Where did the weekend go?

Cause I totally had no time to bake! Well, maybe I could have if I would have made time, but I chose instead to do something I hadn't done in a looong time - I went shopping! I kid you not, I hadn't been shopping in more than two months. Me! Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to buy any new clothes (I will already have to donate/throw away at least 1/3 of my wardrobe this summer. Wow, that makes me sick to think about.), but make-up is another story, so I had some fun spending time alone and shopping for new lipstick, blush and skincare products. On Sunday, we had a family outing to the Philosopher's Walk, which was not only overflowing in brilliant, blooming sakura, but also with pushy, improperly dressed pedestrians. Seriously, ladies. If you're going somewhere that has the name WALK in it, it's probably not the best idea to wear 4-inch heels. Let's have some common sense.

Long story short, I didn't bake anything this weekend. So how about I share with you the recipes that I've been eying recently? You'll probably end up making them first anyway, so let me know how they turn out, eh?

Cookie Dough Truffles by Annie's Eats

Don't these look ah-may-zing? My mouth waters every time I look at this recipe and it's on the top of my list to make. I asked the boys the last time we had Poker if I should make these, but D told me that he doesn't like me making new things for Poker Night. "Why not?" I asked. "You don't have to eat it if you don't like it!" "Not the problem," said the big brother. "I'm afraid I'm going to like it so much that I'm going to be pissed that we have to share with other people." Fair enough (and pretty sweet).

Buckeyes by Smitten Kitchen

Oh, dear sweet Lord. Chocolate and peanut butter in little ball-sized bites of heaven. I want to make these oh-so-badly, but the recipe calls for graham crackers. What's the problem with that, you say? Just head down to the grocery store and pick some cheap ones up for under a dollar? Nope - the going rate for a small box of graham crackers in this crazy country is about $14. Insane, right? My lips haven't touched a graham cracker in more than five years, and they'll just have to wait a little bit longer. But I'm making these as soon as I can in our new apartment in San Fran. Please, do me a favor and make these for yourselves, cause at least you can afford it.

Chocolate Sheet Cake by The Pioneer Woman

I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a sheet cake, but I still know exactly how it tasted. I'm not sure what makes sheet cake so special, but there's a certain je ne sais quoi that you just can't find in regualar cakes (though I'm kinda sure it's just a lot of butter). Regardless, from what I hear, this is the chocolate sheet cake recipe to end all chocolate sheet cake recipes. Granted, seeing as my oven couldn't even fit my head inside, I'll have to settle making this sheet cake into cupcakes. But I'm sure the boys won't complain.

What recipes are on your to-bake list?

You make me happy

...when skies are gray. It's a gray day here in Kyoto. There's a slight sprinkle in the air as well - the kind of rain that tickles your nose, just damps (but frizzes) your hair, and that you can only see out the window if you squint and stare really hard. The kind that is steady enough for you to not ride your bike to work (again, see the what it does to my hair part of the last sentence), but also makes you feel guilty for taking a cab.

I have mixed feelings about rain. Spending four long winters in Oregon really made me realize the power of the sun and the true existence of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Gray skies can really stifle the spring in your step when it's all you see for five months.

Usually when the weather forecast shows no signs of sunshine, I complain and think about how it's going to affect my day: I have to be careful which shoes I wear so my socks (and toes) don't get soaked, I can't wear any long pants as they will surely drag in the gathering puddles and I know at the end of the day, I'll have to crowd on the humid, stuffy bus with everyone else whose hair frizzes up while biking through the rain.

On the other hand, growing up in Missouri makes me long for summer storms - the kind that you can smell long before you even feel a drop. I remember those childhood summer days spent in the backyard, lost in fanciful worlds broken only by sudden downpours.

Magical moments happen in the rain.

They say you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat waiters. I think the same can be said for how they treat a rainy day. 

We can put silver linings on those gray clouds.

Rainy days are a wonderful excuse for romance.

Without the rain, how could one of the most romantic, beautiful moments on screen have happened? 

Or been so fashionably re-created? You know it couldn't be the same on a sunny day.

