Hello everyone~! So today's Lolita 52 Challenge topic is Lolitafying things in my everyday life, buuuuuut I generally am more into Fairy Kei than Lolita in general anymore (though I still do love Sweet Lolita and have several OPs and JSKs), so instead I'll be talking about how I cutify things in my everyday life to fit my very specific pastel aesthetic~
#1: Spray Paint
Soooo, I'm kinda lazy when it comes to painting furniture, but I like to thrift or otherwise rescue unwanted furniture while still having furniture that matches. So to fix that, I spray paint all of my furniture. I did paint a few pieces with regular furniture paint, but I had no idea what I was doing and ran out of paint extremely quickly compared to what I was lead to believe I would need and the particular paint I chose ended up scraping off waaaay too easily (Having a kitty using them as leaping pads didn't help either). So, rather than waste my time and money on painting things that weren't going to stay painted, I decided to just buy a ton of spray paint in various pastel colors and do that instead. And I do have to say, I think all of my shelves and other furniture that I painted this way turned out super cute and way more durable than the ones I tried to paint properly. Plus it's a lot easier for me to decide to change the colors on furniture or frames if all I have to do is lay some newspaper on my porch, put on a mask, and give it several coats over the course of an anime episode or some YouTube videos than all the work that goes into proper painting. (I literally bought and painted a cute little corner cupboard and shelf thing in a few hours one afternoon along with a couple other items earlier in the day. The only time I can't finish a project in an evening or a day is if I run out of the color of paint I need and am too lazy or broke at the moment to get more.)
#2: Stickers!
So, I have a handful of stickers laying around that I'd never really found a use for, then I realized I could use them to make plain looking, single color items look waaaay cuter and more intricate! Plus it's less expensive than trying to get and attach wooden shapes to make it look like the piece has intricate craftsmanship rather than being rectangles of presswood nailed together. I especially like puffy stickers since they can give an item even more depth than just flat stickers.
#3: Cute and colorful thumbtacks
So, like many people, I like to get prints and other art and apply them to my walls, so I use cute heart shaped thumbtacks as well as typical ones with colorful plastic heads to pin my artwork up. In addition to the pictures on my walls, I also have a cork board that I keep cute packaging, business cards, tags, and the like on using a fun mix of the thumbtacks I have!
#4: Collages~
Like with my cork board, I like to turn things into little framed collages to put into spray painted frames. I posted a few pictures of meh ones I'd made previously in another post, but I have one with Pusheen blind box pieces (and another one planned), several with business cards and cute notes from sellers, and some other ones with cute packaging I didn't want to throw away.
#5: Lotsa lil' trinkets
So one of the the main ways I cutify my apartment is with lots and lots of cute little things (and some bigger cuties). I have plushies invading every room (minus my bathroom because I don't have a place to put them) displayed on shelves, in my display cabinet and TV center, and on my couch. I have anime figures displayed in my living room and bedroom as well as some very nice quality weapon replicas of Sora's keyblade and Link's Hylian shield and Master Sword that a friend gave me. (I also have a little shine to my best girl from Love Live!, Eli Ayase, in my living room.) I have re-ment figures and some little outfits, that fit my Licca doll perfectly and also look super cute on my drawing mannequin, displayed in my kitchen and display cabinet. And I have a pretty phone styled to look like an antique rotary phone that I recently repainted to be pastel along with lots of other miscellaneous trinkets displayed around my apartment on any flat shelf-like surface that is relatively safe from my little kitty cat (who thinks everything is a toy).
#6: Display that merch!
In a previous post where I talked about how I decorated my room at the time, I mentioned that I like to display my hair accessories on the wall. My collection has since grown a good deal, so instead of the one ribbon hanger thing I now have several, two of which I've made rather recently to hold all of the cute hair accessories and pins that'll fit on them. In addition to those, I have several decorative wall pegs meant for holding clothing or hats that I display my headbows and hair poms and such on so they're all easy to see and add to a coordinate. All of those are in my bedroom, and in addition to those I have a little coat rack and shelf with pegs on it that I display my favorite purses and my BTSSB parasol on for easy access and bragging rights along with some of my Pusheen items.
How do you like to decorate your room or apartment/house to fit with a Lolita aesthetic or your personal aesthetic? Let me know in the comments~
Check out my Insta: @animelolitacouture
Showing posts with label Kawaii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kawaii. Show all posts
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Lolita 52 Challenge: What my Own Lolita Lifestyle is Like
Hello everyone! Today I've got another topic from the Lolita 52 Challenge: What my own Lolita lifestyle is like. This will be a little bit interesting since I am not a Lolita lifestyler per se and generally only wear Lolita once a week to church or to meetups, so let's see what I come up with.
