New Girl From Head to Toe

If you haven't caught on to FOX's latest, super hot, show The New Girl, well you should change that. The weekly show just finished its first season, and every episode left me in hysterics...as well as wanting roommates, bangs and a new wardrobe. 

I have been a fan of the show since it aired, and in the past few days, I realized how much it has seeped into my life. Yesterday after school I went to get a haircut, and seriously considered getting bangs. They look so cute on Zooey Deschanel, as well as all the Japanese children I see on a daily basis, that I wanted to partake in the fun too! But I refrained, bangs look terrible on me, and just got it trimmed.

Then, today at work, I walked by a mirror and literally chuckled when I realized how similarly dressed I was to Zooey Deschanel's character, Jess. TV imagery really seeps in when you least expect it.

Here I am, as Jess, from head to toe...

pearl earrings

stripes

fun jewelry

high waisted skirt

flats

The Refined Girl, 

Kate

P.S. Check out the promo...

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Must Read: Oldest Living Kidney Donor `Pleased to Feel Useful`...from BBC.

Google Search: Sanja Matsuri

Tune: Charlie Brown By Coldplay

Accomplishment: Great impromptu classes today.
Obsessions: This article from Lindsey...14 Photos of the Subway System Under Construction, 1901-1931

Afternoon Exploration

The weather as of late has been amazingly warm, if not hot, all day and into the night. So, after a few hours at my desk in the teacher's room, the last thing I want to do when I get home is sit, let alone inside. After school yesterday, I went for a lovely run to a little park nearby. All with the sole intention, of not being inside. Kris met me post run, and as we walked and talked, we decided to turn down a few “streets” out of sheer curiosity. We felt like modern day explorers as we  scaled trees to avoid massive puddles, and let ourselves get lost in our sleepy little town. As far as we were concerned, we were Lewis & Clark...

if Lewis & Clark iphone with a map app.

2012 Lewis & Clark,
Kate

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Must Read: Why Do So Many of the Most Popular Baby Names Rhyme...from Slate.

Google Search: Bones Theme Song.

Tune: Hey Boy Hey Girl By Chemical Brothers. 

Accomplishment: A successful stations lesson. My kids did great at my speaking station.
Obsessions: The weather...aka wearing shorts after 8pm.

Doggy Date

Charlie and Sheila playin in the yard...

R-U-N-N-I-N-G...

First come sniffs, then comes licks...

then come nothing cause you're both fixed.

Pretty sure my dog has more of a love life than I do,
Kate

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Must Read: Dictators With Mommy Issues...from Slate.

Google Search: Big Beach Festival.

Tune: Paradise By Coldplay. 

Accomplishment: Studying Japanese this morning. It was the last thing I wanted to do.
Obsessions: Late night runs.

Weekend Update

This past weekend was jam packed with the fun stuff. Filled with dinner with old friends, a BBQ with new friends, and a day spent in Yoyogi Park eating Thai food. It went by so quick, I was legitimately surprised when stupid Monday came around as fast as it did. 

Here are some captured moments from this past weekend.

Hope you all had a good one too!

Birthday Crackers for Clayton.

Sayaka and Keito.

Sayaka. Saturday. Shibuya.

Ka-re-o-ke Entertainment. 

Yoyogi Sunday Funday.

Yoyogi Thai Festival.

Debs Channeling Ringo.

Back to Reality, 

Kate

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Must Read: Nevada Says I Do. Mississippi Says I Don't...from Slate.

Google Search: Velcro

Tune: Boyfriend By Justin Bieber... don't knock it till ya try it!

Accomplishment: An awesome workout last night.
Obsessions: The New Girl.

Mom

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there! 

Mom,

Thanks for takin on the world's toughest profession. 

Consisting of daily overtime, high stress, and utmost importance. 

A job, where somehow, money comes out of your account rather than goes in.

Thanks for putting up with tears, screams, yells, tantrums, and eye rolls.

Thanks for believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself.

Thanks for the school lunches and forcing down the veggies.

Thanks for the soccer game support and Kumon days.

Thanks for giving me a solid foundation and wings to fly...

all the way to Japan.

I love you mom.

True Story.

                                  Some mom thoughts from around the web that I think we can all appreciate.

I LOVE YOU MOM!

Eileen's Favorite Child, 

Kate

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Hiroshima Fun

Aside from the historical perspective Hiroshima offers, the city itself has so much to give. I was loving the city feel, all the while being surrounded by trees and nature. I absolutely adore when those two elements come together. I made that comment to Jeff one of the days we were there, and he made an observation I never would have thought of. Noting that none of the plants, and buildings for that matter, could be more than 65 years old. With that thought fresh in our minds, we realized that we didn't see too many elderly people either.

Nonetheless, Hiroshima has made its way onto my list of My Favorite Places in Japan.

Here is why...

Spontaneous Maroon 5 songs
from the man under the bridge. 

Shopping!

Miyajima Island

Residential deer (that's what the sign called them), a hike, and a pagoda.

 

Fish Lab

Have a drink. Buy a fish.

Hiroshima Garden

Serene.

                                                   Miyajima Backpackers

Our awesome hostel, and new hostel friends.

Shinkansen

Needs no further introduction.

I left my heart in Hiroshima, 

Kate

[The Latest]

Must Read: Things That Will Make You Feel Old...from Buzzfeed

Google Search: Can you really marry you cousin in North Carolina...apparently yes.

Tune: Sleepyhead By Passion Pit. 

Accomplishment: A successful team taught lesson with Namiko in front of parents.
Obsessions: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest.