Just Do It

One of my favorite ways to stay in shape is to run.  There are so many places your feet can take you.  Running in Okinawa is much different from the US because of the humidity and the hills.

   

One of my biggest motivators for running is good workout attire.  Nike is my favorite brand to run in.  I love to run in shirts with motivating sayings.  One of my favorites is a shirt that says "Just Do It".  It's one of the most recognized brand slogans there are, but have you ever stopped to think about how powerful those 3 little words are?  What if you applied them to everything in your life? ... "I don't want to work out." Just Do It.  "I don't want to apologize to my husband." Just Do It.  "I don't want to clean the house." Just Do It.  You get the picture.  Maybe the government needs a little Nike motivation.  "I don't want to get out of debt."  Just Do It.

I also have a few others.  Another favorite of mine is a shirt that says "Try 2 Keep Up."  I only wear this on rare occasions when I know I will have a fast workout.  I do live on a military base, so you can imagine what a 20 year old male, active duty service member would think if I was wearing that shirt and running like I was about to pass out and die.

Another motivator for running is music.  My husband often laughs at the play list on my ipod because it is completely random and will go from a christian song praising God to a rap song talking about beer and partying.  I just go with the beat.  Two of my favorite songs on my play list right now are Stronger by Mandisa and Party Rock by LMFAO .

Saturday morning we took a run to the sea wall.  It was 7 miles in total, but of course I was stopping frequently to take pictures.  We started off on base.  This is a photo of one of the hills I run. 

Taken mid-hill

Over halfway down already

From the bottom of the hill, looking up.  This is 1/2 of it, the other 1/2 you can't see.



The start of this hill is 1/4 a mile from my house.  The hill itself is about 1/2 mile long.  The ocean in the back is where we are headed.  We have to go off base to get there.  And of course...what goes down...must go back up.

 

Out the gate...



And onto the streets of Okinawa



We head straight for the sea wall and we are able to capture a little Japanese beauty in our scenic run.

 

 

 

Recipe Alert: Sushi and Yakisoba

Tonight our inner Japanese came out and we made sushi and yakisoba for dinner.  Yummm.

Sushi is becoming a staple in our house.  To make sushi you will need sushi rice.  This is made by using a short grain rice.  You will need to cook your rice and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes.  Meanwhile mix together 3T rice vinegar, 2T sugar, and 1t salt in a bowl.  Microwave for 45 seconds and stir.  Then pour the mixture over 3 cups of cooked rice.  Allow rice to cool to room temperature. 

Sushi Ingredients:

• 3 cups of sushi rice
• 3-4 sheets of nori (dried seaweed) cut in half
• cucumber
• avocado
• lemon
• crab
• mayonnaise
• cucumber, cut in matchstick size pieces
• roasted sesame seeds
• bamboo mat (covered in plastic wrap or wax paper)

1. Get your ingredients ready.  Slice avocado and squeeze lemon juice over it.  In a separate bowl combine crab and mayonnaise (as much or as little as you like).
2. Put a half sheet of nori shiny side down on your surface.  Wet finger tips and put about 1/2 cup of sushi rice on the nori.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
   
3. Turn nori sheet over and line crab mixture, cucumber, and avocado down the center.   Roll up using bamboo roller.
   
   

And by all means make sure you are sticking your tongue out and concentrating really hard when you do this!

**We love to garnish ours with pickled ginger and sweet chili sauce.

Now for the yakisoba...

Yakisoba Ingredients:

• Soba noodles, cooked
• 1 lbs chicken, chopped into bite size pieces
• Yakisoba sauce (about 1/2 a bottle)
• 4 gloves of garlic, minced
• 2T olive oil
• 2-3 cups mixed veggies (cabbage, carrots, peppers, onions)
• pepper
• ginger

1. Heat oil in wok and saute chicken until done.
2. Add garlic and veggies until desired level of tenderness.
3. Add yakisoba sauce, soba noodles, dash of pepper, and dash of ginger to chicken mixture.
4. Cook until heated through.

This yummy Japanese meal was loved by all in my house.



Just the two of us...

After spending the last two days inside because of the rain, Landen and I decided to venture out.  We went to Araha Beach, which is a favorite of ours because (a) it is 5 minutes from our house, (b) there are jelly fish nets to keep them out of the swim area, and (c) it's a sure way to mingle with some locals.  So we headed out, just the two of us. 

I initially feel out of place.  Not because I am the only America, but because I am the only female in a swimsuit.  Japanese women like to cover themselves from the sun.  From head to toe.  Even if it is 100 degree's out.  Even if they are at the beach.  I have been told this is for prestigious reasons.  All I know is this: a tan makes you look thinner.  I would rather look poor and skinny than wealthy and fat.  Just saying.

So they can wear pants, long sleeve shirts, and gloves.  They can cover their faces with scarves. They can carry umbrellas.  I am going to sport my Victoria Secret bikini. 

Landen had a great time playing in the water with his new toys that we bought at ToysRUs.  Yes, they have one here (actually they have two).  And as predicted we met several local children to play with and one very drunk woman who just couldn't get enough of my blondie.

When it was time for lunch the most amazing aroma filled the air.  The Japanese don't eat sandwiches for lunch.  They eat Japanese foods.  Duh.  I don't know why this shocked me, but they dug out their chopsticks and plates of chicken teryaki and fried rice.  I smelled their yummy goodness and wished I didn't have a smashed peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a bruised apple.

This beach also has things to rent such as jet ski's and boats.  Behind the rentals you can see the mall (not what your thinking) and the ferris wheel where American Villiage is (also not what your thinking).  I will share those at another time.

And of course everywhere in Japan are tons of signs that I can't read.  This one could say 50000000 yen fine for wearing a bikini for all I know.

Eigo O Hanashimasu Ka - Do you speak English?

Ohayoo Gozaimusu (Good Morning...or if you are in the US I should say Konbanwa, Good Evening),

Yes, that's right, I live in the future.  Or to be exact, in Okinawa Japan as of 31 days ago.  Everyday brings new experiences and insight to a world completely unfamiliar.  My reaction?  Complete and utter amazement.  Imagine this.  Everything you know is gone or different.  You are in another country.  You don't know the language. It took you 3 days to get here.  You traveled with a 13 month old.  You arrive exhausted, tired, hungry.  Did I mention you were traveling with a 13 month old?  Okay, just checking.

BUT, you have journeyed to an AMAZING place.  The people are kind.  They are simple.  The island is beautiful, the water is crystal clear, the fish are neon colors, and the food is...well...let's just say I have gained 5lbs (despite running 4 to 5 miles up and down hills every morning).

So what I traded in my $32,000, 2010 GMC Acadia for a beat up $2000, 2001 Daihatsu yrv (still trying to learn how to spell it).  I left my 1600 square foot home for a 800 square foot quadplex made out of concrete with a metal door.  I love my new home.  I love my new car.  I love my new country.

My Car.

My home.

I will share with you my journey.  We are a month behind.  You have missed so much already.  Life is great and I am going to tell you about it.  I will teach you how to make sushi, I will show you beauty, we will learn together.  And, when you want to come visit.  Call me.  My number is 08035143218.  Yep, 11 digits.

P.S. A little history: Where did beautifully strong come from?  This past year I learned that I am stronger than I ever knew possible.  Following the birth of my son, in which he nearly died and we had a very rough recovery, I found beauty in my strength.  I have found strength in family.  Strength in friends.  Strong is beautiful.  People are beautiful.  Their stories are beautiful.  I am Beautifully Strong.