Summer Vacation 2014

So when I turned thirty in November, I started to make a bucket list (it's not very long, however I will add to it). One of my bucket list items was a houseboat vacation. Well I can cross that off of my list now. We have officially gone on a vacation on a houseboat. Thanks to Dino & Pona (cousins of ours)
Here are the pictures:

Kaleb Skipping rocks at the Marina

Lake Powell has amazing views....

 Speed boat was so much FUN!!!!

My husband Aleki & our son Kaleb

Joy in the hot tub, filled with lake water on the top deck of the boat.

First Ever Dresser Redo.....

I have taken a really long break, because to be honest I have been getting my college degree.
I have the summer off and I have a TON of free time.
So I have been wanting to redo a dresser for a few months now.
I scored this dresser on a facebook yard sale page.
I got it for $60
Primer $7
Mod Podge $6
Yellow paint $3
Grey Paint $6
Fabric $4
Small roller $5
Foam brushes FREE (I had on hand)
Sand Paper FREE, my brother loves me!
And I had left over tape for taping the edges from when I painted my kitchen last month.

So that brings the total of a solid wood dresser to......... $85 (It actually is less, because I rounded up and I had a complication).

I think that's a sweet deal.

Step 1:
Okay so I borrowed my brothers sander and sanded everything.
Then I used sand paper and got into the corners and other spots that I couldn't get with the handheld sander.
I actually used recycled sand paper. My brother builds things at work and they throw out sand paper when it losses some of it's roughness. He has a stack of this sand paper and gave me a BIG pile of it. I only used about 4 of them, because they were still pretty rough.

Step 2:
I used my shop vac and vacuumed the inside of the dresser and the draws.
wiped the dresser and everything down with a damp rag.

Step 3:
Used primer on all the surfaces I was going to paint.
I ended up doing two coats of primer, because I let my 6 year old and my 3 year old "help" me. It was really uneven and patchy. But they are proud that they helped mommy with the dresser and that's all that matters.
Let it sit for a few days, because honestly I could not decide on the color(s).

Step 4:
Waited almost a week..... I had painted my kitchen grey last month and I am not sure why but that color is pulling me to have everything in that color.
Then I asked my 3 year old... She told me yellow. But honestly if she had her way she would have everything in yellow as it's her favorite color at this time being.
So we visited the Home Depot... I headed home with my paint and roller.

Step 5:
Taped off the dresser and got to work with the 3 year old assisting me.
We initially painted the yellow on the base of the dresser.
Then we painted the grey.
But something happened. We let it sit over night and when we woke up to touch it up, the grey paint changed color... It went from a dark shade to the grey seen in the photo's. The paint on the dresser stayed the dark color. I thought I was going crazy..... But I touched up the dresser with the new shade of grey. In hopes it would dry the same shade. The paint I touched up with was significantly lighter when it dried.

So I headed to the local Home Depot and I was fortunate that they have great customer service. I got my grey paint REFUNDED..... New grey paint for FREE...... and a new roller for FREE....

So my original cost for the dresser was $85, now let's deduct my Home Depot awesome customer service.
Total of $10 off. So the dresser actually came out to be $75.

I also recommend that for a project this size, it is probably cost friendly to just buy the paint samples. I bought one in the yellow and ended up with two grey samples for FREE.

I still have primer, tape, and sandpaper left over for future projects. :)

Step 6:
I had put primer on the front of the draws. But I decided I wanted to experiment with fabric and Mod Podge, because I have seen all of these tutorials on Pinterest and other blogs. So I tried it and I choose a fabric that matched the yellow paint. I looked for something that was yellow and grey, but did not find anything in the endless rows of fabrics at JoAnne's that was what I wanted or pictured. So that's why I ended up with that color fabric. I thought fabric would mask the wood grains on the front of the draws.
I used a foam brush and applied Mod Podge to the front and then placed fabric on the front. Then applied another layer of Mod Podge. Hoping it will keep the fabric clean, now that I can wipe it with a cloth and stuff.

And that's it..........

I am totally in LOVE with it. I also think I have discovered a NEW hobby.
I have another dresser I want to redo and it was FREE from a family member. It is missing a drawer though, but I have seen on other blogs they turn the open space into a shelf. So that will my next project.

Guava Cake- (The easy way!)

Yep I am cheating on this one!

