[Eat] Pick-Me-Up Protein Shake

On hot, hot days like today I usually feel sluggish and don't feel like eating.  And yet I'm hungry and need energy... Protein shake to the rescue!  Frothy, creamy and fruity, it's the perfect hot day pick-me-up.

My "secret" ingredient for a creamy protein shake without using cow's milk?

[Travel] Kauai, Part II

Another post about Kauai...  But this time I thought I'd share some of our personal photos.  I have family there and have visited over 40 times, but Kauai is a place that I never tire of.  The mix of gorgeous scenery, balmy weather, pristine natural resources and the Hawaiian lifestyle makes it a real-life utopia.

I'm so happy that my kids can experience some of the same "magic" that I enjoyed when I spent my childhood summer vacations there-- fishing; crabbing; playing with cousins; eating yummy food; being spoiled by aunties; going on excursions to pick lilikoi, mountain apple, guava and other exotic fruits; swimming in unpolluted waters; going on adventures to find a secret waterhole, or catch mountain shrimp, or find some exotic mushroom; spending time in a large extended family... basically having a free, unrestricted and unscheduled summer!

However, I'm also a little sad that some of our family traditions are disappearing as the older generation passes on.  I guess that is just the way life goes, but I hope that by bringing them "home" they will make impressionable memories, find a connection to their heritage and carry that on into their own lives.

[Travel] Kauai

We did a little traveling and are back!  I wish I could say that I'm refreshed and ready for Fall, but I'm actually feeling under-the-weather and achy.  Boo!  So while I take a little vacation from our vacation, here are a few scenic photos of our visit to Kauai--

[Wordless Wednesday] Venice, Italy

venice, italy circa october 2004

pssst... wish i could be there now. have a nice day!

[Weekly Inspiration] 8.18.2012

this diy shrink film geometric pendant via ambrosia girl

this water bottle poinsettia garland (never too early for the holidays, right??) via fancy house road

these simple lemon parsley noodles via the pioneer woman

this ticket memory jar via she's crafty

this painted pillow via matsutake

this sticky toffee pudding recipe.  mmmm. be still my... thighs ;)  via la fuji mama

Have an awesome weekend!

[Wordless Wednesday] Hanalei Bay, Kauai

hanalei bay, kauai, hawaii

pssst... have a peaceful day!

[Read This / Drink That] Born to Run & Chia Seed Cranberry Spritzer

chi-chi-chi-chia!

If you know that little diddy, then HIGH FIVE!

If you don't...you missed out. And dang you're young! :)  See here on YouTube

As a kid, I remember wanting a Chia Pet.  I mean, how cool are those little clay figures with fast-growing plant hair?  Actually I think it was the catchy jingle that got me.  Ah, the 70's...  ;)

Back then, I had no idea that I would one day be ingesting the little seeds that put the chia in Chia Pet.  Apparently those little seeds with their magical growing powers are also good for you!  Each little chia seed is packed with protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, calcium and more.

And the benefits?  For me it jump-started my metabolism and, without really trying, I lost a few pounds. After 9 years of marriage and 2 kids, I thought those little buggers were here to stay. And I lost the weight without altering my diet and exercise pattern too much.

[Wordless Wednesday] Butchart Gardens, Victoria B.C.

butchart gardens, victoria b.c. ~ circa spring 2005

pssst... have a lovely day!

[Make] Folding Water Color Birthday Card Banner

This weekend we celebrated my Sister-in-Law's birthday. She adores the boys, lavishes them with a lot of attention, and is basically their #1 fan.  :)  And since they are always eager to make something for her, I knew that they would have a hand in her present. 

Since water colors always turn out nice and I have a lot of scrap paper in my stash, we decided to make this really happy and colorful folding banner that would also serve as her birthday card.

[Party] Washi Tape Decorations, Part 2

We had Happy Vee's birthday party last weekend.  It was a low key affair at a local children's art studio and we decided upon a sea animal and bubble theme in honor of Happy Vee's new pet-- Garfield the Fish. 

Since this was a bit of a last minute thing and it was a small party, I decided to make the decorations using my stash of washi tape.  I posted the other washi tape decorations and then decided to finish it up with a couple more things. Since Happy Vee LOVES balloons,  I knew that I had to do something balloon-related for him.

And of course I had to incorporate a little washi tape into the invitation too...

[Make] Bling-Bling Rhinestone Monogram

When in doubt, add rhinestones.  That's not really my motto, but it seems to work for this project.  This glitzy monogram would be a fun addition to a number of special occasions-- wedding, bridal shower, girls birthday party... really anything that needs a little sparkle. Or maybe even room decor-- hey, it looks kinda nice on our dresser.

This actually isn't my monogram, but is something that I'm working on for the holidays. More on that later.  :)

Here's how you can make your own shiny, sparkly monogram--

[This Week] London Olympics 2012

olympic ring cookies via the decorated cookie

Are you watching the Olympics?  We've been watching the Olympic Trials and are all geared up and excited for the Games to be under way!  I'm also looking forward to the open ceremonies which we will watch this evening (darn tape delay!).  

I have fond memories of the Beijing Olympics 4 years ago.  Happy Vee was just a couple weeks old and I was couch-ridden due to a broken left foot... I think I watched every.single.event, including the ones in the wee hours of the night. This time around I'm good to go, but unfortunately another member of the family is in a cast and has been put on activity restriction...

the blue cast, along with the black eye that his brother accidentally gave him last week & his jack-o-lantern smile...  a mom can just sigh... sigh...

He's not in any pain and has plenty of energy, but unfortunately can't participate in any of the activities that we had planned for the rest of summer.  Bummer.  I guess we'll try to while away the boredom by watching the Games and playing some board games.  :)

Have a nice weekend!

[Read This / Eat That] Bringing Up Bebe & Yogurt Cake

Have you read or heard about this book? Just in case you haven't, here's the scoop...  Bringing up Bebe is about an American woman's experience bringing up children in Paris, France. While raising her first child, she begins to notice significant behavioral differences between her own daughter and the children of her French peers.  Most noticeably, the French children are better behaved, eat well-rounded meals (no snacking!), and are more independent and in command of themselves.

I won't go into a full book review (there are plenty of opinions), but here are some of the points that make a lot of sense to me.