Halloween 2010

There's our pumpkin, carved by my housemate Julian. It's the red dragon tile in mahjong. Yes, that is really nerdy and seemingly random. But's not! Because we recently started the Riichi Mahjong Club of UVA so it's a little subtle promotion ;D

Okay it is pretty random. But very cool looking, no?

Farmer's Market Outing

Today was my outing with my friend to the city farmer's market. Opens from 6am to noon, though starting next week it'll be 8am to 2pm. They have so much excellent fresh produce as you can see.

Click the jump for more pictures :D

Book Post: 下妻物語 or Kamikaze Girls by Novala Takemoto

So, after I signed up for a free year of Amazon Prime with my student email (I also sent a FutureMe email in one year to remind me to cancel it before I have to start paying) I've been getting a lot of (relatively) inexpensive things because hey. Free fast shipping. I've seen the movie and read the book, but that was both ages ago. I don't even remember where I read it the first time. Light novels are something I purchase more frequently than manga, if only in a misguided attempt to tell publishers "hey translate more light novels please". Alas, if only.

If you have read KG, then you know it's a fun story. I like the differences between the book and the movie, and in the end I think I prefer the book (I always do). How about you guys?

Light novel vs. Movie? Totally didn't mess that up, haha

And if you haven't read or seen the movie, it's a fun, quirky watch and a good, quick read. Sometimes when I'm just feeling blah or down I'll watch it on youtube and generally even just listening to it perks me up. I love Anna Tsuchiya ♥

Skin care!

Skincare is really important and as winter approaches, for those who are affected by the dryness and the cold (like me) there are minor changes to my care habits. I'll just go through my basic routine if anyone wants to post the same I really encourage it :D Everyone is different and I think its really interesting how people's skincare regimens differ. So please, indulge me!

Preface: I have oily/combination skin which is really tricky to care for because I have zones that will break out with too much moisture, and areas that are super dry. So every day is a challenge in balancing everything out. That said, these are all just personal endorsements for products I've been using for a while and have been happy with.

Wash:

There are two brands I really gun for as far as skincare/personal hygiene goes. DHC is one.



I use their olive soap (pictured at the top) and the Cleansing Foam on alternating days. It's suitable for every type of skin. I love DHC because many of their products are very mild and when I was younger, I had very sensitive skin and DHC was one of the only facial soaps that worked and didn't irritate my face.


Tone:
The other brand I'm in love with is Lush. Their Breath of Fresh Air Toner really helps keep my skin soft. Plus it smells like a light sea breeze!

Moisturize:


My Acerola Cream by DHC which I rescued from the post office today was the inspiration for my post. Suitable for oily type skin (me, though in reality I am combination) and normal type, it's my new winter moisturizer.


Adore DHC's lip cream, basic, non scented or tinted, just long lasting moisture without being greasy or sticky
Bonus Round:
Exfoliate

I use Lush's Ocean salt scrub about once a week. The top layer is sea salt crystals and you mix the jar up to get a thick, lemon juice and vodka scrub with avacado butter. Also makes me hungry.

Damage Taken!
I still get acne. It's a bitch, but not much I can do about it. I treat it with DHC's
Acne Spot Therapy and Lush's Grease Lightning when it's not too bad. This was a bigger problem over the summer where I just had some of the worst break out weeks of my life

How do you care for your face?

Breakfast Post

Breakfast is by far, my favorite meal of the day. Sometimes, I have it twice. French bread with butter and Bonne Maman jam, two eggs over easy. Earlier I had greek yogurt with honey, for my dairy, and tea for the caffeine. Not pictured are the orchard apples I got from the farmer's market. Yum! It's important to get protein and eggs are a great source of it! Two eggs ensure all the amino acids.

I'm also a big bread person. Mostly my mom's influence. Back home, we had rice maybe 2 times a week or less, but pasta and bread a lot more frequently (shocking ain't it). My two chinese housemates are just like "whaaat but you're asian too, how can you like bread better". I like rice and all, but warm bread with tea is just so much... nicer.

Bread vs. Rice vs. Pasta?

