Windy City Gal Cooking!

Sometimes I like to cook and make things if I can get in some nice time for it. It can be pretty relaxing for me.
時々、時計があるなら、りょうり作るの大好き。リラックスなだよ。

Here, I made a chicken alfredo dish.
チキンアルフレドを作った。　美味しかった。

Spinach, tuna, noodle and egg
ランダムな食べ物のものですね。。。

I hope to make more things when I get creative again! I don't bake things and I usually like to throw stuff together. :3
Until next time!

Fave "Kawaii" Android Apps

Ever since I got into this Android app downloading thing a few years ago, I have come across some great ones and some that were not so hot.

The ones that I keep now either social media related, or just some random things to pass the time.

I have a few deco apps that I have used over the past several years, so I will share em with you! Deco apps are great for gals and lolita's alike,  people who love purikura (photo booth picture stickers), and people who just love to put stamps on their photos!

Photo Wonder
I had this app a while back, and still do! I mainly use it to collage photos together so they do not take up a lot of space for posts etc. They have added more decorations, and filters PLUS roller brush decorations too!  Out of all the deco apps, this one seems to be the only one with a breast enlarger in the Beautify options. I think that "make up" on deco apps are weird. Like, they are soooo obvious! But great if you are just foolin around. 

Pros: Great for collaging photos together! You can have the collage as a rectangle or a square which is great. The Filter Camera Option works great!

                

Editing screen and Decoration screen

Cons: The Materials Center takes a few seconds to load, and when you download a frame for a picture... I can't seem to find it! This app will send you a message telling you that you have not used it for a while. Kinda creepy!

Bugs: The Dark Circle Remover option was a little iffy for me and would diverge from the line I wanted to make under the eye. So you end up with a random lightened streak across your face!

4 out of 5

Kira Deco
This is my least used app. The selection page looks nice and is straight forward, but dated. When it comes to the editing screen, things get iffy. The icons can get in the way when you are decorating your pic and they shift from side to side when you want to add the decorative stamps, frame choices are limited, and user interface takes up too much of the picture. Though the shifting of the side bar for the stamps may seem like a good idea, I think it would have been BEST for them to just be out of the way anyways! 

              

Menu Screen and Decorating screen

Pros: There are some cute stamps and frames in this app.
Cons: Some of the frames look a little cheesy. The options bar is in the way of the picture. The stamps aren't put into categories which bugs me!
Bugs: No bugs perse, just really bad user interface.

2 out of 5

R.I.P. Ageha...and Almost Everything Else

Soooo, every gal and their momma has been talking about the publisher of Ageha, Aneageha, I love Mama, and NUTS being so in debt, 3 billion yen, and the deaths of the beloved mags.The debt deal that the publisher incurred is beyond ridiculous! It sucks. It really does, but with certain styles dying down, people who did the styles like agejo growing older, it is no surprise. Also no surprise that the media is picking and choosing what it wants to show.

While others seem to be freaking out, im just here like:

I had already taken a hard hit when Soul Sister died. I wanted to collect as many magazines as possible when I had some better income coming in. And now that I kinda do (at least before career related things...) now Ageha has jumped the ship. 

Okies.... I can deal... Hopefully people won't jack up their prices on ebay when I search for issues I want.

But then, Egg has decided to call it quits too? 

WHAT THE FUCK...

So, what am I going to collect now? Or peep through when I visit Mitsuwa? What about the beloved Animal Talk and the silly cute illustrations? Maybe things will pop back up for the magazines. Even though I loved looking at the magazines, it was there for a reason. To help showcase styles and current fashion trends and what the stores were selling at the moment.

As I am in America, some of the items just did not fully apply because there were not a lot of Gyaru fashion being exported from Japan for Western Gyaru lovers. Now, things have changed thanks to shopping services and Yesstyle.com. Not only that, but around the time I started, a lot of the gyaru found their items in their local shops and did the best they could! 

While people emulate what they see in magazine, I feel that the gyaru subculture here might not improve or grow JUST because the mags are not there! BOOO. There has already been girls dismissing the crazier styles because the magazines didn't show them, so I can only speculate what will happen if the mags never resurface. 

Hey... I may be wrong though.

But for now, we play the waiting game.

What I Want

I have gotten asked "What do you want?" "What do you want to do?"  for quite a bit. And it used to throw me off, to actually be asked face to face ( not in a negative way) for something. To actually have a hook be there to fish things out of my mind, and the thoughts swim away a la Zelda fishing mini game.

I grew up with the mindset that if I wanted something, I work hard to get it by myself. And that maybe I would mysteriously wind up where I want to work and it would be awesome! Maybe it was a blind way to live,and no one is a mind reader...

Nothin too overboard or fancy, but I like it. :p

But now I realize after a lot of thinking,and three grapefruit shots later, that I do not live on an island by myself ! :O!! (I don't think I can knit myself a functional car or a house.....) Also I cannot do a lot of things by myself in this world, and that total isolation from people sucks! I have also learned that working with people can be a lot of fun too!
All I know right now at this hour... is that there is a ton of ideas floating in my head of mine, I want to be living my dream career, that Cali is calling my name again, and that the Nissan Altima looks pretty damn good to me right now!!

http://www.nissanusa.com/cars/altima/features/
Check out my dream car! And fancy site design too!

