Stocking up on goodies from Japan. Our massive Japan haul...

We brought back 3 suitcases filled with things we'd need. You can see the thick fluffy warm fleece type warm winter blankets on the right hand side in this picture. I brought back 2 winter blankets and 1 summer blanket. Cardboard on the left to further protect well packed things.

A bunch of my winter type PJs in the suitcase in the background. That way, I won't have to buy any for myself this winter. 

Food. American food/western type foods will of course be our main thing we eat. Because it's cheaper to get ingredients here. But, I did  have to think "what do I need to bring back food-wise from Japan?" That I know the kids really like. And look forward to eating. Sara Udon (chicken chow mein type base), Subuta, beef stew, cream stew. Karaage. Panko. Mirin. Cooking (easy to melt/dissolve) sugar for when I make niku jaga. And so on.

I brought back Ito En jasmine tea bags. You just pop in a bag or two. Buy a bottle of water here and put it in the fridge, according to the directions on the bag and boom. Done. 

Tonkatsu sauce.

Sesame oil. Chili oil. I didn't want to spend money on a fancy salt shaker here, so I just brought back a cheap 59 yen container (glass bottle) from Japan and that way, I can refill it in the US with salt here from now on.

I knew my kids would miss having my famous ginger karaage. So, I made sure to bring back the tubes of ginger and the karaage liquid. Also one bottle of yakiniku sauce too.

7 spice and a refill, for teriyaki chicken bowls.

Hokkaido cream stew is our family's personal fave cream stew.

Also there are things I needed to get for the house in the US. But, I wanted to buy them as cheaply as possible especially since the quality of items at the Daiso in Japan is such high quality. I picked up steak knives. A pasta strainer and plastic bowl. Some plastic containers with lids. I was thinking about Thanksgiving leftovers. I did buy a set of knives in America. But the quality of knives in the US. Just doesn't compare to the quality of the knives we have in Japan. And for what it's worth. I bought 2 knives from the Daiso 16 years ago and they're such high quality. My husband sharpens them for me 3 times a year. And I have sliced all my meat for undokai obentos. Backyard bbqs. You name it. Those high quality cheapies have lasted me 16 years and are still going strong. Could I buy a more expensive Japanese knive? Of course. But, I feel the ones from the Daiso are just as good. Besides you can't beat a dollar!!! And so, I made sure to buy 2 knives from Daiso and bring them back to America with me. And a sharpening thing too.

Rice cups we all use them in Japan. When I bought that cheapie rice cooker at Walmart. It came with the funkiest rice cup. So, I made sure to bring one from my home in Japan. Besides I have about 5 rice cups at my home in Japan. So one, came to the US with us.

Nylon mesh. Nylon rough scrubby textured shower towels to scrub your body with. I love them. I brought back, 2 for Bran, 2 for Noah and 2 for myself. Again, I had a list of things that I was lacking for our townhouse and I brought that list with me to the Daiso in Japan.

These green and white clips I use for the food in the pantry. I used similar in Japan too. When we moved to the US in April. We had bought chips. And had nothing to close the bag with. Doh! I did check Target and yes they did sell a chip clip. But umm for $2.99 for one very wide clip that barely opens enough to slip the chips in. And 2 smaller sized ones. It was just really crappy quality and the price paid for it. Not crazy about that. I also bought wooden clothes pins? @_@ #1 they break super easy. And were like 2-3 bucks for 1 pack. I told myself...once I go back to Japan, I am buying some basic color clips and will keep them in my food pantry and sure enough. Yep. I bought 2 packs of these. For only 1 dollar each. They don't break easily at all. Which is a relief.

Clothes clips. Most everything gets tossed in our dryer in our laundry room. But, we do have clothes that we don't want tossed in the dryer. Clothes that may shrink and we don't want to risk it. I was using those darn wooden clothes pins since April. I think 8-10 broke... and couldn't be put back together. Again, I told myself. I will be bringing back some good quality cheap clothes clips from the Daiso. And so that's what I did.

Utility scissors and regular scissors. Useful magnets with hooks and suction cups with hooks. All those useful things, you take for granted when you live in Japan.  

Karaage and french fry mesh ladle. 2 wooden utensils for cooking. Chopsticks.

Three different sizes of funnels for just 1 buck! What a price!!!

Useful plus kawaii!!! LOL.

And such pretty and basic simple looking chopsticks too.

Chair socks. I used them in Japan at my house there. Our chairs did not have chair socks in the US since April. And the sound chairs makes without chair socks. @_@ And I wanted some that blended right in with the chairs. And the fact they were just 1 dollar per chair. Definitely worth it. 

Folders. I have a better picture of these down below.

Laundry net...protector for your bras, before you toss them into your washing machine.

Again just 1 dollar. Would cost triple the price here, if not more.

Pony tail holders. I went to Target in May they sold like a bunch of 30 pony tail holders? WTH? I don't need 30. I need maybe 2. At the most. I found this 3 pack. 3 is a realistic amount I can use. But 30? Umm. No. 

Two baskets. One is holding the food pantry clips in the pantry. And one is holding laundry clips and lives in our laundry room.

And even smaller size of plastic containers with lids. I like the quality and the price.

Clothes for Noah. I have always liked buying high quality affordable bottoms. Like shorts or pants. Like at stores like Shimamura or Paseos, that type of store.

Because it was summer. Pants and such items still lingering from Spring were deeply discounted. Also important to note. Noah wears men's size clothes now. Aww, he's stretching out. : ) To find high quality jeans for 2000 yen which was about $17-$18 American dollars. Such a great deal. 

