Life of Larisa or LOL

As much as I HEART Starbucks, I must say that CPK (California Pizza Kitchen), does it for me every time . I don't think I can say this about any other restaurant. I hate to jinx any future dining experiences there, but I can't recall a bad tasting item, slow moving waiter, wrong bill, or dirty counter there...ever. Maybe it's like your child...you can see no wrong when it comes to them. They are perfect in every way...until they aren't. CPK is still my perfect child. I was fully prepared to make halibut and baked potatoes last night (ended up having it tonight instead and it's pictured below), but then Isom called. "Stuck in traffic. Meet me at CPK?" Couldn't hang up and put my shoes on fast enough. Gabe and I were out the door. We decided to try the new mediterranean mini appetizer plate. I have decided I must replicate this at home...look out for that in the coming days. I strayed from my usual items (grilled veggie panini and soup; wild mushroom piz...

Apparently I'm not the only one using the "Cupcakes Galore" recipe book. I usually go back and forth between this one and my "500 Cupcakes" book. When I was making this no bake cupcake yesterday, I was confused by the name. I still don't know what the author is talking about. I took a moment to "Google" it and came up with another lovely blog. The author of this blog and I are on a similar cupcake journey it seems. So much for originality. I think she might be a better food photographer too. But, check out her rendition of this treat by clicking here . Anyway, as much as I enjoy baking daily, it was nice to have a recipe that didn't require the use of my oven. The ingredients were minimal. Children can execute this treat...which is probably why I was able to accomplish it. The chocolate and corn flake combination gives those who indulge, a crunch and sweet taste sensation (much like the popular salt and sweet combination). I chose to...

It's supposed to resemble a pineapple. I don't think it does. But it's still cute. These towers of sweetness are pineapple and coconut. The mini cupcake on top has a maraschino cherry in the center. The two cupcakes are held together with a honey glaze---a substitution for fondant (not a fan). And for once, a reasonable substitution. After three hours of working with the first graders at Gabe's school, it was a welcome respite to come home and get in the kitchen to bake. Gabe is now used to the routine of homework at the counter with the sounds of mom baking in the background. I'm hoping he is picking up a thing or two by osmosis. It's nice to have his company since he no longer is interested in taste testing the goodies. Today's cupcake is perfect for Hawaiian occasions---luau, potluck, picnic at the beach. The pineapple and coconut work well together. And the surprise cherry on top takes an ordinary cupcake and turns it into something festive ...

...are an Australian treat . I'm not Australian. I'm not a food photographer (thus the photos above). I can follow (only now, after seven months or so of baking) a recipe. Yesterday, while Gabe was busy figuring out what 20-5-7 was, I was baking these mini cupcakes. I made chocolate to dip the cupcakes in and the final step was rolling the chocolate covered mini cupcake in flaked coconut. The three C's! Cupcake, chocolate, coconut. The bite sized treats tasted like donuts. The cake was soft and spongy and the chocolate and coconut added the perfect amount of sweetness. This could easily take the place of the holiday rum ball. Add a stick to it (as suggested by Julie) and it's the perfect mini treat for the kids. Is it a cupcake? Is it a lollipop? Is it a donut on a stick? Who knows. But those Australians sure do know how to create a delicious mini treat.

And now a moment to wish a very sweet two year old a very happy birthday! Her momma is a lovely blogstress . And although this is not a recent photo (you can check out more recent pics on Danielle's blog ), it's a cute one nonetheless. I hope your day was awesome---HAPPY BIRTHDAY munchkin.

Originally, I planned for this week to be devoted to making a decision on the invites for our anniversary party and making some sort of progress on catering options. But then I got a text...a request to have Dim Sum . Uh, sure. I'm not one to pass up invitations to eat. I walked (2.2 miles) this morning and after breaking a sweat, headed home to check email and watch "thirty-something" before heading to Kaneohe for Chinese. Malia and Mai Ly ordered all the dishes. I still don't know what anything is called. I know it all tasted great and most dishes had shrimp. There was scallop, nori , and spinach thrown in there somewhere too---along with a small, strange side of flavored mayonnaise (I like mayo, but this seems an unusual dipping sauce for shrimp to me). If pointing and saying "that one over there" is an acceptable Dim Sum practice, then I guess I feel ready to brave it in the future without them. I didn't take any iPhone food photos today......

