Eggs, Eggs, and more Eggs!

Eggs are delicious and super healthy. Also very useful. A healthy serving of protein and so very delicious. I already mentioned the egg yolk hair mask, but I am always throwing my egg shells in the compost planters outside to. I think my plants like them. They are still growing, and look great, just like my hair ;) lol.

My mom is always boiling eggs and my children are always stealing them from her fridge. I love my egg white omelets and also over easy, running gooey all over any hot veggie, or brown rice with kim chee.

We shouldn't have too many leftover this year, as my favorite nephews hunt down the plastic eggs. Less smelly if you can't find it again and a treasure to find later.

Happy Easter Celebrations! A lovely family holiday, no matter what your faith. Wishing you many blessings.
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

I'm going to sleep good tonight!

I had a great bike ride this morning. Practiced hula for cardio and just to practice. Totally freaked out all day, about how hard my first day of paddling was going to be, and completely surprised at how kind our coaches were on the first day.

Seriously, I was in a bit of a panic with thoughts of running up and down the beach.

I don't think they wanted to scare us off, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Signing up for a physical sport, like paddling, I'm certain it will get harder, and I hope to be ready physically to run and swim the distance.

Tonight, I'm just wishing we could have practiced longer, or I could get back out on the water tomorrow. Until next time...

Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Surprises Around the Corner

Reward for my efforts of biking up the hill is my favorite ocean view. Always a good surprise!

Bad Surprise, would be joggers, cars, other cyclists, or slow walking tourists. I honestly, am just so happy I'm back out on my bike again. A day goes bye and I wonder when I will ride next.

I let little things suck up so much time in my day, that I just want to get some exercise. I really have to get it done first thing in the morning. Then I won't be spending my day watching the time, and thinking how I will fit it in.

I think many agree with me that first thing in the morning is the best time. I see the regular runners, who know what to expect when they see a cyclist trying to squeeze safely between them and moving cars. They not only wave a friendly good morning or hello, they also move to the side to let me safely pass.

I expect, living in a tourist destination, the tourists. They are so awed by the scenery, they forget they shouldn't walk in the middle of the road. Okay, they are on vacation, I will wait until they pass.

Wishing for lots of good surprises for all of us. Because, they always say, rewards are just around the corner. Happy Aloha Friday!

Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

I miss my workout buddies!

It's harder to motivate myself without dragging my boys along. Wait a minute, their is a thought there. It actually may be an even better workout without the complaining children.

Seriously they have no idea what they are missing. Well, unless they have PE.

You know I hated PE in my younger school days. It wasn't until high school that it really was fun. Looking forward to a day of play, just for me ;)

Happy Thursday Wishes!
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

New Curves

Adventuring out on a new bike route is terrifying, exciting, and full of unexpected twists, and turns. The scary part, is always facing a new hill.

This is so de ja vue and metaphorical, it's spooky.

So when I was a little girl, my dad and I would bike all over our neighborhood. To be going back out on these once familiar rides takes me right back to being a kid again. Very de ja vue.

Just before we left, I asked my son, are you sure you want to ride there, lots of hills? He said yes. My memory of those hills were that they were so big and difficult to pedal over when I was a kid, but today, easy.

Time always changes our perspective on every challenge or situation we have ever faced. I'm not afraid of a hill, because, one day it will be just a small bump in the road.

Alright, I'm done with the zen for now. Time for a ride!

Happy adventuring!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Indulgence or fuel?

I love to eat, therefore, I must learn to LOVE exercise!

I really do like that feeling of pushing my body and trying to exercise as many muscles in a workout as I can. I Love the adrennaline and endorphines pumping through my system keeping me motivated to go a little longer.

The thoughts before exercise, ugh, unmotivated, tired, cranky, grouchy, rebellious, and probably a million more emotions that would all wish to crawl back under the warm covers and snooze all day.

Love gets me moving! I love my family, and to enjoy this life with them, I need to love me, for them. I want them to love themselves to take care of their bodies and enjoy this life with me. Love, love, love keeps me going.

Love also feeds me to much. At my age, I see food in different categories. Food is either fuel or indulgence. I have learned to put in my body what I know I need to function at optimal performance for my days activities. I also love to enjoy yummy indulgances with friends and family and live each fabulous moment of my life.

