Origami Living

February in Photos: makes me happy

2012-02-12T08:36:00.001+09:00

February in Photos: Self Portrait

2012-02-10T18:23:00.002+09:00

Self Portrait. This is the hardest one isn't it?

Am I an extrovert or an introvert? Isn't it shocking that in the last year of my twenties I still want to have a foot in BOTH camps! Can I sit on the fence a while longer... even after reading this great article today?

Also, my heart is tucked in my pocket rather than on my sleeve and I am a sucker for people who smile. This could be why I am in love with SE Asia or is it the frozen cocktails?!

I love loooooong cocktails. None of this Martini/Cosmo business for me.

February in Photos: Front Door

2012-02-09T19:51:00.000+09:00

If you've noticed a string of cherry blossoms trailing your cursor like an annoying shadow and would like something similar for your own blog, then you can go here and get yourself some blog-bling. If you hadn't noticed, did you notice I stopped the monthly tunes? I couldn't take hearing the same music for a month at a time and got especially frightened by the popping tunes after a Skype session to the folks with the sound turned right up. South Africa is far far away. Hard to hear them ;P

For today's photo of a front door I am going to spare you a picture of ours. Instead let me tell you that it is a nasty metal bully-of-a-door that barely stays open long enough for you to get in an out of, before hitting you, keying the shopping and wetting you. We moved into our little place in the Summer so it came as quite a surprise when the genkan (entrance hall where shoes are removed and left) became a mini splash pool this Winter. What a mess! The dew drips down the door to the floor and has caused a mould outbreak in our wooden shoe closet. Really it is rather a disgrace of a door and lest it feel more shame I shall not post its picture here.

Will someone tell this house that we have its door.

Sao Paulo Slum

February in Photos: Sun

2012-02-08T17:17:00.001+09:00

Thank you Sun for coming out briefly from the comfort of your cloud so that I could snap you and let your sunny rays fill Brent's futon with the smell of Sunshine. If I could bottle you, I would be selling you...

February in Photos: Button

2012-02-07T14:11:00.001+09:00

The laundry is hanging indoors with the rain drizzling outside. This is a cardie-top I bought in Longstreet in Capetown to attend my friend Elza's wedding last November. Sparkly buttons in Winter remind me of snow.

And here are we are... the new parents fussing over their babe :)

February in Photos: Dinner

2012-02-06T10:27:00.001+09:00

Feeling nasty from a lingering cold, I am indoors today watching Once Upon A Time. Since dinner is a simple affair today it is already in the pot simmering only needing a reheat tonight minutes before Tak comes home.

Oden Dinner

We had such a relaxed day yesterday with each other in our home with a quick outing to do the groceries and have a cuppa at a new cafe. I really have missed this kind of family time and how happy watching my boys makes me.

February Photos: 10am

2012-02-05T10:41:00.001+09:00

Almost missed this one! Thanks Sarah for dutifully updating or else you'd get a 10pm for sure.

So what do you find us doing at 10am on a Sunday? Tak having a second sleep, Brent down for a nap and me watching CNN, drinking coffee and reading blogs. Why am I hiding behind my coffee cup? It's bright, I'm not.

February Photos: A Stranger

2012-02-04T19:40:00.000+09:00

So before I get down to posting pics of people you might or might not know, let's get a bit technical. In Japanese (I stand to be corrected as my Japanese is correctable) a 'mishiranu hito' is a person you don't know, whereas a 'yosomono' is a person from outside of your town. So technically I covered both my bases. I didn't take a snap of a person I don't know a couple of stations over today, when we took Brent for a checkup with the doctor, as planned - BUT I took a snap of this magazine of a lady with great hair.

Still gutted from the news that our favourite paedeatrician is headed to LA to study the pathology of cancer in children, we managed to ease our mind (Dr Kawano's departure) and troubled souls (cancer in children... heartbreaking!) to our 'quad-birthday lunch' at Ume no Hana. Ume no Hana restaurant has become kind of a tradition for our family to celebrate memorable occasions, so to know that our friend's sister was working at that branch was a thrill! First round of Umeshu Sours were on the house too!

February Photos: Hands

2012-02-03T12:35:00.000+09:00

Admittedly I'm a teeth person. They are often what I notice first when I meet someone, followed closely by their hands. Hands are almost as descriptive as one's wardrobe. I used to do seasonal-themed gel nails where Michi would buff, primp and decorate my natural nail within an inch of its life. I had a new design each month and life was good.

But over time I grew impatient of the hours spent idle in a chair and stopped going. This is when I decided to get my nail collection jacked to do my own nails. Now I sport a far simpler version of what I had going on pre-Brent, or pre-marriage, yikes!

I was gifted with some Konad design plates a couple of years back and have yet to use them, but when I do I plan to transform my nails for Spring a la Wanderlust :) Her nails are always pretty!

February Photos: Words

2012-02-02T13:03:00.001+09:00

I often find myself saying the most mundane stuff at home, so that Brent knows where I am and can listen to some conversation besides that on the TV or gasp... the radio. No I don't own one anymore but I stream through iTunes. Often a monologue of sorts I like to throw in some SA words to spice things up, using things around us.

One dear to me is this wall artwork I got on my last trip to SA. With word-gems like mielies, spaza and pap 'n wors, I feel I am doing right by his South African roots.

Birthday Update: I ate a lot of cake! My birthday retainer from Tak was a prepaid Starbucks card and the gift to shave years off my face will come at the weekend. I am very excited... Other birthday loot was a spectacular stash of bathsalts, facemasks and pampering treats accompanied by eloquent words from friends and family.

Birthday Shop

2012-02-01T18:58:00.001+09:00

Today I made my first denim purchase at Zara. I had checked them out before but nothing really caught my eye until I tried on a pair. The denim was super soft like a pair you’ve owned for years. Paired with my Oxfords they will look great!

I’ve been looking for a new pair of jeans for a while now. I only ever wear a Uniqlo pair that I bought nearly 4 years ago in London on the cheap. It’s time for an upgrade. I figure if I’m only going to own one pair of jeans they could at least be a nice pair. I wanted something more relaxed fit too. Not super skinny tight; fitted but comfortable!

Thanks Mum - these denims and the top are what I bought for myself, on you, for my birthday!

February Meme

2012-02-01T12:24:00.001+09:00

Yes Sarah I accept your challenge. For me it truly is a challenge to know that I must write something everyday, come Masterchef omnibus or Lemon cheesecake making.

So to kick off with my view today... it's my birthday and I woke up to this card that I opened last night before bed. So I'm off to do as told and eat cake.

Another Year Another Face

2012-01-31T17:28:00.001+09:00

Tomorrow I turn a year older. I can see a few more lines and for good reason. 2011 was a pretty momentous year with emotional buoys at each turn. But it's time to get some help in the skincare department.

As I got older I started to take skin care more seriously. Sleeping in my makeup while at university was a given, but something I would never do today. So my birthday wishlist to Tak has been freckled with such nativity as 'I'd like something that makes me feel pretty, less tired looking you know.' Seemingly simple, but for a man with a ton of potions at the stores, I'm excited to see what he turns up with...

In the mean time, I have been challenged to travel the world in a warm cocoon, leaving only a trail of dirty mugs in my wake. Birthday challenge accepted! I'm off to bath with my babe. Thanks to the gift giving fairy!

Bath song of now...

Starbucks Hot Chocolate and tropical bathsalts!

Runaway with Life

2012-01-27T15:09:00.001+09:00

Are you ready to pack everything you love into a backpack and run with me? Far from running away from anything, perhaps this nasty cold I have had for the past day, I am ready to start something fresh in a shiny new setting... I wonder what awaits?

On a less philosophical note this Cherry Blossom Bathsalt was quite nice although the smell was a little overpowering.

Mini Bath Salt Haul

2012-01-25T23:42:00.001+09:00

So the week has been bouncing along contentedly from Monday's indoor picnic to today's Yokohama high tea date, with pocketfuls of snow to keep us busy in between. Just as well as we still haven't built the cookie house meant for Christmas and it seems authentic to have real snow on the houses to replicate. The sweet decorations are long gone though as chocolate drops and Gummy Bears have a short shelf life in our home. Then the walls of the house need baking, and the icing needs making, thus their longevity. Perhaps tomorrow's project...

As promised here is the hodgepodge of bath salts from Minami Machida that I got last Saturday.

Sarah and the Chocolate Factory

2012-01-24T10:20:00.001+09:00

Enjoyed a long relaxing milk bath with Brent last night while the snow fell in handfuls outside. Then I looked into the Snow Festival held on Sapporo annually while scoffing forkfuls of raw Royces Nama chocolate. Mentally I live in Sapporo already. Did I mention that Sarah lives next door to a chocolate factory?!

All this scoffing and chocolate thoughts were no doubt brought on by a day of Penguin and TimTam (choc covered biscuits from UK and AUS respectively) munching with some neighborhood mums. Tried this new Suntory peach drink with my lunch and am in love!

Arcade Crookery and Sarah

2012-01-22T22:13:00.001+09:00

What a giddy weekend we had. We were babysat for, cooked for, gifted and pampered. I could get used to this. MIL came over on Friday night to shadow an evening routine for Brent and cuddled and giggled with him while I primped and preened. For good reason... Saturday night was Date Night with Sarah!

Saturday started out great as I headed for Minami Machida to do a little shopping while Tak looked after Brent. More on the beauty haulage later... After tea ceremony MIL picked up the little monkey and we headed for Shibuya to En, a rather serene izakaya above a bustling room full of UFO-catchers and purikura booths below.

Long story short: stingray is a tasty snack and best accompanied with umeshu; you CAN eat a whole raw cabbage if the dip is good enough (and it was); readjusting the toys in the UFO catchers, so that the people actually win them, is not unheard of; and I might want to move to Sapporo now...

The night was perfect and I couldn't have hoped for more.

Ellie is shameless and stole the shot!

What I Value: THE Challenge!

2012-01-21T00:58:00.003+09:00

Praise the slew of potent and revealing blog posts that I have been reading today, or the fact that the snow kept me largely indoors, for what is to follow... MY core values.

At first somewhat perplexed at how to start, I started reeling off a list of vague descriptors to Tak after dinner. I quickly learned that what I needed was a good kick in the behind from Google. So if you too are stumped when asked to find your core values, this is what I did. In the order I thought of them...

1. Need for Trust: I like to think of those close to me as being a trustworthy gang and I appreciate the candid, transparent nature of our relationship.

2. Need for Stablility: I like to know what to expect out of situations and people. Be prepared for them and set realistic expectations from the start.

3. Need for Positivity: I like to think that life comprises of the good, the bad, the ugly and a large grey area that is affected by our attitude. I find a bright outlook works for me.

