The Grains of Paradise

I Love

2012-02-17T17:19:00.001-10:00

{ Acacia's pink and gray chevron Ho'okipa bottoms. }

{ Recycling: Mason Jar for cotton balls, candle holder for Q-Tips, small steamer for make-up, old spice jar for hairpicks, and soy sauce saucer for earrings. }

{ This juice: beets, oranges, carrots, and fresh local ginger }

{ This image my sister texted me. Love black cats and so does someone else apparently...}

{ Making homemade vegan manapuas...}

Tropica Restaurant & Bar

2012-02-16T10:21:00.003-10:00

Carlos and I never go out on Valentines Day.

Neither of us are big on crowded restaurants, over priced prefix menus or red roses. I'm not a hater by any means of the Hallmark holiday but at the same time if I'm working on that night, I could honestly care less. Good thing I guess because both of us were working late this past Tuesday night.

However on the evening of the 15th while in the middle of laundry and power washing our window screens ( going big on my "Friday" night! } I got a call from Carlos that he had gotten the evening off. Whoa? A night off together? This is so rare these days! So we were finally able to go out and use some Gift Certificates we had for "Tropica" at the Westin Hotel on Ka'anapali Beach.

Yum! Sometimes I LOVE not cooking and Tropica is great. We always eat at their large bar nestled between koi ponds and tiki torches while tourists drink "Lava Flows" and "Mai Tais". After dinner it's so nice to walk the manicured beach walk back to our car. The resort area of Kaanapali looks like a movie set at night with it's expansive beach, calm waters, bright stars, and the calming sound of palm trees blowing in the light trades. Then add in the distant sounds of the Polynesian drums from nearby luaus, the smoky scent of Kalua pork roasting and the flicker of fire from scatterd bamboo torches and it's easy to see why so many people come here to get lost from the real world. We honestly should do this more often....

Now for the food! So sorry for my grainy IPhone pictures. I really was not planning on a blog post but the food was so tasty I just had to. Unfortunately it was impossible to capture the feeling of the beach so I'll just have to leave that to your imagination.

{ Golden Potato Gnocchi with Meyer lemon cream, parsley, and pistachios }

I love this dish and get it often. The balance of sweet and sour is divine.

{ Seared Diver Scallops served with braised fennel puree, Big Island tomatoes, arugula, fingerling potatoes on a blood orange reduction }

Carlos's starter: Beautifully plump and perfectly cooked scallops.

{ Local harvest and Chuka Soba Noodle Stir-fry with pohole ferns, sesame tofu croutons, green papaya, beets, Hamakua mushrooms, carrot and ponzu broth }

Sorry this photo is so horrible for it truly does not do this dish justice . The ponzu broth is wonderfully tangy and the huge serving of pohole ferns is amazing. I love pohole ferns. I have no idea how often this dish gets ordered by our island's visitors but it is so worth a try. Pohole ferns are a cross between an asparagus shoot and okra. Carlos and I love picking them in Hana like you can see HERE. They are truly one of the islands greatest delicacies.

{ Pacific Bouillabaisse with a half Kona lobster, clams, mussels, local fish, scallops, shrimp, saffron potato aioli, and a toasted crostini }

Carlos's main: He loved ever bite and asked for an extra basket of bread to soak up all the beautiful broth.

{ Phyllo Wrapped Goat Cheese Cheesecake made with lilikoi and blood orange }

My favorite dessert on Maui. Local goat cheese and local passion fruit. It doesn't get much better than that!

{ Red Velvet Cake with Goat Cheese }

A little extra treat from our bartenders. I'm guessing they had a couple leftovers from the previous evening's Valentines menu? I've never had red velvet cake before and I was impressed. This was paired with goat cheese frosting and berries. So good!

ALOHA

I Want

2012-02-11T21:28:00.000-10:00

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{ A lanai like this...}

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{ This beautiful raw vegan dessert. }

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{ This simple shirt. Equipment maybe? }

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{ Key Lime Mojitos. Brilliant! }

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{ A girlfriend for Mr. Taj.... }

Roasted Spicy Maple Brussel Sprouts

2012-02-11T09:23:00.001-10:00

I have never in my life had brussel sprouts until this week. I have no idea why? Maybe my parents didn't like them or something but I've honestly never been served them before. Anyway, I saw some for like nothing at the farmer's market last week in Kahului so I figured I'd test them out. Wow! This preparation I came up with was spot on! I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't just love a roasted brussel sprout! So glad I took the chance!

Are there any common foods out there that you've never tried? I've also never had.... cheese fondue, a steak, pickles ( can't get pass the smell ) or sauerkraut. Random.

Spicy Maple Brussel Sprouts

( recipe similar to THIS one )

-vegan-

10-12 trimmed brussel sprouts

2 Tbs olive oil

salt/pepper

3 Tbs maple syrup

1 tsp hot pepper flakes

2 tsp sesame seeds

Pre-heat oven to 400. Line cookie sheet with tin foil and spray with oil. Peel and trim brussel sprouts, cut in half and place in medium size bowl. Add 3 Tbs olive oil, a couple small pinches of salt/pepper and toss. Place oiled brussel spouts on the lined cookie sheet cut side up and bake for 5-7 mins.

Remove brussel sprouts from oven and place back into medium bowl. Add maple syrup, hot pepper, and sesame seeds. Toss and then return to oven. Roast another 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Done!

These were delicious with a side of quinoa and grill organic sprouted tofu!

Enjoy!

Sweetly Raw's "Moonie Pies"

2012-02-09T16:07:00.001-10:00

I've been a big fan of Heather's blog "Sweetly Raw" for a couple of years now. I'm constantly being blown away by her decadent raw vegan creations, food styling and photography!

Awhile back she created a recipe for a raw Moon Pie and I finally decided to take the time to make them this week.

O.M.G.

They truly taste as wonderful as they look! The ingredients are anything but cheap but the recipe makes a lot of bars and I'm assuming they will keep well in the freezer.

You can purchase and download Heather's "Moonie Pie" recipe HERE

{ The walnut based chocolate "cake" and vanilla bean "cream" before dipped in melted cacao. }

{ Raw Cacao Butter }

ENJOY!

Superbowl Sunday

2012-02-05T19:42:00.001-10:00

My team got ousted by the NY Giants 2 weeks ago in the NFC Championship Game and I've been a bit bitter ever since. Actually, I've been a bit bitter since 1990 when it happened the first time. I was at that game. Joe Montana was playing. He got hurt. I think that might have been his last game as a Niner? It was truly a sad sad day at "The Stick". I totally remember crying walking back to our car.

So with the Niners out and the Steelers long gone ( a little team I adopted in the early 2000s ) I naturally had little interest in who actually won the game today. But even if your team is out it's always fun to have a reason hang out with friends, have a few drinks, eat a bunch of junk, make fun of the half time show and rate the wacky commericals. Every year seems to get bigger and better and I have to admit, I'm a bit bummed that the season is over. At least I "get" football. I mean, I was a cheerleader after all for about 8 years of my youth. I did pick up some of it. Basketball though? Ewe.

So speaking of wacky commericals....

My favorite ( actually my only ) brother-in-Law, Eron ( Eza ) Broughton ( an advertising creative in Los Angeles ) had a couple of big ads during today's game! Who doesn't like watching Superbowl commericals? Always fun right! And winning best Superbowl Commerical is almost as important as winning the game. Haha!

You can vote for Eza's spot, "KIA, A Dream Car, For Real" HERE.

Thanks for the votes!!!

Can't wait 'til next season! Taj is going to have a red and gold 49ner sweater to wear on game days. He can't wait! Just you watch!!

I Love

2012-02-04T10:49:00.000-10:00

{ "Edible Hawaiian Islands" magazine }

{ My sundresses by Indah. }

{ New favorite go-to lunch: stir- fried sweet potatoes with black beans and cilantro. }

{ My first attempt at real Key Lime Pie!. Recipe coming soon...}

{ Taj in a red collar....}

Over the Weekend

2012-01-29T18:40:00.001-10:00

{ Pohaku Park }

Lots of hazy no wind days this week which is GREAT for surfing but horrible for air quality. The VOG was relentless all week and my sinuses were out of control. Good thing salt water is a remarkable inexpensive decongestant! I surfed five days in a row at my beloved Pohaku Park in Kahana where the surf ranged from 2 feet to perfect head high peeling lefts. I love being able to walk to my surf spot. No need to waste gas right?

