WHYS

What are the "WHYS" in your life right now?

I found this question on Kym's post.
Yeah... I have many whys right now...

Why don't I have time to take a break?
Why do I gain weight easily?
Why my abs are weak (Why my abs can't be developed)?
Why do I have slow reflexes?
Why my darling does not prefer me to become a full-time homemaker?
Why can't I trust people sometimes?
Why what I think is right ends up no good...
Why don't I have a luck to succeed?
Why am I dissatisfied?
Why am I me? (Why can't I be anyone but ME?)

I hope I can get rid of my stresses by writing (shouting) out those!

Wowwwww... To answer my question for homemaker, this article is kind of convincing.
Maid vs. Homemaker

Have a good day :D

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Kérastase Resistance Concentré Vita-Ciment

Kérastase Paris is the professional luxury hair treatment institute.

On Saturday, I went to my usual hair salon to get the Kérastase's hair treatment for FREE. I won the coupon this summer and it was going to expire in the end of August, so I rushed to the salon!

Kérastase Resistance Concentré Vita-Ciment is an intensive reconstructive treatment for weak, damaged hair. It fortifies the hair fiber to add strength and resilience. This ceramic-based concentrated mixture of fortifying ingredients, with the micro-targeted action of the Vita-Ciment Complex, is sprayed and massaged into the hair, section by section using fingertips.

I never knew and experienced the hair massage technique, but it works pretty well and my hair become amazingly straight and shiny ;)

BTW, I use Kérastase Fluide Chroma Riche every day to my towel-dried hair. It provides detangling and styling ease and helps protect from external aggressions. Maximizes color’s radiance and shine. Hair fiber is left softer, more supple to the touch.

What good things do you do for your hair?!

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Asparagus Rolls with Healthy Kimchi Sauce

Do you know that Kimchi (김치) becomes rich and tasty if you mix it with a bit of plain yogurt?

I put this Kimchi sauce over my asparagus rolls, but simply the boiled sliced pork is absolutely okay!!!

Try it out ;)


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Asparagus Rolls with Healthy Kimchi Sauce

Difficulty: Super Easy
Time: 5min
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
50g (1.8oz.) Kimchi
1 tbsp. plain yogurt (unsweetened)
10 thinly sliced pork (for shabu-shabu)
5 asparagus

Directions:
1. Chop Kimchi and mix plain yogurt.
2. Wash asparagus, trim away the woody part, then peel away the tough skin near the bottom of spear, cut into half, add salt to boiling water, and cook asparagus for a minute.
3. Put asparagus on the pork and roll it up. Again, bring water to boil, cook asparagus rolls until pork is no longer pink.
4. Arrange asparagus rolls (3.) on serving plate and pour Kimchi sauce (1.) on top.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Believe it or not, we have sweltering (summer) night for 40 straight days!!! I have no other way than leaving AC on throughout the night...
Have a good weekend :D

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Healthy Tofu Rolled Pork Steak Salad

This is a healthy main dish salad recipe using TOFU!

As you might know, there are many different types of tofu. For this recipe, you need momen-dofu (cotton tofu), which is firm tofu comes in a plastic container in the refrigerator or produce section of most grocery stores. The skin of this form of tofu has the pattern of the muslin used to drain it. It is best used in stir fries, tofu bakes or any dish where you will want the tofu to retain its shape.

To finish up this recipe, you can use your own favorite dressing! I recommend a garlic flavored one because it gives steak-like rich taste. You want to make it filling since this dish is very healthy ;) I used GABAN's soy sauce-based garlic pepper dressing! Mmm! It was pretty savory! My recipe won a prize at their contest, too!

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Healthy Tofu Rolled Pork Steak Salad

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15min
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
6 thin slices of spare rib pork (any portion of sliced pork is okay)
300g (0.6lb.) momen-dofu / firm tofu
salt and cracked black pepper
starch
cooking oil
2-3 tbsp. garlic flavored dressing of your choice
salad of your choice

Directions:
1. Wrap tofu in a paper towel and microwave for 2 minutes (500w) to remove moisture. Cut tofu into 6 rectangular pieces.


2. Work with one slice of pork at a time. Place the slice of pork so that the length of it is running flat and vertically towards you. Sprinkle a bit of salt and cracked black pepper onto one side and place the tofu (1.) on the end of the pork close to you and start rolling. Repeat with the remaining pork slices and tofu, then lightly coat them with starch.

3. Heat cooking oil in a frying pan, place the rolls seam side down, make sure to flip the rolls so that all sides are cooked equally crisp and brown.


4. Surround the rolls with salad of your choice, and then spoon garlic flavored dressing of your choice.




My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Enjoy!!!

