Makeup Brush Basics 1 - Powder Brush, Blush Brush, and Eyeshadow Brush

Hey girls!

Do you use makeup brushes?

There are so many types of makeup brushes, aren't there?

I want to share what I have learned and my experiences with makeup brushes.

This is part 1 of 2 and it is about powder brushes, blush brushes, and eyeshadow brushes since these three are the most basic makeup brushes.

Part 2 will be about foundation brushes and eyeliner brushes that I'm going to write in the next post.

I will explain the basics, and share my failure story, as well (not about a bad choice of brushes, but about a wrong usage of a brush) using my brushes from Sigma Beauty, since those are what I have and I like their brushes.

I chose Sigma Beauty brushes because they are high quality items and they are not too expensive.

I'll mention some MAC brush numbers too (they are on the expensive side), since it is also one of the brands loved by people who are into makeup.

Now let's begin :)

- Powder brush (Sigma F30, MAC 129 etc.)

Sigma F30

You can distribute face powder more evenly with a brush with light touches.

If you use a powder puff, more powder will be applied.

The brush I have is this: Sigma Large Powder - F30.

Let me mention that how to use a powder brush matters.

For a while, I felt "Hmmm. This brush is a bit scratchy..."

This brush has gotten so many good reviews, and they say this brush is soft and fluffy.

So, I thought I was doing something wrong, and I was.

I was stippling over my face.

I was doing so because I didn't want to mess up foundation.

Instead, you should stroke over your face very gently.

After trying this way, it's not scratchy anymore and it feels so comfortable to my skin.

Sigma F40

- Blush brush (Sigma F40, MAC 168 etc.)

You can apply blush with long stroke(s) along the curve of the cheekbone using an appropriate blush brush.

Of course you can layer several long strokes but the key here is you can make long stroke(s).

If you use an accompanying mini brush, you need to apply blush with several small strokes that may lead to uneven application.

The brush I have is this: Sigma Large Angled Contour - F40.

The angled bristles go along the curve of the cheekbone well.

Sigma E55

- Eyeshadow brush

The brush I have is this: Sigma Eye Shading - E55.

I could do my eye makeup with only this brush.

According to Sigma Beauty website, recommended usage of this brush is for placing color across the entire lid for an even and strong application of product.

Not only that, I use it to apply eyeshadow to the outer corner of the eye, in the crease, etc.

When I place eyeshadow on the entire lid, I use the side of the brush (flat part), and when I apply eyeshadow to the outer corner of the eye and in the crease (outer V of the eye), I use the tip of the brush.

Of course, you can get other different types of eyeshadow brushes to use for more specific parts of your eye makeup.

Actually, many people who are into makeup use at least three different eyeshadow brushes, and I imagine that it's easier this way since bristle sizes are different.

1. Basic application brush (biggest bristles of the three)

This is used to apply eyeshadow all over the lid. (Sigma E55, MAC 239 etc.)

2. Blending brush (middle sized bristles of the three)

This is used to soften harsh lines and edges. (Sigma E25, MAC 217 etc.)

3. Crease / pencil brush (smallest bristles of the three)

This is used to apply color to small areas precisely, such as defining the crease, applying along the lush line, highlighting the inner corner of the eye, etc. (Sigma E30, MAC 219 etc.)

There are even more different kinds of eye makeup brushes such as a smudge brush, but these three are the most basic eyeshadow brushes.

(As a note, a smudge brush is used to apply color onto the upper and lower lash lines. Sigma E21, MAC 214 etc.)

A sponge tip applicator accompanying an eyeshadow is somewhat difficult to use to work on details.

I use it when I want to get my eye makeup done so quickly and make it simple. In this case, I put eyeshadow only at the outer corner of the eye, and don't even put it in the crease.

Also, I sometimes use a sponge tip applicator to apply eyeshadow all over the lid, so that I don't need to wipe my only one eyeshadow brush to use it with a different color for the crease. (In other words, you can use only one eyeshadow brush by wiping it against a wet wipe after using it with each color.

By using appropriate makeup brushes instead of mini applicators accompanying cosmetics, you can apply makeup easier and the result is better.

