Barrier Repair Baby Moist Lotion

I still haven't worn my down jacket yet, but it is getting cold and dry day by day in Tokyo. I hate the cold season because my skin dries!!! To avoid the dryness, I know I should better put layers of lotion and wait until my skin absorbs, but who wants to wait in the busy morning?! But if I skip this step, my skin always dries after I wore makeup... my skin is honest.

Anyway, last month, I got a free sample of cheap (7 bucks) lotion called Barrier Repair Baby Moist Lotion (Super Moist) from Mandom. I usually spend more (with whitening function) for my lotion, so I wasn't that interested in it at that time, but once I tried, I totally loved it!!!

Now I searched more details about the product, and found it was specialized for adult skin that tends to dry, which sounds perfect for me. Baby Moist Lotion penetrates quickly into the skin and moisturizes your skin because it contains hyaluronan which penetrates into your horny cell layer. Compared to the regular hyaluronan molecule, it's size is centesimal!!! I translated the image, so hope you get an idea :D



They have other products in line and I found their Repair Concentrate (all-in-one serum) is the best selling product. Maybe I should get a sample of it! But actually, I have my own serum, so it might not be my choice. Can't get too lazy. haha.

I don't usually write a beauty product review, but I always label my non-food-related posts under others (see left side bar), so please find more there ;) Of course, you can find my reviews on Food and Drink Products reviews there, too!!!

December is my birth month! I am receiving many birthday coupons. Best month for me to shop things :D

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ibook G3 M6411

See what this is...

I bought this ibook when I was a student. Almost 10 years ago! After 6 years, I started it up to use Photoshop... and was still doing fine! Without Internet connection, it seems not at all out date. haha.

This year, because we had a wedding, I made my original Christmas card (for friends overseas) and New Year's card (for friends in Japan) :D To save time, I bought ready-made photo frames but I wasn't 100% satisfied with the designs, so I edited them with Photoshop. I will show you the cards on the days :)

Back to ibook, it has a cute handle. At that time, it was cool if you carry it like a bag... but what if I do that now... People will think I'm crazy!!! I believe some of my blog buddies even don't know what the heck is this style. haha!

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Whatsoever!!!

I am always surprised about myself being really careless while being really careful... This weekend, many things I did which I thought are GOOD turned out REAL BAD!

My darling says I am an enthusiast. That is true. So that is why I sometimes make a huuuuuge mistake with enthusiasm! And it just happened on many things at the same time on the weekend!!! hahaha...

Whatsoever!!! (I wish I could say this...)

We've been to 笑笑 (Wara Wara) again to use the rest of the coupons we had. This time, we've been to a different branch and there their menu was not all 3 bucks. Anyway, they had different menus and we enjoyed. I don't know why but I am into edamame lately. hehe!

Good for me! No eat outs this weekdays! Gonna go to GYM this weekdays!!! ...to forget about all my damn mistakes!!!

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Caon - Aromatherapy Salon

I have tried out beauty salon treatments for a few times (LPG Cellulite Treatment and Massage Therapy for example) but none of them was worth the money to sign up...

However, lately, I had a chance to get an Aromatherapy Massage for our wedding (because the salon was located near home) and found it really suits me well!!!

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses herbal essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for the purpose of altering a person's mind, mood, cognitive function or health.
Sounds really complicated but to put it simply, VERY RELAXING!

My favorite herb combination is rose otto, geranium, and frankincense. It balances female hormones.

Lately, I had seasonal herbs combination, as well! Rose geranium and basil combination is good as season changes to winter. Rosemary and yuzu (citron) combination prevents colds and feeling of cold! It is said to be good for your body to inhale and intake seasonal herbs. Amazingly I real experienced it!

My next appointment is in the end of December. I try to go there (caon) once a month :D My darling always comes with me to have a short aromatherapy since the place is for both men and women!

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Kegani

Crab is one of my favorite foods!!!

