foursquare

Today, I found an interesting site called foursquare and created an account there out of interest.

Foursquare on your phone gives you & your friends new ways of exploring your city. Earn points & unlock badges for discovering new things... Foursquare lets you leave tips (cafes, parks, museums, bars, etc... or you can add your own venue) for your friends to discover when they check-into places. You should leave tips to let people know about your favorite experiences - foods to try, drinks to order, things to do, artwork to see... really, anything you find amazing.

Isn't it cool?! But, lately, there are too many ways to exchange information with your friends over the Internet. I don't know whether I'm gonna keep this account or not...

Anyway, how many accounts do yo you have and how often do you check or update them?!

I have an account at here (blogger), twitter, facebook, foodbuzz, cookpad, orangepage, mixi, plus many other sites... I check and update about 5 accounts a day... Crazy, hah?!

It is very warm today. High is 65F (17C)! But tomorrow it will drop down to high F50s (10Cs). Need to be careful not to catch a cold!

Hula tonight! Bye for now :D

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Nano Care EH-SA42

Nano Care EH-SA42 is Panasonic's latest beauty appliance, which was launched last November. You can use it over the makeup while at work (at your desk) or watching TV :D

Mostly, ionic steamers require you to fill them with water, but this product keeps your surroundings moist by collecting moisture in the air! Don't you think it's cool!? Thus, if you turn on this item, you won't suffer from dry skin throughout the day.

Last Christmas, I received it from santa (my darling) and set it on my desk at work ;) I sometimes felt lazy to go to work, but now, if I think I'm going to a spa everyday, I don't mind it at all. I'm at my desk almost 8 hours a day, so I think I'm fully taking an advantage of it! For those who don't want to go to work, I recommend you to set this item on your desk. Ha-ha!!!

Anyway, talking about the result, not a drastic change, but I think it keeps my skin moisturized! Better than nothing, right?!

Let's spend our time wisely ;D

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Voice Band for the iPhone

This is such a funny application!
After watching at this video, my darling bought it at 350yen ($3.50)...

A new iPhone app that turns your voice into an instrument in real time. You sing into the iPhone, and it turns your voice into a guitar, a bass, synth, etc. The entire song in the video is created with just a voice singing into the iPhone.



Voice Band doesn't simply change your voice to sound like an instrument, it actually plays a real sampled instrument which follows your singing. Want to jam to a guitar solo with your favorite bands? Voice Band lets you play along with your iPod library, too!

This sounds cool! Maybe I can use the mic to enjoy karaoke :D
Anyway, I don't think my darling can fully use this app...
I sometimes don't understand how he spends his money. Ha-ha.

What do you think?!
Let's say you have an iPhone, do you wanna get this app?!

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Hiroshimayaki

On Saturday, we found a newly opened yummy hiroshimayaki restaurant near station. Hiroshimayaki is a Japanese pancake (similar to okonomiyaki) containing a variety of ingredients with soba. We sat at the counter, in front of the grill to warm up :D



A pile of cabbage strips were flattened in few minutes. We added scallion topping, which was really refreshing and delicious. At this restaurant you can pick udon instead of soba! Maybe we can try udon next time :D

I guess the restaurant is managed by young cooks, but they cook their very best, so everything was delicious. I hope they maintain that hard work forever!!!

I found an interesting sake called 伊根満開 (inemankai). It's a red rice sake! It was sweeter than regular sake like Chinese 紹興酒, but was not strongly scented like 紹興酒. Maybe I want to try this again, when I go back!

BTW, yesterday, I cooked and took photos of 14 new recipes.
Damn tired today!!!

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Soy Milk

How often do you drink soy milk?

I used to drink it only once in a while when I felt like drinking. But half a year ago, I won soy milk for a half year and received a box full of soy milk cartons every month, so I started to drink it almost everyday! I first didn't think of drinking and gave all cartons to my mom before they expire, but I knew soy milk is good for our health, so I started to make a soy milk smoothie every morning!!!

Soy milk is a beverage made from soybeans. It contains about the same amount of protein as cow's milk, far less saturated fat than cow's milk, and isoflavones which is good for rejuvenation (I think jose likes this!). In addition to these benefits, I knew it also lowers blood cholesterol levels. Like I wrote before, my blood cholesterol levels were rising year by year and I was kind of worried... but since I started to drink soy milk, they reduced!!! At the same time I went to the GYM, so maybe that was effective, too! Anyway, all attractive nutrients are contained in soy milk, so I'm loving it now. He-he!

My smoothie recipe is really easy. You mix 1 frozen banana + 1 small cup (100g) of flavored yogurt + 200ml of soy milk in a blender! It serves two, so I gave half to my darling ;) I sometimes add a spoonful of collagen powder to mine :D

Changing my story, I have laser hair removal appointment tonight and a hair cut appointment tomorrow... Then I need to create more than 10 new recipes this weekend! Whew... I don't know why I made such a hard schedule like this... Damn!!!

I hope I am okay...

