Recipe for the Best Waffles

March 31, 2015

My Aunt Kristina is making a delicious waffle recipe she found online she modified it to make it better. After lots of begging, she allowed me to post it. 

2 eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

1 3/4 cup milk

1/2 vegetable oil

4 table spoons white sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat waffle iron. Beat eggs in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in flour, milk, vegetable oil, sugar, baking powder, salt and vanilla until smooth.
2. Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown.
3. Enjoy! Makes 6 waffles.
   

Castle Wars

March 27, 2015

For a couple weeks, I am living in a beach house and I have not done one very important thing. Build a sandcastle. I slept in till 9 o'clock today and I am refreshed and ready to go. Kathryn, Riley and I are going to have a sandcastle building contest and Uncle Larry and Aunt Kristina will be the judges!

The sand on the beach is simply amazing. It is clean and a  pretty color; perfect building material.

For me, I like to go big or go home with my sandcastle.

I have a nifty little secret for the strongest castle. About a yard into the ocean is where tough sand is. This is because of all the waves crashing on them. It is moist and will guarantee you a blue ribbon! Just grab that sand, put it in a container and start building. I also keep a lot of water on hand to rinse my hand off and to make the castle look nicer while building.

I am starting off with a decent sized base, 3 feet high, to add extra beauty to the castle and lots of support. I now add 3 large towers, 2 medium towers and 1 small tower and of course accessories and different shapes and patterns. It may sound like not that much, but for 2.5 hours, it isn't bad!

Kathryn's castle was big, but plain. Riley's was small but detailed mine was medium sized and had a medium level of detail.

Turns out, Kathryn got first because of the size. But hey, that's fine because I had a lot of fun making it!

Riley's Big Day

March 26, 2015

Happy 13th Birthday Riley! She is now officially a teenager. I had to wake up at 5:00 am to go surfing. I was really scared because Uncle Larry wasn't going to surf with us. It was only 14 year old Kathryn, 13 year old Riley and 12 year old me. Kathryn was driving the speed boat out into the Pacific. I told her not to go out that far but she kept going.

Turns out, we had a great time, there was nothing to be scared about. We saw a few dolphins when the sun was rising, I even got to touch one! I was really happy for Riley because she had the guts to kiss the dolphin of the forehead.

At about 9:00, we went back to shore to head over to the Hawaiian Manor. Riley had no clue about what was coming. Uncle Larry rented us a limousine to ride in! It had soft leather seats and a delicious fruit platter! When we reached the manor, we ran inside to the green goodness. I was so happy that Riley was happy! The servants set up the treats we prepared, green macaroons, shamrock shakes, chocolate chip mint ice cream, chocolate mint cookies and lots more. It was time for cake. I am so nervous that she wont like the cake. Turns out, she loved it! I was so relieved.

Soon came bedtime. The bedrooms included California King size beds, chocolate fountains, walk in showers, bathtubs that you could swim in, chandeliers and a desert bar. I was freaking out! Riley, Kathryn and I all slept in our own California King beds in one room. She sheets were made of silk and there were waterbed mattresses. We all wished Riley a happy birthday and went to bed.

 

I am so glad that Riley had a great day!

Lucky Number 13

March 25, 2015

Hooray! Tomorrow is Riley's 13th birthday! I can't believe she is almost 13 old already. I feel like I am the baby of the group because I am still 12. Kathryn will turn 15 in June. To celebrate her birthday, Uncle Larry and Aunt Kristina set up a day to remember. They told Kathryn and I how the day was going to go.

1. Surf

2. Go shopping

3.  Sleep in the Hawaiian Manor

4.  Go out to eat for Riley's favorite meal: Sushi.

5. Have cake and ice cream in the Manor

This seems pretty basic to Riley. To me, I was thrilled at how the day was planned. I have never been to a manor before!
Since I am a certified baker, I helped Aunt Kristina make Riley's cake. Her favorite colors are green, green and more green. Aunt. Kristina and I decided to make a St. Patrick's theme cake. This is because the holiday is in her birth month and that is her favorite holiday.

While the cakes are cooking, Uncle Larry drove Kathryn and I to the manor to set up the decorations. After we were done, the house looked like a leprechaun's hideout. The place was super green. I made some homemade shamrock shakes, mint flavored cupcakes and cookies.

When we got home, I started to frost the cakes. After about 3 hours I was finished! I can't wait to see Riley's reaction tomorrow!

                  (I wanted to pre-slice the cake because I could use the picture for the post!)

Boating Adventure

March 23, 2015

It has been awhile since I have recorded into my online diary of the Hawaiian Life! My aunt, uncle, cousins and I decided to go a couple days without any electronics. You could imagine not having your favorite show on every night.

To celebrate this big accomplishment, my Uncle Larry took my cousins and I for a trip on a yacht that he rented. The boat is like a floating palace! There is a ballroom, private chefs and a spa room. Like any other teenager, I hit the spa right after swimming. After the spa, Riley, Kathryn and I had parmesan enchiladas. We had a little food fight because Riley "accidentally" ate Kathryn's last breadstick. I was covered in parmesan, chicken and sauce. I was a living enchilada!  Instead of showering like normal people would after a food fight, we danced in the ballroom. Uncle Larry opened up the ceiling so we could dance under the stars. It was beautiful!

