just jill...

lapu lapus...

I normally don't believe in reincarnation. But at this moment in time, I am really starting to wonder if in a former life I wasn't a Polynesian Hero who went by the name of Lapu Lapu.
(just take that in for a moment, will ya?)

I'm serious y'all... I think this because when my lips meet the brandy snifter and I'm gulping sipping the famous Lapu Lapu drink while at the Royal Hawaiian, it's as if I'm home. Or at least in my happy place. It's become my number one obsession for the summer of
Oh-eleven... Well, besides Subway sandwiches, snarky Jeff Lewis quotes and a certain 11 year old girl who called a crowd of 7 boys who were waving goodbye to her and her two sisters, "Suckahhs," that is.

Here are some shots of this loverly new passion of mine and possibly the recipe. You see it's a highly guarded secret at the Royal Hawaiian, but a simple clickity click of the internets, I've pretty much surmised that this is possibly the closest thing to the real deal. I'll be making them this weekend, so I'll let you know.



Shaved Ice Full Glass
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Orgeat Syrup (almond)
• 1 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
• 2 oz Light Rum
• 60% Pineapple 40% Orange Juice
• 1 oz Dark Rum to Float (Jamaican)

Shake all but the dark rum in a cocktail shaker.
Pour into a glass of ice.
Float the dark rum

sluurrrrpppp...

UPDATE...

I got all the supplies, and we made them this weekend. I have to tell ya, this recipe is VERY close to the real deal. Yummee. It might seem like there is a LOT of syrup going into these, but trust me, the RUM will cut right through it. We also found that if you add more than the suggested amount of the Dark Rum, it taste even more like the original.

The best trick I found out about during this whole process, is the CRUSHED ICE. I searched and searched where to purchase this, as this is seriously the key element to this drink that makes it authentic. I couldn't find anything online other than Ice Warehouse type places, and on a Saturday afternoon, that was the last place I wanted to be hunting down and driving to. So I thought of another idea, and on my first try I discovered a gold mine. I popped into an AM/PM and Ka-Poweeeee there it was in all it's glory. At the soda machine, they have both cubed ice and crushed ice pellets all for the taking. I thought I'd have to pay full price ($1.79 each cup) but when I got to the register, they only charged me .50 for each cup. So I ended up with 104oz of ice pellets and that was perfect! SCORE!!!

Try it, you'll like it. Trust me.

a little teaser...

I've been working my fingers to the bone. (not litterally, duh.) It's coming along our little oasis, but I hurt so badly from all the squatting, digging, reaching, planting, that I can not at this time take any photos. It's all I can do to type this up. Soon, my peeps, soon.

a day in the life...

There I go again, neglecting all 3 of you. I love you guys, so I really shouldn't do that, huh? A lot is going on around here and also nothing at all is going on around here. So, not much to say, but I have some fun photos I can share with you. Is that good enough? I hope so.

Feel the love...


Last month I had a little weekend get away with TL... We spent a night at Torrey Pines and enjoyed a nice dinner and stroll in La Jolla Village...


The next day we took a drive along the coast...


Here are some fun pots I purchased for our new backyard. It's coming along and I will be sure to post the before/after very soon!!


Who doesn't love a pansy...?


Our weather has been so weird..! Within a 4 week span we've seen; Hail, 75 degrees, 95 degrees and 62 degrees... I'm so ready for SUMMER..!!


Last week was TL's Birthday. We celebrated with a couple of these. I like to call them "Heaven in a glass." But they're really called Lapu Lapu's.


Afterwards, we walked around Laguna Beach. As you can tell it really was painful.




When I stumbled upon this scene at my local Starbucks, I almost started to cry. Why, why do old guys sitting around, sipping on coffee and having a meeting do this to me? They had no idea the affect they had on me or that I snapped this photo.