Have a relaxing weekend ;)

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bombón de higo - rabitos royale

Last week, my darling bought a box of fig bonbons called "Rabitos Royale"!

In a thin layer of chocolate, there is a big fig stuffed with soft cognac (brandy) ganache! Mmm! Happy yummy taste :D

Don't you think it is healthier to eat a chocolate with dried fruit?!

Anyway, I gained 2 pounds after the new year's holiday!!! I think we for sure gain weight afterwards... like after a week or so!

The low today is 28.4°F (-2°C). Brrrrr.

Gonna go out for lunch with my co-worker now :D
Maybe first time in 6 months with her!!!

See ya!!!

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Damn Perfectionist...

Yesterday, I realized that I was cooking my best in the other direction. I sometimes misunderstand things when not explained clearly. Am I offbeat?!

I love to create things but I'm currently under huge pressure... I think I need to stop everything, relax, and start it over again X(

I just had a "good luck shrimp tempura udon" at Ajinomingei yesterday, but here comes this result... I hope good luck comes after the bad one!

Okay!!! I'm gonna replan everything for January this afternoon.

Jo knows... perfectionist is not easy!

Good luck to me!!!

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AVATAR

Have you already seen the movie AVATAR?!

My darling and I finally saw it on Saturday (in 3D again)! Actually, he was waiting to see it for a long time but we just didn't have a chance. The movie was interesting. I first thought 3 hours are long but it wasn't!

For me, the story was like Princess Mononoke. God of the nature helping the hero at last... What was interesting is that Avatar Program is like a RPG game (role-playing game). It enables people to link with their own Avatar while they close eyes (sleep?!), then train and fight... There is a romance, too. I guess guys love this sort of movies. My darling loved it and he said he wants to see it again.

BTW, try this Avatarize Yourself... If you saw AVATAR, this is super funny!!! I couldn't help laughing!!! I will suggest you not to try it at work! Ha-ha-ha!!!

Anyway, how was your weekend?! Mine was really fast. I can't believe it is already mid January. Time flies...

See you again :D

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This Video Can Read Your Mind - Right Brain vs Left Brain

My darling showed me an interesting video the other day.

Do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?



I first saw it anti-clockwise, but after a while I saw it clockwise and couldn't see it the other way any more. How about you?!

The Right Brain vs Left Brain test!
If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa. Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bq88I4DOD4

Anyway, how many people realized that I stupidly misspelled the title of my last post?! Ha-ha!!!

I think I need to rest a bit.

Monday is a holiday (Coming-of-Age Day) again!
Have a good weekend :D

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Year-End Eatings in Kyoto!

Hi there! I am extremely drowsy now... so for a break, I will post about foods I had at the end of 2009.

On 12/28 my darling and I went to Otsu to say hello to my father's side grandmother. For breakfast, we had a Japanese set breakfast menu at Shinagawa station in Tokyo. Then when we arrived at Otsu, we had soba for lunch. We went to buy delicious miso at 九重みそ (Kokonoemiso)! Their white miso is rich and mild, so my family always get it for the New Year's white miso zoni!

At night, we moved to Kyoto and met my mother's side grandmother at the hotel. When we arrived there, it was already dinner time, so we went to a yummy kushiyaki (a Japanese type of skewered meats and vegetables) restaurant called 串まんま (Kushimanma). My dad loves this restaurant, so he've been here for many times! We brought our wine for drink :D


On 12/29, we bought our breakfast at a popular bakery called FRIANDISE! Their cutlet sandwich was super delicious! The meat was not greasy at all and really nice and thick!!! I took a pic with my grandma and my youngest sister. BTW, my middle sister didn't come to Kyoto since she had to work. Sorry that she missed all these yummy foods...

After breakfast, we realized we ate too much, so my dad suggested us to take a walk at Kyoto Imperial palace park (Kyoto Gyoen national garden), where I danced hula the other day ;) I don't have any pic at all, but after the walk, we had lunch with my darling's parents! It was for the first for my parents to see them. I got little nervous, but everything went fine :D Both parents agreed about our wedding reception! Whew!!!

Then after lunch, my darling and I went to shop at Shijo Street (a huge shopping street in Kyoto). I think we walked there for about 5 hours. Good exercise!!! Then for dinner, we joined my parents and had sukiyaki (nabe-style dish with sliced beef) at モリタ屋 (Moritaya). Their sukiyaki is totally awesome! I hate raw egg, but believe it or not, it was super delicious!!! I took pics of how they cooked it in front of us :D

On 12/30, my darling and I moved to Hikone to see my darling's parents again. We had lunch at obanzai restaurant called 京百菜 (Kyohyakusai). Obanzai is small appetizer dishes that usually goes good with white rice. The restaurant was buffet style, so I ate as much as I can. Whew... When we arrived at Hikone, we said hello to my darling's grandparents! Actually, it was for the first time to see them. For dinner, we had yakiniku at a restaurant called Ibukitei. Their meats were really soft and delicious. OMG, I ate too much again!!! The green tea Swiss roll was a souvenir for his parents. Of course we had it at night :P

Then on 12/31, we went back to Tokyo. For souvenir from Hikone, I bought 糸切餅 (itokirimochi), which is a famous rice cake with salty read bean paste. We bought special bento sold at Maibara station for lunch and had it on the train back to Tokyo.



