.Amani
Monday, November 11, 2013
Shizuka Muto's retirement from 小悪魔AGEHA。。。
(April 2010 Ageha scan)
Looking at my subscription feed this past week, I ran upon my friend Charlotte's blog post about agemo Shizuka Muto leaving 小悪魔Ageha, and modeling in general to focus more on her clothing brand RADY. She also made a post about her announcement on her blog.
One of my favorite videos of her!
Some 2007 scans~
I was pretty shocked! It pricked my heart a bit because Shizuka was one of my favorite gal models since I started getting into the fashion... she was one of the most influential pioneer agemo; she was always one of the most flyest chicks, with a ton of style and that gyaru 'swag'. Her hair was always that fun and airy type of mori that I usually like to go after the most, and she would always switch between this cute pop-ish kind of sexy style to just full out dark and sexy agejo.
A scan from her personal style book "小悪魔Shizuka".
From Dec '08 AGEHA
I'm talking about her as though she died! It's just that I miss her so much. I've been too broke to buy magazines since June but now I feel compelled to purchase all of them so I can get the most of her before she officially stops modeling in December.
A 2008 scan
I'm glad though that she has a focus and to her, she's going to the 'next level'-- she talks so enthusiastically about her time with Ageha in her goodbye interview (in Charlotte's link), and how GAL she felt, I have a feeling she'll be one of the ex-models who will continue to be very GAL for a while longer, kind of like Himeka Shirosaki (who remembers her?). I never watched her RADY brand (back when it first came out, it was mostly roomwear so I never bothered), but now I have to follow it!
I'll miss seeing her style sooo much!
.
.
.
~
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
A Celebration of Long-Lasting Friendship
Sorry I haven't been updating lately! I've only just started getting out of my depressed hermit status this weekend. I'm kind of not over my negative feelings yet, but just enough to be a bit motivated to start working again. I ended up losing my HDD (hopefully somewhere in my house) and that's pretty much why I haven't went into detail about my 2nd mission trip to Guyana or anything. I also got some new things (like a new phone, which I'm typing from now!) But I'm in no real rush to make a post on it right now.
I just wanted to talk about a recent outing with my best friend, where we celebrated 9 years of friendship! It may seem a bit silly, but when you go through so much like deceiving friends, friends' deaths, and other life situations, it feels really good to recognize the length of a close friendship.
I remember we became friends on the very first day of high school~ we were both in the same Math class during period 2, and that was how we met.
Since freshman year we were inseparable; friends came and gone, drama with birdlike chicks, through my own HS love-drama b.s., and her struggles with her family and her hood in Spanish Harlem. I started dressing lolita and she was the only one who didn't reject me; when she gave birth to her daughter I was there with her. And then even more recently, me finding myself in God, and her following and seeking the same relationship with God, having been baptized a month ago during a conference revival.
I can say I never really lived life up until the point where we started hanging out. So much happened around us but we made it out of everything together. We never fought and broke our friendship. We cussed at each other, told truth to each other, cried with each other, and acted plain retarded together. We were always mistaken for sisters, cousins, and lol lesbians because we were together that much.
God has kept us through 9 years and there's been so much growth between us.. we had to recognize it.
So, we went to Gyukaku for some serious grubbing.. like 125 dollars worth of grub. LOL
A little collage of not even everything we got... that we took as we talked about other issues going on. Miso soup, sweet potato tempura sticks, shrimp dumplings, miso-bbq chicken wings.. sukiyaki bimbimbap, spinach garlic, grilled onion, and what probably ended up being a pound+ of different meats LOL and then a buttload of pina colada-mojitos and caramelized banana splits. .. yeah, it was pretty intense.
Obligatory bathroom selfies
Outfit shot~ F21, Strawberry, Rainbow's.
I would never trade my friendship with her for anything. I've had too many fakes, d*ckriders, "underlings", flaky insecure people, flame starters, you name it. I'm over most people that try to interact with me. One of the only relationships I'll truly care for is my friendship with Muffy.
My general advice on friendship?
Don't base your friendships on location or hobby or fashion. Get deeper than just that, when you know its safe to. Be able to discern people's personalities and habits and determine whether or not they're good for you, or toxic.
Always value someone who tell or receive things like it is, even if it hurts. Who aren't afraid to level you down for long-term benefits, someone who you know aren't up in people's business over trying to sort themselves out and live their life.
Be receptive to their thoughts and concerns, and criticisms. Don't be selfish about your own interests.
Together, be able to pick each other off the ground and support each other.
And be prepared to lift each other up to higher ground. Be prepared to sacrifice.
Most of all, have fun every minute of it.
