Ono Kine Shoyu Chicken Recipe

8:52 PM Elvira 0 Comments

Every now and then, my boyfriend and I miss the foods of Hawaii. There were some delicious foods in Hawaii that we both enjoyed and are pretty difficult to find here on the mainland. So when we miss a piece of the islands, we get to cookin'.



Shoyu chicken is a staple in Hawaii. It's often served with rice and macaroni salad. We on the other hand love to have it with rice, and at times a side of kimchi. Chicken thighs are typically used for this recipe along with some Chinese five spice powder, fresh chopped ginger, and garlic. I have been making this recipe for years and because I love the depth the five spice adds I often add 2-3 additional anise stars in my recipe.




Though I love cooking, I don't like spending too much time in the kitchen, especially on a weekend or after a long day at work. I love to whip this recipe up and throw everything in the crock pot. The final result is a flavourful, and incredibly tender piece of chicken. I often cook this when we have guests and time and time again it is a hit all around. Adding this to your recipes will not only please your guest, but it also will give you a taste of the islands.





Ono Kine Shoyu Chicken Recipe

• 5 pounds of chicken thighs (defrosted)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup soy sauce (We use Aloha Shoyu low sodium)
• 2 Tablespoons chopped ginger
• 2 Tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1 1/2 cup water

Place the chicken thighs in your crockpot. Take all your ingredients and whisk together until the brown sugar is nearly dissolved. Pour over your chicken thighs. Turn your crockpot to low and simmer for 6-8 hours. Serve with white or brown rice and your favorite side dish.  Happy cooking!



Tag: Recipe

Lovin Lancome!

7:55 PM Elvira 0 Comments

I wandered into Macy's the other day and low and behold but where do you think I ended up? That's right in my favorite place to get lost-the makeup section. I was on the hunt for some type of foundation. I normally never wear foundation, but as I get older I wanted to have something on hand in case I needed a little extra Va Va Voom. The thought of a really heavy foundation on my combination skin sounded incredibly unappealing. I despise a heavy foundation base on anyone. It looks unnatural and often ages women.

So with that in mind I wandered over to the Lancome counter and had a lengthy chat with the Lancome make up consultant. She was able to provide me with a run down of all the different foundation, concealer, and powder options. I told her that I was also curious about BB creams. She told me that Lancome carries a BB cream called Bienfait Teinte Beauty Balm Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30. I asked her what the benefits of a BB cream are compared to other types of cover ups. The consultant explained that a BB cream is a multitasking product which hydrates, protects, and evens out skin tones. BB creams are great for all skin types, and provide you with your daily source of vitamin enriched hydration. When she tested the BB cream on my face I immediately noticed how light, flawless, and natural it looked all while camouflaging problem areas of my skin. I was immediately sold.


Next I talked to her about my large pores and how I notice that blush looks odd on my pores. I asked her what face primers Lancome carries, and she introduced me to La Base Pro Perfecting face primer. The instant this primer touched my skin I absolutely fell in love with the luxurious feeling it left on my skin. The primer glides on smoothly, and feels weightless. Even with the BB cream on top of it, it still felt great.


Lastly, I picked up the product that I truly love the most. The Blush Subtil Palette in #323-Rose Flush. The is a beautiful blush. Not only is the compact sleek and just the perfect size, but the colors inside radiate. The blush is broken up into three parts: Contour, Blush, and Highlighting. When all three are applied the final result looks natural, romantic, and downright lovely.

I am so in LOVE with my Lancome products. I know that there are other brands out there that are probably just as nice, and possibly even better but I have to tell you these 3 products have really upgraded my makeup look. And the best thing is Lancome has a fantastic return policy. My consultant time and time again encouraged me to apply and wear the make up during the week and if at any point and time I was unsatisfied to come back in for a full refund. How great is that? 

And of course I am a total sucker for samples. And my make up consultant hooked me up! I am going to give these samples a good run and see if there is anything else from the Lancome line that I might need. Hope this review helps someone out there- Happy shopping!

Tag: Beauty

Bullet Proof Protein Smoothie

2:58 PM Elvira 0 Comments

There are thousands of protein powders on the market today. Knowing which one you'll like and which one fits best into your diet can be incredibly overwhelming. I have tried so many protein powders over the years that I can definitely tell you what I don’t like. I cant stand whey protein powder that tastes: too sweet, too chemically, chalky, salty, and downright gross. In my search for high quality whey protein I came across a product that hands down is delicious.


