2012 Christmas

Nissan LEAF Tree @ Narita Airport

Wao! I couldn't do anything for Christmas in this year.  I always cook chicken and vegetables for Christmas and celebrate with my husband.  However I was sick since19th and made me weak.  In fact, I really needed to do something than Chirstmas cooking.  So we will have a Christmas dinner in New Year maybe...
Look at this fine illumination!!  You know what?  The power came from only Nissan LEAF which is electric car.  Amazing!!

COACH @ Ginza

My friend and I stopped by COACH at Ginza.  I'm not so good at brand shop but except this brand.  We did just a window shopping but enjoyed a lot.  Many nice designs for autum and winter.  Good to have a look.

Gallary

Emboridery airtist Mika Yamada

I met her on the platform of Omotesando station to Ginza on last Sunday.  She was with her mother and their friend.  She was just standing in front of me to wait next train as me. I was talking with my friend and looked her Kimono obi which is like a belt for Kimono.  Her obi was quite unique to us because it was honey bee embroidery.  My friend and I was on the way to go to Ginza to see honey bees and its honey tasting. So I was little exciting and talked with my friend about her obi design. Then her mother noticed us and talked to me "It was my daughter's work." We were very suprised and also she said "We are going to her solo exhibition at Ginza." We were suprised again so I let her know that we were also going to Ginza for honey bee. What a coincident!! Then they invited us. Later we noticed that she lives in Sagamihara city same as us! We were so surprised!! When we had free time, my friend and I visited her solo exhibition. Her works were so great and beautiful.  

  

FedEx

FedEx Boeing 777-200F 1:400

I forgot this but one of my friend remainds me that I have a plane.  I'm using FedEx sometimes and when they had a campaign they has been sent me this ago.  I finally opened a box.  Wao, what a details and it's quite heavy!!  I'm going to decorate the airplane on a shelf at my office.

Smartphone

Willcom DIGNO by Kyocera

I'm using 2 cellphones.  One is my private phone (just an old type) and another one is for my business.  I'm using WILLCOM as my business phone and since last August, I've been using a smartphone, we call it "Sumaho" in Japanese.  I got a DIGNO DUAL by KYOCERA. This is a first Android Smartphone in Japan to work on both PHS and 3G networks.  It's nice one but because of my short fingers I can't input text by one hand.  However I like the color.  It's very convenient.  I talk to my cellphone to search the word and even text to email.  Check the news, get orders, search, translation, calculation, listen to the radio, watch news on TV, take a photo of our goods, do payment, internet, update of my company website, buy goods, mail to customer or chat with people, of course you can use as a phone and much more you can do by this small thing....so quick.  This is truely smartphone!!

Get!! Coin Purse

COACH Lemon Leather Coin Purse

I bought this lemon shap coin purse on eBay USA.  My friend who is living in States came back with my pretty purse.  I don't know why but I really love this.  I feel the degin is little bit old style but becaue of it I feel it so cute.  I haven't use it yet but I guess it's fun to use.  No doubt!  Thanks my friend!!

 

Grapes from Yamanashi

Mascat and other

A friend of mine, he is Pakistani and lives in Japan with his family, he gave me these.  He has busienss in Yamanashi where is near Mt. Fuji and very famous for grapes.  So he buy and give me every end of Summer. I don't know the specific kind but this mascat is the best of my life.  So elegant and beautiful flavor.  It's no doubt this is one of wonderful Japanese fruits.

New book

Garden's Cutting Paper Book

This is my new book for design of cutting paper.  Author of the book is  "Ms.garden" and she is an artist of cutting paper.  Her design is so delicate and looks so pretty but I believe that it's difficult but I love her idea so much.  Since I was a child, I've been really enjoying a crafting in my life and I want to continue to craft and handmade.  In autum, I really want to do something in every year.  I'm not for sure in this year but I want to make something at least one from the book.....Anyway, I guess I need a patience because it will be hard work.

Ice cream from Hokkaido

The left is my favorit flavor cream cheeze, and the right is the bunch of ice cream in my freezer!!  

In Japan, Hokkaido is famous of milk products.  I ordered the ice creams from Hokkaido(Northern island) for this hot summer but I guess it was too much. : ) For I, ice cream lovers, this is wonderful pic, a kind of dream!!  However it's quite hard to put other stuff in my freezer rigt now.  Hahaha!!

