So I've started running/jogging for an hour every other day.
Hon has joined me too.

We got matching shoes from Sports Authority the other day. They are GREAT!!!! Lots of cushion.

Hon got it in black.

I found these Sports Authority coupons online today. Wish I had it when I bought these shoes! Oh well.

Where to buy: Safeway

Texture is like dry but moist chicken. They did a good job getting it as close to chicken as possible.

Taste is like soy with chicken stock or something.

I ate it with dijon mustard. Delicious!

Totally gonna get this one again.

http://www.lightlife.com/product_detail.jsp?p=smarttenderssavory

i went on a sunset cruise yesterday and puked 2 times. I dont remember the last time I ever felt that sick. I still feel gross today!
http://www.sailmakani.com/ht/index.html

At least I wasn't the only one who puked. This other guy puked once.

The crew was so professional... They were nice and didnt make me feel bad for puking so much.

Purchased at: Safeway (chips aisle)

Rating:
BBQ Flavor: 4 stars (only because BBQ is not my favorite flavor. Otherwise, 5 stars)
Sour Cream & Onion Flavor: 4 stars (could use a little more flavor)
Ranch: 2 stars (pretty much bland. It was the first flavor I tried though. Even though it was bland, it still made me wanna try the other flavors)


Flavor:
BBQ has the strongest flavor. Sour Cream & Onion is pretty good. You can taste the soy flavor too.

Texture:
Puffy/Crispy

Discounts:
While searching for an image for these crisps, I came across this $1 off coupon. It's good until the end of the month.
http://eatingright.safeway.com/coupon.pdf

Whoever that coded this eating right page did an absolutely LAZY job.
Whole layout is just one big image!

Pete's Tofu2Go Peach Mango Dessert


Purchased at: Safeway (tofu aisle)

Rating: 3 stars alone, 5 stars when paired with fruits and jello

Flavor:
You can definitely still taste the tofu flavor. The tofu taste is mild though. Imagine Mixing peach jello with tofu. That's what it tastes like.

Texture:
Like flan.

Serving Suggestions:
When eaten alone, it's really so-so. You won't be craving for seconds.
However, when you eat it with jello (I had lemon jello w/ mandarin oranges) & fruit (I had sliced strawberries) It's absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just got tickets to Cirque Dreams!
If you live in Oahu, they'll be in town May 6 - 11 at the Blaisedell!


Today I had to endure some SEVERE excruciating physical pain (dont want to get into details), but I feel a lot better now. The nurse was so nice she gave me a can of apple juice after seeing the tears rolling down my eyes (it hurt THAT much!!!!).

Hon drove me to Hank's Haute Dogs to pick up lunch after. Delicious. You should try if you're in Honolulu.
We ate it at home. It was yummy. I love the No Dog.

Then I was bad and ate chocolate covered macadamia nuts. I said screw it because I endured all that pain - I can eat some if I want! Bad mentality.

I wish hon would quit buying those things. He brought it back from his trip to Arizona. I guess it was a left over box. He took a bunch over to give to friends. He did me a favor and finished the box off tonight. Good. No more for me!

Hon made soy/turkey chilli (happy compromise because i wanted soy, and he wanted some kind of meat) for dinner tonight. it was good. gosh i seem to always think, talk, and write about food.

Great LOST episode tonight. Can't wait for next week.

I leave for the Bay area & Vegas (company trip!!!!) next week. It'll be my first time in Vegas. I checked the temperature and it looks like it's hot during the day and freezing at night. Not sure what kinds of clothes to pack?!?!??

Today I made this for dinner.  I know my last entry talked about becoming vegan, but I decided to be a sometimes vegetarian. Like, try to avoid meat most of the time, but when it comes to yummy japanese food, it's ok to make an exception ;P

Onion Crusted Saba & Japanese Kabocha w/ Niku Miso.
The Fish looks deep fried, but it's not.
It's pan fried with just a bit of oil. It's crusted using potato starch & this delicious onion mixture.

