Anime Banzai 2011

My friend and I went to Anime Banzai this year and had a ton of fun! I taught two Lolita Panels (I was soooo nervous since this was my first time) and I think everything went fantastically. A few of the local lolis came and showed their support. It was so nice to see everyone, and great to be able to talk to those studying Lolita fashion. I love to talk to people who have a genuine curiosity, and had fun answering questions. Hopefully I made everyone feel at ease!

Here are a few pictures from my time at the convention:

Ghostbuster loli! Who ya gonna call?

Teaching the panel.

This guy put a steampunk look together that was understated and very cool.

One of the local lolis in a skirt she made herself. She's great!

AND a bonus pic of my cosplay during the con:

Shiemi from Blue Exorcist. Yay!

To the reader: Have you ever been to a Lolita Panel or Class? What would you like to see in one?

Curse you, IW!

I really think IW is targeting my pocketbook, specifically. XP They just came out with a bunch more reservations, one of which I want so badly I can hardly stand it! If you've ever spoken with me, you know that my favorite dress is IW's GOSIK collaboration ("Victorica Set"). I was fortunate to get this set when it first came out (sold a lot, hehe) and it is by far my best ensemble. Gorgeous lace, fabric, design...*sigh*

Well, IW just released ANOTHER GOSIK collaboration! And this one is sooo pretty, too!

I am MAD for this Victorica Tiered Dress set. The long bloomers are great for my sense of modesty, and the whole coordinate is so delicate and pretty! I WANT IT! Like factor: Off the charts!

 A few more recent releases:

Stained Glass JSK

Standing Collar OP

Delft Lotta JSK

In addition, IW released (and sold out on) two Lucky Packs that I was VERY hard pressed not to spend money on. If I weren't saving for a car to commute to work, I would SO have one!

Stinking necessities...getting in the way of my lolita! ;-P

Pamtography Photoshoot

I did a photoshoot with a friend to build up a portfolio for her photography company. She is really passionate about capturing everyone's uniqueness...so of course I wore Lolita!

We started out in the morning, when I brought over my wardrobe, stunning my friend. She didn't know how complicated Lolita was! ;-) She picked out a few things (and vetoed any stockings, aaah!) and we headed about an hour away to take pictures. It was sort of hot (middle of the day) but I had TONS of fun! I love doing photoshoots.

On to the pictures!

      

Well, that's it for now. I'll probably get back to posting on the weekends, but it's hard when I have so much to talk about (IW just released a bunch of new reservations yesterday...why must they taunt me sooooo?!) I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

IW Update!

Yes, I'm sort of trying to make up for my long absence. XD

Anyway, IW has come out with a few reservations/new releases. Let's take a look!

Rose Panel 2-Way JSK. Granted, this is not all that new, but I have a love-hate thing going on with this (or rather, a love-dislike thing). I think the rose print is ADORABLE and the colors are so nice! The fit is okay, and I love the scallops at the bottom. The only thing that keeps me from JSK-drool is the panel-lines across the skirt, etc. It looks almost like someone didn't understand what crop-marks meant (ie: "cut here") and sewed panels together in an odd way. I could probably get over it, though, for the beautiful roses. Like factor: 4.75/5

Theresia Rose JSK. This is so lovely! Roses seem to be a theme for IW right now, and I think it's great. For some reason, I'm partial to halter-top necklines, and the whole dress looks beautiful. Like factor: 5/5

Liliane JSK. This military-style JSK has lovely collar and bodice detailing! In my opinion, it looks better in the long version than the short, but I love the caramel-chocolate colorway. The neckline is a halter (again) and the back seems to have some shirring and corseting. So nice! Like factor: 5/5

Lastly, the Gretel Short Boots. These seem very military to me, and I am a sucker for boots! They have a bow in the back (a la the Victorica Boots) and even come in a Navy colorway! LOVE them! Like factor: 5.5/5 ;-)

Well, that's it for today! For more IW stuff, don't forget to check out their Reservation page!

To the reader: Has IW (or your favorite brand) released anything you're super-excited about? Share with me!

I'm on youtube!

I haven't updated lately because I've been at DISNEYLAND! Sadly, I couldn't wear Lolita there, but I had lots of fun nonetheless.

