Life of Larisa or LOL

I am so lucky to have a job where I can wear camouflage and not have to worry about dodging flying bullets. I received my second fun shirt from work today. It's a super hard choice...the red with lights or the military inspired tee. Either way, I might not be high end fashion, but I'm having a good time...so far.

I think I must be suffering from tired-itus or seen one too many kid flick-itus. I think we saw Tangled on Friday. My days and nights have been somewhat distorted (not from excessive eggnog) from shift work. Thanksgiving I worked nine to two in the afternoon. Friday was midnight to nine in the morning. Saturday was seven to four in the afternoon. So, while we jammed fun stuff into the weekend, it's hard for me to say when any of the fun stuff may have occurred. I do know that I had actually been looking forward to this movie opening...even requesting that the boys wait for me to watch it. As it turns out, I'm kinda wishing I had been able to see Harry Potter part fifty million instead. Maybe I'm not a "princess and the prince" kind of gal. Except I loved Enchanted, love The Little Mermaid, and well, my theory for why I didn't like this movie is going out the window. I did nod off for a few minutes here and there---but to me that means it wasn't in

...I wish I could take credit for the awesomeness that is "gobblepalooza", but I can't. The credit goes to the marketing folks at Old Navy. I felt it was fitting for the past three days of my life however. First, the above photo is stuffing... not pizza . Although, stuffing pizza...mmm. Thank you Isom for fixing a delicious VEGETARIAN stuffing for me! This holiday weekend was fun, tiring, bizarre, and exciting. My first day at my new job was on Thanksgiving. That's the tiring, bizarre, and exciting. The fun was spending time with our good friends for Thanksgiving (after my five hours of folding, greeting, selling, and dreaming about Thanksgiving dinner) and eating some delicious food. Gobblepalooza was filled with carbs...pumpkin pie, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and bread. I made it through (somehow...thankful for starch) my first Thanksgiving at home without Turkey...unless you count the adorable Turkey cupcakes...I had one and was stuffed, so really it was

Gobble, freakin gobble. Aren't these the cutest cupcakes you've ever seen? The cutest cupcakes from me anyway. Can't take all the credit (or probably any of it), Lehua was the mastermind. We got together today for Turkey Cupcake Decorating. Standard Thanksgiving Eve festivity right? If there is such a thing as a sous chef for cupcake making, then that's what I was today. Inspiration struck in the form of the book Hello Cupcake . We had both been wanting to try our hand at their cupcake masterpieces. And what better time than Thanksgiving?! Christmas is right around the corner so I'm hopeful for an equally extravagant Christmas cupcake homage. A far cry from last year's Thanksgiving Eve---Gabe and I were eating sushi out of a vending machine in Japan or something... ...there are perks to both.

Too bad Hans Solo, I mean Harrison Ford, is now showing his actual age. I really enjoy his younger model---Indiana Jones, Star Wars, even Regarding Henry. In recent years I haven't been impressed with him. Morning Glory , however, brought him back to someone I could somewhat stomach. Diane Keaton on the other hand has kept me entertained regardless (I especially love the movie she did with Keanu...Somethings Gotta Give). Rachel McAdam's is the new Meryl Streep. She picks good movies, good roles, and then does a good job acting. Win, win, win. Since these are my last few days of "retirement" before t-shirt folding mania begins, I thought I would take in a movie. A matinee. I live three minutes away from the theater and I have a routine. Check movie time via Fandango app on iPhone. Calculate that there is enough time to watch the previews (not just the movie) and still arrive to Gabe's school five minutes before two, in order to pick him up. Purchase tickets

Mexican theme---isn't that what everyone thinks of the weekend before Thanksgiving? A few of us moms got together Saturday for our second "Cook Club". This time we paired Game Night with it. Seeing as it was the big Mexican Revolution Day holiday (so well known and beloved here in Hawaii), our foods (and games) revolved around ME XI CO I was so caught up in the Mexican Fiesta, I neglected to take photos of all the colorful and delicious dishes. We had Corona, Kahlua, and Margaritas by our sides to wash down our fiesta feast. I made shrimp and cheese enchiladas (conveniently, I took a photo of my own masterpiece), Kim's 7 layer dip, Lehua's Dulce De Leche cookies (personal favorite), flan, Michelle's tamales, Mai's queso, and no Mexican night would be complete without...TACO BELL (muchas gracias Jayme). We piled our plates high and settled in for our big game---UNO (the only thing other than hitting a pinata I could think of to fit with the theme). It

I finally got a job. Part time. Close to home. Fun. Fashion. Family. Despite probably working on Turkey Day (don't eat meat anyway and spent last Thanksgiving in Japan), I am pretty excited.

