Hawaii Mom Blog: January 2016

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January 31, 2016

Chocolate Pretzels - Valentine's Edition

Valentine's Day is coming up and my kids wanted to make something easy to make to give to their teachers and friends. 

Here's a super easy and fun recipe.

Ingredients:
Pretzels (Tiny Twists)
Hershey's Kisses
Sprinkles or M&M's if you prefer

Lay the pretzels on a cookie sheet.  Cut off the tips of the Hershey kisses and place in the center of pretzels.  Microwave the pretzels and Hershey's kisses for 15-20 seconds, so the chocolate softens.  Add your sprinkles to the chocolate and let it set in the refrigerator for 5-10 mins, just so the chocolate hardens.  That's it!  Super easy and oh so yummy.  A little bit of sweet and salty.  Enjoy!




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January 29, 2016

Top 10: Ways the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is Family-Friendly

During our stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, I was very impressed with how well families were taken care of.

I saw so many kids - from infants to teens, and my own kids had an absolute blast at the resort.

Here are the top 10 ways the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is family-friendly:

1. Kids for All Seasons program - kids can participate in all sorts of fun activities under the guidance of camp counselors 
2. Game Room
3. Welcome gift
4. Welcome amenity - love that fruit shark!

5. Waterfall pool with kiddie slide
6. Free kids meals for kids 5 and under at at Ferraro's and DUO when accompanied by a paying adult.
7. Kids for All Seasons at Night Market
8. Kid-friendly bath amenities
9. Kid-friendly nibbles at the pool
10. Mickey pancakes!
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Abhasa Waikiki Spa at The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort




My family and I had a mini-staycation at The Royal Hawaiian and were having tons of fun together, but I just couldn't pass up a massage in my own private outdoor cabana at the Abhasa Waikiki Spa.  I decided to make an appointment after a delicious breakfast at Surf Lanai so the kids could have some downtime before heading to the beach and pool. 

It's recommended to check in 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.  When I arrived, I filled out the massage form and indicated that I wanted my therapist to concentrate on my back area.  You can also indicate areas you don't want them to touch.  I then received a quick tour of the indoor lounge complete with showers, lockers, steam room, and jacuzzi.  I changed into my very cute pink abhasa robe and slippers and wandered to the outside garden area lounge to relax before my treatment.
 

I loved that the robe was pink!


Sitting area



Indoor jacuzzi

My therapist, Maureen, greeted and showed me to my very own private cabana where I had the 50 minute abhasa Harmony - a Hawaiian inspired Lomi Lomi massage infused with Japanese Shiatsu.  Pressure is applied to tsu-bo points along the meridian of your body followed by a rhythmic Lomi Lomi.  


The cabanas are located in The Royal Hawaiian's Royal Coconut Grove


You could opt for a massage indoors, but why would you want to?  There's nothing else like it in Waikiki.

A trio choice of lotions.  I picked the kukui coconut. 

The shiatsu was new to me so it took a little getting used to, but I loved the entire experience.  I liked how she checked with me if the pressure was okay because it gave me the chance to say something in case I felt too timid to speak up.  Being outdoors for the massage was wonderful!  It definitely made the experience extra special. 


The Abhasa Waikiki Spa is open daily from 9am to 9pm. 
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Lemon Bars Recipe

Once in a while I'll bake lemon bars.  I usually use a recipe a former co-worker gave to me, but I decided to try out a new recipe recently.

I found "The Best Lemon Bars" recipe on Allrecipes.com - it very well could be "the best."
It was tart, yet sweet, and lusciously lemony!


Lemon Bars (recipe credit Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:
  • 1 c butter, softened
  • 1/2 c sugar
  • 2 c flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 c sugar
  • 1/4 c flour
  • 2 lemons, juiced
Directions
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the butter, 1/2 c sugar, and 2 c flour.
  • Press into the bottom of a parchment-lined 9x13-inch pan. 
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. 
  • While the crust is baking, mix together the 4 eggs, 1 1/2 c sugar, 1/4 c flour, and lemon juice.
  • Pour over the baked crust.
  • Bake for an additional 20 minutes.
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January 28, 2016

A Healthier Pantry Thanks to Whole Foods Market

Disclosure: A gift card was received to facilitate the review process.

