I Do Monday Morning

Happy 2009 Year of The Ox!

Happy 2009 - year of the Ox!  In Japan, people send new year's postcards or nengajo to friends, family and colleagues.  The post office holds all post cards and deliver them to homes on January 1.  Can you imagine the poor postal workers?  People start out the year reading well wishes for a wonderful new year.  Isn't that a great way to start the year? 

2009 is year of the Ox.  Some characteristics of those born in the year of the ox (1961,1973, 1985) include:

• Self-assured and inspire confidence in others
• Hard working 
• Stubborn with a fierce temper
• Excellent memory
• Physical stamina with mental alertness

Enjoy these postcards downloaded free from Japan Post.  

Japanese inspired gowns

I just love wedding magazines.  My sister recently asked me what I wanted her to bring back from Japan and my answer was "wedding magazines!"  I should've been a little more specific, and limited the number, considering how many different types there were.  Poor thing, she lugged many of those heavy things all the way back home.  

In "Wedding Book" magazine, I saw these two gorgeous gowns by Setsuko Wakatsuki.

It looks like her wedding dresses may be rented (in Japan) at about $4,295 for the first dress and about $3,627 for the second dress.  

 

Unusual touches

I thought I'd see if I could find any new trends on some Japanese websites.  Japanese weddings have some unique traditions, but I have never seen this latest one.  It looks like rather than having a guest book or a signed framed picture, they have these stuffed animals that guests sign!  Not really my taste, but I thought it was definitely interesting.  To see more (in Japanese)