a Hawaii Mommy blog

Almost to the 10% mark...

2011-05-31T01:31:00.000-07:00

So i skipped a meeting this week.. but I still weighed in and I'm almost there. I'm almost to my 10% goal. I can't believe at the beginning of this journey, I was debating whether it really works or not, but it does. WW has changed my outlook on food and life in general. My clothes are literally getting bigger and my body shrinking. I'm loving the way I look now, and will never go back. Yes, I've had a few set backs, but after changing or tweaking the foods I eat, I'm back on track and almost @ my 10% goal. How great is that?

Life is definitely getting more interesting... with each pound lost, my self-esteem is growing, and I feel healthier and not as depressed as I once was.. when I used food to make me feel better.

I also drank this past weekend, and I had fun and I had points leftover to enjoy myself. Wouldn't say the same thing about the hangover I received the following day, but it's all good and I'm ready to start my week!!

2011-05-15T02:10:00.001-07:00

This week, I weighed in, and although i only lost a few ounces. I lost something and that's better than gaining. But it's a new week and I promise to continue to keep on going at it. I'm a long way from my goal weight, but I'm slowly getting there. And that's all the mana`o I have to share right now.

The Good Things in My Life

2011-05-15T02:08:00.000-07:00

So I've decided to start listing the good things going on around me... my goal is to write or list 1,000. So here is # 1 - 10.

1) Waking up to a happy toddler
2) Poop in the toilet (potty training my toddler)
3) a great Job with weekends off
4) living in paradise, sometimes I take that for granted
5) swimming in the ocean for free
6) reliable transportation, my baby's almost paid off
7) studying for the LSW, cracking the whip
8) making my own ringtones in Garageband
9) spending time with my `Ohana
10) praying to God each day

Weight Watchers.

2011-05-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

8 weeks ago... I subtly walked into Weight Watchers and signed up. Since then I have lost 12 pounds. I weigh in on Saturdays and I like to think of attending my meetings as "me" time. I will not lie and say that it's been an easy 8 weeks, but for the most part, the plan works and I've lost weight. I'm not at my lifetime goal weight, but I'm inching my way there. I've learned that you sometimes need to change up your routines and try something new to kick start the weight loss again. I've learned that my pants no longer fit, and I need to wear a belt now. Pretty soon, my belt will be too big and I will need to buy new clothes and even a new belt. I've learned that it feels nice to get compliments like "wow, you look so skinny now" or "You are getting skinnier" or even "wow! You look like you've lost weight!" It's great. I'm still a little shy about sharing my weight or showing my pictures, but one day I will get there and I will show the world how much WW has helped me make better food choices!!

My Kitchen Gadget Wishlist

2010-02-08T00:08:00.000-08:00

gI know we all have them!! This is my wishlist of items that I hope to someday acquire, some maybe useful, others might not, but one can never tell what wishful thinking can turn into...

a KitchenAid mixer would definitely make life easier for me, and no it would never replace my breadmachine... and if it was PINK, I would totally be in bliss. KitchenAid KSM150PSPK Komen Foundation Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Pink

a hand blender/immsersion blender.. whatever you want to call it would also come in quite handy for the rare occasion when I decide to make soup.. but it would also be handy in making homemade refried beans, or even a smoothie.. the possibilities are endless, but in actuality I would probably use this maybe once or twice a year. You could probably find a cheap-O one @ Walmart or Longs.

new cookware... would be A-W-E-S-O-M-E because the Wolfgang Puck ones I got from Sam's club have not held up to their name IMO... ok so the other half literally killed a few pots by burning them, still, I love Rachel & I know I would love her cookware too.. Rachael Ray 10-Piece Hard-Anodized Cookware Set, Orange

Spoonula's would most def come in handy in my kitchen especially the ones with the stuff on the end for me to hang the spoon on the side of the pot like she does on her show (She as in Rachael Ray)... although, I would never give up my wooden spoons for the world.. but these would come in pretty darn handy!