What you see pictured are leftovers - Hon's lunch tomorrow.



Here's the recipe (from my sis in law):

Delicious Onion "Crusted" Saba (slight teri flavor)

Ingredients:

• 1 Saba
• 1 finger of ginger (grated)
• Salt, Pepper to taste
• Potato Starch (Katakuriko)
• 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
• Green Onions for garnish
  

        [Sauce] :

• 1/2 Onion (grated)
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 3 tbsp Mirin
• 1 tbsp white or rice vinegar
  

Directions:

1. Cut each half of Saba into thirds
2. Rub in grated ginger, salt and pepper into Saba. Set aside. 
3. Mix all ingredients of Sauce. Set aside.
4. Rub Potato Starch all over each piece of Saba. Don't put too much, but be generous, since the starch is what's going to retain all the flavor of the sauce.
5. Heat sesame oil in a large pan.  Place Saba face down and pan fry. Cook the other side too. When both sides are a bit brown, pour the entire sauce mixture into the pan. 
6. Flip over the saba once in a while. Keep cooking in pan until most of the liquid has been evaporated. 
7. Garnish with some green onions & serve!
   

Japanese Steamed Kabocha with Niku Miso

Ingredients for Kabocha:

• 1/2 Japanese Kabocha Pumpkin
• 1 cup Dashi (make with 1 cup water & 2 tsp hondashi fish stock)
• 3 - 4 tbsp mirin
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions for Kabocha:

1. Cut Kabocha into bite sized pieces with skin intact.
2. Place kabocha into a pot and boil in Dashi. (it will look like there isn't enough dashi but don't worry)
3. After the dashi boils, pour the mirin evenly over the Kabocha. Cover the pot but leave some space for the steam to come out.
4. Let the kabocha boil for around 5 min.
   
5. Then open the pot again and this time put in the soysauce and salt.
   
6. Continue to boil until the Kabocha is soft (fork should easily stick through)

Ingredients for Niku Miso

• 200 grams of ground Pork ( I just eyed it - i used around 3/4 of a decent sized pack of ground pork)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped
• 1 finger of ginger, chopped
  

        [Flavoring] :

• 3 tbsp of miso (red) - the recipe actually calls for 1 & 1/2 tbsp of white and red miso each, but it's fine with just red.
• 3 tbsp sake (for cooking)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 cup water
  

Directions of Niku Miso:

1. In a pan, cook onions, garlic, ginger. When the onions look done, add the pork.
2. When the pork is done cooking, drain the fat. 
3. Add the contents under [Flavoring] into the pan. 
4. When all the water evaporates, the niku miso is done!
   

Note: niku miso should taste a bit on the salty side. It should have a miso/soy sauce flavor. If it tastes too bland, add more miso & soy sauce.


Finally:
Serve Kabocha with Nikumiso. Garnish with green onions.




--------------------------------------

Today I got to spend 1/2 my workday with Hon, and the other half with my brother. Great Day.
Hon read while I worked, then we went to eat at Tenkaippin in Kapahulu for lunch.
Then at around 1 or 2, Scott came by and we went to a cafe and worked from there.

After work, hon and I cooked dinner together. Then we rode our bikes around the Ala Wai.
Bumped into 3 of his friends. They were all running/exercising.

I think I want to start running outside too. treadmill sometimes gets boring, and I hate it when I'm stuck next to smelly guys. I remember one time I was on the eliptical, and was next to this guy. Seriously bothered me because he kept farting like crazy. Wasn't one of those so so bad smelling benign farts either.  they were the super rancid kinds, like omg do you not eat any vegetables or something? smelling.

anyways, no need to elabroate on that. yeah. I asked hon if he'd run with me and he didnt seem to enthusiastic. It's ok. I'll drag him out one of these evenings. Just like I dragged him out tonight :D

I have been contemplating, and semi practicing the vegan lifestyle.
I finally read that book, Skinny Bitch. It really promotes the vegan lifestyle. I've never been attached to meat, so it's not a problem for me to give it up. However, one thing I can't really let go of right now is cheese.
I absolutely love cheese. any type of cheese.
But I had no problem switching to soy from milk.
I've yet to try soy cheese. Doesn't sound very appetizing to be honest.

