Sunday Funday.

I'm sure I've said this before but Sundays are a notoriously busy day around our house, especially Sunday mornings.  Andy works his 2nd job 7 days a week and goes straight from his cleaning job to downstairs at the church to start doing sound check, etc. 

Which means grumpy Mama, who doesn't like to wake up early is also in charge of getting myself and the three kiddos up, dressed & fed in time to go downstairs for church by 10am.  This is probably not a big deal for other awesome Moms that can set their alarms and jump out of bed like they mean it.  Not for me.  I procrastinate, I check Facebook, I hit snooze, I complain and then I start running around like a chicken with my head cut off. 

So I'm gonna switch it around on this blog and give you a recipe first!  You might like this if you hate reading my writing or came here just to eat.  Makes sense.  But since Sunday mornings are so crazy it helps if I am smart enough to plan ahead and bake something on Saturday that the kids and adults scrambling to get everything done have something to grab and eat while getting ready.

This Sunday's breakfast was......

Snickerdoodle Muffins! 

I made these ones especially for the Praise Leader of our family since Snickerdoodle's are his favorite cookie.  I also figured all the kids would actually eat them since they don't really contain anything that might be considered good for you.  But oh well, cause they are tasty!

adapted from www.eatmedelicious.com

2 Sticks unsalted butter, room temp.

1 cup sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla

2 eggs

3/4 tsp. Baking Soda

3/4 tsp. Baking Powder

3/4 tsp. Cream of Tartar

3/4 tsp. Freshly Grated Nutmeg

1 1/4 cup Greek Yogurt

2 1/4 cups AP flour

For the coating:

3/4 cup sugar

1 tbs. cinnamon

[1] In a stand mixer cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy.  A few minutes.

[2] Add vanilla and eggs one at a time, waiting for each egg to incorporate.

[3] In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, and nutmeg.

[4] Alternating flour mixture and yogurt add to your wet mixture.  Starting and ending with flour, scrape bowl if necessary.

[5] In a shallow dish whisk together coating toppings.

[6] Using an ice cream scoop, I like my stolen Jamba Juice "disher" spring loaded scoop.

Scoop the batter into your coating and roll each scoop around till it's fully coated.

[7] Place each ball into a greased muffin tin. 

This recipe made about 24 muffins for me!

[8] Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

So after a good morning of muffins, praising God and fellowship we left to go check out Olomana Gardens in Waimanalo.  Andy has been wanting to see this place for awhile and usually the tours can be a bit pricey.  But being the bargain hunters that we are we found out today was an open house with free tours and a potluck!  Can't beat that. 

Olomana Gardens has a huge aquaponics set-up.  Which I know nothing about but maybe Andy will get to guest blog about this someday for those that are interested.  The tour was pretty cool with lots of information and a beautiful backdrop of Waimanalo Valley. 

We saw their fish tanks, the duck weed they were growing, along with Papayas, Taro, tomatoes & pretty much anything else you could imagine.  The kids got to pet horses, chickens, and a pig so everyone was having a pretty good time!  Jonas was so excited cause he helps Andy a lot with their aquaponics system so he kept running ahead with the tour guide pushing a lot of older Asian men out of the way.  Rude, perhaps.  Cute, definitely. 

The open house was pretty neat too, free beer & aquaponics?  Andy was in heaven.

It's such a joy spending time with our kids as they explore new things, especially things we're interested in too.  And hopefully, somehow, tying it in with homeschool, just so we don't feel guilty for the days we miss in the classroom. ;) 

Made one last stop at Sweet Home Waimanalo to try out their famous smoothies and check out the food.  It's a bit pricey but definitely looked good if you're into organic, healthy, locally grown stuff.

We tried a Peanut Butter Bellows Smoothie & a Local Kale Smoothie and took a beautiful drive along the ocean back home. 

God is so good to us, I only hope that we do him justice in giving him everything he deserves from our lives knowing we can always give more. <3 

Why is she so happy?

In the past few weeks I've had two different people comment on how happy I look.  

One was a visiting Priest from Florida who talked to me after service and said "There's the happy drummer!" and the other was a new friend who's Mom had seen a picture I posted on Facebook and said to her "Your friend looks so happy!"

These should be compliments right?  So I don't know my first thought is embarrassment?  Why is it so bad for me to be happy?  To show how happy I am in my demeanor, the way I act and talk?  

It bothered me that I thought this and kind of worried me, my old habits tell me that happiness doesn't last, if you're too happy it's basically tempting fate to screw with you a bit and make sure it doesn't happen again.  

Maybe its a happiness I have finally found in God.  Its a lightness of burdens I don't have to carry anymore.  My instincts tell me I shouldn't be happy because not everyone is, but happiness takes work for sure, it is something given to us and I CHOOSE to be happy.  To see the good in my situation instead of the complaints.  To do what I need to do to make things better if they're bothering me.  

I choose to live a life thats low on funds but big on time.  

Time with my husband, time with my kids, time to learn, time to teach, time to birth babies, 

and even....sometimes.....time by myself!

