FIVE [Ayu Mini Album] + Ayu Contacts

This was announced a while back but I was waiting for track list and covers to come out to speak of is on Gossip Candy.

Hamasaki Ayumi releasing FIVE, a "mini album", on August 31st 2011.

CD + DVD Cover

CD Only

CD Only -Limited Edition-

Track list

CD content.

01. progress (●PS3「Tales of Xillia」theme song)

02. ANother song feat. URATA NAOYA (●BeeTV「sweetTV」theme song)

03. Why... feat. JUNO (●HIS Taiwan Campaign CM song / Recochoku TV-CM song)

04. beloved (●Japan Television「Sukkiri!!」 theme song for August)

05. BRILLANTE (●music.jp TV-CF song)

Dvd content.

01. progress (video clip)
02. ANother song feat. URATA NAOYA (video clip)
03. Why... feat. JUNO (video clip)
04. beloved (video clip)
05. BRILLANTE (video clip)
06. progress (making clip)
07. ANother song feat. URATA NAOYA (making clip)
08. Why... feat. JUNO (making clip)
09. beloved (making clip)
10. BRILLANTE (making clip)

A song for a video game, Tales of Xillia, thus why the anime limited edition cover.

I'm not as excited for this as I've been for previous albums. Probably because it only has 5 new songs and doesn't feel like a "real" album does.

I mean, this could have very well been split into 2 singles and then we could have had a new album at the end of the year or something along that line. But with Ayu's life changing (aka. she got married) and the earthquake in March, I've noticed her way of doing things has changed. It's like she taking more time to focus on the things she does rather then rushing through it all. Which is good, I think.

In this album, she has 2 songs in collaboration with 2 different male singers. URATA NAOYA, whom she's performed and produced a song with already. And a new guy, JUNO. He looks tasty. Wait, what? Did I just say that out loud?!!

I like the CD Only, bust shot cover, but the other two leave me going "meh". I don't like the font they used for her name and in the face shot she looks very manly to me. I don't know if it's the hair or the eyebrows or what, but I don't find it feminine at all, and to me Ayu is all about being feminine. I could care less for the anime cover, I mean, if it'd been HER as an anime character then OK, but this one doesn't say or remind me of Ayu at all.


In other news, on the exact same date, a collection of color contact lenses will be released! Seems to be some kind of collaboration 「浜崎あゆみ × SWEET DAYS」



I don't know if they were designed by Ayu or if they just affiliated with her to use her name. Maybe they'll be using her as spokes person for this serie of lenses, who knows. I'd love to see a photo shoot of her wearing each one of them, but that's probably just me dreaming.

You can view everything in details with better pictures of the lenses Here


What do YOU think of Ayu's "FIVE" mini album? What do you think of the covers? What about the contact lenses? Would you buy any of them?

Birthday Part 2

Part 2 of my birthday that was on July 22nd. As per my previous post on this subject, I went to the restaurant with my mother on July 21st.

On July 22nd I was up early (I usually sleep in, but it was a really nice day out and I was excited!) so out of bed I went and headed to my father's place. He has a big backyard with a deck, BBQ and a pool, so that's what I set to do for the day! A day by the pool and BBQ with family and friends.

It was nice and sunny ALL day long!

A few pictures to commemorate the day I turned 24 years old...

My big sister brought me balloons :3

And she decorated the deck!

We found out that Nicky REALLY likes Ice Caps from Tim Horton's!

BBQ !!!

And cake of course~

Birthday gets coming soon...

What do you like to do for your birthday?

Chunky Bling

Advertorial

Earlier in July, Chunky Bling got in touch with me for advertisement. I was surprised, honestly, I never thought I'd be approached to advertise something on my blog. I saw this has a great opportunity and accepted their partnership.

Chunky Bling is an online jewelry company based in Utah, USA. They have watches, bracelets, rings and necklaces. All made with beads, crystals and all types of blings you can think of.

Doug of Chunky Bling was super pleasant to deal with and he offered to send me a piece of jewelry from the website. I choose the Swarovski White Pearl ring (http://chunkybling.com/rings/swarovski-pearl-white). I already have plenty of necklaces and am not someone that wears watches or bracelets very often so I thought a ring would be perfect. Within a week and a half I received my package!

Cute note!

The ring~

It looks fantastic! For such a low price I was honestly, pleasantly surprised at the quality of the product. It has a string underneath the beads, so it stretches a little to fit certain ring sizes, but it's not super elastic that it's uncomfortable.


Ever since I got it, I've worn it several times at work and have not taken it off all day.


Over all, I'm super pleased and honored to be part of this new partnership. The jewelries look awesome, they are affordable and Chunky Bling's customer service was great!

If you're interested in having a look, you can click on the link in my side bar ==>

It's worth a look, costs nothing and you might end up finding something you like for yourself or as a gift for someone you love! I know I'll be getting a bracelet for my mother for Christmas!

What do you think of Chunky Bling? What about my ring? Would you order from them?

Birthday Part 1

My parents are divorced so for the past few years I've celebrated my birthday twice each year.

This year with my mother, we went to the restaurant. D., my brother and his girlfriend came with us the Thursday night (July 21st, actual birthday was July 22nd).

Usually I picked an Asian restaurant to go to but this year I wanted to make it a little different, so I went for a French restaurant I had been to the year before and had been really wanting to go back. For the occasion I decided to wear the orange dress I got for super cheap a month earlier.

I also curled my hair with the curling iron, but it was so hot and humid that they didn't stay put very well...

I had light make-up, I figured it wouldn't matter with the heat it would likely melt away.

The restaurant...

Maison Chaloin http://www.maisonchaloin.com/

The inside is cozy and seats about 20-30 customers at most. There were a few people when we came in, but they had all left by the time we ordered. A few other customers came in later.



Is a small restaurant slash chocolate shop/factory owned by two French gentlemen that moved to Canada in 2008. Every single thing they make is made from scratch at the restaurant. They sell chocolates, macaroons, cakes and gelatos. Half of is it the shop, and the other half is the restaurant. And as I've said, every thing is made from scratch, by hand, home made, including everything on the menu. They specialize in crepes, sweet and salty ones. But they also have pizza, pasta, salads and desserts of course.

And now... Onto pictures of FOOD!

My plate... Chicken, mushroom and creamy cheese crepe with salad and tomato soup.
This was "Table d'Hote" so it included a drink and a dessert.

My brother's dish. 4 cheese pizza with salad and tomato soup.

I didn't get a chance to photograph everyone else's dishes, they were already stuffing their faces. But who can blame them! The food there is AMAZING! My mother had a smoked salmon and maple syrup crepe. D has duck and date crepe. And my bro's girlfriend had pasta which looked SO delicious! I'll definitely be having a pasta dish next time.

My dessert!
Small cake with chocolate, raspberries, whipped cream and lime gelato (my favorite!)

While everyone was choosing their dessert (because you get to choose from a wide variety in a display window, I snapped pictures of everything (or almost) they had.

Cake display...

Macaroons, in the display on the other side...

Chocolates display...


A lot of their chocolates are made out of flowers! I had the chance to taste some of them last year and they're delicious! Everything you can order to eat there, or take out. They put everything in super cute boxes which makes it all perfect for gifts too.

All in all it was a great dinner and I'm definitely going back again! Any next occasion or even just for a nice coffee break and snack. The service has been impecable every time, I definitely recommend Maison Chaloin, if you are in the area. They are located in Hull on St-Joseph Blvd. Check out their website for more info, they also recently opened a chocolate store (no restaurant) in Ottawa!

Part 2 of birthday coming up soon...

What do you think of all these sweets?
Which one would you have picked for your dessert?