10 Days Until Our Wedding Date!

Wedding Countdown at WiddlyTinks.com

Believe it or not, we only have 10 days left until our wedding reception!!! I just checked the menu and order of precedence for printing. Our photo montage video and end-title roll are almost done. Oh boy, I have to fix my hair and makeup plan! Also we have to practice our vows and write letters to our parents! So many things are left behind!!! My darling is still busy with his work... I hope he helps me the rest this weekend...

Let's hope for the best.

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Sushi Delivery

How often do you order out for food?

Today we have a nice fall weather but last weekend it rained so hard that we didn't feel like going out, so we ordered out for sushi!!!

My favorite sushi delivery service is "銀のさら(gin no sara)". My favorite menu is Bara Chirashi: a bowl of sushi rice with toppings scattered over. Yummy!!! If you live in Japan, you definitely have to order their sushi!!! Also, the same group runs kamameshi delivery service and that's great, too!!!

I always thank to the deliverer who delivers us food on such a bad weather X(

Have a good day!!!

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Fante Yunker 3B Drink

Have you ever tried an energy drink?

Yesterday, while I took a day off, I tried Fante Yunker 3B Drink! Yeah, it worked on me!!! I really felt restorative!!!

Actually, I once tried this kind of energy drink few years ago but I realized it doesn't eliminate fatigue if I take it every day, so I depend on it once in a very while when I'm really tired.

Sato Pharmaceutical has a lineup for their Yunker energy drinks. What I bought was Yunker for business - fatigue level one (the cheapest one), but it still healed my tiredness :) What if I bought Yunker level three?!

Supplementation of vitamin B1 in the following situations: when physical fatigue, pregnancy and lactation, when the reduction of physical fitness during disease convalescence.
* relief following symptoms: neuralgia, myalgia, joint pain (back pain, stiff neck, stiff shoulder etc.), numbness in limbs, constipation, eye strain.
* beriberi

Let's work hard but there is nothing more valuable than good health!!!

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A Day Off...

I am taking a day off today...
The reason is very simple. I got tired (and stressed out) due to the lack of sleep and lack of time!

Last night, my darling said he's gonna start creating the end-title roll (for our wedding) a day before the due date which I thought is impossible since it took me more than a week to create our profile photo montage video!!! I know my darling is busy with his job but creating a movie is not that easy, you know!!! That's why I had to add this video task on top of the previously scheduled tasks and got stressed out!!!

Of course, to benefit my day off, I will attend the day class of hula today.

I hope I could relieve my stress...

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FedEx Kinko's

It was raining cold yesterday. Believe it or not, the temp dropped down to 66F (19C) from 95F (35C) of the previous day!!!

On such a day, we had to visit Kinko's to print out our wedding stuff since our printer broke X(

It was my darling's idea to go to Kinko's and was a right choice!!! For copying, printing, digital photo enlargements, color printing, business services and shipping, Kinko's stores provide a number of self-service features (besides full-service features) to help you finish your job quickly in a professional way.

Yes! We finished printing 80 copies in few minutes!!! If I get wound up in details, I didn't like the page margins it created, but the quality was fine and if I imagine myself spending enormous time printing those at home, that's not a big deal... I'm saying to myself. Ha-ha!!!

Anyway, I will definitely use Kinko's again for our new year's card and removal notice card, considering the page margins the next time!!!

Keali'i Reichel' s concert yesterday was nice and relaxing but too bad that we were busy with our wedding stuff at the back of our mind...

Have a good weekend!!!

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Kakigori - hôtel de suzuki fruits

Kakigori is a Japanese dessert made from shaved ice flavored with syrup. Usually the syrup is artificially flavored. Since early times, it is sold at food stalls at summer festivals nationwide. I used to eat it when I was small, but nowadays I don't because it sometimes changes the color of my tongue, you know :P

Last Sunday, my darling and I went to have some fruit juice at hôtel de suzuki fruits. They serve fancy fruit juices and desserts. On the menu, we found Kakigori made with fresh fruit juice and fruits!!! It was the last day for this summer to serve the Kakigori, so we ordered it without question!!! Mmm! refreshing and delicious. Of course it won't change the color of my tongue ;P

Now the high is 95F (35C) but it will drop down to 77F (25C) tomorrow. I know Autumn is nice but I somehow miss this hot weather...

Tomorrow we are going to the long-awaited Keali'i Reichel's concert.

Aloha!!!

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Jambalaya Original Recipe Contest 2010

Last Friday, on 9/17, the USA Rice Federation invited me to the finals of Jambalaya Original Recipe Contest 2010 held in Tokyo. 10 finalists cooked their original Jambalaya recipes. Mine was "Addictive La-Yu Jambalaya".

