Flower update...

So how's everyone been doing? If you're in Japan and have kids, I bet you are like me and enjoying the final week with the kids at home. I know, I sure am. If you're in the U.S. I am sure your kids have already returned to school a week or two ago. As for me and my family. We have 7 days exactly, until the boys start school. They don't start school until next Friday, September 1st. Why kids start school on a Friday, versus a Monday is beyond me. But that's the way it is here. : )

Here is a quick pic of my front yard. And all our gorgeous flowers. The grass is as green and vibrant in the front yard, as the backyard. And we have the 4 hanging baskets with flowers hanging on our front porch. And the beautiful bright red "Million Bell" are standing right out front too. As always, I always have seasonal wreaths from America, that hang on my front door. My front yard is very cheerful.: )

Anything new to add? I am going to be taking the boys to the movies soon. Before school starts.

Anything else to add? We bought a brand new washing machine a few days ago. This is rather huge news. Because I have been using my last one for 15 years. It's not broken. It's just getting super old. It has slowly begun breaking down. Nothing major. But things like a screw inside the washing machine actually unscrews itself in the rougher wash cycle. And it needs to be screwed back in about twice a week. Doable. But just slightly annoying. 

Bits from my weekend...

How's everyone been doing? I've been doing pretty good here. I had a really nice quiet weekend at home, last weekend. And I'll be blogging about it today. But, I must say first. I am having my period right now (sorry, TMI). And I'm just having major major cramps today. I started yesterday and was functional yesterday... meaning I could still clean my house... wash, dry and fold my laundry. Make dinner. But today...OMG! Good thing my house is clean right now, ya'll because as soon as I post this, I am going to go lay down on the couch and rest for today. I feel like death today! It's also raining quite badly today, gray overcast and a slightly chilly day. Maybe a long sleeve top and shorts type day. Not a day needing the heater... but you definitely feel a nice crispness to the air for sure. It should rain all day and stop at 7pm, where I live this evening, we're also getting mid-high winds. And good thing I made a huge pot of curry yesterday because we will be having curry spaghetti tonight and salads. Ugh. Very nice to have dinner 90% done...as a leftover from yesterday. Awesome and surely saves me for today, since I'm having TOM issues today. : ) Anyways...back to the post. These couple backyard pics were snapped last Friday. June 16th. I had just swept and mopped the heck out of the kitchen floor. And washed the kitchen mats, 2 toilet mats one from each of the bathrooms and our stripey bath math that we dry our feet on... after shower time. The weather has been just beautiful all month. Warm in the day about 78-79 F in the day time and 64 degrees F at night. So very comfortable weather. : ) I wish Japan's weather could be like this year round. : ) I'd love it. 

Update on the "hot pink" ahem...although they called these light red? @_@ Remember that? These were duds this year and we took them out of the hanging baskets weeks and weeks ago and transplanted them into the earth to see..if they live...then great and if not...well at least we tried. They still look...meh! Ykwim? Like..they are not dead yet... but they're not thriving either or growing at all. 

They're in this corner. And we do water them once a day. But honestly...I think once the brutal sauna-like unforgiving HEAT that is Japanese summer hits...these flowers will be resting in peace. :( I'll keep you posted. 

Meanwhile the serrano chilis. That are supposedly hotter than jalapenos. Are thriving and getting bigger each and everyday. : ) Yay! : )

These replacement flowers are thriving and growing. They're in the backyard catching as much sun as they can... but since the weathers been considerably colder than in years past. They're not growing as fast...however they are growing and healthy plants!!! 

Flowers on the chili plants. Which is a good sign. And this lets us know...baby chili's will be growing very soon. : )

Noboru liked his last black drone, but he was unsatisfied with the quality of the camera. He felt the camera for making movies...he said they looked rather shaky and he didn't like that at all. So he sent it back to Amazon and got a refund. Meanwhile he now has this drone and he loves this one. 

Noah had a kodomo-kai (kids club) event Saturday at 9:30am. Good thing we could have a gorgeous sit down breakfast beforehand. And Noboru dropped off Noah at the plaza at 9:30am and swung around and picked him back up at 11:20am. It ended at 11:30am. But after going to these for years... we know how the parking lot gets hella full at 11:30am. Noah had a blast, he enjoyed popcorn, soda and all these treats and played games with his classmates. This is only open to first to 6th graders. So this will be his last time going to this one. Which is fine for us. We always have plenty to enjoy at home...plus it saves us a drive. But..I was happy Noah could enjoy this summer event. : ) Noah does have  a few more kids club events this year to attend though. : ) 

