Before and After the Move

On 3/16, we moved into our new home. We did most of the packing when the movers came since we were quite at a loss... LoL



However, we minimalized our stuff and threw away unnecessary stuff. I think we made more than 50 trash bags in total! Whew...



Our move was done in few hours. It was quite fast!



After the quake, we couldn't find enough food at stores, but my mom luckily found soba and bought for us :D Eating soba after the move is a tradition in Japan - it is called Hikkoshi Soba. (I took photo after I mixed up all ingredients. Oops...)



One of our air conditioners are set. (Another one is delayed because of the quake.)



We bought the lights at half price ;)



I opened all the new pans that I kept in the boxes because now I have a huge drawer :D I can't wait to use them!!!



We are still cleaning up our stuff...

I hope I can start cooking soon!!!

*Renovation Updates*
- Completed
- 7th Week
- 6th Week
- 5th Week
- 4th Week
- 2nd and 3rd Week
- 1st Week
- The Start Date

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Renovation Completed!!!

On 3/12, the day after the Miyagi Quake, our renovation was completed. In the midst of the afterquakes, we made final checks... how scary X(

But, my darling and I were thoroughly delighted with the finish, except we found some scratches on the floor and the wall, but those were fixed right away.

Kitchen





Accent wall



Bathroom



Restroom (with bidet)



Hallway (there are 2 rooms along the hallway)



The contractor told us that a professional photographer took some photos of our renovated home, so I will post them when I received them ;)

*Renovation Updates*
- 7th Week
- 6th Week
- 5th Week
- 4th Week
- 2nd and 3rd Week
- 1st Week
- The Start Date

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2 Days After the Miyagi Quake

The Miyagi quake was the most severe earthquake in Japanese history, a magnitude of 9! Still 20,000 people are missing...

We are still experiencing the afterquake in Tokyo and the largest of 7-magnitude afterquake is predicted to come in 3 days. How scary...

Tomorrow, we are going to have blackout for about 3 hours in rotation in Kanto area to save on electricity because we lack the power nationwide at this moment...

We have foods at stores, but no rice or bread because shipping businesses are still blocked.

Nevertheless, people are working, shopping, eating out as usual around here in Tokyo. We care a lot about devastated areas but we cannot all stop our hands but work and consume as usual!!! I think we Japanese are steady workers!!!

Believe it or not, my darling and I are moving out this Wednesday... Now we live in wooden house but our new home is reinforced concrete building, so I hope it's much safer... Anyways, I am really scared X(

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LIVE NHK Broadcast of Earthquakes

For Japanese who live overseas.


Live TV : Ustream

It's still shaking!!!

At 7PM, most trains in Tokyo stopped the services. Foods are about to sold out. OMG!!!



It's better to spend a night at work. Luckily, I have my toothbrush ;)

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MORE Earthquakes!!!!!!!

I just ran out of the building and came back into the office again because our office is quakeproof and janitor told us to stay in...



But it's still shaking. Should I go out again?!

I heard it was 6-magnitude again in Miyagi... but was the center close to Kanto?!

OMG... our new home X(

I will simply stop writing and watch out because it's still shaking!!!!!

How scary.

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Our Current Home

Believe it or not, we will be living in a new home this time next week! Time flies!!!

In 2004, almost 7 years ago, we came back from NY and moved into the current home in Tokyo. These are the pics we took back then. We chose this flat because I loved the kitchen ;)



One thing I regret for our new home is that I cannot hang those flower curtains in the kitchen since I decided to build it open :P



Little by little, we packed and threw out our unnecessary stuff, but most packing will be done this weekend since we have to work as usual on weekdays X(

I don't like these open shelves in the living room, so we are not going to put those shelves in our new living room for sure!!! They look messy, you know...



I will try my best to make our home cozy :D

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Earthquake in Miyagi Prefecture

A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Miyagi prefecture in Japan at around 11:45 AM yesterday (3/9/2011). Then again, 4-magnitude afterquake hit this morning at around 6:24 AM. Fortunately, no big damage is reported.

Tokyo was away from the earthquake center, so some people didn't feel the earthquake, and so did I... but thanks for those who cared!!!

Nonetheless, Tokyo is said to have 7-magnitude earthquake within 30 years (2007~2036), in a quite high rate of 70 percent! How scary...

If you remember my post in 2008, I keep my bousaizukin at work. LoL Bousaizukin is a hat that guards your head from fire and other dangerous things. I don't know whether this product is known overseas or not but we learn how to use it at schools. BTW, no one around me keeps it at work... kind of embarrassing but I don't care. haha

Needless to say, I am worried about our new home, but our life is very important! Be prepared and have no regrets ;)

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How to Choose the Right Color

One thing I want to get before the removal is a new rug. We haven't yet bought sofa and dining set, so at least we have a rug, we can sit on the floor!

Last week, we found a nice rug at store at a reasonable price. They come in 4 colors: ivory, beige, cocoa, and brown. However, without laying them on our floor, I can't imagine how they actually look. So, I searched for our floor and wall images on the Net and collaged them to see which matches better...



I was torn between ivory and beige, but my darling made a final decision on beige!

Anyways, I always gather those sample images from manufacturers' sites or shopping sites and collage the most frequently appeared colors which I believe are close to the real colors. My darling always laugh at me when I make this kind of collage like this one. haha But it is better than your imagination, you know!

BTW, this is how our dining set looks on our floor. It is going to arrive in mid-April since it is currently out of stock.



7 days to go until our removal!

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かつくら (Katsukura)

When my darling and I are tired, we crave for Japanese food! One of our favorite Japanese restaurants is かつくら (Katsukura). They serve sophisticated tonkatsu (deep-fried breaded pork cutlet) from Kyoto.

If you order tonkatsu at かつくら (Katsukura), you'll first get their original Kyoto-style tsukemono (Japanese pickles). I don't like tsukemono, but their tsukemono is amazingly delicious!



While you wait for tonkatsu, you grind your sesame seeds served in a small mortar and mix them with their original tonkatsu sauce.



Now the tonkatsu is served with farm-fresh shredded cabbage on the side with original yuzu (citrus ichangensis) dressing!



My darling always go for 170g (6oz) pork loin cutlet.

I always go for a combi menu that comes with small pork fillet cutlet and seasonal vegetable yuba (tofu skin) croquette!



Their miso soup, cabbage and wheat rice are all-you-can-eat!!! I love their miso soup. They use white miso with a hint of Japanese mustard! Amazingly addictive!!!



Actually, I am not that crazy about deep-fried foods in general, but I like the way their foods are served, so we go there once in a while!



Maybe this weekend again?! LoL

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Renovation Updates: 7th Week

Last week was the 7th week. We found some parts to be fixed, but the renovation was almost done.

Wallpaper was applied to all rooms and all the fittings were set.



My photo is not good... but kitchen is done beautifully!



I forgot to take photos of bathroom, but it was set on the 2nd week!



Accent wall -ECOCARAT- didn't stand out that much (shrug). In this way we won't get bored!!! Nevermind!!!



This coming Saturday, we will make final checks and have series of briefings for installed equipments!

*Renovation Updates*
- 6th Week
- 5th Week
- 4th Week
- 2nd and 3rd Week
- 1st Week
- The Start Date

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