SMASH*

I am very excited! I found this in Fukuoka. I already knew that I would take it home with me even before I took it in my hands. What I didn't know about was it is K&Company products, so I was sure that I wouldn't regret about spending money on this when I saw the logo. Let me introduce my new partner, SMASH*!





It's a scrapbook / journal book. Very cute inside, a lot of pages with all different pattern papers. They have some types, it has all different color on the side of binders. I bought a pink one "Pretty Pink" which is all pretty girly theme pattern papers inside, and a mint green one "Baby" which is obviously the baby theme. The inside of pink one is like this;








It's just a few of them here but actually this book contains a lot of pages! For a scrapbooker like me would feel happy just looking at blank pages of this book!

Each book comes with this awesome pen which is a pen on one side and a stick glue on the other side!





I paid about 2000yen, I think. It's not bad at all. I also bought a pink pen, a blue pen, and some of their accessories.

So after I brought this babies home, of course I did some research about this products. I guess it's popular in the states (for scrapbookers, at least), and there are many you tube videos of how to and all. This one is the official one;

It looks so fun! Doesn't it?? I can watch this video over and over! I love scrapbook, and I can't help checking out new products though I've done almost nothing lately. And I realized that the style has been changed a lil bit, and I think I like this style better. Again, I haven't gotten a chance to try these new style, as this video said "MESSY & Beautiful". It's almost like teenager's journal. I sure need to practice my handwriting and doodling some cuties.

I just wish there was a good (and not so expensive) portable photo printer for iPhone, so I can take some snap shots print them out right there, and SMASH those in it. I may just buy Cheki...

Oh, and one thing I regret, I should have bought ALL the SMASH* products there in Fukuoka... I guess I just have to ask my hubby to take me back there sometime VERY soon...lol

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

New Look

Wow, it's already mid-May! Sadly I posted only a few this couple of years. Well, I've always wanted to blog. It's just... it's just... it's just my stupid OCD!!! I had been thinking about changing my blog looks, just didn't have enough time to myself. It's not like I make background and all, but couldn't find something click to my image. Then every time there was something I wanted to blog about, I opened my blog app and almost start to type... But my blog had still same old look, that really turned me off from blog spirits.

But today, thanks to Leelou Blogs, I found the layout what I like very much! This is pretty and colorful! Yay! There are a lot more wonderful layout in her blog.

So, now do I really blog more often? Again, I'd love to. I really need to talk to myself (that's what this blog for, it's all about self-satisfaction), I really need some time to myself! My hubby bought me a very nice camera (technically I ordered it and told him that's what I want for Christmas present, but that counts), have been buying A LOT of scrapbook collection which I haven't opened most of it, reading books and blogs I would like to share, planning to cook some awesome recipes... but been super duper busy and when I come home, I just want to relax with my family... (more like dead on the couch...)

But now my blog is ready with new look, I should make my progress on my to-do list one by one.;))

iPad2 n Digital Scrapbooking

So I got iPad2. This time, it's unlimited 3G connection so I can use Internet anywhere. And also this time, I picked Smart Cover (Pink one!) so it's not too big in my purse. Now I can take it everywhere.:)) Then I wondered... "What do I want to do on iPad?" So I was App surfing (checking out Apps in App store. It's MAKInglish if you ask:D) and I found this cool App for Digital Scrapbook called Coolibah. Coolibah is a free app, comes with free Digital Scrapbook kit. If you want more variety of frames, borders, alphabets, embellishments, and a lot of backgrounds, they have in-app purchase kits and all. It costs only $0.99 per kit/set. Only down side about this app is, because those kits are kinda heavy so it takes some times loading. I strongly recommend to save the page you've finished on iPad so you don't lose it if the app freezes and you have to re-install. (It happened on me once so far, which I didn't know the other solution so I re-install it. All the kits I bought are still safe but the page I made was gone. Fortunately I saved it on my iPad.) There is other solution according to their website, which is very useful. Anyway this is the page I made yesterday on the bus to work, took only 30 minutes.






Well, now talk about Digital Scrapbooking on iPad2... I don't think the camera on iPad2 is good at all. Maybe okay for some snapshots or maybe in some locations like sunny outside. But not good enough to make Digital Scrapbook page, I would say. I have a memory card reader for iPad so I used that to load the pictures on the layout above. The pictures taken with iPhone should be okay too I think. Or you can use iCloud. Upload on your PC and send them via iCloud. If you use dSLR then you should resize the images before save it to iCloud so it doesn't take too much space on iCloud. There are some free softwares that resize multiple pictures at the time. I downloaded this one called JTrim and it was very easy to use. I almost gave up doing these staff like Digital Scrapbook and all on iPad, but I guess everything works well on iPad2. I am glad that I got it! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Autumn in Huis Ten Bosch

I love the view in Huis Ten Bosch! Especially now, it's beautiful! The weather was perfect yesterday... I could only take some pics with my iPhone yesterday, but I may come back here when I'm off n take more pics... Mmmm...:))

Over a year...

