♥ Shahana Style ♥

2012-02-10T09:26:00.000-05:00

I have the flu. This is some BS to put it simply. I'm not okay with it. Shivering, sweating, nose ouches and dry, tight throats are all a way of life for me. Oh and the headaches. Whoa doggy. So between the doses of different cold medicines (which never really work when you have the flu), these are the things that help me deal with the fact that I can't eat, sleep, or sometimes breathe.

1. Ugly Betty on Netflix

2. Working on my family tree via Ancestry.com

3. World of Warcraft (don't judge me!)

4. Hot, hot, hot showers.

5. Be inspired by J-mag scans

6. Practice new languages for free with BYKI

7. Watch at least one old (or really old) movie you've never seen. I chose "Dance With Me."

8. For the love of maki, read something!

9. Text your friends and family so they'll know you're alive.

10. Wash your nasty, germ-covered laundry (especially bedding) in HOT water, with a teaspoon of bleach. Having the flu sucks, so why get it again if you can help it.

Fashion Photography is Love

2012-01-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

I had a photo shoot on Saturday. It's a subject I've been dying to do, but never got around to before: Decora-kei. Luckily, my little sister introduced me to a girl she met named Dolly. We because Facebook friends and eventually I just asked her. She's not a model, just a college girl into Asian fashion & sub-cultures.

Okay. This is the part where I shut up and show the photos (starting wth my favorite).


I almost went blind to get this shot.

There are 5 more photos so...

If you're interested in seeing other photos, AvyTech Photography is on Facebook, Model Mayhem, and other random notches of teh interwebs. I even have a real web site (which I neglect).

Long Oerdue

2012-01-30T10:51:00.001-05:00

Hey Guys and Gals,

It's been a very, very long time since I've posted. Why? Because life has been super busy. Between work, home, dancing, and photography, I've managed to also squeeze in sewing, writing, and pen-pal action. All that leads to less likeliness of me posting quality posts. That's a bit of a problem because I still love this blog.

The solution?

Cram it in anyway!

So I will be posting weekly. I have already started a string of posts for the next few weeks. This way, I'll still be ahead of the game if I have an extra busy week. In the past, I've wanted the thoughts to be as fresh in the blog as possible. That's not really necessary. That's just me being a weirdo.

So NOT Gyaru

2011-10-28T13:10:00.000-04:00

IMG Source: Amazon.com

But I don't care. I LOVE this bag. It was a birthday gift from my mother-in-law. I loved hers instantly so she was super awesome and got me one. My birthday was 3rd October, by the way. Not that it's a huge deal to the world. It just serves as a reference point. I started this post about two days afterward and got too busy to finish.

Anyway, now I want the matching wallet. It's pretty awesome. Like the purse, it's made of recycled tires. Hooray for eco-chic goodness!

Vlog: Eyelash Extensions

2011-09-25T17:40:00.000-04:00

Review: Darkness Lash Strips

2011-09-16T11:43:00.000-04:00

Remember how I said I was going to get lash exte? Well I am terrified of people with sharp pointy things in front of my eyeballs. Sooo I'm gonna go ahead and stick with strips.

Unfortunately, I bought these Darkness #4 lash strips. They suck. Is that overly blunt? Ah well. Let's try again.

Pros
Light-weight
Long enough for my big eyes

Cons
Sharp and pokey at the ends
"Stiff as hell" is an understatement
Curling is next to impossible

I did a video review, but it wasn't so awesome. Nope. My whole video was dark. Next time, I'm not using my webcam. But I digress.

I tried rolling the lashes around my pinky ti give them some curve. IT helped, but not much. When applied, the ends were poking my eyes. That was an itchy nightmare of doom. Aside from that, they were also a real hassle to curl. I only got one bend out of them before calling it quits. That's ridiculous.

At first glance, these are pretty falsies. Yay doll eyes, right? Wrong! Don't be fooled.

See. It looks like I'm not wearing lashes.

Life After MAC

2011-09-08T08:04:00.000-04:00

I'm bitter about my job moving me from the King of Prussia area to the airport area of the city. Why? Many reasons, but one major gripe is that I can no longer go to a MAC store on my lunch break. I feel silly ordering online when there are like 4 stores in a 20mi radius. I just never have time. I work an hour from home and rush hour traffic means I'd never get there before closing. That leaves my over-booked weekends. Blah. I'm in desperate need of more Viva Glam VI lipstick. I also want to try out another lipstick -- Viva Glam III. I think it could work. My other reason to go would be that I'll need another Studio Fix Foundation (powder) compact. It's the one foundation I've found that perfectly matched my skin tone in pressed powder form. There are close alternatives, but none in pressed powder. T_T

Anyway, Maybelline has a nudes collection in drugstores. I found two that look good on me. Rum Riche is a little too coral, or maybe just a little too bright. The other color is probably the most nude nude I've ever tried. It's called Bean There and the brown is a pretty good match for my skin tone. I was amazed. I've never experienced that before. I typically use mauvey colours because pinky brown looks good on my. Now, I have more options. Yay. I'd given up on drugstore brands before, but lately I've been more flexible. Things have improved!

Healthier Relaxed Hair is Possible

2011-09-05T09:58:00.000-04:00

Hello world!
I've mentioned my shampoo & conditioner switch before, but now I'm raving again. I've been using the John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioners for the past couple/few months now. I must say my hair is happier for it. I had my hair relaxed when I the bangs were cut, and I was really worried about my hair's health. I'm pleased to say this stuff has helped. My hair is still dry, but nowhere near as dry as it used to be. I have much less breakage, but still a little. I'm sure that sounds lackluster, but I can't stress enough that these products have helped a lot. It's amazing. My hair is soft, shiny, and full of body.

Here's a fine example of just how shiny (not greasy) my hair is now.

That crappy photo doesn't do it justice, but at least it was taken with a real camera. My hair was just washed, dried, and curled (by flat iron). Aside from the years when I avoided relaxers and colorants, this is the healthiest it's been in a long time. It's definitely the healthiest it's ever been while relaxed. Yay.

For reference: John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioners are available for about $8 each at drugstores, as well as online via Amazon, etc.

As always, no one paid me a single cent for this post, but it'd be nice if they would!

Gyaru Goals

2011-09-04T16:28:00.002-04:00

Howdy! I've been feeling like I should re-evaluate my life in all aspects. I've decided to post about my gyaru-relevant aspirations instead of boring you with my work, school, and familial pursuits.

My Top 10 Gyaru Goals:

1. Stop cutting my hair every time I get bored with it.

2. Lose more and more weight until I feel like Xena, and fit into Japanese sizes.

3. Improve my highlighting and contouring.

4. Be more adventurous by wearing MORE COLOURS.

5. Show off my awesome legs by amassing a stunning collection of stockings, tights, and thigh highs.

6. Get lash extensions and keep getting them.

7. Learn to do more 3-D nail art.

8. Be gyaru and stick with it. Consistency is key to development.

9. Find a pair of comfortable color contact lenses, but never the enlarged kind.

10. STICK TO MY BUDGET!!! Irresponsibility is not sexy.

One bonus goal is to be a little more social with the gyaru community. I'd love to check out others' goals. The other is to successfully complete the Couch to 5k workout plan. I've never been into running for no reason. Running had to be a part of something else: freeze tag, kickball, playing ninja, escaping zombies. You get it. C25k will help me shed pounds, increase stamina/endurance, and build better bone health. The only downside is that I'm clumsy as hell and will probably trip over my feet a million times in the beginning. Ah well. It is what it is. I will start on the treadmill since I have a gym membership. Once I'm more comfortable running while chunky (with onlookers), I'll take to the streets of suburbia.

So share your goals. Stick to them. Let's motivate ourselves and each other!

2011-08-29T10:02:00.001-04:00

I've been working out more than this, but don't log it all. Maybe I should. I read in a few reports that just exercising once per day isn't good enough if you work a desk job. So I take a couple of 15 minute breaks per day to practice belly dancing transitions and yoga. Hopefully this helps.

I actually enjoy working out. I just don't like to do it alone. I need to be out and about. That's actually funny to me and my offline friends because I hate sweating and REALLY hate for others to see me sweat. If at home, I need to be in my dance space for exercise. It's all comfy there. This is helpful since my goal is to workout just about every day. I take Sundays off whenever possible, but last Sunday we went to the zoo and walked for 2+ hours. Yesterday was dance class and we ran overtime, which ended up as 1.5hrs of intense belly dancing. The balls of my feet are still sore!

So all this working out better pay off. I don't just wanna feel the difference. I wanna see it. I would like to see that angle in my jawline and be pointier like I used to be. I just don't want to have a bony face. Luckily I don't think that will happen. Sidenote: I love Flight of the Conchords. Anyway, I'm glad I have more exercise buddies. It helps. Yay motivation. I'll be ordering from YesStyle and AsiaJam in no time!

L'oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara, Carbon Black

2011-08-28T16:58:00.000-04:00

Woo Hoo. I'm a big fan of this stuff. It doesn't make my lashes look like falsies (as you can see), but it feels good. I don't get flakes in my eyeballs at the end of the night. It doesn't come off easily, but it isn't a beast to take off. L'Oreal did something right with their formula. And the little spiky ball applicator is nice. Not awesome, but nice. My main rave about Telescopic Explosion is the formula. I rub my eyes a lot, but there are no flakes or smudges. Also, my lashes feel soft. They're not stiff and gross. I've had other mascaras that were great (especially by Clinique and Maybelline), but this is a nice addition to the arsenal. This is my new favorite for when my eyes are being super sensative and I can't wear much eye make-up.

Here's a peek at what it did for my medium-long, but sparse lashes:

One coat.

My NEW Straight Hair Routine

2011-08-15T12:46:00.002-04:00

This post is long overdue. I upgraded my styling tools from Farouk's Biosilk line to the BabylissPro brand. I'm not sure what other people's qualifications for the term "upgrade" are, but it used to take me 2+ hours to get my hair straight. Now it takes 30 minutes to blow dry and style.

Here's what I typically use to get my hair straight.
- BabylissPro Nano Titanium Profino Hair Dryer
- BabylissPro Diamond Titanium Flat Iron (not pictured)
-Conair Brush (nothing fancy about it)
- John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Restoring Smoothing Lotion

Now truth be told, I use other products as well. But the reason is more about scent than anything else. I love to make sure my hair smells great, but I need the smell of my hair to complement my body's scent as well.

Back to straightening. It takes me 6-8 minutes to dry my hair. Need I repeat that? It's a glorious thing. When drying is done, my hair is soft and shiny, with tremendous body. The only reason I use the flat iron is to super smooth my ends. The plus to using the iron is that my hair gets even softer and shinier. I used to dread washing my hair. It meant I might not feel like straightening it. That meant not doing my "gal curls" Now I'm on a regular straightening routine again. The beauty of it is that there is no increased damage from the heat. I expected there would be, but there isn't. Yay!

Oh yeah, I have bangs again.

Quick Step to Mamaland

2011-08-14T23:47:00.000-04:00

While my husband was off being Mr. Music Man, my son and I had an awesome time playing with puzzles, singing songs about dinosaurs, and being generally nifty. I call this photo 愛かわいい (Ai Kawaii) because, well... duh. My baby bear is super nifty. I think as much as I miss having extra cash to buy random big ticket items, I don't mind spending it on him. He gets on my effin nerves sometimes. Seriously. He can act like a little arse when he doesn't want to do something. But I love him. I just have to train him to not be that way. I have to get my "mom voice" and scare him into behaving. Luckily he's usually a very good boy. He's smart, charming, and playful. And he make my shitty days 10x10 times better.

