900 Recipes

Wow! When this screen popped out, I realized that I have posted 900 recipes on my Cookpad (Japan's largest recipe site) account! To tell the truth, I have double the number of the recipes at home since I post my recipes on other sites, too.

As you might know, I also submit my recipes to the contests. I always try NOT to do my best since it will never go as planned... but I did it again! This time, I thought I could win at least 2nd prize for sure since my darling loved the ingredient and I could come up with many good ideas!!! However, what I received was the last place. I had a call from the manufacturer that I won the prize but my voice was not happy of course. I'm sorry!!! I devoted a lot of time (about 3 months) for that contest, so I was really shocked. Why this happens is some contests are just about the LUCK! Yeah, I knew that but I somehow I did it again. That's all! I will now forget about it to make a new start!

Life is not easy, so don't expect too much X(

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Got a Home as of Today!

This morning, we took a half day off from our work and officially bought our new home! The condo after 25 years cannot receive the housing loan tax credit but our real estate acquisition tax was partly exempt, which was good!!!

Anyway, I think our condo was a great deal. It has a good management system and neighbors are nice. Also, our room is on the 10th floor, so we have views of Tokyo's skyscrapers, including the Tokyo Sky Tree! Of course views are small since our condo is located away from the city. I told the owner that we will cherish our home.

Last week, I bought a fur beanie that connects with muffler and gloves! I thought it's a CAT but everyone says me it's a BEAR...



What do you think?!



It's really cold in Tokyo. We have only 1C (33F) in the morning.

See you again!

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断捨離 (danshari)

断捨離 (danshari) means to throw away unnecessary stuff. It's one of the keywords of the recent years in Japan.

"断" (dan) - to cut out unnecessary stuff. ex) receipts, shopping bags, coupons, etc...
"捨" (sha) - to throw away junk. ex) clothes, books, toys, etc...
"離" (ri) - to step away from your obsessions. ex) souvenirs, anniversary gifts, etc...

The idea is, if you throw away unnecessary stuff around you, you'll get more room, time and energy around you that lead you to an affluent (comfortable) life.

I totally understand this! I keep things for "just in case" and mostly never use them or get a new one since I can't find them right away or they aren't the exact things I need. Now I keep so many things after 6 years living in one place with my darling and get frustrated to see them all around me, which is really funny.

So, before the removal (in March), I decided to eliminate the junk that clogs up my life!!!

Not to become hopelessly lost, I gave myself a time limit and started to throw away things from last week. I already filled more than 15 garbage bags so far...

However, I couldn't throw away some of them without taking pictures X(

Sylvanian Families were my favorite toy, but of course, I don't play with them now, so I said goodbye X(



From left to right, top to bottom: I don't listen to cassette tape any more... I don't play Tetris... My commuter tickets in NY... Missanga which I made when I was a teenager... I'm sure I can't wear all those earrings at once... I threw out most of my art stuff including my drawings and paintings... and more and more...



Oh boy... I found unbelievably old soy sauce in the fridge which expired in 2006...



Tomorrow, we are going to receive the key for our new home. We will take some pictures of the place this weekend before the renovation starts on Monday. I hope we can start our new life with more room and time!

I will keep on doing 断捨離 (danshari) because it is the way to live smart!

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