Harajuku Shopping Bargains

Seriously.  Where on earth...

3 for 1000yen ($12), and this is not a Thrift store, these are new.  Just last season.

Now do you see why I loved my day out so much?

 Only in Harajuku.

Takeshita Street, Harajuku, that is.

Otherwise known as "ura-harajuku"

 In Japan they think Summer's over, but this is new season for me, because I'm going back to spend Summer in Australia.  Southern Hemisphere.

The Shop where I spent all my 2000yen ($24) at once?

Momo by Wonder Rocket.

Autumn 2011 Tokyo New Styles

This shopfront "Ingni" looked like a textbook example of the new styles I've seen proliferating since the beginning of October when the weather (finally) turned a little cooler.

Some of the major trends this Autumn in Japan are: 

• Pencil pleated skirts with or without a belt, together with
• Blouses with ribbons or bows on the front and round lacey collars.
• New colours are deep red, camel, a browney-orangey colour that I don't know the name of, and brown. And of course those are teamed with black, white, cream and beige (neutral colours) which are always popular in Japan.

 Somehow the manequins just do it better than me...

Shibuya Shopping: Wakatsuki Chinatsu

I so wanted this dress at WC!

but the 8000yen price tag gave me second thoughts about buying it...

This is Shibuya, and if you look straight ahead you'll see the fashion shopping district:

October 1st, 2011 was the opening day of this new store, WC.

It's the shop of Wakatsuki Chinatsu, a famous Japanese actress.

It was still brand new so very crowded even on a Monday... 

(I had to wait a while to get this shot without girls coming and going through the doors)

I thought this was cute too, but for 8000yen? ($95)  I was proud of myself that I have a very similar skirt I bought in Australia for $16.

 I tried it on anyway...

 ...and then continued my shopping day...

Shibuya + Harajuku = my Wonderland!

This afternoon my dear husband looked after our son and I set off  by myself to visit Shibuya and Harajuku.  I had sooooo much fun and took so many photos.... I just can't wait to post about it all!  Sorry we're still travelling at the moment and with our 1-year-old I'm finding no time for blogging.  We'll be home next week so stay tuned!  
By the way, have you had a look at the "like to win" Giveaway?  I'm looking forward to sending prize packs of goods from Japan to 5 lucky readers.  Good luck!

Tiered Lace & Pink Boho

Dress & Belt set: Blue Grass (Japan) 3000yen, Bolero: Ally Fashion (Australia) $20

 Thanks to my Japanese husband, I've found a new appreciation for the femininity of Japanese fashion.  Actually I like it.  Thanks for the influence, hubby.  Who would have thought...

Want some freebies from Japan?  Click here to find out about J-Mama Style's "Like to Win" Giveaway!

Click "Like" or "Join" in the sidebar to Win Five Prize Packs

100 yen shops are one of my favorite things in Japan.  Here is just a small sample of what they offer.

And this is also your selection platter for the 

"Like to win" giveaway!

(in addition to the Japanese food items listed earlier)

Please comment below telling me what you'd like if you could choose 2 or 4 items from these photos.  (That will give you a better chance of getting what you really want when you win!)  

Don't forget to click "like" in the right sidebar to be in the draw, and "Join this site" (publicly) for a double chance to win!

Bento Boxes and Onigiri Boxes

Cutlery and chopstick sets to take with your Obento Lunch

This is what I always use in the shower: A Japanese Body Washing Towel.  They foam up nicely and do a nice exfoliation. made of nylon.

Japanese often use House Slippers inside the House

Face washers. Japanese Women always carry one of these in their handbag/purse

False Eyelashes

False Eyelash Glue and False Eyelash Cases 

Eyelash Curlers (my favorite. they always come with a spare rubber)

Hair Accessories 

Hair Accessories (the flowers are especially for wearing with a Yukata or Kimono)

Hairpins (my favorite)

Learner Chopsticks for kids, drink bottle cap with straw etc

Chopstick Sets 

Cute Kids Chopsticks, Pretty Chopsticks, Traditional Design Chopsticks

Lunchbox Picks for eating Fruit

Pouches/Pencil cases/ Makeup Cases

Cute little socks and long socks 

Tights and nylons

Miso Soup Bowls and other bowls

Like to Win Japan Giveaway: Obentou box, Sushi rolling mat, Miso Soup Bowls and Japanese Ingredients!