Some of you may be familiar with Dave Asprey. He is the biohacking creator of Bullet Proof Coffee. I started to drink BP coffee about two years ago, and since then I have kept an eye out for new products that come out of the Bullet Proof line. The one I have been consistently using for some time is Upgraded Whey Protein Powder. The product states that it's made from minimally processed pasture raised cow whey protein concentrate. The Upgraded Whey also contains coconut MCT powder which will give you a long lasting surge of energy.



When using this product I like to keep my smoothies as simple as possible. With summer season approaching here in the Pacific Northwest, that also means its berry season. I like to get whatever organic berries are in season, and use them in this delicious smoothie. The Bullet Proof line also carries Upgraded Vanilla, which tastes great in this too.

Bullet Proof Protein Smoothie

• 1 to 2 cups of your favorite almond, hemp, soy, or cow milk
• 1 handful of local organic berries (I used blackberries today)
• 4-5 organic strawberries
• 2 Tablespoons of Bullet Proof Upgraded Whey Protein 
• a pinch of vanilla (optional) 
• 1 Tablespoon of chia seeds (optional) 

If you prefer your smoothies on the sweet side, you can also add a tablespoon or two of agave, honey, or even a banana.


This is a fantastic way to get your fruit intake up while sipping on something that tastes good, all while being good for you. Its a perfect sunny day treat.



Tag: recipe

Fruit Parfaits

8:16 PM Elvira 0 Comments

As a working professional I find I have minimal time in the morning to get ready for work while also making a nutritious breakfast. I look for ways I can cut corners in the kitchen while still making something quick and healthy. This fruit parfait has been one of my morning staples for some time.

There are hundreds of ways you could make your fruit parfait, but I try to be mindful of my caloric intake and make my parfaits with more fruit versus nuts and granola. I do like the crunch of granola so I choose brands that are organic and high in fiber. When using only about 2 Tablespoons of granola I don't feel too bad about this addition to the parfait.

For the yogurt I either use Chobani Vanilla blended yogurt, or a plain non fat Fage. Both are equally tasty when mixed with the fruit and granola.



You can use any type of fruit for your parfait. I just love berries. The texture and different flavors of the berries always blends so well with the yogurt. I picked up some organic strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries this time around.



I don't like using plastic to store any of my food, so these Pyrex bowls come in so handy for these parfaits.


I have made these parfaits the night before, and just grabbed them out of the fridge on my way to work. Though the granola isn't as crunchy as it would be if you made it fresh, it still tastes just as good.

Here is the recipe I used:

• 1/2 a cup of your favorite yogurt. 
• A mixture of any fruit. Use what's in season for optimal flavor
• 1-2 Tablespoons granola. I like both KIND and Crunch Granola.

Layer however you like. Store in glass if you have it. Enjoy!


Tags: recipe

Time for Golden Milk

10:09 PM Elvira 0 Comments

At times I have difficulty falling asleep. I tend to shy away from medication to help with sleep. Awhile ago I decided I wanted to find a healthy alternative to get a full nights rest. In my researching I came across an article which shared how turmeric is often used as a natural sleep aid. Both my parents who are in their 60's swear by the use of turmeric. My mother has suffered from joint pain for some time and decided to begin incorporating turmeric into her daily diet. With time she began to notice a decrease in pain, and an overall healthier feeling within. As she changed her diet she also added turmeric to her daily routine.

When my poor sleep patterns began to interrupt my life I too decided it was time to give turmeric a try. I searched high and low and found many articles about Golden Milk. The recipe I chose to try seemed easy enough and I found the final product to be quite delicious.

For this recipe I chose an unsweetened vanilla hemp milk. A local raw honey, organic turmeric and Udo's Oil Blend for additional benefits. I also grated some ginger into my goldenmilk for additional flavor.

This drink is fairly easy to make, and to be honest the taste is rich and incredibly satisfying. I like to make this about 2 hours before bed. Its soothing, and so easy on my stomach. This drink has not only helped me sleep better, but I also love the additional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits in my daily routine. Sip this up and get a good night rest!

