Registering to be married on the 21st...

and if all goes smoothly, we will be registered as a married couple that day...

Which means that tomorrow, is my last day as a Mori.

Even though I doubt things will change once this step has been made, I still feel kind of funny...

Even though I have been living apart from my family for the last 4 years, I still feel like it's different now.

I love my mum, dad, brother and sister so much, and I really could not have asked for a better family.

I look forward to sharing this new life with John, and making a better man out of him (hehe).

Thank you to my family for loving me unconditionally, and baring with me all these years.

Now your burden is John's (lucky him!)

And for my mum.... who really did put up with the most c**p from me... Thank you.

I am who I am today (good and bad, hehe) because of you. I love you

Shoes for the Wedding

These sandals/bootie from Manolo Blahnik are so beautiful!

Is it appropriate wedding shoes... not for the parties I am attending... but for mine ;)?

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod103060073

What do you wear to a wedding party?

Recently I've been receiving invites to wedding parties, and I am absolutely thrilled but what do you wear to a wedding party?

It's not a wedding ceremony.... do standard rules like no white, no minis apply?

Since finding a dress which isn't too cutesy is very difficult in Japan I've been searching online at great sites like bluefly.com which offer designers like Nicole Miller and Badgley Mischka at discounted prices and I've come across quite a few that I like but is it appropriate?

This green dress is from Nicole Miller. First of all, I adore the colour. It is the perfect shade (apple? green) of the perfect colour (green). I'd love to pair it with a clashing pair of dark wine pumps for a slightly funky wedding party at night, and nude peep toes for a wedding party by day. It's affordable and they have my size. What do you think?

This sequinned T-shirt dress by Badgley Mischka is gorgeous! The sequins are so perfect for night, but the T-Shirt cut makes it just casual enough to make it wearable during the day. Even if it may not be appropriate for a wedding I'd love to purchase it.... But doesn't buying anything with sequins on it online terrify you because you have no idea quite how shiny and sparkly it will be.

I'd love to get my hands on these dresses, but I don't know....Is it alright for a wedding party? With the right accessories, is it okay?

Nelly Furtado's brilliance... Try

Then I see you standing there, wanting more from me and all I can do is try
Try
Try

All the things we want each other to be, we'll never be.
We'll never be
And that's wonderful
And that's life

All that we can do is try and I say we are all trying desperately to please you

We quit doing things for you
We will do try doing things our own way and create our own success

ライフ

時間は知らないうちに流れて行く
何をしても巻き戻せないこの一度の人生を
チャンスを掴んで自分の振りで踊ることができるのか

やりたいことを思いっきりやって
素直に、何も隠すこともなく生きて行こう
そう決めた自分がいるのはあなたのお陰
信じて、見てて
私約束するから

遠くからでもいいから二人で見守っててね

Time flies by before you even know it
You can't stop and start life the way you see fit
You only have one chance
So take it and choreograph your own dance

Do the things that you enjoy
Be straight, be true, don't live life with a hidden ploy

Because before you know it
Time has passed. Gone by so fast there's no looking back
And everything goes black

Thank you for reminding us how precious life is.
I won't let your absence be in vain. And I promise I'll make your proud

星座占い。。。

今まで無視してたけど

これ読んだ時はかなり衝撃的だった

（写真写り下手ですみません）

「リラックスした気分で大きなことができるとき」

今までこの余裕を持つことができなかったけど先週の金曜日から少しリラックスし始めた自分

「あなたの正しさはすぐに証明されそう」

今まで一人で我慢して抱えてた気持。。。

何かまずは話すことにより

変わりそう

変えていかないと

星座は１２種類しかなく、地球の全員がどこかに当てはまる

それを考えていたらあまり今まで信じたこともなかったし。。。考えたこともなかった。。。

けど、これはすごい衝撃的だった。

金曜日に読んだからさ

１３日の金曜日に

自分の中での変化の日

七年前の自分へ戻りたい

自信過剰の自分が今は羨ましい
褒めることをしらない日本の文化
周りと同じな考え方じゃないといけない日本の文化
個人の意思をつぶしていく日本の文化

海外で育った結果の自身過剰って言っていいくらいの自分

なぜ今はこんなに弱い人間に

残念だ

変えていかないとどんどん才能のある人が腐ってしまう、弱ってしまう

まず自分を立て直そう

少なからず自分は人の良さ、人の才能を丁寧に扱う人間になろう

社会は人間だから答えは一つじゃないはず

接する方法はいろいろあるはず

少なからず私は人をつぶす人間にはならないようにする

つぶされてもつぶさない

つぶす人こそ時間をかけて変えていく

そういう人間をまず周りに増やしいく

そうしたら周りの環境が変わるかも

そうしたら社会が変わって日本が変わるかも。。やっと前に進むかも

そうしたらいずれかママになったら日本に住んでみたらと自信をもって子供に言えるかも

自分のために
未来の子供のために

少し自信過剰だった自分にお願いしてみよう

戻ってきてもらおう

今日から自分立て直そう

昨日はママの優しさ感動する一日でした
----
そのママにはママが大好きのプーケットの写真を贈ります

On my 'I want' list....