Vlog Action

2011-08-13T10:32:00.000-04:00

Gyaru Coloring Game Review

2011-07-25T18:02:00.002-04:00

I like to colour. I'm kinda dorky like that. Having a child helps me do this without looking too childish. What else helps? Online colouring games! I found this one from Kawaii Games. I like it for its simplicity. There is just one major negative point: the music. Seriously. I had to mute my laptop. There's only so much pseudo-Nintendo music I can take. Sure you can mute it, but why not just put something pleasant on instead? This song... It's horrid. Luckily the colouring is not.

Find the game here:
http://www.kawaiigames.net/jogar.asp?id=104

The Case of the $5 Primer

2011-07-16T12:03:00.002-04:00

So I've been sick for what feels like ages. Last Monday, I finally went to the doctor because I got conjunctivitis from my sinus infection spreading to my eye. After spending another $60 on prescriptions and nose tissue, I stopped by the make-up aisle. There I came across a display or the Essence of Beauty "Portables" line. I believe EOB is CVS's house brand of make-up and beauty supplies. Anyway, I needed a new face primer so I bought this for $5. It's actually pretty good. It went on like liquid silk. The finish was smooth. When I put on my foundation (MAC StudioFix powder compact) I was thrilled. I used a brush to apply as usual and the coverage was better than I expected. I also ended up using less. So yeah. I'm pleased with this product. Also, the Essence of Beauty line has never let me down.

Big Foot Scores!

2011-07-12T13:35:00.001-04:00

I think I've made it pretty clear in the past that I have huge feet. I won't drive you all crazy by dwelling on that. Let's just smile about the fact that my one evil foot stopped being swollen and now I can wear my awesome new wedges. I never thought I'd find shoes of this strappy style in my size. I even did a happy dance when I ordered them [from Lane Bryant]. It was rad. Such a shame you couldn't see. Someday I'll record it for all the world to see.

I need Adderall. Staying on topic is hard work.

Anyway, these shoes are comfy, but not as comfy as they appeared to be. They are cushy, but mostly on the outer ring, not the middle. I find that odd, but they feel fine. I can wear them for a good while. Here's a side view:

New Bags are LOVE

2011-07-11T12:15:00.001-04:00

FRONT

I got a nifty new purse from Lane Bryant and this is what it looks like from the front. It's deceptively roomy inside. This thing holds a LOT of action. I've used it as a:

purse
gym bag
diaper bag
shopping bag

I'll probably wear it out if I keep all that up, but I like versatility. I think I won't push it by using it for shopping anymore. The bag is sturdy and straps will support the weight of being over-stuffed. I just don't wanna risk it.

BACK

The one thing I hated but am okay with now is the fact that the bag is brown. It's a really dark brown that's almost black. I'm the type of purse-buyer who wants clearly defined colors. If it's brown, make it blatantly brown. Don't make me have to hold it up to the light or next to something black.

On the plus side, it's not overly flashy and looks great with most styles of clothing. Now I want one in black and red. Too bad those models don't exist!

More Couponing

2011-07-10T20:02:00.000-04:00

This doesn't qualify as extreme couponing but it sure is nice! I took a break from work a week or so ago and went to CVS. I spoke with the pharmacist and she recommended Advil Cold & Sinus. She also said the generic (CVS brand) works the same.

Onto the savings:

I signed up for the beauty club via internet and got a $4 coupon. I also had that 3-day 30% off coupon from yesterday. I saved $15 and ended up spending just under $30 for:

3 double-sized boxed of tissue
Cold medicine
Vitamins for SOB
Inspirational/Encouragement card for my mom
John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo (on sale for $2 off)
John Frieda Root Awakening Conditioner (on sale for $2 off)

Those last two were must buy purchases. I'd previously bought the $0.99 travel-sized versions and they worked WONDERS on my hair. I'm hooked. More on that later, though. Can't waste a perfectly good hair post!

OrangeBear

2011-06-27T11:47:00.005-04:00

Do you know OrangeBear? I found it on YesStyle a while ago but never bought anything. I think I will soon. They carry plus sizes bigger that also go well beyond my size. I think I'll order one size up for my first order, just to be safe. It's not like I don't have a sewing machine to make adjustments.

Take this 2-fer for example. Good luck trying to find this in my size locally. It just oozes "comfy" all over the place, too. I am on a shopping break for the next month maybe (personal goal of self-budgeting). I may not be splurging anytime soon, but I'll be getting this top sooner than later. Now that I know my dress code at work is stupid, I'll be dressing more casually.

(Seriously. You can't wear flip flops, but you can wear sweat pants/shirts. According to the "non-slip soles" for footwear, I could rock slippers to work if I wanted. What sense does that make?)

Anyway, I want that top and many others. The end. Now, eye candy:

*All photos from YesStyle.com

Note to all my fellow big gals: Just because they make it in your size doesn't mean it's flattering and you should wear it. DRESS FOR YOUR SHAPE!

Extreme Couponing

2011-06-24T11:45:00.000-04:00

Dress was originally $60.
Brown shrug from Dots
for < $20

Did I tell you guys about my AWESOME Lane Bryant experience a week ago? No? Oh it's on.

So I ordered some bras and shoes from LB and had them delivered to the store. When I went to pick them up, I bought the dress in the photo to the left, sexy time gear (aka matching bra and panties) and some scented lotion with a matching spray (BOGO 1/2 off). Well I forgot my Real Woman Dollars, but the lady told me I could bring the receipt back to apply them later. In the meantime, I got $10 off my in-store purchase because when you order online and ship to store, LB includes a $10 off $50 coupon in the pick-up confirmation email. Stay with me here, people.

So I did as instructed and brought back the receipt and real woman dollars. I also got two cool rings (BOGO 1/2 off!) and a black patent faux-crocigator purse. I'll share a photo of the bag when I do an updated "What's in Your Bag" post. Shall we get back on topic?

Since I've become a far more savvy shopper, I ended up getting $278 worth of awesome for ... FREE!!!
Aaaaaaand they ended up putting $41 back on my card.
Aaaaaaand I got another coupon for $25, $50, or $75 off (depending on how much you spend). I've already used it to buy more awesome stuff. I had these things shipped to store (BTW, that's free) and have another $10 off $50 coupon to use if I want. I suppose I'll post on that separately for the tl;dr people.

Here are the rings I got.

Lipstick Meme

2011-06-23T10:42:00.000-04:00

I saw this on NANCAKES's blog so I stole it. Yep. Taggin myself here, people.

1. When you were a child, did you use your mother's lipsticks?

Nope. She doesn't wear make up. I used to use my aunt's red lipstick though.

2. How old were you when you bought your first lipstick?

Probably 11 and I remember getting smacked for wearing it outside the house. (I forgot to wipe it off before I got home)

3. Pink or red lipstick?

Mauve. I guess that's more of a pinky-brown and it's my kinda nude.

4. The most expensive lipstick you have ever bought?

Mac Cremesheen in Looks Like Sin.

5. And the cheapest?

My NYX Round Lipsticks which were <$2.

6. What's the most bizarre thing you have ever done with a lipstick?

I've put it on like all over my mouth and smeared it a la mental patient for a photo.

7. If you had to recommend a lipstick, which brand would you recommend and why?

I'd also recommend MAC, but specifically the lustre and creme lipsticks. They feel soooo good and don't dry your lips out.

Now I will tag 5 people (because why not):

Chaudie
Aranza
Robin
FriFri
Tiffany
Naka

Language Overload

2011-06-20T10:38:00.000-04:00

Today I thought about it. I speak a little bit of a few languages but am only fluent in English. This sucks. I need to stop getting bored. I'm currently learning Korean because it's VERY useful where I live. Before that, I took 2 semesters of Japanese in college, 2 years or Spanish in high school, and learned enough German to understand what all the industrial and EBM songs I love are about. I'm now finding it would be helpful to learn a little Finnish because Google can only translate but so well. I just don't have the brain space left right now! Korean is really taking it's toll on my noggin. I'll keep at it though. Fighting! That's the phrase that pays apparently.

Matching is AWESOME

2011-06-19T23:26:00.000-04:00

I meant to post this a while back but... stuff happened. So here I am, posting now. Better late than never as they say. They being people. Blah blah blah.

So I started doing my own gels a while ago and tend to start simple (like in the picture) and maybe add designs with stickers, rhinestones, and konad plates a few days later. Why? Because I have this really, really bad habit of doing my nails around midnight. But no biggy. I like taking a little more time to think of which design to use.

For reference, this nail color is Harmony Gelish UV Soak-off polish in "Exhale" and I bought it from Amazon for like $11. As for the lipgloss, I can't remember the shade but it was cheap N.Y.C. brand and I think it came from Target. There are only a few shades so this is easy to pick if you want it. It's really shiny and sticky though. I was just desperate for a nude gloss. The lip plumping effects aren't noticable on me. I have full lips but I buy plumpers because the masochist in me loves the tingling/burning sensation. Yeah, I'm weird.

It sucks that I've been unable to type with long nails. They just get in the way. So I keep them short. No biggy to me, but it's oh-so-ungyaru. LOL like I give a fart. Anyway, just thought I'd share.

2011-06-03T12:22:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty sure these earrings wanna be in my ears. They're SO me. I can't stress enough how much I LOVE "ethnic" jewelry and natural materials. Those little wooden beads are so cute! I never wear hoops because they're so dull, but these have pizazz. Yep. I said it. PIZAZZ. And the bracelet is simple, chic, and Earth Mama classy. The ring is very, very simple. I think that's what makes it the perfect finisher. I shall be purchasing them now.

Quickie, Anyone?

2011-06-02T15:53:00.000-04:00

Why is Payless torturing me with BOGO 1/2 off?!

I think I've made it very clear that I have ~~big~~ huge feet. Well my pickins are slim and my sources are typically Lane Bryant, Payless, Torrid and DomShoes.com. I think I need to get these shoes. I feel like I'd be depriving myself of something awesome. I love retro shoes, but they're never in my size (12, 12W depending on brand). The last pair (denim and brown) are like $50 and I doubt I'd find anything like that for such a low price ever again. WANT.

NEW Stuff Coming

2011-05-16T13:12:00.000-04:00

From Amazon for <$100

So I need a new blow dryer. My Conair dryer is nice and nifty, but I REALLY don't have the patience anymore. It takes too long. The salon I go to uses BaByliss dryers and irons. The process is SO fast. I'm in and out in under an hour if there's no one ahead of me. I leave with silky smooth and shiny tresses. Why? Because of the greatness that is BaByliss (and the skill of the stylist).

I know the technique. Now it's time to upgrade my tools. A while back, I did a post on my BaByliss flat iron (still awesome, BTW). Well I ordered a blow dryer by the same brand from Amazon and it will be here tomorrow. I will gladly post a product review at that time, but I'm confident it will receive 5 stars. My only sad spot is that it's not the matching dryer to my Swarovski crystal-embellished flat iron. I chose this one because it's a bit more powerful. I figure it's better to have stronger than prettier because 20min drying vs. 1hr is definitely FTW.

