So close to Sakuracon

So Sakuracon is close at hand. Which is kind of sad and yet so very exciting.

What I am excited and sad for is Angelic Pretty. I don't think I will have enough money to buy anything substantial from their shop since it's only two more paychecks till con. But then last year I didn't find anything I really wanted so that was kind of a loss for me, so who knows what will happen at this one.

If there's another tea party I will probably go again, but this time I won't be expecting much since AX's one was super lame, and it seems par for the course for brand tea parties (that are held within the convention center).

But I cannot wait for the fashion show that will happen.

Last years fashion show at Sakuracon took so long to get started but then burned out quickly their time wasn't even up before they were finished.

Anyway I have to figure out what things I wanna wear for the con aside from my cosplay.

I want to wear this but I don't have an ivory or a brown blouse to wear with it. I mean I have my new blouse from meta that I haven't worn yet. It may be a bit weird wearing white with ivory but it may be my best chances as of right now to have something new to wear at the con.

I mean while all my other stuff is nice. The rest of my pieces are relatively older AP and Baby items that I've had over the years.

Whatever turns out to be the case I'm just going to try to have more fun and try to be less of a wallflower than other times.

Kickstarters that need help

It may not be your cup o tea but there are a few kickstart pages going on that need help if you're interested.
First one is GAMCON which is trying to raise up funds to make an anime/videogame convention outside of the Seattle are.
GAMCON kickstarter page
Even if it's just a couple of dollars, I'm sure they'd appreciate the help. I donated $20 to just get a badge, since it's more of a local con for me. And the area that they're trying to rent is actually quite spacious and cheap. There are local businesses and everything willing to help and advertise, but they just need a bit of word of mouth to spread it around, so if you have any interest or know someone who would, by all means. Please show them.

Also another Kickstarter that holds a place in my nerd heart is the Wakfu kickstarter is up.
Wakfu dub+French sub Bluray
If you've ever seen the show or played the Tactical MMORPG, now is your chance to not only own the first season but at 200,000CAD we get season two as well for all the backers who backed enough to get the bluray. I was able to get the limited to 50 early bird special at the 100CAD mark so I so have that going for me. And the wait time for isn't too long, estimated April but they said it may be pushed back a month or two if they have to do even more dubbing, which isn't a bad thing because that means more goals have been met.

Also for everyone who says "I'll just get it later". In the kickstarter comments Ankama has said after this kickstarter they're probably not going to release it again, for a long time. So this is pretty much your shot to get something like this.

Anyway thanks for taking a look and everything. Hope that you'll donate, or even just spread the word.

I'm finally going to cosplay.... And I'm really scared

Well as Sakuracon draws closer my friends (the two who I saw Rebellion with) are talking about what they're going to cosplay as. And they asked me what was I going to dress up as, and I told them nothing because I'm too afraid to cosplay.

Of course they asked why and I told them the truth of what I felt; that I was too ugly and fat to cosplay. My friends couldn't believe that I would say that about myself but they saw how genuine I believe the words to be.

They told me about how much fun they have at cons when they dress up and that it doesn't have to be anything serious as sometimes they go in casual cosplay like homestuck or MLP:FIM characters. They really encouraged me to try cosplay as they said they'd be there to support me.

When I look back on it, it seems a bit funny that my friends who are a few years younger than me, had to encourage me to try cosplaying. But without them I don't think I'd ever try.

Well enough about that part, onto what I've decided to cosplay as.

I'm actually going as two characters from the Madoka Movie:Rebellion

Nagisa Momoe and Bebe

I wanted to pick something that was relatively easy and of characters I liked. These two are super adorable, and I already got some help for BeBe's wig and will be ordering the pieces to put it together soon. And funny enough one of my friends is cosplaying Mami as well, which means there will be two magical girls at least.

My mom even wants me to cosplay something else as well. We watched the first season of RWBY together and she wants me to cosplay Ruby Rose

Ruby Rose

I do like the character but out of all the characters my mom suggested Ruby is the only one I'd feel comfortable doing. Mom suggested me to dress up as Yang or Pyrrha which didn't set so well for me. Though I had an interesting time explaining to my mom just exactly what a scythe was to her.

I think for me the most fun would be in constructed the Crescent Rose scythe as I always loved making sculptures and helping out making props for people.