Jambalaya is a Louisiana Creole dish of Spanish and French influence. I used Taberu La-Yu for my recipe which is very popular in Japan this year!

The judges were from the USA Rice Federation, chef Kuniaki Arima from Passo a Passo (Italian Restaurant in Monzen Nakamachi, Tokyo), and a famous blogger Yummy-san!

The chef Arima was a fun person, so we could relax and cook at our own pace. Also, Yummy-san was a nice friendly person! There was a party after the contest and I could spend a lot of time with them (right top photo). I really want to thank the USA Rice Federation for this wonderful opportunity!

What I received was the special award. The prize was a dinner for two at Passo a Passo! Yay!!! Surprisingly, my recipe "Addictive La-Yu Jambalaya" was served at the buffet party, too! (left bottom image - the very right dish). Thanks!!!

The contest was broadcast live at USTREAM.

Changing my story, yesterday was a holiday, so my darling and I stayed home and worked on the wedding stuff but our scanner and printer broke X( We now realized we should do everything in advance!!!

Bye for now.

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Meiji Amino Collagen - Morning Smoothie

Meiji Amino Collagen is No. 1 collagen supplement in Japan! It contains 5000mg of 100% low-molecular fish collagen (collagen peptide) per spoon, which is 1.5 times more absorbable than pig-derived collagen, and contains only 27 kcal. Supplementing the collagen helps you maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.

I don't actually like the taste of collagen, but I found it doesn't taste much of it if you add into this smoothie!!! Since last year, my darling and I drink this smoothie in the morning. Believe it or not, we found our hair and nails got stronger!

Every weekend, I freeze bananas for weekdays. Did you know that banana is an anti-cancer fruit?!

Anyway only good ingredients are mixed in this smoothie. Why don't you try out!



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Morning Smoothie

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 3min
Number of servings: 2

Necessary Equipment:
blender / mixer

Ingredients:
1 spoon Meiji Amino Collagen
100g (4oz.) flavored yogurt of your choice (I use mixed berries or kiwi)
1 (150g) frozen banana
250cc soy milk

Directions:
1. Place everything in a blender / mixer and process until smooth.
2. Pour into a glass, serve as soon as possible.
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Good luck!!!

Oh, by the way, I will see you guys next Tuesday since I have to attend the contest tomorrow and we have a national holiday (Respect-for-Senior-Citizens Day) on Monday :D

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Healthy Pan-Fried Minced Cutlet

Thanks to all! Now over 100 people have tried my minced cutlet recipe and said yummy!!! You can find their photos and comments here :)

Do you know minced cutlet? We call it "Menchi Katsu" in Japanese. Well, it is kind of croquette, made from the mixture of ground meat (beef or pork, or both) and minced cabbage, breaded and deep-fried. Certainly my darling's favorite food, but is high in calories!!! Therefore, I came up with this idea. Instead of deep frying, I stuffed the meat in aburaage (deep-fried tofu pouch) and pan-fried it without using oil until crisp! Yummy indeed!!! My darling loves it :D

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Healthy Pan-Fried Minced Cutlet

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15min
Number of servings: 1

Ingredients:
100g (3.5oz.) ground beef and pork mixture
50g (1.7oz.) cabbage
25g (0.8oz.) onion
A
* 1 tbsp. Panko (bread crumbs)
* 1 tsp. sesame oil
* 1 tsp. soy sauce
* salt and cracked black pepper
B
* 1 tbsp. ketchup
* 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 aburaage (deep-fried tofu pouch)
vegetables of your choice

Directions:
1. Mince cabbage and onion.





2. Mix ground beef and pork mixture, (1.), and (A) in a bowl by hand until the mixture comes together and sticky.



3. Pour boiled water over aburaage to remove the excess oil. Drain and dry with paper towels. Place the abura-age on a cutting board, and roll one cooking chopstick over it to make it easy to open. Cut a side of aburaage and gently open the pocket.

4. Stuff (2.) in (3.).





5. Heat cooking oil in a frying pan, place (4.), add 2 tbsp. of water. Cover the pan and steam it on medium heat until the water is almost gone. Then open and cook until the surface is crisp and brown.

6. Cut into bite-size pieces, pour (B) mixture over them. Serve with vegetables of your choice.




My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Enjoy!

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PRODIGY POWERCELL

I recently found Helena Rubinstein's PRODIGY POWERCELL works pretty well on me. I bought it at duty free on my way to New York, attracted by its description:

PRODIGY POWERCELL, scientific prowess, is a precious skincare that stimulates the renewing of the skin for visible results. After 5 days, skin seems recreated. Skin is visibly smoother, more radiant.

Features anti-aging, stimulating & revitalizing properties.
Promotes cellular regeneration & recovers skin’s barrier function.
Accelerates epidermal tissue repair.
Protects skin cells against aging effects of free radicals.
Offers 24 hours re-hydration.
Reduces wrinkles & restores tonicity.
Unveils smoother, brighter & youthful looking complexion.

