My Favorite TrenDiva Earrings

I am so fortunate to have access to an endless supply of trendy, show stopping, stylish jewelry from my bestie Chany Kumalae with TrenDiva.  Now when I go out, it’s really tough to decide what fabulous pieces to wear!  

Still, I have managed to decide on a favorite!  These gold and black crystal barrel hoops are called “hip hop chic” and were only $20.  They are super light and comfortable to wear, but still stand out and make a statement.  They match a ton of my outfits and look amazing!

Chany told me that all her “hip hop chic” loops are currently all sold out!! She may get more in, but in the meantime check out a few of these new hoops all available on TrenDiva Collection online

 

Taiwan Hot Springs

With all the chilly surf sessions I’ve had lately, I can’t help my reminisce about the hot springs in Taiwan.  I would die for a hot tub here at my house, but the chlorine can be rough on the skin and hard on the electric bill.  I loved the natural hot springs that we experienced in Taiwan. 

They were all so soothing, hot hot, fairly cheap public pools, and really a lifesaver on the body after our long travels and surf sessions.  Oh and yes, everyone is required to wear bathing caps!

Lambert’s Cafe in Sikeston, Missouri

Okay, what the heck was I doing in Missouri? And where the heck is Sikeston?!! Well, my little sisters happen to go to college in Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University and about an hour and a half away from there is a famous country restaurant called Lambert’s Cafe, “the only home of the throwed rolls,” which has some of the best southern-home cooked food I’ve ever experienced. 

I have to refer to Lambert’s as an experience because that is what this place is, an experience like no other.  I grew up in Texas and got to sample some pretty good southern and home cooking, but Lambert’s is in a league of its own.  First of all, this location in Sikeston is literally in the middle of no where, surrounded by flat farm land and fields.  Secondly, this restaurant is ALWAYS crowded! There is always a wait, usually hours during normal meals times, so we decided to go at around 3 pm to avoid the crowds.  

Luckily, we got in after about a 15 minute wait and that’s when the madness began! This place is simply a large room with huge bench/booth type seating with large family style tables, wall to wall decor, and non stop action.  We were greeted by our happy and loud waiter and he brought us all waters in huge Big Gulp insultated mugs.  The servers here make your dining experience one of a kind by throwing rolls, pranking customers, and even singing songs. 

My mouth dropped when I looked at the enormous menu of choices like fried catfish, hot beef sandwich, chicken and dumplings, roast beef, and BBQ ribs.   And, I could not help but be distracted by one of the waiters throwing hot rolls at customers!!

Yes, this is that place! When you want some bread, you put your hand up, and someone will throw you a hot steaming dinner roll that is really the best dinner roll I have ever had in my life!! The rolls are massive, made fresh hourly, and taste like a hybrid between a southern biscuit and a dinner roll in one.  They are served with unlimited butter and honey.  This is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen because they throw the rolls fast, sometimes at your head, and sometimes people don’t catch it and rolls go flying everywhere. 

After the initial shock of where the hell we were, we all ordered our food and that’s when the food frenzy began.  They have what are called “pass arounds” aka huge tubs of food that waiters bring around to your table like fried okra, fried potatoes, macaroni and tomatoes, and black eyed peas.  These pass arounds come with your meal at no charge, are unlimited, and never stop coming! My favorite pass around was the FRIED OKRA!! I almost died and gone to heaven when the waiter came by with a vat of some of the crispest and tastiest fried okra I ever had.  The okra is literally spooned out onto the table in heaping amounts and eaten off the table!!  

When our entrees finally arrived, I was already half full from all the rolls and okra, but Lambert’s is not for the weary and like an athlete ready to win a race, I was ready to continue on the feeding frenzy.  My huge portion of fried catfish, green beans, and peaches came out and I had my game face on.  Next thing I knew a waiter came by and served me up a huge portion of the fried potatoes, and I was set. 

All the food I tasted that day was unbelievably tasty and auethenically home cooked.  In the end, my skinny brother Ryan took first place and ate more food and more rolls than all of us!!  

If you’re ever in the middle of no where in Missouri, you have to make the trip out to Lambert’s.  Lambert’s is for serious eaters only, no dieters will survive in this place.  To this day, I dream about Lambert’s, their fried okra, their rolls, and am trying to figure out how to get myself back there!

Photos of Molokai, Land of the Lost

This gallery contains 15 photos.

Here are a couple more photos of our amazing trip to Molokai summer 2011.  I wanted to show more of the landscape and scenery.  I just can’t believe we were only about 30 minutes away from Oahu and in our … Continue reading

Bad Yoga

Not all yoga is created equally and with that said not all yoga is zen, peaceful, and relaxing.  After spending most of my downward facing dogs at my favorite yoga studio Aloha Yoga Kula and getting excellent instruction from my favorite teachers Brigitte, Martin, and Leah, when I go elsewhere I sometimes find bad yoga

So what is bad yoga? Well, the “Taryn definition” of bad yoga is any yoga that feels uncomfortable, painful, dis-jointed, and where the instructor is difficult to follow, has you doing unrealistic poses without guiding you through them, and you leave the classroom feeling worst off them when you went in. 