That's not to say I never get depressed, angry or upset about things in my life. But I am trying to learn that I can be ok with being happy, that it doesn't mean that I think Im better than someone else.  My happiness is for myself and not to prove anything.  I have no reason to fake my emotions, no one to impress and I have found that living my life the way I feel God is calling me to just naturally makes me a happier person.  Less guilt.  Less anger.  Less wanting for things of this world.

More joy.  More peace.  More love.

And one day I hope, that one that I can't quite get a hold on yet....more forgiveness. 

We started working on a Character Building book with the kids during homeschooling and today's lesson was about being content.  I think a big part of being happy is simply being happy with what YOU have and not comparing it to what others have and what they need to be happy.

I have what I need to be happy.  It might be less than others, it might be more.  

But there should be no shame in happiness, hopefully soon I can believe that myself. <3

5 Simple Things That Make Me Happy

1.  Outside after it rains.

2.  New cleaning products, I bought some Bon Ami Citrus Thyme spray today. Woo-hoo!

3. Sleeping children.

4. A kiss from my husband.

5. My blog. 

And so of course, a recipe!  Food makes me happy.  Oh yes it does.  

Until recently I would consider myself a cook much more than a baker but the weight I am gaining this pregnancy proves that I eat more than enough of both food & baked goods!  

Creamy Polenta w/Mushroom & Sausage Ragu

and Roasted Asparagus

Polenta:

1 cup Polenta

1 cup milk

5 cups water

1/4 cup butter, cut into cubes

1/4 cup Heavy Cream

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Salt to Taste

[1] Boil the water & milk.  When it comes to a boil add your polenta.

[2] Stay close!  Whisk your polenta, it will thicken quickly.  Reduce heat to medium-low.

[3] Keep whisking, allow Polenta to soak up liquids.  It doesn't need to be constantly stirred but keep an eye on it!  Do this for about 20 minutes.

[4] Once Polenta has absorbed all the moisture add your cream & butter.

Whisk for another 5 minutes.

[5] Add Parmesan & salt to taste.  Sooo creamy and good.  Tip: Not low calorie. ;)

Ragu:

1/2 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

2 mild Italian sausages, out of their cases

1 cup sliced Crimini mushrooms

1/4 cup Red Wine

Olive Oil

Salt to Taste

Crushed Red Pepper

[1] Take sausage out of their casings by cutting a slit down the side and squeezing the meat out.  Fun!

[2] Brown sausage in olive oil on medium heat.  Cook until sausage is fully cooked, break it apart with a spoon as you go.

[3] Add mushrooms to pan and let them brown.  I like a good golden color on my mushroom so use a decent sized pan so they don't just steam.

[4] Pour in your spaghetti sauce & red wine.  Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer while you cook your polenta.

Roasted Asparagus:

1 lb. asparagus woody stems removed

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

[1] Lay asparagus on a baking sheet.

[2] Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt & pepper to taste.

[3] Cook in a 375 degree oven until doneness you prefer.  About 15-20 minutes.  

I like my tips charred but asparagus not too soggy.

Assemble & eat!  

The Incredible Lily Pax turns 6!

I can't believe our biggest "baby" is already 6 years old!  

It amazes me how much has happened in 6 years, that I've been able to watch this little person grow from just a heartbeat in my womb to a smart & sassy little girl with her two front teeth missing and an opinion on everything.  I am in awe, that we somehow managed to raise her to be such a loving, kind & thoughtful person.  I think the oldest kid always gets the brunt of the parental mistakes, responsibility and bossiness.  I'm the oldest child, I should know!

[Our baby girl when she turned 2 years old!  She has always had such a unique personality.]

Lily Pax was the child we prayed for.  After getting married in November 2004 we knew we wanted kids right away, not that we KNEW what we we're doing but that's besides the point!  

It took us longer than we had thought to get pregnant with her, which in reality was less than a year.  But at the time, and only 21 years old I thought having babies was just something that happened like magic, people had them on accident after all right?  I was a little bummed it wasn't happening on the timeline I expected so I prayed about it a lot, especially, for some reason to the Virgin Mary.

"I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him"

1 Samuel 1:27

So, we named Lily after The Virgin Mary.  The Virgin Mary is sometimes referenced to as the white Lily.  Pax, her middle name is Latin for peace.  She is the peacemaker of our family.  Whether trying to stop a fight between her brothers or getting upset if anyone is talking too loudly to one another she will definitely try to make everything better. <3

Lily was always my fast learned.  She crawled at 5 months and set the pace for which her brothers just can't quite keep up!  

And while she is quick when she wants to be I always remember as my 12 days late baby.  I went into the labor the night before I was supposed to be induced feeling huge & ready to meet my baby girl.  She was born July 21st, 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii and has been our little island girl ever since.

[It amazes me how much Oliver looks like his big sister!  Sure the boys look alike but I swear Oliver is Lily with her hair cut off.]

10 Facts about Lily Pax!

1.  Her favorite subject is math.  Sometimes she'll make up her own math work sheets when she's in bed and then answer them all.

2.  She loves fruit.  Apples, watermelon, strawberries & grapes are her favorite.

3. She likes to make up her own songs & sings a lot of the stuff she says.

4. She can swim like a fish.

5. Her favorite things to do are go to the water park, mini golfing, library & Target.

6. The thing she misses most about California is her dog, Maeby. 

7. She will take an hour long bath if you let her.

8. She likes to watch cooking shows & the greatest tragedy in her life is that she isn't allowed to eat in her bed.

9. Sometimes she wakes up and changes Oliver's diaper & makes her bed before waking me up in the morning.

10.  She is growing up way too fast. 

For her 6th birthday party she wanted a Mermaid Party because she's currently addicted to an Australian TV series on Netflix called H20.  We had a great time with Mermaid cupcakes, slip & slides & Ocean punch only to get rained out.....in July.  In Waipahu. Hmph.  Luckily we have a bunch of laid back friends and family & we played in the rain & celebrated the life of my most favorite little girl.

[Lily wearing her mermaid tale made by Noni, with her best friend/Auntie Gloria!]

Lily's Mermaid Jell-O Cupcakes with Jell-O Frosting!

Cupcakes: 

1 box of White Cake Mix

1 3 oz. box of Jell-O [any flavor/color you want]

These were easy since I had a crazy busy week and just needed something fast & simple.  Plus Lily's favorite color is blue so I aim to please!

[1] Make cake according to box directions.  Divide batter in half.

[2] Mix Jell-O into half the batter.  I actually made 48 cupcakes so I used 2 boxes of cake mix and just dyed one box worth, either way will work.

[3] Alternating, drop spoonfuls of each color batter into cupcake liners.

[4] With a butter knife kind of swirl batters together to get them looking tie-dyed.

[5] Bake as directed!

Frosting:

1 3 oz. box of Jell-O [any flavor/color you want]

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 egg white

[1] Put all ingredients, except for water, into a metal or glass stand mixer.  You HAVE to use a stand mixer for this one otherwise it won't work!

[2] Turn mixer on high and pour in your boiling water.

[3] Beat on high for about 5 minutes until you have stiff peaks!

[4] I added more food coloring to mine because it didn't come out as blue as I wanted but basically whatever color/flavor you choose will be what your frosting tastes like!  It has almost a marshmallow consistency.  

Party Hardy!

We decorated her cupcakes with gummy Octopuses, plastic mermaids, beach umbrellas & sand!

P.S. If you want to make the sand just put Vanilla Wafers & Oreos in a food processor, more Vanilla Wafers than Oreos and just adjust to how dark you want your sand to be! 

A full plate is bound to break.

I've been starting to feel overwhelmed again lately.  God has been so good to us with Andy's new job and the time it gives us to spend together and pursue some things on our own has been amazing if not a kind of new concept.  So, at 7 months pregnant with our 4th child it yet again, feels like a new beginning.  We've just gotten ourselves mostly settled here, about 6 months in and we're TECHNICALLY unpacked while still moving things around, trying to find cheap furniture on Craigslist & finishing walls.......

So I guess I just feel the need to change things up,  I used to [ok, maybe still do] want knuckle tattoos that say "restless."  I just can't seem to stay still and we as a family seem destined for a semi-nomadic life.  Going wherever the wind & God takes us, which is ok by me!  

So I decided to become a college student again.  It's been almost 8 years since I have been in school, and it shocks me that time could pass that quickly.  When I went before it always seemed like a battle between school & work, of which I didn't have enough time for both.  Now I don't have time to go to the bathroom by myself so I'm once again reminded of the ridiculousness of my youth.  And while I have always loved learning doing it without a goal in mind made it hard for me to focus. 

I go back August 20th!  Because of my out of state resident status [errr!] And quite possibly because I will have a newborn baby along with a 6, 4, & 1 year old I decided just to take 1 class this semester.  I am so excited to go back while having a hard time struggling with the fact that somehow it feels selfish?  Maybe, because the past 8 years all I've known is being a wife & mother, and sometimes a Starbucks employee.  To take anything from my family makes me think that I'm not giving them enough.  But I have to remember that this is now my enough, that I love them enough to better myself.

So along with school & being pregnant I also signed up to host The Big Latch On this year to promote breastfeeding awareness and have two doula/birth photography clients both due the same month as me. It will be interesting to see how that all works out!  If I can complete the 2 births before I give birth I hope to be able to send in my DONA certification paperwork by January!

 So I pray for God's strength, my own discernment, and a wonderful husband to help get me to the end of this year!  

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" 

[Matthew 11:28]

And since I've been slacking on recipes, and I live in the great state of Hawaii I bring you a recipe for...

Cast-Iron Pineapple Upside Down Cake!

adapted from www.bigmamashomekitchen.com

Make this whenever you're in the need for a tropical getaway.  And no matter how bad for you I know they are I just can't resist Maraschino cherries.  They just taste fake but they are strangely addictive to me.  When I order drinks at bars, or Shirley Temples when I'm pregnant, I always ask for extra of these.  Ooh....red dye #40 you so tasty.

Cake:

2 Eggs

2/3 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Pineapple Juice

1 tsp. Almond Extract

2/3 cup AP flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. Sea Salt

Topping:

1/4 cup butter [1/2 stick or 4 tbs.]

