the valley

a new city and place to call home - via instagram (my name is starisa)

CS

my beautiful friend's artwork is now on etsy.  

check out her shop.

i n s t a g r a m

bought my first iphone and am becoming quite active on instagram !  my name is starisa.

last post for a while.

We're packing like crazy, attending farewell parties, and trying to keep our cool through it all.  4 days left. 

We estimate being back in beautiful CA in a couple of months (mid september?) 

I'm unplugging and shutting down my computer now to ship it to my parent's house.  But I will have Internet sporadically over the coming months during our Asia travels, so look for me on facebook and send me email messages (please!!) 

have a wonderful summer!!!!  and see you in the fall . . .  <3

 

last typhoon

didn't think we'd have to contend with a typhoon during our last week here.  Ma-on's predicted path is supposed to skirt the coast of kyushu, so we should hopefully only get some rain and wind...

////// update - the typhoon passed us by and brought lots of wind, and a little rain.  no problem ! //////

our home.

cleaning, packing, saying goodbyes... only 2 weeks left of this life.

counting down

had an indian thali last night with some of my favorite people, and then couldn't resist taking what will be one of my final puri kura.  We are leaving Kagoshima in one month . . . on July 26th ! ! !

ペオニー

what a find last week !  ペオニー !  I tried to find them again yesterday at a couple of flower shops, but unfortunately the season's done.

林

I haven't posted in forever because I've been busy with work;  and last week, my mom arrived for a 1.5 week visit !  We're having a great time and I'll post something more interesting than this someday soon . . .

M O R E new items listed !

Etsy starisa

new etsy listings

I'm so happy to announce . . . 

my etsy has generated over $50 in donations to help Japan !  

I've listed some new items for anyone interested ; )

Etsy starisa

update !

new clothing listed on etsy. 50% of profits will be donated to the Japan Relief Fund :D

Etsy starisa

artists raising money for japan

I just discovered this cute poster an artist is selling to raise $ for the Japan disaster.  (buy it here)

Also for some really sweet music, download any of lullatone's albums to raise funds

Lullatone - Experiments Around the House from lullatone on Vimeo.

♣ happy Saint Patrick's Day ♣

from our trip out to the Cosmo fields last fall . . .

help me fund raise for Japan 日本

I have long been a fan of etsy, and have finally opened my very own shop in an effort to generate donations for the japanese disaster relief fund (as well as do some much needed spring cleaning !)  I just made my first sale (equaling a $10 donation since I rounded it up)  I'm feeling a little less frustrated about how I can help now . . .

trying so hard to stay filled with hope for Japan

this is in Japanese, but I think everyone can still understand . . .

japan quake and tsunami

We are just fine and having a quiet Friday night at home.  We didn't even know there was a problem until Ben heard at work... I was out shopping and he let me know what had happened.  I turned on the news when I got home and saw how horrible the coast looks up north.  Crazy to think that it's all pretty close, but we didn't feel a thing.  Our prayers go out to those affected . . .

mystery 花

Our first year living here, I fell in love with these flowers that I found in late March down south in Ibusuki.  I can't remember the name of them now.  Does anyone know?  One thing I remember about them was how fragrant they were... like a super sweet ~ flowery ~ perfume.  I have to try and find them again this year.  I can't believe it sometimes that this is our last spring living in Japan . . .

blog birthday

years !