Monday's Music ~ Secrets

Another song that was picked up from a Disney Movie that will be getting a Lot of playtime in the rotation at our house.


Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Sunday Citar ~ Happiness

 

Because of your smile you make life more beautiful. ~ Thich Naht Hanh

The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up. ~ Mark Twain

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.  It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections. ~ Unk 

Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi

Found Happiness ...

 in her face as we get ready to pick up her sisters from school

 silly bookmarks 

wearing earrings again everyday just because

this song

Happy Friday ;)

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Some Days ~

{weheartit}

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Brown Paper packages tied up with ribbon..

Una Bella Vita is a lovely blog that the girls love to look to for inspiration and her music player has one of my new favorite songs.  Now why am I going on about this lovely blog???  I entered a giveaway on her site and much to my surprise I won :)  

 I absolutely love these sweet pink dangle earrings :)  Please visit Aerides Designs to find a lovely piece for yourself today.

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

You know you are a Mom when....

You have a first aid kit full of band aids that only have bright kid themes ;) 

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Wordless Wendseday ~ Nummy

Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi

Tori No Mizutaki

Chicken and Vegetable Hot Pot is so simple and delicious!  I do not think that I will make "Chicken Soup" ever again the western way, no offense.  I did not have to de bone a chicken, which is something that I dislike.  It also reminds me of what my mom would make when we was little, bringing back memories of when all my worries consisted of what game to play next with my sister. 

I used La Fuji Mama's recipe  as a guide and used what I had on hand.   

8 cups of water

1 large piece of kombu {found out later from Mom that I should have used Dashi Kombu }

5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size peices

6 baby bok choy, chopped into bite size peices

4-6 oz shitake mushrooms, sliced

2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced on an angle

salt

scallions for garnish

1.  Put the water and kombu {if using} in pot and heat over medium high heat.  Just before it starts to actually boil remove the kombu.

2. Add the chicken and simmer over medium heat for 3 minutes.

3.  Add the veggies and mushrooms arranging it in the pot in sections and sprinkle salt over all.

4. Cover the pot and bring the liquid to a simmer.  Simmer for 8-10 minutes.  If it starts to boil to rapidly, reduce heat and maintain a simmer.  Skim off any scum that may float to the surface while the nabe is cooking.

5. Transfer to bowls and add ponzu if desired.

My oopsy for the night... boiling over pot and my beautiful little sections of ingredients started to mingle.  Try to keep it at a gentle simmer, if it is too high or rough it will break apart your veggies into little peices 

 

 Finished product ;)  I served it up with some rice, you can use noodles if you like.  That night there was hardly any conversation due to all the little girls mouths being full :) 

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Monday's Music ~ Your Hands

Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi

I heart...

 This gigantic tea towel that was on sale....  I am thinking it would look lovely framed out and hung over my fire place.  What do you think?

That NOW I can chose to go driving in this mess instead of having to twice a day five days a week.

 

Last but not least... Chocorooms!  

I love these chocolaty treats which remind me of my childhood visits to Okinawa. We would get free treats from the Mama san store just because we were the AMERICAN granddaughters over for a visit ;)

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Wordless Wendseday ~ I'm melting!

Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi

Tastespotting ~Country Cake

Last week a simple country cake was what is in order for an after school snack and the girls loved it so much we had a bit for dessert as well. 

My cake did not come out perfect ~ the girls and I became side tracked reading a story and I let it go a bit long in the oven.   Hubby even had a bit for dessert and said it was "Yummy", *giggle* it is always so silly when you hear a grown man us that word ;)

It also provided a perfect way to use some homemade Strawberry jam from my wonderful Mother In Law. 

Click  Country Cake to find the lovely blog and delish recipe.



Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi

Found Happiness ...

At a nail salon ... 
The girls are home from school today and I thought that it would be fun to get manicures today.  This will be a first for them and boy howdy were they excited!  Never knew that something as simple as getting their nails done could make them so happy.  I think that this might have to be something that we all do together every few months or so. 
   

 So what do you think of my cute nibblets for nails?  I like the color and the girls were so proud that I picked such a "stylish" color ;) 

On the radio...

 

Where did you find Happiness today?

Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi

Sunday Citar ~ Simplicity

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.  ~William Morris

Beware the barrenness of a busy life.  ~Socrates

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Wordless Wendseday ~ Tompopo

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Breadmachine Why was I SO scared?!?!

Okay, I know what you are thinking.... Why scared of a bread machine?!?! I can not tell you what the reason was now ~ probably some lame excuse to not try something new.  Many that I spoke to that had machines suggested that  I  use those bread mixes for my first try but if I am going to do this then lets do it all the way.

My first try was a Tender cheese bread and well it kinda did not come out looking so hot see....

 Something went wrong...a tad on the short side!

Alright on to try number two...  Going to give this White breakfast bread recipe a go.

Yeah, Me!  Something went right ;)  

Okay, this recipe is a keeper and we will give the first recipe another go since I think I figured out what I did wrong. I placed the cheese in after the flour ~ probably should have placed it in prior to.   I do believe that they mean it when they tell you  a certain order to put things into the machine.  

That day I also found out how to make some buttermilk if you do not have any...

{this was a day of making due with what I had... Hubby would kill me if I used all the milk and did not leave him any for his am coffee so I had to make the milk from dry milk powder then turned that into buttermilk.  Next time I will buy buttermilk or turn our milk into buttermilk.}

Pumpkin Loved helping and watching the dough while kneading.  The aroma of the bread baking was intoxicating and the silence during our meals with it is enough proof that I will be making many more loaves of bread this year.

Girls still wanted to eat the Tender cheese bread with dinner and like they say about book covers.  It was good just not pretty.

Next baking adventure.... pie crust from scratch!  Eeeppp!

Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi

Monday's Music ~ Firework

This is one Pop song I do not mind the girls listening to it has a positive message unlike most of the music that is currently played on the airwaves.  It has made it's way onto our 2011 play list ;) 

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

 What are you listening to?

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

Sunday Citar ~ SnOw !

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.  You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?  ~J.B. Priestley

Snowflakes are kisses from heaven.  ~Author Unknown

Ja matta ne,

Little Mochi

 So all this week I have been trying {operative word} to set up some goals and find my Word for the year and I have noticed that my 2011 play list is LONGER than the goal list.  *sigh*  Last year I started collecting songs that touched me on some level into a personal play list.  I really did not think that I amassed a large collection but looking back I realized how much of my year can be seen in that list.  Music is always important to me and is always on or I'm listening to an original song by one {or all } the girls. I am looking forward to seeing what 2011 has in store for us musically this year.

With that said I give you my first song for this year~
 

Now back to firming up some goals and I just might share with everyone ~ accountability and all ;)

Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi

Wordless Wendseday ~ Moments

Ja matta ne,
Little Mochi