4. Need for Simplicity: I like things simplified. Long-winded stories annoy me (although I have been guilty of this many a time yada yada blah blah blah) and complicated scenarios seem like effort. So in short I like to break things down into manageable, achievable chunks, lest I spend the day on Facebook instead.

5. Need for thoughtfulness: I like effort and I appreciate it. So this inspires me to practice being thoughtful, so that someone on the receiving end feels good.

My meaningful 2012, 2013, 2014,,, are within reach.

Holding down the fort!

2012-01-17T20:20:00.001+09:00

While Tak's been working hard in Hokkaido, Brent and I have been keeping ourselves busy doing our favorite things...

Besides a few walks to get some fresh winter air in our lungs I have been living in the lounge under blankets reading, painting nails, doing masks, eating Cosy Corner cake, watching romantic dramas and being silly with Brent. And the time seems to whizz on by. Before I know it Tak is back :)

Love this Soy drink!

Drama time! _Mitsu No Aji_

Matcha and Strawberry cake

After finishing his tofu and peas!

Icy nails! Too bad I had to change a nappy and they were messed up - bare nails again!

Hello Shiseido

2012-01-14T19:06:00.001+09:00

On a quest for everyday to be a good skin day I have decided to try out a new skin polisher. My face gets pretty dry come Winter time so this looks right up my alley :)

Maman Et Enfant Footmuffler

2012-01-13T16:16:00.001+09:00

This year I have decided on a more on-the go (thanks to iPhone) nugget-of-a-blog. Mainly to document my loves and inspiration, in line with spending more hours offline and more productive online.

Look what arrived this morning for master Brent! It was accompanied by the sweetest note from Tak, which had me momentarily amazed by the shop's good English and use of 'mwa'!

Stroller Footmuffler by Maman Et Enfant

2012

2012-01-08T19:07:00.000+09:00

My hopes for 2012 are to seek inspiration.

Witness it.
Absorb it.
Share it.

Last month I decided that it was time to make our lives more PRESENT. You know, actually BE with each other instead of AROUND each other. Which in effect means less online and more offline.

Right now my chest wants to burst in happy gratitude for the things that inspire and ground me. It has made me feel more connected than I have been for ages. This is actually my life!

Happy New Year!

Packing for Phuket

2011-12-31T18:26:00.003+09:00

I'm loving the clean flat, post New Year clean-up, which in itself makes packing for our holiday a doddle. But a little help in the packing department never goes unneeded as I've spent many a holiday not touching 2/3rds of my case... and I pack light! So check out this nifty little site to ease the pain of THE holiday pack.

We were ahead of the game in our end-of-year cleanup and thought I'd do the same with the luggage sorting. Nothing better than bags pre-packed luggage instead of over-stuffing it like a badly prepared Christmas turkey hey!

So as I bid farewell to 2011 with soba, okonomiyaki and wine at least I'll know I'm ready to start 2012 with a holiday! Happy New Years!!

To Sum Up

2011-12-31T00:08:00.000+09:00

I absolutely love the styling in this video: natural and chic!
Russian Red: I hate you But I Love You

From London to Tokyo!
The A Team: Ed Sheeran

Anthem to wrap up Christmas!
Emmy The Great and Tim Wheeler: Home for the Holidays

Christmas Snaps

2011-12-29T00:58:00.001+09:00

I feel so motivated to blog! I have a dozen photos to post. All from Dec 24th & 25th. Beginning with Christmas Eve dinner, followed by Christmas Day present unwrapping carnage then onto some new Christmas traditions.

Christmas Eve morning at Starbucks: Drink of now is Soy Latte for me!

Afternoon in the kitchen baking Apple and Salted Caramel pie for the Christmas Eve party!

Christmas Morning! It’s hard to post Christmas gets in a non-obnoxious way so I’m just going to slap it up here…
Getting ready for Thailand!

Walking in the air!

My Boys eating Bagels on Christmas morning: Maple, Walnut and Cream Cheese for me!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was really amazing and I’m grateful for that.

Pies and Post

2011-12-24T16:23:00.001+09:00

We have been thoroughly spoilt throughout the year with gifts for Brent and Christmas has been no exception. We were able to open our gifts from my brother and girlfriend over a Skype-chat before he jetted off to Thailand today. He got it right. Very right! They gifts are perfect! A little luxury for Tak and I and little literature for the babe. So bar the early Christmas gift opening we are looking forward to the other little things under the tree to unwrap and more importantly the ones we have to gift.

I had fun out in Yokohama doing a little Natural Lawson raiding (update on finds later) and finding a Santa to hug. This one fit the bill to a T. Jovial and cheeky with a little sly I've-been-drinking-whiskey-since-noon chuckle before sending us on our way, which saw us trawling the baby-shops in search for a hat (I left the furry Russian one in a taxi on the way to a birthday party a few weeks back). And find a cute hat we did. So Tak's got a very cute hat for the little one for Christmas from an aptly named store, Dad Way.

Christmas 2011

And now I've just heard my pie finish baking ready for tonight! What to wear, what to wear? Christmas this year has me in a warm, country home mood...

Elf on the Shelf in Japan

2011-12-20T14:54:00.002+09:00

So you've been in the dark like me? Forget the mystique of Father Christmas and employ one of his own to spy on you Big Brother style and report back as to whether you've been Good or Bad this year and for years to come. I spent the greater part of the last hour reading some hilarious accounts, here and here, of how this creepy Elf Trend (Elf on a Shelf) is taking over entire towns.

Buy the elf and it comes with it's own storybook and tattles back to Santa each night and the mum in the house continues to move it back and forth each day so that it's never in the same place and keeps the kids in line with a quick "Elf" when they misbehave.

Commercial? Yes. Elves in Japan? Trending Trending... Elves would be BIG in Japan! Hang on, I think the original Elf doll was FROM Japan...

Source

Bath Salt Round Up

2011-12-20T10:35:00.002+09:00

Vicariously living through a few stellar blogs this season. What I mean by 'stellar' is not that these bloggers actually WRITE OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON, but that they are good, thought-provoking, giggle-inducing moments to crank down to Christmas in absence of an Advent calendar. If it wasn't for Facebook I might have lost track altogether. That's what happens when I don't work. Days melt into the weekends and weekends melt into months. Seriously where is the time going and have I stopped blogging?

Make no mistake... I have been busy offline. The way I like it. Playing with Brent. Seeing friends. Sorting photos into 'keepers' for the baby album that sits laughing on the bookshelf. Watching episodes of BBC Christmas specials and Pan Am. Eating with the in-laws. Skyping overseas family. Shopping for the festive party goers. Cleaning the house to get a jump on the frantic NY cleanup.

In need of its own paragraph... I've acquired an iPhone (eventually!) and couldn't be happier. Passwords and usernames are haunting my every turn while I find applications and sync my data stores, but what can you do hey?

To round up a season-of-soaks these were some of our latest baths. Did I mention Brent has graduated from the baby-bath to OUR bath and enjoys regular soaks with Tak?! I love my boys!

Brent the Bath Babe

Both "Sweat Baths" but I LOVE the Juicy Apple salt on the right!

BathClin - Chinese Herbs and spices to warm. The scent is too 'curry' for me O.O

Natural Lawson

2011-12-13T18:04:00.002+09:00

Truthfully this is taking some effort today. Each time I've opened my reader to browse my favourite blogs. I've contemplated writing something down about the weekend and thought "Not today".... In short we had a seemingly brief but flavourful weekend with the highlight being a trip out to Chiba on Sunday after Tak got in from Aberdeen on Saturday evening. I met up with the lovely Laura to celebrate the birthdays of her boys with her family and friends.

I've been enjoying being a lazy blogger this week in favour of giggling with Brent, watching him roll and enjoying his gurgles of glee in response to our silly faces, laughter and encouragement. I really am enjoying him. So much so that I was to be as present as possible for all these monumental FIRSTS.

Talking of firsts, on our way back from Laura we came across a Natural Lawson! I have read about them here, but have never actually experienced the "healthy" version of the popular convenience store. Despite its somewhat sceptical review by Roy in 2007, it is sure to have mushroomed since and offers an impressive array of healthy snacks and limited edition drinks alongside the organic cookie stash and tempting bakery goods.

Shinee and Hungry Boy

2011-12-09T11:36:00.001+09:00

The weather here has been terrible. Cold, wet and windy. The real chill-to-the-core deal. I've been terrible at keeping to meet-ups this week with the bitter cold (ignore the 'cold' reference if you live in Sapporo.... Sarah as a South African i don't know how you keep warm??) keeping Brent and I snug in our kerosene-heated apartment instead. Heaven forbid we bought a kotatsu as no one would ever see us during Winter!

So to while away the hours, besides seeing to an increasingly demanding, but AMAZING child, we have been reading, watching MTV interviews with South Korean pop group SHINee (a couple of hotties in it!) and even a brilliant movie worth mentioning here: THE HELP!

So your tune of the day and remember to MUTE the ipod player in the right toolbar to hear it:

Back to the crying child who is continuously hungry at the moment...

Soak Soak Soak

2011-12-07T20:18:00.001+09:00

Tak is away and Brent is fed, bathed and watching Korean Pop awards on M-ON! so I'm sneaking into the bathroom to have a shower and a soak.

Bath Salt Collection

VERDICT: Tried the Rose tea-bag by Charley 2 nights ago and was surprised that it was actually better the second re-heat of the bath on day2. Guess it needs to draw just as real tea does?! In any case the pretty packaging left me expecting a stronger, prettier smell. Good that these are preservative free but will give it a skip in the isle next time around.

Charley 'Hot Toddy' on the left and Rose on the right

Tonight I'm going for German brand Kneipp "Good Night" salts - omiyage MUST-BUY when Tak travels to Dusseldorf.This time he's been asked to get YSL Touche Eclait upon recommendation to sort out my NEW-MAMA eye-bags.

Night Night - Oyasumi!

Dear Santa-Pan

2011-12-06T13:48:00.001+09:00

Dear Santa-san: I NEED WILLPOWER

Why must Winter and temptation go hand in hand. Christmas maybe, but Winter too?

Just when I am able to resist the latest combini temptation, another season hits us and there are a whole new shelf full of Winter delights. Heck this SEASONAL thing is proving dangerous. Throw Christmas into the mix and it's outright mayhem! The 360degree rotation of product flavours are usually recognisable from the previous years - i.e. Krispe Kreme, Starbucks and Kit Kat - so here's hoping in a few years I'll be OVER it.

Sadly, for now, a year seems to be just enough time for me to reminisce over the marron, white chocolate and strawberry offerings from last Winter and decide I MUST try them again. Of course who could possibly pass up a Christmas bread (pan) shaped like a snowman or Santa-san? If you like looking at cute food without the temptation this site is nice.

Current temptation at home includes the WHITE TERRY'S ORANGE... possibly my favourite chocolate ever...