Koh Gen Do. It's a high end Japanese brand. Quality makeup. That's super popular in the United States right now and being sold at Sephora. It's also popular and well known here in Japan for people who prefer high end quality cosmetics that are good for your skin. It's also cheaper for us in Japan than you can get it in the states. I first bought a foundation by Koh Gen Do last....was it last October or November? I think last November. Anyway...I really enjoy it. And I saw a bunch of their products at The Loft when we were in the city for Bran's parent teacher conference thing. A week or so ago. I also saw/noticed a brand new product that they just came out with...Koh Gen Do has made a cushion. But there's really no cushion...so maybe we should just call it a liquid foundation in a compact... because there's no cushion with foundation inside at all. Anyway...while I was killing time in Loft...I noticed the brand new compact foundation that just was released in Japan June 1st, 2017. And is not even available for those of you in the states yet. Anyways...I wasn't impressed because the amount of foundation you get is so little. Not worth it. So, no I am not interested in their new foundation pact. However...their powder foundation caught my eye and the fact they had the color 213 which is my color in their range. Which matches me perfectly and I am a MAC NC25. Fwiw. I didn't buy it that day at Loft. But, I did go home and a few days later, I ordered from Koh Gen Do online. It arrived on Saturday morning. The same day Noah had his kodomokai event and the same day we had another barbecue. 

They also gave me a $10 dollars off/ 1,000 yen off coupon and I seriously might use it. But...I'm also biding my time until I hit Sephora in person and Target in person so ...maybe I won't use this coupon after all...yeah maybe not. : ) 

Nicely packed. However I was sad they sent no free samples. In a day in age where... everyone and their mama...gives free samples. It was definitely noted by me. So, I am mentioning it here too. Give samples Koh Gen Do!!! 

I use foundation and always pat my face with powder after wards. I use Mac Mineralize Skinfinish (this powder doesn't make you look too powdery) and I love this. But...the thing that caught my eye is this also is supposed to make your skin look silky and moist and not all dry and powdery. This reminded me exactly of the Mac one I am using. Except this is technically a foundation but a super light coverage one. And I'll use it as a powder anyways. But given the fact that it's sold in color 213...I lovelovelove 213 perfect for me. And so...since they also had this in 213 too...I wanted to try it. And I do like it. And the color is so perfect. Now I can bounce between this and my Mac powder. : )

I like that it's black and sleek and has the KGD initials there. I love good quality makeup, especially if it's going on my face, I don't want to get any breakouts or anything. 

It has a really big mirror. So anyways long story short...bought a new powder. 

This is a pic that I took especially for you guys. This is not available for you in the states yet..but you can at least say you have seen it now. Before anyone else has got to see it. : ) This is what their liquid compact looks like. It's the same formula exactly that's super famous in the US right now. It's their Aqua Foundation. But in compact form. And according to what I read..it's limited edition. So maybe...you in the US won't get this at all? Hmm. If it's limited edition so maybe not. Hopefully they keep in this their permanent line. But they do have shade 213 and all the other shades too. I use the popular... liquid Aqua Foundation (in the bottle) almost every single day... that I do wear makeup (only wear makeup 3 times a week). However that's 30ml. Where this aqua foundation pact in the compact is only like 7 or 9ml. Or something super teeny tiny like that. So...imo. The compact liquid one...is not worth it at all. But oh well...just thought I'd share the pic. It's in a cute red compact though.

Saturdays BBQ. June 17th, This day... we again kept things super simple. If you try to make things super duper fancy. Then...BBQs become a stressful thing or a once in a while thing... where they should be the opposite and low key. But...we BBQ every single week. We don't aim for fancy at all. If we just throw burgers and hot dogs on the grill then that's enough and fine. If we just want yakiniku awesome. But we keep it super *super* simple. Super scaled back. That way no pressure. 

The kids had very nicely marinated beef/very lean rosu. I had chicken breast and veggies. And Noboru picked 2 giant pork steaks in a garlic sauce/marinade. They were already marinated at the store on Friday when we bought our meat for the BBQ. And he really loves that type of meat. Basically...whatever everyone loves...we made for them. I prefer chicken and veggies...the kids prefer beef and Noboru has a strong preference for pork. Every time Noboru eats beef, he tells us how much he prefers pork. Hahaha. LOL. @_@ So...it's okay...just whatever everyone prefers is what we made. The kids meat.. took Noboru a grand total of 5 minutes to grill. Mine took about 7 minutes to grill. And Noboru's took about 5 minutes. We ate quickly! We had flat lettuce for wrapping our meats. We had Garigari for dessert. Again just super simple. I was busy in the morning marinating the kids beef after breakfast. And slicing my chicken after breakfast too. Plus cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast. Which is why Noboru dropped off Noah at the kodomokai and I didn't. I was pretty busy trying to do some house stuff here. Plus I was waiting for my Koh Gen Do shipment from Kuroneko that morning too. : ) 

