Photos can be taken at the wrong time!

My photos taken on a black background PREPARING FOR SHOOTING AT THE OFFICE FOR our WEBISTE SCREENSAVER. (ウェブサイト用の撮影前にオフィスにてスタイリングしているところよ）

My photos of Lulu

my photos of Chiharu

Riyo meeting my cousins, Nobuji and Masae with Emiko my genki mom-in law at the office. (理世と私の従兄弟、ノブジ、マサエ、それに元気な私の義母のエミコとオフィスにて） I love you all, this is my little message of the day. I know Masae that you read my blog, also I wanted to surprise you with a big kiss and a big hug! I will see you tonight with your Dad and Mom and  spend the evening in family all together. (皆とても大好きよ。マサエが私のブログを読んでくれているのを聞いているわ。皆にBig　kissとHugで驚かせたかったの!後ほど家族皆で集まりましょうね。）

see Arika’s post today in English and Japanese at http://www.mujtv.com/ GOING WITH MY BOMBASTIC AUDI Q7, TO DELIVER CLOTHES AND SANITARY ITEMS TO THE HOMELESS AT THE YOYOGI PARK NEXT TO OUR OFFICE. THERE IS A 250 PEOPLE COMMUNITY INCLUDING LOTS OF NEW PEOPLE WHOM JUST LOST THEIR JOB SINCE THE HOLIDAYS.　（私の素敵なAUDI Q7で向かった先は、オフィス側にある代々木公園。ここには250人程のホームレスの方々のコミュニティがあるの。ここ最近仕事を失ってしまった方もいるのよ） THE FINALISTS BRING DONATION OF ALL SORTS AND WENT TO TALK TO MANY TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS TO ASK FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO HELP US.（ファイナリストは生活用品や服などを持って来て、直接彼らと話しては、彼らが今本当に必要としているものは何かを聞いてまわったのよ。） WE ARE RECEIVING SO MANY BOXES FROM SO MANY PEOPLE, IT IS AMAZING. THANK YOU TO ALL FOR HELPING US AND FOR THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE IN PEOPLE SLEEPING OUTSIDE IN THE COLD! KEEP SENDING, MOST OF ALL WE NEED SOCKS, BLANKETS AND FOOD NOW! （オフィスには沢山の方々からの箱が届きました。本当に素晴らしいわ。皆さんの助けに感謝します。まだいらないセーター、ジャケット、靴下などを持っている方は是非オフィスに送ってくださいね。今皆さんが必要としているのは、体を温めるものと食べ物なのよ） WE ARE GOING BACK TO DELIVER LOTS OF BOXES TOMORROW  AT ONE PM WHEN THEY ALL GET TOGETHER TO RECEIVE HOT MEAL AT THE ENTRANCE OF YOYOGI KOEN. （明日私達は、また服などを届けにいくの。午後1時に代々木公園の入り口付近に食事を頂きに皆が集まるのよ）

AI, AYA, AYUMI, AYAKA K., EMIRI, MARIE O. & MIKA I read so many news comments on my blog. I promise to answer all of you soon! Thank you for writing always! love, ines (みなさんからのコメントをいつも読んでいるわ。沢山のコメントをありがとう！皆さんそれぞれにお返事を書きたいので、もうしばらく待っていてね。いつもブログを見てくれていてありがとう。） ps:     un petit mot pour souhaiter un bon anniveraire a Nagisa pour ses 24 ans! Nagisa tanjobi omedeto gozaimasu!