[all pictures found here]

Without the grays we could never have the greens or pinks or blues of other days. I must remember to be thankful.

But if you're in Okinawa on a much-deserved vacation and it rains all week, well then, I think it's OK to be pissed off.

Music to My Ears

Hello, dear readers! May I take a moment to tell you how much I love spring in the amazing city of Kyoto? Today is a beautiful 70 degree day, with a few clouds but more than enough sakura (cherry blossoms) to make up for the slightly overcast skies. It seems like yesterday the sakura just exploded while I was at work. I am lucky enough to bike through the Imperial Palace gardens to and from the office (ummm... can you say best commute ever?) and while yesterday morning had quite a few buds, the evening ride home was accompanied by a slight, sweet scent of cherry and pretty pink pedals bursting from all corners. I'm going to miss this city.

But speaking of my amazing commute, not only am I surrounded by incredible scenery and get to bike through a park that royalty and aristocrats used to stroll around, it's a great time to plug in my headphones and immerse myself in a world of melodies before starting (or after ending) a stressful day of prefectural advising (yeah, I just used my job title as a verb). Seeing as I love new music, I wanted to share with you a couple of the albums I've been rocking these days.

Young the Giant, the debut album that shares its name with the band that created it, has easily become one of my go-to CDs. This album is fun and light, with deceptively simple songs that are actually quite layered and complex, though perhaps at times a bit unoriginal. No matter, though, because this is an enjoyable combination of 12 fun songs that doesn't take itself too seriously. Lead singer Sameer Gadhia said that much of the album was inspired by the beach, and its pop-rock vibe and catchy lyrics have already made me incredibly excited for warmer weather. You can be certain that my neighbors will be hearing tracks like "My Body," "Cough Syrup" and "I Got" - with me singing right along - through my open windows come May.

After a ridiculously long five-year hiatus, the Strokes announced to eagerly awaiting fans that they were finally releasing their fourth album in March 2011. I remember excitedly telling the husband about it, but in the back of my mind I was nervous. As a lady who would probably consider this quintet from NYC my favorite band ever, my expectations were high. Really high. Like James-Franco-at-the-Oscars-high (don't deny it, James). "How could they possibly improve? There's nowhere to go but down!" I thought, complete with furrowed brow (which I quickly stopped lest I get wrinkles). But then on February 9, "Under Cover of Darkness," their first single since 2006, was released and my doubts melted into dance moves. The full CD, Angles, was released on the first of March and the wait was proven to be worth it. It's a solid, modern-garage-rock album from front to back that has pulls from the '80s (I first thought "Machu Picchu" was covering a lost Men At Work tune) while also embracing obvious inspiration from contemporary competition - rock bands such as MGMT and Arctic Monkeys. The Strokes are a great example of a band that can grow and deviate from their original sound while not alienating the fan base that made them popular, which is not an easy accomplishment (just ask Bloc Party). On the downside, with just 10 swift songs, you could listen to the entire album one and a half times during a single episode of Jersey Shore. But to be fair, you'd also enjoy the music at least one and a half times more than any episode of Jersey Shore.

How about you? What have you been listening to, friends?

Japashion

Hello, lovelies, and welcome to another beautiful Wardrobe Wednesday!

You know what I noticed about my Wardrobe Wednesdays? I seem to focus on "fashion," but so far, I haven't concentrated much on "style." It's strange, because I'm surrounded by such incredible style everyday in this amazing city and my own style has changed so much since I moved here in 2006. I actually get compliments on my style these days! From people other than my mother! It's crazy, I know.

Just like America, Japanese street style really ranges from place to place. They have entire magazines here dedicated to highlighting that fact, and it's amazing to see how much each city really embraces their own look.  Here in the culture capital of Kyoto, women dress quite conservatively and many would be considered "Classic" (though some say "snobby"). But right next door in the bustling, urban sprawl of Osaka, women produce more colorful, messy and funky styles. Even neighborhoods in the single city of Tokyo range greatly - think Harajuku versus Ginza. But there are always trends that can be spotted all over this great nation, as Japanese girls (and boys) looooove trends. Let's take a look:

You won't catch me in this trend.

