You remember my care package swap with Japan? Well, Lisa is willing to do swap with someone else, too! (Not necessarily the SAME EXACT stuff. But FROM JAPAN.) Sadness: it has to be someone in the U.S., because otherwise the shipping costs would kill both you and Lisa dead. (Lisa’s in a military family, so if you live in the U.S., the shipping rates are similar to mailing within the U.S.)
The deal is that you’d mail her a box of stuff, and she’d mail you a box of stuff. Lisa and I did it kind of free-form/surprise style, with both of us mentioning a few things we’d love to get, just to give the other person the general idea. Here’s what I sent her. (I used a military flat-rate box, which is even less than U.S. shipping costs. You can get the boxes free online, or many post offices can give you one. You’ll need to fill out a customs form, so allow a few extra minutes at the P.O., and write down everything in the box so you’ll remember.) (Don’t be overwhelmed. It was no big deal.)
I feel I should warn you that I had a TERRIBLE TIME trying to unpack my box. As of several weeks after I’d received it, it was still sitting on the dining room table, full. The only things that had been removed were (1) the ice cream scoop, (2) the teeny cute cookie cutters, which Paul used to decorate the kids’ lunches, and (3) the bag from Thailand, which I’m using as a library bag.
Am I really supposed to just OPEN these and EAT them and then THROW AWAY the cute packages? The potato is wearing a potato banner! And what if I LOVE them and can NEVER HAVE THEM AGAIN (unless I go to Japan)?
Here’s the ice cream scoop I actually did manage to unpack, and HOW WAS I LIVING MY LIFE WITHOUT THIS ICE CREAM SCOOP? I have tried many an ice cream scoop and I always end up using a soup spoon instead, but this scoop is TEH (ice-cream-related) BOMB.
But what am I supposed to do with the packaging? I can’t just throw it away! It includes the instruction “Do not carry the metal part of a knife to your lips directly.” That is valuable advice!
Also, I see you lusting after my scratched, stained, metallic-flecked, genuine 1960s countertop. BACK OFF IT’S MINE.
And am I supposed to just let the children USE these cute straws and then THROW THEM AWAY? (The straws, not the children.) Unthinkable.
And how about this? The packaging says “Tea Spoon” and “tea time,” but the cup says “coffee” on it! Also, the description: “A well-functioned sophisticated and best in quality created exclusively for you.” Exclusively for me! And the instructions: “Do not apply onto metal luffa to avoid hurts or residuals on articles.” I might need those instructions later.
And the cool clothespins. “Caution with using this product”! “Do not use it in a manner other than regular use”!
I did finally unpack everything and incorporate it into our household, and frankly a lot of the motivation was so I could take pictures for this post. So if you want to do a care package swap with Lisa, your package might ALSO contain SUPER-CUTE STUFF, and you too will have conflicted feelings about throwing away the wrappers and putting things away.
Well, if you want to do it anyway, you can’t say I didn’t warn you. Leave a comment on this post if you’re interested, or on Lisa’s post, and Lisa will choose someone as soon as she wraps up another project she’s working on (I’ll bet it’s unpacking her shopping: that would take me FOREVER if I lived in Japan).
Since I’m first does that mean you’ll pick me? ; )
(Pick me! Pick me!)
OH, this is funny. And it reminds of something I still chuckle over. Quite a few years ago my husband and I got into bicycling. We read the catalogs and magazines, we frequented the bicycle shops, we bought all six of us each a nice (read: non-Walmart) bike. Well, those magazines had, of course, advertisements for bicycles and accessories and parts, many of them made in Japan. Our two favorite ad lines:
“We have all good feature!”
and (referring to super lightweight parts, which was desirable)
“We reduce weight to maximum!”
I have been lusting after your package ever since you posted about it! Woohoo, do I ever want to swap packages. Maybe she knows some other military wives that could swap too? Then everyone could have a package!
Btw, have you ever used swap-bot.com before? It looks super fun but I’m a bit leary.
Sweeeet! I love to get packages, I love Japanese stuff, this is for me! I hope I get picked.
As my 4th grader would say, “that is so awesomely awesome!”
My sister lived in Japan as a military wife for 4 years I was the lucky recepient of many packages & visits to Japan. I love the 100 yen stores and all of the confusing/fun English writing. Also the only treat our cat likes are Japenese cat treats, dried fish/crap/shrimp. I don’t know what we will do when we run out.
Swistle – do you and your kids like arts and crafts? Because my daughter insisted on saving the foil wrappers from all of her easter treats because they were so shiny and sparkly and pretty, so I helped her turn them into a fabulous collage (which I will post a photo of, as soon as I get new batteries for my camera). You could do something similar with you Japanese snack wrappers, and then you’d have them forever!
It’s totally worth spending the $$$$ to come to Japan just for the 100 Yen stores (where most of that stuff was purchased). Every store has it’s own little flavor, it’s awesome. In fact, we just got back from my favorite 100 Yen store and I always come out of there wanting to buy a million little nick-nacks. My latest idea is that I’m going to buy a whole bunch of thin white board material and put them up in my office to make a big wall o’ white board (I’m a geek, what can I say).
The red bag of carmel corn that you pictured is my absolute favorite…I made sure Lisa included it. Think cheese puff consistency with carmel corn flavor…amazing.
Don’t worry about running out and not being able to get more…we’re here for another 3 years and gladly take requests :)
Yes, lets swap. Come leave me a comment and we’ll go from there. :)
I just want the twee little cookie cutters. And the spoon too but mostly the cookie cutters. Pick me, I implore you! he he
Hey there! If you’re truly worried about the snackies you should really stop by the asian stores in your area. I’m always taking friends there because they feel they need an asian guide, but there’s really no reason to be afraid. Since all of the food is imported into the US they’re required to list the ingredients in English on the back. So go by, visit the snack aisle, pick out the stuff that looks fun and check out the ingredients if you have no idea what it is. Happy (asian) snacking!
You could make the snack packs into shrinky dink keychains. Just eat the contents, then flatten out the bag again and punch a hole through the top of the bag (held together ie: punch through both layers of the bag-front and back). Then shrink it in a preheated oven (300) for about 5 -8 minutes. Watch the bag. Don’t worry if it curls, it will flatten again. Try it with a non-important bag first so you see if you like the result.
I am NOT jealous of your countertop, only because I have the same one.
I do lust after your counter. In fact, I lust after all things from the 1950s and 60s because they make me feel very little and safe and all ‘in the kitchen with grandma’ish
How adorable. I think you can re-use those straws, no? (And, I have that exact same countertop!)
I have the EXACT same counter top too! This is probably the only time I have been excited about my counter top!
Oh I would SO love to do this. And I’d actually eat the food and use the stuff ;)
If you like it, you’ll like it now, not three years from now when it’s stale and nasty. And those straws? Let them use ’em and then wash them. We reuse our straws constantly.
And I’ve got lots of way cute stuff ideas. Oh I want to do this :) I love Japanese stuff. The wee ones’ favorite toy is a slot car racer from Japan with Mario and Yoshi!