My Baby's 29

Yup. 29. My first born. Kala'i is what most people call her. Our family is a family of nicknames so we also call her J. JT. Cutley.
Hard to believe. I can't believe it's been that long. I can remember her first days at preschool, her coming to school with me and playing cards and games with my Hawaiian language students. I remember her changing Kika's diapers. I can remember her first days as a boarder, and helping her get ready for her Sophomore banquet. I can remember her getting ready for the prom, her song contests, graduation day, her going away to college and coming back and trying again and coming back and trying again and coming back and now trying again. Gotta give her credit for never giving up. And trying many different things in between.

Love my baby. My dad loved her too. Boy did he adore her. The day Kala'i was born my dad was in the hospital and we stopped by on the way home to introduce the two of them. We had to sneak her in. I think it was a good call. She loved her grandpa, too. Glad they got to bond.

Had to make her a special meal on her special day and since she is taking a hiatus from dairy foods I opted for a Japanese meal. Yum. We all thanked her for her dairy free meal.

Shrimp tempura, soba salad, scallops and more.

Dessert was a vegan carrot cake.

My how time flies.

Add One More Food Genre Book To My Repertoire

Confections of a Closet Master Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am so stuck on the "food" genre that I am going crazy. And now after reading this book, I am craving a little nook of a bakery, complete with espresso machine and chocolate croissants (or is it because I watched "It's Complicated" at the movies yesterday). Confections was penned by the little sister of Sandra Bullock and while a smidgen of her success may have been attributed to her sister, one of my favorite actresses, the bulk of it comes from her ability to bake in the oven her memories from her youth. It's a great story of family, food, and following your dreams.

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Licorice Obsession

I have a licorice obsession. There. I said it. I think it became a real problem in my adult life though I have loved licorice for as long as I can remember. I chalk it up to my Danish heritage because, I think, licorice as a candy probably originated in Europe. It is popular in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany and I know this to be true because I have been there. I have seen it with my own eyes. And so it goes.
At lunch my BFF Nani handed me this beautiful bag of licorice. I could spot it in her hands as she walked into the dining hall. From afar. Super far. There it was. In my mind I was hoping she was not walking towards me because I know I am an addict. And as addictions go I cannot stop with just one.  But she came straight to me. I fought it. I said, "No, no, I can't have it. I cannot control the obsession." To no avail. It stuck to my hands like glue to paper. No hope in dope. Oh no.
I returned to my desk. I set it down and pondered what to do. Go in for the kill or hide it and hope that my poor memory would serve me right and I would forget it existed. Yeah, right.

I have a method to my madness. So in my attempts to curb the addiction, I start by sorting it out. I don't care all that much for the button shaped ones (you can see them through the bag. They are white, red and black). But believe me, they will be eaten soon enough. I start with the colorful "happy pills" (named so by my kumu hula, Mililani Allen) and jelly beans and then will work my way to the less appealing. But seriously, they are all appealing. Every. Single. One. I crave all things licorice flavored including liquor. You know. Zambucka. Ouzo. And for cooking, nothing beats anise. Star anise. I put it in my chinese soup. Yum. That's what gives it the appeal. Fennel has the same flavor. That's why I try to stay away. I can't keep feeding the frenzy.

Just thought I'd share. Thanks, Nani.

The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was a little slow at the beginning and it started out sort of predictable and then it just got better and better. What I thought would be a depressing story about blacks in the south turned out to be an uplifting story of love and resilience and hope.

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Half Assed

Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I love reading blogs about cooking and technology and the life of my friends. One of my favorite blogs is crockpot365.blogspot.com, filled with wonderful crockpot recipes. That blogger (whose name escapes me at this moment) just published her cookbook and of course I raced straight to Amazon to order it. And while doing my search and reading her blog, she wrote about this book, Half Assed, and how wonderful it is! Jennette Fulda started out as a blogger, pastaqueen.com. So, sight unseen, I ordered that book, too. Quite a combination, huh? Cookbook and weight loss memoir.I was so excited to get the book in the mail that I stopped reading the book I am currently reading (The Help) to start this one. And I kept going until I finished it. It just took me the weekend. I loved it. It almost got 4 stars but I gotta start being a more critical judge. I love memoirs. I love weight loss stories. And I loved how she touched on areas of weight loss that others do not, things like discrimination, and how she wasn't suffering from any traumatic even that led her to turn to food. It was funny. Moving. Enlightening. Make pretend I gave it a four. Even a five. I mean I devoured it so quickly. And laughed out loud. The only thing that kept me from reading more of it out loud to my family was that they are SICK AND TIRED of me reading things about weight loss. You'd think I'd be slim and trim by now I know so much on the subject. And now I know even more.