We also made a couple trips up to Honolua Bay. It was beautifully clean and glassy as usual. Great place to take pictures of the whales too. They are EVERYWHERE right now. I love...

{ 8'8" Kazuma }

{ straw hat-Oxbow }

{ "S-Turns" }

{ Plumerias blown to the sand by the very light tradwinds...}

{ Acacia Bikini - La Cantik Boheme }

{ The Bay }

{ Humpbacks! }

{ Going left at "The Cave". }

{ The Wait }

{ Honolua Palms }

ALOHA!

Rainbow Summer Rolls

2012-01-27T20:21:00.001-10:00

I have a new favorite Summer Roll...

romaine

avocado

extra firm organic sprouted tofu

zukes

raw red beets

carrots

So easy...just shread up your ingredients and roll inside a softened tapioca rice paper wrapper.

Holy yum!

For a dipping sauce I mixed together...

soy sauce

chili garlic sauce ( or sambal )

Hawaiian honey

rice wine vinegar

Give this a go this weekend! You'll love it! Promise.

Aloha

I want

2012-01-26T08:32:00.001-10:00

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To make Key Lime pie very very soon.

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Matteo Linens

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To go back to Byron Bay and live in one of these for a month.

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To have pau hanas here.

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This fantastic coral dress...

Spiced Butternut, Carrot and Apple Soup

2012-01-23T20:53:00.000-10:00

I found an incredible detox menu in Whole Living magazine this month. All of the recipes look fabulous but this beautiful butternut squash soup really stood out to me. I tweeked the recipe a little bit by adding some heat but otherwise I stuck to the original. I decided to make it extra decedant by adding a swirl of THIS raw vegan sour cream as a topper. Yum!

Spiced Butternut Squash, Carrot and Apple Soup

-vegan-

original recipe HERE

2 Tbs olive oil

1 chopped onion

2 cloves crushed garlic

1" chopped fresh ginger ( about 2 Tbs )

3 cups water

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/8 tsp cardamon

1/8 tsp cinnamon

dash of ground cloves

4 cups cubed butternut squash ( I used a 14oz can organic puree instead )

2 peeled and chopped medium carrots

1 peeled and chopped tart apple

a couple of generous pinches of course salt

black ground pepper

1 tsp red pepper flakes ( my addition )

In a large sauce pan over medium heat saute chopped onion and garlic in 2 Tbs of oil until translucent ( about 6-8 mins ).

Add ginger, all spices and saute until fragrant ( about 1 minute ) and then add water, squash, apples, and carrots. Next, bring stock to a rolling boil, add salt, black pepper, and then red pepper flakes. Reduce to a simmer and cover for about 20 minutes.

Remove soup from heat and let cool slightly. Then, in small batches add to a blender and puree until smooth.

NOTE: Go slow....hot liquids tend to explode in a blender if mixed too quickly.

Taste and adjust flavor with salt and pepper if need be. Top with raw vegan sour cream.

Enjoy and Aloha!

January Birchbox

2012-01-20T18:40:00.000-10:00

So much fun stuff in January's Birchbox!!

*Archipelago | Pomegranate Soap

*Clark's Botanicals | Smoothing Marine Cream, a rich exfoliating moisturizer

*Juicy Couture | Juicy Couture Fragrance, floral and feminine

*Stila | Smudge Stick Waterproof Liner, LOVE!

And a little extra...

*Larabar | Mini Bar in Carrot Cake, super yummy!!Been a Larabar fan forever.

*Cute little Birchbox magnet

Love love my Birchbox shipments every month. So fun!

Click HERE to join.

ALOHA

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

2012-01-15T18:01:00.000-10:00

Wow there are TONS of sweet potatoes filling up the farmer's markets these days! Is it that way on the Mainland too because I seriously can't get enough of them!

My pantry is now overflowing with this humble starch so I've been trying to incorporate it into as many dishes as possible.

This vegetarian taco recipe is a perfect low maintenance weekday dinner that I could seriously eat for months. So good!

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

-vegetarian-

( makes about 4-5 tacos )

2 medium size yams, cubed.

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp vegetable oil

Toss cubed sweet potatoes with oil until well coated and then toss with spices and salt. Lay cubes on a large oiled cookie sheet and bake until soft ( about 25 minutes at 400 degrees.) In the meantime, in a small sauce pan over low heat, heat one 14oz can of drained organic black beans until they are simmering.

To finish

Top heated corn tortillas with baked sweet potato cubes and beans. Then top with cubed avocado, crumbled feta cheese, chopped cilantro, hot sauce or salsa of choice and finish with a squeeze of lime.

In case you didn't know. Simple meals are the best. Just saying...

ENJOY!

I Love

2012-01-14T09:22:00.000-10:00

{ The beautiful Zara top my sister gave me for Christmas. }

{ The savory corn and feta pie from Leoda's in Olowalu. }

{ One of my fabulous Christmas gifts from Carlos...Oliver Peoples Sunglasses. }

{ Our new surf coffee table books. }

{ Tickets home to California and Florida....}

Day in the "Country"

2012-01-12T23:24:00.000-10:00

I had a fantastic day today....

It started off gray and humid. I poured some coffee and spent about an hour on the net before Carlos and I discovered the near perfect surf across the street from our hale.

So within 20 minutes we were in the water paddling into head high waves, calm winds and a very friendly crowd. It was amazing.....

After 11am the wind finally turned onshore so we headed in. No biggie because we took off to the "country" for a lazy afternoon in Paia instead.

{ Cruising post surf through Paia with my bag from Bali }

{ classic plantation style }

{ window shopping }

{ A little Spanish white.... }

{ To go with my veggie fajitas from Cafe Mambo. }

{ I love this...}

{ lazy country cat }

{ Beautiful beachy wedding gowns at Tamara Catz }

{ I need one of these in the hale! }

{ A little treat to myself...Gold and Puka shells. }

{ A little detour to Ho'okipa before heading home. Check out the swell! }

{ 12' to 14' }

{ lazy north shore cows }

{ blue }

{ gold }

{ happy Carlos }

Yellow Suriname Cherry?

2012-01-10T21:26:00.000-10:00

This crazy tree is about a block away from my house. I've been watching it for years now and it's driving me seriously nuts. What are these bright yellow berries growing all over it? The tree blossoms about twice a year so I'm seriously stumped?? Up close they look like miniature glossy pumpkins so the only thing I can think of is a Suriname Cherry? However, I've only seen Suriname Cherries colored bright orange to dark red. This mystery fruit stays yellow.

Any ideas?? Cause I'm seriously about to go knock on this guy's door to ask.....

HELP!

Australian Chef, Bill Granger

2012-01-09T21:57:00.000-10:00

Love, love, love Australian chef, Bill Granger so much that I just purchased two more of his popular books via amazon.com

Bill's Open Kitchen

and

Bill's Food

Bill's recipes are so delicious, simple, and full of that great modern Aussie/Asian/Mediterranean fusion that is making Australia such a foodies paradise these days.

Bill's cookbooks are so beautifully photographed too that I keep some of my collection on my coffee table!

Here's a small sample of recipes from Bill's Food.

*White Peaches in Rose Water Syrup

*Wholemeal Pikelets ( pancakes ) made with Butter, Lemon, and Sugar

*Ginger and Prawn Dumpling Soup

*Spicy Roast Pumpkin, Feta, and Olive Salad

*Corn Fritters with Sweet Chili Sauce

*Coconut Blackberry Slice

YUM

Bill has restaurants in Australia, Japan and Great Britain now! Super cool! Check out his website HERE.

Just figured out that Carlos and I are just 10,000 Hawaiian Miles away from 2 roundtrip tickets to Sydney!!

God, I need a long holiday soon....

Fingers crossed!

ALOHA

Twenty Twelve

2012-01-07T22:14:00.002-10:00

Happy New Year!

Okay....I know I'm a bit late to the party but I get a pass because I'm on island time right?

Well, "island time" meaning I'm so crazy busy right now because I live on the #1 island holiday destination in the world that I've had no time to cook, eat, do laundry, grocery shop, clean the litter box, read, lounge, water the garden sorry Thai basil you'll be missed..., wash my car, let alone write!!

