30-Day Lolita Challenge: Day 4

It's been a bit since I've updated (over two months!).  The holidays were very busy for me, so I didn't have a lot of time to blog.  I was out in California for Christmas, which is where all my family is.  It was nice to see them all again.  I miss California a lot.  ,-.-,

I got some really cute stuff for Christmas though.  Hello Kitty was a main theme of my gifts this year.  I received a Hello Kitty water dispenser, eyeliner kit, pez dispenser, hair dryer and alarm clock.  :)  Unfortunately, I was so busy with work and the holidays I did not get to attend any of the holiday lolita meetups Frilladelphia held.

Anyway, time to move on with the meme!

Ten Different Kinds of Foods you Like.

~1~: No surprise here.  I love potatoes.  It must be the irish in me.  When I diet, potatoes are what I end up craving the most (other than sugar, obviously).  I like potatoes in all different ways, too.  In stwes, baked, microwaved, mashed, au-gratin, fried, etc, etc.  :)

~2~: Salads.  I'm not just saying it to sound trendy, either, I really love them.  If Saladworks wasn't so damn expensive, I'd eat their salads every day.  I love salad topped with croutons and ranch dressing.  So delicious.

~3~: Mexican.  I love mexican food.  There's a mexican restaurant near me who has some of the best nachos I've ever eaten, ever (and their baybreeze isn't so bad, either.)

~4~: Sushi.  How can I not love sushi?  This comes with a disclaimer though.  I'm a picky eater, and that includes most (MOST) raw fish.  I love shellfish, though, so any sushi that includes shrimp or crab I scarf down like crazy!  I also love eel and calamari.

~5~: Snail.  :D  Okay, I've only had this once, while in Japan.  But oooh my goodness, it was so yummy.  :0  I was sad when it was all gone.  I don't know why but I love foods that are chewy~?  I wonder why?

~6~: Chocolate.  'Nuff said.

~7~: Ice Cream.  I love ice cream.  In fact, it's a tradition on my birthday every year that I have an ice cream cake!  Ice cream cakes are my favorite, especially the ones with the chocolate crunchies in the middle.  Delicious!

~8~: Eggs.  So good.  I love to hard-boiled eggs (so cute!) and sprinkle it on top of salads, I like my eggs scrambled and fried and over easy with toast!

~9~: Cliff bars.  I had to throw these in here because they're what I eat for breakfast every morning.  The great thing about them is they sustain my energy all day long.  My job is very tiring, and my body loses more iron than most people, so I'm really tired a lot.  Cliff bars keep me up and running.  I eat half a bar each morning and I'm good to go!

~10~: What to put as my last favorite food?  I'm going to have to go with steak.  There is nothing more filling than a big, juicy, tender steak.  So good.

See ya!

30-Day Lolita Challenge: Day 3

"Ten Things you Hate in Lolita"


I don't know that I can even come up with ten, so bare with me, here.

~1~: I hate the rules.  Not that I don't think they apply at all, but I would call them very generalized 'guidelines' instead of rules.  When you create and enforce 'rules' for everyone to strictly live by, you end up with a fashion that is stale and bland and blah.  Don't get me wrong, if you follow all the rules good for you.  If you look good doing it, even better for you.  I, however, like my fashion to breathe.  To be open and creative.  To be fun and interesting.

~2~: I hate bonnets.  I really do.  I don't like how they look and it's rare that I see someone pull it off well.  It's a lolita item I'd never buy, wear or own.

~3~: I hate lolitas who are mean.  This doesn't only apply to lolitas, I hate most people who are mean in general.  But in this case it especially applies because of the strong hate/anger towards 'itas', and I just don't get it.  People get so mad and angry at those who try and jump into the fashion and fail at it or look terrible or does something 'wrong', but it just doesn't make sense to me that they should be hated for it.  Maybe it's because of my job as a teacher, but I believe that instead of getting angry at someone or hating someone simply because they are 'doing it wrong' or 'look bad', we should embrace and give tips/help out those new to our fashion.  Why should we scare people away from the fashion?  Why can't we build a bigger, better community by helping out those who are new to/interested in the fashion?

~4~: In contrast to number 3, I hate new people who refuse help at all cost. These types of people tend to get very defensive very easily about what they are wearing/why they are wearing it.  I'm all for being the odd one out and trying new things with lolita, but if you are wearing what people brand 'ita', and they try to help you fix it, don't throw it in their face.  Accept the help and work towards looking/feeling better within the fashion. This type of extreme, defensive way to go about fashion is also boring and stagnant.

~5~: I'm already running out of things to talk about, so now I'm going to get real picky.  I hate meetups where the only source of food are sweets.  Especially if it's an all-day event.  I know, I know, sweets are pretty and for the most part, elegant, but although I have a bit of a sweet tooth, I do not want sweets for lunch or dinner. I want me a steak.  I want something filling.

