I’m a victim of fraud! This isn’t how I wanted to start my day nor my post on mabo tofu but that’s just how it is. I never thought it would happen to me, but apparently it’s not uncommon. I use my Bank of America issued pink and white Hello Kitty debit card everywhere. I love my cute Hello Kitty card… I usually don’t carry much cash with me and rely on my debit card for even the smallest $3 purchases. I...

  As a kid, eating spinach at our house meant that my mom made ohitashi. Although she used spinach in dishes such as chawan mushi or shabu-shabu, we never ate sautéed spinach the way Bebe Dada likes to make it (yet another post for the future). Ohitashi is a simple, healthy and refreshing dish.  It’s perfect for a hot summer day, and believe me, it has been HOT over the past two weeks in So. Cal, but it definitely seems like it has...

Summer is finally coming to an end as Big Onechan returns to school and we celebrate our last three-day weekend of the season with a family BBQ or two. It seems as though summer break only just began and yet over two months have flown by since school let out in June. This week we had a variety of things going on and I still managed to write a post! Crazy, huh? We went to the Zoomar’s Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano, the Mission Viejo...

If you’ve been reading my blog the past few weeks, the good news is that my ‘foodie funk’ got a good kick in the tush this past week. The bad news is that even though I’m back to cooking more than just tacos, the more dishes I cook, the further behind I’ll be on my food posts and I’m already quite behind. I know what you’re all thinking… My problem could easily be solved if I just posted more...

I hope everyone’s weekend is getting off to a great start. I can’t believe it’s already Friday night… And here I am updating my blog. Such is the life of a Bebe Mama with a little one tucked away in her crib. It seems Bebe Dada left the room and the movie he was watching ended. Now I’m sitting in the dark with my laptop and I hear something very scary on TV and I’m afraid to turn around and see what’s...

  I really wanted to entitle this post, “Good Job, Auntie!” I somehow managed to refrain, although I am definitely patting myself on the back right now, despite a few “hiccups”. My 22 month old nephew came over this morning for just a few hours since he needed someone to look after him and I didn’t call in the cavalry (a.k.a. Aya-chan) to see if she was available to help, and I didn’t have Big Onechan to...

  It feels like it’s been a long time since I traded weekend brunches and lazy lunches with girlfriends for soccer games, swim meets, little kiddie birthday parties, and mommy & me class. Of course, I say this lovingly, as I adore spending time with my family, but as I reflect upon the past 10 years of my life, in many ways its changed so very dramatically, but definitely for the better. This morning, as I sit in front of my computer...

  As a Japanese-American child growing-up in Los Angeles, I was fortunate to be a part of a local Japanese community which provided the opportunity to experience a number of wonderful cultural traditions. My favorite summer-time tradition was, and still is, attending Obon. Long ago when I asked my mom about the meaning of Obon, she told me that it was a time during which we remembered and honored our family members that have passed on. In our...