Textbook Enigmatic

Va-Va & Also Perhaps Some Voom

2012-01-27T12:23:00.017+09:00

Girly Things

Okay SO!
My first entry of substance shall be...well.
Wonderfully shallow ;)
I have some great ideas lined up for the future,
including ruminations on life in Japan,
detailed accounts of places visited,
creative ventures (I'm making a cookbook!),
and health/beauty products.

We'll start with something light and easy to digest!

A snapshot of what I've been using for makeup.
I'll have a full tutorial of my daily/going out faces.
Here's what I wore for these shots!

I hardly wear any cover-up. A smudge under my eyes,
over any pimples that might be popping up,
but that's all. I take good care of my pale skin,
and try not to clog it up. A bit of powder is
usually enough.

On my cheekbones I'm using a blend of a
Smashbox fusion and blush.
Fusion alone, with my coloring, is rarely good.

Oh, my eyes!
Light of my face!
I'm using Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer in Potion,
and good lord, it's wonderful
Your shadow WILL NOT MOVE.
I will warn against using it with most of UD's
own shadows, oddly enough, as it sets
like concrete and can be very heavy and irritating.
Used with most drug store brands though, and
especially loose powder, I swear by it.

I've been rocking a cat eye almost all the time,
and generally use L'Oreal's Telescopic liquid liner.
The shadow here is Rimmel London Glam Eyes
in Smokey Blue.
Under my eyes, over a smudge of cover-up,
I brush on a pale pink from Smashbox.

False lashes are almost a MUST in Japan,
and for a white girl who loves rockabilly/pinup style,
this is wonderful. I don't care if it'll be a little
edgy/kooky back in the states,
style isn't fun if you look like everyone else.

On my lips I'm wearing Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer,
in Champagne. Often I like bright lip color,
but with eyes this smudgey and bold,
I like them to be the focal point.

RIGHT SO!
Here's a bit of chronicling for the

Wardrobe Project: LBDs

Every woman should have a little black dress!
This is an age-old rule, one we all know well.
I like twisting it around though.
I've featured my far more demure velvet number
in the past, here are the more recent and daring!
All of these were bought for our trip to
Singapore back in October.
Sadly it got cut short by the Navy,
so hustbot didn't get to see them all on me.
He will now!

LBD 1:

This little thing is actually 3 layers.
Bottom layer: Plain black
Middle: Gold sequins,
Top: Sheer striped lace.

20$ dress from Forever21,
paired with my Jessica Simpson heels.
Hur-dur I feel smexy.

Shiny!

LBD 2:

Also from Forever21!
I am such a cheap gal.

Crinkly and black,
Worn with my Boudoir heels.
They match my hair!

Spangly Crinkly!
I was wearing this one whilst eating on
the boardwalk in Singapore, when shore patrol
came up and informed us that the
USS. George Washington
was leaving port early to help out Thailand.

Octopus Necklace!
Onyx and Silver,
Husbot bought me this at Underwater World
on Sentosa Island.
I pretty much wear it constantly :D

LBD 3!

I love this one.
Much as the gathery zipper can make my
tum look awkward!

H&M, I forget how much.
Likely not very ;)

Getting back into the swing of this!
Next week I'll be taking pictures for a step-by-step
guide to My Crazy Hair,
when I freshen up the color again.

Also I have a good long love letter to Japan to write.
I do so hope my readers are still out there!
If not, hello void, you're looking quite handsome!

Til Next We Meet,
~Amy <3

Everything Is Illuminated

2012-01-25T13:04:00.005+09:00

Oh Hai!

Long time no write!
I am reviving this blog after a long hiatus,
just as we're about to -leave- Japan.
Yes, I know, terrible planning on my part,
at least from one angle.

In short, Japan has been wonderful.
So wonderful, in fact, that life got a bit too
eventful, filled with friends, and then after
a visit or two from my old friends,
Depression & Social Anxiety,
my energies and creativity and busyness
was directed elsewhere!

After two years, much in me has changed,
all for the better I believe, both inside
and out.
We're getting ready to return to the States,
and with the free time allotted me before
I'm able to get my preferred job and a
driver's license, I shall be endeavoring
to revive this little platform!

Expect many pictures and recollections of
adventures here, musings,
and of course the usual superficial delights
such as makeup tutorials, healthy things, and
updated Wardrobe Project!

And reading back on this blog?
Thanks to any of you wonderful folks
who are still out there :D

'Til Next We Meet,
~ <3 Amy

Of Sandwiches

2009-11-22T19:08:00.003+09:00

Still Alive!

Just a quick note to say no, I am not dead.

However, Tallulah, my beloved laptop, is.

Woe!

She died a few weeks ago,

after a tragic run-in with a cup of tea,

straight to the motherboard.

I'll be back on the internet regularly

this week,

And will hopefully have a new machine

very soon.

Worry not, you will see a full entry very soon :)

Here's hoping I've not been forgotten, eek!

Til Next We Meet,

♥,

~ Amy

Hold This Thread As I Walk Away...

2009-10-14T12:08:00.005+09:00

Sweaters And The Boob Tube

And thus, she was sans-romantic companion once more!
He'll be back shortly though, never fear!
Until then, I admit to filling (part of) my time with
some truly quality television.
Yes, between military-provided cable and the internet,
I've not missed much, entertainment-wise, from the States.
Though frankly, some I would be quite happy without.
(For goodness sake, can't I go one viewing of
What Not To Wear without seeing
Jon & Kate during the commercials?
Great, you had lots of kids,
big whoop, you're still both EPIC TOOLS.)

Ahem, anywhoo >.>

I'm a very picky person when it comes to my entertainment.
I like to be challenged to think, or enter another world,
not simply zone out for 45 minutes.
Here are a handful of my favorites,
current, canceled, and across the pond :D

~ Dollhouse ~
FOX, Fridays

Feminist, Creator of Buffy, and Downright Hilarious Guy, I love everything Joss Whedon does, ever. However, when I heard last year that his next project for tv was going to be about Programmable Humans, who can become whoever you need, for a price, I was a bit taken aback. But I stuck with it, and was not disappointed. Yes, it is a horrific prospect: That your mind can be erased, and replaced with the personality and memories of someone else, for the gain of another. It's supposed to be frightening, and we follow Eliza Dushku's character, Echo, as she lives this life and slowly attempts to discover who she really was before, and who's trying to reach out for that person.
Of course, your mind automatically goes to the obvious (escorts), and FOX's marketing isn't doing anything to dissuade that notion, along with the impression that it's all guns and explosions, in typical FOX style. But that's not it at all, this is a wonderfully introspective, funny, clever, and heartbreaking show. People need all kinds of other people: The perfect hostage negotiator, the perfect midwife, the perfect confidant, the perfect bodyguard, the perfect spy. The Dollhouse can provide you with all of these things, and Echo has been all of them. The first few episodes of season 1 are sub-par, but stick with it, and you'll find yourself deeply connected to these characters, and marveling at the ability of the cast to become someone new every week.

~Firefly~

While we're on the subject of how much FOX sucks, I give you another Joss Whedon masterpiece, one that got canceled after only one incomplete season. The episodes were aired out of order, the network had no idea how to market it, and it slipped away before we had a chance to love it fully. However, thanks to die-hard fans and the wonder of DVD, we at least got people's attention well enough to get a big budget studio film afterwards! It was recently brought to my attention that there are STILL people out there who've never experienced the wonder of Firefly, for shame!
Mal Reynolds is the captain of Serenity, Firefly-class spaceship, in a distant future in which humanity has been forced to find a new solar system to thrive in. The Allied Planets will try to strip you of your independence and make you another cog in the machine, while the Outer Planets are almost too untamed for civilized life. Serenity's crew flies along the raggedy edge, staying in the air on odd jobs of every sort. Things get a bit more complicated when they pick up two fugitive siblings, one of them holding in her mangled brain a deadly secret...hijinks ensue!! Terribly hilarious, another amazing cast, go buy the series DVDs and then watch the movie, and wonder how the world could have missed out on such a great show.

~The Big Bang Theory~
CBS Mondays

Yay another one still on the air! Husbot and I started watching this after I found out that Wil Wheaton was doing an episode this season (Hello, geek much?). And oh my goodness, not only is it hilarious, I actually feel smarter when I watch it. Try saying that about any other half-hour sitcom. The plot is fairly simple: Pretty Girl of Average Intelligence moves in across the hall from two massively smart yet socially inept scientists. One is madly in crush with her, while the other has the emotional range of Mr. Spock, if he were part-machine. Hilarity ensues! And, despite the Pilot episode making you wonder if the series was just going to play into stereotypes all the time, the jokes actually never get old! It helps that the writers are actual massive geeks themselves. Watch, laugh, and try to teach yourself to play Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock. (I've tried. Lives were nearly lost.)

~ Doctor Who ~
BBC

With a big break between seasons, now is the perfect time to get yourself caught up on the last four seasons of the 'new' series, before season five kicks off with the 11th Doctor. Buy the DVDs, download shamelessly, whatever you see fit to do, it's all worth it! Join the Last Time Lord of Gallifrey as he traipses through time and space, with only the very best of human companions. Fall in love with Rose, get your heart broken when she's gone (briefly), fight aliens, ghosts, werewolves, robots, and everything in between! Do I really have to explain why this goofy, fantastic show is worth watching?! For heaven's sake, it's been running since the 60's. Clearly, they're doing something right.

(omg DW + Tori Amos = :D)

However, a good plot and characters one connects with
aren't all I enjoy in my television, not at all.
I've found a fair few style muses whilst watching,
in fact!

Adele DeWitt
Dollhouse

She comes across as potentially evil, true.
Still, she rocks a pencil skirt and killer heels
like nobody's business. She's the reason I braved
the high-waisted skirt, and I'm ever so glad I did.
I wish I could have found more pictures,
some of her outfits are to die for.

Kat Von D

Okay, so she's hopelessly self-involved.
Or maybe TLC is portraying her in that light, idk.
Either way, she's still drop-dead gorgeous, with her own
distinct and amazing style.
Sure, not all of us can pull off bikini tops and
low-rise jeans at work, but she did inspire me
to become more daring with my makeup,
trying smokey eyes and bright colors, with success.

Sheldon Cooper
The Big Bang Theory

Statement t-shirts are a style don't for chicks,
across the board.
However, when lounging around the house,
I'd still like my statement tshirt to tell the world just how
clever and geeky I am!
So thank you, Sheldon, for making me revisit
ThinkGeek.com for all my nerdy-shirt needs!

