Cherry Blossom Adventures

I am inspired to do more. I have so many things on my to do list and so many things I know I need to do yet I don`t really seem to be getting to any of them….I believe I am in what some call a “rut”! I have spent the last couple of hours surfing around on blogs I read and looking up stuff and I realized that I need to take action- I need to get motivated.

My friend Mandy wrote “Have thought that perhaps instead of making so many to-do lists and planning, I should actually just take action and practice what I preach.” and continued on to write things she was working on for her 101 things in 1001 days list and she has already marked ONE OFF in just a day and I realized I need to be more like that! Jen had a rough couple of days and had to make a couple of hard decisions but she has bounced back and written about what she is going to do with her life and her plans sound so amazing (and yes I am jealous!) and again it made me realize that I too can achieve what I want to do! Deanne at Suzhizume (who has moved to a new location-update your links and reader all!)  is one of the people that inspired Jen and she is definitely worth a mention because she is such a fun loving, awesome, down to earth person (Who I have had the pleasure of meeting quite a few times- she is the one that inspired me to get some hula hoops!) who decided what she loved and is doing it and while I haven`t quite figured out what it is I love so much that I want to do I figure crossing some stuff off my to do list etc is going to help me head in the right direction!! She is such an inspiration! Another inspirational girl is Gala Darling, oh how I heart thee! This lady got up and went to New York and now has decided she wants to live there and is making her dream into a real possibility. If you have never read gala`s site then you simply must start now because it is fantastic stuff and I am so jealous (yet again!) of all the stuff she does- and she always does it so eloquently! She is a great writer, and I totally wish I could be more like her! And she used to do weekly resolutions which is what this post is actually all about!

I journal, and sometimes, after reading about them at Gala`s site ages ago, I write my own weekly resolutions in my journal and I realize that it is time to bring this back into my life- and sure it is another list but I do love lists and they do help keep me motivated! So here goes, here is my weekly resolutions for this week!

- hoop at least 10 minutes everyday

- track the food I eat in my little weight watchers book and do at least 4 walks!

- blog another 2 times

- Contact wedding celebrants (at least 2) and set up meetings for sometime in the next couple of weeks!

-Study Japanese for 3 hours!

-  and since it is nearly midnight I am going to think about this last one and make a decision on it by Monday! Or perhaps one of you might have an idea of something you think I should try and acheive this week in my weekly resolutions!

Thank you to all my bloggy friends out there- some of you I have met in real life and others I have yet to have the pleasure but the joy I get from following your adventures and reading your comments, advice and inspirational writing makes my day! I only mentioned a couple of you who have inspired me in the post but trust me, it is not only those I mentioned! My goals for the week might not seem like much but to me they are important and I promise I will try really hard to acheive them all!

Hugs to all, xoxoxo

Ps: All is going well with Shun- he is also inspiring me of late because he is trying so hard with his English already and it makes me realize how slack I have been with my Japanese study hence the mention in my weekly resolutions! Oh and in other news we picked up Abbey today and she is just adorable- Shun and I played with her all afternoon and it was delightful!!! And while writing this blog post- it was interupted by a howling little dog….but I went down to see her and she is doing ok now- I think she just woke up and forgot where she was for a minute!

Popularity: 4% [?]

I missed my May update of my 101 things in 1001 days (because I was having a break from blogging!) so am combining May and June. I haven`t crossed off as many things as I would of liked but have crossed off a couple so here goes…

5. Go to at least two of the following places: Nagasaki, Hakone, Nara or Hokkaido (1/2)

Well I went to Nara!!! When I was visiting Sarah down in Kobe we went to Nara and you can read all about it here. So there is one of the four places knocked off the list. Will have to wait until I return to Japan before I manage to get to any of the other places!

 12. Choose a theme or colour scheme

We have done both. The colours will be pink and silver and the theme will be cherry blossoms because we wanted to have the Japanese influence too.

