NY Botanical Garden

We went to the Botanical Garden in Bronx as it was a beautiful day today.The NY Botanical Garden seems like one of the largest garden in any city in the US.
In fact,the garden was so big that we just walked a half of it.
They have a tram which goes around inside the garden.However, we didn't get on it as so many people were waiting in a line.

Various flowers were in bloom at the garden.
I was impressed that I could see such beautiful cherry blossoms in NY.

I had been waiting for this season.Finally the spring has come!!
The spring season in NY is shorter than in Japan. It comes later than Japan and the summer comes earlier.

For that reason,I feel the spring more precious.

I felt very relaxed in the garden,although my daughter was running around ....

onegaishimasu... ↓



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A Chat day and Ciao Bella Ice cream

I never understand why ladies love chattering....I am not an exception.
When I was a little child,I always thought why moms were talking for such a long time.
That is exactly what I am doing now.

On our way home from my daughter's school,I bumped into my neighbour in the same apartment whose son is the same age with my daughter and goes to the same school.
They recently moved in from other city of the US.The mother asked me to have a playdate at the yard in our apartment. My daughter was supposed to have a playdate at my Japanese friend's house later,but we had more than 2 hours until then.So I said to her "OK" with pleasant.

While the boy and my daughter were playing at the yard,the mom and I were chattering .Our topics were basically nothing serious...such as good supermarkets,restaurants,schools,kids activities....
It was the first time that I gave information about our town to an American. Usually people don't think I know this town well because I am a foreigner,That is true though.
So she is unusual.But I was so glad that I felt like I was regarded as a resident of this town ,not as a foreigner.We kept talking for about 2.5hours .
Conversation with moms really help my English improve since I am not going to any language school now.

After that,I visited my Japanese friend and chatted again.
So it's counted I had been talking for total 5hours!!
When I came home,my voice got husky.So I ate ice cream to soothe my throat.
Ciao Bella Gelato is my family's favorite. They seem to have begun at Little Italy in NYC.
Their ice creams are delicate taste with a hint of sweetness.I ate Vanilla and Blood Orange.
Both of them were very good!!!!

onegaishimasu... ↓



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Cherry blossoms and Kiehl's Sunscreen

It was a lovely day today.Finally the warm weather has come back!!! Hopefully....

Cherry blossoms in our apartment has come to bloom.
I feel a lift in spirits....

I told this to my American friend with excitement ,but she didn't seem to care so much.

Then I figured out only Japanese people treated cherry blossoms so special.
I am really missing Hanami.

On such a beautiful day like today,I got to have an urge for hanging up the laundry outside.
I wish I could air the beddings outside and dive into them .

In our area, it's not allowed to hang up the laundry outside to protect the views.So is the same in NYC.

It's really ridiculous to waste electricity for using a drier in stead of the sunshine. Besides,I like the smell of the laundry when I hang them up.It smells like the sun....

Well,the sunray is going to be stronger from around this season.
A few days ago, while I was driving a car my cheek turned red because of the sunray.so I bought a sunscreen at Kiehl's today.

UV protective Suncare Sunscreen Cream SPF20 is for face and body.I got this because it's smooth ,fragrance-free ,not greasy.
Also their lip balm is very popular for a souvenir from NY.

Now I am ready for the UV season.

onegaishimasu... ↓



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L'OREAL superior Preference UL51

I haven't been to a hair salon for almost 4 months.I used to have my hair cut every two months when I was in Japan.
One reason is that a hair cut in NY costs more than in Japan. I usually go to a Japanese hair salon in NY because I have no confidence in explaining the hair style what I want in English, where it costs about $200.00 with coloring and cut.

Another reason is that a hair cut takes a backseat to the other things on my time in NY.

I am supposed to have enough time as I am not working now. But somehow I've been busy for going out or having guests or something on weekends.And if it's beautiful day,I would rather go out than go a hair salon.On weekdays I don't have much free time as my daughter's nursery is only half day (2hour and 30minutes).

If I need only hair cut,I might be in time,but I usually have my hair colored.It takes about 3hours every time I go.
So it's tricky....

Then I thought,if I colored my hair by myself,I might be able to go a hair salon more often while my daughter is in school.

When I went to a drug store the other day,I stopped at hair color's aisle.There were so many colors that I got confused ...what color would suit my hair. I wasn't even sure if they would work with black hair like me.Eventually I got nothing.

After that,I told one of my Japanese friend about this .I thought she might know good idea as She has been living in the US more than 6years and she has a little baby.She might have the same problem with me.

Yes, I was right!!!!
She recommended me this hair color,"L'OREAL SUPERIOR Preference -UL51 Ultra light natural brown."This natural brown seems good and this is only for dark hair.
In fact, I didin't notice she colored her hair by herself as the brown color looked very natural.
It was nice!!

I bought the same one at a drug store with enthusiasm....

....but to be honest ,I'm still hesitating to do it.Because I've never colored my hair by myself.

And I don't have the deft hands ,either.

After all I am still wondering if I should dare to make a reservation for hair salon for some weekend or try this hair color....

onegaishimasu... ↓



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Cheesy Broccoli and Potatoes

I've been forgetting things quite often these days, Is it because of my age???

I got a cream cheese at a supermarket today despite I already had 2 cream cheeses in our fridge.

and yet I forgot to buy a hand soap which I needed.
I'm worried about myself.