Money Disappears Quickly

2011-05-11T10:54:00.000-04:00

So my little $5k of Wheel of Fortune money is all used up for grown up schiesse. Seriously. I bought a new laptop for myself because my eyesight is getting bad from using my iPhone, Aria and netbook. When it comes to screens, BIGGER is certainly better. I bought my husband a Bluetooth receiver/speaker thingy for his car so he doesn't get ticketed for cell phone use whilst driving. I also got him a grill set since he loves too cook our dinner on the grill almost every night. Side note: Veggie burgers taste best via grill, as does corn. I bought our mothers really pretty mama's day keepsake photo boxes filled with chocolate goodies. I got our son a ridiculous abundance of pull-ups, veggie squeezers, yogurt bites, summer clothes, surf clothes, and something else I can't remember.

I ordered this 36 watt UV lamp via Amazon.

Lastly, after much thought, I bought myself a UV gel dryer and basic supplies & colours so I won't have to go to the salon ever again. Bonus: friends want to pay me to do their nails already and this just solidifies things. I'm all about saving money.

After these purchases, the remaining money goes to nothing but bills and home-improvement. Our trees really need to be pruned, chopped and generally cared for so we have to hire someone. There are some small electrical projects we have to hire out as well. We will have to wait on upgrading the kitchen appliances, but that's not a huge deal.
I will say this: I wish I won $50k, but $5k is better than nothing!

Domestic Goddess?

2011-05-07T22:28:00.000-04:00

In other news, My garden is awesome and I love all the spring colors in our yard and lawn. These are some pretties along the driveway by the garage. I'd love to take credit for them, but this is the work of Ms. Marie Serpico. May she rest in peace, surrounded by flowers. The woman knew how to work a garden. We've got rhododendron, forsythia, tulips, hostas, lily of the valley, and a bunch of stuff I can't name. There are quite a few plants and flowers that I didn't have to plant. For that I thank her.

On the other hand, Mothers' Day is Sunday and I'll be planting some things to bloom in late summer and autumn. Unfortunately the veggies will have to wait, as will my lavender and sage garden. We have to rip out an assload of ivy. That's one thing I could kick her for. It'll take over the yard if we don't do something soon. ~_~ That would suck.

Low-Key Nail Art

2011-05-05T23:02:00.000-04:00

My friend Meghan came to visit and I thought it'd be fun to paint her long skinny fingernails. I used OPI "Friar Friar Pants on Fire" (2 coats) with the standard black Konad polish and Plate #?. The clear rhinestones were a fun addition for texture. We've decided we need to have a picnic and paint each other's nails. It should be a fun adventure. That's how we roll.

Soooo Yeah.

2011-05-04T12:08:00.000-04:00

My nails are definitely too short to be considered "gyaru neiru" but I'm gonna go ahead and say, "So What?!" a la Tyra Banks. I'm typing almost non-stop for 8hrs per day and I've decided my old long nail look had to go. So I'm all about short gel manicures. This particular set is SUPER sparkly. I'll have to use my real camera to do it justice.

Since I still have all my nail art and Konad supplies, I'll have to add my own flair to this nail set. I like the idea of adding some star-shaped rhinestones and pearls to it. I just have to squeeze it in before midnight. (That's my new bedtime lol. No more Insomnia Avy) I think the next step is to invest in a UV dryer and some gel polish. The investment is worth it. I get to change my nails as often as I like without budget-busting. I'm sure it's the smarter option. Plus: New Skill!!! Because believe me when I say I suck at shaping acrylic-- even for just a refill. Time to look around Amazon and eBay.

Mein Körper ist Wütend

2011-05-01T09:59:00.015-04:00

Oh so get this: now that I log every single thing I eat and exercise even more, my body is rebelling. It's like, "Bitch you're fat., Stop tryin to overwork me like you're still Xena-sized." Srsly?! I actually gained weight. My friend Igor thinks it's because I am gaining more muscle weight and not burning enough fat. That could be true since I do more weight & resistance training (Planet Fitness and Bowflex).

I suppose the suppose now would be to do 30min of hard cardio every day-- except Tuesday and Saturday, which are belly dancing days. Sunday shall be sleepy day. It is written! I'll still weights (Mon., Wed., Friday), but I'll have to con David into going to the gym with me as my guest on those days instead of bowflexing.

A plan. I has one. Woo hoo.

Hola! Miren a mi Zapatos!

2011-04-29T11:57:00.000-04:00

"Have you seen this? Have you heard about this?" Ah, Mr. Leno is pretty irrelevent here but I'm in a wonky mood. Work is so insanely busy that I bare have time to slack off.

Onto shoes... It's hot as balls out here. I'm looking forward to pedicures and summer heels. Like this take on the gladiator. It's from Lane Bryant because they carry my size in sexy. I find myself buying most of my shoes from there lately. Shoes like these are great, as are boots, but their flats don't last as long as I'd like.

Not that it matters-- my feet are swollen like when I was pregnant. No, I'm not preggo again. Thanks, Big Guy!

Anyway, dems da shoes.

Accessorize!

2011-04-04T09:50:00.001-04:00

I was at Lane Bryant paying my credit card bill and spotted this lovely purse ON SALE. I was so happy, I had to buy it. Beyond that, I had a coupon and the savings were incredible. Can I just say, I love bags? I don't have as many as I used to, but the pull is still there. I love this one. It fits so much. The straps could be a little stronger but all-in-all I'm very pleased. It's so me.

XOXO,
Me (*^_^*）

Meet Ekstasis

2011-03-26T14:18:00.000-04:00

It's me and my troupe. Woo hoo. Just me and troupe. Just me and troupe. Just me and troupe.
( I was channeling Tupac there. Sorry.)

Anyway, we have to get our arses in gear with choreography. There's a hafla coming up and the one newest sloooooow song is in dire need of moves.

Oh AND we're seeing Beats Antique on 4/20-- which is AWESOME because our first piece ever was/is to their song, "Beauty Beats."

Anyway, this is us. Belly dancing is love... and weight-loss motivation-- even moreso than gyaru fashion.

Samples are Loved!

2011-03-13T17:10:00.000-04:00

Pretty decently sized, eh?

So I went to Lord & Taylor to get another bottle of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel and came out with a bunch of unexpected samples. Two of my favorites are the High Impact Mascara and the Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in #05 Rock Violet. I swear this shade can work for every complexion.

Anyway, the products are both great in coverage and long lasting. That's pretty important to most of us, right? Also, they really do help in making a 5 minute face that pops. Couple with some eyeliner (I use MAC fluidline gel liner) and all is well. Crease contour is optional, but I find myself doing it often (with MAC eyeshadow color Embark). I chose to stick with just the Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in the photo below.

Blurry, but you get the point!

Success!

2011-03-10T11:37:00.000-05:00

I've been dieting and exercising regularly. Before I would stop and start and just be generally inconsistent. Well now I'm happy that I'm hanging in there. I've lost 5 pounds in the past month and kept it off so hopefully I can do the same or better in the next 30 days.

I know it's vain, but I'm mostly losing weight for fashion. It's just easier to shop when you're smaller-- and cheaper! Blah blah blah. I've got the whole sexy secretary fashion going for me lately. LOTS of cute stockings/nylons/tights (whatever they call 'em wherever you are). Por ejémpo, today I'm wearing a purple cap-cleeved button-up top with a black spaghetti-strapped cami (no lace ~.~ I fail). I have a black pinstriped pencil skirt on and the combo is really figure flattering. I'm busty and have nice legs, but I'm lacking in booty so skirts look better on me than pants. I have these great floral lace stockings on and they work surprisingly well with the ensemble. I will post a photo to my Twitter or something later. My shoes for today are nothing special. Couldn't find my black slingbacks! In the meantime, here are my lacy legs!

I got them from Lane Bryant for $18

I Love Hmart

2011-02-19T20:29:00.001-05:00

So I live near what I dub "Little Korea." It's like I'm in it actually... and I'm not complaining. Why?
• Korean BBQ
• Video stores full of Asian movies and dramas.
• Hmart

I went there today for boba tea straws and left with everything BUT what I needed. Luckily I found this nifty shampoo. It smells soooo good. I'm gonna use it tonight. I'm so excited! I got other goodies, too. More on those later.

XOXO,
Me (*^_^*）

Oh I Can Shop

2011-02-16T08:26:00.000-05:00

But I can also save some moolah. I get coupon codes like crazy. Por ejempo:

Order Summary:

Merchandise:

$231.30

Shipping & Handling:

$13.00

order discount:

-$93.47

Sales Tax:

$1.32

Order Total:

$152.15

New Home Update

2011-02-01T09:42:00.000-05:00

This is what our dining room is going to look like. We have been ripping up carpet since Friday. Unfortunately, it's hard to do it with a 2 year old running around. Luckily, we have been able to get help watching him while we work. So far, Xavier's room, the office/guest room, the living & dining rooms, and the 1st floor hallway have all been painted.

The house had carpet in every room-- literally. LITERALLY. All the carpet was ripped out first, so we have to install quarter round. There were little staples all over the place. It was so frustrating. Luckily the hardwood floors are beautiful and worth the effort..

So here are some photos of what the house looks like now. The before photos are in this old post. We did a lot, but no major wall-bashing demo or anything like that.


We still need to bring his real bed & the ABC rug over. We must unpack the rest of his awesome toys & books.

Ignore that TV tray. I have my eye on a nice accent table.
That little lamp will be gone along with it.

Next up: crown molding and wainscoting.

Yaseru Kongo

2011-01-27T17:43:00.000-05:00

Hey Gals!

I am happy to say I’m losing weight. I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m hanging in there and working hard. It’s not so hard to eat well. I do that all day. My weakness is working out at home since I don’t have a gym membership (yet). I get caught up playing with my family and before I know it, I’m yawning. Well lately I’ve been working out every other day. Soon enough I will be working out every day. There is a gym near my new house. It’s $10/mo with no contract. I’m happy about that since all I want to do is use the elliptical machine. I have a finished basement and use it as the dance studio and workout area. I just can’t justify spending a huge wad of cash on an elliptical machine right now. Until I can, I’ll go to Planet Fitness.

As it stands, the clothes I’ve recently purchased are a little looser. I accidently bought some shirts a size too small. I was thinking of exchanging them but now I want to hold onto them. They’d be great motivation. I also have a bunch of clothes from my smaller days that I can't WAIT to wear. Plus my dance wardrobe will increase exponentially.

Anyway. I'm sure I'm not the only motivated person here. Stories welcomed.

Grown Up Stuff vs Gyaru Stuff

2011-01-18T14:09:00.000-05:00

So I'm really happy about my new job. I'm one of three administrative assistants (one is my manager) for a non-profit social services company than has 6 groups homes and 1 emergency shelter for kids. It makes me feel good to finally work for an organization that is making people's lives better.

Anyway, since I was out of work for a while, being a SAHM on a budget meant only ordering my magazines once per season (Happi Nuts, Blenda, I Love Mama, and sometimes Ranzuki). Now that I'm gainfully employed, I can go back to monthly purchasing. I'm pretty happy about that. I still have to spend money on grown up things (my share of the mortgage, taxes, bills, and baby items), but now there will be more money left over for me things. I'll still do nail designs myself, but there will be more consistent trips to the salon in my future.While I can do hair, nails and make-up myself, it's way more relaxing to just pay someone else to do it sometimes. Woo hoo.

And shopping. Oh shopping how I've missed you. My wardrobe has become OL-kei with gyaru finishes. I think I will be better at combining them with more pieces in my arsenal. I'll be posting photos again before you know it!