15. Find and book a photographer

We have found one and she is fantastic! Her name is Sylvie and she is going to be fantastic and I knew as soon as I met her that she would be perfect. I can`t wait for Shumpei to meet with her too. She will be doing an engagement shoot also as part of the package so Shun will meet her then. But he has seen her work online (If anyone wants her website details just message or email me!) and he loves her too!

 31. Lose five kilos (4/5)

I have lost 4 of the first 5 since been back in Australia. So YAY! I had another lose at weight watchers on Thursday so have lost 3.4 since joining there and have lost almost another kilo before I started. I can`t really notice the difference yet but I am excersising a lot more than i usually do!!! I don`t love excersise yet but at least I am walking most days and hooping a bit also. The next step is to try a class because I really want to try pilates or yoga! There is a pilates class at my mums gym at 8:15am on Saturday`s and I think I will try that next week.

35. Do EFT everyday for two weeks

I did it near the end of May and through the beggining of June and haven`t done it since so I either wasn`t doing it right or it just doesn`t work for me. But I did give it ago!

38. Give up coffee for a month

I did this!!! It was a lot harder to give up than alcohol…and for the first week and a half I had a shocking headache! But I did it and I probably won`t be doing it again any time soon! It has curved my coffee buying habit a little bit though. I can stick with instant for now!

43. Get back into a proper skin care routine including suncreen everyday- Keep it up for at least 3 months (3/3)

I started this while I was still in Japan and have kept it up. I haven`t really noticed any difference but I guess I will keep it up anyway! In fact my skin has been terrible since I have been back in Australia and I don`t know why. Maybe I need to change the products I am using?

55. Go to five suburbs I have never visited before (3/5)

I went to Jimboomba to look at the puppies and pick Abbey. I went to portside, not really sure what the suburb is though?! and then yesterday I went to runcorn to visit Nay and her family and I think that was my first time to go there also! So it is a lot easier to knock off suburbs in Brisbane I haven`t been to before than I thought it would be!

57. Eat at at least 10 restaurants I have never been to before (4/10)

I love eating out! (Probably why I have problems losing weight!) so this is a really fun thing for me to knock off my list. I went to a great Japanese place with my dad at portside called “sono”. It was really yummy but pretty expensive. I also went to another place at Portside when my friend Clarie was in Brisbane…I forget the name but it was the one right on the river. It was very yummy also, great hummus and tabouli!!! Lastly for mum`s birthday we went to a little pizza place in Manly which was cheap but tasted it great. Will definitely be going back with Shun!!!

Oh there is actually four, I almost forgot. I went to a vegan/vegetarian place with Deb for her birthday several weeks back.It was in west end and I had a great vegan curry!!!

 61. Go to a concert

I saw “something with numbers” on Friday night with my friends Dani & Nicole at a club in the valley! They were ok, not really  my type of music though but I still had a great night out and it was great to see some live music!

65. (Buy) A hoola hoop

I bought two! Having a lot of fun with them but still haven`t really figured out how to do it real well but am having fun trying!!!!

 73. Meet at least five other bloggers in real life (2/5)

I met Nay several weeks back and again on Saturday! And it was great! I love meeting bloggers in real life and really hitting it off. I have been really lucky and almost all the people I have met through blogging have become great friends! It is also nice to meet with people that are in similar situations to me! Nay and I get on really well (I think!) and I will miss her when she moves to Japan in September but we will definitely be catching up once I am also back in Japan! Road trips around Japan will definitely be happening!

UPDATE: OMG, Sarah just brought it to my attention that I forgot to include her in the bloggers I have met list!!! I am so sorry babe! I didn`t forget I had met you, please don`t think that!!!

 75. Introduce some kind of ad system on my blog

Done! I am now a member of BlogHer! So far so good!

93. Go to the cinema 20 times (2/20)

I went and saw Sex and the City! Twice! I am also really really looking forward to seeing Mama Mia! in a couple of weeks! It looks like such a great film. Will have to take Shun to the movies too…something that isn`t too intense so he can follow the story line even if there is no subtitles!