Looks like the next couple of months I will be super busy for the con, hopefully though all the hard work I will be doing won't be wasted.

I'm still nervous about this whole cosplaying ordeal, but I also am excited. As time goes on I hope the nervousness and doubt goes away.

Sakuracon 2014

Well Sakuracon is close at hand. I just bought my ticket and reserved the hotel for my group. That's right it's just more than me and my BFF going this year. I actually made two new, close friends (female friends) at work. And they both like anime/manga and even fashion (J-fashion though). So it's really going to be fun.

I can't believe our hotel is going to be close to $1,000 though. But it's a much easier burden when everyone is paying, also we have to deal with the fact that the hotel parking is also valet but when there's only about half a block to the convention center...WHO CARES.

This con is going to be really great. The only way it could possibly get better is if we get lolita brands up here again like they did with Chantilly a while ago.

The only somewhat sad part about this, it may be the only con I go to for a long while. I can't go to AX this year because it's in super close proximity to Sakuracon and also with the fact that I'll finally be going back to school in the spring (right around the con too) it's not economical.

But there are a few fall cons I am seeing that I wouldn't mind going to PMX, PAX Prime, and also Rufflecon are all happening and it might be fun to attend one of those as well.
It's going to be an interesting next 2014 to say the least.

Also with my lolita fashion resolutions, I haven't been up on them and haven't gotten even one of my goals fulfilled yet. >.< I must be really bad at this.

Too much to buy, not enough money.... And redecorations

Every time I go onto Amiami, or online I just find so much to buy. But I know I have to keep spending down so that I can save for my trip to Japan and for school and cons. Though I was able to do the remodeling I wanted to do and am out about $900 but it was worth it. I ended up just getting a new TV and a tower system so now I have a non piece of shit computer that can run Steam besides Bejeweled (don't judge me, I like puzzle games).

But luckily mom gave me my birthday present a little bit early. Martha Stewart cabinets and an Ikea drawer for my room. All we have to do now is just paint my bed frame, my outdoor closet and my desk (if we don't end up making one) white and then everything will be perfect.

I do have my Metamorphose collaboration dress with Kamen Rider Wizard on the way, also the R-series dress as well. But I did end up purchasing two things from Japan that were a bit of impulse buys for my kitchen.

Lekue-Spain made, bought in Japan

 First one up is a Lekue steamer. Made in Spain, bought in Japan. Wacky right? Well it seems that the pink one is hard to buy and most of the shops that carried it on rakuten.jp had it sold out. I was able to find this three pack though for $35 after FromJapan's rakuten promotion. They've got rakuten promotionals all the time and I suggest buying something from rakuten when they come up. Well anyway the Lekue steamer is what it is, just a steamer but since I eat a lot of steamed veggies right now I can put a good heaping and just steam them up real quick. So I bought it for my weightloss (I'm already almost down 10lbs :3 )

Honestly I've bought some wacky dieting aids before from Japan and they didn't really work. But this just seems practical. Also it comes with a cookbook so at least I can use it as well just in case I run out of ideas. Also Japan has a lot of Lekue cookbooks and cookbooks for all sorts of single silicone steamers so it's a really good investment to me.

The other thing I bought... Well I just really wanted it...

just look at dem bishoujou eyes

That's right... MANGA PLATE.

There have been a few of them circling around the internet and places like Bento&Co have them but I wanted to see all the designs. And honestly this one caught my eyes the most. Because it's so magical. Just look at her eye that dessert.

I will put everything on that plate just so that it looks magical. But in all honesty. I will use these plates. I wanna get a couple more designs but probably not until later down the line.

Slight family crisis and good feel weight loss

Well there has been a lot of stuff going down in the house the last couple of weeks.

Mom got sent to the emergency room, turns out she has a potassium deficiency. Dad got relived from his job due to medical complications, a month earlier than expected. And his final paycheck and vacation pay aren't here yet, it should be a week or so before we get those. *sigh* Yeah right now he's just sitting at home with his leg propped up taking antibiotics he got when he visited the doctor in Singapore.

So things are going to be rather tight financially for the household until my dad has another job. Which may take a month at least.

Also the truck is pretty shot, as it needs to be repaired with a $500 piece of equipment. Plus the instillation of it, which turns it out to be over a grand just to fix a stupid hose...

So yeah pretty much, real life hasn't been treating me all that well...

