My bestie over in Japan sent me a birthday/Christmas box and it was entirely too much fun to open. I always know I am in for a treat when Ashley and I swap care packages. I hope you don't mind too terribly if I do an informal lets-sit-on-my-bed, drink tea and peruse what came over seas? Hop up, take your shoes off, sit criss-cross applesauce and let's dive in. These colorful bags are bath doo-dads. I tried to use Google Translate to see what they were exactly but only got the orange (yuzu) and the aqua (cypress) to work. They provide tons of color and some scent to the bath. I add either bubble bath or a bubble bar to make a fun "bath cocktail" that is all the Lushie rage.
Sheet face masks. My obsession. The snail essence and placenta ones interest me. My sister and I put one on the other night and I just love them. My skin loves them. And I can usually get two days use by saving the serum in the bag for the next day to slather all over my face, neck and chest.
Bath salts! I love these <3
Curry flavored Cheeto Puff- type logs. I swear Savanna and I have to box over these. I end up giving her a few. These things are soooo goooood. Like sticks of Japanese junk food crack. The Kit-Kats are dark chocolate and hazelnut. Yummy!
These cute tea bags turned out tasting really really good! I gave one to Heather while we were doing the masks and she said it tasted like something from Teavana. It even has those cute spikey, bright colored sugar candies in the tea bags to sweeten.
Bath toys (the girls loved!) and boiled egg molds. I was looking high and low for the molds when I visited but we just couldn't find them. When I saw these in the box I danced a wee jig. And immediately boiled four eggs. But I discovered I stink at peeling hot eggs, huge chunks kept coming off so the bunny and bear ended up looking like anime versions of Freddy Kruger. Scarlette (my boiled egg kid) didn't mind at all and has since had pock-marked bunny face eggs many times since. She pats me on the shoulder and says "I still like them even if you are not good at this." Thanks, kid.
Harry Potter fabric and stickers! Woot! I swear, Ashley is sitting on a Potter gold mine over there at the Hard Off (Japan's version of Goodwill). I want her to take me down the perfume aisle again.
My stationary bits and bobs. I just LOVE these post-it stickers and washi. In fact, the box was wrapped in the super cool wide washi at the bottom left and I crossed my fingers it would be in the box too! YAY! It was! There were a few other things included but I mainly wanted to show the Japanese goodies.
Would you eat curry Cheeto puffs? Do you have any cultures that you just adore for their aesthetic? Do you participate in international swaps?
Such wonderful and fun gifts! I would love to visit Japan. LOL @ the Freddy Kruger anime characters! :) I used to do clothing swaps with some ladies in England years ago, and I'm currently waiting on some teas from an IG friend in France. I wish I knew someone in Japan, but my husband's friend who was stationed there just moved to England. When is/was your birthday? There was something from your bucket list I wanted to send you, but I still have to order it so it may be a bit late.
ReplyDeleteEngland and France! Cool! I would love a swap buddy over there <3 One day I will get my butt over there for sure. Japan was so great. I hope you go one day too!! My birthday was December 6th :-)
DeleteMore items to add into a bath cocktail are always a treat! You'll have to let us know how they turn out :)
ReplyDeleteSnail essence sounds like an interesting face mask. I've never heard of that before. And curry cheetos? Don't let Michael hear about them. He will hound me to let us go to Japan just for those!
The packaging on those tea bags are so gorgeous! We made sure to bring some Teavana over from the states but they don't have cute Santas on their bags. Methinks they need to step up their game!
LOL. Freddy Kruger eggs. I'm not sure how I should feel about eating him for breakfast. It's funny how sweet and blunt kids can be, though. Some of the kids I used to babysit, including my little brother, would say the darndest things!
You and Deb need to stop with your washi and fancy stickers and cardmaking things and stationery. At this rate I'm going to go to the nearest papercrafting store and buy up all their stock.
I think I would eat some curry Cheero puffs. They sound like they would be delicious! I've always loved the Japanese and Korean aesthetics. One of my favorite movies to watch is Memoirs of a Geisha because of the style, architecture, and general atmosphere present throughout the movie. Even here in Korea I'm in love with the people and architecture and... well, everything!
I've never done an international swap before, but now I get to be that international person in the swaps with a few friends back home. It's exciting for me to be able to see so much of this stuff in person!
They have been turning out good. Bright colors! I add bubble bath and bath bombs with them though. Up the fun factor.
DeleteI can always rely on my girls to be brutally honest tempered by equal amounts of sweetness. And yep.... The curry Cheetos are all consumed. So yummy.
Speaking of swaps! Your box just got packed. <3
What a fantastic box!!!!!! I love Japanese everything! :D
ReplyDeleteIt's funny because I never had an interest in Japanesecukture until I went. Now I am obsessed! It is so beautiful, ancient yet quirky and modern. The best of both.
DeleteAwesome goodies! I love that you & Ashley still swap goodies, it's so cool!! I don't know if I would eat curry cheetos, but my kids probably would!
ReplyDeleteIt is fun. Especially now that I developed quite the hankering. Lol! If you don't say they are curry they would never know!
Deletei love ALLLL THINGS JAPANESE! Yuli @mycandypanda keeps sending everyone japanese candy in their orders, making me look bad for not doing the same haha!
ReplyDeleteHey Stephanie! I am right there with ya girl. I still enjoy squeezing that bit of menthol gasoline in my eyes every few days thanks to you >_< lol!! It is so refreshing! I think I better order a sampler from Yuli next so I can get my Japanese fix. Tokyo was the coolest place I have ever been. I hope I get to take my oldest there one day. She would be in heaven. Pokemon heaven.
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