3-4 Days!

Overdue package full of goodies for family members!!  I forgot to send my xmas presents home with my mom for my cousins, so I wanted to make up a special box filled with yummy, fun things from Japan.  My one cousin also has two young children, so I wanted to include things for them to enjoy, especially colouring books and stickers.  There's also a fun kirigami (origami means paper-folding and this means paper-cutting) activities.  They requested some matcha kit-kat and was able to find a ton of matcha chocolate along with many others. The best part is that it only takes about 3-4 days to get there!  Japan has a really cool mail service.  And since I sent it on Wednesday morning, it should be there by the weekend (with the time difference working in my favour). 

 

Click here or this picture below to watch my video on YouTube: 

 

I know they will enjoy trying everything!! 

Love you tons!

xoxo

Sherri

Mellow Monday

So as Monday winds down, I find myself extremely thankful for having received yet another three-day weekend due to the snow.  (Last week I ended up having a four-day weekend from the first snowstorm.)  In Kanagawa area, it rarely snows, as I mentioned.  We were very lucky to have snow last year that lasted till the next day.  So you can imagine how surprised we were to have not one, but two big snowfalls in less than a week! 

 

What did I do then?  Well, I did some housework, as per usual.  I went to the store for some groceries.  I made pumpkin stew, grilled chicken salad, ground chicken pizazz (my word...was reminiscent of Sloppy Joes...), and ate my sakura icecream - which was delicious!  (Btw, I usually share pics of stuff on instagram.  Click my new social button on the right hand side of this page.)  I filmed a Body shop and Drugstore Haul video for myjapanlifestyle (click the YouTube button on the right).  I did some crafty things too (can be found here).  Yesterday, I watched Camp Takota and loved it!  All the girls were such good actors.  It was really funny!  (Big recommend.)  I chatted with my Mom and with my brother (very lucky to have gotten on separate times too...usually someone will go to bed).  Oh, and I added those little social buttons thanks to a lovely tutorial I found of YouTube.  (Couldn't have done it otherwise.)

 

Oh, and as per Monday night usual, I watched 失恋のショコラティエ(The Heart-Broken Chocolatier).  Does anyone else in Japan watch it?  I really enjoy it.  It only slightly makes me want to eat chocolate.  Click on the picture below to be taken to the show's website on Fuji TV.

 

What do you normally do on your day off?  

Cheers, Sherri

   

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's supposed to snow today and I've never used my oven before, so I decided to make a cake for my boyfriend last night.  This cake involved beating the egg with a mixer until it was fluffy and adding real chocolate that you melted first.  I made cocoa whipped cream for the topping and added strawberries and powdered sugar (you couldn't see it much, but it was visible on the strawberries and the plate).  It was so delicious.  I was happy with one piece.  It was so rich.  I asked Hideki how much he wanted to eat and he said half...the cake.  But it was a small cake ;) .  So after two pieces, I said he could have the third piece too.  Because I made it for him and he loved it so much. 

I made a card for him before I went to bed.  I left it out with a box of chocolates.   Because I know if he woke up and saw them, he couldn't go to work without eating at least one.  So when I woke up and saw he had opened them, I was surprised.  I was however surprised that the lady at the store gave me the wrong box!  :(  It was supposed to be a lovely assorted box of bears.  Instead it was more traditional squares etc.  How disappointing!  I am tempted to go back to the store, but since he ate one (which was totally fine)...I am teetering between blowing it off and buying another box, like the original I intended to purchase.  I was very clear at the store.  Just goes to show, always confirm your purchases! 

Wishing you all a lovely day with whoever you spend it with! 

Camp Takota Fan!

Hi, everyone!  Today I wanted to write a post about an upcoming movie - Camp Takota.  The film is independent and stars three awesome YouTubers (YT channel name in brackets):  Grace Helbig (itsgrace), Hanna Hart (harto), and Mamrie Hart (youdeserveadrink).  The movie is available on February 14th, but you can make a pre-sale in support of the movie (go to camptakota.com).  It's only $9.99.  Plus they have really awesome care packages available at the Camp Takota canteen.  I, myself, have ordered a green and white ringer tee, which I will wear proudly.  I have seen the extended trailer and couldn't tell the difference from that and a Hollywood movie.  And it was super funny!  If you didn't know about this before, go watch it for yourself! 