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ANIMENTINE - Bossa Du Anime

Do you know any Japanese Anime song?!

Lately my darling bought this refined bossa nova covers of the most popular Anime songs sung by Clémentine. It is a new style to enjoy Anime songs such as SAZAE SAN, DORAMEMON, CHIBIMARUKO CHAN, and etc... All the generations are represented in this album.

Born in Paris, Clémentine has always been surrounded by jazz thanks to her father who collected records. She started her career in 1988 at Sony France. Since then she has released many jazz, pop and bossa nova albums. Now she is the most popular French singer in Japan.

Like jazz, her songs are soothing that helps me relax. You can preview her songs HERE! Well... I hope my home suits my favorite music... I mean, it's pretty messy to relax!!!

Anyway, have a good time!!!

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Taberu La-Yu

La-Yu or Ra-Yu (辣油) is chili-infused sesame oil (a type of chili oil) that we use in Japan as a cooking ingredient or as a condiment. It is usually made by heating a non-volatile oil with spices, let cool, add sesame oil, and store in sterile glass container for few days to mellow.

La-Yu is mostly used for gyoza sauce with soy sauce and vinegar to give a hint of hot taste. It can be used for soups and stir-fries, too!

Taberu La-Yu, which means "Edible La-Yu", is true to it's name EDIBLE! You can eat it as is because it is not as hot as regular La-Yu. Instead, Taberu La-Yu contains shredded or minced savory ingredients, such as leeks, garlic, ginger, and onions.

Now this Taberu La-Yu stormed Japan! In different packaging and ingredients, I see it at stores everywhere. I've tried this Taberu La-Yu lately and was great! Without doubt, it went well with white rice!!! Of course, you can use it as a relish!

Try it out if available :D

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Looking for Childhood Photos

This weekend, my darling and I both went back to our own family home to find childhood photos of ourselves. My darling went all the way back to his hometown (in Hikone) to find his.

As you might know, we need to create a childhood photo montage video presentation which will be shown at our wedding reception. In Japan, photo montage presentation is the highlight of entertainment for the guests. Combined with our favorite music, from childhood photos to dating and engagement photos, it is a special reflection on our past to tell the story of us, who eventually meet and fall in love.

Well, there were hundreds of albums at my family home so I couldn't select ones I want to use in a snap... I think I'll go back again since my family home is just a few-minute walk from where I live.

Yeah, our doggy was doing fine. I saw Tamagawa Fireworks from home which we saw up close last year.

How was your weekend?!

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Juicy Tender Simmered Eggplant and Shimeji

This is my favorite recipe! Shimeji is a Japanese mushroom which is rich in umami (savoriness) tasting compounds such as guanylic acid, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid. I combined it with hon-dashi (packaged dashi powder) to give more of umami for eggplant to absorb! This tender eggplant really works up our appetite and goes great with white rice. Mmm yummy :P

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Juicy Tender Simmered Eggplant and Shimeji

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 15min
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
200g (0.4lb.) shimeji mushroom
200g (0.4lb.) Japanese eggplant
100g (0.2lb.) ground beef and pork
A
* 2 tbsp. soy sauce
* 1 tbsp. mirin (sweet sake)
* 1 tbsp. sake
* 1 tsp. hon-dashi (packaged dashi powder)
* 1 tsp. grated shoga (ginger root)
* a pinch of sugar
sesame oil

Directions:
1. Chop eggplant into chunks and soak them in water to remove the oxalic acid and drain. Remove tough base of shimeji mushroom and break into bite-sized chunks.
2. Heat sesame oil in a pan, cook (stir around) ground beef and pork, add A, eggplant, and shimeji mushroom, and simmer until the liquid is almost gone and tender.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Have a good weekend!

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Yukari Marinated Cucumber

Do you know Yukari (Red Perilla) Rice Seasoning?

Yukari is tangy blend based on red shiso leaves (red perilla plant). A flexible and flavorful traditional Japanese-style seasoning to sprinkle over rice, pasta and salads. I think most Japanese have it in their kitchen. It is good at everything!!!

Here, I will show you super easy recipe using Yukari. What other ingredient you need is Japanese cucumber. It looks like the picture on the right. You can also use English cucumber or mini cucumber. Those are close to it!

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Yukari Marinated Cucumber

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 5min or less
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
1 Japanese cucumber
a pinch of Yukari (Red Perilla) Rice Seasoning

Directions:
1. Partially strip the cucumber skin with a peeler (it just makes look good so not required), place the plastic wrap over the cucumber and beat them using a rolling pin.

2. Tear cucumber into pieces, sprinkle Yukari and toss lightly.





My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Yeah, you can use Ume Furikake (sour pickled plum rice seasoning) instead.
Have a good one!!!

