Update...

How's everyone doing? Things here have been quiet and nice. It's been so super cold in Japan. So many areas have been hit with snow (Kyushu, Osaka, Tokyo, etc all hit with snow). But not our tiny town. No snow at all. Just freezing cold every single morning when I drop off Branden in the morning to the train station. And the sun starts to peek out by the time I drop off Noah to elementary school. But when I drop off Bran, it's like the deep freeze outside. Hahaha. Anyways, What have I been doing? Chillin' and enjoy our quiet uneventful January. Staying indoors and staying warm. I made cream stew one night last week. This is my favorite type...Hokkaido corn cream stew. It's super delicious. What else...

I made karaage. We don't eat deep fried too often. But, I will make karaage once a month and chicken cutlet or ebi fry once a month. About twice a month for us for deep fried. The big amount of chicken breast was for dinner and the smaller ziplocks were for the kids school obento and the other was for Noboru's obento and my lunch at home the following day. 

This was chopped up around 11:55am. And I always add a tube of ginger to my chicken first. It instantly mellows out the chicken flavor. And infuses an amazing ginger taste. I let it marinate for about 30 minutes just with the ginger. 

I buy generic brand X/store brand ginger because it's like only 59 yen a tube. Versus 98 yen a tube. And after 30 minutes of marinating with just the ginger. I then leave the ginger in there obviously and add this karaage liquid in the ziplock bags. 

From 12:30 pm-ish until about 4:30 pm. As soon as everyone is home. I roll in plain unseasoned flour. And then fry in a clean batch of oil. And it's very flavorful and so good. We had ours with macaroni salad. Steamed broccoli and rice. 

Not sure if you can see in this pic...but a new mole had come to our house. 

He made a good sized mole hill. Noboru was pretty mad. As you may know Noboru has caught/killed 2 other moles who came into our yard. I think all moles in this area must...dislike my husband so much. Since he is a mole killer. Hahaha. As of right now. It's been about 5 days and so far Noboru can't catch this new mole. @_@ 

What else has happened? I baked a batch of cornbread. 

Last week, I went to Costco Inzai/Chiba New Town. I was already in the parking lot by 10am and grabbed my cart and headed into the store. I was on my way home pretty quickly. I picked up a big amount of lean 100% ground beef. A rotisserie chicken which I turned into taco night. A huge amount of flour tortillas. Mozzarella cheese. Provolone and a big hunk of Colby/Jack cheese. The Easter stuff is already for sale at Costco Japan. Just a friendly FYI.

Not sure about other locations. But if you hit my store before 10:30am, on a weekday... you can shop in peace and quiet and with hardly anybody there. I love shopping here on the weekdays in the morning as soon as they open up.

Not even many people in the food court or ordering food. I haven't eaten at Costco for lunch in ages, even though I shop at Costco about 3 times a month...I just haven't eaten lunch there...so I had a slice of pizza this day... before heading back to my tiny town.

A quick slice of combination pizza.

I also ran into the Besia grocery store after Costco, they're both right near each other. And this was on sale for 500 yen for a box/case of these. My kids love these yogurt drink boxes so to get a case of these for super cheap was a deal. 

I put them all in the fridge and that way when the kids want one, they can get one.

What else have I been doing? I have still been doing my weekly house cleaning. Daily house cleaning. And cooking of dinners. I am still loving washing every one's bedding, blankets and fleece blankets and pillow cases etc every single week at home in my bigger washing machine, that I got in August? Or was it September, but yes a bigger washer totally helps. All of my bedding can fit in 1 load. And the kids bedding can fit together in 1 load. There is seriously nothing nicer than laying down on fresh bedding. 

