List of 10 - Summer Faves

The heat is extra-ridiculous this year, and one so desperately needs to find something to be positive about the hottest time of the year, so here I go.

1) water melons
2) tank tops for PJ
3) cumulonimbus in blue, blue sky
4) summer dresses
5) cicadas shrilling afar
6) C.C. lemon
7) Chanel shades
8) fresh veggies from mom's patch
9) hiyashi chuka
10) the long lasting day time

Have a great summer, and stay cool!

until next time,

Sak

A Hotspring Getaway

Was totally a spur-of-the-monent thing that we just packed up and went to Kusatsu.





Loved every moment of the two-day vacation. Thank you, T!

Until next time,

Sak

Speech! II

With my speech, I made her cry ...

... and myself.


Oh bloody hell. Thank K for taking those pics...

Anyway, with the dress breath-taking and the champagne delicious, the wedding was simply beautiful.

Until next time,

Sak

Speech!

My blog has been seldom updated of late. I thank you, my faithful readers, for stopping by and checking this page periodically, and I apologize that I have let you down. The truth is that a lot is on my plate right now, and writing takes back seat to spacing out when given time.

But finally! I have an easier week going on, so yay for me! I am gonna take this opportunity to work on a piece that I postponed long enough: a wedding speech that I am giving come Sunday as a maid of honor. My beloved friend is getting married, and I am so happy for her that I already tear up at the thought of her walking down the isle by her father.

This is the third time I am doing a speech for a friend. As honored as I am, it ain't a walk in the park for me for two reasons. One, I am such a cry baby. And two, I want to make it good.

Here I am at the dining table, using my brainless head to be as creative as I can with my very limited Japanese vocabularies. My bride friend already told me that I don't have to go for the traditional or properness with my speech, so I am solely aiming for the best original wedding speech of the year here... Wish me luck!

Until next time,

Sak

Fashion Report - Kate Spade Necklace

My love for Kate Spade was heightened when I saw this back in March. I have been wearing this everywhere on weekends. Will be my signature statement this summer.


Until next time,

Sak

Cheers To Decisions!

With Y tying a knot and K with a bun in her oven, and myself with a rock on my finger, it was a perfect time for all three of us girls to have a semi-bachelorette party last week. When K got married last year, we celebrated it at our favorite resort hotel Risonare, and we thought for this time we should do the same.

Three of us come a long way. A celebration was in need indeed.


We toasted countlessly "to decisions."


Champaign never tasted better.

With my heartful thanks to our friendship, congratulations, Y and K!

Until next time,

Sak

A Delivery a la SF

Nothing gets me going better than a package delivery from a distant friend. Go ahead and debate me on this.

This time, my soul sister E in San Fran got me a belated birthday present.

Amazon Kindle!!



Is this the greatest or what? Until E told me via e-mail a while back about this, I didn't even know what this was. After a bit of internet surfing, I was in love, and could hardly wait for its arrival.

I have been meaning to get back on reading this year, so this is a great start. Thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooo much, E! You've literally "kindled" my heart and soul!

Until next time,

Sak

In Full Bloom

Went to Takato after work on Sunday to see the blossoms on cherry trees.

The sun was setting and it rained a bit, but the view was breath-taking.




Thank you, T, for taking me out!

Until next time,

Sak

List of 10 -What I Think Is Under-rated

1) pin-heels at work places in Japan
2) newspapers
3) karma
4) Japan-made toilets
5) vegetarianism
6) the art of sending holiday greeting cards
7) a white tee and jeans on men
8) reading books
9) libraries
10) public transportation

In no particular order.

Until next time,

Sak

31st Birthday

Two weeks after the horrid earthquake that devastated Japan, I turned 31. And I was more thankful for that day than I ever was.

It is easy to fear and worry. We are weak, and we fret at every chance we get. But that's when we need to stay brave the most. Be thankful for everything. Appreciate what is usually taken for granted. Words of kindness. Smiles. Food. Water. Heat. Home. Bed. Family. Friends. Boyfriend. Girlfriend.

My birthday this year highlighted all of that. And I cannot begin to describe how much I love everything that makes my life what it is. No earthquake or tsunami can take them away from me. And I thank all my friends who took the time to celebrate my birthday while the country is in such a turmoil. Thank you all, with all my heart!

Until next time,

Sak