Sweet and Dark

Halfway through February already!  I've been rather low energy but try to pick myself up by changing out of my "lazy" clothing and doing a bit of makeup.

Changing how you look can really affect how you feel, even if you do something low-effort.  For Valentine's Day I had been hoping to do something elaborate and fun in terms of my outfit, but was 1) extremely hungover from a night of gin and soju (unplanned!) with my friends after hotpot, and 2) feeling rather stressed out about my financial situation.

I can up with the below look, which is a bit of an attempt at "Natural" makeup:

Primer: Milani
Eyeshadow: bh cosmetics Solar Flare palette
Lipstick: bh cosmetics Liplock lipstick
Blusher: Day Cover cream blush
Eyebrows: Sweets Tokyo pencil; essence cosmetics Make Me Brow
Concealer: Maybelline mineral concealer
Mascara: CoverGirl Clump Crusher Waterproof

Then just a couple days ago I felt like doing a full look (still no foundation... I really cannot be bothered a lot of the time) even though I was just going out for pho with my boyfriend and ImaginaryDuke and then helping another friend deliriousb clean up after a party (that I had skipped... haha!)

I went for a full spooky look using some loose eyeshadow from indie brand Apocalyptic Beauty! It really makes a big different to use NYX Glitter Glue with the shimmer colors.

Primer: Milani, NYX Glitter Glue
Eyeshadow: Apocalyptic Beauty
Eyebrow: essence pencil and Make Me Brow
Lips: NYX Liquid Suede
Highlight: AOA Studio baked highlight
Eyeliner: Milani (sucks...)
Mascara: CoverGirl Clump Crusher Waterproof

I really liked my outfit too!  I'd originally thought the garter I had wouldn't be practical to wear out, but it turned out to be really comfortable!

Featuring Natto kitty!!

Natto kept trying to jump up on me while I was trying to take an outfit photo ^^;

It's a bit hard to tell, but my hair is wavy for this look, too.  Now that my hair is much shorter, the waves from braids stay much longer!!  It's so fun to have short-medium hair!

How do you get yourself some energy when you feel mentally lethargic?  I'd like tips from other people on how they get themselves to use opposite action (doing the opposite of what your bad mentality or emotion wants you to do)!!

Artist Spotlight: Miki Takei

Happy Lantern Festival! I was unable to really do anything this year other than have fun with lantern riddles, but I do want to post today to wish my readers a lovely festival and also share this artist I newly discovered!

Image from LINE sticker store

I discovered Miki Takei while browsing the LINE sticker store and saw this set which reminded me a bit of ECONECO, but whimsical in a different way...

Image from LINE sticker store

At first glance, both seem to be sweet and pastel styles, but Miki Takei uses fewer patterns and such on surfaces, creating a more "realistic" image compared to the totally dreamy and cartoon fantasy style of ECONECO I previously shared here.  While browsing her instagram, I thought to myself, "It's like a pastel filter put on our world." There are so many cute baby animal pictures to look at! I can't help but smile when I scroll through her page.

Image from LINE sticker store

There are also some jewelry pieces in 3D molded metal that I really wish I could get *u*

Short post today, but thank you so much for reading and comments! ^u^v

What's your favorite color scheme? Jewel tones? Earthy tones? Dusty? Pastel? Bold? Neon? I think it's obvious that I like pastel best :P But I also really like Neon!! And... NEON PASTEL (that is a thing)

Year of the Rat GO!

Belated New Year post again! This time I have no excuse as I was not ill... but it did take me a few days to get photos from my friend because my phone ran out of power T^T  It's been having difficulty charging, but I also am reluctant to change to a new phone...

Photo thanks to ImaginaryDuke!

Unfortunately I left my red JSK in Taiwan as I couldn't fit everything in my suitcases when I moved, so this red blouse will have to do!

We had hotpot at Duke's house, and I made fagao that actually split this year!! Not perfectly, but still better than every other time I've made them.

發糕！

The splitting of the cakes when they rise (fa) is akin to your prosperity growing, so hopefully there will at least be... a little bit of prosperity in my future? Maybe the job situation will work out here? Either that or I can negotiate office hours at my job in Taiwan if I move back?

Duke kindly let me decorate his house with Chinese New Year decorations from decades ago :P Some of them are from when I was still very little!! He still had his Christmas tree up, so here is a combination of eastern and western holidays!

Secret snap of some of my friends!

Are you born in the Year of the Rat? Did you celebrate Lunar New Year at all? Or what other New Year do you celebrate? Pointy said he doesn't celebrate Cambodian New Year ever, but he did come to my Chinese New Year party!

Artist Spotlight: Caramel*Ribbon

Time for another artist spotlight! My recent resin adventures reminded me of this resin artist I really admire. I first ran across her work at a handmade market in Taipei, which had Japanese artists invited as well. 

If you are a fan of magical girl and pastel glittery styles, you will love Caramel*Ribbon for sure! While I believe the shop only sells to Japanese residents, her instagram is definitely some lovely eyecandy~

Check out some of her works!

Beautiful pendants~
Pic from website

I especially adore the magical key items! At the market they were available as necklace, pin, and hairpin. In person they are even more beautiful, if you can believe it!

Pic from website

The works are a bit large, so I would personally only wear one as an accent piece on a necklace or maybe as a bag pin.

Pic from website

Her work inspired me to order some key-theme metal charms recently to create small magical keys (and cat keys... maybe?) for charms myself! Cannot wait for them to come in!

Do you have any favorite resin artists? I'm looking for more to follow!! Drop some names below if you know any! Thank you~

Quick and Easy Pink Lolita in Winter Wonderland

Yesterday I went on an impromptu date with my boyfriend so I threw together a coord in about 20 minutes. Not the best photo (he tried) but hopefully it shows the outfit well!

KC, JSK, coat, socks: BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT
Blouse: Little Dipper (taobao)
Bag: Swimmer Japan
Petticoat: Fantasyland (taobao)
Boots: Target

I only wore some mascara and lipstick for the outing, as well as curling my lashes. A bit off topic, but does anybody else feel more awake after curling their lashes???? Maybe it's because my lashes grow straight and downward, but whenever I curl them I feel like I feel more awake, even without mascara.

Whenever I need a quick outfit, I go for a JSK because it takes care of the top and bottom in one go. Then I choose a comfortable blouse, usually chiffon, because that can change up the look. I've worn this JSK with white, pink, and mint blouses to change up the look. Even with minimal accessories, the outfit is very Lolita. I chose not to wear a necklace because this JSK has a large chest ribbon as well as bodice lacing, though to dress it up, I would wear a choker.

An OP would also be really nice for a quick outfit, though there are fewer options to change the look... which is why I left my OPs in Taiwan, to be honest.

Special set JSKs seem to be really good for a quick and casual outfit because the JSK comes with a matching KC so you don't need to worry about the hairstyle either!

I'm also thinking of doing more hair looks on my blog. There's a list of simple and casual kawaii looks I've got, but I just need to get around to doing and photographing them! Taking hair photos with dark hair is really difficult...

Thank you for reading! What are your favorite tips for quick Lolita outfits?