In the meantime, my lunch break is over. Time to dig back into my mountains upon mountains of paperwork.

XOXO,
Me (*^_^*）

Back at It

2011-01-14T08:05:00.001-05:00

Hey guys. I'm sooo sorry for being MIA. It's been crazy busy here to a seriously tiring degree.
1. New house and renovations
2. New job and lots of training
3. New fitness plan and better nutrition tracking
... And the usual wife/mom stuff

I'm so exhausted. I'm taking public transit to work till I get my own car in a week or two. Dude! My commute is 2 HOURS. Two. Dos. 二. Zwei. It sucks.
When I have my own car it'll be cut in half. But by then my training will likely be over and I'll be in a different location.

Off topic: this girl on the bus is gonna yell at me if I keep looking at her. She just looks like she should be a black model in ranzuki or Happie Nuts. Seriously. She may not know she's ganguro, but she is. I actually think she does know because she is rockin all the right trends-- well save for the floral leggings, but even they were trend in the summer. I just don't like them. She's got the makeup correct though her lipgloss could be a little more neutral. She's got the high boots, fur hat and military coat on. Big accessories and an animal bag.

She reminds me that now that I'm working I can shop, shop, shop without feeling guilty.

Anyway. I will be posting more frequently now that I'm a little more settled in life. Missed you all. Time to read up on what everyone is up to!!!

Shout out to Miss Calia Yang for being sweet (hope your holidays went well)... And to Madiha for winning the giveaway and being awesome.

XOXO,
Me (*^_^*）

Oh, Natsumi!

2010-12-02T11:25:00.001-05:00

Miss Yoshida is fully fierce in this month's Blenda. She's also my short hair inspiration. She's my reminder tha short hair can be gal, too. I'm pretty sure there are some know-it-alls who will disagree but I poke my tongue out at those fools. They're like the people who say straight hair can't be gal. WHATEVER.

Anyway, here is another pic of Natsumi (with Reiko Ide in the background). She reminds me of 1995 here.

Later!

Quickie Post

2010-11-29T01:30:00.000-05:00

Okay guys and dolls.

My giveaway is officially over as of 11:59pm EST Sunday 11/28.

Good luck to all who have entered.

I will contact the winner by Tuesday night at 11:29pm EST via email.

In other news, I want this bag. I think I'll have to get off my arse and order it. I'll be able to do that without feeling guilt because I got the job I interviewed for. The end of 2010 has been great. Wheel of Fortune, the house in Cheltenham, this job, and last but certainly not least...

My mum-in-law is giving me her Audi in about a month!!! It's in great working order and only 4 years old. It's cherry red and lovely, and it'll be my first car. I've always avoided driving and living in the city has made it easy for me to avoid driving. Now I'll be in the burbs and driving far for work. I pretty much have to drive. Why not do it in style?

So I'm really happy. My life is progressing nicely. My luck has been improving and I'm extremely grateful. I mean it's not like I'm poor but we have been on a budget since we had our son. I was laid off (along with 100+ coworkers) only a few months after he was born. I went back to school and learned soap-making. My photography has improved. I've started sewing again. All that is great but now it's time to make some money. I started seriously looking for a job over a year ago but I've been picky out of necessity. I have to make a certain amount or there's no point in working. Full-time child care costs about $210/ week so I can't just take any retail job I can find. I have to have an office job and I prefer benefits. So yay for getting this job. Woo hoo. Good salary, great benefits, great cause. I'll be happy working for a company that helps people.

Late Night Nails

2010-11-25T00:42:00.001-05:00

For some reason I felt the need to do my nails again. I tried using the konad plate for the bow but it was full of fail. I went over it with a thin brush and the same white polish and put a rhinestone in the middle.

I just have to wait until my Konad stamping polishes come (after the holiday). That white will be best. I also ordered the plain black. The place I ordered the Black Gold stamping polish from sent me the wrong size and color. I'm waiting for the correct color fo come for exchange purposes.

I want a Bowflex. Yep. I'm random.

Oh yeah the reddish base color is OPI's Friar Friar Pants on Fire. The black is by Jordana. Blah, blah, blah. Night night.

XOXO,
Me (*^_^*）

Tiny Boots

2010-11-23T16:00:00.000-05:00

Miss Sara Mari (chouzuru) got me thinking about my big feet. Why couldn't they stop growing at size 10? They're really pretty ridonkulous. There are really slim pickings when looking for shoes in a size 12 wide. And it has nothing to do with weight. I wore an 11 wide when I was thin up until the last trimester of my pregnancy. Since then, my right foot has been one whole size up. Grr!

I really want these boots, but I'm 100% certain they don't come in my size. Doesn't that suck? It sucks to be a giant sometimes. I think I could turn some plain boots into a knock-off version of these, but I don't think I have the time nor patience. Ah well. Someone else should have them so I can live vicariously through another.

Dark Nail Art

2010-11-23T00:35:00.001-05:00

So I think this is a good attempt. I've got lots of polish to experiment with and lots of stamping plates to play with. I just need to stock up on the Konad stamping polishes. I'm convinced they will consistently work better. As it stands, I think my Rimmel and OPI polishes works well with it. I just think it'll be best to use the Konad line because they are the thickest. The thicker the better when it comes to stamping.

For this design, I used:

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri... in Mochachino 17.
CQ By Scherer in French White 103
Claire's Nail Polish in Silver Punk (with a separate skinny brush)
Konad Stamping Plate #M56
Star-shaped rhinestones, clear.

I'm actually ready to take it off and do another design. I've got a new obsession! I have another recent nail art to post. It is all basic free-hand. Since I'll finally have some time to myself tomorrow, I will post it then.

Night night!

Budget Gyaru

2010-11-19T01:43:00.000-05:00

So I've purchased some nail art supplies, namely the Konad stamping system. I love Amazon for constantly having great deals. I hate it because it makes shopping way too easy. Anyway, I see lots of nail artistry in my life. We take possession of our new house next Tuesday instead of the 11/28 because we all decided before the holiday is best. We are so happy and excited. We drove by today like creepy little stalkers. We'll need a leaf-blower ASAP. Back on topic though.

We will be pumping so much money into cosmetic changes for the house that I won't be able to manage regular nail salon trips and extensions. This is why I'm glad I know how to handle aesthetics on my own. My hair is cut. I can't believe how fast it grows. I'll trim it again in like 4 weeks and all the dye and damage should be gone for good. I will go back to my natural hair colour for a while, but I think I'll start going to Aveda to have it relaxed every 3-6 months. I don't think that's too bad.

As for my nails, I'm excited because I've looked up a bunch of tutorials and am confident that I'll be able to manage a lot of the styles I've seen. I am moving to a place where the salons are unfamiliar. I might drive 45min (to an hour depending on traffic) back to this neighborhood to get my nails done. I'll have to do it for my hair, so why not my nails? I'll enjoy it. And who knows, maybe I'll do others' nails as well. I know my friend Aysha would love it.

Anyway, here's one nail look I plan to do when the rest of my stuff comes next week:

New Home Countdown!

2010-11-17T14:52:00.000-05:00

Have I told you all I'm moving? We live in a condo right now (which we've outgrown), so I can't wait. It's a great condo for a single person or a couple. Hopefully we can sell it quickly. Either way, we are on our way out.

Only another week and a half to go. I can't wait to be out of this place. This neighborhood is LAME. I'm sick of trashy neighbors. I'm sick of the phrase "youse guys" and the Northeast Philly accent that accompanies it. I don't want my son growing up here. I don't want him growing up where the people litter and don't care about their property. I wasn't raised like that. I also wasn't raised to curse at nor in the presence of my elders. This neighborhood has gone to shit. The schools suck. Crime is on the rise. And I've discovered there are more sex offenders than a little bit. Hell no. We are out.

Our new neighborhood is in the burbs. It's quiet and clean. We have driven through the area tons of times at varying hours. It's always been good. The neighbors are nice. Our new house is a single with a nice front lawn and a big (but not too big) back yard. Xavier loves it. It's not too cold yet so he'll get some use of the yard before the weather gets too frigid.

For documenting purposes, I'll say a bit about the house. It's a colonial built in 1950 and has only had one owner. It's 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathroom. There's a finished basement with two side rooms. One will be my gym and the other will be my soaping room until we can afford to have it converted into another bathroom. We'll move the laundry down there as well since the basement will be kind of a chill room. There's even a built in bar. The downside is all the wood paneling! The bedrooms are all huge. The middle room is gonna be used as an office & sewing room. There's an attic but we haven't been in it. Erik says it's big and clear. The only things we are immediately changing are:

wall colors
ripping up carpet (because there are beautiful hardwood floors underneath
replacing the ugly kitchen counters
replacing the stove, fridge, and microwave

Eventually, we will redo the that tragic pink bathroom. We'll also replace the sink in the powder room (half bath) with a slim pedestal sink. It'll look less crowded. Enough typing.

Here are a few photos of the rooms, yard, and patio:

Final Giveaway Reminder Post

2010-11-17T12:31:00.002-05:00

Don't forget about my 5-+ Followers Giveaway!

Click here to see the rules and enter.

Shopping for Friends

2010-11-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

I made this for my friend because she was convinced skinny jeans weren't in her future. She's not gyaru, just a mama like me. The only difference is that she's already my goal dress size (though I could have sworn she was 2 or 3 sizes smaller). It was fun picking stuff out for her. My main goal was finding skinny jeans for women with hips. I knew she wouldn't want anything low-rise, so I picked the Lola cut (by Lucky Brand). They are mid rise and curvy cut. This is key because she has a tiny waist and hips to envy. Oh and curvy doesn't automatically mean fat,people. She is in no way even close to fat. Also, she's almost my height and the Lola jeans also come in 34" and 36" inseams. Woo hoo.

As for the tops,I'm guessing shes a medium so I just went crazy with stuff from Wet Seal. I wasn't sure she'd love it but she did. Yay! I should be a personal shopper. I know how to shop for people based on shape, personality and lifestyle. I didn't bother with heals because she has a daughter who's not that much older than Xavier and I know she won't have the patience for kid-wranglin in heels.

Avyway, I tried to sneak some gyaru kein in there. That one sweater is Nordic, but that's it. She's not likely to rock leopard print or fur. Those boots are suede but I think it may be fake. She's vegan and I'm not sure if it's just dietary on her end. Better safe than sorry.