My chicken and veggies. Again our meal is super quick and easy. Super relaxed and chill. If you're the type who wants the perfect meal. Strives for perfection. That's so *not* us....we just want a chill weekend BBQ. Just us. Just chillin' at home. Not perfect...if you ask me...there's no such thing as perfect and I wouldn't ever want to be. We just wanna be chill. And enjoy the weekend. : ) Just walking barefoot back and forth from the backyard to the inside of the kitchen. *happy sigh* : )

Noboru's meal of choice. He was quite happy about it.  And we just sat and talked and laughed, all 4 of us. And enjoyed the inaka/Japanese countryside views out our backyard. The trickling sounds from the rice fields that filter water from field to field. Croaking frogs. A few birds that had not went to sleep yet! That you could hear off and on. And yeah...a very good Saturday. 

And a 58 yen treat for each of us. About 50 cents American each. A yummy popsicle. And time to close our blinds and then taking turns for a shower for us all. And then time to turn on the TV and just enjoy Saturday night. : )  How was our weekend, last weekend? Very quiet...very low key. Very *us* as usual. Very chill. We love quiet weekends at home. Maybe that's because our weekdays are all so busy, for all of us. That we really need our weekends to just be spent together...recharging our batteries so to speak...and just enjoy our time together. I love these nerds!!! And I know thye love me too! Hahaha. Anyway that was our weekend in a nutshell. Oh and fwiw. How was Sunday? Super chill and nice too. Noboru enjoyed Father's Day here at home being spoiled by us all.  : )

Anyway...anything new to add? Not really. It's Wednesday here. Hump Day. We are coasting down towards the weekend after today. Woohoo. : ) Swimming for Noah was postponed from Monday (because of rain) to yesterday...so Noah swam yesterday... since it was such a nice and beautiful sunny day.  Today is raining crazy hard right now... it's really picked up steam since I started this post. Curry spaghetti tonight for supper with a side salad, I already told you all that. I have Downward Dog tonight, a TV show I really like and American Housewife tonight too. : ) Anyway...I wanna take an Advil right now and rest a bit. Have a good Wednesday everyone. : )  

Chili update...

I shared this pic about a month ago. Was it a month ago? Around then. Anyway I had mentioned that we bought 10 serrano chili plants and even shared this pic, but I haven't updated since then, so I better do that now real quick. 

We planted them about 2 days after we received them. 

We have 10 total... however one is currently sick and in quarantine by us. Hahaha. These are the 9 healthy ones.

Here is the one chili plant that is currently being separated by us, because he looks ill. Could have something catchy. He looks quite bad. His leaves are all yellow. If he has something like a fungus or something catchy... we don't want him to give it to the healthy plants, so that's why he's split up from the others. Also...the flowers in our hanging baskets are not doing too good. Remember we ordered red flowers and they sent  us "light red?" LOL! They're hot pink or purple. Anyway...in years prior, they took off beautifully and thrived. But this year... they're just not thriving at all. Last year at this time, they were triple this size and flowering beautifully. However in contrast... right now...3 look stunted and 1 looks near death. We have no idea why the quality of the flowers changed so drastically from the ones they sent us in previous years. But we're going to try about 2 more weeks to nurse these flowers back to good health. But honestly, it doesn't look good. It doesn't look like they'll make it. So we're already starting to think maybe we can just go to a homecenter in Inzai or in the small city nearest us and replace these flowers with strong healthy ones. Hmmm. What a total bummer because #1 plants and flowers are not cheap or free. And it does cost to replace. So while we can replace them no problem. It's just...sad because we have never had to replace flowers before... but it looks like we're going to have to. So...anyways...the progress in a nutshell is this. 9 of the chili plants are growing and thriving and 1 is sick or ill. But still 9 is better then none. So chili wise... we're feeling pretty good about the chili progress. And about the flowers in the hanging baskets. *Sigh* maybe we'll have to replace them with some healthier flowers? We'll see. I'll keep you all updated in a few weeks. : ) 

Planting some new flowers in my hanging baskets, that hang on my front porch and some TV talk...