To start with, lets talk a bit about Lolita lifestylers. Generally if someone is considered a lifestyle Lolita they wear Lolita the majority of the time, have Lolita-esque décor, and lead a life befitting of a Lolita (antique shopping, afternoon teas, purikura, etc.). A few popular people that can be or have been considered lifestyle Lolitas are Pixielocks in her earlier days on YouTube, Lovely Lor a few years ago, Princess Peachie, and Lillith Gray.
Now let's talk about me. while I do wear Lolita, it's not my daily fashion (I generally wear other more casual J-Fashions when I'm not working). Generally when I do wear Lolita, my coordinates are kinda rushed and thrown together as I am terrible at getting up early enough to properly put together an outfit, much less accessorize when I wear Lolita to church and I haven't had the time or money to go to Lolita meets recently. I definitely would like to add more Lolita pieces to my wardrobe and wear it more often, but it's going to take time, budgeting, and prioritizing. While I don't dress in Lolita very often, I still enjoy a lot of things associated with Lolita. My apartment is a mix between kawaii or Japanese style cute and elegant touches such as an antique styled phone and dresser. I also have my pastel themed wardrobe, including my Lolita pieces, on full display in my bedroom.
Day-to-day I don't really have a very defined Lolita befitting routine outside of the occasional bath bomb and my regular skincare routine. I try to upkeep my nails, but due to my job I can't have elaborate manicures and generally break my nails if I grow them out. I do have hobbies such as sewing, crafting, harp, and drawing that suit the Lolita lifestyle though. I grew up knowing some handicrafts, though cosplay and Lolita are my main reasons for learning how to sew more than doll dresses. I started learning harp a while back because I have an appreciation for classical and harp music and decided to learn a less commonly played instrument, so I guess that could be considered maybe a more Classic Lolita sort of interest?
To be honest, I really don't have a super Lolita based or inspired lifestyle as most of my inspiration comes from lots of different kawaii and J-fashion sources, Lolita included, as well as just life-long trends such as making use of what I have available to create things I like and being relatively thrifty and creative. This article was pretty difficult for me to write, so I hope it isn't too confusing and tangential for you guys.
Go like and follow me on Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Subscribe to me on Youtube: WatashiWaChoCho
Peruse my wares: animelolitacouture.storenvy.com
To start with, lets talk a bit about Lolita lifestylers. Generally if someone is considered a lifestyle Lolita they wear Lolita the majority of the time, have Lolita-esque décor, and lead a life befitting of a Lolita (antique shopping, afternoon teas, purikura, etc.). A few popular people that can be or have been considered lifestyle Lolitas are Pixielocks in her earlier days on YouTube, Lovely Lor a few years ago, Princess Peachie, and Lillith Gray.
Now let's talk about me. while I do wear Lolita, it's not my daily fashion (I generally wear other more casual J-Fashions when I'm not working). Generally when I do wear Lolita, my coordinates are kinda rushed and thrown together as I am terrible at getting up early enough to properly put together an outfit, much less accessorize when I wear Lolita to church and I haven't had the time or money to go to Lolita meets recently. I definitely would like to add more Lolita pieces to my wardrobe and wear it more often, but it's going to take time, budgeting, and prioritizing. While I don't dress in Lolita very often, I still enjoy a lot of things associated with Lolita. My apartment is a mix between kawaii or Japanese style cute and elegant touches such as an antique styled phone and dresser. I also have my pastel themed wardrobe, including my Lolita pieces, on full display in my bedroom.
Day-to-day I don't really have a very defined Lolita befitting routine outside of the occasional bath bomb and my regular skincare routine. I try to upkeep my nails, but due to my job I can't have elaborate manicures and generally break my nails if I grow them out. I do have hobbies such as sewing, crafting, harp, and drawing that suit the Lolita lifestyle though. I grew up knowing some handicrafts, though cosplay and Lolita are my main reasons for learning how to sew more than doll dresses. I started learning harp a while back because I have an appreciation for classical and harp music and decided to learn a less commonly played instrument, so I guess that could be considered maybe a more Classic Lolita sort of interest?
To be honest, I really don't have a super Lolita based or inspired lifestyle as most of my inspiration comes from lots of different kawaii and J-fashion sources, Lolita included, as well as just life-long trends such as making use of what I have available to create things I like and being relatively thrifty and creative. This article was pretty difficult for me to write, so I hope it isn't too confusing and tangential for you guys.
