I've been using my Tupperware Microwave Pressure cooker at least 3 times a week since I got it and my family LOVES it. We can have kalua pig at any time without stress.  I had a microwave magic hour last Sunday at my house to showcase how I use my different Tupperware gadgets. No, I am not a consultant. I just wanted to share what I do because it's so awesome that everyone needs to see how it works.

When most people hear "Tupperware" they think of containers and storage. They don't realize that it has expanded beyond plastic cups, tumblers, and bowls. Thankfully, these ladies brought their HUSBANDS with them to the "Tupperware" party. And they were SO thrilled to see how easy it was to make meals in a jiffy that tasted AMAZING. Soon, they were begging for this pressure cooker that is currently UNAVAILABLE for purchase. The word on the street is that it may be released in December or January but we won't know until then. 

I showed them how fast and easy it was to make salsa/guacamole in the Power Chef system. You pull the string like a lawnmower and it spins the blade in the bowl. After about 40 pulls of the string, we had guacamole! Everyone oohed and aaahed and went home with a catalog. I hadA so much fun showing them how to make kalua pig in one hour in the microwave, oyster sauce chicken breast in 9 minutes and guacamole in 5. 

I made dinner tonight in 45 minutes. I cooked the pork first to tenderize it. After putting the meat in the cooker, I added salt, pepper, and water into the to the max fill line. I cooked it for 30 mins. After depressurizing for about 10 minutes, I added the onion, celery, carrots, potatoes. At this point, the meat was already SUPER tender. I probably could've cooked it for 15 minutes and the meat would've been perfect! 

After loading in the veggies, I cooked it for another 15 minutes and here is my end result. Dinner is served!

Starting November 28th, Nomades will be offering buy one get one specials every day until December 9th. Get your loved one a charm to add to their beautiful story.  Shop online at nomadescollection.com/mariaolipas

OK Olipas INC friends and family. I am working my way to earn my incentive kits to help me promote the upcoming Spring 2015 collection.

With our tightened budget and fundraising hustle, I need to earn these kits in order to keep my thirty one business running like a champ! I am currently promoting the December specials so I can get these orders in the first week of the month. 

I am currently taking pre-orders for the month of December. See the flyers below for the December specials. 

For all orders received from now until December 10, I will be offering you FREE SHIPPING!!!!  If you need your items in time for Christmas, all orders must be entered by December 10th. Don't delay!


For those of you in Hawaii, you know the shipping cost for Thirty One is 18% of the value of your order. This could be a HUGE savings if you're shopping Thirty one for the holidays. Take advantage of this deal and help me earn my consultant rewards. :)


Please contact me ASAP to get your presale orders to me. Thank you for your continued support!

I am a huge fan of Jim Carrey and his crazy humor. I remember waiting for In Living Color to come on at night so I wouldn't miss a second of each show, including the Fly Girls.  For those of you who loved In Living Color from the the first season will understand why I love DnD and it's sequel, 20 years later.

Jim was my favorite person on ILC. Next to Jamie Foxx and Tommy Davidson. I never missed a show. In fact, I use to tape it on my VCR so i could watch it over and over again. Of all the characters portrayed on the show, Jim's were always my faves. Vera De Milo, Fire Marshall Bill, Purnell, Karate Instructor, and gay activist guy always had me laughing so hard, I'd choke.

Watching DnD2 brought me back to those days. Jim's mannerisms, facial expressions, body movement, and voice just reminded me of those funny skits from the 90's. 

If you loved the original DnD movie, you'll enjoy this sequel. I sure did.

Saturday, November 15th from 9 am to 2 pm.
Location: Radford High School. 4361 Salt Lake Blvd

Team Olipas will be at Radford High School with our fundraiser items. Please come and support us!  The fundraiser is to help with the cost of our mother daughter trip to Europe in June next year with her Lit club for school.  RJ, my son, will be selling his homemade andagi to help pay for culinary school at Leeward Community College.

We will have Fresh hot andagi for $5/dozen. Cinnamon Sugar andagi for $6/dozen
Spam Musubi for $1 each
Ju Mui Ice Pops in Strawberry, Vanilla, Green River, and Lychee for $2 each
Samurai Snack packs for $6 each

UPDATE: December 2014, I am now a Tupperware consultant. My love for this one product made me want to take the plunge. It's THAT fantastic. :)

Say WHAT?! Yep. Can you believe it? A microwave pressure cooker? My grandma used to cook meals in her pressure cooker and I never went near the kitchen when she did. I always thought the pot would just explode and I'd die from shrapnel wounds and hot pot roast burns. So, I never bought a pressure cooker for my own home.