Movie, yes a movie! Last week, at the beginning of the week... Bran asked me, if he and his bestie could go to see a movie on Friday? Last Friday. His bestie is hafu too. His bestie was born in Japan but raised outside of Japan and went to an international school, so he prefers English. Where as Branden was born in Hawaii and moved to Japan around 10 month's old. They wanted to go and see...the new Kingsman movie. Yes I know...we have the DVD. And I told Bran, "if you want, ya'll can watch your DVD during lunch at school, just take my mini DVD player" But Bran said...the fun part is going on the adventure to the movies with my friend, getting there and coming home. Keep in mind... Bran is from the inaka, meaning he's a country boy. I never let him run wild or go out and about after elementary school or in JHS either, unless it's just in the neighborhood sure but farther than that? Nope. In our country town kids in shogakko went zarigani hunting/crawdad hunting. Or fishing. Riding bikes in the neighborhood was it really. They're not train savvy... like city kids are in Japan. So since he's a 9th grader now...he's learning. He's a super good kid. So I said. Okay. So they got out of school Friday at 3:45pm. They ran to catch the train to Narita. Took the shuttle and they caught the 5:20pm showing of the movie. Bran had movie and popcorn money and money for dinner afterwards. Again Bran is an extremely good kid. Both my kids are. They don't just disappear. They know...I am letting them out and about... because I am trusting them. So, he messaged me when they got on the train heading to Narita....then took 2 pics inside the movie. This one and...

This one. I replied to Bran..."have fun kiddo but shut your phone off, lol" He told me later, he had the rice cracker and peanut mix. And his bestie picked french fries. apparently they didn't want popcorn. LOL. 

And as soon as the movie let out...he sent me this pic. There is a walkway from the Narita Humax (movie theater) that goes back and forth to the Aeon mall. His message said...a quick..."mom, the movie is out and we're gonna go eat dinner now" I replied..."have fun" I know the type of kid I have. He's certainly no punk jerk bad kid. He's an extremely good kid. Good student. Extremely respectful of adults and other people. He told me at home. He picked udon to have for dinner and his bestie picked McD's. 

Bran and his bestie caught the shuttle back to the Narita train station. His bestie went back to the bustling Chiba city. And Bran returned to our teeny tiny town. Where I was waiting in my car at the train station for my kiddo. He doesn't message me constantly, so please don't get it twisted. Just a few handful of times to keep me in the loop. And I appreciate that... because it's such a peace of mind. I'm glad I raised such responsible kids. And same for Noah. He has a cell phone. In Japan kids often have cells. And when Noah plays at the park inside our housing community. He will message me once or twice while playing. Keeping me in the know of...who he is playing with. And what time he will head home. It's also a big relief that Japan is just such a safe place to raise kids. 

I bought a small turkey last week. And I roasted it on Monday of this week. This was only an 8 and a half pounder. So quite small. I seasoned him quite well and he came out very juicy. I wanted the turkey for sandwiches. Both Bran and Noah took turkey sandwiches to school on Tuesday. And we had a simple turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy dinner on Monday night. The turkey is gone now... but it was nice to get 1 dinner out of it and about 2 sandwiches out of it, for each of us. So that was nice. : ) 

Half way there pic, while carving the turkey.

Anyway anything else to add? Branden doesn't have school today or tomorrow. Why? Because this is the season for JHS students, 9th grade kids. To take exams to get into high schools in Japan. So because kids are testing today and tomorrow. Branden and the rest of the kids at his high school... do not have school today and tomorrow since the final year JHS kids are testing at his school today. 

Bits and Pieces...

How has everyone been doing? Things have been excellent over here. Both Branden and Noah returned to school today from Winter break. Yesterday was a holiday for us in Japan. Coming of Age Day. I decided to not blog for the past week and just enjoy my time with my family. What is this picture of? Otoshidama. New Year's money given to kids from family members. Branden and Noah each received 15,000 yen each. Considering we didn't go all the way to Osaka to visit Noboru's family, it wasn't so bad of an amount. Lucky boys. : ) 

