Blobtoon #5 ~ Sew All the Costumes

Volunteer to sew all costumes in a given set --> Buried under a neverending pile of tutus.

On the other hand... I'm sort of proud of myself for being the only one to figure out how to attach ribbon at the end of a long tutu??? I don't think it was actually that complicated, but still ^_^

Copic Sketch + Prismacolor Fine Line

Weekly Favorites #10

(via Lush)

So, I decided to visit my local Lush store before going home for Christmas, because I needed to replenish my supply of non-liquid toiletries for air travel. I wanted to get as many of my toiletries in some solid, powder, or otherwise non-liquid form as possible just to cut down on how tightly I have to stuff that quart-sized Ziploc bag.

One of the things I decided to venture into was solid lotion bars, and I smelled all of the ones in the Lush store and decided that the Strawberry Feels Forever massage bar was my favorite. How could it not be - it's a lovely shade of pink, and it's strawberry-shaped!

I like to use it right after a shower, when my skin is still warm and a bit damp, because that makes the bar melt better. If I'm just trying to use it any old time of day, it takes quite a bit of holding the bar and rubbing it to get any significant amount to melt off. Maybe I just have really cold hands.

The bar has lasted me quite a good while now with regular use (about every other day is sufficient to keep my skin hydrated). It does an excellent job as a moisturizer, and I absolutely love the smell. I'm terrible at describing scents, but it smells to me something like strawberries and cream ice cream, or milkshake, or something involving strawberries and a bit of milk. I've noticed that it does leave a bit of a shimmer on my skin, but there's no obvious pink tint, if you're the type to worry about that.

Something to note is that this massage bar doesn't actually fit in any of the tins they sell. Goodness knows the lovely salesgirl tried, but nope, it's just a bit too big. Luckily I have a large collection of random boxes so I had something I could store it in. Otherwise, packaging and storing it, especially for traveling, might have gotten messy.

I'm really pleased with my venture into solid lotion, and I'll definitely be trying out various other massage bars from Lush in the future!

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I hope you have a delightful week, and if you live anywhere with weather like Chicago, stay warm!

Outfit Post ~ Never Never Land

I love this skirt not only because of its Peter Pan (in my mind) themed fairytale print, but also because of the cut. I think many would consider it to not be strictly Lolita, because it flares starting from the low waist, and is a bit shorter than most standard Lolita skirts. However, I enjoy it being actually above the knee for me (rather than below, or calf-length), and the low-waist makes it easier to wear with my normal cardigans, since the flare doesn't interfere with the fit of the cardigans.

Skirt: Alice and the Pirates
Bolero: Bodyline
Shirt: Old Navy
Tights: BonTon
Boots: Skechers
Hairbow: Jolie Chose

I Draw Lolitas

I've been drawing a lot of my fellow Lolitas lately, usually going off a reference photo of some outfit they particularly liked. I figured it would be nice to share a compilation of some of the ones I've done in the past couple of weeks!



Prismacolor Fine Line, digitally colored in Photoshop

Blobtoon #4 ~ Before the Show

The week or two before a show are generally really intense, and I often feel like I'm always at one extreme or the other. When I'm rehearsing I have to be on 100%, and then I go home and make a blanket fort and collapse completely. But it's still exciting to think about the upcoming performance!

Copic Sketch + Prismacolor Fine Line

Weekly Favorites #9

LUSH Tisty Tosty Bath Bomb ~ This bath bomb is perfect for people who love rose scents, like me. Not only does it promise to smell delightful, but it also looks absolutely beautiful. It's almost too pretty to use!

(via LUSH)

Modcloth Key Change Wallet ~ I've actually seen this wallet in a brick-and-mortar store near my apartment, but I found it online to share. It's a lovely incorporation of piano and music themes into a very functional-looking wallet. I like that it's not too cartoony but still cute.

(via Modcloth)

Sockdreams Cheshire Cat Striped Tights ~ Cute cat and bunny imitation thigh-high tights have become really popular lately in Asian fashion, but these are yet another awesome twist. I adore Alice in Wonderland, and these tights capture the whimsy of the Cheshire Cat perfectly!

(via Sockdreams)

Sockdreams Eye Exam Chart Printed Tights ~ How cool is this? You can wear your very own eye exam chart on your legs!!!! I just love quirky things like this. Plus these tights are advertised as being really stretchy, so they can accommodate all shapes and sizes of legs! They also come in black with white lettering.

(via Sockdreams)

Ikea SPÖKA LED night light ~ I have a thing for spherical animals (fantastical or otherwise), and this adorable night light would be a perfect addition to any toy animal menagerie. It's functional as well as decorative!

(via Ikea)

~ I hope your upcoming week is blessed by the glitter fairy and all her sparkly attendants! ~

[Outfit Post] Purple Prose

Actually, I try my best to avoid writing purple prose, but I'm never sure if I succeed or not. I do, however, like the color purple, and this has been one of my favorite shirts for... forever. I've really been enjoying the shorts + tights/leggings as a method for extending shorts season even into cold weather. It also makes me feel less self-conscious about my legs.

Shirt/Cardigan: Target
Shorts: Cherokee
Leggings: BonTon
Boots: Skechers

Random Art ~ Tumblr Welcome Banner

I've fallen behind with finishing Illustration Friday prompts, so I'll be skipping one this week and catching back up later on. However, part of the reason I fell behind was because I wanted to draw a nice picture for all the new followers on my Tumblr in the last couple of... months? years? I'm unfortunately not organized enough to be one of those people who greets new followers individually, but I figured it would be nice to acknowledge everyone ^_^

Prismacolor Fine Line + Photoshop

Blobtoon #3 ~ Back to Ballet

Returning to class after a 3-week winter break is always fun... Especially when you lack natural facility for spinning around endlessly @_@

Copic Sketch + Prismacolor Fine Line, and Photoshop.

