Yesterday B had 4 'accidents', and only one today, so I guess that's an improvement. They usually happen the minute I go to the toilet or start making dinner, or if I leave him after playing together.
I asked him what he wanted to do today and he said he wanted to go look at trains, so we went to a park near a train line where he was in his element. I'm hoping the good run around has done him the world of good. We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings when it's back to the 3 of us...
Thanks for all the encouragement, it really means a lot.
2010年2月27日土曜日
Advice please
The main reason I posted yesterday was because I need some advice.
And to be honest, the sooner the better.
B has been telling me for months now that another baby would be 'coming to my tummy'.
He has been pointing above my head and saying things like the baby is watching us and is getting ready and will be here soon, and that Mummy, Daddy, A, Nanny and Poppy are happy but that B is not.
He has been mucking up something shocking the last week or so, doing things he normally wouldn't do. I had a little talk to him a few days ago, asking him what was wrong and why was he being so naughty when he knows he's going to get punished. Of course he didn't give me an answer I was expecting, he just said "the baby is here now".
I half-believed him and went about like normal, then the night before last his behaviour started to deteriorate rapidly. It started off when he deliberately did a wee on the carpet in the living room (he is toilet trained and has been for a long time so this doesn't normally happen). He got in trouble for that and then was obnoxious from thereafter. He refused to eat his dinner, wouldn't put his undies or trousers on, was throwing his mini cars around the room, and basically just wouldn't do anything that was asked of him and was in terror mode. At one stage I settled him down with a hug and I thought he was ok, but within 15 minutes or so he started throwing the kitty litter around like confetti, emptied the cat's dry food out of the bowl and was mixing it in with the kitty litter! Crazy things that he has NEVER done before. Obviously something was bothering him.
When S came home he tried to ask him why he was acting like this, to which B answered again in Japanese "the baby is here now and B's not happy".
So that's when I did the pregnancy test, which was positive, as you know.
Yesterday things went from bad to worse.
He did a wee 8 times in places other than the toilet. Six times in the living room, once in the hallway and once in our bedroom on the tatami mat. What has happened to B, toilet trained B?
When I asked him if it was because of the baby he replied in Japanese "赤ちゃんが来て欲しくない". I know this is the reason why he is acting like he is, and he's sending out distress signals as best as a 3 year old can, but I'm at a loss as to what to do. I've been trying to give him lots of extra hugs and kisses lately (which he has been refusing outright), been telling him how much I love him, playing with him as much as I can, cooking together, doing anything I can. Last night I let him sleep with me and S in our bed and he hasn't done anything naughty yet today so maybe that is what he needed...
I don't know what else to do. It's hard enough looking after two kids under normal circumstances, so I really need to nip this in the bud or I don't know how I'm going to survive... Especially if morning sickness turns into anything like the two previous times.
Any advice anyone?
And to be honest, the sooner the better.
B has been telling me for months now that another baby would be 'coming to my tummy'.
He has been pointing above my head and saying things like the baby is watching us and is getting ready and will be here soon, and that Mummy, Daddy, A, Nanny and Poppy are happy but that B is not.
He has been mucking up something shocking the last week or so, doing things he normally wouldn't do. I had a little talk to him a few days ago, asking him what was wrong and why was he being so naughty when he knows he's going to get punished. Of course he didn't give me an answer I was expecting, he just said "the baby is here now".
I half-believed him and went about like normal, then the night before last his behaviour started to deteriorate rapidly. It started off when he deliberately did a wee on the carpet in the living room (he is toilet trained and has been for a long time so this doesn't normally happen). He got in trouble for that and then was obnoxious from thereafter. He refused to eat his dinner, wouldn't put his undies or trousers on, was throwing his mini cars around the room, and basically just wouldn't do anything that was asked of him and was in terror mode. At one stage I settled him down with a hug and I thought he was ok, but within 15 minutes or so he started throwing the kitty litter around like confetti, emptied the cat's dry food out of the bowl and was mixing it in with the kitty litter! Crazy things that he has NEVER done before. Obviously something was bothering him.
When S came home he tried to ask him why he was acting like this, to which B answered again in Japanese "the baby is here now and B's not happy".
So that's when I did the pregnancy test, which was positive, as you know.
Yesterday things went from bad to worse.
He did a wee 8 times in places other than the toilet. Six times in the living room, once in the hallway and once in our bedroom on the tatami mat. What has happened to B, toilet trained B?
When I asked him if it was because of the baby he replied in Japanese "赤ちゃんが来て欲しくない". I know this is the reason why he is acting like he is, and he's sending out distress signals as best as a 3 year old can, but I'm at a loss as to what to do. I've been trying to give him lots of extra hugs and kisses lately (which he has been refusing outright), been telling him how much I love him, playing with him as much as I can, cooking together, doing anything I can. Last night I let him sleep with me and S in our bed and he hasn't done anything naughty yet today so maybe that is what he needed...
I don't know what else to do. It's hard enough looking after two kids under normal circumstances, so I really need to nip this in the bud or I don't know how I'm going to survive... Especially if morning sickness turns into anything like the two previous times.
Any advice anyone?
2010年2月26日金曜日
運命
Ok this post could turn into a long one, so be warned!!
I believe in fate. And karma. Or whatever you might like to call it. I believe that things happen for a reason. Both good things and bad. That we're here to learn. That we're being tested. That you reap what you sow and all that. So where is this post going you might be asking?
Pregnancy.
Can't see the connection yet?
To be honest, even though we would love 4 kids, sometimes just the thought of having to go through pregnancy again is quite offputting. Although some people enjoy this time immensely, I'm afraid I can't say I'm one of them. They say children choose their parents before they are born, so if someone is willing to choose my husband and I then we are willing to give them a chance at life. To have someone become part of our family, someone to share our journey through life with, is enough to make me want to do it again.
But with both B and A the pregnancy started off with morning sickness which lasted all day, every day, for way too long. My weight went down as it does when you're throwing up every day, before finally increasing a few months down the track. So despite the fact B and A were both born 4 days late, my weight gain during pregnancy was 5.8kg for B and 6.2kg for A. They were both over 3240g born btw!
From the moment I conceived I had all the normal pregnancy complaints-no need for any explanations there. Morning sickness lasted for nearly 17 weeks with B and over 20 weeks with A. I was nauseous from morning to night, threw up every day (at least 3 or 4 times a day with A!), was exhausted, could not keep anything down until about 3 or 4 in the afternoon (including water or tea), gagged when brushing my teeth, became aenemic, and basically felt EXTREMELY under the weather. And that's just the first and second trimesters. Don't even get me started on the third trimester!!!!!