~
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Janelle Monae x Target "Electric Pirate Radio" Event 9/9/13
The last two or three weeks might have been nothing but depression for me, but I was fortunate enough to get tickets into a private Janelle Monae event in promotion of her new album "The Electric Lady". If you've been following me for a while, you'd know how I feel about Janelle's music and her artistic spirit. When I got this opportunity my mood instantly lifted up.
First off-- let me talk about her album. She let VH1 embed a stream of her whole album a week before it's release on their website, and when I tell you everyone and their mother was on it? My whole facebook friendslist was enchanted by every song. I liked the ArchAndroid and Metropolis as well, but there was something about this album that just made it the best so far. Every song flowed into the next... and it makes me nostaglic of all the old school tunes from back in the day. The entire album was just fluid and your ears would just melt into the next song. It's very hard to even choose favorites because it all seems like one (hour and change-long) track. Seriously. But the ones I keep replaying over and over again would be "It's Code" (very Jackson 5), "Ghetto Woman" (a song for her mother), Dorothy Dandridge Eyes, Can't Live Without Your Love, and Primetime.
...You already see I practically listed more than half the album. Yyyyeahhhhh. Yeah.
Event photos and story under the cut!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Updates before I leave!
Guyana is finally around the corner. In 36 hours I will be on that flight on my way to Cheddi-Jagan Airport~
I can't help but feel really under-prepared for what is waiting for us down there. This time around the preparation was very short but very studious... and I haven't managed to put everything in my memory bank yet. I really hope I don't derp out because we'll be a lot more than just services and class workshops. I might even end up doing altar call work because of the lack of trained altar call missionaries this time around.
This time around the A/V (audio/video, not Adult Video ya nastyiknowyouwerethinkingit) ministry is not bringing down the church's video camera like last time... so this time we're going to just work with my two Canon point-and-shoot cameras. I'm really hoping we'll have enough memory to record all the services, since we're going to be working with only about 36-50GB worth all combined.. for 9-10 days worth of footage. That, or I'm hoping I can somehow, HOPEFULLY be able to come in contact with a computer and transfer files to my external hard drive.
That being said, I cannot wait for the fooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood
Guyanese people put a whole bunch of sodium into their food but it's so good. Their meat is organic, their mango fruit taste like pure sugar... even the sodas are made from sugar and not corn syrup, and it's a totally different taste. All the food is made fresh from scratch... I cannot wait for the porridge in the morning, the saltfish for lunch, and then the curry chicken and roti for dinner time...and the coconuts.. Lord please... I just... sjkdahskhvw
I realize I didn't take nearly enough photos for the second half of the time, so I'm gonna try to make effort this time. I might reserve one of my smaller memory cards for all the photos.
The only current issue for me at the moment is packing my suitcase. Oh boy...
I also got to run to the store tomorrow to get mosquito repellent, some essential oils that help repel bugs as well, and if I cannot find my flashlight, I'll need to get a new one as well e e really sucks.. I probably have other things to get, which I'm sure I'll regret if I don't remember what they are. It's that last minute crunch that's killing me right now...
My giveaway is still going on for another two weeks, it ending on the week after I return, so you still have time to get extra entries in.
I have a video coming up too, which I hope to finish for my lover Shaka to post before I head off, so my activity tomorrow will probably be 0.
A very small preview.
But definitely look forward to it. I might also buy a pair of circle lenses right before I leave so I'll have something new when I get back c: Later on I plan to probably make a compilation vid of different moments from this summer. Not too many videos, and it'll probably be chopped up, but I hope to do it anyways. Also a summer coord video or blog post of my favorite outfits I mixed and matched over this season that pretty much kept me cute and comfortable the whole time.
Other than that, August will be pretty slow since I have a birthday/going-away/baby shower party to go to as soon as I get back, job searching, and then a wedding at the end of the month to attend. Regardless I hope to bring my entries up to date..
Sunday, July 28, 2013
BFF's graduation~ + Omi's birthday
At the end of May my best friend Muffy graduated from Queens College, and she wanted me to be there for her ceremony.
Told her to pose and then she gave me this. Ok fine e___e
We met on the very first day of High School and since then we've been pretty much inseparable. She's been through a lot in her lifetime, including having a child during the first year or so of college. Despite the odds, she was able to work fulltime, and do school full-time and FINISH with her SECOND bachelor's degree. Even though I told her to chill and take a break from school for a while, she's now looking at graduate schools e_e before she drives herself crazy.
But she's very inspirational.. I need her motivation and her strength.
Her daughter Jasmine ♥ Who's exactly like her in looks (except being milky skinned hah) and in personality. Her little twin.
Since her ceremony was really early in the morning I had ended up staying the night before~ when it was time to get up everyone else came over-- her father, her baby's father, her two other close friends, and all of us including her daughter, her sister and her mom went out to the ceremony.