For years, I have been ordering bright red flowers from this online shop for my Spring and Summer floral hanging baskets that hang on my front porch. I always purchase 8 for my hanging baskets, 2 each. This year, was very different. It said you may now *not* order less than 20 at a time. @_@ Noboru likes the flowers I grow every year. And so he emailed them and asked nicely and they said, that we could order just 8. And that we have been good customers of theirs for years. But they also wrote back that this year... the flowers are not the shade of red like in years past. That now they are light red. Anyone ever hear of light red before? @_@ We said, sure light red was fine. And so we ordered them. And after a month when they were in season and strong enough to ship, they shipped them.  Umm, I don't know about ya'll but these are hot pink!!! Not even remotely red. Sigh. So...flower baskets 2017, will sadly not be bright cheerful red. But they will instead be flaming hot pink. Oh well. In the grand scheme of things in life. Is it life threatening? No, so best find a silver lining. So the bright side is...flowers of any color still look pretty. So not exactly what we had in mind. But we'll roll with it. I think for Spring 2018, we will more than likely... be ordering from another flower farmer online. And I hate to say that. But yeah...I think this year will be the final year we order from the place we usually do. Because of the whole... now you need to order 20 at a time thing. And sure they granted us permission to order 8 this year. Who knows what the rules will be for next year. Ykwim. And plus with the color change. Ehhh. But again...we'll make it work this year and will dote and love on our bright pink flowers. Granted yeah...I definitely think we better find another shop next year. No hard feelings or anything. So anyways...last Monday morning, after making sure both kids got to their school and/or train. I went and spent an hour outside on the front porch planting these flowers into their hanging baskets. I also petted one gorgeous little weenie dog...lol.. who was going for a walk with his owner/ our neighbor who lives a few houses down. : )

All nicely planted with nutrient rich soil and nicely watered. I also plucked off all the flowers. So that they can grow more flowers and get thicker and bushier. So anyways...these 4 little fellas are now on my porch. 

One of the most popular shows this season in America has been without a doubt. Mama June: From Not to Hot. It featured Honey Boo Boo's mom (June Shannon) on her weight loss journey. And her ex-husband has a new fiance who is pictured in this picture wearing the turquoise shirt. Her name is Jennifer. And she is so mean. The one who should be angry or mean should be June (Honey Boo Boo's mom pictured left) since it was her husband's constant cheating and act of being unfaithful throughout their marriage. And the last person he cheated on June with... was Jennifer. @_@ So you'd think June has a reason to be mad. Yet June's not angry or hateful at all. She just wants to be left alone. And she wants Sugar Bear to see their daughter Alana (Honey Boo Boo) And she wants no conflict with Jennifer. Jennifer on the other hand. Can not say 1 nice thing to June or about June. She called June trash. She said..."well shit floats, so June will be floating"...Dumbest sentence I have heard recently!!! She also called June garbage. Oh and Jennifer, the lady in turquoise called June who is far left, a fat whale! Umm? Can you please look at that pic people!!! The woman in the turquoise shirt is calling the thin woman far left, a big fat whale? Umm? Does she have a problem with her eyes? Has she *not* looked in the mirror to see what SHE looks like?  Honey child...if you are throwing shade about the size or look of another woman... please for the love of gawd... have a good hard look in the mirror first PLEASE. @_@ Jennifer also said she will be the mother to Alana, that June can't be? @_@  I mean she is truly so mouthy. So verbally combative. And June just sits there and takes it, because she wants no fight. She said if I say something it would affect my daughter Alana. So the whole season, it was us audience seeing reality TV. Of June Shannon trying to lose over 200 pounds plus. And she did it. It was not easy for her at all. Sometimes the things that horrible Jennifer would say... would cause June to go in her house and whip out her ice-cream out of her freezer and eat some. She hired a trainer. She paid for her own surgeries. She stopped eating junk. She exercised like a fiend and she lost the weight. Jennifer still said June looked like crap. @_@ Which I thought was such a hateful thing to say to another woman, who truly worked so hard. So the season ended and this woman in yellow (well judge) interviewed them. The interview went horribly bad.

Sugar Bear just went nuts! He started screaming and hollering and carrying on. He stomped off the stage and punched a wall. As he was screaming bad words about June. June's more passive, but her 17 year old daughter is not and she was off stage and she started jumping in for her mama and screaming back. Which is what you see in this pic! And so Sugar Bear then directed his anger out on the 17 year old child, which was totally uncalled for.  He verbally attacked June's 17 year old other daughter. And you can see the mean rude things he said to her on this pic. And well...this was the craziest episode. And I do feel so sorry for Mama June. She seems like one heck of a nice lady. And I wish Sugar Bear and his new wife would respect her a lot more. I truly don't know why Jennifer hates June so much. I mean... Jennifer got the guy. So why the hate? : (

