Umai! : Japanese Choco

Well, no dessert cooking trials for me this week since we got a box of Japanese chocolates in the mail.

We don't know why Sak's parents decided to send us chocos, but my guess is that it's a "sorry-BIL's-still-living-with-you" gift.  Peace offering? Ha... Well, I will say that they do know both our weaknesses well. Me = something I can eat.  Sak = chocolate.

Anyway, I really like Japanese chocolates because they are not nearly as sweet as your standard Hershey's bar.  I can eat a whole lot more of these types in one sitting before feeling sick.  I guess that could be a bad thing too!

And, to celebrate Pocky Day (today! 11-11!), we've got some Salty Pocky. I think it's a new flavor?

Because nothing says Asian quite like added sodium.

I spy hypertension in our futures.

Salty pocky was really good though.  I wonder if I could just dip a normal Pocky stick in salt and save myself the trouble of finding it again?

And obviously more important than Pocky Day, it is also Veterans Day.  Thank you vets for your service and for helping keep us safe here! May you enjoy plenty of Pocky today!

Cozy Autumn Mood

I'm about 800 words behind on my weekly NaNoWriMo goal so far, so I'll be playing catch up tonight.  They say it's good to have a reward to help you reach your 50k word goal, so if I finish on time, I'll do another give-away!  I've actually been sitting on another awesome Daiso prize for quite some time now, but since it doesn't look like I'll be hitting a 200 view/day kiriban anytime soon, novel-finishing will be a better goal!

But to get into a cozy, autumn writing mood, let's make a nice warm spaghetti squash salad.

Microwaved spaghetti squash mixed with olive oil, garlic, garlic salt, and plenty of basil!  Mmm.

Then we'll invite my new best friend to hang out, Mr. Heater.

Seriously, best investment ever made for someone too cheap to turn on the central heat.

And lastly, we'll don some cute footwear to keep the toes warm!

Thanks for the crazy shoes, Mom!

Warm, well-fed and comfy - perfect conditions for writing!

...or to take a nap. That sounds good too. :)

How do you get into a cozy Fall mood?

DIY Japanese Bunny Headband

The first time I saw the bunny headband (usamimi) was in anime, and I thought it was just one of those anime things.  You know, the kind that don't actually happen in real life?

(source) Tsukasa from Lucky Star sports a usamimi headband!

I was surprised how many people I saw wearing them when we were in Japan though! They are actually quite stylish.

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But seriously people - Beyonce has one too! She rocks an epic one in her music video "Party".  If that doesn't make them cool, I don't know what does.

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I bought one while we were in Japan, but since I gave it to my sister, I decided to try making my own.  (It would have been more useful if I had hers as a guide, but I figured the construction was simple enough.)

I started with some long scrap fabric and some floral wire.  I measured the floral wire around my head, and cut it at the appropriate length (about a yard for me).

I cut the fabric down into a long strip and sewed it in half lengthwise, right sides facing together.

This is only about an inch and a half thick, and in hindsight I think I should have tapered it so that the ends were a bit wider.  But it's okay for now.  Turn it inside out and press flat.

Sticking the wire through the tube, make sure the ends are bent back on themselves so you don't poke yourself in the head with sharp wire ends.

Then simply fold the edges in and sew it up!

Easy peasy usamimi headband!

I think next time I will make the "ears" a little wider, since they seem narrow to me.

Alternatively, you could also just use a standard headband and attach just the wired bow portion to it.

If I can find a decent outfit, I'm thinking of wearing one to to Thanksgiving. They are just so cute!  In the mean time, I'll wait for you fashion bloggers to help Beyonce out and bring the usamimi out as a major US fashion trend! :D