My makeup. "Au naturale" since the weather was ridiculously hot that day and I had no time e-e
The crowd of family and friends, the graduates in the distance. By this time pretty much everyone left except myself, baby's father and then her friend Kita because it was pretty much heat-stroke weather.
The graduate
After that we all headed back towards the city~ me and Muffy split from the other two who had to work, to go to Gyukaku for celebratory lunch.
Sup, hat hair
She had herself one of the lunch specials, meanwhile I got my usual yakishabu + kalbi chuck, and the both of us got some nice cocktail drinks as well - u-
I also had this "Salmon vegetable bulgogi". Or the name was close to that. It was goooood
The waiter was also nice enough to give her some free ice cream with chocolate~
~~~~~
The day or so after was also my oma's 81st birthday. We don't really do anything for her birthday since my grandparents are generally to themselves and stuff, plus her legs are really bad so she can't really travel outside the home.
Not too long ago I found a photo from when she was young...
My great-grandmother (me and my siblings actually called her "Oma"), my Omi, and then the little angel is my Tante Ursula... (who's the complete opposite in personality but I woooon't get into that, hah)
This was when she was still in Germany around World War II.. I think it was a while after it. Don't ask me where she's from... it was a village near Stuttgart... everytime she says the name my mind explodes and don't know how to even begin to spell it xD Seriously my brain farts and it translates it to something between 'weiner' and 'hamburger'. If only Omi bothered to teach me German as a kid... xD
This is her now... lol excuse her snaggletooth xD
I really appreciate my grandmother, even though at times especially now she's at that age where she can't hear well or she's a bit derpy.. it's kind of annoying at times xD But she was one of the main people in my life who raised me. I always enjoy her stories about her past and coming to America, dealing with having an interracial relationship in both worlds. And of course all her salats, pfaankuchen, and other food = u= yis
I need to cherish time with her more, and learn everything she knows while I still have time with her.. ♥
Saturday, July 27, 2013
#unfriendlypoclolitas Picnic
.jpg)
As you might have guessed by now, June has been a very busy month for me...
One weekend I planned a picnic with a couple of my lolita friends as a little 'getaway' day. It was very much needed after recent events that were back to back to back every weekend.
We joked and dubbed that day as #unfriendlyPOClolitas because out of the couple of friends that showed, it was 4 black lolitas and one Asian.yeah... we're stupid like that.
Of course I was dumb and forgot my camera, so most of these photos were stolen from the other girls.
Of course I was dumb and forgot my camera, so most of these photos were stolen from the other girls.
Me fixing myself...
Not sure if there ever was a picture shot buttt we had some assorted sandwiches~ scones~ onigiri~ fruit salad~ Marie cookies~ soda and also a lovely spiked fruit punch that Nicole made LOL
Some photos from the night before~
We spent the lovely afternoon watching people nearly crash into each other on the Lake, a marriage proposal on the water, and a bunch of newlywed couples passing by and taking wedding photos.. as people talked about bad anime and Animal Crossing and Monster Hunter
Lexie and Rune
Nicole with Rune and her lolface
#unfriendlyblacklolitas
#youcanttwerkwithus
A friend of Aria's boyfriend who came by and chilled for a while
Nicole, Rune, Aria, myself, and Lexie
It was a really chill day.. that I ended with a macaron shake. From Central Park we had made our way down to Columbus Circle, all the way down to 42nd. As we talked about the struggle and people touching Rune's hair xD
.jpg)
Mhmmmmm ♥
.jpg)
Mhmmmmm ♥
AnimeNext 2013
Earlier in June I attended AnimeNext for the first time. AnimeNext has always been one of those small-scale conventions that for years I've heard stories about it being subpar (besides the friends that hang out there), but this year I gave it a bit of a chance since Baby, the Stars Shine Bright was going to be a special guest, with fashion show and all. Most of all, Akinori Isobe was going to be there, which RARELY happens, which made it a little more interesting than when the brand usually visits places like Otakon or AKon, etc. It really makes me wonder why he would come to these disorganized events versus the actual huge cons that BABY goes to time and time again xD
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Lolita Boating ~ 6/1/2013
For the summer Lolita Day this year my friend Petrina of Lolita and the City planned a lolita boat party aboard the Shearwater, a vintage schooner owned by Manhattan by Sail. For about 2 hours or so we sailed out into New York Harbor, catching some rays and serious breeze. It was about 90F that day, so pulling out into the waters was a great relief for everyone.
As we boarded... I got there right on time. Meanwhile Petrina and people were laughing about if I were to miss the boat...e___e because I tend to be late to everything. (Trust and believe I'll be there right on time for anything I dropped serious dough on = =)
Now for random-ordered photos..