Charlotte Charles,
Pushing Daisies

Chuck may have the most adorable wardrobe
in television history.
50's-cut dresses, bright colors, vibrant prints,
and candy-colored pumps that are to die for.
She got me embracing color this summer, happily so!

~~~~

Alas, summer is over, so I give you
Wardrobe Project
Sweater Edition!

I love me a good, snuggly,
form-fitting yet functional fuzzy sweater,
these are my most trusty:

I've pictured this one before,
pink shrug of cuteness!
TJ Max, ages ago.

Husbot's favorite!
I quite like it as well.
JC Penny's, two years ago.

Old Navy sweaters never fail me,
but this is hands-down my favorite.
So dowdy it's delightful!

Ahhh, my newest love,
from Victoria's Secret.
They don't get enough fashion props,
their sweaters this season are gorgeous!

So snuggly, and ridiculously soft!
Plus I'd never seen another sweater this style,
it makes me feel pretteh :D

Now I go to rest...this day has been weirdly
exhausting, I barely had the motivation to
finish this entry!
What has become of me?!
I blame all the running I've been doing.
My legs want a holiday.

I leave you with this lovely bit of love.

Awww :D
As always, links for images of not-me
can be found at My Heart

'Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Autumnal Lolitas

2009-09-30T08:54:00.006+09:00

Not Dead Yet
(But This Flu Sure Is Trying)

I had such plans for the past weekend,
going to see the giant Buddha in Kamakura,
making deliciously New England-y deserts,
Lovely blog entries about personal style,
and all in the company of Husbot,
who had the weekend off.

Alas, the germs had other plans.
I haven't been this defeated by illness
since catching mono back in '07.

Husbot was grand though,
making me breakfast in bed and rushing out
for medicines and cough drops
and get-well-soon cards with robots on them.

I am infinitely better now,
though still a wee bit cough-y and unpleasant.
It's raining here in Japanland, the air is just
barely starting to smell like autumn and I find
myself missing the familiar crispness
of a cozy autumn in Vermont,
complete with cider, woodstove, and mum's beef stew.

Alas, I make my home here!
Today I'm trying my hand at my mother's
apple pie recipe for the first time, meh!
Also the chill does come here as well,
albeit much more slowly,
and I am beginning to dress accordingly!
I am much more suited to autumn,
putting together a summer wardrobe was confusing
and unfamiliar, I admit.
Now is the time of skirts and tights and sweaters
and dressing like a
Lo In The Library.
But more on that later!

People To Read!

~Mermaid In A Manhole~
Kim's posts are delightful, thoughtful,
and wonderfully inspired.

~Phoenix Rising~
Lorelle relaunched her blog some bit ago,
and I am finding it to be quite enjoyable!

~all this happiness~
I know, always promoting my friends ;)
but Kater is lovely, and so is her blawg :D
I do so envy your distinct personal style deary.

~Gala Darling~
As if you didn't read her already.
But truly, her blog brightens and colors my world!

~Fashiontoast~
I adore Rumi's style, even if I can't pull it off ;)
She's also my shoe-muse. I want ALL of her shoes.

And now for some actual
BOOKS
I think you should read ;)

Brought to my attention by Kim, this book is an absolute delight, one that I find myself reading in bits and pieces. While the title may sound elementary to most of you (indeed, Husbot saw the tome and proclaimed, perplexed, "But, you already are!"), this book is full of invaluable tips and tricks and style advice, all to guide you on your way to becoming a more eloquent, classy dame. If you aspire to have fun and enjoy your youth, while being a kind, courteous person who still says please, thank you, gets the good job and doesn't want her niece someday seeing her in a Girls Gone Wild ad, this is the lifestyle guide for you :D

While ill, I've beed rereading all of my Madeliene L'Engle books and oh my goodness, what a joyful thing that is. Her books transcend age, they really do, presenting the reader with complex concepts and theories, filtered through the minds and eyes of children and young adults. A Wind In The Door remains my all time favorite, and I prefer following the Murry/O'Keefe family, but they're all wonderful books. Grab A Wrinkle In Time during the next cold, rainy day, and find your heart transported.

Wardrobe Project!

As I said above, I'm a big fan of skirts, tights,
and thick socks in the chillier months.
And so I give you One Dress,
and a cornucopia of skirts!

Please forgive my disheveled tresses and half-dead
stare in most of these shots,
I was heavily medicated ;)

We start with
The Dress I Never Wear.
Bought for Christmas Eve two years ago,
it hangs in the closet, waiting, always slipping
my mind, alas!
I'm not sure why really.

It could be the length is just an iiiinch too long,
or because the overall cut is conservative,
yet the neckline plunges a bit too much
for more conservative settings,
and a cami just looks wrong under it.
Whatever the reason, having tried it on,
I've vowed to wear it more often, if only just shopping.

Print.

Color!
Socks & Skirt from Japanese mall,
Top: ...I forget.
Lace Cami: TJ Max
Flats: Payless
Necklace: Altered by moi.

This flannel kilt is ridiculously comfy.
I think it shall be my winter go-to, in fact.

Top: Old Navy
Skirt & Tights: Forever21

I'm still figuring out high waists!
Not sure this look works,
but it felt all kinds of prim and awesome!

Shirt: Japanese Mall
Skirt & Tights: Forever21
Shoes: Vintage, etsy.

How did I live without this pencil skirt?
I do not know.
I'm digging it, though.

Shirt: Maurice's, ages ago
Skirt & Tights: Forever21
Shoes: Gift from Kater :D

Tres' Mad Men, Non? :D

And finally, some sage advice:

That said, here I am in my halloween costume!

Alice Approves!

Images and their original links can be found
on my We Heart It account,
now that it's up and running again :)

Now I have an apartment to cleanse of tissues,
and a delicious pie to make.

'Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Summer Lovin' Happened So Fast...

2009-09-17T18:01:00.006+09:00

Autumnal Frivolity

...Wait, there was no lovin' this summer!
Oh well, anyway...
This month has been a month of adventures!
To start it off, this thing came back in port...

Bringing along with it,
This fellow!
(and his iPod touch)
((note our new translucent bed curtains!))

Much love happened!
Along with yummy meals for Husbot,
D&D games, merry parties with friends,
rather sloshed Rock Band sessions,
and general lovetasticness,
as well as a couple shmultzy blog entries ;)

Happily, I shall bring us back to a
materialistic and somewhat shallow place!
BEHOLD!

Wardrobe Project!

Slowly, it becomes chillier in Japan.
Happily, I do not NEED any new jackets this year!
What with the return of the military jacket,
and the constant relevance of leather,
I am set for all occasions.
I will picture them all for you!

Brown Leather.
I scored this for 15$ at a Thrift Shop.
I still can't get over it.
The leather is like BUTTER.

Nothing trumps leather.

And for more demure days,
My dearly beloved cloak coat!
Old Navy two years ago,
still adorable, in my opinion.

Little Doom Riding Hood.

I call this my Chav Coat.
For days when I'm just in That Mood.
Tan corduroy, this jacket is actually
quite thick and deliriously warm.
But oh, so very Chav-tastic :D

Yes, it's lined with Pink Satin!
Don't worry, it was thrifted for only 5$!

FURRY!

A Favorite,
This Coat was bought from Delia's
two years ago, I believe as a Christmas Gift
from my awesome mother!
Wool, warm, but not bulky.

Side note, in case you were wondering!
Here I am in Lime Crime eyeshadow,
which I seem to have become a walking advert for.
I was asked three times today about it,
and that was just grocery shopping!
I'm wearing Pompadour here.

And finally, my trusty Black Leather.
I've had this baby since I was, wait for it, 14.
Which makes it nearly ten years old!
Still going strong, still supple,
still badass.
Why?
Because it's BLACK LEATHER.
Etc.

May it last ten years more!

Happily,
it's still not QUITE cool enough here
for Jacket Weather.
Summer is having a last hurrah,
with lovely cool breezes
and lingering, sweet-smelling flowers.

Ahhhhhhh.

Shall be getting back into regular
weekly blog entries of varied content,
Now that Husbot has returned to work,
and the creative brain cells have been stimulated.

'Til Next We Meet, My Loves,
♥,
~ Amy

June Makes These Excellent Sewing Machines...

2009-09-12T14:08:00.006+09:00

Another Entry Of Love For You!

A lot has been going on here in Japanland.
The past two weeks have been about
Husbot returning home,
A family member passing away,
And strange delightful adventures.
A real entry of pictures and substance
shall follow this in the soontime,
but for now,
Some Love For You! :D

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."
-St. Augustine

"Think about your Dream all the time, no matter what else you're doing. Live your Dream in your imagination. Become obsessed by it. Love it. Be passionate about it."
~ Unknown

"Someone like you,
And all you know, And how you speak
Countless lovers under cover of the street
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you..."
~ Kings Of Leon

"To Love is to receive a glimpse of Heaven."
~ Karen Sunde

Anyone can be passionate,
but it takes real lovers to be silly.
~Rose Franken
(always a favorite, I married a silly boy :D)

"Men always want to be a woman's first love,
That is their clumsy vanity.
We women have a more subtle instinct about things.
We want to be a man's last romance."
~ Oscar Wilde

'Til Next We Meet, My Loves,
♥,
~ Amy

"...As We All Are Part Of Each Other."

2009-09-01T19:30:00.003+09:00

"With my intellect I see cause for nothing but pessimism and even despair. But I can't settle for what my intellect tells me. That's not all of it. There are still stars which move in ordered and beautiful rhythm. There are still people in this world who keep promises..."
~ A Wind In The Door,
by Madeleine L'Engle

Pardon me, whilst I meander.

It's a thing I've noticed lately, how far apart we all seem from each other. I do not mean physically, but in our souls, in our zeal for identity through defining ideals, in our desire to put our own convictions above anyone else's, we've all lost touch with our fellow man. It seems to me that society on the whole has been pushing harder and harder to make us not only disagree with anyone who's ideas are different than our own, but also to disdain them. It's not enough to dislike someone with right-wing ideals, they have to seem crazy. It's not enough to disagree with a tree-hugging hippy liberal, they must be demonized, else you will not feel safe. It's frankly quiet wearying, the whole lot of you.

Of course, we all fall victim to this thinking. But it is not how the world is supposed to be. Should you stand for something? Of course, everyone should, everyone should look in their heart, or to their God, and find who they are. Find what is important to them, what is worth standing up for, as it defines you yourself in the end. But ideas and convictions should never be more important than your fellow man. Your firm belief should never be one that gives you leave to dismiss a fellow human being. You can disagree with someone. You can have lively debate. But my Lord, the sea of hatred that boils back home in my own country...I get frustrated. And then I am just sad, really sad.

I will tell you a story.When I was a little girl, I attended a church that, from good intentions and innocent beginnings, became something Different. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say, the change was slow and subtle, until it came to a point when, after some disagreements between Godly men, we were urged by our leader to "shun" a certain group who'd left the congregation. My parents of course had none of this drivel, and not too much later we left that community. But before they ever uttered a word in response to this "strong suggestion", my nine-year-old soul rebelled violently. They believed in the same Jesus I did. They believed in the same salvation I believed I had. I grew up believing in God. God is Love. God might tell me not to do certain things that may hurt me, but he'd never tell me to shun anyone, to harbor hate for anyone in my heart. I was only a child, but I KNEW then, and though I can be judgmental too, as all of us can be, I still know that it is poison straight to the heart.

Whether you believe in a deity, an afterlife, or you do not, we can all agree on one thing: When we go, we take only ourselves. Our material possessions will rot and decay, and all that will be left behind was how we treated our fellow man. Did you hide in a church all your life? Did you only surround yourself with people who thought and acted as you did? Did you disdain a church-goer, simply because you didn't believe in God and disliked what you believed religion did to society as a whole? Did you stop going to lunch with your co-worker when you found out she was a lesbian, because heaven forbid you be seen with THAT kind of person? Did you judge the girl who had an abortion? Did you curse out the protester outside the clinic?

All we have is each other. And while everyone should stand by their own convictions, to use your convictions as a license to hate, to avoid, to make snap judgments, is the surest way to aid in the decay of your own soul. Ideas will change and fall away. Countries will rise and fall and rise again. But the only way society will truly end, is when we are all too isolated to even speak to each other. Every single person, on their own little island, in their own little head telling themselves how right they are, and how wrong everyone else is.

Faith, Hope, & Love,
and of these,
The Greatest is Love.

I may be scarce in the days to come,
many loverly things will be going on here at home ;)

But I will try to keep things updated!
Expect a picture or five soon,
of my newly-blue hair.

Until then, I leave you in the good hands
of Heathcliff & Cathy :D

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

You Run With The Devil...

2009-08-26T13:05:00.007+09:00

Before anything else,
THANK YOU
to everyone who left such nice comments
on my last (big) entry :D
You warm my strange little heart!
Also, you're all GORGEOUS ;)

Now, entry!

The Girl At The Rock Show

Am I a girly-girl? I suppose so, by some
standards, at least.
I love my fashions, I heart makeup,
I collect creepy, huge-eyed dollies!
But there is another side to me,
a side that meshes with the girly side flawlessly
in real life, though in clothing, it does not always
translate as well at all.
I speak, of course, of my inner-rocker-chick.

Music has always been fundamental to
understanding the Me.
And while my tastes morph and evolve,
at the end of the day I am still a sucker for
a guitar, a set of drums, and an earnest voice.
As a teenager, music was my translator.
Old school Goo Goo Dolls and The Smashing Pumpkins
and Joy Division and Weezer.
And while lately I have gotten ever so tragically
indie and cooler-than-thou,
the formula remains,
along with my fondness for Skin Art.

But again, how to translate this fashionably?
I've never had trouble altering band t's,
or looking like the proper rock star girlfriend
(I was one for a while, after all)
but 'classy' isn't a word one often prescribes
to such looks.
More often, one looks as if
Hot Topic threw up all over them

Then again, Debbie Harry and Patti Smith
have never been anything but class.
(And Courtney Love is her own form of classy)
I've already experimented, as you may have seen,
what with my Blondie and my Siouxsie t's.
This season, I try in earnest!

We start with some boots...

Are they not the best things EVER?! :D
Forever21, of course.

Harry & The Potters T-Shirt.
Oh yeah, I wanna wrock ;)

Faithful military jacket,
Maurice's, long ago.
Patches include The Wards, LZ, & Bowie.

Can't touch this.

Demure? Maybe.
I would also like to bring to your attention
Tiny Black Shorts:
just one of the many gifts Japan
has given the world.
For the girl who likes the fashion-aspect of short skirts,
but not the potential skank-aspect!

Top: JC Penny's, forever ago
Skirt & Studded Cinch: Japanese Mall

Studs came back in force this year,
as anyone who follows any blog anywhere knows.
This has been a boon to the confused rocker girl!
Easily give any outfit that much more edge.

Denim Mini: Potentially pushing it,
as far as the class-factor goes.
However, how can you deny SD?

Top: Banded Dress, chopped by me.
Necklace: Local shop, altered by me.
Skirt: Thrifted, chopped by me.
Belt: Local shop
Social Distortion Hoodie: Gift from galpal.

Also starring!
Guitar Earrings: Japanese mall
Lo Sunglasses: Hot Topic, ages ago

In creative news,
I've eased back into jewelry making,