However!

I don't have to work until 7 AM tomorrow morning so I figured this would be a good time to write down my resolutions for 2012!!!

I have a good feeling about 2012....nice round number, my birthday isn't some disturbing milestone, and I can't possibly make any less money than I did in 2011. So, here's me being positive. These moments are fleeting so it's good time to crank out some goals wouldn't you agree?

1. Drink more water!

Seems easy enough right? However for me this is a gnarly one. I hate water. I hate that when I drink a small cup full I have to pee like 8 times. And I hate the taste of it too. Okay, maybe the tiny bladder thing would go away so I've been told like a million times if I drank more of it but that's a lot of work. I just like coffee, green juice and wine way better but I know this needs to change. Obviously.

2. Think before buying.....

I've learned a great lesson in this never ending Great Recession and that is to be fully aware of where my money is going. I'm actually extremely good with money but even I can be better. I've noticed over the last couple of months I've been very conscience of where every dollar goes. Pedicures are nice but I can do them myself, dining out is awesome but we usually have a pantry and fridge full of food, 5" heels are hot but where OH WHERE do I wear them on Maui? Anyway, I'd like to commit to keeping this up. I'd rather save my pennies for a trip back to Australia, Tahiti or Bali, a retirement account, or maybe ~~botox~~ just a holiday HERE

3. Run

Okay, this resolution was totally unplanned but couple of weeks ago in the middle of all the holiday madness I had a total Forrest Gump moment. Yep. I went running....

Now, I don't normally run. In fact I sort of hate it and I haven't ran in many years but for some reason I laced up my shoes and took off. No pressure either. I just decided one crazy afternoon after a venti coffee that I would run until I ran out of breath so I decided to run up the to the Kapalua Airport and back down. I wasn't tired afterwards so I decided to keep going until I reached Napili but I was still okay?! so I ran all the way back home. 3 miles total.

WTF

I've never been able to do that in. my. life.

So I've been running now for 3 weeks. Yep. 3 miles, 30 minutes, straight, no breaks. So New Years Resolution #3 is to keep this up. I hope to be running 2x as long and 2x as far by year's end. Lets see how I do?

Unless of course the world ends next December like they're saying? Which would be GREAT to know because maybe I'll keep getting those pedicures or head off to Byron Bay now.....Just saying.

So there you go...Just 3 resolutions this year. Quite a difference from last year's list but I feel that I don't have that much to prove anymore....

At 35 I'm doing my very best to earn my keep. Trust me I seriously bust my ass. Just because I live in vacationland doesn't mean I'm on vacation, I've found the love of my life, if we get married or not doesn't really matter to this divorcee incase anyone was wondering so it shouldn't matter to anyone else either, my diet is 80 percent whole, organic and vegan and 20 percent of it consists of goat cheese, wine, coffee and frozen yogurt can't do or would want to change anything about that, cross training to me is like breathing these days - I either surf, stand-up paddle, paddle, practice yoga, crank out on the elliptical machine, or now RUN 6 days a week without making much an effort to do so, I'm totally happy and content with my weight for the first time in my life... I'm at a stable and unwavering 107 lbs just keeping it real and putting it all out there folks and have been for many years no matter what I eat or how many calories I consume or burn. And if I gain any?? I honestly could care less at this point in my life. If anything my man would LOVE it.

That being said...

I plan to be back to a normal " blogging" schedule soon. Thank you again for all your sweet comments lately. You're the reason I'm still here....

As alway,

Mahalo and ALOHA!

I Love ~ 2011

2011-12-30T21:17:00.006-10:00

{ Honolua Bay }

I cannot believe it's been a whole year since Carlos and I watched the Snooki Ball drop. I'm not kidding...it seriously felt like last weekend! I'm sure I'm hardly the only one feeling this way right now!

Every year I make a list of resolutions and this year will be no different. I think writing them down helps. Seriously. I look at my list almost monthly and do my very best to stick with them! Have you ever tried that??

Here's my list from last year!

Check it out HERE.

Let's see how I did!

1. Alkaline my body: Well I took a major step this last May when I had my very last Excedrin! I have been hooked on this over the counter drug since I was a teenager and on May 14th, 2011 I popped my very last pill! I had a headache so bad I couldn't work for 3 days but I made it through. That shit is toxic and I'm so happy I'm done with it. Excedrin addiction is for real. Google it if you don't believe me. As for the allergy meds? Still working on that one....

2. Get out of debt: I'm proud to say that I am almost there! I paid off 2/3rds of my credit card debt this year with a horrible income. I'm now under the $3000 mark on a 0% card. Sweet.

3. Stop eating those pastries at work!: Well that was easy when I quit my job this February. Mission accomplished I guess!?

4. Get Carlos to the Dentist and the Doctors for a check up! OMG this was the hardest one for sure!!! Yes....I dragged a 40 year man to the dentist and stayed there for 2 hours to make sure he went through with it. When he was finished ( 3 appointments in month later ) he admitted he had not been to the dentist in over 18 years. If I knew this 5 years ago we probably never would have started dating...Good lord. Getting him to the doctor was much easier.

5. Go to California to finally see my mom!! Okay, this didn't happen but I got her to come out here! However, it looks we might make it to wine country this coming April! I have not been home in FIVE years! Crazy!

6. Try to get to Australia or Tahiti: Well.....if I couldn't even get to California, Tahiti or Australia were never going to happen. At this point, I'd be crazy excited to just get over to Kauai for a weekend! Jeez...Good thing I love Maui so much.

7. Graduate to a sub 6'0" surfboard: Done. This was my 35th birthday present to myself. Surfing it well is another story.

8. Stop pulling out my gray hair: Ha! Ya right! Next.

9. Embrace Yoga: Wow...I really dove into this one! I now practice hatha or vinyasa yoga 3-4 times a week and have been doing so since January. I'll never stop. Amazing....

10. Be happy and okay with aging...

Okay. This one was hard. 2011 was not an easy year for me in many aspects. Financially it was a doozy so somedays can feel very dark and gloomy no matter how perfect the weather might be in Hawaii.

I am hopeful for 2012 thanks to some recent opportunities but we still have some very big mountains to climb. Staying positive is key and always a huge challenge for me...I'm generally not a negative person but at the same time I'm hardly a "Pollyanna".

That being said, I am so very grateful to have found the most amazing life partner in Carlos. I love our life together, Maui, our wacky cat, the Pacific Ocean, our fresh island grown food and our supportive parents and siblings.

AND...

I want to thank you! Thank you so much for all your sweet comments and support. There are times when I think about ending this blog but I just can't. You are all so strangely addictive....

I saw this quote the other day on the fantastic blog I follow, "Apartment #34".

"Walk around the house like a fucking champion."

It's going to be her new manta. I like it and I'm stealing it.

Now, let's look back at my little world on Maui in 2011!

{ Hana Highway }

{ Shopping in Paia. }

{ My rustic Apple Galette. }

{ My Acacia bikini bottoms. }

{ Drinking coconuts at Choice in Lahaina. }

{ The beach throws at Maui Girl in Paia. }

{ Pineapple stand at Honolua Bay. }

{ The coffee plantation behind my house. }

{ Me...surfing Hamoa }

{ The swimming caves at Waianapanapa. }

{ country roads }

{ I love: Succulents!! }

{ One of our many waterfalls...}

{ I love: Fat Head }

{ Summer rolls...My favorite favorite! }

{ Carlos at the Paniolo Bar in Hana. }

{ raw vegan tacos }

{ Dress codes that don't require heels or even shoes! }

{ I love: Any salad with avocado or blue cheese. }

{ The banana tree outside my kitchen window...}

{ Searching for Julia's Banana Bread in Kahakuloa. }

{ I love: 70 + degree water in December }

{ 5 inch platforms and Daisy Dukes }

{ Homemade Acai Bowls }

{ Coconut palms at Airport Beach }

{ White ginger flowers in Hana }

{ Shiitake and Seaweed Soup }

{ raw vegan Chocolate Torte }

{ My backyard. Seriously. }

{ Taj on his 3rd birthday. Taken on my 35th....}

{ Red Lentil Coconut Curry }

{ I love: Buddhas and Orchids }

{ raw vegan pasta from Maui Kombucha in Haiku }

{ Date nights }

{ making paninis out of Indian naan }

{ upcountry proteas }

{ wild Kula cat }

{ raw vegan brownie }

{ Maui "Gold" pineapple salad }

{ my posse }

{ my Maui }

Aloha everyone!