To-Do-Before-Christmas List

2011-12-05T12:02:00.001+09:00

Our weekend is now behind us and the "To Do Before Christmas" List is looking good!

If it wasn't for Brent, we might have wallowed under the covers on a very rainy Saturday. He had his followup vaccinations for DPT and Hib and his regular checkup with the paediatric surgeon in Fujigaoka, Dr. Kawano. We'll be going back for the rest of the followup vaccines in the coming weeks - Pneumococcal and the last Rotavirus shot. He cried on cue after both shots but was fine and dandy after a little cuddle from me and further cuddles from Obaachan (MIL), who gave us a lift to Aobadai to do some Winter-warmer shopping, not before gifting us with some GIANT apples and persimmon from her garden. ♡

Sunday was fun, meeting up with our neighbours for pastries and tea at The Little Mermaid and we were able to sell our flashy Airbuggy Stroller to a lovely couple who have just moved here from New York beforehand. We then took our modest Combi for a spin around the shops post-pastry. It was a big WIN for me! I ordered an iPhone 4S and got a cute jersey on the GAP sale! Yay!

On the Christmas front, I see Advent Calendars are now at GIVEAWAY prices, but we've gone with decorating a Cookie House this year instead... Now just to do it, is all! Perhaps while Tak is away in Aberdeen this week? He's probably more into eating it, than making it... but eating the sweets WHILE you make it is half the fun i think :)

Magazines and Movies

2011-12-03T22:42:00.001+09:00

It's been raining non-stop today and although we had to rush out the door this morning at some wicked hour for Brent's vaccines, I managed to stash one of our mag-stash into my bag for a quick read in the doctor's waiting rooms. Just as well I had because the reading material shelf was bare by the time we arrived and the room was full, so the wait was long.

I’ve never seen this particular Tokyo guide before but seeing as it’s issue 12 and it’s bi-monthly I’m guessing it’s been in production for just over 2 years now. It’s pretty good!

You can view it online too! At Good Luck Trip.

Ooh and an update on the bath salt we tried last night!

VERDICT

Bison is one of my favorite brands of bath salt! Hot pepper, ginger, and Epsom salt combined with carbon dioxide create a water-crackling bath experience! Like popping candy in your bath water! ローズシャンパン “Rose Champagne” had a sweet rose smell and clear soft pink bath water. The “thickening agent” turns the hot water slimy to coat the skin and makes you sweat more to deep cleanse the pores. It has rosehip extract and collagen for moisturizing effects too. Pretty water, lovely scent, moisturizing effect is a WINNER for me!

Rain and Romance

2011-12-01T09:54:00.001+09:00

On rainy days I like to turn up the tunes or watch movies. Today I made a new playlist in honour of Decembers leisurely arrival. I feel like I've been living in December for a while now. With the Christmas trees alight and soft shuffling of peoples boots doing their shopping, it's hard to believe we've only officially turned over another page of the calendar today!

I've already vowed that next year I will wait patiently for Christmas. I will be the adult. The one who waits to put up the tree; waits to eat the sweets that go on the cookie house's roof; waits to play the songs; waits to watch the movies. BECAUSE, although it is still special I am already tired of vacuuming around the tree, the sweets are needing to be repurchased, my Christmas playlist is stale AND my movie list is longer than Brent's sleeps will allow for!

Without further ado, here (in the sidebar) is my December playlist. Not a Christmas song in sight. Just soft romantic songs to make the rain bearable. Enjoy! Also I've started meal-planning again: Origamifiesta!

Source

Milk and Honey

2011-11-30T20:20:00.001+09:00

Today was great! It started off with some sesame-honey toast.

I had plans to meet up with Kanako early morning, but shifted it back a bit when we got Brent in to see the doctor in Azamino. We headed off first thing to see if they could do the followups for the vaccinations he got in SA, which they can, and then went to Tully's to have a coffee to celebrate (or wakeup?). Tak headed back to the office while I went back to Aobadai to meet up with Kanako and Aoi-chan. I got a head-start in B-style while we waited for Kanako to join. I was able to sort out a stroller for Brent today and a playmat so feel pretty happy! After reaching sifting-saturation we decided to try the new coffee shop there, BUT it was FULL! So we had apple pie and lattes in Muji instead.

I bumped into a whole bunch of people today unexpectedly which is always nice - I could totally get used to this 'small town'-vibe going on here :)

Anyway off to go and soothe my shopping-pains away in the tub and to continue the day's honey obsession: Bison Bakkantou Royal Honey Milk bathsalt tonight!

VERDICT: Usual Popping Candy effect as salt hits the water and coats the skin with a slimy moisturising layer. Boy did I sweat some and my magazine got wet. Must work out a system to keep it dry. The scent was edible and the water got "thicker" in a gelatinous sort of way. WOULD REPURCHASE.

Cosy Socks and Twilight Date

2011-11-29T14:05:00.001+09:00

I've been getting all my ducks in a row today. Canceled attending a Sing-a-long Mummy meetup today in favour of kicking around the house and doing some errands. I've been out and about for the past few days and needed a bit of downtime. So I wore the broke in the new socks and tights - yes both! - this morning, when I posted some Christmas cards and paid my Softbank account. I've been umming and ahhing about whether to upgrade to an iPhone 4 from my crappy little number that I got free 2 years back, but the higher monthly flat-rate is unappealing!

The laundry is crowding out the Christmas decorations in our living space so am hoping that is dries before Tak comes home to dinner and a movie. I think tonight's pick of Twilight: Breaking Dawn is just the right kind of mental fluff for us to unwind to after we put Brent to bed.

In the meantime I've got to get back to framing the rest of the photos and starting Brent's baby album. It's too cute! I almost don't want to ruin it, so am procrastinating...

Queues and the Ushanka

2011-11-28T20:02:00.001+09:00

I ran out the door this morning for a meetup in Futako Tamagawa and forgot the list I'd scribbled down last night of things to get in Daiso, H&M and the 3Cents shop while I was there. Theoretically you don't need a list for any of these places, but I usually have too many things I like and have to have something of a TO DO list of restraint. Buyers remorse usually sets in when waiting in the queue. The shorter the queue, the shorter the wait, the MORE items make it to the till. SO... Japan IS good for me, where queues are something of a pastime.

Today, I found a furry Ushanka-style hat (Russian furry hat with earflaps) for Brent, as well as an oversized jersey and plaid scarf from H&M for me. Followed up by some tights, cream socks and a bow hairclip from the 3 Cents store.

Plan to try out this Rosmary-scented bathsalt from Ishizawa Labs tonight! With a writeup like this I am excited...

"This bath salt not only helps you to sweat but also warm your body from core to increase metabolism."

Baby Showers and Baths

2011-11-26T16:06:00.001+09:00

It's been a busy week.

CHORES with an official Autumn to Winter flip-over!
Trying new Winter recipes.
Coffee and Cake Meetups.
Sewing and Framing.
Crocheting.
Stocking-filling.

Most of the week has been spent nestled in our home, while Tak navigated icy Hokkaido on his business trip. Meanwhile I've been indulging in long hot baths, Rooibos Cappuccinos and chunky vegetable soups to prepare myself for the start of Winter.

But tonight I'll be taking inner warming to a whole new level with some Seasonal Chu-his and girly fun! I'm off to another baby shower this week! 2012 is ready to rain a whole new handful of cute babies!

Lest I forget Tully's new seasonal menu... did somebody say Irish Coffee!?? It is divine!

To Blog Or Not To Blog

2011-11-21T12:08:00.001+09:00

I had a decadent High Tea at the Four Seasons Maranouchi yesterday afternoon for a friend's baby shower and the topic of blogging surfaced. It got me thinking about the different reasons people blog and the satisfaction factor therefrom.

Now in my case, I blog to cement things in my memory. From childhood my visual memory has by far been the more discerning and by 'wording' down my thoughts I am able to flip casually through them and reminisce (erm remember). Another reason is that being unorganized isn’t really an option for me, it drives me crazy if things aren’t “just so.” Haha ;) Blessing/curse

I get on a "high" by spring-cleaning my wardrobe and more recently sorting through young Brent's clothes. Tak half-chuckled and said "Do you really get happy from such minor things?" to which I replied "Yes sweety. I need to get all these small things on my list done so that I can crack the Japanese books again". To which he gave an even slyer chuckle.

My blog also lives on in the hope that friends overseas are able to catch up on my life and to connect with people in Japan who are in a similar situation (expat/mother) or who inspire me. Upon mentioning that my comment rating was low, I was swiftly asked if the COMMENTS were why I blogged. Now how to put this without being labelled a comment-less crybaby... If comments on posts were my prime purpose I would've called it a day a while back.

I have to admit when the satisfaction of blogging dwindles, a comment does tend to perk me up. As does meeting the fabulous people behind the blog-masks. But for now it's a hobby I still enjoy doing to retain a little order in this crazy new adventure of motherhood.

Source

John Lewis and Bieber

2011-11-20T08:24:00.001+09:00

I made a promise to myself that every month I would take some time to reconnect with the music world and uncover some songs both new and old that inspire me. Now I've been on holiday and a litle lazy so haven't updated the music box Ghibli music that tinkers away at you while you're on this blog, so now it's time. With Christmas in the air I had to include some Christmas Indie (saving the Classics for the month of December) and came across this gorgeous John Lewis advert. Perhaps my new Christmas favourite. Well said John Lewis.

And if you think you hear a little Bieber in the mix, you'd be right. It has been a momentous year for the guy hasn't it?

Salts and Soup

2011-11-18T17:53:00.001+09:00

Nothing warms me up quicker than a bowl of homemade soup or a soak in the tub when I have a few minutes to spare. Let it be known that I am a huge fan of Japanese home baths and am usually drawn to the bath salt isle before all else. Our home bath is shorter and deeper than the kind I grew up with. This way you need less water to comfortably cover you and allow for a PROPER soaking! What an Eco-friendly way to SPA with a baby in the house!

I picked up a fun fizzing bath ball with a subtle rose scent this morning when I was in Daiso. You get a “surprise” bear figure once the bath ball completely dissolves. I got the blue bear. Without crackers for Christmas this year I've found a way to fill the gap.

After my bath tonight, I've been replacing the rose scent with onion aromas! In the past i have been known to buy "homemade-style" soup which the usually clean pots in kitchen could attest to. But with the abundance of great seasonal vegetables, coupled with my dad's cookbooks, I have promised Tak that our regular MISO soup will be amplified with veggies he prefers to 'save for me because he knows I like them'.So last night saw us tucking into Pumpkin Sesame Soup and tonight it's Caramelised Onion and Burnt Tofu Soup. If that sounds like a mouthful... it was! A delicious start to the Winter season.