Well there you go, that is what I have been up to! I have a couple of other things in progress but you can follow along and see what I have already done by checking out my 101 things in 1001 days page here which I am going to go update now. I know I should write about each thing as I mark them off but I find that this monthly update works better for me (and isn`t as boring for anybody reading!)

Popularity: 13% [?]

This is my first update since starting 101 things in 1001 days! You can see my list here….I was going to have photos for everything I did but it didn`t really work out that way so you are just going to have to trust me (or ask Shun)

7. Visit at least five areas I have never been before in Tokyo or surrounding areas (5/5)

Well I actually managed to visit five different places including Akasaka to have lunch with my friend Jen (Her, her husband and her beautiful baby boy live there!), Disney Sea (Photos of Disney Sea are here), Machida (Shumpei played soccer there yesterday actually…..It was like a Shibuya in the middle of Yokohama?!?), Iidabashi (For dinner with friends….Yummy Spanish food. Iidabashi was nothing like I thought it would be!) and Akabane (I am unsure if Akabane is still in tokyo-to or not it might be in Saitama) because Catherine moved there a couple of weeks ago and I have already visited her a couple of times. I would love to explore Akasaka and Machida a little bit more sometime!

11. Buy and keep a wedding notebook to keep track of stuff

Done! I bought a cute little book at Disney Sea and have glued in some stuff already! Number 12 on the list is choose a theme of colour scheme and I have basically done that also but am not going to cross it off yet til it is 100% sure!

35. Do EFT everyday for two weeks (In Progress)

Started on Thursday the 24th of April! Haven`t really seen any changes yet but will keep at it for the two weeks!

37. Learn 10 new recipes (3/10)

I learnt three new recipies! Two are really really simple Japanese dishes which I should of already known but didn`t! I learnt to make miso soup (Yes I did not know how!) and also kinpira gouba which I love and always buy at the supermarket but didn`t know how to make! It is made from carrot and burdock and it is delicious! The other recipe I learnt was Beef and red wine casserole found over at Guera`s cooking site! and this was a huge hit also! Shumpei loved it and I am definitely going to have to make it again in Australia when I can get my hands on some cheaper beef!!!

38. Give up coffee for a month (In progress)

Had my last cup of coffee on Saturday 26th of April….I have had headaches since which shows how much I drink coffee. Giving up coffee is a lot harder for me than giving up alcohol….I gave up alcohol the same day and have had two social outings since where others were drinking and I haven`t had any cravings for wine! I think this is a good thing…..but I am already dying for a cup of coffee!

43. Get back into a proper skin care routine including sunscreen everyday- Keep it up for at least 3 months (1/3)

I bought some new stuff at the end of March and have been trying it out! I am usually pretty good at the sunscreen everyday but stopped a little while I was teaching because I wasn`t wearing make-up but am back into the habit now of doing it everyday. As well as cleansing, moisterising etc etc

74. Add a new section to my blog

Done! I added the new part about my 101 things in 1001 days. I hope to add a new section soon of all the books I read because I love checking out what people are reading as I think it shows a little more about who they are! Plus if anyone close by (Either in Japan while I am still here) or in Brisbane once I am back there wants to read any of the books I have read and I still have them I could always send them on!!!

78. Do a monthly update for each month that I do 101 things in 1001 days on my blog. (1/33)

Doing it now!

79. Keep track of my blog stats and referrers by checking at least once a week (In progress)

This is in progress but I have been checking each week, sometimes a couple of times a week. Before switching to wordpress I had never ever checked my blog stats….. I had no idea what they were. It is kind of interesting to look at which sites refer the most traffic my way (At the moment it is entrecard and once a week it is the wordlesswednesday site) plus interesting to see what searches take people to my site. Mainly stuff for cherry blossoms or finding a Japanese man! hehe!

