kimberly ah

Apr 09 2014

adventures, Japan 2014, My Love Affair with Tokyo

Sakura Hunt

When we planned our trip to Tokyo, we were aiming for kaika jiki (開花時期), blooming season–the time when the cherry blossoms open, leaving parks and paths sheltered under a cloud of pale pink. The problem is, there is no exact date when the sakura will bloom. It all depends on the weather…the crazy, unpredictable weather.

As luck would have it, we missed the prime viewing time (the blossoms really burst open to full bloom after we left) and it was raining on our “sakura day”–our last day in Tokyo. But we got to see some pretty blossoms anyway and next year we hope to go back around the same time, maybe a week later to improve our chances. Sigh…We ended up trying out a few different spots to see if we could find a nice patch of trees in a park. Our first stop was pretty miserable because our poor umbrella blew inside out…twice…to the point where it wasn’t even fixable. I almost gave up because we were drenched and cold. On a bad tip from a local, we ended up at Meiji Shrine, where we eventually learned, after a ton of walking in the pouring rain, that there were no sakura. Naoto carried around the broken umbrella because he felt “disrespectful” leaving it in a trash can. (I don’t get it either.) I’m not sure what was worse: getting drenched while we carried a closed umbrella and having people wonder why we weren’t using the umbrella or pretending the broken umbrella was effective (up above). We finally broke down and found replacements at the shrine gift shop and they graciously took the broken umbrella off of Naoto’s hands. Whew!Finally, we ended up at a park near Harajuku and we were met with a grove of blooming trees. And then, all of the rain was worth it. There is nothing like the pale pink of a sakura bloom! The park was breathtaking, even in the rain.

It was fun to see some brave souls enjoying early ohanami (the act of sakura viewing which usually includes a spread of food and drink) under a tent. I felt a little sad that we didn’t get to sit under the trees on a warm, sunny day, enjoying the blossoms, snacks and sake. Hopefully next year. I think that part of the beauty of sakura season is its unpredictability and its impermanence…I can only appreciate that I got to see the blooms in the beginning of their glory. They were so stunning, I can’t imagine how they will look at full bloom.

Next year. Next year.

Tagged adventures, I *heart* Japan, Japan

Apr 08 2014

4 Comments

celebrations, thoughts

Kimberly AH Two Years Later

I know I said I’d only be posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for now, but I couldn’t resist a tiny celebration post for two years of Kimberly AH.

I started this blog two years ago today and apparently I document this tree branch from my balcony to celebrate. (See last year’s post here.) Thank you for another year of reading!

Tagged celebrations

Apr 07 2014

Home from Tokyo

We have been home from our Japan vacation for a week now, and in case it’s not obvious by my absence last week, adjustment has been rough. I always have a hard time with jet lag–I’m not a good sleeper in general–but this time I was especially delirious and zombie-like. Today, I’m shaking off the cobwebs, unpacking (yes…I haven’t even unpacked one of our suitcases–the one with all the stationery!) and sifting through the pictures from our two week stay in Tokyo.

So prepare for Japan Month Part Two and plenty more Japan Does It Better Posts in the coming weeks. We did a lot of the same things that we did last year and added a few new favorites like the Postal Museum Japan, calligraphy lesson and a Spanish tapas bar. (Yes, I said Spanish tapas.) I will be back on Wednesday with my first post and I will be working on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday posting schedule this month (and maybe longer) while I get back into a routine here at home.

It feels good to be home…and awake!

P.S. The picture above is us (our feet) with a street marker after a late-night dinner in Sangenjaya (our hotel neighborhood).

Tagged adventures, I *heart* Japan, Japan

Mar 26 2014

Hello from Tokyo

I’m currently passing the time at Bunbougu Cafe, drinking hot tea & eating office supply-shaped cookies. (More on those coming soon!)
Our trip is going well, though it’s passing more quickly than we expected. Naoto is spending lots of time with his mom and I’m eating too many Misdo donuts and seeing too many stationery shops. (Actually, there is no such thing as too many stationery shops!) Tomorrow I’m having the calligraphy lesson, which is both thrilling and scary–I hope I’m not the worst student the teacher has ever seen! And, I saw the cherry blossom blooms for the first time today–just one tree but hopefully more will be blooming by the weekend!
I will report back soon…and obviously, get ready for many Japan posts when I get home.

P.S. Pictured above, an izakaya near my mother-in-law’s neighborhood.

Mar 25 2014

1 Comment

Uncategorized

Screen-Free Afternoons

So far this year, the most difficult “intention” for me has been Screen-Free Afternoons. And truthfully, it’s probably the most important intention. Stepping away from technology and focusing on making things and finishing things and doing things leads to all of my other intentions.

Because of Screen-Free Afternoons, I’m turning off the TV a little bit earlier in the day or not turning it on at all. The TODAY show is a bad addiction. I feel much better when I listen to NPR and work at my desk in the mornings, but somehow the TODAY show seems to win too often. And when it’s on, I’m less productive not just in the mornings, but for the whole day. I found kind of a nice groove by the end of January and into February, but after Ex Postal Facto, I kind of lost steam. In March, I’ve refocused and tried harder. Usually around one o’clock, I turn off the TV (if it’s still on) and step away from the computer, the iPad and the iPhone for two hours. I usually put a podcast or music on and get to work. On the days that feel most successful, I have “scheduled” a project to work on. So far, I’ve finished a few back-burner craft projects, written a few letters, cleaned a couple of closets and read. Reading is a slippery slope though…it often leads to napping, especially after lunch!

I’m already starting my post-vacation list of Screen-Free Afternoons. I need to focus on getting some housework done this spring so I can focus on getting outside on the balcony and in the garden plot when it warms up.

How are your goals for 2014 coming along? I plan to do a complete “first quarter” update of mine in April.

Mar 23 2014

17 Comments

Japan Does It Better, My Love Affair with Tokyo

Japan Does It Better 10: Apple Juice

The first time I visited Japan, I was given a box of apple juice on the train. (It was an organized work trip…I did not accept apple juice from a stranger.) I was thirsty, so I accepted the juice even though apple is right down there with grape as my least favorite fruit juices. To my surprise, the apple juice was amazing. I mean, it was so good that I spent the rest of my trip seeking out boxes of it in every vending machine on the streets.
What makes it so good, you might be asking? It actually tastes like an apple, slightly tart and perfectly crisp. It is almost color-less and it is made with red and green apples (who would have thought?!) to give it that perfect balance of taste.
What I don’t understand is this:
I live in America, home to apple pies, apple crisp, apple turnovers, apple fritters, Johnny Appleseed, apple farms, apple picking…how can we be so wrong about apple juice?
I actually emailed Minute Maid to ask where I could find the red/green apple juice blend at home. They told me that their products are developed for the tastes of a particular country…I guess I’m in the minority in the US?
Crisp, refreshing apple juice…another reason Japan Does It Better!

Mar 21 2014

1 Comment

cocktails, crafty adventures, snail mail, vintage

Hasegawa Happy Hour Mail

A couple of weeks ago, I got this beautiful letter from Xenia of Saturday Morning Vintage. Even if it had just been a quick note, I would have been over the moon. What a creative envelope!

But when I opened the envelope, a few pieces fell out of the card. You can see them above. They are vintage liquor labels and slips from a bartender’s order pad. Aren’t they amazing? In her note, Xenia mentioned seeing my Hasegawa Happy Hour posts and pictures on Instagram, so she thought I might enjoy these vintage bits. They made me super happy and inspired me to get started on a mini-book of our happy hour adventures for 2014. I’m picturing a tiny something with paper bits, photographs and some recipes (both cocktails and snacks). Hmmm…maybe a complete one for us and a well-edited one can be made into a zine…

Thank you, Xenia, for the mail and the inspiration!

Tagged cocktails, crafts, mail art, vintage

Mar 20 2014

2 Comments

adventures, snail mail, vintage

Stamp King

A couple of weeks ago, I met up with Donovan at the Stamp King of Chicago. Even though I read Donovan’s wonderfully crafted blog post about the Stamp King, I had no idea what to expect. I’ve never been to a stamp and coin dealer before…I’ve never been buzzed into a shop before.

But one look at the Stamp King (pictures on the aforementioned blog post), I knew we were in good hands. He was kind and funny and relaxed. There were two young coin collectors in the store perusing the coins and helping Donovan and I add up our stamp purchases. We ended up being there over the lunch hour and the Stamp King offered to order lunch and to share his bottle of wine. (Next time, I’m taking the bus so I can take him up on this offer.)

Even without wine, I had zero control over myself. There was a lot of vintage stamp goodness and Donovan and I made a huge dent in the Stamp King’s inventory. After the first ten dollars, I stopped counting, because, really, how quickly can tiny one cent and three cent stamps add up? Well, evidently they add up pretty quickly…plus I picked out several larger denominations, too. Anyway…next time I walk into the Stamp King, I’m just going to hand him all of my money. It was well spent as far as I am concerned.

Tagged adventures, mail art, snail mail, vintage

Mar 19 2014

1 Comment

celebrations

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Taking a break from regularly scheduled programming to wish my dad a very happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Dad! May your year be filled with ripe garden tomatoes, freshly baked bread, glasses of Old Overholt and perhaps a few Portillo’s beefs.

P.S. The picture is from last summer…I can’t wait to start gardening again!!

Tagged celebrations, parents

Mar 18 2014

2 Comments

adventures, what's for dinner

Empty Bowls

A couple of weeks ago, I attended Empty Bowls, a fundraiser hosted by Oak Park-River Forest High School and its Wheel Throwing Club. Empty Bowls raises money to help West Suburban PADS (a shelter program) and the local food pantry. For $15 you get a handmade bowl and some soup and bread. The bowls are made and donated by OPRF students and the soup is made and donated by local grocery stores and restaurants. The event feels very community-driven. My friend Karen goes every year and this year Jackie and I joined her. I’m only sad I didn’t know about it sooner. Many communities host Empty Bowls, so I highly recommend seeing if there’s one near you.

There were hundreds of bowls to choose from–big ones, little ones, well-made ones, imperfect ones, colorful ones, natural ones–it was seriously hard to choose. I think we each swapped out our choices at least once. Jackie ended up with a blue spotted bowl and Karen’s was a green ombre. My bowl (bottom center) is speckled white. It reminds me of a bird’s egg. Taking your bowl home serves “as a gentle reminder of the many empty bowls that need filling world wide.” (Quote taken from the Empty Bowls website.)