opposite me.

My friend Stephen put me up to the challenge of wearing two outfits in a day with the first being super girly and the second being androgynous. I was up for it. I had been planning on wearing one of my new lolita dresses, but decided against it last minute and wore this outfit that I've wanted to wear for a while and never got around to.
It's a little hard to differentiate my bed jacket with the dress, but my bed jacket is this translucent puff sleeve jacket that goes down to my knees. I was lucky enough to find it at the flea market for a dollar! What a deal. One of the things I love most about the Bay Area is going to the flea market every month. I haven't taken much of a liking to New York flea markets.

dress from H&M conscious collection, vintage bed jacket from flea market, coat from Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Forever21 stockings, shoes from Taiwan.

It's also my first time wearing this coat out. I've never thought about wanting a lolita coat since it doesn't get cold enough for me to need one in California. I didn't even have that many jackets, and was generally unprepared for the winter on the east coast. I've adjusted so well that I start to feel overheated when it hits 50 degrees in New York.
I've also had these stockings for a while. I think I bought them about a year ago when I realized all of my tights are black and I don't always want black tights. The flower print is a little flocky. They're pretty darn good for $5! I really like this outfit. It makes me feel like a princess


I had about an hour and a half between classes, but I had to wash and dry my hair and make lunch and eat it so I didn't spend as long as I would have liked to to choose out an outfit.

Hooded shirt from Taiwan, Obey t shirt from Buffalo Exchange, Kangol beanie from Beacons Closet.

Gosh I wear these creepers everywhere now. They were slightly heavy for me when I first got them but it didn't take long to get used to them and now they're my favorite, most comfortable pair of shoes.

I was on tumblr today and a girl that I follow posted the newest SHINee video so I watched it. I was a big follower of Kpop a couple years back but I more or less don't keep up anymore aside from reading occasional updates on SHINee when they come up on facebook, and f(x) when they have new music. And whatever is on MTV or playing in stores when I'm around in Taiwan.
Taeminie starts it off! How exciting. I'm diggin his hat.


Love, Kaia

be strong be pop.

It's been a while since I blogged about music! I still buy CDs sometimes? I've always really liked the idea of owning CDs, so when there is a music artist that I really like, I buy all the albums. I used to buy singles whenever my favorite artists release them, but I haven't in a while because singles are really expensive for the amount of content there is. LM.C came out with a new album that was released April 4th and I received my copy of it yesterday! It took three weeks to arrive which is very normal, but I was anticipating for so long that I started to get really worried that it would be stuck in customs or lost. Back in California it took two weeks for Japanese imports to arrive, but three weeks to New York. Huge box is huge! That's because I bought the t shirt edition (which is too expensive ohmygod). I bought first press which is supposed to come with a poster, which is why I preordered. But I preordered about 4 days before the release, which was too late and I didn't get a poster. More than bummed. The shirt included is cute. It has an allover print in bright colors. It's a Japanese free size aka SMALL. It fits alright size wise, a little smaller than I would like, but the top is a bit tight if I have a bra on. Ever since I started second semester in Construction Techniques II, a lot of things on clothes kind of bother me. I pay too much attention to how something fits and the seaming detail and hem finishes. The neckline of this shirt bothers me. It wasn't constructed with very much care, which I can understand as it is a promotional item. But even so, it was a pretty expensive promotional item. I haven't talked about my hair yet. I will probably make a hair post soon. This was early yesterday, which was after the first bleach on Sunday. My hair is currently not this color. Tomorrow is the senior fashion show! There are 41 fashion seniors and the show cut down to 17 people presenting, and from what I've heard, all the ones presenting are all really strong. Non seniors are not allowed in the senior studios (I've been in twice to use specialty machines, though), so I haven't seen that many pieces. I'm excited! If I can I'll take pictures at the show, but I'm guessing I wont be able to grab a really good seat, as there will be a lot of people and I have class in the morning so I wont be able to make it to the city until a little later. Love, Kaia

this post is three days worth of posts.

currently listening to "Pray for the Sun" by 砂月(Satsuki)

On Friday, I left to go visit the state capital, Sacramento. I hadn't been there or taken Amtrak, in maybe a decade now. I went to go to Kintoki-con, a new convention that was starting their first annual event just a couple days ago. I signed up to be an artist in the artist alley about a half a year ago, before anything was really announced. I wasn't sure what to expect.
I grabbed a couple friends to go with me. Being with them made the trip really enjoyable for me. Them listening to Radwimps.

