Friday, December 28, 2012

Kate For Thoughts


Got delayed Christmas gifts from hubby.

The coin purse I had been using was pretty beat, so he replaced that. And he let me chose the earrings myself.

Thank you, T! I hope you love the latest (and the most pricy) Gundam plastic model that I bought against my will.


Until next time,

Sak

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Was Christmas

Had a very cozy dinner on Christmas eve, completed with a cake that looked very festive (and unreasonably expensive).



Merry Christmas to you all!

Until next time,

Sak

Friday, December 7, 2012

Weeeee!

It gets harder and harder, as the winter chill sets in, to go take a walk. Enjoy the ride while I still can, daughter.


Until next time,

Sak

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Out, Way Out

Hubby says thinking outside the box is one way to become better at something. With which I agree very much. So here it is, my latest creation.




And with the remaining stalks, I made this for the living room...


...and an autumn center piece for the dining table.


Until next time,

Sak

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Colorful Walk

Our daily walk through Akashi Park has come to be much delightful with all the colored leaves on the cherry trees. 



 
My only question is, where the heck are people? It's a perfectly sunny, rather-warm-for-an-autumn-day out. Three in the afternoon? In a park that's P-U-B-L-I-C? Hello, children and housewives and retired people!?


I'm telling you. The residents of this city have no idea what they're missing.

Until next time,

Sak

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Red Is In!

Got a lovely bunch of red, pink and creamy white. Have been enjoying versions of them by using different vases.

1st day in. The petals are young and the fullness of the whole was much to be appreciated, so the arrangement looked something like this.


4th day. Since the white stocks have died, I decided to separate the rest and enjoy them in two ways.



I've been getting better at prolonging the lives of the flowers I buy, thanks to the vitalizer that's very user-friendly and cheap enough to arrange a 5-dollar bouquet.

Until next time,

Sak

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Purple for Autumn

Flowers for the entrance at the moment. 



Don't know the names. I wish they had a name tag on the individual buckets they're put in at the store, so I can learn them.

Until next time,

Sak

Monday, October 22, 2012

Hubby Turns 30

Friday was T's birthday, and I got to celebrate it for the third time.

For dinner he requested a home meal of matsutake mushroom cooked with rice, and grilled ayu (or sweetfish), both of which are very much in season now (and pricey, thank you very much).



Your everyday struggle as a father is very much appreciated, and comfort and support for your wife is never forgotten. Happy birthday, T!

Until next time,

Sak

Friday, October 12, 2012

Red, Yellow and Blue

Had a reminding moment that one ought to be looking upward when she is outside taking a stroll. The sky was breath taking. Sparkling blue and so high and autumn-like, and the Ferris wheel made the blue even more blue in contrast. It was so pretty I had to take a shot of it.


By Akashi Park that I mentioned in the previous post.

I knew at that moment when I saw it, that in 18 years when A has all grown up and leaves home for college, I will come across the same sky against the wheel and have a moment of nostalgia, thinking about the time when I used to go for a walk in the late afternoon and A looked so small in the stroller. Tears.

Until next time,

Sak

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Pre-Halloween Excitement

Found orange lilies at the store and thought they were perfect for the month of October, and tried to deck the entrance with Halloween spirit.


The orange paper bag that my mom-in-law's last year Christmas gift came in added a very nice trick-or-treat-bag effect, don't you think?


The problem is, the flowers won't last till Halloween. And neither will the candies.

Until next time,

Sak

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Baby and the TV

Living with a father that virtually grew up in front of a TV, it's a matter of time A will encounter the offspring of a devil as I call it that resides in our living room like it owns the space, named Aquos. So I figured if she sees the screen for the first time, it might as well be showing something that is pure and adorable and, most importantbly, baby-appropriate, not some Japanese comedian duo blubbering in their western accent to confuse the hell out of my sweet baby.

So, here's the baby's first encounter with Curious George.


All I can say about her reaction to that is, I don't think she blinked once looking at the screen. Talk about curiousity!

Until next time,

Sak

Friday, October 5, 2012

An Evening Stroll

While it's still warm enough to call it summer for my taste, the sun is setting earlier and earlier to feel the sense of autumn. Which suits me fine,  as I am a big fan of the melancholy season that brings me back memories of my solo trip to NY back in 2005.

My usual evening stroll with A has come to be my favorite time of the day. And she seems to be quite fond of being out, too, to feel the air on her fat cheeks. Stepping out of the apartment always puts her in a good mood.


As I am much in need of more exercises to lose the love handle, I've started walking for about 90 minutes, topping that with a half-hour grocery shopping before coming back home.
Here is the cherry tree path that goes right into...


...our future hangout, Akashi Park.


The leaves on these tress will turn bright and pretty soon. Can't wait.


Until next time,

Sak

Friday, September 28, 2012

Bread Report

After what seems like 20 loaves, I think today's bread made the top. (-->see bread, breakfast and baby) Too bad I can't post the taste and the smell, but here's the face of the champion.



