Skip to main content

The "things" that I miss from home.

Ok so I know how blessed I am to be living on Guam and believe me I am enjoying myself so far!  However, there are a few things that I miss that were easily attainable in Raleigh.  Here there are only a few places to go where you can get things for projects (crafty or otherwise).Here are my options:


On Base:

Naval Exchange Center (NEX):  This is basically your walmart of a military base.  They carry everything from clothes to tvs to sporting equipment and kids toys.  But the good thing about the NEX is they also carry name brand materials.  (Like my favorite Bath and Body Works lotion and soap).

Exchange Home Center:  This is where you get all your garden items, lawn/outdoor items, and applicances for the home.

Exchange Furniture Center:  Where you get furniture (obviously).

Off Base:

K-Mart:  Yepp there is a Kmart here.  The only problem with it:  ALL THE JAPANESE TOURIST GO THERE!!  Like no kidding, Matthew and I were in that part of the neighborhood last friday night around 10:30 and so we decided to stop and see if they had a few things that we were thinking about getting for the house.  There were SOOO many Japanese people there shopping it was crazy.  You could not walk through the main isles because there were so many bodies!  And that was on a friday night....I thought you were supposed to be out enjoying the city when you are on vacation?   Apparently Kmart is a big tourist attraction in Guam.  

Home Depot:  OK so not as many tourist in this store.  And the one here is pretty nice.  Only problem:  it's pricey.  And it can be, because it is the only home improvement specialized store on the island!  

Benjamin Franklin Crafts:  I have not been here yet but every where I have looked says that this is the only specialized craft store on the island and that they get their shipment of craft items every 6-8 weeks and they don't know exactly what will be in the shipment.  I am apprehensive about making my first journey into this store.  I don't want to be let down! 

And that about does it as far as places to go and get crafty project stuff.  There are a few small furniture stores off base that we have ventured to.  All of it is pricey because they can be.  All in all, we will be spending a lot more money here than we would stateside.

What I Miss Most:

  • Target:  cute curtains and rugs on the cheap
  • Micheal's:  Modge Podge, canvases, paint colors galore!, unfinished crates and shelving
  • Glenwood Ave:  with all the choices of furniture at competitive prices
  • Walmart:  Yes walmart made it on the list.  As much as I don't want to admit it, walmart has cheap stuff and lots of options.  That is something I took for granted and am now wishing I had that option here.
  • Kroger:  The Commissary here (the grocery store) is HUGE and it would take me an hour to go down every isle.  I like knowing exactly where everything is in my small grocery store and being able to get in and get out quickly.  Which I guess will happen here eventually once I get used to the place.

OK OK I am done ranting now.  I love it here, I am just going to have to get used to some changes, less options, higher prices.  Everything will be fine.  


:)  Thanks for reading my rant  :)


Comments

Anonymous said…
If you cant find modge podge you can try making it...I think I have a pin on my diy board on pinterest that tells you how to make it! -Stephanie
8/21/13, 9:08 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Moving Right Along

So with the due date nearing and the anticipation of finally being able to hold our precious baby girl, I thought that I would share a little bit of my everyday normal for now!  I am one day away from being 38 weeks along and let me tell you:  I have one active baby inside me!  Yes, she loves to move around and kick/punch mommy in the gut, ribs, and pelvis!  Some of these kicks are so strong that I actually jump!  For those of you that don't believe it could get that bad...oh have I got a treat for you!  I recorded a mere 1.5 min video of my belly!  Now this video is only a small taste of what she does ALL DAY LONG!  And yes at night too!  It's no wonder I have such a hard time sleeping.  So without further ado, here is Ms. Isabella Marie Ohrvall staring in her first movie entitled:  Making Waves in Mommy's Tummy.  :) Update on presentation:  Isabella is still breech and we are diligently trying all that we can to ...
1 comment
Read more

Seated with Christ: An Imaginative Activity

This post is from an imaginative activity prompted from the book "Seated with Christ" by Heather Holleman.  The question posed was: "As an imaginative exercise, describe your seat in the heavenly realms with as precise and vivid detail as possible.  What do you see, hear, smell, taste and feel?  What are you wearing?  What are you experiencing in your mind?"  The following is my answer: I'm seated, comfortable and relaxed.  I have no worries.  All I can physically do is sit and stare at the majesty that is my most indescribable Lord that sits before me.  The most magnificent smells of the Earth can not compare to the wondrous smells that permeate the air here.  They remind me of some of my favorite smells on Earth such as lavender, the beach and pine wood needles; but there is something else entirely in the air that I can not put words to.  The songs of angels saturate the air but seem to fade into the background at the same time. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Australian Vacation

Hello all!   I know that it has been quite a long time since I last posted a blog but I decided it was time for another post.  Having a little one crawling all over the place really takes up my time now-a-days.  Infact, the only reason I am able to write this now is because she is napping.  Maybe I will be able to get this done in the time it takes for one nap...we shall see.  So here it goes. This past week the Ohrvalls' took a much needed vacation to Cairns, Australia.  Matthew and I had such a blast taking Isabella on her first family vacation but it was difficult to transition our old vacationing without kids mindset and bring it to a vacationing with a baby mindset.  It is quite different going on vacation with an 8 month old than it is with just two adults.  Needless to say, we spent a lot more time in the hotel room during nap time and at parks for playtime.  But we were still able to do a lot of really fun stuff as a family that we ...
Post a Comment
Read more