So, I woke up this morning and my body is hurting from a bad yoga class I took yesterday.  I guess I blame myself for not going to Aloha Yoga Kula, but I figured I might try and save a couple bucks and do some “gym yoga.”

If my fellow yogis know what I’m referring to when I say bad yoga then we must boycott all the crappy yoga out there.  Instructors need to raise their yoga standards and really remember what practicing yoga is all about. 

To me, when yoga teachers focus on the exercise and physical aspect of their class and forget about the holistic approach the class becomes flat and awkward.  Chatarungas are not push ups, and you should not do 5 standing poses in a row in less than 30 seconds. 

Wikipedia refers to yoga as a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline or the goal of yoga or of the person practicing yoga, as the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on the Hindu concept of divinity or Brahman.   

I thank you Brigitte and the rest of the Aloha Yoga Kula family for practicing safe and healthy yoga.  I am grateful for the knowledge that you have given me on my form, mental awareness, and the gift of yoga.  I now recognize the difference in yoga as a lifestyle and simply a yoga class.    

My Favorite Mexican Restaurant, Old Town Mexican Cafe, San Diego, CA

Whenever I am in San Diego, I make sure I take a trip to Old Town where you can find historical sites, shopping, souvenirs, events, and tons of eateries.  Killing some time and playing tourist one day a couple years ago, I discovered an authentic Mexican restaurant that was hands down one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever been to called Old Town Mexican Cafe.

Located in the heart of Old Town on 2489 San Diego Avenue, what caught my attention was the tortilla makers in the window.

The first time I ate there I really can’t remember what I ate because what didn’t I eat? And I had to be rolled out of there after eating about 10 homemade tortillas on top of my regular lunch! 

 

The tortillas here are to die for.  Corn or flour, they are made fresh out front and have the wonderful freshly made chewiness that I love in my tortillas.  Tortillas come upon request with any meal. 

 

 

 

 

So far everything I’ve tasted at Old Town Mexican Cafe is DE-lious!! Crispy tacos, potato taquitos, guacamole sauce, enchiladas with mole sauce, chips and salsa, and don’t even get me started on the TORTILLA SOUP!!

For my readers who have had authentic tortilla soup (not the kind from California Pizza Kitchen), this place makes the real deal! The soup broth is made with crispy bacon, YES BACON, and makes the soup on the smoky side with little bits of crispiness to enjoy through out.  This is probably the best tortilla soup I have ever had anywhere! The broth is savory and almost addictive.  It was also served with avocado, chicken, and crunchy tortilla strips. 

If you’re ever in San Diego and want some of the best Mexican food of your life (aside from being in Mexico), you must make a trip to Old Town and hit up Old Town Mexican Cafe.  Bring your appetite and maybe even wear your elastic pants!

Towel Art??!!

Who knew you could make a monkey out of some hand towels? One of the favorite parts of my Christmas cruise on Holland America Line was coming back to my room after dinner to find a new “towel art” animal in our room.  These guys got pretty creative, right?!

TrenDiva & Friends Party February 12, 2012

Megan and I will be hosting another TrenDiva Jewelry Party on February 12, 2012.  This time we will be teaming up with Closet Trader, Seacret, and Kaleidoscope Kreations for a special Valentine’s Day event. 

If you’re interested in attending the event email me at PacificReader@hotmail.com for the Evite!

Come shop, socialize, and have fun with friends.  Want to host your own TrenDiva party? Click here for details.

Groms That Surf North Shore

Most of the time when I surf at Velzyland I sit more in the inside and catch the smaller easier waves and leave the death barrels to the pros.  The surfers in my area are typically 8-10 year groms, maybe younger.  It blows my mind that these tiny kids are so fearless, competitive, and so frickin good. 
 
So what the heck is a “grom?” The term grom or grommet isn’t a beginner surfer, but a younger surfer, usually under the age of 15. And most of the time kids that are called groms rip, aka surf way better than I do. 
 
I was out yesterday at Vland and saw a dad pushing his little grom into the set waves (over head death barrels), and this kid could not have been more than 6 years old! He looked invincible, had a smile on his face, made the drop, held the line, and came back wanting more! Impressively scary!! Would I push my 5 year old into waves I wouldn’t even drop in on?
 
These groms like to taunt me in the surf, do circles around me, and take all my waves.  They make me feel like an out of shape old lady.  These kids never tire out, and when I do steal a wave from them I feel so stoked until 30 seconds pass and another kid comes in and gets a quick barrel right in front of me.  I can’t wait to see what these groms will be doing when they turn 15.

photo courtesy of freesurfmagazine.com, Moore at 14 when she was the first girl to win the "King of the Groms" at Kewalos

Waimanalo Puppy Mill Update

I wanted to share this Hawaiian Humane Society update with my readers.  It pains me to think that breeders can get away with this type of thing.  Everyone needs to be aware that puppy mills and animal cruelty DO exist here in Hawaii.  With awareness, new legislation, and community action we can make a difference.

See these videos and the information below via the HHS.

End Puppy Mills

Waimanalo Puppy Mill Footage

Big Island Puppy Farm Owners Connected to Waimanalo Animal Cruelty Case