This morning we are receiving lots of clothes, blankets for the homeless in the park next to our office… The finalists have launched a campaign among people they know. Do the math, 25 finalists with 50 people to contact each, lots of clothes that they can get for freezing people under plastic tents. FINALIST Minami was the first one to bring a big box of clothes today! （オフィスのそばにある公園には家を失った方々が寝泊りしています。今朝、彼らに配るブランケットや服がオフィスに届いたの。ファイナリスト達が知人に頼んで集めたものなのよ。計算して、25人のファイナリストがそれぞれ50人と連絡をとって、沢山の服を集められたの。　ファイナリストのミナミが一番に大きな箱に入った服を送ってくれたわ） Due to the economical situation around the world, many people have lost their job withing the holiday period, and are now leaving homeless.　（この経済危機で、年末に職を失い、家も失ってしまった方々もいるのよ） If you ever have old sweaters or socks or jackets to donate pls contact me at info@ibgjapan.com, to me and I will respond personally. Thank you in advance. I even saw a young woman homeless with a child about one year old! Big sunny smiles for a happy day! （もし、古着のセーターや靴下、ジャケットなどがあれば是非私達に連絡して下さいね。私がお返事を致します。 アドレス：info@ibgjapan.com 今日、1歳になる子どもを抱えた女性のホームレスの方も見かけたわ。 ご協力宜しくお願いします。皆さんに幸福が訪れますように！）

In case you missed Ben Affleck’s new video “Gimme Shelter”, set to the classic Rolling Stones song, here’s another chance to see it. As Affleck explains, the message of the film is both critical and simple: “We made this film in order to focus attention on the humanitarian crisis in the DRC at a time when too much of the world is indifferent or looking the other way”. We know that you’re not indifferent, and that’s why we’ve sent this film to you. “Gimme Shelter” captures the unseen suffering of ordinary families caught in an extraordinary situation. There are currently 1.3 million displaced people in the DRC. As many as 5.4 million lives have been lost to the conflict in the last 10 years.  An estimated 1,000 people are still dying every day. Please don’t look the other way. To watch the film click on the image ·  Send it to your friends ·  Donate to the “Gimme Shelter” appeal HERE! You’re just a click away. Clare Rodger Head of International Fundraising

