It Is Only With the Heart That One Can See Rightly; What Is Essential Is Invisible To The Eye.

I want to do everything on earth with you.

Happy family of three (haha).

Do you see what I see? Hint: body ink.

Guys, this night at the symphony was definitely the best night of my life. Really. It may seem melodramatic but it truly was the happiest I’ve ever been. Everything was perfect. Just like the movies. Ah, I am so lucky. My heart is bursting.

Pumpkin pie smoothie bowl from Daily Juice.
And for me: mango, banana, spinach, maca, avocado and coconut milk.


The best backward skater you ever saw! And the cutest ;)

Peace! (I’m still Japanese).


After my first fall LOL.

Making Japanese Poop One Smoothie Bowl At A Time

Anisa sensei, English sensei by day, nutrition sensei by night, fighting (most-likely induced by over consumption of white rice) constipation (sorry) one green smoothie at a time. Different women, same bowel movements.

Life Is Tough But So Are You

So I received the best gift ever. Like, I love it so much, I can’t stop thinking about. Handmade with local Japanese mountain Sakura (cherry blossom)! Wow wow wow! Friendships like these don’t come easy. This is why I travel. I love you my Israeli brother. @kodamaliving SO much talent! This, (not just the material thing but also the thought behind it) makes all of the trouble, all of the worries, the homesickness, the weight gain, the mosquito bites, the prejudice, the unfamiliarity, ALL worth it.

Paying Attention Is Free

I think these are some of the best photos I’ve taken here. I don’t know much about photography but I try my very best. I dedicate them to my dear follower, Jin. You can follow her scummy food-blog HERE.

Peachy Green Smoothie:
1 frozen banana
1 small fresh yellow peach (pitted)
big bunch fresh spinach
1/4 cup water

Blend together and top with pretty things.

No Milk? No Problem!

I ran out of “milk” so I used water instead. The result? Mouthwatering! (See what I did there?)

1/2 cup frozen blackcurrants
1 banana
2 strawberries
2 canned pineapple rings
3/4 cup filtered water

Simply blend everything together in a food processor or blender then top with favourites.

Not Tokyo

Life in Ohara featuring a chocolate and banana danish from Nutty Plant, a healthy blackcurrant and cacao smoothie bowl recipe found HERE and a box full of paper cranes. Now, about the latter. Let me tell you, it is not a mere stereotype. EVERYONE in Japan knows how to make a paper crane. Today my Japanese co-worker gave the new first-graders 60 seconds to make a paper crane to use in introducing themselves and guess what? They did. Everyone did. Each and every student. It was so Japanese and so awesome.

Eating NZ In Japan

As you may or may not know, my parents visited me recently here in Japan. And, they brought an entire SUITCASE of food just for me! OK, and maybe some for my friends… The funniest thing they managed to get through was goat’s cheese! I couldn’t believe it! 1.How does Japanese immigration allow that? and 2.How did it not go off?! As in become mouldy not beep beep in the sensor. Cheese don’t do that. Anyways, I won’t complain. I have been eating NZ in Japan. Today I had a smoothie bowl made with ViBERi blackcurrants and topped with Pic’s Peanut Butter. I ate it by myself on the grassy patch in the centre of my apartment complex and though highly optimistic, I/it did not lure any boys to the yard.

In a food processor, simply blend the following until smooth and creamy:

1 large frozen banana
1 cup freeze-dried or frozen ViBERi blackcurrants.
3/4 cup milk of choice (I used unsweetened almond)
1 tsp pure maple syrup (optional)

Finish with a large dollop of Pic’s Peanut Butter and whatever else your heart (and stomach) desires. I used fresh banana, chia-seeds, shredded coconut, macadamia nuts, more blackcurrants and raw almonds.

Long Time No Smoothie Bowl

1/4 cup freeze-dried ViBERi blackcurrants
14 cup frozen mango chunks
3/4 cup of 100% soy milk

Blended together and topped with more blackcurrants, QIA cereal and banana slices. Can I get a hell yeah?!

Frequently asked questions

SUP guys?! Sorry, been feelin’ a little G since watching Dope. Anyways, since I’ve had a few people asking me similar questions lately, I thought to do what I do best (harhar) and write a blog-post. Answer. A blogpost answer.

First, what the F is okara? And no, Pinterest, I do not mean okra so stop auto-correcting my precious soy-pulp to that slimy vegetable.

Okay, okara AKA soy pulp is the left-over stuff from making soy milk and tofu. Words cannot adequately describe the affect okara has had on my baked goods. It makes them, all at the same time, healthier, more filling and extra moist. Sorry about the word-choice. In Japan, you can find okara in almost all grocery stores in the tofu isles (yes, that’s how much they dig tofu, PLURAL). Which is why I think, no I am certain, okara is what I will miss of Japan, the most.

Second, why smoothie BOWL?

Well, here’s what I said to Hannah on Facebook, which by the way, if you haven’t liked my page yet, then please do…you know, so that I can harass you even more and well possibly attract enough attention (one day) to go GLOBAL.

Back to bowls:
1. It’s the act of mindfully sitting down and consuming a smoothie instead of drinking it in a rush, on the go or whilst doing something else (driving, walking etc).
2. Smoothies, often packed with ample seeds, nuts, milk, yoghurt, vegetables and fruits can be entire meals in themselves so, having a smoothie in place of a regular drink may be overeating for some people!
3. When it comes to digestion, chewing is vital. This is because, a large percentage of digestion takes place in our mouths so that’s where it’s good to eat a smoothie with a spoon and chew chew chew rather than consume one through a straw which, can also, make some people bloat.

Any more questions for Anisa sensei? Please come forward. Or raise your hand. Whatever works.

Post holiday diet

I have a love/hate relationship with Japan. Love because it’s a fascinating country and hate because it’s so darn difficult finding health-foods (and fookin expensive when you do!) For example, there are NO, seriously ZERO “healthy” options sold at the highway service areas. No fruit, no salad, no raw nuts/bars, just more instant additive-laden soup and noodles and white-rice rice balls and sweets, so many sweets with cream and anko (red bean paste).

The ‘sister visit’ was unforgettable but now, it’s time to once again, healthify my life especially seeing as it’s nearly the New Year and all.

Yeah yeah we’ll see how long I can keep this up for ;)

First: mixed seed crackers from The Breadman Organic Bakery (Christchurch), homemade ricotta, cucumber, avocado, raw walnuts and tomato.

Second: 1 banana, 1/2 cup unsweetened So Good almond milk, handful of freeze-dried blackcurrants blended together and topped with homemade granola, pomegranate seeds and silvered almonds.