How we spent our Sunday Funday...

Sunday, February 7th our family went to the Ami premium outlet, because we wanted to get Noah 2 more sweatshirts from the Gap outlet. 

Gap outlet

So many sales!

Noah got a really pretty orange zip up sweatshirt and a navy blue pull over sweatshirt with bright happy yellow Gap wording/letters. And this Mr. Mustacho tee shirt was hilarious and out of all the tee shirts at Gap, this was the only stack almost sold out. They only had 1 of these in Noah's size. We picked everything you see here in size 150cm. The sweatshirts are a pinch big. However to be fair the 140cm fit him *exactly* as is...meaning not 1 dot of extra room. If it shrunk in the dryer even by 1mm, it would be out grown. If Noah grew 1cm between now and the end of March...which...is possible... if you know kids...yes definitely possible. So...that is why we decided to err on the safe side and get everything in size 150cm. The tee shirt though...the Mister Mustacho one...was freakishly tiny in size 140cm and Noah is as skinny as a twig. Height wise, he's average...but for it... to look skin tight on him and almost like a half shirt...no way! So yep...everything needed to be in size 150cm this trip. Also, Gap was having amazing sales and everything was 50% off. The Mr. Mustacho tee was 50% off plus my online 15% off coupon, it was 800 yen or so, for the mustach tee. And the sweatshirts were super reasonable too. Plus...I went to Pasceos (sp?)...a few weeks back to buy both the boys school socks and underwear...remember? And I did have a look at their sweatshirts at Pasceos. And I was shocked to see....their prices were like 2400 yen for a cheap looking sweatshirt there and they weren't nearly as cute and stylish as the Gap ones. And the quality was horrible...very cheap quality on the sweatshirts for Noah at Pasceos, which is why we didn't buy any...and super paper thin sweatshirts at Pasceos for 2400 yen. No thanks. So, even Noboru said...for that price and quality we better stick with Gap. And I agree. So...that's just why... we prefer shop at Gap for the kids clothes in Japan. If we were in the states, Target and Gap outlet would both be options, but here...Gap outlet considering the cost is not really any different then the prices at Paseos. Yet the quality is *way* higher at Gap. 

After shopping at Gap, we went to get a pretzel each. And we sat in the crowded food court and enjoyed our pretzels. People watching and munching, then we left. 

Noboru wanted to go to a few shops in Narita before we went to dinner. Again...Noboru is a good dad in that... he wants to make sure both the kids have everything they need while he is away. So, he bought Bran 2 extra mechanical pencils, some pencil lead, an eraser, for grading...he bought him a blue pen and 2 red pens. They correct their own school/home work at school. 

Noah has an orange watch from Gap. However he very badly wanted this watch on Sunday. When he goes to play... he uses a watch to know when to come home. : ) And a black pen, because now the 4th graders may use pens in class. At times for projects. Before now... it was pencils only. And it still is 98% of the time, but he got a new one just in case. Bran made sure to tell Noah..."get this brand it's the only brand my friends and I use at JHS, also get the 0.7 width of the pen" Noah was like..."okay, thank you." : ) Aww, he's a very good older brother. Making sure his little brother is doing things right. : ) 

The good thing...the cool thing of living close-ish to Narita is that Narita caters to tourists from all over the world. And they have so many souvenirs available right in Narita. People from all over the world (just said that...now twice, lol)...are in love with all of Japan's special flavor Kit Kats. Many of these are region specific, meaning you have to visit that specific area, part of Japan... to be able to find or buy that specific Kit Kat. While others are not region specific, some are. So they vary. Some are available all Japan wide and some you need to visit that area of Japan. However...with living close-ish to Narita. I can get my hands on any of these special edition Kit Kats, any time I want to. Also, same with Starbucks tumblers. A few years back, people overseas but visiting Japan... were collecting region specific Starbucks coffee tumblers. Then someone said, as they were flying out of Narita airport they realized that Starbucks at the airport in Narita...they had all the regions at Narita airport. And everyone was going...okay who lives closest to Narita airport. And I suddenly got really quiet. @_@ Hahaha. : ) I was just a fly on the wall and not actually commenting on that thread. Just reading/listening to that conversation...so I didn't feel I needed to say it was me. I live near there. But yep...it is true. I have access to lots of the cool things, with living so close to Narita. : ) 

Strawberry cheesecake

Houji-cha. A roasted tea flavor.

This one is apple flavored and from Shinshu or the Nagano area. Famous for their delicious apples.