Christmas Is All About Peanuts

2011-11-16T11:12:00.001+09:00

Before I get carried away adorning every free surface with red and green deco and ditch my usual "minimal clutter" rule, let's get down to basics and remember what Christmas is really all about. I couldn't say it better than Peanuts has, so I leave you with Linus doing his thing.

Now back to hanging the stockings and unpacking the spoils of our SA trip courtesy of the Grandparents!

Jetlagged Under Eyemasks

2011-11-16T01:47:00.001+09:00

Tadaima tomodachi - we're back in our cosy apartment in Tama Plaza. Our luggage has just been delivered after deciding it would extend its holiday in Hong Kong and didn't make a dash for the transfer flight as we did. We were accelerated to the front of the transfer queue and both flights were pretty empty so Tak, Brent and I did well on the munching and TV-watching front.

Brent did most of the sleeping mind you, so Tak is packing in some naptime before work tomorrow while I try out my heated Kao aromatherapy eyemasks and contemplate some goodies to cook for Christmas. (Did I mention I have watched Jaime Oliver Christmas Specials back-to-back until I was describing stuffing and mince-pies as 'pukka' instead of 'yum'!)

These eye masks are not new and I usually use about one a week! My favourite is Chamomile but decided to try Bulgarian Rose that was recently released! When you open them up, they heat up quickly and smell so wonderful. It lasts about ~10+ minutes. They do 'unscented' as well, but I am all about The Smellies and I love aromatherapy! Don't get me started on Neil's Yard!

Fur Jackets and Thigh Highs

2011-11-05T06:34:00.000+09:00

I feel like I need a good shot of spoiling. Be it fragrant soaps, thigh-high boots, espressos or Royal Tea blends from Murchies. It couldn't possibly be that I've been hypnotised by those twinkling tree lights could it?

I spent the day trawling the shops of Sandton City with Brent-on-the-bust - thank you Ergo! I'm so loving the Christmas Baobab tree in Nelson Mandela Square! What a great spin on SA's Summery seasonal fanfare. I'm also drooling over some fur coats (fake of course) that I saw on eBay and happy to be the proud owner of a cute pair of boots I got for 50% off on the Winter sale! Bring on the cold winter so that I can finally zip them up and LIVE in them.

Christmas Baobab Tree

Running and Relaxing

2011-11-03T15:25:00.003+09:00

In case you thought that I was running, let me dispel any such lies immediately. The running shoes are still hanging in a closet in Japan while I sit on my bum eating Milktart! The running I'm talking about here is of the errand and meetup variety and today is the first day in many that I've had time to just sit back chill and plan out what needs to be bought/done before heading back North in November. I've still got Christmas presents to sort and a wedding to attend before I can 'relax' on that flight back home, but am having fun shopping all the while.

Wore all black yesterday (was feeling rather uncreative) to a meet up with Shaz in Braamfontein's Narina Trogon before visiting family friends in the afternoon for a catchup. I've got a mask working its magic now, while I sit and wait for Brent to wake up from his 8hr nap! For now I'll make to with the DIY pampering and Coffee. Talking of Brent......

How do you all relax?

You see Brent's a fan of 'Melktert' too!

Christmas and Creme Brulee

2011-11-02T01:56:00.000+09:00

I might be wearing my sunnies and flipflops most days, but the Winter reminders in SA continue to bellow their icy calls in the form of Christmas Carols and shops' frosted window panes. Withought much reverence to Guy Fawkes celebrations on the fifth and with the explosion of orange and black through most product lines now completed, we are already knee-deep in Christmas paraphernalia! I am in no way complaining. I love Christmas! I love that the snowglobe gets to re-appear and our doorhooks are addorned with stockings. Simply put, I am already struggling to contain the Christmas cheer in a rather overstuffed case.

The past week went by in a flash with a meaningful trip to Cape Town taking Brent to meet his GREAT Grandpa. We were able to do a little shopping and visited a beautiful restaurant called The Duck Pond, which has been a favourite with us for many years. Canal Walk Shopping Mall perked me up being so close to my grandparents home, so I nipped over there to find a swimsuit and flipflops for Thailand in January.

I now own a one-piece swimsuit and some Ipanema flipflops. Thanks Gisele!

Since arriving back to JHB I have been overstuffing myself not restricted to the case) with some tasty Greek food at Kuzina in The Firs and enjoyed some Creme Brulee and Cappucinos at Grand Central in Melrose Arch today. We also supported the interactive "Feed a Child" campaign, and Brent put a guided R2 donation into the Wall of Hope.

Creme Brulee - I forgot about you and ate the LOT before my camera entered my mind so...

Now back to planning Tak's itinerary for when he arrives... Poor man, no time for jet-lag!

In the Eye of the Beholder

2011-10-17T18:15:00.001+09:00

For those of you who thought that I had disappeared into deepest darkest Africa, never to be heard from again, this post is for you. Having navigated a tunnel maze of email accounts to regain my password and come out the other side victorious, I am now ready to blog galore!

Johannesburg still has its same ol' same ol' qualities, but with Brent I have appreciated the leisurely lunches with my folks, friends and extended family all the more. As you can imagine, Brent has bewitched a slew of fans and has even charmed a few of my die-hard male friends!

My little charmer

With Tak still in Japan working and travelling up a storm, my parents help has been invaluable. Brent has a set-crew ready to bounce and feed him and of course giggle at his streaming gurgles. With my folks at the helm, I've been able to attend a wedding, an engagement party, the Sleeping Beauty ballet and can even entertain thoughts of evening dates with friends. Though it must be said that the little man has done well when taken to coffee shops, peoples houses, parks and malls! Brent has just about seen it all!

Dad, Chloe, Mum and Brent

I miss Tak tremendously and keep checking up on him through Facebook and was very impressed that he was using the sun to do laundry while we slip on our shades, sip wine and wriggle our toes on the grass. His time will come when the three of us head to Cape Town mid-November for a friends wedding and a tour of the wine farms. Please holler if you have any CT recommended must-sees while we're there!

Our Date at The Diner

2011-09-27T01:46:00.000+09:00

So why am I up at 1am typing this? Beats me. The baby is asleep and so is Tak and my mum, but for as long as I can remember I always get excited before plane trips and have trouble getting to sleep. So thought I might post about our DATE night. Marvelous as it was I didn't run to the keyboard as I got home but instead we had some Cozy Corner cream eclairs with my mum who kindly babysat for us. We picked them up on our way back through Yokohama after a night spent exploring Motomachi, enjoying a romantic walk up through Yamate Area, and ending up at a cafe sipping cappucinos while deciding what we felt like eating.

Undecided we roamed the backstreets off the main shopping street of Motomachi and ended up in a retro American Diner modestly called TBC Diner. The restaurant’s resemblance to a retro American 1950's diner delivers in terms of food! We settled on a Caesar salad, a Chili Burger and Fries and shared a Caramel Sundae. Not a huge fast food fanatic myself, this was a gourmet version of a regular takeaway which had me stuffing their business card into my wallet to blog about later. Super romantic and had me lusting after my long forgotten inline skates.

The rest of the weekend was taken up with a temple visit to bless Brent called Miyamairi. Before i love you and leave you and head to SA, a pre-Halloween shot of the three of us.

Brent's first Halloween!

Mon Blanc Season and Date Night!

2011-09-24T07:44:00.001+09:00

It's coming to the end of mum's visit and my return to the motherland is drawing ever nearer, so we have been sure to pack full our time with only the fun, the new and the exciting! Mum's fourth visit to Japan has been different in so far as we have spent a huge portion of our time tending to a fitful infant at home and admiring the angel that emerged on errands, meet-ups and holidays. Brent has certainly warmed all our hearts this Autumn, along with strong coffees!

To summarise my mum's fourth visit: Apple Crumble Frappucinnos; Krispy Kreme Halloween doughnuts; Baby and Summer Sale Shopping; 2011 Rugby World Cup, Tama Plaza Restaurants and Cafes (Shabu Shabu, Fondue, Hawaiian, Yakiniku), Mama Meet-ups, Mon Blanc Dessert, Okinawa travel, a typhoon and Miyamairi. No doubt I've forgotten more than a few and will need to sneakily update the list as they come to mind.

Brent is now in his third month of life and has already traveled to Okinawa, strapped to our chests while we tried Goya, Mimi-ga (Pig's Ear), Kokuto (Brown Sugar), Sweet Potato and Shiiquasa (Okinawan Lime) and Blue Seal Ice-cream. I loved the laid-back atmosphere down there and hope to visit the surrounding islands in the future, as we stayed only in the capital of Naha this trip.

Omiyage (Souvenirs)

The four of us at Shuri Castle

Armed with a pocketful of tissues (I've caught a cold) Tak and I will head to a romantic(?) location tonight. Mum is kindly babysitting Brent for us so that we can kick back and relax before I fly to SA. Care to take a guess of where we might be headed? I have no idea!

Yokohama Triennalle 2011

2011-09-14T22:06:00.000+09:00

With Mum in town we have been kept busy by our little Brent - in a cycle of eat, burp, play, poo and hopefully sleep. But somehow after receiving a new carrier, we've been able to comfortably explore the area around Sakuragichou station in Yokohama today and Center Minami yesterday. We've shopped till we just about dropped and are slowly ticking off an invisible gift list for SA friends and Brent. Not to spoil the surprise for those friends who read the blog from SA, I can tell you that Brent was spoiled with a Totoro blanket and a Snoopy bottle from his granny.

We made it to the Yokohama Triennialle Art Exhibition and saw the glass maze I'd heard about last month. The Fourth edition of the Yokohama Triennale, titled 'OUR MAGIC HOUR – How Much of the World Can We Know?' focuses on works of art that refer to the mysteries of our daily lives – such as magic, supernatural phenomena and mythology. I was also able to pick up a pair of books to learn about Japan's festivals in the different seasons - charming illustrations and could be later enjoyed with Brent too!

We'll be off tomorrow to meet up with some friends and to crochet for charity. Then it's only two sleeps before we fly to Okinawa! Bring on some R and R!

This years theme - Our Magic Hour - at the Museum

Reach For A Dream in Japan

2011-09-05T22:36:00.001+09:00

So with Tak away in Hokkaido, I've been tending to our little boy who loves his baths and just wants to be held and rocked and bounced and fed 24/7. Short of sleep? Maybe. Loving the smell of his freshly washed hair? Definitely!

So armed with a Taurine3000 energy drink this morning, all I hoped for was that this bundle of energy would unwind with a nice long nap after a night filled with restlessness and tears. Finally at noon, a relaxed Brent emerged and has been angelic and smiley ever since.

Now together we sit, me with a mask on my face and Brent in his jammies, watching TV. And guess what should pop up, but a game show based on overseas advertisements. South Africa was featured! I was reminded about an ad I watched way back when and have now seen the followup for the Reach for a Dream ad I know well and love. Heartwarming - check them out.

The original:

The follow-up:

Stagchairs for the WorldCup?