Thanks to Whole Foods Market, I now have a healthier pantry!

Whole Foods Market makes it so easy to get healthier items for your pantry.

First of all, look for their 365 Everyday Value® brand, which offers great value on everything from snacks to sauces.

And if you can find organic products, even better!

I found a bunch of 365 Everyday Value® brand products that were organic - marinara sauce, refried beans, black beans, coconut oil, and Dijon mustard!

I also found alternative versions of the typical products I usually buy.  For instance, instead of regular pasta, I purchased Supergrain Pasta, which is made from Organic Corn and Quinoa.
There are so many other items you can find at Whole Foods Market to stock up on - seeds, dried fruit, whole grains, and more!

Once you stock up, check out these recipes to create something tasty!  One of the recipes I want to try is the Black Bean and Roasted Corn Pasta Salad.

On your next visit to Whole Foods Market, you can see for yourself just how simple it is to stock up on healthier pantry items!

Happy shopping!
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Ala Moana Hotel Unveils Revitalized Accommodations


 
Ala Moana Hotel guests can experience extra comfort and relaxation in newly refreshed accommodations. Inspired by the Pacific Ocean and natural beauty of Hawaii, the 1,176 guestrooms are enhanced with new carpet, drapes, chairs, bed scarf and decorative pillows, sofa sleeper, and more.

"We designed each space to incorporate a modern style with island flavor that reflects the urban vibe of our location in Honolulu, while still maintaining a serene ambiance," said Bill Comstock, general manager, Ala Moana Hotel. "Whether guests choose accommodations with a striking view of the mountains, or want to witness a breathtaking sunset over the Pacific Ocean, they'll feel at home in any of our stunningly restyled guestrooms."

In addition to enjoying the chic accommodations, business and leisure guests at Ala Moana Hotel can take advantage of the hotel's ideal location. Conveniently situated between the Hawaii Convention Center and the exceptional retailers at Ala Moana Center, this revitalized Honolulu hotel features popular restaurants including Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant, The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood, Plantation Café, Starbucks, and the energetic Rumours Night Club.

Just across the street from Ala Moana Beach Park and a mere mile away from Waikiki, guests staying at Ala Moana Hotel can spend the day surfing, snorkeling, or simply sunning on the sandy shore. A short stroll to the adjoining shopping center will lead to shopping nearly 300 stores and additional dining options.

For the latest news and updates on Ala Moana Hotel, follow Ala Moana Hotel on Twitter at:@AlaMoanaHotel, Facebook at: www.facebook.com/AlaMoanaHotel and Instagram at:@AlaMoanaHotel.
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Kamaboko & Crab Dip

For a recent get-together I made Kamaboko and Crab Dip based on this recipe from Spork and Pan.

It turned out yummy, but next time I'll add more green onions, and less crab (or maybe eliminate the crab altogether - I just had extra from making these Crab and Cream Cheese Wontons so I wanted to use up the crab).



Kamaboko & Crab Dip (adapted from Spork and Pan)

Ingredients:
  • 1 6 oz pkg kamaboko, shredded
  • 1 6 oz pkg imitation crab meat, chopped
  • 1/2 c sour cream
  • 1/2 c mayo
  • 1/4 c chopped green onions
Directions:
  • Combine all ingredients and chill for at least 30 minutes.  
  • Serve with crackers.
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January 27, 2016

HyperChiller Review

HyperChiller is an Iced Coffee Maker.  It makes the perfect iced coffee with any brewing method.  No more waiting, no more recipes, just results.  As hot coffee enters the HyperChiller, the multiple layers of stainless steel and ice will rapidly chill it with zero dilution.  It turns hot fresh coffee into a perfect iced coffee in as little as one minute.  It can also chill whiskey, wine, iced tea and martini's. 


I have my coffee every morning and I was curious to see if my hot coffee would turn into cold coffee in a matter of minutes.  First, I needed to fill water in two of the three stainless steel cups and freeze for 12 hours. Once frozen, make your coffee and pour your hot coffee into the HyperChiller for one minute, gently swirl it every few seconds to keep the coffee moving.  After one minute, pour your coffee over ice and it's ready. 


