Dragonfruit Strawberry Mango Salad

I have been craving mangoes like crazy since we moved into our new house. It's almost like the mango tree in our front yard is begging me to create dishes with this fruit. Then I stumbled on Foodland - Hawaii's Facebook page and saw this recipe that includes dragon fruit and mango. YUM!! Since dragonfruit was on sale at Foodland this week I scooped up the kids, jumped in my car and got their ASAP hoping they weren't sold out. Thankfully, they were not. Anyways. Along with picking up dragon fruit, I wanted to incorporate something else I love into this salad, so I chose strawberries. 

I have far too many memories of picking strawberries off a raised garden in my Grandparents front yard. Nowadays I watch my children pick mangoes off the ground that have fallen from the tree and wonder if mangoes will remind them of home like strawberries do for me. 

Back to the fruit salad... The process to making this is really easy. For directions on how to dissect a dragon fruit click here 

After the dragon fruit is diced, add it to a mixing bowl with one mango that has been muddled and 3-4 diced strawberries. Give it a quick mix and then place the mixture in the leftover skin of the dragon fruit (for an extra fun serving dish) and squirt half a wedge of lemon over the top. I didn't even use a fork after I took this picture. I inhaled both halves all to myself. Next time I promise to share.

Dragon fruit is loaded with Vitamin C, fiber, and natural antioxidants that prevent dangerous free radicals from attacking the body, causing sucky cancer and other undesired health problems like diabetes. Cancer + Diabetes = yuck. Dragon fruit = WIN. I hope you take my advice and try this fruit salad on a hot summer day when the mangoes are ripe and dragon fruit is on sale.

Mahalo,

Tasia

Photography Adventure & Avocado Leaf Tea

I keep reminding myself that it doesn't matter the quality of the photo. For now, just capture the moments as they happen and the details will come in time. I have dreamed of a new camera for. like. ever. With the support of Daddy J - this week we were able to make my dream come true. Don't get me wrong, you can still shoot beautiful photos with an iphone. Which has been my means of photographing life the past few years. Through my iphone camera is where I discovered a passion for photography. I still use it daily with no plans on throwing in the towel, always tinkering with fun filters, posting to Instagram and #hashtagging like a #mommarazzi. HA! BUT, I LOVE my new Canon Rebel t5i. I mostly shoot in auto mode. A few times I tried adjusting my own setting's but have been less than satisfied with the outcome. Boo! I have so much to learn. Let the photography journey begin!

What I won't do is let the time we have in Hawaii go by without documenting what my eyes see. In what I hope to be a tactful and not like an "oh hey, I'm in Hawaii, be jealous and look at my photo's" kind of way. That's lame. These particular photo's were taken in and around our yard the past few days. Our neighbors are growing some pretty amazing things. Any opportunity I have to take in their knowledge of gardening I grasp it. So far they have been very generous in educating my green thumb, which is a work in progress... 

My first day shooting I was noticing a huge vegetable growing on a fence next door. I used it as my first photo lesson along with far too many of my kids, only snapping about 20 of the same photo. Then I wandered over to our other neighbor's house and noticed all sorts of beautiful flowers. And also, wait for it... an Avocado tree. WHAT THE?!.... Another dream come true. I LOVE AVOCADO'S. They clearly noticed my stalking of the tree and said I could pick as many as I like anytime I want. And the leaves too. Leaves? I ask... Yes, Leaves! They make a great tea that offer's an array of wonder's for the body including cleansing of the kidney, lowering blood pressure, and more. So that is what I did. I picked a bundle of leaves with my cute boy, and I made tea. Any time I eat the smallest amount of whole avocado my mouth swells and I break out in hives. Thankfully, this did not happen with the tea. Maybe I'll build a tolerance? Hives, swelling, coughing, all equals a pain well worth it (I'm crazy, I know) when prepared with benadryl. This weird allergy onset after my pregnancy with Jeyes. Who would've thought? Blah. Oh, pregnancy...  

The process to making this tea is quite easy:

1. Pick

2. Rinse well

3. Boil 10-15 minutes

4. Extract the leaves after boil

5. Pour in your favorite cup of course and enjoy. 

My house smelled earthy and clean while it was boiling. A great treat. After it is poured - add any sweetener, honey, flavoring you would like, whatever fancies your drink. I didn't add anything and still thought it tasted just right. 

So there it is... my first photo's from the beloved Canon. And a little "who knew?" about Avocado tree leaves. Do you own a Canon? How was your first experience? My question's are only now beginning. Mahalo in advance for any love you could throw my way.

Aloha!

Tasia

Keep Calm And Make New Friends

Our house in Temecula, California has been packed and is on a boat being shipped to Oahu. Within a week (praying) we will have all our goods back in our possession. 

I worried when we flew back to extend our quick "see ya laters" to some California friends that letting go would be heart-wrenching. Not only on me but especially Teilani. Jeyes is still young and just goes with the flow, never questioning how long the good byes will last. Personally, I loathe these moments. My ways of dealing with separation can be odd. I'd rather pretend that it isn't happening and then continue to stay in touch via mobile/text/ and social media outlets as if I'm still next door. I promised myself I wouldn't cry in front of the kids as we pulled away. Yes, it can be healthy to do so but I didn't want them to remember leaving as a sad event.

Although it has only been a week, Teilani says she misses California and her friends. I shrug it off instantly and tell her we are very lucky to be in Hawaii and she will have new friends soon. Changing the topic before she can elaborate on her emotions. When? she asks. I know in my heart that it will take time to build new relationships and that for me, is the hardest part. With all the travel back and fourth to the mainland this summer she has been very eager to start school again. As of now, I have her on a waiting list. Fingers crossed she makes it in by September/October. Establishing this old-new routine will be the most help for me, allowing more one on one time with Jeyes while providing her opportunities to grow in a social setting. Gaining confidence and independence without me lurking in the shadows are what I want so badly for my babes.   

... We were at the beach when Teilani reached out to a kid-stranger and asked if they wanted to be her best friend. My heart swell with pride as I eavesdropped into their conversation. Low and behold that kid looked her dead in the eye and said, no. Like, really? Why wouldn't you want to be her friend? OK, I'm a tiny bias I know. Talk about deflating from the inside-out. I could see her heart break as she ran to me tears rolling down her cheeks asking why? I paused for a moment deflating my own anger and softly explaining that not everyone wants to make new friends. That sucked. I wasn't prepared for this. As most issues in parenthood I am left planning my next comeback. Has this ever happened to you as a parent? What did you tell your kid? I could have strangled that little brat for denying my sweet girl friendship. I ask you, dear reader... please share with me your plan of attack on how to keep cool and what you say to your heart broken child when they taste the harshness in this world. 

Until next time... 

Aloha, 

Tasia