This is by far one of the biggest trends you can spot anywhere in Japan: black tights with jean shorts. This is a HUGE step up from the "jean-shorts-only" look that we saw in Winter 2008, but I'm still not a fan.

It's not just black tights that are in, however. They also love color and usually aren't afraid of it.

Ooo! Super cute.

And right now, patterned and lace tights are super popular. You can see them on teenage and twenty-something girls everywhere. But I've gotta say that Blair Waldorf wore them first (and more fiercely).

The hubby hates patterned tights

Man I love those boots

But going back to the black tights, right now a trend that you cannot get away from is black tights with light, floral patterns. When I was in Kyushu last week, I saw four girls in the span of two hours wearing black tights, a floral skirt, and brown boots. Four! Seriously, where's the individuality? Oh wait, it's Japan.

At least the boots aren't brown

Girls aren't the only ones that follow trends like a hungry puppy follows bacon, though. Boys get their own trends, such as:

murse by YSL

...the man purse (or murse, if you will)!! The murse can be seen everywhere in Japan. The only thing that pisses me off? His purse is nicer than mine. :(

But that doesn't even begin to compare to this trend:

This look is EVERYWHERE. You can't go down the street without seeing a coat like that! ...No, I'm just pulling your leg. I just had to include this guy because of his "What?!"-factor, a style quality that many Japanese dudes share. Other questionable looks that are in for boys? Grunge ("What is this? 1992?"), plaid, and pointy crocodile shoes (wish I was joking about that one, but I'm serious).

But enough with trends. I'm more of a classic-style-kind-of-gal (I do live in Kyoto after all). Here are three looks that caught my eye and have inspired me to keep improving my style:

I want!

This look is perfection to me. I love everything about it, from head to toe. Doesn't she look like a model? But no! She's a 19 (!!!)-year-old part-time worker!! Maybe she's a part-time model? (2 points to you if you sang that). Can you believe her knit dress is from H&M?

I see those red soles peeking

I also adore this look. Her jacket is from Jill Stuart, as is her snood. Her incredible pumps are, of course, by Mr. Christian Louboutin, her handbag is by Louis Vuitton (naturally, as Japanese ladies LOVE them some LV), and those rockin' glasses are by Chanel. Work it, lady.

All pictures from my Japanese Street Style pinboard

And finally, I love this effortless, casual look seen on this 34-year-old therapist. Her outfit is put together with pieces from Japanese brands such as ANAP (those boots!), Uniqlo (leggings), and a handbag by HAKUi. No clue where the gorgeous stole is from, though. :(

Well, there's a peek into some Japanese street fashion. I can't wait to see what styles San Francisco will bring! Till tomorrow...

A length of hair, divided into three parts then crossed over each other in a special pattern

Hello, lovelies! Today I want to talk about a spring trend that I'm super excited about. Perhaps it's because for the first time in a long time, I have long enough hair that I can actually play with. Here, I'll show you!

Sorry for the poor quality - I just used Photo Booth right before I left for work

ANYWAY! As you can guess by the post title, I'm super excited to see braids so in this season! I've been seeing them all over...

From the runway...

To celebrities...

From thick...

To thin...

From crazy...

To romantic...

[all pictures from here or here]

But I haven't seen any in Japan! I wonder if it's just not caught on here yet?

Regardless, I love braids. How about you? Will you be rocking braids this springtime? I'll take pictures of mine when I do (which is sure to happen)! See you tomorrow. xoxo

Welcome back!

Well, it's been a while! Sorry about that. The week after the quake was... stressful to say the least. As it's my job to look after the well being of 34 other foreigners, I had my plate quite full of questions, concerns and over-active parents. Though the crisis seemed to be getting worse and worse - Earthquake! Tsunami! Nuclear Power Plant Explosion! Nuclear Power Plant Explosion Again! And Again! And Again! Radiation! Zombies! - (OK, maybe not that last one, but I'm not going to be surprised. I'm calling it right now.) I'm so happy to say that life has gone back to normal here in Kyoto and we're back to our usual nights at our favorite bars (I am going to miss playing drinking games and Jinga at ING so much!) and karaoke (I can't even think about how much I'm going to miss this. No.). 