I am a big mama-bear and a kissing monster….. tender-time in bed and with Noa Bleu (my #2 son ) and on the beach, last sunset of 2008 behind us… (私はビックママでキス魔よ。2番目の息子Noaとの写真と、ビーチにて、2008年最後の夕日の前にて） (Taglish…) Bonding kami sa aming kuarto, si Noa Bleu sa beach at huling sunset ng 2008… The Strand, the hotel where we stayed on the island, remote and quiet and very family friendly. （私達が泊まったThe Strandは人里離れたところにあって、とても静かな家族向けのホテルなの） The Strand Resort kung saan kami tumira sa isla ay malayo sa gulo, tahimik at bagay na bagay para sa mga familia. While swimming and playing around with my little one Luca Kei (my #3 son). I am wearing my sweet friend Maria H. fabulous swimsuits. （３番目の息子Lucaと一緒に泳いだり、遊んでいるところ。私の水着は、友人のMaria.Hがデザインしたものよ。） Langoy-langoy, laro-laro kasama ng aking Luca Kei. Suot ko ang napakagandang swimsuits ni Maria H. Sa isla ng Boracay, sa Pilipinas kami ng aking familia nag-Bagong Taon, kung saan matatagpuan and kilo-kilometrong mapakaputing, napakapinong parang harina na buhangin at asul na asul na tubig. Dito kami madalas magpunta nung nasa Hong Kong pa kami nakatira. Nag-hook up kami ng aming mga kaibigan, sila Marjorie and Chris Renner at ang kanilang 3 anak. Sobra-sobrang enjoy kami maski inulan kami most of the time. Gusting-gusto ko pagumuulan sa beach – very dramatic at napakafresko. We spent New Year in family, on the island of Boracay which is located in the southern part of the Philippines, with kilometers of immaculate-white flour-sand and turquoise water  where we used to visit while living in Hong Kong. Also we decided to go back there. We spent the holidays with our friends Marjorie and Chris Renner with their 3 children and we had the best fun even even if it was raining most of the time. I love rain on the beach, very dramatic and refreshing. （お正月は家族と一緒にフィリピンの南に位置するボラカイ島で過ごしたの。そこは真っ白な砂浜と、ターコイズブルーの海が一面に広がっているのよ。そこは真っ白な砂浜と、ターコイズブルーの海が一面に広がっているのよ。香港に住んでいる頃にもよく来ていて、今回も行こうってなったの。友人達とその子ども達とも一緒に過ごすことができて、ほとんどの日が雨だったにも関わらず、とても楽しめたわ。でも私ビーチの雨は大好きよ。とてもドラマチックで、心が洗い流される気分がするのだもの。） Marjorie is Filipina also she could navigate us everywhere tourist would not know. She is so much fun, we partied hard on the night of New Year’s at a restaurant called La Kasba, fireworks were everywhere on the beach, it was amazing. As you can see on the last pictures we ended up laughing our head off, the 2 Long Islands I drank helped a lot,,,,,never trust that drink, it is dangerous!　e really felt home.  www.boracaystrand.com （友人の一人Marjorieはフィリピン人で、観光客が知らないような場所にも案内してくれたわ。彼女はとても面白い人なの。新年の夜はLa Kasbaというレストランにてパーティが行われて、花火がビーチのあちらこちらであげられているの。素晴らしかったわ。一番下の写真にあるように、最後まで笑っていたわ。私が飲んだ２　Long Islandsという飲み物のせいね。） I also loved my shopping in Makati on our way back with my Filipina friend Serla, I found long nice dresses for the summer or for my winter trips  to tropical destinations. I also found big stone rings, gorgeous and not expensive. （別の友人のMakatiとのショッピングも楽しかったわ。夏や冬の旅行にも着られる、トロピカルのロングドレスを見つけたの。他にも大きな石のついた指輪も買ったわ、とてもゴージャスなのにお手ごろな値段なの） Thank you to Luis for my nice gifts that you drop at my hotel in Manila. I will see you next time when I come back. Big kiss! （Luis,ホテルに素敵なギフトを届けてくれてありがとう。またここに戻ってきたら、会いましょうね！） We love the Philippines spirit and the warm personality of its people. This is why my sons are so well behaved and such loving boys because of Ate Juliet & Ate Remy, my 2 stars at home teaching them this values while I work. （フィリピンの人の精神や、温かさは大好きよ。私が仕事をしている間は、家でフィリピン出身のAte Juliet & Ate Remyが息子達の教育に携わってくれているのだけど、彼女達のおかげで息子達はとても行儀が良くて、愛しい子に育ったのだと思うわ。） Mabuhay! Pinay si Marjorie kaya kayang-kayan nya kami dalhin sa mga lugar na hindi alam ng mga turista. Kwelang-kwela si Marjorie, we partied hard on New Year’s eve as you can see sa mga litrato! Ang fireworks magkaliwaan sa beach, ang ganda-ganda.   Maraming maraming salamat sa magandang pagtangkilik ni Pinky at ng kanyang asawa sa amin sa kanilang resort na The Strand. At home na at home kami duon.  www.boracaystrand.com Ang sarap magshopping sa Makati kasama ng aking Pinay friend na si Serla, on our way back. Nakahanap ako ng magagandang long dresses na bagay pangsummer o para sa aking winter trips to tropical destinations. Nakabili din ako ng mga napakagandang singsing na may malalaking bato pero hindi mahal.   Mahal naming ang Pilipinas at ang warm personality ng kanyang mga tao. Mahal naming ang Pilipinas at ang warm personality ng kanyang mga tao… (We love the Philippines spirit and the warm personality of its people.)… Kaya naman ang aking mga anak ay napakababait at mapagmahal dahil kay Ate Juliet at Ate Remi, ang aking mga bituin sa bahay na nagtuturo sa kanila ng mga tamang asal and ugali habang ako ay nagtatrabajo. Mabuhay!