Moving On

It’s been a weird couple of years. Though a lot of activity from my part has slowed down, save for attending some anime cons and a few events here and there and some blogging and article writing for Galvip and pix for a site I was formerly associated with, I plan to do a bit more for a lil while I think...

With about 7 derpy years under my belt in the gyaru comms, the highs and lows of (gyaru) circle life and trying to keep it together (I get really passionate about things at times :P ), the highs and lows of young adulthood regardless of being in a subculture, not knowing what I REALLY wanted to do in college or out of it{professionally speaking}, helping make events and promoting them while at times tiring out, its still a bit to process even after all this time. Allthewhile doing so, I am still trying to push forward as fast while wondering if I should try and slow down and rest. Some days, it feels as if I am living a double life! Bold fashioned gyaru life and normal out of college life.

I was told to (and also a part of me wanted to) stop with all my extracurricular activities and focus on my art career.{what am I, a lil kid still? haha}

That would mean:
NO blogging
NO events
NO gyaru related anything
prolly no more conventions

But then a part of me wants to still do it, but tie it into what I've learned at Columbia  I can see it, a faint vision, kinda fuzzy still, a bit patchy. It makes me smile, but then I wonder if its even worth it or just start over.

A few pictures of gal me2s over time, from about '09-'14

I know things will not be the same as the highs during those years, that maybe circle life just isn't a thing, but they were cherishable memories to me. Time moves on,things change, people come and go, shit happens, you learn from it, even if some of the memories still sting, you try and get over it.

Its no use livin' in the past, though I find myself doing that maybe all the time. So, I try to focus on the present and look forward to a brighter future. What does the future bring?  Maybe its one that sparkles and shines like rhinestone studded nails that barely allow you to function, and more glamorous than any sujimori-ed weave to grace any gal's head.

Wish me luck, gals!

Breaking the Habit: No More Workoholic, More Beach

Besides the Watertower, I really like this building.

After reading a few article about Workaholics, I had to take a step back to evaluate my naughty habit of trying to keep busy almost all of the time. Yes, the first time I tried to relax during a month break from work and being officially done with school I had a panic attack. Lame, right?

Even an old teacher had asked why I wasn't taking a year off to do practically nothing after college. And all I could think of  was 'that is bizarre... why would I do that?' You do that before you graduate, then you bust your ass to try to pay off everything. 

But...did I miss a memo or something?

Fall lip colour test

So, on Wednesday, I decided to just chill in downtown Chicago. I checked out the WaterTower mall first after a quick lunch. Katie wanted me to try a purple/lilac lip shade from Smashbox. After trying various purple shades, I settled on a natural shade, "Sugar Cane".  I might also see what the fuss is about non drugstore make ups! 

A doorman/security guard wanted me to come into the jewelry

shoppe that was near Oak Street Beach. 

Some of the pieces were beautiful, and their main motif is the quatrefoil for good luck, prosperity, health, and love. I favored the pieces with black onyx. 

Glass art and timepieces.

Bountiful clovers.

 I grabbed their catalog to check out their pieces while I am at home.

I really liked their bag. I am a sucker for nice shopping bag design. 

Rather be doing some sort of work. LOL

Human Gazing

 As I buried my feet in the cool sand, I gazed off into the sky or watch kids play catch with a football. 

I could get used to this... I think.

Stopped here for a little Italian treat.

Choco + Hazelnut gelato

Being busy (or "busy") all the time isn't a good thing. You are most likely wasting energy and maybe just doing filler if you can't stand doing-nothing-at-all time. I know from experience. Its nice to take a break every once in a while and recharge and cool down.

Ciao Ciao❤

Anime Expo 2014

Anime Expo 2014... Gee whiz. I met a lot of people again, familiar and new faces. I didn't do as much exploring the convention floor this year but that is ok. This year was a lot to take in all at once for me! 

Being from Chicago, the land of hotdogs and pizza, I had to try out Tokyo Doggie Style Hotdogs topped with savory curry and tart, crunchy pickled horseradish (?) on top. OMG, SO GOOD! ;-; 

Shop Staff!

LishaMisha22 Is Back!

After a long while of throwing ideas around with several people, tweaking some things and fussing over templates......
Here are some Site updates!

