How Tupperware Saved My Life

Ok, so my title is a little dramatic, but seriously Tupperware really made my life a lot easier.  If you know anything about me, you'll know that I'm a little OCD, anal retentive, organized when it comes to my kitchen.  For example, my bowls have grapes on them and I can't stack them in the cabinet until the colors are alternating; purple, green, purple, green.  (I know...it's crazy)  I like for everything to have a place and be in its place.  (Too bad I can't apply this philosophy to the rest of my house!)  

The Achilles heel in my kitchen had been my pantry.  I love to bake and I have TONS of baking equipment and ingredients.  Things were such a mess in my pantry, that I couldn't take it any more.  Thanks to my friend, Emily for inviting me to her Tupperware party.  I decided that enough was enough and something had to be done.  

Here's the pantry before: (I'm so ashamed)

And after:

(Let's all have a nice big sigh of relief.....*Ahhhhh!  Much better!)

Doesn't that look better?  It sure FEELS better.  Now I can rest easy knowing that everything has a place and I know where to find things when I go looking!

Sunset on the Beach

So, I'm sitting in our condo (more on that later) watching Andrew sleep, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to update the blog before I have to head back over to the house to pack and clean.  

Since I'm so behind, here's a little reminder of where what's going on:  This is still our second round of company.  The others had gone home already so it's just Nana and Carly left with us.  Nana really wanted to go to Kauai and it worked out that she could  go on a Sunday.  I just so happened to have nursery duty at church, so Drew went with her and I stayed home with the kids.  

Our day started with getting ready for church.  I got up, fixed the kids their breakfast, and had fun fixing Carly's hair.  (I really need a girl!)  After church the kids "almost" took a nap, but not quite.  They did get in some nice quiet time before we headed over to Maili Beach Park for their annual "Sunset on the Beach" celebration.  There are games, rides, booths, food, fireworks, and even an outdoor movie.  The kids had a ball.  

Carly rode the swings.

Andrew chose the helicopter

While we were back on Oahu, here's how Daddy was cruzin' on Kauai.

While he was there, he took Nana to "our" beach. (where he proposed)

I hope to make it back there one day.

Back on Oahu, it was time for fireworks.

Andrew was amazed.

They snuggled up to watch the rest of the show.

I tried to get a good shot of the moon, but I was in need of my tripod.

Then it was time to wait on our movie to start. We watched Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs.

Andrew fell asleep in the first 5 minutes, which meant that when the movie was over, I had to carry Andrew, 2 blankets, our bag, and 2 folding beach chairs back to the car, which just so happened to be about 1/2 mile away.  I didn't think I was going to make it, but alas....I did.  The kids and I had a really fun day together.  Andrew stayed asleep all the way home and Carly pooped out as soon as we got home.  

Macademia Nut Farm

On Tuesday, June 8 we loaded up the car for yet, another island adventure.  Our plans today:  tour the south shore and the macademia nut farm.  Andrew was ready to go!

We have lived here for nearly 6 years and have never stopped at the nut farm.  We've driven by it a thousand times, pointed it out to our guests, but never stopped until now.  It's located on the Kamehameha Hwy. headed toward the North Shore, just before the entrance to the Kualoa Ranch.  You walk into an old house, turned gift shop and are immediately greeted by those who work there.  They have free Kona coffee and free nut samples.  (The Kona coffee glazed are my favorites.)  The grounds there are just beautiful!

Outside there is a macademia nut tree with a stump and a sharp rock at the base of it.  You can crack your own fresh nuts.  We learned that this is one of the hardest nuts to crack.  It takes 400 psi to crack a macademia nut!  Carly and Clay give it a try.

They also have a cultural tour that you can take.  In case you want to go, it's only $20 ($15 for military. Children 5 and under are free)  We got there with a few minutes to spare before the tour started.  

Carly still working on her nut.

Andrew and Aunt Gina waiting for the tour.

The tour starts aboard the "jungle bus" with a drive through some tropical gardens.  Our guide explained all the medicinal uses and other meanings of all the plants and flowers.  Did you know that the red ti plant is good for headaches and muscle aches?  And the green ti brings good luck.  Nana got lucky and was handed the leaves.

Papaya

We learned all about the cocoa pod.

And got to smell some red ginger.

Next, our jungle bus made a stop at a "village" for some cultural demonstrations.

Our "chief" taught us how to make fire!

He dumped the black, burning wood shavings into a dry coconut husk!

Then we watched a fire knife demonstration. 

We learned how to crack a coconut.

And got to taste it too!

The villagers called all the children down to get headbands.

Then we took a group picture with our villagers!

(The guy on the left is the reigning 4 time WORLD champion fire knife dancer!)

Next, our tour took us on a large outrigger canoe into the world's largest man-made fish ponds.  We heard how it was built and saw several movie locations.  For example, this house was the Huki Lau Cafe in 50 First Dates.  And the little building to the left of it was used in ER, when they went to Africa.

We all had the chance to take a picture with the beautiful Kualoa Mountains in the background.

After our canoe ride, we got back on the jungle bus to take us back to the shop.  Along the way we got to taste fresh guava right off the tree.  YUM!  

This tour was excellent.  I made it a point to tell the people that worked there what a great job they do.  It wasn't your typical "tourist trap."  It was very fun and educational and they really made you feel like you're a part of the ohana!  So, if you're ever on Oahu, or you live here and have never been GO!  It's totally worth it!

Ye Black Pearl

You may have heard that they're filming the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean movie in Hawaii.  (Some of you just found out there's going to be a 4th one, didn't you?)  Yes, there's a 4th pirates movie and yes, they're filming this one in Hawaii.  Filming is supposed to start sometime in mid-July and we had heard that the Black Pearl was in town, so we set out to find it.  Turns out it wasn't that difficult.  We saw it in the Kalaeloa Harbor at Barber's Point from the main highway!  So we drove down to get a closer look.  We got there at the right time.  The ship had been in dry dock while they built up the bottom half.  When we got there, it was on the boat ramp, going into the water for the first time, so we got to get up close and personal.

 You'll notice there are no masts or sails.  That's because they're still building her.  The rest of the work will be done on a private pier until filming begins.  From what we heard, this is not the boat they used for the first film;  just the second and third.  If you're a big fan of the movies, you'll notice some changes from the last movie..like this skeleton.  He's new.

They've built this part up taller than the last one.

I don't know if this lantern is new or not.

There were lots of gold skulls everywhere. (That's what you see in this window...hundreds of skulls like wallpaper.)

Gina and Clay with the Black Pearl

view from front

Seeing the Black Pearl was super neat.  Every day when we're going into town we check the harbor to see if they've done anything new to her.  They have.  (more pictures in a later post)  The sails are up and she looks like a real pirate ship.  Last Thursday we even saw her out in t he water taking a test drive!  SO NEAT!  Now, if I could just spot Johnny Depp on island, I think my life would be complete!  haha