Anchors Aweigh!

I said farewell to Robert early Tuesday morning. He's off to sail the high seas for the next 3-4 months. This is a fabulous opportunity for him, he's the team lead for the Combat Camera section on ship!

We had a fabulous last weekend together. We went to one of my favorite shopping areas here in Oki and on the way I had to take a picture of the 100 Yen Plaza, it's Japan's version of the US Dollar Store except they actually have some really cool stuff!

Driving in Okinawa traffic, there were protests going on Saturday, but luckily we missed most of the commotion. :D

Found these awesome mugs in Grace. We got quite a few funny looks and I think one lady took a picture of us with her cell phone...crazy Americans!

Yes we set the timer on the picture above...why not?!

Some of my favorite thing in Grace: Sushi Lunch Box, Chopstick Section, and Cow Coffee Maker

All that shopping made us hungry! Charmy's is basically like a snow cone but it's made from frozen milk instead of ice and topped with chocolate...hmmmmm!

Inside TodayOk! it's very similar to Ikea so much great stuff.

That's my new office chair from TodayOk! and my inventive husband, pretty sure a couple took his pic with their camera phone too...crazy Americans!

Lovely view while driving home from shopping.

We had dinner at Arin Karin before he left...he'd been dying to try it since we've moved here. This is the outside of the building...I'll be honest at first I didn't get the connection between the art on the wall and garlic and was slightly offended at first glance...ooops! I see it now :D

Dinner was fabulous! Garlic is AMAZING...we'll be taking all our visitors here for sure!

After dinner it was time for ice cream at Big Dip! They have the cut outs everywhere...I just love it!

This ice cream spurred on many "yo mama" jokes and no I didn't try it.

What's an ice cream parlor with out a creepy Marine officer with a Staff Sgt's rank?!

Leaving church on Sunday...love our church here and our Sunday School and Small group Bible Study, such a blessing!

Robert's last day here we went to lunch at one of our favorite little restaurants right outside base...yummm!

Thanks so much for all the phone calls, emails, facebook messages and prayers...they are greatly appreciated! I'll leave you with one of my favorite verses from Anchors Aweigh:

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.

Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.

Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam,

Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

Ella's Onesies

The picture above is what went in the scrap paper box from last week! I had so much fun making these for my friend's little girl's first birthday party! I just looked at pictures on Facebook of her party and it was incredible...her mom did a fabulous job of decorating and making treats, I've never seen anything so adorable.

This was a really easy project. I used tshirts, scrap fabric and buttons for everything. All the flowers and ruffles were made from 1-2'' circles of the tshirt material and I just folded them over twice, arranged them how I wanted and stitched them in to place.

Each one didn't take more than 30 minutes...small price to pay for such a cute result. I used heat 'n bond to secure the lace to the onesies. Everything else was stitched. You could use so many different combinations to make these.

All in all, this was a fun project that doesn't break the bank. Great for birthdays, any occasion or no occasion at all! :D

Enjoy!

Dr Fish...not your average doctor

I can honestly say I would never in a million years guessed that one day I would be married to a US Marine, stationed in Okinawa Japan, and sticking my feet into a pool of fish that eat the dead skin off your feet. But this week I did the unthinkable...actually it wasn't that bad! Don't get me wrong, it tickled like crazy but other than that it was painless. The video above is filmed and narrated by the lovely Stephanie with a few inadvertent giggles added by me...it tickled! Today I went with my friend GraceAnna to get a pedicure at a local spa. They are famous for their nail art in Japan...I'll have to post photos later. But I won't be posting anything else until next week. It looks like Robert will be going on an exercise for the next three months and he's most likely leaving on Wednesday, so I'll be enjoying every minute of my last weekend with him! I'm so proud of him and slightly jealous...he'll be going to a lot of places that I want to travel to on his "summer cruise." I'm sure I'll post some pics from him along the way. Have a great weekend!

I was featured!

