Life of Larisa or LOL

Congratulations to me! I've just delivered my second child---this fabulous strawberry cupcake! I labored for only an hour or so. It was a delightful delivery...music in the background, no stark hospital or crazy nurses. I was allowed to eat, and in the end, can give this child away without any social scrutiny or repercussions...like jail. I was so in love with this little child, I couldn't stop taking pictures of it! I had to be sure there was lots and lots of proof. This little darling was made by me (no help from Isom)...entirely from scratch. Gabe loved it...probably more than a real sibling. The combination of the vanilla cupcake with fresh cream and fresh strawberries and strawberry glaze was undeniably--- delicious decadence! I'm running out of adjectives to describe yummy stuff here! I love this cupcake. This cupcake marks a huge change in me. Before this blog, I NEVER cooked, baked, did anything in the kitchen other than eat. I also never ate fruit. Lo...

...turned out to be chocolate orange MUFFINS. The consistency was not cake-like at all...to me. As with all the cupcakes I don't want to eat, I send them off to work with Isom . "They were a hit. Everyone liked them!". I'm starting to get suspicious. I like everything...but not these. So, I'm wondering why his co-workers liked them. What redeeming quality did they taste in them that I missed? They must all be hard up for sweets (except the ones I provide via Isom ). I guess it is a case of diminished expectations. When you're hoping for a cupcake and you get a muffin, it's disappointing. When you are hoping you're kid will behave...when you're hoping for a new episode of LOST, hoping for Keanu to knock on your door... You catch what I'm saying.

...for today anyway. I must seem seriously schizophrenic. One day I'm completely DONE with baking. And the next, I'm whipping up a moist, delicious mini cupcake that I am super proud of. I had been meaning to bake this Hazelnut Cupcake recipe for awhile now, but was out of a few of the key ingredients: Franjelico (Hazelnut Liquor) and Hazelnut meal. Last week, when Isom and I were on our daytime date, we stopped into the liquor store. Great date right? I was on a mission to find Franjelico . I was out of luck in finding it at any of my nearby grocery stores. We were in luck, they had it...along with the cutest bottle of Hello Kitty Champagne. I wanted that too, but Isom reigned me in on that extravagant, non-essential purchase. So, today, I found myself without a walking partner (she had to cancel at the last minute) and on my own for the morning. A load of laundry, dishes, and fridge reorganization and it was time to get baking. I happily cracked eggs to the be...

An all liquid meal. My mouth has NOT been wired shut. Yesterday, after hotel pool time, beach time (it was across the street!), morning trip to Starbucks, and hotel lanai relaxing, we went to MAC 24/7 for a late brunch- ish meal. We met up with Mai Ly, Rob, and Arwen . Since we both delayed our hotel check-out time, ordering the ridiculously HUGE stack of pancakes they are famous for was out of the question. We were all left to our own ordering devices. Vine ripened tomato soup with grilled cheese. And for starters, pineapple dreamsicle shake. Yummy. At least the soup and milkshake were. I was less than satisfied with the grilled cheese. An entree that consists of two ingredients: bread and cheese, would make you think it wasn't hard to screw up. The thing is, I'm just not a fan of croutons for my bread. They over toasted what I think was stale bread. Therefore, I was left to dip my hard as a rock sandwich in my soup and hope for the best. Even the moisture from t...

I took Spanish in both high school and college. I don't recall the word " luibueno ". Nonetheless, we ate at a Mexican restaurant on the north shore called Luibueno's . They specialize in seafood and Mexican cuisine. They took over the spot where a previous Mexican restaurant (and one of our favorites) was---Rosie's Cantina . Good Mexican food is hard to come by in the land of fish, loco moco , and Asian influenced cuisines. When you find something, you hang on to it. This was our first visit to Luibueno, but I'm sure we will be back. The decor was charming and upscale but still friendly for recent beach goers (that was us--a morning at Waimea with the waves). Gabe's keiki bean and cheese burrito is featured above. My blackened ahi fish taco is below. Chips, salsa, and guacamole...our meal was complete. I do believe that the sun makes you hungry. I am hoping it wasn't just hunger that led me to believe the food here was amazing. I guess ...

Count on me to attend every great concert Oahu has to offer...and not get one, single good photo of the artist(s) performing. Consistent. That's what I am. The annual Kokua Festival, featuring Jack Johnson and guests, was this past weekend. This year was our third year attending. It has become somewhat of a family tradition. The first year we went, we saw Jack Johnson and Eddie Vedder (GOLD! It was like striking gold). It was Gabe's first concert...at age three...and he sees two awesome solo performers. The second year we went, we saw Jack Johnson and Dave Mathews. Are you kidding me? The then four year old has now seen three musicians I waited my whole life to see. Last year we were all equally bummed when we realized there wasn't going to be a Kokua Festival. Our spirits were revived however, when Isom purchased this years tickets, apparently the wait was worthwhile--Jack Johnson and Ziggy Marley! Reggae royalty is how he was introduced...and they were so rig...

