The Year That Was - When Sushi Met Tokyo

Well 2007 certainly rocked the Casbah in so many more ways than I thought possible.

Bringing in the year in super fine spirits back at home in Australia certainly helped to kick the year off nicely and set a wonderful vibe that seemed to flow throughout the year. A swish birthday bash for my 30th worked wonders and was a great continuation of the holiday parties and outings. Much of January was about getting ready and steady for TOKYOMADE to get up and go go go! And boy did it ever! They say time flies when you are having fun, they ain't kidding. I am sure that part of the reason why it feels like 07 has flown by is the intense amount of fun we have been having caring for our new lil babe and the overwhelming response we have had.

Although we had been planning and daydreaming for quite sometime February was when all of dreams became a full blown reality, making way for new dreams and adventures to unfold. While sushizume took a back seat for a bit it was full speed ahead with a new blog with a whole new set of readers and friends.

March was all about decadence. We celebrated the blossoms and beautiful friends with the yummiest and possibly the pinkest cupcakes this side of Kyoto. Just looking back at them they look simply divine and we are eternally grateful to the talents efforts of our lovely friends Nick and Lindsey for a fabulous bake off that ended in a delightful river side feast.

Just when we thought it couldn't get any tastier, we were contacted by Japan's No. 1 English mag Metropolis. TOKYOMADE was a hit. Naturally I sent off copies to my ma and nan, they were proud as punch.


April was all about the Earth and making connections. Tokyo began to shine and put on a spectacular performance for our highly debaucherous hanami party Shinjuku gyoen. Earth Day in Yoyogi made for a glorious end to the month.

Things starting really cooking in May with the sweet wiff of burlesque in the air as we were invited to sponsor the very glamorous Dr Sketchy's Tokyo Anti- Art School events. Lucky ducks we are. We also headed on back to our original dreaming and scheming grounds, Tokyo Design Festa, thttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifo meet up with friends and creators from all over Japan.

June was about sketching, waxing, drooling, hair cuts, umbrellas and TM featured in N.E.E.T magazine.

July shattered all past records and became the month of complete newness. Had I have known that a big plastic ring could bring about so much elation and change, both physically and emotionally I would have picked it up a lot sooner. Masao was Prime Minister for a day sharing his gorgeousness with Gala and Carnival came to Dr Sketchy's Tokyo. Being a Broad, an inspirational community for women in Japan wrote a wonderful review in their July issue. I reminisced about Paris and TM was splashed on billboards all over Shibuya. Oh yeah, and I became slightly addicted to Facebook.

Mama Mia came to Tokyo in August and we sock shopped the month away, with a quick trip to super serene Nikko. Big fun. Lots of pics, snacks and tired toes. I got the best surprise pressie of all, a cotton candy colored Hula Hoop, my mummy spoils me so. We spent a day in the gorgeous (sweltering) summer sun celebrating the Tokyo Pride day and I learned that wearing a pink wig, red dress and dancing well into the night surrounded by stunning drag queens can only end in one way...slumped in a karaoke box couch, drooling on a microphone, slurring Tina Turner songs with your mother, not so charming. My mum also become a Geisha and stunned us all with her beauty.


September was all about hoops, cocktails and chandeliers. My love for all three continued to intensify. We rejoiced upon discovering that our humble abode was fit for funky parties and fabulous friends. As schedules became impossible to match up I took to the streets and hooped whenever I had a free moment. Studying from youtube and DVDs I began to develop my own style and hoop dreams began to sprout. More to come in 2008...

Looking back October was basically one big party, no wonder I can't remember much of it (a shame really cos the pics make it look like a whole lot of fun) Giveaways, Art Shows, birthdays, wild goose chases, karaoke, opera, sketching and Halloween all packed into one short and fun-filled month.


November gave us the opportunity to be a part of Asia's biggest Art Show, Design Festa. A flurry of plans, ideas, packing, constructing, painting, nuts and bolts, shipping and two great days of friends new and old. Would do it again in a heartbeat.


December has been all about celebrating the successes of the year and setting wheels in motion for the new one.

It has been such a wonderful year and we have so many truly beautiful, talented and loving people to thank for it. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for your support, your comments, ideas and well wishes, thank you for thinking me into your life.

We have amazing plans for 2008. Our goals are set, venues booked and plane tickets to think about. Wishing you all a friggin splendid end to an intense year, set your sights high for 2008 because it is going to be a wild one! Nothing but the best to you, may all your hopes and dreams come true!

Big love and sweet dreams
xx

The Death and Life of Ice Cream

A glorious masterpiece making me think of warmer months and frolicking at the beach! Ahhhhh

Hips

Another gorgeous day in Tokyo but a little chilly for my liking. I taped one of my hoopdance warmups this morning. Our tatami room is gorgeous in the mornings with sun flooding in. It is a little small for my wild hoop dancing but great for warming up!

All Year Round

Happy Holiday loves!


(From this time last year - me and my nan. xxxxx)


"Remember that giving, whether your gifts are tangible or of the soul, always feels good, whatever the occasion. However you prefer to celebrate the holidays, practicing the ideals of the season every day means experiencing the beauty of the holiday season all year long." Daily Om

Christmas Holidays is Here!

Hey people, BG and I will be taking around a week and a half from the blog. I'll be on family vacation in Osaka for the next few days and then be back in Hong Kong; BG already has plans with friends packed for the holidays. Anyways, I know BG already did a post on affordable posts yesterday, but here is a list of presents that I want and I'm sure most of you would love as well, (mind you, not all of them are quite so affordable):

Remember the Nex Check Halter dress by Marc by Marc Jacobs? I blogged about it a few weeks ago thinking that blogging would take it off my mind, but I still want it! It gets many ticks on my list of criterias for an ideal dress: cute, versatile, nice material, good colours, plain enough to be worn more than once without being too plain.

Miu Miu bags have had that golden buckle design for a few seasons but I'm still really liking it. This tan leather bag looks like such a nice and casual day bag.

Black classic Christian Louboutin shoes. No explanation needed.

Tom Ford's Whitney sunglasses. I don't care how overrated Tom Ford is. There just aren't a lot of sunglasses out there that look so cool and fit me as well as this pair.

BG did a post on Tiffany rings a week ago. The one I want is the Frank Gehry Fish ring in brushed sterling silver (or perhaps plain sterling silver). I haven't seen it in real life yet, but I imagine it would look like a small, sleek sculpture on my fingers. Loves it!

I was looking at the calendars of TV shows on Amazon, but I was disappointed not to find a Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas is a book about the fashion retail industry. As an over-thinking shopper, there are all sorts of little facts I would like to know in this book. I'm still waiting for it to come out in paperback.

Gossip Girl calendar. Really, don't they know how many girls would love to be able to stare at the gorgeous actors and actresses throughout the year? (Plus wouldn't it be good marketing for CW?) Anyhow, if you haven't read the Gossip Girl books yet, go read them! They're not the same as the TV show but still very juicy.

Veronica Mars is one of my favourite shows of all time and this TV season just hasn't been as exciting since the show's was cancelled. So everyone, get yourself the Veronica Mars DVD box sets!

Have a fabulous Christmas people! We'll see you in the new year!

Image credits: www.amazon.com, www.saksfifthavenue.com, www.tiffany.com, www.eluxury.com, www.barneys.com