Category: Link LOVE

The February Link Love

Happy February everyone! Are you ready for the shortest month of the year?

I don’t know if I am but I’m hoping to juggle everything a lot better than I did in January. The flu was making the rounds at work and a lot of us got sick last month, which messed with our heavy work load.

But this was one of the times I was grateful that I work in a typical Japanese company. We work in teams, so even if someone suddenly isn’t able to come into work, we can cover for them so the work doesn’t stall during their absence. It makes missing work a lot less stressful.

 I’m guessing February will be another crazy month. But I’m excited. My office will be in a new location starting this month (need to remember to go to the correct office on Monday morning!). Also, Valentine’s Day is serious business in Japan (as in my male coworkers will be expecting something from us on that day…apparently their status at home depends on it!). But nothing tops the fact that my best friend from college, who currently lives in Melbourne, will be coming to Tokyo for a visit. I can’t wait to see her and her fiance 😀

Will you be doing something for Valentine’s Day? Or anything else exciting planned?

I cannot tell you how relieved I am to see ume (plum) blossoms blooming here and there. Winter is coming to an end…FINALLY!!! I don’t care how itchy my eyes get from the pollen allergies (have I mentioned that they already started itching a few weeks ago?), I can’t WAIT for spring to get here. Longer days, more sunshine, and warmer temperatures…I’m counting down the days!

I hope you all are blessed with good health and have an amazing month in February! x

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– I love instagram but this reality behind instagram made me laugh out loud…so true sometimes.

– Chalk art book covers are amazing.

– Wouldn’t these heart-shaped lemons be great for valentine’s day?

– Speaking of valentine’s day, I think I’m making this and this. Keeping it healthy this year!

– Pippi Longstocking animation film that was never made.

– Will you be watching the Olympics in Sochi? I’ll be following figure skating, ski, and this guy.

– Andy Warhol’s exhibition in Roppongi.

The January Link Love

Happy New Year!!!
I woke up bright and early to see the first sunrise of the year rising up above one of the many mountains we have in Ehime. This sunrise is called Hatsuhinode in Japan and many of us rise early (or just not sleep at all on new years eve) to see the first light of the year. It was pretty fantastic.
How was your new years holiday?
I’ll be in Ehime with my family until the end of the week. It’s always good to be home during the holidays. We are all overdosing on mikan, both store bought and picked from the mikan trees in our yard. We have a lot to be thankful for and I’m hoping this year will be another good year for us.
I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday where ever you may be! x

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– Where do you go for hatsumode (first shrine visit)?

– Audrey Hepburn’s 1957 TV film Mayerling will be in theaters starting Jan 4th.

– The power of empathy. (via Swissmiss)

– Can’t wait to ice skate here this winter!

– This bench.

– Henry and his nanny’s poses are hilarious! #henrysconcepts

– Did you send out your nengajo? Here is mine.

The December Link Love

Ho ho ho December!

It’s the last month of the year and I am excited to be swept away in the holiday cheer. December will be full of Christmas songs and hot chocolate!

In Japan, it is also the peak Bonenkai season. My schedule is steadily filling up. Bonenkai is the year-end gathering of co-workers and/or friends. We love any special occasion to drink together and be merry!

Also looking forward to heading home to spend new years with the family. I can’t wait! It seems like the older I get, the more I appreciate time with the whole family. Especially at new years, which is a family holiday in Japan.

How will you be spending the holidays? I hope it’s a jolly month for you all! x

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– Here comes winter and this chart explains how I feel perfectly.

– Ever seen a Leaf Man?

– Emma Thompson gets wild.

– I need a vintage wooden ravioli pin in my life.

– Histagrams make me laugh.

– Can fist bumps save lives?

– Reading positions. Which is yours?

The November Link Love

Hello there November!

Fall is truly here and I could not be happier. I cannot wait until the ginkgo trees turn that gorgeous shade of yellow. Or the Japanese maple that stunning red. I think I appreciate fall because it’s all about the warm bold colors. I love it, even if the days are getting shorter.

This month I’m planning a wedding party for my friend and also getting started on my embroidery stitch project (details to come later!). I’m also trying to figure out my nengajo design for the new year. Did you know that 2014 is the Year of Horse?

It’s going to be another busy month but I’m excited for the holidays! Hope you all have a wonderful fall month, too! xx

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– My favorite season at Starbucks starts today.

– Tales you lose.

– I laugh and laugh every time I see this poor frog.

– My next book.

– These creative naps are adorable.

– This chart came to mind when I saw the 400+ emails in my inbox. 

The October Link Love

Hello hello October!

The second half of the fiscal year has started and I am loving the cool bring-out-your-knit-sweater weather we’ve been having here in Tokyo. Isn’t it perfect for even more picnics this month?

But I am behind on almost everything at the moment. Even this post is late. Helping out at tennis tournaments on the weekends and the busy days at work right after a company shuffle has had me running behind from day one.

Oh…and I’m also packing and buying flavored kit-kats to go see my friends this month! I get to see my grade school besties in DC (this girl and her family), Chicago (this guy), Michigan (this girl and her family), and LA (this guy). That’s right. I’m going to 4 different states in 12 days. Pretty sure I’ll be dead on my feet when I get back but I can’t wait!

What are your plans for this lovely month? Hope you enjoy it! xx

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– My new favorite font that makes me hungry.

– Can’t wait to see this documentary.

– If only my travel book looked something like this.

– These may just be too amazing to eat.

– Heartbeat making music.

– A letter from a mother to a daughter.

The Olympic Hype

(photo via tokyo2020.jp)

Have you heard? The election of the 2020 Olympics host city is just around the corner!