• Added social media buttons! Yippu!
• Still sketching out ideas for a new banner but overall things are updated! Maybe fancier html stuff will be in order... but much later!
• Also updated my Tumblr and finally got around to making pages on there for my art and also other stuff! YIPPU! I am pretty happy with it now.
• I updated the Shoppe and Events tabs with some clothes and events and will keep those (more so the events) updated regularly!
• General Sites maintenance!

So, at least I can chill out about the look of the blog for now.... Just need to get the portfolio site in order more. @__@;

Aside from all that, I am trying to get the finishing touches of packing and prepping for July! I will be attending Anime Expo again. I am nervous or maybe it is excitement! I have a vague idea for my hair style this year.... but clothes... no clue!  But, I cannot wait to see what my L.A. gals will be wearing and what items the brands such as Golds Infinity and Ghost of Harlem will be showcasing for this Spring and Summer collection!

Sadly enough, I will not be able to attend Anime Midwest again this year.But, I do hope to catch a lot of pictures of the cosplays that will be done there!

quikie post

I kinda like the revival of 90s stuff, and seeing a lot of 90s things. I borrowed a few books the other day, and I realized I didnt get into stuff like that with my artsy friends when college life took some of us to separate parts of the Midwest.

Listening to metal songs or maybe the newest hit in Japan.
I remember things like pix of sophisticated looking gold and green houndstooth nail polish stickers. Jp rock concerts in Milwaukee. Huddled in a corner with easels walling us off from the rest of the class. Hiding behind tinted paper and metal structures, like stationary flags on a boat.

I think I continued to do so even after high school. Face staring at the paper or screen all the time. Trying to perfect how to do something while lacking in social skills even when I feel that you are supposed to know how right off the bat.

90s revival? More like social skills of 1990's era kids.
And even now, when I feel like I could be understanding people and not just my own mind, I am not. I am trying to find a job I like that I have to have social skills for and be able to understand people!
Communications design.... okies...

But, life is a learning venture. And things will keep looping until something changes.
One day at a time, right?

Anime Expo ：Be a Gal Fashion Model for 2014!

This year, The following Gal Brands will be showcasing their items for not only for purchase, but also for the Fashion Show!

KokoKim, Swankiss, Golds Infinity, Ghost of Harlem

If you have always wanted to be a runway model for a Japanese Brand for Gyaru gear, this is your chance for 2014! 

Sign Up here!:

http://www.anime-expo.org/fashion-show-2014/#Casting

Rather be a Shop Staff?
Send me an email on FB!

Deadline is June 15th!

See you there and Good Luck!

Acen 2014 Minicap

Acen season has made its way and has passed like the fleeting winds~
I got acquainted with Naoto and Ibi from h.naoto and Sixh. , the super adorbs Wake Up Girls group, and had laughs with the members of angela, a Japanese rock duo .


Here are some slightly behind the scene's pix!

Go GAL Go!

Graduation is right around the corner! OMG

The limbo period is almost over! I do not feel ready even though I am just waiting to hear my name and to walk across the stage to grab a piece of paper... I am so nervous!

5 LOOOOONG years have passed like an eye blinking! Its nuts!

I just hope that since being a graduate will FINALLY be official, I will get more job ops and a lot of freelance! 

YAY!!!

Now, I have to get outfits ready for this weekend! I will be at Acen this year and I hope to meet a lotta people, and to also celebrate my 7th year at Acen! 

I think I will try to cosplay this year... It will be.... something LOL. But I hope it will look decent! 

bye bye! I gotta finish alotta stuff tonight ;-;

Review: Mary Kay Timewise Set

Balance it Out!

Windy City Gal's tips for Beginners!

Over the years, seeing gals try out gal make up, there have been a few things that got to me: the lack of balance. I think it is one of the things that grows with the person doing the make up to learn balancing out the aesthetics especially for the more extreme and heavier make up styles.

Balance issue: Think of your favorite (or a ) Drag Queen. Now, if you have a pic of them without their glorious locks but their make up is on in full, it looks kinda weird until their hair is on and poppin.

Pic from Rupaul's Drag Race

2011
BAHAHAHHAA
Cake faced glory

Got on one of my FAVE pairs of lens and Diamond Nudy eye lashes.... but no hair!! ARRGHGHHGHG!!!

