Green Disaster!

There is such a thing as too much spinach!

Smoothie experiment this morning:
2 celery stalks
1 apple
4 cups spinach leaves
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup almond milk
1tablespoon diced orange peels
2 tablespoons chia seeds

Blended above ingredients except chia seeds. Added chia seeds and let sit in fridge for 10 minutes until they are plump like tapioca balls in bubble drinks.

Okay, it was sweet enough, but the green thick texture was hard to swallow :(

I think I got carried away with the spinach. Celery is a tough veggie to blend, very fibrous texture and it smells similar to grass when blended. I'm not selling this one very well.

It may also be my blenders. I ran it first through my commercial oster and then through the magic bullet. And once more through the oster. I may need a better machine. Until then, I will experiment with a little less spinach ;)

Happy Healthy Eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

I Can't Believe It's Spinach!

Kid Approved Super Greens!
Handful spinach
3 frozen strawberries
1 banana
5 peach slices
1/2 cup Pineapple juice
1/2 cup almond milk
2 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons chia seeds

Blend all ingredients, except chia seeds. Add chia seeds after completely blended and let sit for 10 minutes in the fridge for the chia seeds to plump.

My older son who loves those bubble drinks, agrees that the chia seeds are very similar to the tapioca balls. Of course, WAY Healthier!!! ;) mmmmm try this one. It will rev up your day.

Happy Healthy Life!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Love at First Bite

It was a great night at the recognition awards dinner for the Kalaheo NJROTC.

Buffet! I took no photos of any food, shocking! But as it was $30 per person, I tried a little of everything.

With my tastebuds reset since my detox, flavors were WOW! It helps that the Officer's Club is well known for good food. Truly delicious!

I'm a little sad thinking about returning to my, "all the veggies you can eat" detox, but I've sort of just programmed myself for it and I like the idea of it becoming a healthy habit. Well, for a while longer, at least.

Wishing you a very very healthy and Happy Aloha Friday!

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

Salad Again?

A few days into my detox, and I have been too busy to make anything more exciting than just salad.

Getting my whole family on board, that's another story. Apparently they need 24/7 security detail monitoring their every bite, and sadly no one has the time.

The first few days, I was honestly too cranky to care. I think it was toxins leaving my system. I cranked up my vitamins and omega three's and today, I'm feeling better than ever.

I love the increased energy and the diminished cravings for anything.

Healthy veggies, especially raw veggies, have a great effect on your body.

I'm already noticing the improvement in my skin and better sleep.

You can do your detox up to 14 days. I'm thinking about it. Tomorrow I get to add a little protein, as it's day 4. I'm saving it for dinner.

Happy healthy eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Raw Bites

My family is a bit freaked out over the "all vegetable" meals. So I decided to ease them into it with some yummy fancy raw bites.

Walnut Pate Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers.
My recipe feeds two people well, double, triple, etc, based on your own needs. Also mini bell peppers taste just like the regular size, use either, just adjust for volume.

4 mini bell peppers
1/2 cup walnuts
5 sun dried tomatoes.
Puree these ingredients until it is a smooth paste. I pre-chopped them just to make it easier on my hand blender as I was lazy to pull out the food processor.

1/4 cup finely chopped onions
Add the onion to pate. Sweet Maui onions or red onions would make it better, if you have it.

10 mini bell peppers
I sliced these open and stuffed as much pate as I could in each little bell pepper.

1 zucchini sliced in spirals - I had my mom's as seen on tv Japanese vegetable slicer. Side note- I honestly was irritated when she bought another kitchen tool that the food processor can do, but after playing with it, I admit, it's very cool.

Plating was fun with the zucchini noodles and topping them with the pretty stuffed bell peppers. I also chopped up more sun dried tomatoes and added a handful of chopped walnuts with a drizzle of olive oil.

My older son braved a few bites. He said it was ok. The younger son will need a few threats or bribes maybe to even taste it. Ugh kids!

Happy healthy eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Almost Triathlon

Jogging along the orange cones around Lanikai loop and being passed by much faster runners with smeared black marker numbers on their arms, hearing the cheers from the triathlon race attendants at different checkpoints, wow! It was extremely encouraging!

The bikes lined up on special racks were filled with amazing high performance racing bikes.
Athletes were sprinting over, dripping wet to get back on their bikes. It felt like an Ironman competition.