Golden Milk Recipe

Measure 1/4 cup of organic turmeric powder. Mix this with 1/2 a cup of water. On a medium high heat simmer this mixture for at least 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly. You will notice that the mixture will develop into a thick paste. If you notice that it's getting too dry, go ahead and add an additional splash of water. Once this mixture has cooled down, put your turmeric paste into a glass jar and you can refrigerate this for up to 3 weeks.

Now it's time to make your golden milk. Add 1 tsp. of turmeric paste to 1 cup of milk (This can be anything you prefer: Almond, Soy, Hemp, or Cows Milk). Then add honey or even agave to sweeten, I also like to add 1/2 a tsp. of Udo's Oil 3-6-9 blend. Gently heat this, stir, and serve.

I hope you find this drink to be as delicious as I do.

A day of wellness

10:54 AM Elvira 0 Comments

I woke up this morning feeling pretty terrible. I can hear my mother telling me that after the age of 35 you slowly begin to feel aches and pains you never knew existed. Well, being 35 I am beginning to see what she meant. In the last few years I have really taken a look at my own health and ways to improve it. Struggling with my weight my entire life has been both frustrating and draining. Yet, I still do what I can to live a life of good health and body acceptance. My current goal is to not only lose some weight to feel more physically fit, but it's also to nurture my body as I begin to age and do what I can to nourish it with whole foods and healthy options.

This morning I decided to start the day off with a green smoothie. There are so many varieties out there that one can choose from. I always feel like simplicity is key and I tend to lean toward recipes that have items that are often found in my refrigerator or easily accessible. Plus if this is something I want to make consistently in my home, then its gotta be easy.

In our Vitamix, I threw together enough ingredients for a smoothie for two. I know that a lot of recipes say you can add almond, hemp, or soy milk as your base but I find water to often be the easiest thing to digest so early in the morning. Though these smoothies often look incredibly unappealing the taste often can surprise you.
For this smoothie I added:

• 2 handfuls of organic kale 
• 1 fresh banana
• 1 frozen banana (this adds a great deal of creaminess)
• 1 fresh apple
• a few shakes of cinnamon
• 2 cups of filtered water.

My boyfriend and I shared this green heap of health. We both try to start the day off with something nutritious and filling. With the power of the Vitamix this smoothie will whip its self up in seconds. We also use a Nutribullett in our home, but when making two smoothies at once the Vitamix wins due to the volume it can hold.


Then Voila! There you have it. I served this up in two big wine glasses-we like to start the day off with some class around here. We both enjoy the taste of these and like the way it fills you up pretty quickly before a workout or I have found its even wonderful to sip on as I get ready for work.



Today though I had this before I jumped on my treadmill for a brief walk. We are lucky enough to have a treadmill in our home, but if you live in a state where you have more sunshine then we normally do, get outside and enjoy that sun on your face. And if you are telling yourself you don't have time for a walk-run-or quick work out I want to challenge your thinking around that. I too have said that and lived my life that way for a long time. And honesty I still have days where I make excuses. But what I have done over time to break that cycle is I start small. I have a resistance band which I will grab and do multiple arms exercise on. It may not seem like much but doing this everyday for 15 minutes does make a difference and with time you start to feel better and believe it or not you crave more. You may want to think about adding a few sit ups, or that walk, or lifting some weights. The options are endless, and as great as that is it also can be overwhelming, so like I said I encourage you to start SMALL! You got this! One day at a time...in life we are always trying to improve so take it slow and remain consistent. Your mind and body deserves this.

Tags: recipe, wellness

One year later...

7:00 PM Elvira 0 Comments

We have officially been living in Washington for a year now. My boyfriend and I moved here from Oahu last May. I must admit it has been a challenge readjusting to life on the mainland. I was on Oahu for nearly 7 years, and over time I quickly adjusted to the island lifestyle. Coming back to Washington has been bittersweet. It's been great being so close to my family but the rain...oh the rain! It can get a bit depressing when you open the window shades and day after day its rainy or gloomy. With that being said, when the sun comes out we make the best of it.



Adjusting to anything new comes with its own set of struggles. There have been fantastic days and there have definitely been rough days. But finally 1 year later I feel like life is slowly starting to settle down and I can begin focusing on the things that are important to me; health, mental wellness, body acceptance, self-awareness, fashion and beauty, nature exploration, and relationships with those I care for.




Cheers to new beginnings.