You Will Need:

Cake:

• Yellow or Strawberry store bought cake mix
• 3 eggs
• Oil
• Guava Juice (if you use the can about 3 of them should be enough or 1 carton for the entire recipe).
• Red or pink food coloring

To prepare the cake follow the directions on box, however DO NOT ADD WATER!! But substitute the exact water amount for guava juice.  Add food coloring if using yellow cake mix, untill you get the shade of pink you desire. Bake as directed.

Cream Cheese Whipped Frosting:

• One 8 oz. packaged cream cheese (softened).
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 small tub of whipped cream topping

Soften and mix cream cheese and add sugar. Mix until well blended. Add vanilla extract and mix until it is well mixed. Then fold in whipped cream. Set a piece of seran wrap over it so that it dips into the bowl and touches the frosting and place in the refrigerator.

Guava Topping:

• 2 cups guava juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup corn starch
• Red or pink food coloring

Bring the guava juice and sugar to a boil , stirring frequently with a whisk. In a small cup or bowl mix the corn starch with very little warm water. Make sure the corn starch is not clumpy but more of a paste. Add it to the guava mixture in the pot and remove from heat mix well and add some food coloring till you get the shade of pink you want it to be. Let it cool down completely.

After you allow your cake to cool down you can now frost your cake. Use the cream cheese whipped frosting and put a nice thick layer on the cake. Save some if you want to make a shell border around the cake or want to write "Happy Birthday; etc."

I would recommend putting a border around the cake cake just so the guava topping does not slide off the sides of the cake and it just gives it a bakery bought look. After you put on the border you can then pour your guava topping onto the cake you may need to spread the topping so that it is evenly distributed onto the surface of the cake. Then place place cake in the refrigerator, until you want to serve it.

You don't have to make a traditional rectangle cake you can do a round one and layer the cake putting the cream cheese frosting between the layers. I will try to make a round cake so that I can add a picture as well of it but here is my finished traditional 13X9 Guava cake.

Banana Bread

My aunty Desiree makes the best Banana Bread in the World. Hahaha, okay well the best I have had the priviledge to taste. Problem is that my Aunty is still back in Hawai'i and I now live in Utah. I wanted to try to see if I could make something to satisfy my craving for her buttery sinfully ono banana bread...Ono is Hawaiian for delicious. Although this one is not buttery it does the trick and did I mention is easy to make.

Ingredients:

•  1/2 cup butter, melted
•  1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
•  1/2 cup sour cream
•  1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
•  3 medium ripe bananas

 Preparation:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray your loaf pan with cooking spray (flour if you desire).

2) In a large bowl mix together your melted butter and sugar until completey dissolved. Add your 2 eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until they are all combined.

3) In a small bowl mix your flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly pour the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Blend with a hand mixer until they are completely mixed.

4) Add your sour cream into your batter and mix well.

5) In the small bowl you mixed your flour in slice your banana's and then mix with a mixer or handheld mixer until it is a liquid (there can be some chunks of banana).

6) Pour the pureed banana into the batter. You may want to add nuts; etc at this time.

7) pour the batter into the loaf pan and place in the oven for 60 minutes. If your oven has a faster bake time you may want to check it after 45- 50 minutes.

**The outside of the bread will be crunchy almost, but the bread itself with be moist and soft. I have used this exact recipe to make banana cake and banana cupcakes, which the crust does not turn crunchy. I love it! Try it & enjoy it!

Pork Char Sui Manapua

Ohh yes.... If you have ever gone to Hawai'i or Samoa, then this is very familiar to you! Hawai'i the pork char sui filling seem's to be the most popular. In samoa you find another type of pork filling. Growing up in Hawai'i I favor the pork char sui filling. Let me warn you that this is a fairly easy recipe, however very time consuming. AND I MEAN TIME CONSUMING!
So I started off with my pork & the marinade:
*1 lb. of pork (boneless) I used pork roast. Trim the fat & cut it into 1 inch strips. Then place pork in a container with lid that is big enough to fit the meat and marinade.
So the marinade:
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sherry cooking wine.
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. Hoisin sauce (asian section of your grocery store).
1/2 tsp. of Red food coloring (optional).

Pour the marinade over the pork, place lid on, and place in refridgerator for 3 hours (at least). Wait about an hour then begin to work on your dough.