I really recommend to start with these three brushes if you don't have any currently:

-Powder brush

-Blush brush

-Eyeshadow brush

I will write about the basics of foundation brushes and eyeliner brushes in the next post.

Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading and have a happy new year :)

Cheesy Smoked Salmon Omelette Recipe

Hey guys!

My husband's omelettes are the best!

He often cooks them on weekends for us.

Actually I request them :)

Today I'd like to share the yummy omelet recipe.

Ingredients (2 servings):

-Eggs: 6

-Water: 2 oz.

-Tomato: 1/2

-Smoked salmon: enough to cover one half of each omelette

-Spinach and/or herbs of your choice, such as parsley, basil etc.: several leaves to taste

-Shredded cheese of your choice. (We often use mozzarella.): 4 oz.

-Black pepper: small amount

-Olive oil: 2 table spoons

Cook one omelette at a time, dividing the ingredients evenly.

1. Cut the tomato into small cubes.

2. Turn the heat on and warm up your pan. After a minute, add the olive oil.

3. Crack 3 eggs into a bowl.

4. Add the water to the eggs. This makes the eggs soft and fluffier.

(We tried both, adding water and no water. It makes a difference.)

5. Whisk the eggs.

6. Pour the beaten eggs into the pan. Leave it until the eggs become half cooked.

7. Sprinkle the tomatoes, spinach, and/or herbs of your choice on half of the omelette.

8. Place the smoked salmon and the cheese on the egg.

9. When the eggs are cooked, turn the heat off, and fold the half without toppings over the other half.

10. Sprinkle black pepper to taste.

11. Repeat step 3 through 10 to make another serving.

Hmmm yummy!

The other day we substituted smoked salmon with prosciutto and it also turned out very tasty.

As you may be able to tell, we love smoked salmon.

So, we love sushi rolls that contain smoked salmon too. (We love other kinds of sushi, as well.)

A grocery store near us (Publix) carries very good smoked salmon rolls.

Smoked salmon, cream cheese, and avocado are in them and rolled with rice and seaweed.

Sometimes they sell a brown rice version as well.


They sell nigiri sushi, too.

Nigiri is the form of sushi that has a piece of smoked / raw fish on top of rice.

My husband likes it but I don't like Publix's nigiri sushi that much.

Each piece comes with a large bed of rice.

I prefer when there is less rice (maybe I shouldn't complain, haha).

When there is a sushi chef at the store, you can request ingredients to be used and he/she can make custom made sushi for you (if they have the requested ingredients).

Actually, when I was having morning sickness, one of the only things I could eat were smoked salmon rolls, but I didn't want to have cream cheese.

So my husband often got smoked salmon rolls custom made for me which had cucumbers instead of cream cheese, and he asked for extra vinegar for me.

I know that you are not supposed to eat smoked salmon when you are pregnant in the U.S., but in Japan, you can eat smoked salmon, even raw salmon / other fishes as well.

I ate it at my own risk since it was one of the only things I was able to eat and keep down.

So please don't eat smoked / raw fish when you are pregnant just because I did.

What do you like to put in your omelette?

Thanks for reading and have happy holidays :)

Must Have Skin Care Items When You Are Sick

Hey guys!

I was sick the other day and I didn't have the energy to remove my makeup / wash my face in the usual way.

So, I want to share what I did and what I used to take care of my skin.

1. Cotton pads

This is to be used with the second item below, cleansing water.

I used "Mikaeru no Yokubari Cotton" (this is made in Japan) but you can use other ones.

"Kaeru" means frog in Japanese and "Mikaeru" is a nickname of a frog character.

"No" means "'s".

"Yokubari" means greedy.

However, in this case, it means more like "loaded with features". This cotton pad was produced by store managers of @cosme stores and is filled of good points they wanted to fulfill, they say. That's why it's "yokubari".

I like these cotton pads.

They are very soft, do not become fuzzy at all, and are gentle to skin.

2. Makeup remover: cleansing water type

Cleansing water type makeup remover is a must have when you cannot use your sink to wash your face because of an injury or sickness.

I used "Caudalie Cleansing Water" but you can use something else.

This has a slight cucumber like smell.

It's an acceptable smell but I wish this was fragrance-free.

The way you use it is, to put some cleaning water on a cotton pad and wipe your face gently. That's it.