See you next year.

December Birchbox

2011-12-30T00:00:00.001-10:00

My December Birchbox is finally here! Happy to know I'm not the only one that has fallen completely behind schedule this month!

Lots of fun goodies in this one! I especially love the glittery bronzing dry oil and bright pink lip gloss. So pretty!

My December selection included...

* Oscar Blandi's Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo

* Atelier Cologne: "Ambre Nue"

* Jouer's Moisturizing Lip Gloss in "Birchbox Pink"

* Nuxe's Multi-Usage Dry Oil Shimmer

And some extras...

* "ShowStoppers" Double sided tape to make sure your dress stays in place!

* Eboost's "Orange Natural Energy Booster" vitamin packed powdered drink mix

Visit HERE to join the Birchbox club!! I love!

Sorry to be so absent these days but this is hands down the craziest time of the year on Maui and I have absolutely zero free time!!! Looking forward to my first real day off on January 5th 2012!!!

How many of you worked Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Or working this coming New Years Eve and New Year's Day?

Anyone, Anyone?? Just wondering.

Ahh...To live in paradise.

Hope to be back on a somewhat normal schedule very soon. Lot's to share.

Much aloha and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou in case I don't get back here before the ball drops this Saturday night!

Kai Wailea ~ Happy Hour

2011-12-20T00:00:00.007-10:00

-source-

I don't know how we went from hunting down a surfboard on Craigslist in Kihei to having sake in Wailea....?

Being that Kihei is about an hour drive from our house it felt like a major waste of gas when Carlos quickly vetoed the 9'6" noserider. Good thing we accidentally stumbled upon a great little happy hour that we didn't even know existed nestled between Tiffany's and Louis Vuittion at the Shops of Wailea! I'm so glad I was wearing yoga clothes, no make-up and a faded baseball hat.

Not.

Kai Wailea is a cute little Japanese Tapa and Sushi Restaurant. They serve local fresh fish delivered daily. I'm not kidding... In the short time we were sitting there we saw island fresh Ahi ( tuna ) and Tako ( octopus ) brought to the restaurant by local fisherman. Pretty cool huh?

We only ordered a couple of things for we really just wanted something to tie us over until dinner but after viewing the delicious looking dinner menu we will be trying Kai Wailea in the near future.

{ My "overflow" style cold Sake served in a traditional cedar box. "Overflow is exactly that...an over pour of Sake that spills over into the box. Nice. }

{ My Sweet Chili and Sesame Edamame }

{ Carlos's Robata-yaki, "The traditional method of grilling meats, seafood, and vegetables is enhanced with genuine Bincho charcoal, imported from Japan, for authentic smokey flavor."~Wailea Dining Directory. Carlos raved about this! This dish normally priced at $19.88 is half off between 5-6pm! }

Check out Kai Wailea's menu and website HERE

ALOHA!

Asian Dipping Sauces

2011-12-15T00:00:00.001-10:00

I've been inspired to create some new dipping sauces recently thanks to some fun dishes that I've tried at a few local restaurants. These are very versatile and would work well with several Asian flavored dishes. Let me know what you think!

Hoisin Peanut Sauce
-vegan-
1/2 cup hoisin
2 Tbs peanut butter
1/3 rice wine vinegar
2 cloves of garlic
2 tsp of Sambal sauce or 2 small hot chilies
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until until smooth. Place in small bowl and stir in chopped peanuts. Great dipping sauce for grilled tofu or cold summer rolls.

Yogurt and Sweet Chili Sauce
-vegetarian-
1 cup Greek yogurt
1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
1.5 Tbs mild tasting vegetable oil ( I used sunflower )
a couple pinches of hot dried chili flakes for extra heat ( optional )
Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Serve with grilled veggies, grilled tofu or grilled meats.

ALOHA!

I Love

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-10:00

{ My new pillows that I ordered from Glamdesign. Only $21.95 for two! }

{ My gold and shark tooth bracelet by TOR found at the Kahului Swap Meet. }

{ The Maui Gold pineapple plant that I propagated myself. So far so good! }

{ Cold sake served "overflow" style in a traditional cedar box. }

{ My handmade gold and white quartz necklace purchased at Hale Zen in Lahaina. }

Over the weekend....

2011-12-12T00:00:00.001-10:00

I've been so busy lately....

Sorry.

Between work, surf, and the holidays I barely have time for much else. To top everything, debit/credit card service went out today island wide as well as the internet and cell service. This is soooo Maui.

Awesome. So now what?

I couldn't surf because I worked all day ( yes, I work on the weekends ) and a crazy winter like storm was hitting the island ( so what else is there to do here?)

Make something sweet and fattening obviously. I mean really... I still had electricity after all, right?

Sorry to be so redundant but all I did was take the Pumpkin Cupcake recipe from last month and make them into a decadent single layer cake instead.

Why?

Because I was out of cupcake papers. Duh.

But guess what? It was freaking phenomenal.....

So much so that I think I might like the cake version even better than the cupcake version.

All you need to do it take this recipe HERE and pour it into a round cake tin instead of a cupcake tin ( I used a 9" spring form pan ) and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes ( or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean ). I topped this cake with a combination of roasted chopped hazelnuts and walnuts.

Ridiculous.

Give it a go. I think you'll love it too..

Happy winter everyone...

Kitchen Staples

2011-12-07T00:00:00.001-10:00

I have a few staples in my kitchen that I absolutely cannot live without. I'm sure you know what I mean....

Here's my list!

Sriracha: This stuff is nothing less than amazing. I use it as a dipping sauce, in curries, on sandwiches, in rice dishes and in soups. Sriracha is the quickest and cheapest way to add a bit of zing and heat to just about anything.

Goat Cheese: My most favorite dairy product out there. Not only is the lactose in goat milk lower than cow milk but it's taste and texture is so extremely versatile. I use goat cheese in pasta, on pizza, as a spread and even in dessert. I absolutely love this stuff!

Lemons: I put lemon juice on and in just about everything! It's fantastic in savory or sweet dishes. It cuts richness and adds that essential tangy/sour element to so many different recipes. Lemons have incredible health benefits as well....They are extremely alkalizing, low in calories and high in vitamin C. Awesome!

Vanilla Paste: It's worth the price. This stuff is decadent! I add this to smoothies, ice creams, galettes, and just about anything else that screams for a sweet vanilla afterthought.

Maldon Sea Salt: I could go on and on about salt.....My pantry is stocked with all sorts of fancy salts from all over the world but if I had to choose one, this would be it. Maldon Sea Salt. Amazing on bruschetta, pizza, pasta, and Hawaiian poi. Again, worth the extra expense. Always.

Hot Pepper Flakes: Like lemons, I put hot pepper flakes on everything. It's a great way to add quick heat to just about anything. I love!

So, what are your kitchen staples???

ALOHA!

Haliimaile General Store

2011-12-06T00:00:00.000-10:00

Carlos loves to go to Costco.

We make the hour drive over to Kahului at least every other weekend to stock up on staples like La Brea bread, goat cheese, and Waipoli greens. However, I lose Carlos in Costco every. single. time.

He gets sucked into the electric department, drools over the extensive meat section, and tries every single gooey sample....twice. Thank God for cell phones.

Then after braving the usual long Costco size lines, Carlos HAS to get a massive Costco hot dog, a huge slice of pepperoni pizza, and a soda. I mean how can he turn down all those nitrates and saturated fats for just $3.49. Seriously...you should see my face as I sit there watching him inhale this mess and secretly panicking about the organic eggs waiting in our cart at room temperature. Yes, I'm a little neurotic incase you have not figured this out just yet.

ANYWAY....

So today I had a plan!!! It was my only day off and I really wanted to do something fun instead of just running errands in town so I suggested having lunch at the Haliimaile General Store in Haliimaile. I figured if we did this before Costco then Carlos would forgo the 20 different samples and his usual hot dog and pizza treat.

Brilliant!

