Until I actually get to visit Japan I spend a lot of my free time reading books by other people who have either visited or lived in Japan. I like to live vicariously through their experiences and I have learned so much about Japan it is almost like I have been there. That and a healthy addiction to Flickr Japan groups where I can look at many photos of Japan as well as watch TV dramas and movies from Japan have helped to make me feel much more…well, Japanese.

I know I am NOT Japanese nor would I ever be confused as such, since I am quite the gaijin yet there is a part of me that feels deeply connected to their culture through the many aspects I love such as Zen-Buddhism, kawaii, food, art, dolls, anime, tea, communal bathing and wearing slippers (just kidding about those last two).

Thus, this is the long way about telling you how much I loved Aimee Major Steinberger’s book Japan Ai (even though it bugs me how she spells her name because I once went to college with a girl who spelled her name like that and she was nasty to me and – oh wait that is a long story and it was 20 years ago so never mind.).

The book is set-up as manga which is completely appropriate since Aimee is an illustrator. It is perfectly layed-out, has adorable drawings of an anime sort and a great handwritten commentary that accompanies Aimee’s travel in Japan. One of the reasons I adore the book so much (I bought it twice, once on Kindle which does it no justice because it needs to be in full-color so I ended up buying it AGAIN in paperback!) is that it is kawaii itself and written by someone I actually identify with.

Many of the books I’ve read about Japan have been written by people that I simply could not get with, you know what I mean? I felt like I could totally be buds with Aimee and her friends AJ and Judy who are all girl geeks just like me. So much of what these rad home-girls experience is the kind of stuff I dream of doing in Japan even including an obsession with Japanese dolls (they like Volks ball-jointed dolls and I am a Momoko girl).

I was really tickled to find even more fabulous pages of the book at the publisher’s site and also actual photos from the trip. It is really neat to see the photos of many of the things that Aimee has drawn.

This is abook you will come back to again and again. It’s completely adorable but the content is right on the money. You will learn along with Aimee and her g-friends and it will definitely spark an interest in Japan if you have none (but of course you do – it is the most kawaii place in the world!) and really get your blood pumping if you already have an obsession the way I do. I cannot recommend it enough. Click here to purchase from amazon.

Technorati claim code:

j2bi4ns6fr

I keep up with my re-ment obsession through the wonderful Flickr group Re-ment Addicts and it was just posted there yesterday that three new series are being released. Here are the photos posted by Flickr group member Crayzeate:

The above series is called Hotel Buffet. It looks ok to me, at least it is somewhat different from the series they have been offering lately. It could be interesting if used with other older Re-ment items to create a full looking brunch buffet. It’s not going on my short-list however. I don’t know if I will purchase it.

I am not overly crazy about yet another Disney themed series (there have been so many this year it is starting to get to everyone in the Re-ment Addicts group) but I do like Winnie-the-Pooh so this actually has some potential interest for my collection.

Everyone in the group was kind of like – what another sushi series? Yet this is really the only one that interests me because this was what got me into Re-ment in the first place. I wanted miniature versions of sushi! Though I only eat vegetarian sushi personally I love all sushi as an art form. I especially like the cruelty-free versions that Re-ment does. I like my sushi plastic! Re-ment does Japanese food the absolute best of all.

I’ve just gone mad, mad, mad for all things Tokidoki lately. I was introduced to Tokidoki through Smashbox Cosmetics (one of my fave cosmetics lines) when Simone Legno did some adorable packaging for them a bout a year or two ago. I was entranced with the design (so kawaii) and of course loved the harajuku-ness of the make-up too. After that Tokidoki seemed to be everywhere, especially with Hello Kitty, introducing handbags, wallets, accessories, plushies and toys. I grabbed a bunch of those too, loving them and then finally found myself at Tokidoki central where I discovered that I actually liked Simone Legno’s original art even more than the stuff he co-branded with Sanrio. Plus I developed a total crush on the sweet, cute-pie Simone who has an irresistible Italian accent and punk rock adorable-ness that just captivates me.

At the Tokidoki site they have some great sales and offer many of Simone’s coolest items at reasonable prices. Once you look on ebay you will find all of these items at inflated prices plus when it comes to the handbags you always have to be on the lookout for fakes. If you order directly from Tokidoki, there is no concern for that obviously.

Here is what I got:

Adorable journal's for keeping track of all your kawaii hopes and dreams.

The Carina kitty vinyl toy. Now perched on my computer monitor.

Cute vinyl stickers.

More cute stickers.

Colorful stationary pack.

Skull heart earrings only $18 on sale.

