Life of Larisa or LOL

I'm in love with this new outfit of Zach's. Okay, outfit might be stretching it...onesie. I have to share. As usual, the picture is sub standard, but if you click here , you can go to the website where other cuteness can be found. Better pictures there. I guess that's why I don't get paid the big bucks, I can spread the word, but my advertising photo skills are lacking. No matter. Still a cute onesie. And still a cute baby. Thanks to my mommy friend Summer for sharing this rocking onesie with us. We love it. Consider this the thank you note?

...include pumpkin, gingerbread, peppermint, eggnog...and chocolate. Uh, anything sweet I guess. I had a lot to be thankful this year. Other than a new bouncy baby boy, the old bouncy boy, and the older bouncy boy we call Isom, there was a bounty of delicious foods to enjoy this Thanksgiving. Who says you need a turkey to get your fill? I live with three, so no need to eat any. I love this time of year as much for the music, movies, and the giving spirit...but really for the food and beverage that only come around once a year---that is what puts me in the mood for gift giving, tree trimming, and carol singing. This past week was chock full of specialty flavored items... Gingerbread pudding topped with whipped cream (thanks Jello)... Chocolate covered Ritz Crackers (thanks Tobi)... Pilgrim Hat Cookie Dessert (thanks Lena)... Eggnog muffins...we enjoyed these for Thanksgiving breakfast (and the day after...and the day after). This is the BEST muffin recipe I have ever made.

...will consist of warm weather (and my UGGS). Friends. Eggnog. Cranberry Bliss Bar. No school. No work. Christmas music. Christmas decorations. A baby! You may have noticed I left out the turkey part. What was once a fowl feast is now a dessert feast. I don't eat meat and I don't change for Thanksgiving. There will be plenty of carbs to load up on! We are excited to spend our day, first at home enjoying The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and later--eating, playing games, and taking pictures with our friends. I'm sure we will come home full, happy, and tired. Here's a preview of one turkey...

The recipients of these two treats were Isom's co-workers. And Gabe and I. We always have to try what we bake. We have been walking extra these days to help balance it out. Like cake pops, whoopie pies seem to be the new en vogue sweet treat. So I had to try my hand at making some. They turned out great looking, but for me the cake texture that comprises the sandwich portion is irritating in Hawaii's humidity...it sticks to your fingers. For those who don't mind literal finger licking good, no problem. But I would prefer to be able to just pop the treat in my mouth...no licking of sticky fingers necessary. The second of the nostalgia treats was a vanilla creme filled cupcake that inadvertently ended up tasting just like a Twinkie. In the course of a week, I have successfully embraced three baking fads---the whoopie, the faux Twinkie, and the cake pop. Hopefully, I can embrace the "get moving" exercise fad too...

The cake pop guinea pig, otherwise known as Gabe, has been on pins and needles awaiting his peppermint cake pop. This baking project was a two day event. No wonder he kept asking "are the cake pops finished yet?" over and over and OVER again. This is what happens when time is divided between home improvements, eight year old soccer games, general sleep deprivation, and a twelve week old baby. All excuses as to why a normal couple hour baking project was a two day baking event, aside, it was a fun and tasty experiment. I first encountered the cake pop phenomenon at my local Starbucks. They have three flavors to (and now four with the addition of the holiday peppermint) choose from. I like them all. I'd like to see a red velvet and an eggnog version soon (Starbucks are you taking note?). I never dreamed I could re-create this small treat on my own. I did and I'm delighted about it. My mind is racing with all the flavor and special occasion combinations---the p

At first I thought this was my "Happiness Is" post. Starbucks, happiness, happiness, Starbucks. Same, same. Every year I get super excited about what holiday things they will have in store. And every year I am not disappointed. Some of this years delights include peppermint cake pops (OMG), Gingerbread biscotti (dip it in your eggnog latte...heaven), Snowman cookie (fun for the kids), and this year they thought ahead by providing a cake pop kit...oh and let's not forget the kid size personal cup with holiday theme and changing colored straw! Fun for kids and kids at heart. I will be making the cake pops shortly and sharing about that in a future blog post. Stay tuned. Baby not included with retail items at your local Starbucks. Isn't he cute though?

