japan

as some of you know, japan has a special place in my heart.  when i was about 6, yuki and yoshi moved in across the street.  yuki was lee's age and yoshi was my age.  they lived in the states for only a few years but remain lifelong friends of our family.

my friend jody, myself and yuki is on the right.  waiting for the bus.

yoshi waiting at the bus stop.

yuki lived with my family for a year during her senior year of high school.  my sister then lived in japan for 4 years.  my mom, sister and i traveled to japan for yuki's wedding.  i've been twice and want to go back.  there is also hideki and his family.  so many people to worry about...

i love japan.

the recent tragedies going on there are heartbreaking.  earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear meltdowns, radiation, etc.  it's awful.

it's hard feeling helpless in the states.

i've donated to the red cross and so can you by texting REDCROSS to 90999.  It will automatically add $10 to your cell phone bill.  for more info, go here.

i also love what w + k are doing.  they designed a print to raise funds for japan and it can be yours for only $25.

buy it here.

my new favorite place

uwajimaya.

it's my new fave store.

it's all things japanese and it makes me happy.  i can't believe i haven't been in there before.  i could spend HOURS in there and probably will next time i go.  it totally felt like i was back in japan and i wanted to stay.

but...the place wasn't perfect.

my worst nightmare as i think mayonnaise is the spawn of the devil.

they also had grapefruits the size of my head.

they were seriously enormous.

i would totally work there if it didn't smell like fish.

chow

recently lee dusted off her japanese cooking skills and made one of our faves.

okonomiyaki.

it's like a japanese pancake of deliciousness.

it consists of cabbage, noodles, ginger, green onions and some batter-y stuff and topped with japanese style bacon and egg.

sounds weird and it is.

but oh so good.

especially when it's cooked right.

maybe next time, lee. 

not bad for your first try in a while.

here it is cooking.