:  a Mother's Day card that they signed and a gift card from each boutique.  He was a little bummed when I told him that Fashionista's Market was closed on Sundays but I assured him that it was allll good.  With that, I took a much needed nap.

The rest of the day was fun. I got to do some shopping  and eat an amazing brunch.  When we got home I did a fast 3 mile run then relaxed for the rest of the evening.  It was day of pampering spent with the peeps that I loved.  What more could I ask for?  Nothing.  Truly a perfect day as you can see in the pictures:

So, I'd like to give a huge shout out to the hubby for pulling off this wonderful surprise.  It's been a tough mothering year and it feels good to be acknowledged and appreciated for all that I do for our family.

I'd also like to send a shout out to my own Mom for being such an amazing role model and example.  My mom has always been an inspiration to me.  And I have always hoped to be able to accomplish everything that she has done in her life.  I hope that I have made her proud and I hope that I am able to inspire my own daughter the same way she has inspired me.

Finally, a huge shout out to the my mommy friends out there who work hard every day to provide for their families, often without acknowledgement and support.  The world is lucky for mommies like you who give and give and give without ever expecting anything in return.

And to the aunties, grandmas, and teachers out there who serve as mommy figures.  Thank you for loving kids just because you have an amazing heart.

To my friends out there working on being mommies.  May your wishes be answered and your miracle come true.  Don't give up hope!!

Finally, to the un-sung heroes of the day, the step-mommies.  Sending you all a huge hug.

Van mommy/step-mommy signing out.  I'm tired!!!

It's Saturday Night and my Van is parked and I'm Throwing a Pity Party.

Friday and Saturday Nights on Facebook are bad for van mommies like me.  All the young kids are posting about going to the movies, eating out, listening to live music and checking in at different fun places one after the other.  In their uploaded pictures they look gorgeous and happy.  None of them has stress wrinkles or frowns.  None look like they are about to lose it.  It makes a van mommy a little depressed.  Feel a little trapped.  Kind of envious of all the kids who are dressed up and living dangerously without a care in the world.  No worrying about the kids at home or no worrying about whether the kids they dared bring are going to behave.

Being a mommy is very rewarding.  At my daughter's soccer game today she asked me for a good luck kiss before the game started.  There's nothing that defines love more than that.  And I don't regret being a mom. Because although it is the single hardest job I've ever signed up for, it is also the most fulfilling.  Nevertheless, there are times, like tonight when I miss the carefree days of going out without having to be vigilant, on surveillance, or on edge.  Having to make sure the kids eat, don't bother others, don't run away, get lost, or get hurt is a taxing job.  Add into the mix a clueless hubby and you got yourself the recipe for mommy meltdown.  Goes something like this....

One kid crying for mommy, other kid crying for mommy, kids fighting over mommy.  People starting to stare.  Mommy getting frustrated.  Daddy sitting there.  Mommy yelling at kids.  Mommy yelling at kids.  Mommy yelling at Daddy.   Pandemonium.  It's only 7:30pm and we're on our way home because mommy has lost it.  Throw everyone in the van and head home.

People keep telling me that it will get better and I'm eagerly anticipating that day.  Until then I collect pretty dresses to wear to go out, live vicariously through the young kids' posts, and contemplate deleting everyone who doesn't have outta control kids or has a life off of my Friends' List.

Van mommy out...gonna throw myself a pity party.

Running, it's hazardous to my health!!! Get with the running etiquette!

Before I begin my my own personal propaganda, here are my disclaimers:

1. I am an animal lover.  Huge.  I have always had dogs, in fact I have a few at the moment.
2. I am a very friendly person in real life, in fact I smile, laugh, say hi, and talk to anyone--it's recently gotten me into a few weird "places" but I still smile, make eye contact, and acknowledge everyone in real life.
3. I am a weekend warrior runner.  By that I mean that I don't wear running shorts, I don't have a running visor, I don't subscribe to Runner's World, and all of those other things that "real" runners do.