As a prize for Quick Scallop Recipe Contest, I received Kegani (Hairy Crab or Horsehair Crab) from Hokkaido!

My darling peeled it for me since it was picked! Ouch :P How to eat Kegani is HERE. Sorry in Japanese but I hope it gives you an idea!

Change in area of production, you can enjoy crabs all year long in Hokkaido, which is amazing :D Remember it or not, we had our fill of crabs at かに本家 (Kani Honke) in Hokkaido this April. I wish I could have that again someday soon!!!

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My Calgel Nails Thereafter...

I forgot to post this, but after I removed my Calgel nails, my nails were scary looooooong!!! Of course I cut them already!!!

Now you know how strong the Calgel was! It supported my nails to grow this long. OMG!!!

It's my Guinness!!!

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Wara Wara

Compared to our anniversary dinner, our dinner yesterday was amazingly cheap!

Last night, we've been to a chain Izakaya called 笑笑 (Wara Wara). We haven't been there for ages since there is no smoke-free seat. However, we went there yesterday because I had 5,000yen ($50) value coupon which expires in the end of this month.

Wow! We didn't know all drinks and foods there are now 300yen (only 3 bucks)!!! Can you believe this huge fish (Atka Mackerel) and Omelet Soba cost only 300yen each?!

Luckily, there wasn't any customer who smokes around us, so we had these foods in a better air. I mean, it still smells a little, you know...

Of course, we couldn't use all 50 bucks, so we have to go back there again soon... but not at all bad than we thought!

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First Marital Anniversary

It's been already a year since we filed our marriage paper!!!

On 11/22, we reserved an Italian restaurant called "Passo a Passo" in Monzennakacho, which was the prize for Jambalaya Original Recipe Contest 2010.

The dinner for 2 was worth 100 bucks per person! The special course of the day was gibier. Gibier means wildlife animal. Believe it or not, we had cave bear dishes!!! The cave bears grew up on oranges, so they don't have strong taste! All dishes were amazingly delicious!!!

For Pumpkin Risotto, the owner chef Arima used Calrose (California rice) which he newly harvested in California. It went great with Mozzarella in the center! Mmm!!! I couldn't believe it's the same rice I used for the contest...

And of course, the wine they served was really great! At first, I was going to try different kinds, but I stayed with Barbera del Monferrato Superiore 2003! The wine is made of classic grapes of Italy's Piedmont region. Fruity fresh wine but has a deep aroma. I love the way it tastes casual ;)

For dessert, we had pear compote. How come the chef knew that it was our anniversary!? On our plates, he wrote "Auguri (congrats)" and "Buena Felicita (best wishes)" :D

Thanks to the chef and his wife (she served our table)! We had a heartwarming anniversary.

Then last but not least, my darling gave me a sweet gift with an adorable message card. He wrote, "Please use this hand creams and let's walk hand in hand forever"!

Yes, I will!!!

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Basilium Acherun Aglianico Del Vulture 2005

On the weekend, we again had a dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant "Mia Angela". The restaurant uses farm fresh ingredients from Hokkaido and cook them in the Italian way!

As usual, we shared dishes ;) Farm Fresh Vegetable Bagna Càuda, Oyster and Pancetta tomato spaghetti, Deep Fried Shima-Ebi Shrimp and Calamari, and of course Risotto Parmigiano!!!

As you might now know, I used to dislike oysters, but there, I could eat them! The oysters at Mia Angela are grown up on KELP! No wonder they're good!

And speaking of wine, Basilium Acherun Aglianico Del Vulture 2005 was today's special. I think there are many good Italian wines this year! It's a 5-year aged fragrant red wine! Tastes like ripe cassis. Very fruity and spicy vintage wine. It went well with all foods we ordered ;)

Tonight, we are going to celebrate our first marital anniversary :D We have so many eating-outs in the year-end! Hope not get pig X(

Tomorrow is a holiday (Labor Thanksgiving Day) again!

