happy new year!

have yourself a merry little christmas...

already christmastime! here are a few of my favorite photos this year and a couple of new pins :)

picking and cutting a tree with dad :)

Bastarache family christmas tree!

my own little tree

new ornament from Japan!

new ornament from Elizma :)

so cozy at christmastime!

seeing the nutcracker with mom on sunday, been so long!

egg nog is always my favorite treat

pretty mistletoe

speaking of nutcracker :p

nyc at christmas <3

rosemary wreaths

twinkly tree

merry christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Sunshine Aquarium Videos

as mentioned previously, my hotel was attached to an aquarium! i couldn't wait to check it out and certainly was not disappointed :) the displays were beautiful and unique and the flow made sure you didn't miss a thing!

active octopus

could watch this all day, pretty much did...

seals swimming in a tank above my head

Japan - Week Two

fugu

my boss compared me to Tanuki - the mischievous racoon dog :p

outside the Kabuki-za Theater in Ginza

me in front of a whole lotta sake 

loving the love of french and macarons!

pretty details everywhere

huge mosaic wall

the details

Tokyo station

made of chestnut paste, yum! 

great little bakery in Tsukiji

breakfast on Tokyo bay

a weekend in Tsukiji

cute little birds on a railing

Tsukiji market

still don't know Japanese but pretty sure he's saying "stop eating me!"

nice building

colorful Tokyo

so many roses!

little bouquets to make our hotel rooms feel more home-y for 3 more weeks!

made me smile

adorable sweets

owls, in the "Owl Building" of course

view from the new hotel room

conveyor sushi, my favorite!

cool looking, not going in my tummy though...

one would probably try all the unique baskin-robbins flavors, I went  for good ole chocolate :)

weekend trip to Nikko for the autumn leaves and a big gorge

one of the many waterfalls of Nikko

quick snap of me :)

wild monkeys!!!

fish on a stick

samurai house

got sidetracked

Shinkyo bridge and brilliant blue water

also called The Sacred Bridge

sidetracked again...

biggest chrysanthemums i've ever seen

cool architecture

spent sunday at the aquarium, attached to the hotel!!

swimming, in circles...

beware of the evil, red-eyed penguins!

and back to conveyor sushi for lunch