Friday, July 19, 2013
~Lazy Summer Giveaway~
Hahaha, you've been waiting for this post, haven't you? ;3 I bet you have, mhmmm~
Here I am finally announcing my Lazy Summer giveaway. 'Lazy' partially being I was supposed to have my giveaway last month... that didn't happen... = w= Now here it is, with summer being almost halfway gone~
Anyways! This giveaway is going to last a month starting tonight (July 20th) to August 20th 2013. Since I'll likely be in Guyana for majority of this period, I want to make sure I give myself enough time to not only promote it before I leave, but also give a bit of time to recover when I return.
Enough rambling! Here's what you can win this time around~
1 WINNER will receive:
- a pair of korilakkuma shorts
- a pair of EOS G-204 lenses in gray
- a pair of white lacy socks
- 小悪魔Ageha x Ank Rouge jewelry holder/pouch
- Victoria's Secret Cheek Love blush in 'Fresh Love'
- Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss in 'Life's a Peach'
- a hard ribbon hairtie from Daiso
- Victoria's Secret Self-Tanning Tinted Lotion, and other assorted beauty samples
I really loveloveLOVE these shorts I had gotten from Taobao (they're not official San-X merch). They first popped up on my Tumblr dashboard and I immediately went "YES". I didn't care if they'd fit or not (being Asian sized) and I bought a pair of My Melody ones and Korilakkuma ones. Me and my friends jokingly call them 'twerk shorts' because well... that's exactly how they look on me. I've been wearing these all summer long so far, as I lay on my bed in nothing but nice cool A/C breeze...
That being said, these are a good example of 'one-size' clothing~ Whether you're super tiny, or thick and curvy like me, you'll fit into these babies. For personal reference, my hips are about 40-41 inches and these are nice and fitted, not tight at all where it matters. So yeah~ I got another new pair that needs a booty to grip too so hopefully you'll win this xD (I also have a pair of Rilakkuma ones but I'm gonna wait for another giveaway for that.)
The VS Cheek Love blush is also another favorite item of mine that I use regularly. The 'Fresh Love' blush helps give soft coral-colored cheeks and I just so managed to grab another since they were on clearance. So if you're the lucky winner you get to enjoy my favorite goodies, along with circle lenses and all the other prizes as well~
Time to start entering!
GOOD LUCK
♥
EOS Max Pure Grey lens review
I've been uploading really slow lately. The pressure is on for Guyana and I'm barely managing to get by... to distract myself from my frustrations I'm making a little break to get into the recent events of the last month or so xD
A little while ago I had posted my review for these lenses up to my Youtube channel. Now for the detailed blog report~
I had gotten these lenses through Kiwiberry1-collection last summer for my Michiko to Hatchin cosplay. If you've been following me since then, you probably remember my rant against whatever lens store I had a problem with before.. xD
Unfortunately these didn't make it on time for my cosplay at Otakon but hopefully they'll last until NYCC, if I decide to attempt Michiko again with my friend.
Anyways, the reason why I chose these lenses was because of the err.. "paradoxical boldness". The design itself is a very subtle kind of grey, and it sort of 'melts' away towards the center. At the same time, it does have the dark ring that gives most circle lenses that 'pop', but even then, the tone of the greys make it look 'well-blended'.
I found these to be perfect to try and portray Michiko Malandro, who have these really doe-like eyes that sometimes make her look somewhat innocent and naive, and at other times sultry and full of her sassy personality.
An old photo from last December. You can definitely see the similarity, not only in design, but capturing the actual personality of the character, depending on the style of eyemake.
More recent photos.
In case you're wondering about my lash game that day~
My usual Angel Diamond lash (inner-center) paired with some other generic lash, but then the bottoms are half of the 'Shiny Eye' Fairy Lash (center) with halves of LOLdisintegrating 'Princess' Diamond lashes. I customed the Princess lash to look a certain way since they were literally falling apart on me.
Shot in a darker setting.
Design-wise, I give a 10/10. They met my expectations 100% according to what I was looking for above~
Enlargement-wise, I also give a 10/10. FYI these are a 14.5mm size, and with the design it doesn't have a super-enlarging effect. For those who would like to wear this with no makeup, these will look really good and won't make you look freakishly soulless.
As far as Comfort though, I'd give an 8/10. In the beginning I had issues with these sitting well in my eye, mainly feelings of dryness and discomfort. Eventually I guess whatever caused that finally got soaked off, but once in a while I get issues of discomfort with these. I'd say rather than the general 8 hours or so, these usually last maybe 5-6 hours before I need to grab some saline.
You see I'm trying to finally catch up on all my posts~ I have another review or two on the way and then I should be posting my next giveaway today or tomorrow so stay tuned!
♥
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