I totally need a set of these. My oven mitts are looking pretty grody IMO & I think this saves me a step of having to look for a towel or vice versa having to look for the oven mitts. & these are just way too cute!! Ofcourse, I would only buy the green ones if I had a choice. Rachael Ray Blue Moppine Oven Mitts Set of 3

I so want one of these. My mom has one & I remember using it when I lived with her still... Now I want one. I have some other brand silicone mat that I don't even use because I really would rather have a silpat instead... Silpat 11-5/8-by-16-1/2-Inch Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat

I'm a cinnamon roll-a-holic. I love them. I love rolling them & cutting them & baking them & ofcourse eating them. This would definitely be used a LOT in my kitchen. You could even use it for pizza dough, rolling out cookies, shaping dinner rolls.. sheesh this list could go on & on & on... Roul'Pat Pastry Mat

a Griddler, a Grill, a Panini maker... this would definitely get more use than the George Foreman taking up space in my cupboard. Oh, the sandwiches I'd be making.. or the steak I'd be grilling on this baby!! FYI I live in an apartment building with no balcony, therefore outdoor grilling is nearly impossible because I REFUSE to use the BBQ area outside my building in the park that's part of our complex... NO THANKU... but this oh, this would definitely make my heart flutter!!

i totally need one of these because a) i bought a cheapo pizza stone from Walmart and b) I haven't used it because I don't have one of these to get my pizza onto it. This would definitely make Pizza Night a whole lot easier, well for me.

I need a good set of knives.. I'm not saying these are the best out there, but I totally need a decent set that will help me to make chopping & slicing easier.

Oh, and one of these to store my NEW knives on since I live in an apartment and there is a LACK of space literally where I live.

I see these on all the foodnetwork show sets that I watch.. they make me feel like I absolutely need one of these... handy, who knows, but it would make me feel even more like a real cook if I had one of these!!

I need more of these. I tend to use my one & only 9x13 dish I bought from Savers over the Tools of the Trade pans I got from Macy's when I cook. Which reminds me that I should donate the pans I don't use since all they are doing is taking up more space in my oh-so-small kitchen.

Kamehameha Schools Haole Brownies

2009-07-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Luckily for me, a good friend of mine works at one of the cafeteria's on the Kapalama Campus of Kamehameha Schools, so last year when I was hapai (pregnant) and having cravings for Haole Brownies from there, she hooked her girlie up!! Thank goodness I don't have those mean cravings anymore and if I need a Haole Brownie fix, I can make them myself!! For the complete recipe you can get it here. I halved the recipe to make one pan, and decided to be adventurous and sprinkle about a 1/2 cup of butterscotch chips on half of my brownies.. they came out OH SO 'ONO!!

Today, I will save the tutorial and just share the recipe that I halved. So here's to my cravings for Haole Brownies...

Haole Brownies

1 ¼ c. brown sugar
1 c. granulated sugar

¼ tsp. salt

1 ¼ sticks of butter or margarine

½ level tbl. baking powder (double acting)

2 c. all purpose flour

3 large eggs

¾ c. diced walnuts (optional)

Cream together brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, butter (or margarine) and baking powder

Add and mix all-purpose flour until incorporated. Add and mix eggs until creamy. Add diced walnuts (optional).

Mix on low with paddle for 30 seconds if using Kitchen Aid mixer. If not available, then mix with wooden spoon to incorporate, but if mixing by hand, add eggs before the flour. (A hand held mixer may not be powerful enough for this heavy batter, but try if you like). DO NOT OVERBEAT.

Scrape down the sides of bowl and then mix on medium speed for 2 minutes or by spoon for 5 minutes.

Grease one 9x13 pan and preheat oven to 375-400 degrees. (Note: If pan sizes are different, pour batter to a maximum ¾ of an inch deep.)

Divide mix evenly into pans and place on bottom rack and bake. Brownies will rise gradually for about 25 minutes and then flatten.

Wait for 3 minutes after they have flattened completely, then remove from oven and place on rack to cool.

When warm to the touch, cut to desired size.

Recipe adapted from Kamehameha Schools Website

Now doesn't that look yummy!!