When I got married, we invested in an expensive cookware set (which we still have and use daily) that included a pressure cooker. Did I use it? Once. And it was horrible. I was so afraid of using it that the meat didn't cook well and I ended up with a mess of cookware to clean up afterward. Let's not forget how friggen HEAVY pressure cookers are! It's no wonder home makers back in the day were so fit! Cooking and cleaning pots and pans that weighed 20 pounds each is quite a workout! LOL! 

When I learned about this newest contraption from Tupperware, I had to see it. I attended a Tupperware meeting. I was not in the mindset of joining the team. I just wanted to learn more. Well, at this meeting, one of the Directors, Diane Okubo, who has been with Tupperware for 30+ years, made Kalua Pig. When she said she makes about 2.5 to 3 lbs of Kalua Pig in ONE HOUR I did not believe a darn word she said. 

Before the meeting started, she started cooking. By the time the meeting was halfway through, the entire room smelled like a giant imu and I was STARVING! Seeing is believing! When she popped open the cover and shredded the meat with a PLASTIC FORK I was sold. The meat was tender, juicy, moist, and flavorful.  

I've made Kalua Pig in an imu and in the crockpot. Both take at least 7 hours depending on how many pounds you're cooking. This was done in one hour.  So, I hosted a Tupperware party and with the help of my cousin Johanna Harbottle (new Tupperware Consultant), I managed to earn this "magical pot" (Thank you Paka Music for the new name) for only $39!!! 

I can tell you that I have been using this pot daily for making meals for my family and everyone LOVES IT! The pot is big enough to hold up to 4 lbs of meat (properly cut so you can fit it all in the pot). I have made pork chops with apples (turned applesauce), pork sparerib stew, and pork adobo in here and each time we're flabbergasted at how tender the food comes out and in only 30 minutes. We did make our own Kalua Pig in the pot and my family was floored. No one believed me until I made it and the house was silent for a good 15 minutes after the pot was opened. Because everyone was so busy shoveling hot kalua pig and rice in their mouths! LOL!

This pot comes with 5 pieces. The base, lid, gasket, locking top piece, and the red gauge (turkey popping looking gadget).  All these pieces can be removed for easy cleaning (PLUS!). Just be careful not to lose them. When washing the lid, you can remove the red turkey popper thing to clean the pressure release valve thoroughly. One thing I really like about this pot is even after cooking for 30 minutes, the handles are COOL to the touch. You do not need pot holders to remove it from the microwave.  You want to carry it from the pot handles, not the lid. 
To lock and unlock, you just pop that light purple "lever" off and on. 

The pot itself is a nice heavy weight plastic but not so heavy as to make it difficult to wash. Cleaning is a breeze. Soap, water, mild scrubbing, and you're done. Always remove the rubber gasket, clean well, and air dry completely. I don't have a dishwasher so I cannot confirm if this entire product is dishwasher safe. If you're a consultant and know the answer, feel free to comment below. 

Here are some of my tips on cooking with the magical pot:

- Make sure the meat is completely covered in liquid and don't go past the max fill line embossed on the inside of the pot. 
   - If meat is not covered in liquid, it will cook to a dry crisp. Honestly, not THAT bad if its pork. It's like having a bonus piece of chicaron in your meal.

- Always put your meat in first. Then top with the veggies.

-Don't overfill

-Don't overseason. You can always add more after the food is done. You can't "take it back" once its in there. :)

-NEVER cook for more than 30 minutes at a time. After 30 minutes, allow the pot to depressurize completely. Just let it sit in the microwave until the hissing stops or the red valve goes all the way down. Then if needed, cook again for not more than 30 more minutes.

Kalua Pig recipe 
2.5 lbs of Pork Shoulder Butt 
approx 1/4 cup Hawaiian Salt
2 Tablespoons of Liquid Smoke
Water
Note: I didn't measure the ingredients, so this is a guesstimate on what I used. Please season to your liking.

Cut pork butt in pieces that fit well into the bottom of the pot.
Salt the meat on all sides.
Place meat at the bottom of the pot
Add water and liquid smoke to your liking. Put enough liquid to cover the meat completely without going past the max fill line. 

Do not oversalt. You can always add salt later. Use whatever flavor liquid smoke you like. We used hickory.

Twist the cover on and the affix the locking latch. Place pot in the microwave and cook on regular power for 30 minutes. Allow the pot to depressurize for about 10-15 minutes. Check the red gauge to make sure it is all the way down and the hissing stops. Cook one more time for 30 minutes. Allow the pressure to go down again and it's kaukau time!

Here are pictures below of other things I made in the magical pot. We had a lot of pork in our freezer so that explains the pork fest we've had last week. I will post the recipes at the very bottom of this blog. Enjoy!