...LOOP. Not too long ago, Gabe and I hiked a portion of this trail that starts in the back of Pearl City. We were leisurely. We were with friends. We barely broke a sweat. The kids climbed trees and explored. We were in and out in under an hour. Today was a different story...we went with Isom . I should have known when he was packing the back pack full of "extra" water bottles and even asked to stop by the grocery store for more water reserves...we weren't going to be doing the simple hike Gabe and I did weeks ago. It was a gorgeous day today and perfect weather for a late morning hike. Gabe and I were excited to share this new hiking trail with Isom and enjoy the midday sun. Family hiking is a typical weekend activity for us. Gabe is a trooper and rarely complains...that's my job. We followed along the tree covered path lined with red dirt at a good pace...Gabe was in the lead, followed by Isom, and several yards back---me. We stopped at the same trees...

It's nice having an obsession that other people will help contribute to. Thanks Julie and Isom for this cool new Starbucks stuff. The necklace has three charms---a Starbucks logo, a mini coffee cup, and a coffee definition. The wallet is a recycled Starbucks coffee bag put to another fun use---storing my Starbucks gift cards. The mugs are the latest addition to the growing Starbucks mug collection...which at last count was hovering around seventy...yikes! Everyone collects something. Look around your house. I'm sure you have a collection too...even if it's dust. Currently, I collect Starbucks mugs...books...CDs...Twilight stuff. It's all in good fun. Someday when I get tired of it, or Isom gets tired of it ( hmm , wonder which will happen first?!), I'll sell it all on EBay and voila, we will have Gabe's college tuition paid for. Either that or I'll have to come up with a creative craft to make out of coffee mugs that I can peddle. For now howeve...

Leonardo DiCaprio. Martin Scorsese. Ben Kinglsey . Mark Ruffalo . Just four of the things that make this a great movie. "Shutter Island" is a psychological thriller set in the fifties. Maybe Leo will finally get acknowledged for his great work with this film. Other than "Titanic", Leo has pleased me with his performances in everything...including his stint on "Growing Pains". The movies that DiCaprio are best in, coincidentally are the movies directed by Scorsese: "Gangs of New York", "The Aviator", "The Departed", and now "Shutter Island". Although I found parts of the plot predictable, the movie told a complete story...much like books usually do and movies can't usually capture. The suspense was captivating. This film is edgy, sad, and graphic...but very entertaining. I loved the characters and how the story traveled back and forth between Nazi Germany and the Boston mental hospital/prison known as ...

... home of the whispering waiter . Tonight we had an amusing server. At least I think he was funny. I only had one beer ( Schwarzbier : "black beer"), so my judgement wasn't clouded. When we first sat down he came up and pointed to me, Isom , and Gabe and said "Margarita, margarita, milk." To which I responded "Close. Beer, beer, milk." We were off to a good start. A waiter with personality. He took our orders with lightning speed, put our orders in just as fast, and our food arrived in a blink. Apparently 5:30 on a Friday is the time to go. We were seated by the water (even harbor water is nice to view at sunset) and we could hear the live house band playing covers of The Police and John Mayer. It was a great setting...for a date...but we had Gabe with us. After a few sips of our beeritas , I decided that I was lucky to be out with not one, but two fun guys. We enjoyed seared ahi for our appetizer, garnished with a fresh salad. Mmm . Isom ...

