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Friday, December 31, 2010

A Year In Review and Resolutions


While listening to all the banging of fireworks outside (no, it’s not time yet) I remembered the fact that I wanted to review the year 2010 and make resolutions.
This year has been a very busy one: so many things happened! Good things, but bad things too. I’ll stick to the happy and Lolita-related things here, if you don’t mind. ^^

Starting my blog! On the 4th of July I wrote my very first entry. How difficult it was to come up with a name for my blog! It took me ages to find something that satisfied me. And all those options for the lay-out! I got so confused I hesitated for a moment wether this had been a good idea or not, but I’m glad it didn’t stop me. I hope 2011 brings great articles on both my and other people’s blogs! I recently discovered I made a few mistakes with the options, so expect some heavy maintenance in the upcoming weeks. Maybe even a new lay-out..?

Going to Paris and officially becoming a Lolita! Going to Paris changed my life. I now know it is possible to fall in love with a place and I definitely want to go there more often. I will always remember it as the place where I became a Lolita. Not only did I visit Baby and AP, I also bought two head bows, a JSK and a skirt that I absolutely adore. I also made myself a promise which I fulfilled quite quickly afterwards. Paris made me feel like I was in a magical place that made dreams come true.

Eating macarons! Macarons = Lolita. That’s how I truly feel. And I love them. Writing about them makes me want them even more! I think they’re the most delicious treats I’ve tasted until now.

Ordering my first Lolita brand item! Although I was stupid enough to not buy that beautiful parasol at Baby Paris, I was lucky enough to be able to order it. Receiving a triangle-shaped package with a brand sticker on it felt so awesome! Unwrapping everything and finding the postcards and bag were major surprises that made me truly happy! Later, I ordered a pair of socks from someone on egl_comm_sales in Sendai, who got them from me from the actual AP shop. That package was great too receive too!

Getting my Dream Dress! Who wouldn’t be happy after buying your Dream Dress? I can now proudly say that I own the Starry Night Theatre pink JSK. It’s mine, and I’m so glad! I was able to fulfill my promise so quickly! Even looking at it fills me with joy! And it was my first purchase off egl_comm_sales.



Getting a (Lolita) pen pal! I have a pen pal! How awesome is that? I never thought I’d be able to write full letters to someone, but I love it! Receiving a letter that belongs only to you is great and I hope we’ll stay pen pals for a long time, even though we’ve just started! ^^

Becoming eighteen! Okay, I know it’s not really Lolita-related, but this year I officially became an adult, according to the laws here. It doesn’t make 2010 memorable, but at least a bit special.


This year, I decided to make resolutions too! I usually don’t go with that kind of stuff, but this year’s going to be different!

1.Lose more weight! I don’t have much to say to this. I just need to keep up the good work and keep my goals in sight, then I’m sure I’ll get to where I want this year! ^^ I also promised to write an article about my… interesting diet, so I cannot forget about that!

2. Graduate from high school! Although I’m terrified of exams, of course I want to do the the best I can, so I’ll be free from this terrible place called school. I’ve completely had it with everything and everyone and I won’t feel sorry once I’m gone. But to be able to go, I need to graduate of course. So I have to study hard!

3. Learn to spell the word adorable properly! It seriously takes me at least five times to spell it right. I like this word so much, I use it very often, but the spelling is just horrible! XD

4. Dress in full Lolita! Oh, how I long to fulfill this goal! Shoes and petticoat are on the way (I hope), but there’s no blouse in sight yet. But everything will come once and then you’ll be the first to know! How I can’t wait…

5. Join the National Lolita Forum! I haven’t joined the National Forum yet. I’d feel so stupid to join without even dress full Lolita at least once! But this year, I’ll definitely join!

6. Go to a place I’ve never been before!
Through the last two years I’ve developed a love for travelling, despite my homesickness. Now I want to visit places all over the world and this year I’ll definitely go somewhere far away!


I hope you all have or had a wonderful New Year celebration, with lots of gorgeous fireworks. Happy New Year to you all and see you in 2011! ♥

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A Few of My Favourite Things: Snowdrops


My last ‘Favourite Things’ of the year! I’ve only just started this little once-in-a-month-article, but I am not planning to stop yet! ^^ Now, since it’s the last one of the year, I could of course, totally cliché, talk about how much I love fireworks and their bright colours, but I won’t. Don’t think I dislike fireworks, I greatly like them, but I don’t want to be too predictable all the time (I probably am already, sigh).

To be honest: I’m quite sick of the winter already. I know it only just started, but it really annoys me. I used to like the winter, hoping for snow, looking at the decorations in the streets and drinking hot chocolate. I used to have no problems with the cold weather at all, but lately all I do is running around looking for something that will warm me. The heater in my room only seems to know two ways: extremely hot or no warmth at all. The snow that started a few weeks ago still hasn’t melted away, so every little part of the street is slippery and scares me. I love snow, but my love knows limits. The houses are barely decorated and the worst of all: I’ve barely drunk any hot chocolate and I don’t even know why.

