Time Flies When You Are A Mum!
July 12th, 2011 by tomonoI’m so sorry for being rubbish to post blogs! Where has my time gone again?
My breakfast is no longer sitting down around the table (if I get the chance to have one!), leaving the house takes ages, when my hubby and I finally sit down on the couch in the evening we fall asleep within 30mins….. But hey-ho my children are healthy and happy, so I’m happy!
I received this lovely picture from a friend of mine. Miri(6months) is wearing White Miri 70cm(4-8months) and as you can imagine, she inspired me to produce White Miri and name it after her.
Miri wearing White Miri Baby Kimono!
Now I’m working on new collection and even thinking about extending our size into toddler sizes. So please sign in on our newsletter to get the latest offer and news!
Have a lovely Tuesday!
Tomono x
Fine Sake, Fresh Sushi and Beautiful Parks -Visit Kanazawa
June 12th, 2011 by tomonoOne of the places I would like to go back to one day is definitely Kanazawa in Japan. A few years ago I visited for my friend’s wedding shower. It was also just before I was leaving Japan, so Ihave happy memories of it as a girls trip.
We borrowed my friend’s mum’s posh Range Rover. The car was full of goodies but nobody imagined that this trip will be a long one…. When we were approaching to Kanazawa, it started snowing heavily so we were forced to either get off the motorway or put the chains on tyres. We did not have a satnav so our choice was the chain option…. Two of us were Sunday drives, one of us had no idea about vehicle and Beth was the only person who frequently drove and knew about car but guess where she comes from… Philippines!!! probably she never experienced snow in her country and I’m positive that when it snowed in Japan her husband was driving!
Yeah we used the biggest puppy eyes to get by and made our safe way to Onsen hotel after a long journey.
There is a beautiful park called Kenrokuen http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kenrokuen/e/index.html which is located near Kanazawa Castle. Before the long snowy winter, they assist pine trees with ropes to prevent from damages by heavy snow. Some people might find that when they hear that news each year, they feel that winter is just around the corner.
Kanazawa is not only for the pretty park but fine Sake and super fresh fish! So don’t forget to pop in the little fish market called Omicho market and Sushi lunch.
Mouth watering sushi and sashimi
At the fish market
More sake that you can shake a stick at
Yuna meets world. Time Flies.
June 5th, 2011 by tomonoHello you, how I wonder how you are?
Where did May go? It certainly went by in a blur. What with raising my new born baby girl, as well as chasing my 3 year old boy around. Time flies, as they say.
My mum was over from Japan so were my family-in-laws from Hull, in Yorkshire. They loved meeting the new member of the family. It was really nice to have a full house and lots going on. Oscar loved seeing his cousins and was just fascinated by whatever they were doing. It’s such a shame he spent half the time terrorising them!
It is such a blessing to have a happy, healthy family. I am so grateful.
Love Tomono xxx
Brooke cuddling Yuna
Yuna meets Uncle Chris and Aunty Quinny
Welcome to the world baby Yuna!
May 21st, 2011 by tomonoSorry it’s been ages since the last post. I just gave a birth to baby girl on 27th April, she is absolutely gorgeous and Oscar (sometimes) lovels cuddling and kissing her.
I forgot how light the baby is and now it is impossible to hold Oscar who is weigh around 16kg……
I can’t wait to dress up her with our lovely Kimonos for outing soon!
Fund Raiser for Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami - 10th April in Derby
April 5th, 2011 by tomonoDo you live anywhere near Derby?
If so, there will be a charity event to raise money for people in Tohoku, Japan.
It will be a fun fill event for all of the family - including Origami lesson!
- Date: 10th of April, Sun
- Time: 10:30 - 16:30
- Location: Westfield Shopping Centre, Derby, DE12PQ
- http://uk.westfield.com/derby/
I really wish this event brings great success and hope for people in the Tohoku area.
Japan Tsunami Appeal
March 14th, 2011 by tomonoAs you probably know a maginatude 9.0 earthquake hit northern Japan on Friday afternoon.
There are still so many people missing, towns destroyed and millions of people in need of help.
If you could please donate towards something to help them, please take a look at this link by Brithsh Red Cross.
http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Japan-Tsunami-Appeal
Thank you very much.
Tomono x
Girls’ Day
March 2nd, 2011 by tomonoThe 3rd March is The Doll’s Festival (also commonly known as ‘Girls’ Day’) in Japan.
This tradition started sometime in Heian period to wish girls to have a healthy and happy life.
We normally display beautiful Hina Ningyo dolls and peach bloosoms - if you have girls at home. There is also a custom to have Shirozake which is made from fermented rice and a bowl of soup with clams in a shell and perhaps Hina, which are rice crackers.
Do you have similer event in your country? I’d love to know!
We also have ‘Boys’ Da’y in May which is a national holiday, but I wonder why Girls’ day in NOT a national holiday…. I wonder…
Little Tomono enjoying Hina Matsuri
Peach Blossom (photo courtesy of my friend Tony Brace)
What do you live on?
February 28th, 2011 by tomonoPotatoes? Bread? Pasta? Beans?
I love Japanese sticky rice and used to have it 3 times a day, however my English husband is not keen on having rice that often and it is not so easy to get delicious Japanese rice, so having Japanese rice is a kind of treat for myself.
A friend of mine held the pot-luck lunch party last week. The tTheme was was to bring something that went well with Japanese sticky rice.
I brought Beef Soboro which could be seen on top of rice as donburi (a bowl of rice with meat on top), but arranged with some celery so that mummy can secretly feed kids vegetables!
There was an Aubergine dish called Nasu no agebitashi, a chicken dish called Tori no nanbanzuke, a mackerel dish called Saba no misoni, a spinach dish called Horenso no gomaae, and finally a Japanese curry!
I looked like a balloon after this fabulous lunch, but needless to say, I was also able to eat up a lovely desert too!
In addition to that, a friend made Oscar a really cute lunch in an Obento box. An Obento box is usually prepared with lots of rice and cooked meat and veg.
Can you imagine how Japanese mum cope in busy morning to make those for children? I remember my mum used to wake up so early to make me such healthy Obento with fresh fish, rice and vegetable.
But that was how I was raised and I know giving children the healthy freshly cooked meals are the best for them!
Enjoying Obento Box
Healthy varied diet
More yummy food!
Flowers in Bloom Collection - New for Spring 2011
February 23rd, 2011 by tomonoHow have you been? The day light is getting longer and longer here in the U.K.
I saw some daffodils started popping out on our street. I feel so grateful after a long grey winter.
To launch the New Collection, we are now working on beautiful 3 new designs at the moment. The fabric are absolutely gorgeous! You can see some images of the fabrics on our facebook page.
They will be ready to purchase from 1 April with special offer, so please do not forget to sign up our newsletter to get special offer while stock lasts!
Cooking with a Toddler
February 8th, 2011 by tomonoAlthough the days are getting longer and brighter, it was a really, really cold day again here in the U.K., so I stayed at home in the afternoon with my son Oscar.
On this kind of day, what can you do witha super active 2 year old? Well, we decided to cook!
We had just bought some very fresh sprats from the fishmonger, so we made Nanbanzuke.
He was supposed to be helping me but his favourite part of cooking is nibbling and taking all the tupperwear out from draws!
How do you entertain your toddler at home in this kind of weather…?
Oscar helps line up the sprats
Catch them with your chopsticks!
Stealing carrots to nibble
Tupperwear all over the place
Mmmmm yummy!
T x
"I received the kimono. We received the Cocoro package today. It looks great! I felt it was really nicely presented and I'm sure my friend will like it."
Joshua, Sydney
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