A friend recently contacted me and told me I made it into shelbycloud's lolita compilation vid! Take a look:

To my chagrin, she used one of my oldest (and derpiest XP) pictures, but I'm happy I was able to take part in it!

What else do I watch on youtube?

I love to see kawaiigirljapan (Japan's "kawaii ambassador" channel, sort of) and all of the people/things they put on there. I admire how sweet Misako-san seems to be (yes, I added -san, I took Japanese and don't quite feel right not adding an honorific) and love all the groups they showcase.

I also watch a channel called meetzoe or "The Wonderful World of Zoe." This Austrailian girl is so funny, and is great to her fans.

The last few of my fave channels are Michelle Phan and her sisters' channels (michellephan and ricebunny for Michelle and dope211 for Promise). They have such great advice and looks! Her sister, Promise, is AMAZING at transforming the face with makeup!

I hope this has given you just a little fun peek into what I like, and thusly into my personality. XP

To the reader: What are YOUR fave youtube channels? Do you like/dislike one of the channels I watch?

Easy Nails!

I love cute nails, but playing the guitar/violin and wearing contacts doesn't lend itself to long, decoed fingernails. Plus, I have no experience doing nails! What's a girl to do?

That's what I was thinking, until I discovered nail tutorials on youtube. They have several tutorials for fun and easy nails! I tried a couple of styles the past few days:

Newspaper nails! I love this, because it looks almost like a page out of a book! The tutorial is here. Tip: Just dip your nail for a few seconds, and press the newspaper to it for just a few seconds (seriously, like, two). That will help the newspaper not to stick to your nail!

Strawberry-Gingham nails! These are so sweet and summery! I was really worried about being able to create this look (since I've never really tried nail art before) but they came out very cute! The tutorial is here.

I hope to be able to try and share more nail looks, so please look forward to it!

To the Reader: How do you usually wear your nails?

New Reservations for IW

Innocent World is just about the only brand I watch for new items (mostly because I can't figure Baby's reservation page out, and MM and JetJ seem to sell out via psychic hotline before they release the reservations ;-) ). They've announced a few things, and I thought I'd share some here!

Triple Stripe Jumperskirt: This looks pretty nice! The stripe pattern is really pretty, and the fabric looks nice. However (and I'm not sure if this was just the fit on the model) the lace on the waistband makes the bodice look a little baggy. Overall like factor: 4/5

Flocky Tulle Jumperskirt: I really, really wanted to like this! It looks so cute in this picture, but with a blouse underneath it looks a little awkward. It would probably be better with a short-sleeved blouse instead of the detachable-sleeve blouse IW put on their model. And though I'm not a fan of empire waists (especially on me) the blouse and shape of this dress make me very happy! Overall Like: 4.75/5

Sailor Collar A-Line Onepiece: This was another one I wanted to like. I'm such a fan of sailor! And while the colors are fantastic and I love the cuffs on the sleeves, the fit, the FIT! Augh! There is none! It looks like a sack on the model, and I really don't think it's meant to be fitted around the waist. With a petticoat, that just makes it look...not good. XP Overall Like: 2/5

Lolita: Good for More than "Feeling Pretty"

Me with some of the members of my community.

That's right--Lolita has more benefits than being able to feel beautiful. Despite the sweet "little girl" aesthetic, Lolita has actually helped me grow up.


I freely admit it--I'm a momma's girl. And although my close relationship with my mother brings me more happiness than I could ever part with, it brought me one other thing: dependency.

Without going into too much detail, let's just say I was severely handicapped when it came to the social department due to a psychological disorder. Stores, parties, restaurants...all were terrifying places for me. I couldn't order at McDonalds on my own without having a veritable panic attack! In short: I couldn't do things for myself that some people do almost daily. My parents did everything they could to help me, but I stayed this way into my early 20s, when a breakdown finally caused them to put me into therapy.

By this time, I had been into Lolita for about a year. My parents were unsupportive of my hobby, probably because they saw it as trying to return to childhood--something that would not help me with my social predicament. I was starting to see some benefits of Lolita in my life: When I put on Lolita, I knew I was pretty. When people stared at me in the mall, I didn't have to wonder if there was some smudge in a horrible place; instead, I simply attributed it to the clothing and smiled. When I was in Lolita, I didn't care what anyone else thought of me...a refreshing change from my daily self-critisism. I knew I loved Lolita for these things, but the bulk of my "Lolita therapy" had yet to come.

