LaShawn Toyoda
@lashawn-toyoda.bsky.social
14 years in 🇯🇵. Former English teacher turned programmer. Love to travel, garden, and help new devs in my free time. Married.
My little one’s surgery was today. It was the longest 5 hours of my life, but I’m so grateful that it went well and she’s expected to make a full recovery. The cause ended up being something even rarer than the doctors expected. So glad for modern science.
July 30, 2025 at 10:47 AM
My little one’s surgery was today. It was the longest 5 hours of my life, but I’m so grateful that it went well and she’s expected to make a full recovery. The cause ended up being something even rarer than the doctors expected. So glad for modern science.
Every day I leave home at around 12:00 to go to the hospital and return around 20:00, but I only get to spend 3.5 of those hours with my baby. It’s too far away to return home in between the visitation hours, so I end up staying at the hospital or a cafe nearby. 2 weeks down and about a month to go.
July 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Every day I leave home at around 12:00 to go to the hospital and return around 20:00, but I only get to spend 3.5 of those hours with my baby. It’s too far away to return home in between the visitation hours, so I end up staying at the hospital or a cafe nearby. 2 weeks down and about a month to go.
I wish I had discovered this stuff years ago. Could’ve saved so much money on store bought karaage. This is my go to now for my 5 year old’s bento. Luckily her kindergarten only requires it once a week.
July 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I wish I had discovered this stuff years ago. Could’ve saved so much money on store bought karaage. This is my go to now for my 5 year old’s bento. Luckily her kindergarten only requires it once a week.
Found a near perfect 8 in the sky while driving around. Is it a sign of good luck? I’m going to tell myself it is. 🍀🎱
July 21, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Found a near perfect 8 in the sky while driving around. Is it a sign of good luck? I’m going to tell myself it is. 🍀🎱
Finally able to physically tackle some of the cleaning now that I’m 3 weeks postpartum. The house is in absolute disarray. Going to work on it bit by bit to try to take my mind off of the baby’s upcoming surgery. I don’t even know where to begin with the pantry. 🥲
July 20, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Finally able to physically tackle some of the cleaning now that I’m 3 weeks postpartum. The house is in absolute disarray. Going to work on it bit by bit to try to take my mind off of the baby’s upcoming surgery. I don’t even know where to begin with the pantry. 🥲
My labor and delivery did NOT go as planned. Has anyone else gotten an epidural in Japan that just didn’t work? I felt pretty much everything. 😭😭 My daughter is here though and she’s absolutely beautiful. 😍 This will probably be the only pic I’ll share of her online.
July 2, 2025 at 4:31 AM
My labor and delivery did NOT go as planned. Has anyone else gotten an epidural in Japan that just didn’t work? I felt pretty much everything. 😭😭 My daughter is here though and she’s absolutely beautiful. 😍 This will probably be the only pic I’ll share of her online.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had ramen this thick. The broth was nearly gelatinous! 7/10 on flavor but it was too heavy to actually finish. Wouldn’t mind trying it again though. #japan #yamanashi #ramen
maps.app.goo.gl/Hk9kYfGar9jd...
maps.app.goo.gl/Hk9kYfGar9jd...
June 19, 2025 at 9:40 AM
It’s been a long time since I’ve had ramen this thick. The broth was nearly gelatinous! 7/10 on flavor but it was too heavy to actually finish. Wouldn’t mind trying it again though. #japan #yamanashi #ramen
maps.app.goo.gl/Hk9kYfGar9jd...
maps.app.goo.gl/Hk9kYfGar9jd...
Here’s the recipe for anyone that’s interested: www.allrecipes.com/recipe/15509...
June 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Here’s the recipe for anyone that’s interested: www.allrecipes.com/recipe/15509...
35 weeks pregnant today! About 2 weeks to go until I’ll be induced. Attempted to make English cottage pie for the first time today. Husband said it tasted very Americanized. 😅 It scored a 7/10 from him and an 8/10 from me, but our daughter absolutely devoured it!
June 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
35 weeks pregnant today! About 2 weeks to go until I’ll be induced. Attempted to make English cottage pie for the first time today. Husband said it tasted very Americanized. 😅 It scored a 7/10 from him and an 8/10 from me, but our daughter absolutely devoured it!
It’s not glamorous, but tonight’s Philly Cheesesteak with sweet potato fries scored a 9/10 from the husband…. AFTER he added wasabi to it. 😂
June 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM
It’s not glamorous, but tonight’s Philly Cheesesteak with sweet potato fries scored a 9/10 from the husband…. AFTER he added wasabi to it. 😂
Had my 31w checkup today, but the baby is measuring 35w. I’m nervous about the delivery. 😅 Stopped at a restaurant called #Tranquil in #Yamanashi for lunch. 10/10 would recommend! The service and attention to detail were amazing. The stairs were rusty and scary though.
May 16, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Had my 31w checkup today, but the baby is measuring 35w. I’m nervous about the delivery. 😅 Stopped at a restaurant called #Tranquil in #Yamanashi for lunch. 10/10 would recommend! The service and attention to detail were amazing. The stairs were rusty and scary though.
