三沢市中華料理- 星月楼 (Seigetsurou)

Heard from my friends that the Chinese restaurant that I love (but only go occasionally as volume of food was too much for me) had changed its name. We were all wondering if lady boss is still around or someone took over. Patronised the restaurant yesterday and spoke to young and pretty lady staff. Indeed, the lady owner went back to China to take care of her son and passed the business to another Chinese owner. That's too bad, I really like the nice and friendly lady boss. 

Slight changes to the menu but pricing and volume remained the same. Just as tasty, affordable and big amount as before. I felt the menu became classier and provided more add on for side dishes for lunch. Spotted beijing duck dish for only 1200 yen! Want to try it next time!

680 yen lunch set

Can pick 2 dishes (1 each from left and right)

850 yen lunch set

900 yen ladies lunch set (included 3 dim sum that came later but I finished it before taking photo)

Body Woe due to Pregnancy

As my due date is coming nearer (in a month's time), I also getting more depress everytime I see my body. My belly is becoming bigger and stretch marks started to appear under my belly... even my thighs and hips are not spared. I did not even noticed it as the belly blocked my view lol.... But S noticed and I stared at all these lines in horror...!!

No amount of cream would salvage it and I have been constantly applying the cream all over my body since 2-3 months pregnant (not because I was so worried about the stretch marks but probably due to hormone change, my skin was itching at all sorts of places so my friend advised on applying the cream rather than scratching which will hasten the process of stretch mark appearing.)  The good thing is I have no full length mirror at home or even half length mirror so I could resist the urge of checking those horrifying vein like lines and feeling depress about it. 

Heard those marks won't go away but it will fade but still..... my mum does not have those marks at all! So unfair.... 

Biker Outfit

My fil brought assortment of dog outfit and accessories for Hideji. The result turned out to be non stop laughter for us! The cap and jacket was too small, the dog shoes was too big but the sun glass fitted him perfectly. Hideji looked ready for his biker trip!!!

not sure what was going on

just let us took non stop pictures but he was in a blur

must be thinking how come so dark all of a sudden lol!... 

cool Hideji, also can be snowboarding sunglasses

Lunch @ North 40-40

Roast beef appetiser 

salad

outstanding chicken chop with crispy skin 

Marche Restaurant @ Misawa

Discovered new dining place in Misawa, well technically its around for years and has been very popular with the locals and Americans. Not sure why I only have interest now and requested S to bring me for lunch. Suppose to be a french style restaurant owned by husband and wife but the menu is inclined to surf and turf style. Seemed like they also made their own salad dressing and tartar sauce which tasted superb! S spoke with the lady owner as his colleague was a personal friend of the couple, the kind owner gave us a complimentary bottle of salad dressing! Will be back to try other food!

Closed on every Wednesday

Lunch Time: 11am - 1.45pm

Dinner: 5pm - 9pm

* Do take note there are no free parking at the restaurant, either you can park at Sky Plaza and walk over or opposite Marche, there are chargeable parking available @ 100 yen per hour.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marches-Restaurant/221958294509514

Affordable lunch set around 945 yen onwards

you can opt for either bread or rice.

My fried shrimp and chicken nugget set,  both food and sauce were delicious! 

Our 2018 New Year

Our New Year Feast

Went on the 3 Jan and was shocked by the crowd 

lazy

super lazy

in hibernation mode

Dental Wipe Incident

Got a shock last night.... Was cleaning Hideji's teeth with dental wipe and it was gone in a instant! While chewing, he had swallowed the sheet down and when I had realised it and tried to retrieve, it was too late! It was late in the night and of course the vet was closed, we were fanatically searching for information on the internet on any similar cases. 

Honestly, there was nothing we could do beside monitoring Hideji (he seemed fine, oblivious of our worried faces and was wondering why there was no gum treat after teeth cleanup. He usually gets one after his teeth was done.) 

S took few hours off to bring him to the vet the next morning, we were hoping that it would pass out in his stool but there was no sign of wipe. Vet made Hideji drank medication for him to puke out but only his morning breakfast was found. (Nowadays Hideji can recognise the pet clinic and there's nothing good when he comes... He has a tendency to start shivering while we are waiting for our turn). 

So far we still have to continue monitoring his stool and hopefully it will be out tomorrow.

Updated post on 11 Jan 2018 - Sigh of relief as the dental wipe came out in his stool in the morning. According to S (since he was the one who took him out), appeared to be like chewing gum crumbled together. 

  

Lunch @ Acciuga (アッチューガ) Misawa

I had craving for Acciuga cheese honey pizza and had been whining for past week to get S to visit the restaurant. However S stopped me from ordering my favourite! Well I was supposed to be watching my diet (everyone that knew me know that's mission impossible) and I was advised by the doctor not to eat cheese unless its cooked... That goes for ham and others.... Boo!! In the end, I ordered tomato based lobster spaghetti. It was delicious but I still want to eat my pizza!

https://www.facebook.com/acciuga.kubota999/

Accordingly to their fb page, they have changed their operating hours especially for dinner (close around 10pm or 11pm depending on which days). Supposed to close on Monday but now only close for lunch and open during dinner time. Do refer to their facebook for more info.

Their pasta portion also increased... Last time it was not enough for me.

Yummy!

Hideji's New Year Jacket!

Slightly bigger for him.

Advantages of Being Preg in Japan

Since I written earlier on Rants of Being Pregnant in Japan, it is only fair to post on the advantages. My friends back home were beyond envy when I told them my reasons of staying put in Japan. All of us knew how expensive having kids is especially all the maternity checkups, hospitalisation fee and medical expenses. Having insurance helps especially for children medical expenses but the rest are not covered by insurance unless one has complications during childbirth. Thus, the checkup and hospitalisation fee would range from few thousands and beyond (we could use our medisave to claim and top up the rest by cash but its ultimately on our expenses isn't it....).  

• Free checkup including dental checkup (spouse and me) given by local district government. I received a booklet once we went to local city hall office to register that I was pregnant. Inside contained vouchers to visit gyane for free and one time dental care for the couple (seemed like its common to have dental issues during pregnancy). Apart from needing to pay extra for medication or special scan/examination (will be pre-informed), we did not have to pay for monthly/weekly follow up).
  
• Japan government allow all Japanese citizen to claim up to 42 万-50万 (5k - 6k) for normal or c-section delivery and hospitalisation. Of course that will be for standard services, if you wish to enjoy private room and premium services that will be on your own expenses. In the past it used to be reimbursement method but recently we were told that we only need to top up if the amount exceed. Even better!!
  
• My local district provides free medical for children up to 18 years old regardless where they are in Japan! I think this is the best part of all. This benefit differs from each area (especially not in the cities), usually offered by the towns that has no competitive edge against the big towns/cities and wish to attract young families to reside in their district otherwise the town will die out eventually.     

Many of my friends questioned if I would go back to Singapore for delivery and confinement (Japan has no confinement concept or culture). Of course if I choose to go back to Singapore, it be easier and better but the cost wise is too high (especially I am not working) and we would lose out all the benefits mentioned above. Totally not worthwhile right?!