After what seemed like an incredibly long work week and getting a ticket that I wasn't supposed to get I was really excited for Friday night. Well excited and tired, I honestly could've done nothing and gone straight to bed! But that just wouldn't have been as fun! It was Soto Mission of Aiea Taiheiji's Bon Dance AND roomie Malia's bday!
Bon Dance has been one of our family's tradition since before I was born. Every year we go to my grandma's church (Soto Mission of Aiea) for good food, catching up with some of grammsy's old friends, music and dancing. When we were we even got dressed up in kimono, that's my cousin Greg and Jami with me, BK days (Before Kelly days), pictured below. 

It's fun to watch the old Japanese ladies dancing and hearing the churches Yagura Gumi play (I only dance to that song). There were a lot of kids there, it's nice to see the younger generation still being involved with that church. When I was younger I took Karate there, helped out at some fundraisers, and stuff. And everytime I go back I'm always torn between being Christian and Buddhist. I was raised neither, I only went to Soto Mission services once in awhile with Grandma, but that church is apart of my family so much. I started going to New Hope in high school and now I go to Grace Bible. It just feels weird sometimes to go between the two. Anyway after some dancing and HOT andagi... I met my roomies downtown to celebrate Malia's birthday!

 Happy Birthday Malia! Unfortunately I missed dinner at Epic, but at least I made it to the fun part of dancing and drinking the night away. I couldn't believe I actually made it past 2! And I went from downtown to Pearl, I usually never make to 2 different places in one night, what can I say I'm an old soul who likes drink at home or a low key bar. We went to Bambu, Manifest, and Pearl. Priya got the DJ at Pearl to play my Enrique song!!! Thanks Priya!!!!

It was a full moon a couple days ago, caught it with my camera! It has been super windy lately, and I hate it. It's sunny, but windy, so it's hot/cold. Can't go to the beach because you will be ambushed by sand, and it will be too cold when you get out of the water. Not too mention looking like an idiot trying to walk through wind. Weather please get better soon.

Those are the avocados Mike picked at the farmer's market last Saturday. I'm impatiently waiting for them to get ripe. I've recently discovered eating Turkey, Chedder, and Cracker Lunchables with avocado. It's like a turkey avocado sandwich but on a cracker. Everyday I hand Priya the small avocado and ask... "Is it ready yet?" Nope, not ready yet. :( Avocados please hurry up and get ripe.

Random thoughts:

• MLB season starts tomorrow! EXCITED. Not excited about the fact that Victoria's Secret is ONLY selling VS Pink/Yankees gear. Hello VS we are NOT all Yankees fans here. Still cheering for my Mariners, can't give up on them. I also love Boston and the Phillies (mostly for Shane, go St. Anthony's! And mostly because Mike graduated from St. Anthony's too.). Today on SportsCenter I discovered Clayton Kershaw of the LA Dodgers, super hot, super awesome lefty, and super too young for me (he's the same age as my little sister). Will be keeping my eye on them Dodgers too.
• One month and a week til Vancouver vacay. We're going biking in Stanley Park, yay for family biking trips.
• Hachiko: A Dog's Tale was released on DVD last month (how the heck did I miss this), I saw the trailer for this last March but it said it was only going to be released in Japan in August 2009. YAY for releasing it to the U.S. It wasn't the greatest movie, but if you love dogs (especially cute Akitas) you'll like it. I liked it better than Marley and Me, the movie not the book. It's based on a true story, here's the preview:

AHA I've found THEM! Kit Kat Cookie from Japan, only the best candy EVER. Last year when my family went to Japan my sister and I were OBSESSED with Kit Kat, we still are. Went to Nijiya market today and low and behold they were on the shelf (the second to the bottom shelf I'd like to add, FYI Nijiya market Japanese Kit Kat deserve to be at eye level). Last May my friend Courtney went back to Japan and I gave her 2000¥ to bring me back Kit Kat Cookie. These bad boys are SO good. I've been missing Japan lately. I miss everything the subways, food, candy, shopping, walking everywhere. I get terribly jealous when I hear someone is going to Japan. I can't wait 'til me and Mike go, he's going to love it because he loves Japanese food as much as I do. I want to make Japan an every other year trip.

Today I woke up incredibly TIRED. I thought to myself it's going to be one of THOSE days. But in actuality it was pretty darn good. I worked with Theresa, always a delight. Parker came by to change our lights and he gave Theresa and I each a plumeria. How sweet is he! Guys take notes from Parker on how to treat a girl! Nice little gestures can really turn my day around. Like the Honolulu Coffee Co. guy knowing my order. I also made my sales goal... cha-ching BONUS!

I also got my package from Urban Outfitters in! They had a big sale... of the six things I got:

3 of 6 LOVED

2 of 6 Liked

1 of 6 Hideous

Online shopping is such a gamble, sometimes I figure it's not worth it to buy clothes unless its a t-shirt, sweater/hoodie, or something that I owned before (like if I ordered more Vans authentics). Urban Outfitters please just open a store here already geez. Save us all the trouble. There is a nice space vacant where Banana Republic used to be on Kalakaua Ave. Please, I'm begging you.

