Cream puffs

Cream puffs I made for Secret Sister's tea party. Things sticking out from puffs are white cookie with white chocolate.

Senna Tea

Accidentally woke up early (5:30am). Kitchen is still cold (it is always cold here).

Last night I made some ketumeishi-tea which my mom sent me. I used to toss a tea spoon full of seeds in a pot with water and boiled to make tea, but John doesn't like the taste (he says it tastes like socks :-o I wonder if he has ever tasted socks). So last night, I lightly roasted it in frying pan and steeped. I took a cup last night and it tastes good, I think. This morning I microwaved to warm it up and now taking sips.

I've heard ketumeishi is used for Chinese medicine for eyes. I searched more about it to write in this blog, and figured out that it also works for constipation!! Yahoo! (WARNING: Not good for pregnant/nursing women.)

Senna Tea

Lotions for sale!

My (&John's) favorite body lotion: Tesori d'OrienteWhite Musk. Only place I can find is at Londons Bathecary, and there are 2 stores in town :-D. Although, one of them are closing soon and they are carrying closing sale now. Buy 1-2 for 25%off, 3-(I forgot) for 30%, and more discount for more purchase (I forgot the detail). They are also selling their display cases and furnitures. 

I got some L'Occitane hand creams too, which is my other favorite skin care item. This one is traveler's size and easy to carry around in purse. 

Smoothie

Smoothie made by John. I've asked him to make breakfast sometime in hot season. He was scared of cooking, but he can blend. If I prepare enough fruits, he blend those with milk, honey, etc. and make smoothie for us. This morning was banana&pineapple.

We got a spot!

I just received the letter from market manager, said our spot in the Farmer's market will be on the 1st street. We'll see how the business goes in that area.

Ninja!!

Ninja Blender

Found at Target. It's funny to see how Japanese cultures have different characters, definitions, etc. 

How to save... idea1

One of the fun these days for me is saving money from daily life (good for you John, imagine if it's aiming to the opposite vector). There would be tons of different techniques to save money, but here are the lists of some techniques I'm using:

1.Grocery shopping
2.Coupons
3.Energy
4.Cooking
5.Stay home

Today, I talk about Grocery shopping.

1. Grocery shopping

Do not plan menu first. If you plan menu and go to purchase the ingredients, you have to have those items even though some of them might not be the best deal. On the other hand, you just go to the store and find some great deals, like "weekly special" or almost expired items, and think what you can make out of it. Do not hesitate but buy lots of them, especially if they are freezable, like meat or seafood. If you need to cook for small amount (like 1-2 people), make sure you cut/divide them in small ziploc bags before freezing them, and write a date and item name on bag. It's hard to defrost a big chunk and you might not use the whole thing at once anyways.

Small Ziploc bags

For example, you can find whole chicken for as cheap as $3 each for sale (usually it's $5-10). Cut them up in pieces. As you know, you can have 2 chicken breasts & 2 tennderloins, 2 thighs, 2 wings, 2 winglets, 2drums, and chicken bone from just 1 chicken. You can make so many different meals from that $3. Separates each sets in plastic bags, again, write name of parts and dates before freezing. Here is the video of how to cut chicken.

Some vegetables might be freezable, search online which ones are freezable or how to, like this site. Also, try store brand items. Most of the chain stores have their own brands which are usually cheaper than worldwide famous brands.

Shopping time is the key for finding deals. "Almost expired, that's why it's cheap" meats&seafood, stores put discount stickers and move the packages to discount sections in the morning. Throughout the day, customers coming and getting them, so most of them are gone at late afternoon. Although, store people are lining up new stuff in the morning, so if you go there too early you cannot find fresh stuff. Go shopping in late morning or early afternoon.

Other ideas are coming soon. I'm open for your opinion or more ideas.