starting with the altering of this darling
little charm.

This came with a blouse I purchased,
and I adored it,
however I cannot wear gold.
I am a winter through and through,
gold looks awful on me.
Thus!

We engage in a bit of jiggery-pokey...

Viola! Silver.

Accomplished: I is it.

And while we're at it,
Here's a dash of music for you!
Now, I have some sushi with my name on it.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Look How They Shine...

2009-08-24T20:42:00.002+09:00

Real entry tomorrow.
For now, something strange, hilarious,
and also whimsical :D

I have always wanted to hug Beaker.

♥,
~ Amy

I'm Not Beautiful Like You (I'm Beautiful Like Me)

2009-08-19T11:24:00.003+09:00

You Are Who You Are Who You Are

Girls we are, in general, very insecure creatures.
Even the most confidant and outspoken of us
can give each other shopping lists of what
we do not like about our physical appearance,
let alone our various quirks and neurosis.
We are told to accept and love our bodies as they are,
by the same society that tells us
we should be a certain size, a certain color, a certain body type.

Personally, I think we should all take
a more balanced approach.
Yes, you are beautiful just as God made you.
There's still nothing wrong with making yourself
into your very best YOU.
Not Sienna, Not Zooey, Not Mary-Kate, YOU.

I think we tend to let that shopping list hold us back.
Maybe one mean person in your past caused you
to look at yourself through warped glasses,
and stunted your desire to change,
or, worse, made you obsessive
in your need to change.

I will use myself as the example, gladly,
of how to have a balanced outlook
between loving who you are,
and making yourself look like your best YOU.

There Are Things That Can Change

My Skin: My face? OILY! I have combination on my face, both oily and easily dried-out. I've never had HORRID acne, but enough to cause me angst, believe me. Worst of all? I have yet to find a solution that works for longer than 3 months. My face builds up an immunity, I swear. But you know what? I DON'T GIVE UP. I keep up a cycle of three facial cleansers, and every now and then I'll try something new. Yes it's annoying, but it works. So I DO IT.

Tooth Color: I have very crooked, yellow teeth. I was picked on for them all my life, and for a while, I thought my only solution would be when I got them straightened, whenever that was. Why whiten them, if I was only going to have to put braces on them later, getting them stained all over again? So I dealt with it, until I got sick of it. I want to feel better NOW, so I'll make myself feel better NOW! Crest White Strips are amazing :D I got lazy there for a little while, but am now back on track. SOOOO worth it.

Feet: Probably my most embarrassing problem...I had warts! Horrible ones! After one incident with a public shower sans flip-flops, I became the budding beginnings of Tree Man. I rarely went barefoot, wore socks to bed with Husbot, it was awful. I thought, with such a profusion, that I would have to wait until I could have a doctor prescribe a cure. WRONG! In a bout of desperation, I purchased Dr. Scholls Freeze-Away. FOUR TREATMENTS LATER, and they were GONE! Poof! I have pretty feet!!! Now I work to keep them moisturized, as I've always had dry skin on my feet, but otherwise? I HAVE PRETTY FEET! I am still jubilant over this. Simple stuff from the pharmacy DOES work most of the time, girls.

Lips: Less of a problem than the previous two, but even so, I am allergic to most lip products. I've envied girls who can grab whatever from the store and wear it well. But I've hunkered down and done my homework, and know how to look for hypoallergenic products. I'm always looking for more, if anyone has suggestions! Almay, while wonderful, is only one option.

Eyebrows: Ugh, I've always had thick eyebrows. In highschool I was completely clueless as to how to work with them, as most of us were. When i got my first job, one of the first things I did with y paycheck was get them waxed, and the lady botched them horribly. I've only found one person who did them well, and she lived hours away from me! So what did I do? I taught myself how to pluck my own damn eyebrows the way I like 'em! And save myself 30$+ a month.

Staying In Shape: The easiest, and the hardest. I've always been weak. I've always been easily-winded, under-fed, and prone to getting sick. Since moving to Japan, I have started working out in earnest, hooping daily, and eating healthier (an easy thing to do in this country). The hardest parts are motivation, and resisting the urge to become obsessive, as I was in the past, starving myself in bouts. Having friends to help keep you accountable is invaluable!

The best part about all of these,
even if they do not fully solve a problem,
they lend you OODLES of confidence in yourself.
Find your solutions!

There Are Things You Must Accept

My Nose: I despise my big, slightly-bent nose. Some days I feel all enlightened, and know that it is who I am, and that if I have a daughter, she'll likely have it too. What kind of message will I send her, if I change it? Other days, I find myself pricing plastic surgeons and comparing that to our budget plans for the next ten years. Bottom line, though? It's not gonna change tomorrow. I won't be uber-at peace with my body, nor will I have a few grand to drop on some slicin'. IT IS WHAT IT IS, TODAY. I know it is one of those things that is most noticable to me, that other people don't really see it the way I do. This applies to many things about yourself, incidentally! There are plenty of things about my face others find enviable. So suck it up, self. Either way, I'm stuck with this nose for a good while.

My Curves: I know, right? For the record, I do like having a shape. I like having hips, and a chest, especially as the rest of my body gets toned. But we all want what we can't have, and I wish I could be the willowy, lithe girl swathed in whatever designer dress she wants, on whom all styles are flattering. I envy Sienna Miller, I envy Jessica Stam and Cintia Dicker. But I've learned to dress what I have. And I know plenty of girls would kill (or drop good money) to have my cup-size. And hey, I have a husbot who's QUITE happy with my digits. So I pass over the suspenders fad, and enjoy being a classic body type.

Skin Tone: For YEARS I wanted to be able to tan. And while I've learned how to get a little healthy color to my face, I will never be tan. It's just not in my set of genes, despite the bit of Native American in me. I'm far more French. And you know what? That's okay. I keep my skin healthy. Tattoo artists rave about my skin tone as they paint upon me like a perfect white canvas and tell me to never, EVER tan. I'm pale. I like it.

My Height: It's not as if I am all that tall, really. Still, at 5'7, I am already a giant in Japan. Most of my good friends here are very petite, short and tiny. I feel like a giraffe in comparison. And then when I want to put on sky-high heels? Forget it, I feel ten feet tall. But SO WHAT? Especially when I found out that Rumi is the same height I am, I stopped caring. I'll wear them high heels if I want, I'll tower above the masses if I want to! Being singular is nothing to be scared of.

Some Things To Do

List What You Love: I love my eyes, I love how big they are and that they are dark. I love my hair and I love my floaty arms. I love my lips! People have told me they envy my lips, and I am happy to have them, in all their plump allergic-to-everything-ness!

Stop Using The Word 'Hate' To Describe Yourself: Sounds fluffy, but it's true! Even when you're talking about the things you don't like, don't use the word hate. You're slowly, subtely killing your own self-esteem.

Think Of All The Other Things That Make You Fabulous & Fascinating: I am a creative person. I spin worlds and see things nobody else does. I'm a grand cook and a deviant lover and I can knit a scarf in a single evening, and so on and so on. Knowing and owning all these wonderful things about yourself adds a spring to your step, a secretive smile to your face, a confidance of the soul. Few things brighten a face like confidance.

Listen To Your Loved Ones: This one is still hard for me. But when someone compliments something about you? Accept it! Thank them! Don't protest. Don't make a face. Especially when it is someone dear to you. This is a person who loves you inside and out and sees every bit of beauty about you. They are TELLING YOU THE TRUTH, even if you don't believe it. And slowly, maybe, by not protesting, you might start to take their words to heart.

Compliment Others: Seeing the beauty in the people around you in your every day life will, I believe, help you see it in yourself. Also, it is just good for the soul, plain and simple. Don't always be looking for the faults in yourself, look for the things that are dazzling in others.

Again, I often fail at these things.
But it is good to have them written down,
committed to memory.
I challenge everyone to do so!
What are the things you've changed in yourself?
The things you've learned to accept?
Do you use different tools to build up your own
self esteem?
I won't tag any other bloggers, but I think that it
would be a wonderful thing to share :D

'Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~Amy

Beautifulness

2009-08-17T16:14:00.005+09:00

Beautiful/Funny Words From Beautiful/Funny Women

Because that's always fun!

“Some of the most wonderful people
are the ones who don't fit into boxes.” ~ Tori Amos

“If you have no time for anything else, put on a little blush.
It gives you an easy glow.” ~ Estee Lauder

"It's a form of escapism, isn't it, to delve into your imagination? But it's also a divine kind of freedom: inside your mind is somewhere where you have total freedom, which no one can take away. If you go through painful events, or you find it hard to live, you have a greater desire to create something in your mind that's more beautiful."
~ Natasha Khan

“Oh my god, girls, wash your makeup brushes!”
~ Scarlett Johansson

“Maybe you don't like your job, maybe you didn't get enough sleep, well nobody likes their job, nobody got enough sleep. Maybe you just had the worst day of your life, but you know, there's no escape, there's no excuse, so just suck up and be nice.”
~ Ani DiFranco

"Just like any woman,...we weave our stories out of our bodies. Some of us through our children, or our art; some do it just by living. It's all the same."
~ Francesca Lia Block

“I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.”
~ Marilyn Monroe

♥,
~ Amy

Pearl's Dream

2009-08-13T18:37:00.002+09:00

There's a place I must go
There's a place I must go
It's not a place I have seen
But I’ll get there in a blue dream...

Down the ocean road
Past a sign that says 'Good Love Town'
Into a darkness where the stars do drown
But a star in me needs to be free...

So I'm a little under the weather.
I had a wonderful rock-themed entry
that I've been wanting to do for a while, alas,
the idea of running around putting on clothes
is currently as appealing to me as
walking outside in this humid,
earthquake-ridden summer heat.
But it shall be saved,
as I have been plotting an entry on
how to fashionably pull off
Rocker Chick Chic
for a good while now.
I will, after all, always be at heart,
The Girl At The Rock Show.

Anyways, a short little entry of substance!
I've gotten back into the swing of polyvore,
and I am ever so pleased that I have.
Autumn is coming soon,
(not soon enough for my boiling New Englander blood)
So here is a recap of the summer's
personal trends,
and those to come in the future!

Summer In The City by Leanan Sidhe featuring Forever21

I am not a summer-dresser.
Thus, there were a lot of new items in my closet.
Shorts returned after a long absense,
and more age-appropriate graphics.
(Star Wars, of course, knows no age)
Bright color is my friend now, huzzah!
Those studded Forever21 flipflops are of the gods.

Fall/Winter in Kyoto by Leanan Sidhe featuring Dorothy Perkins

Fall, of course, is another story entirely!
I shall not have to buy nearly as many new items,
as I keep the classic lines in my closet always.
Which is wise, I think, as trends come and go,
and thanks to Forever21 can suppliment cheaply.
Tweed skirts and denim are forever!
I can't wait for those boots to arrive in the mail,
squee!
My faithful black military jacket cannot
wait to leave the closet.

Makeup by Leanan Sidhe on Polyvore.com

Aaand my current face!

Lash Blast: Totally lives up to all the hype.
I have learned to not fear color on my eyes,
and have recently ordered some dazzling colors
from Lime Crime.
I do whatever Gala tells me too :D
I use clear mascara to set my eyebrows,
and have discovered the wonder that is
liquid eyeliner. Oh my gawd, use it!
Those aren't my brushes, but I have a similar set.
I cannot stress how much nicer shadows,
concealer, etc. go on when using a proper brush!
Just remember to shampoo them gently once a week!

All right, enough foofera!
I must go medicate myself and curl up on the couch
watching Project Runway.

Next Entry,
how to be the classy rocker chick :D

Until then, Trailer!
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus!
For those unaware, Heath Ledger's last film.
After his death, Collin Farrel, Jude Law, and
Johnny Depp stepped in to complete his scenes,
and donated all of their salaries to Heath's daughter,
Mathilda.
It looks just as beautiful as it should.

'Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Build A Ladder To The Sky...

2009-08-04T17:00:00.007+09:00

(from flickr)

Pastels & Beautifully Delusional Women

This week looks to be a nice one.
I'm working out harder,
I'm feeling creative again,
And I feel like I want to make things again,
which is always a goodly thing!
Hopefully I'll have some jewelry made soon.

For now, frillies!

This HBO film was brought to my attention as something I HAD to see in two ways! First, I read a rather fascinating article in Elle about the plot and the fabulous fashions contained within. Also, one of my closest friends here in Japan is the niece of Vivian Baker, who did all of Drew Barrymore’s makeup and prosthetics, and who happens to be up for two Emmy Awards thanks to this flick! So we had to have a viewing/pajama party when I bought the DVD, obviously.

Grey Gardens tells the story of Edith Bouvier Beale (Jessica Lange) and her daughter, also named Edith (Drew Barrymore)…Big Edie and Little Edie, respectively…the aunt and first cousin of Jackie Onassis. The film flashes back and forth between the days of Little Edie’s youth, when she was a stylish, wealthy debutante, and the late 70’s, when she and her mother are living in poverty in the crumbling remains of the family summer home, Grey Gardens. We see, over the course of the film, what brought them to this place, and what ultimately becomes of them.

After failing to make something of her art and the failure of her marriage, Big Edie retreats from society, hiding herself away in her house. After her first great heartbreak at the hands of a married man (when she knew she should have known better) and the return of her embarrassing alopecia (which causes ALL of Drew Barrymore’s hair to fall out), Little Edie allows herself to be dragged along into reclusion with her mother. The trust fund slowly runs out, the house begins to decay, the cats take over, and it isn’t until the Health Department raids the place that Jackie finds out exactly what has happened to her favorite cousin.

The themes of the film are, frankly, lovely. The complicated relationship between all mothers and daughters is illustrated in this drastic and unhealthy example, as well as what happens when we let fear and past failures get the better of us…again, in a very drastic way. Visually, it’s lovely as well! Even in their poverty, the Edies were known for being extremely stylish and avant-garde, and both actresses portray them brilliantly, as women who won’t admit that their lives have taken a downturn. And oh my lawd, Vivian definitely earned those Emmy nods. Drew looks drastically different, but not as if she even HAS a prosthetic on, which she does for the entire film. Later on, with her hair all having fallen out and her face covered in age spots, you catch yourself thinking she’s really let herself go. And the difference between young Jessica Lange and elderly Jessica Lange will take your breath away.

The film has a pleasantly happy ending, of a sort, with Little Edie finally overcoming her selfish fear of the world for the last few decades of her life, and you’re cheering for her. This film could be a downer for some, but overall, it speaks to the heart. We’ll be having another party Emmy Night, keep your fingers crossed for Vivian Baker!