Sandy & Bastardino earrings also on sale $18.

Skin for the iphone - totally stunning.

My fave of all the characters - BASTARDINO!

Character bracelet - big and chunky, dual sided.

Big fun today – I got my Eyeko Beauty products straight from jolly old London! Yay for me! Hey if you order use this code E4352 for a free gift!

Here is some background on Eyeko:

Eyeko means LOVE in Japanese and is the brainchild of beauty innovators Max and Nina Leykind (they helped begin Hard Candy long ago) who began the collection in 2000 with Eyeko Cream. Created for girls to perk up their skin counteracting the draining effects of staring at their computer screens, late nights and city life – Eyeko Cream remains the No.1 best seller to date. A triple duty moisturizer, eye cream and highlighter with an antioxidant boost plus Vitamin C makes for a radiant complexion. Try Eyeko 3 in 1 Cream and NEW Eyeko Tinted Cream and treat yourself to perfect skin.

The hottest stars cite Eyeko Beauty as their most wanted for creating glowing skin, big eyes and lush lips. Innovative, feel-good, top quality formulations result in easy-to-use, multi-tasking products that flatter everyone. Eyeko Beauty tests on celebrities not animals! All that and it’s affordable too.

I promised I would review and comment on everything I bought so here we go:

Eyeko pink glowy 3 in 1 cream

This is like whipped cream for your face. It gives you a rosy, pink, healthy glow as well as moisturizes and give a vitamin C boost for a clearer complexion. It is $9 US and there is a ton of product. It is kawaii, pink, frosty and whipped and smells really good. It’s like the strawberry whip of face creams. But seriously nine bucks? This stuff is great. If you buy only one thing from Eyeko (and you will buy more because it is ridiculously reasonably priced) make it this cream.

Eyeko tinted cream is a bronzer that is sheer and good for skin.

This is the same formulation as the cream above but with a golden bronze glow. It is very sheer so don’t be freaked out when you open the jar and see how dark it is. It goes on lovingly light and burnished you up proper. This is great for summer to get the glow. It will also wake-up your complexion in those dull-skin winter months. It is only $8 US. Buy them both – there is enough to last a long time.

Lickable, tasty, glossy, yummy lip glosses (cherry, cupcake and rose).

At $6 US per tin (and there is a lot in each tin) you can afford to buy all three! Cherry is red with sparkly glitter (it is sheer), Cupcake is all glitter clear with a chocolate cupcake flavor and the Rose is rose flavored and tinted gorgeous pink. These glosses moisturize, go on well and are not sticky. They will glamorize your pout.

Yummy fat little lip balms in strawberry, raspberry and mint.

These little chubby lip balms are adorable, tasty and good for your lips. You can use them as a cheeky blush too. I love them all and at $8 US each, you can try them all. Once again there is a ton of lip balm here. It will last and last. I have it on my lips right now and it is heavenly (the strawberry one).

This is the perfect way to try it all plus get a great kawaii tote!

For $41 US, you can try almost everything. Here is what you will get: Eyeko Mascara for long and luscious lashes, skin perfectors Eyeko Touch Up & Go Concealer and Eyeko Touch Up & Glow Highlighter and nail polish must-haves Punk and Vamp. Topped off with Eyeko Glitter Liquid Eyeliner, Eyeko Minty Fat Balm for lips and Eyeko Rosy Pink Lip Gloss.  It comes all wrapped up in the limited edition Eyeko Silver Shopper complete with 5 cute Eyeko badges.

This is an incredible deal (really a steal) and you can purchase only a few other items and have the full compliment of Eyeko products. Lucky you!

I love to find new creative people who make adorable hair clips, accessories and most of all kawai jewelry. illi is one such shop on etsy that I have fallen in love with. Originally I purchased a pair of hair clips from shanalogic.com which I adored so much that I had to have more of her terrific items. There she was right on etsy and my love affair has begun. Make sure to visit her and buy lots of high-quality reasonably priced goodies. It is important to support artisans everywhere because they are the future Hello Kitty creators and Tokidoki masters in the making.

Here is what illi has to say for herself:

My name is illi.
I love all things kawaii.
I’ve had my ears pierced since age 2.
When I was little my mom always found some cute little studs usually Sanrio, Hello Kitty, Keroppi, etc.
After a while, I started making my own earrings.
Earrings turned to necklaces, then necklaces turned to barrettes, and after I while I started putting smiling faces on everything I could find.
My designs are unique and cute, I like to give faces and emotions to otherwise inanimate objects.

Here is what I bought: