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!

This is NOT your Nana and Tata's Farmer's Market!

Say Farmer’s Market and the vision I have in my mind is going to Wahiawa Park with my mom as a kid to buy fruits and vegetables.  I remember lots of nanas and tatas with their wheeled metal bags that they’d stuff full of fresh produce (by the way...I'm suppsed to be designing a DIVA version of this--we'll see if I get to it--who wants one?).  I don't remember it being a leisurely social thing...just a lot of people grabbing vegetables and stuffing them in brown paper bags.  I hated going.  Not sure why--maybe because I hated vegetables back then and my mom was known as, "Aunty Vegetables."

Fast forward to 2011 and I am up early and dressed really cute with Farmer’s Market purse , dollar bills, ballet flats, and Envirosax bags ready heading to the Mililani Sunday Farmer's Market.

Farmer’s Market shopping is relatively new to me.  What hooked me in is the fact that Bale Bakery represents at my local Market every Sunday.  Their fresh bread and vegetables are fresh and priced pretty reasonably.  Nalo farms is also another one of my favorites because their produce is fresh and lasts a long time in the fridge.  For example, I used to by my Cilantro at Safeway for somewhere around 3 dollars a bunch for wilted leaves that would be inedible if not eaten within three days--if it weren't crushed by everything else in the crisper.  To my surprise, I once bought a $2 bag from Nalo, used half and forgot about the rest.  Two weeks later the leaves were still green, still crisp, and still ready to flavor my dish!!  Their watercress is also amazingly robust with strong sturdy stalks and thick leaves.

But Nalo and Bale are not the only vendors.  There are a number of stalls selling fresh produce half the price that you'd find at Safeway (and ten times fresher) as well as stalls that sell plate lunches (brunches), a cool sea salad that my kids love, plants, flowers, and herbs to plant in your garden!!   There was a time when I was journeying into China Town to buy my produce but the drive was long, the parking expensive, the smells and sights a little intimidating, and in all honesty, the produce at the Farmer's Market just looks fresher, cleaner, and more appealing!

For this morning's trip I set out to get ingredients for one of my favorite Sunday family meals:  Vietnamese Roasted Chicken Sandwiches and Spring Rolls.  Bale sells their picked vegetables for just $3 a tub and their rolls for just $3 for a bag of 4.  Can't go wrong!  I picked up these as well as some other fresh produce for meals later this week including Manoa lettuce, Japanese cucumbers, cilantro, and Watercress at Nalo Farms (the cashier loved my Pink Piggy Envirosax tote).  Although I usually see someone I know to chat with today it was not to be so I took my goodies and grabbed an iced coffee across the street before going home.

If you're gonna Farmer's Market here's some tips:

1. Bring dollar bills--makes the check out so much faster.
2. Bring your recyclable bags--the vendors provide plastic but it's way more hip to bring your own bag--everyone, and I mean everyone does!
3. Shop around--prices vary as does produce--the long lines at some tenants are a hint!
4. Wear comfy shoes.  I feel like it's the PC thing to say, but as you probably guessed I've gone in very high heels. 
5. Have your game face on--I say this because you are sure to see someone you know and you don't want to have to run and hide.
6. Ask questions and take risks!  There's a lot of cool veggies to be bought and if you ask the workers or even the people standing in line they'll give you some tips for cooking.
7. Take your time and enjoy.  It's a fabulous way to spend a Sunday morning and you'll learn a lot!

Now that you're hooked, get out there and find one close to you:

Click here to find the FM closest to you!

Remember, that it's always good to go green and to support Hawaii.  See the kanuhawaii.org website to learn more about supporting local businesses and caring for the environment (and go ahead and make a commitment to shop local, I did!).  Also, buying fresh is good for your family and it's almost impossible not to cook healthy if you get sucked in by all the fresh fruits and vegetables!!!

By the way, if you want the recipes for my meal tonight I found them online here:

Vietnamese Roasted Chicken

Spring Rolls

I get the rice noodles, wrappers, fish sauce, and other sauce items at Foodland or Safeway in the Asian aisle.  Just a tip, tonight I was lazy and didn't buy fresh limes.  We used the green lime squeezy thing instead and it was GROSS.  I was kicking myself for not picking up 3 limes for a buck at the Farmer's Market.  My family loves this meal and I know you will too!!  You can try and find me at lunch tomorrow for a sample.

This is my plate. I am on a diet so no Spring Roll or Sandwich for me.  Had to do salad.
Didn't feel comfy asking the fam, "Hey can I take a pic of your food for my Blog?"

Farmer’s Market Fashionista out!