~~~

Bat For Lashes released her newest video,
for one of my very favorite songs off of
Two Suns.
Oh Natasha Khan, you are so weird!
I love it! And because I do,
you all get to see it as well ;)

~~~

Wardrobe Project!

I give you the many faces of girly.

Super-Girly!
I'm rather enamored of these shoes.
The bow, while not suitable for
all occasions, makes my short hair happy.

Headband, Shoes, Top, Skirt: Japanese Mall
Necklace: Made By Moi
White Stockings: K-Mart :D
Belt: Old Navy

Many new clips!
I am prepping for when my hair
is once more blue.

Sunday Girly!

Top, Skirt: Forever21
Camisole: Maurice's
Stockings: K-Mart
Steve Madden Shoes: Payless

Is this red giraffe-print not DIVINE?!

Daily Girly!
Top, Skinny Jeans: Forever21
Shoes, AWESOME Red Bag: Japanese Mall
Hello Kitty Headband: Plato's Closet

Oh hai <.<

Next time, I hope to have some new
jewelry made to show off!
I've already started knitting again,
oh the domestic joys!

'Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~Amy

A Deplorable Lack of Natural Light

2009-07-30T21:05:00.005+09:00

Of Cuttery & Skinnies & Surveys

Does it weird anyone else out, that we go about
with inches upon inches of dead STUFF hanging
off of the back of our heads?
I find it delightfully macabre, if I think about it
for too long :D

SO!
It's been a few days of returning to form.
The hair has been chopped off!
And I have once again braved the Skinny Jean.
But before you get to see those pictures,
here, have a survey I stole from
My new favorite Mermaid!

1. Who’s your favourite designer?
I have many! Betsy Johnson, Alexander McQueen, Tarina Tarantino, any of my friends who are good with a needle ;)

2. If you had to move out of the country you are living in now, where would you choose to live?
But…I like Japan! Oh fine, England I suppose. Or Australia.

3. Do any of your friends blog?
A few people I know IRL do. They are listed to your right.

4. What is the scariest thing you have ever done?
Hmm. See, I seek out things that will scare me, so I do not know. There are emotional scares, phobia scares, adrenaline scares…jumping off a cliff is pretty high up there, though, even if there was water at the bottom.

5. What hair products do you use?
Garnier Fructis shampoo & conditioner, followed by John Freda anti-frizz serum, and heat-guard if I flat-iron.

6. Would you rather be in a submarine by yourself for six months or in a rocket ship in space with your best friend for a year?
Oh god, I dunno. Probably rocket ship, because even if Dena and I kill each other after month 11, we’d get to float and I am WAY too claustrophobic for a sub.

7. Would you rather be a model in Paris or a musician in Barcelona?
Musician in Barcelona, even though I have very little musical talent. If I could be magically given some, than yes. If it were with the talents I currently possess, then model.

8. Would you rather be an artist in San Francisco or a dancer in New York?
Same criteria. Dancer if I suddenly have talent, artist otherwise…I love New York far more than California.

9. Would you go back and change anything in your life?
Not as many as people would assume, they made me who I am. There are a few moments that could have been avoided, though, mostly ones that greatly hurt other people.

10. Do you have a job? If so, where? And do you like it?
Not currently. Unless you count Being Fabulous, in which case, I LOVE it.

11. Are your friends fashionable?
A fair few of them are, I think! Dena, Kater and I are pretty damn hip and with it.

12. Why did you decide to start this blog?
In the current incarnation? Because I liked cataloguing my adventures, sans most of the personal life. Also for the purposes of Wardrobe Project.

13. When did you start this blog?
I originally started it in September of 2006, and kept it until early 2009, at which point I cleaned out all the emo crap and started anew, with new goals.

14. Did you or do you make any of your clothes yourself?
I am awesome at altering tshirts into something flattering. I’ve started venturing out into other avenues again lately too. I also knit a lot, and make most of my own jewelry.

15. If you could be anyone for a day who would it be?
Amanda Palmer, depending on the day ;)

16. What’s your favourite highstreet shop?
That’s a tough one, seeing as if I want to spend lots of money, I’ll go to an independently owned boutique.

17. If you could live anywhere in the whole world, where would it be?
After here, probably either NYC or the middle of nowhere, Ireland. I am only comfy in jam-packed cities, or the open country. The in-between places, without tall buildings or tall mountains, make me depressed.

18. What’s the one thing you regret not doing most?
Hmm. Happily, I do not have many of those. I regret not pushing myself further in school, in general.

19. Favourite colour?
Black.

20. What’s your perfect summer outfit?
Swishy skirt, fun/weird/band top, heels, shades.

21. Who’s your favourite radio DJ?
No radio in my life, happily.

22. Can you play any instruments?
Piano a little.

23. What colour is your toothbrush?
White and purple.

24. Best and worst thing about blogging?
Best: Having an outlet to express my more creative sides, fashion-minded sides, etc. By showing myself as I really am from those angles, I make connections with people from all over the place! A connection of souls, for a girl who had so few kindreds in the past, is welcome in any form.

I agree with Kim for the worst: The worst thing is trying to get your name out there and sometimes putting hours of work into writing and improving things for almost nothing in return, being frustrated about what to do and where to go with what you're doing, and having negative people try to bring you down.

25. Where do you see your blog in 5 years time?
No idea! Hopefully with more readers and thus, more interactive features.

26. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
I shall be 28! And hmm. We’ll probably be ready to have kids by then, probably back in the States. Hopefully published, writing regularly, living somewhere extraordinary. Wherever the wind blows.

27. Who are your favorite bands/music artists?
The list is far too long. Topping the list, Tori Amos, Social Distortion, Bat For Lashes, The Magnetic Fields, New Order, The Smashing Pumpkins, Iron & Wine, Placebo, Amanda Palmer…

28. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
I have four brothers and one sister, living.

29. If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Black. It’s for all occasions.

30. Your favorite item in your wardrobe?
Black tights.

31. Your least favorite item in your wardrobe?
I don’t buy things unless I feel passionate about them.

32. If you could meet up and talk fashion/go shopping with anyone, who would you pick and why?
Zooey Deschanel! She’d be terribly fun and hilarious, and her personal style is divine, and close to my own. We could swap shoes :D

33. If your perfect day was patterned after a song, which song would it be?
Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles

34. Describe your capsule wardrobe:
Dresses, skirts, tights, denim shorts, killer heels, sweaters, flats, unique and pretty tops.

35. Where do you get inspiration from?
Mainly books, fashion magezines, and whimsical music. I cannot listen to Loreena McKennitt without being inspired, it is impossible.

36. What do you want to do with your life?
Leave the world more colorful and fantastic than how I found it. Be known for my stories.

37. Who is most important to you?
Rick, my sister, Cthulhu.

38. If you could host a dinner party and could invite anyone, who would you invite?
Oh my, the choices! Jesus, Rick, Dena, Kater, Amanda Palmer, Galileo, Billy Corgan, Neil Gaiman, Francesca Lia Block, Johnny Depp, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Betsy Johnson, Zooey Deschanel, Harry Potter, Death, Alice Liddel, Natasha Khan, Brytnee, C. S. Lewis, Wil Wheaton, Alan Moore, Anderson Cooper, Mum, Buddha…

39. Do you have any style icons?
Sienna Miller (even if I am not built like her), Zooey Deschanel (I am built AND colored like her!), Kat Von D (her personality grates, but she herself looks like a goddess), Natasha Khan (Disco Indian Princess!), Gala Darling (FAB color + ink!), Jayne Mansfield (the girl can’t help it!), Rose McGowan (so 40’s PinUp!), the list goes on…

40. What is your favorite decade for vintage clothing?
30’s and 60’s :D

41. What’s on your birthday list this year?
Oh, no idea. Probably non-essentials, such as another Blythe, and more ink :D

42. Who is your favourite disney character?
I will always be a big fan of Belle.

43. What are your pet peeves?
Rudeness, willful ignorance, disrespect (esp. of another culture…I see this a lot, makes me want to hit someone), children who have clearly never been disciplined a day in their lives and act as such, people who put those lame “our family” stickers on their car…yes, you all look like stick figures…how much taste have you lost lately, hmm?

44. What is your favourite quote?
“It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live.” ~ Albus Dumbledore

And now!
HAIR!

This is like, RIGHT afterwards.
I liked the cut, hated the way it was styled.

Mhmm.

I LOVE the back. So short!

Here it is today,
after washing all the soccer-mom out.
Daaaahling, I LOVE it.

And here I am with hair:

I wore this to a football game
last saturday.
Sometimes I look fifteen.

PINK!
AFI top from old workplace, altered by me.
Skirt: thrifted & chopped
Leggings & Shoes: Mall in Yokosuka

GASP!
SKINNIES!

I love that I can rock headbands again.
Jeans: Forever21
Blondie Top: KMart, altered by me.
Vest: PX in Yokota
Shoes: Payless, ages ago.
Headband: KMart, ages ago.
Teenie Tiny Pumpsocks: Mall in Yokosuka.

Blurry!

I love my natural wave again.

That is all for now.
I was going to review Grey Gardens,
but I think that requires another viewing.
So there's that to look forward to ;)

'Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

You Come Out At Night...

2009-07-27T11:27:00.005+09:00

Movies To Meditate To

A break in the regular blogging, for random.
Generally, I enjoy my escapism and immersion.
I'm the mean person who hates when people start
talking during the film ;)
And yet, there are times when I am home alone,
and need inspiration and an ambiance in which to
write, paint, create something, or just let
my many scattered thoughts settle.
Here are my very favorite films to think to.

Marie Antoinette

Of course, Sofia's films are all dream-like,
which is why two of them are on my list.
Not only is the imagery to die for,
the 80's shoegazer soundtrack is lovely.
I am in love with this film and it's soundtrack.
And I really feel for Antoine.
Good if one needs to feel especially girly.
Also fun to eat sweet things whilst watching.

~~

MirrorMask

A girl falls into another world, what could be better?!
This film is like walking through a sketchbook,
so beautiful and strange, a plot we've seen before
in a world that doesn't exist anywhere else.
My love for Neil notwithstanding,
this is an amazing and wonderfully magical film.
It always makes me want to draw, as well.

~~

RENT

The Broadway soundtrack, while dear to me,
does not come with moving pictures ;)
I put this movie on when I'm having writer's block,
or when I need a huge shot of optimism,
straight to my veins.
The music gets me dancing around the living room.
Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.
It also brings me happy memories of times with Dena.

~~

The New World

I have been known to drift for days through this film.
A gentle, long, meandering story, the images
take me to the woods behind my parents' house again.
The love story breaks your heart softly,
and then builds it up again, making me want
to write something romantic and epic and memorable.

~~

The Fellowship of The Ring

Perhaps it is because I've seen it so very many times,
and have read the book almost as many times.
I cannot drift during the other two, I get too caught up.
This first chapter, however, is a welcome companion
on long cold nights with a mug of cocoa, as I enter
Jo March-mode, and write for hours on end,
the lovely music in my ears and the world of Middle Earth
just on the edge of my vision as I do.
Beauty incarnate.

(my favorite extended scene)

~~

Casshern

Every since this film was shown to me,
it has been on my list of meditation companions.
A very long film to sit through and watch,
but it cannot be long enough when I am developing
new and interesting characters.
This film is ridiculously gorgeous, the closest
I've ever seen live action come to looking like an anime.
Go buy it. With subtitles, if you must ;)

~~

Lost In Translation

Where would I be without this film?
Oh wait, I'm living it, sans a neglectful husband!
This one makes me feel like I can curl up in it,
or wander the world like an invisible Scarlett.
As with all of Sofia's films, the soundtrack
comes across as an old friend, dear and comforting.
A good late-night-surfing-the-interwebz-movie.

What films do you like to meditate to?
:D

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabits...

2009-07-24T14:37:00.004+09:00

Things & Stuff

So a little of this,
A little of that!
I've been up to a lot of little things,
and have seen/read some fun things too!
Thus,
the next few entries will be peppered with 'em.

Coraline
Henry Selick, 2008

Despite my great love for Neil Gaiman, I didn't see this film until the other night. Mostly due to the fact that when it was released, I was stuck in Norfolk, with few transportation options and NO friends. Sadface. But now it is on dvd, complete with fashionable 3d glasses! So I bought, and watched, and only mostly enjoyed, sadly.

Coraline Jones has recently moved into a new (old) house with her parents. Stressed with their latest project, her parent's are often high-strung and neglectful, leaving Coraline to her own devices. In her boredom, she discovers another world through a little hidden door in the sitting room, a world just like her own, only wonderfully improved. As such stories often go, however, the perfect world, seemingly made just for Coraline, is more treacherous than it seems.

As I said when reviewing Harry Potter, I try and take a reasonable approach with books-to-films. Even so, I was disappointed by how...mainstream the original story was made to be. To be sure, it was just as creepy as the novel, and all the important plot points and themes were there! But I don't know. Coraline is much more mature for her age in the novel, while still coming across as a kid, that is why it transcends ages. And while she does have some cute moments, and is certainly brave, the main character is just as much of an obnoxious bored kid as any other in any other kid's movie. It made me sad, as did the overall silliness-factor. I know, it was crafted to be more marketable...but why, asks the geek? :P

Even so, I enjoyed it overall. The music is beautiful, and the stop-motion animation is BRILLIANT and gorgeous, the 3d aspect really adding to the experience, as opposed to being a gimmick. It was just scary enough for a young audience, while keeping an adult entertained. Read the book first, though.

Skin Deep

Brought to my attention by the fabulous Gala Darling, who wrote the forward, Skin Deep is a beautiful collection of poetry pertaining to ink and those who love it. A cornucopia of authors each bring a unique perspective on the art of tattooing, the many, many reasons why people get tattoos, and the simple beauty a good tattoo can possess. I read the entire collection on a train ride to and from Yokosuka today, a truly ethereal experience. You can purchase Skin Deep for 6$ US here: Etsy Ahoy!

I am a ring person.
I recently found the Ace of <3's ring
at a shop in Yokosuka,
along with many fun little
Alice in Wonderland treats.
The green-stone ring was my Nana's.
And of course, the wedding rings :D

Random shots before going out,
in the pouring Japanese rain & humidity.
Yeah...I did not look this good
when I got back home.

ZEBRA!

T-shirt and tights: various shops in Yokosuka
Vest: Yokota
Wellies: Target
Shorts: Forever21

Next Entry,
Blog survey, Grey Gardens,
And looking like an Easter Egg :D

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

"You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."

2009-07-17T13:22:00.005+09:00

Potter Tales & Floppy Clothes

You guessed it!
Time for my Epic Half-Blood Prince Review!
It is very long.
Also, it is full of spoilers,
Especially if you haven't read the whole series.
You have been warned.
There will be pretty clothes at the end!

Mmmkay. It’s no secret that I am a massive Harry Potter fan. It took my best friend Dena a long time to wear me down, but at the age of 18, I finally broke down and read the first five books (the only ones present at the time). Two things finally pushed me over the edge: 1, I found out that Ralph Fiennes had been cast as Lord Voldemort in the upcoming 4th film, and I adore Ralph Fiennes, not only because he‘s a dishy Brit, but also because he is a fine actor indeed. I wanted to see him play yet another bad guy. And 2, I was told that the books got much darker, much more adult, and in turn, much more human, even in such a fantastical world. I wasn’t disappointed.

Those who’ve read the books know that, starting at around the end of Book 4, things stop being kid-friendly. The moment Cedric Diggory dies, your comfortable, dangerous-but-not-really-dangerous world shatters…delightfully. You’ve spent 3 books getting to know and love these kids, teachers, their families and friends, and then all of a sudden, The Enemy regenerates fully, the war starts, and you are deeply invested in what becomes of them. From Book 4 onward, things get progressively darker, more dangerous, more heart-breaking, but our character’s moral fiber only becomes stronger in contrast.

Which brings us to The Half-Blood Prince! Having enjoyed the book thoroughly, I was wary of the film. Then again, ever since Lord Of The Rings, I have taken a pragmatic view on Books-To-Films. Film is an ENTIRELY different medium than the written word, I think way too many fans of a certain series forget this. Visual story-telling requires a different approach, different ways of keeping the audience stimulated, not to mention the compressed time. With a book, you are able to digest the many emotional threads at your own pace. A movie has 2 and a half hours to get all the important information across. I believe, therefore, that it all depends on how much the filmmakers love the material they’re dealing with. They’ll get the spirit across. That said, I think this was a wonderful telling of the story! I’ve heard some people say it was slower than the others, I think because the drama of the last two stories is much more internal than the previous ones.