Now that you know this about me, don't be a hater at then end of this post.  As you know, I've been on a running mission this year.  I've logged over 100 miles in 2011.  I could actually tell you the exact amount of miles I've run this year because I've logged every single workout I've completed on my calendar.  Only problem is that I don't have enough fingers and toes to add it all up.  Let it suffice to say that I've logged enough miles in to have an opinion about running on the streets in suburbia know who runs and how often as well as to formulate some pet peeves about this crazy past time that I have decided to focus all my energies on .  In the last 4 months I have ranted and raged in my head to myself (and my invisible audience) about the lack of etiquette of some of the peeps I encounter on my daily runs.  These have gotten to be so huge in my head that I finally feel the need to get them off of my chest.  So here is goes in no particular order in hopes that my running world can be a little more zen and feng shui.

1. I'm not wearing spandex during my run in the same spirit as the hottie girl/woman in a club.  I probably have panty lines because I sure as hell am NOT wearing a thong while I run. So please please don't honk, whistle or yell out the window at me.  It creeps me out.  It doesn't turn me on, and it's not going to get you my number.  It's not even going to get you a smile or a wave. I am really just wearing those pants because I am an old lady and I jiggle too much and need the support.  So, leave this old lady alone and let me run in peace.
2. Dogs.  I love dogs.  I don't think dogs need to be muzzled on their walks, but this is not my point.  If you have a dog that doesn't like people and will nip at their fat asses as they run by then keep them on a tight leash and make sure that as you're walking your dog you don't have your damn Ipod on so loud that you're not aware of others you're sharing the sidewalk with.  I nearly broke my leg running on the uneven grass swerving far far away from a scary looking dog only to have the dog lunge at my ass and almost take a bite outta my rump.  Luckily I jumped outta the way in time (I even screamed I was so damn scared) but in landing weird I could have really been injured had my ankles not been so strong from wearing heels all day every day.  If your dog doesn't know how to walk on a leash then I suggest the following  a) take your dog to puppy school, b) walk your dog at non-peak times, or c) keep your dog at home!!!  I am not very litigious but if I ever get bitten by a dog even after giving up the whole sidewalk I will sue your ass to fix my ass!!!!!  And I will make my ass look damn good at your expense!
3. Speaking of walking dogs, the proper etiquette is to yield to the runner/pedestrian and move your dog away from them, while always placing your body in between your dog and said runner/pedestrian.   C'mon, everyone knows this!!  Furthermore, while I love dogs, while I am running I really don't want to pet them, play with them, or talk to them.  Ask my husband.  When he runs with me I ignore him.  Running is always about running with me, not socializing!  And last thing while we're on the subject of dogs, please carry the plastic bag and pick up after your dog!!  My Pink Kayano and Nimbus Asics are waaay too pretty to get poop on them and I would hate for my husband to have to scrape poop off of them..or even worse buy me new shoes!!!
4. We live in America.  Stay to the right.  Common sense, right?  NO!  I am tired of playing "dodge" or whatever it is with people running toward me coming straight at me, I go right, they go left, I try to go left, they go right.  Hello!  You stay on your right, I will stay on mine!  And, even though there are NO LINES on the sidewalk, I think it's common sense that there's an imaginary line.  Everyone has the right to half.  That means, yield!  Don't take up the whole space unless you are in the categories that I explain below.  Oh, and if you're with a friend, then you need to yield by going single file so it's half and half--not give up one fourth of the sidewalk to the oncoming runner.  C'mon now, that's common sense too right?  
5. Yield.  I yield to baby carriages, strollers, joggers, and people with disabilities, ie. wheelchairs or prosthetics.  All else, see above.  Those of you who hog the sidewalk because you think you are entitled, think again.  Just because you are chatting with your girlfriend you haven't seen in a month, just because you're too lazy to get outta the way does not mean that you OWN THE ENTIRE sidewalk.  I am really nice and most times I will take the grass, even the road...but really, show aloha and share!!!  
6. Whoops, I have to add.  I also yield to cute old couples who are holding hands as they walk.  Like the Clarks.  They are one cute couple in love.  They've been holding hands walking since I was a kid.  Seeing them warms my heart.
7. lotta "Hey A!!!" from peeps I know.  Me, I'm not so much into the hi hello social thing.  It's not because I am a snob (see my disclaimers). I just prefer to run when I run.  If I am going to put myself under all that pain then I want to lose some weight so I just don't have time for niceties.  Please don't hold it against me and continue to say hi if you like.  I'll nod, maybe wave but usually won't make eye contact if I don't have to (I'm vain and I look like hell when I'm running!).
8. Cars.  Sigh.  Too many times I've almost been turned into hamburger. Please look up.  Please yield to pedestrians/runners.  Please stop at lights and signs.  And most importantly, slow down.
9. Kids on bikes.  Kids who are clueless.  First of all Bike Education needs to retain funding.  Kids going 100 mph on bikes outta control coming straight at you.  Kids who have no manners and no respect for their elders.  Sigh again....I really don't wanna be on mommy mode while I run or teacher mode for that matter.  That is after all, the reason I run, right?  To get away from all of that.  