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 20 oz. can Pineapple Chunks

8 Maraschino Cherries

Use a 10-inch cast iron.  The batter won't look like its enough, but it is! 

[1] In the cast iron pan on medium-low heat cook the butter & brown sugar together for about 3 minutes or until it starts looking caramel-y.  It's better to underdo it than over do it, like I did the first time, cause it will cook more in the oven.

[2] Drain the pineapple chunks [reserving the juice for the batter] and add pineapple to pan. 

[3] Cook for another minute or two spreading pineapple evenly on bottom, put the cherries wherever you want in the pan. 

[3] In a stand mixer beat eggs, white sugar, pineapple juice & almond extract.  

[4] In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking powder & salt. 

[5] Add to the mixer and beat until batter is smooth.

[5] Pour batter on top of pineapple mixture and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.

Let cool & then invert!

Do all things without complaining.

I don't know how many times we have said the words "stop complaining!" to Jonas.  

Well to any of the kids actually, but Jonas seems to be our worst culprit.  Asking him to do anything usually ends up with a reply of "I'm tired." aka "I'm lazy."  Hopefully this whole blog doesn't come across as me complaining about my kids, oops. 

Andy and I consider ourselves to be hard workers, and I hope others do too so it's frustrating to have a child that doesn't understand the concepts of team work or being helpful.  If he is in the mood he can be the sweetest most helpful child but most of the time he's not.  As our kids get older, and I feel as we get more unprepared!  We have been trying to figure out different ways to get through to them that don't involve me shouting angrily and them ending up crying and not doing what I asked anyways.  I came across this idea on Pinterest, yes again, and really liked it.

[And darn you Pinterest, I feel like I will never again have an original thought. Sigh.]

I pretty much am in love with Mason jars & I don't even know how to can.  So far I've used them to make Vietnamese Veggies, hold homemade creamer, non-toxic cleaning solution concentrates, sort things, give mango salsa as gifts, wrap small baby shower presents, etc.  They're just so useful and awesome that I now buy them by the case.  

For this project it was pretty easy, we used the verse....

"Do everything without complaining or arguing." Philippians 2:14

The kids decorated their papers and I taped them inside the jars.  Then we put change into each jar, the concept is each time they complain or argue when they should be doing something with thankful hearts then they get a quarter [or dime, hey we're broke.] taken out of the jar.  Each Sunday they get to keep the money they have left in the jar and Monday starts us new, cause even God gives second, or third, or  fourth....chances right? 

I'm really hoping this is just another way we can teach our children to do things with thankfulness, gladness and helpfulness for others because of everything we have been given by God without any payment.  Anything we can do would never be enough.  Hopefully this does not make them think they should get paid anytime they do something without complaining but I can see that happening too.  

We'll just have to see how this one turns out!  

I hope to raise children that understand that everything they have is a blessing.  To be thankful for all that they have and know that all of that comes from God.  I've been around to many complaining adults to ever want my kids to be that way.  For someone to always have more, better, prettier, happier.  All of those things will probably always be true but I am not here in this life to compare the things I do with what others have.  I want my children to grow up with joy & gladness instead of complaining, bitterness and a woe is me attitude.  

So hopefully having the attitude I want them to have will help, complaining is natural but with it should also be an attempt to solve those complaints or wonder why those things are happening instead of constant blame on someone else.   That being said that me, like my kids, can always use practice in being grateful!  

I found a free app for iPhone [free is pretty much the only app I have!] called GratitudeDiary.

It's a simple app, you just type something in that you are grateful for each day.  And really, one thing shouldn't be that hard should it?  It will give you friendly reminders to be grateful and I definitely could be doing more time sucking things on my phone.  Also they've done studies that people who write down what they are grateful for each day have less depression.  So go ahead, be grateful!  It can't hurt. 

My Breastfeeding Journey......

This year I have signed on to be a host for The Big Latch-On!

The Big Latch-On is a global wide event that brings together breastfeeding mothers and those who support breastfeeding to raise awareness on how great, beneficial, and normal breastfeeding should be and attempts to break last year's record of most women breastfeeding simultaneously. 

This year I was lucky that they are having it on August 3rd & 4th.  I heard about the event and was bummed I wouldn't be able to participate because I already had a midwife appt. scheduled.  

I already missed out on the Big Cloth Diaper Change because of something we had going on, I know lots of BIG things, right?  So when I found out it was pretty easy to host I figured I'd do it on my own!

ttp://www.biglatchon.org/locations/the-big-latch-on-west-oahu-2

[If you are on Oahu & would like to join us either to be latched on, take pictures, or help with registrations we would love your support!]

As a budding birth doula and hopefully, one day, midwifery student, I figured anywhere I could raise awareness on the beautiful, natural and God given blessings of being a woman and Mother I should.

With Lily & Jonas I had a much harder, shorter breastfeeding journey.  I had little support with both and had an epidural during each labor which made the initial breastfeeding a little harder.