Balance is key, and something I have to practice everyday. I'm learning to be better, I want to be my best, not just for me, but for those I love. I will be the change that I want to see in them. That's all I can do. It's for love.

Sending love and light to you always.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Rain or Shine

Morning bike ride after a rainy night, maybe it wasn't the best idea. Riding through puddles just sprays that liquid all over you.

Tires are great at splattering your entire backside with muddy droplets and without fenders, it will splash it right into your face.

Riding mortorcycles, I'm sort of used to it. Some car drivers though, charge through puddles, regardless of pedestrians or cyclists. Bummer!

Still, I'm just happy to be outside, enjoying nature at a slower pace, and completly fascinated at how much our bodies can physically move us over, what I thought were, long distances, but weren't.

Reminding myself, a little mud won't hurt me and to just splash through the puddles like the big kids.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Adventure Day 4

Gave up on pushing my boys on the exercise for another day, they said they needed their own time to enjoy their Spring Break Vacation. Whatever ;)

Their reprieve was only granted because I had a better offer for a walk on the beach. My lovely friend and the happiest dog in the world.

Catching up with friends is so healing. I wish we had more time, but grateful for every moment.

A great walk, enjoyed the beach, and grateful for this paradise we call home.

I wasn't feeling like I got enough of a workout in, hah! OMG Hula was a workout! I was hurting in class but woke up feeling ok, and the scale was so generous with another pound lost, I could almost sing. Ahhh but no one wants to hear that...maybe I will finally greet my bike again, or drag my boys out for a run, weather they like it or not. Seriously, it's another beautiful day, I want to play outside.

Happy Aloha Friday! Adventure Day 5 Awaits!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Adventure Day 2

I think I bruised my butt! The thought of sitting on anything but soft pillows is frightening.

Bike seats are not comfy. If I could only make riding with a pillow under my butt look cool, I would totally do that. I may fall off my seat though, and I can't afford to bruise any other body parts.

I'm rediscovering muscles I haven't used in years, and they are all unhappy! Oh well, I knew getting back on a bike after so many years wouldn't be so easy.

There is such an adrenaline rush rolling down a steep hill right after you huffed and puffed and pedaled, you and the heaviest bike in the world, up it.

The views are amazing and the distance that you can travel so quickly with just pedal power is enough of a fascination to keep me doing this for awhile, I hope.

Now if I can just convince my butt that it won't hurt to sit on that hard tiny seat. Even the memory foam seat cover isn't helping.

Adventure Day 3 awaits! To be continued...
Smiles for your day.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Surprise Breakfast

I have my feet up and resting with my morning smoothie after an exhausting bike ride.

Surprise, my son cooked up breakfast. French toast. I don't think I ever taught him how to even make that, but he googled the recipe and wa la! Bon apetit! And he delivered right to my comfy spot by the pool.

Okay this is a moment I want to enjoy. Yum! It tasted really good to. I can almost feel a tear, he is growing up so fast.

Of course I'm going to blog, post and tag him.
I'm a proud mommy, ahhh the legacy ;)
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Adventure Day 1

Monday was officially day one of Spring Break! In a serious effort to get my kids moving, we were up early...ummm this seemed to confuse them, as they whined that it wasn't a school day. I said, it's eight, not six thirty, wake up, I want to go for a bike ride.

Older son got up and started getting ready, younger son, ugh! Opposition and defiance. I made him choose an activity that he would promise to do if he wasn't going to join us on the bike ride, he finally agreed to walking in the afternoon. Fine.

The bike ride was a quick hour and a half. We really need more bike lanes and it needs to be safer for kids to ride in neighborhoods, especially around schools. Sorry, I went off track. Ummm?

Oh yes, the afternoon walk was great except for the complaining child that was refusing to go. I thought we had a deal?

He forced me to use my threatening scary mom voice! I really don't like doing that, but as it was for his own good and mine, I had no choice. As soon as we started the walk, he was great and really enjoyed it.

Reflecting back on the day, it was a good start to the possibility of getting my kids more active everyday. I'm hoping.

Okay, ready for adventure day 2? To be continued...

Wishing you an amazing day!
Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

It was an ice cream extravaganza this weekend. Homemade ice cream experiments have taken over my freezer.

Last weekend, I purchased really good organic ice cream from our local all organic vegetarian grocery store -Down to Earth. My boys loved it. After recently finishing off a container of ice cream from Costco, they realized there was a difference.