Hawaii has a lot of the same chains that the mainland has. Recently, we have even been lucky enough to have Target and Whole Foods arrive in town. Another chain that has recently arrived is Rascal's--Food and Fun . As if Dave and Busters, Tilt, Chuck E. Cheese, and Fun Factory were not enough...there is now another place to spend your money and earn tickets for overpriced cheaply made toys, all while eating junk food. Yay . Today was Isom's last day off before returning to work next week. I felt that I wasted yesterday being sick, coughing, complaining, and sniffling. Today, I was determined to get out and do some fun stuff. After we picked up Gabe from school we headed to town to check out Rascal's. Family date night. The parking (with validation) is only $2. We stayed for a couple of hours playing air hockey (I beat both Gabe and Isom ), glow putt (I came in last), and mini bowling (played the worst game of my life). It was fun...and empty. I'm worried the...

Isom's favorite cookie (and cupcake) is ginger. I guess most folks call them gingersnaps. The recipe that we have (and that I royally screwed up once before) is from Isom's mom. The trouble I find with recipes I receive from both Isom and his mom, is that sometimes a crucial element gets left out of the instructions. The crucial step is usually in their head and obvious to them (not so obvious to me), so they don't think to write it down. This has led to botched homemade applesauce and the previously mentioned gingersnaps. I wanted to bake something yummy for Isom's return from Thailand and use my new baking sheet at the same time---cookies it is! My plan was thwarted with the awful sore throat and congestion I seem to be suffering from now. I can't complain too much...I don't have any broken bones, I'm not a million years pregnant, I don't even have the flu. I just can't breathe when I eat. I can't swallow without feeling like I ingest...

Country. Lush. Green. Mountains. Cheap. Mosquitoes . Senator Fongs is where it's at. This will be the backdrop for the big anniversary party in June. If I haven't texted , emailed, Facebooked you...it's the first Saturday in June at this tranquil, peaceful garden and plantation. We're gonna throw a little noise, color, and jubilee into the serenity that is Kahaluu...but just for an evening...wouldn't want to permanently wreck anything. It should be a really good time. Memory making. Vows. Wine. Cake. Friends. Laughs. Senator Fongs is where it's at.

Isom is home! I was excited to take him to one of the many restaurants I tried while he was away. After picking him up from the airport we drove over the hill to Kailua to indulge in breakfast crepes from Crepes No Ka Oi...only to find that they were No Ka Open. Of course Tuesday is the one day they are closed. Good thing the new location of Boots and Kimo's is a stones throw away. I'd been wanting to try this breakfast place out, so the plan change didn't put a damper on the morning. I know Boots and Kimo's is known for their Macadamia Syrup Pancakes, but I decided to keep with the crepe theme and ordered the Guava Jelly Pancake Crepes (as pictured above Isom's spam and egg breakfast). I'm not sure why the restaurant is bright yellow and adorned with ridiculous abouts of Football paraphernalia and Wheaties Cereal boxes, but the ghastly decor didn't matter. My breakfast treat was delicious. The service is local style---in a good way. We wer...

To my true loves: Isom , Gabe, friends, books, pizza, Starbucks, cupcakes...and Keanu . Hope you are all enjoying a LOVEly day, doing something you LOVE. So, far I've got the friends, books, and Gabe part down. The pizza and Starbucks will come later. Isom and I will celebrate come Tuesday. And one can always dream about Keanu .

Sometimes the encore is the best part. Take my birthday for example (and I promise there won't be too many more references to it after this post). Since it was a week long celebration, last night was the encore--- Bon Jovi concert at the Blaisdell with good friends. Ever since "You Give Love a Bad Name" blasted through my boombox in the fifth grade, I have been a fan of Bon Jovi . They are not my favorite band, BUT they do sing one of my favorite songs---one that is on my top ten of all time list. "Wanted: Dead or Alive". I know it's cheesy. I know they are a big hair 80's band from New Jersey. I don't care. Every time I hear that song, I have to turn it up, listen, and sing along. After getting my hair and makeup done at Marsha Nadalin by Sarah and her salon pals, I was transformed from house frau to Bon Jovi rocker chic. The pampering was a great gift and I thought that was the end of it. But then I arrived at Lehua's and ...