To end, I just wanna say that I wish everyone would show aloha.  My parents taught me to be courteous, to respect elders, and to be kind.  I try to live that in all aspects of my life but while running it's getting a little taxing on my body and health.  I run pretty fast anywhere from an 8-11 minute mile.  I will always yield to others BUT running that fast and running on grass, roots, gravel, weeds, and dog poo is getting tough on the ankles.  Although I carry my phone with me for emergencies I would really hate to use it to call someone to pick my sorry ass up.

This is van mommy runner signing out and hoping that you pass on the word so that tomorrow's a better running day!!!

If life throws you a tater tot, go to the fridge and get yourself an apple!

Today was the hubby's day to play Mr. Mom.  He had willingly volunteered for the job and knew what it entailed.  As I left the house for work this morning I left him a list of chores (not too much, didn't want to overwhelm him) and reminded him that it was his turn to cook dinner. In our younger days hubby used to like to cook so I was really looking forward to a gourmet dinner cooked by my chef-in-disguise.

During my workshop hubby's first text promised a good day.  One of his tasks was to buy treats for our little princess's Easter Basket and he brilliantly chose a Moxie girl doll for her.  I gave him some praise and went back to learning.

His second text had me a little worried as he told me that the kids wanted corn dogs for dinner.  Corn dogs?  Dinner?  Not gourmet at all.  I told him that I preferred leftovers but I knew there was NO WAY he would make corn dogs for his debut dinner.  Right?  I mean, c'mon!!  This is the man that would grill shrimps, cook lobsters, shell soy beans.  I was choosing my attitude and remaining optimistic.  I knew that hubby would knock my socks off.  It was his opportunity to shine!!!

My workshop ended and I headed home.  I was eager to see what hubby had in store for me.  As luck would have it, it was an awful day in traffic and the usual trip home took longer than expected.  When I pulled up to the house at near dinner time I was shocked to see that my mommy van was not parked, the house was locked up, and my kids and hubby were nowhere in sight.  I called them up to see where they were and was a little surprised that they were at the market.  "Oh well, a late dinner, that's okay," I thought. But that's when hubby explained that the kids were hungry and he was going to pick something up for them to eat.  "No gourmet dinner?"  I thought to myself?  Maybe he's going to surprise me and get me my favorite poke bowl, or maybe Pho.  Those would hit the spot!  Hubby asked me what I wanted and I told him that I wasn't hungry (my mistake) and that I could eat leftovers (surely he wouldn't let that happen on his DAY TO SHINE AND GET BROWNIE POINTS AND TO PROVE WHAT A GREAT HUBBY HE IS!).  I hung up the phone and decided to go for a run while I waited for my family to get home.

After four miles I was hungry.  As I ran up to the house I heard the kids laughing and playing inside.   I eagerly ran into the house to see my babies that I had missed all day.  As I entered the dining room I saw the two of them seated on either side of the table eating happily.  Dannika:  Fried eggs and rice.  Noah:  Left over spaghetti.  I was a little confused.  Wasn't he going to get them some take out?  Hubby came in from the kitchen and explained that the kids changed their mind and that Dannika was on her third egg and that he was cooking.   

So, I did what every other RESPONSIBLE mom would do and made sure that the kids were being fed while hubby disappeared to the kitchen.  He soon emerged with his work of art dish.  A bowl of pasta with butter for Noah.  What a labor of love.  Buttered pasta is Noah's favorite thing to eat.  He disappeared again and I continued to feed the kids.  

