I've been waiting forever to get this new...

Do!

Yes!! I have been eagerly waiting to get my hair chopped off for at least four months, because my current hairstyle has not been quite "me." When I came to this realization that my hair was not reflecting my personality, I was determined to schedule a haircut appointment ASAP, but this got delayed due to keeping my hair long for my friend's wedding. She wanted her bridesmaids' hair long if possible, and since keeping my hair long for a little while longer was the least I could do to help make her big day special I decided to wait it out until after she got married. Somehow the hold-up lasted an extra two months because her wedding was back in May. 

Nonetheless, today I am feeling extra happy because the day had officially arrived to get a new do! Or as you would say in Japanese, I finally got an "イメチェン” (E-meh'chen). Can you hear "image change" in that phrase, because that's what it means.

Here it is. I have probably never been so ecstatic about a haircut as I am today. Hopefully it doesn't horrify anyone, because I absolutely love it!!

  

Here's a side view. 

Semi-side view. 

Thank you to my hair stylist, who I've gone to for my hair for possible about 10 years. She's amazing! 

Masumi

Red Bell Pepper Side-Delish

A few weeks ago I tried another side dish from my favorite easy cooking book, and it was a big success.

This side dish was so simple: It only used four ingredients: Red Bell Peppers, Japanese mayo, panko & peppers. It tasted so savory and the flavor, rich! Chadsen & I loved it. 

The simplicity in making this side dish makes it a must try. 

Ingredients: 

1 Red bell pepper (or you can do yellow, or do 1/2 of each)

(Japanese) mayo - I may have put about a little smaller than quarter size on each bell pepper piece.

Panko - 1 Tbsp

Pepper - one-two shakes per piece.

Instructions:

1. Remove stem & the seeds from the bell pepper. 

2. Cut the bell pepper vertically in half & slice the bell peppers into horizontal slices (You may have to compromise & try to make the best rectangle pieces that you can).

3. Put the bell peppers onto a pan that will fit in the toaster oven, then add the mayo and panko on top.

4. In the toaster oven, bake the bell peppers for 10-15 minutes, then broil for the last few minutes (about three mins).

5. After the bell peppers look a little crispy on top remove from the oven and add a shake of pepper or two on the bell peppers.

Enjoy!

Masumi

Lately

It's been a while! For some reason I thought that Blogger was closing down, and at around the same time I had been thinking of making a new blog, which you can see hasn't yet been created since I'm posting here.

So far this summer has been both great and rocky. Job hunting is still in full throttle ever since I graduated last month but so far nothing yet. It's funny how graduates tend to struggle finding a job, I had a much easier time finding a job before graduating. The best part about this summer so far is that I have time to play with my camera and practice taking more photos. :)

A few things that has been going on lately:

July 4th - Independence Day. Chadsen & I got to do a few together thanks to our city permitting fireworks!
We had quite a good free show all around us thanks to our neighbors firing up their huge fireworks. Thank you :).

Last weekend, after getting my ring rhodium plated again Chadsen and I spent some time at a park, where we found two duckies with a side-do. This one, and...

This one. So, are these two related? 

These two were two peas in a pod the entire time we were there. They just hung out (until a big duck would come at them). Observe how the one on the left simply looks as if it is in bliss? Just look at how it smiles, so cute!

My sweet friend Ashley let me photograph her pretty much all day a few weeks back to help me practice photography!

Is she not a beaut? 

See you soon.

Masumi