Branden and his best friend since yochien wanted to meet up at Narita shopping mall. Since G moved away from our town. They picked a spot to meet up between where he lives and where we live. So January 4th, is when Branden met up him G at the Narita train station around 9:30am or so. They bummed around all day. They went to lunch. A hamburg restaurant. They had Baskin and Robbins. And even each had a small serving of udon some place too? @_@ Teenage boys! Ha! : ) Noah and I meanwhile made pizza dough in the morning, after I dropped off Bran at the train station and we had breakfast. And we hung out here, but we decided to go to Narita mall too and also to Don Quijote. I did LINE message Bran and said...Noah and I happen to be in Narita too. Noah went with me to look at some skincare and cosmetics. I didn't buy anything... but I did want to have a good look. And so for being such an amazing 12 year old and helping me and looking around with me and keeping me company, I treated Noah to some icecream at Baskin Robbins after I grabbed myself a caramel machiaato first at Starbucks downstairs. Before taking the escalator upstairs to get Noah some ice cream. So I did message Bran and told him like I said..."we happen to be in Narita too. And if you would like a ride home, totally fine. I'm here, we're leaving the mall at 3:30pm and going back to our town. If you would like a ride cool...but also I do respect you're a teen so....so if not, you can take the train back home too." It was getting bitter cold. Bran replied and said he would take the ride. I did offer to give G a ride to the train station.. but he said, it was okay...he would hop on the free shuttle directly to the train station. So I waved G good bye. And Bran walked to my car with Noah and I. 

By now Noboru was home. And I rolled out 3 pizzas. 1 extremely large pepperoni pizza for the kids. And a smaller hand-tossed each for Noboru and I. 

We each had a pepperoni, mushroom and diced up jalapeno pizza each, we each only ate half and the rest we had for lunch the next day. Such crispy crust. 

I have somehow managed to acquire 12 foundations. And if they all worked for me 100% perfectly then that would be fantastic. But, they don't... so I decided to cut that number in half. So I went through them and the top row don't work for me at all and were tossed. 

These were all tossed. 4 drugstore foundations. And 2 high end foundations had to get the boot. The Revlon color is just too pink. The Loreal True Match is in the yellow range *but* I find the regular True Match super pink too. And the Lumi is super duper pink and unnatural. The makeup For Ever face and Body that was discontinued. I bought it because Youtuber KathleeenLights said it was her holy grail. And I hate it. It smells like paint thinner or paint or something super strong. And the color on this Ultra HD was too dark and wrong. None of these worked. And yeah I did spend money to buy them... but there's no use of wasting up space in my house if they either break me out or are overly pink tinted. Then they gotta go. I wish American drugstores had testers like we have in Japan. 

These are the ones I am keeping. And I am seriously thinking about getting rid of the It Cosmetics CC+ and the Urban Decay Naked Skin. Why? The CC+ smells like lemon scented toilet deodorizer that hangs in American toilets. I'm sorry but the It Cosmetics smell.... revolts the crap out of me so bad. It dies down after it's applied. Granted. It does give a nice finish on your face, but the smell. So, I am on the fence about that. And the Urban Decay one is pink tinted or something is off on the color for me. Pink or orange cast. It does not blend seamlessly in my neck or on my face. And it cakes up on me too. What is staying? What am I keeping? I love the Koh Gen Do aqua foundation. This is an exact match for my skin it is a fair olive color. Nars Fiji is an okay color match. It is yellow enough. Absolutely no pink tint to it at all. But it isn't an 100% dead ringer like the Koh Gen Do is. I also like the Make Up Forever Ultra HD in this bottom shade. It looks really nice on. I also really like the way the Neutrogena looks on me. Drugstore. It has no scent it has never made me break out and it is not pink. It isn't an 100% color match. But every time I wear The Neutrogena Healthy Skin...I look in the mirror during the day and think...this is such a nice shade.And nice formula. I do not think I want to own more than 5 foundations this year. So 6 are remaining and I may end up tossing the It Cosmetics one and the Urban Decay one too. Because if it doesn't work...it won't work no matter how long you hold onto it. All you can do when you buy the wrong one is you learn from it...and move on. And I do not want to be a hoarder. 

Yep that Urban Decay 3.0 is supposed to be yellow because the point 0's are yellow and the point 5's/ .5's are the pink ones. But I find this does oxidize on me and does turn pinky orange after about an hour. Meaning 2.0...3.0 etc is yellow. But 2.5 and 3.5 is the pink tinted ones. The ones that end in .5 are pink and the ones that end in 0 are yellow. But it still didn't work.

On Monday, yesterday, Coming of Age Day I took the boys to McDonald's. We also bought a few groceries. And stopped by the drugstore in the little city nearest us. 

