I'M ON A MISSION!

With the shift to our new apartment we have been thinking up creative ways to redecorate or breath life into the things we already have.  I am so happy with the extra light and space that it feels like a fresh start. 

This means it's time for a new duvet/quilt cover.  The only problem is they are HORRIBLE!  I have only found one that is gorgeous but not perfect and they don't ship overseas. The rest are boring/plain/drab/terrible fabric etc.  So I have hatched a plan.  Make one!  I know I want colourful, I know I want bright, I know I want interesting and I know I want it to be personal so....

I have taken this photo of O

And turned it into this (using Picnik)

I will only use the right 3/4's of the picture (from the orange squares) then all I need to do is find varying shades of cotton in all the colours in the image and piece together a quilt!  I am off fabric shopping in the morning.  Wish me luck and I promise to keep you posted on my progress.

SATURDAY..

After last weeks eventful weekend these two photos sum up my day today. 

B was kind enough to shout me an amazing mint chocolate chip ice cream.  'Take a photo' I said..

 

Two spoonfuls later..

Bummer. 

SATURDAY! CELEBRATE!

My Day by N.C.E.McKenzie.

Morning Hiroshima!

Market by the river.

My loot.. Obi and Kimono for new bags.

And an amazing, super old clutch purse with a beautiful clasp.  The outside is so old that the very fine leather feels like the paper that it is lined in.  It also came with a note inside it and a receipt from the bank after taking out $12,000 USD.  Haven't deciphered the note yet but am hoping it says something exciting!

Was given a tiny envelope from our Hermes-scarf-wearing taxi driver with a shiny new 10yen (1 US cent) coin in it. This was a refund for our having to phone the (all women) company instead of flagging down a car.  So sweet.

Hung out with my boys.

Stole some Daphne, my favourite smelling flower from the park.  Spring is in the air!

Relaxed in our sunny new lounge.

And ended the evening with a cup of tea, NZ treats and a game of cards with B. xoxo

EGGS

I am feeling a bit nauseous today and am wondering if it has anything to do with blowing 40 eggs for Easter art class??  I have twenty 5 year olds so doubled the amount of eggs needed in case of breakages.  Their teacher had little faith in their ability to sit still, concentrate and paint without major egg casualties but only one egg was injured and by the most sensible girl in the class. 

NEW ZEALAND TRIP

BOO and YAHOO I am back in Japan!  YAHOO because I have a fabulously large and sunny new apartment organized by B while O and I were away and BOO because NZ was sooooooooo generous to give O the best Kiwi Kid holiday ever.  It was also amazing for me to catch up with family and friends at both a birthday and a wedding.

  

  

  

 

MOVING DAY

Friends of ours are moving back to the USA (BOO) but we are taking over their apartment (YAHOO)! We are all packed and waiting for the movers.  It's only a few blocks away but we have too much stuff to move ourselves and are a wee bit lazy (I am not carrying a double bed up 6 flights of stairs if it doesn't fit in the elevator..).
I will be internetless for a while but look forward to posting before/after photos of the new place once we redecorate.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Nothing says 'I Love You' like pork packaged in the shape of a heart.. and deep fried heart shaped chicken and heart shaped potato cakes.  Supermarket shopping today was terribly romantic.
Come to think of it these gifts just don't seem right because on Valentines Day in Japan it is custom for only boys to give presents to girls.  White Day, exactly a month later has the guys on the receiving line. 

WHAT A DREAMY CHRISTMAS..

I know it's already February (how it is I'm not sure) but today was SO super cold in Hiroshima that the day left me dreaming of New Hampshire/Boston/New York.  B's parents are moving back to New Zealand this year so this was the perfect last USA winter holiday sendoff for the McKenzie clan.  Here are more pics from my snowy old holiday. 

 

  

COLD-Y

The last three nights I have taken a cold medicine before bed to help unclog my blocked nose.  The last three nights I have woken B with my sleep talking.  I am not a sleep talker.  The first night I rolled over in bed, patted B on the chest and said "Good boy", as if talking to baby O.  The second night I said "Shoes off", another phrase for O.  Last night I even woke myself up laughing hysterically, although I don't recall explaining that I was stuck in a kite.  Tonight I am ditching the medicine.  Night, night..

Mamiya/Sekor Auto XTL

My Christmas prezzie from B this year was a new old camera with all the trimmings.  I love, love, love it!  I took it with me on our trip to the USA.  Here are a few family shots on our way to this amazing place..