Go like and follow me on Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Subscribe to me on Youtube: WatashiWaChoCho
Peruse my wares: animelolitacouture.storenvy.com
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Living Doll VS Lolita
Hello everyone! Today I'm going to be talking about some similarities and difference between the Living Doll style and Lolita fashion. If you aren't familiar with what a Living Doll is, check out my post here. For those unfamiliar with Lolita fashion, please check out the Wikipedia page or the Lolita Fashion webpage.
One of the main confusions with Lolita and Living Dolls is that they're the same thing. Part of this confusion comes from the fact that Living Dolls may wear Lolita fashion and many Lolitas may go for a more dolly look with their makeup and accessories. These two styles are not interchangeable though they do cross over in some places and have similar features. They both can be either just a fashion or an entire lifestyle and they both aim for a kawaii or cute look, but they're two separate and defined styles.
So let's talk a bit more in depth as to what the difference between Lolita and Living Doll styles are, beginning with them as just fashions, not lifestyles. In Lolita fashion, there are many "rules" or guidelines that make Lolita what it is. Lolita coordinates generally have knee-length, bell shaped skirts, delicate lace and ruffles, large and small accent bows, a modest neckline and elegant or cute accessories and round toed shoes, such as Mary Janes. Living Doll fashion is generally a lot looser and is defined as "looking like a doll." Whether that means frilly, Victorian-esque Lolita dresses, trendy Barbie style clothing, or even just a loose T-shirt with a girly design and a pastel circle skirt is completely up to the style of doll the wearer is inspired by. So simply put, Lolita fashion is generally a certain style of dress paired with particular accessories while Living Doll fashion can be just about anything.
Now lets get into the two lifestyles, being a Lolita VS being a Living Doll. (I'll be referring to them in terms of the lifestyle with the fashion as opposed to just the fashion now.)
**NOTE** It's not required to follow a certain lifestyle in order to wear either of these fashions. Some people choose to wear the clothing and style because they like how it looks while others choose to wear the fashion because it suits the lifestyle they follow or wish to follow. If someone wears the fashion without having a coordinating lifestyle, it doesn't mean they're any less a Lolita or Living Doll than someone who's lifestyle is more in line with their fashion.
With that out of the way, let's start with some similarities. Lolitas and Living Dolls both generally like to spend plenty of time taking care of their outward appearance and tend to have beauty routines and treatments to achieve a healthy, youthful exterior. Routines can include use of face, skin, and hair masks, manicures and pedicures, spa visits or home spa days, and facial treatments both in the morning and at night. Many Lolitas and Living Dolls also choose to surround themselves with décor that reflects their lifestyle. For example, a Gothic Lolita may have dark colored and black décor, skulls, small replicas or paintings of gothic architecture, and a shine to the Lolita God Mana in their home. (Disclaimer: Mana is human just like us, but he's gorgeous and perfect in the eyes of many a Lolita, so he might as well be a god.) A Living Doll may surround herself with cute toys and dolls that suit her particular style. For example, a Living Doll inspired by Barbie may have a vast collection of Barbie pink décor and Barbie dolls surrounding her and may even try to style her room like Barbie's Dream House. Additionally, Lolitas and Living Dolls may choose to act in a manner that suits their style or even arrange their diet to suit their style. For example, a Sweet Lolita may choose to follow a more Victorian inspired code of conduct, being more quiet and reserved and choosing to enjoy things such as flower gardens and art museums as opposed to clubs and sports games. They might also prepare their food to always look cute and delicate and enjoy sweets such as cakes and macarons with tea every afternoon. In contrast, a Living Doll may choose to spend her time fussing over her looks, shopping for new clothing, or trying new outfits. She may choose to eat a very balanced diet and work out regularly in order to maintain a slim, yet toned physique. As you can probably tell from these different descriptions, Lolitas and Living Dolls can have very different lifestyles, even though they both may live lifestyles considered abnormal for some.
Now, back to the general usage of Lolita and Living Doll (someone who wears the fashion and/or follows the lifestyle). Lolitas and Living Dolls, while two different and distinct styles, do have a fair amount of crossover, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post which is why they can be confused sometimes. Many Lolitas may choose to achieve a more "dolly" look with their makeup with false eyelashes, colored circle lenses (ones that make the iris look bigger), and flawless skin. At the same time, many Living Dolls may choose to wear pieces from Lolita fashion or whole Lolita coordinates, meaning a Lolita can also be a Living Doll. So while there is cross-over, being a Lolita does not automatically make you a Living Doll and vice versa.
Go like and follow my Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Subscribe to my Youtube chanel: ButterflyChan
Peruse my wares: animelolitacouture.storenvy.com
One of the main confusions with Lolita and Living Dolls is that they're the same thing. Part of this confusion comes from the fact that Living Dolls may wear Lolita fashion and many Lolitas may go for a more dolly look with their makeup and accessories. These two styles are not interchangeable though they do cross over in some places and have similar features. They both can be either just a fashion or an entire lifestyle and they both aim for a kawaii or cute look, but they're two separate and defined styles.
