Bra Recycle

Bra has been a fashionable item across the world -  there are many cute looking bras in different shapes and different colours.  But, what can you do with your old bras when you are not wearing them?

Did you know that bras are actually the most highly sought after item for women in developing countries?  They are technically difficult to make in the developing world, therefore bras are valuable to women in those area.

There have been campaign for bra recycling in the past by Wacol or Oxfarm, but in the months of September and October, Berlei is setting up bra recycling bins in Myer stores Australia wide to give you the opportunity to help deserving women have access to a basic necessity.

If you have any unused bras at home, simply donate them at the  Berlei Recycle bins in Myer.  You will be helping to reduce landfill and create jobs in developing nations.  And, for every 10 bras recycled, $1 will be donated to BCNA (Breast Cancer Network Australia).

aa

Ceedee Soaps

There’re many web companies providing the service where you can create your own websites, and when I was browsing yola I came across this handmade soap bar website Ceedee Soaps.

 The story is, the owner of this natural, non chemical handmade soap business is a 11-year-old girl, Clair.  This industrious girl was interested in online-selling business and built this website with the help of her father.  Together, they have became a team of hand making natural soaps at home.

Clair didn’t want to use any chemical and artificial things in the soaps from the beginning, and their soaps are made by all natural ingredients.  The soaps are avaliable in a variety of scents, and I love the natural looking website and packaging.  Each soap is very reasonably priced ($4.00 each free shipping in US).

I wish this young business much continued success, and can’t wait to see what Clair’s next adventure would be

Japanese Food I Miss…

• Happosai (八宝菜)

• My grandma’s Seasoned Rice

My grandma used to cook this seasoned rice at home.  It’s just a simply steamed rice with few vegetables and light seasonings.  It taste so delicious, I should ask her for the recipe!
aa

• Fried Rice and Gyoza at Korakuen (a Chinese restaurant near my house)

My family used to go to this Chinese restaurant often since I was little, and every time we go there we eat sooo much.  Gyoza, Fried wings, Ramen, Cha-han (fried rice), other Chinese dishes…  Everything was delicious, but I love the Cha-han and Gyoza the best.  It’s very sad that the owner (chef) closed the business just few years ago due to his injured hand.

aa

• Sugakiya Ramen

I love Sugakiya!!! (><)  I’ve been having craving for Sugakiya ramen since few weeks ago, and I emailed my mum saying that I may go back to Japan just to eat this ramen. They sell retail packs of their noodle in supermarkets in Japan and I thought Nippon Food or somewhere may sell this ramen, but I couldn’t find it anywhere in Perth.  I don’t know how to explain the taste of the ramen: the soup is whitish. Their ramen set menu with seasoned rice and soft serve was my regular order since I was a kid!  My husband loved their kalbi donburi on our last visit.

aa

• Sushi at SushiMasa (a sushi bar near my house)

They use the freshest, top grade fish bought straight from the fish market each day.  They also serve Izakaya type of menu.  Sadly the owner (sushi chef, and also he was my dad’s friend) passed away few years ago and now his wife is continuing the shop.I love her home-style cooking.

aa

• Okonomiyaki Kawase (a okonomiyaki restaurant near my house)

This is also a restaurant my family used to go to quite often.  The owners were old couple, and we loved the okonomiyaki and other dishes there.  The place is pretty small and there’s no parking lot, so every time my dad had to drop us off first and drive few metres to find a parking spot.  We always ate a lot.  4 people, 4 okonomiyaki, 3 yakisoba, 2 onigiri, sometimes oden, and soft serve.  We had big appetite!  :p   They were quite old people when I was 10 years old, so I’m not sure if the restaurant is still open…  

a

• My Mum’s Cooking

Even though I try to cook like my mum, I can’t make the taste exact same.  There were 7 people in my family when I was teenager, and she always cooked big amount.  Sometimes it’s easy to cook in big portion rather than one or two portion : more food gives more flavor.  I really miss her food!  Especially….

Tamago-toji Udon, Oyako-donburi, Buta-jiru, Omu-Rice…..  actually, everything!

aa

 

Ahhhh…  I can’t wait to fly to Japan…  

aa

Japanese Language is … Difficult!

Yes, I am Japanese and I speak Japanese.  But, Japanese language is very unique, and the people in different area have different accent and sometimes speak different words.  The standard Japanese that you may know is the formal Japanese language and most of the people around Tokyo speak this language.  

Japan and Perth..

I recently heard from my friends who moved to Japan permanently.  They said that the house they bought is very nice, and I should be visiting them on my next homecoming.  Sure I will!

They mentioned that they almost forgot how great the Japan’s services are.  For example, there was a problem in the electricity in their house, and they contacted Tokyo Power (like Westernpower here) and asked if the electricity could be fixed sometime soon.  It was Saturday and they seemed to be very busy, but the operator promised that the staff would visit the house within 1 hour.  And, they did.

If it was in Perth, we would probably have to wait their responses at least for few hours, I guess.  And, even if they promise to come and see what’s wrong, they don’t usually come straight away, or not on time.

Oh, and I’m really tired…. and feel sorry for my husband!  I’ve been waiting and waiting for my car to be ready to be picked up, but no phone call from the dealer yet.  My husband takes me/picks me up from the work every day even though he is busy for his own work.  As I wrote about the dealer before, they said they didn’t have black but they have silver.  I assumed that they have silver being ready to be sold.

I called them up today to see what’s happening.  Then, they told me that they had been actually preparing a SILVER LEAF for me.  And, they said they don’t have silver at the moment, and are still waiting for the delivery to arrive.  It will be another one and half weeks……   I NEED A CAR!

I was so upset… again!  First, they told me that they had black car, so I signed on the contract.  Then, they said they didn’t have black and offered me a silver.  Now, they said they didn’t even have a silver??? (@_@)

I can’t believe it… I’m used to this type of thing since I came to Perth, but still!  I sometimes really miss Japan..

aa