B Never Too Busy to be Beautiful

Hi! It was very warm yesterday and today as well! The high is 66F (19C)!!! But the temp will drop down to high 48F (9C) tomorrow :(

Yesterday, my sister gave me a lip gloss and an eyeshadow brush for my birthday present. She brought to my home because we don't see each other that often. Maybe I haven't seen her since this spring!!! I like the brand name: B Never Too Busy to be Beautiful. They are from London. She told me that they are now popular in Japan and many fashion magazines feature them. I love glittering stuff, so they are my taste! Thanks!!!

Well, speaking of the professional bathroom cleaning, it was great! Now our bathroom is almost brand new. No mold or water stain! My boyfriend was surprised, too, because last year he spent half a day to clean the bathroom, and so do I the year before! Thanks for the professional, he cleaned it in 2 hours!!!

Tonight, we have a company year-end party again. I wish I could skip it... too boring, to tell the truth!

Then, tomorrow is a holiday (The Emperor's Birthday). Yay! I'm gonna have my hair cut (just a little bit), maybe for the first time in 5 months.
Yes. Never too busy to be beautiful! Ha-ha!!!

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My Accomplishments

Hello! It is cold again today but sunny.
I will list my accomplishments as usual.

On 11/17, my "Cod and Daikon Tomato Juice Nabe" was selected to appear on recipe cards distributed at Jusco (AEON group supermarket). It is available during the month of December.






On 12/7, I again won the Outstanding Performance Award at Asahi Food & Healthcare's diet recipe contest. They manufacture health care products, yeast extract, organic foods, and freeze-dried foods, such as chunky ingredients, aim to be a creator of wholesome living styles. I submitted my "Healthy Microwave Korean Burger".

On 12/7, it wasn't a contest, but I won 2lb (1kg) of whole rice (which is rich in nutrients). We eat rice everyday, so to tell the truth, rice is the best prize next to cash!!!!






On 12/10, my "Stir-Fried Beef, Vegetable, and Almond in Pumpkin Basket" was introduced as the 1st place in the newsletter published by cookpad.com. Every Wednesday, based on a certain theme, top three recipes are introduced there. On that week, the theme was "julienne". Thanks for selecting my recipe!


On 12/15, my "Thai-Style Shrimp, Broccoli, and Pineapple Spring Rolls" won the grand prize at Dole's fruit bottle recipe contest organized by Cookpad. Dole has newly released convenient fruit bottles, which are easier to save than canned ones!




On 12/17, I won a bottle of olive oil by submitting my "Black Olive and Carrot Steamed Forbidden Rice". TRA NOI, online Italian grocery store has asked us for olive oil recipes to promote the usage of olive oil.





On 12/18, I found my "Vegetable Dashi Teriyaki Beef Rolls" is introduced at Kamada's website. They have many dashi broth based soy sauce products and every year I submit them some recipes using their products when they organize contests. One of my recipes was luckily recommended!

However, because of the economic slump, there are only a few cash-prize-contests, this time none was cash as usual :(

Now, the cleaner came to clean our bathroom. Year by year, stains are getting persistent, so I decided to ask the professional! We need to start our year-end housecleaning momentarily as well!!!

I hope I can go to Shibuya to shop the Christmas sale this afternoon!

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The Effects of the Recession: Peacock Store and Cafe La Mille

Hello! The high is 60F (16C) and very sunny today ;)
My boyfriend came home last night but I still didn't feel good...

Yesterday, I went to see my orthodontist again because my braces broke... I think I should stay away from granola. Anyway, I always make small talk with the doctor. In the midst of conversation, he told me eye-opening news! The supermarket (Peacock Store) near my home is going to close down in the end of January!!! As far as I know, that store was there for more than 5 years (since I lived there)... I saw many stores winding-up on TV but never thought of my neighborhood being hit by the recession :( I need to take pictures before they close. I found some on the net but not in my album!!!

Next to the supermarket, there is my favorite cafe called Cafe La Mille. They are going to close down as well... Their spacious space makes me feel at home. I love their salad platter!!! This is the place where I brainstorm my recipe ideas. I have a houseful of memories there :( Again, I haven't taken many pictures. I need to take my camera with me this weekend!!!