You don't need to rinse with water, you don't need to use a face wash, and you don't need to use moisturizers after using this.

I usually wear light makeup if I wear when I am sick so my makeup is removed well with this.

This helped me so much when my neck hurt and when I had morning sickness / other sickness.

However, I don't like cleansing water type makeup remover when I don't need to use it.

I like normal makeup remover that you rinse with water and apply moisturizer after that.
I think my skin condition is better this way.

Caudalie Cleansing Water Ingredients:

AQUA (WATER), GLYCERIN*, POLOXAMER 188, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) FRUIT WATER*, HEPTYL GLUCOSIDE*, CAPRYL/CAPRAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, SODIUM LEVULINATE*, SODIUM ANISATE*, SODIUM CHLORIDE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT*, CITRIC ACID*, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) JUICE*, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE (067/178)

* Origine végétale - Plant origin

I've fully recovered and writing this blog, but I got a Norovirus-like illness.

I read a piece of news that it is going around in our area.

Norovirus is highly contagious and gives you symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

It can be transmitted by touching contaminated food / liquid / vomit / stool / surface.

The best thing you can do to prevent Norovirus infection is to wash your hands with soap and water.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers cannot kill the virus since they are anti-bacterial and not anti-viral, so they should be used in addition to washing hands with soap and water.

Now I appreciate my health so much!!

You tend to take it for granted when you are healthy...

A big thanks to my husband who took care of our daughter when I was sick.

I was contagious so I was not able to touch her.

She tried to extend her hands to me many times.

I really wanted to hold her but I was not able to.

I gave her lots of hugs and kisses when I recovered!

Stay healthy everyone.

Thanks for reading and have a great day :)

Tips for Avoiding Eating Too Much at Parties

Hey guys!

Do you tend to overeat at parties?

I sometimes eat a little bit more than usual at parties.

I personally think it's OK to do so, since they're special occasions.

However, if you want to reduce the amount of food you eat at parties, keep reading.

1. Don't go to parties on an empty stomach.

If you are super hungry, you tend to eat a lot.

At parties, there can be many high calorie food.

So, if you drink a glass of milk or eat a small snack before going to parties, you feel somewhat satisfied already and will not crave for lots of food.

2. Socialize with people, not with food.

Talk to people and enjoy the party.

You don't need to just concentrate on eating :)

If you have a mindset that a party is an opportunity to socialize with people rather than a place to eat, it will make a difference.

3. Look around at all the foods and choose only ones that are highly appealing to you.

Let's say you looked at one table and found turkey sandwiches and ate one.

Then you may find a food that you like more, let's say beef steak sandwiches at the next table, and you may wish you found them earlier and end up eating both. If you found the beef steak sandwich earlier, you could have passed on the turkey sandwich that you like less.

4. Try to eat special foods, not usual foods available everywhere.

For example, you may want to skip chips or crackers. You can eat them some other time.

5. Wear clothes that fit you just right.

You can stop eating when your belt or around the waist feels tight.

It will help you since you don't want to show your bloated belly line.

6. Eat foods in the following order:

-1. Vegetables

-2. Protein (meat, fish, cheese, eggs, etc.)

-3. Carbs (pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, etc.)

-4. Sugars (desserts)

Did you know that the order in which you eat matters?

If you eat in this order, your blood sugar level increases more slowly.

Vegetables contain lots of fibers that have the effect of slowing down the digestion and absorption of sugars.

On the contrary, if you eat carbs and sugars when your stomach is empty, your blood sugar level increases rapidly, which leads insulin production in large amounts to decrease blood sugar level quickly.

Insulin has the effect of transforming unused sugars to fat and storing it. So, if it is produced in large amounts, it could make you prone to gaining weight.

7. Chew well and eat slowly.

If you eat too fast without chewing well, you may eat too much before you feel you're full.

It takes some time until the satiety center is stimulated and makes you feel full after eating, usually 20 minutes or so.

It's good to be careful about what you eat, but don't forget to enjoy your parties :)

You should be able to do both.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Our Favorite Stuffed Pumpkin Recipe

Hey guys!

What is your favorite meal of holiday season?

Hmmm it's difficult for me to name one.

But I like this one for sure: stuffed pumpkin.

My husband heard the recipe on the radio several years ago.

Since then, we have made it on Thanksgiving, Christmas day, etc.

If you like pumpkin and cheese, you'll love this. Must try :) (No pressure, haha.)

This is a vegetarian menu (not vegan, as it uses cheese and milk).

We have arranged the original recipe.

Ingredients:

Pumpkin pie pumpkin (pumpkin grown for cooking / not a carving pumpkin): 1

(Note: The amount of ingredients below varies depending on the size of the pumpkin. The below is the amount for a 2 - 3 lbs. pumpkin.)

Heavy cream, half and half, or whole milk: half cup

Shredded Swiss cheese: 1 package (or grated Gruyere cheese)

Pumpkin pie spice: a couple table spoons

Pepper: small amount

Plain stuffing (half a box), bread (7-inch piece of baguette sliced or other bread of choice), or half-cooked rice (3/4 cup before being cooked) (choose one of these)

Vegetable broth: 10 oz.

1. Cut the top of the pumpkin off. Keep it since you will use it later.

2. Scoop the inside of the pumpkin out: strings and seeds (you can throw these away).

3. Put some olive oil on the skin of the pumpkin.

4. Preheat the oven to 425F.

5. Put a sheet of parchment paper in a baking dish that will go into the oven. Put the pumpkin in it.

6. Mix cream/milk with pumpkin spice and pepper.

7. Put a layer of stuffing/bread/half-cooked rice inside of the pumpkin.

If you're going to use half-cooked rice, see below for how to prepare half-cooked rice (*).

8. Put some cream/milk inside of the pumpkin.

9. Put a layer of cheese inside of the pumpkin.

10. Repeat step 7 through 9 until the content reaches about an inch away from the top.

If you put too much stuff in the pumpkin, it will overflow when it's cooked.

11. Put the pumpkin into the oven and bake for 60 minutes.

12. Check if it is fully cooked by poking it with a skewer or a fork. If not, add more time.

*How to prepare half-cooked rice for stuffed pumpkin:

Since you will finish cooking the rice with vegetable broth and milk/cream, you will cook the rice only half way.

Cook the rice with half the amount of water specified in the directions on your rice package.

When the water evaporates, turn the heat off.

Since we used half the amount of water, the rice is half cooked at this point.

This time, we chose whole milk, Swiss cheese, and stuffing, but we have used half and half, Gruyere cheese, and brown rice.

All the combinations are tasty.

If you use rice, it turns out like a risotto!

This Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law and her husband had vacation plans on Thanksgiving, so we had a Thanksgiving meal a week before so that everyone could join.

We cooked a stuffed pumpkin, a whole turkey, butternut squash soup, and green bean casserole.

Everything turned out so great.

And then, on the real Thanksgiving Day, we cooked the stuffed pumpkin again!

We love this dish.

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving!

Thanks for reading and have a great day :)

How My Daughter's Diaper Rash Was Healed Quickly

Hey guys!

My 16-month old daughter had diaper rash the other day for the first time.

One morning when I opened her diaper, her bottom was red and was covered with red dots.

I think she had a bowel movement just before falling asleep and no one realized it.

However, by doing the things below, her diaper rash was healed so quickly so I want to share the four things I did today.

1. Changed her diaper frequently.

I checked her diaper frequently and when I noticed it was wet, I changed it right away.

2. Used water-soaked paper towel when she peed.

I used baby wipes only when she had bowel movements.

We are using Pampers Sensitive wipes.

When she doesn't have diaper rash, these are awesome. It runs over her skin so smoothly and it doesn't cause friction.

However, I thought just water is more gentle when she had diaper rash.

3. Used paper towels to dry her bottom, and waited for a moment until it completely dried to put a new diaper.

We have used paper towels even before she got diaper rash, but this time we waited until she became dry completely.

One note is, if your baby is very young and you don't put a new diaper soon after removing the dirty one, he/she may pee when you're waiting, so this may not be recommended.

4. Used calendula cream.

Did you know that calendula oil helps damaged skin and mucous membranes heal?
It can be used to treat the following skin issues: minor cuts, burns, sunburns, bruises, inflammation, diaper rash, etc.