What else have I been watching? I'm still watching American Housewife. Fresh Off the Boat and a new show called Imaginary Mary. Ghost Brothers, I watch every week too. And I'm still watching every single week Little Women L.A.... Little Women Atlanta (my fave) and Little Women Dallas. I am also quite fond of the Investigation Discovery channel which is a forensics and murder mystery type channel.  So basically what have I been doing? I have been deeply spring cleaning my house. Getting used to my new routine of having a newly minted high schooler in the house. : ) And planting flowers in my hanging baskets. Watching good TV every evening. And ohhhh I also ordered 10 Serrano chili plants from a chili farmer in Japan about a month ago. It will be my first time ever growing that variety of chili. : )

What’s up in our neck of the woods! Spring cleaning, brownie baking, Spring and Summer clothes shopping for the boys. Roasting a 14 pound turkey. Planting some flowers in my hanging baskets. Growing some jalapenos and just ordered 10 Big Jim plants (great big chili’s) to grow this coming season...

Happy Monday everyone! How's everyone been doing since the start of school again, after Spring break! As for us here? Things have been going pretty good here! On sunny days, I find myself throwing out every one's comforters outside to get fat and fluffy in the sun! Still blanket and sheet washing of course weekly, but I do love the Japanese way of letting your comforter sit under the sun! They do get so fat and fluffy by hanging outside! : ) 

I went to Starbucks with my sweetie pie one morning after we sent the boys to school. We sat and talked and talked for a good hour. 

The ladies at Starbucks are always really nice! What else did I do since the boys went back to school after spring break. Oh yes, I went for my hair cut and color. The boys first day back at school actually, was the day of my hair cut and color at the salon. I went April 6th to the salon, yep that was the day! It feels nice going to the salon once a month. And keeping myself looking good and freshly cut and colored is so good for my mind body and soul. Taking care of myself is important, just makes me a happier mommy! : )

The cherry blossoms in our town are long gone and have blown away. But while they were here, they were gorgeous! I appreciated seeing them, in all their beauty while picking up the kids at the plaza after school. 

The cherry blossom petals that had fallen look so nice.

So pretty.

Random morning lunch pic.

Have you ever had a skillet fried bologna sandwich? So good. Bran this day, wanted bologna sandwich and Noah this day, asked for turkey! Bran is bigger, so he needs 2 sandwiches. 

Noah's lunch at the local elementary school. This is not a yochien obento where we try to... out cute all the other mother's obentos. *yawn*... this is a basic...fill you up...Monday-Friday packed elementary school lunch! It's also not a cutesy field trip/ensoku type obento either. Again it's a no frills no thrills....regular common Monday-Friday elementary lunch. And healthy! 1 turkey, miracle whip and cheese sandwich, 2 apple slices and 1 banana. Definitely enough to fill up my skinny 10 year old! : )  

For my 14 year old, 2 bologna and cheese sandwiches and 2 apple slices (note he doesn't want his apples in a container...have mercy...he's a teenager.) @_@ And 1 banana. Just simple healthy sandwiches and fresh fruit! 

Packed up in sandwich containers bought in America and with a band to make sure...this keeps the container closed bought at Seria (a 100 yen)

A visit to Costco happened since the boys have been back to school after spring break. I went there for a turkey. Turkey was for sandwiches. But, I also bought, as pictured...Q-tips, mozzarella cheese, provolone cheese, senbei and tortilla chips for our fully loaded nachos.

Tissues, the price of tissue is such a fantastic deal at Costco.

Come on turkey, get in my cooler and let's go home! I bought the smallest one I could find. A 14 and a half pound turkey. 

I didn't care for the pot roast cuts of beef they had at Costco that day...so I bought mine at Joyful Honda in Inzai since it's right near Costco anyways. Also picked up a huge bag of chicken leg quarters and chicken breast from Joyful Honda too. And the tortillas came from Costco. 

My flowers came in, for my hanging baskets that sit on my front porch every Spring and Summer! I buy them online from a really nice flower farming place. I have since planted them and they are now hanging in baskets on my front porch. So that is another thing I did recently too.

