Getting Ready for Disney

A little less than a month from now, we will be on a plane to Orlando for our first official family vacation. We need a vacation so bad...and we thought that since Disney is the happiest place on Earth...then that is where we should go. 

I booked 100% of our trip through the Disney travel agents. They even took care of the flight...and no....they don't charge additional for the flight. I checked and the flight was the same exact price as if I would have booked it through Expedia or something like that myself. It was the easiest trip booking ever...usually I have to deal with a million hotels, restaurants, flights, etc...but this was all done for me. Love Disney already!

So, we are heading out on the 23rd of July and returning on the 30th (flying on my birthday as usual...oh well). I decided to go with Jet Blue since we get to check our luggage without an additional charge, are provided with refreshments, and have screens on our seats to watch TV....this is vacation....so I didn't want to be dying of thirst on the plane once my $5 bottle of airport water is all gone.

Anyway, so we will be staying a the Animal Kingdom Lodge which I am super excited about. It is supposed to be amazing! 

The other day we received a few items in the mail for our trip. 

Disney luggage tags, tags to put on our bags for the Magical Express, a book of maps and things like that, and a book containing our vouchers, flight numbers, etc

I am also so relieved that Disney will actually pick our bags up for us at the airport and then have them delivered to our room! One less hassle with a toddler for sure.

So, right now I am starting to organize for the trip in terms of our packing list...and I'm really most anxious about Mia on the plane. She has been on a plane a grand total of three time so far...but she was so much smaller. I have seen toddler meltdowns in the air...and it can be terrible...terrible for the toddler, terrible for the parents, and terrible for the other passengers.

With all that being said, I did some research and found some ideas on different websites. Here are a few of the things that we will be packing on the plane with us....or at least what my ideas are for the moment and what I have ordered...this may change slightly before we go.

DK Ocean Book (for the pictures--however, not as many pictures as I would have liked...so will save this for another occasion), a lift the flap book with 40 flaps...should keep her busy, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar which is new to Mia.

Lots of stickers...not only for the plane but also for restaurants too.

Travel Magna Doodlge, a cool mist fan (for the parks), some ABC/picture flash cards, and a Teach Me Elmo

A Toddler busy box called Lauri Toys Toddler Tote...lots of things for her to play with...don't know why Blogger keeps flipping this picture.

These are some of the things that I'm hoping will distract her for the nearly 3 hour plane ride....if you have any other ideas...please let me know.

Day Out

At 6:30 this morning, Ten and I were both up and ready to start the day....this rarely (if ever at all) happens, so we decided to make the most of it and go on a day trip....Where did we go? We went to Kawagoe (aka "Little Edo"). For all of those who are reading from outside of Japan, this little town has the feel of traditional Japan since it wasn't as affected by various fires and disasters throughout Japanese history.

Anyway....lots of pics today, but I will try to keep it short and simple. : )

First, we bought our bus passes for the day....now these little babies were very important. In the past, we have tried to navigate with a map in Japanese towns (which is next to impossible since there are no street names), and we walked everywhere....However, we both end up getting furious at each other and everything around us...so I call these tickets....the marriage savers...

First, we went to Kita-in...above and below

One of the 538 unique statues

After visiting the temple, we used our marriage savers to go to the Kawagoe Castle grounds...took us only about 15 minutes to visit the main building

We then headed over to our favorite part....

Kashiyayokocho....it's roughly translated as something like small street with lots of candy/snack shops....yumm!! To be honest though, they may want to rethink their marketing strategy...we were fed so many free samples....we were sugared out and couldn't imagine buying anything....hahaha

Candy that looks like a lunch box...so cute

Yakidango...no idea how to describe this...grilled and salty...love it...and Ten as the hand model :)

The last places on our sightseeing list were the old storehouses and bell tower...quite impressive

Finally, as we were getting ready to head back to Tokyo....we spotted this....

Yes, it is a boiled egg...so what do you know...the restaurant is dedicated to egg based dishes...have to try it of course...hahaha

Yes, that is a whole lot of egg for a late lunch...hahaha..

Great day, but the best part (as the cliche goes) is coming home...:)

Missing the Mediterranean

With the weather hitting 90F (32C) here in Tokyo, I can't help but missing the beaches of Greece and the vitamin packed olives, tomatoes, and other veggies of Italy and Spain...sigh.


Trying to relive some of our time spent travelling throughout this region of Europe this past summer, I made this really super easy appetizer from one of my favorite blogs cookin' up north. I changed it up a little bit, but used the same basic concept. For instance, we put some green olives in there since we are addicted to them.

So simple and good....and when I closed my eyes....I was taken back to

Beautiful villas in Spain

Quiet Canals in Venice

...and the incredible views in Santorini, Greece


Hoping we can go back again soon!! Hint hint to Ten if you read this... : )

Nine Years and Not a Bad Word to Say

There seemed to be a common theme to all of my conversations today (and to even some blog posts that I've read), and I must say that I can't quite wrap my mind around it. I have heard soooo many people complain about their husbands/wives or boyfriends/girlfriends. Not just small complaints like..."I can't believe he never washes the dishes," but huge things like "I hate that (insert expletive here) worthless (expletive)....well you get the point...

I try to listen, but I just keep thinking...then why are you with them. Also, I'm surprised that they have such low respect for their partners that they would say these things publicly. I could never imagine.. in a million years... saying these things about Ten. 

Now, I'm not saying that we don't argue because we do...everyone does, but I feel so extremely thankful and happy that we are married and enjoy all of the moments that we spend together.

Here are a few highlights of our last nine years together:

In our late teens on a trip to Chicago, U.S.A

Four years ago in Bali, Indonesia...pre-marriage holiday

2 years ago in Beijing, China...The Great Wall

Last fall in Hawaii, U.S.A.

This past summer at The Globe in London, England