For Lacey G. by Avy Fergerrific Caplan featuring ballet shoes

Cable Pattern V-neck Sweater - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal
$13 - wetseal.com
Vneck sweater »

Embroidered Surplus Top - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal
$16 - wetseal.com
Wet Seal tops »

Chambray Pintuck Tie Back Top
$26 - metroparkusa.com
Metro Park tunics »

Boarder Pattern Cardigan - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal
$15 - wetseal.com
Wet Seal cardigans »

Solid Belted Tunic - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal
$6.99 - wetseal.com
Wet Seal tunics »

Lola Skinny Jeans
$80 - luckybrandjeans.com
Denim jeans »

Lola Skinny Jeans
$99 - luckybrandjeans.com
Vintage jeans »

Lola Skinny Jeans
$99 - luckybrandjeans.com
Lucky brand jeans »

Lace overlay ballet flat | Lane Bryant
$27 - lanebryant.com
Ballet shoes »

Faux suede flats with silvertone studs | Lane Bryant
$27 - lanebryant.com
Flats »

Belted Scarf Print Tunic - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal
$16 - wetseal.com
Wet Seal »

Amazon.com: Jester30 Four Buckle Knee-High Flat Boots BLACK: Shoes
$26 - amazon.com

Belted Cowl Neck Swearter - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal
$20 - wetseal.com

Outfit Post

2010-11-12T23:04:00.001-05:00

Outfit posts are good for you. Here are the details:

Sweater : Wet Seal
Tunic : eBay
Jeans : Source of Wisdom (via Torrid)
Belt : Lane Bryant

I would just like to state for the record that, while not 100% to my liking, Lane Bryant has gotten much better at supplying clothes I'd actually wear. I've bought a few things recently that are (of course) more onee than anything else. I could see myself buying a lot of my office attire there. The other great thing is that they have lots of cute sleepy clothes there. It's nice to not have to rely solely on Torrid to have those goods. Also, I love HerRoom.com (for all sizes). The prices are great and you get free shipping for orders over $75. You can also upgrade that free standard shipping to $2 priority shipping. I do that every time because I'm impatient.

Anyway. I'll have to post about my shoes and boots next time. Some of you will learn a thing or two. Trust me.

XOXO,
Me (*^_^*）

Old Video of Awesome Truth

2010-11-10T12:28:00.000-05:00

So we [obviously] took this video a long time ago. I think it was Xavier's first Hanukkah or something. But this video clearly shows how I was slacking in my gyarudom for those first 3 - 6 months. Also, I miss my longer, healthier hair.

How Do I Look?

2010-11-10T09:25:00.002-05:00

Oh yeah, and I chopped my hair.

Do any of you know that show on Style Channel (or is it E!)? I think I'd cry if I ever went on that show. They are so catty and brutal. I would listen to the advice, but the truth is that they'd probably try to take away every bit of gyaru style I have left. I've only got so much to give!

Thank god I'm not on that show. Luckily I have my fellow bloggers who know the struggle-- some of whom are also oneegyaru and understand that once you're past a certain age, more is more. I'll leave the less is more philosophy to the tiny teens and younger adults. I'm somebody's mama now lol.

*On a semi-related note, does anyone remember that old MadTV sketch for Mom Jeans? The slogan was, "Because you're not a woman anymore. You're a mom." The jeans were super high-waisted, baggy in the front with a tapered leg and that light blue color that makes me think of Jordache circa 1992. That will never be me.

EDIT:

Sweater: Lane Bryant

Shirt: Dots (a few years ago but only worn like 2x)

Necklace: Dots

Belt: Lane Bryant

Leggings: Torrid

Belly Dancing Gets

2010-11-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

As I said in my previous post, I'm extremely frustrated with trying to find t-shirt bras. I need to buy one in (black first, then brown) to make into ornate pieces for belly dancing.
I need to send it to the Krishna from Magical Fashions before she goes to India so she can turn it into something like this:

http://magicalfashions.com

Or this:

http://magicalfashions.com

On the plus side, I've already gone and ordered a nifty headband. It's a lot like the one Ariel (one of the girls in my troupe) snatched up at our last hafla. That wench took the only black-based headband available! So this is the one I ordered:

Next a seriously hardcore kuchi belt, but I don't really NEED it right this minute. I have 2 pretty banjara mirror belts. One is has circular mirrors, the other rectangular. I'll dig up photos and post them. I bought them on ebay a while ago. Since I don't have a kuchi belt, I'll be getting this one soon:

Okay. I'm done pic spamming. My next post will be gal-related. I swear!

Industry Fail

2010-11-09T08:19:00.000-05:00

Attention Manufacturers:

Pale people are not the only ones who buy underwear. "Nude" should not mean peachy-beige or tan. For most of the world, nude is some form of brown so get a fucking clue and start making more brown bras!!! And yes, I know my boobs are huge but if you're gonna offer nude in my size offer a nude I can use!

How about this: Nude Light and Nude Dark. Sure some will always complain that one or the other isn't light or dark enough, but at least it'll be close!

And another thing!

Actually that's all I've got. I'm just getting really pissed off while looking for t-shirt bras. I need to buy one specifically for belly dancing... but that's the next post.

REMINDER: 50+ Giveaway

2010-11-08T15:18:00.000-05:00

Don't forget about my 5-+ Followers Giveaway!

Click here to see the rules and enter.

My Hair's Holy Grail List for Straightening

2010-11-02T17:13:00.000-04:00

I wouldn't say I'm a total product junkie, but I do like to try entire lines of hair care products. At one point I bought ALL the Garnier Fructis products for going from curly to straight. My favorite is the Smoothing Milk. I also bought all the CHI products-- and ended up giving most away because they smell like man. I still love the shampoo and conditioner and use them like once per month.

Splurging aside, here is my real group of top hair goodies:

Twice a week, I use Aveda Damage Remedy shampoo & conditioner along with the Aveda Smooth Infusion (which also serves as a heat protector). For the coarse section of my hair, I sometimes use the Aveda Brilliant Universal Styling Creme. These are my holy grail products.

If on a tighter budget, BioInfusion (at Walgreen's) has a decent line of product and the polishing serum is a great alternative. You just have to be your own judge of how much to use based upon your hair type. I can also give my approval for the ApHogee line of products. If you're okay with sulfates, Organic Root Stimulator has great products, too. The conditioner is my favorite and the Olive Oil Hair Lotion is a great moisturizer. Everything from all of these lines has a great smell.

I have super thick hair so I blow-dry in small layers with a round brush using my Conair Infinity Ceramic Tourmaline blow dryer. It does a great job but now I want the BaByliss Pro Diamond blow dryer that matches my new flat iron. After blow drying, I flat iron in small layers to get it silky smooth.

My hair is half damaged from a bad dye job. That section is very porous and fluffs up quickly in high humidity. The Aveda Brilliant USC and the BioInfusion Glossing Serum are great at fighting/blocking the humidity. I have the Aveda Anti-Humectant Pomade and it's okay for my healthy hair, but not for the damaged parts. I just don't bother buying it anymore-- though I may buy a jar when I get my hair chopped short. It gives a great shine which means using less products.

My thick hair absorbs moisture like crazy, yet it dries out easily. How does that make any sense?! I find it altogether annoying, but I'm sure it could be worse.

Circle Lenses Don't Like Me

2010-10-30T00:59:00.000-04:00

Review: Babyliss Pro Diamond Titanium 1" Straightening Iron

2010-10-29T16:24:00.002-04:00

BaByliss (l), BioSilk (r) - You can't really tell
from the photo, but the BaByliss iron is
a little thinner and a lighter weight.

I received the BaByliss Pro Diamond Titanium 1" Straightening Iron for my birthday. Well technically I got an Amazon gift card and used that to buy it. Either way, I absolutely love this iron. I have type 3C and 4A hair (some pinky-sized curls, some kinky) and this iron leaves my coarse hair silky and super shiny. Also, it has Swarovski crystals for kirakira power.

Since I had extensions in 90% of my hair at the time of purchase, I used the flat iron on my friend Andrea. her hair has a natural wave and is dry and damaged at the ends. I think the results are pretty nifty. You can't tell after styling.

Below are a couple of photos of Andrea from when I styled her hair using the BaByliss iron. They're cell phoine pics in crappy lighting, but the purikura post I did a little while back shows her hair in better light with my real camera (Canon 40D).

Mama Gyaru Stuff

2010-10-29T13:08:00.000-04:00

Hey gyaru(o),

I can't wait til my next issue of I Love Mama comes. It'll be sent along with Blenda, but I'm especially excited for ILM. I have a new arrangement with my husband. I've been feeling really unmotivated in all things domestic for the past couple of weeks. Our condo looks a mess. When the association decided all the first floor units (like ours) had storage units which weren't up to code, we had to cram a bunch of stuff into our living space. This is a HUGE part of why I can't wait until we move into the new house. Four more weeks!!! Woo hoo!!!

Anyway, the clutter plus all the traveling and running around I've been doing has really gotten me exhausted. I think it's more mental than physical.

So my husband has helped me with an agenda that's structured but not overwhelming. And yay for grown-up motivation. The agenda also makes time for my exercise. Somehow I lost 7 pounds (3.18kg/.5st ) before going on Wheel of Fortune (I won ~$5,000 but I'm legally not allowed to give details so I'll post on the LA adventure instead... later). I think it was stress weight. For example, all I had time to eat before the day before I went on was a bag of trail mix. That's not healthy. I want to lose weight through exercise. That way, I'll keep muscle mass and not go to a flabby thin state. Muscle tone is sexier in my opinion. Hail Xena!

Anyway, in my mission to be a true domestic goddess, I'm happy to have found these sites:
http://organizedhome.com
http://www.heartofwisdom.com
http://www.chorebuster.net/
http://www.childzilla.com/

The last two are sign-up sites (free) that can be REALLY helpful. The first two are blogs full of great ideas. For the gyaru without children, Chorebuster is great for room-/house-mates.

Purikura Attack!

2010-10-25T07:33:00.001-04:00

Ignore my lazy katakana. That's a gi not a ki.

50+ Followers Giveaway!

2010-10-23T11:36:00.002-04:00

Too Faced - The Quickie Chronicles "The Future Lovers"
Urban Decay Apocalyptic Nail Kit
Red Cherry Lashes #112
GIVEAWAY ENDS SUNDAY November 28, 2010

Rules

Mandatory

MUST BE A FOLLOWER (duh)
Comment with your email = 1 entry

Extra

+ 2 entries = Post a blog entry devoted to this giveaway (include big image & link), then comment here with link to your blog entry.

+ 1 entry = Follow ShahanaStyle on Twitter and send: "@ShahanaStyle Giveaways are Grrreat!"

+1 entry = Post sidebar image & link to this post in your blog's sidebar, then comment here with link to your blog.

Method

Random number drawing (via randomizer.org). I will contact the winner via e-mail. Winner has 3 days to respond with shipping information else I will repeat the drawing process and contact the new winner. This contest is open to international followers with the exception of Italy. Sorry, Italians. Seriously.

Get Fit, Gyaru!

2010-10-15T22:16:00.001-04:00

Get Fit, Gyaru! by Avy Fergerrific Caplan on Polyvore.com

So one thing I'm really, REALLY excited about with the new house is that we will have a designated mini gym. All it will take is some paint and that roll out rubber gym flooring. This will be in a room off the main area of the basement. I have the images on Facebook but forgot to make a slideshow for the blog. I will do that next, but first I'll type away.

I am the type of woman who's never been satisfied with her body. That stems from being teased for being too skinny, then being over developed at 11, and being taller than every girl I knew and needing a shirt 2 sizes up to fit my boobs into, or having to buy a size up so that bottoms would be long enough... and so on and so forth. So I always perceived myself to be "fat" because I was comparing myself to girls who were 5'4" rockin a B-cup and no muscles. They were what I call skinny-fat. I was a 6ft tall, athletic girl with muscular thighs, broad shoulders and a DD bra. I had little love handles (always have) but I was otherwise just fine.

Now that I actually am fat I'm kicking myself. I'm like, "What was I thinking?!" So it's very important to me that lose this extra weight so I can return to my former Amazonian glory. I was damn near like a comic book character (less Wonder Woman, more Xena).