May (left) and Yoko (right)

Day one was for hotel check in. We didn't have much to do so we visited Old Sacramento.
I really wanted to go to the candy stores. For some reason, I remember the stores with saltwater taffy from my childhood as clear as day, but I couldn't recall much else about Sacramento. Maybe because candy was the only thing that interested me.

This time around, I saw these feather hats. They were too tall for me to see the price tags, except the white one on the left bottom. That was $85.
There was also a costume shop that sold these decorated masquerade style masks that were really pretty. I would have liked one, but I wasn't in a spendy mood on Friday.

We left after going around a couple times, and went to the mall. I didn't buy anything, but I had to get a picture of these spiky heels. So edgy. I wonder if it hurts if you run into someone while wearing those.
That was pretty much day one.

Day two and three were blurred together a little bit. It's more like one long 48-hour day. At the beginning of the day, my friends and I woke up early for artist alley table setup.I forgot to bring some of my display items, and it's not like Fanime where I could just ask someone to go to my house and pick it up for me. Business was pretty slow for the most part. There were occasional crowds, but not often. It's now that I realize how big of a convention Fanime is. When I was waiting to get my pass for Fanime, I waited in the pre-reg line for 3 hours. I must have waited less than 3 minutes to get my pass at Kintoki.

But small conventions have their advantage. It's a lot more of an intimate setting, so more one-on-one time with guests. My friends and I were going back to our hotel room, and we were on the same elevator as some band members. It didn't take long for me to recognize them as the members from Moon Stream (minus Satsuki, who wasn't there). It would have been weird to ask for a photo while in the elevator, so we waited for a different opportunity. I saw Tomo the guitarist twice again that day and then asked for a picture.
The concert was late Saturday; I think it started around 10:30. We started waiting in line at 8:30. I met the ever so gorgeous RiA. I wish I could just be half as photogenic as her! She's always so pretty and I'm kind of just bleh in every photo.
We finally went in after about two hours. The crowd was really small, but Moon Stream still gave it their all and delivered. They deserved a bigger crowd and a nicer stage. I wish they could have been at the auditorium across the street from Fanime, with a full stadium. Satsuki, the vocalist, has this incredible vocal range. And the voice of an angel.
There were some jerks at the concert, who were pushing each other, rough housing, talking loudly during the quiet parts of the songs, even booing. Them being a couple heads taller than me, I was squished and hit a few times in the process. I wanted to give them a piece of my mind. I wanted security to come and kick them out. But it never happened.

I'd love for them to return in a year to perform again. Ideally somewhere like Fanime or Anime Expo (I'm just being biased because those are the two conventions that I'm most likely to be able to attend). I would be pretty bummed if I couldn't get front row, but I'd love to be able to see them again. Newly loyal fan.

During the concert, I tried really hard to take pictures of the backup instrumentalists because I wanted to cards for them, and I needed references. Unfortunately, flash wasn't allowed and point and shoots don't take the greatest photos in the dark. I think they came out alright though.
I drew one for Tomo (guitar), Satsuki (vocals), U-ya (drums), and Ena (bass). Tomo and Satsuki threw some roses at the end of the show, but they didn't go far enough so I didn't have a chance (I was in second row moshpit). U-ya threw his drumsticks, which I sprinted over to try to catch, but they were thrown in the area where the jerky roughhousers were, so I was afraid of getting injured by them and backed away.

I gave the pictures to them on Sunday during the autograph session, and we took a picture together after the photo session.
We took it after the photo session because my friends and I took pictures with them as a group, and we went back in line for individual pictures, and was kicked out.My friends and asked if we could get two photos; a regular one and a posed one.I really like how the posed one came out. Everyone in the band looks cool in the picture.

For the autograph session, I asked to get the poster I bought signed. Additionally, I bought One of Satsuki's singles and two Echostream CDs. There were two other Satsuki CDs that I was thinking of getting and ended up not buying. I regret not buying them already.

Jumping back to Saturday's events, I attended a panel with Teruki from An Cafe and Sakurai Takamasa. I had been manning my artist alley table when the panel was going on, but I wanted to go so we closed up shop for an hour to go to it.I asked Yoko to ask them if we could do a Power Rangers pose.
Teruki has fantastic hair. I wish my hair were that nice. May and I liked his pants. We had a conversation about it being a bit difficult to bike in harem pants, and Teruki said he could bike in his. I need those skills.Sakuraiさん and Teruki was there when we were waiting for the Moon Stream concert, so we chatted for a bit and gave them cards that we made for them.Minus the three on the side; I drew those for my friends and me.

We had to leave the convention early because of time issues, but we were able to attend the Moon Stream Q&A panel for a good 15 minutes, and pick up a commission drawn by Ryu Moto
Yeah, I had a really good weekend. Now just tired to death.