So let's talk a bit more in depth as to what the difference between Lolita and Living Doll styles are, beginning with them as just fashions, not lifestyles. In Lolita fashion, there are many "rules" or guidelines that make Lolita what it is. Lolita coordinates generally have knee-length, bell shaped skirts, delicate lace and ruffles, large and small accent bows, a modest neckline and elegant or cute accessories and round toed shoes, such as Mary Janes. Living Doll fashion is generally a lot looser and is defined as "looking like a doll." Whether that means frilly, Victorian-esque Lolita dresses, trendy Barbie style clothing, or even just a loose T-shirt with a girly design and a pastel circle skirt is completely up to the style of doll the wearer is inspired by. So simply put, Lolita fashion is generally a certain style of dress paired with particular accessories while Living Doll fashion can be just about anything.
Now lets get into the two lifestyles, being a Lolita VS being a Living Doll. (I'll be referring to them in terms of the lifestyle with the fashion as opposed to just the fashion now.)
**NOTE** It's not required to follow a certain lifestyle in order to wear either of these fashions. Some people choose to wear the clothing and style because they like how it looks while others choose to wear the fashion because it suits the lifestyle they follow or wish to follow. If someone wears the fashion without having a coordinating lifestyle, it doesn't mean they're any less a Lolita or Living Doll than someone who's lifestyle is more in line with their fashion.
With that out of the way, let's start with some similarities. Lolitas and Living Dolls both generally like to spend plenty of time taking care of their outward appearance and tend to have beauty routines and treatments to achieve a healthy, youthful exterior. Routines can include use of face, skin, and hair masks, manicures and pedicures, spa visits or home spa days, and facial treatments both in the morning and at night. Many Lolitas and Living Dolls also choose to surround themselves with décor that reflects their lifestyle. For example, a Gothic Lolita may have dark colored and black décor, skulls, small replicas or paintings of gothic architecture, and a shine to the Lolita God Mana in their home. (Disclaimer: Mana is human just like us, but he's gorgeous and perfect in the eyes of many a Lolita, so he might as well be a god.) A Living Doll may surround herself with cute toys and dolls that suit her particular style. For example, a Living Doll inspired by Barbie may have a vast collection of Barbie pink décor and Barbie dolls surrounding her and may even try to style her room like Barbie's Dream House. Additionally, Lolitas and Living Dolls may choose to act in a manner that suits their style or even arrange their diet to suit their style. For example, a Sweet Lolita may choose to follow a more Victorian inspired code of conduct, being more quiet and reserved and choosing to enjoy things such as flower gardens and art museums as opposed to clubs and sports games. They might also prepare their food to always look cute and delicate and enjoy sweets such as cakes and macarons with tea every afternoon. In contrast, a Living Doll may choose to spend her time fussing over her looks, shopping for new clothing, or trying new outfits. She may choose to eat a very balanced diet and work out regularly in order to maintain a slim, yet toned physique. As you can probably tell from these different descriptions, Lolitas and Living Dolls can have very different lifestyles, even though they both may live lifestyles considered abnormal for some.
Now, back to the general usage of Lolita and Living Doll (someone who wears the fashion and/or follows the lifestyle). Lolitas and Living Dolls, while two different and distinct styles, do have a fair amount of crossover, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post which is why they can be confused sometimes. Many Lolitas may choose to achieve a more "dolly" look with their makeup with false eyelashes, colored circle lenses (ones that make the iris look bigger), and flawless skin. At the same time, many Living Dolls may choose to wear pieces from Lolita fashion or whole Lolita coordinates, meaning a Lolita can also be a Living Doll. So while there is cross-over, being a Lolita does not automatically make you a Living Doll and vice versa.
Go like and follow my Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Subscribe to my Youtube chanel: ButterflyChan
Peruse my wares: animelolitacouture.storenvy.com
Friday, August 19, 2016
Rosa Hermetica Dress Review
Hello everyone! Today I'm going to be doing another review for my friend Alis's shop Rosa Hermetica. This time around I decided to buy two items and do a more in-depth review here on my blog as opposed to a first impressions review in video format like last time I ordered from her. So here we go! I'll be rating both dresses on size, quality, shipping, and overall order accuracy.
The first dress I ordered is the To Alice Strawberry Lolita Dress in the Pink colorway.