I think recently I mentioned I am currently on a makeup remover kick lately. I purchased 2 yesterday. I have been looking high and low for this cleansing oil by Pharmaact. I read online that this drugstore cleansing oil doesn't advertise or market their product. But it's just as thick as the DHC one and the Shu Uemura one. And it smells like green apples. I checked at the Narita Aeon mall and couldn't find it. I searched the super mega Don Quijote in Narita and could not find it either. I emailed their headquarters. And they replied. Hahaha. They said, they used to be carried at Yacs drugstores all over Chiba. And so...while in the small city nearest our tiny town. I popped in there and sure enough. It was there. And it is as thick as the Shu Uemura cleansing oil because I have the purple one and compared. And this Phamaact oil does smell like green apple too. It smells amazing. I also heard fantastic things about Biore Cleansing oil. And I too... read on Amazon.com from a Japanese woman who now lives in the US and has used this for like decades. She said this smells like green apples and I read it on a blog by a lady in NY and she too said it smells of green apples. Oddly enough...both my cleansing oils smell like green apples. Totally unintentional.

I love how Japanese skincare with pumps always have stoppers to stop it from pumping out. Typical collar on the left but so useful and the Biore stopper on the right. Both work beautifully. 

Also purchased a lip balm. A YLBB tinted lip balm and a chocolate chip cookie lip balm. In the scent of the regular/original Country Ma'am Cookie. 

New Year's Oosoji (getting ready for the new year massive clean-up) Family time at home. Movie night. Tons of good eats and more...

This is basically going to be a bits and pieces post. What we have been doing since Branden and Noah went on Winter break. If you have been reading this blog for a long time, then you will know I usually try to avoid going to Costco during the holidays, if at all possible I try my best and avoid it. Such as avoiding Costco Japan during Spring break. And over Golden Week. And during Winter break. Granted...can't avoid it during summer break. Obviously...but other shorter breaks...I usually try to buy enough a day or two before the break starts. Case in point... to these 2 next pics. I think I went the Thursday... before the kids went on Christmas break. I figured. Since it was 1 day before Winter break, I would be smart to get it done then. Wrong! : ) Hahaha. I was there at 10am. And there were like a bazillion people already there. Yochien age kids must have been on Winter holidays beforehand??? @_@ OMG it was such a packed Costco. Noboru was with me that day. And I just asked him to stay with the cart and I'd do all the running around the store and he could just chill. It was like a sea of carts...like sardines. And to top it off. I was so discombobulated because I had not expected it to be *that* busy that day. I didn't even take a cart pic. We were out of the store in like 25 minutes. I bought pasta sauce. My usual was not there. @_@ So I picked up Classico. I picked up cheese and these danish for the kids and husband for Friday's breakfast, last day of school breakfast. And a pack of Dr. Peppers. So cheese, maple pecan danish and a case of Dr. Pep's.  

30 cans of Dr. Pepper.

For what it's worth...I also did my weekly shopping *this* week too (December 29th). With both my kids. I was in Inzai (where Costco is) and I avoided Costco this week like the plague. Love Costco but not on holidays or breaks. I'll visit Costco after January 8th... after all of Japan's husbands are at work and all of Japan's kids are all at school. 

All December I worked on my deep cleaning. As you know, Japan likes to start the new year with a clean house. Clean slate. So, all houses in my neighborhood work on their house all December. And really give it the hardest cleaning the final week of December. I was done with my deep house cleaning Thursday December 28th. Friday my family of 4 and I went and did the final last bit of food shopping before the new year. We bought 7 days worth on Friday December 29th. Anyway, the first week of December, I went through my food pantry. Checked dates on stuff and rearranged it all. Yet again. 

Baking stuff on one shelf. Grains (rice and beans) on another shelf along with spices.

Side dish shelf. Stove top. Noodles and rice dishes. Croutons and chili oil for Italian. And pot roast seasoning too.

Morning drink shelf along with hot cereals, peanut butter and syrups. Breakfast things basically. 

Scrubbed down my microwave slash convection oven. I never use the oven feature since, I have a regular normal American oven. But the microwave we use all the time. It got a total scrub down.This was week 2. During December. I also scrubbed down the fridge shelves. And mopped the kitchen floor that week too.

Scrubbed the little unit my microwave sits on. This shelf area got deeply cleaned.

Hand dried it but also let it sit in the sun. While inside the house.

