::manic miscellany monday::

this is my first time actually linking up to another blog...I'm so unfamiliar with it, is that even what it's called?!?

anyway, I'm not sure how I found lowercase letters or miscellany monday...but I like the idea of random postings to kick off the start of a new week. So here is my first (possibly, but hopefully not the last)...

::one::

Today, july 11, 2011, is quite the milestone in my life. A short 20 years ago (I can't believe I can say 20 years ago and actually remember...the reality of getting older) my family moved from southern California to the beautiful island of Kauai. I am the first to admit...this did not make the then-10 year old happy one bit. Who wouldn't want to live in paradise right? Well...20 years later (and having spent 10 years after high school on 'the mainland')...I now have a new appreciation for the once loathed slow-paced Garden Island. I mean, one look at the photo above of Kalalau and anyone in their right mind would love to make this place their home...I blame it on being 10.

::two::

Warning: Do not let this cute little girl fool you!! Karma is biting me in the ass...with a vengeance! The terrible twos. Kaiya is lucky she's so cute. She is and has been in her terrible twos I swear before she turned one. She thinks EVERYTHING is hers..."hey, that's mine!". She beats up her cousin. Her favorite word is, of course, NO! She throws a mean tantrum. She does not have an inkling of an inside voice. The list goes on. BUT...she is the cutest and smartest little 22 month going on 15 year old I know! She also loves to give hugs and kisses. She loves playing in the water. She loves her family. She loves her dogs, "FafyLennox"...Foxxy and Lennox. She loves animals and knows a lot of them of you show her a picture. She loves to go riding and shopping. She loves to hear herself talk. She is simply THE BEST!!

::three::

potlucks. Ever since I can remember my family has gathered every week for potluck. The picture above is our Mother's Day spread...I think. Maybe it was Father's Day? Either way...this is a typical Saturday or Sunday at Grandma's house. A tradition that will hopefully continue for generations and generations. The little kids...going around hugging and saying hi to everyone, and hugs all around again before leaving. The food...Lauya, Chicken Papaya, Baked Spaghetti, Uncle Sonny's Adobo, Aunty Flo's 'Adobo', Aunty Aileen's Sesame Chicken, and much much more...the staples that we could eat week after week. If only every family did this, the world may be just that much better.

::four::

S'mores Candy. I came across this recipe for s'mores cracker candy and decided I had to try it. Super simple. Super quick. Super yummy. Try it...now. FYI...super sweet too.

::five::
One-piece swimsuits. It never crossed my mind that I would be wearing a one-piece bathing suit. But...after trying on numerous bikinis and not being happy with what was staring back at me in the mirror...I saw one at Macy's that was actually cute. So I thought, what the hell...tried it on and not only liked what I saw...I LOVED it. And may possibly never go back to buying another bikini again. It miraculously sucked everything in and kept it there. Amazing after having a baby! I am now a one-piecer convert.

::six::

The Box Lunch. Gotta love it. Is this just a Hawaii thing? It has to be. Look at the variety of foods. Great for school field trips.

So that is my random miscellany monday rant. Hopefully I'll see you again next week with more miscellany manic monday madness... 

::kamehameha parade::

...this is an old post that I'm just now getting around to posting...

Last week, I mentioned we had a Kamehameha Day Holiday. This weekend, they celebrated with a Kamehameha Parade which started pretty much right outside our front door on Rice Street. There aren't nearly as many people that attend as the Lights on Rice Parade, but since it's right outside we figured we would check it out.

The parade was a first for us all. We were greeted with the Royal Court, princesses representing each island, pageant queens, the Mayor, Uncle Avery, and Kaiya's fav...horsies. Speaking of the Mayor, he came right up to us to say hi to Kaiya!! All in all...a great cultural experience for us all.

::deborah lippmann::

On our weeklong vacay in Honolulu...I stumbled upon the Deborah Lippmann collection. Helloooo. It's kind of expensive for nail polish and stuff, but I reasoned with myself by vowing to give myself pedi/manis if I tried it out. I am so.glad.I.did.



Without hesitation I immediately bought Happy Birthday (a super glittery fabulous polish) and Steppin Out (a foot cream). I wanted to buy Get Off (a callus softener) but they were out. Bummer. The lady said to check Nordstrom..but they were out as well, but a shipment was coming in. So I put my name on a waiting list.


In the meantime..I also got this starter kit and I'm convinced I'll never buy cheap-o nail products again. So either I'm a sucker...or Deborah Lippmann is truly a nail polish/mani/pedi genius.

The nordstrom lady just called saying Get Off was in...so I placed my order, along with The Stripper (polish remover) and the Anniversary Special "Get This Party Started". Sooo excited!! Who gets excited for nail polish...I'm getting old.

If you ever come across Deborah Lippmann products...at Nieman Marcus (which we only went in originally to change Kaiya's diaper) and Nordstroms...I would splurge, treat yourself and try it out.