So anyway at 20 weeks with A I was finally starting to feel a bit better. Still lethargic, but better. Had a few niggly pains in my side but put it down to being pregnant, as you do. A few weeks later it was Golden Week and my parents, aunt, and uncle were over visiting so we'd taken them on a bit of a trip to see the inlaws and do some sightseeing. But because there were so many of us we'd walked, as opposed to driving, to a famous park about 5 minutes walk from the house and were having a nice old time when it suddenly hit.
Excrutiating pain from my back and around to my sides. I thought I was in labour. I was 24 weeks. I couldn't stand up, was losing consciousness, all the time thinking but if I'm in labour now the baby won't make it!!!!!
The park is actually the ruins of an old castle. There's a shrine at the top and S, my dad, aunty and uncle had gone with my MIL and FIL to the top while my mum, B and I were taking it slowly up the steps. Until I collapsed on the steps that is! My Mum was yelling (in English of course!) "Someone get an ambulance!!!" but we couldn't see anyone around and were starting to panic when a lady from a souvenir shop we hadn't even noticed heard us and thankfully called an ambulance for me.
So a few minutes later I was rushed to hospital and after numerous checks to make sure A was ok (which she was) they said I had kidney stones brought on by pregnancy (made worse because of the morning sickness). But they couldn't do an x-ray or give me any painkillers because I was pregnant, so I just had to lie there with a drip, in non-stop AGONY waiting for the stone to pass!!!! 4 hours later and I was ok. On my pain scale I would have to say giving birth to B is no 1, kidney stones while pregnant is no 2, and giving birth to A is no 3.
But the point is, as timing would have it, my family and inlaws were all there. They looked after B, they wiped my forehead, rubbed my back, talked, and we all just became closer because of it. My FIL really changed his attitude towards me after this happened and I'm eternally grateful for that. He stopped his 九州男児ness (can I make that into a word??) and is a lot more considerate now. MIL also agrees with me there! So bad things turned into good things in this case.
But we shouldn't have been there, altogether, at that particular place or time. The fact my parents were visiting was uncanny. My MIL should have been at work but she took the day off to be able to see my relatives. We had planned to be in another city (about an hour away) long before this happened, but we got stuck in traffic on the way to the inlaws and had arrived a few hours late. We'd planned on just dropping in for a little while but ended up staying for a lot longer, and going to the park was a complete afterthought. So it was fate. Meant to happen. As much as I cringe when I think of the pain!!
Here's hoping nothing like that happens this time round.
Yep, you read that last sentence right!!
Still VERY early days, probably way too early to even be posting this, but as of last night it's official.
Baby number 3 is on it's way!
I believe in fate. And karma. Or whatever you might like to call it. I believe that things happen for a reason. Both good things and bad. That we're here to learn. That we're being tested. That you reap what you sow and all that. So where is this post going you might be asking?
Pregnancy.
Can't see the connection yet?
To be honest, even though we would love 4 kids, sometimes just the thought of having to go through pregnancy again is quite offputting. Although some people enjoy this time immensely, I'm afraid I can't say I'm one of them. They say children choose their parents before they are born, so if someone is willing to choose my husband and I then we are willing to give them a chance at life. To have someone become part of our family, someone to share our journey through life with, is enough to make me want to do it again.
But with both B and A the pregnancy started off with morning sickness which lasted all day, every day, for way too long. My weight went down as it does when you're throwing up every day, before finally increasing a few months down the track. So despite the fact B and A were both born 4 days late, my weight gain during pregnancy was 5.8kg for B and 6.2kg for A. They were both over 3240g born btw!
From the moment I conceived I had all the normal pregnancy complaints-no need for any explanations there. Morning sickness lasted for nearly 17 weeks with B and over 20 weeks with A. I was nauseous from morning to night, threw up every day (at least 3 or 4 times a day with A!), was exhausted, could not keep anything down until about 3 or 4 in the afternoon (including water or tea), gagged when brushing my teeth, became aenemic, and basically felt EXTREMELY under the weather. And that's just the first and second trimesters. Don't even get me started on the third trimester!!!!!
So anyway at 20 weeks with A I was finally starting to feel a bit better. Still lethargic, but better. Had a few niggly pains in my side but put it down to being pregnant, as you do. A few weeks later it was Golden Week and my parents, aunt, and uncle were over visiting so we'd taken them on a bit of a trip to see the inlaws and do some sightseeing. But because there were so many of us we'd walked, as opposed to driving, to a famous park about 5 minutes walk from the house and were having a nice old time when it suddenly hit.
Excrutiating pain from my back and around to my sides. I thought I was in labour. I was 24 weeks. I couldn't stand up, was losing consciousness, all the time thinking but if I'm in labour now the baby won't make it!!!!!
The park is actually the ruins of an old castle. There's a shrine at the top and S, my dad, aunty and uncle had gone with my MIL and FIL to the top while my mum, B and I were taking it slowly up the steps. Until I collapsed on the steps that is! My Mum was yelling (in English of course!) "Someone get an ambulance!!!" but we couldn't see anyone around and were starting to panic when a lady from a souvenir shop we hadn't even noticed heard us and thankfully called an ambulance for me.
So a few minutes later I was rushed to hospital and after numerous checks to make sure A was ok (which she was) they said I had kidney stones brought on by pregnancy (made worse because of the morning sickness). But they couldn't do an x-ray or give me any painkillers because I was pregnant, so I just had to lie there with a drip, in non-stop AGONY waiting for the stone to pass!!!! 4 hours later and I was ok. On my pain scale I would have to say giving birth to B is no 1, kidney stones while pregnant is no 2, and giving birth to A is no 3.
But the point is, as timing would have it, my family and inlaws were all there. They looked after B, they wiped my forehead, rubbed my back, talked, and we all just became closer because of it. My FIL really changed his attitude towards me after this happened and I'm eternally grateful for that. He stopped his 九州男児ness (can I make that into a word??) and is a lot more considerate now. MIL also agrees with me there! So bad things turned into good things in this case.
But we shouldn't have been there, altogether, at that particular place or time. The fact my parents were visiting was uncanny. My MIL should have been at work but she took the day off to be able to see my relatives. We had planned to be in another city (about an hour away) long before this happened, but we got stuck in traffic on the way to the inlaws and had arrived a few hours late. We'd planned on just dropping in for a little while but ended up staying for a lot longer, and going to the park was a complete afterthought. So it was fate. Meant to happen. As much as I cringe when I think of the pain!!
Here's hoping nothing like that happens this time round.
Yep, you read that last sentence right!!
Still VERY early days, probably way too early to even be posting this, but as of last night it's official.