The Tory Burch Belen Flat Bootie
available on toryburch.com ... which unfortunately doesn't ship to Japan :( So I'm trying to figure out where to get them.

Wanna pair em with some skinny jeans and a folklore top... a mini skirt and a simple white T... a maxi dress....

Oh how I want these!!!

What do you think of this See by Chloe bag? It's quite a small one but I absolutely love it :) It's in my colour AND it's on sale! What do you think???

I have always loved Thailand! But it was my first time going to Thailand without my family so I was wondering how it would feel.
John and I left for Phuket on the 10th of June and we got back on the 15th! It was definitely too short a trip but we had such a beautiful time. I think I love the place even more now as an adult than I did when I was child... when quite frankly I didn't really think about culture, and the people....

Now that we have been there together we really cannot wait until our wedding there next year!

The pic is of my food from the seller on the bike. My last lunch eaten on the beach! Lovely!

There is a Thai restaurant that I go to pretty much every other day where I work called Coca Restaurant. It's affordable, comfortable and the people are really sweet! The other day my colleague and I were looking at wedding dress photos and the store manager congratulated me after picking up titbits of our conversation!
The next day I went to the store and they gave me a congratulatory drink!!! How sweet is that?!

Going to Guam in two days! Am kind of excited but it is with the company so I am worried that I will have to do all that pourin and serving for older and more experienced colleagues ;) it's not a bad thing or anything but just not a culture I am used to - I can do polite but maybe not servient!
----
by the way that's a picture of my sushi on the Shinkansen! Had a business trip to Osaka two days ago and ate it on the way back :)))) tWas delicious - one thing I definitely love about Japan!

almuerzo con mi familia en el restaurante fantastico, la befana!

Today was my first day off in 6 days - the sun was shining and it was beautiful. I did the laundry in the morning, replanted my plants, cleaned the house, and then made my way to Kichijouji, La Befana to meet my family for lunch! It was LOADS of fun. I love the restaurant, the food and the wine was delicious.

Marz and I before all the eating :)

My sister in my sunnies! Looking GORGEOUS. Marz, I LOVE your bangs!

Cream Cheese Cake Pudding. DELICIOUS!

Daddy's Dessert, Panacota.

My Dad and brother scoffing down their dessert - it looked delicious!

After lunch, my sister and I did a little bit of shopping and then we walked back home..... and saw a SNAKE! two snakes in fact!

Some pics from Yakiniku - Buchi

April 19th, Yakiniku Horumon Buchi in Shibuya :)

I had the best time with the best people on Birthday Eve. Yes, I wish some of u from across the world could have been there too, but there's always next year!

Thanks to all those for making it SO memorable!

Me and Iku with Kai in the background!Me and Iku with Masa on the right
Iku, Masa, Me, Daisuke and Chris
Yuka and Sachi
Tom, Yuki, Issey, Kai and John
I unfortunately was having SO much fun that I didnt end up taking so many pictures. I was posing a lot though with 3 more groups of friends! I have to get the pictures off Honey, Geb and Banri :)

Here are some pics of me opening pressies!

I am wearing the yellow slippers from Elena and Jap. I LOVE EM! Green and yellow are my favourite colours so I was super pleased (as u can see from my expression!)

I was making such a mess, but I was SO happy.... I spent about 3 hours quietly opening all of them by myself... John says it was his most peaceful 3 hours this year :)

I love this picture!

haha I look so intrigued..... and I was!

And finally..... just to showcase how lucky I am (hehe, please don't hate me). What girl doesn't like coming home to flowers? I am obsessed with plants and flowers at the moment... But unfortunately these are having a difficult time surviving the cold spring this year. I am determined to revitalize them though!

I am the happiest, and luckiest girl in the world. And I'm not going to take it for granted :)

To Marz, thanks for reading my blog! I really appreciate it :) I have been well but super busy with work! How have u been little sis? I can't wait to meet ur Uni friends either! By the way, john and I bought fruit wine at the Hokkaido fest yesterday, u should try it!!! Hehe Thought I would dedicate this blog post for u because of ur tweet! Love you!
----
I leave u with this pic of u I love!

