I'm guessing all boys are like this?!

So, it was my first day back from holidays! I got updated on Kimiko's (one of my favorite students...she is like a mother to me) trip to Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau. It was great to see her pictures and I loved the souvenir she gave me.

Later I had a class of 3 junior high school boys. I love this class as they are really generally good, sweet boys but .....they can be monkeys (one actually makes monkey noises)!! They are worse than girls when it comes to talking. They hardly speak English (it might actually be my Japanese class) and they can get a little wild. Today, one of them comes in and says he has a present for me. He handed me a piece of crinkled paper that I unwrapped only to find this in it....

Yep....that is a rubber poo! They thought this was the funniest thing....hmmm. So it made me really realize that no matter the language spoken or the culture or country....boys will be boys!!

Here they are:

Woohoo! We are featured in....

A few months ago, I was approached by Krissy Mosbarger from Scrap N' Art Scrapbooking Ezine. She is the project manager and they wanted to use some of our products to make fabulous things with so of course I sent them some paper, tape, stickers etc.

Well, we are featured in their Nov/Dec edition which came out today! If you don't know this ezine it really is fantastic! This issue is about 100 pages and is filled with great projects, ideas, stories, reviews etc. It is amazing to read! You have to sign up order to download it but it is free to join. Just click on the link and follow the directions on how to sign up and then how to download.

http://www.scrapnart.com/news.php

The items they made with our supplies are on page 24 and our ad is on page 68. If you love scrapbooking or even just looking at gorgeous cards, altered items etc then you will love this!

This was a fun little distraction!

I took this little "test" and I have to say it is true!! I do lust after shiny objects!!! ^__^ Though, I'm not sure I am free of inhibitions and hang ups!

What Your Cute Monster Says About You

You are a very natural, real person. You're comfortable with who you are - and your spirit truly shines through. You are free of inhibitions and hang ups. Because of this freedom, you tend to be very creative. Your inner demon is greed. You can't help but lust after wealth and shiny objects. People think you're cute because you are so lively. Your natural glow makes you charming.

The Cute Monster Test

Shopping at the "big" mall

I'm totally enjoying my vacation! What have I done? Mostly work on the business but since I love it ....it hardly feels like work!

Yesterday we went to a "big" shopping mall. I say "big" because really...they aren't as big as the ones we have in North America but for around here it is pretty big. To get there we have to take the train and got off in what appears to be, the middle of nowhere!

From here we call a taxi and go to the mall. Inside we find that it is decorated for Christmas!

From the second floor they hung balls and lights and they twinkle....not sure the pics are so great but here they are. The first pic is the first floor looking up and the second pic is taken from the second floor looking down on the first floor. Many of the malls are carpeted and since we don't get a lot of snow I guess it is ok....to be honest I prefer no carpets!

So we did the usual things....coffee at Starbucks which was playing Christmas music (but sadly didn't have eggnog flavored anything). Then we went shopping to one of my favorite stores in this mall. We were lucky...we found a ton of stuff for our businesses!! We go there often enough that the staff recognizes me. I'm pretty sure we are the only ones to shop the way we do. Now...a bit of interesting trivia about Japan. Did you know that many Japanese stores have a limit to how many items you can buy at one time? By this I mean...for example, yesterday we had probably over 200 items.....the cash register could only accept about 80 at a time so we have to pay after 80 items are rung up. This happens to us all the time!! Even the post office is like this. I think each store has it's own limit but the fact that they have a limit at all is a bit strange, isn't it? (Ok I am asking....are there limits like that in America, Canada or other countries? My first thought is no...but I might be wrong!). Anyway, at this store after we paid for the last time, the clerk leans over to me and whispers a question (of course in Japanese)...."Is this for a business?" and I whispered back "yes." to which she bowed and thanked me "itsumo arigatou gozaimasu" which basically means "Thanks for always shopping here." I get asked all the time about the items I buy....I mean who normally buys $700 worth of stickers and memo pads at one time? Depending on what I'm buying I lie and tell them it is for my mom (her house must be filled to the ceiling with fabric and Japanese paper!! ^__^). I'm just not comfortable saying I sell things...I mean they don't really care....they must just be happy I'm buying all the time from them!

Anyway, we didn't shop for very long but it was power shopping for a few hours. Then we ate sushi and took the train home. I must have tired out my poor honey because he fell asleep on the train clutching a few of the many bags we had.

Sabokappa!

We have had lots of requests for sabokappa (a water imp pretending to be a cactus) items in both our stores so we have been ordering new items and one of the items is this little basket of cuteness.

I was really happy to get this little thank you present in the envelope with the invoice.

Christmas tofu, white pepsi and more!

Lots has been going on! First...the pics.

Went shopping the other day and bought a whole bag of goodies!! Tofu dressed as reindeer, Santa and snowmen!! So cute! And more styles are coming!

This pic is of a new Pepsi product....Pepsi and yogurt flavor!? My honey tried it and ....let's just say he won't be buying it again!!

Well, I'm not in Tokyo! At the very last minute my plans changed. See, the real reason I was going to Tokyo was to go to the Canadian embassy to get some document signed that says I'm single and can get married (I call my honey "hubby" because we have lived together for 5 years but technically....he isn't yet). All foreigners need this piece of paper. Fine except that last year they closed the consulate near me which was why I was going to Tokyo. Of course while there I would shop for my businesses. Anyway, I had my tickets and was packed and decided to email the embassy just to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything and in the email I happened to mention that I live in Fukuoka. Well, I came home to an email that ended with:

"We have a recently started new notarial system which affects Canadian residents in Kyushu area and would like to explain to you if it is not too late."

Not too late? What the hell did that mean? I envisioned needing to spend more time there than I thought ... The next morning I got up and called and it turns out that they recently found 4 lawyers in the big city near me that can sign the document (I still have to send it to the embassy but at least I don't have to go with it!) because they figured it wasn't fair that we had to go to Tokyo (duh!!!). So, we called the train station and asked if we could cancel and they said sure but it would cost us about $8. No problem! So....that is why I'm not in Tokyo!

Even though I'm not in Tokyo I am on holidays!! I have 10 days off! I'm soooo happy! My students were surprised and asked why...ummm.....because sensei needs a break and Shimbarasan sensei (my boss) is going to Thailand. Have I ever mentioned that I love my job? I get close to 8 weeks (54 days) of paid vacation per year. I get these next 10 days off and then I work for about 6.5 weeks and I have another 17 days off!! Woohoo! So I will be doing some shopping!!!

Kappa themed bentos!

I was looking online (on Yahoo Japan) for more kappa (water imp) goods and came across these fabulous bentos!! What kid (or kid at heart) wouldn't love to open their lunch box and find one of these!! Japanese moms seriously get creative for their kids!!