We used California Baby Calendula Cream that contains calendula oil. (I wrote about this cream in this post so check it out.)

I will write more about calendula oil below.

So what is calendula oil?

Calendula is a genus of flowers that are often called marigolds whose petals vary in color, from bright yellow to orange.
The one usually used in herbal and cosmetic products is from calendula officinalis (pot marigold).
The oil is extracted from the petals. It is yellow-orange color.

I'd like to mention other uses for calendula oil.

You can use it as a makeup remover as well, although it feels very oily (well it is oil ;) ).
It's very different than oil-type makeup removers.

My favorite makeup remover (I wrote about it in this post) leaks so easily when you carry it.
Actually, it all leaked on a trip.
So, I needed to find a different makeup remover for the next trip.
I thought why don't I try the calendula oil I have since it helps healing skin issues and sounds good for skin?
The one I used is, "Weleda Calendula Baby Oil" (100% certified natural 99% organic).
I like its smell.
It removed my makeup well and the container didn’t leak at all.
It is so oily as I mentioned already, but acceptable for me to use on a short trip.

I use calendula oil to moisturize body parts as well.
Since they contain less oil than my face, it works well for my body especially in winter.

Ingredients of Weleda Calendula Baby Oil:

Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Limonene*, Linalool*, Geraniol*, Citral*.

* from natural essential oils

I hope your baby's diaper rash heals soon.

Thanks for reading and have a great day :)

My Favorite Non-Greasy Sunscreens

Do you use sunscreen regularly?
Which sunscreen do you use?


I use sunscreen throughout the year, even in winter.
It's because UV protection is key to healthy skin and anti-aging :)
There are two kinds of ultraviolet rays: UVA (contributes to skin aging and skin cancer risk) and UVB (contributes to sunburn).
The amount of UVB rays varies a lot throughout the year, but the intensity of UVA rays stays strong enough even in winter.
I use three different kinds of sunscreens currently for myself and one for my 15-month daughter.
Let's look at each item.

Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 40

This is my favorite sunscreen for my face. I've bought this so many times.
It is beige color and has a skin color correction effect.
I use this both when I wear everyday light makeup and when I wear heavier makeup for special occasions.
Although it is oil-free, it gives me some shine.
So, when I don't wear foundation, I apply face powder to my T-zone only over this sunscreen.
This way, the T-zone doesn't look oily but gives the cheeks some glow.
It uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as a part of the active ingredients.
These are minerals and good ingredients for sunscreens.

Active Ingredients:
Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 2.00%, Titanium Dioxide 5.20%, Zinc Oxide 6.00%.
Inactive Ingredients:
Water\Aqua\Eau, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Laureth-4, PEG-100 Stearate, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Porphyra Yezoensis (Algae) Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D'orge, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) Root Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Plankton Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Yeast Extract\Faex\Extrait De Levure, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantethine , PVP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Acetyl Glucosamine, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyethylene, Caffeine, Isohexadecane, Methicone, Nylon-12, Zeolite, Lecithin, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Isostearic Acid, Calcium Chloride, Alumina, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)

Coppertone Oil Free Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

I use this for my body.
I've bought this several times.
I like this because it's not greasy and it's sold at a reasonable price (it was a little bit above $10 when I bought it).
This product contains relatively mild ingredients mostly.
I wish this is sold at grocery stores, but it's not where I live. I need to go to a drug store or order online.

Active Ingredients:
Avobenzone 2%, Homosalate (13%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (2%), Oxybenzone 4%
Inactive Ingredients:
Water, Sorbitol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl 3 Diisostearate, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Carbomer, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA


Loretta Ohisama Nakayoshi UV Care Shuu SPF 50+

I usually use a sunscreen for my body on the neck as well, but I use this spray type sunscreen for my neck these days.
This is made in Japan.
"Ohisama" is a cute way to say "the sun" in Japanese.
"Nakayoshi" is a cute way to say "pal".
"Shuu" is an onomatopoeia that expresses the sound of the spray coming out.
This is easy to apply and smells good. The scent is from damask rose oil.
I felt that it was just an OK smell the first time I used it but I like the smell now.
It's not greasy at all.
One drawback is that because this is a spray type, you may inhale a little bit of particles.