With Lily I had intense pain when I would feed her, knowing now, that it was just a bad latch and something I could have easily fixed.  I also supplemented with formula from the very beginning not quite understanding why breastfeeding is so important and not really giving it as much effort as I could have.   It saddens me to think that I missed out on an incredible bond with her because I just didn't know how to get help. 

With Jonas it was a little easier but I still used formula early on and didn't understand the concept of nipple confusion, etc.  With both I made it to about 7-8 months both breast and formula feeding.  Sometimes it's hard reading things that tell you about how great breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding is when I know I didn't give my first two babies my very best.  I know part of it is Mother's guilt, added to my Catholic guilt I just end up feeling guilty 99% of the time.  But I try to let go of that, to know I as a Mother can only learn and grow.  I am happy for those that "know better" before they even have kids.  To make it a point to research, know facts and have a set parenting path before they even get pregnant. But for us it was more of a learn as we go situation.  We're still learning and nowhere near knowing it all, although I won't tell my kids that.

[One of my favorite BF pictures.  Oliver nursing at the water park while I'm 22 weeks pregnant. :]

Which brings me to Oliver, my breastfeeding pride and joy!  At 29 weeks pregnant [myself] and 19 months old [Oliver] we still have a good nursing relationship.  It was painful for a period, when my milk dried up during pregnancy, and at times it can be cumbersome and annoying, when it feels like 100 degrees already without a 20 pound toddler strapped to my chest.  But the bond I have with him and the pride in myself can't be beat.  I hope we can keep nursing at least long enough to last until the Big Latch-On, less than 3 weeks away!  But I don't have a set time frame, I think we'll both know when the time has come.  And I can tell I've really become "crunchy" when my dreams include being able to tandem nurse my babies.  Something I didn't even think about just 6 years ago.

I've been on both sides of the fence.  I understand it's not that easy for some women, I just hope to be able to give other women the support, care, and knowledge that would have helped me in my early days.  Along with being pregnant & giving birth it is just such an amazing gift God gave to women.
We are nurturers and made so perfectly for our roles it amazes me.

Mommy's Helpers: Paint Chip busy bag & homemade Cheez-Its.

I went to the library the other day and checked out a book called Blogging for Dummies.

Cause really, that's how I feel.  I am loving doing this so far, much more than I thought I would and it feels nice to have something that is kind of just for me, even tho I'm basically blogging about my family life etc.  I have yet to actually open the book but I'm hoping good things come out of it, like maybe my writing is miraculously better or it can teach me how to do HTML by osmosis or something.

If you haven't noticed the blog is currently under construction as well.  One of my good friends, all the way from 6th grade [!!!] who lives in Orange County is helping me spruce it up.  So be on the look out for changes!  I hope to figure this blogging thing out a little better for my sake and for the 10 people that read this regularly as well.  

Decided to make my first "Busy Bag" yesterday.  Busy Bags are basically something you make for Toddlers or young kids that have something fun in them that can keep them entertained, in theory, while you're at the doctor's office, out to eat, etc.  This one caught my eye, basically cause it looked easy & cheap.  My two key components for anything in life pretty much. 

Color Match Busy Bag!

2 of each color paint chip
Clothes Pins
Glue
Scissors
Container for finished project

Do I really have to explain this?  It's as easy as it looks and cheap!  On one of Andy's many trips to Lowe's I told him to snag me some paint chips.  I think if I was to make this again I would use the smaller long square ones just to make it even easier.
I was pretty proud of myself and feeling like a productive Mom when I made these for the boys yesterday, envisioning them playing peacefully all while learning the fine nuances of paint shade colors.
Instead when I let Oliver play with them this morning he ripped them apart with his teeth.
 I guess it did keep him busy.......

If clothespins & paint chips won't keep your Toddler busy you can always feed them!
I let Oliver have a Nutella fudgesicle this morning for breakfast just so I could clean the fridge & freezer.  Oh the things you do for peace.  Yesterday, again I was a better Mom yesterday, I made homemade Whole Wheat Cheez-Its.  Really they were for me, I LOVE Cheez-Its.  I always have.  When I was in middle school I wrote a poem about my love for them, oh yes the love was that deep.
These crackers only have 4 ingredients, are so much better for you
and I swear they taste just like the real thing!

Home-Made Cheez Its

1 1/2 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar [or any cheese you want to try really!]
4 tbs. cold butter, cut into small cubes
3/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour
Sea Salt

[1] Pulse all ingredients, except salt, in a food processor until well combined and start to form a ball, about 2 minutes.
[2] Knead on a floured surface to bring it all together.
[3] Place the dough between two sheets of waxed paper and use a rolling pin to get it about 1/8th of an inch thick.
[4] Use a pizza wheel or pastry cutter to cut dough into squares, I have a really shaky hand so mine were all different sizes, but whatever.
[5] Lay squares on a greased baking sheet, it makes a lot.  2 sheets is probably better if you don't want them too crowded.  They don't spread much tho.
[6] Using a fork poke holes in each square so you get that cool Cheez-It look and they don't puff up too much.
[7] Sprinkle evenly with sea salt.
[8] Bake in a 350 degree F oven for about 18 minutes!