Baby number 3 is on it's way!
2010年2月25日木曜日
Things I love Thursday
Things I am loving this week:
- Our tax refund being confirmed
- The kids room finally being sorted out
- Our anniversary and onsen day trip
- Passionfruit slice
- Warmer days
- Our new tv
- Watching the Olympics
What are you loving this week?
2010年2月24日水曜日
ピカピカ！
Thanks for all the suggestions on my last post.
As it turns out I ended up making crumbed chicken and potato bake last night but I will be keeping in mind all the other ideas for next time!
Today I had a visit from my MIL.
She arrived at about 11am and only just left actually!
So we had a busy day to say the least. And considering I didn't even know she was coming til late last night I think I did a pretty good job of getting the place into order, even if I must have looked like a madwoman early hours this morning!lol
Time for bed I think!
As it turns out I ended up making crumbed chicken and potato bake last night but I will be keeping in mind all the other ideas for next time!
Today I had a visit from my MIL.
She arrived at about 11am and only just left actually!
So we had a busy day to say the least. And considering I didn't even know she was coming til late last night I think I did a pretty good job of getting the place into order, even if I must have looked like a madwoman early hours this morning!lol
Time for bed I think!
2010年2月23日火曜日
Up for the challenge
This blogging every day can be quite challenging at times!
Today is Day 23, so only another week or so left to go.
I just looked over my challenge list and realised I had totally forgotten about the Western type meal once a month thing. Will have to start thinking about what to make... Any ideas? I don't have much of a repertoire when it comes to Western recipes. Potato bake, crumbed chicken in cheese and bacon sauce, pumpkin soup and lasagne (but with a Japanese recipe!lol) pretty much sums up any Western dishes I know how to make.
Main reason being I came to Japan when I was 19 and that's also when I started to learn how to cook. So I don't really know how to make anything other than Japanese food. And while my Mum is a good cook, she NEVER uses recipes so has no idea when I ask for measurements. And with cup sizes being different in Australia and all, it gets just a bit too confusing!lol
Would anyone like to share a Western recipe that they find is a hit with their family? One that doesn't need special ingredients and that is easy to make?
Today is Day 23, so only another week or so left to go.
I just looked over my challenge list and realised I had totally forgotten about the Western type meal once a month thing. Will have to start thinking about what to make... Any ideas? I don't have much of a repertoire when it comes to Western recipes. Potato bake, crumbed chicken in cheese and bacon sauce, pumpkin soup and lasagne (but with a Japanese recipe!lol) pretty much sums up any Western dishes I know how to make.
Main reason being I came to Japan when I was 19 and that's also when I started to learn how to cook. So I don't really know how to make anything other than Japanese food. And while my Mum is a good cook, she NEVER uses recipes so has no idea when I ask for measurements. And with cup sizes being different in Australia and all, it gets just a bit too confusing!lol
Would anyone like to share a Western recipe that they find is a hit with their family? One that doesn't need special ingredients and that is easy to make?
2010年2月22日月曜日
Anniversary
Wow, it's hard to believe but S and I have been married for 8 whole years now!
Just telling someone yesterday we are going into our 9年目 really makes me feel old, and like I should be a lot better at being a 主婦 than I am.
Anyway, those thoughts aside, we celebrated yesterday with a day trip to 嬉野温泉 (Ureshino Onsen) in Saga, and it was lovely. Lovely food, lovely bath, and of course lovely company!lol
It's actually our anniversary today, so I think that's a perfect excuse not to cook dinner. And it's also a great excuse to have some dessert!lol
Just telling someone yesterday we are going into our 9年目 really makes me feel old, and like I should be a lot better at being a 主婦 than I am.
Anyway, those thoughts aside, we celebrated yesterday with a day trip to 嬉野温泉 (Ureshino Onsen) in Saga, and it was lovely. Lovely food, lovely bath, and of course lovely company!lol
It's actually our anniversary today, so I think that's a perfect excuse not to cook dinner. And it's also a great excuse to have some dessert!lol
2010年2月21日日曜日
かぼちゃのカレーミルク煮
Here's another easy recipe I found on the net.
Something that tastes a lot better than it sounds!lol
かぼちゃのカレーミルク煮 (4人分)
1/4 pumpkin
200ml milk
100ml water
4 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon curry powder
Deseed the pumpkin, cut off the skin, and cut into small bite sized pieces.
Bring the milk and water to the boil, add pumpkin.
When it starts to boil again turn down the heat to medium and add the honey and curry powder.
Use a drop-lid and cook on medium until most of the liquid disappears.
Enjoy!
Notes: This was another EASY recipe and went down well with everyone. Originally I had planned to use some in a 弁当 but we ended up demolishing it all so that wasn't possible!
With the honey in it you have to be careful what kind of pan you cook it in- something non-stick is definitely a good choice.
Also, I didn't have much curry powder left (probably only half a teaspoon or so) so I didn't use quite as much as the recipe suggested, and it was quite mild. Both kids had seconds which is why there was none left for a 弁当!
Something that tastes a lot better than it sounds!lol
かぼちゃのカレーミルク煮 (4人分)
1/4 pumpkin
200ml milk
100ml water
4 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon curry powder
Deseed the pumpkin, cut off the skin, and cut into small bite sized pieces.
Bring the milk and water to the boil, add pumpkin.
When it starts to boil again turn down the heat to medium and add the honey and curry powder.
Use a drop-lid and cook on medium until most of the liquid disappears.
Enjoy!
Notes: This was another EASY recipe and went down well with everyone. Originally I had planned to use some in a 弁当 but we ended up demolishing it all so that wasn't possible!
With the honey in it you have to be careful what kind of pan you cook it in- something non-stick is definitely a good choice.
Also, I didn't have much curry powder left (probably only half a teaspoon or so) so I didn't use quite as much as the recipe suggested, and it was quite mild. Both kids had seconds which is why there was none left for a 弁当!
2010年2月20日土曜日
On the big screen
No, no, no, any advice is always appreciated!lol
Thanks for that Medea.
But I'm hoping there was no need to worry cause I got what I consider a great deal as it is.
Free shipping, 5 year warranty (I paid a little extra for that), bought from a proper electrical shop in Osaka (as opposed to somewhere on Rakuten or the like), and all considering one of the cheapest prices out there! I already knew what the price should be for this particular tv, cause I've had my eye on it for a while, and the place I bought it from was still 5000 yen or so cheaper than anywhere I'd seen IRL, and that was including the extra 4 years on the warranty!
I checked out a few places including kakaku.com, and while it wasn't the very cheapest out there, it appealed to me because of the after service and just the site in general seemed a lot better than some of the others.
