New Recipe Fridays

I love good food!  Who doesn't?  I tend to lean towards Asian cuisine but I love just about everything. I read A LOT of recipes.  Books, Pinterest, Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.  It's just so awesome that you can practically search any food and get a recipe for it.  There's just no reason to say you can't cook because all the resources are available, it just depends on your determination to learn.  Lol  I know it's not easy but like anything, it's a work in progress.  I like to compare recipes and/or combine the ideas and put my own twist to it.  Actually, in most cases I get so impatient following recipes that I tend to just do whatever.  Sometimes it turns out good but other times not.  Lol When people ask me for the recipe for something I've made, I always emphasize that I don't have an exact measurement.  I used to cook without tasting my food and quickly realized that was wrong.  Haha!  So now, I season and taste as I cook.  With all these delicious looking recipes easily available, I want to keep track of what I try and document my reviews every Friday - New Recipe Fridays.  At some point, I will be searching for these recipes again and who knows how many there will be after a year or so.  ;)

Now in San Antonio, Texas!

So sad that I did not get to blog for over a year!  A bit cliche but time flies when you are having fun!  Okinawa was our best duty station.  We were heartbroken to leave but military life left us with no choice.  A lot has happened since my last blog.  First big change is my one year old son!  He was born October 3rd and he is one of the many blessings we have.  He is adventurous, curious, and active.  In other words, naughty!!  ha!  LOL I guess some people were not joking when they said boys were different.  Nonetheless, I love him to pieces and he completes our little family.  :) Second big change, we are now in San Antonio, Texas!  Chris flew out here first and we followed shortly after in November 9th.  My first impression, quiet!  I don't know why and I'm pretty sure it is the opposite but maybe it was the side of town we were in or I am just adjusting.  House hunting was frustrating but we found a place in Selma.  The house still needs work for it to start looking like home.  Until then, I am excited for what this new duty station holds for my family.

My Baby Is Growing Up!!!

Lana goes to a Montessori School Monday through Friday, from 8AM to 12PM.  Her first week was not bad at all.  I guess she figured that it was fun.  The second week; however, was torture for myself and her.  She went through the clinging stage where she did not want to let go of my hand.  She would cry as soon as I parked the car in front of the school.  One morning, I had to stay there until 8:30 because she was hugging me the whole time.  I felt absolutely horrible for having to put her through this, after all she was only 2 years and 4 months at the time.  I spoke with the school director and she assured me that Lana was doing just fine.  A little cry here and there was really normal.  She had trouble following directions and this frustrated me because in my mind, my daughter was smart and always followed MY directions.  I had to accept the fact that one of the reasons she is going to this school was not only to learn academically but also to socialize with other children and be able to listen to other adults other than Mommy and Daddy.  This went on for about a month.  I remember speaking to a couple of parents who have kids that go to the same school mentioning that their kids went through the same thing.  And then they told me, that the time will come when they will no longer even acknowledge that you dropped them off to school.  That was a scary thought.

This week, the school has a new student.  Her mom looks exactly how I looked when Lana first started, same with her daughter.  I just think to myself, "we went through that."  Then today, my most dreadful thought came true.  As I dropped Lana to the door, she grabbed her lunch box from me and quickly said, "bye mommy!"  I insisted on a hug but all I kept getting from her were those two words.  She looked as if she was embarrassed that she had a clingy mom!  It made me want to tear up, but I walked away like a big girl and told my baby goodbye.  *SIGH*

Okinawa Orchid Festival

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the the annual Okinawa Orchid Festival in Nago (northern part of Okinawa).  The festival was held in the Tropical Dream Center within the famous Churaumi Aquarium, the third largest aquarium in the world.  It was orchid heaven as the festival showcased over 10,000 different species of beautiful orchids.  It is a definite must go to event when in Okinawa.