What are these 3 containers? I bought these 3 tupperware type containers from Seria (the 100 yen btw)....I planted my jalapeno seeds in here! Jalapeno seeds need no direct sunlight or any sunlight at all. They also need to be in a warm location. So, I have been keeping these jalapeno babies in my genkan/entrance way. I have been spraying them down with water once a day. Talking to them. Like..."good morning you spicy little babies YOU!! And this morning...I saw 1 jalapeno baby had popped it's head out of the dirt! Yes!!! I am so happy! And as soon as they get bigger then I can throw them outside and they can get sunshine and whatnot. But they're still vulnerable right now. I also ordered 10 Big Jim plants...these are quite common and well known in Colorado and New Mexico. I ordered Hatch's last year but he (the chili farmer in Japan) only had 3 Hatch's plants left. So, I will try and grow 10 Big Jim's this year. They won't be arriving to my house until the end of May though, but they have been ordered. Last year I grew 4 hatch's green chili plants. This year I am going to grow over double that amount, with 10 Big Jim plants plus...however many jalapeno plants survive. We will see. I'll keep you updated. : )

I made a great big pot of beans and a great big pot of pork green chili (from my chili harvest last year.) We had both beans and chili mixed in our own individual bowls for dinner one night with tortillas. It was delicious! 

I have been really enjoying this new TV show. Called Bride and Prejudice. Basically it's about 3 couples. It's reality TV, so it's not scripted and they're real people not actors. It's where somebody doesn't approve of their interracial or inter-faith up coming marriage. 

Take this family for example. There is 1 mother and 2 grown adult son's, one is married also to a Jewish female. They're all Jewish except for the younger/second son...his fiance is not Jewish and the older brother has a serious problem with that. I don't mean a mild problem with it. But a huge...will never accept or like you...type of problem with it.

This is the gal who isn't Jewish. It is fair to mention, they also have a baby son together. 

This is the older son and his wife. This is the guy who is totally against his brothers choice in fiance. He is VERY vocal about not accepting them. 

This is the youngest brother and yes the 2 brothers look like identical twins but they're not. : ) Anyway...so far...the oldest brother said...I might not even attend your wedding. That's how strongly I feel about you guys being together. He flat out says...he does not support them. The younger brother is the weaker of the 2 but he finally said last week..." if you don't go to my wedding then you no longer have a brother!" How will this end? I have no idea. But holy cow...this show is a real nail biter. 

Next couple. We have this lady. She is so pretty by the way! Anyways, she is African American. She is in love with a white guy. It wasn't intentional. It's just...out of all the people on the earth...that's her soulmate. That's who she clicked with. He makes her happy. He treats her like a queen. He respects her. He's a really good looking guy. Her parents like him. However...this lady right here. Is so sick with worry. Why? because her cousin...disapproves of her marrying a white guy! She (the cousin) is so mad about it. She says she doesn't want to attend the wedding. She wants nothing to do with her cousins husband...EVER ever ever! And it is so stressful to her...because that's her closest best cousin. The stress this poor lady is under. 

Her! She is the one...who hates him. She doesn't even know him, she admits that. Doesn't want her cousin marrying a white guy. Her cousins the one getting married is like near tears. meanhile...the cousin in question pictured here...says she flat out doesn't want to get to know him! She's basically not even willing to open her mind. Who is it hurting most? Her cousin. 

She's asking...please come to my engagement party. And of course her cousin doesn't attend and it crushes her! Absolutely crushes her!

Her and her fiance...hoping to meet her cousin at this pool hall. Her cousin showed up for like 3 minutes and left. This show is interesting to watch. But also...I find myself wondering. Why this gorgeous girl would give her cousin any power at all? Bottom line is...do you know how absolutely rare and special.... it is to find...your soul mate? Some people walk this earth and never find theirs. If this lady has found hers! And he treats her right! Adores her...treats her like a princess. Then honestly...it's sad but...who really cares if her cousin is okay with her relationship or not. Stop begging your cousin to approve of you guys! As long as YOU approve. Also...her parents like this man too. It's just the cousin. Seriously...she needs to stop this madness. Not beg her cousin anymore. Her cousin feels the way she does and she'll never change. So let it be! And besides...does she want that negativity..her cousin would bring to the wedding by inviting her? No! These couples...are giving way to much power...to people who shouldn't even have a say. Opinion of cousins and brothers? Puhleazze! It would be nice if everyone got along yes. But honestly...don't give them 1 dot of power to control your special day. Ugh uh! Just don't do it! Anyway...clearly I like this show. : )

Roasted turkey sandwich fixings/toppings.

I roasted this on a Sunday. The boys took turkey sandwiches, Monday and Tuesday of that week as part of their packed lunches that week to school, with also a lot of fruit too. In case you live outside of Japan and are wondering, chips in lunches here are not allowed at school, chips are considered junk food, so not allowed as part of school lunch in Japan. No worries though. They loved the turkey sandwiches and fresh fruit! 

Lettuce, provolone, tomato, avocado.

