How to sleep comfortably on a plane

Note: these positions may require the use of a pillow, blanket, and/or tray.

Hello readers! Today, I will tell you about some comfortable sleeping positions that you can use on a plane.

1. Requires: pillow
If you have a window seat, just lean your head against the wall! Optional: Cover self in blanket.

2. Requires: nothing
Curl your knees up to your chest. Optional: Cover self in blanket. If you're wearing a hoodie/sweatshirt, you can pull the hood over your head.

3. Requires: blanket, pillow, tray
So you know how, on a plane, there's a tray you can fold down and eat your food on it? You can sleep on it too! Fold down your tray. Place the pillow on it. Cover self in blanket. Rest head on pillow. Note: do not do this if you feel your head is heavy.

Use the sleepmask the airline (hopefully) gives you. If you do not have one, bury yourself in your sweatshirt. If you don't have a sweatshirt...all I can say is that you need a packing list next time. 
Even if you're going to a tropical island, you NEVER know what the weather will be like! 

I'm back...

Hi readers! I got back from Japan...let's see...about a week ago. I'm sorry I haven't written since then. 

<twiddling thumbs>
<yawns>

What's that? You're tired of the suspense?

Okay, fine. I did survive the plane ride. I finally got to watch Muppets Most Wanted. The food was decent (every meal came with CHOCOLATE). The entertainment was all right--there was a fun trivia game, tons of movies, a flight tracker, and music to listen to. Landing was hard. I am one of those people whose ears hurt like crazy from the pressure change. Even when I'm chewing gum.

Our ginormous plane. Two levels. No, my family and I were on
the lower part.

We stayed in Tokyo, in the Shibuya neighborhood, the first few nights. We had a studio apartment with a deck and small bathroom. No fancy toilet. Yet. There was a big bed, a green couch that folded into a bed, and a closet with some mattresses that someone would have to sleep on.  

It was way cleaner before we got here. 0)__(0

Kathy and I even watched some Japanese TV. I liked the one where little were vegetables dancing and singing about (we think) a noodle shop.

One of my favorite Japanese candy was the Pocky--pretzel sticks dipped in melted chocolate or other coating. My favorite was, well, the chocolate type. You probably guessed.

Original chocolate Pocky (image from
here

That's all I really feel like writing right now...what are your plans for Thanksgiving? --Taryn

Happy (late) Halloween!

Dear readers, how was your Halloween? I went trick-or-treating with one of my many awesome friends, since Halloween is just sad around my neighborhood. Hardly anyone hands out candy these days. =( But in my friend's neighborhood (and the one we went to afterward), nearly everyone was celebrating All Hallow's Eve. (Yay!)

Kit-Kats, Almond Joys, and Butterfingers are probably definitely my favorite Halloween treats. Which is why I was soooo happy when one of the neighbors handed out this: 

The "giant" Kit-Kat, and a wrapper from a fun-size for
comparison. I ate the last one before realizing that I
might need it for a photo.

Quick question: why are the tiny candy bars called "fun size"? They're smaller than the other ones. Why are they fun?

My costume was (dun dun dun dah)...a bag of Sour Skittles! I made it myself, out of posterboard, paint, glue, construction paper, rainbow Duck Tape, and Sharpie ink. Oh, and more paint. 

I am holding a mini bag of Sour Skittles in the
picture. Can you see it?

On the back, I put very detailed nutrition information with Sharpie. 

A lot of people liked that! 

I can safely say that Kathy and I will be in a lot of trouble at the dentist's office this month. Just look at how much candy we've had: 

This is only part of it.

What's your favorite Halloween treat? --Taryn
P.S. Take the Taryn's Travels Halloween Quiz here.

100 posts

Dear readers, it's our 100th post!

I say our because you've been awesome in supporting me when I write this. You're part of Taryn's Travels too, for sharing a link from here or commenting. Or just reading this. A couple days ago I hit sixty-nine pageviews, and I'm not sure how, because it wasn't when I was writing. 

Also, don't be shy about commenting! I would love to hear from you.

But thank you. Thanks anyway. You rock, and don't EVER forget!
--Taryn
P.S. from Kayla: Taryn's going to write a post on styling doll hair soon, once she can get Kathy to stop watching makeup tutorials so Kathy can take pictures.

Halloween Mini-quiz!

Hi readers! Today I'll be doing a Halloween quiz. (After all, it's only three days away!)

Which candy are you?

1. What is your favorite part of Halloween?
     a. Dressing up in a homemade costume
     b. CANDY CANDY CANDY
     c. Trick-or-treating with friends

2. Which of these is most like your costume this year?
    a. A classic Halloween monster (ghosts, vampires, werewolves,       etc.)
    b. A goofy getup, such as a minion from Despicable Me
    c. A costume you and a friend designed and are wearing   
    together, like a two-headed monster.

3. What's the best treat the neighbors can give out this year?
     a. Chewy sour candies
     b. Gargantuan chocolate bars
     c. Chocolate-coated pomegranate seeds

4. What are you going to do the day after Halloween?
   a. Plan a costume for next year
   b. Invite people over for a candy trading convention
   c. Watch black-and-white horror movies with a bunch of friends

5. When you carve a pumpkin, you:
   a. Carefully sketch a design on to a piece of paper to plan out
   what it will look like 
   b. Dig in! And try to make a silly-looking face.
   c. Go over to your BFF's house to carve one together. 

Alright, here are the results! DON'T scroll down unless you've finished the quiz!

If you answered mostly a's, you're a pumpkin shaped peanut butter cup! You love everything about Halloween.

If you answered mostly b's, you're an Almond Joy! You're nutty and sweet.

If you answered mostly c's, you're candy corn! You're kind and friendly.

I hope you enjoyed the quiz! --Taryn
P.S. Post your answers in the comment box!

Aack

Hi readers, sorry I haven't been writing lately. But anyway, our trip to Japan is right around the corner. And so far, these are the logistics:

• Wake up at 4:00 a.m. to get to the airport two hours early before we fly another two hours to Michigan for a four-hour layover before the actual Japan flight. Total time traveled: eight hours
• Fly twelve to fourteen hours to Japan. Total time traveled: sixteen to eighteen hours

I. Cannot. Be trapped. On a plane. FOR FOURTEEN HOURS! No fresh air! Teeny-tiny bathrooms with lights that only turn on if you lock the door! Practically no space to move! Aaaaaaaaaaaaack.....

(Sorry, Taryn has temporarily passed out from fear. I am her Fast-Acting Replicating Typer/Secretary, or FARTS. Can I get you a cup of coffee?) 

Summer is almost over =( =[ ={

So, it's July 31st. In one month, it will be August 31st. A few days after that, kids will go back to school. Summer will be officially OVER, and that will be sad.

On the other hand, I love autumn. Pumpkins! Colorful leaves! Trick-or-treating! Stuffing and turkey and cranberry sauce! The knowledge that Christmas is right around the corner!

But right now, I'll focus on the things coming up in the month of August. For starters:

• Kathy will turn nine 
• I will go to cooking camp and jewelry camp
• My family will take the two-day drive to Minnesota, where Mommy will undoubtedly make Kathy, Daddy, and I pose in front of a giant jar of peanut butter or something. We will also go to the Minnesota state fair where they have crazy (fried) foods, maybe on sticks.

Then summer will be over. 

Huh. It feels longer now. =) 

--Taryn

P.S. What's your favorite summer activity? Tell me in the comment box.