2011-09-04T22:23:00.001+09:00

So if you know me you'll know that watching sport is not my favourite pastime, but add to that some good food, alcohol and festive company, I'm all for watching select sports. So far these include drinking Pimms and eating strawberries for Wimbledon and something more carnivore-friendly for rugby games. With South Africa playing Wales in New Zealand this coming Sunday we are all to pumped to celebrate it and the arrival of my Mum with some neighbourhood friends. Crack open the umeshu (I'm no fan of beer) and sizzle the yakitori because we are ready to blow our vuvuzela (what do you mean it's just for soccer?) and rustle our SA flags! Only we are short some extra chairs for our guests which I thought a quick trip to the home decor store might remedy...

What we found were Captain Stag a producer of camping chairs in Japan. If you're familiar with the term 'stag-do' then these seats might leave you just as confused as me. The weight restriction of 60kg would eliminate most guys (and girls?) I know from using them and the rickety 3 prong support structure would be a challenge on a few swigs of beer, let alone a couple of cans. Needless to say we are still outdoor-chair-less although we did pick up a laundry pole so that I can start beating the life out of our futons. Bums on futons are fine by me!

Would you sit on this?

Skinnydipping in the Suburbs

2011-09-01T20:58:00.001+09:00

So I knew this would spark an interest. Skinnydipping in the suburbs. How could it not. Well I have mislead you all somewhat, but promise that my off-day (Brent went to grandma for the day) was just as thrilling, packed full of shopping and relaxation. Tak is in Hokkaido for the day and will be going back again on Sunday for a few days, so I forsee some time set aside for long baths and pampering as I single-parent-it for a few days. Okay so here is where the 'skinnydipping' comes in.

Today I headed to Loft in Shibuya to look for passport covers for Brent and I. After being severely distracted ny the 2012 schedule planners, I made a beeline for my favourite section - the bath products! Cooling-salts were still out in force in my favorite brands, but judging by the number of rival sweat-salts, not everyone wants to keep cool. Metabolic-racer salts promised to tone and tighten, so buy some I did. Who cares if it's just water lost. After having Brent I'll take what I can get and smell nice while decorating our new place.

Clear passport cases

Showoffs! Brent and my passport collection - soon to have another!

My favourite Bison bath salts and Black Sugar Clover soap

I enjoyed the time out and Starbucks frappucinno and swung past the Daiso 100Yen store to pick up some things for Project Redecorate. I'm really into a bright luminescent palette and keep buying bright luminescent accents for our home. No buyers remorse though. A colourful home is a happy home no?

Baby Blogosphere

2011-08-30T19:15:00.000+09:00

Despite not wanting this to turn into a solely baby orientated blog, but for it to be a lifestyle space, I'd be lying if all things were not rotating around our litle son this weekend - so bear with me.

Sunday was spent in Yokohama collecting Brent's Japanese passport and when realising we had forgotten to pack the nipple to his bottle a wild goose chase ensued. We ended up in Minatomirai at the Snoopy shop buying him a new bottle after coming short at the drug store. Luckily we also left with tummy's full of pastry and tea, safe from the scorcher of a day outside.

I also had the best time looking around a bespoke shop, Toffy, that sources all sorts of clever things from abroad and carries cool things by local designers too! We bought a Boshi Techou (government issued medical record book) cover for Brent as his paperwork and cards have started multiplying thick and fast. They also carry their own branded products in luminescent shades which are right up my alley! JosephJoseph makes some really funky multifunctional kitchen items that would inspire me to cook even with a new baby vying for my affections.

New Mamma Recharge Recipe

2011-08-27T18:40:00.002+09:00

The weekend is here at last and time to get down to paying those niggling Softbank mobile bills, restocking the fridge and recharging before the start of a new week. Tak and I headed out to enjoy the local bakery delights and to pick up some drugstore essentials, which included a value-pack of energy drinks and some nailcare for baby (the claws were getting out of hand) and delicious sounding facemasks for me.

Coconut Milk and Royal Milk Tea - love drinking both hope my skin concurs :)

I am yet to try mine although Tak fell asleep after having his so my expectations are low... lol

So, here I sit with a Royal Milk Tea facemask working its magic while Tak is preparing dinner (how lucky am I?) so I can finally upload the latest baby pics to Facebook. I've been snapping away all week, but was waiting for some down-time to upload some of them with a glass of wine...

Sleepless Cloud Gazing

2011-08-25T20:05:00.001+09:00

We are officially residents of Tama Plaza and are loving our location! I love the sounds from the lively street below our apartment and the rival restaurants fighting for Tak's dinner affection. Of late, life in our house has included simple meals, sleepless nights and shared juggling of an adorable tiny tot. We are loving it! Sure, it takes some getting used to when Brent fusses and cries when there is no consoling him, but luckily each day is not the same and the good (first glimmers of a smile) far outweigh the crying fits.

Today was one of those sleepless days but I am typing this with a sleeping baby strapped to my chest (thanks for the carrier advice mum). Today aside, he was such a doll yesterday, when I met up with a friend in the park - so complaining I am not.

Lying on a futon in the lounge, I noticed something for the first time today. A gorgeous view of the clouds which definitely mellowed me out in between bouts of inconsolable crying. Coupled with some nostalgic Linkin Park on MTV, I am definitely in a tired, but happy zone.

Sweat, Tears and Carriers

2011-08-18T09:36:00.000+09:00

Bunny is home and ruling the roost. Just how it should be to make sure he settles in to his new surrounds which will soon be in Tama Plaza. So in preparation of eventually leaving the house, I have been practicing carrying him in the baby carrier and built the stroller for him. Why did the stroller need building? Well we got it off an expat leaving Japan after the Big Shake on March 11 and it needed a wash. Little did I realise that I'd need to download the online instruction manual to reassemble it, as it was so easy to take apart. Eventually after some sweat and tears (from the Bunny) we got him strapped in to what looks like a mammoth stroller next to his tiny frame.

Hoping not to jinx the matter with my next comment. Be on the lookout for more thrilling posts once we are mobile enough to get down to the shops, on the train and into the excitement of throbbing Tokyo or just a local coffee shop for a breather.

Bunny sleeping in his Dragon Symbol Jinbei

Denentoshi Travels to the Dagashi

2011-08-15T17:16:00.001+09:00

Tak and I had a great time with family over the Obon weekend. We watched bamboo burn outside to call the ancestral spirits and hung a white lantern on the porch to show them the way. Of course the food-animal transportation *to bring the ancestors home* was made as usual from aubergine and cucumber and placed at the entrance and various offerings were placed in the tatami room. The family gathered and ate at the in-laws and we all waited impatiently for the monk to arrive and chant while watching Miffy and munching on onigiri. All in all it was a great weekend and with Brent being allowed to come home for the night on Saturday we all already felt in a festive mood.

So having applied for Brent's Japanese passport today we have just found out that our little boy will be allowed to come home to us tomorrow! We are thrilled and I bought the him a sun hat on my way back from Yokohama. Tak went to work while I enjoyed a wander around Central Minami and came across a dagashi, an old-fashioned sweet store, and bought some Pansy sugar puffs and mayo-octopus crackers. Both were very sugary and salty and perfect when washed down with ice cold water!

Pansy Puffs - akin to Fruitloop-flavoured Cheetos

Plating Up and Productivity

2011-08-07T23:03:00.003+09:00

With the babe under the care of a bevy of health-care professionals at a nearby university hospital, Tak and I have made the most of our time sorting arrangements and sifting through our apartment ahead of our move. The movers have visited and quoted, the cable company will transfer the contract to the new address (phew... not a moment without baseball and MTV) and the empty boxes are starting to fill. Pretty impressive progress between the many episodes of Masterchef AU I've had to catch up on. With a tummy full of fine Italian cuisine from Le Arcate around the corner, I am preparing to watch the meticulous plating-up finale while tucking into a Coconut Tapioca dessert I whipped up. Made from a box, not from scratch. I aim to impress not to poison ;)

Other things we have sorted this weekend in between milk deliveries to the baby cow (growing and healing happily in his glass sauna box), were to purchase tickets to a mystery location for when my mum visits in September, organise Brent's passport photos, get haircuts, enjoy dinner at the in-laws and at a favourite restaurant and finally just chill out and drink good wine together!

Bring on a new week of meetings with friends, the return of our little one and enjoying the tail end of the Summer Sales! Glad I missed the madness of the LaForet sales in Harajuku!

Blog Promise

2011-08-02T15:27:00.000+09:00

Things have been a little stagnant on here lately. Mainly due to the arrival of Bunny and due to a faulty charger for my laptop. Besides that Tak and I are seeing to moving in August, planning holidays and overseeing Bunny's intestinal operation at the tender age of 2 weeks. Although assured a safe and necessary procedure we are already missing the little guy and look forward to getting him home safely in 10-14 days.

So please continue to visit - I promise to be back soon!

'Ello Bunny!

2011-07-24T22:38:00.000+09:00

Brent Taketo Furukawa born July 20, 2011 at 2:56pm 3222g and 50cm long.

Our divine little man decided to join us on Wednesday morning. He came fast (I was only in active labor for just over 90 minutes) perhaps matching the strong winds accompanying a week of cool weather and a typhoon in Japan.

We’re so in love with him we hardly know what to do with ourselves. More details and photos to come but I just wanted to share our beautiful boy with you!

Umi No Hi (Beach Day) and the Whale

2011-07-18T15:27:00.000+09:00

I come to you from a warm and muggy apartment, as I try to catch up on an entire series of Masterchef Australia in the hopes that time will tick by on double-time. It is working! This beached whale has been rotating between an AC-cooled bedroom and a fan-cooled lounge and have watched and impressive 47 episodes in the past 2 weeks!! I'm pretty certain that Bunny will recognise the catchy opening theme tune too!

This year I am spending our public holiday not on the beach but in our apartment while Tak is out playing baseball. Sports in this heat. You've got to be kidding me - hats off!

Baby Bunny is due in 2 Days. TWO DAYS people! Whether he arrives on time or on his time isn't much of a bother, but it is pretty impossible to sleep much at this point. In between the loo-runs and the remainder of a TV-series to get through, I've been kept mighty busy.

Anyway, without further ado, I'm off to the hospital tomorrow to check his progress and will hopefully have some good news to share. My last pregnancy picture is a couple of days short of 40weeks, at 39 weeks 5 days.

Last Pregnancy Pic! Bunny's Bump at 39w5d

Warning: Life Will Never Be The Same

2011-07-15T21:07:00.001+09:00

Very soon the "Bunny" analogy for the expectant boy might need to be revised. Pregnancy has been long and seems longer still in the sticky heat during "setsuden" (energy-saving). I'm looking forward to getting back to some normalcy in a few weeks.

