Totes Nanna in Winter and House Wear

There's nothing like a bit of cold weather to bring out your Nanna tendencies.

As I type, there is a likelihood that I will have:

• a beanie 
• a rug around my waist
• a daggy 'house' jumper over my other clothes
• slippers
• scarf
• a down jacket on
• leggings or tights under my clothing
• a warm drink (to warm hands!)
• heater on, door closed, 'snake' (or cushions/towel) by the door
• a little jog around the room or a break to do some household task that will warm me up

What are your secrets for keeping warm?  

Recently I bought a super snuggly and warm cardigan that I was looking forward to adding to my winter outerwear arsenal for 2014.  Alas, my husband has dubbed it my Chotto Nanna cardigan and now I find it being relegated to "House Wear". Admittedly, it isn't super flattering.

Do you have a collection of House Wear - clothes just to be worn at home (or maybe for a super quick trip to buy milk, if you are feeling particularly daring)?  I think House Wear is a great nanna technology as it prolongs the life of your clothing- both your good outfits and the older/worn/stained etc. but-still-delightfully-comfy stuff.  

Japanese people often do House Wear well.  As well as taking off their shoes when they return home, they also change into comfortable clothes.  I love the Japanese idea that home is a sanctuary - leaving the dirt and stress of the work day or outside world behind them when the shoes are removed.  I was given a pair of winter pyjamas by a boyfriend while I was in Japan.  Initially, I wondered why a boyfriend would be giving me (ugly) flannel pyjamas with a fleece overcoat... but the idea that he wanted me to be warm was romantic in its own way! (I found many houses in Japan were uninsulated and often cold). 

Often we don't change our clothes when we get home as we feel too busy or we worry that a visitor might arrive unexpectedly.  I guess I am challenging myself (and you, if interested!) to try out House Wear for a week or 2.  For those that work at home, you may find the challenge in dressing up when you leave the house.  For those that work out of the home, it may be to consciously designate "knock off time" when you change into your comfy house clothes.  It will be interesting to see if  a new system can prolong the life of your clothes and maybe cut down on washing.  

Yes, a bit of a taboo to challenge the idea of reducing washing;  what if my clothes are stinkyyyy?!  I just wonder if I am often lazy and wash things if they need it or not- reducing clothing life and using resources unnecessarily. Hanging clothes up to air between wearings and spot cleaning were recommended in Make Do and Mend to help families reduce resource use and prolong clothing life during World War 2.

So my husband is likely to see a bit more of my Chotto Nanna cardigan this Winter.   Rather than challenge my $4 opshop cardigan choice, maybe he should be thankful the blog isn't called Totes Japanese…

source

What are your secrets for keeping warm?  Or looking decent when an unexpected visitor arrives?  

Children's Day Activities for Chotto Kids

Children's Day is celebrated in Japan on May 5.  If you completely missed it, like I did, here are some activities that you may like to do with any Significant Children in your life.  

These activities are suitable for:

- Australian Teachers of Grade 5 and 6 -  Japan is studied as one of our Asian neighbours.  

- Guides and Scouts, youth groups, playgroups, holiday programs or similar.  

- If you are planning a staycation this school holiday, these activities are a great way for children to experience Japan without the crowds and airports (and can work well inside, out of the wet!).  Staycations are a great Nana technology: reduced cost, fuel and time while relaxing and exploring close to your home.  Just don't fall into the trap of feeling like you need to do lots of major cleaning/ home projects.

I have arranged the activities in a rough schedule - of course, pick and choose as you see fit!!  I have conducted some of these activities as a teacher and with youth groups, so I have added some tips below.

1. Make a Japanese headband.  (Click link for instructions)  These are a good way to start the day and get children into the Japanese vibe.  

2. You could learn to bow in greeting and some Japanese words:

Konnichiwa - G'day

Konbanwa - Good evening

Dozo - when offering something (please use these scissors) or please go ahead. 

Thank you - arrigato

hai -yes

Bye bye- see ya

Sayonara- good bye (when you won't see someone for a long while)

If you like, add kun (boys) or chan (girls) to end of names and call the teacher or group leaders sensei.

3. Karaoke or Group Dance.  Kids can practice a dance or song to be performed after lunch/snack.  If you walk through Tokyo's Yoyogi Park you will often find large groups performing a dance.  Karaoke is popular too- either inside karaoke booths or in the park at cherry blossom time.

