Trunk or Treat 2022

 

I have always wanted to participate in a trunk or treat, and this year we had the opportunity to join in the fun.  We participated in the Autumn Fun with the command.  

I'm a sucker for a theme.  I decided to go with the "Witch's Tea Party".   I set the table and it was glorious.  Our costumes were fabulous.  I gave each child that came through a tea cup with two pieces of candy and a little squeaky toy.  We got a few votes but did not win however we had a very good time.  I loved it.  I hope to be able to do many more in the future especially if we happen to live out in the country.  

I used many items I already had as well as purchased some items specifically for this theme.  I had the silver tray I used in the middle.  It was given to me by my husband's grandma, she got it as a wedding gift.  It needs a good polishing so it looked great on the table.  I ordered the tea kettle from Amazon. 

I had the tablecloth but ordered the spiderweb table runner.  It came with bats and several other spooky linens.  I am obsessed with the tea plates and cups.  I found them at a thrift store. I am always looking for different kinds.  I put glittered water in the cups to look like tea.  I used edible glitter. I also bought crystal teaspoon sets because I'm extra.  I picked up silver rectangle serving trays from Daiso.  

It's hard to see in the picture but I also had a small apothecary and cauldron in the trunk. 

I had more things I wanted to put out.  A sign for broom parking, and an invitation to the tea party but it was very windy.  That's why my hat is pulled down on my head.    

Items I used:

*(Disclaimer.  I receive a small commission when you purchase through my link with no additional cost to you). 

    Costume Items: 

    Renaissance Dress

    Witch Hat

    I'm with the Witch t-shirt 

   

   Treats: 
   Squishy Octopus

   Squeaky Piggy
   Rubber Duckies

   Clear plastic cups

   Tablecloth
   Table runner

   Bat lights

   Backdrop cloth

   Teapot

   Spoons

   Edible Glitter

   
   

Decorating for Halloween 2022

 

Do you decorate for Halloween?  Some years I decorate a lot and some years I decorate a little.  I left a lot of our Halloween Decorations in storage for this tour.  I brought my big storage container of costumes though.  I keep all the costume pieces from year to year that can be used again.  You never know when a costume will be needed.  

I like to decorate our tv stand for each season or Holiday.  For Halloween this year I simply used these bug twinkle lights.  I cannot even remember where I got them from, I've had them for so long.  I also placed a black and silver pumpkin to the side.  I made that pumpkin a couple of years ago from a Dollar Tree pumpkin and some fabric.  I would share a photo but the boxes with the items for our truck-or-treat are all in front of the tv stand; so it's a mess.

I have also enjoyed changing out the tablecloths for the season.  This one is a lovely rusty color with leaves.  I've had it for a few years.  I also have had these placemats for so many years that I really have no idea where I got them from.  I like to use them throughout the fall.  The shiny leaves table runner I bought at the Exchange on Kadena Air Force Base a few weeks ago.  I overheard a little girl exclaim, "Oh Mommy!  They are so pretty!" When I saw what she was talking about I couldn't resist. It almost blends in with the leaves on the tablecloth.  I know my table has a lot of orange colors going on, but I love it.  I have a clear vinyl table cover on here as well.  I use this to keep from having to wash the linens every day because we are messy.  I bought it from Amazon.  Here is the link if you would like one too.  *(Disclaimer.  I receive a small commission when you purchase through my link with no additional cost to you). 

Placemats, tablecloth and copper metallic table runner

I have this lovely Welcome sign that has cute little changeouts for each season.  I believe got this one from Lakeside Collections several years ago.  They don't seem to have them any longer but this one is similar.  

Welcome sign

While we're on the interchangeable signs, I also have the napkin holder with the magnetic icon to change out also from Lakeside.  They still have this one.  My pepper shaker broke (we move a lot y'all) plus we prefer freshly ground pepper anyway.  

Salt and Pepper shaker on the table

I have this fun pumpkin that lights up and talks but the kids keep turning it off because they find it annoying.  I picked him up on clearance last year at the Exchange after Halloween.  I have him sitting on a plant stand in the window by the front door.