Everything squeaky clean. Peanut butter cereal and pancake mix. Also each week in December. I did Noah's room another day and Branden's room another day. Our room another day. The living room the kids helped me with. The year end cleaning for our house... is a group family effort. 

Branden has baked 2 batches of brownies so far. This one without nuts. 

Noah baked a yellow cake and frosted it. 

This Friday after doing the weekly grocery shopping. Noboru took all of us out to lunch at the Ohsho. Our favorite Chinese restaurant. And then for supper, I asked for any requests, while at the grocery store while in Inzai still. And Noboru said he'd love a pepperoni sandwich. So, I made everyone pepperoni sandwiches, Friday night. The baguettes come from a bakery. I made a batch of fries. It was a simple but delicious dinner this Friday December 29th.

Still December 29th. After we ate our pepperoni sandwiches and fries. And after showers. We all watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. We went to the TV guide channel and everyone picked a movie and everyone agreed on this. Yes, we've all seen this a million times, but it's so good and perfect. The 4 of us loved this, this past Friday.

Augustus Gloop just fell in the chocolate river and went up the pipe. And so the Oompa Loompas were about to sing their song! Their songs are so catchy!!! Seriously, they are.

With our New Years cards sent out before Christmas. And our New Years cleaning done. all that's left is...our chill time. Our family time. Relax time. Movie watching time. 

I ran out of my Biore face foam and went and bought another one, so this is a repurchase. I have been using Biore for normal skin since August. So for about 4 month's now. I love this face wash. I love the way this smells #1. I love that the foam is so thick and intense, even if you use a little amount. While they do sell Biore in America, it's seems in the US Biore is primarily targeted for pimply faced teenagers. But as you can see by the pic of the woman on this package. She's what, late 30's early 40's? Biore is marketed for women of all ages, here in Japan the land of where Biore comes from in the first place. Thanks to Kao. They do sell a Biore for acne, but they also sell one for people with dry skin and many different types of skin in between. And this regular one is for adults if you can see the woman on the package. It cleans without over stripping my face and like I said... I *love* the way this smells. And it costs only about 300-350 yen. That's just $3 bucks for us Americans. And considering most face washes in the US are what, $5-8 bucks a tube or bottle. The prices in Japan for good face washes are just way better priced. Depending on where you pick up your tube. I also have been using Biore body wash for about 12 years straight, while living in Japan. As for face washes. I have bought Korean wash washes before many times and I do like them a lot... but they're hard to get in Japan. And the one I was using started to give me a slight greasy residue after a while... so I stopped using that. I also have loved Basis Face wash and have used that since high school? The smell is so good for me. And I prefer tubes and that comes in a tube. The only thing I dislike is it is hard to find in Japan and in the US. Also, it doesn't foam up too much. Very little foam. So I still like Basis. But in August I started looking for a product in Japan. Easier for me to find locally. And I tried a few different brands of face wash. And out of them all, this smells the best to me. This Biore one smells tons better then all the ones I tried and makes such a huge amount of whipped foam, I love how much this foams up. And it doesn't strip my skin.  

Yep Biore is made by Kao.

I am currently on a makeup remover kick. You know how in Japan, we double cleanse. I love to double cleanse too. This is a cleansing balm, but in tube form. It's fairly new and see how it says HOT? It warms up slightly... when you massage your makeup off. It says it is unscented. But it has a slight scent of oranges because of an ingredient. It is a balm type texture. Think along the lines of Banila Co's, Clean It Zero (this is very good but it smells like freakin' Hawaiian Punch and is very over powering scent-wise for me)... Clinique Take the Day off, it's okay, the price is outrageous though and considering so many other brands make the same thing now days. This one by Bifesta is like those other 2... I just mentioned except it's in a tube form....it's like a Vaseline type texture but this rinses clean without any greasy residue at all. It does not foam. It just takes your makeup off. I like this. I have used it twice so far. Do I think this is a holy grail for me? No. Would I repurchase it again? Yes. But I would also try another brand too? I do love that this is drugstore and you can buy this for around 700 yen. However Japan has so many makeup removers at the drugstore. Cleansing oils, balms and gels. I will try a few more out... before I decide. Biore face wash in the "moisture" formula which is the one for normal skin... is a definite holy grail. But as far as a makeup remover...I still haven't fallen for one yet. 