I can't believe that it's been a year since last time I posted here... It has been crazy, that's for sure...

We finally went back to Tokyo! Yay! We saw all my family there, shopped in my town Shibuya, went to see Tokyo Tower, went to TDL... Then the very next day after the TDL... The massive earthquake happened... We were in the old military building where we were staying when the earthquake hit. The building shook crazy, we tried to evacuate from the building, Chris got Ilah, John could walk his way out all by himself, but Michele was terrified and she couldn't move. So I picked her up and tried to go down the stairs. We were on the 4th floor, the building didn't stop shaking, all I could think was to get her out of here. So I ran down the stairs, didn't realize that the stairs were moving bad. Then I fell down the stairs, the gentleman behind me picked Michele up and took her downstairs. I tried to get up then I noticed that I hurt my ankle. It didn't help me go down the stairs faster at all. But made it to the exit of the building...

So we couldn't stay there anymore, we went to my cousin's house which it usually takes about 20mins to get there from where the hotel at, but obviously everybody was going home, trains were not working, so... It took 10 hours...

Anyway, we were safe after all. Right after we came home, me n Chris celebrated our 8th anniversary. Then I got a job!lol So now I work in Huis Ten Bosch, the Dutch theme park in Sasebo, Japan. My work is in this park, called English Square. Basically it's the place where Japanese people can experience things in English. Not totally a school, but we have a lot of customers using as school trips. Which all students had great times... It's been crazy busy as far as my work schedule goes, but I think I like my work. I've met so many people, I can use my talent here, pay is not bad either.

Only concern is I cannot spend as much time with my family as before. Sometime I get to talk to kids only in the morning. I feel very bad for them. Well kids actually kinda like me working in Huis Ten Bosch tho, so they can come visit me here...

I also lost "me" time. Then I still buy things for scrapbook n stuff.lol I hope I can find some time for that... Eventually...

Knitty Knit

Since I made knit hats for kids' school event, I feel like knitting. Haha, it sounds just like me! Well, I wanna make something, but I can knit only straight. Then I found this circular knitting needle. It's a loop shaped and two short needles are connected, so it's perfect to make knit hats.(then again, another knit hat?lol)




Oh well, it's getting really cold lately, n since I got haircut, it's easier for me to just put a hat on to hide my messy hair, so I will need some of it. But I would like to learn to knit more than just knit hats... Is there any classes around here?

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My Favorite of Favorites

Hehehehehe!!!




This my Favorite of Favorites, THE Chocolate Donut from Pompadour Bakery! I hadn't had it for... over 7yrs? I really really love this donuts. Unfortunately I couldn't find this bakery in Sasebo. But I found it in Nagasaki!!! Yay!!! I got 2 for me, 1 for John n 1 for Michele. And we ate it all...









The problem is... I want more...lol The bad news is... Nagasaki is not exactly "honey, could we go to get the donuts?" distance from here. Hmmm... Next time, I should buy a dozen...

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Because they want to be separated...

It looks weird. It looks silly. It looks not fashionable. I never thought I would have one of these... But I tell you, this is the best thing!!!




I usually don't like to wear socks all day. All this time, I thought that's because my feet get too hot. But I found out that my toes wanted a lol privacy from other toes.lol Now I can still wear my flip-flops with my socks on!!

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Heat Teck

It's getting cooooooold!!! It'd been 5yrs since last time we had a real winter time(if I count out San Diego too, cuz it still was not this cold!), it'd been 7yrs since last time I had Japanese winter. So I've almost forgot what it's like in this face rippin cold air. But Japanese ppl are very smart when it comes to "stay warm but not look like stuffing doll".

Heat tech. They made this material very thin but very warm. With this heat tech material, this inner shirts are great for us females, we can wear these without look fatter.lol I already bought some of it, n I am wearing today. It sure is warm n comfortable. They have many colors n designs now, so it looks just like regular long shirts n you can coordinate n all, but it much warmer than regular shirts.

Now, they didn't just make shirts with this Heat tech material. They made this down jacket with this Heat Teck, which is called Ultra Light Premium Down Jacket. I got one for me, one for John, n one for Michele. I was gonna get for my hubby as well, but all the sizes they have are "Japanese Size" which is way too small for American guys' shoulders n arms. *I am pretty sure they sell American size at UNIQLO in N.Y. If you are interested. (UNIQLO is Japanese Brand which is as known as inexpensive brand, n is most popular brand when it comes to Heat Teck kind. They've opened the store in N.Y. sometime this year.)