But yes, to tell the truth, many people now go near station to spend their time because there are some shops and restaurants in a shopping mall called CORTY, opened in September 2006. Of course I go there, too.

I hope the economy won't get worse...

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Weird Curry Snacks

Hi! It is raining and we are in the high 50Fs (10Cs) today.

Sometimes, my co-workers buy something weird for souvenir. Few weeks ago, one guy bought "curry flavored ramune (lemon pop)" from Yokosuka. The catch line says "Indian will be amazed" but it amazes Japanese, too! First, it has a sweet taste, but pretty hot and spicy afterwards in your mouth and stomach! Yuck!!!

Another souvenir was "soup curry caramel" from Hokkaido. The package says "meditation version"... Yes. Truly hope I could forget this flavor... It is also sweet at first but spicy, like you eating caramel with curry powder! Ew!!!

There are many weird snack souvenirs in Japan everywhere!!! Never will buy again, but newsy, right?!

Changing my topic, last night, I had a fight with my boyfriend while texting... He didn't come home... I was frustrated with something... of course my supervisor, he is slow + he has a bad breath (he smokes), which makes me more frustrated during the meeting!!! Sorry my honey...

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Bean Recipe Contest

Last week I took total of 3 days off, so it was kind of busy yesterday at work...

Funny, but I didn't feel like going to the gym so I skipped. In this way, I might work out hard the next time, though!

On 12/12, I attended the bean cook-off, which I have been trying for 3 years! 10 people were selected from among 2000 applicants!!! I should be glad to go to the finals... but I received an honorable mention, which made me feel bit frustrated because it means "not chosen" :(

By the way, my recipe is 5-A in the left image: "Deep-Fried Tofu Stuffed Triple Beans Minced Cutlet".

After all, there's a bunch of task! I thought I should have submitted the other recipes, etc... You know what I mean!?

Anyway, this contest was on a high level! There were many to learn from the participants, who seem to attend this kind of cook-off regularly!

Oh boy. It is freezing today. I saw a thick frost this morning! The temp dropped down to the high 49F (10C)!

Stay warm everybody!!!

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My Birthday @ Huis Ten Bosch

Hi! I'm back!!!

From 12/9 to 12/10, my boyfriend and I went to Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki prefecture for my birthday. Why we went there is, in June, my fritter with sea bream won the grand prize at asahi beer's contest. The prize for the contest was a pair of train tickets, lunch coupons, and a hot spring tickets in Kyushu. First, I didn't think I could use this prize, but luckily we decided to go there since the plane tickets were real cheap!

Huis Ten Bosch is the world’s finest European style flower resort. In English, Huis Ten Bosch means “House in the forest.” And true to its name this residential-style resort has canals running throughout, is surrounded by greenery, forests, amusements, shops, restaurants, five distinct hotels, a marina and residential area. You could get away from the routine!

There is a tower called "domtoren" with a full view of the luxurious resort! We went up there twice, both daytime and night.






In winter, they don't have many flowers but beautiful illuminations! The town is glittered with lights. Many gorgeous Christmas trees can be found here and there. Lot's of fun!




We had a lunch at a restaurant called Cascade in ANA Hotel JR Huis Ten Bosch. Seated in the atrium, the 3-storey windows allow expansive views of the quaint buildings and glittering canals of Huis Ten Bosch. We enjoyed very healthy prix-fixe menu using local food ingredients.




After the lunch, we had a drawing. I won the last place but my boyfriend won the 2nd prize, which was a pair of dinner tickets in the same hotel. So we had a dinner at a teppanyaki restaurant called Oumurawan. They have two exciting views. The first is the skillful knife technique of the tableside chef as selected beef, fresh seafood and local vegetables are prepared to the order. The second view is the twinkling lights at night. Luckily we could see a beautiful fireworks from the restaurant window.

After dinner, we kicked back and soaked in the hot spring. We had so much fun! Relaxing time with no Internet or people jam!