90. Read the last Harry Potter Book

Done I read i finished reading it a couple of days ago! It seems weird that the series is now over! It didn`t take me that long to read…maybe about five days! Recently I haven`t been reading much at home…..just when I am out at coffee shops by myself or on the train. Back in Australia I hope to get back into reading more just for the hell of it (maybe try to cut down on my internet time which is absurd!)

98. Clean out my closet and donate or throw away all clothes that no longer fit me or are ratty and old!

I did this when we moved. I threw out four  big garbage bags of stuff and gave a whole backpack worth of clothes to Catherine. She thought it was great!!!! It is weird to see her in clothes that belonged to me once. They suit her better (Cos she is so damn skinny!)

There are a couple of other things in progress like reading 100 books in a year and keeping a journal for a year but I will add them next time when I count up how many months I have to go and how many books I have read so far this year (I think it is about 35?)

So this is my progress so far. I didn`t do as much as I would of liked but it will have to do for now! There are quite a few things I look forward to getting stuck into over the next couple of months in Australia. I do think though that May might be a little slow for things to cross off but I am hoping June will be a killer month!!!! I have only crossed off five things completely so far but I am happy with that especially since I have quite a few others in progress!

For anyone thinking about joining in on the challenge I totally recommend it. While I have a life list the 101 things in 1001 days has a time limit and it a little bit easier to keep motivated I think!

Popularity: 65% [?]

Before (Jan 2006)

Now (Mar 2008)

I am overweight…I never used to be but it has crept up on me since I have been back in Japan the last 2.5 years. I am not going to state my weight but my BMI is 28.8 (Some of you smarties might be able to figure out my weight from that if you also know my height) and apparently anything over 26 is considered overweight….

I stated on my 101 things in 1001 days that I wanted to lose five kilos then another five but the reality is to go back to the weight I was when I left Australia in January 2006 I would have to lose about 18 kilos. Yep…you heard (read?) right 18 kilos in less than 2.5 years. You can`t really see much in the first photo (Europe Jan 2006…One of the few photos where I am not wearing a big bulky coat) but even in my face and arms you can see that I weighed a fair bit less.

I put on 10 kilos when I was 19 and in Japan on exchange and when I went back to Australia I lost 8 of them in the first 2 months from not really doing anything. I am hoping the same thing will happen when I go back to Australia this time but I don`t like my chances….but I am determined to lose weight.

So in preperation for returning to Australia and starting a weight loss program ( I will be joining weight watchers with my mum) I have decided to give up COFFEE and ALCOHOL for the month of May (There is one exception, I wasn`t going to have an exception but upon mentioning my decision to my closest friends here in Tokyo they all said I was crazy because my going away party in on May 10th and will be the last time for more than a year that I can go out with my Tokyo friends and let loose….so the 10th is the exception on the alcohol ban…but I am going to make an effort to drink water between each drink and stick to wine and stop before midnight even if we end up at karaoke!).

I would like to do a mini detox at some time during May also but might have to wait til I am back in Australia because for the next two weeks Shumpei`s mum will be cooking for us and I don`t want to say no meat to her because I would hate to be an inconvenience (and while I am in her house she won`t let me prepare my own food)

The other thing I am going to try (From May 1st if not before) will be crossing off EFT  every day for two weeks off my 101 list. I think it will be a good opportunity to get my mind ready and intune with my body for the weight loss I want to achieve!

While be in Chiba from Sunday and also hope to try and get a little exercise everyday….even just 20 minutes! I spend way to much time on the computer watching TV when even while doing that I could be doing some stretches or some kind of exercise! I think I will have to have a mini checklist of all my goals for each day. No coffee, no Alcohol, 20 mins exersise, EFT! hehe!

I feel that by putting this on my blog that maybe it will keep me more motivated and more honest. A lot of blogger friends are starting there own weight loss plans recently and I think reading their progress will also help to keep me motivated. Wish me luck (or give me hints!)

Popularity: 64% [?]