Some Lay's potato chips and a sandwich. These sandwiches were so good and I was really happy I roasted a turkey that Sunday. : ) 

Spring means Spring cleaning for Americans. That's what I have been busy doing too! I pulled out Noah's drawer in his closet. Vacuumed and dusted behind it. I know exactly what's in Noah's closet. I spent 3 days cleaning Noah's bedroom. The first day, I spent about 2 hours in there. The 2nd day I spent about 3 hours in there. And this weekend, Noah and I took and pulled out his other dresser in his closet and he vacuumed and dusted in there. His room is now 100% spic and span clean. Not a single dust or anything. I didn't just want to do a quick...band aid... type of clean up job. I wanted to do a...thorough and intense clean up of Noah's room! Besides doing my regular daily cleaning. I have been spending 1 week tackling 1 room...but a very detailed...ever nook and cranny type of cleaning of each room. Next room, I am tackling? The kitchen! The kitchen will be this week and next....and that's only because I have 3 days this week. I will be gone or not available. So, it will take me 2 weeks. Since some days I am not available. Like 2 observation days etc. 

Noboru and I went on our weekly lunch date. Last week we went to our favorite Indian restaurant. 

Also made karaage one night. What is this... 6 skinless boneless chicken breasts sliced up and in Japan we sell a tube of ginger. Regular stores sell it for 98 yen a tube. But at Cainz/Besia it is 49 or 59 yen a tube. So, I buy mine there. I squeeze a whole tube of ginger with 6 skinless sliced up chicken breast. And let it marinate for about an hour. Alone with just the ginger. This just infuses lots of yummy ginger flavor deep down. I use 6 chicken breasts because with a hungry husband, and a teenage son, I need to make a lot plus I also need to get 2 packed lunches out of it too, for the boys. 

After an hour, I pour the karaage liquid in with the chicken and ginger and knead the ziplock a bit. Just massage it a minute or two. And then I throw it in the fridge. Mine sat with just the ginger from 9-10am. And from 10am until 3:45pm. It sat with ginger and the karaage liquid in the ziplock in the fridge. It marinated all the way through. Traditional karaage is just flavored powder and while it flavors the outside of the chicken okay, the inside just tastes...tasteless and plain. I mean not terrible. But meh! This karaage liquid on the other hand marinates every fiber of that chicken. It is flavored through and through. And after the kids come home. I just dredge/roll in plain flour and fry in oil. If your fried food tastes really oily. That means you aren't doing it right!!! And #2 it means your oil temp is way too low. If you fry things correctly and right...your deep fried stuff will never taste overly oily at all. It will be light and crisp and delicious. Drain it in a drain type pan where any excess drips down and it's fine! As long as you make it once a week or once every 2 weeks as a treat. Not every single day type a meal, if you know what I mean. 

This is so well flavored and marinated.

You can see all the ginger in there. I tell ya, I have been perfecting my karaage through the years and my karaage is most definitely on point! It's so good. My family loves when I make this. 

This Sunday, while Noah was playing with his friends. Riding bikes. Saturday is the day we finished his room. Anyways Sunday, I baked these brownies for our Sunday night dinner's...dessert. This picture is nice but it's badly out of order/sync. Should be 2nd to last pic on this post. Oh well...it happens. : )

Last Friday, both schools in our town got off at 1pm. Noboru was off work that day. So it was the perfect day for us to hit Uniqlo and GU for the kids and then after that we went to Capricciosa for dinner at the Narita mall. We shared a pizza. First, we each had our own salads. Noboru, Bran and Noah... had 3 individual cesar salads and I had a garden salad with Italian dressing.

We all had the spicy tomato and garlic pasta. Dinner was really nice at the Narita mall.

Spring/Summer shopping.

Two new pair of shorts for BrannyB. I love that shade of blue, he picked up! 

Noah meanwhile got a pair of house comfy shorts. He's in size XL for kids sizes now at Uniqlo. 

I like Noah's house shorts, they look like jeans but are soft short material. We wanted a pair of house shorts for Bran too, but they had none out yet at Uniqlo. Never fear...we went to GU, which is Uniqlo's more affordable sister store. 

You know how there's Gap and Old Navy, same...for Uniqlo and GU. : ) 

Bran got a pair of jean looking house shorts too, but from GU and he also liked these jean colored slip on shoes from GU too. These are really popular shoes now days. Since Bran liked them...we said...okay. And bought these for Bran too. 

They are actually sweat shorts material, but look jean-y and I think that's just the style for 2016 for house shorts in Japan. I actually really like that Bran and Noah both got similar house shorts this year. : ) 

And the price for house comfy shorts at GU was so cheap. A really great deal. And that's the same price for Noah's house comfy shorts from Uniqlo too. And B's slip on sneakers were only 1400 yen. So again...super great deals. Yet they're still going to look really cute this summer.