Here are some other cars I have been looking at.

I just need to learn how to drive is all...

Ciao Ciao！

Chillin with the Pros!: Industry Night at Colum

I went to Industry Night at my school on Thursday!It was almost like speed dating (I think?) but with creative professionals! I was mad nervous, but I pulled through! I thought it would be kind of pointless to go, but I talked myself into it more. Like, Why not? Even if they look a lil shitty, or still rough, the concept matters, yea? I got to talk to four people about my samples and got some nice feedback!

Gotta look somewhat normal! 

Yippu!

 I think that with some more punch, I could take some of those samples and make them even better for whatever projects I come across in my free time, and also be better when I go into my field.

~~~~

On Friday, I hung out with Jade and then her and her friend. I met up with her at Bar 63 for a few drinks and foooood.

Maybe I should have worn something fancier here :p

Buffalo Bill

~~~

Everything Always Works Out.
Artist's Name  ???

I saw this again at my school on the day of speaking with the Industry people. It speaks to me, and it made me feel a little better about things. A lot of what I do seems so fragmented but maybe the puzzle pieces are slowly coming together.

マタネ

New Diamond Lash Series

While I was on the Diamond lash site looking at pictures of the lashes I like best a few months ago, I decided to roam around the site to see the other products. I saw they had a few new series, Nudy Couture and the Model's Produced,  that I had not yet seen.
They are quite thin and usually would not pop into your head when you think of gyaru styled eyelashes. They are wispy and a bit shorter than their lash sisters in the other series. However, they are perfect for subtle make up and for work.

The Models Produce series

The Models Produce series have a style that are light and airy. The Nobel eye is almost on the line of demi lashes, but are a tad bit longer width wise. There are four thicker clusters on the lashes that add a little bit of feminine flair to your eye make up. 

The Lucks eye (sp) is not dramatic and give some lash length towards the outer edge of the lid. The Model Produce series seems to accentuate the outer edge of the eye. This series includes four different styles.

Nobel eye

Lucks eye

The Nudy Couture series

The Nudy Couture series is by fair their most natural looking lash series. People with longer lashes probably would not benefit from these length wise but perhaps give a touch of thickness to their own lashes. These are definitely great for subtle looks, normal wear, school, or work when you don't want your lashes to be too dramatic but still look beautiful. This series includes eight different styles.

Elegant Eyee

They have a pretty nice selection of natural lashes for people who go for that type of look and may not have very long lashes. I think people get lash strips done lash extension style, so I think they can add some thickness to lashes that way.

Gal Meet In Chinatown

Pepa, Jade, and Lora and her family met up to talk over food at My Place (not, not my apartment, its a restaurant in Chinatown), and to give Lora her Gal Make over courtesy of Pepa! We shared stories about what led us into pursuing gal fashion, bought sweets, even saw a high school friend randomly before we ate, and met up with Jade's friends too!
We also shared ice creams on sticks before we split up to run errands and what not, then met back up later in the day and watched a movie together.

My meal!

Pepa's veggies!

Pepa's Salt pepper squid. 

Doing make up!

Pepa helped Lora with her make up and gave her a Gal Transformation! Complete with lashes too!

She was really happy! 

There were a lot of people in Chinatown on Friday! I think they were having a field trip!

Candy! Almonds and Chocolate are delicious together.

Jade and I were going to get a regular sized pack of make up removing wipes, but Pepa gave us an awesome suggestions for Studio 35's twin pack that would last us longer and be a better deal for us!
YAY! You can get them at Walgreens!

Thanks for hanging with us Lora! 

You can read Jade's post here!

マタネ

WCG's Spotlight

Interview: Laura Cioroianu

I came across Laura a few years ago when she sent me a friend request. She stood out to me due to her interest in gothic and visual kei fashion. She is from Romania and lives in Craiova and has appeared in quite a few news episodes due to her love for VK fashion style.

Lisha: Does your work or past education helped you with your inspiration or outfits?(for
example working at a job that helps you with a different aspect of fashion, or taking
classes about fashion design, etc)

Laura Cioroianu :

Since I have a nursing degree , my past education has really nothing to do with my inspiration for everything I am trying to do in a pleasant way.
I was a makeup trainer but volunteer for almost half a year in 2013 in a small makeup school from my city .

The experience from there helped me too and to like even more makeup and all of the things I am going now .

Also I will throw this month the first party from Craiova city , a show inspired by the visual kei music scene in Japan .
and I try to make this party more diverse, including a fashion parade with my interpretations by some street clothing styles in Tokyo .

I will use everything that needs from my personal clothes and all that it takes , for all the people for the parade from head to toe, including the decoration of the club . For now this show will be like a challenge for myself since I will take care of almost everything with my own money, which its really hard , but i am looking forward to see people reactions from this city .
If this show will be a success this will be the beginning only .


Lisha: Has anything in your childhood inspired you to dress up?

Laura Cioroianu : To be honest no , not at all .
I was such a tomboy many years of my childhood.