Save the planet AND look good!

Last October my son's preschool had a field trip to the Aloun pumpkin patch. Like any good mommy I was really concerned about what I was going to wear.  It was supposed to be hot, dusty, lots of bugs and the like.  Mind you I have no fear of getting dirty, or bugs for that matter but I did want to look good and I didn't want to be too hot or uncomfortable.  I settled on shorts, t-shirt, and Uggs that are the color of red dirt. I figured trampling through a lot of clay dirt the Uggs would be the least damaged.

Once a suitable outfit was found the real dilemma came.  What bag was I going to wear?  And when I say wear, I mean it literally.  You see, I don't "carry" bags, I wear them.  They need to "go" with the outfit.  I thought that the Gucci waist bag would be the best--hands free, portable, roomie, brown (for the dirt).  Only problem...no Gucci waist bag.  With 24 hours to spare and no cash there was no way I was going to pull it off so I settled for another brown waist bag that would "go" with the outfit and allow me to watch the kids that I would be chaperoning.

In the waist bag I packed light.  Blackberry, Canon Digi Cam, and 3 Envirosax bags.  If you're not familiar with them, they're rolled-up reusable bags that come in bright colors and different designs.  They're so compact, measuring about 4 inches by 2 inches when rolled and open up to a standard sized grocery bag....but they're sooo much better because they can each carry 40 pounds, are water proof, and washable!

But back to the field trip for a paragraph.  I was assigned my son and one cute little girl.  When we got to the pumpkin patch their eyes were open wide.  So many pumpkins and they wanted them ALL.  I am not exaggerating here.  Every pumpkin we walked by they wanted...and being a mommy I didn't say no.  Kept loading pumpkin after dirty pumpkin into the Envirosax bags, slinging them over my shoulder, and trudging through the dirt.  Many a mom and dad walked past with their broken plastic bags and all were impressed by my bright pink and green Envirosax.  All in all we were able to leave the patch with 4 medium sized pumpkins and about 12 little ones.  Goal accomplished, and looked cute doing it!  Success!

I've been using Envirosax for about a year now and I have a lot of them in different colors and designs.  There's something for everyone:  Dogs, Pepsi, Chic, Sesame Street..or black and white for you non-descript folk.  I carry for or five of them at at time (they fit perfectly in my purse organizer [see earlier post] and I give them away every Christmas.  If you're a mom they're perfect in the Diaper Bag for poopy clothes.  When I go to the Farmer's Market on Sunday they're perfect for the Nalo Farms veggies I buy.  And.....don't laugh but on rainy days I put my designer bags inside them to protect them from the rain!!!!!  I am sure all you tree loving Birkenstock wearers just gagged a little with that one, huh?  By the way, these little, compact, light-weight, water-proof bags can hold a WHOPPING 44 pounds!!!  Make me think I could even throw the 3 year old in there and get to my next destination.

You can buy these in singles or in a set of five. Many boutiques carry them locally.  There are cheaper versions out there but the material is much thinner and not as strong.

Just remember, they come in a range of colors and styles ("Nomad," "Origami," "La Boheme" to name a few)so that you can match them to your bags and shoes and that by using them you'll save the Earth by reducing the number of plastic bags in dump sites.  More importantly you won't have to fold the bags into little triangles and figure out where to store them in your home!

For more on these little slices of heaven check them out at the envirosax website....

www.envirosax.com

but if you want to get them at a good deal, send me a comment and I'll tell you my little secret.

Catch you later,
Crazy mommy with lots of bags

Who says a red heel has no business in the work world?!!

They obviously haven't seen this cool new tape dispenser!  Actually, I haven't either.  A friend of mine who knows that I am nuts sent it to me.  I can so imagine this sexy number sitting on my desk at work.  How could I not help but smile on a bad day gazing across at this?!!  Truth be told I often wear red shoes to work. I have a couple but none as sexy as this!!!

Photo courtesy of my buddy SM!

Need a good lashing?

I am obsessed with eyelashes. Long thick curly eyelashes to be exact. I have asian eyelashes--lots of them but they're short, straight, and thin. I could use falsies but haven't found any that are suitable for every-day wear. I've considered getting extensions (I'm too chicken) and Latisse (I'm too broke) so for now I continue my quest to find the best mascara that money can buy.

If you open my make up bag or make up tool box you'll see a plethora of mascaras. My quest for the holy grail of mascaras has led me to read reviews, self-test, and spend a ridiculous amount of money to look like Kim Kardashian. If you've never tried on falsies you probably have no idea where my obsession has come from...but once you've worn them and seen just how much they make your eyes "pop" and make you look amazingly sexy, you'll understand.