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Stir-Fried Watermelon Rind

We have sweltering days (temperatures have been above 35C/95F )almost daily. On such a day, I recommend you to eat a watermelon. It is very good for your health! It helps to beat the summer heat! Sugar (fructose and glucose) of watermelon gives you a power to your tired body. Also, it purifies your body. It eliminates toxins from your body and has antioxidant properties!

However, what do you do with the watermelon rind?! Do you throw it away?! Then, I have a good recipe that goes good with white rice ;)



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Stir-Fried Watermelon Rind

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 20min
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
200g (0.44lb.) watermelon rind (white part only)
1 tsp. salt
100g (3.5oz.) thinly sliced pork
50g (1.8oz.) carrot
100g (3.5oz.) bean sprouts
6 Chinese chive
small piece (about 1/2 inch) of shoga (ginger root)
A
* 1/2 tbsp. honey
* 1/2 tbsp. sake
* 1 tbsp. soy sauce
cracked black pepper
1/2 tbsp. starch
1/2 tbsp. sesame oil

Directions:
1. Remove hard green rind and weigh the white part on a scale. You may leave a bit of red portion.



2. Cut the watermelon rind (1.) into short and thin strips. Sprinkle salt over the strips, let stand for 5 minutes until soft and watery, then squeeze out excess water.


3. Also, cut the pork and carrot into strips. Trim the bean sprouts at both ends if you prefer. Cut Chinese chive into 2 inches long. Cut shoga into thin strips.


4. Heat sesame oil in a frying pan, fry shoga until fragrant, add pork, carrot, bean sprouts, and watermelon rinds, and Chinese chive in order. Add A and stir-fry until the seasonings blend, turn off the heat, add starch with the same amount of water, heat again to thicken the sauce, then sprinkle cracked black pepper to finish.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Have a good day!

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JVC Victor Inner-Ear Headphones HA-FXC71

Recently, I bought JVC Victor's high quality inner-ear headphones because my bling-bling ones didn't fit well in my ears and I felt uncomfortable listening to music...

These headphones were released on June 6, 2010 in Japan and awarded the Visual Grand-Prix prize for 2010!

Actually, I couldn't imagine paying over 50 bucks for the headphones but these were worth to buy. The sound quality is superb! You can truly enjoy your favorite music!!! My bling-bling ones cost me 20 bucks but was no use... I was fooled by the cute look!

- "Dual Cylinder Structure" cuts down the vibration loss
The vibration loss is decreased by "Metal Housing" adoption of a high rigidity stainless material in addition to "Dual Cylinder Structure" with built-in brass ring with large specific gravity in a hyperbaric body, and a clear sound in which the presence overflows clearly is reproduced.



- The "Vibration Control Gel" suppresses touch noise
The "Vibration Control Gel" is built in the body. An unnecessary vibration is decreased, and the touch noise transmitted from the code is suppressed.

- Silicon ear pieces come in 3 sizes
S, M, and L. Easy to wear and fit well.



What kind of headphones do you have?

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Yukata Dinner and Fireworks

On Saturday, my darling asked me to wear Yukata (casual summer kimono) for dinner. At first, I refused to wear it because I forgot how to wear it and was very muggy outside. My darling at last searched for an instruction at YouTube and taught me how... it took about an hour to wear it but I was happy with it. He-he :D

When we arrived at the restaurant, there were few people wearing Yukata. I wondered why but we enjoyed the night view of Tokyo Tower! Yes, it was a romantic place to celebrate our 7th anniversary. Then after few minutes, I saw fireworks in distance!!! It was Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks Festival!!! What a surprise!!!

PRIVATE TABLE Mitamura is located in Ebisu. They serve Japanese prix-fixe menus using seasonal ingredients. The owner said they served foods at their best so that we can enjoy foods even if it rained and missed fireworks. Yeah, needless to say, everything was superb!!!

Thanks to my darling. It was such a memorable anniversary :D

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How Do You Organize Your Reward and Club Cards

I know I don't have to carry all my reward and club cards but what if the need arises?! Therefore I carry around those cards just in case...

I used to keep them in my wallet but my wallet finally overstuffed. So, later, I moved all those cards into an envelope. But as you know, an envelope is made of paper so it kept on breaking once in a while...

Then I came up with this idea!!! I bought a pencil case and put all those cards, and even coupons in it! I know there is a card case with dividers, but those are pretty bulky. Anyway, there are many cute pencil cases around, so you'll enjoy carrying it with you ;)

Now I can close my wallet without hassle!!!

Yeah, I love those cards with punch holes. I attach them to my key chain without question!

How Do You Organize Your Reward and Club Cards?

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