These are a few of my favorite things.

as we speak (type?) LaFujiMama is holding a giveaway for some cool measuring spoons, all you need to do is post in her comments your favorite kitchen tool. This gave me an awesome idea for a blog post (since i've totally been slacking) run home to your blog and post your favorite kitchen things, Comment me if you do so i can check it out too!

my #1 is a tie between this:

which is a cool slicer thing i got at Nitori, a little target/pier one type store out here that sells cool stuff for not too much money. it's a slicer chopper, there's a thing that holds the whatever your slicing too but i forgot to grab it.
next for #1 we have the Vidalia onion wizard which is excellent for making salsa, everything but the cilantro can go into this thing. no more crying over onions!

and #2 (3?)

also i have my bopper chopper which is great for mincing garlic, pickles, onions, or anything you want minced, you just put it in and beat (bop) it repeatedly. (FYI it's real name isnt the bopper chopper, i have no idea what it's real name is but i like bopper chopper so thats what i'll call it)
and finally we have what every good kitchen needs and excellent cookbook (stolen from mom's house i think, sorry mom) this guy lives permanently on my countertop. i reference it several times a week for substitutes, seasonings, all kinds of stuff, this folks is my kind of cookbook!

so run off and make your post, with pictures of course! and then run over to FujiMama and tell her your fav by Sunday, April 5th for a chance to win! (and if you try her chocolate cake in a coffee mug, tell me how it is, because i am positive that isnt allowed in my diet. it'll be a few more pounds before i can try that one)

Further Explanation

we used to live at L- Camp McTureous we now live about a 1/4 of an inch next to to the Y-in Okinawa City right on a cliff with an ocean view. 

but you see how far it is from L to C (camp Hansen) where we went today, thats why i don't like the drive, its super long. like over an hour.  also never-mind the fact that it's only like 20 miles, the speed-limit here is so damn slow and traffic sucks on sundays. 

My Search Has Ended

For months(okay maybe a week or so) Paul and i have been searching for three things:

• Speakers for his computer 
• a new crock pot (3qt, because it's just the two of us)
• a magenta ink cartridge for the printer

none of the southern island PX's have had them, see thats the glory of owning/wanting american appliances and living on a small island with many americans who also own/want the same things and we only have one or two places to get them. and when the island finally gets what your looking for someone always beats you to it. this is the same reason we either have to all wear the same clothes, or order online. (on more than one occasion i've been at the same location as someone wearing the same PX bought shirt i was wearing.)

well today, aginst my wishes (i really dont like the drive) we went north to Hansen one of the two northern Marine bases, that dont have much to offer, small PX a food court, and thats about it. But Paul needed a hair cut and didnt want to wait for 3 hours at Foster ( a southern/central island base) which would be crowded on the weekend. So off to Hansen we headed. and guess what we found.

everything we always wanted, and more. Paul also got some body wash and i got a red mt. dew which is really the only soda besides orange fanta that i drink nowadays.

i'm gonna have to crock pot cook this week! i am so excited.

List's revisited

here's a little update I Love List's revisited

Things to do with Paul before deployment this summer

1. sometime around march i'd like to go to Tokyo and Disney Land  (may or may not happen, it's sort of doubtful though)
2. we really need to snorkel more (it's getting warmer, so soon)
3. scuba certification, even if we only get to scuba a few times (not gonna happen, but andrea and i are gonna when she comes out here)
4. go camping, at least once (going to try to do this still too)
5. go on a CREDO retreat (not going to happen)
6. Spend a day in Naha, on foot, exploring (it's been raining every weekend but this will happen!)
7. workout together, about once a week. (ummm... no)
8.  learn basic Japanese (yeah not this either)

Things to buy for new house

1. rugs (we are okay without these for now)
2. pantry cabinet (made everything fit without this, which rocks because we dont have room for one)
3. shoe cabinet (more of a shoe shelf, but i like it)
4. night stands (maybe, we just got new ones but i may use those as end tables in the new house) (sticking with the once we have)
5. bathroom stuff for my bath, i'm thinking white, crisp clean white  (bath looks good in white)
6. guest room provisions (we'll have to save up for this one) (not yet)
7. Craft room/Alana's office stuff (sewing machine, other crafty things) (this is coming together but not there yet)
8. Curtains house wide (i will actually probably have to make these since the windows are very small, but that way they can be exactly how i want.  (found curtains and they wern't too expensive either)

Rules for the new house (these are the hard ones)

1. dishes will be done immediately, no more waiting three days to do them (well they dont get done right away but they dont sit there for days either)
2. alana cant 'nest' (this is where i make a mess in one spot, of dishes, magazines, coke cans, blankets, i do this often) (i dont nest too much, just a little)
3. clean up after yourself (this sort of happens)
4. laundry will be hung up on clothes line unless its raining (i'm good at this)
5. laundry will be put away as soon as its dry (i'm pretty good at this)
6. no stocking up on food (it's one thing to be prepared, but i more than enough food to feed several armies in my pantry right now) (were pretty good at not buying too much food)
7. the dog cannot go out alone (she really doesnt, i usually watch her from the door)
8. the cat cannot go out at all (and he doesnt)

Rules for school

1. i will devote at least one hour a day to school work , per class, and not wait until bedtime for this hour (mmm... sort of)
2. i will not wait until the last minute to do my homework (pretty good at this)
3. i will study every day (almost every day)
4. i will not try to do homework in front of the TV (well we dont have tv anymore so not an issue here)
5. i will get at least B's because i can do it. (so far so good!)

Garden Love

Pictures of flowers from the flower expo:

[daisy's (i bought some of these)]

[pretty purple]

[hibiscus]

my back yard/garden:

[my lovely garden]

Shrimp Bisque

Shrimp Bisque

via Closet Cooking

Amazing

very easy

so tasty, Paul and i ate almost the whole thing. 

the only thing i did was add extra lemon. 

Dear Faithful Readers

all 12 of you :)

i've been working lately, i dont even know if i posted but i got a job. i'm working on my time management right now, so as soon as i get in the grove of things i'll post more regularly. 

i'm off to work right now, but when i get home if i remember i'm going to post about another awesome recipe from Closet Cooking (actually two...) and tonight for dinner i'm going to make my own thing and if it turns out i'll share that recipe too.

Jennifer

i need your e-mail, i forgot it.

(reply removed because it had personal info and i got what i needed) 

thanks Jennifer

Flowers

i just got back from the nursery with this

it's a purple and red Hibiscus.

i'm so excited i could esplode (gir much?)

Pasta With Vodka Cream Sauce.

This week's meal can be found at Everybody Like's Sandwiches. i love pasta (and sandwiches) and i am always willing to try a new pasta.  Yesterday after a long day of work Paul and I went to the Commissary. I couldnt find half the things i wanted. but first lets jump to the food and then i'll discuss the day.

Pasta With Vodka Cream Sauce

with ingredients of Onion, Crushed Red Pepper, Vodka, Diced Tomatoes, cream and cheese, i whipped up a delicious pasta sauce (that was a bit spicy because i went overboard with the red pepper, cause i like it hot.)

It was incredible! Paul and i inhaled it, it made about 4 servings and we ate almost all of it. I strongly suggest not adding double (or triple) the red pepper though (and don't add your own chili oil either, that's just bad news)

the sauce had a hint of sweet to it, i think from the onions. I think Spinach, Shirmp, Mushrooms, or Sausage would all be great additions to this pasta. 

(i'll add pictures very soon, i just need to get my cable from upstairs)