4. Craft activity 1 (See below)

photo source

5. Make sushi and/or onigiri.  Onigiri works well - less fiddly and messy.  Children don't have to actually touch the rice ball- they can make it in clingwrap.

photo source

6. Picnic time.  Whether you are inside or out, put a blue camping tarp down as a picnic rug.  At cherry blossom time, parks are packed with people celebrating the blossoms - and presumably the end of Winter.  Children can take their shoes off and place them neatly around the edge of the tarp, just as they would be expected to do in Japan.

7. Perform karaoke song or group dance.  

8. Craft activity 2 (See below)

9. Active games.  Baseball and soccer are popular, if you think either will work with your group.  I'd also suggest tail tag using the Japanese headbands tucked in to the back of pants/skirt. Students could also follow this morning exercise video that is very common in Japan (Just over 3 minutes), perhaps try it at the beginning and end of your Japan day.  

Craft activity suggestions:

- a cherry blossom-inspired activity (older children) : worked well with grade 6.  We sat on the blue tarp, with Japanese pop playing, while making fingerprint (or cotton bud print) cherry blossom paintings.

-a carp activity (good for younger  children): Preps loved this.  I pre cut lots of circles from origami paper, but kinder squares, old gift paper/magazines would work well too.

- origami, If you choose origami, please note that it can be frustrating to teach in larger groups.  If possible, teach a smaller group, let them practice and then they can be roving mentors to help others.  

- manga drawing If you choose manga drawing, be aware that there are many characters online that are either suggestive at a minimum, X-rated at the other end of the scale.  I'd suggest printing out images or tutorials for students to copy and follow.  I am not very good at sketching, but was able to have some success with the manga tutorials online and in books (try your local library).

- or try these other ideas.  

Hope you enjoy your Japanese Children's Day! 

Please add other suggestions in the comments below.

Sunday Night Comfort Food & Kids Chair Update

When I think Sunday night tea, I think of Grandma's tin tomato soup and toast cut up into soldiers or one of my mum's omelettes. Lovely, light and quick meals that is enhanced by eating in your pyjamas.

Lately, when I am after some comfort food I enjoy Japanese favourites.  There are 2 stand-outs: oyakodon and okonomiyaki.  Oyakodon is egg and chicken cooked with onion and a soy sauce - based mixture, with rice.  It is a hearty and healthy meal.

Okonomiyaki is often described as Japanese pancake, however in many ways it is closer to an omelette.  It is easy and quick, but you do need a few pantry items on hand.  From the Nanna perspective, it is a great way to use cabbage and eggs from the backyard.

I am no great cook, but I thought I'd share my simple version of okonomiyaki. I've found it to be a fairly forgiving recipe, so I encourage you to try it and adapt as you see fit.

Makes enough for 2 for dinner, with leftovers. (Microwave leftovers, then add mayo and sauce. YUM! You are at work and it is Monday, but you still have a bit of Sunday night to enjoy.)

Pre - preparation

You need to have on hand:

Dashi stock and Okonomi sauce: available from Daiso or Japanese/ Asian supermarkets.  You can omit the dashi, but the sauce is essential!!  If you are unable to source the sauce, make your own.  Try here, or google (there's heaps).
Tempura flakes: Woolworths
Japanese mayonnaise: Woolworths.  I prefer my regular mayo, but some feel it makes it more authentic.

Ingredients

2 cups plain flour

1.25 cups dashi stock (or plain water) 

4 eggs

1/4 of a medium cabbage (I have used a few, purple was used in the photo), shaded

3 spring onions, chopped finely

8 tbsp tempura flakes

vegetable oil for frying

Toppings: okonomi sauce and mayonnaise 

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix flour and stock (or just water) in bowl. Cover and leave for an hour in the fridge.

2.  Add the eggs, cabbage, spring onions and tempura flakes to the flour batter and combine.

3. Heat a large frypan (or BBQ hotplate) on medium-high and add a tablespoon of oil. Put 1/4 of the mixture on to the cooking surface, shaping into a thick round pancake. Use a spatula to gently raise the edges and flip when no longer gooey. Cook on the second side until no longer gooey.  Add some okonomi sauce to the top of the pancake (in a stripy pattern) and flip again (this step makes it messy but "cooks in" some yummy sauce!). Eat straight away or repeat with the rest of batter and serve all at once.

4. To serve, "stripe" the okonomi sauce and mayonnaise across the pancake, refer to photo below.  Okonomiyaki goes well with a simple green salad. And beer.

source: okonomiyaki world.  

Chair Update

I recently wrote about being glad I bothered, when I repainted some chairs for my daughter.  Here's how the chairs turned out.  They go well with a little table I had previously used as a bedside table.  Play dough moulding, drawing and tea parties await!