A Holly Jolly Christmas To You!

How are you spending Christmas this year? Are you traveling?
I'm sorry I haven't posted my blog(in English) since I moved to LA, it's been two months! My husband, J and I are spending the Holidays in LA, no traveling to Japan this year. Quiet and easy holidays, I'm looking forward to just enjoy this weekend. Eat till our tummies are full, drink till we're tipsy and stay up chatting till late.

Darlings, I wish you all a holly jolly Christmas filled with joy and happiness. Let this weekend be merry, festive, and full of love and warmth. Be happy!!


Merry Christmas!


(Photo via weheartit)

Celebrating Tonight: Elderflower Splitzer

I'm in the mood to celebrate the little(maybe big?) thing in my life. I finally got my immigrant visa just the other day, and moving to Los Angels where my husband lives. It's been a bit over 2 years since we tied the knot, my visa process took 2 years, long time... isn't it?

Anyway, I'm thinking to celebrate with a pitcher of elderflower splitzer. The combinatin of elderflower cordial, sparkling water, and dry white wine(or any non-sweet sparkling wine) makes for a very fitting drink for me. I know it's kind of summery drink, but I feel summer sun is back again as I'm too happy, indeed!

Here is the recipe, cheers!

(Photo by PORT and FIN)

Vintage Denim Style - Embroidered Denims

"It's hard to be in a bad mood when you have embroidered roses on your knees". Absolutely yes!
I found this beautiful saying when I opened Justin's beautiful online shop Bliss and Mischief, and totally love them.
Hillary Justin is the founder and designer of Bliss and Mischief, her collections are inspired by epic cactus, as well as the sun bled shades of Joshua Tree and the vivid embroidered details of classic Western kitsch. Justin began to source vintage cloth while re-designing and revamping classic pieces.

Found your favorite piece? White roses denim shirt is my favorite :)


(Photos by Bliss and Mischief. Layout by emBroider)

Air Cleaning Plants

Ah, October. Cooling breeze, falling leaves, and tons of apples, my favorite season!
Watching falling leaves makes you a bittersweet sense of loss? Although I like very much watching and walking through falling leaves, I kind of miss fresh green.
So I'm thinking to add a touch of green in my room. Houseplants are not only brighten your space, as a part of natural processes(photosynthesis) it can remove carbon dioxide from their environment and release oxygen.
NASA Clean Air Study said that many common houseplants are very efficient a removing other problem pollutants from indoor air.
Sounds reliable? Yes! I must get one or two plants. Golden pothos is very easy to take care, and peace lily is the loveliest one. Any suggestion?


(Photos by the guardian, and my unfinished home)

Autumn Harvest - Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato is one of my favorite autumn harvested veggies. Although I like them very much I don't know much of sweet potato recipes, so I did a small research and soon found this recipe. OK, to be quite honest with you, I wasn't interested in recipe at first, I was just attratcted to photo, it's french fries! You cannot ignored them anymore, right?
Anyway, this recipe is very simple, you don't need to deep fry them :) Sprinkle a tiny pinch of sea salt, black pepper, and 1/2 a half teaspoon of sweet smoked paprika powder. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then toss everything together to coat and put in oven for 40min. Sounds easy and yummy?
Here is the full recipe.


(Photos and recipe by Jamie Oliver)

Swan Around Your Neck

Artists sister, Celina and Maja create a whimsical birdy scarves with felted wool and their designs are totally dreamy...
Remember when singer Björk had worn swan dress at the Oscars? they are inspired by that dress and create these beautiful scarves.
White swan, black swan, ugly duckling, and pink flamingo... which one is your favorite? These swans can be worn in casual style, but it's also good with fancy dress.


(Photos by celapiu)

Can You Eat Kiwi Skin?

How do you eat kiwi? When eating kiwi I usually cut them in half and scooped fruit out from the skin. The other day, my husband texted me that he happened to see one of his co-worker was eating whole kiwi with skin. Do you eat kiwi skin? can you eat them? My answer was "No". First of all, the idea of eating kiwi skin just never occurred in my mind, second of all, I don't think that fuzzy brown skin taste good with juicy green fruit.

However, someone is eating kiwi skin, so can we really eat them? I did a small research and found out that kiwi skin is edible and loaded with even more fiber and vitamin C that the fruit itself. Isn't it surprising? I can understand more fiber in skin than fruit, but where is more vitamin C in that fuzzy skin? It said that you wash a kiwi just like you wash an apple and eat them whole, it is less messy because it holds flesh together as you snack on the fruit.
Hmm... will you try?


(Photo by Nutri Living)

Autumn Cover Up Bomber Jackets

September! Calendar-wise it's officially autumn, right? Yet, late summer heat is here and there so still my everyday style is pretty much simple summer style and no cover-up. But I really want to start autumn shopping, I see so many cute autumn/winter fashion like coat, boots, and, bomber jacket, that caught my eye most! Satin, embroidered, military inspired style, and botanical prints... I usually take a long cardigan for trans-seasonal cover-up, but those bomber jackets are too cute to ignore.

Probably you don't need them now but you'll need one in a few weeks. I like green/navy reversible one. What do you think?