Click "Like" or "Join this Site" buttons in the right sidebar for 1 of 5 chances to win Japanese goods!  5 lucky winners will be drawn October 5th, 2011.

• 1st prize: Choice of 4 items (eg: set of 4 miso soup bowls, or a combination of other items)
• 2nd prize:  Choice of 2 items
• 3rd prize:  Choice of 2 items
• 4th prize:  Choice of 2 items
• 5th prize:  Choice of 2 items

This Thursday, my husband, son and I will be taking off to Japan for 3.5 weeks, 

so we'll be stocking up on Japanese goods, 

which are so cheap there, about 1/4 the price we pay in Australia!

We thought we'd share the joy, help you in your Japanese cooking with a few essential ingredients,

And thank you for like/following Little Japan Mama!

Choose 2 or 4 of the following items:

• Japanese Mayonnaise bottle dispenser with 3 holes in the top, for decorating okonomiyaki, sushi, salad etc (minus the mayonnaise)
• Miso Soup Bowl
• 1 pair of pretty Japanese Chopsticks
• 1 family set (about 6 pairs) of Japanese chopsticks
• A large bag (50g or 100g) of Katsuo-bushi (for making your own dashi or sprinkling on okonomiyaki etc)
• quality Sushi rolling mat
• Several Sachets of Dashi powder (Japanese fish stock, used in most dishes)
• Black Sesame seeds (for Sushi or Japanese sweets)
• Ao-nori (for sprinkling on okonomiyaki)
• Furikake (sprinkles for rice or mixing into Onigiri)
• My favorite type of Eyelash curler
• Obento Box (Cute Japanese lunchbox)
• Japanese fan

Entering the draw is too easy!  All you need to do is:

1: Click the Facebook "Like" button on Little Japan Mama

or

2:  Click Google's "Join this Site" button, and follow publicly 

(I don't mind if you make up a name to follow by)

or 

Do BOTH for TWO chances to win!

Then, please write what you'd like to win in the comment box of this post. 

(so that I can try to make sure I get the item you want!)

THREE or more chances to win:  If you introduce a friend, they like or join, and they tell me in the comment that you introduced them, then you will have one more ticket in the draw for each person you introduce.

If you're a winner, I'll let you know through Facebook or Google Friend Connect, then please reply with your postal address you'd like me to send the goods to, and confirm which items you prefer.  I'll send the items from Tokyo by October 7, and delivery is around 2 weeks.  

Countries I'll send to Include United States, Australia, Canada, UK, anywhere in Asian countries, European countries and anywhere else I can send with reasonable postage rates from Japan.

I can't promise that all the listed or photographed items will be available, because I'm not in Japan yet.  I'll post later about exactly what will be on offer, but it will be pretty much what I've listed.

Good luck!!

...I better get packing for our trip!

Pink Sunshine

Yesterday was the first day of Spring...

in Australia.

Maybe I should have titled this post:

"How to make a cute short dress be a knee-length dress"

Just in case anyone wanted to wear something cute that you felt was too short?

Today's favorite piece is the black satin slip dress which is

underneath

the too short pink lace dress. 

(Pink Dress $10 from: can't remember name of shop)

Black slip dress from one of the shops in Ura-Harajuku, Tokyo.

(can't remember the name of the shop)

1000 yen ($12)

I've also discovered how to take photos in the bathroom mirror.

Earings: Some little shop in Namba, Osaka. 500yen.

Breastfeeding covers and baby slings for Shipping Price

FYI 

I just checked now...  the promo code still works, if you'd like to get a breastfeeding cover or baby sling for shipping only, from Udder Covers or Seven Slings. 