While we were still covered in sauce, we all headed to the dessert bar to get the real yacht experience! I chose Chef Leone's signature sundae. The glass had 4 scoops of pure vanilla ice cream, 2 scoops of chocolate and 1 scoop of espresso flavor. It was all topped with coconut shavings, chocolate syrup, 15 cherries and 6 inches of whipped cream.

Obviously, I could not even finish 2 scoops! Riley, Kathryn and I shared it. Slowly but surly, we finished Chef Leone's masterpiece. He is a genius! It was about 2 a.m. when we headed back to the beach house. Walking up to the 2nd floor where my bedroom was, wasn't a picnic considering how tired I was. Actually, I had it easier. Riley's room was on the 3rd floor and Kathryn's was on the 4th floor. I would fall asleep! I can't wait for tomorrow's adventure.

Hawaii Blues

March 16, 2015

Today, we are going on a nature trail to see Hawaii's flora and fauna. We were at this gorgeous waterfall. There were so many flowers and beautiful greenery. However, Riley and I got in trouble so we had to go back to the car for the rest of the tour.

We were so upset, so we crept out of the car to go to another nature trail. Riley and I were joking around and running along the soft, mushy ground. We were in the forest for about 15 minutes when we saw a bright green snake. I screamed so loud. The snake kept wriggling and moving as if it was dying. I held a petrified face for seconds until Riley picked the snake up and said March fools! I got so mad I pushed her into the bushes.

Riley screamed so loud, I quickly regretted pushing her. I jumped into the bushes to get Riley but I could not find her. I walked for minutes until I found a jungle oasis. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. There was a small waterfall, birds on the perfect trees and Riley taking her shoes off to go swimming. I was so relived that I saw her. I took of my sandals and plunged into the warm, clear water. After a few minutes, we realized that we have to go back to the car.

We dried off by lying in the sun then we sprinted back to the car in fear that Riley's parents (my aunt and uncle) would find us missing. We hopped back into the car a little damp. Minutes later, Riley's parents returned. They said the nature trail was the worst. Riley and I smiled at each other and we rode home.

Surf Scare

March 13, 2014

It is so beautiful today.  I got to see the sunrise with dolphins jumping out of the water! We are going to start surfing at 8:30 a.m. My uncle and I went out together because Riley and Kathryn are sleeping! We went really far into the ocean, I saw huge fish when we were riding on the speedboat. They had blue and pink scales, they were gorgeous! I surfed the biggest wave I have ever surfed. It seemed like I rode it forever.

We surfed the whole day until my uncle got a call from my aunt that we were having dinner (the phone had a waterproof case of course.) My uncle and I hopped on the boat but it didn't turn on! I started to freak out. On top of all that stress, I saw a gray figure 10 feet away from the boat. I instantly knew that it was a shark. My uncle finally turned the boat on and we sped away. When we got back to the beach house, my surfboard had a huge chunk missing. I am so thankful the shark took my surfboard instead of me!

Island Life

For the next few months, I am visiting my aunt and uncle in Hawaii. They live on a private island.  I have gone here many, many times and I want to tell you all about each day!

March 11, 2015

Today, we are going surfing. It makes me feel so free and relaxed and releases stress. My cousins and my uncle and I went a mile out into the Pacific Ocean to go surf. I though he was crazy! I didn't want to surf anymore going out a mile into the ocean. That was until he brought his speedboat.  When we got out there, I surfed a 10 foot wave and I wiped out!  My cousins Riley and Kathryn wiped out so many times, I thought they almost drowned. It was around 12:00 pm so my uncle decided to head back. We all rode on the boat with our boards trailing behind us.

When we got home, my Aunt Kristina made tuna salad sandwiches. They were the best ever! They were tuna that my Uncle Larry fished. Uncle Larry said, that the tuna that we were now eating was 130 pounds! He said he sold the rest for $17 a pound! He made $2040! Their family kept 10 pounds though.

Since Riley and Kathryn are my age, we slept on the beach in a tent that we made out of palm leaves. We made sure they were clean first! The beach is so cool because the only people on the island are whoever you invite.

Diet Decisions

"That has my name written all over it." Is a common phrase that we all say when we want to snack on a delicious treat. It may look scrumptious on the outside, but the inside says, "660 calories". Do we really want to consume all those calories? Of course not! Although, if you exercise daily, you can sneak a few treats. If you only exercise a few time a week or not at all, you need to seriously watch your calories.

It all starts with decision making. It plays a powerful role in your daily life, not only with your morals, but also your diet. Let's say that your are eyeing a bag of greasy, crispy chips. Is that a smart idea? Of course not! Instead, try some popcorn. Remember to always get the plain kind (it tastes just as good as the buttery, salty kind if you add cheeses of your choice. e.g. Parmesan). Instead of soda choose fruit juice for an even better idea, choose water! 

When shopping, you may come across a snack that says, "low fat" or "healthy".  It may be true, but it is usually not. Read the labels. If it has a lot of fats and sugars, you shouldn't buy it. Use your common sense! 

