We Bought a Home!!!

On Friday (6/25), my darling signed the purchasing contract for a condo! 3 months ago, we looked for a brand-new home to start with. However, we ended up getting an existing home because I realized it is wise (save more than ten million) to renovate to live in a good location with my favorite room layout and kitchen!!! Also, some existing homes have steady administrative structure and accumulated fund for many years which you can feel safe.

Our condo is a 5-minute walk to the train station. Close to the city, it is located in a quiet residential area, in front of schools and ward office. Our room is on the 10th floor with the night view of the city (Shinjuku). Also, we can view fireworks in the summer. Our dream is to have a drink on the balcony.

To tell the truth, we negotiated in the price and got millions of discount. The seller wants to move out in January, so we accepted that condition in exchange. According to my R.E. database, it was a good deal. He-he ;)

Our plan is to renovate there next January and move in by March, so I have enough time to finalize my ideas for the renovation. Now I am looking for a good remodeling contractor. A lot of research to do... Whew!

Anyway, we are leaving for NY tomorrow!!!

Talk to you later ;)

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Squid Ink Fried Rice @ Churari

On Saturday night, we had dinner at Okinawan restaurant called Churari. Churari means beautiful land in Okinawan dialect. The restaurant serves you the dishes using selected ingredients direct from the farm in Okinawa.

We last ordered squid ink fried rice cooked in the stone dish. I love burnt rice but you can't tell which part is burnt from this black color. Ha-ha! Actually, it was my first time to try squid ink and was pretty good with the rich flavor of seafood! Have you ever tried squid ink?!

Anyway, we also tried iPad! My opinion is I'd rather pay for a new laptop!!!

Busy Monday as usual...

Have a good day :D

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Keali'i Reichel

Keali'i Reichel is one of Hawai'i’s most popular recording artists, and the award-winning kumu hula of Halau Ke'alaokamaile. His music, chant and hula represent the best of traditional and contemporary poetry and dance in Hawai'i today.

Yesterday, at the hula class, I heard that he will hold a concert at Nakano Sun Plaza (Tokyo) on September 23rd. I checked his songs at iTunes and realized that I have heard his songs at Hawaiian restaurants or shops for many times! Wow! Why don't I book seats for it! They start to accept reservations from 7/3, so check it out!!!

3 months are fast. Yesterday was again the last day of the hula class. This term we danced Kaimana Hila ;) I will take a video of it in NY next week!!!

Oh, btw, did I tell you that we bought a condo!? We gonna sign up for it tonight. Our plan is to renovate there next January and move in by March!!! It's a long way but I know time flies. I have many ideas for the renovation to finalize.

Have a good weekend :D

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Apple iPhone 4

Have you checked out Apple iPhone 4 already? It was just released today in Japan.

iPhone 4 is the world’s thinnest smartphone! With a revamped design and features, Apple iPhone 4 is the big upgrade from iPhone 3GS! I bought my iPhone 3GS last year but iPhone 4 just serves my need for iPhone 3GS, I'm afraid to know these new changes X(

Aren't they cool?

Stainless Steel Band: Created from alloy, then forged to be five times stronger than standard steel, the CNC-machined band is the mounting point for all the components of iPhone 4. The band provides impressive structural rigidity and allows for its incredibly thin, refined design. It also functions as both iPhone 4 antennas.

Instead of the steel band, my iPhone 3GS is a plastic. It cracked a little around the buttons recently... oh boy....

Camera + LED: The iPhone 4 camera shoots gorgeous 5-megapixel photos and stunning HD video. And with its advanced backside illumination sensor, it captures beautiful images even in low-light settings. The built-in LED flash does double duty. And on the front of iPhone 4, the built-in camera is perfect for making FaceTime calls and shooting self-portraits.

I need this function for my picture-taking!!!

Face Time: iPhone 4 makes video calling a reality. With just a tap, you can wave hello to your kids, share a smile from across the globe, or watch your best friend laugh at your stories ? iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 over Wi-Fi.

I don't actually need this but sounds cool!

Moreover!!!

