Fashion Report -Size Does Matter

When it came to belongings, I was the minimalist for the longest time while I was in the states. Wherever I went, all I needed were a wallet, a coin purse, keys, and a cell.


Even the wallets I used to own were the smallest French or bi-fold, and my cells were either the tiniest or thinnest one available, or maybe both. Quite naturally, all my purses were as small as they come. Well, I still have a dozen clutches and small purses that are smaller than some of the cosmetic cases I've seen in the hands of ladies in restrooms.


Or maybe it's that I loved small purses so much that I carried around minimum of things. Chicken or eggs? I don't remember. I think it's a bit of both.


While I still love the itty-bittiness of my purses, I have been in the mood for bigger things in size, thus needing bigger bags. And I carry more things with me of late. In addition to the good ol' a-wallet-a-coin-purse-keys-an'-a-cell-ness, I now want a cosmetic case, an organizer, a camera, and a fold-up umbrella with me at all times.

And now I am thinking of getting a key-case, in lieu of a key chain, and continental wallet, not French or bi-fold. Growing are my belongings!

On a completely different note, since I'm talking about belongings, I don't like the phrase "personal belongings." All "belongings" are and should be personal, and I am not a kelpt-o.

Until next time,

Sak

Shodo -Way of Writing V

Here is the piece of the day:


Reads "Milky Way".

Until next time,

Sak

Bread for Breakfast II

Loooooooooooooove this rice-flour loaf, bought at a small bakery inside a shopping mall near my house.

They were giving out samples to taste when I walked by. Fresh-out-of-the-oven samples!! As if that's being fair! But even in the shadiness of the bakery that I was completely aware of, the bread totally knocked my socks off!!!....is what would have happened, if I weren't bear-footed and sandaled. I guess the rice-flour make the dough really fine, so there is absolutely no roughage in the texture.

Had it for breakfast this morning. Hmm Hmm Good!

Until next time,

Sak

Fashion Report -Shorts

This summer, I'm all about shorts.

Sis hedges me, whenever she gets the chance, that iteams like these are nearing inapproprietness for my age. Too much skin to show, blah, blah, blah.

Well, can I just say that they are so darn cute, and make me feel happy the way no ski-pants-thick long pants ever would? Oh, and might I add, it's friggin' SUMMER!

Until next time,

Sak

A Bouquet of Warmth

I was feeling really down the other day for some compiled reasons and broke down. And I broke down good.

The next day, T brought me a bouquet. With a baby blue wrapping paper. Tied up in a canary bow. Told me that it was OK for me to feel what I feel. Put a shine in my heart and a smile on my face.



Thank you for being you, T.

Until next time,

Sak

Fashion Report -Pucci Tote

I had an outing the other day on a very sunny the-summer-is-right-around-the-corner kind of day: sunny and warm. So I decided to look summery too, and complete my dating outfit with my Pucci tote.



I bought this 4 years ago. Instantly fell in love with the turquois-purple Pucciness and had to have it. It to me is a summer-limited bag, since the sun really brings out a brightness of the colors.

Until next time,

Sak

Shodo -Way of Writing III

It's Tuesday morning, and that means it's time for my weekly calligraphy practice! And this time, I decided to write more simple characters with less strokes than before: Sky and Earth.

The way my master wants it done is this: I write 20 or so papers with the same characters on my own, and select one that I think I did the best, and bring it to him to criticise and correct whatever should be corrected. So it's a lot of work of solitude for the most part. But I think I did a rather nice job.


My pick was this one:



Until next time,

Sak

Book Report -Different Seasons

I am in awe wtih Mr. King. My English could not have been what it is today without his books. And Different Seasons was one of many of his books that I read during my English-as-my-second-language period of time in life, and I can honestly say that the amount of things that I learned from it is simply unfathomable. It could easily have 50 pieces of new information, both linguistic and cultural, to a 16-year-old Japanese girl, on every page. On my first attempt in reading it, I'd be going, "Your mother blows a dead rat...????" Utterly dumbfounded, I'd then repeat the phrase slowly in blocks, like "your mother.... blows... a dead rat...?" but in vain. This was when the idea that something can either "suck" and "blow" in the world of English was still beyond my conception, and that "your mother blows a dead rat" is not something you understand by looking up a dictionary.


I don't remember when exactly I started understanding everything in a book written in English and not having any problems with any quirky phrases or expressions. But I majored in English Lit., and by then I should have mastered the lingo, right?



Anyhow, like I said, I am in awe. Stephen King is one of top five reasons why my English got where it is today.

I am reading this book for the 4th or so time, and, though I have no problem understanding his choice of euphemisms and each and every cultural aspects that the story draws on, I still am amazed at the genius of the Mr. King's wordings.


Until next time,


Sak

Bread for Breakfast I

Love waking up earlier than usual for two reasons. One, you have time to do things other than getting ready to go to work. Two, you get to have a very decent, even lovely breakfast and actually savor it, like I just did today.