...has cupcakes?! Who knew? Seriously, who knew and didn't tell me? I rarely eat here. Maybe it's because our waitress didn't know if mochi ice cream was ice cream...she was very perplexed about it and could only offer me and my dining companions the following information about mochi ice cream--- "we keep it in the fridge" . Maybe she is a smart ass working here for her own amusement (much the way I blog). Nonetheless, I enjoyed a fabulous chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter cupcake after four different plates of some sort of shrimp sushi (small plates...really!). This cupcake was a Starbucks caramel macchiato disguised as a mini cake. Clearly, it was a good, unexpected day. A pedicure, is what started me walking in the right direction...and I ended up at Borders in Waikele where I met one friend intentionally and another accidentally...the result, surprise lunch gathering at Genki with two fab ladies...and a cupcake ! (Good name for a new t.v. show don&

(Hum Johnny Mathis classic) "It's beginning to look a lot like CRAZY , everywhere I go... Take a look at the ornaments, glistening once again... in my house! Surely you remember that my other beloved Starbucks Christmas ornaments are sitting in the wacky space under the stairs due to my fake shelf debacle--and if you don't remember, then all I can say is someone (Isom) will be drilling through the wall to save my ornaments since Christmas is only five weeks away! Last night, I believe the Waikele store was putting out their Christmas stuff a tad early. Fine by me. I scooped up the first ornament there. This morning, I scooped up the second at the Mililani store and utilized my 15% off coupon. Even better. Grabbed my collectible (at least to me) gift cards and my cranberry bliss bar (I mean it has BLISS in the name!) and my kick off to holiday was official! Merry Starbucks to all and to all a good night!

...at a BAR. What a great night of food, laughter, friends, and a small discussion on the book we read this past month--- Jen Lancaster's Pretty in Plaid . I wore plaid in honor of the book. We sipped on the yummiest pomegranate margaritas (only $4), ate ahi, shrimp, warm brie, homemade chips, crab and artichoke dip, creme brulee, and bread pudding. It was a great kick off to the holiday season...I was preparing my belly for all the yummy treats it will be enjoying in the coming weeks. Other than my friend Michelle's brie, this recipe includes honey and balsamic vinegar, it is the best I have enjoyed. We were not the only folks out for a good time last night...a quadruple birthday party was in the works at Kincaid's. The balloons were attached to full size bottles of alcohol---they really know how to do things! I need to secure an invite to next year's bash. I digress, as with last night, it is supposed to be about the book---a few words on Pretty in Plaid: 1.

These were the first really tasty thing I have baked in awhile. I even took the liberty of substituting milk for eggnog. It's that time of year when I feel everything should have eggnog in it. Just today we had eggnog French toast. It was a hit with me but not with Isom. Eggnog is like bacon...to me, it goes with everything! These cupcakes were jumbo sized since they were really supposed to be mini bundt cakes...yeah, you called it, I don't have a bundt pan. I adapted. I felt like I baked something right out of the Starbucks display case. I was super impressed with my ability to make a swirled pastry! It's as easy as splitting the batter, adding chocolate to one half, and then layering it as you place it in the muffin tin (or bundt pan if you are lucky enough to have one). We enjoyed these for breakfast on Saturday and as a snack throughout the day---you know, whenever I needed an eggnog fix. I am interested in baking eggnog chocolate swirl loaves now...perfect H