After writing a life list at the end of last year I found that having a list like that is good motivation to get out and do stuff which is why when I saw 101 things in 1001 days on a couple of blogs I read, I knew that I wanted to give it ago (Those blogs are here and here). I decided to start this in April because it will be my last full month in Japan and also because it will be almost a year until I get married so I thought having some wedding related things on the list as well as things I want to do in Australia would be a good idea. I have roped my friend Mandy into doing it with me and her little brother Paul is in too! Nay is joining in too!!! So on with the rules and my list!

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start date April 1st, 2008. Finish date December 28th, 2010

Japan/Japanese
1. Pass level 1 of JLPT
2. Read a Japanese newspaper or magazine and understand it
3. Take a Japanese cooking class or classes
4. See Sumo
5. Go to at least two of the following places: Nagasaki, Hakone, Nara or Hokkaido (0/2)
6. Get Japanese drivers license
7. Visit at least five areas I have never been before in Tokyo or surrounding areas (0/5)
8. Complete all of the exercises in `shiken ni deru kanji to goi`
9. Complete all the exercises in `kanzen master` grammar book for level 1 of the JLPT.
10. Find a decent apartment that Shumpei and I are both happy with (once we return to Japan)

Wedding
11. Buy and keep a wedding notebook to keep track of stuff
12. Choose a theme or colour scheme
13. Choose and buy a wedding dress
14. Choose and buy bridesmaids dresses or material
15. Find and book a photographer
16. Write and finalize guest list
17. Choose or make invitations
18. Send all invitations
19. Finalize menus for reception
20. Choose and buy a cake
21. Choose, organize and buy flowers
22. Have a meeting with organizer at wedding and reception venue
23. Make hair and make-up appointments
24. Organize and buy stuff for wedding favors
25. Decide on a honeymoon destination and book
26. Choose and buy wedding rings
27. Get marriage license
28. Get married

Health and Self-improvement
29. Try Pilates or yoga (At least two times)
30. Learn to ski
31. Lose five kilos (0/5)
32. Lose another five kilos (0/5)
33. Maintain the weight loss for at least six months (0/6)
34. Learn how to do self breast exams
35. Do EFT everyday for two weeks
36. Get my teeth whitened
37. Learn 10 new recipes (0/10)
38. Give up coffee for a month
39. Stop biting and picking at my nails
40. Learn how to keep a hoola hoop up for more than 2 minutes
41. Learn how to do at least one cool hoola hoop move!
42. Do a week long detox (No coffee, no alcohol, no meat etc etc)
43. Get back into a proper skin care routine including sunscreen everyday- Keep it up for at least 3 months (0/3)
44. Give up fast food for two consecutive months
45. Try (or learn to like) 5 new fruits or vegetables (0/5)
46. Have another pap smear test

Creativity
47. Knit something other than a scarf successfully
48. Learn to sew (again!)
49. Sew my own handbag
50. Learn how to use Photoshop
51. Learn how to use illustrator
52. Sell something I have made

While in Australia
53. Do some kind of class either in photography, writing, cooking or something completely different.
54. Make at least one trip out into the country with Shun
55. Go to five suburbs I have never visited before (0/5)
56. Visit Melbourne
57. Eat at at least 10 restaurants I have never been to before (0/10)
58. Show Shun what Christmas in Australia is really like
59. Make sure my dad buys a dog
60. Learn something about wine perhaps do a wine tasting
61. Go to a concert
62. Go to a show with Shun
63. Visit a city I have not been to before (maybe Cairns?)
64. Take Shun to at least one major sporting game

Buy
65. A hoola hoop
66. A Polaroid camera
67. A new pair of boots
68. A plane ticket back to Japan
69. A proper DSLR camera!
70. A wireless external hard drive
71. A sewing machine (Or bring my sewing machine in Australia back to Japan)

Blog & Writing
72. Get paid to write something
73. Meet at least five other bloggers in real life (0/5)
74. Add a new section to my blog
75. Introduce some kind of ad system on my blog
76. Do Nabloplomo- Now I can choose any month I wish to do this!
77. Keep my journal going for at least the year (the year will be up this August…but If I stop I will have to start again and complete another full year before the 1001 days are up)
78. Do a monthly update for each month that I do 101 things in 1001 days on my blog. (0/33)
79. Keep track of my blog stats and referrers by checking at least once a week
80. Reach 400 posts on my blog

