Ode to My Fashion

I think that every fashion blogger is vain. You have to be if you take pictures of yourself and post them on the net for the world to see. I am thinking that I am as vain as the next blogger. But I am not the vainest. Actually I think the vainest of all are people who blog, post all kinds of pictures on Facebook and have Twitter accounts to talk about it. So I am not at that level yet because I do not post (many) pics of myself on Facebook and I do not even have a twitter account. But let us get back to me. Here are the vain pictures of today (or last week)   Beret- Cial (it is studded by the way) Faux leather jacket - Shimamura Sweater - Forever 21 Turtle neck - G.U. Bag - Thrifted Skirt - Nissen online (it is dotted inside) Boots - Shimamura RIng - (barely seen) H&M   Last week, we had lunch with the mothers of the baby group I used to run. One of them was leaving and we all decided to have a Sayonara (goodbye) lunch for her and her da...

For weeks now I have been thinking about what I was going to do for my Bday. For some reasons I wanted a week celebration. I know that I am not Kim K. and that my so not Kanye of a husband is not going to sweep me off to Italy. So I began planning the festivities in my head. First I would gather some of my friends and go Karaoke, then we will go to a fancy restaurant for lunch. Another day I will take cooking classes from my Indonesian friend (she makes a mean egg curry that I have been dying to learn). Then another day, I will go shopping to Harajuku and or Shibuya. Finally I was hoping that the hubby will get a hint and take me out somewhere nice where I get to break the nice red dress I bought months ago just for an occasion like that. (I wish!!!) But what do you know, life gets in the way of plans. For starters I got visitors from France that I had to show the country, so I did not have time to myself, let alone plan something. Then it was the Xmas bazaar at my sons' school so...

Living in Japan, you would think that I did not have to celebrate Halloween. But no, I had to a couple of times. Halloween feels like a holiday the Japanese have invented. A month before the actual holiday, stores are decorated with paper pumpkins and skeletons. They also sell a lot of that stuff. My neighbor had put a pumpkin wreath on her front door. I felt like I was in the US. Strike that, it was never that crazy even in the US. So imagine my surprise when I took a stroll down Motomachi street after I picked up my kids from school. I had heard that the Motomachi Halloween parade is something to see. But ever since we moved back to Japan, I managed to missed it. This year, I decided to go for it. And boy, was I knocked over my socks. The narrow street was packed with people in all kinds of costumes from the scariest to the cutest. Kids would line in front of stores to receive candies and other goods. They also got some balloons. It was a frenzy. I even saw some disguised pet...

According to the calendar, Fall is supposed to have arrived. Yet we are still basking in hot days, and the mosquitoes are still ferociously biting. From time to time, there will be light crisp cold air that pushes you to reach for a sweater, a jacket, and some mufflers. As far as I am concerned, dressing up is a puzzle. I have not even opened my winter clothes suitcase. I am surviving only with light sweaters I purchased on sale at Forever 21 back in September. I am longing for days cold enough to make me layer, and pull out my cold days accessories (aka knitted hats and scarves). I am longing for the leaves to turn red, gold, brown and fall on the pavements. I am longing for vegetables soups or nabes to be slurped and warm my insides. Yet, I am happy that it is still warm enough.... I went to Hakkejima Sea Paradise with the family on Sunday. It was supposed to be a warm and nice day so we decided to spend it outdoors. I made quiche, salad and sandwiches and we headed to that nice is...

My kids are out of school for a week so I planned a series of things to entertain them:  trip to Hakkeijima (post coming as soon as I can upload the pics I took), two playdates and a trip to the zoo. My sister (from another family) in law invited me to go to Ueno zoo with the kids (she has two adorable daughters). I accepted since I have never been to that zoo. It is popular for hosting the pandas that the Chinese government was nice enough to "lend" to Japan. After travelling an hour by train, there I was at the zoo with the kids. The zoo is big enough and has plenty of places to eat and rest. But let us just say that it was not worth the trip to see the animals. I could see better at Nogeyama zoo or Zoorasia here in Yokohama. Plus we were there around noon so all the animals were having a little nap and did not want to show their faces (the lazy things). Nevertheless, I had lots of fun with the kids and chit-chatting with my friend. Here is what I wore:   ...

I have already wrote this post at the beginning of this week but I was in such haste that instead of publishing it, I just deleted it. Anyway, here are some pictures of the places I love in Yokohama Motomachi shopping street with fancy cars and pet bar (aka somewhere dogs can drink)       Mickey and Minnie Display at Jewelry store in Motomachi shopping street   Indian designed ceiling in dome at Yamashita park   Flowers at ....   ...Yamashita park near the... ...fountain      Marine Tower   Lovely display at Bar entrance in Yamashitacho   Bear cake at Diamond Yokohama   Plate of pizza and baked potatoes at Shakey's Yokohama   Chinatown entrance gate     Isezaki Mall entrance Used Kimono stores (where I love to purchase clutch bags) in Isezaki Mall      ..and the Daiso and Uniqlo store next to it ...