An Evening Stroll amongst the Sakura

Hanami - the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers, most commonly used in association with those of the sakura.

Knowing that the sakura season was going to pass by quickly, I was itching to get out at least once more to experience the beauty of the blooms. This time, however, I wanted to experience it off base and with the locals. When you take the time to experience something 'the local way', I feel that the experience is vastly more rewarding.

There was a local cherry blossom festival occurring, and while we didn't make it out in time for the festival.. we still managed to enjoy an evening stroll and 'Hanami'. The weather was a bit chilly, but there were lots of locals still out and about who greeted us with smiles as they strolled by with their families. We had already experienced a daytime viewing, so we opted for an evening viewing which would allow us the added ambiance of the glowing lanterns swaying gently in the boughs of the blossoming trees. Even though the song birds had gone to nest for the night, the gentle stillness was relaxing and a most enjoyable experience.

 A perk of venturing out later in the day... we had the walkway to ourselves for quite a bit.

We found ourselves in an open park area down by the Tama River filled with flower gardens beginning to bloom, a trickling stream, and a fabulous view of a train coming across the bridge.

Our very first family photo under the sakura!

Now that warmer weather is here, we hope to get out more & enjoy the sights!

Stay tuned for more adventures!

A Sassenach amongst the Sakura

Springtime in Japan brings one of the most gorgeous events I have ever witnessed... the blooming of the cherry blossoms.. or Sakura, as they are called here. 

Sakura season can begin anywhere from the end of March to early May across Japan, depending on where you live. We are on the outskirts of the Tokyo area, so our predicted bloom week was the 1st weekend in April. However, some unseasonably warm weather caused the blooms to open about a week early. So my little & I grabbed the camera after school one day & took a walk around the base to admire the blooms in all their glory!

The first stop on our walk, were the trees right outside our apartment!

How lucky are we?!

The beauty of the sakura is far more amazing than my words could convey.. so I'll let the pictures do the talking!

These little fingers were itching to hold a delicate cherry blossom!

I adore this photo... it captures the delicate beauty of the blossom, but also my little boy who is forever getting his hands dirty on our nature walks.

We also ventured across the base to a housing area with a larger section of sakura lined streets.

Here we walked amongst the rays of sunshine, softly falling petals, and singing birds.

Sadly the beauty of Sakura season is very short lived. 

These glorious, but delicate, flowers only last two weeks at best.

We are so lucky to be able to look forward to experiencing this again during our time here.

Lush Life: Spring

It's been a bit since my last visit to Lush, so my sweet husband treated me on his day off! 

(true love, folks!)

It's been a while since I've visited a Lush in the states, so I'm not sure what they are giving out these days. Here in Japan, I have gotten an adorable poster calendar with my purchases! Featured for spring is none other than Bubblegrub! (He was promptly claimed by my little).

Alright, on to the goods!!

First up: products for my husband! It makes me happy that Lush offers products that my entire family enjoys, especially since we deal with sensitive skin issues.

This trip, my husband scooped up 2 toners & a shaving cream. Buying completely new items was a slight challenge, as we faced a language barrier... but the girls at the shop were adorable and patient as we each tried to understand the other.

Funny shopping story.. the adorable little clerk was trying to explain "Breath of Fresh Air" to us. (There was lots of smiles & giggles & nodding... the Japanese are amazingly polite!) She kept saying "sea water". So i asked "salt water"? The answer was "no, sea water" & found a picture with waves on it. So I felt silly & said "oh! sea water!".. She replied "yes! sea water.... salt".. LOL

Breath of Fresh Air -- Fresh seawater glently cleanses, while carrageen (seaweed) extract softens and provides essential vitamins and minerals. And all the while, rose absolute and aloe vera are soothing dry areas.

My husband loves this! I haven't used it yet, but I think it smells like bubbles. Totally bizarre, I know, since it's supposed to be sea water.. but it smells like bubbles... I like bubbles, but not sure if I want to smell like them.

Tea Tree Water -- Cleansing tea tree, juniper berry and grapefruit waters keep skin looking fresh and balance skin tone. Light and refreshing Tea Tree Water reduces redness and clears excess oil without drying so you can put your best face forward.