Harry Potter has just seen his godfather killed right in front of him, and the 6th film opens with those last few moments of Film 5, a numb 16 year old kid covered in blood, flashbulbs going off in his face as his beloved Headmaster wraps an arm around him, leading him away from the mob of reporters. I know a film is going to be good if I’m on the verge of tears 20 seconds in!

Over the course of the film, Harry & Dumbledore are searching through the memories Dumbledore has collected over the years pertaining to Tom Riddle, the boy/young man who would become Lord Voldemort. There is a gap in the information, however, and it could very well be the proof Dumbledore has been looking for, as to why their enemy has proven seemingly impossible to kill, why he continues to return. This memory resides in the head of Hogwarts’ newest teacher, and Harry is charged with charming it out of the old man.

Meanwhile, there’s humor a’plenty as hormones threaten the structure of our favorite trio, and it’s hilarious. Also, previously one-dimensional and a simple big-talker, Draco Malfoy suddenly finds himself charged with a task by The Dark Lord himself, after the imprisonment of Draco’s father. Draco has to prove himself, to clear the family name…or he will be killed. His mother pleads his case to Severus Snape, who promises to carry out the task if Draco cannot. Throughout the film, Harry witnesses Draco’s slow decay and unraveling.

All culminates with the discovery that Voldemort has split his soul into pieces…this is how he keeps coming back, and Harry and Dumbledore realize that, by finding and destroying all the pieces, they will at last be able to banish the enemy forever. But before this quest can go very far, Draco succeeds in letting Death Eaters into the heavily-guarded school. When faced with his ultimate task, however, Draco falters, unable to kill the man who has been his Headmaster for six years. As he promised, Snape steps in to finish the job.

As many reviewers have said, the acting in this chapter of the saga is beyond superb, each and every cast member brought their best to the party. Daniel Radcliffe has come so far, from being the dazzled little boy in the first film, to now being an older teenager who has seen and survived far more than any kid should have to, with his soul and good heart still in tact. Rupert and Emma are just as good, they know their characters through and through by now. Michael Gambon embodied fully the much more playful, good-humored Dubledore even in this, the darkest time for his character.

Most surprising of all, of course, was Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy. As I’ve said, in the books and the films, Draco has been a one-sided, stereotypical bully making up for a lack of confidence in himself, like any bully. In Half Blood Prince, he suddenly has to redeem his family in the eyes of The Dark Lord, or risk his own death, and possibly that of his mother, by killing one of the kindest and most powerful men in the world. The strain visibly wears on him, and Tom played him beautifully.

Now, everyone knows I have an unhealthy crush on Severus Snape, in no small part due to Alan Rickman’s portrayal. Even I was stunned, though, at his Snape in this film. We who’ve read the whole series know, where his loyalties truly lie, that he is Dumbledore’s man to the last, that he also promised Dumbledore that he would kill him, if only to keep an (essentially) innocent boy from having to. That Dumbledore was dying anyway. And you could SEE it! Even if you DIDN’T know the whole story, Severus’ face was an open book, if only for a few short moments. His moments of hesitation, the flashes of regret, his panic when Bellatrix almost killed Harry, it was all there. I overhead one of the Americans in the theater talking to his friend as he left, obviously not having read the books, saying, “But man, he looked like he didn’t WANT to kill him, even after he did it!” Alan Rickman, you are brilliant.

Dumbledore’s death scene on the ground was heart-breaking. I was a sobbing baby, when Harry brushed his mentor’s hair back from his face, while the rest of the school banished the Dark Mark overhead. Brilliant.

There were some things I disliked, of course. While I know ALL of the memories from the book couldn’t be fit in, I think the memories pertaining to Tom Riddle’s mother were essential to Harry’s understanding of his enemy, they should have been there.

The romantic comedy aspect, while really good and funny, could have been cut back a little. It wasn’t so much of a focus in the book, tough I suppose it does keep the hormonal teenagers in the audience happy. Still, a few of those scenes could have been cut, perhaps to make room for the memories of Merope Gaunt? But oh well.

I would have liked to see the Fleur/Bill storyline, and more of Tonks/Remus, but as I understand it such things will be saved for the last two films. As it was, I was pleased with what little, subtle bit we got of Tonks and Remus together. Yes, they were together, when in the book they don’t finally get together until the end (very dramatically). But the urgency of starting a relationship when they both have dangerous jobs and live in a dangerous world was still there. I look forward to the baby-drama.

Overall, I loved it. After two viewings, I’m still not done picking out all the little lovely details. I’ll go again this weekend! Way to go, team. I cannot wait until Deathly Hallows, Part 1.

And to cheer myself, my favorite scene
from the very first film
(Inexplicably with Spanish subtitles!)

Wardrobe Project!
I have recently acquired new things,
for almost nothing!

Dress from Forever21,
Boots vintage find.
I'm usually not a red person.
But I like this a lot.

It has paisley!

Worn to HBP:

Very Tonksy, I thought.

Shorts: Forever21
Shirt: Random find at Japanese mall
Tights: Old Navy, ages ago.
Boots: Hot Topic, years ago.

I was in bad need of a summery white blouse.
I found this on, you guessed it, Forever21!

Skirt from Japanese mall,
Shoes thrifted.

Now, this may not be the BEST color combo,
with my complexion.
However, I kinda love this outfit.

Top: Forever21
Skirt: Japanese mall
Shoes: Random shop in Hakone.

I am a floppy,
fluttery butterfly!
Every article of clothing was below
30 dollars, I believe.

And now, to go reread Deathly Hallows,
and perhaps write many stories.
The Muse, she has returned!

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Bleeding The Orchids

2009-07-10T17:00:00.002+09:00

Blockage

There are many reasons why Writer’s Block can be intensely depressing, the general sense of failure usually chief among them. Still, it leaves me puzzled sometimes, why a lapse in creativity can effect me badly enough to evoke a cold sweat every now and then, making me not want to rise from the couch, not go any further into a story than just skirting about the margins. So I gave it a good long analysis this afternoon. Why did I even want to be a writer in the first place?

I was born one. I composed my first story when I was seven, comprised entirely of pictures. I wrote my first full-length story down when I was eleven, after dreaming it in it’s entirety. Both of those stories are still tucked away in my super-secret box of projects, half-finished plots, imperfect, incomplete thoughts, and a very few completed ones. Stories, magic, romance, horror, it has all shone brighter for me than anything in this world ever has.

Fiction has been and always will be The Great Escape. When I was nothing more than the oddity in the corner with precious few friends, I had Diana, my warrior-mother, and her strange world to write in. When I wasn’t invited along to birthday parties or when I was laughed at as an awkward 12 year old, I could comfort myself with the knowledge that at least I could form a complete sentence. And when I got older and the boys kept on picking the shallow damsels in distress, who dreamed of college parties and a job behind a desk, I was writing my future. New York and Paris and Tokyo. A boy who wore scarves and scribbled in leather-bound journals. Rising above my old mistakes by writing about them, by turning my great tragedies and all the things I missed out on, wanted, didn’t understand. Ephemera and fashion and character sketches scattered across my desk along with drained cups of tea.

My identity has centered, in my own head, around one word: Author. A Vehicle for all the dreams, all the missed hopes. The thing you are best at, the thing nobody could pick on you for, because they were too busy being awed. Who is she? What did we miss in her? I admit, those moments are both satisfying and frightening as all hell. Expectation. Appreciation. Things I want, things that scare me to death.

So when it goes away, when the Muse goes to bed for a while, I realize that I become terrified. I wonder, for a few days, if they were right to laugh at the girl who listened to odd music, the girl with few dear friends, the girl who loudly proclaimed that she would never make her living in the mainstream, never walk to the beat of someone else’s drum. The Gift has failed me, now Who Am I?

But even writing it down, it makes me laugh. I still Am. It’s only a moment, it’s only a time to recharge. The stories are there, there characters are waiting in the wings, waiting for when my brain and my nerves finally put away the fear of both rejection and success. Waiting for that perfect moment when all of the ideas and plot threads and twists come together.

And I remind myself that I have written myself this far. I love a boy who fell in love first with my writing, and tells me so, in long letters and leather-bound journals he fills while he’s away. I am reminded by the few, though dear friends who still ask on a weekly basis, what will happen in such-&-such story next?! I curl up in the voice of a favorite author, or the music of a favorite muse, and relax, letting them do the work in my brain for a while. I have had New York. I am having Tokyo. I’ll have Paris next year.

I am still Author, just resting.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Nuthin Muffin!

2009-07-09T12:33:00.003+09:00

Lazy Summer

Entries have been a bit sparse,
due to a lack of excitement,
and a break in the addition of new clothing items.
The 4th was a fashion delight,
I'll have pictures of that outfit hopefully soon.

Otherwise, summer is lazy!
Working out every day,
and then lazing about,
pool-side or sushi-bar-side.
Also, writing stories and taking pictures
of Blythes in fun places!

Still, I find some time to read good things,
and rent some delightful films.

Push
2009

Oh where to begin on this one? Well, let's just say, it was a good idea that went somewhat awry. In a world where there exist certain people with special powers, The Division hunt them down and try to turn the more talented into weapons, by boosting said powers, which has proven entirely unsuccessful. That is, until one girl, played by a very uninteresting Camilla Belle.

This movie had lots of potential. The characters are mostly interesting and likable (minus Camilla Belle), their powers are very cool, and portrayed in an interesting way, and the premise, while not original, has enough unique flavor to be exciting and stand on its own. Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans are both believable as their characters and have a great back-and-forth, and Dakota's normally nerve-grating maturity actually is endearing in this role. Also, the setting is great! Hong Kong doesn't get nearly enough screen time these days.

Okay that's enough of the good stuff. I usually enjoy Camilla Belle, but in this movie she's just really, really boring. The love story is contrived and isn't believable for a minute, the dialogue is more corny than is strictly required of an action film, and 90% of it is dubbed, which never sounds good. The plot was predictable, I had the whole thing figured out halfway through (and I'm usually surprised by the obvious, I am loathe to admit). And did I mention the corny, non-ironic dialogue?

Still, it's a fun flick...I liked it. I'm glad I didn't buy it, though.

Sabriel
Garth Nix

I have read these books oh, probably five times each since discovering them at the age of 18. I really don't want to write a review...so check them out ;) The perfect fantasy trilogy for the person who DOESN'T like the usual fantasy cliches. Wonderfully original series!

Okay so how about some typical blog fodder, hmm?
My skin has been acting great lately,
so I thought I'd participate in the
Polyvore Skincare Meme
that's been going around...

Skin Care by Leanan Sidhe featuring Fresh fashion

Shower: I usually buy a generic, moisture-rich, scent-free bodywash, and then mix it with my favorite Bath & Body Works shower gel. I love their scents, but their products dry out my skin! Thus the base bodywash. May not sound cost-efficient, however, I stock up on my favorite B&B scents (Japanese Cherry Blossom & Warm Vanilla Sugar) right after Christmas, during their massive sales. I have enough B&B products to last me a year.

Face: Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser daily, and St. Ives Apricot Scrub twice/thrice a week. My pores, I cannot show you them! ("My pores are tiny, my pores are cute!!" ... I miss Daria)

Lotions: Skin milk all over, Pond's Dry Skin Cream on the face nightly, and I baby my tattoos with some pure Vitamin E lotion. Helps them stay bright, and fights any sun damage that may get through the sunscreen.

ETC. Coppertone, DAILY! I am very pale, I will never tan, I do not want to be tan. Living in sunny Japan, I must be especially careful. I wake up in the morning, and I put on sunscreen, every day. Also, I know it's become the cliche, but it really is true: More water in the body, better, healthier skin. I have noticed a big difference, since I started working out daily and thus drinking LOTS of water.

Next Entry,
Harry Potter Costumes
&
Hopefully More Stuff.

I leave you with this picture of me,
in my awesome new LOFNOTC shirt.

Altered by moi, of course.
Salute!

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Baby, It's You

2009-06-29T14:00:00.007+09:00

Adventures!

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

And I LOVE them!

Rather Faye Valentine-esque!
They make me happy.

That is all for now!
Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Sprout & The Bean

2009-06-24T12:35:00.004+09:00

Raindrops & Denim & Accessories

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...

BEHOLD!
I look my proper size!

+ Candie's Boots :D

Substance in the near future!
Until then,
Here, enjoy some Social Distortion.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

And You Are Starry Starry Starry...

2009-06-20T18:05:00.008+09:00

Days Of Costume

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.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Limping 'Round On Pagan Holidays...

2009-06-16T14:04:00.004+09:00

The Time Has Come

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!

Then I saw this lovely girl
in the Sartorialist:

Will it work on my head?
With my face?
Who knows!

Here's me, currently.

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.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

And The Livin's Eeeeasy...

2009-06-10T12:00:00.008+09:00

I Return!

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.

And Then,

Katers tagged me,
for this lengthy meme!
Woot!

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...
>.>

Here's Amanda Palmer singing with Her Daddy :D

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Meow!

2009-05-28T20:01:00.003+09:00

Normally I don't post daily event-type entries on this blog,
however!
Today is no ordinary day!
I has a kitty!!!!!
Well, almost.

First my application has to go through, and THEN Husbot has to meet her as well, they like everyone in the family to meet the pets before they go home. Or he can simply email them and say "Yes, we talked about this, kitty will not be an unwanted surprise, etc." I understand that all this must be done because a) it's military-affiliated and b) they really care about the animals there. They have a big playroom for all the kitties, things for them to climb on, etc. They love the cats they take care of, which is lovely and makes me very happy for the homeless/abandoned pets. Still, I am impatient :D

Her name is Genie (I could change it, she's only 2 years old, but I kinda like it. Feral child :D). She's spayed already, and is suuuuper sweet and cuddly, if a little bit shy. She's a brown and tan striped tabby, on the smaller side and quite dainty. I kicked myself for not taking a picture, I forgot until after we'd left. Soon, though! The gal pictured above is a dead-ringer.

Am excited! I may have to wait until the 9th before I can bring her home, but it'll be worth it. Perhaps I'll visit her after my AOB classes next week :D

KITTY!

EDIT: You can find out more about PAWS,
where Genie is living, here!

~ Amy

Some Love For You!

2009-05-28T11:56:00.004+09:00

Glass
by Bat For Lashes
(listen to the song here)

I will rise now
And go about the City,
In the street's broadways I seek
Him whom my soul loveth

Went over the sea
what did I find
A thousand crystal towers
A hundred emerald cities
And the hand of the watchman
In the night sky
Points to my beloved
A knight in crystal armor

And I tried to hold him
I tried for the creed
I'll make a suit of colors
To stop the blinding mirrors
Sew a cape of red and gold
Stifled up the beam
With the perfect armor
With a perfect dream

To be made of glass
When two suns are shining
The battle becomes blinding
To be made of glass
But we ride tonight, tonight, tonight we ride

And with two suns spinning
At two different speeds
Was born a hot, white diamond
Burning through the rainbow
Flames fell into orbit
To hold eternally
Two heavenly spirits
That just wouldn't seem

To be made of glass
When two suns are shining
The battle becomes blinding
To be made of glass
But we ride tonight, tonight, tonight we ride...