Beni imo.

Rum raisin.

Kumamoto tea. This is that areas mascot.

Anyway after going to a few shops on Sunday...just enjoying a nice family Sunday. We went to dinner. Yakiniku!

Noah and his brother talking away. Noah also munching on a fry. We always have free coupons for fries and a free drink bar. : )  Noboru meanwhile frying up some meat.

Goodness is that a lot of rosu (lean beef) on the boys grill. It's really important to me that the boys always remember these times. The going out to eat as a family. Or making sure everyone had everything they needed. Socks, underwear, dress shirts for JHS or sweatshirts for elementary school. The movie nights at home. The going to an actual movie... every once in a while. Even the regular nightly dinners at home...are super important. You know what I mean...I hope. They need to know...that family is the most important thing, we have in this life. It may sound corny but that's okay. But I want them to know, the important things in life.  In this life...there are no do-overs. : ) So enjoy it with the ones you love. And to just be a good person. : )

Little hands reaching into the communal fries at our table. I love that! Sunday was pretty awesome around here! : )

My birthday...

As most of you know, sadly Noboru's grandma passed away. It happened the day before my niece in Osaka's 6th grade graduation. And it was also his grandma's birthday weekend as well, but she unfortunately did not make it to her birthday. However, it was also my birthday that weekend too. However because of our emergency unplanned trip to Osaka. My birthday had to be postponed and whatnot. And that is totally fine. I firmly believe in family first. And being there for family in times like this are most important. So, I just wanted to mention that first, in case anyone is wondering. Why did she celebrate or have a birthday dinner twice this year. That's why. So, we arrived back to our town near the Chiba/Ibaraki border very early March 22nd. what, 2am-ish or so, I forget now. Because so much has happened since then. But we arrived so late and were so exhausted. We all went right to bed. We ended up sleeping in, until 10:30am-ish. However we all sort of felt like zombies all day. And Noboru...poor Noboru he actually had work that day. @_@ : (  So he could not be with me for my birthday dinner. And I was fine with it, but we made plans for the upcoming Friday to go to yakiniku. We had originally planned to go to yakiniku on the Friday before my birthday anyway. So, just a week or so late and it's okay. So on my actual birthday since it was just the boys and I...but it was still my birthday, I decided to make a special dinner of tacos. Both the boys really love tacos and we hadn't had them in forever.  This was before we went to Guam.

We were all sorta zombie like... all that day having driven so far all the night and that morning, but tacos were pretty great for a birthday dinner. : ) My actual birthday was spent very low key. The kids and I enjoyed our tacos. They both said, "let's have family DVD night mom, since it's your birthday, you can pick the movie!" Aww. I picked the newest Hunger Games Mockinjay, we had seen it once already on DVD, but we watched it again and it was nice, just to relax on the couch after a hot shower and be in some cozy jammies and relax. 

Oh birthday cake. You were set to arrive a certain day and then we had to leave unexpectedly. It was so nice for you to arrive Sunday on my birthday. Sorry for giving you... the run around though. You must have spent a few extra days at the Kuroneko/mail delivery place (sorta like UPS). Sorry for that. Wasn't intentional, I promise. : ) I called Noboru, and asked him if he'd like us to wait and cut the cake on March 27th the day we would be going to yakiniku. and he said...just save him a slice of cake and to please eat it on my birthday! Poor Noboru, honestly you guys, he felt so bad about my birthday. Meanwhile I felt *so bad* he couldn't enjoy the cake with us on my birthday, Which is why I wouldn't have minded holding off on cutting and eating the cake. But you know...sometimes things just can't be helped. : ) So, the kids and I cut the cake. They sang me the happy birthday song extra loud since Noboru wasn't there to add his voice too. : ) And we each had a slice. And you know..it tasted amazing and it was a nice low key birthday. Noboru had his slice the next day and he loved it. So that was my low-key birthday celebration on my actual birthday March 22nd. : )

Friday March 27th evening. Our family of 4 had our orginal birthday dinner plan. A week late but, didn't matter a bit. And guess what, I just completed that huge medical test that morning! And I was *very happy* to have gotten that over with! So, double reason to celebrate! : ) My 2nd birthday celebration March 27th, Friday. The day we could all be together and celebrate. 