It’s down to Istanbul, Madrid, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand….(what!?)….Tokyo!!!!! How crazy exciting is this? Could Tokyo really win the honor of hosting the 2020 Olympics?

Personally, I’ll be just as excited whether it’s here or the other side of the world. I love the Olympics. I grew up in a VERY Olympic enthusiastic family and have tons of memories of our family watching the Olympics on TV together.

All this Olympic talk made me nostalgic. So I went down memory lane and picked a few memorable Olympic moments that I remember sharing with my family…and I’m not gonna lie, I cried all over again ;P

(photo via olympic.org)

Albertville 1992, Women’s figure skating

Living in the U.S. at the time, I think this was the first time I’d seen that many (okay…two) Asians on TV at the same time. I wanted to be just like Kristi Yamaguchi when I was little and we all loved Midori Ito, too. I remember in her interviews she would try to answer in English with phrases like, “I fee-lu goo-ddo!” Too cute. They were both amazing and we were all on pins and needles during the long program competition! (read story here)

Barcelona 1992, Men’s 400m

This wasn’t even the finals. It was the semi-finals but I will never forget what I saw on the tv that day. I was only 10 but I remember what happened to Derek Redmond very vividly. He didn’t win the race but he finished it and became someone unforgettable. (read his story here)

Atlanta 1996, Men’s gymnastics

Alexei Nemov What more is there to say? This man was hottttttttttttttt!!! (And that is really all I cared about in 7th grade.) The competition between China and Russia was tight and had us holding our breath the whole time. But who are we kidding, all us girls were glued to the tv just so we can get a glimpse of Russia’s hottie. (enjoy all his hotness on the floor exercise here)

(photo via kndoty)

Atlanta 1996, Women’s team gymnastics

I was so into gymnastics during this Olympics. I think all of America was. We were up against all the dominating gymnastics countries like Russia and Romania but we had a really great team plus the hometown advantage. The competition was exciting and it ended up being the most dramatic ending. It was insane and the U.S. women’s team won their first ever team gold medal! (read story here or watch the whole thing here)

(photo via this blog)

Nagano 1998, Men’s ski jump

Watching my first Olympics back in Japan…and it was actually held in Japan! And although at that time, I had no idea where Nagano was, it was still exciting watching it all from Sapporo. And I remember my dad let me come home from school early so we could all watch the team ski jump competition together. I think most of Japan was laughing and crying just like our team was after winning the gold. A-ma-zing. (read story here and here)

Do you have a favorite Olympic moment? Gathering information on this post has me surrounded with crumbled tissues (I get emotional when it comes to the Olympics! haha) and once again in awe of all the athletes. The Olympic games are amazing and I’m always excited for it.

Wishing all three cities the best of luck at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires this weekend! 😀

The September Link Love

Hello lovely month of September!

We had the most odd summer this year. I felt like it was much cooler than previous years and it makes me feel like summer is coming to an end too soon.

But on the other hand, I tend to have a hard time sulking for too long. I mean, fall brings us cooler weather, richer colors, and hot latte cups! How can you not love that?

September means busy month at work, but also friend’s birthday celebrations, more night runs, and the start of tennis tournament season (for me)! Looking forward to it all!

What do you have planned for September? Hope it’s full of fall fun! 😀

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– Unbelievable kirie.

– The importance of a quiet space in the city.

– Some place like this maybe?

– Photos that make me stoked for tennis season.

– A tale of two cities and their skyscrapers.

– Drooling over these fries.

– Oh culture.

The August Link Love

The month of August is here!

This is definitely my month because I love love summer and also because it’s my birthday month. I’ll be travelling home for obon with my sister in a few weeks. Can’t wait. I’m already counting down the days!

What do you have planned? Hope you all have a great month ahead! 😀

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– Got my eyes on this waffle maker.

– Interesting post about turning to Google to discover city stereotypes.

– Obento boxes too pretty to eat.
– Growing up in the midwest, this article caught my eye.
– Although I’m not sure what to think about that quote…good for Jane Austen!
– This tshirt speaks the truth.

The Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee

Did you ever watch the American sitcom called Seinfeld?
I know it was huge and a lot of people still make references from the show. But I’ve actually never seen an episode. Probably because when I was in grade school, my daddy had full power over the remote control and his English probably still wasn’t good enough to fully enjoy the sitcom back then. And I grew up in the Friends generations so our family pretty much missed the whole Seinfeld era.
But now Jerry Seinfeld is back with his new web series called Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee and I’ve been watching them!
It’s just him and a comedian talking about things while he drives the car and then while they drink coffee. It’s pretty funny, some more than others. My favorites are the ones with Sarah Silverman and Seth Meyers. It’s become a ritual to watch an episode during my lunch break when a new one is on the website.
PS: A random Seinfeld fact…in Japan the dubbing for Seinfeld’s voice is the same person who did the voice for Uncle Jesse from Full House! 😀

The July Link Love

I keep on repeating myself every month.
But June was definitely the busiest month for me this year. Work was beyond hectic (in a good way…although I’m hoping 30+ hours of overtime is not an every month thing) and weekends were full of fun with friends!!!
For July, I’m hoping to relax a bit more and get back to running more often. And of course, more posts! Happy July! 😀

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– I haven’t cooked or baked at all this month. Not once. But when I do, I’m making this.
– My rosemary plant is getting bigger. Want to make this cake soon.
– I sent kit-kats to my awesome friend. He made this amazing instagram video and made my day.
– Changed my morning alarm to this song.
– My fascination with British English continues. Read this and laughed out loud.
– This powerful artwork by Manabu Ikeda makes you think.