Ow, a million times, Ow

Sometimes I sleep on my neck funny and wake up with it a little sore. Apparently last night I must have slept with my neck backwards, because today I was in so much pain. I'm stuck at a 45 degree downward stare, or supporting my now very uncooperative neck with something. I bought heat pads, took a long hot shower, ibuprofen, a nap, the works.

And it still hurts like a bitch. Anyone get a super stiff neck before? Tips? Wait it out? Stop whinging? I suppose I should start with the last one, but oh my god it feels like I'm being hanged. /hyperbole I have such a low pain threshold I disappoint myself, haha.

I like to keep things visual, so have a picture of one of our outdoor houseplants. It belongs to my housemate, Julian

Flower Collecting

Today I went to the farmer's market again. It's really incredible, they have so much cool stuff. I got there a little late though and my favorite milk bread was sold out. Next week! (I got french bread instead)

Anyway I got the big yellow/orange flower at the market, and the little one for free. I call them the sisters, maybe because I miss my little sis a bit. At any rate, these will last about a week with fresh cutting and water, and then I can dry them.

I think next weekend I'll take my camera along and take some pictures of the farmer's market.

Having flowers around in the fall really cheers me up, because the lessening sunlight can really get me down. Does anyone else get like that, and how do you ward it off? That said, I still love having four seasons and wouldn't give it up ;D

Addendum: I did a little layout change up for fall. Burgundy/dark reds are also easier on the eyes. I hope you like it.

Farmer's Market Flowers + Pet peeve challenge

I bought these to liven up my room a couple days ago, 3$ bunch of mixed flowers. Very pretty, about mid week I took them out of the water and hung them upside down. I'll get some more this weekend I think, and try to accumulate a dried flower collection. For some reason, I like dried flowers just as much as live ones. There is something touching about the curled up preservation of them.

In lolita related news, Lolita in Secret's Pet peeve challenge.

1. When a print or item comes up on a secondhand auction site and you've been wanting it forever (or for a day) ... but you get outbid, or just don't have the funds.

2. The omnipresent paranoia of ruining my clothes.

3. Messy photo backgrounds. I will be the first to admit that my room, 9 times out of 10, looks like a hurricane passed through. But if I'm going to take a picture of myself and put it up for people to see, I take the extra 10 minutes to clear out a space for the shot.

4. Pink. Nothing against the colour, but the fact that I look really, really bad in it. Curse my midtone asian skin.

5. Bows. Not regular sized decorative bows, or even OTT head eating ones (I think they are quite cute). But the bows on a JSK or OP that just ruin it. Like, it would look so much better if it weren't for those damn bows that definitely aren't detachable. Sigh.

And there are my personal pet peeves. Most of all of them are avoided by selective shopping and really they are just trivial things.

I do wish I looked better in pink, all things considered

Unintentional visual pun: Aster Cafe and Doctor Who

I wasn't feeling so hot today so... I decided to cheer myself up with wearing some pretty clothes. This is my favorite Lief print to date. It has a very classic feel, but very intricate at the same time. It plays up a unique theme too, instead of the usual fare of delicious food or cute animals (not that there is anything wrong with either)



I used the detachable bow from the skirt as a makeshift bowtie, in honor of Matt Smith, my favorite incarnation of The Doctor. Yep, super nerd.

Skirt: Indie: Lief
Blouse: Offbrand (Yolanda)
Bag: Innocent World
Everything else: Offbrand

Snow White Series - Jewelry

Something I've been brainstorming for a while. I love fairy tales, especially the older versions, because they tend to leave in the more gruesome details. Similarly for lolita, I love fairy tale inspired prints. I've been going back and forth on making some similarly inspired jewelry. The first one I took on was the story of Snow White. I want to make either a charm bracelet (or necklace?) with different aspects of the evil stepmother's plotting.

Sorry for my horrible scribbles, I literally drafted it in 5 minutes. Maybe in the future, if I have some extra money lying around I'll make it a reality ^^;

Yolanda, HMHM, Kidsyoyo Review

I got my Taobao order in today! I used Taobaonow
I got 2 hats, a blouse, bloomers, a bolero, and a victorian style nightdress! Photos and reviews below.