Obviously, I am full of myself. I talk about myself, write about myself, obsess about myself. I'm sure most people do, but coupled with the fact that I'm an only child, it really makes for a self involved individual. But, believe it or not, I still have friends, so I'm not gonna spend too much time worrying about this small personality flaw. Birthdays, especially my own, are my favorite celebration. Thankfully, every year, my friends and family indulge me in multiple birthday events. This year I enjoyed a leisurely walk at Ko Olina , followed by kid free beach time and lunch at Aloha Salads. That was my birthday eve---a lesser known birthday tradition, but an important one just the same. On my actual birthday I enjoyed cupcakes and a Mexican fiesta dinner. Today I enjoyed California Pizza Kitchen for a day after birthday lunch. But wait, tomorrow I will end the birthday week festivities with the biggest blow out--- Bon Jovi in concert at the Blaisdell Arena....

Ok , clearly it is operator error with my iPhone pictures. One of these photos doesn't belong. Can you tell which one? Apparently crystal clear images that look like they are from a real camera can be achieved with the iPhone...just not when I'm taking the picture. For my birthday, I volunteered for the Hearing Screening at Gabe's school. First and second graders having their ears looked at by very "senior" members of the Mililani Lions Club. I was in charge of registration, or writing down the results of the hearing test. The symbols I could use: / (pass) X (fail) and my favorite W (WAX). Note to parents: please help clean your kids ears. Half the first and second graders received W on their hearing screening. Not Gabe of course. He received an X. I'm not worried. I always knew he couldn't hear. I was happy to have an explanation for his misguided behavior. Don't worry Isom. He was "re-screened" and came out with flying ...

Don't give me any grief about the size of the picture. It's my birthday---and I can post tiny pictures if I want to. Thanks grandma for posting this on Facebook ...so that I could steal it for my blog! It's official. My last day of 33 was yesterday. And today...well, you know how to count. I have received the most birthday wishes ever this year. I credit technology...and sympathy. Facebook makes it so easy for all your friends---past and present alike---to wish you joy and happiness on your special day. I LOVE IT. That's the technology part. The sympathy part is twofold. One: I think some are taking pity on me because Isom (for the second year in a row) is traveling for work on my birthday. That's okay. Really. It works out. Everyone seems to be going above and beyond...and I'll take it! Two: I'm officially in my mid-thirties... I don't have any sage wisdom or advice. I have had what is quickly turning into a fabulous birthday week . It...

I found a way to incorporate my love for commercial holidays with my love for cupcakes. This year, I had a Cupcake themed Valentine's Day party. To my delight, Target was selling oodles of crap with this same combined theme. I was really supposed to be a high level marketing exec, but alas, I will just trod along having good ideas with no credit or money, given. Since I like all things cupcakes, I have no time or room in my brain for things such as...sports. Football to be exact. I scheduled my party for Superbowl Sunday. Oops. The turn out was still good, but I am seriously out of touch...at least with tight suited, sweaty men chasing and throwing a small ball. For this gathering, I made three types of cupcakes: coconut and raspberry, white chocolate with strawberries, and red velvet...at this time I will take a moment to fess up---the red velvet was...a box recipe. I hated to do it but, as I mentioned earlier, Target had some really cute stuff (crap). One of which was a...

Sometimes not baking has its rewards. I shared these four lovely cupcakes with Mai Ly, Danielle, and the cutest little two year old we know---Cameron. Last week, when Sarah's husband so kindly took Gabe off my hands for a few hours of me time at the mall, I noticed something fantastic in the food court...Cinnabon. It gets better. Cinnabon cupcakes. Amazing. Cupcakes truly are a fad if they have made it to the fast food world. Who cares though. I immediately sent Danielle and Mai Ly a message: URGENT: must meet this week for cupcake date! Like the good friends they are, they responded immediately with "YES!". Ten o'clock last Thursday was a memorable time, as I consumed (with my three buds) bites of vanilla, carrot, chocolate, and cinnamon cupcakes. It's no Cake Couture or Hokulani Bake shop but it is easily accessible (every mall has a Cinnabon), and the price was right. We all agreed that the chocolate and the carrot were the best flavors. If you can...