Have not tried this one yet, but I am a lover of tea tree oil! It works wonders with my skin when I have break outs. Another great thing about both of these toners is that they are alcohol free. Alcohol can be very drying and damaging, so I am excited to see that Lush has taken that into account.

Dirty Shaving Cream -- Lavender and Sandalwood shaving cream for sharp looking chins.

Husband has already used this product & loves it! I have the stick perfume of this scent, so I am a fan as well. The shaving cream contains Oat milk, shea butter & honey, so it softens and soothes as you shave. It's also advertised for girls, so I'm sure I'll be giving it a whirl soon!

Ok, so this little guy is the whole reason for this Lush trip!

Bubblegrub -- Inspired by the very hungry caterpillar. Sweet vanilla, tonka and sandalwood with vanilla pod antennae.

As soon as I saw Julie's Lush Haul that included this little guy, I had my heart set on owning him!

Bubble bars are a big hit with my little & they last us quite a while. I'm guessing I can get 6 baths out of him. I'm also pretty sure his eyes are made of chocolate.

(update: for the sake of science, i had to know if his eyes were chocolate... so I did what anyone would do when they're looking for answers... I licked him. haha.. i tasted only soap.. but a followup read of the Lush site says yes, they are indeed chocolate.)

These next two are my favorites from this trip!

Sakura bath bomb -- When the blossoms burst forth in spring, its a tradition to take a picnic and bottle of sake and enjoy the beauty. Noriko, one of our product inventors, hails from Japan and this beautiful bath bomb represents what its like to be in a park while hte breeze blows through the blossoms in the trees. Instead of heading to the park, lay back in serene waters while the gorgeous scents of mimosa and jasmine envelop you to give you the joyful feeling of springtime. Sakura: simple, elegant, and enduringly beautiful bathing.

I am really excited about this one! Sakura season is a HUGE deal here in Japan & I hope that this bomb will deliver the strong floral notes that I smell already. 

*Limited edition - Japan only*

"Hanami' scrub -- salt scrub with lavender, damask rose, ylang-ylang, and fresh sweet orange. Bits of dried cherry blossom enhance the experience.

The above description is the best I can do with using google translate, as this item is only sold in Japan Lush stores. The clerks at the store washed my hand with this product and I immediately fell in love! It's creamy and a lovely scent. They kept asking me if I knew "Noriko", but alas I didnt... however a quick google search let me know that "Noriko" is a Japan only Lush soap (created by the product inventor, Noriko) that is extremely popular! It wasn't currently in store, but I will be on the lookout for it. This scrub shares the same scent & it is marvelous. The ylang-ylang seems to help ground the other florals, so it does not come across as super light floral. I found it to lean toward a light musk.

These two are staples in our house... 

Big Blue -- a sea salt & seaweed bath bomb for the husband &

Ickle Baby Bot -- a lavender bath bomb for the little to help settle at the end of the day.

My final two picks were all about glitter!! 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I absolultely LOVE glitter!! 

Dragon's Egg -- Unleash fire and bathe in a whirlpool of magnificently vibrant, sizzling color and a spectacular explosion of sights, sounds, and scents. Inhale the refreshing sherbet-y citrus scent of lemon and bergamot; you'll feel like you're up and away on the back of your own dragon.

I have been wanting this particular bath bomb for a while. Sadly, this will not be a repeat. First, let me say that this was a spectacular bath bomb! Upon being dropped in the water it immediately began to spin & emit waves of orange & white which turned my bath water a glittery orange. The silica glitter is gorgeous! It is in a constant state of motion that mimics fire & it easily washes off. The downside.. there are these neat little colored polka dots that pop out as it fizzes. They promptly become gelatinous little floating dots... kinda like little jelly fish... or boogers. I could honestly get past that, but my biggest issue was the scent. In the store, it was not a heavy scent.. but once activated, I felt like I had bathed in lemon pledge. The lemon was entirely overwhelming & even a followup shower did not rid me of my lemony scent. If Lush ever recreates this design with a different scent, I'd be willing to give it another go.

Golden Egg -- This spectacular invention has combined a bath bomb and a luxury bath melt to create...the bath bomb melt! Its creamy, moisturizing cocoa butter exterior encases a fizzy bath bomb center, and the whole egg is dusted in a delicate golden luster. It has the classic honey toffee fragrance of Honey I Washed The Kids.

