Death Proof has nothing to do with this post. Except for the fact that I am watching it right now. Also, it's a freaking awesome film. Hooray for girls in fast cars, beating the ever-loving crap out of a psycho!
Yesterday, some friends and I went to Yunessun in Hakone, A spa/hot spring in the mountains of Japan.
The ride through the mountains was...interesting! Exceedingly beautiful, as the mountains are ridiculously green and it was a rainy, misty day. Scary, because: GIANT buss + tiny tiny roads. We arrive in one piece though. Yay buss drivers who know how to buss.
We arrived at the spa and got our most awesome wristbands, which open lockers and pay for food & drinks with a single wave of one's wrist! The spa had many indoor and outdoor hot tubs/springs, as well as kid-friendly areas, and nude areas! (we did not venture into the latter though) There were water slides and delightful robes and delicious, scented stone pools outside. The coffee-scented pool was rocky and bubbly, the wine-scented was deep purple, with a GIANT wine bottle fountain. The Green Tea spring was very large, and yes, bright green, with a very large teapot floating above in the trees! I was reminded of Katers :D
And these were all outside, and it was a perfect cold, rainy day too, which is great hot spring weather! Cool drops are falling on your head, while steam rises around you and up into the trees. Guh, the mountain was so beautiful.
Also, there was a special pool you could dip your feet into, FULL of tiny fishes!!! :D :D :D They nibble all the yucky bits off of you toes! Oh, how I squealed and giggled with ticklish glee!
Here are some lovely pictures, taken by my friend Ingrid.
Buss ride. Obligatory peace sign. When in Japan...
Awesome Robes! I am wearing a cover-up, due to my tattoos.
Oh Engrish!
Kiddie Area!
Coffee-scented!
I died in the coffee. Much like an insect.
Wine-flavored!
My new friend, the Yunesun Mascot. I enjoy him.
And in clothing adventures,
The Story of Skirt
My husbot is very attentive, especially when it comes to gifts. In fact, he keeps a list on his computer, of things I've mentioned I like. (I know, you all hate me and are jealous. I must use this power only for Good.) A while back, I mentioned how much I like pretty much EVERYTHING on Hunters & Gatherers. However, most of their stuff remains in my, "Want it, will never afford it" file.
And then, when I FINALLY had a date for my move to Japan, Rick decided to celebrate by picking out this Skin Graft skirt for me :O All by himself! I was quite, QUITE enthralled.
After a long wait, Two postage mixups, and a new address, the skirt at long-last arrived in Japan!
It's an interesting piece. Gorgeous, and I love it, and love styling it. It will be even more fun in the winter, with thick stockings and such! (Right now I wear black booty short under, to avoid any unnecessary flashing)
For now, here are some things I am trying out.
Girly, understated.
I LOVE THE RUFFLES.
Girly, costumed.
I need white gloves!
Steampunk, understated.
Think of it as Office-Goth!
Steampunk, costumed.
Am 19th Century strumpet! I love this skirt, SO HARD. Nice choice, Husbot :D
And in other weird-fashion news, I has these cowboy boots :D
This week was a venture in two things I have never been all that good at, fashion-wise: Rain Gear and Good Jeans.
Now, it's the rainy season here in Japan. Typhoons are not unheard of, though here near Tokyo Bay, one is pretty safe. Still. Water, water everywhere.
After much searching, I came across these lovely Wellies from Target, via Amazon. They has little red birdies!
I dig, I definitely dig. I also enjoy this outfit, and wear it often. Top from Delia's, YEARS ago. Skirt a thrifted and chopped find. Goldfish necklace via Paraphernalia
Wellies!
New Bag! I love the NEX, I really do. Hooray for tax-free shopping ;) Mondani, faux snakeskin, on sale, etc.
Ah do declayah.
+ Funbrella!
All together now! I love my yellow B.Moss raincoat. It has been my friend for many years.
Okay so, I saw these tights at The Mighty Soxor, and had to has. Very Amanda Palmer Oasis Video. UO Shorts (pyramid studs by me), Shirt found in the kid's section at Goodwill. Can't wait to wear this outfit with the sky blue cowboy boots in the mail.
Favorite SD Shirt, bar none.