~~~~

I adore that song!
Any love song that quotes
Song of Solomon is automatically effective.

Am contemplating going internet-less
for the weekend, save of course email-checking.
I have stories I wish to write.
And hopefully soon a kitty to bond with.
We shall see!

My muse is a fickle thing.
The story I want to write, I can't.
While all these fictional usurpers
come creeping in against my will.
I'll get something committed to page this weekend,
at any rate.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Cherry Colored Funk

2009-05-26T15:57:00.006+09:00

This shall be a fairly image-heavy post.
With some fun fashiony things,
blogs I enjoy,
and geekery galore.
However, let's start with a semi-rant!

Don't Be A Baka Gaijin.

(Baka Gaijin = Japanese for Stupid Foreigner) Let's make this clear first: I am an American, proud to be one, always will be. Obviously, as I married a US Sailor. Not to mention half my family is in the service somewhere. Even when I don't like everything America does, I love my country. That said.

Americans, you can be big ol' IDIOTS when you are in another country, Japan is no exception. Sure, everyone makes a cultural faux pas or two. You didn't know you're not supposed to talk on your cell on the train, you missed the sign that said take off your shoes, you mispronounced something, etc. Usually, if you're respectful and apologetic about your mistakes, the locals totally understand and are very gracious and helpful. Laugh at yourself, and they'll laugh with you!

But then there are those visitors who have absolutely no respect for the people or their customs. Or simply aren't aware of them. To you, some common sense tips!

The Locals Speak English: "Omg, that was so racist!" "Pshht, it doesn't matter, they don't understand me!" Yes, I heard this yesterday, following a very racist comment from an American chick on the train. And while it's true, most Japanese people are not fluent in English, English is a required class in most schools. In fact, it's required in most schools in most highly developed countries. And you can bet they've learned to keep an ear out for certain words. See that lady there? She's glaring at you! Baka Gaijin.

Be Polite: Really, is it so hard? Even if you don't speak or read a word of the language or know any of the customs, a polite and apologetic attitude will go SOOOO far. Remember what your mama told you. Please, thank you, excuse me! I mean, really? Do you ever use those words in America? Sometimes I wonder. Then again, we in America have learned to tollerate a much higher level of rudeness. Which brings me to my last point.

Stop Expecting ANY Other Country To Be America: Yes, pointing out differences between your home and another place is always fun! But to do so disdainfully, as if you are entitled to have things be exactly the way they are back in the States, as if you're in an amusement park of pagodas and sushi and at night you'll be going back to a familiar world, is dumb. You are a guest in this country, a place where people were living and functioning in a complex society THOUSANDS of years before The United States was even a blip on the radar. Yeah there may be western-style toilets in the rest room and Brad Pitt might be on the billboards, but you're still a long way from home. ENJOY IT! And stop being a jerk. You make nice people like myself, my husband, and our friends embarrassed to be Americans. And nobody likes that.

Okay, scolding over! Here are some blogs I think you would enjoy :D

Adam: Old Skipping Record. He may be young, but kid knows his music! Always an informative treat to read. Also pretty ridiculously amusing.

Dayna: Gingerbread Haus. An otherworldly girl who may or may not have actual wings. Thought-provoking entries, and general loveliness abounding!

Dylan: Stereotypical Cinematic. My first source for all things geek, film, and fantastical, especially the really great, underrated stuff that tends to fly under the radar. Also the only other actual Jedi I know.

Kater: all this happiness. Lovely and ethereal fashions, a great etsy shopkeep, and a wonderful friend to boot!

Lorelle: Luscious Letters. A grand source of inspiration, especially when I find myself all caught up in writer's block. Also a fantastic and beautiful human being.

And now that I've been generous,
VANITY!
I've gotten a fair few accessories lately,
that I just haven't gotten around to featuring.
I'll just lump them all in here.

I'm in love with this cardigan from Forever21.
It's silky and floppy and cape-like.

This bag, also from Forever21, makes me happy.

What with the fringe, it looks
especially cute with these sandals!

Ew legs.
I enjoy Forever21 products,
especially when I want something trendy,
such as a studded bag or fringed sandals.
If they go out or get tired, I did not spend a lot
of money on them, and thus feel okay
if I don't wear them often in the years to come.

Pretty sure I'll wear these til they rot off my feet, though :D

Outfits!
I enjoy the clothing stores in Yokosuka.
Japan may be an expensive country to live in,
but you wouldn't know it, looking at the cute things
I get on sale.

Top from Paseos.
Included a very cute black ruffled scarf!
(Tiny black & white stripes do not photograph well)

Love it!

Dress & Top from Pixy.
Now, I've had woes with banded skirts before.
But this one has lots of give,
and looks very cute over denim capris.

Such a hipster.
Short-sleeved hoodie also from Pixy.
The plaid has sparkly thread throughout!
I couldn't say no to such sparkle
for such a low price.

Just tell yourself there's a spider on the ceiling.

Here, have some Japan-y shots!

Enoshima Temple.

Jade & I pretend to jump!

Blythe advertises hair dye now!

Her name is Yoshimi!

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Mother Teach Me To Walk Again.

2009-05-22T01:10:00.006+09:00

On Self Improving & Motherhood & Such

I am at the mini-NEX buying milk, in my gym clothes. A cute get-up, as far as such things go, shorts and a sport tank. I’ve somehow managed to keep the mascara from running and my compass pendant from falling off while running. The checkout girl, who happens to be a casual acquaintance, compliments me. Asks when my friends and I work out, I tell her, we talk about Navy husbands briefly and staying in shape when they’re gone, normal small talk.

Behind me, however, I hear an only slightly older woman laugh as she juggles two unwieldy offspring. “That’ll all change when you two have kids!” She says. “I just stopped bothering, they stop noticing.” Not with woe, not as a funny, exaggerated warning, but in a tone and with a smirk that suggests supreme smug satisfaction. I’ve seen it before, directed at me. ‘You pretty girls are doomed, soon you’ll be just like me, not caring a bit that your hair is a mess and sweat pants have become your uniform. HA! Enjoy your little workouts and your little dresses and your husbands who still think you’re cute while you can.’

Now, there are lots of reasons why this comment should be easily disregarded. People will put you down when you don’t meet up to their standards. And then when you try to better yourself, take care of yourself, stay healthy, there will be those who mock you then too. It’s human nature. We’re insecure beings. We like to keep people down, or knock down those who intimidate us. I’m guilty of it, sure, but I know it‘s bad behavior and I try to keep the instinct to put down those who intimidate me in check. I’m appalled, though, that someone could be so blatantly rude to my face. But perhaps, her personal life isn’t the happiest right now. No worries.

But it did get me thinking. No, I am not a mother yet, nor do I plan on being one in the very near future. But I do plan on being one. And I’ve also been surrounded by mothers, babies, small children, and husbands who still find their wives attractive all of my life. I understand losing yourself for a bit, losing your sense of style and the time to truly doll yourself up for a while in favor of letting your body go through it’s natural changes in size, in favor of caring for someone who depends solely on you, of course I do. But to give yourself up to that as an inevitability, as something that can’t be changed and the world should stop expecting you to be pretty, to express yourself, is a very sad and, I think, misguided way to think. Especially with the examples I’ve had.

My mom is one of the classiest ladies I know. Even when she was juggling all six kids under one roof, little boys and moody teenage girls and young men tracking dirt and dust on her carpets, she’s had class. Even if the dress might not have been new or the shoes the latest fashion, when we went shopping for groceries when I was a whiny, clingy toddler, she was put together, neat, with a signature shade of berry-colored lipstick and a spritz of Estee Lauder Beautiful. My sister has two little ones, and while yes, at home it’s all casual easy-to-clean wear, when she hops out the door to run errands she’s wearing a flattering pair of jeans, a cute little pair of flats and a chic jacket, kids in tow. My sister in law has three kids under the age of eight, and is the tiny, high heel-obsessed fashionista mom who does it all. My friend Erika is an utterly exceptional dready rainbow momma to her two kids, engaging in many creative projects and dressing in bright colors that make people smile.

I can’t possibly imagine giving up my expression, my sense of self, the things that make me who I am and that make me feel like a girl! I am reminded of Laura Bennett from Season 3 of Project Runway. While I doubt I could be a mom of six boys and still wear khakis and neck scarves every single day, she did inspire me to set iron-clad goals for myself for the future. If I have five minutes, I can pick a pair of well-cut jeans instead of sweats. If my hypothetical kids are zoned out in front of Yo Gabba Gabba, I can hop on the treadmill. I can swipe on mascara. I can grab an apple instead of a lunch-able. We can all throw paint and glitter around together. And so forth.

So no, I’m not a mother yet. My body hasn’t gone through all of those changes, all of that trauma, and my life hasn’t been set aside in favor of nurturing another, yet. But I do already know that if I don’t make that (small) extra effort to still take care of myself, all relationships will suffer. Simple as that. I want to stay the fit, pretty, artistic wife. I want my kids to not think I resent them. I’m sure I’ll get lazy in there somewhere, yeah. The hair may not get straightened every day, and the jewelry may take longer to get made. But you won’t hear me bragging about no longer feeling like myself.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side...

2009-05-18T07:46:00.005+09:00

Every Relationship has Issues.
But mostly, I just used that comic because
heehee, she's wearing a frog suit :D

So a couple of livejournal friends tagged me
for the 'Always & Never' style meme.
(I liked Katers' a lot!)

After reading this quote from The Sartorialist:
"I am realizing that great personal style is made up of a certain percentage of "always" items and methods, mixed with a certain percentage of "sometimes" fashions, and a certain percentage of "nevers"."

I decided to make mine into

Always, Sometimes, & Never.
:D

Always:

Ballet Flats: This is a style accident really, mostly due to two things. One, I worked at a job for two years that involved LOTS of standing, and I wasn't going to be caught dead in ugly comfortable shoes. Two, I am slightly taller than husbot, and it feels natural to not wear tall shoes with him. Thus I have about a million pairs of flats, in all colors, patterns, quality levels and prices :D

Black Tights: I must agree with Kater here, they really do ground an outfit. I wear lots of skirts too, and like to layer tights under shorts. Plus they're terribly mysterious.

Mascara, Blush, and Shimmer: Shopping, exploring, or even just to the gym. I often add much more, shadow, eyeliner, etc. But I never leave the house without at least these three makeup items.

Daily Jewelry: Not much, my three hoops in each ear and a charm-y necklace, of which I have many. I'm big on my white unicorn right now, pictured below.

Lovely, Airy Dresses: Nothing is more lovely to lounge about the house in. My idea of loungewear is very lacy and floaty.

GIANT Old Man Sweaters: Compfy!

General Put-Togetherness: Even if I'm wearing something a little crazy, I try to stay at least a few notches above uber casual. That's my personal goal; I'm not a snob about it. Other people want to be casual, that's fine with me! But I would have loved to have been born in an earlier era, when the daily wear of the modern woman was all chic and pearls. We're SO casual as a society. About a year ago I made a personal choice to stop waiting for a special occasion to happen to me, and dress like every day's my birthday! Even if it's jeans and a shirt, it'll be dark wash jeans and heels, and my 50's style, puffed-sleeved Social Distortion hoodie :D

Subtle Sex Appeal: I can't help trying. Maybe it's because I spent so many years feeling like The Ugly Kid or The Tragically Uncool Teenage Goth, or maybe it's just because I feel good about myself more often these days. But I like a touch of mystery and sex appeal, without venturing into vulgar territory, of course. Tights under shorts = good sexy. Words written on the butt of your teeny tiny hotpants = Trashy.

Sometimes.

Sky-High Heels: I have no ankles. My legs are slim, so this may escape immediate notice, but I do, in fact, have cankles. Heels hide this fact. Plus, they're hot. This is a sometimes because my feet naturally turn in weird and thus I risk twisting an ankle, and I dislike towering over my husbot. But I love them, ooooh how I love them.

Upswept Hair: Normally I flat-iron my pesky waves. But recently, with my hair getting longer and having moved to a very humid area, I'm finding a nice upsweep terribly lovely and easy to control. Also pictured below.

Dark Lipstick: It doesn't go with every look, and usually not my day looks. Plus I'm allergic to most lip products. Usually I go with balm and a light shimmer. But lately, Almay has come out with some lovely darker shades. Tres Bettie Page!