I am the luckiest girl in the world!
Birthday Bash part dos!
Con mi familia :)
----
Birthday feast was Saudi Arabian style - i love this Saudi Arabian rice dish that my mum makes me every year! I ask for te same dish every year but it is the BEST! John and I ate so much!!!!!
Thank you mummy!
Pics of pressies coming up soon!

I am the luckiest girl in the world!
Birthday bash part one... April 19th. @yakiniku buchi, shibuya :)
Just celebrated my 25th birthday and this year I decided to have a little bday dinner with friends from different fields! It was so much fun ;) we were about thirty ppl, taking up about 2/3 of the yakiniku restaurant!
I felt so so so loved:) hehe
John and I caught the last train and then spent loads of time opening presents and I loved all of them :)
----
I even ended up crying a few times, reading peoples cards and just feeling the warmth that surrounds me:)
Thank you to all with the warm warm wishes :) I couldn't ask for better people to spend it with :)

I believe in the fundamental good that exists in the Japanese as a population.
Though when you read the news or hear stories from others sometimes you forget this! I certainly do...
But I realized recently went I dropped my phone that Japanese people can and do care about strangers.
Since i arrived in Japan almost seven years ago I have dropped my teiki (fully charged transport credit which can be used for 6 months), my phone, and my wallet - yes this says a lot about me... But all these items have been delivered to the police or the lost and found with not a single thing missing. I think it's heartwarming.
And i'm so grateful for that person who did the good deed as there are so many times like when I'm being pushed around on a train aggressively that I forget that we are as a population generally considerate and kind!
So yes.... Thanks to the person who delivered my phone to the lost and found yesterday!!! For delivering it... But also renewing my faith in us :)

Happy Birthday Marzipan Bay!!!

My sister is 19 years old today. I feel so old. I remember being 19 as though it was yesterday. Celebrating with new friends in a new country. Beginning of a brand new chapter and all the rest of it.

Marz, I am so excited for you that you are at that crossroad where you can decide what you want to do and thereby determine the kind of person you want to be. I am excited to watch you walk down the path you choose... and I cannot wait to support the person that you turn out to be.

I am already so proud, but I know you're gonna somehow make me prouder :)

Happy 19th Birthday!

We could've snowboarded a few mores times this season...

It might snow tomorrow?!!! What is going on? It is the middle of April... Where is spring? The cherry blossoms have already fallen. Ironically, this is global warming. It is freezing.

John and I went snowboarding, end of March, and I recently dropped off our clothes at the cleaners. But we could've gone a couple more times with this cold, cold weather.

Pity.

So much snow. It even started snowing quite heavily after a while! Above the clouds.

John is looking incredibly cool... the way he is holding the snowboard and all. Haha.

I wonder if I can put up some videos! I am such a lousy snowboarder... Although I have been trying very hard this season! I truly hope to get better next season. I can't wait! Until then, I am going to watch loads of snowboarding movies!

Long long day at work today! Started at eleven in the morning... It is now 20past midnight and I am waiting for the train - what a relief! Can't wait to drink a glass of red though :)
Staff mtg from eleven to two. Lunch for an hour. Staff mtg part two from three to four. Individual mtgs from four to seven. Then went to the store to check on everything - stayed until it closed :) I am so beyond tired that I've gone a little crazy.
But days like today, I realize why I like doing what I do. The work is impossibly hard a times but we have a good team and i have faith that we will be able to create results! Hopefully it will happen this month... My neck is on the line!

My favourite piece of clothing from Diesel's SS10 Collection

i bought this red dress thinking...

i won't wear it

it's too.... red

it doesn't go with anything i have...

but i want to try it...

and now it's my favourite piece of clothing from Diesel SS10 that i own.

it didn't cost a fortune. the colour is actually not too gaudy. and surprisingly, it's very easy to wear... and now I LOVE IT and wear it ALL THE TIME :)

it comes in a light gray and also a classic black, but i am digging this red that Diesel has always been so good at!

(excuse the red dress on the orange hanger!)

Pictures at Wired Cafe with work colleagues - just before my snowboarding trip with John :)
----
Ikumi, Rina, Hiroko, and me(I)
Wired Cafe is a popular spot for young people in Tokyo! They have delicious Hawaiian-esque food! We went to the one in Mitsukoshi, shinjuku! It's afforadable and the drinks are gorgeous! A definite must for young folks:) I am still borderline young enough!