The tv isn't one of the newest models, nor is it one of the biggest. It's a Mitsubishi Real, which came out last May apparently.
It's 32 inches which feels absolutely HUGE to me!!!lol
And at about 56,000 yen in total (tv, 5 year warranty, 630 yen COD charge) with 12,000 yen worth of eco points to come, I feel like we got a bargain!!lol
And, I just saw the new list for eligible products from April and it was still there if anyone would like to buy something similar!
Thanks for that Medea.
But I'm hoping there was no need to worry cause I got what I consider a great deal as it is.
Free shipping, 5 year warranty (I paid a little extra for that), bought from a proper electrical shop in Osaka (as opposed to somewhere on Rakuten or the like), and all considering one of the cheapest prices out there! I already knew what the price should be for this particular tv, cause I've had my eye on it for a while, and the place I bought it from was still 5000 yen or so cheaper than anywhere I'd seen IRL, and that was including the extra 4 years on the warranty!
I checked out a few places including kakaku.com, and while it wasn't the very cheapest out there, it appealed to me because of the after service and just the site in general seemed a lot better than some of the others.
The tv isn't one of the newest models, nor is it one of the biggest. It's a Mitsubishi Real, which came out last May apparently.
It's 32 inches which feels absolutely HUGE to me!!!lol
And at about 56,000 yen in total (tv, 5 year warranty, 630 yen COD charge) with 12,000 yen worth of eco points to come, I feel like we got a bargain!!lol
And, I just saw the new list for eligible products from April and it was still there if anyone would like to buy something similar!
2010年2月19日金曜日
Oops, sorry google readers!lol
The other day I was fiddling around with some settings, and without realising exactly what certain things mean changed one of the feed settings. Nothing looked any different on my screen so I just left it as it was, but I have just realised that most of my posts were cut off after a couple of lines for anyone reading in a reader!!!!
Sorry! It should be back to normal now!lol
Sorry! It should be back to normal now!lol
完成!
We have bunks! Yay!
The kids are SO excited by them and we had NO trouble getting B to go to bed last night.lol
He's been playing in there all day actually.
Lining up his mini-cars on the shelf, driving the cars on the slats of the top bunk, turning the light on and off. Last night he even told the cat off for jumping into his 'new room' as he called it.lol
And our new tv will be arriving tomorrow!
Yay for things coming together so nicely.
The kids are SO excited by them and we had NO trouble getting B to go to bed last night.lol
He's been playing in there all day actually.
Lining up his mini-cars on the shelf, driving the cars on the slats of the top bunk, turning the light on and off. Last night he even told the cat off for jumping into his 'new room' as he called it.lol
And our new tv will be arriving tomorrow!
Yay for things coming together so nicely.
2010年2月18日木曜日
Things I love Thursday
Things I am loving this week:
- The double bunks arriving this morning, WAY ahead of schedule
- Finished DIY products, especially those made by people other than me!lol
- 梅 (ume) blossoms
- Internet shopping
- Lazy Sundays
What are you loving this week?
2010年2月17日水曜日
Done!
The bookcase is up!!
The bruising on my eye is not as bad as I thought it would be, but I have muscles aching that I didn't know I had.
Not that it will come as a surprise to anyone, but it took nowhere near as long to make with 2 people, and I only helped out a few times along the way! It ended up taking about an hour actually. I didn't even curse once this time.lol
And just for your information, S commented that it was harder than it looked to make, but then added that he had no idea why I had SO much trouble.lol
The kids room is coming about quite nicely now, which I am very happy about.
Miraculously all the furniture fits exactly, and not just the things I measured first!! It's like everything was made with the room in mind. The way things are coming together really is uncanny.
And speaking of things uncanny...
Before buying the bunks I was tossing up between buying them and updating our tv. Both needed to be bought, but I thought the tv could wait a bit longer because there was nothing wrong with it.
But, the main reason I thought now might be a good time to update is because of the eco points the government is giving out at the moment. Apparently at the end of this month they will be updating the products that are eligible, and the tv I have my eye on might possibly disappear from the list. I don't know that for sure btw, but it's a possibility, especially with the amount of tvs out there. In the end though I decided to get the bunks first so I could sort out the kids room before my parents come to visit in April.
So anyway, what do you know, the day after I ordered the bunks the tv started mucking up.
We were getting sound and something that could not be considered a picture, but a bit of a tap on the side (yes, that's how old the tv is, tapping still fixes things!!) and the picture would come back on normally.
Not any more. As of yesterday our tv has finally packed it in.
It was my husband's from when he was at uni, so it's 13 years old and is about the same size as the computer screen, probably smaller actually.
So unfortunately (or possibly fortunately!) it looks like we have to get a new tv sooner than I thought, and before the end of February too which means we can get eco points after all. Yay for small miracles.
I guess I'll be back on the net looking for bargains.
All I can say is thank goodness for our tax rebate!!
And I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else packs up for at least another couple of months.lol
The bruising on my eye is not as bad as I thought it would be, but I have muscles aching that I didn't know I had.
Not that it will come as a surprise to anyone, but it took nowhere near as long to make with 2 people, and I only helped out a few times along the way! It ended up taking about an hour actually. I didn't even curse once this time.lol
And just for your information, S commented that it was harder than it looked to make, but then added that he had no idea why I had SO much trouble.lol
The kids room is coming about quite nicely now, which I am very happy about.
Miraculously all the furniture fits exactly, and not just the things I measured first!! It's like everything was made with the room in mind. The way things are coming together really is uncanny.
And speaking of things uncanny...
Before buying the bunks I was tossing up between buying them and updating our tv. Both needed to be bought, but I thought the tv could wait a bit longer because there was nothing wrong with it.
But, the main reason I thought now might be a good time to update is because of the eco points the government is giving out at the moment. Apparently at the end of this month they will be updating the products that are eligible, and the tv I have my eye on might possibly disappear from the list. I don't know that for sure btw, but it's a possibility, especially with the amount of tvs out there. In the end though I decided to get the bunks first so I could sort out the kids room before my parents come to visit in April.
So anyway, what do you know, the day after I ordered the bunks the tv started mucking up.
We were getting sound and something that could not be considered a picture, but a bit of a tap on the side (yes, that's how old the tv is, tapping still fixes things!!) and the picture would come back on normally.
Not any more. As of yesterday our tv has finally packed it in.
It was my husband's from when he was at uni, so it's 13 years old and is about the same size as the computer screen, probably smaller actually.
So unfortunately (or possibly fortunately!) it looks like we have to get a new tv sooner than I thought, and before the end of February too which means we can get eco points after all. Yay for small miracles.