(Photos by Zara, Urban Outfitters, Warehouse, and Hunter )

Wedding or Unwedding?

Tell me about your weeding. Are you dreaming of a big weeding ?
After a bit over two years of marriage, we still haven't had wedding. Yes, I want a wedding some day, but I don't want a wedding. I want it in an unwedding way.

A wedding is really just a long list of decisions to be made, right? Venue, guests, cake, first dance, photographer, speeches, dinner... what more? Oh yes, budget. My husband and I are quite a wedding clueless. And, I don't really have specific image and dream for my wedding. What I want is a lot of ice cream instead of cake, beautiful dress, flowers, and our family to be there for family snaps. I think it's quite simple. Then, I read Sara's post, she just gave me lovely answer, unwedding! No need to follow wedding traditions. Skip what you are not interested in. Wedding is a truly individual celebration and should reflect only ourselves. It's so true!


(Article via Me & Orla.  Photo by MODWedding)

Sunny Side Up Cat Eggs

What's your favorite egg recipes?
Sunny side up eggs, hard boiled eggs, deviled eggs, or scrambled eggs ? I like egg salad on a slice of toast but too lazy to have them every morning :)

Anyway, ever since I found this super cute egg mold, sunny side up eggs will be definitely my favorite breakfast. Aww... look those yolk eyes, they look so innocent yet yummy!


(Photos by Egg Addiction)

Hug Sofa - You're Not Alone!

Giggle! This unique sofa offers your free hugs for whenever you want. You don't need to ask nor wait actual human to hug you, the Free Hug Sofa will be there for you.
The Free Hug sofa, is designed by South Korean designer Eun Kyoung Lee for the A' Design Awards, and, according to Lee, “it will hold you warm and soft like your mother, friend, and a lover.”
What do you think of falling into the arms of Free Hug Sofa and have sweet dream in your living room?


(via STYLIST)

Rain but Happy

This past few weeks, we have a squall like heavy rain. I quite like rainy weather in summer, it cools down the summer heat and refreshing air after the rain.
Well, I think many of us don't like walking in the rain although we need rain in many countries. My problem is not particularly rainy weather, I don't like an umbrella. So I was searching to get an umbrella that will make you happy to open it and enjoy the weather, or even wish for rain.
Which one is your favorite? I like kissy face one, cute!


(Photos by studioDIY, SHOPBOP, KateSpade, macy's, and ModCloth)

Sunday Waltz - Joey Alexander

It would be just perfect Sunday afternoon with a cup of coffee and good book, and Joey's mellow jazz on repeat.

Joey Alexander, 13 years old boy from Indonesia, now based in New York jazz pianist is well known as the youngest nominee(when he was 12 years old) for the Grammy Awards Best Jazz Instrumental Album for ‘My Favorite Things’ and Improvised Jazz Solo for ‘Giant Steps’.
He began playing piano at the age of six while he was growing up in Indonesia. His father, amateur pianist played jazz and Joey picked up Thelonius Monk's "Well, You Needn't" by ear.

Joey is releasing his second album, "Countdown", as well as his original composition "Sunday Waltz," on Sept. 16.

(Photo and Trailer by Joey Alexander)

Fresh Pastel Walls

Mmm... what do you think of pastel wall? I always stick to a white wall and never had a colored or patterned one, although I like very much a brightly colored life. This past few month, I've been loving the lighter and cheery take on walls, painted in shades of baby blue, mint green, lavender or soft pink. They look so clean and light, yet fresh. My favorites are soft pink and pale yellow.

How about you?

(Photos by/via Apartment therapy, French by design, Refinery29, The Design Files, and flodeau)

Tree House? Tree in the House?

Amazing "Tree in the house" designed by Aibek Almassov(A. Masow Architects).
The concept of this design is "harmless and as close to the nature" . He's been looking for a solution that would help in the future to avoid the destruction of forests, according to Almassov. I think the idea of this house is very unique and very relaxing? but it would be better if I live in a bit more civilized area...

What do you think of modern tree house? It's not regular tree house, it's tree in the house.


(via Bored Panda)

Happy Melty Summer Weekend

Uff... good bye rainy season and welcome real summer. Well, the rain cloud is still staying above Tokyo area...

What are you up to next two days? I'm planning to have a long skype chat with my sister as it's her birthday this weekend, and fit in a coffee date with a friends.

Wishing everyone a happy and not too melty weekend.


(Photo by Upknorth)

Everyday Comfy Place

Where is your comfy place at home?

I recently bought cable knit pouf pillow and find myself very comfy sitting there. Although you cannot fall a sleep on a pouf pillow which I always dream to, you can read a book, watch TV, and just relax with a cup of coffee.
I always wanted reading chair in my living room(still very much want them!) and make my comfy place at home, but since I bought pouf pillow I move around my flat with them and find wherever I feel to sit down, mostly it's shady and airy place, I know I'm just like a cat. So my comfy place is not only living room anymore, it can be anywhere with pouf :)

What do you think of having a pouf pillows at your comfy place?


(Photos by emBroider, Crafts For The Times, Greige, West elm, and Anthropologie)