Okay, so we saw it last weekend and I'm just now getting around to writing about it. It was good. So good, the fact that we sat in the FRONT row (gag, like the worst thing ever) didn't matter, it was still funny and enjoyable. I didn't even get a headache (if it had been in 3D I don't think the same would be true). But I was bummed I had no place to rest my legs. This is not a movie just for kids. In the tradition of The Incredibles, Toy Story, The Fantastic Mr. Fox---this movie had kids and their parents in mind (megamind). I was surprised to see that Brad Pitt was the voice of "the good guy". I never pictured him as an animated film kind of guy ( Cool World doesn't count...animated/real life movies are garbage...except for Enchanted). Will Ferrell and Tina Fey of course nailed it. I think Will Ferrell should have a cameo in all movies (even the sad serious ones). He just cracks me up---but, word of caution---there's n o need to see Megami

The closest Veteran to me (literally and figuratively) is Isom. Although he has now completed his service with the United States Army, he is still involved with soldiers on a daily basis. So, it's like six degrees of separation or something---the military is all around us, especially here in Hawaii---you can't escape their spirit, their bases, their spouses, their kids...and it's a good thing. I have the military to thank for bringing my grandpa here, my dad here, and later my future husband here...and countless, priceless friends---(Ashley, Bess, Danielle, Tobi---I miss you guys!) All the major (no pun intended) men in my life have all been affiliated and served their country in some capacity. Thank you. Your service is appreciated. Here's to grandpa, dad, and Isom...and all the other service men and women here and abroad. I know it's only one day, one post, but you are appreciated always . I really wish I had a picture with the three of them in it. I couldn't

I can't believe I've been semi-blogging for over a year and have yet to have a post about my favorite fast food sandwich shop. Blimpie is better than Subway. The sweet peppers, the fresh sliced meats...wait, I don't eat meat anymore. But, I still prefer a Blimpie Veggiemax or tuna on wheat to the Subway counter part. I'm sure it has everything to do with working there for several semesters during college (ask me about the tuna...one more thing I have in common with Jen Lancaster ). Since I am lucky enough to be at home while Isom slaves away on computers for work, at least once a week we meet up for a kid free lunch time date. It is usually at Blimpie. It's not romantic, but it is a good sandwich, which honestly I sometimes prefer to romance (other than pizza, sandwiches are my go to food---I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...and for several years at UH, I did). The Tesoro gas cashiers/Baskin Robbin ice cream scoopers/Blimpie sandwich makers

Christmas shopping in November. It really could be a first...ever. Isom loves going to Ala Moana. There's something about it, a nostalgia that brings him back to being eighteen, in the Army, and the best part---first meeting me! I used to work at Laura Ashley there and he would diligently come and visit me on my breaks, pick me up after late shifts, court me. It was very sweet. All the ladies knew him and would comment on what a catch he was. Nowadays, we just go to Ala Moana to shop and for the occasional Williams Sonoma demo class. Since we did everything a family could possibly do on Saturday (charity walk, breakfast out, movies, swimming, impromptu BBQ), Sunday was a blank slate. The boys wanted to lounge and I wanted to get some of our Christmas "to do's" out of the way. As long as we could go to Ala Moana, Isom was in. As long as we could hit the Lego store, Gabe was in. As long as we could stop at La Palme D'or for a mocha bubble drink, I was r

It wouldn't be the weekend or a walk if we didn't wait for an hour to eat breakfast out. This time, however, we had the best example of good food and good service! I was beginning to think the restaurant gods were really pissed off at me. Since we knew we definitely weren't going to breakfast at the place that starts with a C, we decided on Eggs N Things . My memories of ENT are from my UH days---after drinks and dancing at whatever was the Waikiki hot spot at the time. I even saw The Black Eyed Peas grabbing a bite there pre Fergie and pre insane fame. It was literally a hole in the wall. If you blinked, you'd miss it. They have moved to a bigger, brighter, more sophisticated location---you know, right next to a head shop . We expected a wait and were not disappointed. The kids were being decent so it wasn't so bad to sit on a bench on a sunny day and people watch (an old man in a bright purple Speedo was the highlight). After waiting patiently, we were

It was a beautiful morning for volunteering. It was a beautiful morning for a walk---a 1.5 mile walk around Kapiolani Park. With Storm Troopers. I am kicking myself for not bringing my Halloween costume. I could have been on every Facebook page, posing with my fellow walkers. The JDRF walk was the first walk that Isom and Gabe woke up early and joined me for. It was fun seeing Gabe participate in a good cause (even if his only concern was walking with the Storm Troopers). I'm hoping he will absorb giving back to the community by osmosis. He had a walking buddy in Arwen (and Isom) and he got a free t-shirt. I'm glad I signed up, garnered donations (special thanks to Tutu, Kathi, Sue), and enjoyed some family time out and about. For more information on Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, click here .