Rock Top Nail

Union Jack British Style

French nail of British style

I want to spend the rest of the Olympic with Union Jack and British style of my French nails, that 's why I tried something like this.  And recently I addicted a "Rock Top Nail" that I'm using for a French part.  Cracked itself after apple your base color twice and put this on.  I think it's really cool!!  I chose Red to suit with British style. And a teddy bear is my point.

New nail design

 

Dots lines and stars

Pedicure of Same design

My new nail design for summer.  I feel I don't want to make my nail colorful, I want to make it clear color and simple.  I like simple and cute.  This is not so too much fancy for business situtation and quite suitable for summer.  I really like Golden stars!!

Nail fashion

Nail stickers 420yen & 399yen

White Lacey Franch Nail

I bought a nail sticker sheets and polish.  I like to do my nails by myself.  In Japan, "Gel Nail" is very common these days for young women but I prefer sticker than gel nail because it's easy to remove.  I usually chose flower design sticker but I wanted to try "French Nail" so I used this white lace sticker to make French style.   I really like it and I guess this is OK for business situation.

Rock Top Nail Color 380yen

By the way, I found those, named "Rock Top Nail" a few weeks ago.  I've never seen those before so it's quite new products.

 Those are very unique.  After apply your base color twice then put this on top at once and quick.  Then it will make a crack itself.   I'm  gonna use purple one for my new French Nail style and red one ....make my nails "Rock" taste with Union Jack sticker during London Olympic.

Design expands, it's depends on your ideas!!

Stationery

A Robbot of Silicone clip 660yen

I love stationery stuff.  I think many Japanese people love it.  We have so many variety.  A few days ago I found this cute clip for my PC or USB cables.  This is convenient and pretty.  Those things are using almost everyday so it's more fun you could find your favorite stuff.  There are variety like Strawberry, Duck, Clover and so on.

Japanese Cherry

Brand Cherry named "SATONISHIKI"

I definiately say "This is delicious". I think Japanese fruits are so good but this is outsdanding, Yamagata brand fruits.  I can't compared with others. Yamagata prefecture is Origin for those. This brand cherry is quite expensive but if you eat them once you will never forget the taste.  A balance of sour and sweetness... so wonderful.  If you come to Japan in June or early July, please try some!! You may get them in department store.

Cactus flower

A flower of Cactus

Amazing Cactus blooming

 I was looking forward to see this flower long time.  This cactus is planted in the flowerbed small shrubbery near the overpass. I missed to see last year.  This is my first time to see this amazing cactus blooming.  It seems like "crazy bloom".  They were so beautiful.  Cactus is not so pretty plants but their flowers are so beautiful and make people surprise. I like to see them in next year too.                                                                                                                   

Sweet Basil

Buds of Basil

I seeded sweet basil on May 28th and this left photo is about 10 days after seeded.  And they are growing up well.  This right one is about a month after.  I harvested basil seeds in 2010 and grow them every summer since then.  I'm looking forward to make a basil sauce called Genovese and use them for tomato pasta too.   It was really good and we love it so much.

Handmade 3D Photo

3D Tokyo Tower

I take this photo and print out 2 sheets.  I cut out one of them and pasted top of base photo. My husband "This is not so 3D looks like...but it's still nice photo!" said but I think it is 3D little bit. Anyway, I really like something handmade and it was fun!!

Hydrangea

Hydrangea

I've never seen this fringing Hydrangea.  We have so many kind of Hydrangea in Japan and they are blooming right now.  I know this is not a flower, it's a calyx. I think many Japanese like to watch many kinds of Hydrangea in June and I just found this very unique one.

Landscape of countryside

Highway and Mountains

Rice field 

Yamagata and Nigata is very far from Tokyo.  It has drive more than 800km in this time of my business trip.  I visited Yamagata long time ago, probably 15 years maybe.... and I don't remember about Nigata.  Japan is not so big country but I hardly go that area.  So I really enjoyed watching landscape of rice field and mountains. I stopped 2 cities in each prefectures.  I could meet some refgees in each cities and gave my Propolise directly.  Of course I met many refgees who came for the lecture of comparison of accident of Chernobyl and Fukushima daiichithe in Nigata city.  I was healed of the countryside landscape.  This place is one of the most famous place of delicious rice.

Social service activities

Lecture by physician to refugees of Fukushima nuclear accident in Nigata city

I went to Yamagata and Nigata in last week to bring my propolis to refugees.  They are forced evacuation and voluntary evacuation people with baby or kids. So most of all is young mothers.  This is the lecture by physician  who is very detailed about the Chernobyl nuclear accident.  The Doctor visits every years to Belarus and do a lot of research after the accident.  They have still tough time and confuse.  They know radiation dose is getting low and many people is getting back to home in Fukushima but they are very confuse and can't decide to go back there.  Most of people separeted live with their family, parents, brother and sisters even her husband too.  They worried about radiation especially food and water...It's depend on the person but it's very clear, not easy to make a decision.