Recently, I found myself the head of my local community. I certainly didn't seek this; it happened mostly because I wanted to see more of my friends and started planning meetups. Pretty soon I found myself creating and modding a new community (the old one got spammed and the owner was MIA) and dealing with a whole new set of pressures. I had to make sure the community stayed a fun and safe place for everyone. I had to set down and enforce community rules. I had to plan the meetups, and then make sure everybody got there and back okay. Not to mention making sure everybody had fun (yes, call me over-performing, I know I can't FORCE people to have fun)! Suddenly there was no time to cower in the corner wondering if the ticket-taker would think I was an idiot. Not attending meetups was not an option. I had to go grow up.

As far as I know, none of my community members knows the number of obstacles I conquer at a simple meetup. And that's a good thing; it means I can act like a regular adult! To save face with my community, I make myself do things I normally wouldn't with an attitude I generally don't possess. I actually order for myself! I take charge, making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. I decide things! Recently, I've found myself looking forward to my Lolita meetups not only because I can dress up and see friends, but as an opportunity to force myself to be an adult. I've already seen some of these behaviors becoming easier for me in everyday life, and hope eventually to become as independent as I want to be.

That's right--Lolita is helping me grow up. And I love it! I'm even giving a panel at an upcoming convention...and I'm in charge. I'm looking forward to it!

To the reader: What unexpected benefits have come to you through Lolita fashion?

July Meetup!

I arrived a bit early and waited outside the Historical Printing building for people to arrive.

Soon enough, we were a group of...what, 5 or so? That's the largest number we've ever had attend our meetups! I don't have a pic of everyone together yet because I didn't get one with my camera. Anyway, we went into Colonial Days. It was a lot smaller than it seemed, and I think many things weren't fully going, but we saw a few fun things and I saw a spinning wheel! I even got a tip on where to buy one! *squee* However, they ran out of fans. :-( (Bonus points for anyone who actually knows what the heck I'm talking about).

Having received an exciting text, we went on a search for Chris and his girlfriend, Emily (I hope I got her name right...)! And guess what? We found them! Introductions all around (I'm so awkward at intros) and we went to the HUGE Freedom Days vendor's fair! There were so many things to look at (including a bunch of hair accessories) and we walked and talked. Jordan had to leave early, but we managed to grab a group shot before she left (again, not on my camera, sorry). I walked her to her car, then came back and ACTUALLY found the group again! w00t! Chris and I found out we have Star Trek TNG in common,

Adriene (sorry if I got that wrong) found a cool hair accessory that would work with her short hair (that's Chris and Emily watching),

Emily found some shiny sharp things,

and Amber and friend (sorry, friend, forgot your name) found a new boyfriend! ;-)

It was really hot, so we got some sorbet and food and sat in the shade to eat! Actually, Amber and friend found the shade, then we found them! We had fun talking (I made an embarrassing freudian slip involving the the word "banger") and then I had to leave! Anyone who stayed can add details if the meetup continued after that.

Shot of Amber and friend playing with their "yo-yos:"

Once again, thanks for coming and for reading! I LOVE THIS COMM!

Okay...

Recipes are on hold until I find 'em. I've been waiting till I can write a "perfect post" and then having to play catch up. But that's not working. There's always something to make me wait: I don't have all the pics from a meetup, can't find the recipes, don't have time to write more than a paragraph...

But I think people would rather have regular posts than perfect ones. So I'm going to TRY to post at least once a week. ;-) We'll see how that turns out. Look forward to an update tomorrow on the most recent meetup!

Mostly, this post is to say: HELP! XD

I need to know what you want to hear about! Any mysteries of the universe you want unfolded? Products reviewed? Burning questions about anything but my love life? XP What would you like to see?

Ta Da! Birthday Meetup!

I wanted to have a Lolita Birthday meetup, but due to scheduling issues not many local lolis were able to come. However, a couple made it and we had some good fun!