We had a serious discussion about using good quality organic ingredients versus ingredients used to make mass produced ice cream. Actually its really about the air and making ice cream in small batches with the best ingredients that you like.

My boys have proclaimed themselves ice cream connoisseurs. They now insist I buy the good organic store ice cream, or make it at home.

Truthfully, I have had a beautiful ice cream maker sitting in the cabinet for a few years. After dusting it off, we made a few yummy batches of ice cream. The whole family gave it a thumbs up.

Whole, good quality ingredients, will make you feel full and satisfied. You actually can't eat to much, because it really is very rich.

I loved that I could control every ingredient and adjust flavors based on our personal preferences. Customized just for our tastebuds makes my ice cream maker worth every penny. They really aren't very expensive, but they are big and take up a lot of real estate in my cabinets. For a family that loves ice cream, it was a yummy investment.

I made a bunch of healthy low calorie ice creams to, they are virtually guilt free. I hope to post how to videos and recipes soon. There is a spinach ice cream recipe that I'm a little nervous about, but the reviews say its good. I will let you know ;)

Life is sweet, wishing you lots of yummy bites.
Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Healing swim

My youngest son is home sick today. Actually since yesterday and my only thought is to stick his head in the ocean. Growing up in Hawaii, it is what we all know to do when you have a head cold, just go to the beach.

I love the ocean and truly feel it's power to calm my mood just looking at it. I prefer to take the long way home from Honolulu every chance I get, and drive around Hawaii Kai and Kalama to see Sandy's and Makapu'u all the way through Waimanalo and into Kailua. I don't even care if there is traffic, I just want to see the ocean.

The salt water, and the warm sunshine is the best combination to heal your body. If I didn't live in Hawaii, I would take a hot bath filled with Hawaiian Salt. Epson Salt is okay to. Actually when my muscles are sore, nothing is better to soothe my tired muscles. I made my oldest take salt baths everyday he came home from football practice, as a bonus it help clear up his teenage acne.

It also helps with weight loss. Your skin is your largest organ and it loves salt water. Feed your skin and allow it to send healing through your entire body. My skin is soft and happy, my hair is beautiful.

I love the ocean. Let's all take care of our oceans, and if you can, send the ocean some nice thoughts of love and healing to. Grateful and blessed to live a healthy life.

Sending Healing thoughts to you and your family.
Love and Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

A Message of Love

This is really a message that has been echoing in my thoughts and dreams for a while and I keep trying to say it better and soon, I will. Love yourself first and allow healing, then you can love others and help them on their path to love and healing.

Everything in this life is about love. Every life lesson, every relationship, every hardship and every reward in this life is all about love.

It seems so simple then, that if we live in a place of love, that our life will only be filled with love. Like a magnet attracting the energy you send out, it will come into your life.

If we perceive every situation with love, it is always a reward.

Every step on my journey, I have to look back on it with love. No matter the difficulty, no matter the blessing, it is all behind me and I move forward to the next step. Remembering that with love, my journey is blessed.

Tears flow as I send love out to everyone, that they walk this life with love and attract many rewards and blessings with every step.

You are blessed, you are loved!

Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Kids may not think this is funny

The other day my son asked me to pick him up from school. I said sure. He usually will ride his bike, but this morning he didn't want to. He often is lazy in the morning and asks me to pick him up and I say, "What was the point of getting you a bike, if you aren't going to ride it?" If he dares reply anything but ok, I have a long lecture that follows, but he knows better now.

So in the afternoon, I showed up and was waiting for him at the school exit. He looked past me and at the long row of cars trying to find mine. I watched him walk back to a bench, where he pulled out his phone to call me. I started walking toward him and answered his call, "Hello?" He hung up, as I was now standing in front of him and asked, "Where is the car?" I said, "What car?"

I was wearing my favorite walking shoes and carrying my bottle of water, he looked at me and groaned. I said, "I'm here to pick you up." He didn't smile, but I was laughing. The happy endorphins were already flowing in my brain from the short walk from our house, I was in such a good mood.

Seriously, he is eleven years old and should be in better shape than me to walk the short distance home. I used to love walking home after school, he's just lucky his dad is nice enough to drive him in the morning when he is tired. It's more about making sure he gets to school on time, as I don't trust that he would walk at a snails pace and miss as much school time as he could get away with.