Tiny Skirts: But again, only over tights or leggings. With tights = cute fashion statement! Without = I can see your butt almost!

Never.

Gym Clothes In Public: Unless, you know, I'm going to the gym. No sweat pants, no nondescript hoodies, no shapeless tees, nadda. Jeans are just as easy, folks.

Crocs, Uggs, or Neon Flippy Floppys: Yes, they're all lumped together. Because there is no point to any of them existing.

Belts: I don't know why! I just don't. Excepting the occasional waist cinch.

Anything With The Brand Name Printed ALL OVER IT: I dunno. Probably because I either find it simply a rather unimaginative form of decoration, or at times quite unclassy. I mean, I like some Baby Phat things, and the kitty cat logo is cute, but really? You want to be a walking Baby Phat billboard? Will that give your life meaning? Kay...

Newest Addition to the club!
Pullip Dolls leave me in awe,
even though I adore my Blythes best.
Their clothes have amazing detail.

Pretty!

So yes, clothes!
I purchased this adorable little bubble skirt
this weekend at the mall by base.
1,500 Yen, can't beat that with a stick!
(15 bucks, Americans)

I love the gingham!
And easily covered up!
I look like Sarah McLachlan here...

I've been all about the simple details,
and singlar punches of color lately.

Unicorn Necklace
by Betsy Blonde.
I LOVE it!

Peacock Tank from Forever21.
Is that not a gorgeous print?!
It sparkles!

Speaking of sparkle...
My Ruby Slippers :D
These are actually kids' shoes from Steve & Barry's.
They pinch a little, but I don't care ;)

Ew my body looks weird here.
But you can see the shoes!

This pic makes me giggle!
A HUSBOT TACKLE IS COMING!

As you can (kinda) see,
Husbot is home for a few days!
We have had many adventures, some of them
involving space men.

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

I Will Rise Now...

2009-05-11T12:03:00.004+09:00

In Which We Are Terribly Trendy

This entry has a theme of trends, I fear.
I am not a trend-follower, not really.
But if something comes along that I find fabulous,
I tend not to let the fact that it's
a passing trend deter me.
I like what I like, and dislike what I dislike.
The End.
:D

First off!
Movie!
Plenty of SPOILERS!
But then, it's been out for a bit, so, you know.

I finally got to watch this little gem, and it was delightful. Of course, people like to gush on and on about what an EPIC and IMPORTANT film it is, and that’s just eye-rolly. Happily, the film isn’t as pretentious as all the hype around it, it’s quite lovely and sweet. And very long! But the kind of cozy, good-feeling long film you can curl up and get lost in, not the kind that has you checking your watch, wondering when it will end and knowing exactly what could have been left out (I do this with some of my very favorite movies, even. Like Australia...ooo, still gotta review that, gah!).

On the day hurricane Katrina is to hit New Orleans, an elderly woman named Daisy is on her deathbed, and asks her daughter Caroline to read to her from the diary of one Benjamin Button. Benjamin’s mother, also named Caroline, dies giving birth in 1918, to a shriveled, sickly little baby boy whose bones are twisted with arthritis. Distraught and heartbroken, Thomas Button leaves his infant son on the doorstep of a senior’s home, where he is adopted and raised by Queenie, a black nurse who cannot have children of her own. Benjamin isn’t expected to live very long, but live he does, growing slowly younger as those around him grow older. He meets Daisy, the granddaughter of one of the senior residents, when she is a little girl and he is a little boy in the body of an old man. The two remain close throughout their lives, their relationship shifting as they slowly meet in the middle.

I gotta say, I’ve gotten less impressed with Brad Pitt in recent years. Good actor, sure, but the line between actor and character gets blurred and sometime I wonder who I’m actually seeing on screen. He was AMAZING in this, though, as an old man who is actually a small child, and then as a young man who is really 60, and everywhere in between. His face may look one way, but his demeanor and performance is a completely different age, and totally believable. And the makeup! Aged makeup usually takes me right out of a film, but it’s gotten brilliant as of late. Cate Blanchett is utterly, flawlessly every age she is portrayed, as is Brad. You can convince someone that you are an old woman, but a 17 year old girl also? CRAZY. And of course, it’s a beautiful movie. A feast for the eyes, to use my favorite cliché!

Plot-wise, I liked it as well. It was a simple idea, a man who ages backwards, and it didn’t need much milking either. Watching Benjamin Button’s life play out is powerful enough. Though he leaves Daisy and Little Caroline because he doesn’t want the love of his life to be stuck taking care of him, because he wants Caroline to have a father and not a brother, Daisy is there for Benjamin at the “end” of his life anyway. She is there for him as he forgets how to play the piano, how to walk, how to talk, and eventually as he falls asleep for the last time in her arms. Yes, it may be enviable in the middle of things, to get younger as your peers get older. But at the start of things, and at the end of things, we are exactly the same.

Music!
(Yes it's been out a month.
I never said I was on top of things!)

I love Bat For Lashes. I discovered Natasha Khan and her music early last year, after hearing her gorgeous cover of Bruce Springsteen’s I’m On Fire (one of my favorite songs of ever). I was instantly hooked. Her first album, ‘Fur & Gold’, was a dazzling escape of faerytails and Native American princesses and Halloween scary stories, used to illustrate themes of love, insecurity, abandonment and finding one’s self. What twenty-something female who still plays with My Little Pony wouldn’t relate?

Two Suns is just as dazzling! Lyrically, Natasha hasn’t changed her style or approach, and that pleases me, because she doesn’t have to! She embodies two personas on the album, herself, as well a blonde alter-ego named Pearl (but don’t worry, it’s not the scary, Beyonce-style dual personalities, hehe). Pearl is an optimistic party girl, while Natasha remains introspective. Overall the songs are a bit catchier, a bit dancier, but she’s still telling stories like a gypsy break-dancer. The story she tells is a bit more upbeat, even when she’s love-lorn. Sleep Alone is downright poppy, but still entirely, utterly BFL. Also, it’s a great album to hula hoop to.

Recently we had Friendship Day here on Ikego.
That is when the locals in Zushi are invited onto the base,
for food and music and festival-fun!
It was a good time,
with food on sticks &
traditional drumming &
Japanese people line-dancing.
However, I got a horrible sunburn.
I'm sure you'll be able to see it in the following pics.

Yesterday, I finally bit the bleach-dye-bullet.
Said trend has had me on the fence,
but I've seen some people rock it very well,
without looking like a full-on 80's throw-back.
The results!

While I like the contrast,
I am iffy on how my black tripp jeans came out.
Mostly because the bleach did a number on
their structure, puckering and the like.
But hey, they're fun!

On the other side,
I LOVE how my favorite worn-out henley
responded to the chemical abuse!
It was once black.
You'd never tell now!

Prim!
This denim corset top was a recent
Yokohama purchase, I love it.
So does my husband.

It's a bit awkward over jeans and skirts,
but when I got the brainstorm
to layer it over my favorite white summer dress,
I was ever so pleased.
Am so girly!

I promised neighborhood pics, didn't I?
Oh well, those will come soon!
Right now I have to run to the post office,
buy some milk and more aloe,
clean my messy apartment,
and also email my mommy and husbot.

Am so domestic.
Also, I'll be throwing glitter around.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Entry #50: Love Angel Music Baby in a Hong Kong Garden.

2009-05-07T18:15:00.005+09:00

Stuff!

So the last couple of weeks have been interesting,
in the personal life. The husbot is out to sea,
in a rather spotty manner.

(Actually Very Big Aircraft Carrier)

I, meanwhile, have been busy with
making the apartment into a home, and also
getting to know the country I now live in.
How to get around, communicate, etc.
It's been grand fun!
But leaves little time for watching/reading
new things.
This is changing though, as things
slow down, become more comfortable,
and of course, I am sans-husbot *sigh*
But for now,
mostly pictures of real life things!

Bunneh!
He is out to sea now too.
Taken for Tea & Armageddon.

NEW BED!!!
I am so in love with it.
I've wanted a four-poster canopy ALL MY LIFE.
Love love love.

Matching dresser!
Also love love love!

Drawers full of all my crazy/handmade
jewelry. Love love love the black velvet.

Yes, the rumors are true.
Have become one who daily works out.
I cannot wait until my new dance hoop arrives,
and my workout hoop & I are reunited.
No more stringy squishy Amy.

My express shipment arrived.
Reunited with my clothes, oh the joy!

What *I* wear grocery shopping.
I'm trying to get up the courage/language skillz
to ask random people on the street
if I may take pictures of their outfits.
I think once I do, it will make for some colorful content!

New perfumes!
Don't judge me for wearing Britney Spears.
I LOVE the scent, and so does Husbot (on me).
I saw the new Curious bottle,
with it's pretty PINK squeezey bit,
and had to has.
Also, Harajuku Lovers 'Baby'
smells WONDERFUL.
And the bottle is a cute little chick!
Kawaii!
Oh dear...

Happily full closet!
Huzzah!

All dolled up!

So yes,
I have a stack of books again,
and time to myself again,
so content will be more consistent again.
Next entry, I'll show you pics of my neighborhood!
There are some lovely shops nearby.
Tonight, though, I am going to
make some tomato soup and watch Dune.
You know the one.

Here, enjoy some Bat For Lashes.

Til Next We Meet,
♥,
~ Amy

I Walk Down My Street Again...

2009-04-29T09:26:00.003+09:00

Some Writing.

Prompts from Lorelle :)

"Write a story consisting of only dialogue, where two characters are trying to say something to eachother without ever actually saying it."

(short, two characters from a novel I am working on)

Laura: Do you remember what we used to say to people?

Alabaster: When they asked how we were related? I do believe we’ve used all of them.

Laura: You only got to be my son for a few years, really. Then you got bigger, and I stayed the same.

Alabaster: You were my big sister. Then my twin sister…then my kid sister…

Laura: And now I’ve spent the last ten years as your daughter, I know.

Alabaster: We had to move a lot, back then.

Laura: Yes. I really adored some of those little European towns.

Alabaster: not every kid got to have that experience.

Laura: Yes, I guess that’s true. Have you told Melinda yet?

Alabaster: Yes. She was surprisingly receptive!

Laura: Possibly also relieved, to find out that her fiancé doesn’t *actually* have an adult daughter her age.

Alabaster: Nope. Just a mother in law who’ll outlive her.

Laura: …right.

Alabaster: …She thinks it’s wonderful. Mysterious.

Laura: Right. They always do.

Alabaster: We know better, I know.

Laura: …You know that I…

Alabaster: Yes. I am too.

Laura: And that I…

Alabaster: Yes. Me too.

Laura: …it’s going to be a beautiful wedding.

Alabaster: Yes it will be.

Laura: One adventure we’ve never taken! And we’ve had some fabulous adventures, my boy.

Alabaster: Yes mother, we have.

"Write a poem dedicated to the house you grew up in. Do you have good memories there or bad memories? What are someof your favorite memories. This was completely inspired by Amanda Palmer"

Hello my ugly old friend
You of the stained yellow siding,
Haphazard shingles and boards
Shutters and shivering hordes
A haunted old thing
Full of nooks and crevasses
Funny that you felt like an escape.
Monolith lilac trees
Thoroughly grass-stained knees
The only good memories
Took place inside of you
Where I could hide in you
Get lost in my head full of dreams
My ideas and my rebeliousness
Never made that much sense
Not when you’re only nine
But I knew I was slightly off
Never the perfect model of poise and humility
And your haunted walls kept me safe
My secrets of war and escape
The games I played all alone
The only time I was home
Feral girl hiding in trees
Thoroughly roof-scratched knees
Throwing off calico
Climbing out my window
Wondering if god really cared
If I never ever cut my hair
Ghosts laughing at these notions with me
Tried to look just right
When daylight had gobbled the night
Til I ran down your roads
The hot pavement burning toes
Bare feet Tangled hair and Bed Sheets.
We used to drive by
When we’d return to the sky
There are beehives in your yard
Sucking nectar from my clovers
I used to do the same
Do the ghosts remember my name?
Little girl hiding
Ugly yellow siding
Faeries I couldn’t play with
Cornfields I got lost in
I hope they’re remembering to feed the ladybugs.

&hearts:,
~ Amy

I Don't Wanna Take Advice From Fools...

2009-04-28T16:37:00.004+09:00

Woah.

So I just recently saw 'A Scanner Darkly'. Which, while being a beautifully done film, will take, I think, a few more viewings before I give it a proper review. And of course, now I want to read the book. It was a bit much to be hit with all at once, but now, sitting here, thinking back on it, I really want to watch it again. Very thick film. Robert Downey Jr. and Keanu Reeves are quite enjoyable, though I'm not sure if Woody Harrelson had to do any acting for his part...

Japan adventures are grand! Some shopping has taken place, as well as working out, and opening my windows to enjoy the lovely weather. Also, I've worn clothes.

I love that shirt.
Shirt: K-Mart, X-Large, chopped up by me :D
Capris: GAP
Wedges: Murasaki Sport

Are they not adorable!?

I fear neither shorts
nor unseasonal sweater usage!

Am so pale.
Shorts: Urban Outfitters
Both tanks: Old Navy

Behold!
Outside of a big Sanrio store in the
Yokohama Landmark Tower!
I look so so silly.
But Hello Kitty?
She looks oh so pink and sparkly.

Hmm, I should also review the Doctor Who
Easter special, shouldn't I?
It was good!
Just made me oh so sad at the end.
The Doctor is getting oh so sad in this incarnation.
But review it I shall, once I get up the motivation
to watch it again, what with it's bitter-Doctor ending.
Until such time, here!
Have a saptastic Doctor/Rose fanvid!
(S4 spoilers for people named My Sister...and Kerri!)

Until Next We Meet,
Taa!

♥,
~ Amy

For Emma, Forever Ago

2009-04-24T13:29:00.004+09:00

I know, quoting Bon Iver is sooooo indie-fad.
To offset, here's a picture of Debbie Harry.
Also, I don't care what's indie-fad.
Bon Iver is beautiful music, yo.

