A Kiss to Build a Dream On

Late nights and rainy weather call for some Louis Armstrong and friends. 

Buonanotte a tutti

Morsels: Himalayan Kitchen

New post up on le food blog! Check it out!

Himalayan Kitchen

Nosh: Mariposa Madness

New blog post on Collegiate Eating!

Playlist: Winter Swell

A playlist for the spontaneity of winter break in Hawaii.

Listen

Collegiate Eating: A New Food Project

My good friend Alyssa and I decided one day over lunch after Latin class that we should start a new project and create a food blog.  We love eating and finding new places to grab good food so why not share in the love and knowledge.  Plus, who doesn't love looking at pictures of ridiculously good food?  If you're ever hungry or want a fast recommendation on a good place to eat, check out the new blog.

Collegiate Eating

Take a look at what we're eating!

Renew

Just because we're in Hawaii it doesn't mean we don't get winter.  The crisper and cooler air definitely takes a toll on my skin and hair.  That and it makes a good excuse to go out and try new products hah.

Rock the Vote 2012

Proud to have voted in my first Presidential election. 

We The Urban

Insomnia

A playlist for those sleepless nights

Listen here

Life Imitating Art: College Edition

Just another typical YOLO Friday for us. 

I love these guys. 

Sunnies

I've been in the market for a new pair of sunglasses for a while.  In Hawaii, there really aren't many options for prescription sunglasses, which I find ridiculous because people here practically live in them.  Places like LensCrafters wanted up to $500 for Rx sunglasses and as a broke college student, there is NO WAY I can fork over $500.  After some online research I came across this online optical and sunglass company called Warby Parker.  I was really impressed with their company and how affordable and fashionable their product is as well as the philanthropy behind the brand.  I'm quite picky with things like this because I can't stand the flashy styles that have been dominating the market.
Read: simple and classic.

  When you purchase a pair of glasses, whether they be optical or sun, they donate a pair of optical glasses to someone in need.  How awesome, right? So my $150 for Rx sunglasses not only bought a dope pair of sunnies for myself but also someone else in the world who needed a pair.  The company also does this cool try-on program where you can pick out five frames to try on.  They mail them to you and you have five days to test them out for free and find your favorite.  However, they don't offer this service yet to folks living in Hawaii.  I hope they do soon though because I'm in the market for new Rx glasses! *hint hint* 

I chose the frame style Thatcher in the color they call greystone.  (The picture directly below has it's color altered by the light on my desk.  The color is true to the last two photos.  I just wanted to show the inside of the case.)  I'm in love.  As much as I'm a all-black all the time kind of girl, my friends will definitely vouch for me, sometimes even I can admit that it can come off as too harsh.  The greystone option looked less harsh yet had the vibe I wanted out of a black frame.  They came in this super sturdy hard case complete with a lens cleaner inside.  Tomorrow I'll take them out for a spin and report back! 

Check out Warby Parker here

slim pickings

I've been on the hunt for a new wallet for a while now.  Here is the checklist for possible future contenders:

1. Must be slim and sleek.  Nothing oversized that I will be tempted to fill to maximum capacity.
2. However, it must be big enough to hold cash, credit card, ID, and diving license. 
3. Simple and minimal is key.  Leather is best.
4. No crazy colors.
5. No metallics. 

I found these options that I'm definitely considering.  From top: Madewell, J.Crew, American Apparel, American Apparel.  

I should have been Greek

One of my favorite times of the year finally happened, Honolulu Greek Festival! I can't even remember how long I've been going, it's been that long.  Usually we try to go to both days but as I've gotten older, I treat my mama to the second day.  I had to work one of the two days this year so my mom and I went on opening day, my treat.  This year was just as great, not to mention delicious.  Over the years we've learned that on the first day you get there super early in order to make it into the pastry line first.  Those suckers sell out by the first couple of hours.  This year we stoked up on pastries up to my eyeballs.  Baklava, chocolate baklava, kataifi, koulourakai, and sooo much more.  It was a good call because by 3:30 (festival opens at noon) half of it was sold out.   

After we pretty much single-handedly bought out the pastries we headed to the greek kitchen section to feast.  I got the spanakopita plate which included greek salad, feta cheese and bread, olives, rice pilaf, dolmathes, and a piece of baklava.  I also got an extra piece of spanakopita because it's my favorite and just so damn good.  My mom shared the plate with me but got her own piece of spanakopita and a piece of moussaka, her favorite.  We found seats near the main stage where we got a great seat in the shade under the trees and watched the live greek band, Apollo, perform.  We lucked out that some of the festival volunteers from the Greek Church danced to traditional songs.  

About an hour later we decided to muster up the energy to get up (and not explode) and walk around.  I always love visiting the booth that a local jewelry store, Artlines, sets up.  I usually find a bracelet or ring that I like but this year I found a sick bell bell chime that I couldn't pass up.  It was so hot that day so to cool off we shared a bowl of lemon sorbet.  Before we called it a day, I picked up a gyro for dinner and a greek sausage and pita bread for my mom.  Overall, another great festival and a very satisfied Kiyana.     

Back to School Again

If only going back were this fun. 

Snorkel Adventure

I went snorkeling on the North Shore with my good friends Sarah and Mia.  A little shaky, but I'm happy with what I was able to capture and share!  Lucky we live Hawaii.

You're Invited

All I want is to throw a swank-ass dinner party in my own apartment with good friends, delicious food, and lots of booze.  

Lust

As I get more and more into scuba diving I'm constantly thinking about investing in a camera.  There are just some things about diving that I can't put into words and want to share with people.  Being able to film and capture those moments give me the ability to do so.  My friend Sarah just got a GoPro camera that she's in love with and let me tell you, I'm seriously jealous.  The GoPro HD Hero2: Surf Edition sounds perfect for me.  It can go down to 60 meters or 197 feet deep which is perfect for all sorts of dives.  After I sacrifice some of my paychecks towards school and books this will definitely be my next purchase.

All photos courtesy of GoPro

Nosh: Ichiriki

I've been told over and over again how awesome Ichiriki is yet I've never gone out and actually tried it. Tonight my mama and I were in the mood for comfort food and for her, comfort means soupy Japanese food.  She suggested Ichiriki and off we went.

Ichiriki is a nabemono, or hot pot, restaurant.  Here, you cook your own dish in hot dashi, or soup, on a gas stove at your table.  I was nervous at first because looking at the menu, I don't eat half the things on it.  I don't like red meat, I'm not the biggest fan of some vegetables like mushrooms, and I'm not big on shrimp and scallops, all of which are a prominent part of the menu items.  Luckily Ichiriki catered to my odd taste and happily substituted ingredients I didn't want with ones I did.  

I got the signature nabe, Ichiriki dashi which is a shoyu base with chicken and ramen.  Mama got the paitan nabe which is a pork dashi, all the ingredients, and udon.  Later we decided to turn our leftover dashi into zosui, or rice porridge with egg and nori.  The zosui was the best decision we made all night.   

My nabe ingredients

Ramen noodles

Mama's nabe ingredients

Udon noodles

Dashi before (left: pork dashi, right: Ichiriki shoyu dashi)

After! Nabe is complete! Itadakimasu!!

Gotta have that Asahi

The zosui, a how-to:

 1. Bring dashi to a boil

2. Add rice and let simmer and soak up dash

3. Scramble egg and pour into dashi evenly

4. Let egg cook until soft

5. Add nori

6. DEVOUR

Gochisosama