See you soon!!!

The last day at my work where I worked for 8 years. I made a water melon fruit basket and Panna cotta (forgot to take pics..). Everybody loved them and it went fast :) I also curved the company name on the handle.

They took me to Maggiano't Little Italy for my farewell lunch. I am making a "thank you" speech. It was nice small and homey company and gave me a chance to work in US and work on various types of task. I feel like they are my family so I said "see you soon" as opposed to say "Good by".

I am off to one week vacation to see Steven from tomorrow. I am going to.....
---to be continued----- :):)

It was a Happy Birthday!!

The first thing I did on my birthday morning was being in line at DMV. I didn't notice my driver's license would expire TODAY till last night so I woke up at 6:30am and went to DMV. It took shorter than I expected it would be though so it was OK.
At work, I had a surprise with a beautiful cake by my coworkers and the girls there took me to lunch to California Pizza Kitchen . I hadn't been here because I thought it was another pizza place from the name. WROOONG!! They have great salad, pasta and other stuff, too. I am sure I will be back to this place with Steven soon. I also got e-cards from my mom and Ryoko.
Look at this beatiful basket full of goodies from my parents in law. They are so sweet to remember my birthday and send this great gift!! When I told this to my coworkers, they envy me...Yes, I have GREAT parents in law!!!
My mom got me a very pretty Japanese table runner. Both she and I love flowers so we tend to pick flower pattern on everything...Love the kimono-like pattern and the green color matches our dinning room.


Great sake from Ryoko. Need to cook some Japanese food to go with this :)

After I came back to work from lunch.....

I got a BEAUTIFUL PURPLE ROSES from Steven!!! He has been in NY and he ordred this for me from there. He is having hectic weeks with his HUGE project working 14 hours a day, sometimes sleeping only 4 hours but in these crazy weeks, he still remembered and sent me flowers! Ohhhh it made me almost cry and he called me one second before I saw the flowers. What a timming!!! I am the happiest woman in Universe!

Came back to US

Came back to US and this is what I got from the first Farmer's Market for a long time.
I know it is not much because....We are going to vacation again soon so we don't need much. Hee, hee, hee. :):)

Our tomatoes get red FINALLY!! Time to eat them!!
When we were in Palo Alto, our apartment didn't get that much sun but this new place rocks!! A lot of sun and our plants LOVE it.

Japan Trip Day7_the last day

We have been staying at Ryokan (Japanese Inn), Shinki-ya which is 5 minutes drive from my mom's place last 3 days. It is a traditional Japanese style Inn and has 4 kinds of hot spring!! They serve Japanese style breakfast, too :)

Today is my father's memorial day. This is the one of the reasons we come back to Beppu this time of the year. I am sure he is very happy watching us being tremendously happy together!!


Genya is driving a police car and his partner, Steven using microphone. "You in the red car, pull over!! "

We had a lot of fun and wonderful food. Thank you, everybody for the great time. We will back at end of the year !!!!

Japan Trip Day7-another party :)

We went to amusement park and zoo with Genya, my bro, and sis in law.

Genya looooves Steven. He picked 3 pieces of flowers from the garden and says, "One for mom, One for grand-ma and one for Steven." Hey, dude. Your aunty is the one who bought you the toy!!


And yes, we had another dinner party with my family. Uncle and Aunt joined tonight.

Steven and I are griling steak on Hibachi. Smokey flavor beef steak. Mmmmmmmm
tonight Akiko and Ryoko made dinner. Tomato spagetti salad. green pea+anochovi dish and mama ordered Hirame sashimi!!!

Japan Trip Day6

We brought Paella pan from US and TONIGHT, Steven made Seafood Paella.
Mikako:"are you sure this is the right amount? can I see the receipe?"
Steven: "Positive! I checked the book here. You should believe your husband."
Mikako: "........."



First we cut up fresh seafood


Add special seasoning and cook....and...
Yeah!!!

"how are you doing?" "doing good. will be ready soon." everybody wants to see how it gets done. :)
I made salad, orange sauce chicken, and fig+walnut wrapped with Prosciutto.
Our cousin also joined this Paella dinner. Steven is pouring wine from Dean & Deluca for mama. Yuuuuum!
Wait a minute! Our nephew, Genya is only 3 years old. What is he drinking?

Japan Trip Day5

Rainy day. Tsuyu (Rainy season) may have been started. We went to my father's cemetary and cleaned the gravestone. My father must be very happy to see his daughter and son in law are happy together and visiting him.
We also visited my grand ma and took her Imase 、a Unagi (eel )restaurant for lunch. This place has been business in 50 years and the best place to have BBQ eel, Unagi. Steven helped my grand ma to walk and she kept telling my mom on the phone she was so happy. I feel so lucky to have a sweet and kind husband like him :):)

Japan Trip Day4

Walked to the beach with Mom, Ryoko, Akiko and Steven and got some sea snails for snack :) I used to come here often and took snails when I was a small girl. Once you start collecting the sanils, it is hard to stop because it is FUUUUN !!
For dinner, Mom took all of us to Echelle du Ange where we had a wedding reception last June. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary, both of my sister's new jobs and mom's coming birthday. We were in the private room so it was nice and quiet and had a wonderful view from the table. And can you believe that all the dishes below are for one person?? What a wonderful course dinner we had!!!

We were overwhelming because this place reminded us the GREAT reception we had last year and the food was phenomenal!!