I was quite impressed how cold my coffee was after just one minute.  I added ice and it was ready to drink.  It also comes with easy to follow instructions.  I would recommend this product if you want instant iced coffee.  It works great!  Now I can make ice cold coffee whenever I want.

For more information, visit www.hyperchiller.com 

Disclosure: This product was received complimentary for review purposes.  All opinions are entirely my own.





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Chocolate-Covered Mandarins

For a super easy, healthy treat (great as an after-school snack) - make these Chocolate Covered Mandarins!

All you do is dip the Mandarin slices in chocolate, sprinkle with some sea salt, and chill for at least 20 minutes!

The combination of the sweet and salty is so good!  I'm not a big mandarin orange eater, but I couldn't stop eating these! 

My oldest and middle sons loved them too (my youngest just sucked off the chocolate - he's the pickiest eater, but hopefully he'll outgrow it like my middle son did).

Enjoy!
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WW: Kailua Beach Park



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January 26, 2016

Diamond Head State Monument Hike

Last month our family decided to hike up Diamond Head (or Leahi, in Hawaiian).  It was our first time as a family visiting Diamond Head State Monument (the last time my husband and I went was before the Visitor Center and new exit stairway was built!). We went on Christmas Eve morning, and to my surprise, the Diamond Head State Monument parking lot was already packed - at 7:30am in the morning!

The parking attendant asked us if wanted to pull over to the side in a line of cars and wait about 10 minutes or try and find parking outside.

We decided to wait, and fortunately the wait really was only about 10 minutes.  Another attendant kept a lookout for vehicles leaving stalls, advising cars in line where to go.

It was a beautiful morning, and we began to make our way up to the summit.

At the start of the Diamond Head Summit Trail is a concrete walkway, but most of the trail is uneven, so be sure to wear proper shoes (the first time I hiked up Diamond Head I was shocked to see tourists in high heels; on this visit I only saw one person in slippers).

The trail is relatively easy, with a few rest stops and lookouts along the way.

Can you see the hikers?
Towards the end of the trail are steps in order to reach the summit.

Quite a bit of steps.

First you walk up 74 steps that lead you into a tunnel.

Once out of that tunnel you'll see another 99 steps.

99 steps up
And then you'll make your way up a spiral staircase of 52 stairs, until you finally get to one of the observation areas.

At the summit the views are just gorgeous.  You can see the Waikiki shoreline, the crater, bunkers, and a lighthouse.




82 steps down

It's a long way down!
I love the new exit staircase.  I remember the first couple of times going to the summit and walking back down the narrow spiral staircase while others were trying to walk up.  The new staircase eases the congestion at the summit.

Give yourself about ninety-minutes to two hours if you're hiking with little ones and plan to stop for photo ops.

Diamond Head State Monument
Honolulu, HI  96815
(808) 587-0300
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Minted Kids Valentine's Day Cards Collection + Three Winners in our $50 Minted Giveaway!


Disclosure:  The following is a sponsored post.

If you love unique designs for stationary, art, and home that you can have a hand in customizing, then Minted is for you.  Minted is a design marketplace that sources creative content from a global community of independent artists, then sells the best content in the form of art, home décor, and stationery, directly to us - the consumers.  Minted is quality driven; using only fine paper stock, rich inks, and crisp printing methods.   
With Valentine's Day quickly approaching and as a fan of all things cute, I totally loved looking through the brand new Minted Kids Valentine’s Day Cards collection.  Here are some of my favorites! 
This card is so pretty and I love the real foil Minted uses. 

This cute design is perfect for my dinosaur loving son.

You can choose a die-cut shape at no extra charge!


This cool photo design would be a hit with older kids.
There are matching customizable stickers available for every design!

When customizing, take advantage of the cute coordinating backers!


The fun, unique designs can be customized with your child’s name and start at only $14 for 15 cards!  To make things even sweeter, you can use code HEART16 for 10% off no minimum until Jan 30. 