I haven't blogged about a movie in awhile. This one is actually worth it...in my Twilight fan opinion. Not even a new baby kept me away...well, it prevented me from the midnight show, but this morning I woke up ready for the challenge---and it wasn't. Zach was very well behaved. His first Twilight event (other than in utero and the DVDathon we had shortly after he was born). Of course I enjoyed part one of the last movie for the Twilight saga. Who doesn't like a wedding, a honeymoon, and a baby? There's some wolf on wolf action, some wolf on vampire action, along with some good laughs, fashion, and cinematography. I haven't read the book in quite some time so it was actually extra enjoyable not to spend the whole movie comparing it to the book. I'm sure they left things out. I'm sure they added a few things in, but for me it was just visual enjoyment. The theater was packed and I was happy that Zach didn't disrupt any of the other parents playi

...stole my idea! Okay, what I wish was my idea. It's a bakery...on wheels. Cute purple wheels. Genius. They drive to different island locations each week...keeping folks updated via Twitter and Facebook. You can email in a pre-order or just show up to the various locations to pig out. FairyCakes is of the go big or stay home mentality for their whoopie pies. They are monstrous---in both size and flavor. Gabe and I shared them for days. Red Velvet, Pumpkin, Orange Dream, Hazelnut, Peanut Butter...and they even threw in two cupcakes for free since it was Veteran's Day. And I would consider myself a veteran of cake eating. So, while the real Veteran (Isom) had to work, me and the boys enjoyed cakes of all sorts---big, small, free, chocolate, delicious. It was a good day to be off and enjoy cake...and salute Veterans of all sorts--big, small... Thanks for all you do, your sacrifices near and far so that I may have freedom at home...to indulge in cake.

The new Coldplay CD... Big brother goofing off with little brother's toys... Little brother staring in amazement at big brother... Mini pumpkin bundt cakes from Barnes and Noble Cafe... Starbucks K-Cups for our Keurig... A handsome baby boy named Zach...

...the restaurant, not the album (although that is good too). I attended my third girls only outing since baby was born on Saturday. It's hard to get out of the house to leave Zach (no problem leaving the other two), but once out, it is invigorating to take a shower, dress with purpose, turn the radio up, drive a little faster, and eat at a grown up restaurant. The girls have been super at meeting at restaurants not too far from home, so if needed, I'm only fifteen minutes away from nursing the baby. Our first outing post baby was to Assagio's in Mililani---an old standby that is predictable and delicious. For our most recent outing however, we were a little less predictable--we went "off the wall" and ate at what appeared to be a "hole in the wall". After spending a couple of hours enjoying the BEST seared ahi (other than Isom's recipe of course) I have ever had, and trying a chocolate mystery dessert, I decided that it wasn't a hole in th

They say there's no love like a mothers, especially for her son(s), but I have to tell you that brotherly love is pretty spectacular as well. I can honestly say I had no idea of how my heart would be melted by seeing the sight of Zach looking up (literally) to Gabe and Gabe adoring Zach--even if it is from an uncomfortably close perspective--every chance he gets. These two are shaping up to be best buds. I'm thrilled to be the one to capture it in pictures...even if it is crappy little iPhone pictures. Maybe Santa will bring me a new digital (very compact) camera.

...to purchase warm winter boots. I have not fallen and hit my head. I know I live in Hawaii where the climate is warm. And I am not planning a trip to the mainland anytime soon either. But, after borrowing my friend's UGGS for Halloween (more on that later), I decided I had to have a pair for myself. Even if they only see the inside of my house with my daily ensemble of sweat shorts and baby spit up t-shirts, they are worth it. Just like my first red cup (yay holiday Starbucks time) of the season was worth the inflated (over four dollars) price for coffee. Some things you just do because it's the season---pumpkin cupcakes, peppermint mocha's, eggnog lattes, UGG boots in Hawaii. You see what I mean. I'm sorry everyone can't enjoy the comfort that my new boots and a Starbucks latte can bring, but maybe a small dose of happiness from the pictures?

...make me look fat?! Well, yes, yes they do. There's no other way baby boy can look at ten weeks old. His latest trick? Sitting up...well, kinda. Good thing our couch pillows are so fluffy. Much like the baby. For a few minutes at a time, Zach can sit on the couch like the big folks and watch t.v. High aspirations. He has also been working on his tummy time. He looks like a beach ball flying. Round middle with arms and legs flailing while grunting. But he is not unhappy about it, so each day we amuse ourselves by placing him on his toy mat for tummy time. Zach is also a great travel companion. Yesterday we spent several hours out of the house, on the road, touring Sea Life Park, grabbing eggnog milkshakes from Jack in the Box...typical Sunday in November outings. All this with barely a peep of distress...well, maybe a complaint or two...from the eight year old.