~6~: Costs.  I think every lolita can agree with me on this one.  Everything is very, very expensive, even knock-offs.  It doesn't help me much that the American dollar has gone down the drain.  I don't like spending hundreds of dollars on a dress.  Over a hundred in general is way too expensive.  However, do I hold back?  Not really.  I can control what I buy, and there are a ton of dresses that I don't go near (even though I want them, more than anything in the woooorld), but I've been going a little out of control I admit.  I practically give myself a heart attack every time I see a print/OP/JSK I love up on comm sales or Closet Child.  Sometimes it's hard to breathe.

~7~: Sizing issues.  I'm not overweight, and I can fit most brand, but it still pisses me off when I see an item made in only one size.  I get that these brand dresses are super special and all, and that only a certain amount of each get made, but dammit, show some of the smaller/bigger loli's some love!  I feel that the customer base would grow considerably for these brands if they only gave us a few choices size-wise.

~8~:Negative comments.  Let's face it, no matter how awesome/beautiful/gorgeous we look in lolita, there's always going to be some fashion-narrow-minded jerk who thinks it's funny to point and say in the loudest voice possible "HEY LITTLE BO-PEEP, WHERE'S YOUR SHEEP?", like it's the fucking most original comparison to cross anyone's mind.  If I had a dollar for every person who called me bo-peep, I'd have about 20 bucks.  But 20 bucks is still 20 people, and over the course of my lolita-wearing-life, that's quite a few.  The worst type of negative comments, I feel, are from those you know personally.  When someone you care about says you look stupid, well, it hurts.  Luckily, the compliments far outweigh the insults.

~9~: The naaame.  Not that *I* care that the fashion is called Lolita, but you say the term to anyone in America and the reaction is mostly the same.  Shock, horror, and disgust.  No matter that lolita fashion is modest, not promiscuous.

~10~: The lack of knowledge about the fashion itself.  Some people like the fact that Lolita is such a small community, but I think that the fashion would benefit greatly from a wider fan-base.

Gyaru-inspired outfit!

Hello~

On Sunday I picked up my first Egg magazine because I loved the outfits so much.  While I'm not at all Gyaru, I thought it would be good inspiration for cute outfits when I don't feel so much like wearing my frills and bows.  :)

Yesterday I spent about two hours trying things together to come up with something that looked decent, and I found myself a killer outfit!

I decided to wear my h.NAOTO top because it really doesn't work with any of my lolita clothes, so I figured it would probably be a great center piece for my outfit.  It worked out great!

 I know my room *looks* messy, but it's not, I promise.  Those are the clothes I tried on before I got my perfect outfit.  Score, right?  :D

 Although Gyaru is rather new to me, I love studying the outfits.  I know that gyaru isn't gyaru without the makeup, and maybe I'll try it out one day?  Put it all together?  For now though, I'm content with my new sense of style~

See ya~!

Lolita meet up: *~Mitsuwa!~*

Hello~!

Yesterday Frilladelphia met up at Mitsuwa market in Edgewater NJ.  Fellow lolita friends L., P., S., and I drove up all the way to North Jersey to hold the meet up for some of the girls who rarely attend out south Jersey meets.  Unfortunately other than us, we only had two girls show up.  But no biggie, we still had a blast!

When we arrived we waited at the water for others to show up!

Only one girl showed up!  We decided to get some outfit shots.  <3

 ~L.~

 ~Me~

Outfit breakdown:

Jsk: Bodyline

Blouse: Kohls

Cardigan: H&M

Socks: Urban outfitters

Shoes: Journey

Purse: random purse party.  It's a knockoff.

Wig: Gothiclolitawigs.com

Headband: Bodyline.

 ~S.~

 ~A.~

I was entranced by her tie of Pearls. <3

 ~P.~

 ~S.~

S. worked at this lovely store at Mitsuwa market.  She dressed up for work that day so she could partake.  We all had lunch together.

Udon!  Nom.

 After lunch we checked out the book store.  They had some really cute stationary and great magazines.  I picked up G&LB, Kera and Egg.  :)

 Bathroom break!  L. and I foolin' around.  I r tough loli.  <3

After some more walking around, we had desert.  Strawberry was a main theme.  So yummy!

 P. is amazed by her lovely strawberry.

 We stopped to take some photos before we left of New York.  It was right across the river from us!  So pretty at dusk. <3

A. with lovely New York behind her.  <3

It was a long drive home.  I slept well once I got home.  I would love to go back up to Mitsuwa again!  I got some great magazines, a Hello Kitty makeup case, some lolita dress up stickers and Japanese beer for my boyfriend.  All in all it was a good day!

Can't wait for the next meet up.

30-Day Lolita Challenge: Day 2

"10 Things you Love in Lolita"

~1~: First of all, and most important in my book, is I love the way I feel when I'm wearing Lolita.  I love the way the cloth of a really well made jsk or OP feels when I wear it.

~2~: I love the wigs.  I LOVE the wigs.  I've only bought one so far, but I'm addicted.  I love the fact that you can have a new hair style/color EVERY DAY without changing your actual hair.  :)

~3~: Thigh-high socks.  I never wore them until I got into Lolita.  Now I can't get enough.  I love the lace, ribbon, and prints that the socks offer as well.