There are very few things I leave the house without (okay, that's a lie I carry everything AND the Kitchen Sink in my bag--and yes, I have a bad back) and mascara is one of them (brows the other...eyeliner the other...)

Here's a brief run down of my mascara "collection" and what I use them for.

My current all star: Chanel Intimitable Intense:
Chanel re-did their Intimitable. Looks the same except the band on the tube is now silver (should I say platinum?) whereas the old version was gold. The secret weapon of this mascara is in its brush. The tiny little bristles really get every lash and makes my lash line look full.
Gives me a lot of lashes and the curling solution rocks (no need to use my Shu or Shiseido curler). This mascara could use some work on thickening and lengthening (although the latter isn't so necassary because of it's ability to curl). It also dries out fast and clumps at the opening of the tube so make sure it's closed tight!!!

DiorShow Iconic: Does the same as the Intimitable Intsense but not quite as intense. Iconic doesn't seem to flake like Intimitable does at the end of the day. I also think that Iconic goes on faster than the Intimitable Intense and it lasts a long, long time--the longest of all the mascaras I will review here.

DiorShow Blackout: This is the mascara that got me hooked on couture mascara and away from drug store. Blackout has the ability to make you look like you have falsies! It gives me very thick, curly, and long eyelashes. However, since the forumla is so thick it can get a little messy and if you over-do it you'll get spider web eyes. When using the above mascaras I often end with a coat of Blackout to give my lashes an extra OOMPH. Caution, this also tends to dry out fast!!

Givenchy Phenomen: If you want to accent your outer lashes, this is the mascara to buy. It has a unique applicator that looks like a spikey pom pom. I cannot tell you how much using this mascara on the outer lashes opens up your eyes. The one drawback is that since the applicator is maybe 1/4 the size of regular mascaras it takes awhile to do the whole lash line.

Chanel Exceptionnel: This mascara doesn't do a lot for me, in fact I have a tube that I never used that dried out! Grrr!!! I am reviewing this mascara because it has a cool applicator brush. You swirl as you coat and it applies a thick amount of formula on your lashes. Really good for thickening but didn't give me much length. Definitly follow up with a lash comb!!!

Christian Cosmetics Seven Oils: A friend of mine who knows how obsessed with lashes gave this to me since she has the most amazing lashes in the world. It's imported from Mexico and made from avocado extract that's supposed to help with lash growth. It is also water proof. What I love about this mascara is that it has an over-sized brush, and by that I mean twice the size of normal ones. It helps to curl the lashes and lengthen. Does the job great, only drawback is that it dries out really, really fast. If they could come up with a better formula I would stick with this brand. One more thing, because of the huge brush I often end up with some mascara on my lid that I have to wipe off. With practice it gets easier to avoid this. This mascara costs about 7 dollars a tube if you can find it...speaking of which, I need to find where I can get more of this!

Lastly, an essential in any macscara-ista...you must, and I mean MUST get a Tweezerman Eyelash Comb!!! I was shopping at the NEX last Xmas in the Tweezerman section when a fellow fashionista pointed it out to me. Best purchase ever!!! It's a foldable brush and the teeth are made of metal--what that means is that it combs very strongly through your lashes to take away clumping. A word of caution, the teeth are sharp and you need to be very careful when using this comb. Do not use in a moving van (or sexy car..I am jealous, can you tell) and certainly do not use in the presence of wild kids...or let the wild kids play with.

If you've read through this, you must love mascara as much as me...or you're shaking your head in amazement because you've just learned that I am nuts...but not so fast...in the near future I am planning on taking pics of the brushes to suppelment this review!!!

Mad Mascara Mommy out!!!

Happy New Year!!

It dawned on me last night that the first decade of 2000 was coming to an end. I took some time to reflect on how I started the decade and how I closed it. Two different lives and people entirely! That made me realize that it's not as hard as we think to be an agent of change...that re-birth can happen right under our noses!!!

As we begin a new year and decade I am excited to start anew and instigate change in my life. I hope to continue to find little slices of heaven to make things just a little bit easier. I am also excited about a new Get Fit group I belong to that has pushed me way beyond expectation in just one little week. And, my heart is warmed by the friends who continue to support me and my family who makes me laugh uncontrollably.

This year, I hope to give life to this Blog as a means to help others and serve as self-reflection of the choices I make in life. Futire topics will cover: Envirosax Bags, Kindling, Money Mascara, Yelp, and Deals! to name a few.

Wishing you all a prosperous new year filled with love and laughter!!

Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Van Mommy on the Run :)