I wish I could upgrade my iPhone to iPhone 4. I'm sure that I have one or two more years to pay up my 3GS... Unlike laptops, newer is better, so I just can't take it! Anyway, I will definiately upgrade to iPhone 5 when it comes out! Ha-ha!!!

BTW, Apple iPhone OS 4.0 supports Multitasking! Now it supports wireless keyboard! Then I can write my recipe anywhere :D I should check it out, too!!!

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My Accomplishments

Time flies. I forgot to list my accomplishments in May.

On 5/3, my Okonomiyaki Flavored Furikake won outstanding performance award at Tiger's furikake recipe contest. Tiger is a Japanese multinational manufacturer and marketer of vacuum flasks and consumer electronics including electric water boilers and rice cookers. Furikake is a dry Japanese condiment meant to be sprinkled on top of rice. Tiger asked for furikake recipes using their mill products.

On 5/19, my Sesame Mustard Marinated Seaweed and Yam received an honorable mention at seaweed recipe contest at Kagisho. I just used what I had in my fridge ;)


On 5/21, my Miso Mustard Stir-Fried Asparagus and Pork won the hot spring steam award. The contest was organized by Onogawa hot spring association in Yamagata. It was maybe the third time for me to apply for this contest, but again I couldn't win the high prize :(



On 5/24, I won the message award at Yukijirushi's cream cheese contest. They asked for party recipes, so I made my usual recipe, sushi rolls: Happy Cream Cheese Decorated Rolls. It's a salmon and white celery rolls with cream cheese and salmon roe on top. Gorgeous, huh?!

I know I need to try harder, but my wedding and my new home are keeping my hands full X(

I'll do the best!!!

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Acai and Raspberry Granita

Açaí and Raspberry Granita is the summer specials at my favorite Ueshima Coffee Shop.

It is a refreshing granita with nutritious açaí and raspberry. Rich in polyphenol, this beverage is effective on health and beauty.

Actually, I got this for free by redeeming my coffee points which I've been building up. However, while I was carrying it upstairs, I fell down and splashed it all over the floor...

Luckily I was wearing rain boots. But depending on how you look at it, rain boots might have made me fell down...

Anyway, I'm kind of sorry for myself having had such an avoidable expected happening... You know what I mean...

The salesclerk's was nice. She made me another granita.

Thank you!!!

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I Hate Eel

This weekend was really hot and humid. On such a day, my darling and I crave for sushi :D We again went to Sushi Misakimaru for dinner. I love their sushi since they serve at low price!

Wow! They might have miscalculated our total!!! We just paid about 3,500yen ($35) all together including alcoholic beverages (cold sake and beer)!

Anyway, I hate eel because it is greasy at the back. However their eel is different. Not greasy at all but thick and light. I think I acquired a liking for eel :)

Do you have any likes and dislikes for certain sushi?

I know it takes nerve to try ones you don't like, but don't be prejudiced! I hope I can love sea urchin and chewy fish someday...

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PhotoFunia

Do you know PhotoFunia?

PhotoFunia is an online photo editing tool that gives you a fun filled experience. You upload any photo and just wait to see the magic. It automatically identifies the face in the photo and let's you add cool photo effects and create funny face photo montages, too!

I found this application at AppStore on my iPhone. This is my favorite application to kill time on the commuter train! It makes me laugh, too. I love to edit my darling's pics.

Image above, I shoot a pic of my darling loafing around in the bed and made the front page. He-he.

Try it out & have fun ;)

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Home Mortgage

These few months, my darling and I have been busy looking for a new home. The reason is simple. We have been renting our room for 7 years which could have spent on paying off our home mortgage!!! Plus, in Japan, you have to pay money every time you renew your contract for the rent. This is so wasteful.

To tell the truth, it is not easy to find a perfect home because the real estate prices are fixed. In other words, there is no property with a good deal. We started off looking for a new house far from the station and ended up renovating used condo near the station. The condos over 25 years don't qualify for a tax deduction for home mortgage, but you have no choice for a roomy house. There is always more to learn...