This was 2 years ago! I wonder what I was singing? And why are there so many pictures of me at karaoke on Facebook? Oh, it's probably because I'm there every weekend...

But, the exciting news is that we've finally figured out where we're going to land after our five years here in this amazing city. I can't imagine a place that could follow up Kyoto in our hearts, but I do believe we've picked the best place possible for us - the incredible San Francisco!! I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am. I've always wanted to live in The City by the Bay (thanks to Uncle Jessie, natch) and to now have the opportunity to do so is ridiculously exciting! I'm scared, of course, seeing as I've never lived in San Fran, and I've lived in one of the safest countries in the world for the past five years (no more using my purse to save my seat at Starbucks!). More than anything, though, I'm ready. I'm ready to start something new, get on with life, have a family. And the Hubby has wanted to be an architect since he was 15 years old, so for him to finally get the chance to fulfill his dream is all I want for him. I know life will take us far and I couldn't be happier to start the newest part of our lives together.

I know I haven't posted a baking post in a while (at first it was because my pictures were too large...) but I'll make the same promise to you as I did to the two men I live with - I'll bake something new this weekend! In the meantime, though, see you tomorrow for a beauty-full Tuesday! xoxo

A different type of beauty

What a roller coaster ride these last five days have been. I've watched the country I've called my home for the last five years experience the worst disaster since WWII. I've watched my friends panic, trying to get in touch with loved ones. I've watched the horrors on the news, talked to friends who spent five hours walking to a home that has no electricity, and I've had to spend time on the phone reassuring the foreigners whose well-being I'm in charge of that we're OK. We are OK.

And we are. How lucky I feel. How thankful. Life in Kyoto is smooth sailing. I was at Starbucks Saturday morning, able to enjoy my usual (non-fat, no whip White Mocha) while others were up with the sun that morning after sleeping on the cold streets, faced with the reality of the horrific damage that was done the night before. I had gone to sleep in a warm bed next to my safe, loving husband, took a hot shower, curled my hair, and moved on with my day.

It's amazing what tragedies can pull out of humanity. I see some people panicking, debating on fleeing the country at their earliest possible convenience. Then there are those who, at their earliest possible convenience, are ready to jump at the chance to help rebuild, to donate - blood, clothes, money, food - anything that we are lucky enough to have in abundance. I see updates on facebook of people saying the most hateful, horrible things that I could never even imagine thinking about a country and its people (none of my friends, of course). But I also see the flooding of support that is pouring in: the money, the aid, the shoulders to cry on. I'm just so thankful that the positive outweighs the negative in every single aspect, and I choose to concentrate on the bright side.

In a few weeks, the cherry blossoms are going to bloom. By this point, I'm guessing that Japan will be past the horrors that are still haunting us - aftershocks, nuclear plant explosions, the tragic searches for loved ones lost - and will be working on rebuilding. Once again, the Japanese will rise from the ashes. Cherry blossoms, or sakura, symbolize many things - an omen of good fortune, of love and affection. And the sakura will remind us all that beauty - and life - is fleeting. We should treasure every moment. I have a feeling that the blooming of the sakura will be a beautiful, touching, inspiring, poignant time - and it will carry with it a stronger feeling this year than ever before. And though life will go on, we should never forget.

It's Paris Fashion Week!

Bonjour! It's fashion week in Paris and designers from around the globe are debuting their Fall 2011 collections in La Ville-Lumière. I've been watching a few of my favorite designers and while I don't always "get" what comes out on the runway, there are some breathtaking, drop-dead gorgeous designs that catch my eye. Take a look as I share a few of those with you!

Let me start with Dolce & Gabbana. Spectators could see the Janelle Monáe inspired men's-wear-for-women and the funky glamour pulled from muse Mr. David Bowie. I think if I ever became a celebrity, I'd want to exclusively wear the designs of Misters Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana. This fun collection really caught my eye.