::back to life. back to reality::

We've been on vacay mode for the past two weeks. The entire family...Barsness, Taba, Nagamine, Querubin, Raralio and Agcaoili clans headed over to Oahu to celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs. Chris Q!! It was so much fun having everyone together at such a beautiful happy occasion. We (Barsness/Taba/Nagamine's) took advantage of the opportunity and took up residence at the Ala Moana Hotel for the entire week. Let me just say...I could 100% get used to having Ala Moana as my backyard!! So convenient and much needed after shopping at the oh-so-big 1 main department store Kukui Grove for months. I enjoyed every minute and failed to eat healthy or keep up with my marathon training. I'm still paying for it. So yes, we mostly spent time shopping and eating. But we also went to the Honolulu Zoo and Pearl Harbor. Eric and I treated ourselves to a 3rd Anniversary dinner at Morimotos Waikiki. Kaiya and I spent an afternoon catching up with old OSU girlies. Simply said...it was a fabulous vacation! I didn't take many pictures, but when I get around to uploading them I will post them. Here is one of Eric and Kaiya on the loooong 20 minute flight over marking the start of the vacay. And here is Kaiya and Yasuboy as we wait for our rides to arrive at the airport.

::cold brew::

I recently came across this pin for 'the perfect iced coffee' on pinterest and it automatically made me want to try out some cold brewing myself.

It just so happens on that same night, Eric brought home a large gallon glass jar telling me that this is what he's been using at work to cold brew coffee (which he mentioned to me last week). So awesome how we are on the same wavelength!! Unfortunately...we had no coffee in the house. The start of iced coffee had to wait for another day.

So we got some coffee...and added some vanilla beans and let it do it's magic...after a good stir of course.

24 hours later...more like 30, really...and a quick strain through some filters gave us a gallon of cold brewed coffee goodness. We then transferred it to chill in the refrigerator. Then some added ice, and a couple of tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk (shooting for the Vietnamese version)...and voila..a great morning pick-me-up after a sleepless night due to 104+ Kaiya temperatures. Poor baby girl.

::keepin it local:: {two}

We try to make it to the Farmer's Markets whenever we can.  There's always great produce there, and the best part is that it's grown right here on Kauai.  It always tastes better when it hasn't traveled thousands of miles to get here...And it helps to have a chef in the family that knows how to prepare it, and make it taste delicious!

And although the weather has been pretty ugly lately...there are more days that start out like this than rainy/overcast skies.

:bologna + tea rice:

Name change. Change is good. It's hard to think of a blog title...and the last one just wasn't cutting it. So I changed. Not saying that this is the last time, but I like it as :bologna + tea rice:.

So what the hell is bologna and tea rice? Only the best combination of food that my Grandma ever invented! When I was younger, I swear I could eat this all.day.every.day. So maybe I shouldn't get so mad when Kaiya asks me for egg + rice everytime I ask her what she wants to eat.

So for now...:bologna + tea rice: it is.

:puddles and plumerias:

It was another three day weekend here in Hawaii due to Kamehameha Day. The weather has been a little crappy lately...rainy and overcast, hot and humid, and windy at times. It's definitely not summer weather! But we can't complain...we live on Kauai. Such a tough life.

On Saturday we headed over to Kukuiula to hit up Bubbas Burgers for lunch. We walked around for a bit, bought some local produce at Living Foods to make Guacamole...and took advantage of the weather and had Kaiya do some puddle splashing!! She LOVED it.
Later that night we had a wedding to go to and Kaiya walked around with Aunty Dawn and Uncle Wes. They checked out goats, peacocks, and found plumerias. Look at my girl...happy as can be with a flower in her hair.  

:knockoff chick-fil-a:

yes please!  i just came across this recipe for chick-fil-a nugs that i found through pinterest.  access to chick-fil-a since moving to hawaii...20 years ago!...has been few and far between.  if this recipe turns out to be like the real deal...oh.em.gee.  we'll just have to find out.  and if not...the search continues...until the next trip to new mexico or california.

must.try ------>

::keepin it local:: {one}

It's been a while...again...no excuses.

Recently I've been on a "keeping it local" "going green" kick. From buying local produce to experimenting with making my own cleaning products...makes me feel like I'm contributing to boosting the local economy and saving mother earth and teaching Kaiya how to be more "sustainable".

I'll try to post recipes for homemade cleaners and what not...key word:try. But for now...I want to highlight Machine Machine. The designer, Shannon, is my classmate and has the.most.awesome designs...from hats to dresses to note cards to baby rompers...she even does custom designs. One thing (so hard to pick just one!) I love love love about Shannon's pieces is that she re-purposes vintage fabrics...such as an old muu muu, or sheets...yes, sheets.

I recently purchased this dress from her etsy shop... themachinestops
...what's not to LOVE right?

If you haven't checked out Machine Machine on etsy or one of many retail shops carrying her line throughout the islands...you better run quick for your opportunity to snag her one-of-a-kind designs!