Finally, hubby came out and set a bowl in front of me.

Tater tots.  Tater tots.  Tater tots.

Really?  Tater tots?

I wasn't sure if hubby had noticed that for the last 4 months I had been working out diligently.  Running 6 miles, double workouts, passing on desserts, and eating a ton of salads and vegetables.  The thought of eating tater tots made me physically ill.  I was in disbelief.  He bought me tater tots?  Really?

The 33 year old Aurene would have screamed, yelled, and caused a commotion.  But the almost 39 year old Aurene really had no energy to do so and in fact thought it was hilariously funny.  This above picture of tater tots would FOREVER prove that I, Aurene P. am and will always be the better parent, better spouse, the one that can hold it together, and take care of the family better....while the picture also proved that he, Michael Pila will need to forever kiss my ass, buy me dresses from Eden in Love and Fashionista's Market and ask, "How high?" when I tell him to jump.  

And with that, I went to the refrigerator, pulled out an apple and sliced it up for my dinner.

Choosing my attitude van mommy signing out with stomach growling but not full of greasy potatoes.  :)

Defintiley a HIP Mommy and not a HIPPY Mom!

If you know me you know I have freaking FABULOUS ideas that tend to go over the top and take thorough planning (if you attended my daughter's Poodle 1st Bday Party or my son's Tiger First Bday Party then you've seen my creativity in action).  The latest great idea went something like this:

• I Love the Farmer's Market
• I love to run
• I should run to the Farmer's Market!!!

In Mathematics Geometry Proofs were my strength (it is also the class that I met husband in--and the class taught by the BEST math teacher ever--Mr. Matsunaga!).  If this and that then this....Anyway, the above reasoning made perfect sense!  Planning went something like this:

• One way trip:  2.5 miles
• Opens at 8
• Running 2 miles:  25 minutes tops
• Leave house at 7:30 am

Preparing went something like this:

• Practice walking to MHS with Fanny Pack and water bottle--water bottle too irritating don't take
• 5 mile run--easy, can do!

So it seemed like I thought everything out and it would be all GOOD. I woke up this morning with a start at 7am without my alarm clock and decided it was a sign.  Today's the day that I go totally green.  Kanu would be soooo damn proud of me!!  I dressed in my workout clothes, put on my eyes (eyebrows, eyeliner, mascara--after all I still AM a rockin' van mommy!!), some mineral foundation and packed my Envirosax bag, cell phone, ID (in case I died and they needed to know who I was), Bank Card (you just never know) laced up my shoes and ran outta the house.

I had just run 5 miles a little over 18 hours ago on basically the same route so I didn't anticipate any problems.  That's where I was wrong.  The morning was particularly humid and the air ripe with Vog.  1.5 miles into my run I was drenched with sweat and a little winded.  Realization of what a stupid idea this was began screaming in my head.  If I turned around now it would take 20 minutes to get home...then I could jump in the van....ugh.  Too much time!!! 

Somehow I made it to the Farmer's Market at Peak Time.  Lots of cars pulling into the Parking Lot.  I was sweating hard, feeling a little dizzy but relieved to have made it (note to self, either drink and eat something before leaving or carry the damn water bottle).  I pulled out my list and headed to the Bale and Nalo Farms Tents.  There was a lot of great produce out there but I reminded myself that I was walking my ass home with whatever I decided to buy so I had to be smart.  As I walked I kept my eyes to the ground praying that I wouldn't see anyone that I knew.  I didn't want to scare them with my stinky sweat and I had no clue whether my make up was leaving black streaks down my face (note to self--pack a mirror and powder next time?!!).  UGH!  Someone I know!  Look away, look away!!!!!  I quickly picked up some Cilantro, Grape Tomatoes, Limes, Pickled Veggies, and 2 bags of Baguettes.  I packed my Envirosax with my goodies carefully so that nothing would get smooshed and headed to my next destination.  Next destination?  Burger King of course.  After every other Farmer's Market spree I'd jump into the van and head to the drive through.  Today I'd be walking another quarter mile and visiting the inside.  