My other son, has no problem staying active, such different personalities. Except my younger son used to be incredibly organized and neat my older son would happily live in a mess if I wouldn't nag him to clean his room, or their bathroom, and I could only hope they may give the dog a bath at least once a year.

Someday, I hope they find beautiful, and highly organized girls, who can cook, clean, and take care of them. I'm trying to teach them these skills, but I feel like I'm running out of time as they seem to be lazy learners.

Ugh, I need a mom to teenage boy translator. Someone make it soon! They do keep me up to date with the latest lingo, I guess. My youngest has defined me as a hipster and his dad as just old. I laugh, that's kind of funny.

Happy Thoughts for your day. School will be out soon, it's time for a walk ;-) lol

Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Drunken Shrimp ;)

Do you know what cleans out and almost empty jar of chopped garlic or pesto? Wine. I still have half a bottle left.

I love cooking with wine, because it softens and tenderizes everything and the alcohol cooks off leaving a hint of yummy fermented grapes.

Last nights dinner emptied two more jars out of my fridge.

Shrimp, capers, sun dried tomatoes in a white wine garlic butter pesto sauce with a few dashes of balsamic vinegar over whole wheat pasta. Oh wow! It sounds very yummy and tasted pretty good to.

I started with half a stick of butter, 4 generous tablespoons of garlic, 1/4 cup of pesto and 2 cups of wine. Let that simmer with a a couple tablespoons of whole wheat flour to thicken. I usually don't like to thicken white sauces, but my mother would have complained.

While that was going, my pasta was boiling also. Tasting while it cooked it needed a little sweet. I added several dashes of balsamic vinegar to taste.

I have to admit, green pesto plus black balsamic with wheat flour wasn't a pretty color. At that moment I added the red sun dried tomatoes.

The more veggies the better. If I had more leftover peppers, it would have been perfect. I did have two cans of diced mushrooms but still it was more brown color and I was wishing for green spinach. Instead, the pretty little capers were my added green, and I love capers.

Salt and pepper to taste til I liked it. Then I spooned out almost all the sauce onto the hot pasta. I left maybe a 1/4 cup of sauce in the pan and sauted the peeled shrimp. It cooked fast. I tossed it with the pasta and sauce and served it up to a hungry family with a big salad.

Perfectly simple experiment that my family voted as edible and tasty. Yeah! That's good enough for me.

Enjoy life's tasty bites.

Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

New Moon, New You!

I love new moon energy! Having released all the bad habits and negative energy in the shrinking moon phase, we have finally arrived.

Take this time for yourself, and shed old skin, old habits, old thinking, and allow healing.

What small step can you take that makes you feel purified, devoted, purposeful, and respectful of your body today?

It is time to nourish your body, your mind, and your spirit and live the life you were meant to.

The entire universe sends its healing to you. Allow it in your life. Feel the love that surrounds you. You are blessed.

Sending love and light always.
Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Hawaii may be in serious trouble!

Hawaii may be in serious trouble. The world needs places like Hawaii to grow organic foods! True Organic in a perfect paradise conditions with our unique proximity to the equator and multiple climate zones, we can no longer ignore this issue. 

The world's food supply is at stake. What you and your family will be consuming for the rest of your life and there's should be everyone's number one priority. 

We truly can stop all illness. Healthy food will mean healthy populations, a healthy planet and the best future! 

Let's work together to finally voice our concerns and make healthier lifestyle changes that will benefit you and the world. 

You don't have to do it all in one day, and you are definitely not alone! Little steps to a healthier lifestyle, will make an impact to a better and healthier life. 

Save Hawaii...Save the planet...Save yourself! I'm not being overly dramatic, this is a serious issue that really scares me. I want everyone to be healthy, but how can you be healthy, when you eat your fruits and veggies that are genetically modified or worse? Why do so many chemical companies have so much control over acres of Hawaii's Land? Please pass on the link. Mahalo nui loa, Maile

 

The Legend of Surfing: Kelly Slater | Living an Organic Life

 

Wishing you your best health always.
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/

 

http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Addiction

Sugar is a bad habit. It has been my hardest habit to kick. I'm not perfect and I fall off the bandwagon, so to speak, every so often.

Today is day 2 of another day without added sugar, chocolate to be specific. I wish I didn't even have it in my house, but as I don't live alone, I have to honor other family members desires to have it.