I often hear how much "life is going to change" and "things will never be the same" once our baby arrives and I truly relish those words. Admittedly not for their "words-of-warning" connotation, where at first I mentally rolled my eyes and thought: "I know. What's your point? There's no going back now."

But now, those words have come to mean something a little different as we approach The Due Date.

In the thick of the summer heat, with a heavy belly in tow, I am all for change at this point. A change in the temperature would be amazing too. And a change of home even better. Best yet, a change from a family of two to a family of three!

In just a couple of months, I should be able to say with a smile that our life is most definitely not the "same" knowing that a life constantly evolving with possibility is an exciting one.

Korean Date and Roman Bath

2011-07-10T22:27:00.003+09:00

Don't I sound all well travelled - Japan, Korea and Italy all in one night! Wait until I tell you that I'm about to make a South African Milktart for tomorrow's dessert. Okay now I'm just showing off. But seriously, today was amazing!

Tak has been such a gentleman this weekend, braving the Summer heat to haul in our groceries, massage me on call, do the laundry, weed the in-law's garden and then treated me to a delicious Korean dinner this evening. Nothing could have made me happier than the cold noodles and his company. For the first time I feel that the weather really does affect what I feel like eating, so after a divine spread of sushi last night, this was the perfect meal-cap to the weekend.

Tak at the Korean Restaurant 10 July 2011

Me and my Cold Noodles - favourite Summer food!

MIL visited us this evening to bring over some delicious homecooking for tomorrow evening's meal so I am literally being spoiled left right and centre! With Tak away in Hokkaido from Tuesday to Thursday, Baby Bunny will hopefully stay calm this week, so I can continue the pampering of long luxurious baths and fine dining :)

I am loving this bath salt from Bath Roman - Blue water with an orange scent that is good for hot, itchy Summer skin. Not as cooling as this, but divine!

Final Countdown: 2 Weeks to Baby Bunny

2011-07-06T13:02:00.002+09:00

So we are down to the wire folks! Although someone needs to tell Bunny that the exit out of my belly is not straight through my button-hole. He’s been trying to Jet Li kick his way out for several weeks now and it’s really starting to hurt! In true little boy fashion, Bunny is so strong and active!

38 Weeks Baby Bump!!

Although keen for him to come out, I am relishing every moment for what it is. Each night as I grow impatient, I try to remember that this might be my last day feeling him safe and secure in my belly and having him all to myself. I am looking so forward to the new journey that begins when we meet our son for the first time, but I’m also trying to savor the last few experiences of Bunny in his bump.

I am generally not good at being patient when excited about an upcoming event (Tak's got this one sorted so we joke that it'll come with age), so I'm tested daily by the Summer heat as I wait for D-day to arrive while munching on frozen fruit and ice-cream and watching movies. A great to spend the "calm" days before the "storm"!

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-04T20:03:00.003+09:00

If you need a reason to eat red, white and blue cake then grab the knife because today is the day! Although I'd never celebrated this auspicious day for Americans in South Africa, I was lucky enough to be able to share in the celebrations while living in Taiwan. I truly miss a valid reason to eat cake and watch fireworks, so will have to wait for the Summer Hanabi festivals in Japan once the Bunny is out of the 'oven'. I wouldn't blame the bun if he takes his sweet time to arrive though during this July heatwave - I'd do the same!

Below are some easy-to-make treats, so whether you're a deft hand in the kitchen or not, there are still a few hours left to whip up something to share with your friends!


Fourth of July Peanut Butter Marshmallow Pops

You Tube Me Tube

2011-07-01T19:11:00.003+09:00

So it's official friends. I spent the day indoors watching YouTube videos and they spoke to me. Not once or twice but a few times over. The best of them to follow.

YT: Joey, you can be anything you want to be and if you choose to be a housewife, don't be a crappy one.
Me: Golden advice. Thanks YT.

YT: Joey, you are seriously out of the loop. This ~~guy~~ child is so HOT right now.
Me: Devin Fox AKA Blonde Bieber - got it. When did I get so old YT?

Nothing more educational than touching base with YouTube. Enjoy my select picks of the day ;P

Why Can't We Be Friends?

2011-06-29T17:21:00.002+09:00

After you see the jaw-dropping package our friends sent to us from South Africa, as a 'pre-popping' gift, you'll surely be wishing this fab gifter-couple were your friends too! Inside was such a thoughtful, heartwarming message, sending condolences for FIL's passing as well as warm wishes for the up-coming birth of our baby boy.

We have all been spoiled in this gift package as well as my cute 6 month-old nephew, Takumu, who has been sent an SA rugby shirt as my brother-in-law a huge rugger-fan!

Sadly my favourite candy from back home, Woolworth's winegums, were eaten too fast to make it into the shot below along with the rest of our spoils. Talk about friends who know us well! Thank you maatjies!

A delightful package was delivered today from our friends Shaz and Grant in JHB, SA

Wonderful surprises and messages will make us smile all night!

Japanese Gangster Brows

2011-06-28T19:59:00.003+09:00

Today was spa day. With the temperatures outside rocketing to 32 degrees, it has been easy to stay indoors under a veil of cool air from the AC. I preened, prepped and slept after I woke up at some ridiculous hour this morning to clean the bathroom - nesting perhaps?!

All was going well with my DIY beauty-day until I washed off my facemask to see a few brow hairs that needed a snip. So remembering the purchase of some KAI Eyebrow Scissors, I decided to give them a bash once again after a previous unsuccessful attempt when I switched back to my ever trusty tweezers.

Well I don't know what possessed me to try them out again, when I am in the could-go-into-labour-at-any-moment-window-period, but I did. And they slipped on my facial oil treatment. And now I have a bald strip in my left brow. I might just be the coolest Mum-to-be in our hood.

What made my day was a comment left on the Yahoo Answers Board to a question on how to fix an accidentally shaved brow.

"Shave off the same half of the other eyebrow.
Asymmetry is what you're aiming to fix." Gary

Love it Gary.

Seriously? How did I miss the expression of the girl on the pack? Very telling!
Source

Preggo Pace

2011-06-26T20:06:00.001+09:00

I had a great week! Meetups with friends saw me in the suburbs of Tama Plaza and Jiyugaoka drinking icy drinks and taking in some of the Japanese Summer. On the days in between I managed to get myself down to the park to drink and eat some combini purchases. So all in all I have felt pretty active until Saturday morning.

Friday night was a sleepless slumber, so I spent Saturday (the WHOLE day) in bed sleeping! Admittedly I checked in on FB to make sure I was missing out on any breaking news, but I did nothing the whole day! This it appears is the start of Preggo Pace! My body is now acting like a willful spoiled child. Note to self: At 24 days till due date, Body has a mind of it's own!!

Sure it's great to feel the activity going on inside, but the time has arrived when I wish for Bunny's arrival every few hours. So my plans for the next three weeks? Watch as much TV as I can, eat tasty treats and soak up the time with my lovely husband and in-laws.

36 Week Bunny Bump

2011-06-22T10:00:00.001+09:00

Suddenly Summer has arrived and only 4 more weeks to go until Bunny is due! So in celebration here is the monthly photo for 36weeks that I took this morning. Next photos will be either running out the door before delivery (a girl can hope) or in the maternity hospital. For now though, Bunny is quite comfortable in his home and seems unlikely to move until his due date, so we'll see.

Joey at 36Weeks

As you can see from above it's far too hot for my winter pajamas and even the t-shirts anymore! Other ways I like to keep cool this summer...

Father's Day

2011-06-20T00:12:00.000+09:00

We had a delicious Bento lunch and other delights at my in-law's today and met up with some of our relatives and their little ones. Seeing the them only makes us more excited to meet our own little boy in a MONTH!!

Flicking through albums of photos of Tak as a baby while eating youkan for the first time, topped a very special day for us. Last year we visited the in-laws to have lunch for Father's day with Tak's family and soon Tak will be a father himself. So in early anticipation we had some cake yesterday to celebrate. Any excuse to eat cake!

My delicious citron cake!

Tama Plaza Apartment

2011-06-18T16:55:00.003+09:00

We lost out on the draw to live in the house we liked in Tama Plaza last weekend. Boo hoo. BUT, we've been quick on the hunt for a new abode. We've decided to rent again, since timing is tight before the end of our lease on our current place and although keen for an extra room for the baby and a change we are not so into the pressure of finding a house in such a small space of time. I've lived in many apartments since leaving home at the age of 18 and generally love the refreshed air that a change of scenery brings, so before we find a good housing option I am pumped to live somewhere new and close to a station again! Sadly housing in Japan near a popular station is made for people with ~~foresight~~ means.

Tama Plaza Station on Tokyu-Denentoshi Line

With no time to waste we have decided to focus on a suburb that is both close to family and has good access to parks and the city with great shops and cute cafes - Tama Plaza! I'm pretty familiar with the main station area, but there are still new things for us to explore and Tak can whizz in and out to Haneda or Narita for business trips with ease.

Cross-over from Tama Plaza Station/Terrace to Tokyu Department Store

This morning we were shown an apartment block near the station. It's a lively neighbourhood for our little family and liked the apartment at tree-level, instead of the higher or the corner options, as I love the greenery and watching the people walk by. Sure, the other two have an amazing view and are bigger and brighter respectively, but having spent the past two years facing a lonely carpark, I am ready for some street buzz. So, we may well have found our new 3LDK home! Masquerading as such, but in truth more of a 3DK as the Dining/Living area is 'origamied' into one small space.

Tama Plaza Apartment near the Institute of Agriculture represented by the steel chicken head on the left

Then, after wandering past a branch of my old employer and dropping in to say a quick hello, Tak and I headed over to a great American-style diner, Troubadour, serving brunch! The food was delicious and the owner inviting, so it may be a regular hang-out when we make the move.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Japan Monopoly "Do Not Pass Go"

2011-06-13T17:56:00.002+09:00

Having recently been approached by a few people abroad, wondering how and where they should start in order to frog-leap over to the beautiful land of Nippon to make a living, I usually direct them to fellow blogging sites that deal more adequately with the How To's than my own blog.

When they mention that they have studied and can actually speak Japanese, firstly I drool in awe and wonder over my keyboard and then promptly direct them to Shinpaideshou!

Yokohama Monopoly at Japan Probe

I forever wonder if I'll ever be able to glide effortlessly through a Japanese conversation and how enriching it must be not to have to speak in truncated soundbites interspersed with a bounty of Pleases and Thank-yous to make up for the lack of language skill.

"One Kakigori Please" "Melon" "No Strawberry" "Maybe Ramune" "Spoon?" "Yes Please" "Thank-you"... Gets the job done though.

I also picked up some icy delights today at our local supermarket to keep Summer at bay for the growing 34week5day belly!

