Where’s my Visine?  It’s 3:15 am Hawaii time.  I just landed in LAX, while waiting for my connecting flight to Phoenix.

Phoenix marks the beginning of some adventurous fun.  Starting off later today where I’ll hook up with my big sisters, and our sweet cousin, Corri and her family for some pre-hiking fun.

Then, next Monday, together with my two big sisters, Carrie and Peggy, we will arrive at the south rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.  Our goal, to hike to from the top of the rim down to Phantom Ranch, where we’ll spend the night, and then ascend back to the Canyon’s rim the next day.

I have hiked our beautiful Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon on Kauai, but never the Grand Canyon National Park.  After over a year of planning, the three sisters are very excited for it all to begin.

I am feeling ready to blast through the steep trails of our Grand Canyon hike, thanks to Gabby Reece’s butt-kicking classes I’ve been attending on Kauai’s northshore since November.  Thanks Gabby for all those squats and lunges that I moaned and sweated through.  I have no doubt the strength they built in my bootie and legs will pull me up and over the top of the Canyon’s rim.

Stay tuned for the pictorial post of our Grand Canyon hiking adventure next week.

Grand Canyon Hike or Bust, here we come!

Photo courtesy of the Grand Canyon National Park Service

Every morning at 6 am our kitchen comes alive to the sounds of our blender, blending up a batch of fresh green smoothies to start our day.

And I have to say, I am absolutely in love with them.  At first it started as a way to sneak fresh green veggies into my anti-veggie eating boys.  But now they are a part of our everyday lives, making us so much healthier because of them.

Not too long ago, my youngest daughter Jadah, and her friend Jen, founded Simple Green Smoothies.  Their common passions to raise world-changing kids in their young families, and educate others about healthy choices, has made them both rockstars of green smoothies and ambassadors of healthy living.

Once Jadah encouraged me to start making my own green smoothies, I ditched Jamba Juice, because I found by making your own green smoothies, not only do you save money, but also you are in charge with what goes into them, making them tastier, fresher, and even healthier.

Many of our family and friends have been around us enough to know about the Jonah household’s morning green smoothie ritual, and many now subscribe to the same ritual in theirs.  

But if you’ve never tried making green smoothies on your own, here’s a great way to get started. Join Simple Green Smoothies 30-Day Challenge.  Your body and taste buds will be so happy you did.

In the words of Simple Green Smoothies‘ founders…”Peace, Love and Leafy Greens.”

All photos courtesy of simplegreensmoothies.com

I am obsessed with rustic Italian cooking right now.

I found David Rocco on the Cooking Channel, and his show Dolce Vita.  In the newer episodes of his shows, he and his wife, along with their twin baby girls, live in a 500 year-old Tuscan farmhouse. David often cooks outside with twins in tow, and shows how simple and delicious rustic cooking can be.

This recipe was the first of David’s I tried, and is now one of my favorite go to comfort foods, and so I had to share it.

So easy, so amazingly flavorful, healthy, and just plain yummy.

Start out with these simple ingredients…

• 1 can of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans)
• A couple springs of fresh rosemary
• 1 medium onion
• Good olive oil
• Salt & fresh ground pepper
• About 2 cups of water

Chop the onions, and pull off the thistles from the rosemary.  Heat about 1/4 cup of olive oil in medium sauce pan, and add onion and rosemary.

As the onion and rosemary are crisping up, add salt and pepper.  Continue cooking until the edges of the onion begin to get a light crispy brown.

Drain and rinse the can of chickpeas.  Pour them in with the onion and rosemary.  Then using a fork, mash about a third of the chickpeas.

Add about 2 cups of water, and stir.

Bring to boil, and then turn down to simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  You may drizzle with a little olive oil, or add grated parmesan cheese when you serve.  But I like it just as is, and the flavor gets even better if you can find yourself able to save any for later.  Very hard for me to do.

Cooking is truly one of life’s pleasures.  

You don’t have to be a chef, but making delicious food sure makes you feel like one.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

This week brought in the Chinese New Year 2013.  The Year of the Snake, specifically the water snake.  Which according to predictions is a year of making all things possible.  

But, the predictions also tell to be cautious.  Delusion and deception are common in the year of the water snake.  Make the most of this year, by using your talents wisely and put saving money and being frugal at the top of your priorities during the reign of the water snake.