This was another Lush product I heard about through Julie. I would like to point out that Lush may not know the exact meaning of "delicate"... as this is some pretty intense glitter. I picked up the sample in the store & my hand was immediately covered in thick glitter. The clerk told me that you are supposed to rub this all over to use the cocoa butter at the beginning of your bath before you reach the fizzy part. She also followed that statement with "messy" & proceeded to giggle...haha. I love glitter.. but I find myself a little hesitant to use this.. what if I end up permanently glittered?! On second thought... permanent glitter sounds kinda fun.... 

Have you tried any of the products I've featured? What Lush products are staples in your home?

Japan Eats: Starbucks Sakura

I've fallen off the blog'o'sphere for a bit.. but its mainly because I've been having such a fantastic time!! Japan is always offering me something to see or eat! I could happily live here forever and never grow tired of the food... or the people... or the atmosphere.. i just love it!

Anyways, moving on... It is no secret that I love Starbucks! On our journey here, we got to stop & visit the birthplace of Starbucks -- Pike's Place. I swear the special Pike's Place coffee i bought there is the most magical coffee ever!! Or maybe its the memories... either way, I'm a Starbucks kinda girl!

So I was super excited upon arriving in Japan to hear about the fun 'limited edition' flavors that come out! My first experience was the Orange Chocolate Mocha... superb!! However, what everyone really raves about is the yearly release of the Sakura line!! Every year, Starbucks joins the celebration of "Hanami", the cherry blossom viewing season, with a new latte/frapp recipe & an amazing line of mugs/tumblers/cards! They also decorate all the 'to-go' cups with sakura blossoms! such a fun touch!

Stock photo: Google

This years flavor was Carmelly Sakura Chocolate! YUMM!!

Both the latte & the frapp feature a drizzling of rich cherry and caramel sauce topped with shavings of subtly cherry-flavored white chocolate.

Doesn't that sound divine??

This had to be the sweetest coffee I had ever had. I like my coffee sweet, but this was so sweet your teeth hurt! The cherry caramel is ridiculously sweet & combined with the richness of the white chocolate, it caused us to wince at the sweetness. I tried both the latte & the frap, but this was not a repurchase for me. I'm sure I'll return next year to try the newest sakura coffee.

So now that I've raved about the coffee.. lets move on to cake!!

"Cake! Everybody loves cake!" ~Donkey

Sakura Chiffon Cake

I wish I had even the slightest clue how to create a cake this soft & decadent!

It was like eating a cloud. 

At first glance, I thought it would be like angel food cake, but it was softer! The subtle sakura notes, the fluffy whipped icing, the pickled cherry blossom on top.... heaven!

I have to rave about this pickled cherry blossom for a moment.

I'm sure it may not sound all that appetizing... I am willing to try anything once, but even I was a little hesitant to eat a flower. Even more so, one that had been pickled.

The verdict? -- some one please find me a jar of these!

Seriously... I could happily snack on these any day of the week. 

Lucky for me, my family didnt really care for the blossom, so our second trip for cake left me with the blossom all to myself!

I chose this beautiful pastel-hued coffee mug from the Sakura 2015 line.

There was a rather large selection of sakura themed mugs, tumblers, & cards, which all sell out within the first week, so I had to make my choice carefully. The line changes every year, so I am excited to see what my collection will look like at the end of our time here.

Have you tried any new Starbucks flavors lately? Fill me in on what's happening with Starbucks stateside!

Music Shuffle TAG!

I was tagged by The Redolent Mermaid to play Music Shuffle! The rules are simple... put your iTunes (Spotify/Pandora) on shuffle and answer the questions with whichever song was next in line. I had some giggles as things came through! Thanks Julie!!

How am I feeling today?

"Home is where the Heart Is" - Lady Antebellum ...my little family is my heart! <3

Will I get far in life?
"Homesick at Space Camp" - Fall Out Boy ....lol.. Space Camp?? Is that like Pig Farts!?

How do my friends see me?

"Show you Love" - Jars of Clay

Where will we vacation next year?
"Extra Pale" - Goo Goo Dolls ...oh look, even my iPod makes jokes about my paleness! :)

What is my theme song?

"Crazy in Love" - Eminem the title? yes.. the song? NO!

What is the story of my life?

"Play something Country" - Brooks & Dunn ...i approve!