~4~: The complements I get while wearing lolita.  Even if the complements are about the dress instead of me! I love it when people say they love the dress and how unique they think it is, and I really enjoy discussing where/how to get the dress.  :)

~5~: Nail art!  I've been a nail biter all my life, but Lolita has given me the drive to stop biting my nails so they can look as pretty as my cords!

~6~: Friendly Meetups, of course!  I really enjoy getting together with my lolita friends and taking a break from my normal, hectic life.  I feel very relaxed when I'm out, having a picnic or taking a walk in a group dressed just like me!

~7~: Shopping!  Shopping is, by far, one of my favorite things to do, so of course it's wonderful that shopping goes hand-in-hand with lolita!  Of course, it can get very expensive, which is why I love finding a great deal on lolita items.

~8~: Beautiful, detailed prints on OPs and JSKs.  Baby and Alice and the Pirates have some of my favorite prints.

~9~: The makeup.  I have to admit that I've never been very experimental when it comes to makeup.  Mostly I'd throw on some mascara and eyeliner and call it a day.  But now I can't get enough.  I love makeup!

~10~: Lastly, I enjoy researching and discovering new ways to break the rules and make it look awesome and unique.  Creativity has such opportunity in Lolita!

That's all for now, ~see ya!~

30-Day Lolita Challenge: Day 1

Hello.  :)

I thought I'd grab up this 30-day lolita meme I found floating around.  The questions are so interesting, it asks things I've never thought about before, so I'm very excited to see what I discover about myself and lolita~.

I don't know that I'll be able to actually do a question every day, but I'll try and do every few days or so.  Onto the first question.


"10 Things About Your Lolita Bubble"

~1: My immersion into Lolita started in May of 2011, when I got to visit Japan for 16 glorious days.  This is also when I was able to buy my starter lolita wardrobe. I bought JSK's from Bodyline and Alice and the Pirates, and an OP from Putumayo, along with various purses, skirts and socks.


~2: My favorite brands are Alice and the Pirates, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Putumayo, Mary Magdalene, and Innocent World.  I know it's a lot of favorite brands, but I tend to enjoy a wide-range of styles.


~3: My favorite style is Classic.  I love classic OPs and JSKs so, so much.  I feel the most beautiful when I wear classic.



~4: My least favorite styles to wear are probably OTT Sweet and Gothic, although I do love the way these styles look, and drool over pictures of cords in these styles, I like wearing them the least.  :)



~5: I am involved in a group called Frilladelphia, and I love everyone who attends the meets!  We have so much fun, I have to credit them for pushing my love of lolita forward even more! (Plus, they taught me how to order through TaoBao.  SCORE.


~6: Shoes and Blouses are the things I have least of when it comes to my lolita wardrobe.  Unfortunately, I tend to have the urge to buy JSKs instead of blouses.  I have to get better at forcing myself to get blouses once in a while instead. :)



~7: I try to wear lolita as much as possible, even to and from work (although I can't wear it during work), but I still don't wear it as much as I'd like to.  I want that to change.  I'd love to have a wardrobe that would allow me to wear lolita every day.



~8: I love it when people on the street ask to take my photo.  I feel like I'm spreading the word and getting more exposure to the style.  I also try and give anyone who asks as much information as I possibly can about the fashion.  I love talking to others about the style.


~9: I'm secretly trying to get my best friend to wear lolita.  It hasn't happened yet, but dammit, I'm determined.  :D


~10: I dream of living in Japan and being able to just buy all the lolita clothes my heart desires (without the horrible sipping costs!)

~See ya~!

Welcome! :)

Hello,

My name is Alisa, and I've decided to start blogging about my experiences in the Lolita fashion.  I have no real goal with this blog, mainly to jot down what I see/do/witness while immersing myself in the Lolita 'lifestyle'.

I hope you enjoy.  :)

First, some facts about myself and my life.  At 26 years of age, I'm on the older side of the lolita community.  While anime and manga have been a part of my life for many, many years, and subsequently, I've known about lolita for some years, I've only been active in wearing lolita for about five months.  So while I'm fairly new to indulging in the fashion, I have a different view on what I feel the fashion is than some do.

I'm part of a lolita meetup group called Frilladelphia, based in the Philadelphia area.  :)  I've attended meets and made some great friends.  I feel very lucky to have stumbled upon such an active group of girls (and boys!) who are so supportive in the lolita fashion.

I am not new to extreme fashions, but lolita is one that has truly made me feel beautiful and at home.  It's interesting, being able to recognize that 'home' feeling when it comes to clothing.  Lolita is exactly that for me.  I have been, for the past five months, building up my lolita wardrobe.  While it's not what I'd like it to be yet, I've managed to accumulate enough, for the moment, to get by.

I am a firm believer that the lolita fashion is wide and open enough for change, creativity, and full acceptance.  I do not believe that those who are new the fashion should be shunned or scared off.  It saddens me to see some of the anger/bullying that goes on in the fashion, and I am a strong advocate of acceptance rather than hate when it comes to introducing new people into the fashion.

Above all,  I like to have fun with the fashion.  I do enjoy the attention I get when I wear the fashion, I'm not going to lie, but on top of that, the feeling I have while wearing the fashion is really what drives my obsession.  :)

That's all for now.

~<(^.^<)~