View all my reviews >>

Twilight

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I resisted reading this book. Iʻm not a fan of "fad" books, i.e., series that become movies that kids/adults/teens go ga-ga over. I donʻt know why. So even though all my daughters read it and my BFFs I didnʻt want to. But our book club of three member whose turn it was to choose, chose this one so I was "forced" to and Iʻm glad I did. I actually enjoyed it. What I liked best were the descriptions of how the two main characters felt about each other and how the author was able to capture the feelings without any use of sex!!! NOT A ONE! I loved that! Not that Iʻm opposed to the inclusion of that in books, but in this particular case, my heart ached and loved and pined and rejoiced and cried. And young girls can read it and know that they can have a loving relationship without "giving it up".

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Thinking of Dad on Veteran's Day

Blog Obsession Part Trois

As if having four blogs of my own to maintain, I went ahead and tried out a new one. And I am loving it. Today. But it's my first day. Will I still love it tomorrow or is this just infatuation? Someone--stop me!!!

Blog Obsession Part Deux

Oh it just gets worse and worse. I can spend hours perusing blogs. They vary from Hollywood gossip to food to techie teaching stuff.
And so while surfing hte blogosphere one led me to the next and so on and I ended up here:

Turns out the author, Gesine Bullock-Prado, is a former Hollywood executive (and yes, sister to Sandra Bullock) turned small town baker and wrote a book!

I already have it in my cart on amazon.com.

It wasn't just her posts that got me hooked. Apparently her hubby is something special. I hear he drew a picture for each chapter. And he put together a great vimeo

New Confections of a Closet Master Baker Trailer from Raymond Prado on Vimeo.

I'm hooked.

Blogs

My principal at school asked me to share with our staff my passion for blogging. I mean, do you think I have a passion for blogging? Heck yeah I do! I love to read them and I like to make them (not sure if I LOVE the doing it myself because I never feel like it do it enough). I like to leave comments on other peopleʻs blogs, mostly because I love when I get comments on my blogs.
To date, I have five blogs (six actually but I havenʻt even looked at a couple of them for a couple of years so they are considered defunct). My very first blog ever was my personal blog, the one youʻre looking at here, lianahonda.blogspot.com, inspired by my good friend Aloha Allen. She started blogging when she became pregnant with her first daughter, Nanea (and has since made another blog for her second daughter, Makena. Of course that led me to her twin sisterʻs blog, and I donʻt think I have stopped since! My list of favorite blogs is hopefully forthcoming, but letʻs talk about ME!
So this is my personal blog, started out as a way to showcase my granddaughter, Hulali, and then my grandson, Kanoa. But now itʻs kind of morphing into a mishmash of different interests, including reading, ahas, and other things that interest, of course, ME!
My next blog that came to be was my school blog, set up mostly for parents, to see what kinds of fun things we are doing in class. I try my hardest to keep it as up to date as possible, but I struggle ...I am hoping for a productive blogging school year for 09-10.
Third came a technology blog, mostly set up so that I could keep track of new things I was learning and could share with others as inept at technology as me. This one is the hardest for me to maintain, only because I am learning so many new things each and everyday I dont know which to do, which to focus on, which to learn more about!
Fourth is one of my faves, my cooking blog. I figured I was such a moocher off of other cooking blogs that I needed to "give back to my community." Of course the cooking blogs I visit would LAUGH at my piece of artwork blog but it doesnt matter. I love cooking. I dont think I am very good at it, but I love it, and I am certain there are others out there who could benefit. My photos are less than perfect (and most just come from my iPhone) and I am not big on presentation but no one is complaining about the taste (although I welcome honest critique from my fam bam). I named it So Duck Soup because "duck soup" was a very saying of my dadʻs. Whenever something was perceived as difficult he would always tell me it was duck soup! And to me, cooking is duck soup. And if it isnt then you are working too hard.
My last blog, that I started back in July, is a Hawaiian word a day blog, that I call He Momi. Years ago I used to send out email, first to a very small group of family and friends and then the list grew to hundreds. I sent out a word or saying a day, every day of the week. Well things got a bit hurried and I was changing careers and I just let it fall to the wayside. Just recently I decided to revive He Momi through a new blog.
And that is all for now, folks. Hopefully this will inspire me to make a list of some of my faves. It might surprise you!

Another Book Review

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars When I first started reading this book (which came highly recommended by my sis-in-law, Janine, whose opinions I hold quite high, except for movies) I was taken aback. It starts out with letters written between Juliet (the main character) and various friends/acquaintenances. And before long, you realize the whole book consists of letters! I loved the writing style of this author: quick witted, thoughtful, in an "old style" (the story takes place after WW II), and humorous! I think I've given too much away already. I almost gave it 5 stars, I really should have. I found myself reading it when Glen was driving and it took all my energy not to turn on the light in the truck at night but I know he gets a bit offended when I read in the day while he is driving. That has got to be a telltale sign of a 5 star book, don't you think? View all my reviews >>

I'm 50!

