Valentine's Day Chocolate

On Valentine's Day here in Japan, it is only the women who gives presents ( mainly chocolate ) to the men and unlike the West, sending Valentine's card is not common. I've been craving for roses and chocolates during Valentine's Day but no, this is Japan and it's my husbands' culture!! (T_T)There are two types of giving chocolates to men: The ' Honmei chocolate ' , the obvious (homemade) and or expensive ones. A woman gives the honmei chocolate to their loved ones. The second one is the ' Giri chocolate ', it is the obligatory chocolate a woman buys or make for male friends,co-workers or classmates. Men, who received chocolate on Valentine's Day should return the favor on White Day,March 14.

I've tought of ordering a chocolate for my husband on-line and I found this( photo above ) chocolate sets from Frenz of Kobe sweets for 6,000 yen. So expensive, though! What do you think? It is a spana, pench, monkey wrench, tiny bolt, and plug chocolates.


Or how about this one of Royce' from Hokkaido sweets? I love their potato chips coated with chocolate! If you visit Japan, you should taste their chocolate varieties-- I would highly recommend this choco!! Or maybe you find Royce' chocolate there in your country, most especially the ' nama ' (fresh ) ones, please try.

Help me to choose!!! \(^0^)/

6 Weird Things About Me

I received this tag from Ate Rose, Ate Cecile, Sis Grace --- Thanks for always including me in your tag lists!! \(^0^)/ and I apologize for posting them late ( again! ). I consider myself a weird one and I hope my friends won't run away from me!!

RULES: People who get tagged need to write a blog post of 6 things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that ' you're tagged ' in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1: No passion for heels --I have a four year one pair of shoes with heels for parties-- just in case. I'm a 5' ft flat and my friends teasing me for being a boyish type for my taste of sneakers. I know heels can make me look taller but I can't stand wearing it for a long time! And I can't run with them,too!

2: Dirty Dishes -- I don't know why but whenever I had some large dirty dishes to wash, I feel like I worked hard that day.

3: Toilets -- It still find me amusing though this washlet is common in Japan. After you ' go ', you can press a button which then releases a nozzle which squirts warm water right where you need it. Even when I had enough, I still hit the ' stop ' and ' start ' button!

4: Day Dreaming -- Have you ever tried imagining something in your mind like for example imagining a movie from the beginning till the end including the lines and the BGM's? COZ I DID!lol! I love the movie Our Neighbor Totoro ( have you heard of it? It's a Hayato Miyazaki's work ) and watched them a lot of times and almost memorized each line! There was nothing to do that day that ended imagining them inside my head!

5: Coffee -- Drinking coffee 4 times a day is weird??

6: Frogs' Legs -- If thinking a frogs' legs is the best appetizer and best match for Ginebra San Miguel is weird, well then I'm a qualified weirdo!!lol!

I'm passing this to Mr.Joops,Mr.Richard,Mommy Liza,Ate Kim,Ate Weng, and Sis Annabelle. Happy Blogging!!!\(^0^)/

Year of the Dragon

Kind a flattering but I'm not considering myself an attractive one! I was born on the year of the Dragon, what's yours?

" Demons out! Luck in! "

We celebrated Setsubun at my daughters school wherein the kids throw soybeans to the demon. The beans are symbol to drive away the evil spirits. It is said that eating the same number of the beans as your age brings you happiness and health.

The kids at school were excited to throw beans badly!

Haruka ( in nursery ) is scared of the demon but her older sister Wakaba ( in kinder ) told her not to worry coz it's their Principal doing the demon.LOL! Good job,Mr.Principal!!

Have You Ever Tags

I received again this tags from my friends here in blogosphere--sorry for posting them late!!Instead of doing my own, I love visiting your sites!!


1: Have you ever been on T.V.?

Yap, when our family went to an Honda event, a cameraman asked our permission to have an appearance and even have a copy of it on DVD!







2: Have you ever sung in public?

Yes, but I'm always out of tune!!




3: Have you ever dyed your hair blond?