I have insisted though, that we no longer buy cheap sugar candy. They seem to be the most addictive. If I bite into chocolate again, I want the best quality chocolate with the least added sugar.

Birthdays, parties, any celebration, especially here in Hawaii, revolves around food and there is usually a tempting dessert somewhere in the buffet.

I actually am pretty good and can limit myself to a small piece of whatever, or better, refuse it all together. Will power is amazing, but I'm not bulletproof when it comes to some favorites, and my friends and family know exactly what they are. It's why I love them...ha ha

To get myself off sugar, I crank up my proteins and especially my omega three's. A really good quality fish oil, I take good supplements, and avoid simple carbohydrates.

You can't get all your nutrients from food, especially omega 3's. Not only does it balance your mood, it has so many benefits, especially for children. Please choose a good quality fish oil! Make sure your fish oil comes from a good source. My fish oil is from anchovies and sardines from the cold waters of the Mediterranean. Small fish, short life span, less possibility of mercury. Don't pick a fish oil from big fish, mackeral, or even salmon as it usually is just treated as a cheap by product of the fishing industry.

My favorite omega 3 Link: http://www.shop.com/ul!1358008!Omega+3-trends+260.xhtml?credituser=C3929526

There have been almost no withdrawls or crankiness and cravings are gone today. The first day is always the hardest because, I had allowed it as almost a usual part of my day.

It takes 90 days to start any habit, but it can take even less time to stop a bad habit.

Distractions are the biggest help, and avoiding all possible access to sugar in all its forms.

Let's be realistic, sugar is in almost everything, I'm not afraid of natural sugar-honey, real maple syrup (without added sugar), agave, or fruit. Sugar substitutes, made from sugar, like stevia and splenda seem to be ok. I don't seem to have any serious sugar cravings from having added them to things. Of course, everyone is different, and you will have to see how it affects you.

Sugar has so many disadvantages, besides the addictive qualities, it can cause your body to age, weight gain, and illness. Our bodies were never meant to process the amount of sugar that seems so acceptable in American diets.

I wish you your best health. I wish it so much for my loved ones. Life truly is sweet and I would never say, you can't eat dessert ever again, just make the best decisions in the rest of your diet, so you can indulge a little.

Everything in balance, be kind to those you love and stop sharing cake, go for the chocolate dipped strawberries instead.

My favorite alternative to ice cream...frozen bananas! Naturally sweet and really yummy. I don't feel a twinge of guilt even when I add a big handful of almonds. Salty sweet...ugh, I know another craving thing.

Eat the best quality proteins, veggies, fruits and nuts you can afford. Treat your body with love and care, and skip the processed sugar and carbs, it won't take too long for your body to adjust and kick the sugar habit.

If I can do it, anybody can. I believe in you!

Love and Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Forever Young, Fit and Healthy!

I love spelling it out. Like a mantra I program my brain, my body, my life, and impact those around me by living this energy as best I can always!

This is my life! I have no idea how many days I get to live it and I'm going to enjoy it.

The first time I did something completely selfish was splurging $800 on lasik to correct my vision. Of course, if you know me, I hemmed and hawed and wished to correct my vision for years, but when I had kids, and thought, what if there was a fire in the middle of the night? I wouldn't be able to get my contacts in my head before saving them and me (no glasses, the gap between my eyes and the glass made me nausious- yeah I'm probably the only weird person on the planet who couldn't walk in glasses without being sick.)

Anyway, the fear of not being able to see my own hand in front of my face in the dark without my contacts, and thinking how was I going to find my children, that scared me straight.

So you get it, it actually took someone else's safety to correct my vision. Alright, not really selfish, but my best self was for their safety. Plus the thought of cutting my eyeballs scared me.

That may be overly dramatic, but I always think back to that series of thoughts when I want something, especially if it's expensive.

I have to know if it really is worth the financial strain it might take on my family if it truly is for them. Another big purchase was my treadmill. I am a serious researcher. Thanks to the internet and reviews from lots of consumers- I read reviews! I found the perfect treadmill. It took weeks to arrive and although I got a great deal on it, the shipping cost to Hawaii spent that.

It was worth every penny though! It was also a pain for my husband, his brother, my brother, and my dad to carry upstairs. I appreciate it so much.

