Author Archives: mariko

ballpoint pen love

Posted on January 28, 2011 by mariko

I think the ballpoint pen is underrated. Sure, they are mass produced and generally kind of crappy, but I think each of us at some point has experienced a special relationship with a ballpoint pen (I’m looking at you, Bic … Continue reading →

Posted in office supplies | 9 Comments

belly warmer

Posted on January 18, 2011 by mariko

The haramaki, or belly warmer, is a winter staple in Japan. Young and old, men and women, the haramaki does not discriminate (my father was a landscaper, and he used to wear one all the time). I have a few, … Continue reading →

Posted in sewing | 7 Comments

Sweatshirty

Posted on January 11, 2011 by mariko

Amazingly, I got some sewing done over the weekend. Yeah, it’s a sweatshirt, but it’s winter, and I am always cold. I always have to have on several layers, and when I go outdoors, I need the technical gear, like … Continue reading →

Posted in sewing | 10 Comments

Raindrops keep falling on my legs

Posted on January 4, 2011 by mariko

Okay, so we’ve had several days of gloriously dry yet very chilly weather, but soon we will return to the downpours and nonstop wetness that is the Pacific Northwest. I grew up here in Portland, and I have never liked … Continue reading →

Posted in sewing | 5 Comments

snowy getaway

Posted on December 31, 2010 by mariko

We had a mini getaway right after Christmas and took off to Baker City in eastern Oregon. Neither of us had ever been east of Umatilla before, so it was new territory. I knew nothing about Baker City, but it … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

cookies

Posted on December 23, 2010 by mariko

I recently had a white trash cookie party. It was white trash not in a disgusting yicky sense but in a delicious, cookies-from-bygone-eras sense. We had some real winners, I think. I made these orange dream cookies with white chocolate … Continue reading →

Posted in baking | 6 Comments

marshmallows

Posted on December 22, 2010 by mariko

There is something magical about making marshmallows. It just seems so unreal. How do you start out with some sugars and such and end up with MARSHMALLOWS? And other people usually respond in disbelief: “you made MARSHMALLOWS?” The thing is, … Continue reading →

Posted in baking, candy/chocolate | 6 Comments

Perfect mug

Posted on December 14, 2010 by mariko

My friend Chico Hayasaki is an amazing artist (in addition to being an incredible person). Her work appears all over the place, and she is always doing super crafty things. She designed a couple of mugs and plates for &MO … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Sanuki udon

Posted on December 8, 2010 by mariko

When we were in Japan last month, we visited a friend in Okayama, who drove us across the Seto-Ohashi (aka big-ass bridge) to Kagawa Prefecture, the smallest prefecture in Japan. Kagawa is known for its noodles, namely udon! Supposedly Kagawa … Continue reading →

Posted in food | 4 Comments

Matcha parfait

Posted on December 3, 2010 by mariko

Delicious matcha parfait from Toki in Osaka. The place specializes in matcha treats and is located in some “gourmet” underground restaurant area in the JR Osaka station. I have been dreaming about this place since I first went there several … Continue reading →

Posted in food | 4 Comments