We met at my house first for some games and a little 'tea!'

shamelesslilly  arrived looking very sweet in Bodyline and Anna House! <3 She's new to wearing lolita, and I think she's off to a great start!

yan_yu  was perfectly elegant in offrand and homemade gothic!

My little sis loves lolita so she came, but our mom didn't let her dress. And me being the mean big sis, I made her take a pic! XD

And then there's me in Classic from Innocent World!

Group shot! Yes, we are standing on a hill, that's why the pic is crooked. XD

The 'tea!' Lemonade, punch, and sandwiches! I'll include the recipes later. They're soo yummy!



Can't have a party without cake!

 

Loli with a knife! MWAHAHAHA!

Then we went to the mall and did a scavenger hunt, talked and just goofed around. We were so busy we didn't take many pics, but here's a few that turned out:

 

CAAAANDYYYYY!

After the last mall meetup, a bathroom shot was obligatory! <.< We got this one quick and got OUT of there!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

 

To the reader: What would your ideal "Lolita birthday party" feature?



 

New Day, New Room!

Well, summer is upon us and with it's coming I decided my room needed a redecorating! I can't do much with it, as I share it with my sister, but I did add a few things to make it a bit more princess-like. ^_^

First, I found this CUTE bedspread from Simply Shabby Chic at Target. It's reversible, with one side being roses and the other white, pink and green stripes! I also got some pink sheets to go with it.

Sorry it seems oddly oriented...I was trying to get the whole thing! ^//^

I also found some adorable accent pieces at Hobby Lobby for my dresser!

Hopefully these lovely things in my room will give me more incentive to keep it clean. T.T I'm a rather busy person and a bit messy because of it. But no more! ^_^

I hope you liked this little peek into my humble abode!

To the reader: Does having a nice room make you want to keep it clean? Do you have a dream room you're saving for someday?

Sephora Creates SERIOUS Budget Damage!

A friend and I drove to a large Sephora store for her graduation gift, and while there I pretty much broke my budget. XP I'll be living on granola bars for a while, guys! ;-) Here's what I bought (I thought about making a "haul" video, but my camcorder isn't speaking to my laptop at the moment):

My haul: TARINA TARANTINO Eye Dream Hyperliner in Kanzashi, Fresh Supernova Mascara, 2 Yves SaintLaurent lipsticks, and a few samples.

*Every so often I go for something funky, and I fell in love with the color and staying power of this TARINA TARANTINO eyleliner! It's shimmery but not overly glittery, and stays well even on my eyelids that make ANYthing crease.

The tip. Matches the color indication on the end perfectly!

On my wrist. Yes, I am that white.

On my eyes! Yay!

*My friend RAVED about the Fresh Supernova Mascara, so I got some to try. Fresh recommends layering this mascara with their Firebird mascara for "the ultimate lush lash look." Firebird is supposedly for volume, and Supernova is for length and definition. I couldn't afford both, so I got just the Supernova. One problem I have with mascaras is that my eyes create a "Raccoon-Eye" by making the mascara travel down underneath my eye. So far the only mascara I've found that avoids this is Blinc's mascara. Wearing the Fresh Supernova for about 5 hours so far, I have noticed no traveling! I'll update if that changes. Now, for the pictures!

The wand, and the absolute CUTEST bottle!

One eye done!  You can see the length and definition created, one of the better mascaras I've tried.

Both eyes done. Yay!

*Now for the lip colors: I've been looking for a nice bubblegummy pink for a long time, and I may have finally found one! It's Yves SaintLaurent Rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink.

On wrist...sorry for the blurry shot.

On my lips. This was about 2 swipes.

The whole picture, and cheesy smile. XD

*Lastly, I'm a sucker for a good red lipstick. Yves SaintLaurent had one! It's their Pur Couture in Le Rouge. It's okay, but it does feather more than I like. If you're looking for a fantastic red with conditioning and staying power, try LORAC's Leading Lady (sadly, they didn't carry LORAC at this Sephora).

On wrist...

On lips...

Full picture!

 I don't know what I like better on me: pink, red, or a more nude tone. What do you think? Thanks for looking, and I hope this has helped you--or at least been a little entertaining! ;-)

To the reader: What "beauty essential" do you tend to break the bank on?