By the way, they give you a cute bear brooch for birthday people. If you wear it, everybody celebrates you and say "Happy Birthday", which is cool ;)


Today, the high in Tokyo is 59F (15C) and pretty warm. I like this bearable weather! Now I am leaving for the bean contest. Taking a day off again.

See you next week ;)

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L'OCCITANE Immortelle Very Precious Cream Noel Gift

Finally! I got the L'OCCITANE's Immortelle series on the weekend! What I got is "L'OCCITANE Immortelle Very Precious Cream Noel Gift" which includes, Essential Face Water, Very Precious Concentrate, and Very Precious Cream! In addition, I got "Very Precious Eye Serum". Total of about 27,000yen ($270)! But this set saves 5,000yen ($50) and there was a refund of 6% ;) Thank you jose! L'OCCITANE is very popular in Japan (they have a presence nationwide), but I didn't realize it until she recommended it to me. I tried more than 5 times (made 5 trips to get some samples, ha-ha), so I am sure those agree with my skin! I still use my KOSE skin care, so I just bought L'OCCITANE's night series. Let's see how I can change...

Anyway, tomorrow (12/9) is my birthday! My boyfriend and I took 2 days off to visit HUIS TEN BOSCH: the world’s finest flower resort in Nagasaki prefecture (in Kyushu). We'll also make a brief stop in Fukuoka, jo!
The weather tomorrow in Nagasaki now says cloudy, fair later! The temp is higher, too! The high is 64F (18C)!!! Last week, the forecast showed rain, so I was disappointed... Tokyo is rain instead but not in the morning! Great!!!! I hope I can relax without thinking of cooking!!!

I think I am going to be very busy this week. Especially on Friday, I have to attend the bean cook-off! I thought it was on 12/19, but was wrong... glad I noticed! Also, company year-end party is on the same day. Plus I need to fix my bank mag card... somehow, it won't read since yesterday. I can't get cash! :( How inconvenient that bank counter closes after 5!

I hope everything will turn out fine...

Bye for now :)
I need to charge batteries for my camera!

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My Accomplishments

Hello. The wind is in the south, so we have very warm and comfortable temperature. Needless to say, it is going to rain in the afternoon :(

As usual, I will list my recent accomplishments.

On 11/7, I finally won the grand prize at QBB's cheese recipe contest! QBB is a company located in Kobe. They manufacture and sell cheese and milk products. Also they sell nuts, margarine, and chocolates (such as Lindt). Every year they ask people for recipes using their products. I have been applying for this contest since 2006, and finally I did it! My awarded recipe is "Cheese in Pork Ball, Black Vinegar Sauce".

On 12/1, I won the cranberry award at Cookpad's cranberry recipe contest. The top prize was Home Bakery which I wrote before. Like I said, I put a lot of effort into it, but it was just my luck... Anyway, my "Chinese Style Cranberry Steamed Rice" was awarded.




On 12/1, my "Christmas Shiratama Dumplings, Healthy Tofu Custard" was posted on Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg)'s website. They asked me and others who regularly post recipes to create sample Christmas recipes using their egg. Shiratama is mochi-like dessert dumplings. I poured a mixture made from tofu + egg + sugar + vanilla flavoring. It really tastes like custard ;)

Then on 12/3, my seasoning recipe received a prize at kondateclub: the site introduces seasonal dishes. Every month, they ask for some recipes based on a topic. I sometimes apply for it, but I never got a grand prize and this time as well. I need to try again. My awarded seasoning is balsamic vinegar + sesame oil. It is really good! I have some recipes using this seasoning:
- Italian Gimbap
- Italian Japanese Natto
- Japanese Balsamic Salmon Tartar Sandwich
- Sesame Balsamic Cream Cheese Sandwich
Sorry, those recipes are in Japanese...

This week I was going to translate my recipe but didn't have a chance to :( I will try the next week!

Yesterday, I had eyelash extensions done! 55 eyelashes for each! They last for 10-30 days depending on how you care!!! You can't use mascara, scrub your eyes, sleep on your tummy... etc. Honestly, too much to care! To keep beauty is not easy.

Again, I'm gonna see my friend after a long time this afternoon. Hope it won't rain hard...
Have a good weekend :)

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