Snapshot I took of Mt. Fuji while on the way to the hospital today. It almost looks like the clouds are billowing out of it. It’s so beautiful when covered with snow. ❄️
May 12, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Snapshot I took of Mt. Fuji while on the way to the hospital today. It almost looks like the clouds are billowing out of it. It’s so beautiful when covered with snow. ❄️
Let the weekend begin!
May 9, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Let the weekend begin!
Went to a lovely Italian inspired restaurant that is always fully booked. Been looking forward to it for a while, but it turned out to be one of those rare occasions that the 5 year old decided to throw a tantrum. 😥 It’s days like today that I wish we had family that could help out once in while.
May 3, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Went to a lovely Italian inspired restaurant that is always fully booked. Been looking forward to it for a while, but it turned out to be one of those rare occasions that the 5 year old decided to throw a tantrum. 😥 It’s days like today that I wish we had family that could help out once in while.
Went to a small family restaurant that is always empty, and can’t figure out why. The food is great, and made by a lovely old man. He usually sits watching TV with his two cats. 🐈 🐈⬛ It’s been a few months since we last visited, but he immediately recognized us and we had a nice chat.
#日本 #山梨県 #花きりん
#日本 #山梨県 #花きりん
May 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Went to a small family restaurant that is always empty, and can’t figure out why. The food is great, and made by a lovely old man. He usually sits watching TV with his two cats. 🐈 🐈⬛ It’s been a few months since we last visited, but he immediately recognized us and we had a nice chat.
#日本 #山梨県 #花きりん
#日本 #山梨県 #花きりん
Can’t do a lot for Golden Week since I tire easily from being preggers. Making an effort to visit new places a short drive away. After furniture shopping we found this nice Chinese restaurant called 金龍 here in Kofu. So glad they didn’t include もやし in their ramen, and the fried rice was excellent! 🤤
April 28, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Can’t do a lot for Golden Week since I tire easily from being preggers. Making an effort to visit new places a short drive away. After furniture shopping we found this nice Chinese restaurant called 金龍 here in Kofu. So glad they didn’t include もやし in their ramen, and the fried rice was excellent! 🤤
Our house has solar panels and two house batteries. I think this is the first time since we moved in last year that we’ve gone a full 24 hours off grid. Turning off the heated flooring and not doing laundry at night certainly helped. 1 AC is running, and air circulation in 3 rooms.
April 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Our house has solar panels and two house batteries. I think this is the first time since we moved in last year that we’ve gone a full 24 hours off grid. Turning off the heated flooring and not doing laundry at night certainly helped. 1 AC is running, and air circulation in 3 rooms.
Drove near Lake Kawaguchi hoping to see some cherry blossoms. 🌸 They haven’t bloomed yet, but we managed to see great views of Mt. Fuji.
April 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Drove near Lake Kawaguchi hoping to see some cherry blossoms. 🌸 They haven’t bloomed yet, but we managed to see great views of Mt. Fuji.
Oh yeah and I used this for the seasoning.
March 31, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Oh yeah and I used this for the seasoning.
Chicken pot pie turned out to be a huge hit. I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy hormones, but I’ve been much more into cooking lately. The crust looked hideous 🫣 because I scrambled to finish it in under a min. Husband scored this one a 9 out of 10 though for taste.
March 31, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Chicken pot pie turned out to be a huge hit. I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy hormones, but I’ve been much more into cooking lately. The crust looked hideous 🫣 because I scrambled to finish it in under a min. Husband scored this one a 9 out of 10 though for taste.
One of our new friends in Yamanashi is demolishing his house. He invited a bunch of families over to paint on the walls and basically do whatever we wanted to the place. I don’t have an artistic bone in my body. Kids had a great time though. Also made a new friend that recognized me from Twitter. 😅
March 30, 2025 at 8:14 AM
One of our new friends in Yamanashi is demolishing his house. He invited a bunch of families over to paint on the walls and basically do whatever we wanted to the place. I don’t have an artistic bone in my body. Kids had a great time though. Also made a new friend that recognized me from Twitter. 😅
Yamanashi feels like it’s trying to skip spring and jump straight to summer 😭
March 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Yamanashi feels like it’s trying to skip spring and jump straight to summer 😭
Had to drink this stuff 30min before my prenatal appt today. I swear they just put some Mitsuya Cider in a glass bottle. 🤨
March 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Had to drink this stuff 30min before my prenatal appt today. I swear they just put some Mitsuya Cider in a glass bottle. 🤨
Of all the foods to miss from America, I’ve had a strong craving for funnel cakes today. Finally caved in and looked up a recipe to make some. Japanese husband gave them an odd look, accepted a small piece, and then promptly came back and pulled off a huge chunk. 😂
March 8, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Of all the foods to miss from America, I’ve had a strong craving for funnel cakes today. Finally caved in and looked up a recipe to make some. Japanese husband gave them an odd look, accepted a small piece, and then promptly came back and pulled off a huge chunk. 😂