I could see the swimmers in the water after completing their run. From the top of the hill, it looked like a mile long swim to the set up buoy.

I wasn't actually racing, and it was almost over as my newly appointed fitness coach and fellow paddler jogged through the race course along with other fitness enthusiasts like us. It was still very exciting and I am really inspired to want to actually participate in one of these events.

I have a lot more work to do to achieve my personal fitness goals, but if you ever need a big boost of inspiration, run through a designated race course, if possible. Even though I know the race attendants weren't cheering for us exactly, it felt special :)

Tomorrow is my first day of my all veggie detox. I'm planning on making a green smoothie or assorted veggie salad. I truly hope to have great recipes to share while I do this.

Wishing you a healthy fun week!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Got Veggies?

Mahalo to my mom who already ventured out shopping to buy an assortment of veggies for some yummy meals this week.

I still have no idea what I'm going to create, but am fascinated with my raw food cook book. Every recipe sounds yummy. I will honestly try a few and let you know.

So again, detox rules, all the veggies you can eat and a serving of fruit with each meal. No skipping meals and cut out or really limit the caffeine. No Alcohol. Drink lots of water and take your vitamins.

Ok, one more naughty day of eating. Well, it's my brother's birthday and he wants a pizza party. Yum!

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Veggies Are Yummy!

Planning a shopping trip for a week of all veggies is harder than I thought.

I have been pouring over all my vegetarian cookbooks and still am overwhelmed. I guess that's a good thing, so many things I want to try.

Hope my family is just as excited. Seriously, I am hoping, praying, wishing my picky children will just learn to love their veggies, like their younger cousin.

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

Hungry

Increased workouts, increased appetite. This is a little frustrating as I can't tell if my weight is fluctuating because of weight gain or muscle gain.

I definitely see a lot of toning in my body from paddling. Weight training and hula have also done wonders for my body but I am eating more.

More veggies and protein, still trying to keep carbs to a minimum and choose as healthy as possible. It's harder coming home wet and tired from being on the ocean for a couple hours and mom has made a big pot of beef stew and rice...mmmmm all thinking goes out the window.

At those moments, I kind of feel like a teenager when I would come home from volleyball or softball practice and just eat. Love my mom, she has hot food when I'm too tired to cook.

I think it's my turn to cook tonight. But I need to be better, and with the longer daylight hours of spring and summer, it is a perfect time to push my whole family to get healthier.

It's time for a 7 day detox. The first time I did it, I lost about 7lbs I think. The second time it was closer to 11lbs. It's easy- all the veggies you can eat, and a serving of fruit for three meals a day. Follow along with me if you like and let me know any favorite veggies and how you like to eat them.

I will post more about this when I get started, hopefully next week. Need to plan a shopping list and survive my brother's birthday. One more last hoorah before the detox. Yay!

Until then, Wishing You A Happy Thursday!
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Happy Thursday Wishes

It's been such a beautiful Wednesday, my body is really exhausted. Early bedtime is on the agenda.
Sweet dreams.
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

How do you sneak up on an Eagle Ray?

Rain storm all day and afternoon. It finally let up a little around 5pm when I was heading to the beach for paddling practice.

Surprisingly the ocean was calm and out behind the Mokulua Islands we saw Eagle Rays.

Let's go see, we said. Quietly, our team of seventeen women started paddling the canoes over to where they were swimming.

Beautiful blessing. Wishing you a lovely week.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Love

There is always a silver lining on the darkest clouds.
Sending love and light,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Party Food

It's been a weekend of eating! Not that I intended it to be, but parties tend to be about food and social eating and drinking. If there wasn't food, I don't think anyone would show up.

Don't even think about the calories when everyone is making sure your glass of wine is full and if you tried grandma's mac salad or the ono spicy sushi that uncle brought. The steak and chicken were grilled to perfection and with every bite, I was having such a great time, I forgot all about the portion size and went back a few times for more crispy gau gee.

The one hour extra paddling practice early Sunday morning help to lessen the guilt of party indulgences. Again, I remind myself, I will balance it all out during the week. It may be a minor set back, but it was worth it. I loved every fun moment laughing with my family.

Happy week ahead.
Love to you and your ohana,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Weekend Ahead!

I can already smell the weekend, or its the beach :-) i'm ready for sunshine and playtime! Hope your weekend is relaxing and beautiful.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Baby Carrots

Babies love healthy fruits and vegetables. The trick is to never let them stop eating them as they grow older. Wether they like it or not.

