Monday Monday
6/25/2007 04:30:00 PM | Author: Simply Jen
Today is a good day. Interesting, but good. I haven't really done much, but that will change I'm sure. I plan on making some time to sit down and catch up on a study that I'm doing with some of the ladies on Milspouse. They are way ahead of me, but catching up will really be no problem. It's really a great study. I'm having to do a lot of reflecting.
I just spent a few minutes looking through a link I had totally forgotten about. It is for a site called "Remembering Our Babies" and I really hadn't thought about it in a long time. I didn't expect it to effect me at all but I just had to click on THIS.
The baby I lost was only two weeks older and for some reason it just really got to me today. I guess that's life. I'm fine now.
Well I guess I should go do something productive.
A lovely Day
6/24/2007 04:09:00 AM | Author: Simply Jen
Today was a really nice day. One of those days you know you better enjoy because they don't come around often enough.
My wonderful husband came in this morning to ask me what time we had to be anywhere and when I told him it wasn't until this evening, he decided to let me sleep. I slept until about 11:30! It felt so nice! We ate a little something after I finally woke up and then we went to walmart. Now let me explain something about myself. One of my most favorite things in the world is buying gifts for people. It's made much better if that person happens to be a child. Today was the birthday of my friend's son and we were invited to the party. My son was thrilled because it is his best friend and we were going to be buying spiderman gifts for him. We had so much fun picking out the gifts and for about 25 dollars we ended up getting him a shirt, two toys, and a book as well as a very cool spiderman bag to put it all in. Talk about fun! Also, while we were there I got to try out something that I'm assuming falls into the category of Hawaiian food. It is called poi mochi. I have to say I didn't care for it much, but not because of the taste. It had a good taste, but the texture was a bit too odd for me. It was sort of gummy or something. I don't know. The flavor was actually quite nice. For those of you who have no idea what poi is or what mochi is, here are some definitions followed by a recipe for Poi Mochi.

poi (poi)
A Hawaiian food made from the tuber of the taro that is cooked, pounded to a paste, and fermented.

Mochi (Japanese: 餅; Chinese: (麻糬)) is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and commonly sold and eaten at that time.




Poi mochi
Courtesy Uncle Lani's Hawaiian Poi Mochi

Vegetable oil
10-ounce package mochiko (Asian sweet-rice flour)
3 cups sugar or to taste
12-ounce bag poi
Enough water to achieve consistency of thick pancake batter

Heat 1-inch of cooking oil in a skillet at 300 degrees. In a large bowl, mix mochiko, sugar, poi and water; blend well.

Drop batter by teaspoonfuls in hot oil. Fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

My son spent the rest of the day excited and impatient to get to the party. Finally it was time and we headed over there. It was so much fun and we also got to spend time with two other couples who have children which is always a treat for us. I got to take some pictures at the party and had so much fun visiting and being around the kids. We stayed until it became apparant the kids were getting cranky and really tired. All in all we were there about 4 hours.
Another bonus of my day was that I got to take pictures for a portfolio contest I'm in. I needed about four pictures to catch up and I was able to do them all today. The contest is so awesome for me. You have ten weeks, ten categories, and two of your own pictures where you chose the topic. We start week 10 Monday and I'll be sad when it's over. You don't really win anything, but it's been a great experience for me. I'm usually more of a landscape person and this has made me think outside of my little box and I've found I'm pretty good at other things too. At least I think I am. You can see what you think about it if you want. My portfolio can be found HERE. If you do check it out, let me know what you think. I always like hearing peoples opinions.
One of the highlights of the day was the beautiful sunset we had. I was able to take a few pictures and the best part was these few clouds we had that looked like they were on fire. It was so awesome. I don't know why I would even consider leaving this place. I'm so in love with it and on a daily basis I can find something to really blow me away or really touch me. I truly believe I am in one of the most beautiful and special places on earth.


too much
6/21/2007 04:11:00 AM | Author: Simply Jen
My brain is so on overload and I have no one to blame but myself. I am getting a little obsessed with thinking about the future and all because my son asked if we would paint his room. My thing is trying to figure out if we are going to put in for an extension here in Hawaii or try for somewhere else when our time here is up next year. If we are going to extend then I have no problem with us painting.
My head is so full of trying to weigh the pros and cons of both choices that it's going to drive me nuts. The hardest thing for me is that I am totally in love with it here.
I hope my brain turns off soon. I'm going to need some sleep.
I'm back.
6/09/2007 02:51:00 AM | Author: Simply Jen
It is so good to be back online. The first week, I didn't miss it that bad. I missed my friends and milspouse. I missed being able to do my FRG thing easily but, overall, I didn't miss it all that much. It's a big surprise. I considered myself totally addicted.
Hubby is home, things have gotten back to some sense of normal and life is good. I thought I had a lot to say here, but I honestly find myself lacking words. Maybe I'll think of something later.