The Funeral Crasher

2011-06-11T23:47:00.001+09:00

The past few days have been an eye-opening and amazing experience for me. I took part in my father-in-law's funeral to bid him a blessed farewell into whatever is to come after this life. Having never experienced a Japanese Buddhist memorial and funeral ceremony before, I asked Tak to break down the proceedings beforehand for me and I Googled my way to a greater understanding of some of the expected manners and customs.

Most of the proceedings went as expected, bar three.

The Incense Offering:
Day 1 had me pinching the hot ash in the incense-burner instead of the powdered incense when my turn came to pray and offer incense to the deceased. Needless to say on Day 2 I had learned and my fingers were safe from the heat!

The Funeral Crasher:
While elsewhere in the world a black tie would be seen as the height of slick and pristine, men only ever wear black ties to funerals in Japan. With this understanding, imagine my surprise that one of the guests came dressed down in casual clothes and looking a little scruffy. Not thinking about it too much at the time, it was only when somebody asked who he was later and nobody knew that we thought... were we "funeral crashed"? It wouldn't be the first time this kind of thing has happened. Rather morbid for a bit of free Sushi I'd say. Surely it'd be better to blend in by wearing black? Yikes!

The Funeral Omiyage:
Relatives and friends from far and wide brought a delicious selection of tasty omiyage (souvenirs) to share with fellow mourners. Aren't these just divine?!

Taketo's Departure

2011-06-05T18:09:00.004+09:00

My father-in-law passed away today after a struggle of a week spent in hospital. He gave us all time to say our goodbyes and for friends to reach him before he slipped away this morning.

Tak shared with his father the name of his unborn grandson and showed him the most recent ultrasounds of Baby Bunny. It has been an emotional week for all of us and we shall be celebrating his life and mourning his passing at a 2-day memorial/funeral ceremony Thursday and Friday.

Looking back Taketo was driving to our wedding venue in Yamanashi this time last year, to celebrate our wedding the following day, June 1st. Posted are pictures in memory of Taketo and in celebration of our 1 year wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Our first wedded kiss

Happy In-laws


Taketo tells me not to worry about my future life in Japan

Gifting our parents at our wedding reception

Also posted is a song from the movie Departures that I love.

Bunny's Booty

2011-06-04T13:59:00.000+09:00

It's been a tough week in our household. The family pet died and we've been in and out of hospital visiting my father-in-law who was admitted last week and are keeping a round-the-clock eye on him as we are extremely worried at this stage. The dreary weather has not been much of a mood lifter, so I am thrilled that the sun has come out today. I took the weather change as a sign of god things to come and boy was I right!

Our doctor's appointment went well and the baby is still a boy. His weight and measurements have all checked out fine and he is still head-down and ready to launch (well not quite yet I hope)... in July.

Then. Wait for it. Then, a package arrived at our door this morning and Tak received it and mentioned that the biggest box of diapers he had ever seen had arrived for me from Lulu! While diapers do excite me these days, the contents of Lulu's package just blew our minds! We are so grateful - THANK-YOU!!

A parcel from Lulu for Baby Bunny

Trouble

2011-06-02T13:55:00.001+09:00

Trouble.
I chose her for her blue eyes. They quickly turned green.
I chose her for her friendliness. She became fiercely independent.
I chose her for her prowess as a hunter. She hid from all the birds and Parktown Prawns.
I chose her for her litterbox skills. She preferred to use the indoor garden.
I chose her for her soft kitten purr. She purred like a broken tractor.

I chose her.
Or did she choose me?

She was an old soul. A calm, patient part of our family for 18 years. An African lioness. All qualities that were not 'chosen' by me, but were lent to us during her lifetime.

Thank you dear friend for sharing your life with us. We will miss you.

My boy meets my girl October 2010

Perusing Pinterest

2011-06-01T18:41:00.006+09:00

I'm a sucker for streamlining, spring-cleaning and sorting things. I've always loved organising and discovering clever ways to compartmentalise our small space into the most efficient machine possible. However when the ideas run dry and the time is limited these good intentions tend to fall by the wayside and piles of clutter multiply.

Step in Pinterest and a girl who is on Maternity Leave. Suddenly I have no excuse but to nest. All the better when I can do it online! Pinterest is an Internet cork-board let users curate collections of things they love and to share those collections with their followers. Once you join and follow a few active people, Pinterest feels like a curated catalog and starts to look rather pretty.

If this site sounds Pinteresting.

Head on over and request an invitation to join the party.

When your confirmation email arrives be prepared to jump down that rabbit hole.

I look forward to seeing you there!

You can follow me on Pinterest. I have placed a rocking red link in my right-hand toolbar as well.

Blissful Bum

2011-05-30T18:43:00.000+09:00

Bliss comes in many forms.

Great Music. Hot Coffee and Chocolate. Afternoon Storms and Movie Marathons.

Today was one of those days when I've been able to indulge As The Vaccines have sung so eloquently in A Lack of Understanding: "I've got too much time on my hands".

Jealous much? Well just to rub salt in the wound why not check out what we're having for dinner tonight... Yum!

Saffer Scouting in a Storm

2011-05-29T04:03:00.002+09:00

Before you leave this page thinking I'm about to bore you with the usual elevator weather chit-chat, give me a couple of lines to clarify. This past week has been a sleepy slumber of a week. Most of my time was spent resting on a futon in our lounge, waking only to eat, bathe and blog crawl. Whether this is a result of the new medication I'm on or just the last trimester keeping things exciting, is hard to tell.

A highlight to the week was an incredible letter sent by Sarah in Sapporo and a rock-and-roll meetup last night with some new (and only) South African friends in the area. To fully appreciate how exciting it is to find 'one of your own' in a land so far from home, is to be one of a mere 500 or so South Africans in Japan (or so the earthquake count has me believing). So despite the rain, which seems to have set in early this year and Tak's dad being admitted into hospital, we met the three brightest people at a cheery venue called Monsoon Cafe in Tama Plaza.


Easy to spot in a lineup, the Saffer Bear could not hide for long

Now I'm officially ready to take it easy (erm... easiER) as I evolve into a salivating sitcom-sloth. My new addiction, or rather an old one revisited, is watching the Apprentice UK and The Graham Norton Show. Anything that makes you laugh ALONE calls for a blog punt I say.

32 Week Bunny Bump

2011-05-24T16:10:00.000+09:00

On the home stretch and are down to 8 Weeks and counting!!

As per usual a monthly update on the bump! Growing growing!

32 Week Bump shot

Joey Jitterbug the Scone Queen

2011-05-23T15:36:00.001+09:00

Tak and I spent a great weekend relaxing, bidding on a house and enjoying a scone tea-set at a charming little cafe in Tama Plaza.

Our weekend started off with some excitement on Saturday when I woke up with sharp cramps in my lower belly that continued through to my lower back. While uncomfortable they were not too alarming, so it was only when advised my a friend to call our hospital that I did. After returning from doing our grocery-run and getting his hair cut, Tak called to make an appointment and we were chauffeured by MIL down to the clinic. Hello Pregnant Diva Joey!

Once there, a foetal monitor was strapped to my tummy for 30mins and to my surprise I was having regular contractions 5mins apart! After a quick check to see that my cervix had not 'ripened' in preparation for labour, I was prescribed medication to stop the contractions and to prevent the uterus from shrinking further. The small trade-off are some jittery hands and heart palpitation, but Baby Bunny will not be making an arrival at 31weeks, so long may the baking process continue!

Talking about baking... After placing in our bid for a dreamy house, we headed to Tetbury Cafe, which clever husband had read about while waiting for his Preggy Diva in the doctor's waiting room. He definitely deserves a footrub for this fab find and for hot-footing it down alone to MIL's (a fellow tea-lover)to deliver her 67th birthday gift, some Janat tea!

Tetbury in Utskushigaoka, Tama plaza

Happiness is... a scone (or two) topped with jam and clotted cream

Lady Lullaby

2011-05-20T22:02:00.003+09:00

I tend to belt out Close to You by The Carpenters to baby when no-one else is at home, along with some other kiddy-ditties that I remember off the top of my head. So having decided some inspiration was in order I went looking for some new tunes YouTube way and came across this young man. Although I'm aware that it probably won't work out as humorous if I were to sing it, and would certainly get me into some hot water with those that think it's like... er... not funny in the least, it did make me giggle like a schoolgirl once again.

Also I'd like to wish my brother a very happy birthday as he celebrates across the pond tonight in London. Steve I love you and you deserve maximum attention today so GO ALL OUT! Resurrecting a photo from June last year (my gosh it's almost been a year!) this is the last time we partied together in Roppongi!

Steve and I in the front on the far right

Mummy Moments

2011-05-15T21:09:00.002+09:00

My mum has left Japan. And I miss her.

Right now Mum is back in South Africa after taking the second longest flight that Cathay Pacific offers from Hong Kong! If you're interested the longest is to Toronto. It has been an emotional visit for me, as one might expect. Memories from home remind you just how far flung you are and how things are done differently in a country not your own, especially when the life-changing journey of motherhood is on the horizon. To be able to share my concerns with Mum was irreplaceable. Thank you!

Some magical moments together on this May visit...

Eating Ice-bars in Kawagoe over a Koi Pond


Coffee Catch-ups in Starbucks

Hitting the streets with friends

Although I didn't take a picture if you're ever in Jiyugaoka you should enjoy an indoor 'garden tea' at Lupica tearoom. Our scones and teas were the ultimate pick-me-up on a rainy day exploring the neighbourhood!

The result of all these fun times: I'm feeling relaxed. With help, I feel prepared (as much as I can be) and am looking forward to the coming weeks where my greatest worry could be what park to visit and which pastry I'd like for tea before becoming a Mum! Quite the fanciable predicament!

Baby Showers and Mother's Day

2011-05-08T23:33:00.000+09:00

After the arrival of my mum on Monday we've enjoyed coffees, catch-ups and car-trips both nearby and further afield. We've made our way over Golden Week around the 'burbs and up to the mountain house in Hakone to see Mt. Fuji. Although sadly Fuji-san was shy so we munched our sorrows away with Toribacks, panda-melonpan and trail-mix before heading home through Atami seafront.

We've also had our feet rubbed, shopped in Shibuya and discovered a new Italian restaurant nearby my maternity clinic. Wow... have been busy! The relaxing week was followed up with more spoilings in the form of our amazing Babyshower full of gifts and an ice-cream pinata and ended in a bang with a Mother's Day lunch and house viewing today.

A photo update this week!

Mountain House Hakone Breakfast

Mum and Tak in Atami

Sarah, Mum and Michelle at our baby shower

I got my very own Diaper Cake!

Mother's Day tofu-bento lunch

One more sleep...

2011-05-01T23:50:00.001+09:00

I'm typing as fast as I can (two-finger style) to make the midnight deadline for the title of this post to ring true. I want to be in bed by 12 tonight. I'm pooped after an overcast but warm day in Tokyo with Tak where we ran into a labour-demo march at Gaienmae station while sipping our Starbucks coffees and people-watching. We visited the Canterbury store before heading back through Tama Plaza for some lunch and to take a look around Muji for me to pick up some maternity staples and some Japanese candy.