The Haliimaile General Store is so cute! It's tucked up in the vase sugar cane ( once pineapple ) fields between Kahului and Makawao. Honestly, I feel bad for we have neglected this little gem for so many years and it is high time that we stop for a visit!

{ beautiful plantation style bar }

{ Shared appetizer: Brie and Grape Quesadilla with Pea Guacamole. So decadent! }

{ Bev Gannon's gorgeous cookbooks available HERE }

{ Super yummy steak fries! }

{ My HUGE Mediterranean Vegetable Wrap made with marinated portobellas, grilled eggplant, roasted red peppers, herbed goat cheese, white bean hummus, Kula romaine lettuce served with a petite mixed green salad. Delish! }

{ Carlos's fantastic looking Fresh Catch Sandwich ( caught off Maui last night ) made with Hawaiian Opah ( moonfish ), roasted garlic miso aioli, shiso leaves, pickled ginger, and a toasted poi roll. This was served with a sweet sesame slaw that was absolutely divine! Wow! }

My little plan worked! Carlos was stuffed and our Costco trip ended up being twice as fast as normal.

I love that!!

The Haliimaile General Store is open for lunch and dinner daily. Check out their beautiful website HERE.

Haliimaile has been open on Maui for over 20 years and has won several 'Aipono Awards for "Best Hawaiian Regional Cuisine".

Hui Hou and ALOHA!

Aloha Friday ~ Cat vs Tree

2011-12-02T00:00:00.000-10:00

Matson's annual Christmas Tree ship from Oregon arrived on Maui a bit early this year and we finally decided to indulge! Carlos and I have not decorated for Christmas in the last 5 years and what prompted me us to do it this year still remains unanswered. Especially considering how sick I've been all week! I seriously have one doozy of a cold which still has no signs of clearing up anytime soon. Such a freaking bummer let me tell you....Well, at least I have a pretty tree to look at while I'm laying on the couch all night right? Too bad I can't enjoy the scent of pine with my plugged up nose just yet....

On another note, Taj still doesn't know exactly what to think of this new addition to his little kingdom. I'm a little terrified to say the least for I have far too many $20 to $30 glass ornaments covering the thing that are just screaming to be played with ( umm maybe that's the real reason I haven't decorated for so long??). I'm honestly imaging right now that he must think it's his own personal pinata and he's just waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

Cat vs.Tree. So far the game is tied but this could get really interesting.

To be continued I'm sure.....

Happy Aloha Friday everyone!

See you next week!

Rainy Honolua

2011-12-01T00:00:00.002-10:00

It's been cold, rainy, and windy this week on Maui. Tourists are not happy but I'm sort of loving it....

Weather like this is rare in the tropical Pacific and when it comes locals celebrate by turning off the ceiling fans, closing the bedroom windows at night, and digging out our neoprene rash guards from storage.

Welcome to December in Hawaii. One of most favorite months of the year....

I've been working overtime all week and suffering from a some sort of flu/cold bug that just won't die. However, instead of flopping back on the couch after a long day shift, Carlos and I decided to bundle up and get out of the house for a mini hike around Honolua Bay.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans for us and the rain swooped in within minutes of arriving. Luckily, I was able to capture a few shots before dashing back to our muddy car.

Enjoy.

{ Red dirt hiking trail. }

{ Bundled up! }

{ A random patch of coconut palms. }

{ Looking back at Honolua Ridge. }

{ Back when I first moved to Maui, this hill was covered in pineapple. All gone now. }

{ A lonely patch of Norfolk Pines. These are sometimes used for Christmas Trees in Hawaii. }

{ A lonely surfer waiting for his set at "Subs". }

{ rains showers covering the east end of Molokai }

{ stoic sea arch }

{ Here comes the rain....}

ALOHA

Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop

2011-11-30T00:00:00.002-10:00

4 miles south of Lahaina Town is the beautiful little outpost of Olowalu.

Olowalu is home to a popular surf break famous for catching summer swells with just the right amount of off shore wind. This in turn creates a perfectly fast and hallow wave. It's also home to a fantastic hydroponic tomato farm, a farmer's market, a smoothie and Hawaiian shave ice truck, a general store ( famous for it's boiled peanuts ) and now Maui's newest and cutest cafe, Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop.

We stopped by the brand new Leoda's after a long day of running errands in Kahului. Check it out! Isn't it adorable?

{ No, I did not photoshop the rainbow in the background. It was there. Seriously. }

We left with a loaf of "Butter Bread". I mean really, how could we turn down a bread with a name like that right? It went perfectly with the homemade minestrone I made for dinner.

Some really interesting items on the menu! I can't wait to try their Yuzu-Lemon Tart, or their Savory Corn Pie made with hibachi sweet corn, lime zest, cotija cheese, chives and cilantro, or their Fried Salad made with brussel sprout leaves, burnt orange vinaigrette, celery leaves, radish and local mint! Sounds so delicious don't you think?

Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop is open from 10am to 8pm daily at 820 Olowalu Village Road.

Right across the street from this pretty spot in Olowalu....

Check it out!

ALOHA

Over the weekend ~ Exfoli-Care

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-10:00

How pretty are these?!

I found these delicious handmade soaps at the Swap Meet in Kahalui this weekend.

I LOVE!!

These are made on Maui using natural island inspired ingredients like coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, coffee grounds, Hawaiian sea salt, papaya seeds, coconut shells and even sand! No need to fly out to Maui to pick up a few bars because you can order these right HERE.

Check it out!

Aloha

Aloha Friday ~ Holiday Manicure

2011-11-25T00:00:00.003-10:00

I'm not very big on most of the nail polish trends out there...

Sorry, I've just never been inspired to paint my toes blue, green or yellow. Call me strange, I know. Crackled finger nails? No thanks, I'll leave that to Katy Perry.

However, when I stumbled about this cute look via the blog { this is glamorous } I decided to give it a go. Super pale pink and gold? Ya, I think I can handle this one....

To achieve this glittery look, start with two coats of Essie's "Sugar Daddy" (or any other pale pink out there.) Then apply 2 to3 coats of Sephora's OPI line "Only Gold for me".

I decided to take this look one step further by adding OPI's "Bring on the bling to my ring finger.

On this nail only I started with two coats of "Sugar Daddy", then two coats of "Bring on the Bling" before topping with one coat of, "Only Gold for Me". Finish this look off with a nice clear top coat!

So fun!

Happy ALOHA FRIDAY everyone! See you next week!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

2011-11-24T00:00:00.002-10:00

Got a ton of pureed pumpkin on hand like me? Sick of pumpkin pie?

Try these!!!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

-vegetarian-

Recipe loosely based on this recipe HERE by The Barefoot Contessa.

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp pumpkin spice

2 extra-large organic eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin puree ( 8 oz ) not pumpkin pie filling

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Maple Frosting ( recipe follows )

chopped pecans for topping

Maple Frosting

-vegetarian-

1 cup organic salted butter ( room temp )

2 3/4 cups powdered sugar

2 Tbs pure maple syrup

1/4 tsp maple syrup flavoring ( optional )

1. pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and line 10 muffin tins with paper liners

2. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and soda, pumpkin spice, and salt. In a larger bowl whisk together, sugars, eggs, oil, and pumpkin. Add flour mixture and stir to combine.

3. Pour batter evenly into 10 baking tins and bake for 20-25 mins, until a inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

4.. For frosting: In a large bowl cream together butter, maple syrup, maple flavoring, and sugar.

5. To finish: Evenly spread cupcakes with frosting ( you'll probably have leftover frosting for another batch! ) and top with chopped pecans. Now, hide them from your man....

I'll know better next time.

So hard to stop at just one....apparently.

I want

2011-11-23T00:00:00.006-10:00

-image source-

{ To go to Santorini to photograph the island's famous cats. }

{ This photography book by Leroy Grannis on surfing. }

-image source-

{ This for breakfast...I don't even eat eggs but this looks divine! }

-image source-

{ An outdoor bathtub like this. }

-image source-

{ These fantastic sweater shorts by Stolen Girlfriends Club. }

Curried Sweet Potatoes with Mango Chutney

2011-11-22T00:00:00.003-10:00

How about adding a little twist to your sweet potato dish this Thanksgiving?

I found this recipe way back in the November 2009 issue of, "The Food Network Magazine". Why I waited two years to try it is beyond me....

