Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The Last Day of 2014

       My husband and I headed toward Los Angeles airport to fly to Hawaii. We decided to travel Hawaii to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had traveled Oahu Island before, and this time we decided to go to Hawaii Island, also called the Big Island.

      This is the view of the Big Island from the airplane. I'm going to update my blog from Hawaii during our traveling.



       My entries related to our traveling on the Big Island can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Hawaii%20%28the%20Big%20Island%29

Monday, December 29, 2014

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido

        Hokkaido is northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectures. My husband bought this Starbucks Hokkaido mug while he was on business trip in Japan. I have already mentioned about Hokkaido tumbler in my previous entry, and the design of this Hokkaido mug is almost same with Hokkaido tumbler. If you would like to read my previous entry, Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Hokkaido, you can check it out. Anyway, I'm going to share this mug with you.
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido

・polar bear
・the map of Hokkaido
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido
 ・the trees in Furano
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido
 ・a kitakitsune, a fox
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido
      ・a bear footprint in snow
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Hokkaido
       This is Starbucks Japan Hokkaido tumbler.
Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Hokkaido
Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Hokkaido


Starbucks Japan - City Mugs
      These are my previous entries.

Starbucks Hokkaido Mug

Starbucks Kyoto Mug

Starbucks Sendai Mug

Starbucks Hiroshima Mug

Starbucks Kobe Mug

Starbucks Yokohama Mug

Starbucks Okinawa Mug

Starbucks Fukuoka Mug

Starbucks Kanazawa Mug

Starbucks Nagoya Mug







       My entries related to Starbucks Japan mugs can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan%20mugs

      My entries related to Starbucks Japan tumblers can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan%20tumblers

       My entries related to Starbucks Japan can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan

      My entries related to my Starbucks US collections can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20mugs

      My entries related to Starbucks can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Japan

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Sendai

       Sendai is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the Tōhoku region. My husband bought this Starbucks Japan city mug, Sendai, during his business trip in Japan. The design of this Sendai mug is pretty much same with Sendai tumbler. If you would like to read detail of each picture, you can check my previous entry, Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Sendai. Anyway, I'm going to share this mug with you.

・Fukinagashi of Sendai Tanabata Festibal, which is one of three famous festivals in Tohoku region and the most famous Tanabata Festibal in Japan
・Date Masamune, who was the first lord of Sendai domain
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Sendai

・keyaki, Japanese zelkova, which is the official tree of Miyagi prefecture
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Sendai

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Sendai

・sky night of the Milky Way
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Sendai

      This is Starbucks Sendai tumbler.
Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Sendai
Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Sendai



Starbucks Japan - City Mugs

      These are my previous entries.

Starbucks Hokkaido Mug

Starbucks Kyoto Mug

Starbucks Sendai Mug

Starbucks Hiroshima Mug

Starbucks Kobe Mug

Starbucks Yokohama Mug

Starbucks Okinawa Mug

Starbucks Fukuoka Mug

Starbucks Kanazawa Mug

Starbucks Nagoya Mug


       My entries related to Starbucks Japan mugs can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan%20mugs

      My entries related to Starbucks Japan tumblers can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan%20tumblers

       My entries related to Starbucks Japan can be seen here.http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan

      My entries related to my Starbucks US collections can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20mugs

      My entries related to Starbucks can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Japan


Saturday, December 27, 2014

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Kanazawa

        Kanazawa is the capital city of Ishikawa prefecture in Japan. Even though I have traveled so many places in Japan, I haven't gone there. I wish I would travel there someday. When my husband was on his business trip in Japan, he bought this Starbucks Japan city mug, Kanazawa. I'm going to share this mug with you.

        This two-legged stone lantern pictured is one of Japanese traditional architectures made of stone, toro. This toro is called Kotoji-Toro and is symbol of Kenroku-en, an old private garden and one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Kanazawa
      This yellow one pictured is yukitsuri, a technique for preserving trees and shrubs from heavy snow. During winter, you can see yukitsuri in Kenroku-en.
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Kanazawa
      This orange structure (its actual color is black though) is mikado, the main gate of Oyama Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Kanazawa. This mikado is designated as a nationally important cultural property of Japan.
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Kanazawa
      Hokuriku Shinkansen, a high-speed railway line in the Hokuriku region will extend to Kanazawa and will officially open next year.
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Kanazawa


       There are Japanese traditional structures with latticework in Higashichaya-gai, which many tea houses stood in. You can see the picture of Starbucks mug in the tea house below.

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Kanazawa
       There are gas lamps in Higashicyaya-gai.
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Kanazawa



Starbucks Japan - Mugs
      These are my previous entries.

Starbucks Hokkaido Mug

Starbucks Kyoto Mug

Starbucks Sendai Mug

Starbucks Hiroshima Mug

Starbucks Kobe Mug

Starbucks Yokohama Mug

Starbucks Okinawa Mug

Starbucks Fukuoka Mug

Starbucks Kanazawa Mug

Starbucks Nagoya Mug




       My entries related to Starbucks Japan mugs can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan%20mugs

      My entries related to Starbucks Japan tumblers can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan%20tumblers

       My entries related to Starbucks Japan can be seen here.http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan

      My entries related to my Starbucks US collections can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20mugs

      My entries related to Starbucks can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Japan




Friday, December 26, 2014

85℃ Bakery Cafe, Cake Was Way Too Sweet

       Yesterday, my husband bought this cake at 85℃ Bakery Cafe for Christmas. It's been years since we had their cake last time, but we remembered that their cake was pretty good. Three years ago, my ESL teacher told students that they served less sweet cake and it was tasted pretty decent. At that time, I was surprised that I have never thought that their cake was less sweet because it was just ordinary sweetness for Asian cake which I like. Frankly, I am not a fan of American cake because it is excessive sweet for me. That's why my husband and I were excited to have the cake from 85℃ Bakery Cafe last night. Unfortunately, we were really disappointed at this cake. It's because its sweetness was insane. It was not one they used to make. Their cake was excessive sweet for us... I miss Asian cake!




Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Trees

      These are Christmas trees I saw this year.
The Market Place

California Downtown Disney

Starbucks in LA

Irvine Spectrum Center

My Home
     Happy Marry Christmas!! :)

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Judy Garland - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

        It's Christmas Eve today. Today, I listened to this song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, which was introduced by Judy Garland in 1944. Many artists have covered this song since then.






Lyrics

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yuletide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.






     Today's Vocabulary

・Make the Yuletide gay ; Make the Christmas time happy.

・ in olden days : 昔々、昔は、昔に

・ yore 【jɔ́ːr】 : 昔の

・ dear to : (人)にずっお倧切[倧事]な

・ bough 【báu】 : 倧きな枝



    This is my entries related to my favorite songs.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/songs

    This is my entries related to my favorite Christmas songs.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/songs%20-%20Christmas

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Nagoya

       According to Starubcks Japan official website, this shiny golden Starbucks Nagoya mug was also inspired by traditional tiered food boxes as well as Starbucks Nagoya tumbler. Both designs of Starbucks Nagoya mug and tumbler are almost same, so I don't talk much about every detail of this mug. If you want to read more details about each picture, you can check my previous entry, Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Nagoya.  Anyway, I'm going to share this Nagoya mug with you.
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Nagoya
・Arimatsu shibori
・Golden Shachihoko
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Nagoya
 ・Tokugawa Ieyasu

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Nagoya
 ・Tokugawa Ieyasu riding on Daimyo Kago in the Edo Period
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Nagoya

・Nagoya Castle
Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Nagoya

     å…« is known as the symbol of Tokugawa family, and now it is the flag of Nagoya city.

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Nagoya

Starbucks Japan - City Mug - Nagoya


       This is Starbucks Nagoya Tumbler.
Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Nagoya
Starbucks Japan - City Tumbler - Nagoya

Starbucks Japan - City Mugs
      These are my previous entries.

Starbucks Hokkaido Mug

Starbucks Kyoto Mug

Starbucks Sendai Mug

Starbucks Hiroshima Mug

Starbucks Kobe Mug

Starbucks Yokohama Mug

Starbucks Okinawa Mug

Starbucks Fukuoka Mug

Starbucks Kanazawa Mug

Starbucks Nagoya Mug






       My entries related to Starbucks Japan mugs can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan%20mugs

      My entries related to Starbucks Japan tumblers can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan%20tumblers

       My entries related to Starbucks Japan can be seen here.http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Japan

      My entries related to my Starbucks US collections can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20mugs

      My entries related to Starbucks can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Japan


Monday, December 22, 2014

Pictures of Coffee Arabica at the Clover Starbucks Reserve Store

       Yesterday, my husband and I went to our favorite Clover Starbucks Reserve store. The store is always decorated with so many items related to coffee.
Clover Starbucks Reserve Store

       Specifically, I like their pictures relevant to coffee. I have never seen coffee arabica, which is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated. Probably, I will be able to see one early next year for my first time. I can't wait to see real coffee arabica!
Picture of Coffee Arabica

Picture of Coffee Arabica

Picture of Coffee Arabica

Clover Starbucks Reserve Store

Clover Starbucks Reserve Store
       Yesterday, we had Starbucks Peppermint Mocha, which is our favorite drink of this season. We would like to find how to make peppermint mocha at home, and I hope I will be able to share the recipe with you next year. :)
Peppermint Mocha


Sunday, December 21, 2014

Bing Crosby - I'll Be Home for Christmas

       Christmas is just around the corner! :) I have been listening to Christmas songs everywhere these days. Today, my husband and I went to Panera for early dinner and finished our small task there. I have noticed that they played one of my favorite Christmas songs, I'll Be Home for Christmas, was recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby.







Lyrics

I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree

Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have some snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree

Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams





    This is my entries related to my favorite songs.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/songs


    This is my entries related to my favorite Christmas songs.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/songs%20-%20Christmas
 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Costco Haul - Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette

       When I go to Costco, I always check their cosmetic sections because they always carry decent cosmetics at pretty reasonable prices. When I went to Costco this holiday season, I found that they have some makeup palettes. I finally decided to purchase this makeup palette, Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette, today. It was originally $19.99 but was on sale for $9.99 today!:) I remembered that it was $14.99 last week, so I thought that I was lucky! This palette includes 8 eyeshadows, two blushes, a lip gloss and mascara.
Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette
 ALWAYS FLAWLESS DAY TO NIGHT PALETTE
Every girl's go-to for an effortlessly beautiful face, day in and day out. This perfectly tailored palette combines soft, nude tones with deep, dramatic shadows for shimmer tones for a brilliant, playful finish. The kit also includes a blush duo, lip gloss and mascara for an all-in-one arsenal of beauty essentials.
Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette


Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette


Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette

       I didn't have such a perfect all-in-one makeup palette before. When I went traveling, I needed to take some eyeshadow palettes and blushes etc. I think that this palette will be perfect for my traveling!
Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette

       This palette has the most workable shadows, and the blush duo is pretty. The pink beige lip gloss is perfect for my preference. :)  I can't wait to try them on tomorrow.

Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette


Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette


Kristofer Buckle Always Flawless Day to Night Palette




      My entries related to beauty can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/beauty

     My entries related Costco can be seen here.

      My entries related to shopping can be seen here.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/shopping