We pretty much ate all of these in one sitting.  They are addictive!

The Kramped Kitchen.

I really wanted to title this blog The Kramped Kitchen.

I really thought it reminded me too much of the Kardashians.  But then I thought, they don't own the letter K, they can't just claim it and act like they thought of changing the C into a K for everything first!

I probably thought about it a little too much, so yeah.....in the end I won.  It's a Kramped Kitchen kind of blog!

We live in a small home.  Really an apartment, which I have never wanted.  I'm not an apartment person, I don't like having rules, I like yards & parties & space.  I like being able to park and then walk into my front door with two flights of stairs in my way.  But alas, I know now, I don't always get my way.  Our home is small but it is OUR home.  Wherever I am with my family is where I want to be.

Our home does resemble a docked ship, it's small, doesn't really have windows, just small port hole type things where I hope to get a glimpse of sunshine or a gust of air.

It's not perfect but is there anything in this life that is?  We're here in Hawaii doing mission work for our church, work that we love doing and feel called to do.  For that work we are blessed enough to get free rent & utilities.  So before I complain I try to think about how blessed we are to be in this place, together, doing God's work.  If that isn't a life I want to lead then I'm not sure what is.

But our kitchen is small.  For sure, luckily I love a good challenge!  I can cook and bake with the best of them with what I have.  And up until less than 2 weeks ago I didn't even have my own oven and stove.  I used an electric wok and a big toaster oven for everything.  Sometimes it takes not having something to remind you to be grateful for those things you do have.

But now I do have an oven & stove.  Hallelujah!  Albeit, a 3 burner stove, but no matter.  I just use the empty slot to hold my utensils jar.  It works out for everyone.  We don't know how long we'll be here or where God will take us next but I will rejoice no matter how hot the day with no air conditioning, how small the bathroom or how we don't have full walls between our room and the kids, seriously.

Above:  My kitchen "nook" area.  Our back door that leads to a fire escape.  Chalkboard for a menu that I never change so it's never true.  The toy box has all the kids books in it.  Also doubles as a pantry area.  Flour. Sugar. Potatoes. Etc.

Side:  My main, ok only, cooking prep area!  Also where I bake.  My mixer just stays right there.  My wonderful husband hooked up extension cords to the island so I can use my mixer there.  I also usually have my iPad on it's little kitchen stand that I got for my birthday so I can reference recipes....or FB while I work. 

My awesome pot rack right above me, I have to be careful tho cause if I put the wrong pans in the wrong spots I hit my head a lot.  Coffee maker fish tank.  Spices from Trader Joe's.  

Thank you Mom!

I love it.  My little kramped kitchen.  I belong here. 

Today I loved it so much I didn't want to leave.  Deep cleaned it a bit, top of the fridge, under the sink kind of cleaning.  

Baked blueberry cupcakes with Maple Brown Butter frosting.

Made roasted artichokes & Baked Lemon Pasta for dinner.  So good.  My kitchen is definitely small, but as cheesy as it sounds it is full of love. <3

Roasted Artichokes

[These remind me of home, wild artichokes grown along the Delta.  

But I'm sorry to say, Manny's, these are better than yours!]

You need:

Artichokes

Garlic

Lemon Juice

Olive Oil

[1] Prep your artichokes.  Trim the bottoms so they lay flat and trim the tops of the leaves so they're not all pokey.  Scissors work best for the top part.

[2] Spread the leaves a part a bit so you can get flavor inside.

[3] Drizzle with olive oil and squeeze half a lemon over each artichoke.

[4] Slice a clove of garlic thinly and poke into different parts of the artichoke.

Season the whole thing with sea salt.

[5] Wrap tightly in foil.

[6] Place artichokes on a baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees F for an hour.

Unwrap and enjoy!

I suggest serving them with a lemon mayo or some melted butter.  Tasty! 

S'Mores Cookies & Ewa Beach Hidden Corner.

So a few weeks ago our church decided to have our monthly home group at the beach instead of a usual member's home.  Our church is small enough that after asking around it ended up just being our family, my Dad's family and a group of 3 coming from Waianae.  

First off, I should know if my Dad is in charge of planning something basically that means he will stress me out enough that I'll start planning and the whole thing will unravel with two Type A personalities getting grumpy with each other about what the other was supposed to do. 

We went down to Hidden Corner Beach in Ewa Beach.  

If you're going there from H1, either way you will get off on the Ewa Beach exit.

Follow Ft. Weaver Rd.  the big main road in Ewa Beach ALLLLL the way down.

Seriously, all the way.  You'll dead end.  To the left will be a Country Club [I believe?]

And on the right, a beautiful beach!

There's plenty of shade, picnic tables, parking and bathrooms/showers.

It can be rough there depending on the tide, the kid's played but Andy was tense the whole time worrying about them.  Such a good Dad. 

It was a beautiful night, the moon was out early & there were tons of airplanes flying by for some reason so the kids were entertained. A few tips.....