Lots of eatings!!! I think I need to exercise a lot before I put on fat!

Oh no, I'm still way behind on replies... I will catch up soon!

I gotta go now. See you again!

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Big Clam Spaghetti @ Mia Angela

Hi! I am still busy with many stuff but want to post this before I forget :D

Yesterday, my darling finished his work earlier than usual, so we decided to go out for a dinner after work. We met at a train station and shopped around for a few minutes. When I opened my wallet, I found a winning ticket of lotto that I haven't cashed yet. I knew that I won 3,000yen ($30) but thought I have time, so I didn't care about it. Just in case, I happened to look at the back and found it should be cashed by 1/5/2010! It was already 19:00 at that time. We searched the closest lottery stands but all were closed. So, we headed to a bigger station in Shinjuku! The stand was open, but the cashable time was over at 19:00. We asked the salesclerk, but shook her head, which means NO!!! We told her that we miraculously won 3,000. Then luckily, she said okay, and we received the winning amount! Yay!!!

We upgraded our dinner idea and went to our favorite restaurant called "Mia Angela". As I mentioned before, the restaurant uses farm fresh ingredients from Hokkaido and cook them in the Italian way! We ordered red sea bream carpaccio and big clam spaghetti from today's special, and carbonara.

Like oyster, I hate clam but their seafood is distinct! I think I could overcome my dislikes there :D

You can also enjoy wines at a reasonable price. Barbaresco was recommended on this day. It was rich but refreshing with nice aroma. I wish I could go there again.

We used our cash and paid 10 bucks each! What a nice dinner!!! Plus, I bought pink leopard-print pattern blanket at 300yen ($3) as a memory at at a store near station. He-he ;)

I have a lot more to write! I will write about Kyoto soon.

Have a good day!!!

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Mele Hula Kalikimaka @ YouTube

While in Kyoto, my darling took a video of my hula as usual. I danced at Kyoto Imperial palace park (Kyoto Gyoen national garden). He-he :P Actually, I danced more than 3 times to complete it without a big mistake. Sorry if my steps are unsteady... I haven't practiced enough, plus it was really freezing on this day X(

Mele Hula Kalikimaka is a Christmas song.
Like before, I posted it on my YouTube account.
Please enjoy my belated Christmas hula dancing :D

I will only show this video to my blog buddies who keep in touch with me on a regular basis or Tipness club members who took this "hula hula" class. Please send me a request from my YouTube account. I will add you as my friend to share the video.

※Tipness（ティップネス）のHULA HULAで習ったMele Hula Kalikimaka（メレ フラ カリキマカ）の振り付けをビデオに記録♪Mele Hula Kalikimakaはシンガーでクムフラ（古典フラの継承者）Sandii（サンディー）さんのアロハセラピーな楽曲です。見たい方はリクエストメッセージを下さい☆

Thanks for those who have already taken a look!

The new term has started from this month! I attended the class yesterday. The next one is a nice and slow love song! I will post a video again after 3 months when I completed the term ;)

Finally, I am starting to write my post.
I will write about Kyoto shortly :D

See ya!!!

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Happy New Year 2010

I'm writing my post finally! I hope everyone is doing fine.

My darling and I came back from Kyoto on 12/31. We had a lot of yummy foods there!!! I hope I can post them later.

Anyway, new year's holidays are passing very fast! We have only 2 days left until the first day of work...

As usual, I cooked new year's food (osechi ryori). This year, I used ingredients which my mom bought at Nishiki Ichiba: famous shopping streets in Kyoto.

I cooked white miso zoni (a Japanese new year's soup containing mochi rice cakes) along with it. Believe it or not, mochi rice cake in this zoni tastes nice if you dip it into kinako (soybean flour with sugar). I saw this on TV and tried it and was great!

I wish you a full of health and lots of smile throughout the year 2010 :D

Talk to you later!

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Mele Kalikimaka!!!

Aloha!

We had an exciting hula class last night! We all dressed for Christmas. I wore reindeer horns. Crazy! He-he :D It was the last class of the year, so some classmates brought cameras! Damn! I forgot it!!! But a girl sent me a copy last night. Thanks!!!

After the class, it was already late at night. My darling was working late, so we shared some small cakes to celebrate Christmas. Actually, my darling didn't have a plan to get a cake, so I asked him to get one!!! Since I already had many cakes this month, it wasn't my intention. I just wanted him to get something to celebrate our Christmas! You know what I mean?!

Of course, I danced hula for him again :D
I will post a video when I get a chance to make one in a nice location!

Anyway, I'm not sure how many times I can come back here this year, since we are leaving for Kyoto on Monday. Our parents are going to meet together for the first time! Makes us little nervous!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :D

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