Pork Adobo
2 lbs of pork butt
4 fresh garlic cloves
1 onion
1 cup of white vinegar
1 cup of Aloha Shoyu
1/2 cup of white sugar
3 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste. Don't oversalt.
Water

Cut the pork in chunks and place at the bottom of the pot
Mix the wet and dry ingredients (less the water) and pour over the meat.
Add the garlic, onion, and bay leaves.
Add water to cover the meat completely, not to exceed the max fill line. 
Twist on the cover and affix the locking latch and put in the microwave. Cook at regular power for 30 minutes. Allow the pot to cool and depressurize. Open and check the softness of the pork. If you want it softer, cook it again for another 15 minutes. 

Pork Sparerib Stew
3 lbs of pork spareribs (cut into 3" sized pieces)
1 onion
chopped fresh garlic (done in the Tupperware Chop n Prep Chef)
2 carrots chopped in big chunks
3 potatoes chopped in big chunks
2 celery stalks chopped in big chunks
Salt and Pepper to taste
Water or your choice of liquid (beef/chicken broth)

Place the meat at the bottom of the pot.
Add all the veggies and sprinkle with seasoning. 
Add water to cover the meat not to exceed the max fill line.

Cover and latch shut. Cook for 30 minutes in the microwave at regular power. Allow to depressurize and check the meat tenderness. If you want it softer, cook again for another 15 minutes. 


Southwestern Pork and Apples
2 lbs of pork chops cut up into large chunks
1 onion
3 cloves of fresh garlic
2 apples of your choice (I used Braeburn. It was what we had.)
1 Tablespoon of Pampered Chef southwestern seasoning mix
If you don't have that mix, you can just use plain salt and pepper. Or get creative and use what you have.
Water or your choice of liquid (broth)

Place the meat at the bottom of the pot.
Sprinkle the southwestern seasoning mix all over the meat. 
Place the onions, garlic, and apples on top. 
Add liquid to cover the meat not to exceed the max fill line.

Cover and latch shut. Cook for 30 minutes in the microwave at regular power. Allow to depressurize and check the meat tenderness. If you want it softer, cook again for another 15 minutes.

I earned this $189 Modular Mates Super Set for FREE by hosting a Tupperware Party. This came with 10 large containers.  I buy a lot of pasta. It has a long shelf life and I get it for free using coupons.  I used my large oval container to hold all my spaghetti. Tupperware makes a container specific to spaghetti that includes a small insert that allows you to pull out your noodles measured by 1 or 2 servings. As you can see, if I were to use that, I’d need multitudes of those containers.

Instead, I loaded them into the tall oval container and used one empty box as a stopper. It is a tad bit tricky to remove the noodles for cooking. But it’s a minor inconvenience that I’m willing to sacrifice. By storing my pasta in these modular mates, it has recovered a lot of space in my pantry. I am now able to stack my containers and fit more products on my shelves now. 

I used the other modular mates to hold the rest of my pasta and separated them by shape. I’ve got elbow and twisted elbows in one. I mixed mine because we’re not picky. If you want to keep them separated, just use one of the empty boxes as a separator.  We store penne in another. 

Pre-tupperware, we had to move around a crapload of boxes to get to the item we wanted near the back of the shelf. Now, we just need to move a few stacked containers and we can easily access what we need.

I saved the shorter rectangles for my popcorn. It fit each package perfectly and I could stack my popcorn seasoning packs right on top like a glove! No more funky shaped boxes in my pantry!

I was given the wonderful opportunity to give their leather leash product a try and boy was I amazed.  Not only was it of high quality, they take feedback seriously.  I was provided this red leather leash for small animals and was impressed. Everything from the packaging to the leather care instructions were well thought out. The leash even comes with a carrying/storage bag.

After communicating with Lavien regarding my suggestions on how to improve their product, they sent me a larger leash and seat belt safety leash to give away on my site. So, I am!

Giveaway starts to today on Instagram.  Repost, tag @olipas_inc, and #olipasinc_lavien, to enter to win.

It is open to all 50 states and ends at midnight, November 30th Hawaii time. So get on your instagram and start sharing! Good luck!

Click here to read my full review on one of their leashes.

Did you know that it is a Hawaii State Law to have your pets restrained while in a moving vehicle? Be sure to keep your animals safe while in transit!

Meet Angel. The woman behind Botanas Fajardo on Oahu.

I first met Angel online through Nomades. We were one of three consultants on the island. It wasn't until about a year later that I finally got to meet her in person. It was at a Craft Fair at Radford High School. I saw someone walk by with her nachos and I had to go find the vendor.

It was Angel! She originally was going to do Nomades and ended up doing her home made recipes instead. I was glad. Her nachos were heavenly!

The tortillas are made fresh on the island specifically for chips and every batch is fried prior to order delivery. The queso and salsa are all home made from scratch. No fillers. Nothing store bought. She even grows some of her own ingredients in her backyard.  Her menu has since expanded to include spice shots for those who want more heat in their salsa. She now makes enchilada sauces too. Be sure to visit her website on facebook to see what else she's cooking up.