Even ice cream, I eat the toffuti cuties. They are so delicious.
I think I need to quit buying them now.

I don't think I can go completely vegan though. I mean the base flavor of japanese food is pretty much katsuo, and that's fish.
Even like ramen and stuff, the broth is made of our friendly animal friends. So broths will be the exception.

My hon, who loves meat is not too happy about it. I dont understand because I rarely cooked beef at home anyways. All the dishes have primarily been vegetable based. Lots of Japanese food.

I did buy him a huge piece of steak as a welcome home dinner (he's been away) though.
But he's been passed out since 3 pm. So I guess i'll cook it tomorrow.

Anyways, I think I will become a "flexible" vegetarian/vegan.
If the majority of the people I'm with, want to go eat meat or something, I'll just go and eat it.
It's not gonna kill me.
I dont want to be one of those people who make everyone else match their dietary wants (not needs).
Yeah so depending on the social situation, I'll be flexible.


So I'm going to ramble because I'm kinda bored.





I just finished reading this book, "Moloka'i" by Alan Brennert.
I cried and cried towards the end of the story. It was so beautifully written.
I finished the book 2 days ago, but I'm still thinking about it.
It's a based-on-true-events fictional story about a Native Hawaiian girl who gets shipped away from her family to a Leprocy Settlement  in Kalaupapa, Moloka'i.

My friend Lisa read the book too. She said she cried as well. We're planning on visiting Kalaupapa National Historic Park the next time she's in hawaii for a visit. We were supposed to go this month, but she couldn't make it over here.


---

Last night I was drinking a soy steamer whilst browsing the aisles of Borders in pursuit of finding my next literary indulgence. I was with my friend Kristy, whom I've known for roughly 8 years (from when I first moved to Hawaii). I accidentally dropped my steamer on the carpet in the literary fiction section. Woops. I did inform the staff though. So I felt less bad.  I ended up picking up this International bestseller called "The Bookseller of Kabul"

It's pretty good so far. Although, I only finished reading moloka'i 2 days ago... so it's kind of hard to get into something new this quick.
--

I really love my life. I'm really happy. I love my job, I love my friends, I love my family and I love my awesome boyfriend. I love my boyfriend's neice. She's so adorable. I love how she repeatedly asks me what i'm doing, and how she rests her head on my shoulder.

I'm actually physically the healthiest I've ever been right now. I've quit smoking. I dont drink. I eat healthy. I rarely even drink coffee now, and I workout.  Couple friends have told me that my skin is "glowing" now. I guess all that smoking really dulled my skin before. Now it can breathe!
I  just feel absolutely fabulous!

I love riding my bike around town, and I love watching my TV shows on my ipod while on the eliptical. I love my weekly dinners with my girls, and I love eating lunch with my brother during the week.

I love that my job takes me to the bay area frequently so I get to see my mama and catch up with my friends there.

I love baking my now semi famous guava cream cheese cupcakes for Hon's fundraisers. I love making "too much" food so I can drive some over to my brother's to share. I love getting gifts for people I love. I love spending the time to think about what would make them happy.

Without sounding overly cocky, I love the way my life has shaped me into who I am. I've had my share of low points as everyone else has. I'm glad I experienced loss, and... not to put it so lightly, but pretty much the demolition of my soul. I'm glad because all that down time gave me the opportunity to really reflect upon and improve myself. I'm no where near perfect, but I do love the person I am now. And because I love myself, I am able to let myself love the life I am living.

and i am truly rambling. I had to ramble somewhere. Hon's ears are shut as are his eyes. no one else to listen to me right now!

wow. i'm glad i sat in front of the computer, staring at ticketmaster.com, counting down minutes 'til 9 am this morning.
I was able to buy tickets to the now sold out kokua festival! YAYAYAYAY

Can't believe the outrageous prices on ebay.