For most people, when you eat a treat, you are satisfied. However, when you finish it, you ask yourself, "why did I eat that?" The trick of not eating when you are not hungry id looking into the future. Imagine yourself done eating a slice of cake. You would probably regret it. Before you eat the cake you need to let yourself know that it is not worth the calories. 

Dealing With All Sorts of People

There are so many people in this world...some are good and some are bad...some funny and some boring...some happy and some sad. As a human, we should be able to deal with all sorts of people, no matter the personality. It is not easy, it takes lots of practice. Here are some tips and tricks to help deal with people of all kinds.

1. Treat others the way you want to be treated
 Would you want to be bothered, annoyed, or insulted? I don't think so! It is important to be aware of what you are saying at all times. Remember, to always keep your filter on and be sensitive to feelings of others. Let the bad comments out and the good ones flow through.

2. Ignore those who instigate
Sometimes it is tempting to  make a clever comment at someone else's expense when they insult you. Whenever I receive a disparaging comment, I take a deep breath, let the comment roll of my back and walk the other way. Be patient!  It takes practice and power to master this skill.  In the past, when I replied to a rude comment, I would regret what I said. However, by simply ignoring the person, you avoid a confrontation. In addition, the person will become frustrated because they were unable to irritate you.

3. Kill with kindness
Have you ever greeted someone with kind works only to receive no reply in return?  Have you ever smiled at someone only to obtain a frown in return? Have you been ignored for no reason? Well, it is time to kill with kindness. It may seem tempting to grab a hammer and bash these people over their noggin to knock some sense into them.  This method, however, is not only impractical, but illegal! All you really need to do is say kind words such as, "What beautiful weather", with a big, sincere smile. Follow this up with the expressions "It is such a fine day" and "How are you Sir/Madam?" They will have no choice but to respond in a friendly manner. They may be annoyed at first, but in the end, you have made their day!

Fit Challange

Maintain a healthy lifestyle can be a major challenge. You just have to keep pushing yourself to be the healthiest that you can be. Here are some easy tips to help you shave off at least a pound in 1 week:

1. Set a goal for yourself
Setting a goal is a great way to help you succeed. Ask yourself how many pounds you want to shave off or how much you want to exercise each day.

2. Eat in Moderation
Believe it or not, there is no such thing as bad food. It all depends on moderation. Sure, chips and cupcakes and cookies are not rich in nutritional value, however, if you eat a banana or an apple with that snack and exercise, you will be alright. Personally, I still like to go by the food pyramid. Therefore,  I believe in eating a little bit of fats,  fruits vegetable and grains and poultry each day in moderation. I am not saying you can eat all the desert you want,  I am saying to balance out your intake of calories.

3. Exercise at least 30 mins each day
It is hard to get to achieve that goal. Instead of sitting on the couch watching TV, get up and start running outside. Physical activity is very important to maintain a healthy body.

4. Get enough sleep
Sleep is where your body replenishes itself. You lose weight when you sleep. Therefore, go to bed early and sleep in to get a good, quality sleep.

Hope you enjoy! Please email me your results after 1 week!

Spring Shades

A new season, a new beginning, I always say. I believe that colors play a big role in an outfit. When I think of spring, I see rose pink, sea foam green, baby blue, lavender, and a creamy yellow. It is our job to embrace those shades! Many people say that some colors clash. I think different. If you play the colors right, you will score! 

At first sight, you see purple and red. Ugh, right? Well, a deep purple dress with a bright red blouse, red pumps or flats and a red handbag just pop!  These are fall shades, I am getting ahead of myself!

Pastel pink and lavender. A major fashion don't. However, if you wear a light pink dress, a jean jacket, lavender jewelry, and some light pink peep toe heels, you will be set! 

The key is to mix light and dark shades. A white, beige and cream colored outfit is not very flattering as well as a black, maroon and brown outfit. 

During the spring, jean and floral print pants are very popular. On top of jean could be a buttery yellow blouse with baby blue accessories. On pink and beige floral pants, you could wear a see through beige blouse with a pink cami underneath. Gold, pearl, diamond or silver accessories will do great with this combination! 

Which Shoe?

All women have asked themselves this question, "What shoe do I wear?" The answer is, it all depends on what you are wearing.

TIGHT TROUSERS 

For skinny pants, almost any shoe looks good. From flip flops, to flats, to pumps, to peep-toe  and to boots. However, try to avoid tennis shoes, also, wear your boots over the pants. 

SHORTY SKIRTS

When wearing a short skirt or knee length, I always go with peep-toe, heels, flip flops or flats. Boots are too high, tennis shoes are sporty and look weird with a skirt.

MAXI SKIRT MILLION

Maxi skirts are elegents and stylish. The shoes I wear are simple flats to balance out the outfit. Maxi skirts are pretty loud so try some flats that even out the look.

SHORTS SECTION

From knee length, to capris to short shorts, they put almost any outfit together. I think heels look chic, flats look adorable and flip flops make it pop! Tennis shoes work as well. Don't ever wear boots, they will bring your fashion grade from an A+ to a D-!