Quality:
This dress has an adorable print and is made of soft, yet opaque chiffon-like fabric and has two detachable bows for the collar, buttons up the front, and a removable red ribbon to tie around the waist. All of the bows are made out of grosgrain ribbon and the buttons feel like plastic. There is no shirring on the dress and a zipper up one of the sides to allow for easy wear and removal of the dress. The lace is soft and delicate and the print stands out well, though it is a little blurred due to the fabric's texture.
Size:
Sadly, this dress does not fit me. I double checked my measurements and compared them to the ones listed on the site, but this style of dress runs small. I ordered the largest size available, a Medium, but it's equivalent to about a US small or extra small. I should have remembered that my sailor dress from Rosa Hermetica was almost ten cm larger than my bust measurement and was still tight when I decided to order this dress. Unfortunately this is something that happens with online shopping, so I have nothing against Rosa Hermetica for this, but I did warn Alis so she can make a note in the description to warn future customers that it runs small.
The second dress I ordered was the Alice in Wonderland Lolita Dress in the Pink colorway.
Quality:
This dress was also made out of a soft, opaque, chiffon-like material and has a nice print, albeit a little blurred due to the fabric texture. The lace is very nice and soft with multiple types on the dress. The dress has two detachable bows, one larger for the waist and one smaller for the chest, as well as attached bows on the edge of the dress made from grossgrain ribbon. There is some slight damage to some of the bows on the edge of the skirt, though it's not noticeable from the front of the bows and it looks like it's just the ribbon being burned from sealing the edges to prevent fraying. In addition to the ribbons, the dress also came with two detachable wait ties and a chiffon drape that buttons onto the shoulder straps. The dress is zipperless, with only shirring on the back and it also has adjustable shoulder straps with three different positions.
Size:
This dress fits very comfortably and allows for enough stretch to easily put the dress on and off. I'm towards the lower end of the measurements for this dress and it still fits great with and without a blouse under it. The adjustableness of the straps is great for me and the waist ties are a nice addition for bringing the waist in a bit.
Order accuracy:
Unfortunately, there was some miscommunication on the color of this dress between Alis and the people who package and ship her orders as it arrived in purple instead of pink. Fortunately she got in contact with me very quickly when I messaged her about the mix-up. While her store policy doesn't cover shipping on this, she did send me a gift as an appology for the mistake, which I very much appreciate. It's a cute little flower crown with white to pink mini roses on it. The dress is still very lovely in purple, albeit the print is a bit more subdued than with the pink colorway.
Shipping:
Both dresses arrived about two weeks after my order in seperate packages about half a day apart. This is about normal shipping time for me for packages from China. The packaging for both was a typical white polymailer, both of which were undamaged. Inside the polymailers, both dresses were in clear plastic resealable bags with their attachments. I am definitely happy with shipping time and the condition both packages arrived in.
Overall satisfaction:
I am quite satisfied with the quality of the dresses and shipping time, though I am rather upset about the color mix-up on the Alice dress and the fit of the Strawberry dress. However, I feel that Alis's customer service was very good and helped make up for these. Overall I would give this experience with purchasing from Rosa Hermetica a 4/5. I will definitely be ordering from Alis's little shop again and would highly recomend it to my friends.
The first dress I ordered is the To Alice Strawberry Lolita Dress in the Pink colorway.
Quality:
This dress has an adorable print and is made of soft, yet opaque chiffon-like fabric and has two detachable bows for the collar, buttons up the front, and a removable red ribbon to tie around the waist. All of the bows are made out of grosgrain ribbon and the buttons feel like plastic. There is no shirring on the dress and a zipper up one of the sides to allow for easy wear and removal of the dress. The lace is soft and delicate and the print stands out well, though it is a little blurred due to the fabric's texture.
Size:
Sadly, this dress does not fit me. I double checked my measurements and compared them to the ones listed on the site, but this style of dress runs small. I ordered the largest size available, a Medium, but it's equivalent to about a US small or extra small. I should have remembered that my sailor dress from Rosa Hermetica was almost ten cm larger than my bust measurement and was still tight when I decided to order this dress. Unfortunately this is something that happens with online shopping, so I have nothing against Rosa Hermetica for this, but I did warn Alis so she can make a note in the description to warn future customers that it runs small.
The second dress I ordered was the Alice in Wonderland Lolita Dress in the Pink colorway.
Quality:
This dress was also made out of a soft, opaque, chiffon-like material and has a nice print, albeit a little blurred due to the fabric texture. The lace is very nice and soft with multiple types on the dress. The dress has two detachable bows, one larger for the waist and one smaller for the chest, as well as attached bows on the edge of the dress made from grossgrain ribbon. There is some slight damage to some of the bows on the edge of the skirt, though it's not noticeable from the front of the bows and it looks like it's just the ribbon being burned from sealing the edges to prevent fraying. In addition to the ribbons, the dress also came with two detachable wait ties and a chiffon drape that buttons onto the shoulder straps. The dress is zipperless, with only shirring on the back and it also has adjustable shoulder straps with three different positions.