Beady little eyes to steal your soul! D:

Weird, yea?! Well I look even funnier when I did Manba and didn't have my hair on yet!

Balance issue: A person doing super extreme Manba make up looks weird with super flat or no hair. The same goes for a person who wears super long and big falsies and bold bottom lashes without circle lens to balance out the lashes and take up some of the white space in the eye.

Hope these tips helped!

Eye Glasses!

It may be a little bit silly to some, but I have been pretty excited about my pairs of glasses !

It has been years since I have had an eye exam and about a year since my old pair of glasses broke. I saw that at one place had a sale for an eye exam and a buy one get one promotion for glasses that I wanted to take advantage of! So, I scheduled an appointment, and went right on in!

They make you fill out a questionnaire about your eyesight, and you get to choose what other tests you want to do for your eyes, for example, getting fitted for lens and also to check for other eye disorders.
I had a pair picked out from the website I liked, and though they did not have the exact frame in store, I found one that was pretty similar! The staff was very patient with me since it was a big investment for me!

The only add on that I bought for the lens was the HD feature so that I do not see curved images when I look towards the edges of my glasses. My two pairs of glasses came out to $422.93! If they were not on sale, the total price would have went up to a whooping $798! And even more if I had selected other features for my pairs.

The glasses I got were Envy and Breezy by Bebe

Pros: Convenient location in the Loop. Being able to understand the prescription. Being able to look and try on the various amount of frames.  

Cons: Pricey when you do not have insurance, or if you decide to buy from online stores like Coastal.

Dream With Me!

So, I have been trying to recall my dreams better these days and to also try harder at Lucid Dreaming!
One of the first times I remembered Lucid Dreaming was when I was in elementary school at O'Keeffe. I had a terrible dream a few nights in a row that replayed over and over about a horrible man trying to harm his customer that went to his barber shop.

I told a loved one about it, and he told me that if I can concentrate really hard while I sleep about what I wanted to do in the dream to prevent it from happening, I could change the outcome of my dream.

So, it took me a while, but when I felt that the dream was happening again, I could think on what I wanted to do to cause a distraction, fight back something. I don't recall what I did since it was so many years ago, but my dream did change! I was able to change the outcome!

There have been a few other dreams that I had where I would slip into it and could almost control my self in the dream world. Albeit, not precisely, as it felt similar to trying to control a shopping cart with a very wobbly wheel that won't let you push it 100% in one direction!

I hope to keep trying at Lucid Dreaming more!

Until next time!

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。

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!

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 hindering 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!

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!

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.

New Vid up!

I finally jumped on board with a Youtube "welcome to my channel" video! 

I am excited to release new video content on YT and try my hand at different things

than just make up tutorials! 

I hope you will enjoy what is soon to come on my channel and blog!

There will not only be make up, but attempts at hair styling tutorials,

my favorite products and items,

and guest appearances from other gals and friends!

Stay tuned!

マタネ

Games, Chi fi, and Geekbar Oh My! (pic heavy!!)

This post is a mash-up of a couple events at once.  

On Saturday, I went to check out some of Chi-fi, doing blog stuff for SUGARGAMERS as well as for my own blog, albeit a bit late. I met a pretty passionate guy who incorporated cows and cow related themes with Star Trek. I should have been taking notes on his jokes though!

Unfortunately at an after-party/event, my drink was drugged on the second day of Chi-fi when I was dressed as a Matrix-themed Catgirl with a lot of the Chicago gaming community. I was harassed by a man who was banned (BANNED!!) at the convention, and I lost other footage for this article when my camera and phone were stolen off my person. The girl gaming group I came with didn't do anything, didnt even get a text back when i was trying to tell them i was on my way back. And the bystanders thinking I wanted to be bothered by someone I didn't know who was touching me inappropriately is  such a worse feeling. 

There was one painting I really liked that was blue and in a circular format. I wish there was a thumbnail on his site so I could see it again!

A maiden fair, maketh me a potion.

Chinatown Dinner Day

I wanted to head to Chinatown for dinner.
I decided to wear a dress Mogi gave me. I usually don't wear florals, but its nice to try out and see if  i liked it or if it suits me!

     

outfit pic

Macaron Day Friend Meet

March 24, 2014

On Saturday, Amina de Jean came to Chicago and hosted a Macaroon Day  meet up!