Ingredients (transtaled to English by me. I tried to list these as accurately as possible, but they are not confirmed by the company.):
LPG, water, cyclopentasiloxane, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl palmitate, hydrogenated polyisobutene, polymethylsilsesquioxane, rosa damascena flower oil, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, sodium hyaluronate, royal jelly extract, octocrylene, butylene glycol, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, polysilicone-14, trimethylsiloxysilicate, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, PEG-10 dimethicone, PEG/PPG-19/19 dimethicone, phenoxyethanol, disteardimonium hectorite, fragrance

Nature's Gate Kids Vegan Sunscreen SPF 50

This is for my daughter but I sometimes borrow it.
This is on the greasy side.
The package says "Pediatrician Tested".
I did some research on my own because there are many cases where a product is not good / mild even when its package says "Recommended by dermatologist / pediatrician" or "Dermatologist / pediatrician tested".
It uses zinc oxide as a part of the active ingredients, which is a mineral and a good ingredient for sunscreen.
Other ingredients are relatively mild as well.

Active Ingredients:
Octinoxate (7.5%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (7%), Zinc Oxide (6.9%)
Inactive Ingredients:
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Magnesium Sulfate, Neopentyl Glycol Diethlyhexanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl 2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl 4 Isostearate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water

Let's use sunscreen throughout the year and keep healthy skin!
Thanks for reading and have a great day :)

The Health Benefits of Natto

Do you like natto?

Do you know what natto is?

Natto is a Japanese food.

It's fermented soybeans.

It has a strong, somewhat unpleasant smell.

It is sticky and stringy.

However, it's so tasty and good for your health!

Actually, I didn't like it the first couple times I tried it because of the smell.

I love it now!

Natto is a great source of protein.

Also, it has the following health benefits:

- Anti-aging effect

Natto contains polyamine, which is necessary for cell division. Active cell division contributes to staying young.

- Relieves constipation

I am not constipated anyway, but I have a bowel movement after eating natto. The sliminess of natto and fibers help.

- Thrombolytic effect

Natto contains an enzyme called nattokinase. It has a thrombolytic and blood thinning effect. However, nattokinase is damaged by heat, so it's best to eat natto without heating to preserve the effectiveness of nattokinase.

- Prevention of osteoporosis

Natto contains not only calcium but also vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 has a blood clotting effect and also helps to deposit more calcium in bones.

It seems that natto contains both an ingredient that has a blood thinning effect (nattokinase), as well as an ingredient that has a blood clotting effect (vitamin K2), so I'm not sure how this affects your blood actually.

I recommend you to consult with a doctor if you have a blood issue.

Although natto is very nutritious, you shouldn't eat too much in one day (this is applicable to other foods as well).

The recommended limit you can enjoy safely is two packs per day.

If you eat too much natto in one day, then you might have taken in too much isoflavone (which could disturb the balance of female hormones, but a moderate amount of it helps in preventing osteoporosis) and too much selenium (which could cause nausea, diarrhea, etc. but a moderate amount of it has an antioxidant effect).

However, I have eaten three packs of natto in a day. It had been so rare for me to do so, and I haven't done that since I came to the U.S. I just wanted to tell you that you don't need to freak out if you exceed two packs without knowing it.

Below is a natto pasta recipe. This is very easy.


1. Ideally, it's better to defrost natto at room temperature, since nattokinase is damaged by heat.

So, take the packet(s) of natto out of the freezer a couple hours before cooking if possible.

If you use normal sized packet(s), an appropriate amount is one packet per person.

There are bigger packets that contain two servings in one packet. If you use that kind, you will need half the number of packets as the number of people.

2. Boil a pasta of your choice.

I often use whole wheat thin spaghetti since it cooks quickly.

3. If you were not able to defrost the natto beforehand, microwave the frozen natto.

If you did, continue to step 4.

I will do 15 seconds or so in the original styrofoam container, since it is hard to remove natto from the container when it's fully frozen.

If it's still difficult to remove, you can add more time.

After that, put the natto in a different bowl/plate that is not plastic/styrofoam.

Microwave it for 15 seconds or so.

Check if the natto is defrosted, if not, add more time. Do not overheat.

