Happy Friday and Happy Holidays!!!

Happy Friday everyone! Today is the starting of a long holiday for me. I'm getting ready to see my friends and families in Japan. After receiving lots of yummy treats and warm holiday cards and greetings from friends, I feel the full force of holiday spirits : ) I'm thankful for all your love and support in 2011! Wishing you warm and happy holidays with your friends and families too. 


Here is a picture of my x'mas gift for my co-workers. I learnt the candy wrapping idea from rock scissor paper ("getting creative with coasters".) I got their swirly coasters at Unique LA. 
Instead of cookies, I stuffed with hershey's chocolates, japanese sweets and candies.

I also made some chiffon cup cakes and wrapped with swirly candy pattern gift bags. 

Happy Friday and Homemade Pizza

Again I found yummy recipes on cookpad and made a Genova sauce pizza from scratch. I used too much oil this time so I will use less oil, different ingredients and methods. Keep trying and get better! Friday is here, so fast. Have a happy weekend, everyone : )

先週末に作ったピザです。いつもお世話になっているクックパッドでレシピを探して、ピザ生地とジェノバソースを作りました♪　全体的にオイルを使い過ぎた感が残ったので、今度はまた違う方法とレシピで作ってみようと思います。もう週末ですね。Have a happy weekend!

Holiday Gift Tag Project 2 / ギフトタグプロジェクト その２

Here are the gift tags I was working on! I punched holes on colorful origami papers to get the circle confetti effect. It would be easier and I could have prevented from my hands getting sticky from glueing if I had used stickers instead. I tried punching holes on thinner tape and it didn't work. Thicker stickers would be probably better. Happy Holidays! 

完成致しました、ギフトタグ〜♪　おりがみをぱちんぱちんと手打ち穴開け機でくり抜いてさくせいした、カラフルコンフェッティギフトタグです。丸の部分がステッカーだったら、のりでべとべとするのを防げて良いかもしれません。薄いテープで試したら、失敗したので、少し厚めのあるステッカーだと良いと思います。ハッピーホリデー！

Holiday Gift Tag Project 1 / ギフトタグプロジェクト その１

Wow, Less than 2 weeks till Christmas. I've started preparing for it much earlier so I don't feel rushed towards the end but I've already started to feel like I'm running out of time.
To take advantage of this time of the year, just like many people, I use gifts to express my sincere thanks to my friends and family members. Since my budget is limited I can't give anything fancy. Also at the same time, I would like to reach out to as many people I see everyday or not see everyday as possible so each gift becomes very small. Even though they are small gifts, I would like to make them more fun and special by being creative in gift wrappings.
While I was researching on gift tag designs, I came across an eye catching design posted by INK & POST. As I read, I found out that the project is to use an existing shopping bag design by Trader Joe's. All you need to do is to find the part that you like and cut out a shape of gift tag, that's all! How clever. I didn't pay attention to their recent shopping bag design so I checked. To my surprise, this time TJ's has already thought about the DIY project. TJ designed and printed shopping bags with templates of gift tag and garland! I'll make them later after my real gift tag project is over : )

Shopping Bag by

Trader Joe's

クリスマスまで、あっ！という間に２週間を切ってしまいましたね。慌てないようにと準備していたつもりでしたが、ちょっと焦ってきました。


皆さんはプレゼント交換なんてされますか？私は、この一年お世話になった方々に、この機会にありがとうの気持ちを送りたいと思っています。できるだけ多くの人に渡したいので、一つ一つの予算が絞られてしまって、本当にささやかなものになってしまいますけど＾＾；そんな感じで、予算はないのですが、少しクリエイティブになる事で、より楽しく心のこもったプレゼントにできないかなぁと考え、ギフトタグとラッピングに凝ってみようと思っています。
ギフトタグのデザインをリサーチしていたら、とってもかわいいデザインをINK & POSTにて発見！読み進んでみると、Trader Joe'sのShoppping Bagを使ったDIYで、トレジョのショッピングバッグの既存プリントをギフトタグ用に切り抜くというプロジェクト。茶色の紙バッグと白インクの組み合わせに魅かれます・・・。How Clever!！全然気にも留めていませんでしたが、その後うちにあるトレジョのバッグを見てびっくり。今年はすでにギフトタグやガーランドが作れるように、あらかじめDIYを考慮したデザインになっていました！後で自分のギフトタグの作成が終わった後に、時間があったら作ってみようと思います♪

BEATNIXX - Nothing Over $25! / 友達のオンラインストア

My friend Angela officially launched an online store, "BEATNIXX", where  you can purchase all the fashion accessories under $25! What a cool concept for budget conscious shopper like myself!   99cents on all orders. 25% off till this Friday!

I am so happy and excited about the new adventure for Angela. She is always happy and always sweet to everyone around her. She would remember all the things I am excited about. One time she would surprise me with a tote bag sold by the band that I was crazy about, and other time she would put together a personal gift package for me along with sweet messages because she remembers about my crazy love for arts and crafts. You can get a sense of happy personality through BEATNIXX. 

More information from Angela at BEATNIXX Blog...