Yap, I've tried blond, reds, but when I get married I prefer it black.





4: Have you ever eaten frogs' legs?


Oh yes!! hahahaa!! They're best appetizer!!lol! I remember eating them with Ginebra San Miguel in the Philippines!




5: Have you ever received a present that you really hated?

Yes, receiving a G-string from a guy I didn't know on White Day. Gees!!



6: Have you ever walked into a lamp post?

I guess a lot of times already!!





7: Have you ever cooked a meal by yourself for more than 15 people?

Yap, exhausted, but fun!!



8: Have you ever fallen or stumbled in front of others?
Yes, in front of my daughter!


9: Have you ever done volunteer work?

Yes, cleaning the park with the whole family, friends and neighbors.

Now, it's time for me to pass this tags to everybody to Annabelle, Ate Kim, Ate Weng, Joanna, Mommy Liza, Mr. Richard, and Mr.Joops and to YOU! :)

Jero, Enka Singer

Meet Jero, the first black Enka singer! Jero was awarded as the Best New Artist of the Year 2008 by the Japan Association of Japanese Artists. This quarter half Japanese young man is doing great in the enka industry. Jero's Japanese Grandmother exposed him to enka music. He's the talk in Japan and around the country. He has talent, intellect and appeal to a cross- cultured audience. I like his video of Enka mixed with hip-hop. Sit back and watch Jero's video!





English Translation (credit goes to J-pop.asia)

JERO - Snow In The Sea

Lyrics: Akimoto Yasushi
Music: Uzaki Ryudo

The snow that falls into the sea
From the frozen sky
Is swallowed among the waves
Leaving no traces

*My dear, even though I love you
Ah, if my love never reaches you
My dear, then I would rather
Just throw myself into the sea

I followed you to Izumozaki
To Japan’s sea of sadness
I lost sight of love on the wharf
The tears that fall
Do not collect
Like snow in the sea

I stretch out my palm
To a cold vision
Of casting away the world
I believe that is my destiny

My dear, even though you love me
Ah, our love won’t come true
My dear, so I would rather
You kill me, please

I’m alone in Izumozaki
Without an umbrella to wait for tomorrow
My wet hair is cold to the stem
Begrudging words
Vanish beneath the water’s surface
Like snow in the sea

(Repeat*

Lyrics
Romaji Lyrics by J-pop.asia

Lyric added by: Tsuyu

kogoeru sora kara
umi ni furu yuki ha
namima ni nomarete
atokata mo nakunaru

*nee aishitete mo
aa todokanu nara
nee isso kono watashi
mi wo nagemashou ka?

Anata otte izumosaki
Kanashimi no nihonkai
Ai wo miushinai ganpeki no ue
ochiru namida ha
tsumoru koto no nai
marude umi yuki*

tenohira nobaseba
tsumetai maboroshi
seken no furi kiri
sadame da to shinjita

nee aisarete mo
aa kanawanu naka
nee isso kono watashi
koroshite kudasai

hitori kiri no izumosaki
asu wo matsu kasa mo naku
nureta kono kami ga shin made hiete
uramu kotoba mo
minamo ni kieteku
marude umi yuki

(* repeat)

TREASURED AWARD

I received this treasured award from all over my friends here in Blogosphere-- I'm thanking all of YOU for always including me in all of your lists! I want you to know that I really appreciate all of your visits here and I'M THANKING ALL OF YOU FOR BEING SO FRIENDLY!!! I'm so blessed for having friends here although I'm still new without knowing here and there in the world of blogging, but here I am, gaining friends!! What a joy!!\(^0^)/

I'd like to drop an inspirational quotes that I received from a friend of mine and this is also for you that might happen to read this blog:

Lord, help me live from day to day,

In such a humble sort of way,

To give a smile, help lift a load,

For those I meet along life's road,

And when I come to my journey's end,

My life I have not lived in vain,

If one dear friend can smile and say,

" I'm glad I met him on life's way " .

Please pass this award to all of your friends, and now I'm giving back this award to those who gave me coz they deserved it! :)