4. Mix the accompanying sauce with the natto if sauce comes with it. If not, add a little bit of soy sauce.

5. Place the natto on top of your pasta.

6. Mix them as you eat.

Natto is usually available in Japanese grocery stores and sometimes in Asian grocery stores.

Thanks for reading and have a great day :)

My Routine Skin Care Items

What is your skin care routine?

I will write about my skincare items today.
I'm in my late 30's and I have combination skin, a little bit oily on my nose but dry in some areas.
I usually use skin care items that are gentle on my skin but I'm using one very chemical based item currently: an eye cream.
Now let's look at each item.

Makeup remover: atuypirka Cleansing Gel Pack

This is made in Japan. I love this. 
After you blend it with your makeup on your face, the gel changes to an oil-like texture.
(If you keep blending too long, your face will become dried after rinsing, so stop at an appropriate point.)
This removes makeup well, doesn't dry my skin, and smells nice since it contains lavender essential oil.

Ingredients (translated to English by me. I tried to list these as accurately as possible, but they are not confirmed by the company.):
isopropyl palmitate, triethylhexanoin, cetyl ethylhexanoate, octyldodeceth-25, water, sorbitol, glycerin, PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate, sea cucumber extract, placenta extract, glycyrrhizic acid dipotassium salt, fucus vesiculosus extract, luffa cylindrica fruit/leaf/stem extract, clematis vitalba leaf extract, equisetum arvense extract, hedera helix (ivy) leaf/stem extract, spiraea ulmaria flower extract, cnidium officinale rhizome extract, coix lacryma-jobi ma-yuen seed extract, betula platyphylla japonica juice, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, vitamin A oil, tocopherol, zea mays (corn) oil, soybean oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol

Cleanser: babyganics shampoo + body wash, fragrance free

We bought this for our daughter initially. However, I'm using it as my face wash as well.
The name "babyganics" conjures images of organic products, but their products are not totally organic (they use some organic ingredients but not all).
Although it's not organic, it does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, the ingredients are mild, and it doesn't dry my baby or my skin.
It's easy to use since it comes out as foam. You don't need to make lather yourself!
I've read some reviews that say the pump became difficult to use over time.
It happened to us when we first bought this product. However, since we like this a lot, we keep getting it.
It hasn't happened since then.

Ingredients:
water, sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, propanediol, acrylates copolymer, sodium lauroyl oat amino acids, glycerin, ethylhexylglycerin, citric acid, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, dehydroacetic acid, solanum lycopersicum (tomato) seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil, nigella sativa (black cumin) seed oil*, rubus idaeus (red raspberry) seed oil, phenoxyethanol, sodium hydroxide, sodium phytate, aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract*, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract*, persea gratissima (avocado) fruit extract*
*Certified Organic Ingredient 

Lotion: atuypirka Beauty Lotion

This is made in Japan.
Although it takes a bit of time to be absorbed in my skin, it hydrates my skin well.
After applying this lotion and the cream mentioned below, I do something else (change my daughter's diaper etc.) until they are absorbed before applying makeup.
This doesn't bother me since I need to do that something else anyway, but I think it would be awesome if it is absorbed in my skin more quickly, because I think some of the lotion may evaporate. 

Ingredients (translated to English by me. I tried to list these as accurately as possible, but they are not confirmed by the company.): 
water, glycerin, butylene glycol, betaine, phenoxyethanol, xanthane gum, sodium hyaluronate, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, betula platyphylla japonica juice, tremella fuciformis polysaccharide, sea cucumber extract, placenta extract, hydrolyzed collagen, centaurea cyanus flower extract, pueraria root extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, chlorella extract, hydrolyzed elastin

Cream: California Baby Calendula Cream

This cream smells very nice. I believe this is from the calendula extract and essential oils.
We bought this for our daughter as a diaper cream, but I use it as my face cream as well.
It keeps my face moisturized.
I apply it to my daughter's neck as well.  She smells very nice just after application. The scent fades away.

