Happy Independence Day, America!

I hope everyone has a very joyous and safe Independence Day.  I cannot wait to set my feet on sweet American soil in just 38 short days!

iPhone dump {America Part 2}

A quick recap of the rest of my time in America, in photos.

I spent some time in the pool with this guy who was kind of scary but created a super interesting shadow...I'm still not sure how that worked!

drove through the "cut in the hill", my favorite view of Cincinnati

had dinner with a friend

got a facial

had some fun with cookies

almost got kicked out of WalMart with my best friend and her boyfriend

then my husband joined me in the US, finally!

we visited his grandparents, where the men kicked the women out of the kitchen to make us lunch

and his grandmother insisted he sit on her lap lol 

we rode the Anderson ferry from Ohio to Kentucky

Jason decided to start his own dog sled team with my friends huskies

we rehearsed a wedding {and I rocked a side pony when my semi hair trial fell out}

celebrated my brother's birthday

visited with college friends

and finally, hung out in the CVG USO before boarding a flight back to Japan 

It was a fun 5 weeks and it was so great to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a long time but I sure am glad to be back in Japan!

iPhone dump {America Part 1}

I've been back in the US for 3 weeks now and this is the 1st free minute I've had with internet access since I arrived.  I'm having a great time but missing my husband {and my puppy, and my friends, and my students...} and eagerly awaiting his arrival next week!

My trip started with a glorious 3 seats to myself.  It doesn't get much better than that when you have a 14 hour flight!

The most beautiful weather was awaiting me on the other side of the pond

I wasted no time and spent my 1st day in the States seeing this amazing man sing!  I love me some Tyrone Wells!

My bestie took care of some necessary grooming for me

Then we celebrated her 30th birthday!  {thanks for holding off on the party until I arrived, Rob!}

I had some necessary purchases to make while in the US and I think I've got everything on my list checked off after day at the outlet mall!

A rare mothers day was spent WITH my mom {and my sister}

I took Jetson {our Jetta} for a road trip to Ft Bragg and he hit the big 50K just days after his 3rd birthday

At the end of that 9 hour drive were some of my favorite kids in the whole world.  I was overjoyed that they remembered me and loved me as though I hadn't been missing from their lives for the last 2 years 

I also got to spend some time with 2 of my future in-laws {Carla, in the middle, is marrying Jason's cousin and Lauren, on the right, is marrying Jason's brother in September}

It is so sweet to see this skyline when driving "home"

I returned to Cincinnati just in time to celebrate my other bestie's 30th birthday!

Summer finally made an appearance here, I took advantage!

I made some time for a quick WOD

I checked some things off my 30by30 list, including making my grandmother's homemade relish

A FAAAAANTASTIC day was spend with some of my favorite ladies. Seriously, these ladies rock my socks!

{I never ever ever paint my fingernails because it chips within 24 hours but I decided to try something new and I'm now OBSESSED with this shellac nail polish!  If you haven't tried it, you should!}

Then it was time for another road trip, this time to Ft Campbell to visit my brother-in-law 

It was a BLAZING hot Memorial day weekend in TN so we spent some time at the pool

So glad I got to see my friend, Jaz, while I was there.  It doesn't happen very often!

7 years ago, my husband took me on a date {our 1st} to the Taste of Cincinnati so it's always nice to get back there and enjoy some yummy food!  I just barely squeezed it in after a long drive back from Ft Campbell but I'm so glad I did!