Donut Joe knows how it is

But on the other hand. Before I go to Japan next year I really wanted to lose the weight that I have gotten amassed over the years and it seems that I am doing something right... As I've almost lost 5lbs in three weeks, this is the start of week three.

What I did was I started to just track everything and calorie count. So I have a journal of everything I eat and drink (that has a calorie intake) and just make sure to try to not go over the daily recommendation of calories.

Now unlike some people I know who totally avoid fast food and junk on diets, we can say this is more of a life style change as I'm just trying to eat out less and take care of my body better. In my journal though you can see sometimes there's a burger from Dairy Queen or a Smothered burrito with a Baja Blast from Taco Bell.

But even with food that's not so good every once in a while, there's tons of good eatings in there, and it makes me proud. I feel really proud of myself since now I'm finally losing the weight for me and not for anyone else.

Sakuracon, Lolita, and BEAST

So as Sakuracon draws closer I'm getting pumped up for various reasons.

I got my Instax camera and waiting for film. Yeah it probably seems really lame for a person still taking pictures with a regular camera that prints out film. But I want to keep my memories, and it seems when I use my digital camera I never print out pictures. While if I have a camera that develops on the spot I can enjoy my pictures and create long lasting memories in an album or scrapbook.


Friend is coming back on the 24 which is the same day my mom is leaving. Now I get a three month vacation from my mother, which is a nice break since my mom is sort of unstable. Now I'm not being mean, I love my mom but distance away from her every once in a while is good. And she gets to see her family back home in the P.I. Also she's doing me a little favor. She's fixing a skirt of mine that I can't fit.

Angelic Pretty Sweet Cream House-Pink

Yeah so she's going to get the seamstress to take the waist ties and turn it into an extension for the waist so that I can finally wear the skirt. I really love the skirt and its super cute in person. But I'm glad she's doing this favor for me since it will be nice for me to have it fixed. Also she's going to get a vest fixed for me as well.

Metamorphose Fancy Egg Vest

I actually thought the shirring on the Fancy Egg vest was going to fit me... Was wrong... So she's going to get the seamstress to deconstruct it and add panels of black on the side. I just have to get the materials for that though.

I know that other lolitas don't like it when people alter their things, but these are mine. And I won't be reselling them anyway since I buy my things to keep. And lots of lolitas in Japan do it as well. I've actually bought some skirts that have had their shirring 100% removed and second hand clothing is always more loose more the time, so I have no problem with not getting my money back if I end up selling them, but I don't really intend to anyway. I think the irony of getting these fixed when my mom is in the Philippines though is... Both on the tag say "Made in the Philippines".

Lastly I was browsing Premium Bandai for some cool Kamen Rider W or Kamen Rider Wizard stuff when I stopped upon this.

Kosuke Nitoh's Wolf Vest

It's Kosuke Nitoh (Kamen Rider Beast) replica of his vest. It's a really cool ota-good and I so want it. Along with his token Lion shirt and belt. The vest alone though comes in an XL size and is meant to stay open so there's no need to worry if it's small and I can fit Japanese XL size just fine (Mens XL) so I'm really looking into purchasing this. The one thing though is it's about 22,000 yen so pretty much a dress second hand. But I really can't stop looking at it. So if I end up not buying a dress at Sakuracon or not being able to... There's still something I can purchase at home that weekend.

The one downside of the vest is the fake fur part is darker than Kosuke's in the series.

Haruto and Kosuke before turning into Wizard and Beast

See it's a more natural color in the actual show, but I'm not complaining all that much. Since they also have it in a light blue vest as well. I'm a bit sad though... All the XL lion shirts are sold out. I really wanted one. But they still have Buffa, Dolphi, Cameleo, and Falco shirts left all based on his mantles and they look just as awesome.

Only 24 days left till the con. SHITS GONNA BE EPIC. Hopefully I'll eventually decide what to wear and I hope everyone going will have a good time... And I hope I'm not sick for day one. I always seem to get sick on day one of every con I go to. But I'm just getting better from whatever dumb crud has been going around, since I interact with people constantly. But you know... Got my time off and only work two days that week so it's going to be fun regardless.

Goodbye Last Year...Hello New Year and Goals

As the year comes to a close, I've been thinking about things that I wanted to do that I really haven't, and goals for the next year. So here are my main goals for 2013 in order of importance.