Spooky fake pumpkin lit up

Fake pumpkin not lit up

Outside I have this fun inflatable doggy!   This is his first year with us. I bought him on sale last year after Halloween.  I think it's supposed to be a dachshund but we say it's a basset hound like our Mr. Shelby Cornbread.  He looks to be leaning in my photos, however, it is so windy here that he tilts to one side.  It came with strings to tie him down but I did not use them.  We did use the stakes to hold him down though.  We just love him.  Here's a link to him if you want one too.  *(Disclaimer.  I receive a small commission when you purchase through my link with no additional cost to you). 

In the daylight

In the dark

I have other lights that I could put out but I'm going to be completely honest, sometimes it's difficult for me to get the motivation up to put stuff like that out.  I'll probably line them up on the ground for trick-or-treating on Halloween night.  

So that's it.  That's the extent of my decorating for Halloween 2022.  

Spooky Halloween Ghost Tour...Okinawa Style

 

What do you do when you live overseas and it's Halloween?  This year we went on an annual Spooky Sites Tour with MCCS Okinawa.  MCCS is Marine Corps Community Services and they provide a lot of things for the Marines and Sailors stationed on Okinawa.  They offer trips and tours.  This tour was described the following way from the website.  

        Get into the spirit on our haunted excursion. We'll visit well-known spooky sites on Okinawa. How brave are you? Test your fear factor on this tour!

*Bring a flashlight.

We loaded up on the bus and headed out.  On our drive, our tour guide Chris told many stories about ghosts and the paranormal.  

We made our first stop at a hill across from the famed Hacksaw Ridge.  The hill was steep and I am so fat these days that I was huffing and puffing up that thing.  My back played up a bit too.  Thankfully I took ibuprofen before we left so I didn't have much pain, just the embarrassment of being the out-of-breath last one up.  His story was spooky and I got some great photos of the moon.  There was also a pillbox from WWII there that the kids went down to check out.  

Our next stop on the tour was Kadena Airbase and the location of the infamous haunted house by the childcare center.  I did not take any photos there.  Here's a link to a video about the haunting.  

Our next stop on the tour was Cape Zanpa.  It is spooky to see the lighthouse at night.  

Overall we had a great time on the tour.  

Adventure to the Consulate in Naha

 This past Friday, we had an appointment at the US Consulate in Naha.  The two kiddos' tourist passports expire in May 2023 but we want to keep our options open in case we want to take a quick jaunt over to another country so we went to get them renewed.  

Our appointments were at 8:15 and 8:30.  We found the location and pulled into the parking lot.  We all got out and headed to the security guard's window.  The guard behind the window pointed out that our appointment was at 8:15 and it was only 8:00. Also they made sure we had masks to wear.  So we went back to the car and waited 15 minutes.  We are not used to that kind of reception.  It's been drilled into my head to arrive at least 15 minutes before any appointment time I've ever had, so I found it a bit annoying to be told to come back later.   

We got through security which included turning off the Bluetooth on our phones, X-rays of our purses, and walking through a metal detector.  We arrived at the receptionist and the process was pretty smooth.  It took just over an hour for the two appointments, so it was not too bad.  They take credit cards which made payment easy.  

Photos of Food

I have been taking photos of our food when we eat out for years.  It all started when we moved to Sicily, the Italian food looked so good and I wanted to share it with my family back home.  I supposed it turned into a habit...oh my...didn't I just talk about habits?  

I like the food photos and recalling the delicious meals we had.  I usually post them on Facebook and as I write this now it sounds kind of silly to me.  I do it for my own benefit since Facebook will show you memories of things you have posted.  It's like a scrapbook really.  I have posted so many photos of food.  Lately, though, I've been posting them but keeping them private.  We eat out a lot.  I love a good restaurant meal.  

At any rate here are some food photos.  

