December 16, 2023

2023 November List | 十一月清單

December 16, 2023/ Brandy C.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. No need for superfluous decorations, and no worries about buying gifts. Simply gathering among friends and family to reflect on gratitude. This year’s Thanksgiving we spent it with our dear friends M&L’s family. So grateful that they have looked after our entire family since we moved to Cincinnati.

感恩節是我最愛的節日之一！不需要花俏裝飾品，更不需要絞盡腦汁買禮物，一家人聚一起回顧一整年感謝的事，最愛這種樸實過節的方法。今年感恩節我們在很照顧我們的M&L家過，謝謝他們全家從我們到這裡時就很照顧我們一家人。

Friendsgiving

Never thought our little house can host so many people to celebrate Friendsgiving! What a night! Everyone brought their signature dish, and I smoked a turkey for the first time ever and it was a success!

感恩節前夕，朋友們一起來我們家慶祝！沒想到我們小小的家能擠進這麼多人，真的特別開心。大家帶了拿手菜分享，而我（第一次）準備煙燻烤火雞，超級成功！

Mita’s

https://www.mitas.co/

This restaurant has been on my list since the summer when we moved to Cincinnati, and it did not disappoint! Every dish we ordered came as advertised. This place is perfect for friends gathering or date night!

好吃耶！暑假搬來之前心心念念想來的餐廳，好險沒讓我們失望！每道菜都有達到我們的期待值，絕對適合約會或是朋友聚會來的餐廳。

Cafe Mochiko

http://cafemochiko.com/

If you don’t want to wait in line, come here at 5pm when they open. They offer seasonal ramen, but supply runs out fast. They have quite the fan base, and is definitely the best ramen place in Cincinnati!

不想等的話，5點一開絕對要在門口簽到！店裡時不時會推出季節限定拉麵，但晚到賣光就吃不到。每天生意好到不行，說是辛城最好吃的拉麵店絕對不為過！

Sotto

http://sottocincinnati.com/

Sotto is our favorite restaurant in Cincinnati! After a football game, UN and I came here for early dinner, and we loved every bite! Must order is their donuts for dessert, definitely save room for them!

介紹完我們在這裡最愛吃的拉麵店，Sotto是我們在辛城最愛的餐廳！上次看完美式足球比賽，我和UN一起來這裡！天阿，我倆一直讚不絕口！最後一定要點甜甜圈，超級飽也要點喔！

December 29, 2022

2022 November List | 十一月清單

December 29, 2022/ Brandy C.

October was confinement month. I stayed at home, fed the babies, and got fed (thanks to my mom and my in-laws). After confinement, life resumed as normal, and so did my monthly list!

十月是坐月子月，啥事都沒做（也沒有十月清單），天天在家餵寶寶和被餵食（感謝公婆和我媽）。月子出關後，生活開始正常運行，例行的每月清單當然不可少。

U. S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball | 美國海軍陸戰隊生日舞會

Another Marine Corps Birthday Ball! Happy 247th Birthday Marines! Every time I attend MC Birthday Ball, I am impressed by the Marines' dress uniform. After a two year hiatus, I’m excited to be able to celebrate MC Birthday again. We weren’t able to stay until the dance, but UN and I still had a blast!

又是一年一度的美國海軍陸戰隊的生日舞會，每次參加都會不停稱讚海軍陸戰隊的制服（每件都超好看！）因疫情關係，已經兩年停辦生日舞會，這次大家能聚再一起都非常興奮，雖然我們無法待到跳舞的部分，但我和UN都很開心能來這個活動。

OROBAE

14250 Culver Drive Suite #E, Irvine, CA 92604

I’m usually not a fan of boba, but I can sing OROABE’s praises all day long! UN calls himself a boba enthusiast, and he’s quite picky when it comes to boba. UN has confirmed that OROBAE is the best boba in business! We love OROBAE so much that we would bring our babies and stand in line when the craving is strong! If you have other recommendations for boba, please let us know!

首先聲明我對珍珠奶茶不太有興趣，但我對這家的珍奶讚不絕口。UN是珍奶愛好者，對珍奶特別挑，但這家是UN認證過（南加）最好喝的珍奶！我們好愛OROBAE，想喝時還是會不嫌麻煩的特別帶寶寶開車來這排隊買飲料！但如果有其他推薦的店，務必要告訴我們！

San Diego SeaWorld | 海洋公園

https://seaworld.com/san-diego
500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109

When UN brought up the idea of bringing our babies to Sea World, my mom was in shock, but I was in favor! This mini trip is us testing the water to see how the babies will do and what we can do to prepare for longer trips in the future. Other than finding a place to feed the babies, everything else happened according to plan, definitely count as a success! We got pictures of the babies with dolphins, and they even got to watch orca show (they should be able to see the black and white orcas, lol!)