For such reason,I got to have 3 cream cheeses ....

So I picked up some recipes for cream cheese and tried
"Cheesy Broccoli and Potatoes " from the cooking show
"everyday Italian".

To speak briefly about this food,it's similar to mashed potatoes,added broccoli puree and cream cheese in it.
My daughter loved it.And I did spend a cream cheese!!
If you would like to know the recipe,click the link"Cheesy Broccoli ...." above.

I like this show"everyday Italian" ,especially the host
chef Giada De Laurentiis very much. It seems like that she was born in Italy and grew up in a large Italian family.Her homey recipes from her big family are simple , healthy and delicious!!!!
Besides Giada looks gorgeous and friendly.It makes me feel like cooking.

Additionally the kitchen and utensils are very stylish.

Now another show giada at home is on air now.

onegaishimasu... ↓



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Phoenix Garden(Chinese restaurant)

On Easter holiday,We took my daughter to the "Dora the Explorer Live" at the Radio City.(Although there is no relationship between Dora and Easter at all....)The hall was full of families with children.I saw many girls dressed up in pink fancy dress.
The live was nothing special ,just a show for kids.Of course kids were enjoying it.I was so bored that I had been thinking of what to eat for dinner.
And I could go for Chinese.

After the show,we had dinner at a casual Chinese restaurant
Phoenix Garden located in Midtown East.
It was small space and cramped with tables ,but all dishes we ordered tasted good.Particularly seafood saute(scallop,shrimp,squid with vegetables) was great.
They have BYOB(Bring Your Own Bottle)policy. So if you want to drink alcohols inside the restaurant,you should bring them by yourself. And bring cash as they don't take credit cards.


However I have tried only a few Chinese restaurants in NYC yet,I would recommend another Chinese restaurant Joe's Shanghai in China Town.I've been there once before and I liked it.
Their dumplings were so good .We ordered pork and crab dumplings, I liked pork better.Meat was very juicy and soup was tasty.Actually I think their other dishes were not as good as dumpling.
Only one thing that disappointed me was that this place was very busy and packed so we didn't feel at ease.
Despite we waited in line outside for 30minutes ,their dumpling was worth it.

onegaishimasu... ↓



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Bride Wars(movie)

I've watched a DVD
"Bride Wars",which my friend gave me.It seems the film is still playing at the theater in the US.

Frankly speaking, my opinion is that DVD rental should be the best unless you are a big fan of Kate Hudson or Anne Hathaway.It's obviously a chick flick("girly" movie).

The story is about two girls who are childhood friends and have dreamed of a June wedding at the Plaza Hotel (the very gorgeous hotel )in NY.They happen to be engaged at almost same timing and both of them are going to book the Plaza Hotel.But due to a mistake the hotel clerk made,they have booked their weddings on the same day.And the next available date in June at the hotel is 3years ahead .Both of them refuse to move the date and their "wars" begin.

It's a typical love comedy which we've seen hundreds of times. I don't mean to disappoint you so much.
I understand that girls are likely to become obsessive about wedding as it's a girl's big dream .

I mean it's certainly enjoyable and funny but nothing further. So don't expect too much.

To pick up some good points,You can see the Plaza hotel NY and two main actresses are charming.

onegaishimasu... ↓



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NY Cheese Cake

My husband got Juniors' cheese cake for us.
It's very famous shop for cheese cakes in NY.In fact their cakes taste good, it's very creamy type called NY cheese cake.They have various kind of cakes .I've tried chocolate swirl cheese cake once before but I like plain one better.


Also ,Carnegie Deli is my favorite.Their cheese cake is more creamy than Juniors.
If you eat one piece,you would be full.





I've been to Veniero's in East Village before.It seems a very traditional cafe founded in 1894 and inside the cafe was very old fashioned interior.If you like a stylish cafe, might not like it.
And you should be careful as all the cakes are very big.I shared cheese cake and gelato with my daughter. I was so full.



Last one is Payard Bistro's cake.I am not sure they have cheese cake...But I have to talk about this shop because I really love their cakes.
Actually I've never been to the shop , my friend have brought the cake to us.And I loved it!!!They seem like to have shops at Shibuya,Ikebukuro and Yokohama in Japan. The cakes are very decorative and taste so good.


onegaishimasu... ↓



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Mask

I've been lying down on my bed all day long as I had fever and I got dizzy if I stood up.Now I'm feeling better.But still I feel dizzy.I didn't want to do anything...My daughter kept watching DVD since she had no school and I couldn't take her anywhere.

She made dinner for me...as the picture... It made me feel better.

I was wearing a flu mask as I didn't want my
daughter to be infected.
It reminds me that my Brazilian friend asked me about a mask in Japan before.

when she watched a Japanese movie (I don't remember the name of the movie),she saw many Japanese people wearing masks on the plat form.She seemed to feel very weird with the sight.
I never thought about it.

Especially around this season of the year,many people in Japan wear masks to prevent from pollen.That is too common for me to notice it.

To think about it ,in the US I rarely see somebody wear a mask.

I've heard wearing a mask means that the person is suffering serious disease like O157 or something.Usually people don't wear masks when they get cold or allegic to pollen.

Also ,blowing nose in front of other people seems rude in Japan,on the contrary,in the US that is OK. Difference of culture is very interesting.

(the picture is a mask for kids)

onegaishimasu... ↓



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