Thinking in gyaru terms, I'm always gonna be the giant gaijin gyaru. I will never be able to buy gyaru brand clothes because I do NOT want to be a size 4 at all. I would go down to a size 8 at the most and even that is highly unlikely. I'm just not meant to be that small.

Like me, many gyaru aren't supposed to be that small. I don't just mean gaijin. I think what a lot of gyaru (Western especially) forget is that the models in the magazine are not the best representatives of what a gyaru body looks like. I don't think there is one shape to be. If anything, look to the shop staff and gyaru on the street.

Just as it's unhealthy to be too fat, it's not safe to be extra thin either. I have two friends who are short and really thin, but one has high cholesterol and the other never knows when she'll get her period! I may be fat but I don't have any health problems so at least I can be happy about that.

Overall, I eat well but don't get enough exercise. Because of this, haven't lost (or gained) any weight lately. My strength has increased due to push ups. My stamina is still good because of dancing. I'm probably the healthiest fat girl you'll know!

So my desire to lose weight is 85% superficial. I want a bigger selection of clothes. I want better prices. I want to not feel the need to wear a cardi with everything. I love layering but this summer would have been more fun if I was thin lol

Blah blah blah. I'm sleepy!

Small Bear Kitchen

2010-10-15T10:09:00.001-04:00

Small Bear Kitchen by Avy Fergerrific Caplan on Polyvore.com

Apparently Xavier loves to play kitchen at baby school. can't wait to see him do it at home. You'd better believe I'll be recording his first cooking shows with my little Flip Mino camera.

Wheel of Fortune Outfit

2010-10-12T19:22:00.001-04:00

Wheel of Fortune Outfit by Avy Fergerrific Caplan featuring bangle bracelet jewelry

I got these and to where (amongst other things to have in general), but I'd like ideas for bottoms. I have black trousers, but would like to see how a skit and lace stockings would work. That's why I added those shoes. I can't wear a necklace so I like that the top has that bit of bling at the boobs.

There are SO MANY rules about what you can't wear. It's insane. No stripes, plaids, red, small patterns, low-cut tops, dresses, silky fabrics, and jeans... I'm not even really supposed to wear much black. Geez.

We Got the House!

2010-10-12T16:58:00.000-04:00

Remember that big news I was [not]talking about? We'll we went to bid on a house Saturday. It's in a much nicer (cleaner, safer, quieter) town just outside Philly. The property taxes are high but the schools are GREAT and just what we want for Xavier. Speaking of X, he basically loves it as much as Erik and I do. It's perfect for us. The previous owner lived there for like 50 years before she passed away and her brother took care of it for her.

It's in great condition, but has an old lady look in some places. The floors are beautiful (hardwood - maple) but are covered with carpet EVERYWHERE but the bathrooms... yes, even the kitchen lol. The kitchen has these gorgeous oak cabinets with cool details in the carving. The appliances are older and the countertop is this hideous coral formica, but that's it for ugly. All we have to do is paint it the colours we want and upgrade the kitchen. In theory, we could just bring our kitchen appliances, but we want to leave them for when we sell this place. It's easier to sell a property with all the goods. Our condo is great, but too small now that Xavier is a big boy with lots of toys. He needs more room to run.

So the house is 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths with a full finished basement, eat-in kitchen, lg. formal dining room and a big living room with a big fireplace. Also, the front porch and lawn are big, but the back patio and yard are huge. I can have a garden and meditation spot, X can have a playground set, we can get a dog and doghouse and still have room to run around. Also, the garage is perfect for Erik and his band mates to hang out. The basement is perfect for my small belly dancing group AND we could add another bathroom down there if we wanted. Oh and there's a bar down there already. Also, all the bedrooms are huge and the middle room opens out to the roof. We're already set on building a deck up there and making that room our office with a GOOD futon couch for guests. I have a lot of computers and tech stuff so it'll be perfect.

I'm tellin you: 27 is gonna be my year. This great news, plus Wheel of Fortune next week. I'm a happy gal. Seriously. I'm so excited. I see us growing old there. We don't intend to have any more kids either so all should be well in terms of space. It really is the perfect place for us. It's plenty big and perfect for having guests over. We take possession in 30 days and I'm just so excited I could burst!

Wheel of Fortune Shopping!!!

2010-10-12T02:23:00.000-04:00

So my mama-in-law is taking me shopping tomorrow. We're going to Torrid and hopefully no place else. I figured I'd post my ideas now and get some opinions. We're meeting at 11am tomorrow. This is the primary outfit I have in mind. I think I'd put a graphic t-shirt under under the jacket and wear some black booties.

Part of me feels it is too matchy matchy. I could do a plain pencil skirt to tone that down. I'd be happy to wear a dress and blazer but we can't wear dresses... or necklaces. And what's a dress without a necklace? Also, we're not supposed to wear too much black. Bearing that in mind, I've been thinking about what to pair this top with.

I'm thinking I can tuck it into a belted skirt. I know I'm stuck on military. Maybe I should stick to Mode-kei? Also, I need to figure out if these fall trends will spread well into winter. I need magazines! Well I just need a November issue of Blenda. Time to check the pub date charts.

Just a Few Things

2010-10-11T16:20:00.000-04:00

Hey gals,

There have been a number of doins afoot on my end. This weekend was... incredible. I won't mention Saturday because it's still kinda happening. I don't wanna jinx anything. Sunday was great. My grrly Kristen got married and the wedding was great. The reception was even more fun There was a lot going on. The highlight of the night was the ride home. We dropped Tim and the drunk girl off and OMG that girl was sadly hilarious. Being THAT drunk is not cute. Not by a long shot.

There was more to the weekend, but Saturday was the main attraction. If all goes well I will definitely be posting a ridiculously hyper entry tomorrow of Wednesday.

In the meantime, here are some things to expect via this blog:

Review of the BaByliss Pro Diamond Titanium Flat Iron
Other Things I Got for My Birthday
Get Git, Gyaru!
My Hair Straightening Holy Grail
Why I Need an XBOX 360
Purikura Power!

Oh and before I go... OMG!!! Wheel of Fortune is next week!!! I'm so excited.

ラブリブログーサエディション五

2010-10-09T02:12:00.000-04:00

(Lovely Blog-Sa 5th ed.)

Elena posted a fabulous entry full of great shopping links. I immediately ordered a pair of circle lenses and I am seriously considering a few foxtail key chain thingies, but I have to be frugal for my trip T_T No eBay shopping spree.

Lu's gets congrats from me for dropping weight instead of gaining now that she's at university. Yay for her indeed. She also made a great informational post reviewing multiple online shops!

Jou went to Hyper Japan and posted a great photo-filled entry. I love, love, LOVE her make up and corset. Nice work, chica!

Tilde got a new powder foundation and it looks great. I really think powders work best for most people when it comes to photos. Even if using a liquid, set it with a powder and the results are incredible!

Bexie made a great Gal Curls tutorial. It should be very helpful for a those who aren't curl-masters.

Alicia did a cute nail deco and tried out a thicker eyeliner style. Let her know what you think!

Chaudie changed her header and did a really sweet love love post dedicated to her husband.

Fuyume's blog is down (the .net), but it is cached in Google so you should check out the nail art tutorial videos she posted!

Ayame created a group fashion blog and invited me to be a poster. Sweet gal! Check out her post about Pearls of Elegance.

Samei has been posting lots of street snaps, but needs some sort of post-by-post commenting system. (I'm just sayin...)

Tommy got to hang out with some tall, dark and handsome celeb AND she's into fox tail key clippies like moi.

Jenni has been a busy bee. She's posted a bunch of stuff on her Blogger blog and the one I love most is about her recent shopping trip. Those leggings are cuuuuute!

Annna made a nice summer dress fall-friendly and she also got some beautiful new ballet slippers... but she's another one who doesn't have post-by-post commenting :-p booo Very cute log otherwise!

Emy did a crazy post full of clothes, nails and make-up images. I <3 Gal Overload!

NOTE:

I left some gals off who just haven't really been posting. Nothing personal, but better luck next time.

Onee-kei is Sexy!

2010-10-08T17:05:00.000-04:00

IGNORE THE HAIR!

So don't laugh at me, but I'm into grown woman stuff.
What I mean is that when I was younger and into banba and rokku-kei, it was okay to be a little sleazy. Short skirts with visible thigh-highs and garters were great! "Get Wild! Be Sexy!" was the mantra.
Alas, I'm not a club kid anymore. I'm a grown woman who's not old, but is certainly no longer barely legal. Sexy had to evolve. I'm into tight pencil skirts and kitten heels with sheer secretary tops (and camisoles). They're the new mini-skirt and halter.

Taking these things into consideration, I'm very happy Fall is here. I love wearing thigh-highs and garter belts, but I no longer let it be obvious that I'm wearing them. If I do, that's because it's time for grown folks business. ^_^

Do You Like the Scarf Look?

2010-10-06T15:51:00.000-04:00

I am bored with my hair already. It's only been like 2 weeks!Oh well. I have been thinking of ways to play with scarves and came across these scans from September's issue of Jelly. I hope these will be of use to some of you gals out there. I'd love to see how others rock their scarves. It's also nice to see how the scarves are worked into different coordinates. Here's a little inspiration!

Avy Wants

2010-10-06T10:59:00.000-04:00

XCVI, $208 @ Bloomingdale's

Howdy, ladies and gents. I seriously love online window shopping (wishlisting). It's so much more calming than going to shops and wading through the masses of extremely SLOW-moving purveyors.

This jacket is a fine example. I think I need it in my life. I really just don't need it. I try to be practical. Setting practicality aside, it's obvious this jacket needs to be on me. I think it has a bit of a military. Those buttons really do it for me. My only concern is that it may be a little short on my long torso.

Next up is this lovely furball of a purse by Marc Jacobs. I know it looks a wee bit ridonculous but I want it. It would be fun to pair it with a fur-trimmed trapper hat. I have a couple of those on my Bloomy's wishlist as well. My main problem with this purse is that it makes me feel guilty for whatever creature it's made of. I think I'm more likely to buy a faux fur knock-off of it and sleep well at night.

Marc Jacobs, $498 @ Bloomingdale's

The funny thing about my dealings in fur, leather, and skins is that I try to find alternatives but will wear the real deal if none are available and I really want the item. I don't feel that way about this bag. It's fun, but not OMGgonnaDIEifIdontgetit!!1!!one!

Anyway, I have to buy something new to wear for Wheel of Fortune. There are so many rules for things you can't wear. It's crazy. I'm gonna try to not look dull, but they're not giving me much to work with. I'll try to post the info they gave me when Erik brings my camera back home. I let him borrow it for his band and now I'm all stressin over it like it's this super-magical-million-dollar-panda-baby. Yep. Like that.

Shopping for the Chunky Gal

2010-10-04T17:39:00.000-04:00

Calvin Klein, $139 @ Bloomingdale's

I happen to be a BIG fan of Torrid, but sometimes I want a more chic look. Sometimes a high brand is in order, or just a brand not carried there. I've been looking for work and lately and feel it's time to really step things up a notch if I temporarily go the way of legal/executive secretarial work.

Some of you know I'm an Education major now. That's a completely change from the field in which I used to work. I'm pretty much sick of making rich people richer. I want a career where I'm contributing to the betterment of society. Yes, I know how corny that reads.