What was high school like?

"Bring me to Life" - Evanescense

How can I get ahead in life?

"Anthem (Part 2) - Blink 182

What is the best thing about me?

"Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived" - JK Rowling ...YES!!!! i'm totally the nerd with books on disc!!

How is today going to be?

"I don't want to know" - Fleetwood Mac ...thumbs down!

What's in store this weekend?

"Reflection" - Mulan

What song describes my parents?

"Can't hold us down" - Christina Aguilera ...ummm.. not quite.. lol

What song describes my sisters?

"Things People Say" - Lady Antebellum ...not even close

How's my life going?

"Good Enough" - Evanescense ... i think my iPod is feeling sad..lol

What will they play at my funeral?

"Lovers in a Dangerous Time" - Bare Naked Ladies

How does the world see me?

"Emotions (remix) - Destiny's Child ...fail! come on iPod!

Will I have a happy life?

"Brave New Girl" - Britney Spears 

.. I'm definitely NOT the clubbing/one night girl.. but i like some of the lyrics! "She's gona pack her bags/She's gona find her way... She's gona wish on stars and touch the sky"

What should I do with my life?

"The Only One" - Evanescense 

What is some good advice for me?

"Bootylicious"- Destiny's Child .....hahahaha

How will I be remembered?

"I'll fly away" - Jars of Clay/Sarah Kelly ...love this song!

What do I think my theme song is?

"My Immortal" - Evanescense ...go home, iPod.. you're drunk!

If I were to have a theme song, it would be something more like this...

Complete with upbeat music, catchy lyrics & some sassy syncro walk/dance moves!

What does everyone else think my theme song is?

"I just want to celebrate" - Lynyrd Skynyrd .. on point!

So some answers are a little wacky.. some on point... but a fun little game! Thanks Julie!

Wanna play?? Leave your results in the comments OR leave a link back to your blog!

Japan Eats: Shravan Indian Restaurant

We recently were invited to join our neighbors for dinner at a local Indian restaurant. Having never experienced Indian cuisine before, we were excited about a new adventure in culinary delights!

After a short train ride, slipping through a busy station, & finding the correct exit... we found ourselves walking down the chilly, bright streets of Tachikawa. If we hadn't been with our friends, I would most likely have walked past the restaurant entrance. The Shravan Indian Restaurant is tucked away in a downstairs locale, but upon entering you are met with a warm, homey atmosphere.

The staff is comprised of the owner, who serves the front of house, and two chefs. The restaurant is quaint, with few tables which portrays a relaxed dining experience. Our host was very gracious, allowing us plenty of time to make our choices, and never rushing our courses. I decided on a meal that included salad, a small appetizer, curry with naan bread, and dessert.

Upon recommendation, we tried samosas! These delicious, fried delights are filled with a mixture of potato and fragrant spices & served with a spicy cilantro sauce. We each enjoyed one, as they are quite large, but I did not particularly care for the sauce.

After samosas, our salads arrived to the table! I really wish i had thought to ask what kind of dressing was used, because it was absolutely divine!! I also received a sampling of sheek kabob (mutton) as my mini appetizer. It was absolutely delicious! The meat was tender and full of fragrant spices to entice the taste buds! I had never even considered eating mutton before in my life, but I would gladly do it again! Perhaps I'll try their mutton curry next time!

This restaurant is very child friendly, and my lil man enjoyed a plate of butter chicken curry, yellow rice & chicken, salad, and sweet naan bread. He devoured every single thing on this plate!

After we enjoyed our appetizers, our main courses arrived. I chose Spicy Chicken Curry with Butter Naan..... best. choice. ever!! I was slightly apprehensive about ordering a spicy dish, but there was just enough heat to enhance the flavor. We were given spoons with our bowls of curry, but it was much more satisfying to use chunks of bread to soak up all the deliciousness!

Our final course was dessert! I have never been a huge mango fan, but decided to give it a go. I chose Mango Delight... sweet mangos with vanilla ice cream. After enjoying this delicious treat, I had a change of heart & can't wait to eat more mango in the future!

We are looking forward to our next visit to Shravan, and will be trying more delicious foods!

Review: Alamo Candelaria

I am beyond excited about my latest order of scentsational, geeky goodness!