Lisha:What else besides Visual Kei inspires your outfits and style? What are your favorite
bands that you draw inspiration from?

Laura Cioroianu : Simply people . Every time I had the opportunity to meet someone really creative and unique I am so inspired .I feel so honored when I meet these kind of people .
I am inspired a lot also just by watching online pictures with ordinary people from Tokyo.
I like to admire their creativity and then i am trying to get a piece of what I like the most from them for my creations .

My favourite bands from many others from Japan are X Japan ,Buck Tick and Penicillin .
I draw a lot of inspiration from mister Hakuei the vocalist from Penicillin.
He was and still my all time muse when i want to create something related only to the Japanese visual kei scene of course in this case .

Lisha: Ah! Cool! What non fashion forms do you draw inspiration from?

Laura Cioroianu : Mostly my saddest moments and my dreams . When something negative happen to me I try to express & get away that sad feeling from my heart into creating something new related to art , doesn't matter if its makeup, a draw on a paper or inventing an outfit .


Lisha: That is a great idea!
I know that some places are apprehensive to people expressing themselves through wearable
forms of expression. How is it dressing in Craiova, Romania?

Laura Cioroianu : The world is pretty closed-minded here Craiova city but there are a lot of
wonderful people who support me a lot and I try to keep near those kind of people .
Actually one of the reasons that i want to trow that kind of shows like I told you previously , it is to create a place for all those people who don`t have the guts to dress however they like on the streets but they can at my shows .I want them to feel free and to say : At this kind of parties I feel me and noone isjudging me or the way my style is at all here .

Lisha: Have you traveled anywhere? Where would you like to go?

Laura Cioroianu : I went to Belgium , Germany and Nederlands
I would like to visit Japan so much in the future . I think its awesome there .

Lisha: What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Laura Cioroianu : Listening to music its almost like breathing for me, drawing sometimes , dancing & singing.

She has also subtitled her video clips from news channels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JVxqfG6VRg

News Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opCrca0Eb3c&list=UUCG5pBjot2NLnntXqEyXLyw

Kawaii International
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXdFB7nn3XQ&list=UUCG5pBjot2NLnntXqEyXLyw

Time for sleep!

yum! eyebags!!

I have about an hour to get in more rest before the meet up! We are going to Chinatown to catch up with Pepa and also a gyaru baby, Lora! I have no clue why I couldn't fall asleep though! Usually I get pretty restless when I have a flight, but I am just taking the train, so I don't get it. o.O
But, it would be like a million years since Pepa, Jade, and I have chilled together... I think since the March me2... last year! So that is pretty big!
I have about half an hour to try and nap while my ridiculously long vid tries to upload to youtube.

Also, lost about 16 pounds from the weight I gained eating take out pretty much every night last year. I am also drinking more water too and limiting a lot of soda again. Weight stuff is usually a touchy topic for a lot of people, especially girls. I just know that for myself, that overeating and eating a lot of sugary things will not benefit me in any way and would just lead to more problems down the line. Eating my feelings is HORRID too!! So, I just try to be productive or parapara or something. Way better than stuffing my face with a whole pack of chocolate chip cookies!


Well, time for a nap! >0<;

Otaku vs.Gyaru

Otaku is a term that usually people don't put in the same sentence as Gyaru. 

Otaku translates to nerd. (n.) a person with obsessive interests {such as manga and/or anime, and may lack in social skills especially with the opposite sex.} 

Also means "you" or "your house", in Japanese. A polite honorific.

You may even have seen them, at anime conventions, or maybe even at your school's anime club. 

They are all around you! 

While Gyaru, translates to a fashionable girl who dresses cute and trendy.  

They can be seen wearing the latest styles, with bold and at times elaborate make up and hair, and looking girly.

So you can see the big divide between the two, right?

When I was a little seasoned on Ricoche.net, it seemed like a big No-no to even mention that you liked anime, gaming or manga. If you did (like myself...), you were not a real gyaru, and just an otaku or worse yet! A weeaboo! (like I was called in 2008 by a gyaru who had did the fashion for a little bit longer than myself!)

The term Weeaboo seemed to have sprung up in about 2008 or so where I lived. See definition here if you are of the loop! 

Anyhoo...

Putting that little tangent aside, I had tried to save a lotta face by not mentioning anime around my more gyaru peers and sneaking off into an anime club in my first year of college (they had a big room and a viewing screen so it was like you were at a small film showing!!) and trying to squeeze in time to play some good ol' Final Fantasy. 

Now, people seem to be more accepting to those who are into gyaru and also like anime, manga and things of that nature. And I am glad!! A lil mad that this happened AFTER LIKE, HOW MANY YEARS THO?! 

But glad that girls/gals like accept that side of themselves and are not ashamed to share it. Plus, anime conventions are a great stomping ground for meeting up with various gals if they don't live in the area!

Why let hobbies and interests keep you apart? 

What is even more interesting, is that there can be Otaku with other interests than just games and anime! From obsessing over fashion or camera devices, to being closeted otaku or spreading their interests with the world! 

Max's video about the topic at hand

What are you an "otaku" for?