Promo code: breastfeeding

Just thought I'd let you know (^o^)

This link will take you to the post with all the other info:

free-nursing-covers-baby-slings

Pleasantly Lazy

Inspired by This Season's Tokyo Styles:

Hand-Picked by Shinobu

One of the popular styles of this Summer's Tokyo was described "languid" last week, by Style-arena.jp.  This look includes loose tops, and sheer or mesh tops that show the clothing underneath.  


Oxford American has as one meaning of Languid: "pleasantly lazy and peaceful".
That sounds like a nice feeling~ let's express it!

Have a look at this week's examples :   Mai  Mina
(I can't copy the photos so just links, sorry)


I like this feeling so much I picked out some tops for you to try:

Here are some loose, sheer and mesh tops for this Summer's style:

Some more "pleasantly lazy and peaceful" tops:

More Forever 21...

Free Nursing Covers & Baby Slings

 (this post is not going to get very Japanese...)

but if you're a baby mama or have a friend who's pregnant or has a baby, 
this might just be very useful.

Udder Covers and Seven Slings are giving away Nursing Covers & Baby Slings for $0+shipping.  
The Promo code is: breastfeeding.


Select the design you want, scroll down to the cart, put in the promo code, and the total will automatically reduce to just the delivery charge.  You can only get one breastfeeding cover and one sling, it won't work if you order two at once.
For Australian and international shipping, I wrote some more notes down below...
I just checked it now, promo code: breastfeeding still works.  So even if you're viewing this blog late, try it out anyway, you might be lucky.

Of course I didn't believe it 100% when I heard that they were giving away free nursing covers and baby slings.  I mean, who gives away quality goods for free?  But, for around $10 delivery to US, or $15.95 delivery to Australia, I thought it was an acceptable gamble since everything about the companies looked legitimate and you can pay by paypal.

Well guess what...

It's for real.  Because a week or two later, two packages showed up with these inside:

(Sorry he's not looking so genki here!  He wanted to play with Daddy's phone...)

Very quick and easy to use.  Mine is a size 2.  I'm 166cm tall and it's a perfect fit.

 Isn't Baby Boy clever?:

 I ordered the gift set with the nursing bracelet and breast pads for an extra $5:

 I wish I'd had these when Baby Boy was a baby!  They would have been so useful!  In any case, I definitely plan on younger siblings for Baby Boy, so that's what I ordered them for.  Bargain.  Very happy mama.

So why free?  I have no idea.  Do you know?  

I guess they cover costs from the inflated delivery charge(?)

(***P.S.  When I ordered the breastfeeding cover, I had to email them to place my order to Australia because on the original cart it won't add extra postage to Australia.  They replied soon and told me the amount and paypal payment instructions.  I had paid the original $9.95 shipping at checkout, and then I paid $6 later by paypal.

Udder Covers shopping cart says "We ship to the USA and Canada", but they do ship to Australia too, you can select Australia when you put in your address.  You just need to email them about shipping because the shipping cost doesn't adjust.

I wonder if they ship worldwide? If you're in Japan or France I guess you could try emailing to ask.  Then let me know their reply. ^_^

Seven Slings checkout was easier as the shipping adjusted automatically.)

(Aug23 update: Since I ordered, they've both increased shipping prices, please check when you order.)




Sep 27 update:  I just thought I should share with you about Oyako.co.nz as another option for baby carriers.
Oyako is owned by my sister and they produce excellent quality Mei-Tai and Ring Sling Baby Carriers and Baby Slings.


♡　♡　♡

Dinner...

Since we're on the topic of non-Japanese things, here's what we had for dinner tonight:  Chinese Hot Pot.  With lots of Schezuan Pepper, dried chilli etc.  Served cooking on the portable gas cooker on the table.  My husband and I love this stuff.  You eat it pretty much the same way as Japanese Onabe.

(I used a wok cos with Chinese Hot Pot you have to fry the spices in oil before you add the water.  And Chinese don't use donabe anyway.)

Do you like Chinese Food?