Made these for hon's fundraiser tomorrow.

Cupcake:
- yellow food cake mix (saves time)
- replace the water with guava juice concentrate and water (50-50 ratio)

Cream cheese filling: (makes a bit more than you need)
- 1 package cream cheese
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1egg

Cream cheese frosting: (makes a bit more than you need)
- 1 package cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- if you want, add a couple table spoons of heavy cream to thin the frosting out.
otherwise this frosting comes out thick.

Prep:
1) preheat oven 350.
2) make the cupcake batter and the cream cheese filling

Fill Cupcakes:
3) fill each cupcake container 2/3 full with batter
4) Add a spoon full of cream cheese filling mixture into each cupcake. It's ok if it doesn't sink to the bottom of the batter. it will once you bake it. you can add as much cream cheese as you want, but be careful, if you put too much your cupcake may end up "unstable" -it'd taste more like cheese cake though.

Bake & Multitask:
5) Bake for 20-23 min.
6) make the cream cheese frosting while you're waiting.
7) take the cupcakes out of the oven. put it in the fridge to cool
8) wash dishes while it's cooling - extra points if you finished dishes before the cupcakes came out of the oven - you're a real pro.

Finishing Touches:
9) frost and refrigerate. I find using one of those cake decorator pastry bags help make the cupcake look prettier. I always end up tearing the cupcake apart when I try to smear it on with a knife.

Variations:
You can substitute guava juice with whatever else. Next time I'm gonna try it with Lilikoi juice concentrate.
You can also add chocolate chips to the cream cheese mixture.
You can also add some melted chocolate to the cream cheese frosting.
Or.. substitute vanilla for some other flavoring!
Get creative.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anyways,
Sorry for my lack of updates and unresponsiveness!
My life has been very peaceful, but also very busy. I'm very happy.

The other day I made green tea cookies using real green tea leaves. came out nasty!! talk about caffiene overload.. i think i gotta use artificial green tea flavoring instead or something.

Last night I had dim sum with Claire. and tonight I had sundobu with thi. tomorrow is dinner with Kristy. this week has been girlfriend dinner week.

can't wait for thursday.. LOST begins. Im kinda pissed at the "show" though.. for cancelling the Sunset on the Beach premiere. I was looking forward to it all friggin year. bastards.

The eco bags they sell here are cute too. i bought a whole bunch.

I just took the myers brigg's personality profile test.
My boss, and others at work were talking about it, so I wanted to know what I was too.

I am INFJ, Confidant, Visionary
http://hapaloha.mypersonality.info/

What's your type?

Also took the multiple intelligence test.




So I've been in the Bay Area since thanksgiving, and it's been a great trip.
Yesterday was a pretty awesome day. My work team and I went flying!

We went here: http://www.iflysfbay.com


Yup. we really flew. It's really hard to explain what it feels like to float up in the air. I def recommend it.

Last night was also Lisa's birthday. We went to Pizza Orgasmica and celebrated.

------------
I'm really looking forward to Cindy visiting. I'm gonna take her to Hilo to check out the volcanoes, and also got tickets to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It's her first time in Hawaii so I want to make sure she has a great time! Lisa and Brian are also flying in next week. So I get to see them again too.

Going to Japan with my mom soon too. Looking forward to that too. I have a busy month ahead of me!

Geesh been so long since i posted that i actually forgot my password and had to reset it!
Actually having kind of a bad day so I felt like relieving some of that by posting.
But, I have to go now. So I will (or may) post later.

Watching this made my day seem a bit less bad:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7195110930084047467

How much does that SUCK?

It's been a while since I posted! I'm quite bored right now actually, so I figured this is a good way to keep myself busy for a little while.

So, today I went to Manuheali'i with Hon today. We were looking for some Hawaiian attire to wear to my friends' wedding on Saturday. I found one I really liked actually, but they didn't have any matching men's wear for it (only a long sleeved shirt and Hon didn't want to wear that). It's this one: http://manuhealii-store.stores.yahoo.net/cokafl.html I'm thinking of going back to get it if I'm still thinking about it tomorrow!

I did, however, end up getting this one in a different tube-top/shorter cut: http://manuhealii-store.stores.yahoo.net/nablkafl.html just for everyday wear.


Anyways. So I went to Foodland today, and as I got back into my car and locked the door, this man wearing an orange shirt walked towards me. We made eye contact while I was sitting in my car, so I thought it would be rude to ignore him.. and I'm paranoid so for some reason I thought he was going to tell me my car door banged the car next to me when I opened it - even though it didn't. I rolled down my window. He approached my window and said,

"My car broke down, and I need to get gas. I have to go to the gas station to get a and I need $13.99 for it. I need your help. Can you help me? I get paid on Friday and I can give you my number and name and I'll pay you back"

"hmm.. his story sounds like bull crap... can't you call a friend or something?" is what I was thinking. oh, and his teeth had lots of plaque.

"I would ask my family and friends but they are working and I can't get in touch with them. I live in Kalihi and I just need enough gas to get back home. I promise to pay you back on Friday."

Man, why did i roll down this window?! If I say no, maybe he will hurt me! is part of what I thought. the other part thought, Ehh... what the hell.. I felt generous so i pulled out the first bill I found from my wallet.. which happened to be a $10 (glad it wasn't a $20).

I kept thinking, what if he isn't lying and what if he really is in trouble? I'd want money for gas! but then again, it's like don't you have a credit card? and why do you need exactly $13.99 for gas.. just put in like 5 bucks or something.

maybe he really needs to get his kid a birthday present or something.. and the toy costs $13.99. Maybe he has a gambling/drinking problem and ended up spending all his money on his vices. I mean, poor kid!!

whatever. I gave just it to him and he looked happy. I told him nevermind paying me back.

I willingly got conned into giving him 10 bucks.

Other than that.. today was a good design day. I produced some good layouts pretty quickly. my coworkers seemed happy. Somedays are good creatively, others days take longer.

All depends on how the creative juices are flowing i tell you.

I can't wait to see this film. I can't stand the US healthcare system.
I've been out of health care for 7 months now. And it's not like I haven't been applying.
EVERYONE should have access to health care for LIFE.

A collection of images and video footage of Hawai'i with the song Hawai'i 78 performed by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Kamehameha, Queen Emma, Victoria Kamamalu, Lunalilo, Kalakaua, Lili'uokalani, heiau,protests, ku'e

1. Where were you on July 4th 2006?
i think i was by the bay bridge downtown with edmund and his friends?

2. How did you get the idea for your MySpace name?
i dont remember

3. What song are you listening to right now?
the fan blowing

4. What color is your cellphone?
black

5. Who was the last person you messaged on myspace?
dont remember

6. Do you own an iPod?
yeah but it broke. i won it off of freeipods.com.
i bought myself and 3 others the shuffle for xmas but i haven't really used it

7. What was the first thing you thought this morning?
it's early..

8. What does your dad do for a living?
runs his own biz

9. What will you do tonight?
sleep

10. Whats your favorite memory from last weekend?
chilling on the beach reading gossip magazines

11. What are the last two digits of your cellphone number?
95

12. What was the last thing that you had to drink?
oj

14. What was the last movie you watched?
Freedom Writers

15. What do you dislike at the moment?
that i'm sleepy.

16. What food do you crave right now?
nothing

17. What did you dream last night?
secret

18. What was the last TV show you watched?
Heroes!!

19. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
koa necklace i never take off

20. Name 3 people on your Top Friends who are just like you.
no one is like me

21. Do you always lock your bedroom door?
no

22. Are you on any medication?
no

23. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
right

24. What color shirt are you wearing?
purple

25. What is your favorite frozen treat?
IF frozen yogurt!!

26. How many piercings do you have?
2

27. What's your favorite store?
produce: safeway
meats/seafood: safeway/costco
japanese food: don quijote (backup is marukai)

I wonder when Whole Foods is opening up.. i love their meat section too

28. Are you thirsty right now?
no. i have OJ!

29. Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss?
papa. but he's coming soon! mama too and she's coming soon too!