We ate and we ate. And we talked and we talked. March was a very interesting month. And we were excited for our upcoming Guam trip. And excited for upcoming Spring break. Which has already happened now, but at the time of this picture, it had not happened yet. : )

Such a fantastic dinner, with my loved ones. And dinner was delicious. : )

What did, I get for my birthday this year. I have for the past 11 or 12 years had a digital camera. A top of the line expensive one? Nope! : ) I have always had a nice one but an affordable one. Top 10 best cameras? Nope. : ) Before now, I have always picked a low-mid range price digital camera. Just a dependable one that takes basic pics. Not the worst of the worst. But definitely not the best of the best either.: ) And I have been happy with my very average digital cameras all these years. Because I am not a professional photographer, so it never really mattered. And #2, all I need it for, is the day to day, type a pic. The only down side for me. Is every Sports day. Field day. In japan we call it undokai. Every undokai. I swear I take the lowest quality pics out of the entire class of parents. While most parents whip out their huge DSLR type cameras. Or much higher quality digi cams. Mine, I only get 1 chance during a race. Because it doesn't do continuous shots. Like most other cameras can do. Hahaha. So, for me, that is the only downside. Every undokai, I am like..."gah this sucky bullcrap camera!!!" Hahaha. : ) So, ever since last undokai. remember Noah's classmate from the same yochien? Lovely nice family, we really like. Anyway his parents bought a brand new huge DSLR and a brand new video camera for movie making for undokai 2014. And there I was clunking along with my trusty camera. And I said to myself. I have *got* to do something about this. Poor Noah, poor Branden, their pics always come out....well best I can, you know what I mean. And so since last Fall. I have been quietly looking for a camera. Was going to get one for Christmas. But since Noboru *had* to go to Hawaii anyway for work. It was the perfect chance to get some Sephora stuff since he had to be there ANYWAYS. So, the camera idea went on the back burner. And so my birthday rolls around and I began thinking about last undokai and all the frustration I felt trying to take pics yet again. And so, I found this camera. But I picked it in red. 

Noboru just wanted to buy me a DSLR while at the electronics store. But, I said, no thanks. Because I need a camera that is small. Can fit into my bag/purse. That I can take in my bag to Disneyland if I need it. Take it to Ikspiari or to the Hakone onsen place. I can't imagine lugging a big regular camera to all those places. Don't get me wrong, those are great cameras. But not a right fit for me. I need something small, that I can just toss in my bag and forget it's there, until I need it of course. But takes better undokai pictures than mine does now. Which basically means any camera on the market, has to be an improvement to mine now. Anyway after lots of research. Since early November. I decided on this model. I liked the reviews on kakaku.com. I like the reviews on Amazon.com. I went to an electronics store and tried the model one to see if i liked it. And I did. Then we found the cheapest place to buy online with an extended 5 year warranty etc and we bought it. 

This is the one we purchased Branden a while back. And in all of Japan, this ranks best 5 out of the entire country of Japan, as far as digital cameras go. That's impressive actually, Branden's camera. And the price, was beyond fair. And we are so glad Branden has this purple camera. I was thinking about getting this one too, but I know Branden would dislike me having the same camera as him. Nobody likes a copy cat!  Hahaha. : ) Besides I wanted a little bit higher quality one too. But Branden's is good though. Really good. And it's light years better than my old camera.

This is the one I picked. I know you're thinking...what? 50th place. However to be fair, this was ranked 5th place all last year. The only reason it's being pushed down now, is because a newer model came out. All 2015 models came out and this is getting knocked back. Which is fine. I had already decided on the Canon Powershot sx700 in red. And just because something newer came along, I was still sticking with this one. The price is right up my alley and I like the features and the customer reviews.

The reviews didn't change. Out of 5 possible gold stars this has 4.37. The Japanese are real sticklers with cameras and if they hated this or thought it was crap, they wouldn't have rated it this high. And I trust kakaku.com. 

I also went to Amazon.com and wanted to know what my fellow American consumer thought and look at those reviews.  4 and 1/2 stars. And not rated by 3 people...rated by 230 customers. and it still ranked that high. I did like I said.. go to the store and touched/tried it and held it in person and I liked what I saw. 

It's way bigger than my old one. Anyway is it as fancy shmancy as the other parents cameras at undokai, meh...still probably not. And that's okay, because the only one I am in competition with, is myself. I think it will take way better pictures than my other camera. That is, if I can figure out how to use it by then. : ) I wonder if this will fit in my old camera case or if I need to buy a new camera case now. @-@ Hahaha. So my birthday gift from Noboru this year. A much needed new digital camera.

