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The last three books I read were all orange. 🍊

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We were gifted Japanese goodies and sake from my boyfriend’s coworkers. The Rich Butter flavored Black Thunder was so heavenly. (＾ｰ^)

The sake is called MUKU from Koshi No Kanbai and it is a Junmai Daiginjo from Niigata Japan. Muku means “unclouded, clear, and new” so I really want to channel that energy for the new year.

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The Restaurant of Lost Recipes - Hisashi Kashiwai

Book no. 2 of 2025. (Kamogawashokudo Okawari) Published in 2024 G. P. Putnam’s Son / Library

A collection of short stories with excellent food writing featuring Kyoto delicacies and unique prefectural versions of Nori-Ben, Hamburger Steak, Christmas Cake, Fried Rice, Ramen, and Ten-don. I feel like there’s a lot of books being pushed out of this genre of wholesome Japanese food writing, usually there’s a bit of time traveling, and there’s always a cat. Now this book had a cute tabby cat following along, but there were no talking cats or time traveling. The characters in this book do specific research and investigate like detectives, so I actually really preferred this book for lacking the magical-ness you often see in this genre.

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Glow in the dark granny square blanket *･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

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Ex Wife by Ursula Parrott

First published 100 years ago in the 1920’s, and now it is no. 17 in the McNally Editions publications … I just … ❤️… recommend it for any NYC girly. It was just so fricken good and juicy, the fashion was on point, and the cocktails in the speakeasies, all of it, just set a sexy tone that had me addicted.

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Welcoming my new Traveler’s Notebook (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)

Finally caved and bought a Traveler’s Notebook in the passport size. ʕʘ‿ʘʔ I’m already obsessed and I’m so excited to see the patina on the leather as it ages. Compared to some of the other brands, Traveler’s Notebook is one of the more affordable options and has some of the best quality paper in my opinion. I’m also looking forward to visiting the flagship store when I visit Tokyo and Kyoto, hopefully this year. (*´ω`*) I really want a brass charm.

My very first project of the year was this handsewn cover for my book journal. I added beads from my boyfriend’s Aunt Barbara in the stitching to match the beaded charm from a necklace my mom made me that’s attached to my Traveler’s Notebook. (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)

At Yoseka Stationary, I found this cute strawberry scented stamp that’s perfect as a tracker marker.

Something that’s so nostalgic to me growing up in Japan is the random English on Japanese items. I don’t see much of it anymore, but as soon as I saw “ALL THE TRAVELERS NEED IS LOVE” I related so hard and had to buy it right away.

My MARKS 2025 planner fits perfectly along with my Kaweco Sport.

These are all of my favorite things. I’ll use forever and ever to log my favorite books, movies, recipes, friends addresses, everything everything.

I’ll update soon with the notebooks inside.

For some reason, I can’t stop listening to MIKE.

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Food writing is one of my favorite genres. I love the way people describe food where I can really start to visualize the dishes and even conceptualize some smells. I’m obsessed. (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

I picked this lil anthology up with weird gastronomic tales by a bunch of my favorite authors, and I’m so excited to dig in.

This Dubai pistachio mocha is my favorite drink of this winter. I haven’t even tried the TikTok viral Dubai chocolate bars yet, but this drink from my local spot is just fabulous.

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Hello girl bloggers, November was a whirlwind.

Went to New Orleans for a girl trip with my Japanese coworker … (^_−)−☆

Travelled more to visit my boyfriend’s family and also mine. Victoria brought us koginut tarts which was the highlight of the entire thanksgiving weekend.

We celebrated my mother’s 50th birthday the day before the big feast. Dinner was good, dessert was great. The train back to New York City was unbelievably packed. Luckily I was able to snag a seat but people were forced to stand everywhere and people at the platform were just giving up and calling cars.

I love an heirloom gift, the jacket is from my boyfriend’s mom, and the ring watch from my own.

Locking in this week and posting more.

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Reading this amazing novel currently, practicing my 日本語　　　　(*⁰▿⁰*)

Nintendo points won me the Detective Pikachu coozy, which I use daily.

Bestie Haruna gave me the matchbox bag for my 30th birthday. Love her.

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Today when I visited the bookstore, I was thinking about the time I was a stationer. It’s so important to use things that make you feel great! (*☻-☻*)

Pictured is my 2024 planner featuring some stickers and artifacts I’ve collected this year.

These are the 2025 planners I’ve already purchased! When I saw the melon cream soda design, I fell in love and knew I had to get it. I was so relieved because finding the perfect planner is always carefully thought through -it can take some time! The glittery one is from MARKS and it fits my daily Kaweco fountain pen perfectly … and!!! it snuggles right in to my tiny Telfar purse like a glove. Not to mention both were one of the cheaper options …… ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ

(I wanna do a what’s in my purse blog soon - it would highlight how I live my minimalist lifestyle)

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As someone who used to draw in my hobonichi everyday, I’ve learned that it actually takes a lot of discipline to do something daily. Now I keep everything simple, because I’m more interested in staying organized. I like minimal pages and a small size.

This coming year, I want to straighten out my whole life so I’ll be using 2 planners. The smaller one will be with me daily and it will be a planner that will log my schedule so I can plan on the go and always know my availability. The other one will stay at home on my desk and it will mainly log my To Dos, friends’ birthdays, personal projects, and etc.

As a omeone with ADHD, I spend hours shopping for the perfect item so I’m seriously so glad I found my planners already. ♪(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑)♪

Listening to DJ Firmeza, missed him at Bossa last night.

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My boyfriend’s family have goats and chickens on their property. They also grow a ton of herbs like mint, basil, rosemary, dill, and cilantro in pots surrounding their patio. In the garden grows a variety of hot and sweet peppers, hundreds of tomatoes, and a recent addition are the fruit trees.

Every time we visit they give us dozens of eggs. I make a lot egg sandwiches or bake them in my sweets.

The best way to eat them though, is plain, accompanied with salt and pepper, or with sauce guts (which are these hot sauce remnants that have been baked and turned into a flakey topping or snackie.)

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Quick drink at the park before my shift at the sushi restaurant, and I’m thinking about crocheting. In fact, my fingers crave it and mental visions of patterns zoom by if my brain is left chillin. ϵ( 'Θ' )϶

Lately, I’ve been feeling blue. I’m wanting to move back to Tokyo or even back home to Nagasaki. I need a break from NYC life.

Enjoying this strawberry yuzu spritz in a bodega ice cup. Keeping things simple, reading more, need to cook more, wanting to stay in more.

One amazing thing is that my boyfriend has been completely spoiling me. I think he likes spending time with me at home. ٩( ᐛ )و

Love ❤️

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Saw Bladee last night during his Cold Visions tour (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)

Brooklyn Mirage at Avant Gardner, New York 10/17/2024

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Pikmin Synchronicity

Caught this butter corn miso ramen rock Pikmin and my work wife made me this butter corn miso ramen with bacon at my job.

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Visible Secret (2001) - Ann Hui

Taking fall fashion inspo from June ˚✧₊⁎❝᷀ົཽ≀ˍ̮ ❝᷀ົཽ⁎⁺˳✧༚

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(#^.^#) green egg trinket holder

A small piece of the rim had cracked while I was trimming the bottom so I committed to the crack and did it all around. The egg shape influenced the color choice of green. I also had some bald spots while glazing so I dabbed a bit of oatmeal white over them and it ended up looking like the edges of egg whites that’s been fried up with oil in a pan. ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

This one is smallest out of this fire, I think it’s perfect for rings. ϵ( 'Θ' )϶

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Pikachu and Charizard mural in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York.