*******

So, here I am...Envirosax filled with veggies, Iced Coffee in one hand standing outside of BK realizing that it's a far walk home.  I kinda want to cry.  I could call someone to pick me up (they'd be PISSED), I could run home (dumb), or I could do what I set out to do....ok.  But wait.  I just drank a free cup of water and am drinking an Iced Coffee.  What if I have to use the bathroom on the long trek home?!!!  ugh.  Didn't plan for all these wrinkles.  I'd better drink slow and walk as fast as I damn can.

*******

And so I make it home in one piece.  Pedometer shows 11,700 steps, scale reads a pound less.  Maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought.  Maybe I can do it again.  Maybe next time I take a kid in the jogging stroller. Maybe I can do this "green" thing.  Maybe I can start walking to work.

And then I look at my goods and realize that there's only THREE baguettes in each bag and not FOUR like last month.  Six baguettes just not enough for tonight's Family Dinner.  Cursing.  I am damn well eating bread tonight.  Maybe hubby doesn't need bread?  More cursing.  NEED.  MORE.  BREAD.  $%#@!^!!!!!  Hell, not walking back up there.  Some more cursing.  

It doesn't pay to go green.  I am not ready for yoga.  I will not start composting.  A little Louis Vuitton is good for me.  Where are those damn Van car keys?!!!!!

Van mommy is outta here--going to buy more damn bread AND a Costco size bag of razors!!!!

Van Mommy is LITERALLY on the run!

I am a runner.  It feels good to say this because three months ago I wasn't.   In fact, three months ago I was overweight, had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, was tired, outta shape, and unable to fit in any of my  Seven for all Man Kind Jeans.  Needless to say I was feeling like a suburban van mommy...not a hot n sexy van mommy.

Today I love to run.  Putting on my running shoes and running away from home is the most liberating part of my day (imagine that!).  I am addicted to the high that I get pushing my body a little faster, a little further day after day.  I can run a mile in 8 minutes, 2 miles in 18, 3 in just over 30...I can run 5 miles at 7 in the morning, and I have run pretty much every day except for about 9 days in 2011 clocking more than 70 miles total!!!  It's nothing short of a miracle, really.  When I run I feel free and strong.  It's a time for me to reflect and find peace.  It's a time for me to push against myself to be mentally tough and physically fit.  It's a time for me to realize how strong I am and how strong I can be.  It's me finding me.  And I love it.

But there's a little secret to my madness...and the secret is the strength that gives me the energy and desire to push myself beyond my limits every day.  Its nothing illicit, nothing that can be bought...packaged in a book and sold...maybe...what it is is a force that has been around for many years...a force that is stronger than iron...it's the age old power of women.

I have a little fitness club consisting of some amazing women.  They are near and far, new friends (some I have never met in real life) and old friends, accomplished athletes and weekend warriors, mommies of crazy kids and dog mommies, independent single women,  runners, skaters, dancers, boxers,ZUMBA-ers,  in shape, outta shape...all walks of life with the common denominator of being supportive and giving.

These women have done what no one has been able to do (aside from Mr. Moses, Eder, Derbs, Mr. Murton...well, and my parents) and that's keep my running.  Their stories are inspiring, their courage amazing...their will infectious.  Every day I see them overcoming adversity to get some "me" time in to do better for their bodies and their souls.  The result?  Improved confidence, better relationships, less stress, more laughter.  For me?  Sevens that fit.  Nough said.  I can get my groove on.  I got my mo-jo back.

So I write this post to thank my girlz who have enabled me to run my first 5 miles for fun.  Who support me in running and in life.  Who tell me it's okay to take a day off.  Who encourage me to eat more ice cream and run a little less for my soul.  Who try to wake me up in the middle of the night to get a good deal on Yoga then buy it for me when I slumber on.  Who have no shame to talk about futs, bike shorts, or fat....and who jumped rope like Naomi Campbell to lose face weight.

I will never ever underestimate the power of WOMEN.  And I will forever be indebted to my LGF2011 Girls.  Thanks ladies.  Thanks for helping me feel sexy again.  Thanks for giving me the gift of being able to fly.  Thanks for the positive support I get from you every day.  Thanks for sharing your strength that makes me tough.  Can't wait to run our marathon in 2012...and don't worry I am planning our GNO!!!