當UN提議我們帶寶寶們去Sea World時，我媽傻眼，而我一口答應。這次帶H和G出遊，完全是爸媽想試水溫，想知道以後出去玩有什麼需要改善。除了需要找地方餵食寶寶們以外，整體都在計畫之內，算是非常成功的小出遊。UN還讓寶寶們有機會和海豚照相、看殺人鯨表演（寶寶們應該可以看到黑白殺人鯨，哈哈哈哈！）

Wrench and Rodent

1815 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
http://www.seabasstropub.com/

Grateful for grandparents watching over the babies, so that UN and I can go out for a date night. One of the top Japanese restaurants in O-side! Although their style is Americanized sushi, it's not your typical California roll, volcano roll type of sushi stuffed with avocado and cream cheese. Their chef creation rolls are delicious, and we also quite enjoyed their appetizers. Highly recommend hamachi kama (grilled yellowtail collar)!

感謝grandparents照顧寶寶，讓我和UN能一起出去吃飯。在Oside數一數二好吃的日料店！雖然風格走的是美式日本料理店，但絕不是一般的加州卷、火山卷這類滿滿酪梨和cream cheese的壽司店。創意壽司卷味道都很棒，小菜也很推，魚下巴也是我們很愛的一道。

Northside Shake

1255 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106
http://www.northsideshack.com/

Recommended by a friend, said they have the best açaí bowl in San Diego, I strongly agree! Overfilled with toppings, and taste spectacular! The storefront is small, so you’d have to eat in the car, but the quality of the ingredients used is well worth the drive!

朋友大推的，堪稱聖地牙哥最好吃的açaí bowl，我完全認同！料多到滿出來，味道不單調。雖然小小一間，只能在車子裡吃，但真材實料覺得開這麼遠來吃非常值得。

December 08, 2021

2021 November List: First Wedding in Okinawa

December 08, 2021/ Brandy C.

Before you know it, we are near the end of 2021. November was quite memorable; I’m grateful for my friends who I can spend Thanksgiving with.

不知不覺已進入2021年年底了，11月過得非常精彩也很感恩能和好多朋友一起過感恩節。

Weaving Class | 日本手工編織

The Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club Okinawa learned how to weave this month, and we made a handbasket. UN was quite impressed by the quality of this project.

軍眷團這個月學日本編織，做出一個手提包。每次帶回家這類手工藝品，UN都會不停讚嘆！

Yo-Yo Ma Concert | 馬友友演奏會

When UN sent me a picture of Yo Yo Ma’s concert poster, my immediate thought was that this concert would be in mainland Japan. But after reading the fine print, I found out it’s actually taking place here in Okinawa! In Japan, you can purchase concert tickets at convenience stores. UN and I went to Lawson to get Yo Yo Ma’s concert tickets using the ticket machine. After about 20 minutes of not being able to purchase the tickets, we asked for help. The store clerk was very helpful, but she wasn’t able to help us purchase the tickets either. Then UN pulled out the picture of the poster, and we learned that the tickets were only being sold at Family Mart. (How embarrassing!) The concert was postponed numerous times from Spring of 2021 to November due to the pandemic. The location of the concert is at the newly built Okinawa Sports Arena, not the same as at a concert hall. I hope that we will be able to see Yo Yo Ma play at a concert hall in the future.

當UN傳來一張在便利商店的馬友友演奏會海報時，我的第一反應是“這一定是在日本本島”，但仔細一讀，竟然是在沖繩！買票這事，我們出的一樁糗事，我們到L牌便利商店買票，想自己試看看用機器訂票，弄了好久卻找不到。求助店員，店員耐心幫我們找票，當我以為票已售光時，我們把當初UN拍的海報給店員看，這時店員告訴我們這票在F牌便利商店販售（尷尬到極點！）疫情關係，演奏會從年初等到年尾。原先預定3月份開演，卻一路延遲到今年11月。這次演奏地點是在沖繩新建的體育場，環境、音效和座位角度還是不如正規演奏廳。希望以後能在正式的演奏廳聽馬友友演出。

Pie Making | 派教學

I’ve always wanted to make my own pie crust, but the recipes I found online all seemed very complicated, I gave up before I even finished reading the intro. This time, my friend P offered to teach us pie making from scratch. Homemade pie crust is so crispy and delicious, no wonder my friend insists that we make our own pie crust. My first time making apple pie and chicken pot pie was a success! Thankful for my friend P’s patience with us!