1.  Don't try and move the picnic tables.  They have concrete blocks on the ends.  Well they should....my Dad & I tried to move one and it only had blocks on one end, it was too heavy for us to get anywhere and when we finally set it down it was now lopsided.  :/  Awesome.

2. Pack tongs!  And skewers! And defrosted chicken.  If you plan to BBQ.  They don't have BBQs there so bring your own.  We made corn & chicken and ate them about an hour and a half apart because our chicken was frozen.  All components were delicious if not spaced out.

3.  Do NOT use Tiki Torch fluid to light you're grill.  Andy, my Dad & younger brother almost have the no eyebrows as evidence to go along with this tip.   

4.  Don't leave your shoes at one end of the beach at the beginning of the day thinking you'll just go back and grab them when you leave.  By then it's pitch black dark & someone had stolen Lily's brand new silver Converse.  I can definitely tell I'm becoming an older Mom because this infuriated me to no end, even more so when she shrugged and said "It's ok, I have more." What?! 

It was still a fun night, beautiful weather & scenery and time with our church family. 

Our attempt at making Smores with a quickly dying fire and plastic forks tho does bring me to my next recipe......

Smore's Cookies!

adapted from www.farenheit350.blogspot.com

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, room temp.

2 eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

2 cups AP flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup mini marshmallows

2 packages graham crackers

[1] In a mixer cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

[2] Add the eggs one at a time until combined, add vanilla. 

[3] Add in salt, baking soda and flour and beat until combined.

[4] Then fold in chocolate chips & marshmallows.

[5] Break the graham cracker sheets in half and arrange on cookie sheet.

You can put them close cause the cookie will pretty much stay on top of the cracker.

[6] Put a scoop of cookie dough on top of each cracker.

[7] Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.  

Best served warm and you get the real Smore's flavor.  

Happy camping! 

Magic Mike vs. The Amazing Spider-Man

I love the movies, we're a family of movie-goers & movie watching stay-at-homers.
Depending on our budget, time, what's out, etc. I'll go a long period of time of not seeing a movie in theaters and then all of a sudden BAM!  It's like 3 movies in 2 weeks.  Lucky me.

Any excuse to relax in air conditioning, sneak in a Starbucks [Yes, I do that] and sit down for a few hours straight I'll take.  Cause really if I'm paying $10 a person we better be paying attention!
Being pregnant has hampered my fun a little bit, sometimes I'm forced to give in and crawl with a big preggo belly over 5 people given the space you get in an airplane to go to the bathroom 1-5 times, but oh the things I'll do for some good entertainment.  Since I already did my Brave review I'll do a comparison of the last two movies I saw Friday night & today.
Magic Mike vs. The Amazing Spider-Man.  Cause really I'm sure if you're a guy you just can't quite decide which one is going to get your hard earned money right?

Go see Magic Mike if......

You could care less about an actual "story line,"  I mean obviously you knew this wasn't the movie for that.

You enjoyed the pictures of Matthew McConaughey naked playing the bongos, just add 10 years to that.

You like hella good old 90's music like Genuwine - Riding My Pony.

You enjoy movies where the characters have nicknames like Texas, The Kid, Big Dick Rich, etc.

You like the main female leads in a movie to look kind of like normal girls, with weird staring problems, that you can't quite understand what the main character sees in them.

You need people to talk really slowly around you otherwise you won't catch what they're saying.

You like seeing older [40+] women literally run into a theatre and hear giggling, hooting & whistling through out the movie.

Don't see it if.......

You're going for Joe Mangianello and you have a weird thing for Alcide from True Blood.  He's not in it as much as you'd like.  Trust me.

You have a problem with ass & thongs.  On men.

You can't stand the guy from I am Number 4.  You'll see him, a lot.

Final review:
It's a stripper movie.  Basically, a not as gross way to see ALMOST everything. Interrupted by slow talking, a baby pig & some hurricanes.
4 out of 5 ass cheeks.

Go see The Amazing Spider-Man if......

You hate Tobey Maguire's face.  You don't have to see it at all!

You have a slight girl crush on Emma Stone like I do.  I don't know why I think she's so awesome....Superbad maybe?

Skateboarding is an aphrodisiac for you.

You're a comic book nerd, or married to one.

You saw Never Let Me Go, Andrew Garfield is an amazing actor.

You've visited New York City, once, in a snow blizzard, and still get super excited to watch a movie where you can say "I've been there!"

You like movies with teasers after the credits that later on you can talk about with other people who knew better to just leave when the movie was "over."

Don't see it if......

You're expecting someone to say "Go get 'em Tiger."  It won't happen.

You have a phobia of lizards especially the gross part when their tails break off and they wiggle on their own.  Eww.

You can only think of Sally Fields as Cybil.  You'll have to get over that one or just be confused the whole movie.

You want to hear Danny Elfman do the same musical score he always does, he didn't do this one.

Final review:
An awesome comic book adaptation, I personally kinda, almost, maybe? liked it more than The Avengers.  Good story line that follow the comic books well.  Really good acting and a nice change of pace, for me, comic book movie wise.
2 Spidey-Thumbs up!

God Bless America. Happy 4th of July!