友達のAngelaが"BEATNIXX"というオンラインストアをオープンしました。全ての商品は＄２５です。送料は均一で９９セントだそうです。そして今週の金曜日（１２月９日）までは２５％オフのセール中♪　かわいいアクセサリーがあるのでチェックしてみてくださ〜い！自分のビジネスを始めるなんてすごい！！！彼女の新しい門出を祝福する気持ちでいっぱいです＾＾

Lovely Products from Unique LA / Unique LAでゲットした品々公開♪

Unique LAでゲットした品々です。全て＄１０以下。ドリンクとトートバッグは入場料の＄１０を払ったらもらえる、フリービーズ。

気がついたら全部、赤と白！紅白でめでたい色使いになっていました笑　ホリデーシーズンですから＾＾特にそういう風に選んだわけではないんですよ、ホント。

Here are things I got at Unique LA. Everything is under $10. IZZE drink and tote bag are free with $10 admission fee. I didn't realize until I put them on the table. Yes, everything is in red and white! Isn't it a happy color combination? Perfect for holiday season, isn't it? It wasn't intentional, really. 

1. Red Swirl Coasters by rock scissor paper 
2. Checker cloth by we love citrus
3. Red Stripe Straws by we love citrus
4. Happy Elephant Card by Unicorn Crafts
5. Red and White Stripe Thread by Paper Pastries
6. Pomegranate Drink by IZZE
7. "WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER" tote by Unique LA


毎回入場料を払うともらえるトート。これは過去のイベントでもらったトート↓　スプレーペイントグラフィティ風。今回の"WE ARE ALL・・・"のデザインは、主催者のSonjaさんのデザイン。木版画調でかっこいいなぁ＾＾

今回ゲットしたコースターと紅白の糸は、クリスマスのラッピング用に使用しようと思っています。rock scissor paperのブースでもらったアイディアです。

Packet Square Clothing

こちらは友達が購入した手作りのネクタイと蝶ネクタイ。

Unique LA Holiday Show / ロサンゼルスのローカルクラフトショー

Yesterday and today, there were annual holiday Unique LA craft show events at the California Market Center in Downtown LA. My friend and I arrived just before the event opened, and there were many people already in line. 

Unique LA @

The California Market Center in Downtown LA

When we were in the line, free cups of coffee from TIEMAN'S were served by REPURPOSE.

They are a maker of 100% compostable insulated cup. Like they said in their ads, it was not hot to hold the cup even without a sleeve. The coffee was smooth and flavorful.

Admission is $10. Received a free "WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER" tote bag.

This is my 4th tote bags from all the Unique LA I attended : ) Beautiful pattern and compelling slogan represents what the Unique LA is about.

Event takes place at the top of the building. 13th floor I recall.

There are already full of people enjoying the day with friends and family.

Vender "Sire's Crown" selling Wooden frame glasses and sunglasses. I rarely see wooden products made in LA so it felt fresh. 

Other than hand crafted items, you can also find tools and materials you may like for your next craft projects. I bought red and white stripe thread from Paper Pastries.

Fun Craft Workshop. They were making cute corsage using cute clothes.

Pink christmas tree at "Unicorn Crafts"

Holiday photo booth setup by "OH! snap"

There are more than shopping you can do to enjoy the event. You can take a holiday photo, attend craft workshops, enjoy unique local foods and complimentary drinks with friends and family. I was there for about 1hour and a half but I probably could have spent a few more hours if I had participated in some of the craft workshops. Arts and craft event makes me think to cherish the time with friends and family and sometime slow down and do some creative activities together. Thank you Unique LA! I'm looking forward to seeing you next year : )

Happy Friday and Photos from LA Auto Show / ロサンゼルスオートショーの写真

Do you like cars? Which car is your favorite? My favorite? It is still MINI cooper! Ever since I moved to LA, and ever since I started working in the automotive industry, I became more interested in cars. Because it's hard to live without it in this city. 

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday started, I was able to visit 2011 LA Auto Show. So far I don't have any plans to buy a new car but I have started dreaming about what to drive next. My analysis for my taste is that I like cars that are fun and little sporty inside and outside. Oh and smaller scale vehicle tends to get more of my attention. Enjoy some of the photos from the event!

My Favorite

MINI

2012 VW Beatle 

Fender Speaker

2012 VW Beatle

Fiat 500

Affordable x Premium  

Fiat 500 by Gucci

Fiat 500 by Gucci

Connected Infotainment system

Cadillac CUE

Many interactive installation were seen at the event.

Besides looking at cars, I enjoy looking at how each company defines themselves in the big space surrounded by competitors. I also enjoy capturing what messages each company try to send to their visitors.

Dance with AR(Augmented Reality) Hamster

Kids were having so much fun dancing! Cute!!

KIA

Gesture controls to configure your car using XBOX Kinect 

VOLVO

Cadillac Information Kiosk

GM Cadillac

Touch Wall

TOYOTA

Customize the look of your Smart Car using 3M Vinyl Stickers

Smart

"Cheese!"

It's me taking advantage of the photo opportunity with FIAT!

FIAT

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