So, jeans and I have been having a complicated relationship as of late. Mostly due to the fact that I no longer belong in the junior's department. At least when it comes to pants. Such pants are made for girls with no hips. Or, girls who believe the best way to attract is to wear things skin-tight to said curves. Girls, no. Even if you are skinny, this will make you look not so.
Anyway. Tired of looking like my bum was ten feet wide in jeans, I finally sucked it up and went to the Levi's display in the missus section, and...
...it wasn't scary! Yes, Mom-jeans live there. But so do good jeans! With many, many size options! One pair of long, straight leg, size 2's later...
Japan is an interesting study in personal style. I suppose when you're in the States, looking IN on J-fashion, it may be kind of hard to "get". But being here, seeing a million men in suits, and a billion kids in school uniform, it makes PERFECT sense to see the crazy shades of neon on the weekends. Lives are so uniform, so compartmentalized. Frankly, it's quite beautiful :D
Now, stuff!
The Life Before Her Eyes 2007, Vadim Perelman
Diana McFee is 33 years old, and leads an idyllic life with her husband and young daughter in a lovely home with a gorgeous, flowering garden. She has the job she always dreamed of, a good marriage, and her daughter is going to a good school. All this should be making her happy, but as the 15th anniversary of her own High School's shooting draws near, Diana finds her own sanity slipping with (what appears to be) survivor's guilt.
The movie flashes between Adult Diana (Uma Thurman) and Teenage Diana (Evan Rachel Wood), and we are shown her troubled teenage years in vivid detail, as well as her relationship with her best friend, eternal good girl Marueen (Eva Amurri). Marueen is a good student, with a crush on a good Christian boy, who wants to get married and have lots of babies and be a good mother to them. Young Diana was the trouble-making weed-smoker who had an abortion and whom no one thought would amount to anything, save for Maureen and one teacher. As the film goes on, one is reminded that as much as the choices we make as a kid still define us, our past is something that should make us stronger, smarter, and that we should not feel we have to pay for it for the rest of our lives.
The film leads up to a twist I totally wasn't expecting, that some people didn't like, but that I personally think makes the whole experience all the more poetic and heartbreaking. This was a great film, even if it's very sad. It was exactly the sort of film I needed to see too, as someone who often lets the past get the best of her, even though life is great right here and now. It's a powerful watch, I highly recommend! Also, I love Evan Rachel Wood, even if she does tend to stick to Sullen/Troubled-Girl roles. She's wonderful, and so is Uma, who is so gorgeous in this. Go watch it.
Starry Starry Starry! Liquid Eyeliner Adventures for LOFNOTC. (if you have to ask, you'll never know)
This past week I've been going through the clothes that were in boxes in our shipment. I realized I had some cute things! Behold, The Forgotten Dresses! One costumey, One casual, and One Snazzy.
This dress is a bit big on me, but I love it! Very apropros, I think.
Of course, me being me, I had to add The Lightsaber. Mara in Jabba's Palace, clearly. (Geek.)
I bought this some time ago at Old Navy. It makes an excellent bikini cover-up, but also makes a really nice day dress! Plus, it makes me feel as if I am wearing The Van-Trapp family's drapes! :D
So much PRINT!
At long last, here it is, The Monthiversary Dress, Picked out by Husbot at Macy's for our ONE month wedding anniversary, last year :D
Kinda va-va. May also contain some voom.
Woe! Not sure how that happened...
Fringed shawl from my sister, I believe. Where will I wear it again? No idea! But I will wear it again... Perhaps for the two-year anniversary, in New Zealand ;)
And then, here's me, Daily Outfit, Cleaning the house on a Saturday!
No frills. Well, a few frills.
FEETS! Next entry, perhaps I will review True Blood. Maybe.
To chop off the hair. Frankly, this saddens me, but it can't be helped. Much as I love my hair long and flat-ironed, it simply doesn't agree with the Japanese weather, not at all. Generally, you see me pictured inside, in my nice air-conditioned apartment! As soon as I step outside, however, all that crisping is for not. The humidity grabs ahold of my French-Irish locks and twists them for all it's worth. Not pretty. Not at all. And it's only getting HOTTER here in the Land of The Rising Sun.
Happily, I have the name of a stylist. Plus, Husbot likes short hair on me. Still, I was a bit lost on what to do. I want something I haven't done before!