Personal & Random
81. Sponsor a child
82. Perfect one piano piece
83. Save enough money in Australia to return to Japan and start up life again here
84. Visit with my grandmother
85. Read 100 books in 1 year
86. Be able to skip for at least fifteen minutes
87. Organize my itunes, delete double ups and make at least three new play lists
88. Back-up my computer
89. Organize my photos and put all my photos onto cd`s as a back-up
90. Read the last Harry Potter Book
91. Finish the 888 book challenge
92. Watch the rest of Heroes with Shun
93. Go to the cinema 20 times (0/20)
94. Wake up at 6am everyday for a week
95. Get a credit card
96. Go camping with Shun (hopefully in Australia)
97. Get a new address book and add everyone I know too it (will be good for when it comes time to send out wedding invitations)
98. Clean out my closet and donate or throw away all clothes that no longer fit me or are ratty and old!
99. List 101 things that make me happy
100. Make a budget and stick to it for six months (0/6)
101. Donate 10 dollars to charity for each uncompleted task after 1001 days

Now I have done the easy part, putting it up here on my blog…..Now it is time for the hard part…Actually getting everything done before December 28th 2010!

Popularity: 91% [?]

• I always resort to dots when I have a lot of stuff to say but not much time to say it! Or a lot of random stuff that doesn`t really warrant its own posts!
• I am starting the 101 things in 1001 days challenge on April 1st…with Mandy and Paul I think it will help get wedding plan stuff done as well as a fair bit of stuff I have on my life list! I first read about this on the blogs here and here and have loved reading about their progress! Does anybody else want to join in????
• I am almost halfway through my encyclopedia of me meme and was wondering if anybody had any ideas of things they would want to see me write about for m onwards (I have L done!)
• I have booked a flight back to Australia and my tickets have arrived…It is a one way flight leaving Japan May 13th and arriving in Brisbane early morning on May 14th…..The ticket was pretty cheap….only 60,000yen including tax (That is about 650 dollars I think?) and thank god it was cheap because I have no money! I took a lot of sick days in the last couple of months meaning my last pay check was significantly less than usual!
• I finish work on April 11th so will have two weeks to pack up the apartment (We need to be out by end of April) and then another two weeks to relax in Chiba at Shumpei`s parents place until I leave to go home. And best of all I also have a weeks holiday next week…My second last week of work will be spent having a paid holiday. I like that! I am not sure how much relaxing I will be able to do at the in-laws place….I am not usually even allowed to put my own bread in the toaster…Shumpei`s mum insists on doing it for me. Let alone allowed to wash my own plates. This is something that really bothers me because I feel like I am taking advantage even though i offer EVERY TIME. I lived at Shumpei`s parents place for two months when I was first back in Japan…
• Shumpei taught me to play Mahjong and I really liked it. It is a Chinese game that Shumpei sometimes plays with his friends at a place especially for Mahjong…Not many people know how to play it I think so chances are I will forget how to play it before I get another chance!
• I read The Kite Runner the other day and it was awesome. Everyone should read it!
• Oh by the way the two quotes that nobody got on my movie quote meme…..One was from The Blues Brothers and the other was from Moulin Rouge!!!
• Oh I almost forgot!!! I got some more blog bling from the delightful Guera!!
• I really liked this award because I love reading blogs from around the world and have been doing more of it recently. I was so happy when she passed this on to me. So I have decided to pass it onto some other ex-pats bloggers I read similar to like what Guera did!
  (I am not sure if they all read my blog or not though!) There are heaps of others I would love to pass it onto also but I am not sure how may I can pass it onto! Also I am not sure where this award originated but it is great!
  • Mandy
  • Eurotrippen
  • Illahee
  • Amy
• My next post will be L is for…..

Popularity: 19% [?]