Curried Sweet Potatoes with Mango Chutney

-vegetarian-

Roast 2 pounds of sweet potatoes at 400 degrees for 1 hour ( or until tender ). Halve, then scoop out flesh.

With a potato masher, mash potatoes and then mix in....

1 Tb curry powder

4 Tbs of salted butter ( I used 2 Tbs of coconut oil instead )

3 Tbs Greek Yogurt

3 Tbs mango chutney

I also added a pinch of salt and a pinch of hot chili flakes to the original recipe.

Top with toasted coconut flakes and enjoy!

Great Thanksgiving Dishes for Vegetarians

2011-11-21T00:00:00.002-10:00

I'm having such a hard time believing it's already Thanksgiving week. Where or where did this year go!?

Thanksgiving on Maui is always a bit nostalgic for me. The first time I ever set foot on this island was Thanksgiving day, 1990. I remember flying into the tiny Kapalua Airport on a warm late afternoon and thinking how different and quiet Maui looked compared to crowded Honolulu. I remember heading "Upcountry" that evening to have dinner in Kula with our family friends and I remember how amazing the air felt, so warm and fragrant compared to the freezing cold of San Francisco. What a feast that night too! Turkey, sticky rice, fresh caught Ono, poi, baked Molokai sweet potatoes, Portuguese Sweet Bread with guava jam. It was one of my most favorite Thanksgiving ever!

Fast forward 20 plus years I'm still here on Maui... living a simple life minutes away from that tiny airport I first flew into. Now as a resident, I've had to say goodbye to lazy, drawn out Thanksgiving meals with my family. I work most holidays ( with the exception of last year in Hana ) and Thanksgiving is typically now spent at random gatherings with friends as they come and go from their night or day jobs. This is the new normal of course for I have not been home for Thanksgiving ( or Christmas ) since 1998. Don't feel bad though, I really don't think much of it anymore....

This year will be no different than any other....I'm working from 7am until 1:30 and then Carlos and I will head to a pot luck of some sort at a friend's home. As a strict vegetarian now ( I actually quit eating all animals soon after that first trip to Maui. ) I love to bring great fall inspired vegetarian dishes to these sort of gatherings. So, with that said here' s a list of some of my favorites!

{ Hawaiian Cranberry-Passion Fruit Sauce }

{ Vegan Southwest Pumpkin Soup }

{ Tarragon String Bean Salad }

{ Wild Rice stuffed Pumpkin with Goat Cheese }

{ The Apple Galette }

{ Pumpkin and Lima Bean Salad }

{ Raw Vegan Apple Crumble }

{ Vegan White Bean and Rosemary Soup }

And some ideas for leftovers.....

{ Raglan Wrap }

{ Christmas Wrap }

Enjoy and Aloha!

Aloha Friday ~ Pumpkin Shortage

2011-11-18T00:00:00.001-10:00

Living on a small island in the middle of nowhere has some downfalls...

Bell peppers cost like $7 each, shopping online leads to ridiculous shipping charges, and pureed pumpkin is nearly impossible to find 10 months out of the year.

So now you can understand why I was seriously about to have a complete meltdown by the end of October when I STILL could not find pureed pumpkin on the island. I repeat...COMPLETE MELTDOWN! Until of course when I finally resorted to checking the forbidden place....Walmart don't judge. Yes, I found canned pumpkin at Walmart ( of course right? ) So, in order to advert any more major breakdowns this upcoming holiday season or any more stops at the one place on Maui I usually refuse to give my business to, I did what any sane women would do....I bought 25 cans. Yep, $50 dollars worth of the stuff. That's half of our grocery budget for the week folks. I think I scored. I should be good until the end of 2012.

Happy ALOHA FRIDAY everyone! See you next week!

Product Review ~ HANAair

2011-11-17T00:00:00.001-10:00

I was recently asked by the nice folks at misikko.com

to test out their highest rated and best hair dryer overall,

The, HANAair Professional Hair Dryer.

I was thrilled! I've always wondered if the higher quality and pricier hair dryers (like the ones used at fine salons) would make a difference in my hair at home?

Well, when my hair dryer arrived in the mail I couldn't wait to test it out. My first impression was that it was definitely the prettiest hair dryer I've ever seen but how does it compare quality wise to the hundreds of hair dryers I've used over the years?

It. Was. Awesome!

The HANAair Hair Dryer dried my hair in about half the normal time! I also normally need to use a straighting iron after blow drying to give my hair a super straight glossy finish but not this time! Instead, my hair dried perfectly smooth without the extra effort. I don't think I could ever go back to my cheap old hair dryer again!

The HANAair Hair Dryer comes with multiple settings as well as a long power cord for your convenience. At 2300 watts, this dryer boasts a ton of power and contains ceramic tourmaline to help seal in moisture. Gotta love that!

The HANAair Professional Hair Dryer is currently on sale for $194.99 on Misikko.com

Be sure to check out other top selling products on Misikko like the popular CHI Hair Dryers and their great selection of Curling Irons!

Happy shopping!

ALOHA

-All product reviews on this site are based on my honest opinion and experience only.-

November Birchbox!

2011-11-16T00:00:00.001-10:00

I look forward to getting my Birchbox each month and I think this one might be my favorite so far!

1. Zoya nail polish in "Sook"

2. Borghese - Fango Ristorative Hydrating Mud

3. Thymes - Eucalyptus Body Lotion and Kimono Rose Body Lotion

4. Guerlain - Shalimar Parfum Initial

Treat: Two Paper Dolls - Ampersand Coasters

How fun are these samples! I love the Zoya nail polish color and the Thymes Lotion smells delish!

Can't wait for next month!

ALOHA!

I Love

2011-11-15T00:00:00.002-10:00

{ Finding pomegranates for half off. }

{ Incredibly soft cotton Ts by James Perse. }

{ This insanely beautiful necklace by Freidasophie Jewelry that I won on the blog, "Being Brazen" .}

{ Buttery soft leather with hardware. }

{ The brilliant purple hedge in my backyard right now. }

Pumpkin, Pecan and Goat Cheese Salad

2011-11-14T00:00:00.009-10:00

I've been making this delicious salad all weekend and I'm absolutely in love!

Using up leftovers and a delicious maple mustard dressing, I transformed our Costco container of mixed organic greens into another keeper!

Check it out!

Pumpkin, Pecan and Goat Cheese Salad

-vegetarian-

Measurements are not necessary. Use as much or as little of the ingredients as you like but be sure to include...

mixed organic purple, green, and red ( like radicchio ) salad greens

candied ( or plain ) pecans

chilled cooked quinoa

chilled cooked pumpkin cut into cubes

creamy goat cheese

chick peas

Maple and Mustard Dressing

adapted from "Whole Living Magazine"

3 Tbs olive oil

1 Tb pure maple syrup

1 Tb apple cider vinegar

2 tsp strong grainy mustard

pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake until well combined! So good!

Enjoy!

Aloha Friday ~ Dream Vacation

2011-11-11T00:00:00.003-10:00

{ The pretty reef across the street from my house... }

Happy Aloha Friday everyone!!

Check out my " Dream Vacation" guest post today on the awesome blog,

"Learning Patience"

Have the best weekend ever!

ALOHA

The Coconut Soda

2011-11-10T00:00:00.010-10:00

This is absolutely delicious and so refreshing!

Let me introduce to you the Coconut Soda from the Hawksworth restaurant in Vancouver, BC. I LOVE!

I stumbled upon this brilliant elixir while surfing through the wonderful blog Simple + Pretty.

I'm thinking this would be perfect for a warm evening when I'm not in the mood for a glass of wine. What do you think?

Check out the simple recipe below from the fantastic looking Hawksworth restaurant!

Hawksworth's Coconut Soda

-non alcoholic-

1 oz fresh lime juice

1/2 oz All Spice Syrup ( recipe here )

top with

1/3 cup soda water

chilled coconut water

In a Collins glass add ice cubes. Then add lime juice and All Spice Syrup. Top with soda water and then add coconut water until glass is full. Sprinkle with lime zest.

{ the goods }

{ homemade All Spice Syrup }

{ I'm thinking a bit of rum might be good in this too?? Maybe next time...}

Sephora comes to Maui!

