I do not use SK-II (too expensive!) but … I adore these two actresses. They are sooooo beautiful. Just stunning:)
Can’t wait ! Ayase Haruka is starring in the much awaited 2016 NHK Taiga fantasy drama “Seirei no Moribito” (The Guardian of Spirits) – first episode showing this weekend – The drama is based on a 10-volume fantasy novel by Uehashi Nahoko published in 1996 which had sold over 4 million copies to date. To commemorate NHK’s 90th anniversary, this drama will be shown over 22 episodes in three years starting tonight ! It’s going to be amazing … trying to figure out how to watch it here…
BTW – importance of capable, skillful interpreter cannot be over-empathized where different languages are spoken. One slip up by that interpreter can be detrimental to forging good will, friendship … mutual understanding.
I’ve been lucky to grow up with wonderfully healthy Japanese cuisine surrounded by family and friends who are excellent cooks. It’s my roots and source BUT it’s always great fun to discover cuisine from other countries and cultures. From each unique culture, there’s a age-old wisdom about healthy foods that is fitting to the geography and climate of that particular region of the world. There’s a common thread, and at times, great differences but when put in context of the difference in climate, land and history, it all makes sense. Characteristically, Japanese food is all about quality of WATER and UMAMI (& I would add delicate knife/cutting skills – it’s the samurai sword thing 🙂 according to a renowned Shojin cuisine chef; and so far I am discovering that Indian food is all about … SPICES, HERBS and might I say … ghee:) I love the medicinal wisdom behind their delicious dishes as I had misunderstood that Indian food was all about curry and … curry – what a misunderstanding. So wonderful to experience the diversity and to learn from different cultures.
Spices most commonly used in spice traySome books recommended by the teacher; but we receive a binder full of recipes and helpful references.Looks a bit like Matcha – green smoothie – smoothies are selected based on individual’s dosha and desired effect:)
Great cooking class for not only the actual cooking and eating (!!) but for the Ayurvedic philosophy behind the cuisine was very fascinating. Here’s the testimonial from some of her students.
Chef Jyoti Jain’s class, from The Art of Living was excellent. What and how we eat is so important.
For her next session, you can contact her at: jyoti@jainfamily.com
Some words do not have an exact translation – “tokimeki” I guess translated to “Spark Joy” in Marie Kondo’s best seller … I think the onomatopoeia of “Kyun!” did not get special attention by the interpreter. (8:35 min. into the utube video referenced below), when she said the criteria for what you keep vs. what you discard is the feeling of “kyun”! That piece is a keeper, when you hold and touch an article of clothing in question, if every “cell” of your entire body can feel “KYUN!” – feeling of going positively “up”! – it’s the sound of the heart/mind “kokoro” feeling the adoration … it’s like falling uplifting/rising in love but … more for a puppy or a sweet baby. You know, your heart just … melts but no, that would translate to “toromeku” not “tokimeku”.
Onomatopoeia of “Tokimeki”, her criteria is when your heart goes “kyun” … almost like heart skipping a beat – the heart throbbing…UP – finger points up like an arrow up as she demonstrates. There really is no exact translation but closest would be something like a “vibe” that’s upbeat and exciting. Okay, so “Spark and Joy” will have to do…
She’s kind of like a doll but one with OCD. She’s just so cute but once she opens her mouth, definitely seems to have an Obsessive Compulsive streak. Yet there’s a spectrum to every disorder (or is it a disorder or a gift? what’s normal?) and we need the extremes who helps other extremes – the hoarders – and all in-between. It’s also a bit cultural – in the less disciplined anything goes anarchy like world, what’s seen as OCD, in Japan can only be admired and aspired to. Orderliness, neatness and cleanliness is next to Godliness there, she can only be admired as someone of great virtues and desired skills. In fact, she’s practically like a “life coach”. We all have an element of various tendencies to hold onto things we no longer need – as we favor brevity and speed, abbreviate and expedite how we live, we surround ourselves with objects that impedes living in the presence. Slow down. Reflect, Re-evaluate; then Regenerate through Restoration of Self by knowing how best to take care of ourselves. More restored we are, the more occasions in which our heart can positively spike UP …”kyun”! It’s an UP-tick:)
Here’s her talk from AirBnB – you can search on google or facebook:)
MK “Safe to assume, I am a crazy tidying fanatic!” Indeed.
It would be interesting to see how motherhood may change her…transformative I would guess:)