Girlfriends

I have girlfriends from all walks of life but the ones that have been with me the longest are my high school girls, better known as, "Part ham, mostly bologna."  If you knew us in high school you know that drama and flash followed us everywhere.   We documented our big hair, neon clothes, white pumps, Madonna outfits, and acid wash jeans as best as anyone in the 80s.  We loved, we hated, we gossiped, we flirted...St. Elmo's Fire had nothing on us.  Ok, so maybe I exaggerate, but reminiscing about high school is for that, right?

For the most part we met in the 80's as 7th and 8th graders and began hanging out in high school.  A pretty eclectic bunch we were nerds, jocks, beauty queens, artists, dancer girls, goodie-two-shoes and sometimes--naughty.  After high school we kept in touch even as we went to colleges around the country and were always sure to schedule our annual Christmas outings.

As we got older we threw raging Bachelorette parties, loving showers, and really celebrated when we turned 30.  We've always been there for one another through divorces (mine), drama, the good and the bad through phone calls and the occasional get togethers.

As adults we've become successful in our careers, travelled the world, have homes filled with love, have overcome adversity and celebrated triumphs.  This year is our last year in our thirties and we've been friends for more than two-and-a-half decades. Two of us live on neighbor islands, and all of our kids and husbands hinder us from getting together like we did in the past.  We communicate on email, Facebook, texting and through one another (so and so said....) because so busy, we don't even have time to spare to talk on the phone.  This past Christmas life happened and we missed our first Xmas get together.  It was inevitable yet heartbreaking on so many levels--especially thinking back to all the ones we had had in the past--like the blackout of 2009 when we raided the M********'s house and made a mess eating with kids in the darkness.

Last week a few of us got together to celebrate a birthday.  We hadn't seen one another for about half a year and it had been years since we went out at night sans kids and hubbies.  It ended up being a classic night with a lot of stories re-told and remembered, and new laughs to talk about for years.  Spending these few hours with my girlz warmed my heart and apparently knocked me out (I've been sick for days).  In many ways it was as if time had never stopped.  Distance had not diminished our connections or our love for one another.   I am so glad that they are in my life--because even if our time is limited now, the memories we share together are a huge part of who I am today.

So, here's a shout out to my girlz who have loved me when I was fat AND skinny, who have held my hair when I was barfing at the 5th reunion, who accepted any date I have ever brought to an outing, who never raise an eyebrow no matter how bad I am being,  who have been my friends forever, who don't hate me because I am beautiful (inside joke)and who are amazingly TALENTED, INTELLIGENT, PATIENT, BEAUTIFUL, PASSIONATE, COMPASSIONATE, and the best BFFs BeSTiEs a girl like me can have.

Love you guys!!!

Half of Part Ham, Mostly Bologna

What do we do since we can't run to Olive Garden?!!

I went to school in Oregon and on Sunday late afternoons after a weekend of too much....ummm....studying my Alpha Chi sisters and I would head out to the Olive Garden for all you can eat breadsticks, soups, and salad.  Later, when headed to the Mainland for trips there was always a stop at the Olive Garden for their Chicken Parmigiana.  Always so delicious and priced right!  Like every other local, I wish that Olive Garden would make it to Hawaii.  Their food is priced right, portions generous, and the dishes are tasty!

But, since we don't have an Olive Garden I have had to take matters into my own hands.  Today was a special day and we celebrated my little girl's birthday so I wanted to make something special for our Sunday Family Dinner.  We got up early, went to the Farmer's Market to buy some local produce and supplemented what we got from our own garden.

Sunday Mililani Farmer's Market

The Backyard Jungle

Italian Parsely, Oregano, Basil

The recipe that I use is one by Bobby Flay:
Click here for Chicken Parmigiana Recipe
I know there are many easier ways to make this dish but there's something about this labor of love that makes it all the more yummy.  I've tweaked this recipe a bit to my own liking by adding my own fresh herbs and tomatoes.  I often pair this dish with buttered pasta and tonight I also added steamed broccoli and a Caprese Salad.  In the past I've also made it with eggplant instead of chicken and it has turned out great!

