Bacon

We went to Hollywood Riviera for a stroll
Saw some new stores :)
And went into a cafe
Lauren had an adult size sandwich

When she finished
Her lovely father asked her for her bacon
And with the speed I haven't seen
She shoved all the bacon into her mouth :)
....She is not good at sharing food
....Just. like. me. :)

Magic Number

I used to think 4 will be my magic number

That magic number had always been 3

Because I was one of 3 sisters

And that was my world

Two sisters to rely on

And fight with

Until I lost my oldest sister 8 years ago

And suddenly

2 seemed such a lonely number

Just me and one more sister

On the other side of the Pacific Ocean

And just like people long ago

I felt the fear

And faced a reality

That nothing in life is certain

And my magic number turned 4

Instead 3

But something changed

After a devastating loss

And loneliness

I felt sense of power

That even with the unbelievable loss

I am still here

And I knew I can survive anything

Even with the temptation of doing one more kid's room :)

I know

My journey will be with those 3 children

3 children who argue, cry and laugh together

Just like me and my sisters

Life is not perfect :(

But happiness is all around

Sometimes it likes to hide

But we just have to keep on looking :)

Happy Friday!!!

And wish you a VERY happy weekend :)

(images from Cookie Magazine)

Vintage Fabrics

I was reading a book this morning

With my cup of tea

And came across pictures of a house in Hungary

I am into vintage fabrics

And heard about the cuteness of Hungarian vintage fabrics

That they have such a pretty patterns

And embroidery

And when I see a house in a tiny Hungarian village

I know why they have such a pretty fabrics

Because pretty patterns and colors are everywhere
So if you go to Europe
Make sure to look for vintage Hungarian fabrics
They. are. fabulously. pretty.

A Very Happy Farmer Girl

Do you ever think

What if?

Well, I do

I am living a very different life from my childhood friends

So I think what if sometimes

There is a girl from my hometown

Who is same age as me

Who got married to a farmer in rural area of Japan

She lives in a cold place

With lots of snow during winter

And I thought I can never be a farmer

But then I see

She created a cafe in her farm

And a shop for pottery

And an organic market

And organized an outdoor concert with lots of musicians during summer

Even with cold winter

And early rise

She is happy

People say

Happiness is how you create your life

And I think
She is a very lucky farmer girl :)

(Images from Anzai Family Farm)

Who Is Cooking?

We have an unsaid rule in our house

We must take turns to cook

I cook ethnic food and he cooks American food

I used to cook everyday

Until his confession one day

I. cannot. eat. rice. any. more

Because his looks is VERY deceiving

He looks Asian

But his grandparents came here in the 1880's

And he was raised in a Jewish neighborhood

So whenever I cooked

He used to make sure to smell the food

Before he puts it into his mouth

As if his nose could smell the danger

Of Asian food

Although my mom still believes that

He can actually understand Japanese

....Because it MUST be in his blood

No

It is NOT

So we take turns to cook

Because two Asians sometimes doesn't mean two Asians

It can be two cooks in a house :)

Kathryn M Ireland

I am not a big fan of Spanish design

Nor using a lot of bold colors together

But this house is so happy

And cheerful

I couldn't help it

But to fall in love

This once abandoned ranch in Ojai

Was restored and decorated by British interior and textile designer

Kathryn M Ireland

And since it is taking too long

For me to win lottery :)

This house has been sold

To Reese Witherspoon

And now it serves as her weekend house where she actually keeps her chickens, horses and all that

But if you love this happy and really cheerful house

Kathryn M Ireland has her new book titled

Creating A Home

Which shares her journey of finding this once crumbling ranch

To finishing each rooms of the house

I always felt restoring a house or a furniture piece

Is like a fairly tale

A fairly godmother

Using her magic

To create a beauty out of an undesired gem

And Kathryn M Ireland is my new favorite fairly godmother

Who has an invisible wand

For her incredible magic :)

So Lucky....

And this is the house in our neighborhood

That was done by Kathryn M Ireland

If we lived in this house

Our girls might not be so moody :)

They might start dancing before doing homework...

And I might start dancing before cleaning the house :)
And cooking :)

Isn't this girl's room so serene?

I love how she used a few items for her signature Spanish look

But used muted tone for this room

Ahhhh...

So lucky....

Lovely Week

It looks wonderful outside our window

Sunshine

Blue skies

Warm weather

And you know this week will be great

This is the week my lovely husband has his furlough day off

And it is the day we fuel ourselves

To go places we wanted to go to

To make lunch and go to beach and read and relax

Or we go to a small cafe and enjoy lunch

Because we want to enjoy it

No matter if it is furlough day or not

So this is a good week

Because we are having lunch at Sewtelle Kitchen on Friday

A nice small cafe in Los Angeles

Which has great foods

And gigantic cream puff filled with vanilla ice cream

Which is really perfect for me

Who refuses to jog :)

There are many famous spots here in LA

But I am a big fan of small spots

Because I believe in giving support for under dogs :)

And they have such a wonderful way of letting me to get to know them

So what are you doing this week

To make you feel special

And to fill your curiosity

Are you enjoying your lunch?

Or having a glass of wine with dinner?

Or having a moment to look up to see those beautiful stars?

Happy Monday

And wishing you a very cheerful week!

Orne De Feuilles And Boiserie

Good thing about being from another country

Is being able to know what is going on in a different country

Especially in Japan

Which is a real blind spot for beautiful European antiques and design

There are a lot of antique shops in Japan

And this is my favorite

Boiserie

They have lots and lots of beautiful antique furniture pieces

That make you forget that you are in Tokyo

And they also have a shop called

Orne de Feuilles

That has all the small items

Such as jewelries

Like those

I have always wished more Japanese people learn to speak English like Europeans do
So that many more people can find those hidden gems
Which are very difficult to find
...Because it is all in Japanese

But if you ever go there
Don't make a mistake like others do

No time drinking with geisha girls :)
Because you need to visit antique shops
And flea markets
To have that moment of victory

Of finding something beautiful

In a place you have never expected