New reads

Went to the mall today to find new bikini bottoms, decided to get some new reads instead. I found a lonely planet tokyo guide. Mike and I are planning a big trip next october or november, tokyo is at the top of our list! It's never too early to start planning. And I after hearing great things I decided to try "Naturally Thin" by Real Housewife Bethanny Frankel. Actually I didn't really hear great things, but I did notice @lobosworth was reading it on twitter!
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Asagohan

Ume musubi, karaage chicken!
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Musubi

Nothing like a fresh hot ume musubi for breakfast! From iyasume on koa ave. So close to billabong, my new fave waikiki eat.
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Back from Japan

Konnichi wa!! I had an amazing time with family in Tokyo over the past week. I twas sad to come back home, a week is definitely NOT enough time to visit Japan. We stayed in the Tokyo area and did not get the chance to venture off to other cities like Kyoto, Osaka, or Hiroshima, but one day, one day. I don't like saying this was a once in a lifetime trip, because that's like implying that you're never going to go back. And I can tell you, this is definitely NOT my last trip to Japan, this is only the beginning.

My dad saved up ALLLLL his miles to take us on this trip, isn't he the greatest. One day I'd like to do the same, after I win the megabucks in Vegas this coming July. :) Actually I am really considering living in Japan, teaching english through either JET or another good program. It's hard to get in but I'm going to try and apply this coming fall. My nihongo is a little bit rusty, but I'm pretty sure I can get by. A lot of people we talked to said that my nihongo was very joozu (skillful). Arigatoo gozaimashita Wong sensei.

I think I gained some weight from eating all the ono food; tempura, omurice, Japanese style hamburger steak, donburi, and don't forget Mister Donut....AHHHHH I was in food heaven. Here's some pics:

Above: Eating at Mister Donut, my Kid's Set.

Above: My family and I atop the Tokyo Tower.

Above: In Asakusa.

Above: YAY Tokyo!

Above: Shaka with Stitch at DisneySea.

Above: With the beloved Hachiko!

Doggy Style

I want a dog. Let me be specific I want a purebred red or sesame red Shiba Inu. According to wikipedia the shiba inu is the smallest of the six original and distincet breeds of dog from Japan. Isn't it fitting, a Japanesey dog for a Japanesey girl. I'm waiting for Jamie's dogs to breed (she has two Shiba Inus). Sometimes when I am having a bad day and I need a little cuteness in my life, I watch videos of Shiba Inus on youtube, sad I know but what's a girl to do when she 1) can't afford a dog right now and 2) can't have a dog in the house.

And so far I've decided to name my dog Hachiko, after the famous Akita from Shibuya in the 1920s. Read about Hachiko it's SOOOOOOO touching (gosh I sound like Kay). And if I get another dog I'm going to name it Wickett W. Warrwick (after the ewok).

Fashion, Politics, and Japanese Snacks

Our new First Lady got style. Last night she wore a dress from Narciso Rodriguez's spring 2009 collection, which just hit the runway 8 weeks ago! During the campaign trail Michelle Obama's fashion mixed affordable from H&M and J.Crew and designer pieces. It's been awhile since a First Lady had an impact on the fashion world, I can't wait to see what she'll choose to wear to the inaugural ball!!!!



Yesterday I went to Marukai, to stock up super cute Japanese snacks, and to look for Christmas Omiyage. And I found some Disney Pakkuncho (little biscuits filled with cream then stamped with your favorite Disney character)! OMG my sister and I used to LOVE these when we were little, our gramsy and auntie used to take us to Marukai and let us pick out one candy. We usually picked our candy based on the free toy that came with it but once in awhile we bought candy based on the taste, Disney Pakkuncho was one of them!

work=fatty

Honest to God, I am REAAAAAALLLLLLLY trying to lead a more healthy lifestyle, but the food gods just aren't having it.

MONDAY: My coworker brought in musubi from Mana-Bu, as well as surprised me with Ramune soda! (Does my Nihon-jin-ness shine so obvious? Maybe my Hello Kitty dressed in kimono gives it away).

TUESDAY: Kawehi my "cubicle" neighbor is doing a review on cupcakes, and brings in like 12 different kinds. My camera phone sucks but I tried... Rocky Road, Peanut Butter, Key Lime, and Strawberry.

WEDNESDAY: Our credit union is giving away free waffle hot dogs and ono ono shakes. How can you resist this stuff? Seriously... geeeeeeeez fast next week. Water, bananas, and carrots.

Keeping tabs...

last night's episode of jon and kate plus 8 was about the gosselin's korean heritage, jon made Korean bbq and Hawaiian fried rice for the family. They talked about teaching their kids about their Korean heritage and how important it is.

I'm Japanese-Filipino but, I grew up in a predominant Japanese household, recognizing Japanese customs, holidays, language, etc. I hate Filipino food (everything except lumpia) and I'm not very connected with my Filipino heritage. BUT i do love to keep tabs on famous people who are Filipino!
Where my Filipinos at!:
Vanessa Anne Hudgens
Enrique Inglesias
Rob Schneider
Chris Judd (former mr. jennifer lopez)
Shannyn Sossamon
Chad Hugo
DJ Q-Bert
A couple of members from JabbaWockeeZ
Benny Agbayani
and...it's rumored that Jay-Z is part Filipino, my friend Geoff told me that, if it is true that would be tight as hell.

Here's a link to a longer list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Filipino_Americans&until=Tanghal%2C+Romeo

I wonder how many Japa-ninos out there? me, kelli, gav, anyone else? hit me up.