Prudence Gail Carriger Package! OMG!

I was suprised when I received a package from Amanda last week. I was expecting some sort of spring package, but it was something even better if that is possible!!

The box was full of book geekiness!!! Gail Carriger's new book, Prudence, came out in March. Imagine my surprise when I opened the package and found a signed copy of the book and cute related goodies. Amanda sent me a Prudence paper fan, a poster, and button.

She also sent some packs of green tea, sweet biscuits, and a box of peach pie flavored tea. I tried the peach tea earlier today and it was good though I was hoping for more of a peach pie flavor. It smelled deliciously like peach pie, but the taste was just a little bit peach pie.

I wish I lived in an area that had more book signings.......at least I have a fabulous friend who can score book goodies at the signings in CA!!

Thank you for the awesome package!!!

Until next time ^___^

Valentine Package from Amanda

Yes, I know this is a late post.......I apologize :*(

In this year's Valentine's Day package, Amanda sent me some cute items like always.

She sent me a rainbow colored crochet pouch by Yummy Pancake (perfect for holding business cards!) which contained two mini buttons, a chubby bunny cell charm, and a bobble head bunny key chain.

In terms of yumminess, she sent some heart shaped Peep marshmallows, a package full of Dove chocolates and macadamia Hershey kisses, and a box of matcha sakura Kit Kats.

For my craft stash, I got a heart mold which I can use for resin work. For my bathroom, she found an adorable bunny soap dish and included a bar of soap from Lush. It's smell great!

She sent me a cute notepad with a I Love Ramen illustration on it. I really do love ramen. It's delicious if not nutritious.

I thought the Kit Kats were a surprise, but then I opened an envelope of these cute thank you bunny cards that Amanda had made me for our etsy shop customers! I love them and can't wait to use them. She's so talented with her card making!

She sent me two handmade cards......aren't they cute?!?!? I love her use of the washi tap on the panda thank you card!

Thank you for my awesome package!!!

Until next time ^___^

Japanese Kit Kats - Matcha Sakura Flavored

In my Valentine's Day package from Amanda was a box of these delicious Kit Kats from Japan. Her cousin was able to pick up some boxes of this seasonal flavor of Kit Kats on her trip to Japan.

I had been looking at these on ebay and other websites, but didn't buy them as no one seemed to be selling them under $6 a package. I was so happy to see these in my package!

The flavor is just lovely. A sweet green tea cream with hints of sakura flavoring......ah, so yummy!

I want MORE!! Hopefully I can find these or other flavors in CA at the Daiso stores when I go to see Amanda in August.

Until next time ^___^

February and March Skoshboxes

Hi, everyone! I haven't been keeping up with my blogging lately.....I blame watching Korean dramas and reading books! Needless to say, I'm trying to catch up with my blogging.

For some reason, I didn't photograph the contents of my February skoshbox. I have a feeling I probably thought I had already done so :(

Favorites (in order):
1. Shimi Corn Chocolate - star shaped chocolate puffs. These remind me of chocolate cereal. Makes me wonder if you could add milk to them?!
2. Jagabee Potato Fries - French fry tasting chips. These were quite good in terms of taste. They remind me of potato sticks in a can. My coworkers and I got a laugh out of the packaging. It says that the chips were made in Japan, but exported by a company in California. So did they go from Japan to CA and then back to Japan and then to the US?!?!?
3. Charlotte Matcha Choco - chocolate with a green tea filling. The filling on this chocolate is not a sweet cream matcha, but the regular matcha flavor. It's good, but I would rather have the matcha mochi choco squares from last June's package.

Dislikes:
1. Kasugai Fruit Gummies: It must be my luck to get the grape flavor every time there is chance of different fruit flavors.
2. Nakayoshi Soft Cookie Ball: we've encountered these before under a different name (tamago boro cookies) in a skoshbox from May last year.

Questionable:
1. Rilakkuma Gum and Seal Set - gum.......nothing extraordinary about the flavor, but on the plus side it came with an adorable Rilakkuma bookmark and sticker sheet!
2. Mini Box Chewing Gum - gum......again.....

Now onto March's skoshbox, which came in a new box design! Blue with a paper crane illustration along with Japanese text and more cute illustrations.

Favorites:
1. Toppo Biscuit Sticks: Pocky in reverse. A biscuit stick filled with chocolate except the biscuit is a pretzel. Very yummy!!
2. Morinaga Twig Choco: these came in two flavors, regular chocolate and almond. The almond flavor is delicious while the chocolate flavor is just your normal chocolate.
3. Corn Potage Umaibo: another snack from a previous box. I really don't mind have a repeat of this umaibo. It's amazing!
4. S'corn BBQ Puffs: Japanese BBQ flavors puff chips. None of us were sure how this was supposed to be purely Japanese BBQ flavor as it reminded us of your average BBQ chips at the supermarket.
5. Hokkaido Milk Chews: this was like the white rabbit chews you get at your Asian market, but they were a lot softer and the flavor was fantastic.