It was divine, soft, fluffy and moist the right way.
Until next time,

Sak

Feelin' Colorful

Here is the latest addition to our entrance.

Felt like going for the pop colors.

There was an inquiry from one of you kind readers the other day about how much I usually spend on the flowers, and here's the answer: not much. What you see in my vase as a whole is probably costing less than your sandwich-and-salad lunch.

There was another inquiry about the photo of T and myself on the entrance shelf that usually shows up in my flower photos. I'm being protective T's privacy so this is the closest shot of that photo I will ever post on my blog. But since our first wedding anniversary has passed, I am thinking of replacing the photo with something else now anyway. We are now officially non newly-weds. But thank you, for those of you who were curious, for your interest in taking a better look at my husband and myself on our wedding day.

Until next time,

Sak

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Thoughts On Our First Anniversary

A year just flew by. It friggin' flew!! I mean, I can't believe just how so much can happen within that short-seeming period of time.

On September 23rd last year, T and I got married. And boom! 10 months later, we became a couple of parents. We still can't quite conceive of the fact that we are now such responsible people. I mean, often times I look at A, sleeping so peacefully with that cutest possible face imaginable, and I feel like I want to apologize and beg her at the same time. My apology? "Sorry, sweetheart, I am what you got." What I beg? "Please don't hate me if I screw this up!"

Babies don't come with a guide. I don't know what the hell I'm doing most of the time, really. I just go with my instinct, hoping and praying that I do have the right kind of instinct and what I do try isn't half bad.

Parenthood. It's horrifying. You know, the more I think about it, the more mixed I feel. A will grow thinking that T and I are the two most absolute figures for her for most of her early childhood, and our perceptions and likes and dislikes and choices and decisions and screwups and everything that we do and don't do will affect her for the rest of her life. How could such a huge responsibility be put upon a person who is barely sure of what to do with dinner tonight!? Exactly a year ago, my prominent worries were what tomorrow's weather was going to be, or, if my favorite spot in the public parking lot had been taken by another car. Where did those small, insignificant, self-centered worries go? Now I am worried, terrified actually, about growing a human being right.

Well, anyway.

With love that grows everyday, happy anniversary, T!


Until next time,

Sak

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Lillies For Entrance

Lilies are one of the most sweet-scented kind of flowers that I know of. Put just one stalk (with four in full bloom and three buds) and the entrance will fume with the smell so strongly that you can almost see the aroma in the air.


On a personal note, lilies remind me of my good friend K and how beautifle she looked in her wedding dress and a huge lily in her hair two years ago. They always will.

Until next time,

Sak

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Baby Fat

A shot taken while taking a rest on the stairs during our early evening walk.


I often forget how small A is. At 10 pounds and 22 inches (shy of 2 feet), she is probably the size of my nursing boobs put together. I see her up close all day long, either talking to her or holding her, instead of right next to a grown human being in comparison. Looking at her in my arms like this, I am amazed at her littleness.

Speaking of sizes, I can't seem to lose that last 7 pounds of my pregnancy fat for the life of me. It's all in the belly and the thighs, I swallowed my tears as all my summer pants and shorts have missed their prime season without ever being clad this year. Boo hoo.

Until next time,

Sak


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Purrrr for Purple

Do freshly-cut flowers usually die before they see the 5th day light? It's either I'm horrible at keeping the flowers alive, or our entrance is not the perfect candidate location in the house to have them displayed, 'cause it seems whatever goes into the vase comes out dead third or fourth day in.

Maybe I should get one of those vegetation vitalizer liquid thing-y at the florist the next time. Perhaps they are sold right by the flowers for a good reason after all.

The lovely orchid looked better in my bright yellow Pottle than my usual white and simple vase.



The entrance is pretty but the kitchen is short of a kettle. T had to boil water for his cup noodles in a regular pot, and didn't like it.

Until next time,

Sak

Friday, September 7, 2012

Autumn Is Near

The summer heat subsided a little bit the other day when it rained. And for the first time in a long time, a warm cup of coffee seemed in order.
My also-nursing sister in law, who loves coffee, had given me a present of her favorite tested-and-approved decaf coffee beans.



Hmm. I sense a hint of autumn. Love it.

Until next time,

Sak

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Man At Work

Passed out on the couch in the Sunday afternoon while watching Princess Toyotomi on bluray. Seeing my exhaustion, T offered to make Sunday dinner all by himself. Refused that I come along to the super market, too.


My personal favorite was this lovely salad with cucumbers and carrots cut up in all sorts of sizes.


Love you, T!

Until next time,

Sak

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Calla Lilies For September

The sunflowers that I arranged the other day (and blogged about, too, on Aug 31st) died after, like, two days and a half. Guess the flowers were on sale for a reason.

I recently discovered that the duo of white and purple makes me happy for no apparent reason. Autumn is near, and I wanted to go for the chic-and-subtle.


Love calla lilies. I used them for my wedding bouquet.

