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I am just a girl that knows what she likes not wanting to live in a muted colourless world, so I dive into worlds outside my comfort zone

11/03/2026

The Time My Luggage Beat Me Across Japan
During my three weeks in Japan, I discovered a travel hack so convenient it felt like magic: luggage forwarding. Instead of wrestling suitcases through crowded train stations and onto Shinkansen cars, I simply sent my bags ahead and traveled hands-free. Twice. And both times, my luggage seemed to arrive before I did.

https://itwasworthit.ca/the-time-my-luggage-beat-me-across-japan/

11/02/2026

BOOM! 🎆

The crane looks towards the darkening sky.

“Lila! Come quickly!”

Lila looks up.

BOOM!

And suddenly the night explodes with colour.

Pink. Gold. Blue. Green.

HANABI! 🎆

Japan had one final surprise waiting for Lila.

And it might just be the biggest one yet.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HNWXRJ2D

11/02/2026

Living in Japan: What Nobody Tells You
I first lived in Japan as a teenager, returned several times before turning 20, and then stayed away for 35 years. When I finally returned in 2026, Japan felt both completely familiar and entirely new. Here is what nobody tells you about living there.

https://itwasworthit.ca/living-in-japan-what-nobody-tells-you/

11/01/2026

SAKURA! 🌸🌸🌸

She found them.

Rows and rows of cherry trees covered in delicate pink blossoms.

Sakura. 🌸

This is one of my favourite illustrations in the entire book because I wanted Lila’s reaction to feel like that moment when you see something so beautiful that you simply stop.

No searching.

No sniffing.

Just...

WOW.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HNWXRJ2D

11/01/2026

A Beginner’s Guide to Surviving Tokyo Station
Tokyo Station isn’t just a train station. It’s a sprawling city filled with trains, shops, restaurants, tunnels, and enough exits to make you question every life choice that brought you there. Here’s what I learned about navigating one of Japan’s busiest transportation hubs without completely losing my mind.

https://itwasworthit.ca/a-beginners-guide-to-surviving-tokyo-station/

10/31/2026

Something Pink Is in the Air 🌸

Lila follows her newest friend, a little Japanese hare, along a quiet path.

The mysterious scent is getting stronger.

Then...

A pink petal floats past.

Then another.

And another.

Lila looks up.

Where are they coming from? 🌸👃

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HNWXRJ2D

10/31/2026

When the Curtains Closed: A Hard Day on a Japanese Train
Thirty minutes out of Nikko, our train stopped and didn’t start again. There had been a serious accident ahead of us. What happened over the next few hours — the way the staff drew the curtains, explained what they could, and moved an entire train full of strangers into taxis without a single person raising their voice — is something I’ve thought about every day since. Japan doesn’t just run on time. It runs on care.

https://itwasworthit.ca/when-the-curtains-closed/

10/30/2026

From My Japan Story to Lila’s ❤️

Japan has been part of my story for many years.

I first experienced the country as a student and returned many years later to rediscover familiar places, reconnect with old friends and make entirely new memories.

Those experiences helped inspire Lila’s Nose Knows: The Sakura Surprise.

The smells. The foods. The landscapes. The wildlife. The traditions. And those tiny moments you remember long after you’ve come home.

I wanted Lila’s journey to give children a little taste of that magic too. ❤️

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HNWXRJ2D

10/30/2026

Japan’s Bullet Trains Are Even Better Than You’ve Heard
Taking the Shinkansen is one of the highlights of any trip to Japan. It’s fast, clean, comfortable, and incredibly efficient. But between Green Cars, oversized luggage rules, online reservations, and multiple booking apps, figuring out how to buy the right ticket can feel overwhelming. Here’s everything I learned about booking and riding Japan’s famous bullet train without losing your mind.

https://itwasworthit.ca/japans-bullet-trains-are-even-better-than-youve-heard/

10/29/2026

Warm. Sweet. Roasting.

Lila follows the delicious smell until she discovers yaki imo, Japanese roasted sweet potatoes. 🍠

Warm, soft inside and absolutely perfect with a big pat of melting butter.

But then...

Lila’s nose twitches again.

Sniff, sniff.

Something completely different is floating on the breeze and Lila is off to the next discovery.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HNWXRJ2D

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http://itwasworthit.ca/

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