Friday Fill-In

 Who watched the Royal Wedding??  I lucked out being in Japan and didn't have to wake up early to watch it!  Wasn't her dress GORGEOUS???  *sigh* I wish I were a real life princess!

1. Have you and your spouse agreed to live in separate locations (a geographical bachelor tour) knowing that the short-term inconvenience would have long-term benefits for your family? How did it work for you?


When we started talking, we lived in separate states.  It stayed that way until we moved out here actually.  He was in different schools for the Marine Corps and I had my job and obligations in New Mexico.  When we got married, he was finishing his engineer school and only had a few months left, so we decided to keep it long distance until we moved out here.  We would fly back and forth every month or so to visit each other and it worked pretty well.  It wasn't always fun being apart, but we knew we would eventually get to live together.


2. What is your favorite thing about being a MilSpouse?
I love the people I've met.  Living on base, I'm surrounded by people who know exactly what I'm going through.  I can look around and know that someone has already been through whatever I'm going through
and they made it through, and so will I. 


3. If you could still have your spouse/significant other and your family, but take the military life out of it…would you?
If my husband weren't in the military, we wouldn't have met.  I have my moments of complaining with the Marine Corps, but I do love what he does.  I'm proud of him and I wouldn't take away the huge part of who he is. 


4. What have your homecoming experiences been like after a year long tour of separation?
We haven't been separted that long yet. 


5. If you have a child(ren) why you chose their name(s)? If not, why you would name your child something?

No kids yet.  We have names picked out for future kids, but I'll post those when we actually get to that point!

Easter Craft Day

Our monthly girl's craft day is still meeting up and creating some pretty cute decorations, so I'll continue to update as we create!

Yesterday, we got together to work on an Easter craft. The host told us we would be making terra-cotta pot bunnies, so we all prepared ourselves for an interesting project.
We took two pots of the same size and glued them together with a hot glue gun. Then we painted the pots whatever color we wanted our bunny to be. We used pipe cleaners and felt for the ears, little cotton poofs for the nose and tails, and had flowers for more detail.

Aren't they cute?

The bunny I made

It was such a fun craft day and I think these guys are going to look so cute sitting around the houses as Easter decoration!  

Friday Fill-In

How many pets do you have? And what type? submitted by Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl

We have a dog named Inu and a fish named Cassanova.  Inu is an Oki mix (a mutt) that we got out here and is seriously an awesome dog.  He listens pretty well, does some awesome tricks, and LOVES people.  Cassanova is a betta who loves when people look in his bowl.  If he sees a face looking at him, he swims over to it...crazy
What are your favorite projects to do while hubby is away? submitted by my-inspired-nest
I do a lot of baking, scrapbooking, and sewing.  I love doing anything crafty to keep my mind off of him being gone.  I'm going to set monthly goals while he is deployed to have certain sewing projects done...hopefully I'll get good enough to make some cute clothes!

What are the must-haves in your deployment care packages? submitted by Christine's Little Blog
I've only sent deployment care packages to friends and my brother so far, but they always have pictures of what has been going on at home, snacks, and random little toys that can make them laugh and have fun. 

If you could star in any TV show, which would it be? submitted by Just a Girl
I'd want to be on Cake Boss or another baking show.  I seriously love baking and cake decorating, and I think it would be a great experience to work with such talented people.

What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during your/your significant other's first deployment? submitted by The Pavlik Perspective
I haven't been through a deployment with hubby yet.  We've got one coming up this year though.  I can imagine the biggest hurrdle is just going to be adjusting to him not being here. 

Pacman Cake

My friend celebrated her birthday today!  I was going to make her a Charlie the Unicorn cake, but when we were cutting into the Batman cake last week, she mentioned it looked like Pacman.  It was then and there I decided to make her a Pacman cake.  I couldn't just make Pacman though...he had to eat something!  So I made a few cake balls for him to eat. 

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  I love how much I've been able to bake lately!  I just don't like thinking of what all the eating can do to my waistline! 
Hope everyone is having a good start to the week!



Friday Fill-In

Link up here to join in!

With PCS moves happening every few years, do you take the time to paint and decorate your home? submitted by Life as Mrs. JPT

I didn't paint any of our walls here, because I don't really want to paint them back in a few years.  Plus the paint machine was broken for months and it would've just been a pain!  I do my best to make this place home though.  We have things hanging on the walls, pictures displayed, and little accents to show off who we are.

If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be? submitted by Standing By Him
I don't know.  I can't really think of any homes on TV that really stand out to me that I would want to live in. 

What inspired you to start your blog? submitted by Pink Combat Boots
I started my blog to keep my family and friends updated on our life since we are in Okinawa.  I also thought it would be fun to be able to go back and look at all of our adventures and see how things have changed.