Even better, Minted is hosting a $50 giveaway just for our wonderful Hawaii Mom Blog readers!  Just click here and enter by February 2, 2016.  Minted will draw three winners and send each of them their $50 prize.  Good Luck!


This giveaway is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry, except officers, directors, members, and employees of the Sponsor, the judging organization (if applicable), or any other party associated with the development or administration of this Promotion, and the immediate family(i.e., parents, children, siblings, spouse), and persons residing in the same household, as such individuals. This Promotion is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited.


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My Kama'aina Staycation at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort






After the busy and hectic holidays, I thought it would be a great idea for my family to take a day off with a mini-staycation.  Our mission was to take a break from our busy everyday lives and to focus on our family unit.  It was easy to pick a destination.  The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort was the first to pop into my head and I had 10 great reasons why!  My family’s one night stay at the historic and iconic "Pink Palace of the Pacific" turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more.   

We arrived at the hotel a little bit before the check-in time so we hung out in their hospitality suite where the kids pretended to play on the 3 computers available for business use.  There’s ample room to freshen up, relax, and watch some television until your room is ready.


Guests will love that The Royal Hawaiian does not have a resort charge.  That's right.  No extra charge for WIFI or use of the fitness center.  Among the other complimentary items guests receive are limited quantities of bottled water, access to daily cultural activities, and coffee/tea available in the lobby.  Families will appreciate that kids under 5 eat free off the kids' menu with a paying adult and receive a free portrait session from Sharp Shooter Imaging.  

The kids had so much fun with the photo opportunity and received a free 4x8 photo keepsake to remember our good time at The Royal Hawaiian.  We were off to a great start!


Our room was located in the Historic Tower, which I loved.  The hotel is rich with history and culture and it is apparent throughout the resort.  There are ample places to sit, relax, and let the beauty of the view sink in.    

The kids had so much fun relaxing in the wooden rocking chairs overlooking the Coconut Grove.


But I could sit and relax here under these gorgeous arches all day.
The elegant walkway is lined with resort shops featuring specialty retailers from Collections of Waikiki.

Everywhere you turn, you will find a beautiful and modern place to lounge.
    
Our room was located on the fourth floor, equipped with two double luxury beds, and perfect for our family of 4.  The décor is both modern and elegant with dark woods, crisp white bedding, and platinum headboards that look luxurious against the pink and silver wall.     
The rooms are fresh and vibrant with luxurious and comfortable beds.
My daughter likes to check out the desk area for the hotel's stationery and write a note.
My son prefers to get comfy.  

Our room also had a wide screen LCD TV and a small sitting area.
The bath area is small, but adequate and our family didn't have any problems sharing.  I adored the toiletries from Malie Organics.  The aroma is intoxicating and I couldn't get enough of the Koke'e scent.
I squealed at the sight of the pink and white striped robe and loved the oversized plush towels!
Of course one of the outstanding attributes of our room was the gorgeous ocean view.  I found myself frequently stopping at the window to admire and appreciate it.  

After exploring the room, the kids quickly changed into their swim suits (and applied sunscreen) and we headed across the porte cochere to the Helumoa Playground at the Sheraton Waikiki.  The Helumoa Playground features two fresh water swimming pools, a 15-foot high by 70-foot long water slide, two large whirlpool spas with sweeping views of Waikiki Beach, and an interactive fountain area for kids!  My kids loved it! 
You can't waste a beautiful and sunny day like this indoors so we headed to the pool!
The kids love the water especially swimming pools!  They are standing in front of the interactive fountains.

One of the two freshwater swimming pools.
Lauren went on the slides again and again.  Because Cade is between 3 and 4 feet, he was required to wear floats to use the slide.  This gave him more confidence coming down the slide. 

After a couple of hours at the pool, Cade started to fade so we went back to the room to rest before dinner.  When he saw the "Only at The Royal" signature pink haupia cake, he instantly perked up.  The cake was amazing!  Even better than I remember when I first had it a couple of years before.  It's layer and layers of pink haupia cream and coconut soaked white sponge cake and covered with toasted pink coconut flakes and fresh berries.  It was the best welcome gift ever! 

Do not miss the "Only at The Royal" signature pink haupia cake.  The banana bread from the Bake Shop welcomes all guests upon check-in. 