以前一直想嘗試自己做派皮，但網上總是規矩一堆，讓我倒退三分。這次朋友P手把手教我們，讓我不再害怕做派皮。手工派皮香又酥脆，難怪朋友堅持手做派皮。第一次做蘋果派和雞肉派就能這麼成功，必須感謝朋友P耐心教我們！

Kimono Modeling | 沖繩服飾拍攝

Shooting location was at Yambaru Hostel, I was a bit nervous, but thankfully my friend E was there to support me!

拍攝是在Yambaru Hostel，有夠緊張，但好險好友E在旁陪伴！

Friendsgiving Dinner | 感恩節前夕聚餐

With just the 5 of us, we made enough food to feed 50! We made four kinds of desserts, and numerous dishes. No one went home hungry for sure. Instead of saying what we were thankful for the year, we ended up roasting one another. I love the energy and fun that my group of friends bring!

我們一貫作風，明明只有五人一起吃飯，食物多到能供給50人吃吧（照片上只是一部份食物！）四種甜點，和數不清的菜色，年年有餘絕對在我們家發揮的淋淋盡致。明明感恩佳節應該說點感謝的話，但我們卻不停互嗆，只能說我們感情好。但不得不說真的很感謝這群好友常常帶來歡樂氣氛！

Yanbaru | 沖繩山原

練習慢生活就來這裡！曾經有朋友問我在日本最喜歡哪場旅行，來山原這裡過生活絕對是我的最愛之一。比起城市生活，我更愛這種樸實無華又帶著悠閒的生活。喜歡走在田野間偶見工作的農夫，熱情招待我們。我愛這裡，真希望能搬來這裡！這週，朋友E帶我到他的同事和枝（Katsue San）家吃飯，用不同方法烹煮豬料理。來吃飯的一位鄰居阿姨（Yoshie San）說這可不是一般豬，是山豬和白豬生出來的混血兒。

Slow living starts here in Yambaru! I was once asked where in Japan do I like the most, I can now confidently say that staying in Yambaru is definitely one of my favorite things to do. Contrast to the busy city life, I quite enjoy the simple and leisurely life in Yambaru. I love walking by farms and chatting up the farmers, and being randomly welcomed to their home for a home cooked farm-to-table meal. I would totally move here! I went with my friend E to her co-worker's place for dinner. They prepared many pork dishes, and I learned that the pork came from a mixed line of wild boar and farm pig.

Thanksgiving Dinner | 感恩節大餐

I was quite surprised that my little home can fit 10 people for a Thanksgiving dinner! I was in charge of the turkey this year, and started marinating three days ago. I used Chinese spices for the marinade, and stuffed the turkey with mochi rice (which I learned from my friends W&E). I was worried that my friends would not like the Chinese style turkey, but everyone went for second and third servings!

無比感恩我們這小小的家竟然能辦10人感恩節大餐！這次感恩節大餐，我負責烤火雞，三天前開始醃火雞，用的是中式香料。當天準備油飯塞進火雞裡（感謝好友W&E教我），但老實說我很緊張朋友們會不習慣中式火雞，每想到大家讚不絕口！

Power Boat License | 開船執照

UN’s dream is to buy a boat in the future. I decided to give him a surprise by signing him up for a power boat driving class. There was pure joy written all over UN’s face when he was steering. He said he’s one step closer to achieving his dream!

UN常常說他以後要買船，所以我決定給他一個驚喜，幫他報名開船課！UN開船時非常開心，一直說他離夢想又更近一步了！

First Indian Wedding | 第一次印度婚禮

Congratulations to S&K on their wedding! The new couple are perfect for each other, they even accidentally picked the same Bible verse for their vows. Thanks for inviting us to your wedding. Our first time attending a wedding in Okinawa, and our first time attending an Indian wedding as well! Honored to be able to dance at your wedding! Cheers to a new beginning and to forever!

恭喜S&K！新郎和新娘好有默契，交換誓言時，選了同樣的經文！謝謝S&K邀請我們參加你們人生重要一刻，也謝謝你們讓我們第一次在沖繩參加婚禮和第一次參加印度婚禮，還讓我們在你們的婚禮裡跳舞！祝你們白頭偕老！