And you know, I also got 5 hair colorings at the salon. I have not used any yet, but I will go and get my first hair coloring before my first observation day of the school year, I have an observation day on April 16th (for Bran) and April 18th for Noah. And I also got some Benefit's the Porefessional triple pack and some Shu Uemura cleansing oil. So, all in all, not a bad birthday at all. : ) 

Valentine's Day...

I hope everyone had a fantastic Valentine's Day. : ) On Friday the 13th, dundundun! Lol. February 13th (Friday), after the boys got out of school, the 4 of us zipped to Costco Chiba New Town for some Valentine's Day goodness for the next day for the entire family! Huge size of tiramisu and cookies. And the cheese was not for Valentine's Day, lol it is for an upcoming pizza. : )

I also made sure to buy something for the boys. Just some small little treats that I know they'd love. They did both get Valentine's day treats this year as they always do, but Branden asked me not to share pics this year of his stuff. Fair enough. He's 13 now and so, I said okay. Done and done. : )  Noah loving to copy everything Branden does...said yes mine too. So no pics of the treats the girlies gave this year. : ) 

I meanwhile got a little something something from Shu Uemura and as I am not a teenage boy, I don't mind sharing pics at all. : ) 

Shu's powder foundation called "the lightbulb." I first read about it on Biteki magazine. Listed as one of the best powder foundations that gives you beautiful looking skin. My interested peaked so... I watched a few reviews in English about this foundation on YouTube, and everyone seems to love it and the coverage is medium. Giving you a nice healthy glow (like a lightbulb) not shimmery or disco ball glittery at all. Just like a glow from within. I don't do disco ball glittery on my skin at all, eyes I don't mind, but not the face.  The glow from within, is faked with help of this. So yeah...after reading what they said in Japan about it...heard the reviews on YouTube in English about it, I was interested.  

Glow, plus good coverage plus, UV protection SPF 30 PA+++. Doesn't hurt to at least try it. So I am. : ) 

774 Light beige. The lady color matched me. 

Place for the sponge, just like how the Mac Studio Fix is, with the sponge down below.

My Mac Studio Fix powder foundation in the color NC20 on the left. Is a dead on match, for color 774 light beige. Fair skin with yellow undertones. Looks natural.

Top liquid foundations on the right hand page and top powder foundations on the left. Says foundations to give you beautiful looking skin. I do plan to try out the powder foundation that ranked #1. It's just it's a "Japan only" brand. Which is okay and I do plan to try it out. But I was attracted to try the Shu Uemura one first, because of it's high ratings both in Japan and overseas. Which is why I tried that one first.  

Ranking 3rd best in Japan, is not so bad at all actually.  In the end will I love it? I honestly don't know. I'm still test driving it. ; ) In a month or two, I will be test driving the one that was ranked #1 though. : ) 

The Shu Uemura lady helping me, gave me 2 samples of 2 different types of their cleansing oil (which is amazing) and a serum sample too. 

Valentine's Day dinner. We went and had dinner at our favorite yakiniku restaurant. That is one heck of a huge platter of rosu (lean beef) And an extra smaller platter of rosu in the background.

My porcelain prince grilling up some marinated rosu. : )

Bran and Noboru grilling their meats on the grill on the other grill. It was a very chill and relaxed Valentine's Day dinner. We celebrated it as a family, that's just the way we roll around here. : ) Loved that it fell on a Saturday this year. And also loved that I had no yakuin meetings this last weekend either. 

When I was growing up, there used to be in the National Enquirer magazine a little paragraph/blurb every week that read...Happiness is. I used to read that blurb every week. Thoroughly enjoying what is happiness to different people...because *it is* different to each and everyone. Here's mine for February 2015. Happiness is being with my family, eating good food, enjoying the conversation. Just enjoying and living in that moment. Realizing that in 10 years the kids will be grown and I will miss the times like these, SO MUCH. So, enjoying the times like this...are so important for me. Anyway...that is what I think about when I look at this picture. The conversation and the laughter coming from our table, the smell of the food grilling.  Spending time with the ones who matter so much to me. : )

I also ordered some onion slices. Delicious on the grill. : )

We drove through the drive-thru at Starbucks along the way home. A hot caramel machiatto. The 4 of us thoroughly stuffed from dinner beyond belief. : ) Came home, enjoyed some dessert. Tiramisu or cookies. The kids had both, hahaha. Noboru and I just enjoyed a little tiramisu. Everyone took turns showering and into jammies. We just enjoyed good TV and relaxed the rest of the night. A very low key Valentine's Day, I know...but a perfect one for us! : )