Until next time,

Sak

Friday, August 31, 2012

Bread, Breakfast And A Baby

Was totally hooked on freshly-baked bread that I had every morning for breakfast while I was at parents'. Mom baked a loaf every morning with a bread baking machine, and even T, not a big bread eater, tried it when he was staying over, loved it, and thought it was nice to wake up to that warm softness.

So, we were at an electronics shop for printer ink the other day, ended up in the kitchen appliances corner, checked out the baking machines and decided to use a piece of T's summer bonus to buy one.

I ran the first trial last Sunday for breakfast, and here's the aftermath.



The bread could use more "moisture AND fluffiness". T's words. Moist and fluffy? Two adjectives that normally don't go together. But I saw his point. Will work on it, buddy.


Bye the way, it was the first time since A was born that T and I were able to have breakfast together. She has grown less needy of our attention when she is awake. She is able to lay on her back by herself happily enough not to cry her guts out when we leave out of her sight. Mommy's proud.

Until next time,

Sak

Thursday, August 30, 2012

15 Mins of Hillary A Day

During pregnancy going to the city library became my religious. Walking between shelves of books and skimming through pages of whatever that would catch my eye was a great pastime. And coming home with a bunch of books to read felt pretty great, too. And to think that it's all free of money! Libraries are so underrated these days, I tell you.

Since A's arrival, however, it's virtually impossible to find the time to sit and read a book to finish. Either she starts crying for attention or to be fed, or I have unfinished work - and I always do! - around the house that I must attend to while my hands are free of a baby. Or, if I do have, say, a half hour to spare, I'd rather do something that's brainless like browsing Internet or writing a new post for my blog as I am doing right now.

Yet, it's been a while since the last time I actually finished a book. I walk A in a stroller every day now, so I decided to start going to the library with her like I used to before. She likes the outside better (floor's too smooth and the atmosphere's too dim-lit and quiet in the public building) so I had to hurry through the shelves to find what to bring home, but got something that I had been meaning to read for a long time... and a magazine that I can skim through while holding A.


I think I can manage to spare 15 minutes a day for it. The presidential election might have been done by the time I finish reading this. We'll see.

Until next time,

Sak

Friday, August 24, 2012

Summer Remains

Haven't put any flowers around the apartment but wanted to for the longest time. Saw the sunflowers at the store that made me think "hey, it's still viable to have a sense of summer," though it's near the end. I haven't done anything summer-y this year except for sweating like a pig as I nursed A, so it was liberating to find the bright yellow petals.


Surrounded in accumulating baby diapers and clothes in this never-ending feeding and changing life, I found it easy to get caught up in what goes on inside the house and to sort of isolate myself from the rest of the world, if I don't make a point in going out whether I like it or not. So, since we made A's stroller debut last Sunday, I go out every day running small errands, like buying a carton of milk or going to the post office, in hope of not becoming a maroon. And it's pretty gratifying when strangers seem nicer to interact with when  you are with a baby.

I have had rather harsh opinions in the past about the way Japanese people interact with each other, especially with strangers, but now that I am a mother of an infant, they don't seem as bad. It seems people look at me, a nursing mother of a two-month-old, in a way that's more readily welcoming and forgiving than, say, when I was single and striding the outside world in pin-heels. Like, another stoller-pushing mother would smile at me. An old ladies would approach me and tell me how cute my baby is. And I have met a disgruntled-faced old man open and hold an ATM booth door for me, and a cashier at a market carry my basket. Both in the same day. These people know kindness goes a long way for a mother with a baby out on the street. And this very idea makes it easier for me to go out again the next day, knowing that there are people out there that "understand".

Until next time,

Sak

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Back Home

Came back to Aichi on Sunday. The heat is not so bad as I got myself preprared for, as long as I stay in.


The whole being-a-mom thing has been not so bad as I got myself prepared for, either. Little A is growing. Changing every day. Becoming more and more precious. But sometimes, I see her sleeping, I find myself screaming in my head, "Holy crap, I'm a mother of that child!" The whole notion hasn't quite sunken in yet. I go with the motion of feeding and changing and putting her to bed and all, but I still don't know how my being has changed from what I used to be to a mother, if at all. Me?! A mother!?


For the first couple of weeks, she was  virtually immobile. So it's quite entertaining to see how she has started kicking air for no apparent reason when she is happy enough. Possibly inspired by the swimmers on TV in the Olympics? 

Until next time,

Sak


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

And So It Begins...

...Motherhood, that is.

The Japanadian gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on June 26th.


Can hardly believe that I am a mother, and by all means I am far from being ready for what's to come. But more than that, I can hardly conceive of how much I already love this little precious. She's so ridiculously adorable, I am sure my maternal instinct will catch on in time.

The blog shall and will continue once I get back home to Aichi the end of this month. Thanks, dear readers, for following!

until next time,

Sak

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Lunch in Woods

The last lunch together with E was had at Novo.


Much recommended to visit during summer on a sunny day.

Until next time,

Sak