30. What did you do last night?
hung out

31. Do you care what people think about you?
depends on who

32. Have you ever done something to make trouble?
who hasn't?

33. Are you mad at anyone at the moment?
no

34. What are your font colors on AIM?
Black

35. Where do you live?
honolulu!

36. Are you aggressive?
not at all
quite the opposite

37. Cell phone company?
Tmobile. i want to switch to cingular

38. What was the last thing you ate?
babaroa

39. When is your birthday?
feb

40. What is the thing that you would like to change about you?
motivation to work out. and i can get impatient sometimes


41. What word do you say a lot?
hehehehehehe

42. What do you smell like right now?
nothing

43. What are your favorite colors?
anything vibrant and energetic

44. Do you like mustard?
only the dijon kind with the seeds in it

45. What do you tell yourself when times get hard?
assess the situation. determine if it's something that will get better with time, or only with change. then either sit tight, or do something about it.

46. Would you ever sky-dive?
i'd like to

47. Do you enjoy giving hugs?
yeah

48. Do you own a digital camera?
yeah. haven't used it in a while though. i should

49. Whats your favorite tv show?
heroes, lost

50. Who is your favorite Star Wars character?
yoda? because he's ugly-cute

51. Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call and dont?
no. i dont really like talking on the phone and sometimes i'm bad about calling back too ;p

52. Are you a jealous person?
not really.

53. Do you ever feel guilty after eating meat?
no

54. If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name be?
sean. according to my dad


cool survey is finally over. i can sleep now.

Lists

~10 states you've been to: (If you can, name ten! If not, just list what you can...)

1. Hawaii
2. California
3. Philadelphia
4. New York
5. Virginia
6. Maryland
7. New Mexico
8. Florida
9. Maryland
10. Nevada

the following are not states but I thought I'd mention them:
Washington DC
Saipan Tinian & Guam


~9 lasts:

1. Last dollar spent: Coffee
2. Last beverage: OJ
3. Last phone call: KThi
5. Last time you cried: the other night, while watching "Freedom Writers"
6. Last text msg received: too lazy to get the phone
7. Last text msg sent: too lazy to get the phone
8. Last birthday Party: Cinday's!
9. Last relationship: i'm in it!

~8 "Have-you-ever's?":

1. Have you ever dated a best friend? no
2. Have you ever stayed up and partied 'til the sun rose? when i was like 24
3. Have you ever lost someone you loved? yes
5. Have you ever been dumped? yes
6. Have you ever been so drunk that you threw up? yes
7. Have you ever ran away? no
8. Have you ever missed an ex? until the grieving process ends


~7 favorite restaurants in no order:

1. Irifune! (HI)
2. Shokudo! (HI)
3. King of Thai! (SF)
4. Olive Tree Cafe! (HI)
5. Teddy's! (HI)
6. Udon shop by my old house! (Tokyo)
7. Erawan! (Tokyo)


~6 things you've done today:

1. worked from home
2. worked from the cafe
3. researched all in one printers to buy later
4. showered
5. watched the Heroes Season Finale!
6. cooked and ate curry

~5 favorite things in no order:

1. hanging with my hon
2. one on one girl time
3. floating in the ocean
4. hanging with my bro
5. thinking about summer vacation plans!

~4 people you can tell [almost] anything to in no order:

1. mama
2. papa
3. hon
4. scott


~2 Things you want to do before you die:

1. See my great grand children!
2. see more of the world


~1 thing that you cannot live without:
loved ones

Does anyone know where I can subscribe to this magazine: http://book.mycom.co.jp/wd/en/

I tried buying it on amazon.co.jp, but they charge 3000 yen for shipping!! the book is like half that price!!

Man, this Web Designing magazine is like the BEST magazine on web design/development I've seen!! I want to subscribe!! Why do most Japanese websites only want domestic customers?!?!??