Dolce & Gabbana
Model: Erin Heatherton
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Dolce & Gabbana
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW

Dolce & Gabbana

Model: Lindsay Lullman

Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

This sexy little number is my favorite:

Dolce & Gabbana
Model: Alessandra Ambrosio
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

And I am dying for these yellow shoes:

Dolce & Gabbana

Model: Edita Vilkeviciute

Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Dolce & Gabbana
Model: Sigrid Agren
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Those are soooommme cheekbones:

Dolce & Gabbana
Model: Natasha Poly
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

While I could definitely see me slinking into a few of those dresses (well, if I didn't want to eat for a year), I also like checking out designers that I couldn't imagine anyone outside of the entertainment industry actually putting on. Like Alexander McQueen.

Ms. Sarah Burton, the lead designer for the late Alexander McQueen's fashion house, has been thrust into the spotlight recently thanks to a rumor that she'd be designing a certain gown for a certain royal wedding. She said that she drew her inspiration for this Fall 2011 collection from an ice queen, but she wasn't talking about that queen and insists that she is not the Royal Wedding Dress Designer (that title should be capitalized, right?). Though the image of an "ice queen" sounds harsh, I found the designs to be relatively soft and exceptionally beautiful.

Alexander McQueen
Photo: Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com

Alexander McQueen
Photo: Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com

I also love looking at the gowns, picturing some of my favorite starlets donning them on the red carpet. Wouldn't Lea Michele look amazing in this Marchesa?

Marchesa
Model: Nastya Karzan
Photo: Courtesy of Marchesa

And can't you just picture Blake Lively spicing up the carpet in this spectacular Jason Wu?

Jason Wu
Model: Karlie Kloss
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Who are your favorite designers?

My favorite beauty tool EVER

The Clarisonic Skincare Brush has been on the market for a few years now. Leading dermatologists, estheticians and skincare experts have raved about this product and many of them claim to use it both in their offices and at home. Perhaps even more telling is the overwhelming amount of positive reviews from customers all over the world who have watched their skin texture, fine lines and pore size improve before their eyes with the product created by the same team of engineers and researchers that developed the Phillips Sonicare Toothbrush.

It was these reviews that solidified my desire to purchase a Clarisonic Skincare Brush almost two years ago.  I did lots of research and decided that at $198, it would be my splurge during our annual trip to Vegas. I have struggled with acne my whole life and I would have spent any amount of money to get clear skin. But my loving husband really wanted to be the one to get it for me. Unfortunately for him (and a subject that is still kinda sensitive because it wasn't the first time something like this had happened), as he was getting out his credit card, my mother insisted that she was going to get it for me and would not take no for an answer (poor me, right? Having two people fight over getting me an expensive present!). Lo and behold! I had a new toy.

When I first started using it, I used the delicate brush head, because that was what the gal at Sephora recommended. But I wasn't seeing any results. Frustrated, I switched to the sensitive skin brush head that had come with the system, because I didn't know where in Japan I could buy a normal skin brush head. I still felt that the bristles simply weren't strong enough, and it had already been about 4 months with no break in my consistent break outs. After searching online, I found a store in Tokyo that sold the brush heads, and wouldn't you know it, the hubby and I were headed to Tokyo for a mini-vacation.

Armed with my normal brush head, I scrubbed my face twice a day. Things slowly started to improve and my skin was feeling better, but I was still breaking out. "Perhaps I'm going too overboard," I thought. Sure enough, according to skincare esthetician and expert Renée Rouleau, "Exfoliating too aggressively and too often can create inflammation... You don’t want to exfoliate to the point of destroying healthy cells." So I decided to start using it just once a day to remove my makeup at night. That did the trick.

My skin is healthier than it has ever been and while it's still no where near perfect and I still get the occasional blemish, I am a true believer that the Clarisonic Skincare Brush is worth every penny. A year and a half after the purchase, I don't think I could live without it.

What's your favorite beauty tool?