A personal journey for me into 2013 has been to live healthier and feel stronger.  So along with dining on our traditional Chinese New Year Long Life Noodles (click here for my recipe), I have added another recipe.  This one was found on the Cooking Channel, Ching-He Huang’s healthy and delicious recipe, Lucky Life Stir Fry.

LUCKY LIFE STIR FRY

Recipe Courtesy Ching-He Huang

12 servings to share

Ingredients

• SAUCE:
• 1 cup cold vegetable stock
• 1 to 2 tablespoons oyster sauce or mushroom sauce
• 1 heaping tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon clear rice vinegar or cider vinegar
• Pinch salt
• Pinch sugar

• STIR-FRY:
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium red Fresno Chile, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 small carrots, cut into a 2-inch julienne
• 1 red pepper, seeded and cut into a julienne
• 1 yellow pepper, seeded and cut into a julienne
• 1 large handful snow peas
• 2 cups thinly shredded red cabbage
• 1 small handful shredded kale
• 3 large fresh shitake mushrooms, sliced
• 1 large ripe beef tomato, sliced into wedges or sliced tinned water chestnuts
• 1 large handful bean sprouts
• 1 scallion, finely sliced on the angle

Directions

Before cooking, make sure that all vegetables are prepped and ready to go.

For the sauce: In a small jug add the stock, oyster sauce, cornstarch, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and sugar. Mix well.

For the stir-fry: Heat a wok over high heat and as the wok starts to smoke, add the oil. Add the ginger, garlic and chilies, and stir for a second. Add the carrots, peppers and snow peas, then stir-fry for a minute. Toss in the cabbage, kale, mushrooms and tomatoes. Stir-fry for 2 minutes more, adding a splash of water to help the vegetables cook.

Pour the sauce over vegetables in the wok and toss just until the sauce begins to thicken and bubble and becomes glossy. Remove from the heat and toss in the bean sprouts and garnish with scallions. Mix well and serve immediately.

(Lucky Life Stir Fry photo and recipe courtesy of the Cooking Channel and Ching-He Huang)

Wishing you luck in this Year of the Snake…

And may your year be filled with happiness, prosperity, and longevity!

2013 is off to a healthy start.  By executing a nice balance of planning, healthy eating, and fitness.

First, planning.  This coming May, my two sisters and I have made plans to embark on our two-day Grand Canyon hike.  Together we have committed to hiking down to the bottom of the canyon one day, and up the to the top of the canyon the next.  Our upcoming trip has given me great motivation to be fit enough to handle the strenuous hike, and enjoy my sister time as well.

(Photo from SimpleGreenSmoothies.com)

Second, Michael, Max and I took on Simple Green Smoothies 30 Day Challenge, which began January 2nd, and now is a part of our everyday lives. (They have a new one starting on April 1st, check it out by clicking here).  All three of us now start every morning with a fresh green smoothie. It gives me amazing energy and is the way I get Sneaky Greens into my picky eating boys too.

(Photo from GabbyandLaird.com)

Lastly, I have been attending Gabby Reece’s circuit workouts three times a week, and try to go on one hike, with plenty of incline, each week.  I absolutely love Gabby’s classes, and find her generous spirit of sharing her love for health and fitness with Kauai’s locals admirable to say the least.  (Check out Gabby and her husband, Laird Hamilton’s fitness and nutrition site by clicking here.)

I’m excited about how strong I feel, and how my confidence is building daily.  It makes me believe that taking on the Grand Canyon with my sisters is going to be a powerful experience, and an incredible accomplishment to have in my “I did it” jar.

Lift your green smoothie each day…

And say cheers to balance and health!

2012 brought in my 51st year.  During this year I found myself extremely grateful for the life I have, and for finally letting go of any regrets I was still holding on to.

In 2012, I learned that by living life with a loving and forgiving heart; subscribing to the belief that everything happens for a reason; and giving every moment the best efforts I am capable of…

The reward is a happy life that carries with it no regrets.