...I helped save the earth by not showering today. Morning came too quickly. With breakfast, lunch making, list making, kid drop off, school volunteering, and you know, the must see matinee movie, there just wasn't room in the jam packed schedule for showering. My laziness has totally saved the earth for another year or so. My exercise for the day came in the form of restraint and patience. I was working HARD to exercise it today. Twenty-three students in Gabe's classroom, and none of them were absent today. Bummer. There are days that volunteering is so rewarding, I think, why didn't I become a school teacher? There are other days, like today, when I think, why did I volunteer?! My own kid throwing a fit is bad enough. Someone elses kid? And I'm not getting paid? Or given coffee? Hmmm . So, after a somewhat trying morning of reading about a baboon, whiny first graders (it's not lost on me that I too am whiny), and no shower, I decided to reward myself (I'm big...

...as my Keanu t-shirt. The things you find on the Internet. I'm very amused with this find. Everyone should get one. There's one for the ladies (above). And one for men (below).

I know yesterday was Tuesday. I baked triple white chocolate cupcakes. I got lazy to frost them so we'll just call them muffins. I'll receive the taste verdict from Isom when he returns home from work. Fingers crossed. I didn't taste one for myself because I had already eaten two cupcakes prior to baking my own batch. Shameful. I didn't eat lunch if that helps matters. Mari and I were shopping yesterday and our first stop for shopping fuel was Hokulani Bake shop in Restaurant Row. I had a coupon...so we had to go. The selection of baked goodies was different this time around. I was really hoping for another of the chili cupcakes. No such luck. The minimum order with the coupon was nine cupcakes. Good thing Mari was there to split this sugar overload with me...until she didn't...and backed out of her share of the cupcakes at the last minute. I would say I am upset about this double cross, but, no, not really. More cupcakes for me! I ate my first right after o...

It's startling to me that Jamba Juice has better pizza, flat bread whatever, than some of the pizza places I have tried on this pizza-ing journey. I haven't been able to get that California flat bread out of my mind. After running errands today, I decided to try the four cheese version for lunch. Not as exciting as the Mediterranean flat bread, but delish nonetheless. It is a mini of the personal Pizza Hut pizza (but better and not as greasy). It's so cute. I discovered you can even eat it with one hand while driving! Now, that's pizza to go. Now that I've gotten my flat bread/pizza fix, what now?

...otherwise known as Isom . Working both days of the weekend is never easy (for any of us involved). But, I like to look on the bright side, think of the perks---a non weekend day off. I finally got to share a day of my adventures with Isom . We dropped off Gabe and headed to the windward side. We really should move there...we are always over there...it's all the good restaurants (and beaches). On a previous daytime date excursion, we planned to indulge in Crepes No Ka Oi. It was a Tuesday and they were closed. Thank goodness for Monday! We waltzed in, grabbed a table by the window, and proceeded to enjoy a crepeolicious breakfast. Isom had "the ultimate breakfast" crepe (potato, poached egg, bacon, cheese, sauce). I had "The Godfather" (cheese, tomato, basil, vinaigrette ). Coffee for him and the richest, biggest, whip creamiest hot coco for me. After a start like that, we had to take a stroll. Down to the marsh to visit with the ducks and ot...

...the perfect excuse to have some lady friends over for mimosas, cupcakes, and the cutest ice cream cake (in the shape of a purse!). My friend Jayme recently became a consultant for thirty-one , and yesterday I hosted a bag party. In between sips of our cocktails, we browsed the catalog and tried hard to decide between the many cute bags. There were bags for EVERY imaginable occasion. I'm always up for hosting a gathering, and one that revolved around bags/purses was even better. The fun part about hosting a small get together , is looking for small touches to enhance the theme. But, I could hardly believe my eyes when I stumbled across an ice cream cake in the shape of a purse at Baskin Robbins (also known as 31 flavors...coincidence?). It was a great Sunday afternoon and end to a well spent weekend. I'll post pictures of my very cute order when it arrives in the next week or two. They monogram. A hint of what one of my things says: "I HEART KEANU ".

Thanks to the birthday girl, Allie, for our after party and after park treat. Since we hadn't had enough excitement in our day after Ice Palace, we met up with Lena and her brood for some out door fun at Kapolei Knolls park. Undiscovered treasure! I love this park. One structure for adults to work out on. One structure for kids to play on. Benches, seats, and tables galore. Huge shaded field for running, laying, picnic-ing, kite flying. A bike/walking path. Down the street from Menchies ! Since Gabe's goody bag from the party turned out to be a gift card to Menchies , and we just happened to be close by to Menchies , why not?! Gabe's concoction is below. I learned a long time ago we can not share. I refuse to have my frozen yogurt ruined with gummy worms. Gabe chose lemon for his yogurt flavor and then poured on the mini M&Ms and gummy worms. Gross. But that's a six year old boy for ya. And for the 34 year old--- cinnamon bun flavored yogurt (you...

