They might not arrive here in a timely fashion - we might have to wait a few weeks or months to get them here - but we've got movie theaters on most of the military installations here on Okinawa. Wanna know what's coming up? Check it out HERE.
CONTRIBUTED BY JULIA
I've only tried a couple of their burgers but I was pleasantly surprised. It's not often that you find a pineapple burger with avocado sauce on it! I also tried the Spicy Chicken Cheeseburger. Not to mention their garlic french fries...I'm a HUGE fan of garlic so this hit the spot for me.
A burger and fries can...
Kabi Killer, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
I have it on good authority that this is the magic potion in the never-ending fight against mold in my bathroom and yours. Or wherever your mold grows.
I was going to go all out for you. I took some before shots of the mold in my bathroom and anxiously awaited the...
this is neri goma which is also tahini, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
Victory at 298 yen!
Tahini lives under a different name in these parts.
Neri-goma. It comes in white (shiro) and black (kuro). You bet I'll be rocking some black hummus as soon as I give the white jar a spin.
The container is much smaller than what I...
vending machine, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
I'm knee deep in convincing my son, Eli, that his milk can come in a variety of ways.
Namely, warm or cold.
It's not much of a variety but then he isn't looking for a variety. That would be me because for the one minute it takes to warm his milk in the...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
The commissary baggers got new smocks or aprons or ponchos. Have you noticed? The front says something forgettable but the back packs a punch.
BAGGERS WORK FOR TIPS ONLY
I don't get this but I am new to the military world so there is much, many and mountains that I don't get. However, this sentiment nags at me....
poop shield, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
These Pigeon liners are great for those of you who use cloth diapers. It makes poop clean up a ton more pleasant.
For 800 yen you can get a box of 220. I've been here 18 months and haven't finished my second box yet. At a diaper change, if there is only...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
In case, like me, you had no idea such a glorious thing existed. Behold.
1. www.shipitapo.com
2. www.apobox.com. Word has it that this service is cheaper than shipitapo. Five dollars per package + postage versus 7.95 at shipitapo.
3. This site lists all sorts of places that DO ship to FPO/AP addresses.
kuwaenaturepark_playground2, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
It is, like it promises, a park AND a playground so there's plenty of walking or running space and then a small playground with a covered area for eating or catching shade. There are also bathrooms close by to the playground. It's a contained playground which makes it easier to keep your...
By Downtown Julie Brown
I'm a flea market junkie from way back. Like childhood. On Saturdays my family would climb into the station wagon and hit all the neighboring garage sales to be followed by an 11 am trip to the flea market. Over breakfast we would compare our treasures and boast about who got the best deal. (Copper bottom...
CONTRIBUTED BY JULIA
For those of you who like barbecue ribs with meat that is falling off the bone and cornbread in a skillet then this is the place for you! Yummy, yummy, food. It can be quite busy so I'd recommend making reservations.
And from DOWNTOWNJULIEBROWN
I was really happy to find genuine Memphis-style BBQ which kicks butt even by US...
nakakawa meat, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
There is a brand new shop on our block. It appears to be called Nakakawa Meat. Nakakawa is a family name I'm assuming. Some further assuming leads me to believe that this Nakakawa guy is selling a variety of meats. Or perhaps he's just selling goat meat. Or he's only selling...
jusco ball pit, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
Now that Eli gets the correlation between his signing and our actions he’s gotten wicked bossy. Almost all other signs have been retired for HELP because HELP causes Mom and Dad to appear instantaneously and concerned at his side. Is there better magic out there?
Sometimes I rebel and let him...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
People here in Japan bow. You already knew that though.
I am a fan of the bowing. You never have to wonder how to greet or bid farewell to someone. That's not the case for me in the States. Do I shake a hand? Give a hug? Nod? Smile? Appropriate greetings and farewells confuse me at home....
Genki Izakaya, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
Yesterday four of us moms and a couple of two year old boys lunched here at Genki. It was yummy. I really dug their champuru more than others I have had. They have cheap lunch sets. The boys ate the soba set. There was also a chicken teriyaki set. I had...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
Maybe you call it the White Rabbit Store like myself. Or the pink and white store. Or that store near Foster. No matter what you call it they have CHEAP clothing worth checking out.
The clothing sizes are based on the child's height in centimeters. My older son is a 2T and fits best in size 95....
chinuman, originally uploaded by okimamas&papas.
CONTRIBUTED BY JULIA
Chun and I checked out this new restaurant near Kadena Gates 2 & 3 called Chinuman. Was a cool place to take the kids as there is an indoor playroom and they have some individual rooms that you can close off to keep the kids under wraps! Some of the rooms also have...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
You should get to know this park immediately. There's a beach, a field, a dolphin-shaped play structure, gazebos, a skate park, a fast slide and SPACE galore.
Directions to Sunabe Ba-Ba Park (Dolphin Park):
Turn left out of Gate 1 of Kadena onto Hwy 58. Get into the far right lane to turn right at the next stoplight. ...