Here are the posts that highlighted our favorite moments of 2012…

Over the Mountain and Through the Swamp

Love on the Beach

Happy Trails

Surfing the Pufferfish

Splashing in Sunny California

City by the Bay Day

Cozy Cousins

Hometown…Sacramento

Beyond Fifty at Turtle Bay

Bansai Pipeline and Hale’iwa

Wet n’ Wild to Lanikai

Friday Night Lights at Hanalei Bay

ATV Kauai = Dirty Fun

Camping Hawaiian Style

Endless Summer…Hawaii

Boys Just Wanna Have Fun

A Legacy of Kindness 

Tennessee Girls Go Hawaiian

Catching Up

Castles in the Sand

Festive Fun and Apple Pie

Aloha means good-bye and hello (and love too)…

As we bid Aloha to 2012, our thoughts and love go out to dear friends and family members who passed on to rest in peace this year, and to those who struggled with hardships or ill-health.

We also send our love and gratitude to all of you in our lives, who make this world such a wonderful place to call home.

Aloha 2012…Aloha 2013

Love, Happiness, Health, and Luck in 2013 to All!!!

Another year has passed, bringing with it many blessings, including the gift of time spent with amazing family and friends.  And for being loved another year for being the persons we are.

We also just received a very large, green gift from the winter bright harvest that is taking place in our yard right now.

The Avocado Gift.

After three years, our little avocado tree gave us its first two avocados ever.  The first one was harvested a couple of months ago.  It was normal size and very tasty.

But take a look again at the size of the avocado Max is holding in that first pic.  When it had finally fell from the tree yesterday, it measured near 8 inches tall and 5 inches across.

This avocado is a true gift of the bounty.  And we happily accept it.

I took a stroll around our yard to share pics of other bountiful gifts growing in our yard right now…

Bananas…

Coconuts…

Papayas…

Ruby Red Grapefruit (see one of my favorite cocktails, the Greyhound, inspired by the Ruby Red’s from this tree, The Giving Tree: a Fresh Squeezed Cocktails)…

Oranges (Screwdrivers:  Fresh squeezed orange juice and good vodka.  Yes please)…

Meyer Lemons…

Tangerines…

and Thai Chiles ( I use these chiles in Fresh Cilantro Hulba Recipe, yum).

Hmmm…just add rum or vodka to any of the above (maybe not the Thai Chiles), and…

Cheers to a Fresh, Bright and Bountiful 2013!

It’s Christmas Eve….Michael, Max and I send our warmest wishes to all.

The boys and I will share a quiet holiday, reflecting on our many, wonderful family and friends who bless our lives each and every day.

Here’s our just completed driftwood wreath.  It’s really beautiful, and will hold a welcoming place at our hale all year round.

Here are the DIY instructions to make your very own Driftwood Wreath…

Start with collecting, slightly curved pieces of driftwood.

Here are the tools you’ll need.  A piece of plywood; a jigsaw; Gorilla Wood Glue; a measuring tape; a pencil; (not pictured; sand paper; sting; and safety goggles).

Lay out your shape with some of the larger pieces of driftwood.  Then measure to find the center.

Mark the center; and using a makeshift compass, draw the interior circle and an exterior circle with your pencil.

Using your jigsaw, cut along your drawn lines, both inside and outside of the circle.

You will end up with this.  You only need the ring for the wreath.

Sand the plywood ring edges until smooth.

Using Gorilla Wood Glue, begin attaching pieces of driftwood onto the plywood ring.

It gets a little messy.

But the glue dries clear, and looks great once done.

You will be attaching the driftwood in segments.  Leaving time for each layer to dry in between the next.

Be creative, there really is no right or wrong, and somehow the peices of natural driftwood seem to find the right fit.

Once the plywood ring is covered by the driftwood, and the glue has dried…

You may leave it natural, or adorn it with whatever you desire.  As seen in the first pic above, I used small natural starfish and a couple of glass floats for ours.

Max has began tracking Santa at NORAD’s Santa Tracker.  Our magical little island of Kauai is Santa’s very last stop each year.

We have baked and decorated a colorful batch of holiday cookies.  Some for Santa, some for friends, and some for us.  Max will leave cookies, along with carrots, for Santa and his reindeer to enjoy tonight when he pops in for a Jonah family visit.

Ride safe Santa…

And Mele Kalikimaka to all and to all a good night!

Last year Max and I made this lovely driftwood tree, as seen on my post Deck the Hale.

It was lovely just as it was.  But, over the past year, I have been collecting more beach finds, and have had a few projects running through my mind.

So, besides the gifts that I have been busy making (see my post on one of this years gifts, Beachy Art…DIY ).  I have added a couple accessories to our driftwood tree.