This is super nice though. And again...I have just tried it twice....I will finish my tube. And my opinion may change. I'll let you know. But it does take off every dot of my makeup. And it does smell nice. The price point is super good too. One thing I semi dislike is... it is a little hard to squeeze the balm out of the tube. Perhaps because it is so thick. Again I could be just nitpicky. It is good though, it warms up. It removes makeup. It leaves zero greasy residue. And the price is hella on point. : ) 

Exfoliants. In America we have manual exfoliators like Apricot Scrubs. In Japan we use chemical exfoliators. There are so many. Some are scented, some are unscented. This one is super cheap and was #1 in Japan in 2015. This company has been around for ages. 

My thoughts? I like it. I also like the scent. And I'm pretty picky about scents. Granted it's not amazing and lovely like my Biore face wash. But the scent isn't bad at all. If I am not being lazy I will use an exfoliant. But honestly a lot of times, I am lazy and I won't. I wash my face every morning with my Biore face foam/wash and every night, I double cleanse if I wear makeup that day (with either a makeup wipe, miccellar water, cleansing oil or balm and finish up with my Biore face wash/foam.) If I don't wear makeup, I'll just use my Biore face wash at night without double cleaning obviously. : ) And I use face lotion daily. And sunscreen on my face, when I go out. But usually that's it. I have had so many exfoliators in the past half used...and not because they were no good...but because I simply didn't use them regularly enough. I hope I can use this one up. The price on this was about 400 yen. 

Japan is starting to get extremely cold now, weather-wise. And I picked up a new lip balm. This is supposed to be very moisturizing. And it is. Same type of lip balm texture as the Nivea ones, except it smells of delicious yuzu.

The scent is yuzu. I love yuzu. I like to drink yuzu in drinks and eat yuzu in dried snack form. 

My hands are getting super dry now that the weather has gotten so cold. This is a repurchase. I fell in love with this scent last year. Smells like shampoo. Be careful if you buy this... and you don't read Japanese...because there are 3 different varieties. The one in the pink polka dot tube smells like baby powder. I have no desire to smell like baby butt. So don't buy the one in the pink polka dot tube. And the blue one smells like soap bubbles. I have not smelled that yet... but I'm sorta meh on the thought. This one in the pink tube with lace printed on the tube... smells like shampoo and this one smells so freaking fantastically great. Best scent ever for a hand cream. And it's only 500 yen a tube. 

So in a nut shell...I basically have been enjoying my Japanese local drug store lately. : )

Almost forget...one night during Winter break. The kids and I... we all made a dish. Noah made the side dish. Buttered noodles. 

Branden baked brownies with nuts this time. And useful tip. For years. I used a metal knife to cut up my brownies. And they always cut horribly bad. Like chunked up. I let them sit. I checked online and the tip from some cooking site. The Cooking channel. Martha Stewart. I don't remember. Was it the Pioneer Woman? Anyway...wherever I read it. They suggested use a plastic knife and never to use a metal knife. Let the brownies cool though all the way first. I half believed it. But I tried it and OMG it works like a charm every time. Why plastic over metal knife? I don't know. I'm no scientist. But it works. I have since mentioned this tidbit on my blog twice so far. And wanted to mention it again. I made pork chops. We had a store bought mixed salad. To even out our dinner. I love that the kids are on Winter break. We have been baking. Cooking together. Watching movies together at home. I read today that it snowed a bit in Tokyo? Just a dusting for a short amount of time. Hasn't snowed in my town. But, as far as the news about Tokyo for about 20 minutes today...I do believe it though. Because honestly it's been so cold. Anyway...have a lovely New Year all of you. I have been boiling a big pot of beans on the stove all day. I have a big pork loin in the fridge. I will fry it and bake it and dice it later, as soon as I post this. We will have a big pot of pork green chili. A big pot of beans and we have 3 packs of tortillas. And a huge hunk of Longhorn/Colby cheese. So dinner for New Year's is set. And Noah will be baking us a red velvet cake today with cream cheese frosting and we will have vanilla ice cream to go with it. Happy New Year to you all!!!