Here are a few pictures of the work in progress:

The sauce:  So much better than the canned off the shelf!  I add freshly diced tomatoes and some sugar because I like my sauce sweet, as well as the herbs above from our garden and the Farmer's Market.  Just throw everything in and let it simmer on the stove.  If I am making a spaghetti sauce I add mushrooms, sausages or ground beef.

When frying the chicken:  1) Flour Mixture (add your favorite seasonings), 2) egg, 3) panko..then pan fry.

The frying is the messiest and takes the most energy...but you can always just use a breaded patty if you choose.  Tyson makes one.  :)

After frying, top the chicken with some sauce and mozzarella cheese and bake in the oven.

Before:

After:

I love this dish with a Caprese salad.  I have no idea how many calories the salad is and I don't care (Okay, so I am a little tempted to google it...but for tonight I won't even log it on my loseit.com account [will explain in a future post]).  The home-grown basil from our garden gives this dish such a fresh taste!  As a note this basil bush came from a live herb I bought at Safeway one day.  After I pulled the leaves I needed I planted it in a pot. Now it's growing pretty good even though I keep forgetting to pinch off the flowers (you're supposed to do this to keep the plant "young").  I really need to get some large tomatoes growing in the garden--currently we only have cherry tomatoes but I just don't got the time to get that going.  Anyway, after layering the tomatoes (make sure they are chilled and firm) with the fresh mozzarella (Costco's two pack is the BEST deal!), sprinkle with basil that you've chiffonade'd (google the term if you need to) then drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar over it just before serving.

And this is how all the dishes look plated!  De-lish huh?  Who needs Olive Garden?  Well, I do especially on busy weekends like this one.  Would have been much easier to load the family int he van and have someone else cook for us...but since we don't got the funds or the desire to load the monsters on a plane, this will have to do.  Dinner was soo delicious and the little birthday girl loved it.  Big daddy had two servings (and I only ate what's on the plate below--don't tell me that that's 2000 calories --and it really doesn't matter because I ran 5 miles in preparation for this meal)!!!  I'll go back on the diet tomorrow!

Van mommy will be on the RUN..literally tomorrow to try and burn this meal off!!!

Ciao!!!

Life is happening!

Busy, busy, busy!!!!

I've literally been on the run.  Running around trying to get the kids to school, running around the island for work, and running around my little community trying to get my bootie in shape.

I am exhausted.  And every night I think of my little Blog and the need to get back to it.  I don't have a problem with Writer's Block.  In fact, if you were to log into my account you'd see that there are more than a dozen drafts on a myriad of topics.  I have a lot to say. I know that doesn't surprise you.  Some are topics that are very near and dear to my heart that I've been writing in my head and cause tears to dampen my eyes.  They make me so emotional that I want to put the time and effort that they deserve to get my story on paper...I mean computer screen.

So, this is my little entry to reconnect with my Blog and to remind myself to make more time to reflect, edit, and share.

Gotta get running again.  :)

Embracing my inner van-ityness!

So as you know I drive a van.   It's a bitching van as far as vans go.  Leather seats, auto everything, DVD player, wireless headphones, 18 soda/coffee/juice holders, and a nice sound system.   I personally think the side window shades are the coolest thing about them and to be honest, they were the deal breaker for me!  If I could close my eyes as I drove I'd feel pretty darned close to heaven on wheels.  But I can't (heck, I don't even drive so hot with my eyes open) and the fact of the matter is is that I am a middle-aged, chubby, stressed out mommy who drives a min-van (and yes, my kid plays soccer).   Before I was the said-mom above I drove a Subaru Forester. When I traded it in (to make way for two car seats across) I felt as though a part of me died.  My sporty, trendy, yuppy-ish Forester embodied everything I wanted to come across as--and the van, well, everything that made me cry for the roaring twenties.

I've been driving this van for four years come March and over the years I've developed a love-hate relationship with it.  I still cringe when I hear "soccer mom"and it still pains me when I hear other moms protest, "I'll never drive a mini-van!" Such declarations tainted with venom drive a stake in heart and make me feel weak since I was unable to stand up to my laurels and gave in to middle-aged mommy hood.  Nevertheless, I have to admit I have found a few reasons to love my hell on wheels.