Incorporating any large piece of gym equipment into your home, is always an adjustment. At first, everyone wants to play with the shiny new big toy. Then it sits unused in the corner as an over-priced laundry holder.

Then you clean up and try to get yourself back on track to achieving your health and wellness goals that insist these large pieces of exercise equipment deserve a giant section of valuable living room space in front of the television.

I have walked and walked and sometimes ran, uphill levels 1-9 and played with the exciting interval settings to make you think you are walking outdoors (I trip over my own shoes like I'm outdoors to). The television helps to distract me, but even better, my mini-me apple genius son, help hook up an old computer and now I have been multi-tasking and working, and walking. A little more challenging, anything to burn a few more calories.

My treadmill is several years old now, needs an engine tune up, but I owe so much of my weight loss to walking. I invested in a good quiet treadmill that is gym quality, and although outdated, it still works.

I won't stray too far off this topic, but if you are going to invest in anything, make sure you will love it, otherwise you won't use it. I got a cheap one for free and hated it. Test drive real ones if you can, and see if its too loud or the tread won't slip when you run on it.

I have been forced to do my walks outside now, (at least until I get my treadmill looked at) and I can't tell you how much I love it. Especially in Hawaii and this wannabe gardner gets super excited to see all my neighbors landscaping. I snap photos of ideas and have picked several little seeds from here and there of plants I might like.

I am hoping a kukui nut will sprout from my neighbors tree around the corner. As it is almost mango season, and I am walking past a good five to ten trees, I hope to be bringing mangos home from a morning walk soon.

Ok where was I going with this thread, fit and healthy, yes I am there! Here! Living happily fitter and healthier and feeling younger than my children. I can't force them to get their bodies in shape, but I can force them to go outside and play, and now they are having a hard time keeping up with me.

Next is getting all my loved ones fit and healthy because I want us to all be around for almost forever. Yes almost, I don't really want to live forever, but as long as I am alive, I will look and feel as young as possible! 21Forever ;) yep! I love getting carded. It still happens.

Ok funny story...you can stop reading...or read on if curious.

I was out shopping with my aunt, and I was all dressed up, hair, make up, looking pretty. We stopped into the store to buy midori for kamikaze shots, and I was standing next to these two teenage girls and I overheard one say, as she pointed at me, "She has someone buying her alcohol." Ha ha ha! I was so happy they thought I was barely legal to. Life is great!

Hugs, smiles, and lots of giggles for your day!

Aloha,
Maile


@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Easy Drunken Chili

This is a clean out the fridge and use up leftovers recipe and it is not exact nor foolproof but it was yummy :)

Taco night leftover seasoned hamburger, I had about 4 cups. One diced up onion, couple half empty jars of salsa, a cup of chopped bacon, one can of tomato paste, one can of organic tomato sauce, two can of organic kidney beans, half a cup of fresh chopped tomatos, a quarter cup of molasis and four or five cups of chardonnay. I lost count.

I saute'd the onion first, added the kidney beans, hamburger, fresh tomatos, salsa, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Let that simmer on low for a few minutes then tasted.

To balance the acidity of a lot of tomato, I usually will add brown sugar, but I wanted almost bbq sauce, but didn't have any, and so I thought of molasis syrup. Just a good squirt. Tasted. It was ok.

I thought beer chili was popular, but I didn't have any good beer handy but, I do have three open bottles of wine in the fridge. Chardonnay being a little sweeter than the merlot, and pinot grigio was my favorite choice.

I poured in about a cup and it just soaked into everything. I tasted it and couldn't taste the wine. Added more wine, another cup, and tasted then I did this adding tasting thing a few more times until I liked it.

Even better my family likes it. I doubt I will ever be able to recreate this recipe exactly, but I just wanted to show, how almost fool proof a pot of chili can be.

This may be more for my son, as I am trying to teach him how to cook for himself when he goes away for college. I'm sure he will invent new versions, but if you just keep tasting, adding a few of your favorite ingredients, cooking is the best kind of edible experiment and we like to have a little fun.

Family cooking adventure nights! It gets even better, when I can say, clean up ;) and go enjoy a long hot shower while my boys put all the food away and clean up the kitchen, and all the dishes. I knew there was a few good reasons to have kids ;)

Love and Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Save your peels and the planet ;)

I love citrus! To be more correct, my body loves citrus! Lemon juice with warm water in the morning to detox my organs, and as much oranges, tangerines, cuties or clementines I can eat (eat not drink, at least until I get an awesome blender that can pulverize the fiber nicely, anyone got a vitamix or blendtech blender? I am having a hard time deciding on one.)