...or International House of...Desserts. I feel like everything on the menu is sweet. That's fine with me. Yesterday, for lunch I had pancakes. Windward mall's restaurant selections include Ruby Tuesday and IHOP . Clearly, I made the best choice. I was hopeful for a sequel of the egg nog pancakes I so enjoyed last year around this time. As Mai Ly put it---FAIL. They did however, have New York Style Cheesecake Pancakes. In IHOP lingo, NYSCP...everything is such a mouthful there. Alongside my dessert lunch pancakes, I sipped on an iced mocha. Watch out Starbucks, this pancake joint whips up a mean iced mocha! Thank you IHOP for satisfying my sweet lunch tooth---and for under $15. Cheap sweets.

...the movie, not mine (kidding). Another Oscar winning performance from Robert Downey Jr. He was working HARD in this movie. Working hard to make the fact that "the guy from The Hangover" can not carry a movie based on his "fat Jesus" image and Debarge perm jokes. The movie was funny and I laughed out loud. However, Due Date was missing something. It was nice to see a cameo from Jamie Foxx but there was too much road trip, slap stick humor for my taste. Maybe it's because I saw this movie alone. Sad huh. I like to take advantage of matinee prices and I my group of stay at home mom buddies (with kids in school) is dwindling. It's definitely time to find a job. Anyway, my point is, sometimes you laugh harder and things seem funnier when you have a buddy to laugh with you. I will watch this when it comes out on DVD and I loved seeing Robert Downey Jr. in something other than Ironman. He is talented, no doubt about it---he made his sidekick seem l

The best thing about this Hello Kitty experience was the company (thanks Lena for telling me about Makitti ). I was super excited to see what a Hello Kitty themed restaurant could offer me --Hello Kitty's biggest fan. Uh, I think I have more Hello Kitty memorabilia in my purse. I am going to cut them some slack, however. They just opened, it hasn't even been a month. I am prepared to return after the holidays for lunch or high tea. Makitti is located in Waikiki, so parking was a rip off...it was convenient however. There was a mobile device option that I thought was very forward thinking...too bad it took twice as long to call on Cindy's cell phone as it would have to pay at the machine---good effort though. (Thanks for footing the parking bill Cindy...I'm sorry your first born won't be going to college now.) After parking and being escorted to our seats, we ordered our beverages and took a tour around. Heavy on seafood, low on Hello Kitty-ness. The restau

I couldn't let Halloween pass without some sort of baking homage to ghoulish spirits. I had been wanting to make the pop rock cupcake recipe from my book for awhile. For several weeks I was on a mission to find pop rocks (found them at Party City and Hot Topic). On Friday when I was helping Lehua decorate for her Halloween fiesta, she gave me these cute skull and cross bone cupcake liners with decorative picks. Isom's work will be all "boo-ed" out. Last week they received two Halloween treats and now today, an after trick-o-treat cupcake that actually tastes and feels more like a sugar cookie...I don't know what went wrong---the ghosts of cupcakes past I guess.

...from Hello Kitty, "Scott", and Bumble Bee/The Last Airbender. This year the Halloween party was in town at Lehua's house. And this year, instead of drinking too much, my claim to fame was winning the costume contest. Everyone had the opportunity to be their version of Hello Kitty... Mia: Vampire Cheerleader...Kitty. Gabe "Kitty". Danica: Renaissance Bride...Kitty. Jessica: Witch Kitty. Isom: Scott Kitty. Anna: Chilean Coal Miner...Kitty. Sarah: Mad Men Kitty. Lehua: Harijuku Girl...Kitty. Love that there's adults out there wanting to dress up and get in the Halloween spirit. It was a fun evening...Kitty style.