3 Funniest and Most Sustainable Best Christmas Gifts of 2010

We are very blessed to receive gifts from family and friends. Even more blessed to be able to give some gifts, as simple as they may be,

to family and friends and staff of Studio mugen and Seed restaurant.

We are a small company. Most of our staff are part timers, but 16 people in all!!!
We are blessed to have them, and happy that they are healthy.

In Japan, we have a tradition of giving "oseibo," a gift to say "thank you" at the end of year.

I did not grow up exchanging Christmas gifts much, but I like this Japanese tradition of “oseibo” a lot.
Eric, of course, having grown up as a Catholic, loves to exchange gifts, so this year we did something different: we picked funny and sustainable gifts and ranked them!

* These are the gifts of 2010:

* Our cat, Mai, want to observe by the fire place:

* All the dogs are getting excited to receive their gifts:

Eric’s best 3 gifts:

1. Pen – from our assistant Kumi

This simple pen was the funniest story maker. Eric was opening this pen while he was talking to his mom in Québec on Skype.

When he opened it he found three batteries so she asked him what are they could be for?

He could not come up with an answer and suddenly said “a vibrator???” and she said “what?" silent... "A pen vibrator???” We all could not stop laughing. Well, we found out that it was a pen with a light, but to us it was a pen that brought us so much laughter. Thanks to Kumi!

2. Roast Beef Knit Hat – from Eric’s mom

We haven't eaten meat for 18 years, but Eric’s mom decided that a knit that said, of all things, “Roast Beef,” would bring us more laughter and jokes, and she was right. Aha, ha, ha...

3. Double Vintage Army Watches – from Sanae

I saw double rainbows a few days before Christmas, so it occurred to me to give Eric two watches (since he likes watches), but he thought he needed two because one was not enough to keep him from not being late.

* Eric and his best 3 gifts:

Sanae’s best 3 gifts:

1. Solar powered plant and bee – from Vladka, friend

When I saw it in the box they were all separated, but once it was put together, how cute it was! And it moves by sunlight!!! I love it.

2. Flying pigs - another gift from Vladka, friend I was telling some people that I am an "ochoushimono," a Japanese word that means someone who gloats maybe a bit too much at the risk of backfiring at her own expense, so when I receive compliments I am like a pig who climbs a tree. The flying pig gifts are (hopefully) a manifestation of my ability to stay a float! What an insightful gift from dear Vladka.

3. Mini-flower base – from Eric I love arranging small wild flowers and herbs so Eric made a wonderful choice. Thanks to Eric!
   

After laughing endlessly and enjoying our holiday meal (Ummm, so good!)

we headed for the couch....zzzzzzzzzz... guess who was snoring???

ahahaha.. LOL!

Love,

Sanae

FOUR YEARS. GO.

I saw this powerful three-minute video on William Spear's blog recently.
http://williamspear.com/

It moved into my heart so vividly. I really want to do more for us, our planet and universe.
I want to share it as many as people I know.
If you want o do something, please join us "Community Clean up" Venice beach area with us on Jan. 2, 2011 at 10am.
http://www.meetup.com/Vegan-Macrobiotic-Community-Meetup-Group/calendar/15738073/

William said on his blog: It is a powerful allying cry to inspire an awareness of the urgency to shift our consciousness before it’s too late. We join with thousands of other individuals and organizations to set and reach goals that will cause a positive global tipping point by 2014, resetting humanity on a new path toward a socially just, environmentally sustainable, and spiritually fulfilling future for everyone.

Let's go, let's do it!!!

Love,
Sanae

While feeling the golden light

Hello!
I am Sanae Suzuki, director of macrobiotic studio mugen in Santa Monica, California.
Thank you for visiting our blog.

This blog was started in May 2008 by some of our staff members in macrobiotics studio mugen.
It occurred to me to conduct a comprehensive review of what has been written since that time. First I categorized them under different labels, and proceeded to read them one at a time. I feel so much gratitude to the people who have managed and contributed to this blog, even if it existed on a relatively small, quiet scale.

Due to our hectic schedule of counseling. teaching, planning and hosting events, publishing cookbooks, managing our office and restaurant Seed, and offering retreats in North Fork, I am just now catching up.


December 21, 2010 was a wonderful day of winter solstice/full moon/lunar eclipse. As we transition toward longer days, this concurrence of events provides a renewed energy powered by the warmth and brightness of, for lack of a better term, a “golden light,” inspiring me to reinvigorate this blog by sharing the good tidings in macrobiotics and other pursuits of health and happiness.


This photo that I took perhaps illustrates the feeling I have of this transitional time.

Through this blog I hope to share with all of you how we live the macrobiotic natural life, as well as to be inspired by your thoughts and experiences. Stay connected!
Thank you!

Love,
Sanae