So 2 pair of jeans for Noah!!! Was super happy to have found such savings.

Super cute jeans. Very basic. But with the stretchy waist. And the price was perfect.

And a basic olive green pair. Same price. That way, if it should get super cold all of a sudden. At least Noah has 3 pair of pants that he can pull out and wear. I did wash them. And clipped them around the house upstairs to dry. Because I didn't want any shrinkage on these pants. And now they're tucked inside Noah's closet drawers. 3 pants is a good start for colder Fall weather. We bought these in mid June by the way. : )

Again, I love affordable bottoms. And of course, I make sure to pair it with a cute top. Next was shorts. 900 yen shorts. About US $7 dollars. 

This particular pair. Noboru and I loved. When Noah tried them on, we were all like..."please pick this pair" : )

700 yen for  another pair of shorts.

A good basic pair of cargo shorts in olive.

Identical pair of cargo shorts, but in navy. Again just 700 yen which was about $5 US. Noah has been wearing this navy pair with a gray Abercrombie shirt he has with navy blue writing on the front that says Abercrombie and Fitch. So affordable shorts or pants and super cute top to match. 

980 yen for these...

These shorts.

We did hit the Gap at the mall in Inzai on a school day, while all kids were at school. Which meant the store was dead quiet which was nice for Noah to try on some tops. 

Again, I was thinking Fall. And yes it was beginning July and melting hot in Japan... when I purchased these. They were also on sale too. These can go with Noah's cute jeans, this Fall. 

And the T-shirt too. 

I needed a new bottle of foundation for myself. Koh Gen Do.

When I prepare raw meats. I often take my wedding ring off. I wanted something beautiful to put my ring in. The Daiso has such high quality things like this. And I purchased this just for a dollar. And I love this. : )

Face moisturizers (nyueki). Since I will not be going back to Japan until next summer. I made sure to grab 3 bottles. 

Sunscreen. I use the Shiseido Anessa on my face daily. The 2 on the left are for my arms and legs.

Japanese ear cleaners. We love them. And hair clips for when I am cooking.

Keshosui. Toner.

Vitamin C. I ordered this from Amazon.jp and had it shipped from Korea. I have used pure vitamin C for ages. If I ever feel a blemish, I put it on and by the next morning, it's gone. It's also great for anti-aging too.

Face wash. packed nicely inside a box. 

I love the Biore foaming face wash for combination skin. They have a gentler one and also a harsher one for acne or pimply skin. But, I have pretty clear skin always. I do get oilier in the summer. Don't we all? And drier in the winter. But, this is perfect for me all year round. It doesn't over strip your skin. It smells *amazing*. So light and clean. And it was only 178 yen a tube. About $1.30 US each tube. I saw face washes at Target for $6-15 US. I feel better about buying my fave face wash for tons cheaper. 

Branden uses this clay face wash. 

A ziplock of stuff we used in Japan this summer. I didn't want it to go to waste and just sit there for a year, so brought it back here. Which makes more sense.

The Biore cleansing oil is my favorite cleaning oil. I have tried them all and this one is my fave. The Dove face wash, I used in Japan over the summer. It was great for my combo skin this past summer *but*...I hate the way it smells! Like moldy grass. I'm sorry. But it's true. Bran used another green clay face foam. Noah uses the Biore for drier skin, far right. And the skin peeling tube all of us use that. And the toner we 3... use in America when it's hot. The one by Neutrogena. It smells fantastic and the bottles so cute. And it really degreases your face. If it's hot summer and your face looks like a grease ball.

One of my favorite things about Japan. This cooling liquid you roll on your bug bite. If you get bit by a mosquito or something. It's just peace of mind to have a small one of these here.

Self heating eye masks that smell so good and relaxing. These are fantastic. The box on the right, I bought from a regular store and the giant box on the left came from Costco Japan for super cheap.

Nike sneakers in an American men's size 9. 27 cm for Japan. Did, he stretch out or what? These were for Noah. A new pair of school shoes. 

Like a navy jean sorta color. They're super cute. 

A shoe net for washing sneakers in the washing machine.

Items, I didn't buy... but that I brought from my Japan home to my American home. My frying pan, this is the highest rated frying pan on Amazon.jp. Made in Japan. Shaped so it won't cause splatter outside of the pan. We love this pan. So, I can make karaage or chicken cutlet. And a metal pan with drip tray for laying down fresh baked cookies or karaage.  And the pan, I always make enchiladas or bake cakes in or lasagna. These 3 things, I brought with me and next summer when we go back to Japan for the summer, these will go back to Japan next summer too. 

Zippered file folders. One big orange one, I keep all my receipts in regarding the house here. Paid utilities. Carbon copy of my rent check I mail out. The other big orange one contains all the kids school important papers. The green big zippered file holds the boys medical insurance, vaccination records and mine too. When the boys go and get doctor check ups, I take the littlest orange zip folder and just place medical cards and my tiny notebook of questions I'd like to ask the doctor. With a pen for taking down notes. Thank god for American doctors that encourage you to ask lots of questions. : )

A peeling foot mask thing. 2 gel eyeliners. 1 lipstick. And 1 cream blush.

Having 2 means I can use both and decide for myself which one I prefer. 

This color 06 by Opera is amazing. I'm so glad I brought this back.

School supplies for Branden and Noah.

Two magazines for me. That's it basically. Not fancy luxurious items, that's not our style anyways...but instead extremely useful items that the kids and I will need. : )