July 30, 2012

Summer slump...

I really want to get out and do things but I am so hot and tired after work that I just want to take an icy shower and lie in my bed blasting the fan and AC.  I'm working on getting caught up on my last season shows.  I've already started my summer shows like "Breaking Bad," "Burn Notice," and "Damages."  I still haven't started "True Blood" yet but I finally finished Season 2 of "The Walking Dead" and almost finished Season 3 of "Justified."

In Japan news, the heat is stifling.  You can really try to look your best but the make-up melts or fades and your hair is wet and most times you just look like you ran a marathon when you simply walked 10 minutes to the station.  Welcome to Tokyo summer.  I keep asking myself "How do they stand it?"  The AC at my work is subpar and we're all sweating before lunchtime. 

Summer in Japan means fireworks and we decided to go to the Sumida fireworks which is the largest in Tokyo and boasts 1 million visitors.  We got there late and were corralled down a road to nowhere.  We ended up sitting on a street with hundreds of other people.

It looked like this:



In the end, it was okay, I guess.  We only got to see the tops of the fireworks which is better than nothing.






Self portrait:


Many yukatas to be seen in every color of the rainbow:


There were lots of people drinking beer and eating various foods.  Some people had set up little tables to sell easy to eat foods like meat on a stick and the like.  We wisely had a sort of tapas meal before we left.

I wish we could have had a better view of the fireworks and I wish it wasn't so awfully hot.

How is your summer shaping up?


July 22, 2012

Clothes...

Here are some clothes!

Tuesday:


I just wore the socks and shoes for bowling.  I promptly changed to sandals afterward.  Tank Wal-Mart, shorts Goodwill, shoes Charmant, socks eBay, necklace Lia Sophia.

Wednesday:


Sweater & pants Uniqlo, top Daiei.

Friday:


As you can see I moved the mirror closer to the genkan so I could photograph my outfits with shoes.  Great idea!  Sweater Kohl's, dress H&M, tights Forever 21, shoes Chiyoda.

Saturday (day):


Top Colleen collection (Target), shorts Goodwill, boots Kohl's, tights Daiei.

Saturday (night):


Top Target, sweater Forever 21, shorts Goodwill, boots Kohl's, tights Daiei.

Sunday:


Dress H&M, boots Kohl's.

Welcome to my new followers: Midori and the late phoenix.  Thanks!

I hope you had a nice weekend.  I did!


July 21, 2012

Lipton tea...

Like Kit Kats, I am obsessed with trying all the Lipton teas that emerge in Japan and like Kit Kats a lot of teas debut in Japan.

First I'll talk about Milk Tea.  The OG of Liptons in Japan as far as I know it is always on the shelves no matter what time of year it is.


Milk Tea is the blue carton on the far right.  Also pictured are Lemon Tea, Peach Tea and 50/50 American Style Tea Lemonade.

Lemon Tea is kind of meh but I don't like Lemon Tea anyway so I suppose if you like Lemon Tea, you'll like it.

One of my favorite flavors in the world is peach.  I'll eat peach anything.  However, I was less than impressed with Lipton's Peach Tea.  For some reason I thought it would be more awesome than it actually was.

The original Milk Tea is by far the best flavor and I'm sure as many others that come out none will top it.

Maple Milk Tea was out during March in Japan and it was, well, weird.


It was part of the World Travel series but I didn't stay long enough to get to experience other parts of the world.  The Maple Milk Tea was from Canada according to the carton.

Next is Earl Grey Milk Tea.


I love hot Earl Grey tea.  I drink it all the time.  This one is cold and it tastes just like the hot Earl Grey tea I drink except cold so that threw me right there.  It's not bad, just not right somehow.


Green Apple Tea tasted too much like candy for my liking.


Just released is the American Style 50/50 Tea & Lemonade and if I had to pick a favorite aside from the OG, I'd say this one.  I'm sure Japan wouldn't understand why it was called an Arnold Palmer; my British friend didn't but it sure is a damn good one.  If you're in Japan, I highly recommend trying this.  There are two cartons in my fridge right now.  Too bad they didn't have this for the 4th of July.

Finally and not pictured is Tropical Fruit Tea which is better than Peach Tea but not very sweet and just okay.

Here's the list of Lipton Teas I've tried:

Milk Tea
Maple Milk Tea
Lemon Tea
Peach Tea
Earl Grey Milk Tea
Green Apple Tea
50/50 Tea & Lemonade
Tropical Fruit Tea

This list, of course, will grow.  So stay tuned!

July 16, 2012

I wore some stuff...

Japan got really hot all of the sudden and Sunday and Monday were unbearable during the day.  It's supposed to be gross again today but after today showers are expected the rest of this week which will hopefully cool us down a lot.  I hope.  Crap weather.

Anyway, here's what I wore:


This outfit was actually a bad idea because although it was cool when I left it got quite hot soon and I had to change clothes.  Top Daiei, pants Kohl's.


I like this version better.  Jeans Uniqlo, tank Target, top Daiei.


Went impromptu skating for a new friend's birthday.  Top Daiei and I'm actually wearing jean shorts there too from Goodwill.


This was the outfit I wore to my nowhere destination as I had plans but they didn't work out.  Jumper and top from Uniqlo and shoes Chiyoda.


Way too hot for the sweater which I promptly chucked after 30 minutes.  Shorts & sweater Goodwill, tank Forever 21, necklace Kohl's and Converse ABC Mart.

I hope you had a great weekend!

July 15, 2012

Kit Kat time!

I wouldn't be properly lost in Japan without stumbling upon interesting new Kit Kats from time to time.  Two new ones:


Raspberry


Vanilla Ice (not ice cream just ice)

Raspberry was really good and tastes surprisingly like raspberry and so far it's up there with my faves.

Vanilla Ice was also good.  I am not sure what the Ice is supposed to taste like (water?) but it tasted like vanilla to me.

Here's the ever growing list:

Cheese
Almond
Ramune
Berry Pomegranate
Apple Vinegar
Peach
Green Tea
Tiramisu
Wasabi
Vanilla
Sakura Matcha
Strawberry
Raspberry
Vanilla Ice

I must find new Kit Kats!  Just wait till the new Pepsis come out!

July 8, 2012

Clothes...

Obviously, I wear clothes in Japan.  I try to be as fashionable as I can but them J-girls are showing me up all the time.  I wish it wasn't rude to take pictures of strangers.  In addition, I read that it's impossible to turn the shutter sound off on Japanese iPhones 'cause of the pervs taking upskirt photos.  Thanks pervs.

Anyway, here are some clothes I wore recentry:


 Sweater Uniqlo, top & jeans Target, necklace eBay.


Top H&M, jeans Old Navy, sweater Uniqlo.


As you can see, I'm standing on a piece of cardboard because it is a huge no-no to wear shoes inside your house in Japan.  Yes, even if it's your house.  Got a lot of compliments on this outfit.  Jacket H&M, jeans Kohl's, tee Uniqlo, shoes Fergalicious, necklace Forever 21.


Top Goodwill (Banana Republic), pants Kohl's, shoes ABC Mart.


Pants Kohl's, top Uniqlo, shirt Target, necklace made by me.


One of my non work days and it was warm enough for shorts.  Top YesStyle, shorts Goodwill, tank Target, shoes Chiyoda.

Please note that while my hair may look nice in all these pictures, it usually ends up looking like crap within five to ten minutes of stepping outside.  I often wonder why I bother to style it and it may be ponytailed throughout August as I heard that was the worst weather Japan has to deliver.

Well that's all from me.  Hope to post again soon!