-
Learning cooking, storage, and interiors via Japanese Instagram hashtags
Browsing Japanese Instagram hashtags is a rabbit hole—fridges, meal prep, enamelware, toast hacks, even a celebrity croquette account. Here are the tags I binge.
-
Cutting my kid’s nails outside makes it painless
Nail clipping battles eased when we moved the task to the park/bench. Fresh air and distraction beat chasing them around the house.
-
Our “mother’s bag” evolved from tote to backpack as the kid grew
Baby era needed a big tote; toddler years demanded hands-free backpacks. Here’s how our bag changed with our kid’s age and what worked (or didn’t) in Japan.
-
Trying stick-on acupuncture needles (Pharos vs. Seirin) for shoulder/low back pain
Deskwork aches led me to disposable press needles. They’re cheap, easy to apply on sore spots, and feel similar to salon taping/patches.
-
Add zipper pulls to backpacks for easier opening
My KELTY daypack zipper was stiff and slippery with gloves. Copying outdoor jackets, I added zipper tabs—cheap cords that make opening/closing much easier.
-
Low-Pressure Headaches: Why Rain Gives Me Pain and What Helps
I used to think “rain gives me headaches” was a myth. Then I tracked pressure drops and saw my own symptoms line up. Here’s what I learned and how I try to prevent it.
-
Moldy Mochi? Don’t Eat It—Here’s How to Prevent Mold Next Time
My New Year’s mochi molded overnight. While scraping it, I dug into how to remove mold safely (spoiler: you probably shouldn’t) and how to store mochi longer.
-
A sturdy range guard that doesn’t crumple like foil
Foil splatter guards bent and tore whenever pans hit them. A ¥1,000 galvalume-steel guard from Iwatani has survived two years of daily cooking.
-
My go-to sore throat kit (lozenges, sprays, and caution)
When my throat flares up, these lozenges and sprays help. No miracle cures—just what’s worked and notes on how to use them.
-
Year-end deep clean? Duskin’s PDF checklist is all you need
Duskin published a printable plan sheet for Japanese year-end cleaning. It maps tasks, areas, owners, and dates so you stop winging it—and reminds you to buy supplies first.