I guess I'll be back on the net looking for bargains.
All I can say is thank goodness for our tax rebate!!
And I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else packs up for at least another couple of months.lol
2010年2月16日火曜日
DIY gone wrong
Today I have spent absolutely HOURS trying to put a tall (180cm) bookcase together for the kids room. 2 and a half hours to be exact. And then another hour pulling it all apart again!!!
Talk about a job and a half. And to make matters worse, I'm now back to square one. I'm exhausted, with absolutely nothing to show for it!!
Why oh why didn't I just wait til late tonight when S comes home.
I mean, unlike me, he actually likes putting these type of things together.
I thought I would surprise him and do it all by myself (despite the instructions saying it recommended 2 adults to make it, taking about an hour), but hey, how hard could it possibly be? Well I'll tell you, it's pretty damn hard!!!lol
And I now know the reason why you need 2 people. Because it weighs 32 kg, and it is extremely hard to screw things in while trying to keep everything in the right place. And I learnt the hard way too. I now have a swollen eye (which will no doubt be turning into a bruise tomorrow) to prove it!
So, despite all my efforts (and I really did try, honest!) I still have to wait til tonight to see the finished product. And I have to help S remake it!!! Me and my silly ideas...lol
Let me just say now there is absolutely NO WAY I am even going to try putting the double bunks together when they arrive. Famous last words...
Talk about a job and a half. And to make matters worse, I'm now back to square one. I'm exhausted, with absolutely nothing to show for it!!
Why oh why didn't I just wait til late tonight when S comes home.
I mean, unlike me, he actually likes putting these type of things together.
I thought I would surprise him and do it all by myself (despite the instructions saying it recommended 2 adults to make it, taking about an hour), but hey, how hard could it possibly be? Well I'll tell you, it's pretty damn hard!!!lol
And I now know the reason why you need 2 people. Because it weighs 32 kg, and it is extremely hard to screw things in while trying to keep everything in the right place. And I learnt the hard way too. I now have a swollen eye (which will no doubt be turning into a bruise tomorrow) to prove it!
So, despite all my efforts (and I really did try, honest!) I still have to wait til tonight to see the finished product. And I have to help S remake it!!! Me and my silly ideas...lol
Let me just say now there is absolutely NO WAY I am even going to try putting the double bunks together when they arrive. Famous last words...
2010年2月15日月曜日
Bed update
After taking everyone's advice into consideration and reading lots and lots of customer reviews on different sites, I decided to order double bunks off the net.
They are very basic style wise, 100cm wide, and have a light and some shelves, with enough space underneath to put some containers. Although I can't be totally sure of the sturdiness until they arrive, going on reviews it doesn't seem like there will be a problem.
Click on the pic to get a better view. And I have no idea why anyone would call a bed Robbie, but there you go!lol
The price was right too. Not one of the cheaper beds they were selling (I didn't think they looked as sturdy), but not way over the top either. And as luck would have it they were having a 24 hour only Valentine's Day sale where 10% of the total is given back to you in rakuten points. Plus they will give you another 3% off if you write a product review. Yay for bargains!lol
I think I saved close to 5000 yen just from getting all the bonus points. And I might add I logged in through my OMC credit card site so they will also give me double points on the purchase too. Gotta be thrifty about these things, especially when it's an expensive purchase!lol
I also ordered the mattresses for it from another site, so I can't wait til everything arrives. Actually the bed is out of stock at the moment but should be here by the end of the month, and the mattresses arrive next Monday.
So thanks again for all the advice!
They are very basic style wise, 100cm wide, and have a light and some shelves, with enough space underneath to put some containers. Although I can't be totally sure of the sturdiness until they arrive, going on reviews it doesn't seem like there will be a problem.
Click on the pic to get a better view. And I have no idea why anyone would call a bed Robbie, but there you go!lol
The price was right too. Not one of the cheaper beds they were selling (I didn't think they looked as sturdy), but not way over the top either. And as luck would have it they were having a 24 hour only Valentine's Day sale where 10% of the total is given back to you in rakuten points. Plus they will give you another 3% off if you write a product review. Yay for bargains!lol
I think I saved close to 5000 yen just from getting all the bonus points. And I might add I logged in through my OMC credit card site so they will also give me double points on the purchase too. Gotta be thrifty about these things, especially when it's an expensive purchase!lol
I also ordered the mattresses for it from another site, so I can't wait til everything arrives. Actually the bed is out of stock at the moment but should be here by the end of the month, and the mattresses arrive next Monday.
So thanks again for all the advice!
2010年2月14日日曜日
Straight from the heart
Yesterday when I checked our letter box there was a familiar looking envelope, with two very cute stamps on it addressed to my husband.
Don't worry, it was in my handwriting of course!lol
It wasn't a love letter, but it would have been pretty timely if it was.
No, no, it was the copy of our tax return all inkan stamped and returned!lol
How's that for quick processing!
Well obviously not everything is completely processed yet but they sure got to it pretty quick.
We put our tax forms in a special box at the tax office late Thursday night (which was a public holiday btw), so the earliest anyone would have opened it would have been Friday. So anyway the papers arrived here yesterday which is Saturday!! Thanks guys! Maybe the trick is to send it in before they get busy!! The quicker they process everything the quicker we get our refund so I'm very happy about that!
And now to the title.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Not that I actually celebrate it usually but it's definitely a great excuse to eat lots of chocolate!!lol
Don't worry, it was in my handwriting of course!lol
It wasn't a love letter, but it would have been pretty timely if it was.
No, no, it was the copy of our tax return all inkan stamped and returned!lol
How's that for quick processing!
Well obviously not everything is completely processed yet but they sure got to it pretty quick.
We put our tax forms in a special box at the tax office late Thursday night (which was a public holiday btw), so the earliest anyone would have opened it would have been Friday. So anyway the papers arrived here yesterday which is Saturday!! Thanks guys! Maybe the trick is to send it in before they get busy!! The quicker they process everything the quicker we get our refund so I'm very happy about that!
And now to the title.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Not that I actually celebrate it usually but it's definitely a great excuse to eat lots of chocolate!!lol
2010年2月13日土曜日
The trouble with moving
Trying to remember exactly where I put something away is proving to be very challenging. For the life of me I can't seem to remember where certain things are. I have an idea where I think something might be (and usually it is there) but not today I'm afraid.
I've been searching all morning for a couple of things for the cat (a couple of protector things for the wall so he can't scratch) and no matter how hard I think about it and search, they're nowhere to be found...
It's not that I can't go out and buy more of what I'm looking for, it's just that I'm getting frustrated with myself for not being able to find things I know are around here somewhere, that I've seen within the last couple of weeks, and have now disappeared.
I must be going crazy...
Maybe I 'll just blame the kids. I mean they're always moving things around, and I'm forever finding toys in unbelievable places, so it is possible that it's not my fault here yeah?lol
Back to searching I go...
I've been searching all morning for a couple of things for the cat (a couple of protector things for the wall so he can't scratch) and no matter how hard I think about it and search, they're nowhere to be found...
It's not that I can't go out and buy more of what I'm looking for, it's just that I'm getting frustrated with myself for not being able to find things I know are around here somewhere, that I've seen within the last couple of weeks, and have now disappeared.
I must be going crazy...
Maybe I 'll just blame the kids. I mean they're always moving things around, and I'm forever finding toys in unbelievable places, so it is possible that it's not my fault here yeah?lol
Back to searching I go...
2010年2月12日金曜日
101 things update
I know it hasn't been that long since the challenge started, but I thought I'd update on some things I am trying to do, because it might be a while before something is actually finished.
After realizing just how often I try out new recipes (without even noticing that's what I'm doing!!), I decided to increase some of the items to do with cooking. So try out new recipes has gone up from 30 to 80 (with another possible increase later on), and blog posts to do with food has gone up to 30. Other items I've needed to adjust the wording a bit so I can keep track of how many times I'm actually doing things.
Ok, so here are the things I'm trying to achieve:
10. Read one book a day to the kids. If I can't do it get S to. (11/1001)
12. Tell S and the kids I love them every single day (11/1001)
22. Write 30 posts on my blog to do with food. (2/30)
27. Make a 弁当 for S at least 8 times a month (except when I'm pregnant). (0/32 months)
This has actually been quite enjoyable, and I've been writing on my calendar when I made a 弁当 because if I don't there is NO WAY I would remember how many I made! After doing this it seems I make more than I'd realised.lol The first week I made 4, so already half way to the monthly quota just in that first week. But I haven't made any this week yet so I'm glad I got off to a good start last week!lol
29. Enjoy a cup of herbal or flavoured tea at least once a week for 6 months. (0/6months 1/24 weeks)
This is a difficult one to remember to do. I tried a mango green tea (by Lipton, from Oz) the other day which was different. Can't say I was overly impressed with it though.lol
30. Try 80 new recipes. (4/80)
52. Write in my blog every day for a month.
Trying to do this for February, but will do 30 posts.
54. Become better at giving myself angel card readings.
I've been doing this every day for myself and S, and although I know I shouldn't doubt my shuffling, I think it will take me a bit longer to believe that the right cards really are coming out, and it's not just my lack of shuffling skills.lol
56. Listen to music for at least 30 minutes 4 times a month (0/32 months 3/128 times)
70. Do and send off our tax returns before the end of February every year. (1/3)
This is done for this year! But only the first time of 3 so still can't cross it off the list...
71. Continue with my 家計簿 every month. (0/32)
76. Get our weekly shopping (groceries only) down to 6000 yen. Adjust to 8000 yen while pregnant and for the first couple of months after giving birth.
78. Completely pay off the car loan.
This has just over a year left so another ongoing item.
90. Go through all clothes and donate to charity or recycle anything we don't need.
This is about a third complete. Still a long way to go. It's given me some extra space in my wardrobe but nowhere near as much as I'd like.
92. File all received 年賀状 by the end of January every year (February for 2010)(0/3)
93. Update how the list is going on my blog at least 6 times (1/6)
Doing that now!lol
100. Continue to lend money on Kiva whenever the credit balance is enough to do so. Note: Started with 6 loans as at January, 2010.
Obviously some challenges go for the whole time so won't be getting crossed off until the challenge is nearly over, but I wanted to remind myself of what items I need to be constantly working on.
After realizing just how often I try out new recipes (without even noticing that's what I'm doing!!), I decided to increase some of the items to do with cooking. So try out new recipes has gone up from 30 to 80 (with another possible increase later on), and blog posts to do with food has gone up to 30. Other items I've needed to adjust the wording a bit so I can keep track of how many times I'm actually doing things.
Ok, so here are the things I'm trying to achieve:
10. Read one book a day to the kids. If I can't do it get S to. (11/1001)
12. Tell S and the kids I love them every single day (11/1001)
22. Write 30 posts on my blog to do with food. (2/30)
27. Make a 弁当 for S at least 8 times a month (except when I'm pregnant). (0/32 months)
This has actually been quite enjoyable, and I've been writing on my calendar when I made a 弁当 because if I don't there is NO WAY I would remember how many I made! After doing this it seems I make more than I'd realised.lol The first week I made 4, so already half way to the monthly quota just in that first week. But I haven't made any this week yet so I'm glad I got off to a good start last week!lol
29. Enjoy a cup of herbal or flavoured tea at least once a week for 6 months. (0/6months 1/24 weeks)
This is a difficult one to remember to do. I tried a mango green tea (by Lipton, from Oz) the other day which was different. Can't say I was overly impressed with it though.lol
30. Try 80 new recipes. (4/80)
52. Write in my blog every day for a month.
Trying to do this for February, but will do 30 posts.
54. Become better at giving myself angel card readings.
I've been doing this every day for myself and S, and although I know I shouldn't doubt my shuffling, I think it will take me a bit longer to believe that the right cards really are coming out, and it's not just my lack of shuffling skills.lol
56. Listen to music for at least 30 minutes 4 times a month (0/32 months 3/128 times)
70. Do and send off our tax returns before the end of February every year. (1/3)
This is done for this year! But only the first time of 3 so still can't cross it off the list...
71. Continue with my 家計簿 every month. (0/32)
76. Get our weekly shopping (groceries only) down to 6000 yen. Adjust to 8000 yen while pregnant and for the first couple of months after giving birth.
78. Completely pay off the car loan.
This has just over a year left so another ongoing item.
90. Go through all clothes and donate to charity or recycle anything we don't need.
This is about a third complete. Still a long way to go. It's given me some extra space in my wardrobe but nowhere near as much as I'd like.
92. File all received 年賀状 by the end of January every year (February for 2010)(0/3)
93. Update how the list is going on my blog at least 6 times (1/6)
Doing that now!lol
100. Continue to lend money on Kiva whenever the credit balance is enough to do so. Note: Started with 6 loans as at January, 2010.
Obviously some challenges go for the whole time so won't be getting crossed off until the challenge is nearly over, but I wanted to remind myself of what items I need to be constantly working on.
2010年2月11日木曜日
Things I love Thursday
Things I am loving this week:
What are you loving this week?