Yuk. And for those who never saw, here I am when I had my FAVORITE short cut, dyed midnight blue :D
Loved it. Perhaps I'll just be daring and see what happens. It's just hair! Plus, worst comes to worst, fisherman hats are all the rage here ;)
Entry of substance soon. Full of books and things. For now, I'm tired. It was a hard weekend, emotionally. Being far away from Family when Bad Things happen isn't fun. But there is life to be lived. And hair to be chopped. Naptime.
Good Lord, gone for a bit hmm? This past week and a half has been utterly nuts. I had my AOB class all last week (blah), and then Husbot was home for a long weekend (yay!). Not to mention that on monday, the bulk of our belongings arrived! Joy! Rapture! Few things are more endearing than a cute boy putting together a bookshelf :D
So yes, it's been a busy week, and I am pleased to be back into my routine, even if Husbot is back out to sea for oh, three months :P
But as I sit here, munching yummy chips and avocado dip, I realize the past week has been full of things to be happy about. In addition to a husbot and all our stuff, here are some other silly things to make Amy happy!
While still a swiftly-tilting-ball-of-cat, Ampersand (formerly Genie) has settled in nicely! She is terribly affectionate! Also a bit of an attention-starved Diva. She picked the perfect Humans. I enjoy kitty-cuddles and playing.
Newest Dolly! Her name is Sookie. My Husbot spoils me. I think I'm done buying dolls for a little while though! They do delight me so.
Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer have finally outed themselves as a couple. About damn time. Now it's true, I tend to admire many folks, but generally just for their chosen crafts. The obsession with the personal lives of celebs weirds me out, frankly, these are real people you're stalking, with real lives. However, in this case, these are two people who so graciously allow their fans in on their ups and downs, good days, bad days, etc. It's nice to see them both so happy :D Amanda's entry in her blog on the subject especially made me grin.
What is your current obsession? Well, there are many life-long ones, such as Star Wars, Dolls, Tiny Boxes and Exciting Footwear. As for a current phase, I am very much enjoying collecting chopsticks, postcards, and paper fans. Considering where I am currently residing, this should come as no surprise. I hope the novelty never wears off.
What is your weirdest obsession? Some people might find my Blythe/doll obsession weird, either because they find Blythes creepy or maybe I should like more conventional things at the age of 23. To the latter folks, I say go be boring somewhere else :D
What are you wearing today? Black & White striped top, new denim shorts, pictured below. I am pleased with my new-found comfort with wearing shorts :D
What's for dinner? Hmmm, probably rice and something else...don't ask me such things so early in the day!
What's the last thing you bought? A bottle of Cantaloupe Milk from the vending machine downstairs. Quite possibly the nectar of the gods.
What do you think about the person who tagged you? She is fabulous! And ever so stylish, I often find myself good naturedly jealous of her effortlessly delightful looks. I wish we'd gotten more chances to hang out whilst I was stateside, alas! Perhaps in the future, though!
That question about a fully furnished, paid-for house that everyone answers with 'Paris' or 'New York'. Actually, I quite like it here. I personally feel like living in Japan is a dream come true in and of itself. It's all I could want of the moment, even if Husbot must be away so often. As for the future, while I love New York dearly and would love the means to visit it often, I wouldn't want to raise my family there. Give me New England again. Give me a crumbling farmhouse again, near woods and streams and fields and flowers, but not too far from civilization that my kids hate me :D
What is your must-have item for summer? Air conditioning, sunscreen, and a fabulous pair of shades. I am pale in the manner of a Victorian Violet, and while I like sunny days, the sun and I do not get along. I burn, fry, and wilt.
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would it be? My sister's house, to visit the kidlets! Even though it is near-midnight there, oh fudge.
Who do you want to meet right now? Nick Drake is making me happy with his musics at the moment, so, I'd chill with him in Heaven.
What is your favourite piece of clothing from your own closet? So Difficult! I'll say this top that I'm wearing though, because it can be dressed up, down, somewhere in the middle, it goes with nearly everything, and it looks nice on me.
What is your dream job? Published Author :D
What's your favourite magazine? Elle, Vogue, and Spin are my must-haves. Music and Fashions and Pretty Pictures!
What do you consider a fashion faux-pas? Do believe I've covered most of them in this blog. But for good measure: Stop Dressing Trashy.
Describe your personal style. Boho Audrey Hepburn.
What are you going to do after this? Resist the urge to run into Yokosuka for sushi, and instead finish unpacking these boxes. I can go into town tomorrow, with a clean house behind me.