If you read my blog through Google Reader, Facebook or some other RSS feed, you may not have noticed my newest addition. It's the Idea Room button on the right hand side of my blog. I was featured in one of her recent posts. She featured ten of her readers out of over a hundred that submitted, I can honestly say I was shocked! The picture above is the project that she featured, Chalkboard Bliss. I felt like a girl scout putting a badge on my sash while uploading my new button to my blog. You need to check out Idea Room if you've never seen it. I'm thankful for blogs like that...they have such great success and want to help out other bloggers. Thanks! You made my day!

Things I didn't think of...

When Robert called me from work about 8 months ago and said, "Hey do you want to move to Okinawa...in January....this coming January?" I was a little shocked to say the least. We talked about the pros and cons. It was at the top of our list to live here while in the Marine Corps, but we had no idea it was going to be so soon. After much discussion we decided that God had obviously opened a door and that it was a huge blessing to move half way across the world this early in our marriage with no kids.

I soon started thinking about all the things they wouldn't have over here in Okinawa. The first thought the shopping...can you blame me? Now, Beaufort wasn't the best but at least there were outlets about 40 min away and Charleston was an hour north (oh how I miss you King St.!). However, things that I didn't think of was how my internet was going to change. We decided not to get cable, so I figured I'd just go online and watch my shows.....WRONG!

As you can see (or maybe you can't...the pics look kinda small...sorry). You can't watch shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, HULU...you name it you can't watch it because I'm outside U.S. Territories and they have an "agreement."

I was blindsided...I had such a good plan! No Office, no Big Bang Theory, No Grey's, no nothing! After several months of not watching these shows I can honestly say it's actually not that bad. Last night Robert and I sat down on the couch in front of the TV and READ...it was lovely :D

I also have to be careful with pricing on websites. Just the other day I was looking at vacuums (ours is acting really funny and smelling extremely weird when we use it). A couple of my friends swear by their Dyson's so I started pricing some. I knew they were expensive but I about fell out of my chair when I saw the price....then I realized it was listed in Yen and not US Dollars, big difference!

I was also shocked the first time I logged onto Google, Gmail and Blogger. It was in Japanese, after a few mistakes I finally figured it out. The best part is that Google changes with the holidays just like in the States except that it follows Japanese Holidays and famous Japanese people's birthdays...it's always a learning experience!

I'm definitely adjusting to living overseas and living on a military installation makes that transition so much smoother! I'm so thankful for great friends and family even though they are far away. We just got another box in the mail, this time from Robert's parents and sister...it's so much fun getting boxes especially when they're filled with American goodies! Thanks so much to everyone who's supported us whether through prayers or boxes in the mail, we greatly appreciate YOU!

(NOTE: You have to click on the pics to get the full effect.)

Spruce Up An Old Box

I had this old nikon box that was perfect for my friend's little girl's birthday present. It's her very first birthday and so I made her gift. I'll have to share that next week because her birthday party isn't until next Sunday (sorry I can't make it Darla! I know it will be beautiful).

All you need is an old box, scrap book paper, exacto knife, mod podge, brush to apply the mod podge and a cutting mat.

Lay the box out flat and begin gluing the paper to the surface. I did one section at a time. Once it was glued down well and pretty dry, I flipped over the box and began cutting along the outline of the box.

Once you cover your surface area, you can mod podge the top of the scrap book paper. I covered the entire box with one good coat and that worked well for me. If you have lots of creases and folds like I did make sure you're gently with the paper so it doesn't rip.

Once every thing is completely dry, carefully fold your box back together. I placed Ella's little gift inside and then tied it together with some twine.

This once a useless, ugly box is now a great gift box!

a few of my FAVORITE things!

I received a box from my parents this week with lots of great surprises! I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things. Above is a close up of my new shower curtain, it's up in the guest bath and looks just lovely.

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine from Bath & Body Works. It's lip shine and fresh breath all in one tube, what more do you need?

My absolute favorite Tazo tea...thanks dad! I heard you went to quite a few places to find this for me. It was sold out on Amazon and everywhere else.