What is the weirdest thing you've ever seen on base? submitted by Adventures in Life
I haven't seen too many weird things on base here.  There was one time when we were trying to get through the gate and the guards had to stop the school buses that were trying to get out because there was a duck crossing the street.  The duck just sat down in fron of the bus and wouldn't move until the guard chased him. 

Which historical figure (politician, writer, artist, scientist, actor, etc...) would you like to have dinner with? submitted by Army of Two
Dead or alive?  I would pick Elizabeth Blackwell.  She was the first woman doctor in the United States and I would love to talk to her about the struggles she had and what it was like to make it through. 

You're never too old for a Batman Cake!

Today is Hubby's 26th birthday!  Last year, we had just moved into our apartment and didn't know anyone, so we had a cake from the commissary and watched a movie on the laptop because none of our stuff had arrived.  This year, all he asked for was a cake.  When I asked him what kind of cake he wanted, he casually responded with, "Batman".  I thought he was joking at first, but he kept a straight face. 
Here is what I made him:

He didn't want a party or to make a big deal out of his birthday, so we just invited a few of our neighbors over for cake and ice cream tonight.  This weekend he is going golfing with the guys, so his birthday present from me is him getting to go to the pro shop and get a set of golf clubs.  He's been putting it off for so long and is golfing more often, so I figured he deserves his own set. 

On a different note, this is how you embarrass my dog:





Okinawa has been so warm and beautiful lately...I am so happy!  I've decided that this summer is a skirt and dress summer!  Yesterday I went out to a new cafe near our base to celebrate on of our friend's birthday.  It's a tiny cafe, but oh so cute!  They had healthy chicken and fish meals, different pasta dishes, and other Japanese dishes that you could pick from and they all came with a drink, salad, and a little dessert!  The food was delicious and really reasonably priced. 

My neighbor is starting a blog for everyone in Okinawa who would like to experience more places away from Kadena and Foster.  Everything we find online is in that area and while they are all good, there are so many places right outside our gate that we don't know about yet.  We're making it our job to go out and try these new places out and get pictures and reviews up so more people can know about them.  Check her out sometime.  There aren't any posts up yet, but there will be soon enough!  The Other Okinawa

MilSpouse Survey

I saw this floating around, so I thought I would join in!

1. How long have you been a military wife?
A little over a year

2. What branch of service is your husband?
Marine Corps

3. Active/Reserve?
Active Duty

4. What is his job?
He is the battalion S-3 training officer

5. How many deployments have you gone through?
None yet...we have our first one coming up later this year. 

6. Camo or Dress uniforms on your man?
Dress Blues because I only get to see him in them once a year

7. What do you like about being a military wife?
I like the group of friends that I've made and the pride that comes with being a military wife

8. Do you live on base?
Yup, we live in a high rise tower on base

9. What is your favorite base so far?
Well so far we've just have Camp Lejeune for his schooling and here in Okinawa...we definitely like Okinawa better! 

10. What is the hardest part of the military life?
Not being able to plan things and the long separations

11. Do you go to the grocery store or Commissary?
We do most of our shopping at the commissary, but we go to the Japanese grocery stores for some stuff

12. Do you work or stay at home?
I stay at home.  I babysit during the week, but it's nice not having to work right now

13. Do you have a lot of military wife friends?
All of my friends out here are military wives...it's what happens when you live on a small island in Japan!  It's nice having people around who understand what you're going through though...and some of my friends are just a few doors away!

14. Do you prefer Walmart or the BX/PX/NEX/MCX?
Our PX is so tiny on our base.  We usually go to the Air Force base and check out their BX, check the Japanese stores, or order online.  No Walmart or Target out here!
15. How did your husband propose?
He proposed Christmas night with a coffee mug that said Marine Wife.  I thought it was a joke and got really confused until he told me to check the inside of the mug...he had taped the ring inside

16. Did you marry him after he joined or before?
After...he was already in when I met him
17. How long have you been together?
Since July 2009

18. Any kids?
Nope

19. Any kids yet to come?
Not yet

20. Is your husband one of those "I am soldier hear me HOOAH" kind of guys?
Not really...he's proud of his job, but he doesn't go around telling everyone about it.

21. Have you ever done combatives with your husband?
Nah, he's probably afraid I'll kick his butt :)

22. How many bases have you lived at?
This is his first duty station

23. If you could change one thing about the military?
The planning! lol

24. Do you like military balls?
So far they have been pretty fun.  It's nice to get dressed up and celebrate the guys!

25. Where does your family live?
My parents are in New Mexico and his are in Ohio.  Both of us have brothers in the Marine Corps, so our parents get to enjoy their empty nests

26. What do you do for a job?
I babysit and explore the island to scope out new places to take the hubby!

27. Have you ever gotten in a fight with an NCO's wife?
No

28. Name one thing you do when your husband is gone.
I have lots of movie days/nights with my friends.  I also do a lot of baking, sewing, and scrapbooking

29. Do you think other wives do that too?
They may not do exactly what I do, but I'm sure they do what they can to stay busy.