Had an awesome low-key 4th of July yesterday celebrating with the kids, my Dad, brothers & sisters and some of our church family at their home in Maile. 

Despite all the differences I have with our government and how anti-authority I am, just a bad teenage habit that I just can't seem to shake, I do know how blessed my family & I are to live in this country.

We get good health care, for now anyways, through the state.  Participate in the Women's, Infants & Children program here and that's about it.  While I do appreciate everything this country does do for us I also take pride in the things we do for ourselves. 

All that being said I am a proud Navy brat of a man who served our country for more than 20 years.

I have lived in more houses than I can remember and greeted ships searching for my Dad's face. 

I am thankful for those that sacrifice their fathers, husbands, sons for our freedom.  

[My Patriotic fruit plate.]

I also love the chance to celebrate, enjoy the company of friends, & eat! 

The kids could barely stand still long enough to take a picture.  They just wanted to go swimming!

Stars && Stripes!

Left:  The view from our friend's back lanai of sunset.

Right:  My 4th of July belly!

27 weeks & 4 days.

We all decided we were too tired to try and fight the crowds to see the fireworks but on the way home we got lucky and got to watch the whole show from the comfy-ness of our van on the side of the H-1. 

Hope everyone had a happy & safe 4th of July!  

Red, White & Blue-Berry Muffins

adapted from www.joythebaker.com

7 tbs. unsalted butter

1/3 cup whole milk

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups AP flour

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Topping:

3 tbs. cold butter, cut into small cubes

1/2 cup AP flour

1/4 cup sugar

[1] Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Melt and cook the butter shaking often.  Watch the butter as it begins to foam and smells nutty.  It will turn brown pretty quickly, once you see brown bits floating around and brown foam take it off the heat.

[2] Whisk milk, egg, egg yolk and vanilla until combined.  Once butter has cooled slowly add it to mixture while whisking.  Don't add it while it is too hot or it will cook your eggs!

[3] In a separate bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add milk & butter mixture and stir gently to combine.  Gently fold into blueberries.

[4] Divide batter into muffin cups, makes 12.

[5] To make topping you can pulse all ingredients in a food processor until it looks crumbly or use your fingers to mix until it looks like small peas of butter, but be quick!  You don't want the butter to melt.

[6] Sprinkle over the tops of the muffins.

[7] Bake for 28-30 minutes in a 375 degree F oven.

Yum! 

Relax is a four letter word.

Today I had an argument with my husband I've probably had at least 10, 20, 50 [??] times since the past 10 years we've been together. 

 And that is in my inability to relax I make everyone else feel like they can't either. 

And darn it, I hate to be wrong.  I really, really do.  But I do know this is a problem, I would love to relax!  I see other Moms that can watch a TV show in the middle of the day without getting up halfway through because they feel guilty that there are dirty dishes in the sink and the kids are just laying around.  But maybe it's a sign that I'm just not letting go enough, keeping God in control and just enjoying the blessings he has been so gracious as to give me.  My children, my husband, our time together.  We have worked hard to have a schedule in which we get that ever precious commodity that just seems so hard to come by, time.  And do I really want to throw it away stressing about every thing that still won't get done?  

No, I know the answer but it's figuring out how to make my brain understand it as well. 

We learned recently at one of our marriage classes that men have a "Nothing Box."  Seriously.  Where they can just tune out and think of just that, nothing.  I have no grasp of that concept. 

I feel like 5 minutes in my brain is just a constant stream of what I am doing, need to be doing, just did, should be doing, or didn't have enough time to do yesterday.  And it shouldn't be that.  5 minutes in my mind should be praise, worship, adoration, thankfulness for all God has given me.  I will never have a perfect home, perfect children, or be perfect.  I don't aspire to be.  But I do aspire to be able to let go of the mess, to sit with my kids in the midst of piles of laundry and read books.  To be able to laugh with them at the mess we made in the kitchen instead of thinking about how tiring it will be to clean it all up.

So I'll keep trying.  Keep praying for God to grant me his grace once again.  

To continue to let go for the sake of those who love me, and for myself.

  To love myself enough to make it happen.  

That being said....I refilled all my Febreeze bottles today.  I have a slight obsession with Febreeze but that stuff can get pricey!  And I'm not willing to give up the freshness of Febreeze.  Especially not with a semi-potty training toddler running around.  Found a few different recipes on-line and kind of tweaked them to make the one I like best!  For now anyways. 

Home Made Febreeze

[About 25 cents a bottle compared to $5.00!]

This mixture fills up a 32 oz. bottle.

So if you have smaller ones, like I do, just halve it.

1/8 cup white vinegar

1/8 cup of your favorite fabric softener, I used what was on sale.

1 tbs. baking soda

1-2 drops Lavender Essential Oil, only if you want a Lavender smell.

Hot Tap Water

[1] Pour all your ingredients into the bottle.

[2] Fill with hot tap water.

[3] Shake & spray! 

Kid Quip of the Day:

On Sunday at church during communion.

Lily: Did they just say drink his blood?!?!

Me: Yeah, but it's Jesus' blood.

Lily: Oh ok, I'll do it for him.