I haven't started to wear mine yet, but kids are already wearing because morning is freezing cold everyday. It's still November, which means it still will be colder, but we might be okay with this Heat tech thing this winter.;))










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What is she staring at...?

It's cold in the house this morning again. I made her blanket yesterday, well I just sewed around the super soft material I found at a store, but anyway she loves it(yep, I am into crafting lately... It's just that time of season;)).




Anyway, she looks comfy in her new blanket, n staring at something... actually somebody.









Michele was singing and dancing for her sister cuz the baby was crying... that's what she said.lol

Michele has been very helpful. Yea, sometimes too much, but she's never even been jealous of her. When Ilah is crying, she sings for her, talks to her, dances for her, n she's very patient. Ilah loves Michele too. When Michele keeps singing for her, she really stops crying. I guess it won't be long until they start to sleep in the same room.:))


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Crazy Hat Day!

So today is Crazy Hat Day. I could just decorate one of their hat, but I wanted make it somehow. And I decided to knit. The problem was that I had only 1 day to make not one but two. It's gotta be something easy. Well, I can knit only straight ones anyway.lol

It took really all day but I did it! Here's the knit caps I made.;))



Hahaha, it's not bad as it's made in 1 day, is it? It's for Crazy Hat Day anyway.lol and they loved it!







It's also good cuz it's super cold today too. I wish I had one of those!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pajama Day!

Yep, I guess most of schools have this kinda event. Which is pretty cool for kids, not so much for patents.lol For me, you know I am just a big kid, so I just enjoy dressing them up!

So I was thinking that Jinbei(Old Japanese style room wear, which now they sell all kinda character ones for kids) would be nice. Because it was about high 70s degrees yesterday. Then this morning, it dropped to below 60 degrees all of sudden! Jinbei is most likely for summer. Hmmm... I decided to put long sleeve n long pants underneath their Jinbei. And... It looks so silly!!

OK, this is John.



And this is Michele.



They like it. It's fun to wear like this sometimes.:)) Now, the crazy week is not finished yet. Tomorrow is Crazy Hat day. What shall I do...?;))

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Rilakkuma

I LOVE anything cute. There's a lot of cute things you see here in Japan. Like, as you know, Hello Kitty is made in Japan. After I came back to Japan, this new character caught my attention...



This is Rilakkuma. "Kuma" means bear in Japanese. So this was named as "relax bear" - give us relax by just looking at him, relax-kuma, then Rilakkuma.lol

They sell a lot of Rilakkuma items. I always have to fight myself to ignore from this cute face at stores. Oh well, I lost this time, so did my mother...lol so we bought the stuffing Rillakuma for Michele, n I bought this for myself.



Now this is my favorite mug cup. I don't drink coffee in regular basis, but it's getting chilly all of sudden lately, n I enjoy instant mocha in this mug cup every morning now. N my mom bought this lilttle pouch.



N this is the cute part, its' back...



Haha, yea my mom is late 60s n she has this in her bag! But this bear really makes us smile! Now he is Michele's favorite too.



She named him James n she takes him everywhere now.:))

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Do Not Eat!

This is my new hobby(?), paper clay sweets. Well... This is actually one of kits for kids to make. Of course my excuse was "I want to do this with Michele!" Yea, right...



It was not that difficult though. Michele helped me, so technically I didn't lie.lol The package comes with 4 colors of light weight clay, two types of molds, and some accessory kits. It doesn't even make messy either. After dried, it is like sponge feel. I think I am gonna make more n maybe giveaway? Would you like to get one?;))

- Posted from my iPad;))

2000 years ago...

We went to Yoshinogari Historical Park today. In this park, we could see n learn how people lived in Yayoi era which is about 2000 years ago, here in Japan. Wow, 2000 years ago, can you believe that? Well, I am not really good at history n all, but I know I learned about this Yayoi era, that doesn't mean I remember what I learned.lol



Anyway there are a lot to see, like the buildings they built same way as 2000 years ago. It actually really impressive that they could built those 2000years ago. Those entrance is very low, which tells us how short they were.







There's some activities for all family to do too. We tried one workshop, stone pendant making. It took about an hour, it was a little difficult for Michele, but John could make one with our help. It was pretty cool. We all loved the pendants we made.



N it was very good exercise too...lol Inside park is very big, just like acutual villages. We enjoyed walking inside park. Well, it was very humid today, but we could still feel some autumn, we definitely felt the nature.







We would strongly recommend this park, it's very family friendly, very cheap, very clean, a lot to see. The stuffs are all nice, some of them even speak English n teach us about this Yayoi era. It's about 45 mins way from Sasebo area, on the way to Fukuoka. You can visit their web site to see more information from the link below!;))

http://www.yoshinogari.jp/en/

- Posted from my iPad;))