Funny thing, the day I got this package I got an email from Amazon saying it was available again...haha, what timing?! I'll be heading over there to buy some in bulk.

And finally...Lea & Perrins Marinade for Chicken. Have you ever had this? It's amazing and it's the key ingredient in one of my favorite recipes, Jeff's Chicken and Rice. It's been a favorite since I can remember and now Robert's hooked on it too. This is one of those great comfort meals that always makes me feel happy when I eat it! Another reason this recipe is so close to my heart is that Jeff was taken from this earth much too soon, he was killed by a drunk driver several years ago. Every time I make this I think of him and usually hear the song Kokomo by the Beach Boys and I smile. I'm sure that seems kind of awkward but the first time I remembering hearing that song and falling in love with it was with Jeff at his parent's house when I was little bitty. I'll leave you with this quote from Jeff that was shared at his funeral and maybe I'll post the recipe later on this week :D

"You only get one shot at this life. don't waste it, it could be gone any day. travel. blow some money. go see some music. make some music. kiss someone on the mouth (preferably someone who won't sue you). read a book. write a book. whatever. just don't take it for granted. no one lies on their death bed wishing they had spent more time at the office. Grab Let It Be (preferably on vinyl) tonight, and sit back and enjoy yourself."
-Jeff Wilson (1974-2006)

Just Peachy!

This peach smoothie is one of those perfect Spring/Summer afternoon treats! I was first introduced to them by my friend Tavia. This was one of her pregnancy cravings and I soon learned why...it was amazing! The original is from a local coffee shop in Beaufort (Common Ground), but Robert being the dear that he is helped me figure out the recipe!

Side note: I always tease him that I married him for his beverage making expertise. He worked at Smoothie Factory and Starbucks...I know, I'm spoiled! I tell him that him working at Starbucks is one of the many reasons I married and the ONLY reason my dad let me marry him...haha! (if you know my dad you totally understand).

Back to the recipe! You'll need the following:

1 can peaches (8.25 oz)

1/2 cup yogurt

1/4 cup Half & Half

1.5 tablespoons honey

3 cups ice

Blender

This should make two medium or one giant sized portion(s). I noticed in the above picture that I have fat free yogurt and half and half, I guess in mind that made it a wash as far as calories go!

Add all ingredients to your blender. I find the best success when the ice is on top. And then blend away!

Check your consistency...you may want a tad more ice or yogurt, it's a personal choice.

Then pour yourself a heaping cupful (as I did) or share with a friend and ENJOY!

Special thanks to Robert for helping figure out the recipe and being a good teacher :D

We're Ready for Guests!

The final touches have been put on the guest bedroom, so all you guys and gals who are planning to visit...go ahead and book those tickets! The pic is of Robert's grandparents...love that shot.

And of course I had to add some chalk board flare. :D I'll post some pics of the entire room soon. Can't wait to have our first guests :D

Chalkboard Bliss!

I was tired of this large mirror that we had and decided it needed a change. My dear husband had a few presents waiting for me when I got to Okinawa and one of those was a can of....you guessed it.....chalkboard spray (ok, maybe you guessed something else)! I was ecstatic I've been wanting to jump on the chalkboard bandwagon for some time now.

As you can see, the best part was that the entire spray paint bottle was in Japanese. I asked Robert how he knew what he was buying? I shouldn't have been surprised by his answer, I have an app for that! He's a walking advertisement for Apple...love you baby.


I sprayed several coats of chalk board spray on my mirror. I would suggest if your mirror can be removed easily from the frame, that would be the easiest route. Dealing with tape on the frame is quite tedious and sometimes frustrating.


If you have any old picture frames laying around, these work great for this sort of thing because the glass is so easy to remove. Also make sure it's dried thoroughly before taking chalk to the freshly painted surface...that can get messy.


Once spray painted we decided to add our own little flare to it. Robert created the "W" in the center...yes, with chalk! He's so handy. My contribution was the paisley designs on the edges.


All in all I was thrilled with the end result. It's great when a project turns out even better than how you envisioned it in your head! Hope you enjoy....