Anyway, I always think of high brands as not carrying plus sizes. I was wrong. Some of them do-- and well. The dress pictured is a fine example. It's so basic. That's a good thing. Imagine the possibilities of dressing it up with great jewelry, hot shoes, a classy clutch and sexy hair! This is the type of dress that transfers well from office to happy hour to dinner & drinks. It's all about accessories. And while it looks long, on me it would be a few inches shorter because of my height. Even if it was long on me like everyone else, that's what sewing machines are for: hem, hem, hem! For a bit of fun (cocktails?) the second dress is a must, but an obvious don't for the office.

Tadashi Shoji, $368 @ Bloomingdale's

Here is a handy list I found at Real Simple whilst looking up sheath dresses.
Calvin Klein, 14W to 24W, bloomingdales.com.

David Meister, 14W to 24W, davidmeister.com.

Donna Ricco, 14W to 22W, donnaricco.com.

Lafayette 148, 14W to 24W, lafayette148.com.

Talbots, 12W to 24W, talbots.com.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2010-10-03T02:21:00.000-04:00

Today is my 27th birthday and it's going to be spent in a super geeky manor. I need to go to sleep now so I have energy for it all. I celebrate my birthday all weekend (cuz I'm that kinda gal). Saturday was belly dancing, BBQ lunch at Sweet Lucy's, a long walk and run around at the park with my son, hubby, and friend. We burned those calories right off! We headed to Babies R' Us to get some things for Xavier before going home. After getting him to sleep, Erik and I watched The Blind Side and it was nice. I love mushy movies like that--esp. when they involve sports.

Anyway, tomorrow is horror movie fest. I get to make Erik watch these movies since it's my bithday. Also, no diapers for me. We plan to go to the park again-- but with a tent. Let's hope it's allowed!

Night night!

Nail Deco... Success?

2010-10-01T15:30:00.000-04:00

So I did my nails today and I think I did a pretty decent job. I made some mistakes, but overall I'm happy. I used the Fashion Diva nail art stickers by Boardwalk Nails. For polish I chose to just use one colour: Sexy Silhouette (#223) by China Glaze. It's my favorite pink.

Anyway, I have a bunch of rhinestones but couldn't find my tweezers. I managed to do the stickers without much trouble, but those tiny stones require tweezers! Used Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No-Chip nail polish in Clear as a top coat. We'll see if this nail set holds up at least until my birthday, at which time I will get a full set [of fake nails] done. It shall be EPIC.

Sleepy Mama-Gyaru Stuff

2010-10-01T10:47:00.000-04:00

I'm soooo sleepy! I have to stop going to bed at 3am - 4am knowing I have to get up and be hyper mom at 7am. Luckily Xavier let me sleep til 8am. I had coffee and we both had cereal while watching Team Umizumi. I seriously LOVE that show. Then we saw Jack's Big Music Show which is always great. I'm really a big kid and love these shows. I watch them when Xavier is at baby-school, too. That's twice per week. Speaking of baby-school...

My baby boy! He's been 2 years old since 9/15 but he looks so much older to me.

I've been so hyper about him that I've forgotten that my own birthday is this SUNDAY. I'll finally be 27. I say "finally" because all year I've been telling people I'm 27, not as a joke or anything. I honestly keep thinking I'm 27. It's a good number: 9x9x9 = 27; √9 = 3; and 3 Oh it's the magic numberrrrrr. Yeah I'm a weird, slightly superstitious, geek. But seriously, due to a number of things unfolding in my personal/offline life, I'm confident 27 is going to be awesome.

I'm already convinced I'll need to get fake nails again for my birthday. I'm gonna polish and deco them today when Xavier takes his nap. If they look good (and maybe even if they don't), I will post photos. I've been meaning to try my hand at nail art more often than I have. Go big or go home.

Now, it's time for another dance party (read: fun exercise) with Mr. Small Bear! Motherhood = happiness.

Wheel of FORTUNE!

2010-09-30T20:49:00.001-04:00

Guess who is gonna be on Wheel of Fortune?
Yep.
ME!!!

Some of you know I auditioned in NYC a few months ago. I received my acceptance letter a month after that. Well yesterday, I got the call with my tape date. I will be flying to LA on Wednesday 10/20 and taping the next day. I have to get to the studio bright and early at 7:45. Get this: my taping will air in December so I have to dress as if it were winter. Time to break out the magazines and scans. I can't wear a dress because it's bad for putting on the battery pack. I'm thinking I'll do a skinny jeans- woven top- cute blazer/cardi combo with strong jewelry. I want to do a nice multi-chain necklace. I can't wear pinstripes or small patterns because of something about wiggly video. I forget what she said. All the info will come via FedEx next week.

Anyway, who lives in/near LA? I have to stay there for 2 nights. My friend Kat lives in town and she called dibs on me for the night before taping. I can be more flexible after.

XOXO,
Me (*^_^*）

Nike Trainer

2010-09-29T00:39:00.001-04:00

Fur Craze!

2010-09-28T13:22:00.000-04:00

I seriously want this furry mimi-hat. The super long scarfy straps are so over-the-top I need this hat for sure ^_^

Image Source: Cherry Pop

Blog Awards 2nd Edition

2010-09-27T11:51:00.000-04:00

Thanks again to Miss Calia Yang. She also gave me the "A Blog With Substance" award. This makes my heart feel super happy! ^_^

To accept the award I must do the following:

1. Thank the blogger who gave me the award Done!

2. Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using five words.
Have fun honing your style.

3. Pass this on to 10 other bloggers that you feel have a substance in their blogs.

Here we go:

Die Dokument

2010-09-27T11:46:00.000-04:00

Hans: Was ist das, Gert?

Gert: Die Dokument.

Hans: Die...Dokument? hmm...(pulls out a revolver)

Gert: Nein, Hans! Bitte! Nicht shiessen! Die Dokument ist gut!

Hans: Ist gut? Lassen sie mich sehen.

Gert: (hands it to him)

Hans: Haha Dumme schlampe. (shoots Gert in the face and flees the scene on a purple Vespa)

Blog Awards 1st Edition

2010-09-27T09:44:00.000-04:00

I have been lucky enough to be awarded th One Lovely Blog award from Miss Calia Yang. Thanks, chica! Who doesn't like to be told she's doing a good job?!

To accept the award I must do the following:

1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
Done: Miss Calia Yang

2. Pay it forward to 15* other bloggers that you have newly discovered. Leave comments to let them know they got an award from you!
*I think that 15 is a typo so I did 5 instead

1. Pink Dolly
2. Bec's Beauty Buzz
3. Hershley's Sweet Kiss Message
4. Naka's Net
5. Samei

Drunk Attack

2010-09-26T15:08:00.000-04:00

Good ~~Morning~~ Afternoon!
I'm working on my awards posts so I will leave you with this video-- which is completely unedited, contains T.M.I. and has weird spots. I have no shame. Enjoy!

Sewing Meme

2010-09-22T16:51:00.000-04:00

I saw this sewing machine meme over at Sew, Mama, Sew! and I figured I'd do it. Some of you reading this are crafty so maybe you'll play along.

What brand and model do you have?
Kenmore Drop-In Bobbin Sewing Machine - Model #18221 (available at Sears)

How long have you had it?
I've had this machine for less than a year. I bought it as an upgrade from my Brother.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
$179, but it it also on sale for $129 - 159 every time there's a holiday.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
I make skirts, belly dancing related pieces, and stupid stuffed monsters &
stuff for my son.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
I go weeks without sewing then sew like crazy for like a week.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
My machine is the shiz and I love it. It does SO much more than I need it to and that's awesome. I have a lot of room to grow with it.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?
It's a beast and works really well with thick & difficult fabric. The button-hole maker thingy is a 1-step process. The serger function is great as well.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
I bought a Distinctive [brand] ruffler foot but it isn't working as it should. That's probably my faildom.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
No :-(

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
Heck yes.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
I was going to buy a new computerized Singer or Janome machine. Then I realized they use a LOT of plastic parts and are expensive to repair because of the fickle nature of computers. Digital vs. Analog often leads to the latter being the victor for me. Oh and Kenmore machines are really Janome machines manufactured specifically for release at Sears stores. Kenmore is their house brand name. So this means I can take my machine to ANY Sears for service whereas with other brands I'd have to ship it or take it to a more expensive specialty repair center.

Do you have a dream machine?
Not really. My machine has both serging and embroidery functions, but I would still like to have separate machines for each.

Stuffy Stuff Stuff

2010-09-22T13:35:00.000-04:00

'Ello mates!

I'm in a giddy mood right now. Woo hoo. Here's why:

I got 2 blog awards.
My baby bear has mastered the color yellow and is learning green (even though everyone else in his class is learning red, I choose to be happy and am not surprised he's dancing to the shake of his own maracas).
ZOMBIE PROM is this Saturday and my girl Krysi is one of the MUAs again. I can't wait to go!
I found tons of cute sewing projects that I can make use of all my fabric scraps.
I have a new deco iPhone case that is dark and kira kira instead of pastel.

Chibi Kuma

2010-09-20T17:10:00.000-04:00

This Halloween, Small Bear is gonna be a small dinosaur. We tried the costume on already and it's a little too long but not terribly so. I might just stitch buttons ans straps inside to shorten the sleeves and legs. Then all will be well.

My gal reason for posting this is that I love kigarumi. I wish I was shorter sometimes because then they would fit me better. I tried on my friend's Stitch kigarumi once and it fit, but I wish it was longer. I'm seriously tempted to make my own for Halloween because I have no shame. I've been the sexy nurse, sexy witch, sexy kitty, and other options available for women. I'm thinking I'll just be silly this year and call it a day. Either that or I'll wear my tribal belly dancing gear. We shall see. Either way, I think I'll make a small kigarumi to fit my Wonder Woman doll as a tester for figuring out the best way to stitch it. I'm not so good with pants. Inseams and seats are rough.

I love Halloween!

Know Who's Sexy?

2010-09-17T22:54:00.000-04:00

This guy right here.

Ken Watanabe, my imaginary side jawn.

And not for nothin, I miss the good ol' days where if for some reason there was gonna be a fight, men had epic battles instead of pulling out guns. I mean, seriously. If you're pissed enough to kill someone, at least exert some real energy while doing it. And while you're at it, get dressed up like a sexy samurai (or other warrior).

CVS Mini-Haul

2010-09-15T09:54:00.000-04:00

I decided to try a bunch of drug store brands hoping to post a great review full of win. Sorry, that isn't gonna happen.

I was most excited about the Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipcolor. I thought it would be awesome. It is not. The colour shows up well after about 2 gloopy coats. You have to keep your lips parted until it dries because it is a sticky mess. It feels tack as it dries. When it finishes drying, your lips have a matte wash of colour. Some gyaru like that in a nude, but I don't. I had to add gloss. I did not buy any other colours. I was looking for a new nude. This was a disappointment. The major pro is that this lipstick does last a long time. It is pretty frustrating to get off.

The Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain was another semi-dud. It stains the arms, legs, fingers, etc just fine. When used on my lips, it took a lot of patience. There is a stain at one end and a lip conditioner at the other. Once you get it on, it's fine. Cost: $8.99

The Milani Nail Art polish is okay in terms of colour (Black Sketch) but the brush was a bit shabby so the line I painted was a bit splintered. Because of this, I had to add more to fill in the splintered bit, thereby making the line thicker than desired. Hopefully this was just the one bottle I had. I clipped the stray bristles down to match the others and now it's okay. Cost: $3.99

The Essence of Beauty Retractable Kabuki Brush might be limited edition. The only link I can find is for the not so kira kira version. It's an okay brush, but I like more density and shorter bristles. It needs to be a fatter brush. I really think I chose it for the bling. I had a Revlon kabuki a while back but lost it a week later. I should have just repurchased it instead of this beautiful-yet-mediocre brush. Cost: $13.99

Last we have the Essence of Beauty Extra Gentle Brush Cleaner. It's awesome. It's definitely gentle and doesn't dry my brushes out. I like the fact that I can spray the brushes because it aids in product preservation. I have no complaints. It's great for deep cleansing. The price is right, at only $5.99.