Next Saturday, November 8th. Botanas Fajardo has teamed up with I Love Tacos and will be at the Kaskade concert at Turtle Bay selling her Queso Blanco Nachos.  Be sure to find them!

For more information on Botanas Fajardo, visit them online at www.facebook.com/botanasfajardo and on yelp at http://www.yelp.com/biz/botanas-fajardo-honolulu

I'm hoping Botanas Fajardo grows into a full blown brick and mortar restaurant on the island. I'd love to experience more of the Fajardo cooking!

Photos courtesy of Botanas Fajardo

I want to reach a greater audience with this information so hopefully you share this with others. I have yet to meet a fellow consultant or Thirty One Bag lover who knew this was what this "key chain" was used for. Thirty One REALLY needs to include this in their description of this product. It's not just a key fob. There's a reason why it's called a "hang it up".  

You attach your keys to this product and you can carry them as a wristlet for hands free needs. You can even use the lobster claw to attach your keys to a purse handle, strap, or your belt loop for easy finding. The main reason I use this keychain on my keys is to hold up bags on my shopping carts.  See the picture below.

This is a lifesaver for moms shop with kids/babies. Putting your child in the seat of the cart takes up precious real estate in your wagon. For commissary shoppers, most of us don't shop weekly. We usually shop for a month (or more) at a time. We're there to stock up and a lot of times two wagons are needed especially for larger families.  

Most grocery stores have the produce and fresh items in the beginning of your trip. These end up at the bottom of your wagon which makes them susceptible to crushing as you fill your cart. By using the hang it up key fob to attach your deluxe or large utility tote to the shopping handle, you can put your fresh fruits and veggies in the bag rather the wagon. This ensures they will not get crushed and you have more room in your cart for more products.  

You don't have to use thirty one bags to attach to your wagon. You can use any bag you have but the thirty one deluxe utility tote is the largest there is which will maximize your efficiency while shopping.  

You can use this key fob to hang anything up. I've personally used this to hang my bag on a chain link fence when watching softball games and on a stroller. No need for a mommy hook. This key fob can hold quite a bit of bag straps. When I'm using my cross body wallets, I loop the key fob around the strap to hold my keys to remain hands free.  When I know I'm going grocery shopping and I have help with me, I bring extra fobs so we can hang a utility tote from each cart.

These hang it up key fobs are only $5 each and come in a variety of colors and designs. Contact me to place an order. Or if you have questions about Thirty One products. 

For fellow consultants, this makes a great give away gift to hostesses and your customers!

Thanks for reading!

OK. Let's shake things up a bit. For the month of November I will have an online party open for those who want to order Thirty One. Every person who orders within this party will get entered into a drawing to win the spot of hostess. The winner will get all the free credit, access to hostess exclusive items, and the half off items without having to actually "host" a party. 

The person with the largest order will get a free gift and the person with the most referred orders by sharing my party with their friends and family will also get a free gift! Everyone loves free stuff!

This party is open to everyone. Not just those on Oahu. Those who are on the continental US are also available to be my surprise hostess!

See pictures below to see what you could get for FREE by being my surprise hostess. The larger the party, the higher the perks! If the party hits $1200 in sales, you could get all 3 hostess exclusives for FREE, 3 items at half off, $250 in credit to spend, AND the Perfect potluck set for FREE!! 

I will close the party before November ends so get those orders in before month end. Ready? Set? GO!

One of the perks my family gets every holiday season is Thirty One. I wait for an awesome special month and coordinate my order to get the best bang for my buck. This month you can score the Medium or Square utility tote for $7 each with every $35 you spend. I have 13 families to shop for. 

Last (or was it the year before?), there was a Thirty One outlet sale in August. I picked up a lot of Large Utility totes and picnic thermal totes for rock bottom prices. I filled them with household goods, food, toiletries, etc for each family and made sure to make it appropriate to each household.  Those who had boys/men got razors. If they had small kids, they got snacks and cereals. It was fun to put together and every single item including the bags were practical items they will definitely use.

This year my family will be getting more bags and I try to get them a different type of bag each year. I managed to get gifts for 13 families for less than $250. That's right. That breaks down to $19 PER FAMILY! When I toss in the goodies that go inside the bag, my cost per family will be less than $30 each.  Beat that! The best part, each bag is packed individually with love and thought. It's not just thrown together or picked off a shelf and wrapped. 

If you're ready to get started on your holiday shopping with Thirty One, contact me and I'll help maneuver your orders to get your the best bang for your buck and maybe even earn YOU free stuff without having to do all the work. 

P.S. In regards to the utility tote specials for this month, I highly recommend the medium utility tote which is a smaller version of the large utility tote. The square version is a little awkward to carry on your shoulder because of its square shape but makes a great on the go storage bag. Think, hula equipment, sports items, or boxing gear.