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“Spring is here! This was a true spring week in Tokyo. It was beautiful and sunny for a few days, then rainy and cold for a few. I tried to get out of the apartment and take some walks on the nice days, and I had a few delightful encounters. I met a handsome bulldog that rides a skateboard, a little Japanese girl who was visibly proud of herself when she said ‘hello’ to me (most kids are very nervous around foreigners), and I discovered the tiny fairy settlement that has claimed a flowerbed in a park down the street. Spring is magical in Tokyo, and it reminds me why I like living here. I’m especially anxious for the cherry blossom trees that line the river to bloom; it’s an incredible sight that I’ll be sure to document and share with everyone!”
*Have you heard of Steller? It’s a new app that lets you make stories with photos and videos. It’s really not that different from a slideshow, but there’s something special about the book-like format that I love. They also have a great (although limited) selection of fonts and some pre-designed templates that make it easy to use. I created one after taking a fantastic walk along the Meguro River near our house.
*I’m going to use this blog for some shameless self-promotion. I’m starting a new venture here in Tokyo! Some friends of ours were over for the Superbowl and commented that they wished they could find some of the yummy baked goods that I’d made for their kids to bring to school for birthday celebrations, etc. They spend a fortune on sub-par treats and thought there was a market for delicious food catering specifically to expats. So I’ve started Cozy Kitchen, offering small batch treats, small event catering and cooking classes for English-speakers in Tokyo! Pass the word along if you know anyone who might be interested 🙂
*Oh my goodness, how I love these metallic polka dot pillows. But $58? I sense a DIY in my future…!
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“Last week I mentioned that I was taking a Black and White Film Photography course and I hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s THE MOST FUN I’VE HAD IN AGES. The whole process of developing the film was such a ritual and when I unfurled the film from the reel and saw this long strip of (I hope) properly exposed photos, it was a pretty indescribable feeling. My darkroom doesn’t have color processing capabilities, but you can bet I’ll be looking for one that does. Film! Who knew?!“
* I dig amazing product design, so I loved this feature on Design Milk about redesigning products to eliminate waste. There’s not a single idea presented that doesn’t make whole boat load of sense to me.
* If you’ve ever wondered about fast fashion and how the companies behind businesses like Forever 21 (who gets clothing and accessories from runways to stores faster than the original designers themselves seemingly can), this is an interesting read.
* Honestly, the unicorn graphics are my number one favorite part of this piece on why Generation Y yuppies are unhappy, but I just realized some of the research included comes from a professor at my alma mater! Head over to check it out, for the unicorns are pretty amazing (and yes, the article is thought-provoking too).
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Shelterness liked Alyssa’s DIY hanging watch holder.
Style Haul included Carla’s DIY wire charm bracelet in their “Just Add Some Sparkle” roundup.