My older son, Kekai, will eat almost anything. During my first pregnancy, I actually ate pretty much everything and (tmi, sorry) threw it all up to. Morning sickness from beginning to end.

My second pregnancy, I was very picky about what I ate, mostly veggies and probably too many carbs, nothing reactive. It didn't matter, I threw it up anyway. Yet, Kamalu hates veggies :( ugh!

He ate them in his baby food, but as he transitioned to other foods, he started eliminating the veggies and only ate the carbs and protein.

I didn't think it was to much of a problem, and hoped he would learn to like them, but he still fights me on it.

Actually, my brother was the same way, and now that he's older, he finally eats his veggies. I think in high school he finally realized they weren't so bad.

I sneak pureed veggies in as many dishes as I can, but I still wish my younger son would just eat them. Fruit he will eat, but fingers crossed, he starts to like veggies on his own soon.

I will keep serving it to him, and teach him everyday how important they are, but ultimately, it really has to be his choice. This is where parenting verses stubborn child gets a little complicated. I can compromise for now, as I know he's still eating them (the veggies he can't see), but I would be happier if he ate more.

My nephews are awesome little veggie herbivores ;) and so cute and healthy to. I love every chance I get, to tell Kamalu, "Your cousins are eating their veggies!" I wonder if they will help convince him.

Alright, I get a short break, as the kids are enjoying a day of learning at school, I can squeeze in a workout and have my own veggie, fruit, and protein smoothie! Yum!

Happy Thursday <3
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Blade

This is becoming my favorite way to start my day. Just my body slicing my paddle into the ocean.

Each stroke moves the canoe, gliding effortlessly on the water.
My fellow paddlers in sync is poetry on the ocean.

Wonderful Wednesday Wishes -say that five times fast ...made you smile :p

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

Hooker

I have no problem jumping out of a canoe, but getting back in, ummmm, that wasn't as easy as I had hoped.

I'm afraid I was lacking upper body strength yesterday to pull myself up. The preferred method was to hook your foot under your seat and use the strength in your legs to step up out of the water. It sounded easy, but I definitely need more practice.

Coach said, men frown upon hookers, but we are not guys and don't always have the upper body strength that they do. I really don't care, as long as I can get in to the canoe any way my body will climb up there.

No matter how tired my muscles are, I will be squeezing in more upper body strength training. Anything and everything that seems like push ups and pull ups with weights that my bowflex can do.

Hula practice is also on my busy agenda today. At least I got to sleep in a whole hour later to 6:30...well it is a school day.

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

Ready? Set? Go!

I love that everyone in my family is getting Fit and Healthy! Playing together is the best kind of workout for your body. Not only burning calories, but creating memories.

I love my fun and crazy family :)

Sending love and aloha always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Night night

Early to bed, early to rise...or something like that ;-) I'm sooo tired, the sheep will just have to count themselves.
Sweet dreams and happy wishes for a great week.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Alooooha!

I love the weekend! The sleeping in late is my favorite.

I could ignore my children and let them enjoy their weekend playing video games and eat everything in my house...ummm no.

It's more fun to drag them out and play, even if they don't want to. Silly, as soon as we are out, they love it.

I keep telling them, live the video game, don't just watch the avatar play it. Be the Avatar!

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

Honu

I love love love turtles!!!
I didn't take this photo, but send a mahalo to the person who did, whoever they are.

This morning while out paddling, a beautiful honu swam right up to our canoe. I said hello and reached out as if to pet it. Of course, it was beyond my reach, but it made me feel like it got the friendly message, hi, it is so nice to see you ;)

That made my day!

My great, great, great, idk how many, grandfather was rescued by giant turtles when their boat overturned on their way to Okinawa. That is another story tho, next time ;)

Happy Aloha Friday wishes!
Mahalo,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Hula

I am enjoying the Merrie Monarch and happy to see the Hawaiian culture thriving.

My body is exhausted from reawakening so much Hawaii culture in my own life, but it amazes me to.

Dancing hula and canoe paddling somehow feel like a perfect fit. Both depend on the strength of your legs. As a bonus, paddling has improved my posture, which, for now, I guess I can look good while I stand, because my gluteus maximus muscles are not allowing me to sit.