-Get a new job, one that isn't in retail
     For serious on this. I'm tired of retail hell in Wal-Mart and I can't really stand it for much longer. I am glad that I got experience from it. But after over a year of working there, retail isn't for me and I can't stand rude people that I've met in my job

-Lose weight, hit my goal of 130-140lbs
     Though I've been losing weight slowly I am going to be more serious about it this year. For real. I'm pretty much stopping eating out at work and eating at fast food restaurants and everything. Even though it's easier to buy food than make it... I'm going to try my best and keep the weight off and not bounce back. Also I'm using some apps from my new iPod and it's really helping me document my progress.

-Save money, for future goals
    Pretty much, I want to just save money just in case of a rainy day or the fact that I want to go travel and do lots of things. So I'm contemplating purchases pretty well and not just impulse buying now. Which is sometimes a hard thing but I am going to do my best to save money. I'm already starting off pretty strong though.

-Wear lolita more, buy more colors
    Though I love lolita, I pretty much neglected it last year except for Anime Expo. So next year I'm going to wear it more. And buy more colors except for pink and white. As I'm getting on in years (lol 26 already) I need to diversify my colors and buy other colors, some that I can wear easier without having to think about it.

Though there are probably more things that I could probably write about, nothing is coming to my mind at the moment. But at least I listed out my most important things. Hopefully I can fulfill them pretty soon.

Here's looking at you 2013!

Sakuracon and Hope for the future

Sakuracon banner for 2013

So this year I'm going to be attending Sakuracon instead of Anime Expo (because of the huge flub of last years shit-tier events). It will be nice to go back to the con that I started out with. But more importantly, my BFF is coming up for the con, and I'll be by myself for a while when that happens. So no parental unit and your dearest friend visiting for a mini vacation, sounds like a great plan.

Another thing is that we decided to postpone our trip to Japan for another year because of something important. The BFF wants to come back up and move back here. Currently, she lives in a place that doesn't make her happy, and I can understand that. She says up here is her home. So she's going to be saving up and looking for a job. It will be one year before she can have residency, then she can go back to school. And with online courses and everything else. I'm sure she'll do great this time around.

Even though this year marks our 26th year of birth, I'm not going to let it get me down. I know I've still got lots of life ahead of me, and even if I like things that some people deem childish or I'm too old to dress up the way I do, I say that I'm not. I'll always be me and I couldn't be any happier because of it.

Anime Expo 2012- A rather big "disappointment"

Well as you know I was at Anime Expo from June 28- July 2.In a word the whole con was a "disappointment".

We had problems with the hotel, the con itself, the tea party event; pretty much everything was messed up. The biggest reason being why was two reasons.

1. The X-Games

Yup, the X-games was held at the same time as the convention. Which made it harder to even move around town and there were tons of detours and everything. What was even great was our hotel lied to us about the booking of our room saying it was Anime Expo's booking systems fault when in actuality they gave away more hotel rooms to X-games people because they had to pay full price. So it was the three of us in one bed...

Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate the people who attended the X-games, just the event itself and the shitty excuses and roundabouts we got from staff and the literal detours we had to take to get anywhere in downtown LA.

2.The Anime Expo staff

Oh yeah, this part really pisses me off... THE STAFF HAD PRETTY MUCH NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON. Like for everyone one person who had an idea of what was going on... There was 20 who didn't. Most events were either canceled or moved, and then there wasn't enough adequate room that a lot of times we couldn't get into things. This Anime Expo ended up becoming "Line Con:Anime Version".

No offense to people who love to go to San Diego Comic Con, but it does have the nickname line-con for a reason.

But yeah, staff didn't know what they were doing. Fate/Zero GoHs and not much more....

Oh yeah, the Misako tea party wasn't even a tea party. It was more of a meet and greet. And we couldn't even get individual pictures with her, it had to be done as a group at each table. Made me kind of steamed. And sadly enough, I'm making the stupidest picture in our group photo that I don't like it. Yeah... So that was a personal disappointment.

There were some good things about Anime Expo though, and I am going to write about them, but I needed to get all the negatives out of me first.

On a positive note, at least next year my friends and I will be attending Sakuracon instead. So instead of me coming down to CA they'll be coming up here. And that should be fun.

TL;DR My feelings for Anime Expo 2012

Sadness and disappointment