2011-11-09T00:00:00.013-10:00

I can't even expain how excited I am to finally have a Sephora on island! And what's even more exciting is the new Sephora at Whaler's Village is only about a 5 minute drive from my house! That never happens to me! So obviously I checked it out as soon as I could...

I can't wait to give Clinique's Dark Spot Corrector a serious go. I'm in desperate need of some sun spot correcting on my forehead and I heard this product really works! It's not cheap at $50 a tube but it's worth trying out before I explore ( some more expensive ) clinical options for their removal.

I'm also totally in love with two shadows I picked up. I'm really trying to get out of my brown on brown palette and these grays with the slightest hint of lavender ( when applied ) are doing the trick!

Same goes with the bronzer and concealer I grabbed. I just love the hint of sparkel the bronzer adds and the liquid concealer is light but offers amazing coverage. Score!

Check out the rest of the bounty....

{ Sephora eyeshadows in Marie and Babydoll Nightie, Sephora brush #23 }

{ Urban Decay's Midnight Cowgirl }

{ Clinique's It's All about Eyes - for depuffing and dark circles. }

{ YSL's Golden Gloss }

{ Make Up Forever's HD High Defintion Power-for fine lines and that perfect matte finish! }

{ Sephora bronzer in Aruba, Sephora perfecting cover concealer in Camel }

{ Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector }

{ Sephora hair ties....I LOVE THESE! }

With Sephora so close by I think I might actually be in trouble? What do you think?

Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

2011-11-08T00:00:00.004-10:00

Here's a very healthy new take on the classic bean salad....

I served this with some marinated grilled tofu ( orange juice, hot peppers, rice wine vinegar, oil, cilantro for 4hrs) and it was an instant hit. Carlos went even further by wrapping this in grilled corn tortillas, added feta, and then topped his with some Greek yogurt. Delicious!

Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

-vegan-

adapted from "Food and Wine" Dec '09

3, 15oz cans rinsed and drained organic black beans

1 cup of uncooked quinoa, rinsed

1 yellow bell pepper diced

6 scallion onions chopped ( white and light green part only )

1 small red onion diced

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 chipotle pepper in adobe sauce

3 Tbs sherry or red wine vinegar

1 Tb fresh lime juice

1 Tbs soy sauce

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs olive oil

Rinse and drain beans. Then place rinsed quinoa in medium pot with 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Spread quinoa over a plate until cooled.

Next: Toss chipotle, vinegar, lime juice, soy sauce, and olive oil in a blender until emulsified.

To finish: Toss dressing with beans, quinoa, bell pepper, onion, scallions, and cilantro until well combined. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Enjoy!

Over the weekend...

2011-11-07T00:00:00.005-10:00

{ waking up }

{ 6 am on Saturday }

{ light grocery trip }

{ 10 avocados for $10 }

{ board repair }

{ Taj hunting lizards }

{ washing greens }

{ lemongrass in the afternoon sun }

{ small kine waves at The Bay }

{ prepping sprouted tofu for the grill }

{ turning in Sunday with a great read...}

Aloha Friday ~ Halloween Belated

2011-11-04T00:00:00.001-10:00

I figured it would be appropriate to end the week with some fuzzy and silly iPhone pictures from Halloween night in Lahaina Town for this Aloha Friday.

Somehow someway the city of Lahaina finally decided to allow the closing of our famous Front Street for the huge annual party known as the "Mardi Gras of the Pacific".

{The last 4 years they have been trying to "tame" the mayhem by allowing cars to fill the street as well as shining extremely bright stadium style lights all over the party goers....}

SO. NOT. FUN.

But this year was different! Yey! Even with the heaviest downpour of rain I have seen in a year, about 40,000 peeps showed up dressed for the occasion. It was fantastic! ( Even if my high heeled boot broke as soon as we got to town. ) Sooooo happy I was off from work the following day!

So not to spoil tradition, Carlos wore the same ridiculous orange suit that he's been wearing since 2004 and I was a ( Swiss Miss/Milk Maid/Beer Frau ???) Not really sure what I was suppose to be but I was wearing way more clothing than most! It's actually the same costume that I took with me to Savannah,GA last year but never used because it was FREEZING in the Low Country and I just couldn't handle. Not the case this year in humid, 82 degree Maui!

Happy Aloha Friday everyone!
See you next week

Roasted Lemon Chutney

2011-11-03T00:00:00.004-10:00

Roasted lemons....freaking brilliant.

You know what's even more brilliant? Roasting lemons and then turning them into chutney.

O.M.G.

Just another amazing find by Heidi Swanson of 101cookbooks.com

Please check out Molly Stevens recipe HERE.

It's absolutely divine!

{ Olive bread topped with whipped Surfing Goat Dairy goat cheese and Lemon Chutney. }

ALOHA

I Love

2011-11-02T00:00:00.007-10:00

{ The most amazing veggie panini I discovered at Espresso Italiano in Lahaina. }

- torta bread, brie cheese, peperocini, lettuce, tomato, red onions-

{ My gold bracelet in the shape of Maui from the Spa Helani at the Westin. }

{ This adorable book on Tea. }

{ My delicious homemade raw vegan carmel and chocolate sauces. }

{ These sweet sequined Steve Madden flats I found at Ross for $12! }

The Apple Galette

2011-11-01T00:00:00.008-10:00

Happy November everyone! One of my most favorite months of the year on Maui thanks to the arrival of our famous winter surf, the scent of Pikake in the air, and the return of our amazing humpback whales! I love!

It's also my most favorite time of the year in the kitchen! Fall and holiday dishes are the best aren't they? Get ready because I got some good ones coming up!

Let me introduce to you the perfect "lazy girl" dessert....

The Apple Galette

I say this because as much as I love to cook I'm really not much of a baker. I don't know...too much measuring and exact ingredients tend to stress me out. However, this is something I can do. Talk about an amazing way to impress. Isn't this beautiful? It's shocking how easy this is to throw together too. Especially if you decide to skip steps like me and buy a pre-made pie crust instead of making one. Seriously, most people will have a hard time telling the difference ( I hope ). This way, by using a pre-made crust the hardest part about making this gorgeous dessert is just peeling and coring two apples. I think we can handle that right?

The Apple Galette

-vegetarian-

adapted from epicurious.com

2 large apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

one 9" pie crust placed on parchment paper

1 tsp vanilla paste ( optional but well worth it )

1/2 tsp lemon zest

3 Tbs coarse sugar

3 Tbs apricot perserves ( I like Bonne Maman )

wisked egg or milk for "wash"

Preheat oven to 450. Slice apples and toss in a medium bowl with lemon zest, 2 Tbs sugar, and vanilla paste. Then, spread apricot preserves on pie crust resting on parchment paper. Next, arrange apples on pie crust in concentric circles leaving about 1.5" along the perimeter. After that, fold edge of pie crust over apples.

To finish, brush beaten egg or milk along exposed crust and sprinkle galette with remaining 1 Tb sugar.

Transfer galette to parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 450 for 18-20 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 and bake for another 30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and with a sharp knife, separate galette from parchment paper. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from parchment. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This is delicious served with a cheese course!

{ thinly sliced Gala apples }

{ Meyer lemon zest }

{ organic sugar }

{ apricot perserves }

{ arrange the apples slices on the pie crust }

{ fold crust and sprinkle with sugar }

{ Bake }

{ slice and serve }

Beautiful....

The Black Cat

2011-10-31T00:00:00.004-10:00

Taj, as himself for Halloween as usual....

See you soon!

Aloha

Aloha Friday ~ Farmer's Market

2011-10-28T00:00:00.001-10:00

I discovered the most fantastic Farmer's Market hidden in the middle of busy Kahului.

Seriously....best prices on the island!

Everything is grown right here on Maui and if you are looking for exotic Asian veggies and herbs this is the place!

Check it out!!

Happy Aloha Friday everyone!

See you next week!

Joie

2011-10-27T00:00:00.002-10:00

I live in "Joie". I just love their silky textures and relaxed fits but unfortunately, "Joie" is anything but budget friendly. Lucky for me, I found this black and silver striped tank on eBay at an incredible price. Don't you just love it when that happens?