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

Mini veggie garden

I have a great pot, but it doesn't drain well and is need of more potting soil.

I just happen to have half a bag stored in an outdoor bench. As I reached to grab it, something loud moved inside the storage bench and I saw a gaping hole in the bag.

I admit that I am not a fan of bugs, but this hole is a bit big and makes me think it could be a mouse or rat! Ewww! I have made a request for someone braver than I to reach in and take out the soil and add it nicely to my veggie garden pot.

Is it possible to be a gardener and not like bugs? I know I should get myself a healthy crop of earthworms to, there is so much to learn.

Speaking of learning, I was so excited to tell my gardening guru, Diane, about my lettuce that it was growing so nice and tall, like a tree. She informed me, it was bolting and to eat the leaves, it was going to die.

I love all my plants, and it does make me sad when they aren't doing well. If you had seen me worrying over my Chinese Lantern plant, which my mom said was a weed, but I vigilantly begged it to survive and kept moving it back and forth in sunny and shady spots until I finally thought, just to give it a final resting spot with my roses.

My roses aren't actually blooming, they just look like thorny green stems poking in various directions from two inch pots. At least they are green, it gives me hope they will sprout little buds soon. Maybe its a season thing, even though we don't really have seasons in Hawaii.

Oh my, I've rambled on too long. Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!

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

Growing Healthy

Spring gardens are all the rage it seems. I'm not the only wannabe gardener out there.

A visit to see my nephews garden and they have been successfully growing eggplants, bananas, chocolate mint, and even a strawberry. Just one strawberry so far, but it's leaves are really healthy ;)

With all the concerns of pesticides, and how our food is grown, so many of my friends and family, and me to, are attempting to just grow things ourselves.

My own little garden, has a tomato plant, dill, and lettuce. I have a few pineapples and a coconut tree, we will see how long it takes for them to produce fruit.

I love seeing the greenery in my yard and am having fun caring for my little plants. I have even more talented gardening friends, my lovely friend Diane, can take cuttings and root them. This is so beyond where I am in my gardening skills, which really is just watering when I remember.

My brother is giving me my own banana tree, I am so excited! I just need to figure out where to plant it. They grow like weeds, but give a lot of bananas. Yum!

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

Sweet Dreams

Facing a big fear to do something I wanted to do my whole life, I can't even describe how that feels.

When I was younger, body surfing, or boogie boarding in the surf was so much fun. Sadly, I had been pulled under the waves and dragged out with the current so many times, that waves scared me enough, I never felt like surfing ever again.

I would see the canoe paddlers catching the waves to, and I desperately wanted to try it. I actually can swim pretty well. I would never admit to being an expert, but swimming out in the open ocean, is still something I want to try.

Diving, and seeing the reef and swimming with the dolphins and whales in the open ocean, I know, sharks to, but thats ok, they are all magnificent creatures.

I have fallen in love with canoe paddling and even more excited to surf the waves, it's been so long, I forgot what that felt like.

My body hurts. I'm, once again, discovering more muscles on my body that I just haven't used. It's worth it. The thought of climbing up and down the stairs right now, or hula is a little frightening. Eventually, my body will adjust with all this conditioning.

Wishing all your dreams come true, and of course, I hope they don't hurt, unless it's a little body conditioning ;) it will only make you stronger.

Best health always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Easter Brunch

Waffle station chef, four year old Ethan, was creating breakfast master pieces for our family brunch. Topping his creations with healthy blueberries, strawberries, and bananas. Even a little whip cream for his older cousins.

Mom bought ono fried rice from Times Coffee Shop, while Tabitha cooked up a lot of Portuguese sausage, bacon, and eggs.

Every tempting bite was delicious, and we all worked it off, running after the two busiest little boys. One year old Connor races across the house and under furniture at lightning speeds. He will also do sneak attacks and grab your legs when you least expect it. He made me jump twice.

Even faster is Ethan, who can change activities and move from place to place so quick, I kept forgetting what we were doing in the first place.

A great weekend, again I'm exhausted. I felt almost guilty when I got home and took a nap. I kept thinking about my adorable nephews who were not going to give their parents any nap time and probably limit their sleep.

We laugh, soon my nephews will be sleeping peacefully all night and their parents can catch up on the years of sleep they have given up. I know all about that, I'm still trying to catch up, and my kids have both been sleeping through the night for ten years. Ha ha!

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