Along the railway

Romance Car with yellow flowers

Around ending of May, I found nice place to take a photo of pretty flowers and train.  This is my "Odakyu Line".  I don't have much interest in train but this place is simply nice, pretty yellow flowers besides railway.  I was waiting for a train which is white body and blue line but a new blue one came called "Romance Car".

By the way, Odakyu line is from Shinjuku,Tokyo to Odawara or Hakone, Kanagawa where is hot springs area.  Here is more information Odakyu Global Site.

Balcony Firming 2012

Tomatoes and Red hot pepper

Cucumbers and Bitter Melons

I planted vegetables nearly end of May but it was little bit late to do it in this year.  However my balcony is getting busy.  I try 2 cucumber in this year.  It's my first time.  Bitter Melons are making green curtain and nice shade, ofcourse I like cook them too.  I also seeded basil so buds'll come out soon.

Seafood Pizza

Squid and Shrimp Pizza

I make pizza at home sometimes. This is squid and shrimp seafood pizza.  I made this a few days ago and it was really good.  I thought my sister also liked it so I wanted let her eat this too.  I sent her email yesterday and told her that I come today with all of stuff.  I prepared everything at home and went to my parents place in this evening.  I wanted to give some to our neighbors so I baked 4 and shared with them.  It was succeed to make them happy!! :  )

Mother's Day

Butter Rolls

I haven't bake a bread such a long time.....but it's Mother's Day today so I baked some bread for my mom.  She was really like them.  It was well done, I did good job!!

Flower gift

Viola

My mom asked me to go out to get a flower and gifts for her neighbors so we went shopping together.  She wanted to return some things to them.  They have been caring my mom since my dad has passed away in January.  My mom chose this flower named Viola to her next door with other gifts.   By the way, I found a lovely flower at a flower shop so I decided to buy it but my mom also liked it so I bought two of them and gave her one as Mother's Day gift.  It was a small gift but good to found she really liked.

Chan Luu style bracelet making

Making Chan Luu style bracelet with turqoise

6 hours later

About 2 weeks ago I got an email from my friend.   She asked me that I can help her or not for making a bracelet which she wants to make by herself.  She wanted a bracelet "Chan Luu" style but she doesn't know how to make it.  I haven't seen it before but I felt it was not so difficult, just you need a patience when I saw the photo of it.  She is a kind of awkward person so I was little bit worried her when she said want to challange a wrap bracelet, means very long, from the beginning but she seemed like really liked it so I dicided to teach and help her.  On last Sunday, we went for shopping and got stones and other stuff like leather strings and bottons.  She provided a photo of it and we watched it very carefully and make full use of imagination then we started. It was fun to me too but it took very long hours.  I wanted to make it  for myself but I had to give it up because she was really need a help.  Not difficult but it made her little bit confuse so we just made one together.  You had to repeat same works.  In 6 hours, she finally got a Chan Luu style bracelet with a lot of work but in a very reasonable price.

Rainbow

After a shower

Me and my friend was in Cafe this afternoon and I heard someone said "It's a rainbow." so I watched outside.  There was a rainbow top of the hill.  I haven't seen it a long time so I went out of the coffee shop and took a picture.  I felt very lucky today.

@ Cafe

Work @ Cafe

I got a new cafe near my house.  There was a restraunt before at same location but the cafe has been open since this April 11th.  I wanted to do some my works at quiet cafe but unfortunetely it was quite noisy.  I was suprised that so many people were there and especially older women.  They looked 60s-70s.  They were probably housewives near here.  They enjoyed talking with friends. It looked fun!!  I'll come back here in some other time in different time zone.  However coffee was very fresh and tast quite good!!  They have luch dishes and light meals.  I'm gonna try something!

EPSON Colorio

EPSON Colorio Printer EP-804A White

Finally my 2 printers were broken.  I had Epson and HP printers at my home and office but I couldn't get to fix them so I just bought a new one which is an all in one printer.  It's a printer, scanner and copy even has an own email address and print our if you send a photo from your cellphone.  It's quite good one.
But I hardly accept that there is only choice to buy new one.  A staff said "It's been stopping to produce of some manugacutrs." I can't accept that. The maker has been stopped making a part of old printer so they can't fix it again and fixing will be more expenseive than buying.  I strongly hope that the maker should have own pride to take care of their products till user dicide to stop using.  Consumer has no choice if the maker stop making the parts.  It is no ecology at all.