Dislikes:
1. Kishiri Crystal Grape Candy: I didn't try this as it's grape flavored......yuck.....but I had my coworker try it and he liked it. It is a two flavored hard candy with grape and mint. An odd combination, but obviously it went well as my coworker had no complaints.

Questionable:
1. Fujiya Home Pie Premium: another repeat from an earlier skoshbox. It said it was supposed to be a buttery-flaky pie cookie, but it tasted like coconut like the previous snack.

I received April's skoshbox in the mail yesterday so I will have it with my coworkers later this month.

Until next time ^___^

February and March Recap

Read:

February -
1. Talking to the Dead by Barbara Weisburg
2. A Daughter's Return by Janet Lee Barton
3. Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
4. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
5. Folklore of Japan edited by Keigo Seki

March -
1. Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn
2. Kokoro by Lafcadio Hearn
3. Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan Volume 1 by Lafcadio Hearn
4. A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin
5. This One Summer by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki
6. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
7. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
8. Millennium Snow volume 1 and 2 by Bisco Hatori
9. Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
10. Three Kingdoms Volume 1 translated by Moss Roberts

Stitched:
February -
1. Strawberry Cottage Cake by Country Cottage Needleworks

March -
2. Blueberry Cottage Cake by Country Cottage Needleworks

Until next time ^____^

CCN Blueberry Cake finish :)

Threads: DMC blanc, 825, 3346, 3828, and 3840
Start/Finish: 2/17 & 22 and 3/1 & 8/2015

My finish on the blueberry cake block today. I hope to start the next block some time in April. I have some crocheting to do for the rest of this month.

Hope you guys are having a good weekend!

Until next time >___<

CCN Blueberry Cake progress

My progress today on my CCN blueberry cake block. I think by next Sunday I should have the block finished.

Until next time >___<

How To Raise A Cactuar

While known for their speed and sometimes devastating 1,000 needle attacks, little is known about raising these creatures in garden settings. It is quite possible to raise cactuars on one's own, but it is a tricky endeavour. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when raising these creatures as a hobby.

1) If you are fortunate enough to come upon cactuar seeds amongst the markets and/or rare creature auctions, keep in mind that they will not come cheap. Seeds of this rare variety of cacti will set you back a few thousand gil, but the chance of raising cactuars it well worth it in terms of an engaging experience and a fabulous conversation starter for enthusiasts of rare creatures.

2) Unlike other flora seeds, cactuar seeds need to be planted in clay pots on top of the soil, not underneath. Keep the soil moist so your seeds do not dry out. Cactuar seeds love sunlight so the pot must stay in the sun for as long as possible during the day.

3) Once the cactuar has been established in his clay pot, you must keep all animals or small children away from his abode. Despite being only a small cactuar, he will strike out at any invasion to the area around his clay pot with a 100 needle attack.

4) Before your cactuar becomes full grown, you must transplant your cactuar to any local desert area nearby. Since your cactuar is still regulated to its pot, it does not have the ability to move around and it cannot see behind him. During the night you must take a heavy cloth bag and put it over your cactuar and its pot while it is asleep. You can transport the cactuar during the day by sneaking up behind him, but it is a risk as it can be damaging to yourself and your cactuar.

5) While in the desert transplanting your cactuar, beware of nocturnal enemies. It is advisable to bring along a bounty hunter to keep an eye out for any attacks while you are busy with your cactuar.

6) Dig a shallow hole in the sand and while wearing mythril gloves, carefully take your cactuar out of its clay pot and transfer it to the hole. Cover the cactuar with the sand. Do not be afraid of harming your cactuar as the sand is its natural environment. Nothing else remains to be done and you may return to your home.

I hope you have these tips on raising cactuars helpful. It is quite an enjoyable hobby and it is well worth persuading to impress your colleagues at your next rare creature emporium meeting.

Until next time ^____^

CCN Blueberry Cake Start

My progress so far on Country Cottage Needleworks' blueberry cake design.

Until next time >___<

CCN Strawberry Cake finish

Pattern: Cottage Cakes - Strawberry by Country Cottage Needleworks
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Cream linen by Zweigart
Threads: DMC blanc, 580, 666, 725, and 3828
Start/Finish: 1/31, 2/7-8, 14-15/2015

My finish on the CCN  strawberry cake. I am starting on the blueberry cake! I love these designs!

Until next time >___<