Lunch at a small pasta shop behind Harajuku! Smoked salmon and cream sauce tagliatelle! Yummmmm!

Day out with my sister.
April 9th. Was a tonne of fun talking fashion, family and boys, haha. Went to Harajuku and checked out Kitson, Topshop, H&M and the back streets of Omotesando!
Found nothing that I listed below... And decided that maybe maxi dresses are not for me! Hehe
----
Makes me look so small doesn't it? Like a tiny Japanese girl - something I am not so accustomed to! I think I will stick to minis! Still on the look out for a nice romantic white top and spring leather jacket! Keep me posted! :)

My Wishlist

Going shopping with my sister tomorrow. There are SO many things that I am lusting over...

- Maxi Dress (which is better? flower print? or black? Floral is on trend, but black is SO much easier to wear... especially since I bought these red Diesel Black Gold sandals!)

- Leather jacket for the spring (tan brown or beige and preferably short)

- A white folklorish top, flow-y and romantic

- Headbands

- a non leather sling bag

- one-piece shorts

and the list goes on! Since working at Diesel, I am a lot more into trying different styles than I was before. I was happy with my jeans a t-shirt but now I'm a little more keen to try something else! Money flies out the window that way but hopefully I will be able to find snatch up some good deals tomorrow!

Sherlock Holmes

Today John and I went watch Sherlock Holmes (yes, films open very late in Japan!) the new film by Guy Ritchie....
And it was incredible! I didn't expect that it was going to be anything special, but I was really quite impressed with the way it was filmed and it's story telling. There was not one boring moment. I knew Robert Downing Jr. would do a good job as he usually is quite phenomenal in everything he does, but I was also pleasantly surprised with Jude Law!
I'm not going to write about the story here as I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but watch the trailer, (http://trailers.apple.com/)and go see the movie if you haven't already, and it is still out in your movie theatre.
I really enjoyed Hans Zimmer's input once again, and I can't wait till the next one!

I love this plant. My snowleaf plant. It has grown quite big since I bought it last year in october! I am proud of myself for not killing it. I really credit Chako for giving John and I flowers when she heard of our engagement. Having flowers in our house made everything smell so much nicer an look more homey... I liked that feeling so much now we have candles, flowers and plants.... Right now we are thinking of buying a place... Wherever we go I hope we have the sunlight!

The girls at my store are real fashionable. They are daring and yet not too outlandish! I really think they mix the quirky and the trend of the season quite well! What do u think?
----
The top in the store and the top on the girl! I think she looks funky :) what do u think? :)

Minnetonka Moccasins are so comfortable! I bought these in a store called Chapter at Lumine Est today! Chapter predominantly sell sneakers but sometimes they will have uggs, emus, and Minnetonkas! They also sell them at an affordable price as they order directly from overseas and don't have a Japanese company in the middle trying to make profits. So I got these today for 9000yen today which isn't too bad! What do you think? I can't decide what kind of clothes Im into these days :) it's quite a lot of fun wearing clothes I never use to! Will post pics hopefully in due course!

Heartful conversations with customers make my day :) On days like today I thoroughly enjoy working in the store! I had one customer who wore skinny jeans, a long white top and short leather jacket with booties and she looked gorgeous - I love that simple look! Hope she comes back again :)

Went to see my grandad today and it was really good to see him looking a little better than the last time about a month ago... When I lived with my grandparents during uni I realize now I often took them for granted. Now with however much time we have left I intend to make the most of it to show them how much they mean to me... Today I showed them pictures from the Philippines. Scenic pictures of the sun and sea that also give me some serenity. Hope it gives you peace and serenity as well.
----

Can't you just feel the warmth? :)

Decided to start blogging again to make sure that old friends like D, Nic, Dai, Li can still feel the love sent to them from Japan :) wanna share things with people I love that I don't necessarily want to post on Facebook! Also want a place to write again... Since graduating from Uni I haven't really written anything substantial in English - not that this blog is gonna be an essay or anything!!!
So peeps, hope you start reading from your workplace again as I try to be a dedicated blogger :)
----

Photo took in Isle of Wight last year - don't I seem free?

Last post was in 2008 :)

A lot has happened and yet not much has changed! I suppose that is what happens once you graduate from the education system. There are no more big milestones like entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies and the like... No major milestones worth mentioning but small everyday accomplishments, failures that you fail to mention but that are yet so worth mentioning! ........... which is why I'm going to start blogging again! :)