Love, Kaiami

I ate a burger today.

It's the black floral skirt I got from the thrift store last week (plus the black crochet tank I got from the thrift store)! I'm wearing it as a dress. I'm terribly clumsy and was stepping on it and tripping all day.

skirt-dress, top, and cardigan from thrift.

Today is November 15th, the release date for Josh Groban's new CD. I'd been planning since the day it was announced for release to buy it for my mother for Christmas. I had been doing pretty well with keeping her from finding out about the release until Sunday, when I said I wanted to go to Barnes and Noble. My mistake. There'd been a Josh Groban poster at the front door to advertise its release. When she told me, I freaked out and she was going all "No! My present is flying away!" I bought it for her today, but no surprise factor. Aw. My favorite part.
This is the singles CD. I don't know where the album went, but I bought that too. It was insanely difficult to find it at Borders. First, I remembered when the last CD came out in 2007 or so, there'd been a life sized poster of Josh and a CD display full of his album. I thought it would be the same this time, but man was I wrong. I ran upstairs and downstairs and up again several times. Even looking for staff was hard, because there were so few. There was a Josh section, but only his old albums were displayed. I finally found the singles in a tiny new release section, and had to ask the register for the album. That took maybe 20 minutes, 15 more minutes than I expected.

And then I ate a burger for dinner. Which is rare, since I gave up on fast food in 6th grade. I've been kind of wanting an In and Out burger since Clubs Day, when some club was selling their burgers for $4. They only cost $1.85 in the stores (and the $4 burgers were selling)!

Plus I got a package in the mail from my uncle. SHINee were in Taiwan recently, and he bought me some souvenirs! My uncle is sweet. The official SHINee Hello goods were limited, and people needed to get a ticket to line up to get the stuff, so I couldn't get that. But they were selling Lucifer goods at the door that weren't limited. He got me a towel, a lanyard, and a light stick.Light stick is beast! It glows up with "SHINee" inside.

I went to sleep yesterday at 5pm. It's 8:30 now, meaning I can't go to sleep that early today haha. I'm thirsty.

Love, Kai

sleep deprived.

It's been a while since my last update. Last week was a pretty sleep deprived week, and that hasn't changed much this week. Yesterday, my friend and I worked on a project together and practiced until around 1am, when we started on all our other homework.

On Sunday, I went off to Korean stores to look for CDs and magazines. The price for a Korean magazine was around $21, which shocked me so much that I walked out without a second thought. I was expecting the $10-$15 range, especially because most Japanese magazines are less than $10. The Korean CDs were in the $37 range, which is blatantly overpriced, considering YesAsia sells them for less than $20.

At Kinokuniya, I picked up a copy of KERA and a CD.



Scanned these because they're so goshdarn pretty! I'd really like to do an outfit like that first one, with the big pink bow. I haven't had a chance to flip through the whole magazine yet.

I also bought the new LM.C single, because I was tired of waiting.

Sorry for the glare. I hurts my eyes too. The CD plus the magazine left me with less than $3 less in my wallet. I feel like such a poor kid.

Ironically, the CD that I ordered online arrived yesterday, the day after I bought the other CD from the store. I looked pretty bad from stress, so blurred my face a bit.

About this jacket I'm wearing.

I bought it off of a Taiwanese website, thinking it was military green. The pictures on the website were all green, and it was even labeled so. But when I received it, it turned out to be completely brown. I've got nothing against brown, but it's not military green. I'm dying to find an affordable military jacket.

Oh almost forgot to mention, I bought a chain necklace along with my CD purchase.

I wanted to buy the kind that LM.C wears, but it costs about twice as much as this one. I wore it today.

chain necklace: Sex Pot Revenge, tank from Peace Now, thrifted jacket, pants and shoes from Taiwan

Oh snap, dinner time. Yesterday, I was working so intensely that I forgot to eat dinner. That sounds pretty ridiculous, yeah.

Love, Kai

I think I'm obsessed.

Photos from November issue of Korean Esquire

I need this magazine. Man, if they have these pictures in the magazine, I need this magazine. I'll give in to the import prices and put aside all the awkwardness of buying a men's magazine (what's the point of putting pretty boys in a men's magazine?). These are two of the five members from the Korean boy group, SHINee. I've recently gotten really into them. Not only are they extremely adorable ahem Taemin, with the light colored hair he's my favorite, good at dancing, and have catchy songs, but they also have pretty darn good style.

I want Taemin's hair.
...maybe I'll get it cut again.

Love, Kai