And as my new favorite saying goes: 50 is the new 30!

Throughout the beginning of 2009 I knew 50 would be a milestone but I didn't think it that much of a big deal until my day started looming. Closer. And. Closer. I'm not sure what it was but the closer I got to September 25th the more important it became to me. And not in a crazy I'm getting OLD kind of way, but more in a "hooray for me, I'm going to be 50 and I feel G-R-E-A-T!" I seriously do! I'm not in tip top shape, I wish I lost 50 pounds before the big date appeared but I seriously feel great. I don't have to take any kind of cholesterol high blood pressure watching for diabetes kind of drugs. I can walk for a couple miles and still feel like I could go for a couple more. Although I've got wrinkles in places I'd rather not, my hair is still dark and I've still got lots of it. I feel great.

And so I threw myself a party. Not a big invite everyone except the kitchen sink kind of party, in fact, it was a small intimate party of less than 40 people and that included my own immediate family. A small group of VIP to me. It was a grand affair, better than I predicted, and I am looking forward to my next 50 years of life.

Cheers everyone!

New Beginnings

I am feeling pangs of guilt. It has been way too long between posts and there are so many wonderful things happening in my life nowadays. And it's not just about my grandchildren or my children. It's about my friends, my students, my husband, my mom, my animals and seriously, the list can go on and on. If I were to kick the bucket tomorrow (and I'm not even SUGGESTING that I'm ready for that) you could rest assured that I've had a grand life!

So I am going to make an effort to post more often, to share my joys and triumphs, my ups and downs, and all the other wonderings going on in my life. Stay tuned!

Letters to Papa

Hulali's Papa, Ralph Carreiro, died suddenly a week ago. Hulali and Kala'i had the good fortune of spending a lot of time at Tutu and Papa's house this past year as Kala'i went back to school and Hulali went to the Montessori in Puna. Papa in Pahoa was much like Papa in Pa'auilo in that Hulali could always count on him to sit and watch a video. For the 10th time. No matter the video. No matter the time.
At his memorial service yesterday at their house in Pahoa, the grandchildren all wrote letters to Papa and tied it to a helium filled balloon. Then they all gathered poolside and let their letters go up in the sky. Hulali was the first to let hers go, probably in her exuberance. Then it was Hokupa'a's floating up to the air. Then all the mo'opuna let their balloons go and they ascended to the heavens. Ku and Hunter continued to watch for quite sometime, at least until there were only two in view. Hunter said it would take about two days for the letter to get to Papa. It seemed a wonderful way to let the children express their love to this man they call Papa.
It was a wonderful tribute to a special individual. It, of course, reminded me of my own father, who has been gone for over a year now. And it made me realize how fortunate Hulali and all her cousins are to have spent some time with their papa. My own children only knew one set of grandparents and I always feel like they lost out. Grandparents are special for so many different reasons.
My deepest condolences to the Carreiro 'ohana.

Julie & Julia by Julie Powell

     I have been slacking on the blogging front, to put it mildly. But I am fired up. What fires me up you may be asking yourself? Right now it is a great book. Finally. Geez. It took a while. Whew. This summer, my first free summer in years, has been filled with lots of reading. But seriously it has been pretty mediocre fiction, sprinkled with some boring non-fiction (like Dr. Sears The Zone Diet, Martha Stewartʻs Cooking School, and The Four Agreements--not boring but SHORT).  

     But thanks to the recommendation of one of my friends, Cathy, AND her generosity in letting me borrow her book, I have been turned on to Julie & Julia by Julie Powell. It is Julie's memoir, a story about her effort to reclaim her life by cooking every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Julie is a bit psychotic and obsessive compulsive (two traits I find very endearing in others) and sets about to cook the most provocative French dishes. Think poached eggs set in calf hooves gelee. But best of all, and what I relish the most, is that Julie Powell is a FABULOUS writer. I devour her words, I laugh out loud, I appreciate her honesty and frankness and I long to write that good.

     I haven't even finished the book and I know it's one of my favorites, along with Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunee, another cooking memoir type book. My two favorite things to do: read and cook. Yay. Welcome back.

A Clean Start

I’m going to assume that most people, when asked to choose a favorite “spot”, stick with the more conventional secluded spot outdoors, or perhaps a soft chair they snuggle in to read. Maybe the beach, that was one of my first choices. I chose my bathtub.

  It’s not a fancy tub, no jet streams coming out from the side or waterfall cascading into it. In fact, it’s kind of short in length as far as bathtubs are concerned (and I do consider myself somewhat of a tub connessieur). No. The beauty of my bathtub is in its depth and in its angle of the slope where my head rests. It’s in the width of its ledge, enough space to place a multitude of reading materials and soaps and other bathing paraphernalia.