Cajun Shrimp and Pasta
Seaside

Fish and Chips
Seaside

Shrimp Alfredo Flatbread
Seaside

Alfredo
Seaside

Sides salad
Seaside

Seafood Bisque
Seaside

McDonald's Chicken Garlic Pepper 

BBQ Bacon Burger
Globe & Anchor; Ocean Breeze

Side salad
Globe & Anchor; Ocean Breeze

Cowboy Queso
Globe & Anchor; Ocean Breeze

Club Sandwich
Globe & Anchor; Ocean Breeze

Pork Yakisoba
Globe & Anchor; Ocean Breeze

Pappardelle Bolognese
Taiyo Steakhouse

Chipotle Shrimp Linguine
Taiyo Steakhouse

Baked Potatoes
Taiyo Steakhouse

New York Strip
Taiyo Steakhouse

Porcini-Encrusted Salmon
Taiyo Steakhouse

Maryland Crab Cake
Taiyo Steakhouse

Pineapple Margarita
Taiyo Steakhouse

Habits and Routines

Habits or Routines?

 I remember always hearing it takes 28 days to form a habit.  I suppose it's the same for a routine.  What is the difference between the two?

Okay, from what I gather, a habit is a single action and a routine is a set of habits strung together. Habits are supposedly automatic.  Routines are not automatic. 

With that definition set up, it's clear that I'm actually not good with good habits and terrible with routines.  I mean I've got not exercising down to an art.  I drink too much coffee.  I don't choose water over other drinks.  I do enjoy driving through Popeyes for chicken strips.  So I do have habits...but most of them ain't good ones.  

I have routines but they are mostly forced.  I have to get up and get the kids off to school.  I have to cook dinner for us in the evenings.  I go to my volunteer jobs (forced because I signed up to do so).  

I know that most of the time we try to begin new good habits at the beginning of the year, calling them New Year's Resolutions.  We declare, "I resolve to XXXX" whatever that new habit will be.  I've done that and never follow through.  I've used Lent as a time to give up something, such as soda or chocolate, and was successful for that limited time. 

I don't think I want to make resolutions anymore because the feeling of failure is not one I want to keep torturing myself with.  

I want to nurture myself instead of always putting myself down.  I've neglected myself while trying to mother everyone else.  So I want to try to form some good habits that result in some good routines. 

I've got to start small and build up.  

I'm going to drink the proper amount of water for myself every day for the next 28 days.  What is that amount?  According to the Mayo Clinic, women should have 2.7 liters a day.  I live in Okinawa where it is hot and humid and I sweat a good bit so I'm going to round up to 3 liters.  Now it says you can count your coffee and other foods and beverages.  So I'm going to aim for 2 liters daily of just water.

I will report back on November 20 with my progress. 

Where am I now?

I've moved so many times since I started this blog and even since I last updated.  So where the heck am I these days?  

Well, I live in Okinawa, Japan right now.  We moved here in July 2021.  In the midst of the COVID times.  Before here, we were in Beavercreek, Ohio for two years.  We were there for 9 months before COVID hit and we spent the rest of the time at home.  My husband teleworked the whole time and I loved it.  

I know during COVID when we were all locked down in our homes so many people figured out if they really wanted to be with their partners or not.  I spent all that time with my husband and loved it.  We truly are meant for each other.  I can't complain about my husband, we are great together.  I'm so happy we are at a place and time in our journey where that is the case.  

Back to living in Okinawa.  I hear all the time, you either love it or hate it, no in between.  I disagree with that statement.  I am indifferent to it.  I don't hate it here at all.  There are a lot of things to like or love about it.  

Things to love about living in Okinawa.
1) The ocean

2) Yakiniku
3) The friendly native Okinawans

4) The blue sky

5) The green grass

6) Snacks

But also there are things that I do not like about living in Okinawa.

Things to not love about living in Okinawa.

1) COVID protocols

2) Language barrier

3) How far you are away from "home"

4) How far away you are from mainland Japan

5) Slow US mail service

6) HEAT and HUMIDITY

As you can see from my short (not comprehensive) lists; it's a draw.  I have been enjoying my life here as best as I can; just like I do at all of our assignments. 

I'll be sharing more specific things from my lists in the coming weeks.  

Thanks for hanging out with just me.

Still Just me...

I'm still just me.  Still Sarahtish.  

Goodness, I let this blog lie dormant for a very long time.  So much has happened in the last six years.  Six years!  Good grief that's a ridiculous amount of time to let something just sit.  

Poor blog.  

Well, I'm back.  I'm here.  I'm ready to share again.  

Where do I start?  From where I left off?  A new beginning?  

We shall see what happens next.  

Here we go...