Ingredients:
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride (Sourced from Coconut or Olive), Cetyl Alcohol (Sourced from Coconut or Olive), Stearic Acid (Sourced from Coconut or Olive), Glycerin USP (Sourced from Coconut or Olive), Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate (Sourced from Coconut or Olive), Canola Oil (Certified Organic), Calendula Officinalis Extract (Calendula) (Certified Organic), Viola Tricolor Extract (Pansy) (Certified Organic), Yucca Schidigera Extract (Yucca), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera) (Certified Organic), Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract (Rosemary) (Antioxidant), Pure Essential Oils of Lavandula Angustifolia (French Lavender) and Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage), Caprylhydroxamic Acid (Amino Acid) (and) Glyceryl Caprylate

Eye cream: Shiseido Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream

This has a subtle floral scent.
I usually don't like a scent in skin care products except essential oil scents, but this one is subtle and OK for me.
This cream is on the thicker side.
I had stopped using eye cream when I gave birth since I wanted to make my skin care as simple as possible.
My daughter is a 15-month old now and I have more time to spend on skin care, so I resumed using an eye cream.
I have some under eye wrinkles so I apply this every morning and night.
I hope this will diminish the appearance of my under eye wrinkles.

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Myristyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate/Benzoate/Ethylhexanoate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Silica, Stearyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Piperidineropionic Acid, Batyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Stearate, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Fragrance, Sorbitan Tristearate, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, BHT, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-240/HDI Copolymer BIS-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Hydroxide, Iron Oxides, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Linalool, Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Serine, Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract, Iron Oxides, Glycine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ononis Spinosa Root Extract, Averrhoa Carambola Leaf Extract, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tocopherol

We spend some time on skin care every day.

If you find you're having a relaxing/calm or positive/happy skin care time, keep it up.

If not, take a deep breath - breathe in --- breathe out --- and let's make it a better time.

Thanks for reading and have a great day :)

Thoughts about Friends and a Fun Weekend!

Hey guys!

Are you good at making friends?

It's hard for me but I feel that I'm getting better at it.

My husband is the opposite.

He has many good friends and has an atmosphere that welcomes people.

There was a time when I was worried about the fact that I have only a small number of friends and was not sure what to talk about with people.

I still have a small number of friends, but I don't worry too much about it now.

There is a person who no longer hangs out with me.

I have asked my husband what he thought I did wrong but we couldn't figure anything out.

I may have done something bad to her and not realized it, so I even asked her. She said that I didn't do anything bad, and rather, I am one of the nicest people she knows.

I was so sad about the fact that she no longer hangs out with me, but now I feel I want to focus on the current friends I have.

One thing I've been doing lately is to try not to make myself look better.

If I do so, I will need to do so every time I see the person, and it will make me tired.

Now, I feel somewhat confident in myself and I know that many people will like me as I am (there will always be some people who don't like me, but I won't worry about this small number of people.)

The "confidence" part is still a work in progress.

My husband and daughter gave me the confidence.

He knows my drawbacks and he still loves me. She loves me as I am.

Also, I've become friends with other moms!

I feel that having something in common makes it easier to connect with the other person.

Last Friday, I went to a girls' night party thrown by my coworker.

She is very nice to organize this party!

We had drinks (I had seltzer water) and played "Cards against Humanity".

Have you played the game?

People say it's an adult version of "Apples to Apples".

My husband took care of our 15-month old daughter that night.

It's been a while that I had a girl's night and I had lots of fun.

Last Sunday, we had a BBQ with the Goldman family and the Kamper family.

The Goldmans organized this (for a little bit of background about these nice families, read here).

The Goldman family brought hamburgers and pastas, the Kamper family brought skewered beef/chicken/vegetables, and we brought guacamole (recipe is here) and beer.

Gavin and Ken (baby boys) walked around and played.

Our daughter only walks several steps at a time now, so she stayed with me most of the time, but had some interactions with them.

We had a great time.

If you feel the same as the old me regarding friends, take a deep breath.

If you feel you want to change the situation, don't wait until you have a husband or a baby.

Most likely you don't need to change your personality (if you care for friends and are reading this article trying to get hints about friendship), but you just need to change the frame of mind and action.

I think three important things are to love yourself, have confidence, and thank people.

I thanked my coworker and the Goldman family not only on that day, but also on Monday at work to my coworker and via text to the Goldmans.

I thanked the Kamper family on that day, and would have thanked them next day as well, if I knew their contact number.

Let people know that you enjoyed your time with them so that there will be a "next time".

Thanks for reading and have a great day :)