COSTCO

Me and my husband haven't been shopping together quite while but we went to COSTCO a week ago.  I wanted to buy a Big bag of onions and other groceries so I asked him to go shopping together.  It was the first time to go there together because of it's a new store in Zama, Kanagawa since December of 2011.

Cheese section of COSTCO

In 2011, at the last Spring, one of it located a suburb of Tokyo, the nearest one to us, it had a big damage when a mega quake attacked on 3.11th.
Their customers were killed by the disaster and has been closing since.  I heard that the store has been fixed and restarted recently but at that moment we lost COSTCO till they opened a new one.  We were waiting for the new store 9 months and got new store quite close to us than before.
My husband loves their grilled chicken so we bought it, bagles, eggs and snacks.  I wanted buy a cheese but I didn't because we entered the store nearly their closing time so we havn't enough time to think to choose.  However after shopping we had a piece of pizza and hotdogs at foodcourt.  He couldn't wait to have the chicken and finished 2 legs.
We have nice and cheap local grocery stores in our area so we don't need to go COSTCO offten but we enjoy shopping at there and even after shopping!

Spring has come

I don't feel to enjoy Sakura watching.  We call it "Ohanami" in Japanese because of my father death in this year.  But my dad liked Sakura tree which is a cherry blossom.  So I go out and took some pictures today.  It was very slow to become full bloom in this Spring but this place is near my home and there is a lovely Sakura tunnel now. 

Why Japanese really like Sakura?  I don't know the reason even myself I don't get the answer.  Anyway my dad enjoys this beautiful trees, doing "Ohanami" with his Taiwanese friend together in the heaven I believe.

Oriental Lilies

My favorite flower "Oriental Lilies"

Look at my beautiful lilies.  Are they not beautiful?  It's blooming so great and I think it's best timing to take photos.  They makes me smile when I see them anytime and its fragrance is so nice, makes me refresh.  This is one of my favorite flowers.

Snow Dome

Snow Dome of Camels 

My Pakistani friend went to trip for his New Year's holidays.  He bought some dates stuff which is sweets and this at Dubai for me and it made me laugh!!  This snow dome isn't so funny?  My friends are so international and they bought some "Omoshiroi" souvenirs for me sometimes.  "Omoshiroi" means funny or interesting in Japanese.  There are those kind of stuff only middle east area, right?  Snow and camels....it doen't make sense but I love it!!

Takoyaki Machine

Ready to eat!!

18 Takoyaki cooking at once

My mom bought a TAKOYAKI machine for us.  "TAKOYAKI" is one of popular and famous soul food.  It's come from Osaka.  Tako is an octopus and make dough with flour with egg, Japanese leek, red ginger and cabbagge.  We can cook them at our dinning table.  Put Takoyaki sauce and fish freaks which is Katsuobushi on top when you eat.

My mother got same one

Look at her Happy Smile with TOSHIBA.

"Me too!  I wanna buy it."  my mother said when I told her that I got a new vacuum cleaner and rice cooker for my New Year's "Otoshidama".  "Otoshidama" means new years money or gift, maybe lottery in Japanese.  

I could go shopping if I knew it but I didn't know she also wanted to get a new cleaner so in a few days, I went back to YODOBASHI CAMERA with her.  The shop held a new year's first discount sale but it's been already over.  However I met same guy who was taking care of me on 2nd and he remembered me so I said him "Hi, I brought a new customer for you!!"  He was laugh and happy for that.  My mother got same one I bought but different color.  Actually she is a kind of TOSHIBA freak.  So it's a very comfortable to clean up our place by TOSHIBA cleaner.  Oh by the way, the staff gave me a nice mug cup as a reward!! 

A Happy New Year!

Left : Rice Cooker  Right : Vacuum Cleaner

I went to YODOBASHI CAMERA for New Year's first sale.  At New Year's Eve, our vacuum cleaner is broken so me and my husband went to shopping today.  YODOBASHI CAMERA is one of biggest electronics shopping mall in Japan and they sell things in cheap.  They held New Year's special bargain.  I wanted to buy a new rice cooker so we got it too.  We bought TOSHIBA products.  We had a more than 30,000 points which is 30,000 yen, can use as money so we used points and got these almost for free.  Can you believe I spent only 2,800 yen!!