Day 1; Traveling to Japan: a funny airport story

My husband is Latin. He has a handsome face, distinct, and clearly Latin. So we arrive extra early at the airline (in typical husband fashion, our flights at 11:35 am and we arrive at 7:45 am!!!) We needed luggage tags and I could take the time to fill them out while we sipped our coffee & tea at Starbucks downstairs, instead of at the luggage counter.

He walked up to the Japan Airlines counter and said to the smiling attendant, "Hi, I need 4 luggage tags." She replied "BUT SIR (still smiling) this is Japan Air!" He looked at her and said "Yes, I'm going to Japan" (he smiled big). She kept smiling big at him.

Meanwhile I'm by the escalator and this Japanese guy in a nice suit quickly walks right by me and my 4 luggage pieces and leans on the escalator directly behind me. My red flags went up, I'm from the city, what's he doing by me? He's looking and says "Hello." I reply Hi. "Are you going to Japan?" I'm puzzled...

I am standing in front of Japan Airlines right? And a city girl. Some guy I have never met ran up behind me and leaned against the stairs and is asking me where I'm going? "Yes," I reply and turn away. "For vacation?" he asks. (My minds racing in the crazy thoughts I have. And quickly a scene runs through my head where next he asks me 'Can You take this Package for me on the airplane?') "Yes" I said and turn away.

Husband walks up and we both stare at each other with that something. weird. just. happened. to. me. face. (after 10 years you can read each others body language like a book). We head downstairs and we both say "guess what happened."

We realize this guy is probably our greeter from the airline maybe (?). Well, after our tea break & filling in our luggage tags, we returned upstairs an had a whole welcoming committee!!! The President of Japan Air division personally helped check in our luggage We met him at the initial meeting). My friend from the stairs is the President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce (to whom I later explained my hesitancy). Our travel agent too. We feel so taken care of. It's a wonderful start to a great amazing experience.

Fun and funny, Happy Travels!!

Niki Iro Jean Chicago Visit: At Home Making All American Chocolate Chip Cookies

We had an awesome time when the Television show from Japan visited our home in Chicago.

Welcome Niji Iro Jean! 

This colorful dogs caretakers filmed a fin experience. My nerves were a wreck. I am grateful smell-o-vision doesn't exist. The magic of TV. We enjoyed a full day, nearly 8 hours with this crew. Which turned into 12 mins of tv action.

Camera man waiting patiently for our Chocolate Chip Cookies. And baby girl also waiting patiently.

Niki Iro Jean and Chocolate Cookies, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Coming back from introducing the boys - when they still roomed together. Younger son snuck down the stairs cutting off the camera man. Moments when I felt our home was too small, I remembered the size of things over seas.


Niki Iro Jean and Chocolate Cookies, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Our translator and behind the scenes photographer took candids throughout the day... as did mom, thus the blog and our keepsake book. 

Niki Iro Jean and Chocolate Cookies, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Mom and baby girl, resting between takes. Look at that happiness on dad in the background. That was his way of showing how much fun having a full day of taping was making him feel. I wish I took the photo of him throwing his feet up on the couch as soon as they left. 



Niki Iro Jean and Chocolate Cookies, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

After the visit. We received a gift from Niji Iro Jean straight from Japan. These are designed as the size of placemats. Spray starched and pressed as a placemat. When I washed it the material shrunk down into a hand towel. We still use and love these today. 


Niki Iro Jean and Chocolate Cookies, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

A great unique experience!  See the arrival photos. And how we made cookies.
See all the posts here under the label "Niji Iro Jean." 

Happy and Safe Travels!

Niji Iro Jean Chicago Visit: Picking out our Christmas Tree, December 1st

As many of us have done time and time again, we prepared to purchase our Annual Christmas Tree. We prefer a frasier fir. My father and grandmother always get this style tree because they said it reminds them of their childhoods in Poland. So I continue that tradition.

When the crew arrived they were all giddy and excited to start filming and exploring the lot themselves.


Niji Iro Jean Chicago Visit, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

In between shots, and set ups, they played with the kids running around. Of course we were stressed since the lot is near a busy street. But the crew - and the kids - enjoyed the chase.


Niji Iro Jean Chicago Visit, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.



Niji Iro Jean Chicago Visit, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

This moment is one of my favorites of Jean and Dad. This is the moment, my husband realized, he is Talking to a Puppet! 

Of course we prepared a gift for Niji Iro Jean. We wanted to welcome him to America. So mom found a premade set I had to moditfy a lil bit.  I didn;t think we could find more genuine excitement in the day. We put Nijis present under the tree so baby girl could pick it up and hand it over. But she got a little shy so Older son got the pleasure of handing it over. Niji Iro Jean caretakers dressed the little one in her new gift, a red hat, scarf and gloves. Of course I researched to make sure red colors aren't offensive in Japan.

A little behind the scenes magic. Niji sees his present for the 1st time. Nijo received a gift from us as I blogged about here. We learned about Japanese gift giving tradition in our 2013 trip. Here Niji is opening his gift. The box was the size of French Soap.

Japan TV Show Niji Iro Jean in Chicago, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.


Niji Iro Jean Chicago Visit, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Final filming of the Cookie treats after a long day. And the arrival pics. 

See all the posts here under the label "Niji Iro Jean." 


Happy and Safe Travels!

ESPECIALLY Happy travels Niji Iro Jean.

Japan TV Show Niji Iro Jean in Chicago: Meeting the Family

I wonder if Niji's crew was overwhelmed with my photo taking. We were staging lights and camera set up. I am sure I was more in the way then not. Crew sets up meeting dad. This shot didn't work so we moved him back to the seats with Baby girl.


Japan TV Show Niji Iro Jean in Chicago, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Meeting dad. We re-arranged furniture again for this version. Our christmas lights were staged just after Thanksgiving in prep for the show. We never dressed the house this early for the season.


Japan TV Show Niji Iro Jean in Chicago, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

More smiles. More wondering if Ill be taking pics all day. Yes I will. This is outside the boys room. They were asked to play with their toys on the floor. And of course our babies play quietly. They thought the kids would be louder. The translator kept asking "please have them play..." I said they are playing. It wasn't rough or fun enough?


Japan TV Show Niji Iro Jean in Chicago, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

After the actual welcome, this was the fake welcome at the door. Niji knocked and mom said "Hello, and welcome to our home."


Japan TV Show Niji Iro Jean in Chicago, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Next stop visiting the tree selling lot.

Happy and Safe Travels!

See all the posts here under the label "Niji Iro Jean." 

Niji Iro Jean A Chicago Christmas

POST Our Japan travels, our family was selected to be featured on Niji Iro Jean, a stuffed puppet that travels the world bringing his adventures to the people of Japan.

WELCOME NIJI IRO JEAN, RAINBOW COLORED JEAN, TO CHICAGO

Niji Iro Jean A Chicago Christmas, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

A Japanese traveling variety show Niji Iro Jean

 "Rainbow Colored Jean" came to film a Chicago Christmas in 2014. Unfortuantely there was No snow, but we were ready for Christmas on December 1!! Film crew arriving and staging the house

Niji Iro Jean A Chicago Christmas, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

They wanted to film the kids playing, "please make them play...." this is how they play. They had their hard toys out making fun noises.

Niji Iro Jean A Chicago Christmas, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Set up in our bedroom, this clip got cut. Japanese have some naughty humor, as does any country. So Niji was going to take a nap - in my bed!

Niji Iro Jean A Chicago Christmas, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

See all the posts here under the label "Niji Iro Jean." 

Happy and Safe Travels!

More Inspired Crafts

All this creativity from my Suessical Project is overflowing into other pending projects.

I made some cartoon lunch bag notes for the kids from their favorite cartoons: Minions, Totoro, Scooby Doo and others.

More Inspired Crafts, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Or see our visit from Japanese TV Show Niji Iro Jean. We made his warm clothes gift for his visit to America. 

More Inspired Crafts, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

And my mink cuffs, made from my moms upcycled mink coat. She already received a mink scarf and my winter gloves got a fur upgrade, now the cuffs. One for mom and one for me.



Happy Crafting!

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers

There is a saying in my Event Management life, "show volunteers HOW its done, and GIVE them the tools they need and Volunteers step up and Make It Happen." And these parents did not disappoint.

In a plastic bag I provided:

1. cutout templates of the pieces volunteers would be assembling & material for cutting.
2. the instruction sheet was hand written with drawn figures. Some people are visual and others do better with written guidelines.
3. scrap felt for decorating.
4. tacky glue.

The Volunteer parents really stepped up!!! Over 35 people contributed to our costume success! Kits were made for ribbon rods (made from FREE paint stirrers), WHO everything (except the sewn shorts and skirts) suspenders, collars, headbands, ties, etc., the hunters reversible vest to fish and a separate kit to make the fins and tails, where the mom took extra effort to decorate them!


Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

In all fairness, there are two important life experiences that gave me the talen and skillset to complete this project.

I have been both on stage, backstage as crew and behind the scenes in theatre performances all through High School and College. I LOVE the theatre. My background helps me with the vision and effects for costumes.

I work in Event Management Professionally as a Consultant, JK Marketing and Event Management. My organizational skills and attention to detail are a big part of the business success. And fun!