Three styling tips that always work for you: 1. Know what flatters my frame. 2. Mascara, no matter what the occasion. 3. When in doubt, wear tights under it.
What are you proud of? Definitely silly things, like style and creative projects and leaving various selfish vices behind me. I am also pretty proud of being in a good relationship...it's 50% my doing, after all :D
What do you see outside your window? Many trees, other buildings, hawks...I am eight floors up!
What is your favorite color? It's such a cop-out, but it's true, BLACK. It can be so many things!
What is your weakness? Procrastination. And also skittles, woe to my midsection.
What animal would you be? I must also go with cat! It would be delightful, acting like the queen of the universe and being treated as such.
What would you like to learn how to do? Speak Japanese. I am getting there, slowly but surely.
What do you want to never happen in life? LAWL at the zombies, Kater XD Um! Obviously, there are many things I'd like to not happen. Deaths in the family, houses catching on fire, alien invasions, etc. As for things I don't think I'd be able to handle, however, I think the death of a child would be it. I have a hard enough time when a friend or a grandparent or even a PET dies. I can't imagine what I would do if I had a child, and they were killed. Husbot is directly after that on the list.
What is on your bedside table? Three piles of books, a lamp, and my Hello Kitty alarm clock. Perhaps also my glasses, in their cute antique case.
What was your favorite children's book? Best Friends, by Steven Kellogg. I recently bought it off of Amazon, and it sits proudly on my bookshelf.
What did you want to be as a child? An actress, a model, a writer, a mommy.
What did you dream about last night? I cannot recall, though I do remember that it was rather upsetting.
Which do you prefer, day or night? These days, daytime. I love the evening more, though.
What would you like to get your hands on right now? All the shoes in the world ever.
What is your must-have of the moment? My awesome new sunglasses!
What's your favorite tea flavor? Black currant black tea, and also the lovely darjeeling present in this country.
What are you looking forward to? Kyoto! The girls and I want to try and go there sometime this summer, while the fellows are out to sea. After that, of course, will be Husbot coming home for six months. North Korea best not keep acting like a petulant child :P
Pick one line of poetry that sums up your mood right now. Cliche, however, it's true. "Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference." ~ Frost
My Question! What do you miss most from childhood? I miss the freedom to act like a little girl without anyone thinking twice.
Now, Wardrobe Project!
Aforementioned outfit of the day:
Noface!
I love these new shorts. So much, in fact, I have dressed them up in many ways! Shorts: Forever21 Flip-Flops: Forever21 Top: JCPenny's, AGES ago.
Now generally, I dislike flip-flops. Mostly due to the fact that most pairs are a fashion copout, or a neon monstrosity. Also, they hurt my feet.
Not only is this pair WONDERFULLY studded and stylish, they're like walking on squishy clouds.
Look 2!
Another top that I've had for ages, Probably since I was 17. I bought it at Rock'n Willy's, long before I worked there myself. Still cute though, and delightfully hippie.
So ungraceful! I am trying to show off my shoes!
Are they not divine? These, too, are so very comfortable. Could walk in them all day.
Have I mentioned the amount of amazing shoes to be found in Japan?
Look 3!
I got this top at the NEX in Norfolk, last year. Designer, but on sale for 25$!
These shoes are NOT comfortable. Do I look like I care?
The Friends episode involving Monica's boots is brought to mind, most keenly. I refuse not to wear them, though. Even if I bleed alll over the streets of Yokosuka.
And last but not least, my new favorite dress!
Also a forever21 purchase. I love not spending tons of money on things that make me so happy. I am wearing shoes pictured previously:
Diva, jeez.
And now, to finish unpacking. Not go and get sushi. Nope, definitely not... >.>
Not particularly fashionable, nor brilliant. Just some American chick having a grand adventure, and wearing fun stuff. I fell to Earth one dark and snowy night 23 years ago, and am still coming to terms with this fact.
Buss ride.
Awesome Robes!
Oh Engrish!
Kiddie Area!
Coffee-scented!
I died in the coffee.
My new friend, the Yunesun Mascot.
Girly, understated.
I LOVE THE RUFFLES.
Girly, costumed.
I need white gloves!
Steampunk, understated.
Think of it as Office-Goth!
Steampunk, costumed.
Am 19th Century strumpet!
And I LOVE them!