Yesterday's Sunday dinner. We had brownies for dessert. Pictured somewhere up above. And we also had a delicious very tender pot roast (3 pot roasts but for you in America...size wise it's just 1 American sized pot roast) : ) Homemade mashed potatoes, beef gravy and green beans. 

What's on my agenda for this week? I have Branden's observation day this Wednesday (Noboru and I are going to that). Noah's observation day meanwhile, is this Saturday (Noboru can't come since he's working but Branden and I are both coming to support Noah and observe.) 

This Thursday, Noboru and his coworker are planning to dismantle our huge jungle gym in the backyard. Why? Because honestly Branden is a 9th grader, he's far too big/old to want to play on our huge big playground. And honestly Noah's already a 5th grader and he didn't play on it once all last summer. Noboru and I were thinking about giving it away last summer. But we waited and watched. And sure enough it got zero usage last year. So, this year, I told Noboru, he's right. And since they're not using it anymore. I would talk to the boys about it first though. I was very honest with my boys. I said..."ya'll aren't using it anymore, you know that and I know that" It's just taking up space in our yard...if it goes unused it's a waste of space. If it's being used no problem. I said..."daddy's (Noboru's) coworker who's hobby is carpentry and he built his own house by the way. Anyway he has 2 yochien aged kids, who could get a good 7-8 years usage out of it. They'd play with it every day and love it. And the man would take care of it and wood treat it and stuff yearly, since wood work and carpentry is his hobby. I also told them if they wanted to keep it...I would in fact keep it. They thought about it for a week. This was a few weeks ago. And they said...they think we should give it to the other family. As for the family who is getting it..I am not charging them anything or asking for anything. I am giving it to them for free because it will be given to a good home and be loved by children once more. So it is quite a good deal for them too. Considering this was a couple thousand US dollars when bought new at Costco in Japan. However...it served it's purpose for our family. Branden and Noah got many years of fun out of it. It was very well loved. And now like...Woody and Buzz who went to live with that girl in Toy Story 3. The play ground will go and live with another family and so it is a good and positive thing for us. 

This Sunday, Olive has a check up. My Nissan Leaf. Nothings wrong with her, it's just time for a check up. So basically I got a whole lot on my plate this week. Between 2 observation days and a playground dismantle as well. Now if it rains the playground dismantle will be postponed. I hope it doesn't rain, because I really want to move on and close that chapter. Saying good bye to our playground will be bitter sweet, but its time.  I also ordered Branden a new pair of Crocs from the Crocs Japan website, they're coming this week. Not sure when.. but I hope they get delivered on a day when I'm actually home. : ) I would have ordered Noah a new pair of Crocs too, but they didn't have his size. So, we'll have to go and get Noah's in Inzai or the Ami Premium outlet. Anyway, that's enough for now. I better motor. I have to run to the store for some fresh fruit, some bakery bread. And then come home and get my baked ravioli prepped for dinner tonight. So when the family gets home, all I have to do is whack it in the oven and serve some salads along with it and some fresh buttered and sliced baguette from the bakery. 

The earthquake down in southern Japan. We're basically on the opposite side of Japan we live in the north, granted not Hokkaido type north, but we are indeed in the north. We felt nothing here. So we are good and well and okay here. But, I of course worry for them and hope they're okay. If you live in Japan period. You know this could be you next, I know that too. So, all we can do really is hope and pray they are okay. And hope it's not us, the next time. : ( I am truly so sorry for the folks who were affected. I watched a video from a lovely American man on YouTube who I have been watching for years. He and his family are so sweet and such good people. Anyway he lives at ground zero basically. He's actually one of the few that I know that actually lives in actual Kumamoto. They have no power, he said... he also said...he waited in line for gas for 45 minutes (this is exactly why we bought my 100% EV car btw especially living in earthquake country... again not rubbing it in...but this is exactly why, we personally waited for about an hour or more after 3/11)...their house is damaged on the inside... but the outside structure is fine. Everything was knocked and thrown around. He has been making the very BEST videos showing what actual Kumamoto looks like right now. His videos are in English. So, I have been so informed by his videos. I am so thankful to him for making such videos. And even though he lives in the center of where it happened. He's in such high spirits and says...at least they're alive. As least they didn't totally lose their house. It's just so reassuring seeing someone who lives in the center of where it hit... being so positive. Many were not so lucky. : (  Anyway, so for those wondering if we were affected. No, we were not, we didn't even feel it, where we live. Alrighty you guys. I really have to get going.