Life of Larisa or LOL

...can come in the form of a cute as a button baby girl...a pink frosted donut from Starbucks...a mini cupcake on a stick...Gabe. I started the day with a meeting about the favors for our upcoming anniversary party (one month from tomorrow!). I cleverly chose Starbucks as the meeting location. Lehua and Dahlia met up with me half way through my meeting and we took a wonderful walk through Kailua . The streets there are perfect for walking (hardly any hills) with gorgeous scenery, and the faint smell of the ocean. The rainy weather we have been experiencing let up for the morning and we actually broke a sweat. Good thing, since I had my mind on my after walk treat---the new pink frosted mini donut from Starbucks. It didn't disappoint. Sunshine, stroll, sweets---terrific Tuesday.

It was Friday and that meant pizza. We met up with our favorite pizza eating pals, The Pommerenks. Magoos was a place I frequented when I lived in the ghetto by UH. In college, Magoos was synonymous with beer, late night, and garlic fries. It was in walking distance from my apartment and guaranteed, someone you knew would be sitting at the bar or hanging out waiting for their order. Fifteen years later, Magoos is still around, and have branched out to a pizza bus around the corner from our Mililani house, and a hole in the wall place in Aiea. This was my first time at the Aiea location. The good: you don't have to worry about the kids. This place isn't nice. Kids running wild, no biggie. There's a t.v. The staff is friendly. You don't have to worry...you can arrive in your Wal-mart attire and feel right at home. The bad: Entirely too much flour on the pizza. I tasted it in EVERY bite. I had to dust off my hands and mouth in between every bite. We ordered...

...for Happy Hour! It can't be beat. I was a little sad for the restaurant that it wasn't more filled with customers...but more room for me and my friends. Must drink items include the cranberry mojito (minty, refreshing goodness) and the pomegranate margarita on the rocks (I'm not a fan of margaritas but this one was so good I thought I had ordered it from Starbucks). There were four of us and we ordered sweet potato fries (not as good as The Counter in my opinion), warm brie with bread, shrimp/crab/artichoke dip with bread (we love our carbs !), veggie nachos (I didn't even have to specify...that's what was ON the menu). This was the perfect amount of goodies to enjoy while taking in a view of the Pacific at sunset and fun conversation with girlfriends. Their happy hour is seven days a week so you don't have to wait til the weekend to unwind with good, cheap food. The proportions are enough to fill you up, so dinner isn't even necessary. I've ...

Why would I go to a hot dog stand? This is how much I am dedicated to food. In a hole in the wall meat haven, I trusted I would find SOMETHING that would be fit for me to consume...also, I can't stand being left out. Since, other than here and Facebook , I have been spending all of my online time on YELP, I have been hearing about Hanks Haute Dogs . I had to see for myself. I still need to go back, as I hear they have...PIZZA. This place has been visited by that Food Network "Guy" (not man vs. food). There is a picture of Anthony Bourdain, and even Barrack Obama shoving his face with a " haute " dog. When I go back to eating meat, as so many of my cohorts seem to believe, I would like to have my photo on the wall shoving my face with a " haute " dog. I ordered the veggie for myself and Lehua (we picked up lunch for her). To be clear---it was NOT a veggie dog. It was veggies in a hot dog bun. Shredded cheese, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, a...

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...