In no particular order:

1. The space!! For a shopaholic like me you can really shop till you drop.  Even with two kids taking an entire row of seats it still leaves me with one more row of seats as well as the cargo area to hold shopping bags.  There are also secret compartments to hide presents that hubbies are not supposed to see.  There's one in the ground that could hold a good sized bag, and one under the seat that can hold jewelry, ipods, and other goodies of that size.   If only hubby used them to hide goodies for me!
2. Automatic doors.  I tend to carry a lot of bags (I need a support group) that include purse, diaper bag (no more diapers but still carry all the kids junks), laptop bag, lunch bag...basically everything AND the kitchen sink.  Trying to open the car door with 50 pounds of bags can be tough--that is unless you have automatic opening sliding van doors!  I just need to push the button (from afar too), door opens and I throw everything in.
3. Peace and quiet.  This is where the DVD player and those wireless headsets come in.  When we bought the van hubby insisted on these.  Being the educator mom that I am I was dead set against them.  In my perfect world kids don't watch tv during dinner at home during dinner at the restaurant or in cars.  Well, I have a portable DVD player and one in the car.  What does that tell you?  I'm weak.  Or I just value being able to drive without yelling, fighting, and whining.  When the DVD is off there's fighting and screaming.  When the DVD is on, quiet, some laughing, a few questions here and there.  When the kids were younger I was hesitant about using the headsets, however, I can safely say that I have heard enough Caillou movies to last me ten life times.  So, now it's really heaven on earth in the van. Kids are quietly watching their kiddy movies for the ten millionth time and I am jamming to old school 93.9 or alternative rock 101.9.  Doesn't get better than this...and when they're teenagers and complaining about my old fashion music we'll just get them Ipods.
4. Let's get it on!  This one is untested...but remember when you were a teenager and drove up to Tantlus in your Toyota Corolla?!!  Imagine all that space in the back of the van!!!!  LMAO.  Like I said, not tested and not likely to be ever tested. Ever.  Hubby, if you're reading this, don't go there!  No chance, not happening!!  Please, we got enough kids and no free time!  More importantly, have you ever tried to take out and re-install those damn car seats?!!!  And once those car seats are out, you never know what you'll find (see number 7).
5. No expectations.  When you're driving a van no one expects you to look like that chick that gets out of the Ferrari (BMW, Mercedes, Hummer, Escalaide, Porsche, heck...even Acura!).  In fact they expect you to look dumpy, frazzled, wearing t shirt, mommy jeans, and a back pack.  Thus, all you gotta do is look half-way put together and you can be that HOT VAN MOMMY!!  Yup, turn heads by simply looking sorta put together. Less pressure, let me tell you!
6. She can't help it, she's a mommy!  A great driver I am not.  The van was less than a month old when I reversed it into a wall even with the rear back up camera.  So, when I need to switch lanes, or when I nearly hit someone or something, all I need to do is roll down the window and stick my head out.  People feel sorry for me, people give me a break, I am after all, JUST A VAN MOMMY and can't be expected to be a good driver!
7. No need to clean!  When you drive a van with little kids, it's inevitable that the van gets stained, that food gets stuck in crevices, and that there are wipes, cans, cups, dirty socks, and many other un-identifiable yuckies.  If my car was a Beamer I would be calling the best Detailer money can buy.  But with the van, awww hell.  No sense, new stain tomorrow. Same goes for the dents in the doors from the kids riding their bikes, hitting with bats, grocery cart running away.  It's just a van, one ding, two dings...who the hell cares!
8. Not likely to be borrowed or stolen!  Ya think the robber dude wants your van?  HELL NO!  You think your teenager wants to drive it?  HELL NO!  Your van is safe with you!

Still not convinced that a van is the way to go?  How about this...next time you want that really cool SUP Board, gorgeous Armoire, new Elliptical machine, new HD 80 inch flat screen television..or whatever other cool hip thing the trendy folk are buying, just remember if you had a van you'd be able to haul it home without fear of it flying out the back of a truck.  Done deal?  No?  Well, men out there re-read number FOUR and ladies, read number ONE.  C'mon, all the cool peeps are doing it!

Van Mommy Out!

This is me rocking the van!