The loaf is from my favorite-in-the-world bakery in my hometown, called Pan Pa Pan. I adore this place for the European bread that they make, and also for its spectacular location: in the middle of woods where anyone who doesn't know of this place would have no chance of coming across unless they took a wrong path, because it's not located anywhere near a civilization, nor a decent road.

The lunch at the cafe is also to die for, especially in the summer, out on the deck.

Until next time,


Sak

Country Kitchen

We had a little celebration dinner for sis's birthday last night at Country Kitchen, which is this really cozy steak house in woods and happens to be the closest restaurant from our house.

They had the best beer in the whole wide world that I had ever had! People in Germany are so lucky to have this available every day!

And I had their salmon steak dinner.

The dinner was of course great, but the steak house is very nice and cute, and would make a very nice dating spot. Much to be recommended.

Happy birthday, sis!

Until next time,

Sak

Disney Nails

Forgot to update my recent favorite. The "Minnie" nail art that my cousin did me while I was at her house in Tokyo.

Sorry about the poor quality of the shot.

The cousin is the biggest Tokyo Disney Land (not the Disney per se) fan that I know of, and she had just come back from yet another visit to the "magical land" as she calls it. I have never even been to the Tokyo Disney Land (which knocks a lot of people's socks off when I tell them; apparently, every Japanese person goes to the theme park at least a couple of times in their life before they reach 30).

The important thing for me here is, the red and the white dots are so adorable on nails, I don't give a rat's ass if they were inspired by Minnie from Disney or Ludo from Labyrinth.

Until next time,

Sak

Shodo -Way of Writing II

I haven't reported on my new hobby lately, so let me give you an update on that.

The mater's words were that I might want to try smaller letters instead of the regular, one-or-two-letters-on-a-sheet, style, like the one I tried on the outset. He said that I might even have a talent for cursive caligraphy (like in the trace-and-practice book shown below), because I am more creative and liberated than traditional and precise in terms of expression.


So I've been practicing scaled-down versions lately; four vertical letters instead of two, which for me is a bit harder to place on a piece of paper, but, as the master expected, is easier and more fun to do.

Here is my first try.


The four letters mean, from the top, spring, summer, autumn and winter. I like the first letter; it feels feminine, and I like its shape when writing.

Caligraphy is turning into a very interesting hobby of mine that I did not honestly expect to enjoy so much. It's like this zen-like art that needs my focus and attention to details. Want to practice more.


Until next time,


Sak

Fashion Report - Ring

When it comes to jewelries, I would usually opt for something chic and subtle, never a big statement. But that's apparently changing, because lately I'm big on bigness, like cocktail rings and chandelier earrings.

My recent addition is this clustered cocktail ring I found in Tokyo the other day.

You know what they say, the older you get, the bigger your jewelries become to manipulate the lack of natural glow on you. While I'm not completely defying the notion, how about this? The older you get, the more you can afford.

Until next time,

Sak

Fashion Report -Glasses

I was seriously considering a laser eye surgery and get rid of all the glasses (I had three pairs) for good. Sis was against it. Mom was against it. T happened to be against it. Didn't quite have anyone who would support me on this when I met the eye-wear love of my life a month ago.

The camellias totally kicked the Lasik's ass, and I will never turn back!

Around the same time I made my fourth pair of glasses, I was probably "seeing" things more clearly, and also fell in love with a pair of shades by Chanel. I haven't had the need to really wear shades ever since I left southern Cali, lack of sun and all, you know. And besides, I never really am out in the sun due to my sun allergy. But for a pair like this? I am willing to go out there and get scorched down to my bone.

So, rain me with UV!

(Having said that, my sun allergy is to be taken seriously, so what I'm really gonna do is pretend I'm some sort of celebrity and wear them inappropriately when I'm inside of places, like airports and restaurants and museums... )

Until next time,

Sak

Diary of a Semi-Macrobiotic Japanadian

Hello, my dear readers.

I just wanted to post a note to let you know that my other blog, Life Macrobiotics, has been imported here into Diary of a Japanadian. The two are united on account that I felt like the two aspects of my everyday life are too important to seperate from one another. That, and it's simply easier for me to manage them in just one blog.

My two other artsy blogs, though, Temps de Crayon, and For a Lack of Better Words, both of which I have not renewed in a while by the way, will remain the way they are. I hope you stop by just to check them out once in a while. And your comments are always appreciated and loved! Thank you very much!

Until next time,

Sak

*Life Macrobiotics started on 13th January 2010 when I decided to "convert" my way of eating. It reported the whole-food items I tried and made, as well as recipes and pics. Please see the first post if you are interested.

Teatime in the Late Morning

Visited a friend last Friday before work, and was served her apple crafty. Yumminess!!


Goes really well with a cup of milk tea. Lots of dried prunes and a scoop of yogurt (in lie of sour cream) make a very not-too-sweet concussion with the sugary apple.


Got the recipe from her, of course! Thank you, M!

Until next time,

Sak