  Despite my outgoing nature and fun-loving spirit, I do enjoy my quiet time. I relish being alone, if only for a few minutes. And with a house full of people busying themselves making messes for me to clean, I know that I can always find a quiet moment in my bedroom, in my bathroom, in my tub.

  Close the door and run the water. All other sounds are diminished. Choose a fragrant candle, a new book, perhaps a cooking magazine or Oprah and prepare to enjoy. My tub warms me up from the outside in on the cold evenings when I return home from work. It’s so hot sometimes that steam rises off of my body when I’m through.  It makes me smile to know I will be warm and cozy for the rest of the night.

  When I am sad, I go to my bathroom, and as tears are streaming down my cheeks, I prepare my space of solitude and slide in. Candle on, lights off. Just me and my misery. And in no time, my spirit is calmed and my heart is lifted. I can go on.

  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t just use my tub to pick me up in times of despair.  It’s good at anytime. On the good days, I put a couple of books on the tub, my home phone for calls and my ipod for songs so I can double my pleasure, double my fun. What could be better than a bath and phone conversation with good friends, favorite tunes playing in the background? Laughter and joy at its best. I emerge refreshed. Full of life and renewed energy.

You can have your tranquil spot in the forest or your favorite spot on the beach. For me, I’ll take my tub any day. Anytime. Rest assured. When you’re done in your favorite spot, mine’ll get you ready for a new day, a clean start.

New Fam Pics

I'm in Love with Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

I don't want to say much except that these are the BEST enchiladas ever. Kika made them. Found them on a blog. And this sounds worse than it really is because Kika is quite talented. But she did it after work. As we waited because we were all starving. And if Kika can do it after a hard day's work with 5 hungry mouths waiting, you can too. And you won't regret it.



As a side note I almost refused to eat anything for dinner last night because I was jonesing for more of the delicious best 'ono-est enchiladas in the world. Until Kika made nachos. Yum.

Little Miss Spider at Sunny Patch School

This video is four and a half minutes long so only those who think Hulali is just the cutest thing ever (i.e., relatives like grandmas and aunties) will be able to view the entire "reading". This is one of the first books Hulali learned to "read". Needless to say, for Christmas she received the entire Little Miss Spider book set!

Photo Booth Fanatics

Leave Kaipo and Hulali alone together with Photo Booth on a Mac and it's all ova...they ham it up, using different effects and just have an overall good time doing so. Enjoy:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? By Eric Carle

Hulali is a genius. Well, I do recall saying the same thing with each of my own children but she really is. She has mastered the fine art of reading (a.k.a. memorizing the text of her favorite books) and I wanted to video her reading for you to show you just how smart she is BUT she was so taken with seeing herself in the video on my computer that I couldn't get her to look at the book and follow along page by page. Darn, that was a long sentence. Anyways, I thought you'd get a kick out of some of the takes:







Hopefully we'll get some good footage from behind using the flip video camera. That way she won't know!

Book I am Currently Reading

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina

My review

I bought this book as a recommended read on twitter. It contains 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school. So far I've learned that it is not possible to multi-task. With this information, I am sure my lapse of memory (and it is a huge lapse), I am sure that what I mistook for multi-tasking is really me focusing on one activity haphazardly while trying to complete another, also haphazardly. I also learned that exercise is rule #1. And as kids do worse and worse in school, we take away more and more of their exercise (in the form of recess, P.E. and shorter lunch periods).


View all my reviews.

I Love Me Some Mac Products

Saturday afternoon two of my friends (J & MJ) and I treated ourselves to a Mac (as in makeup) workshop, learning to accentuate our features. We had a blast, thanks to our Mac Coach, Desmond. Turns out he's from Laupahoehoe and will be in Hilo this coming Saturday so my girls can experience the same fun that I had!



Here's a pic of Desmond (he was the greatest, we had the "funnest" table) and a before and after shot of me and my peeps!

Swan Lake

As I was walking along Ala Moana Beach Park yesterday morning, I noticed four beautiful black swans preening themselves at the edge of the water. How lovely...

They even made the news on KITV!

New Book

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski

My review

With all the trash romance novels I read (and there ain't no shame in that), when I come across a writer whose words are crafted like a beautiful quilt, all coming together to warm the reader's soul, it just makes me want to savour every moment of every sentence. This is the case with this beautiful book. It is set in the early 1900s, on a farm, where Edgar Sawtelle is born mute (though he can hear). Here is just a taste: "His father, reading to him at bedtime, voice quiet, lamplight yellow on the lenses of his glasses. The story is The Jungle Book. Edgar wants to fall asleep with Mowgli and Bagheera still in his mind, for the story to cross from the lamplight into his dreams. his father's voice stops. he sits up. More, he signs, fingertips together." Okay, maybe that's not THAT incredible but woven through many other passages of gold, it is a joy to read.


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