Weekly Favorites #8

Modcloth Hightail It Boot ~ Who can resist cute boots that look like little black cats? They look like they would be quite durable and even water resistant as well, which is always a plus for me since I tend to not see puddles until I'm in them.

(via Modcloth)

Forest Girl Fans Giraffe Sweater ~ This sweater is just too cute, with the little cartoon giraffe. And this giraffe won't slobber all over your arm while you try to feed it.

(via Taobao)

Ikea VANDRING Knob rack with 2 knobs ~ I can never resist cute organizational decor, and this set of hooks with owls on a branch is just perfect!

(via Ikea)

tokidoki x Ju.Ju.Be BFF Diaper Bag Unikiki ~ I know this is labelled as a diaper bag, but hear me out... it's an absolutely amazing purse if you're like me and carry a survival kit with you at all times. So many pockets, 2 bottle pouches, everything! Plus it's adorable because it's Tokidoki!

(via tokidoki)

Hello Kitty Glasses Stand & Case: Softy ~ This Hello Kitty glasses stand is so cute, it's like you're glasses get their own little sofa! And when you need them to be even safer, you can tuck them into the little case compartment inside.

(via Sanrio)

Here's to a fantastic week full of cute puppies and cuddling guinea pigs!

[Outfit Post] Pippi Pink

I love that this print has so many colors in it, you can coordinate it with so many different things depending on what mood you're in. I think I was feeling a little bit Pippi-inspired myself that day, hence the polka dots. My socks do match, however, since I don't really think I can pull off the mismatched socks very well. All hail the awesome Pippi!

Skirt: Emily Temple Cute
Necklace: KumaCrafts
Shirt: Express
Cardigan: Target
Socks: Sockdreams
Boots: Skechers

Illustration Friday ~ Time

Prismacolor Fine Line + Photoshop.

Blobtoon #2 ~ Deep Freeze

I wasn't brave or unfortunate enough to venture outside on Monday, but I did walk through it on Tuesday, and actually... it wasn't too bad when I wore all the things. My eyelashes did freeze though, which was very interesting.

A Hug from the Sea

I've been knitting a lot! Primarily on the same giant project!

Sometime last year (by which I mean 2012), my friend Courtney wondered if it would be possible to knit an entire bed-sized blanket, rather than the usual afghan-sized blankets. Since I like challenges, I decided that by golly I would knit a whole bedspread for her!

It took about a year of picking at it on and off, with a last 3 months of somewhat more consistent effort, but I did it! She is a very colorful person, and her apartment is also very colorful, so I made my best effort to make the blanket suitably bright. The end result looks to me like waves of greeny-bluey-ness, like the ocean, so I like to think of it as a warm hug from the sea.

Yarn used: Loops & Threads Charisma in Sunny Day (main) and Yellow (joining).

The pattern came from an old magazine of various afghan and blanket patterns that A+'s mother owns. The blanket is knit up in strips (I made 8 strips, 92in long) that are then sewn together in the final step.

Finished dimensions: 92in x 96in (about Queen size)

Weekly Favorites #7

DreamV Lovely Heart 2way Bag ~ Pastel heart-shaped bags have always struck me as really whimsical and fun, and this one is even a nice size for carrying necessities and more! Plus the strap vs. handles option is always nice, since it allows more flexibility for carrying.

(via Rakuten)

Forest Girl Fans Patchwork Infinity Scarf ~ Patchwork is always a fun and cute way to add a splash of color to an outfit, and this scarf just looks super cozy for cold winter months!

(via Taobao)

LUSH Sakura Bath Bomb ~ The smell of cherry blossoms always reminds me of spring and cheery weather. Plus the actual bath bomb itself is just really pretty, almost too pretty to use!

(via LUSH)

DreamV Merry-Go-Round Cardigan ~ Merry-go-rounds always have such a dreamy quality to them, maybe because they hearken back to times past. The design on this cardigan is just perfect - it's big enough to see the details, but not so large that it overwhelms the overall design.

(via Rakuten)

Modcloth Hedgehog Friend Bath Mat ~ Hedgehogs are cute. Swimming hedgehogs are even cuter. Why not have a hedgehog bath friend that helps dry your feet and keep you from slipping?

(via Modcloth)

May your upcoming week be wonderful and full of cozy blankets and hot chocolate!

[Outfit Post] Back to Basics

I wear this skirt a lot, don't I? I guess I really like my black and white/cream items because it's easy to put together a coherent outfit no matter how tired or braindead I am. Then add a pop of color or interest with one accessory, and boom outfit! So this is basically my jeans+tshirt combo... One thing is, I *have* decided to not wear white legwear much anymore; at least not during the winter or other moist times of year, because mud splashes are impossible to get out and way more obvious on light socks and tights T_T

Skirt: Bodyline
Necklace: the pixelsmithy
Cardigan: Target
Shirt: Old Navy
Socks: Sockdreams
Boots: Skechers

Blobtoon #1 ~ Happy New Year!!!

Copic Sketch + Prismacolor Fine Line + Photoshop

I've decided to make my semi-autobiographical blob-filled cartoons a regular feature, since it inspires me to draw even when I'm out of other ideas, and also... I just *really* enjoy drawing spheres?

And what better than New Year Day to start a new tradition?!

Happy New Year, everybody! May your coming year be filled with rainbows and fluffy kittens, and rainbows barfing fluffy kittens!!