Other than that we've been busy bees sorting gifts for birthdays, mother's day and the like and are ready to welcome my mum into our little home tomorrow afternoon!

Only one more sleep now...

Source

Party for a Princess

2011-04-27T21:04:00.000+09:00

What has this got to do with Will and Kate's royal wedding this Friday? Before you call the bomb squad, click and find out!

MUI-chan Musings

2011-04-26T23:03:00.001+09:00

I've been in bed with a cold today.

Kissed my Sweet goodbye in the early hours of this morning, before waking to the renovations upstairs soon after, and decided I'd better get down to the post office before it closed. My wakeful hours are often unpredictable these days and I can easily wake up after lunch-time if I linger under the covers a little too long. Oh to be pregnant is not all that bad from the comfort of my bed and cradling a laptop.

So what did I do after the post office and using Google Translate to decipher texts from Tak's mum? (Admittedly not essential to whip out the GT but it's like getting a crossword out and having 2 blanks that blink at you until you look them up.) Well... I ended up scouring the Internet for unaffordable toys after discovering my beautiful Pullip doll stashed away while clearing out a closet for Bunny's stroller.

I was reminded of the brilliant Mui-Chan doll by iXTEE. I first came across her when living in Taiwan, with her bizarrely asymmetrical facial expression which lends itself so well photographs (I'd like to see a stop-motion animation featuring Mui-Chan so if you're in the business for such things I hope you'll consider it!).

Mui-chan prays for Japan

Fat-Chai folds a crane for Japan

AND now that we know that baby Bunny is a BOY, less of a MUI-chan and more of a Fat-Chai, I am thrilled that I probably won't have to share my dolls just yet. Time for some shopping!

Bunny's Bump

2011-04-25T18:44:00.002+09:00

I have the sweetest tooth at the moment. Thank you marshmallow Peeps for hypnotising me this Easter. You and your bunny-shaped buddies will not easily be forgotten around here.

The Peeps were not easily forgotten

My pink friends did not come alone though. Along with them they brought Jelly Belly's, Creme Eggs and Peanut Butter Cups. Now not to point any fingers, but Baby Bunny was thumping hard this weekend. Alarmingly so! In fact he's renovated and remodeled his home into something more comfortable and spacious. Here's his home at 28 weeks!

Joey Week 28

Easter Eaters and Beehives

2011-04-24T23:45:00.003+09:00

Easter weekend was a comatose cocoon on Saturday for us. The dreary weather didn't help much to spark much interest for the outdoors although Tak was a trooper and picked up the weekly groceries from the store while I snuggled in bed resting, reading and sleeping.

After a business trip up to Hokkaido this past week my admirable man is off to Norway this week and I've been wracking my brain for 'omiyage' he could pick up as he passes through London Heathrow. Top of my list is usually Hello magazine (Royal Wedding on Friday so hope the man can nab a copy) followed by a stock up of supplies from Boots.

Our Easter Sunday was bright today as we picked up the storage drawers for baby goodies, enjoyed beef bowls in Mushroom park and later inhaled our apple pie with the ritual weekend Starbucks. Now, officially, I'm ready for another week of Spring!

Loving this fresh beehive hairstyle for Spring. Nothing beats a little Daiso help for some cheat hair-lift!

Pretty simple up-do

Plastic Hair Insert

Hey Presto - Beehive for Spring!

McSteamy Maternity

2011-04-21T20:03:00.002+09:00

Enjoyed another day outdoors in our neighbourhood eating Italian food at Green House in Aobadai with an ex-workmate from Nagatsuta. Kanako is a month ahead of me in her pregnancy and is expecting a baby girl, so we had fun swapping stories, names and comparing maternity care. We go to rival clinics in the area, but Tak and I had looked at both before deciding on ours due to availability. It didn't help the cause that Kanako's clinic came recommending the McSteamy doctor by a patient online!

Tak called my clinic the next day to confirm an appointment for me. And here we are in the third trimester loosening our belts and enjoying the good life!

Source

Origami Stroller Savvy

2011-04-20T09:41:00.002+09:00

Daily train travel in Japan is a dream for me and living a hop, skip and a jump from our local train station is both convenient and essential! Growing up in Johannesburg I always needed a car to get from A to B. As a kid I would need my mum to give me rides to and from school and as a teen I would need to be driven to and from parties. So the sense of relief and freedom that accompanies getting your driver's license at the age of 18 in South Africa is unbridled!

Now as we look into a new set of wheels for our most precious cargo to date, it's been an eye-opener and a journey to be reckoned with. This type of transportation may not need a piece of paper to allow you to drive it, but our needs for a stroller to ferry our little man around town are just as important. An affordable, robust and compact set of wheels, to effortlessly roll in and out of the packed Tokyo subway, as well through parks in Yokohama, is a must. I wish I could say that I gave the lighter doll-style prams so prevalent in Japan a second-thought, but I didn't. I like to feel in control with streamline strollers with cutting-edge capabilities, which is why I am gobsmacked by a new stroller to hit the market in America this year: Origami. A true leader of the pack and I want one. My only wonder is why Japan doesn't already have something like this available to mums being world-leaders in technology.

Origami folds at the touch of a button. Plays ipod-music. Charges cell phones. Powers speakers. Self-charges. Senses the child in the seat (no accidental folding). Remarkable!

It's not yet available in Japan which honestly only makes me want it more! Tak and I need to get out to the States to visit some good friends (Jen aka THE EASTER BUNNY I'm talking about you) so we're hoping we can pick up one of these jaw-dropping, snazzy strollers.

Origami by 4moms in Silver

Origami's Aerodynamic side profile

April Favourites

2011-04-19T23:20:00.003+09:00

So I see a lot of people have opened their homes and hearts and share their monthly favourites on their blogs. So like a sheep I thought I might follow suit and let you know what we are LOVING this month.

1. Bagel and Bagel
2. Dydo's AloAlo Peach and Rosehip Tea
3. Ume no Hana Restaurant's Bento Lunches
4. Neal's Yard White Tea Face Mask
5. Lush Charity Pots in aid of Japan's relief efforts

We are also loving feeling baby kicks - no link available for that one yet! Although I have heard of the Kickbee, a machine that you strap to your belly and updates your twitter status each time the baby moves! Useful for mum's who want track the baby's movement as they near the finish line perhaps, but for now I'll stick to earthquake updates.

My new tipple: AloAlo Peach Rosehip tea

Mighty Harajuku Project

2011-04-17T20:14:00.000+09:00

I mean not to mislead you and dupe you into thinking that we were trawling the streets of Harajuku this weekend... but hearing of the Mighty Harajuku Project sure makes me wish we had our bums sat in the seats of a cozy cafe in Central Tokyo to play People-Watcher. I've long been a fan of the bright colours of the younger Harajuku set, since buying a Harajuku fashion book during a visit to Edinburgh a few years ago.

The project aims to reignite Harajuku's sense of purpose and rebuild the strength lost post-earthquake and equates the good mental health of the fashion-forward youth with Tokyo's overall "health". Seen as a place where young Japanese can express themselves freely and put aside the stressors of everyday life, it's easy to understand the motivation behind such a cause. As a look-to point for many a fashionista the world over, the idea that positive change can be sparked from a dab of colour and a dash of creativity through popular culture, especially when it stands for something greater than its obvious "cute" factor, is a no-brainer in my book.

So although I have yet to wear anything remotely cool enough to be photographed for such a book, I might just have to settle for a dab of striking blush and buy a badge!

Photo from Electric Alice

Ultrasound Album Blowup

2011-04-13T15:41:00.001+09:00

I skipped down to the 100Yen store (I know classy hey) to stock up on some quilt batting and some other bits and bobs that might catch my eye and returned home with some thread, the batting and a plain Muji-inspired album so that I could mount/annotate/organise the growing pile of ultrasound photos.

To think how proud I was of myself having chopped and pasted his little likeness (some definitely need arrows to show body parts as they are pretty abstract) only to get my weekly pregnancy update. On its official to do list we should be painting the nursery around about now.

With a potential house visit in the beginning of May I guess we'd better give the model-home guys a heads-up that we expect to see a fully-fledged nursery if we're going to keep on track. Wink.

Jokes aside, I did want to rewind and start this whole pregnancy again when I saw this video... Not. I did almost cry though. it was beautifully and so creatively done! Guess I'd better get back to my my corner-cutting and quit whining.

Kewpie Turns Ninja

2011-04-11T23:34:00.001+09:00

Amid the quake-shakes today (one month after the HUGE earthquake shook Japan on March 11) my little Kewpie has turned Ninja. Although I slept through some external shaking my internal shaking is definitely making up for it... and I'm loving my new hobby of: BELLY WATCHING!

Keyring from Tokyomade.com

I think baby's new Ninja status has inspired me to do some 'ninja'-sewing... watch this space!

Obi Iwai and Meeting Takumu

2011-04-10T20:11:00.001+09:00

In Japan a snug and warm tummy is generally important to pregnant women and a belly-binding ritual known as the Obi-iwai is common in the fifth month of pregnancy on Inu-no-hi (Day of the Dog). The dog symbolises an easy and uncomplicated birth. I feel I have most probably missed this auspicious day to visit the temple but by far preferred the celebration of my Obi-iwai with a lunch from my favourite tofu restaurant held at my parents-in-law's today.

Seeing as my sister-in-law was up from her hometown of Osaka this weekend, we tripled the family celebrations to include: my Obi-iwai, my FIL's 76th birthday and my nephew, Takumu's, first 100 days on earth! Tak and I picked up the birthday cake before walking over to the parents to enjoy a lunch together and then all headed to a local photo studio to have some family photos snapped. I am again very excited to meet our own son and take comfort in knowing that he has such a warm extended family to grow up with.

And... as if the day wasn't good enough, we got to take our 2011 Sakura photos too!

Tak and I in Sakuradai in my Maternity Clinic/Photo Studio street

Parcel and Practice

2011-04-07T19:47:00.001+09:00

Today I was awoken by the familiar face of our delivery man with a parcel almost entirely covered by colourful South African stamps. Due to postal costs and the small SA stamp denominations, packages need to be plastered in them to qualify for the long journey to Japan. The more the merrier in my book because it certainly cheers up a standard white mailer bag.

Mum's Package of SA goodies and pregnancy essentials

The morning, although warm, was overcast and plans to go at photograph the Sakura in Sakuradai were set aside. After cutting pieces for some booties yesterday, I spent too much of today at the JUKI sewing up a storm. I got quicker as I went thankfully having had to follow the pattern step-by-step for the first pair.


First JUKI Project: Booties