As I recently discovered from my last doctor visit, 1000 milligrams of vitamin C will give most people the runs. That is useful information for anyone who has suffered from constipation. A natural remedy...Anyway...

Citrus peels are packed with vitamin C, great in recipes, and super useful. Side note- you may have seen labeling on your citrus fruits that it is coated with lac resin or wax. These are toxic to our bodies. Also some citrus is dyed.

In a global marketplace, where the world eats what it wants when it wants, these coatings to protect the precious fruit have to take place. My recommendation, is just a personal opinion.

Store bought, even organic, will likely be coated with something. I wash (with an organic dish soap or veggie wash) these fruits before I even put them in my fridge. I save the peels for making outdoor insect repellents and cleaners, and more. I will probably be doing how to videos soon.

Citrus fruits from friends and family and local farmers (that you know with absolute certainty who can tell you that no chemicals touched their fruit) i just wash and eat them. I save the peels and use generously in recipes, and essential oils and anything else. Seriously, I may go on forever, you get the idea, super useful.

It will take a week or two to let your pretty orange peels dry out. I put them in pretty bowls and leave them out on the counter. Bugs don't like it and it adds a nice fresh clean scent to your living space.

As a wannabe awesome gardener ;)
I save the seeds of these local fruits and try try try to grow them. Send happy thoughts to my little seedlings and plants. I have maybe twenty or more little seeds of potential that could sprout at any moment.

My dream is to get them into the hands of friends and family that can grow them and help them spread. Let's go back to planting our own fruit trees and gardens in our back yards. Maybe we can lesson our carbon footprint and not have to buy fruit that travels around the world, when we can grow it ourselves.

Support your local organic farmers when you can.

Love and Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Reflection

You can't escape your reflection in the mirror but seeing yourself everyday you don't realize how much your body changes until you put on your old clothes.

Pregnancy took its toll on my body and depression kept me trapped in an unhealthy lifestyle for too long.

This weekend, while out shopping, I saw the reflection of my old self in another young mom and my heart went out to her. I could feel her pain and sadness and knew there was nothing I could do or say to help her in that moment. It his her journey, like it was mine, to find a path to my own healing.

I found inspiration that resonated with me, and that may have been the true beginning to my healing. I don't know if anyone will find synergy with my journey, but I know if I just share it, someday, it just may light that spark in someone to start their own journey to their best life.

I can't go back in time and help the lost woman I used to be, but I found answers when I was ready to ask the right questions. I am excited to see myself getting to my optimal weight and living a much happier and energetic life.

Wishing you your best health always!

Love and Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Green thumbs at the ready!!!

My body has not worked out as hard as a day of gardening. Seriously, a two hour marathon run has nothing on this, or a two hour weight lifting set.

I thought I was in great in shape to handle some easy landscaping, but was quickly humbled after a few swings of a pick axe.

Grass is tougher than you think! Soft and fluffy under your feet and you may think, slightly fragile with its bald spotted brown patchy areas. Oh no!

I admit, it has been a while since I last dug up the yard and an area thats about ten feet wide by twenty feet long didn't seem like a big deal, I was huffing and puffing and out of breath after a few minutes of grass chopping.

I felt like I was cutting down a giant mango tree by the effort I was putting in. Grass is thick and everywhere. To get to the underlying dirt, I had to cut away the top layer of grass.

I would like to blame the heavy pick axe that has a cutting flat edge of only 6". That may have been my first problem, improper tools.

I'm not a gardener and since I had broken my shovel and the axe seemed to cut thru the grass with every blow, it seemed the right tool. It was just heavy, and slow work.

I had big gaping holes in the yard and thought I could just fill it in, but I hadn't gotten enough dirt. Even though my car was filled and this had been my second trip of getting dirt.

Plus after adding this different compost mixture, my soft and hard sand in my yard, plus grass was all lumpy (technical gardenering term) and I needed to level it out.

Thus the pick axe and sore muscles, a few tears, and three pounds lost! Seriously it should be more like twenty, I cried a lot!

It's the morning after, my body is in pain, I will let it heal and get lits if rest. Landscaping project, to be continued...next weekend ;)

Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html