{ tank: Joie, jeans: Rock and Republic, shoes: Lipsticks purchased at Max Shoes in Bondi Junction, Australia, watch: Breitling "Callisto", bag: Los Robles purchased in Buenos Aires, Argentina, bracelets: Tiffany's and handmade in Ventura, CA, rings: F21 and Tiffany's, earrings: purchases at an art gallery in Sonoita, AZ, sunnies: F21, highlights: Maui's sun and salt water }

All photographs shot by Carlos Barberis of BECfoto. Shot in Kahana, Maui

I Want

2011-10-26T00:00:00.001-10:00

-image source-

{ This Raspberry Mojito! }

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{ This whole ensemble.}

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{ A home with simple island details. I love this casual look found HERE! }

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{ A cuddly orange mate for Taj. }

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{ A vacation in Sardinia. A life long dream trip of mine...}

Sarah Britton's Tarragon String Bean Salad

2011-10-24T00:00:00.004-10:00

If I wasn't working Thanksgiving Day I'd be making this!

Sarah Britton's, "Tarragon String Bean Salad"

This is honestly one of the best side dishes I have ever created at home. The combination of maple syrup, tarragon and feta is absolutely to die for! I love her simple dressing for this dish so much that I now have a jar of it on hand at all times. Yum!

So, if you are not working this coming holiday give this one a go! You will love it. Promise.

Check out her delicious recipe HERE

Aloha!

Aloha Friday~30 Day Fitness Update

2011-10-21T00:00:00.007-10:00

Ending another long week out here.....

However, I love my weekends. I truly do because every week I get two days off on Maui.

I have no real plans for the weekend except to visit my new favorite farmer's market that I found hidden in an old Asian market in Kahului, surf, and get some sun. Humid voggy conditions are expected this coming Sunday so I plan to enjoy our perfect weather in the mean time.

I'm also concluding my 30 Days of Fitness. Honestly, I lost count and I think I actually passed it.

All in all I'm happy I stuck with the plan because it got me active again after a month of couch surfing during my job training. Some days it was really hard to squeeze in 60 minutes but I did it ( with the exception of my 2 sick days mid month ).

Any changes? Well, more energy for sure. I feel stronger throughout my arms and a bit in my core. I did not lose or gain any weight in case anyone was curious. My weight has been extremely stable for the last 5 years no matter what I do so I was not expecting any change for I am typically a very active girl. The goal of my challenge was to get moving again after my job training. Pretty simple so mission accomplish I guess?

Week 4

Oct 14: 1 hour vinyasa yoga, 40 minutes elliptical machine followed by ab crunches and stretching

Oct 15: 1 hour vinyasa yoga, 40 minutes elliptical machine

Oct 16: 1 hour surf

Oct 17: 50 minutes elliptical machine followed by 20 weight training

Oct 18: 1 hr 20 minute down wind stand-up paddle, 30 minutes elliptical machine

Oct 19: 1 hour vinyasa yoga

Oct 20: 1 hour 10 minute coastal hike through Kapalua

Pau Hana Uniform

2011-10-20T00:00:00.006-10:00

I wear an appointed "Hawaiian Dress" for work these days...

So strange, I have not worn a uniform since I was a cheerleader in highschool so it's taken some time to adjust.

At first I way like, this will be wierd... But over the last month I've noticed that it's been nice to not have to worry about what I was going to wear for work everyday. An even bigger bonus is this, when I do go shopping ( someday soon hopefully ) I never have to have work in mind anymore. Let me tell you this... this is is a huge relief because how I've been dressing/shopping for work over the last decade is not necessarily my true style. I'm imagining many of you are in the same boat.

That being said, here's something that I would definately wear on a "Date Night" in Fall on Maui. No office attire in mind. Nice.

{ top: Joie, jeans: 7 for all man kind, shoes: MKs purchased at MAX shoes in Bondi Junction Australia, necklace: gift, watch: Michael Kors, earrings: Hula Hoops Maui, bag: Louis Vuitton, manicure: Axxium polish done is a French mani, pedicure: Essie's "Watermelon", sunnies: F21}

All photos shot by Carlos Barberis of BECfoto in Kahana, Maui

I Love

2011-10-19T00:00:00.001-10:00

{ The best island breakfast out there: Papaya + Lime. }

{ The fact that white ginger is covering Maui right now! Smells incredible! }

{ The Rosemary and Olive Oil bread from La Brea Bakery }

{ Locally made Acacia Bikinis }

{ The way Carlos is with animals...}

Raw Apple Crumble a la mode with Carmel Sauce

2011-10-18T00:00:00.003-10:00

I love Fall foods. Even out here in Hawaii it's nice to see squash, pumpkins, quince, pomegranates, and pears turning up in the the grocery stores once again. So lately I've been making a ton of Fall inspired dishes because the inspiration never seems to stop. Even if I can't find canned pumpkin puree on Maui to save my life!

Oh well....

So here's my latest raw vegan attempt at a Fall inspired dessert...

Raw Apple Crumble a la mode with Carmel Sauce

This was incredible!

The crumble recipe comes from the awesome blog, "Sweetly Raw" so please check it out HERE

But the ice cream and carmel sauce are my own creations!

Vanilla and Coconut Ice Cream

-raw vegan-

3 cups pure coconut milk

2 tsp non-alcoholic vanilla extract

1/3 to 1/2 cup raw agave syrup ( the light colored agave is best for this )

Shake all ingredients together in a large Mason jar and store in the refrigerator until chilled. Once chilled, pour into ice cream maker and process according to manufactures instructions.

Carmel Sauce

-raw vegan-

4 very soft Medjool dates

1/4 cup raw agave syrup

1 tsp non-alcoholic vanilla extract

1 Tb coconut oil or butter

1/2 tsp mesquite powder ( I used the brand Navitas Naturals )

generous pinch of salt.

Blend in a highspeed blender until very smooth and well combined. Feel free to add a tablespoon or two of water to thin out the carmel sauce.

Oh and by the way....the carmel sauce is ridiculous. It's so real tasting that I'll probably never be tempted to make the real thing again. Why bother with butter and cream if you don't have to right?

Hope you enjoy!

The Ice Cream Bean

2011-10-17T00:00:00.001-10:00

I can't even tell you how long I've been searching for this bizarre fruit!

Meet the elusive ICE CREAM BEAN!

I am so excited!! I just happened to be in Paia the other day and made a quick stop in Mana Foods for some agave and there they were! Just sitting there next to the common apple banana!

I've never tried the Ice Cream Bean before so I had no idea what to expect. I was just drawn in by the great name. Good marketing by the way....

After peeling back the thick green skin, remove the white creamy pith and remove the large dark seed. Now it's ready to eat!

The verdict...

Delicious! The taste is sort of a cross between a banana and an apple with a splash of vanilla. And the texture? Sort of like a wet cotton ball but I don't mean that in a negative way at all. Unfortunately I only bought two of them because I wasn't sure if I would like it. Now I'm bummed I didn't grab more....

Maybe I'll find myself back in Paia next weekend?

ALOHA!

Aloha Friday~30 Day Fitness Update

2011-10-14T00:00:00.001-10:00

Alrighty...so here's my 30 day Fitness Challenge Update for the week of 10/7-10/13

Oct 7: 1 hour vinyasa yoga

Oct 8: 1 hour surf and approx 1.5 hours of hiking ( hills )

Oct 9: approx 1 hour coastal hike

Oct 10: 50 minutes on the elliptical plus 20 minutes of ab work and stretching

Oct 11: 45 minutes on the elliptical plus 20 minutes of ab work and stretching, washing my car for approx 45 minutes. I hate washing my car BTW!

Oct 12: 1 hour vinyasa yoga

Oct 13: 45 minutes on the elliptical plus 20 minutes of ab work and stretching

I've definitely discovered that committing to 60 minutes of fitness training a day has been a challenge. Daily workouts along with a full time job ( sometimes my days start at 5:15 am! ), blogging, cleaning, and cooking has not been the easiest thing to toggle. Unfortunately the surf has been a no-show this month ( except for the couple days that I was out with the stomach bug of course ) so I've had to depend on the gym and my yoga DVDs for the majority of my daily 60 minutes. Luckily, winter is just around the corner so hopefully I'll have many days of surf in the next coming months. Until then, I get plenty of use of my gym membership I'm sure :)

So excited for the weekend even if rain is in the forecast!

Happy ALOHA FRIDAY and see you next week!