Size:
This dress fits very comfortably and allows for enough stretch to easily put the dress on and off. I'm towards the lower end of the measurements for this dress and it still fits great with and without a blouse under it. The adjustableness of the straps is great for me and the waist ties are a nice addition for bringing the waist in a bit.
Order accuracy:
Unfortunately, there was some miscommunication on the color of this dress between Alis and the people who package and ship her orders as it arrived in purple instead of pink. Fortunately she got in contact with me very quickly when I messaged her about the mix-up. While her store policy doesn't cover shipping on this, she did send me a gift as an appology for the mistake, which I very much appreciate. It's a cute little flower crown with white to pink mini roses on it. The dress is still very lovely in purple, albeit the print is a bit more subdued than with the pink colorway.
Shipping:
Both dresses arrived about two weeks after my order in seperate packages about half a day apart. This is about normal shipping time for me for packages from China. The packaging for both was a typical white polymailer, both of which were undamaged. Inside the polymailers, both dresses were in clear plastic resealable bags with their attachments. I am definitely happy with shipping time and the condition both packages arrived in.
Overall satisfaction:
I am quite satisfied with the quality of the dresses and shipping time, though I am rather upset about the color mix-up on the Alice dress and the fit of the Strawberry dress. However, I feel that Alis's customer service was very good and helped make up for these. Overall I would give this experience with purchasing from Rosa Hermetica a 4/5. I will definitely be ordering from Alis's little shop again and would highly recomend it to my friends.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Keeping the Magic Alive: Easter Bunny Helper
Hey everyone! So I recently had the opportunity to volunteer at a local Easter event as the Easter Bunny's helper and I wanted to talk a little bit about my experience. You can find more pictures of my outfit and the Easter Bunny's hutch on my facebook page. Enjoy!
So first of all, let's talk about what I did as an Easter Bunny helper for this event. My main tasks were to decorate the Easter Bunny's area, or hutch as we called it, make sure the Easter Bunny was good to go, and hand out goodie bags to the children. In addition to this, I found myself helping take pictures for families, posing in pictures with the Easter Bunny, and luring shy children over so their parents could take pictures. From the start of the event to the time things started wrapping up, we had an almost constant stream of parents and children coming to take pictures with the Easter Bunny or just say hi. I had a lot of fun, even though it was slightly overwhelming at times. Here's some things I learned from this experience.
#1: A Variety of Reactions
One of the more notable things I learned was the many different types of reactions children have when they meet a character. Some of the more notable ones were the children who started crying the second their parents tried to let go of them (or get them anywhere close to the Easter Bunny), ones who came right up to the Easter Bunny and gave her a great big hug, ones who were very confused as to what this giant thing holding them was (this was mainly very young children), and the shy ones who needed a little encouraging to come sit on the Bunny's lap. Being dressed in Fairy Kei, I also got to see a side of things someone wearing jeans, a hoodie, and bunny ears would not have. There were a few moments that were very special to me where a little girl would come up to ME and want a picture and hug from ME and not the Easter Bunny. It made me feel like a Disney princess. There were also a lot of little kids who were more willing to come pose for their parents when I beckoned them as opposed to just the Easter Bunny due to me looking like a magical fairy princess as opposed to some giant, furry thing they'd never seen before. I also would occasionally scoop up hesitant children or help parents get their children to look in the direction of the camera by being all sparkly and pastel.
#2: Don't Think About Getting Overwhelmed
With the large number of children coming through, it would have been very easy to feel overwhelmed. I did, at first, but after a while it became more of a game of luring children to the Easter Bunny, making sure they all got goodie bags, and helping parents take pictures. Everything kinda became a blur because I focused on accomplishing what I was there for and not worrying about everything that was happening. I didn't even notice I was pretty hungry or that there was a DJ right next to us until the line started to disappear. At the beginning of things, I wanted to try and direct people, both to the Bunny as well as how to form the line, but I quickly realized that people would come up on their own and that I was too busy helping IN the hutch to worry about what was going on outside of it.
#3: Only YOU Can Keep Magic Alive
One of the things I admired the most about the girl portraying the Easter Bunny was her dedication to keeping the magic alive for the children. She avoided talking so kids wouldn't be scared or put off by her raspy smoker's voice. She never took her mask or gloves off and went so far as to have her room mate drive so that she wouldn't have to worry about being seen by a kid with her mask off. I really admire the effort she put in to help bring the Easter Bunny to life for the kids at that event.