Has anyone had better luck with these products?

New Hair

2010-09-10T00:28:00.000-04:00

I've decided to be hardcore and post a not-so-purdy photo on my blog. BAM!!! I just got real on ya'll.

So anyway, I decided to just get the relaxer. I wear my hear in its natural state only once per week anyway and sometimes that is only for a few hours. I'm saving myself the headache of extended straightening sessions. My stylist used the Mizani relaxer but I think I'll try the PhytoSpecific relaxer (Index 2, of course) because the back of my head is more nappy while the rest is curly. That area is where the Mizani failed and I'm hearing wonderful things about Phyto.

As you can see, I got bangs cut. I haven't had bangs in nearly 10 years. This is a big change for me. I've been wanting them for a while, but I know my husband is on Team No Bangs, so I was extremely hesitant. On the plus side, I think they fit my face better now that it's rounder. Might as well have them while the weight is there. Hopefully my face will be a lot thinner by the time they grow out! (#^__^#)

One special thing that came from this hair experience is that I'm drooling over Babyliss titanium flat irons. The one I've just linked to is not the exact iron she used (hers was blue). She told me she swore by her CHI (ceramic) for ages, but after using a Babyliss (titanium) iron at a hair workshop she was hooked. I have to say the difference was incredible. I need to buy that iron while it's still on sale (~$50 vs ~$160)!

Anyway, night night. I'm knackered.

P.S.

Tell J-List you want more gyaru magazines.
Remember that it's all about supply and demand.
We need to generate a demand so that we can obtain our goods at an economical rate.

Buying Gyaru Magazines

2010-09-09T01:18:00.000-04:00

...just might get cheaper.

I've been in touch with J-list about carrying more gyaru magazines. I've specifically asked about Ranzuki, Jelly, Blenda, and (of course) I Love Mama. My reasoning is much ado about Amazon Japan. I LOVE Amazon. I hate Amazon Japan and it's mostly because the shipping is oh so pricey.

To give you an idea, consider the info below.

One Magazine

Items:	USD 6.84
Shipping & Handling:	USD 37.15

Two Magazines (same pub)

Items:	USD 13.68
Shipping & Handling:	USD 40.86

In both cases, I used I Love Mama as a reference. That's what I planned to buy (09/10 and 10/10).

J-list carries multiple gyaru mags priced between $8.50 and $12 with shipping at $9.60*
J-list also has subscriptions. Using Egg as an example (since it's the cheapest at a one buy rate of $8.50):
Monthly revolving subscription: $7/mo
Annual (pre-paid) subscription: $130/yr

So hopefully J-list agrees to carry these additional magazines. I will let you all know what the decision is as soon as they get back to me. I hope they say yes because (for 1 mag) the Amazon shipping alone is about double the price of ordering from J-list.

* 9.60 is for Airmail (7-10 days).
There are other options both cheaper and more expensive, but the fastest is:
EMS (Asia/North America) - $17.00
Fastest shipping available, approx. 4 business day delivery time. Packages can be tracked online, and insurance up to US$200 is included in the shipping price

I Wannabe Like Mel B.

2010-09-07T14:25:00.000-04:00

Image from her Facebook page

I'm sure this won't come as a surprise to anyone, but when I was a teen I was a HUGE Spice Girls fan. My nickname in school was Crazy Spice. I wanted Mel B. to be my big sister. She's such a good role model and inspiration for me. Also, and not for nothin, she's absolutely gorgeous. The funny thing is that one would think I'd have stopped being a fan once Spice Girls was over. Nope. I saw her in some mediocre-to-good-but-not-great sci-fi/horror flick called LD 50 (Lethal Dose). I enjoyed it though.

Anyway, I'm watching her reality show now and it just reinforces my belief that we are very similar in both behavior and the way we analyze things. I know there's a lot of editing in the world of TV, but some things are obvious. Now I just wanna have her over to play dress up and drink yummy liquor! She may not be gyaru but I don't give two craps about most celebrities, especially not models. They're just people. Some I think would be fun to hang with. Mel is at the top of that list. She's my MILF motivation, but beyond that she is a goof ball and I know I'd actually have fun on a number of levels with her. So yes. Mel B. FTW

Lovely Blog-Sa 4th ed.

2010-09-06T19:53:00.000-04:00

Click here to join!

I'm going to try something different this time. All of these Lovely ladies have interesting blogs, but I'm going to pick five favorite posts. I will choose only one post per member and a brief bit on why each made the top 5 for this edition.

Bexie has a post about how hard it is to be/look gal at school. I'm so glad I'm grown. >_<;;

Samei posted tons of cute nail images. I love some of the colour schemes.

Chaudie posted a great plan that could give us gaijin gyaru a magazine and convention of our own.

Anna is a ballerina. She mentioned wondering if there were other gyaru ballerinas. Now I'm wondering are there other gyaru who are just dancers period (ballet, belly, jazz, tap, modern, etc).

Elena is looking for Tutuha dresses/clothes so everyone should help her! That blue dress and collar combo is hot stuff.

Pieces of MEEE

2010-09-05T23:53:00.000-04:00

This month....
I like: How my belly dancing choreography is coming along and I get more anxious/excited to perform as October 24th gets closer..

I don't like: That the pain in my kidney/side is making it REALLY difficult for me to do yoga & pilates.

I want you to know: That anything goes when it comes to hoes cuz pimpin ain't easy. Just kidding (not really). But seriously, most of the people reading this are AWESOME.

I've planned: A lesson, exercise, and meal plan for the next 2 weeks to see if it will improve the way I feel and the way my son communicates. He's smart and active but doesn't feel the need to speak English... even though he can answer most questions (non-verbally) and follow any instructions given. Thank you Parents Connect!

I want to say to someone special: Hey BDSS, I love BCT w/ the WFB & NHB on the BCBC and GBBB. Also: ))<>(( 4-ever.

Today

2010-09-04T22:11:00.000-04:00

...was awesome.

I woke up in a good mood. Xavier and Erik were watching cartoons while I slept. This meant I woke up to cuddles. Yup. CUDDLES.

Belly dancing was great today. We were in high-gear. Lots of fast formations and spins. We had to work on adding to the choreography for our performance. I practiced in my new skirt!!! Ohhhhh my god. I love it. It spins so nicely. It spins even better than my plain black cotton one. I think the embroidered band at makes the spinning extra twirly.

After dancing we had nomtastic bento noms at Aya. Yum! And blah blah blah. I came home to my boy bears and got lots of happy. Now I'm working on my new photography site. I've been lazy. I bought the domain like two months ago. Shows you where my head is. I've been posting here when I should have been coding. Anyway, here are some shots from my most recent photo shoot.
EDIT : Hey new readers! I'm the photographer, not the model. But I'll pass on the compliments! ^_^

Street Snaps are Good for You

2010-09-03T14:27:00.000-04:00

I think everyone who considers themselves as gal should try to see as many street snaps as possible. Magazines are great, but advertisements aren't always 100% reliable in terms or realistic/accepted ensembles. To get my weekly fix, I go to Style Arena. This site has all the goodies I need in terms of street snaps. I love seeing them in my magazines, but the more the better.
*That link goes straight to the most recent snaps in Shibuya.

Onee-Gyaru Hair

2010-09-01T13:59:00.000-04:00

Image from Hot Pepper

I'm thinking of getting what I call "Onee-gyaru Hairdo #1" this week. Or at least it'll be my next 'do. I'm supposed to be taking my extensions out right now. I wonder how much my hair has changed?

I'm at a point where I am seriously, SERIOUSLY considering getting a relaxer to make my life easier: faster blow drying = faster hair styling. As it stands, when I blow dry my hair it has to be done in tiny layers. My hair is super thick and the key to decent straightness is tiny layers.After it's straight, hooray for big loose curls.

The problem with relaxing is that I'll loose my natural curl. I'll miss it for sure, but I'm super certain Erik will miss it more. The man love my natural poofiness. What can I say? It's sweet.So therein lies the dilema.

Another possible solution would be to start getting Brazillian Keratin Treatments. I like BKT because it's really a protein treatment that decreases frizz and only loosens curls as a by-product. It's pricey but potentially worth it. I like having options without having to spend 2-3 hours washing, drying, and straightening/curling my hair.

Flying Skirts!

2010-08-31T17:01:00.000-04:00

Image from FlyingSkirts

My new skirt came. Woo hoo. It's soooooo wonderful. The fabric is nice and sturdy but lightweight enough for good spinning. The one I have has a purple satin trim instead of olive, and though it may not be visible in the photo to all, there is a nice floral embroidery at the trim. I love it!

My troupe is doing our first group performance at a hafla in October. I have been belly dancing for a while but never for performance. I just like to dance. Angel is newer and hasn't performed either. Ariel has been dancing and performing for 5 years. Our routine is pretty good and set to "Beauty Beats" by Beats Antique. If I had the time to make a new choreography, I would also dance (solo) to "Caterpillar" since I love that song somethin fierce.

Anyway, just I love my belly dancing skirts because they also work for the ethnic/boho looks. I think it's pretty clear that I love mode and ethnic trends the most. The next in line is military. I am very much looking forward to the Fall. Yay yay yay.

On Blogging

2010-08-31T13:56:00.000-04:00

Blogging has been a serious part of my life since I was in my first apartment in 2001. It was a ~~chaotic~~ lively time in my life and needed an outlet. I kept physical journals all throughout my youth, but I found out a bunch of my friends were on LiveJournal so I wanted one. Now back then you had to be invited. I had to find a friend who had invite codes left so until I got one from Eric (whom I haven't seen or spoken to almost a decade) I was using DeadJournal. Eventually, I was able to import all my old entries to LJ.

I stayed with LJ for ages. I've had multiple journals, but the one I currently use (ocasionally) is under the username AvyTech. That one is the less drama/sex/alcohol/party-laden journal. It's far more PG-13 than its predecessor, AvyGrrl. The new journal was my phoenix rising type of thing. Life was sooooooo bleak at the end of AvyGrrl. So much so that I needed to just leave it alone. I still haven't deleted it because I need to look back and have a good solid cry. It keeps me focused on reality. Don't get me wrong, life is great now. Unfortunately just because things seem dandy doesn't mean they are.

There were problems with me and people I love and I was so busy having fun that I didn't really accept the problems that were staring me in the face. AvyGrrl was a chronicle of lies and death. Some of that traveled to AvyTech, but the amount is minuscule in comparison.

This blog has none of that. I try to steer clear of expressing serious emotions in this blog. I try to keep it superficial, light, and fun. I do try to be informative and I try to include my point of view on gyaru style as not just a Westerner, but as a wife, mother, and potential domestic goddess. I will even be posting soon about how belly dancing and other parts of me influence my fashion choices. I want to be able to look back at any post and never feel a bit of sadness or anger. This blog is for for nothing but care-free gyaru goodness.