- Comments from blog readers I hadn't realized were reading
- Listening to the rain outside while snuggled up in bed
- Finally getting washing dry in one day
- Being able to send away our finished tax return
- Today being a public holiday
What are you loving this week?
2010年2月10日水曜日
2010年2月9日火曜日
もやしと卵のマヨ炒め
This is also from the net, I made this last week as a side dish.
もやしと卵のマヨ炒め（２人分）
1 pack of moyashi bean sprouts
2 eggs
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons soy sauce
A little bit of chopped garlic (I used garlic that's in a tube)
A little bit of chopped negi
Put the moyashi in a bowl of water for 10 minutes or so, then drain.
Beat the egg.
Cook until half done in a little bit of oil, then remove from pan.
Add a little bit more oil, add garlic and mayonnaise and heat on medium until fragrant.
Add the moyashi and turn heat up to high, cook speedily?? (is that right?lol).
Return egg to pan, add soy sauce and mix in.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Dress with chopped negi.
Enjoy!
Notes:
This was really quick to make, probably less than 5 or 6 minutes cooking time in total, and the garlic/mayo/soy sauce combination was nice. Will be doing this one again I think! And a VERY cheap dish to boot!
もやしと卵のマヨ炒め（２人分）
1 pack of moyashi bean sprouts
2 eggs
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons soy sauce
A little bit of chopped garlic (I used garlic that's in a tube)
A little bit of chopped negi
Put the moyashi in a bowl of water for 10 minutes or so, then drain.
Beat the egg.
Cook until half done in a little bit of oil, then remove from pan.
Add a little bit more oil, add garlic and mayonnaise and heat on medium until fragrant.
Add the moyashi and turn heat up to high, cook speedily?? (is that right?lol).
Return egg to pan, add soy sauce and mix in.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Dress with chopped negi.
Enjoy!
Notes:
This was really quick to make, probably less than 5 or 6 minutes cooking time in total, and the garlic/mayo/soy sauce combination was nice. Will be doing this one again I think! And a VERY cheap dish to boot!
2010年2月8日月曜日
Beds
Wow a week sure flies by! Must be having too much fun!lol
We went out looking at double bunks yesterday.
Does anyone have any suggestions of what to get, or better still, what not to get?
I saw a couple that didn't look too bad, and not too expensive.
One had space underneath for storage which would be helpful I guess.
Another was lower to the ground, (both top and bottom bunks) so would be easier to change the sheets on the top bunk and not so far to fall, and possibly cooler in summer (for the top bunk)...
Am I thinking too deeply into this? Does the top bunk really get that much hotter in summer?
Decisions, decisions....
If you have bought or used double bunks before I'd love to hear your opinion!!!
We went out looking at double bunks yesterday.
Does anyone have any suggestions of what to get, or better still, what not to get?
I saw a couple that didn't look too bad, and not too expensive.
One had space underneath for storage which would be helpful I guess.
Another was lower to the ground, (both top and bottom bunks) so would be easier to change the sheets on the top bunk and not so far to fall, and possibly cooler in summer (for the top bunk)...
Am I thinking too deeply into this? Does the top bunk really get that much hotter in summer?
Decisions, decisions....
If you have bought or used double bunks before I'd love to hear your opinion!!!
2010年2月7日日曜日
Sunday
It's finally the weekend! Yay!
Which means a very short post.lol
I'm trying to write on my blog every day this month, for the 101 things challenge.
And not just because February is the shortest month, mind you!lol
Am thinking of doing it for 30 days regardless, and today is Day 7.
Posting every day is actually a lot harder than I thought!lol
The weather has been so crazy lately, I hope everyone is staying healthy.
And I am off to enjoy a day with the family. So until tomorrow, see ya!!
Which means a very short post.lol
I'm trying to write on my blog every day this month, for the 101 things challenge.
And not just because February is the shortest month, mind you!lol
Am thinking of doing it for 30 days regardless, and today is Day 7.
Posting every day is actually a lot harder than I thought!lol
The weather has been so crazy lately, I hope everyone is staying healthy.
And I am off to enjoy a day with the family. So until tomorrow, see ya!!
2010年2月6日土曜日
Continuing on
This is just a bit of an extension of the last post, so bear with me please!lol
About the points adding up, if you can find the right card they really do add up. Like Lulu and her 2000 yen a month. That really is a lot!
As for my cards, well I have a few that are better value than others, so I'll tell you about those ones.
The ゆめカード which can be used at ゆめタウン and a couple of other normal supermarkets is SO easy to rack up points on. Especially if you go on 5 points days. I mentioned this before but you only need to spend 10,500 yen (if you only use it on the 5倍 extra points days) to get 525 yen back. The card isn't just for the supermarket, it's for the whole centre. So groceries, toiletries, the bread shop, clothes shops, 100 yen shop, flower shop, toy shop and most restaurants are included in that.
So just say you bought rice for 3000 yen, grocery run 3000 yen, toilet paper, tissues and nappies 2000yen and 2500 yen at a restaurant there's the 525 yen discount back in one go! Seriously, that 525 yen comes back in my pocket every couple of months or so, and I don't even use the card that often.
I also have a couple of home-centre cards (one is ナフコ) which you don't have to accumulate a lot of points to use. I think the minimum is 100 yen actually. So even if there is only 100 yen or so on the card, if you ask they will deduct it from the total so you never waste your points. I like this system because you don't have to be a real loyal customer to be able to get the discount.
I have another card for a family restaurant (it's privately owned and been around for 30 odd years) which we go to maybe once every couple of months or so, and they give you back 1200yen when you spend 15000 yen. This is pretty good value too because they will give you points for up to 8 people at a time. It's somewhere we go with the inlaws when they come, and I take my parents there too so this also adds up quickly.
Not all cards are good value, and I don't use all the cards I have, but there ARE some out there that are worth using, so just be on the lookout!lol
About the points adding up, if you can find the right card they really do add up. Like Lulu and her 2000 yen a month. That really is a lot!
As for my cards, well I have a few that are better value than others, so I'll tell you about those ones.
The ゆめカード which can be used at ゆめタウン and a couple of other normal supermarkets is SO easy to rack up points on. Especially if you go on 5 points days. I mentioned this before but you only need to spend 10,500 yen (if you only use it on the 5倍 extra points days) to get 525 yen back. The card isn't just for the supermarket, it's for the whole centre. So groceries, toiletries, the bread shop, clothes shops, 100 yen shop, flower shop, toy shop and most restaurants are included in that.
So just say you bought rice for 3000 yen, grocery run 3000 yen, toilet paper, tissues and nappies 2000yen and 2500 yen at a restaurant there's the 525 yen discount back in one go! Seriously, that 525 yen comes back in my pocket every couple of months or so, and I don't even use the card that often.