#4: Smiling Takes More Energy than Frowing
I remember back when Toy Story 2 came out, at the end of the film Barbie asked if she could stop smiling and commented that her face hurt. I now know her pain. While frowning may use more facial muscles than smiling, a resting frown or look of disaproval takes a lot less energy than smiling. It got to the point that I was wondering if my smiles looked forced. But I couldn't stop smiling. My face hurt so bad afterwords, but all in all, I had a lot of fun.
I hope you all enjoyed reading about my experience with being an Easter Bunny helper!
Check out my Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Go watch my YouTube: watashiwachocho
So first of all, let's talk about what I did as an Easter Bunny helper for this event. My main tasks were to decorate the Easter Bunny's area, or hutch as we called it, make sure the Easter Bunny was good to go, and hand out goodie bags to the children. In addition to this, I found myself helping take pictures for families, posing in pictures with the Easter Bunny, and luring shy children over so their parents could take pictures. From the start of the event to the time things started wrapping up, we had an almost constant stream of parents and children coming to take pictures with the Easter Bunny or just say hi. I had a lot of fun, even though it was slightly overwhelming at times. Here's some things I learned from this experience.
#1: A Variety of Reactions
One of the more notable things I learned was the many different types of reactions children have when they meet a character. Some of the more notable ones were the children who started crying the second their parents tried to let go of them (or get them anywhere close to the Easter Bunny), ones who came right up to the Easter Bunny and gave her a great big hug, ones who were very confused as to what this giant thing holding them was (this was mainly very young children), and the shy ones who needed a little encouraging to come sit on the Bunny's lap. Being dressed in Fairy Kei, I also got to see a side of things someone wearing jeans, a hoodie, and bunny ears would not have. There were a few moments that were very special to me where a little girl would come up to ME and want a picture and hug from ME and not the Easter Bunny. It made me feel like a Disney princess. There were also a lot of little kids who were more willing to come pose for their parents when I beckoned them as opposed to just the Easter Bunny due to me looking like a magical fairy princess as opposed to some giant, furry thing they'd never seen before. I also would occasionally scoop up hesitant children or help parents get their children to look in the direction of the camera by being all sparkly and pastel.
#2: Don't Think About Getting Overwhelmed
With the large number of children coming through, it would have been very easy to feel overwhelmed. I did, at first, but after a while it became more of a game of luring children to the Easter Bunny, making sure they all got goodie bags, and helping parents take pictures. Everything kinda became a blur because I focused on accomplishing what I was there for and not worrying about everything that was happening. I didn't even notice I was pretty hungry or that there was a DJ right next to us until the line started to disappear. At the beginning of things, I wanted to try and direct people, both to the Bunny as well as how to form the line, but I quickly realized that people would come up on their own and that I was too busy helping IN the hutch to worry about what was going on outside of it.
#3: Only YOU Can Keep Magic Alive
One of the things I admired the most about the girl portraying the Easter Bunny was her dedication to keeping the magic alive for the children. She avoided talking so kids wouldn't be scared or put off by her raspy smoker's voice. She never took her mask or gloves off and went so far as to have her room mate drive so that she wouldn't have to worry about being seen by a kid with her mask off. I really admire the effort she put in to help bring the Easter Bunny to life for the kids at that event.
#4: Smiling Takes More Energy than Frowing
I remember back when Toy Story 2 came out, at the end of the film Barbie asked if she could stop smiling and commented that her face hurt. I now know her pain. While frowning may use more facial muscles than smiling, a resting frown or look of disaproval takes a lot less energy than smiling. It got to the point that I was wondering if my smiles looked forced. But I couldn't stop smiling. My face hurt so bad afterwords, but all in all, I had a lot of fun.
I hope you all enjoyed reading about my experience with being an Easter Bunny helper!
Check out my Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Go watch my YouTube: watashiwachocho
Monday, March 14, 2016
Cheap, Cute Room Decor
Hello everyone! Thanks to random inspiration and a day off from work,
I finaly have a new blog post for you today! So without further ado,
let me talk about inexpensive room decor!
So, before I get into how to have a cute room inexpensively, let me
tlk about my room a little bit. Most of my friends are somewhat taken
aback when they walk into my room because when they walk in it doesn't
just feel like a dorm room like everyone else's, it feels like a home.
I'm going to be talking about how I've managed this without spending a
fortune on room decor. First things first:
#1: Use everything
If you're reading this blog, you probably collect cute stuff like me.
I have an ever growing collection of ramune bottles up on top of my
armoires along with cute containers from reed diffusers I've gotten.