Time travel is possible. I did it today. Ice Palace is 1984. The music, the hairstyles, the skating. It was a blast. Isom had to work today. Boo for Saturday working. Yay for Saturday birthday parties to keep me and Gabe occupied. Six and seven year olds on ice is terrifying however. I was excited to throw on jeans and a sweatshirt for my day on the ice. I'm hoping to convince Isom to go there again sans Gabe for a date night. Then maybe I'll get the opportunity to actually skate. This was Gabe's first time skating. He did pretty good, but with the tunes blaring from my childhood, I just wanted to skate fast...without tiny hands pulling on me and nearly making me collapse on the cool, hard ice. Twice in two days, I have relived awesome childhood memories...with my own kid. We'll call this flashback weekend. I must've had every birthday party from the time I was Gabe's age to middle school at the skating rink---first there was Jelly's and then th...

It's fun to say. Every time we said it on the way, we did a little shake. Shakey's is Chuck E. Cheese without all the chaos...and they have BEER. I heard about Shakey's because I have found yet another app on my iPhone that I am addicted to (it's a sad, sad life)--- YELP . It's an online community of freaks like me that take pictures of their food (instead of their friends and family) and comment and make recommendations about it. I love it! Again, why didn't I think of this?! Anyway, there are some other pizza lovers out there (it's not just me Isom ) and thus, how I found out about Shakey's . It appears to be relatively new. If not, they have done an amazing job at keeping it clean. Shakey's is in Waipahu. Like all scientists, warriors, adventurers---part of the fun in the journey is the risk. Shakey's is the ideal place to go out with other friends who have kids. The adults can sit at the tables enjoying a beer and the kids ...

...another reason to love the Starbucks corporation--- Jamba Juice . Every Friday, if Gabe has conducted himself in a reasonable manner all week (so, maybe every other Friday), we go on a date. It's a chance for me to have fun with Gabe since all week long I am usually "the bad guy". I'm the one hounding him about homework, cleaning up his room, making sure he is groomed and semi-clean. Gabe gets to choose what or where we will go (within reason). Yesterday he suggested Jamba Juice. I'm not a huge fan of Jamba . Blended frozen fruit, that I hear isn't even all that good for you, isn't my idea of yummy. But, I was curious to see what Gabe might order. We walked in and he headed toward the register, where he picked up a small bag of pistachios. I love this kid. I hadn't eaten lunch yet and decided to give their version of pizza a try---the California flat bread. There are three choices on the menu: cheese, Mediterranean , and chicken. I went ...

In between Nicholas Sparks sobfests , I read this jewel. I read "Julie and Julia"...around the same time I started this blog (coincidence?). During one of my many trips through Borders I scooped up the second novel by Julie Powell, which you should be aware, is a COMPLETE departure from her first book. Thank goodness. I enjoyed both the book and movie of "Julie and Julia". But, in "Cleaving" we meet the real Julie Powell...at least I think...and I was happy to have met her--a rogue, lost, butcher . This book is yet another journey to find herself. I feel bad for her. Two books of soul searching through cooking, traveling, and butchering and her search for meaning (of her reality) is sadly still incomplete. In "Cleaving", bravely, she takes a step back from married life and the riches I'm sure publishing a successful novel can bring. She finds herself in upstate New York as a butcher's apprentice. Small in stature and big on cra...

...that I can sink my teeth into! Finally. You may have thought I was crazy (for more than one reason), if you caught me writing that I don't enjoy chocolate cupcakes. For the record, it is not ALL chocolate cupcakes---just the ones I bake. How unfortunate. Those are the most convenient ones. I wasn't hopeful of any food delights today. On the agenda: dropping off the car for a 20K mile check-up. Probably a car wash (since they give you a free one after servicing). Equipped for the wait with my iPhone and book, I took a stroll to the nearest Starbucks from the dealership. Don't worry, it wasn't far. I tried a sample, placed my usual order (iced black tea lemonade sub coconut), and nestled into one of the comfy chairs by the window. Here, I was prepared to settle into an hour of Words With Friends (scrabble lovers, this is the best!) and the last chapters of my second foray into the literary world of Nicholas Sparks (The Last Song...book is better than the mo...

...is on my shirt! Thanks for this lovely gift Isom . Hot Topic---the place where all the people that look NOTHING like me, go to hang out and shop, has three of my favorite things for sale. Hello Kitty merchandise, Twilight merchandise, and a t-shirt with Keanu Reeves. Wandering around aimlessly in Hot Topic pays off! The shirt is perfect for me, the bad photographer, as it is possibly the worst picture of Keanu in the world. But, love is forgiving...and blind. So, I'm happy.