I also have a couple of home-centre cards (one is ナフコ) which you don't have to accumulate a lot of points to use. I think the minimum is 100 yen actually. So even if there is only 100 yen or so on the card, if you ask they will deduct it from the total so you never waste your points. I like this system because you don't have to be a real loyal customer to be able to get the discount.
I have another card for a family restaurant (it's privately owned and been around for 30 odd years) which we go to maybe once every couple of months or so, and they give you back 1200yen when you spend 15000 yen. This is pretty good value too because they will give you points for up to 8 people at a time. It's somewhere we go with the inlaws when they come, and I take my parents there too so this also adds up quickly.
Not all cards are good value, and I don't use all the cards I have, but there ARE some out there that are worth using, so just be on the lookout!lol
2010年2月5日金曜日
Getting to the point
When writing the being thrifty post the other day I thought this deserved a post of it's own, so here it is!
Point cards.
I love them.
Enough said.lol
If I'm out shopping and asked if I have, or would I like to make a point card, I can't help myself and always say yes.lol
So that means I have a LOT of point cards in my collection!
But the points build up quite easily, and I can't count the number of discounts I've had because of them. 500 yen here and there really does help, and if it's helping to get my budget down, then I'm all for it!
Some places are better value than others though, so whenever I have to buy rice or something expensive, I usually hang on and go when they're having extra points days.
Just another idea for anyone interested!lol
Point cards.
I love them.
Enough said.lol
If I'm out shopping and asked if I have, or would I like to make a point card, I can't help myself and always say yes.lol
So that means I have a LOT of point cards in my collection!
But the points build up quite easily, and I can't count the number of discounts I've had because of them. 500 yen here and there really does help, and if it's helping to get my budget down, then I'm all for it!
Some places are better value than others though, so whenever I have to buy rice or something expensive, I usually hang on and go when they're having extra points days.
Just another idea for anyone interested!lol
2010年2月4日木曜日
Things I love Thursday
Things I am loving this week:
What are you loving this week?
- Being able to blog every day
- Trying out new recipes
- Eating white chocolate
- The promise of Spring
- Starting the 101 things challenge
What are you loving this week?
2010年2月3日水曜日
Wordless Wednesday
Title: Watching the world go by.
Place: Our old apartment.
Subject: Ivory, the cat.
2010年2月2日火曜日
大根と鶏肉の中華煮
This is a recipe that I found on the net and used last night to make an apparently? Chinese style dish with daikon and chicken. It was quite yummy and I had enough leftover to use in a 弁当 for S, and finished the rest off with the kids for lunch!
大根と鶏肉の中華煮(４人分)
1 Daikon
2 Chicken thighs (I used breasts cause I didn't have any chicken thighs)
1 Carrot
A little bit of chopped ネギ
Flour for coating
Marinade: 2 tablespoons of sake and 4 teaspoons of soy sauce.
Sauce: 4 tablespoons sake
4 teaspoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons oyster sauce
400ml water
Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and marinate.
Leave for 20 minutes or so, then drain any liquid.
Coat with flour.
Mix up the sauce.
Cut the daikon and carrot into bite size pieces.（乱切り）
Cook the chicken on medium until both sides brown up.
Add the daikon, carrot and sauce.
Cook with the lid on for 25-30 minutes on medium heat, stirring every now and then.
Add some chopped up ネギ when you're nearly finished cooking.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes: The original recipe was only for 2 people so everything you see here is the doubled version. The cooking time for 2 people was 15-20 minutes, but basically the dish is ready when the daikon is cooked through. Also, I only used 3 tablespoons of oyster sauce cause I wasn't sure how the kids would go with it, but as it turns out they ate it all with no problems! They actually seemed to enjoy this dish better than daikon dishes that use dashi.
大根と鶏肉の中華煮(４人分)
1 Daikon
2 Chicken thighs (I used breasts cause I didn't have any chicken thighs)
1 Carrot
A little bit of chopped ネギ
Flour for coating
Marinade: 2 tablespoons of sake and 4 teaspoons of soy sauce.
Sauce: 4 tablespoons sake
4 teaspoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons oyster sauce
400ml water
Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and marinate.
Leave for 20 minutes or so, then drain any liquid.
Coat with flour.
Mix up the sauce.
Cut the daikon and carrot into bite size pieces.（乱切り）
Cook the chicken on medium until both sides brown up.
Add the daikon, carrot and sauce.
Cook with the lid on for 25-30 minutes on medium heat, stirring every now and then.
Add some chopped up ネギ when you're nearly finished cooking.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes: The original recipe was only for 2 people so everything you see here is the doubled version. The cooking time for 2 people was 15-20 minutes, but basically the dish is ready when the daikon is cooked through. Also, I only used 3 tablespoons of oyster sauce cause I wasn't sure how the kids would go with it, but as it turns out they ate it all with no problems! They actually seemed to enjoy this dish better than daikon dishes that use dashi.
2010年2月1日月曜日
Being thrifty (Part 2)
Here are some other things I do. Nothing particularly special, just more common sense!lol
Sorry, that's all I can think of for now. If I do think of something else I'll do a Part 3!! If anyone has anything else to add, please leave a comment!!
- Use my credit card when it gives me a discount. I have an OMC card, so if I shop at Daiei on particular days each month, 5% of whatever it comes to is deducted from the total just by paying by credit. Same goes for my Saison card if you use it at Sunny or Seiyu. I still write the cost down as I would for a cash purchase in my 家計簿, and then I make sure I put the money away to be put in my bank account.
I have another variation on this which is buying things on extra points days. Like at ゆめタウン they have ５倍 days, so they give you 5 yen back (instead of 1) for every 105 yen you spend on those days. Which basically means it's 5% off, because when you have 500 points saved they give you 525 yen discount vouchers. If you only bought things on ５倍 days, you only need to spend 10,500 yen (instead of 52,500 yen) to get your 525 yen voucher.
- Don't take my husband with me shopping if I can help it. lol
- Walk to the supermarket. This stops me overbuying cause I have to carry everything home. So if you can picture me walking with A strapped on, one hand holding on to B's, with my bag and shopping on the other, I think you will understand what I mean.lol
- Buy fruit, veges and fish that are in season. Not only do you get more for your money, things also seem to taste better when they are in season.
- Cut out and use coupons. Sometimes I print them out from the net, other times I use coupons I've cut out from local free papers that get delivered.
Sorry, that's all I can think of for now. If I do think of something else I'll do a Part 3!! If anyone has anything else to add, please leave a comment!!
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