Topping it off with a small natural starfish, and stringing these tiny lights on a wire around it.  One of my favorite finds from Restoration Hardware.

Stay tuned for my next project.  It is currently in the works in the garage as I write…

Our Driftwood Wreath.  I am enjoying making it, and can’t wait to share it with you soon!

This past week I traveled off island and landed in the middle of some festive fun in Northern California.  Where I visited my daughter, Jadah, son-in-law, George, and granddaughter, Zoe Joy.

The evening I flew in was slated as Northern California’s storm of the year.  So, the next morning we headed to shop at Target (Target shopping is a huge treat for a shop-starved Kauai resident).  Rain boots were at the top of my list, and I found a cute pair with a herringbone pattern, and put them to good use immediately.

The kids live in the beautiful town of Walnut Creek, just a couple blocks from an outstanding commercial district.  So we walked everyday to shops, restaurants, and even to the local Theater for the Arts to enjoy the Nutcracker Ballet.  It was Zoe’s first Nutcracker Ballet, and I hadn’t been in nearly two decades, a really special time.

Sister Peggy drove in from our hometown, Sacramento, for the weekend.  (Sorry you were caught blinking in this pic sis, but it’s still cute of you.)

And the four of us had a fun girls day planned,  starting out with a delightful afternoon tea.

Followed by a stop at the most festive, holiday trimmed garden nursery I have ever seen.

And it was there, resting under this spirited tree, that I finally found my new little garden gnome.  Who happily now lives in Kauai with us.

Monday morning, the skies turned to blue, and we took off on a drive to the countryside in search of the kids Christmas tree.

After following Zoe through the woods, she found their perfect Christmas tree, and Zoe Joy’s daddy, George, gallantly cut it down.

Frosty Lane was where their tree was growing, and since apple orchards surrounded the tree farm, with each tree, the tree farm gave out a free bag of apples too.

Jadah is really into Mason jars, and we were handed this beautiful bag of apples, so she thought it would be a great idea for us to make apple pies in jars…

Well did, and they were super cute and mighty tasty.  (Amazing what a free bag of apples can inspire.)

Here’s my tweaked, Easy Apple Pie in a Jar recipe…

Easy Apple Pie in a Jar

4-6 short, wide-mouth, glass canning jars (depending on jar size you can make 4-6 pies)

Piecrust Dough:

• 1 cup, plus 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour (plus a bit for dusting)
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons of cold, unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
• ¼ cup of ice-cold water

Apple Filling:

• 6 medium apples (core and slice into ¼-inch slices, leave peel on)
• 2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar (plus a bit for sprinkling on top of pie crust)
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• A dash of ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• 1-½ tablespoons of butter

Directions:

In a medium size bowl mix together flour, salt, and sugar.

Drop in cubes of cold butter, and combine by cutting together with a pastry cutter or backside of a fork.  Continue cutting until mixture looks like large crumbles.

Drizzle in ice-cold water, and then stir together until moistened.

Gather dough together into ball.  Place on a sheet of plastic wrap that has been dusted lightly with flour.  Press and flatten into a disc shape, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees, and prepare the apple filling.

In a medium saucepan, combine apples, lemon juice, brown sugar (reserve a little to sprinkle on top of crust after assembling pies), flour, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.

Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until apples begin to soften.  Approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

To assemble the pies, spoon apple mixture evenly, into clean and dry glass jars.

Roll out chilled piecrust dough to approximately ¼ inch thick*. (*Tip…I roll the dough right on the plastic wrap, and add a top piece of plastic wrap when rolling).  And then, cut rolled dough evenly into however many jars of apple filling you have.

Divide the 1-½ tablespoons of butter into however many jars you are using, and then add the dab of butter over the apple mixture in each jar.

Fit the piecrust dough over the top of the apple filling, pinching the sides to cover the apples.  It doesn’t have to be perfect (a rustic fit is fine here).

Sprinkle top of crust with just a bit of brown sugar, and place jars on rimmed baking sheet.

Bake for approximately 15-25 minutes until crust is slightly golden brown, and pie filling is bubbling.

Cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy your fun and yummy pies!

We ate pies baked in jars, we decorated the tree, and then the girls joyfully danced around it…

And that memory of the two of them dancing around the Christmas tree was my own very special gift to take back home.

Hoping your holiday season is filled with tons of comfort and JOY!