See ya!!!

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Happy 101 Award

I received this Happy 101 Award from mica of baby love. She has a good eye for fashion and I'm glad she likes Japanese stuff, too ;) Her blog is so sweet posting about cute stuff she bought online! Since I don't shop that often, I learn a lot from her!!!

With this award, I am supposed to list in 5 words, my blogging philosophy, motivation and experience...

1. LOVE (Always)
2. Creative Cooking (This is my motivation for cooking!)
3. Happiness (I simply love the word "Happy")
4. Cute (I love cute stuff)
5. Informative (I want to share many things about Japan. Foods of course but daily stuff in Japan as well!)

And now, I will pass on this award to jose of Jose's Diary!!! She is such a hard worker! She always tries her best which I should learn from her. She recently started to learn about the cosmetics (makeup) besides her work and I was amazed by her change. I think to stay beautiful, we simply need to do our best to find what make us beautiful! Taking the second best does not improve. That's what I always learn from her.

Last but not least, my darling bought me the Beaujolais Nouveau last night! That was really surprising! Of course I hugged and kissed him ;) hehe!

Have a good weekend :D

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Saladini Pilastri Novello Marche

Saladini Pilastri Novello Marche was a hit (for me) this year!

It's a fruity organic wine. It has a ripe cherry-like aroma with the taste of fresh strawberry and raspberry. Ruby red color is splendid!!!

I kept another bottle to pick up this weekend ;)

Vino Novello means "young wine" in Italian. Similar to Beaujolais Nouveau in France, it is a light, fruity, red wine produced in the year.

Novello is officially released for sale on November 6. Because of the time differences, I heard Japan is the first country to release it.

Oh, btw, Beaujolais Nouveau was released today (0AM), but I haven't tried it yet... gonna get one this weekend, too!

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Sweet Gift From My Sister

My sister gave me a handmade photo album of our wedding.

How sweet she chose pink heart-shaped album! I loved the way she put those cute & glittering stickers to decorate the pages :D Those stickers are put it in the way I want! I think only siblings know this kind of tastes, you know! hehe!

Lots of thanks!

XOXO

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DV-2012

The Diversity Immigrant Visa program (DV for short) is a United States congressionally-mandated lottery program for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card. A winning chance for an Asian is 0.58%! Almost one out of 200!!!

But I think I'm not even having a chance to apply for it X(

I again couldn't apply for it this year since I thought the deadline was 11/30 but was 11/3!!! Also, last year, I jumped into the site at the last moment so the site was busy and I couldn't apply for it...

Is there anyone who won this lottery?! I'm really curious!!!

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After The Wedding

Believe it or not, a day after the wedding, we had an appointment with our construction company regarding our renovation. Before the appointment, I had few things to discuss with my darling but...

See how tired my darling was... he said he is listening to me but I don't think so...

hehe!

Our wedding posts are labled HERE!

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How to ask your Boss for a Salary Increase..?

One day an employee sends a letter to her boss asking for an increase in her salary!!!

---------------------------------
Dear Bo$$

In thi$ life, we all need $ome thing mo$t de$perately. I think you $hould be under$tanding of the need$ of u$ worker$ who have given $o much $upport
including $weat and $ervice to your company.

I am $ure you will gue$$ what I mean and re$pond $oon.

Your$ $incerely,
Marian $hih
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The next day, the employee received this letter of reply:

---------------------------------
Dear Marian

I kNOw you have been working very hard. NOwadays, NOthing much has changed.
You must have NOticed that our company is NOt doing NOticeably well as yet.

NOw the newspaper are saying the world’s leading ecoNOmists are NOt sure if the United States may go into aNOther recession. After the NOvember presidential elections things may turn bad.

I have NOthing more to add NOw. You kNOw what I mean.

Yours truly,
Manager
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Employment joke! In some ways practical?! he-he!!!

I quoted this from Nazarina's post to share with you all since it was fun :P

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