What more would you want to do then watch a comedy about new-found singledom on Valentine's Day? 

Sherri

Simple V-day Cooking

I felt like making some special treats for breakfast today. They are super simple and easy to make.
First one is pizza toast.  My guy loves this treat and will always say yes to it. Spread some pizza sauce and sprinkle cheese. Then use a small heart cutter to cut out bacon or ham. You could even do sliced cheese. Add your fav toppings as you like. Throw in the toaster oven and enjoy!

 

The second one was made for me. I cut a heart out of a slice of bread using a cutter. Then I put it in the pan after heating up a smidgen of butter. In the hole, I broke an egg and wiggled it around a bit to center it.  After cooking it a little, T flipped it over and soon after turned off the heart. Tip: -you can butter the top side of the bread so when you flip it, it'll grill nicely. I've also seen variations of cooking spray, but I'm not sure about the healthiness of it. Plus it's not sold here. Make sure you grill or toast the inner heart and use for dipping! I toasted some bacon in my oven and added a ketchup face to the egg.

 

 

Which one suits your fancy?
I think anyone, kids or adults, will enjoy eating either.  Let me know if you try these ideas out.  Have a *lovely* week.  Mu-ah!
 
Oh, here is a pic of outside a few days later. Not completely melted!

 

xoxo

Sherri 

Snow in Japan!!

Okay, so it does snow in Japan...but where I live in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, it only snows about once a year.  This time, however, it snowed like a maniac.  The weather forecast called for a big snowstorm, but I didn't think it would really happen.  I had to work on Saturday and when I got up...it was snowing.  Not crazy, like a blizzard or anything... The snow was falling gently and nicely.  But it was constant.  And it actually snowed the entire day.  Later on though we had strong winds and the snow was coming down like a maniac.  It stopped in the evening.  And the next I decided to go out for a walk.  Here is the vlog I did of that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypyMXqoJyIA

Man, do I love snow!!  It makes me feel like I am at home in Canada again.  :)  Hope it comes again next year!

 Me - out in the snow!

 

 The view from my Apartment

Mmm, Spiced Apple Cider and it's Hot Apple Pie!

Happy 2014!!! - Update

Hi, everyone and welcome to 2014!!  (Oh my god, can you believe it is already February??)

I completed Vlogmas, vlogging everyday from December 1st to Christmas Eve.  I had not planned on doing more than that, but I think I failed miserably at doing a proper send-off.  You see my mom came in on the 24th and we had an awesome time together from Christmas to the new year.   I thought I would make off for the disappearance by sharing some pics of our time together. 

After picking Mom up from the airport

 



The ton of presents we had!

 

I love doing stockings with Mom.  :)

 



Afternoon party at a friend's house

 



Kamakura Lucky Cat

 



Night view of Kamakura

 



My niece, Myself, and Mom

 



Just being silly...

 



Movies with Mom

 



Lunch Date in Yokohama

 



Kamakura with Hideki

 



Manicure at the Airport before Departure

 



We'll Miss You!!

 

After a month of absence from YouTube, I decided it was time to get back on the ball and have since been trying to do some fun videos for you.  Although not quite vlog-style, they are about me and related to me living in Japan.  Catch up if you like and free feel to let me know what are the things you would like to do this year. 

 

 

 

I personally wanted to get my second earring holes redone and have since had the studs put in again.  My left one seems fine, though the right one is still healing.  Do you think it's out of fashion to get your upper lobe done?  I'm just curious because the earrings we got in a lucky bag had two sets of studs and one single.  I haven't felt like I wanted to have more holes since highschool.  This was in fact the reason I wanted my seconds again.  (All in the name of fashion...)

Here's to a fun, exciting, and ever-evolving 2014!!

xoxo Sherri