Formulated with potent antioxidant vegetal stem cells extracted from "Oceanic Crista", the serum has a soft creamy texture. Once you apply, you will notice your face becoming more smooth and your makeup going on more easily!!!

So, what is "Oceanic Crista"?

First appearing in the depths of the ocean, Oceanic Crista gradually migrated to land, eventually blooming on rocky coastlines. It is one of the rare plants able to survive on wave-beaten rocks, and to grow on land where seaspray is usually fatal for other plants, and where the soil is laden with salt. It draws water from deep down, storing it in its plump leaves, making it able to resist longer in arid conditions. Accustomed to fighting for survival over the ages, Oceanic Crista has developed an incredible resistance to time and capacities for survival.

It first sounded scary but now I regret that I should have bought the larger one...

Well, I still love KOSE and L'OCCITANE, so I'm not sure weather I should go with this from now or not. Anyway, someone tell me how to stop pimples!!! I have one under my nose. It sucks!!! Hope it goes away before my wedding.

Talk to you again!

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What Does Your Name Mean?

My name is Ami (亜美).

A (亜) is from my dad's name and the Kanji means Asia. mi (美) is from my mom's name and the Kanji means Beautiful. My parents wished me to become a beautiful person (who has a heart of gold) in Asia. What a big dream!!!

What does your name mean?

Our wedding is less than a month away from today and we finally started to organize our profiles.

Anyway, it has been already 9 years since 911. I clearly remember that I was writing my graduation thesis in that morning. What were you doing then?

This weekend, I took a pic of myself at our regular cafe, but I just realized my table was messy while I'm smiling... can't post it large...

Bye for now!





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Jello de Zero

Jello de Zero (ゼリーdeゼロ) is my recent favorite jello! As the name suggests, it has no calorie but it tastes really delicious. Among several other flavors, melon flavor was unexpectedly delicious! Filling 290 grams (10 ounces). Contains 150mg of L-carnitine (which helps burn fat). It has firm jello cubes with condensed fruit juice and aloe cubes which gives a nice texture to the taste.

Anyway, do you believe in zero calorie foods?

Me, I don't. As it is stated on the package, zero calorie refers to the product which contains under 5kcal per 100ml. Also, some researchers say zero-calorie sweeteners may change the way our body digest food, tricking it into storing more fat. Moreover, if you eat too much, it simply expands your stomach.

However, it is better than fatty foods, you know! Whenever I want to eat something sweet at night, I eat this :D

Have a good weekend!!!

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Love Heart Cutlet

My darling loves fried pork cutlet. He also loves sausage! So, I combined them together and made cute bite-size heart-shaped cutlets.

Don't you think they make your table happy?!

Try out ;)



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Love Heart Cutlet

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15min
Number of servings: 6 cutlets

Ingredients:
6 thinly sliced pork
6 sausage
salt and cracked black pepper
A
* flour
* beaten egg
* Panko (bread crumbs)
vegetable oil for frying
B
* 2 tbsp. ketchup
* 1 tsp. whole-grain mustard
* 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
tomato wedges
cabbage strips
watercress if available

Directions:
1. 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 sausage on the end of the pork close to you and start rolling diagonally to cover the sausage. Repeat with the remaining pork slices and sausage.

2. Cut the rolls diagonally, join the cut sides reversely, and join them with toothpicks to look like hearts.



3. Flour the rolls, dip in beaten egg, then roll in panko. Fry them in oil at 170C (340F) until cooked golden brown.



4. Remove the toothpicks. Mix B well. Serve cutlets with B, tomato wedges, cabbage strips, and watercress if available.




My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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After the rain last night, we had nice autumn breeze this morning.

Have a good day!!!

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Younger is Smarter

It is raining today in Tokyo after a month!

I recently saw on TV that the younger siblings are smarter. Do you think it's true? Yeah... probably. Because I have two young sisters and they are obviously good at depending on mom and dad. Can't stand watching them sometimes, but honestly... In a bad expression, they are irresponsible, but I envy them in that way sometimes.

When I was small, I complained it to my mom, but she never understood what I meant, or maybe she did but there was no way to change that situation because that is their natural behavioral tendency.

Anyway, now I left home for more than 10 years. I work with elders. Also my darling is older than me. I just realized how my sisters feel and why they act like such... Yeah, less responsibility is the cause... I hate being such since my basic idea hasn't changed but I feel more relaxed in elders...

I hope I can learn to live smart, but that requires a lot of training. Ha-ha!!!

By the way, my darling is the eldest, too. I see his brother smarter than him. Same at any household!

Are you the oldest sibling?
What do you think?!

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