 I was introduced to Outlander by my BFF Julie! If, by chance, you've been living under a rock.. you may have missed this glorious book coming to life on the tv! *fangirl squeal*

^^^that's James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser.. he is verra fine!
annnnd he's starting this post, just so i can see him give that sultry stare on Julie's sidebar! 

So, moving on to my amazing order from Alamo Candelaria!

I heard of this company through Julie, and I have been drooling over the amazing soaps and waxes. A few months ago, the announcement of an Outlander themed line had me fiercely stalking the facebook page. When opening day came around, the joy of time zones was in my favor and I scored a nice little haul! My TAT was amazingly fast (even for overseas mail); I believe my order was mailed out within 3 days of being received.

Everything arrived very well packed and with lots of fluff to keep things from being smashed or broken. This is a HUGE plus when I look at reorders.. as my mail gets jostled a lot as it travels all the way around the world.

Up for offer was this beautiful Outlander themed perfume box set! I love that it has a description of each scent inside the box.. and those bottles!?! Each glass bottle has a cork that is sealed in place with black wax. the attention to detail in packaging is just stunning! I almost felt bad breaking the wax seal... almost!

I am trying to pace myself on opening my perfumes (crazy, i know!), so as of now I have only opened "Dragonfly in Amber" - A warm, sweet woody amber vanilla, bergamot, bay leaf, patchouli, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, clove, with rich notes of ambergris, balsam fir, cedar, and sandalwood. I was a little hesitant about this scent. I am not usually a fan of amber anything as I find most amber scents to be very sweet and candy-like. This scent, however, is a rich woodsy type scent & is bold without being overwhelming. I think this will be a good late fall/winter scent for me. (Hubby approved, so that's a double score!)

Other scents in my box include: Indigo, MamaCita, Fraser Ridge, La Dame Blanche, Standing Stones, & Bloody Man.

There were also some absolutely gorgeous soaps up for grabs, but as they came in a soap/perfume set.. I decided to pass in favor of some wax crack! No really... it's called wax crack! 

My first selection was "Standing Stones" - A sparkling, woody herbal with a citrusy bergamot, lavender, basil, amber, sage and oak moss. On cold sniff, I received an impression of a scent very similar to fabric softener. I have been a bit congested, so that could be a factor... Anyways, once melted, the lavendar, basil & oak moss notes became much more distinguished. Its hard to put a description on what exactly this wax smells like to me... but then again, I'm sure the Standing Stones aren't easily labeled either. mysterious...regal... old world....with a hint of countryside.. The throw is medium, which is perfect for my small rooms.

My second wax crack pick was "Fraser's Ridge" - tart, wild mountain strawberries, blackberry, peach, and raspberry, with a hint of violets, grounded with earthy patchouli. This scent has easily secured a spot in my top 10 favorite scents!! I can see why this wax (& the soap) sold out so quickly! The smells of fresh strawberries on a warm spring day out in the countryside....patches of wild violets swaying in the breeze... *sigh* The detail on this wax is stunning... little strawberries, dried herbs, wax seal imprints... I'm torn between melting & hoarding! The throw is medium & the strawberries come across light & airy... I will be waiting patiently to try to add the matching soap to my collection. I really just have a desire to roll in this smell... thankfully I have the perfume to tide me over! ;)

I received 2 very generous samples with my order! The first being a sample of wax crack in "Indigo" - Fresh rain, sweet grass, ozone, earthy patchouli, oak moss, and sweet amber musk. I had glanced quickly past this scent when ordering.. but I will definitely be snatching it up when i place my next order! When reading descriptions, I generally associate anything that smells "fresh rain" or "ozone" with detergent scents, but this scent is far from detergent. It is bright, airy, and fun! 

My second sample was this delicious treat! Salt Lique Lollis are the most amazing invention ever! After receiving a chai flavored one in a recent birthday gift.. I was soo excited to see this honey salt lique lolli sitting so pretty in my box! I took just enough time to snap a photo before promptly devouring the salty, sweet treat!

If you would like to know when the next opening is, make sure to follow Alamo Candelaria on Facebook! You will not be disappointed! I, personally, am hoping for a future release of all the soaps as a set... they are all just too gorgeous & it makes choosing just a few difficult!

If you have ordered recently, tell me what you got! Should I be adding any items to my wish list?