High Five For Friday 11/22

I had a great week this week! It was pretty busy, which I enjoy. It was filled with shopping, field trips, lunch dates, and getting ready for the holidays!

{ONE}

I have been having the urge to shop lately so I thought I would go to the mall and walk around and check out some stores. I tried on a few things, but I really didn't like anything. The trend here right now is really long, baggy sweaters. It is 70 degrees, way too hot for full body sweaters. I did find one store I liked and bought a shirt. I really miss American stores, especially boutiques and J. Crew!

While I was trying stuff on, I was handed a paper mask to wear. It helps keep the clothes clean, which is super smart. Count on Japanese culture to do everything the smart way. I couldn't stop laughing every time I saw myself in the mirror, though.

Ignore the ugly sweater and check out my cute mask

My favorite store, A.V.V

{TWO}

I also did some shopping for our guest room. It is coming along nicely and I can't wait to get it finished. The store like Ikea here has some great stuff for good prices. I also discovered a new home store, called Living Design Square. It is an entire shopping center of furniture and home stores. I didn't find much, since most of the stuff was pricey, but it was fun to look!

I really wanted this, but at $700 it wasn't going to happen

Living Design Square

{THREE}

I met my friend for lunch at Transit Cafe on the seawall for lunch. It was a such a cute cafe and had a great view. The food was so good. I had been craving a salad since not many places have them here. 

Cheese Fondue

View from lunch

{FOUR}

After lunch, we got pedicures at a famous salon, Cocok. You sit in big, comfy recliners that look out onto the ocean. They give you the most incredible massage for about 30 minutes. I did not want it to stop! Then, you pick a nail design from hundreds of pictures and sample nails. You can get flowers, shapes, jewels, sparkles, animal print, you name it. They free hand everything, which is incredible. It was totally worth $40! 

Just a few of the hundreds of options

{FIVE}

My friend found flavored KitKats for me! She found me strawberry and purple sweet potato. They are SO good. I may or may not be eating some as we speak. Now I just need to find the passionfruit and mango. I love finding interesting treats here!

What a wonderful week! I have a fun weekend scheduled and exciting things happening, which I can't wait to share on Monday. Have a good one!

Linking up with Lauren, Darci, and Jennie

High Five For Friday 11/8

This week was a good one! It reminded me to enjoy the simple things and embrace every opportunity.

{ONE}

Last week I discovered a wonderful little bagel place, Cactus Eatrip. Bagel sandwiches are a definite win in my book, so I was so excited to find it! It is a nice change from all of the ramen and the sushi we have been eating. This week I had a fabulous lunch date with some new and old friends at this fun place. We ate our delicious sandwiches, chatted for a long time, and were enticed by the smells of fresh baked cookies. What a fun day and a fun place!

{TWO}

I love all of the fresh produce markets out in town. They have produce that I love and things I have never tried. The prices are great for fresh produce. It is a nice change from the commissary produce that is less than fresh and goes bad very quickly. The local tangerines are in season and the best ones I have ever tasted! I have already eaten all the ones I got and want to go back immediately to get some more!

My produce stand haul

{THREE}

This week I shared more on my clean eating lifestyle in A Day in the Life of My Stomach. It has been harder to eat clean here than I would have expected. It is nice to have the produce stands, but we don't have access to food we are used to at all times. We have the commissary that has American food that has been shipped in, but selection is limited and things often hold up the arrival of goods. Also, that means that food isn't always as fresh as I would like it to be. 

Exhibit A. Notice the empty shelves and the two measly Chobani yogurts(peach, yuck). It is hard when the products you love and are used to are not within your reach. On a side note, you should see how people fight over products here. Let's just say, there was quite the battle for Pumpkin Spice Creamer as soon as it came in. And people fighting on Facebook over seasonal creamer hoarders. Quite entertaining. When I struggle with the idea that we don't have access to everything we want, I remember to be thankful for the items we do have access too.

I have been taking full advantage of all of the squash that has been in stock. Butternut, acorn, spaghetti, and zucchini, I have been eating it all. Roasted butternut squash is by far my favorite out of them all.

Acorn squash, maybe my least favorite of all the squash, but this was a good recipe

{FOUR}

With the delay of food products at the commissary, also came a delay in mail. It has been taking some packages 8 weeks to get here! Remember my Columbus Day finds? After almost 4 weeks, I got my J. Crew package! Oh happy day! It is so fun to go look in your mailbox and see that lovely little J.Crew package. 

The colorblock elbow-patch sweater is cream in the front and mint in the back with brown elbow patches. It may possibly be my favorite item of clothing ever. This package was exciting, but the last package on my list of things I had been waiting to receive. This is kind of sad, considering I can't do much more online shopping due to a certain exciting, expensive event coming up.

{FIVE}

That leads me to the exciting, expensive event. We are going to Thailand for Christmas and New Years! We are so, so excited and can't believe it is actually happening. 

This Lonely Planet book was given to me as a gift when we found out we were moving to Japan and it has been so helpful!

One day Jake mentioned we should plan a trip, and the next day our flight was booked. It was an exhilarating 24 hours. We will be traveling to Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. If anyone has any suggestions on things to see, places to eat or stay, please let us know! We are excited to cross something off of our travel bucket list. 

Don't have many plans for the weekend. We will see where it takes me. Have a good one!

Linking up with Lauren, Darci, and Jennie

Perfect Moments Captured

Sometimes, words can't do justice to the beauty of a moment, a day, a weekend. So, here is my weekend in pictures. ENJOY!

Moon Beach

Cafe Boulangerie de Paris

Cape Zanpa

Zanpa Beach

SeaSeed Coral Farm

homemade Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with local bread

Linking up with Sami and Kimberlee