Anyway, I have one condo under consideration. I have a lot of paperwork to get through...

Good luck to me!!!

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Brass Band Reunion

Last Friday, I met my brass band friends and the teacher from high school. It has been more than 10 years to get together. It all started with my wedding stuff. I really never see them again unless I look for my old friends' contact info, you know!!!

Interestingly, we haven't changed in a time span of a decade. We all flashed back to our high school days and talked the same as at the time. What a fun time! By talking with them, I went back to basics and felt motivated :D

I know we all are busy, but it is nice sometimes. I hope my wedding will offer a good opportunity for everyone.

Anyway, I hate this high humidity. It is raining from the morning and I feel very drowsy all day long.

Gonna have some coffee! Bye for now!!!

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MandraRossa Grecanico

Grecanico is a native Sicilian grape which produces a complex, aromatically defined white wine with citrusy fruit character.

I seldom drink white wine but I bought this wine since it was recommended at 980yen ($10) last weekend.

It was a sweet-scented tasty white wine! I bet red wine lovers would like it!!! So do I :D

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Last Minute Man

I call my darling "Last Minute Man".

The deadline for us to submit the list of addresses of our wedding guests was yesterday. However, yesterday morning, my darling still haven't completed his list (playing with his iPhone), so I was kind of prepared myself for the worst (empty seats)... However, in the evening, he suddenly made some calls and completed his list!!! Isn't that amazing?! Why couldn't he do that earlier to avoid our fights until now...

Anyway, the rainy season has begun from today. It is going to rain till July. We find a lot of hydrangeas in bloom. I love the blue ones :D

I have a condo which I want to purchase but can't make a decision. In addition to my culinary stuff, I have a lot to think!!! Whew... I hope I can come up with a suitable compromise...

Bye for now!!!

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MOS BURGER

Do you know MOS BURGER?

My darling and I go there once in a while. Their most popular burger is "MOS burger". We love this burger the most! Juicy beef and pork patty with their original meat sauce is distinctive :D

Recently, we tried their "superb cheese burger" and that was delicious, too! As you can see (on the left bottom image), the patty is larger than the buns! It has roasted onion soy sauce with a hint of black pepper in between which makes it really tasty! Speaking of "luxury MOS burger", it is twice as big as the regular MOS burger. It looks cool, but too difficult to eat. Since you focus on how to eat, it doesn't actually do the trick... Their rice burgers are yummy, but unfortunately they aren't many different kinds available lately... I love kinpira, though :P

MOS BURGER is now located in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, China and Indonesia.

Try it out!!!

FYI:
'M' stands for Mountain - dignified and noble.
'O' stands for Ocean - wide and vast.
'S' stands for sun - vibrant and life-giving.

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KEIKO Organic Green Tea Chocolate

Wow! This small celadon-colored chocolate costs a dollar each!!!

KEIKO has the most authentic, extensive line of Japanese organic tea and tea based products in the world! Their products include organic half shaded green teas and matcha for Retail, Food Service and Manufacturing.

KEIKO organic green tea chocolate is delectable private-label product. It is made from the highest quality cocoa butter and green tea powder with collaboration between tea garden in Kagoshima and German chocolatier. You can enjoy unique texture of grated tea leaves in the chocolate which enhances an unforgettable flavor of it :D

To tell the truth, my darling found it at half price in the sales wagon. Good job!!!

Bye for now ;)

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Bricco al Sole Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Recently I found tasty organic red wine at a low price: $9! (My budget is always under $10 per bottle :P)

Bricco means "crest of a hill". The wine is made from grapes harvested on the sunshiny hill, hence the name Bricco. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a red wine from the region Abruzzi in Italy. It is typically a fruity, dry wine with soft tannins, and as such is often consumed young. You can enjoy it with chicken and red meats :D

Anyway, it is raining again today... It seems like the rainy season has arrived already! I hope it won't rain on Friday since I am seeing my friends after work!!!

Bye for now :)

BTW, I made a new label for My Favorite Wines!
It is listed on the side bar!!!

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