Bread Dough:
2 tbsp. dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tspn salt
2 large eggs, room temperature.
3 1/2- 4 cups all purpose flour

Mix the yeast, warm water, and the first measure of sugar together. Let it stand for 5 minutes.
While you let that sit go a head and mix the milk, butter, second sugar measure, salt, and eggs. Then add that to the yeast mixture.
Once that is mixed then add 3 cups of flour one cup at a time.
It should still be sticky & messy. So on a clean floured surface dump your dough mix out and add more flour. Keep adding flour, until your dough is no longer sticky. It may have a shine to it and when you press your finger into it, it should spring back up. In a clean bowl put 1 tbsp. seaseme oil, kind of swirl the bowl so that it coats the bottom. Then place your rolled ball of dough into the oiled bowl and turn it so that it is evenly coated in the seaseme oil. Then cover with plastic wrap and set aside for about a 90 minutes.

Cooking your pork:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Then prepare your baking pan and line it with foil. (I recommend a roaster pan or broiler pan). Pour about 1/3 cup of water on the bottom of the pan lined with foil.
Place the pork strips on the broiler rack or roatser rack (save your marinade though). Place it in the oven for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes take out of the oven and with a pastry brush your marinade onto the pork. Put back into the oven for 8 more minutes.
In a small bowl go ahead and mix:
1tbsp. hot water
1 tbsp. sugar
Mix until the sugar is completely dissolved. When the pork is done pull it out of the oven and put your oven on broil. With a pastry brush, brush on the sugar glaze and then put back in the oven for 3 minutes. Then you are done....

Yes a process hang in there- the outrcome is worth it!

Keep your eye on the prize!!  =D

Filling sauce (your are going to chop your pork and add it to this).
1 cup water
2 tbsp. cornstartch
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
You can add minced garlic & ginger (optional)
8-10 drops red food coloring (optional)

Put water in a saucepan and when it comes to a boil add the cornstarch and mix until it is a thick paste.
Remove from heat and add the other ingredients. Mix well...

Add the chopped up pork... set aside....

Get parchment paper and cut it into 3-4 inch squares.

Back to working on the dough:
Punch it back down. Then knead it a little. And take the dough and divide it in half. Then keep dividing the sections in half until you have about 18 of dough balls.

Now to assemble these:
Take a ball of dough and roll it your hands and flaten it all to make a round circle. Take a spoonful of pork filling and place it in the center of the dough. Then fold and pinch the dough together closing the filling in the dough.
Set your uncooked manapua on a square of parchment paper.
Repeat the process until you wrap all of the manapua's.

After you wrap all the manapua's, then set them aside on a cookie sheet keeping the parchment square under it and spacing them 2 inches apart. Set aside for 45 minutes.

Prepare your steaming pot/ bamboo; etc.... Get the water boiling on high.
Place your manapua in the steam racks leaving some space between them, about 2 inches. Let them steam for 18 minutes. Do not open the steamer during the actual steaming time..... Remove from heat & ENJOY!!!

Make it easier on yourself & buy the char sui already made... Hahaha cheat! Saves you some work.... And this Char Sui marinade recipe is not 100% like the one you get in Hawai'i but it sure is close....

Halloween Wreath

It took a few hours..... But I have officially made a wreath. I have been spending alot of time on pinterest. So I was looking at wreath and thought why not make one for Halloween! So I bought the wire wreath frame from Roberts craft store (don't forget your 40% off coupon). 2 yards of fabric from Wal-mart. I bought 1/2 a yard of four different prints. The I found some Haloween garland and ornaments at Micheals, which were marked down 50% off. Ohh yah, this wreath cost me $10.

I cut the fabric into strips and then tied it around the wire frame.  I just kept tieing it until I ran out of fabric. The wire wreath frame has 4 complete cirlcles. I did not put fabric on the outer ring & inner ring. Just the 2 in the center... I used some fishing wire to secure the garland and ornaments in place. Love the way it turned out!!

Kelsie & Jose's Wedding Cake!

I made my 1st official Wedding Cake. What a stressful time it was. As a mommy of four- I wanted to scream! But all the stress was worth it. I learned so much from this cake & the out come was GREAT! Looking forward to making more cakes as time goes on. Congratulations to Kelsie & Jose- You guys are awesome & i wish you ALL the happiness that Love can bring! Hope I can get better pictures of it from the bride to post soon!