Also, I am mildly addicted to blind boxes right now, so anytime I get
a new one, I keep the parts of the box with an interesting design and
arrange them in frames like in the pictures below. I've also done the
same with a cute bag, business cards and notes from online trades and
purchases, and stickers. Even if you don't have cute tags and such,
you can get some really cute wrapping paper from the Dollar Tree or a
similar place and cut out pieces to make into a collage in a frame.
Most of the frames I own are either from the Dollar Tree (everything
is $1) or a Dollar General (everything is reasonably priced, usually
$5 or below for a lot of items). Even though they're kinda boring and
plain, I can use them as-is, or change them up.
I finaly have a new blog post for you today! So without further ado,
let me talk about inexpensive room decor!
So, before I get into how to have a cute room inexpensively, let me
tlk about my room a little bit. Most of my friends are somewhat taken
aback when they walk into my room because when they walk in it doesn't
just feel like a dorm room like everyone else's, it feels like a home.
I'm going to be talking about how I've managed this without spending a
fortune on room decor. First things first:
#1: Use everything
If you're reading this blog, you probably collect cute stuff like me.
I have an ever growing collection of ramune bottles up on top of my
armoires along with cute containers from reed diffusers I've gotten.
Also, I am mildly addicted to blind boxes right now, so anytime I get
a new one, I keep the parts of the box with an interesting design and
arrange them in frames like in the pictures below. I've also done the
same with a cute bag, business cards and notes from online trades and
purchases, and stickers. Even if you don't have cute tags and such,
you can get some really cute wrapping paper from the Dollar Tree or a
similar place and cut out pieces to make into a collage in a frame.
Most of the frames I own are either from the Dollar Tree (everything
is $1) or a Dollar General (everything is reasonably priced, usually
$5 or below for a lot of items). Even though they're kinda boring and
plain, I can use them as-is, or change them up.
Which brings me to my
next tip:
#2: Paint is your friend
Don't like the color of something? PAINT IT! I personally use acrylic
paint on just about everything I don't like the color on. I have an
earing holder, a frame, a thrifted shelf, and even my corkboard
painted so that they aren't just boring colors. Paint is great because
it's not too expensive, can be used on a lot of items, can be mixed to
make new colors, and is great for personalization since everything you
paint will be one of a kind!
#3: Accessorize your room
Many of us into alternative fashion have a similar problem: Lots of
cute accessories to store. (Even mainstream fashion wearers do, just
usually not as bulky of items.) So here's my third tip for decorating:
Use your accessories as decor. One of the biggest things I've had to
learn about living in a dorm room is to store as many things as
possible vertically since I only have so much floor and dresser top
space. Because of this, a lot of my accessories can be seen hanging on
my walls. Even if you don't have a lot of money, you can still make
cute things for your room. I personally have a cheap belt hanger
holding up all of my collars with a headbow on top, a little ribbon
holder that I got with a bunch of bows at the Dollar General, and a
bunch of stick-on hooks holding my hats up on my walls right now as
well as some other things.
#2: Paint is your friend
Don't like the color of something? PAINT IT! I personally use acrylic
paint on just about everything I don't like the color on. I have an
earing holder, a frame, a thrifted shelf, and even my corkboard
painted so that they aren't just boring colors. Paint is great because
it's not too expensive, can be used on a lot of items, can be mixed to
make new colors, and is great for personalization since everything you
paint will be one of a kind!
#3: Accessorize your room
Many of us into alternative fashion have a similar problem: Lots of
cute accessories to store. (Even mainstream fashion wearers do, just
usually not as bulky of items.) So here's my third tip for decorating:
Use your accessories as decor. One of the biggest things I've had to
learn about living in a dorm room is to store as many things as
possible vertically since I only have so much floor and dresser top
space. Because of this, a lot of my accessories can be seen hanging on
my walls. Even if you don't have a lot of money, you can still make
cute things for your room. I personally have a cheap belt hanger
holding up all of my collars with a headbow on top, a little ribbon
holder that I got with a bunch of bows at the Dollar General, and a
bunch of stick-on hooks holding my hats up on my walls right now as
well as some other things.
I also have my jewelry displayed or in cute
storage things on top of my dresser, all of which were bought
inexpensively, thrifted, or have been owned for many years.
I hope you all have fun decorating your rooms! Be sure to check out my
other social media:
Find me on Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Subscribe to my YouTube channel:
WatashiWaChoCho
Check out my shop: animelolitacouture.storenvy.
storage things on top of my dresser, all of which were bought
inexpensively, thrifted, or have been owned for many years.
I hope you all have fun decorating your rooms! Be sure to check out my
other social media:
Find me on Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Subscribe to my YouTube channel:
WatashiWaChoCho
Check out my shop: animelolitacouture.storenvy.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)