HEY how about some Wardrobe Project?!?!
Here are some recent Japan-y purchases.
As you can see, I have gone quite native.

Husbot picked this dress out.
He generally has a good eye for things
that will look cute on me,
and also that suit my personality.
I like it, though it's a bit flowy for something
so short. It will be worn over things.
Jeans & Shorts & Leggings.

Forgive the lame pigeon toes.
I come by them naturally, for real.
Like, I had to wear special shoes
when I was learning to walk,
that taught my feet which way to turn.

90's ballerina!
The florals are EVERYWHERE here!
Rick picked this skirt out, too!
I love it, though pairing it with things
gets tricky. Been a while since
I've worn colorful florals.

Leggings and ADORABLE ballerina socks
purchased at a nearby shop called
The Mighty Soxer.
Yup, entire store full of socks & legwear.
Cute ones, too!

Hee!

Flowers & Tea!!
I was sick for most of this week.
Thus, husbot brought me flowers.
The roses are starting to brown, though :(
I shall take them out tomorrow,
and hang them to dry.

Til next we meet,
taa!

♥,
~ Amy

An Old Friend Calls & Tells Us Where To Meet...

2009-04-23T17:40:00.006+09:00

Last picture taken in the states,
With Yoda, my old phone.
(He was small, green, and very wise)
The following pictures had to be
emailed to myself, as I am still
without cord, or card, or anything less cumbersome.
They had to be small, took forever to send,
and may in fact cost me :P
But I was desperate!
And figured you'd all enjoy anyway.

TOGETHER AGAIN!
YAY!

Husbot,
Train.
iPod.
Strange Lands.

GIANT FAN.
Little Cici.
Rental furniture.

The view from my balcony.
Despite the bird nets,
high-rise living is grand.
Our neighborhood is very clean.

Mysterious writings!
Tiny tea sets!

Awesome new television.
Living room looks like a
dentists' waiting room.
Cannot wait to replace the rental furniture
with our new, huge, comfy couch.

Ramen Museum!
Much more exciting than anticipated!
And oh, the food. So good.

Moar.

Tall Tower is Tall.

Big Wheel is Big.
Yokohama is fun :D

And yes,
Proof of Cici's sister!
Raspberry Swirl.
Bought at a toy store for way less
than some of you are paying on ebay ;)

Until next we meet,
♥,
~ Amy

Domo? Domo. ...Domo? Argh.

2009-04-20T14:23:00.003+09:00

So, still have no camera.
Or rather, no way to get my pics off my phone.
When one is all up for a visual blog,
this becomes an annoying problem.
Worry not, I am working on it!
Also, I've taken tons of pictures of Yokosuka
and the many adventures had thus far.

In a quick update:
We bought some awesome furniture,
Yen isn't that difficult,
My Japanese is hysterical,
The clothes shopping is heavenly,
and Blythes are easier to find & afford.
Rick just bought me a Friendly Freckles, in fact :D
And the vending machines TALK TO YOU.

Rick goes back out to sea for the summer/most of autumn
May 19th. Boo. Hissss.
But we've gotten to be together, and this is our home.
A real, long-term, settle-in home.
These are happy things.

And soon, you will see pictures of awesome things!

♥,
~ Amy

Japanese Ventures

2009-04-13T14:13:00.001+09:00

Have arrived in Japan! Am currently getting our new (huge) apartment all homey-like, as well as adjusting my internal clock to the 13 hour time difference. I wrote more detailed, personal entries on various other (more private) social networks, but suffice it to say, Husband and I are quite happy to be together once more, after a year of living in seperate places. I have a new phone with a much more excellent camera, however we need a cord that will connect to my American laptop before I can share with you all of my visual adventures.

And oh, how visual everything is! Yokosuka in general, while being a big city, still has a rather small-towny feel to it. Streets are small and little houses are stacked and there are gardens and signs and colors and flowers everywhere. People are very friendly here, in base and off, and have awesome clothes. The clothes. Oooooh the clothes! I am in friggin love with Japanese styles, and the fact that, in general, Japanese people dress up a lot more. Even the folks who aren't trying to be uber-hip or edgy wear very clean, classy looks. I have seen many an outfit my mum would absolutely die for on many a classy Japanese lady :D I will have TONS of fun documenting!

But for now, my apartment is quite sparse, though I have done much today to make it feel like home there is still yet much stuff to do. Worry not though, there will be many an entry ahead! :D

~ Amy

My Name Is Pearl And I'll Love You The Best Way I Know How...

2009-04-10T07:58:00.000+09:00

Long Title, Short Entry.

I'm on my way!
Well, actually, right now I am in a hotel.
Tomorrow, I hop two planes and land in Tokyo
some 14 hours later. Excitement!
As you can probably guess,
I'll be a bit spotty til all is settled in our new digs.

But I am prepared!
And the kids are enjoying hotel life.
Slumber party!

I really am 12.
Anywhoo, catch you on the flip side....
...OF THE EARTH! OMG!
:D

<3,
~ Amy

Of Moving.

2009-04-04T09:05:00.000+09:00

Moving and Things.

For the next seven days, I am to be preoccupied with all things related to having my possessions packed up by strangers, and leaving the country. For those unfamiliar with military moving, I will break it down in simple terms (see: the terms it had to be broken down into for me to understand). You bring ten forests' worth of paperwork to an office, proving that your spouse is stationed in a place, that you ARE their spouse, that you were cleared of all insects, tooth decay and diseases and approved to go to that place also, and maybe an I.O.U for the soul of your future first born, just to hedge your bets. They say, Okay. You pick some dates. On those dates, people you do not know pack up your belongings.

This is in fact a good thing, as this means they're responsible for anything that may go ill during shipment. It is no less a nerve-wrecking thing.

Our two shipments are thus: Express Shipment, and Everything Else.

The exact "expressness" of the former is to be debated, but it is 200 - 400 pounds of stuff that will get shipped via airplane once we have an address in Japan, while Everything Else (furniture, books, most of the stuffed animals...) gets to take the long floaty way.

So basically, I am charged with separating my belongings into 3 Categories: Things I Want Now (one suitcase), Things I Can Go Maybe Two Weeks Without, & Things I Can Go A Month Without.

As not to let myself go mad with panic, have written myself a detailed schedule of the next seven days, and it is in fact very relieving, much as I abhor lists and schedules. Must get this place spotless. Not that my apartment is messy, really. But think of it, girls. All the jewelry that doesn't quite go back in the box after every wear, the closet of doom, the pile of shoes, that random pile of cd cases the boy left in the corner... I don't have to pack, but I can't let there be excess hanging around either.

And then there is the clothing situation. ONE suitcase, the contents of which must weigh 50 pounds or less and last me at LEAST two weeks. TWO WEEKS. Granted, what with recent (lovely) reenlistment bonus and living in land of wonder, there will be plenty of shopping to be had in and around Tokyo. But STILL. Shoes enough for every occasion, while still leaving room for clothes...this may be the perfect chance to experiment with extremely limited denim-wearing.

Thus, a glimpse into my upcoming days. I can't help but stay upbeat, however. I'M FINALLY GOING. Huzzah.

Here's This,
Cause it's pretty and makes me smile.

And a final word
from Natalie Dee.

You know it to be true.
Now, off-time.
Star Trek, or more Lord Of The Rings?
The choices of the Geek...

♥,
Amy

Bugsy Malone Came To Carry You Home...

2009-04-02T07:29:00.000+09:00

Suspenders!?

Today I learned that shopping therapy
works just as well when it is via mail.
...actually, I knew that already.
Today though, it was especially driven home.

Feeling rather annoyed with paperwork woes
and moving holdups (for stuff, not for the Amy),
Lo! There was a knock on the door!
Not one! Not two! But THREE packages!
HUZZAH!
Thus, you're subjected to an entry
with nothing but clothes in it.
Deal. :D

I love these pants.
I'm a bit iffy on the suspenders option, though.
At least with actual dress shirts and such.
Lots of bunching goes on.
Shall ironically save the suspenders
for more casual looks, like this!

(oh hai bum/tattoo!)

Meanwhile, sans suspenders,
they are lovely twill dress pants on their own.
It's a little hard for me to find pants long enough,
thus, I am most thrilled indeed.
Also, I look a million feet tall in that picture.

I tried to take a picture of the following
shoe/tights combo,
but between the failing light and
my camera phone, it wasn't to be.
I kept the shoes on, but the tights just looked
weird without detail, so they are not pictured.
Tights, In Grey and Shoes, In Coal

This top was too silly and cute to pass up!
Even if, with shorts, it gives me
the hips from (Sally) Jupiter.
Here it is up close
(And yes, I bought the short like that. Shuddup.)

I tried to get a shot of the AWESOME back,
without it looking like a gratuitous bum-shot.
I only partially succeeded. Oh well. Bum.

Favorites.
Claddagh ring,
bracelet my friend Brytnee made me,
and Doe Ring from Mary Marsh.
It delights me so :D

Yep, I'm sufficiently cheered :D
The next few days will be crazybusy.
But at least I have pants to face them in.

♥,
~ Amy

If You'll Be My Star, I'll Be Your Sky

2009-04-01T03:48:00.000+09:00

Pretties & Happy News, Huzzah!

First things first.

My new favorite film...or at least,
it goes on a very, very long list.
:D

The Fall
2006, Tarsem Singh

In an LA hospital in the 1920's, Alexandria is a little immigrant girl who fell from an orange tree in the grove where her family was working, and broke her arm. Roy is a film stuntman, who also fell during a dangerous stunt trying to win back his girlfriend. Without the use of his legs and without the woman he loved, Roy is ready to throw in the towel, so to speak. Alexandria wanders into his room, they become friends and he starts telling her the most marvelous story, in hopes of coercing her into stealing morphine for him. We see the story Roy tells through Alexandria's vivid imagination, a beautiful riot of colors and characters. The story parallels real life more and more as it goes on, becoming darker as Roy loses hope, and more beautiful as Alexandria illuminates his days and worms her way into his otherwise crushed heart.

I love it. Love, love, LOVE it. For one, the filming and cinematography is gorgeous. The story is imaginative and clever. If you need a frame of reference, think Wizard of Oz meets The Cell meets...um...Alfonso Cuaron's A Little Princess. It made me sniffle, but it also made me smile a lot, and my mother would approve of the ending (for those who know what qualifies as a happy ending in her book, that was a spoiler). I am a little puzzled as to why it is rated R...there are some scary images and some violence, but not graphically so. Perhaps it was a safety precaution? For though the main character is a very small child, it's definitely not a movie for the very little kids (I would have been able to handle it at about age 10). Anyway, for those who care about such things, don't let it keep you away. It will make you feel vibrant to watch :D

And now, Clothes!!!
ZOMG!!!

Vintage shoes & top,
aquired from Violet Folklore
Check them out :D

And proof that I am not all lace
and gothy cobwebs...I don't think
I pulled it off very well.
But man, I sure do love my purple boots :D

Sparkle! Sparkle!

Mmmmmuch more comfy.
My dear Kater got me hankering
for a good and proper Remus Lupin sweater,
plus, I miss the days when I would steal
such things from my older brother.
After scouring a bit on etsy, I found this cozy bit!
Bought at brugmansia
However, I feel I look less like Remus,
and more like Tonks wearing Remus' sweater.
Still good!

Above:
Feather handband!
Below:
Birdcage necklace!
Both made by me.
Neither shall be for sale!
But I shall probably make more...

This shall be a busy week.
Hopefully my house will be clean
and packed up soon, as I leave for Japan
in 11 days! Exciting!
Also full of heartburn!
But I also have more pretties set
to arrive in the mail before I go,
so there will be entries a plenty.
Til then, I find ways to settle my nerves.
Like limeaide. Mmmm.

♥,
~ Amy

Prose Before Slumber, I Always Say

2009-03-30T13:38:00.001+09:00

Stuff Before Bed

Am i a joyful girl?
I think so.
When it comes to others, anyway.
I live for smiles erupting on faces
Light entering eyes and color flashing faces
Because of something I have said.
I am not selfless
I give you joy in hopes of finding my own
In hopes of drinking in your mirth
Of basking in your glow
Of rolling in your fields
Roll roll roll
Smock smock smock.
Scoot scoot scoot.
I love you and your smiling face
Whoever you are
I love making you grin
I try on your grin for the day
I try it on with a dress and shoes
As I am trying on the souls of those who first owned them
You are beautiful because I have made you smile.
That makes me feel a little beautiful as well.

♥,
~ Amy

Black & White & RAWR!

2009-03-28T03:52:00.000+09:00

(image by ravagedlimbs@LJ)

i do it for the joy it brings
because i'm a joyful girl
because the world owes me nothing
and we owe each other the world
i do it because it's the least i can do
i do it because i learned it from you
and i do it just because i want to
because i want to

everything i do is judged
and they mostly get it wrong
but oh well
'cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged
and the woman who lives there can tell
the truth from the stuff that they say
and she looks me in the eye
and says would you prefer the easy way
no, well o.k. then
don't cry

i wonder if everything i do
i do instead
of something i want to do more
the question fills my head
i know there's no grand plan here
this is just the way it goes
when everything else seems unclear
i guess at least i know

i do it for the joy it brings
because i'm a joyful girl
because the world owes me nothing
and we owe each other the world
i do it because it's the least i can do
i do it because i learned it from you
and i do it just because i want to
because i want to...
~ Joyful Girl,
Ani Difranco

Not much today,
just pretties.
As you can see, CiCi has started
to ponder the nature of what she is.
Oh dear.
Today, clearly, childhood prevails.

In case you've not yet seen it,
Where The Wild Things Are!!!

I am so excited. It makes me smile.

Here are some dresses!
I've had these for a while now.
I always get excited to take them out!

Ruffles & Lace!
Bought at my former place of employ.

Moar love!!!
Also bought at the old shop.
Cardigan was a gift.

Ignore my bruised legs.
I have been doing so for years!

I'm excited, as I have new purchases
coming soon in the mail.
Oh what a shoe addict I have become...

til then,
♥,
~ Amy