He was too tired to swim, but not too tired for delicious cake!
As the sun was setting, we arrived at The Royal Hawaiian's legendary Mai Tai Bar situated just steps from the beach.  My ocean and Diamond Head views wouldn't be complete if I didn't enjoy one of their specialty Mai Tais.  I opted for the Scratch Mai Tai, the resort's original mai tai recipe from 1953 created by Victor Bergeron.  
Both the Mai Tai Bar and Surf Lanai are featuring new menus from the resort's Executive Chef, Colin Hazama.  Hazama, a new father, is the youngest executive chef in the nearly 89-year-history of the hotel (the hotel will celebrate it's 89th Anniversary come February 1).  Look for Hazama's new culinary series, Fanta-Sea which showcases island farmers and Hazama's creativity and passion for using locally sourced products.
At the Mai Tai Bar, we viewed a gorgeous sunset, had a family cheers, and enjoyed a delicious meal of crispy chicken wings (that Lauren hoarded), a margherita pizza, royal garlic steak served pupu style, and the best tavern parmesan truffle fries we have ever tasted.  The best part for me aside from spending time with my family was NO dishes!  Content with full tummies, we headed back to enjoy our room.
  

Even the kids were eager to relax in the ultra plush bed. 
The next morning, I got up early to enjoy the sunrise and get in a quick workout before breakfast at the Surf Lanai where I planned to consume massive amounts of calories.  I enjoyed how quiet the resort and beach were in those early hours. 
The sun beginning to rise.
I love the rows of pink umbrellas on the resort's private portion of Waikiki Beach.
The lovely view of Diamond Head from the resort. 
Breakfast is easily my favorite meal and it can't get better than right on the beach overlooking a charming sea of pink umbrellas.  I knew I had to have the Royal Loco Moco with port wine braised short ribs.  It didn't disappoint.  In fact, it was so good, my family started asking for more and more bites.  My husband really enjoyed his snow crab omelet which was paired with three potato hash brown.  Because my kids wouldn't share and insisted on having both the Belgian waffle and the banana macadamia nut buttermilk pancakes, I sadly decided to skip The Royal Bake Shop French toast.  At least now I have a reason to return!
Our sunny and stunning view.  You can also opt to dine indoors.


Breakfast was delicious!  Surf Lanai serves up an extensive menu with dishes made with quality ingredients. 

After breakfast, my family went back to the room to have some more of that amazing pink haupia cake while I headed off to the Abhasa Spa located within the resort.  I decided I just had to squeeze in an hour to enjoy a massage in Oahu's only spa that offers outdoor treatments in a tropical garden setting.  It was amazing and I loved the outdoor experience.  Even better is that they offer kama'aina a 15% discount off treatments.  

I had the 50 minute abhasa Harmony - a Hawaiian inspired Lomi Lomi massage infused with Japanese Shiatsu in this outdoor cabana.
After the nice recharge I got from the massage, I arrived back to the room just in time for check out.  As the door shut, Lauren yelled, "Wait!  Just one more bite of the cake!"  Yes, it was that good.  We left our luggage with the bell desk and headed to the beach to enjoy the beautiful day.  Guests of the Royal Hawaiian have access to the hotel's private beach area which offers chaise lounges and umbrellas for rental.  I'd opt for this except the kids wanted to get into the water.  After some time in the sand, we headed back to the hotel to play in the Maulani pool which is exclusive to guests of the Royal Hawaiian.  The pool is heated and uses fresh water with a salt water pool system.  

    
The beach is just steps away for the hotel.



The Maulani Pool is exclusive to Royal Hawaiian guests only.
My kids always have the best time in the pool!

The Royal Hawaiian was the perfect setting for my family’s quick getaway to reconnect, recharge, and play together.  We had such a great time and the best part of it is we will always have this family memory.  Mission Accomplished!

 

Back to reality, but our fun time won't be forgotten! 

Thank you to Starwood Hotels and Resorts Waikiki for hosting our stay and our meals at the Mai Tai Bar and Surf Lanai.  All gratuities were paid on my own.  All opinions are entirely my own.   


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