I want spring! Cycling to school in the sun without a coat, not too hot and not too cold. Wearing cute and colourful clothes, instead of ‘wintercolours’ as everyone calls them, but to me, they’re just plain and boring. Spring always brings the pink, yellow and green out! The smell of freshly mowed grass, the wind that gently blows, the birds that start to make their nests.
Yes, I miss spring dearly. And that’s why I chose for snowdrops for this month’s ‘Favourite Things’! Snowdrops announce the coming of spring. They find their way through the hard snow or soil to take a first look at the wintery world, after which they hang their heads down to tell the people the snow will melt and the green colour will return. Snowdrops are called ‘little snowclocks’ in my language.

The most beautiful part of this flower? When they’re fulled opened, they remind me of Lolita skirts. Snowdrop Lolita, anyone?

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

It's The Season For Love and Understanding

I want to apologize for my lack of updates these past days. The last time I wrote something was on the 11th! But to be honest: I haven’t really thought about blogging. I haven’t really thought about anything. While people enjoy their Christmaspreparations like shopping and decorating their trees, I’ve done nothing like that. I’ve had a pretty rough week, to be honest.

Last week, on Wednesday, my grandma passed away. Maybe you remember my entry in September, saying the exact same thing. In this case, it’s my other grandma, from mother’s side. Of course, we are all very, very sad. The funeral was on Saturday and the graveyard was covered in snow, which created a beautiful scene to look at. In the meantime, I got sick. Me. Sick! I haven’t been sick in ages! And when I say sick, I mean really sick: I had a high fever, a sore throat, I felt hot and then cold and I coughed my lungs out! Except for a bit ice cream, I ate nothing. I lost 1 kilogram in three days! Speaking of unhealthy weightloss...
I somehow dragged myself to the funeral, but my coughing and sore throat kept my away from my Christmas singingperformance that night, which I regretted enormously.
Right now, my family and I are in a Holidaypark to relax a bit, but we are all coughing and my mom seems to be sick too.
Well, in conclusion: I’ve had a pretty hard week. The relaxation I really need seems to come up slowly, that’s why I decided to keep you all updated.

Although Christmas is an American holiday, Europe seems to take it over more and more. Shops are decorated, tvcommercials tell us to buy that certain perfume, SeriousRequest (a Dutch initiative to collect money for charity) is on tv again, Christmassongs are heard everywhere and the whole country sends out Christmascards in large numbers.
I love Christmas. I think it’s the most wonderful time of the year (cliché ^^). Especially this year, with the early-fallen snow on the trees. Unfortunetaly, we don’t have a Christmastree here, but that doesn’t make everything less fun!
These past few days I’ve spent a lot of time with the family I usually don’t see often. We supported each other in this difficult time. I especially want to be there for my grandfather, who is the saddest of us all…
Today he visited us and stays over. It’s still this time of the year. The season of love and understanding.

I hope you all have lovely ‘days-before-Christmas’ and of course a delightful Christmas! Are you asking for anything Loliable? Are you expecting a pink-wrapped present underneath the tree? Or will your loved ones surprise you? Well, anyway: have a merry, Loli Christmas!

Bisous! xxx

Saturday, December 11, 2010

A Princess' Birthday

Yesterday was my 18th birthday! According to the law here, I am officially an adult now! I can officially learn to drive a car, vote and drink heavy alcholic drinks.
Because I had to go to school, I woke up early, dressed in a pretty, warm outfit and went downstairs for presents! ^^ Of course my parents already gave me a present (my beautiful Starry Night Theatre JSK ), so I only expected a present from my brother, who gave me a cute ring with a glittery bow on it and a pocket version of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. My parents still wanted to give me something, so they gave me the gorgeous Merry-Go-Round charm from Swarovski, on behalf of my just-passed-away grandmother. My mom also gave me a glass heart with a sweet tekst on it, so I was pretty spoiled after all. ^^

After that I went to school, where I discovered one of my friends decorated my locker with colourful wrapping paper. Some of my friend already gave me small presents, because I’m throwing a party after Christmas, way after my birthday. I got two blue photoframes, a ring, a cellphone strap and a necklace. The rest of the day was waiting until school was over, because that night would be the Christmas Gala!

My school organized a gala for christmas, right on my birthday! Now, how many girls can say they got to wear a beautiful dress on their birthday at a huge party and everybody else dresses up too? A few weeks ago I went shopping for a gala/singing dress and I found a gorgeous, long nightblue one.
Right when I got home from school, my mom attacked my hair with a curling iron (XD). It took her about two and a half hours to get it up, curled and sprayed. You wouldn’t believe how much hairspray she used. When I pulled out the pins at the end of the night, my hair just stayed in place. And I have a lot of hair! But I loved the way it looked! It really gave me a Pride and Prejudice feeling. ^^ (I have more pictures on my blog, mainly of my hair, because I loved it so much).
After that, we did my make-up and I put on my dress, ready for my birthday party…er… Christmas Gala.
The Gala was amazing! We arrived in cars, got out and inside a picture of us was taken. After that, we went to the great hall where an amazing live band was performing, so we never really left the hall. Many people told me I looked beautiful and I was even suggested for the ‘Most Beautiful Girl of the Night’ prize! I felt so amazing and pretty and my friends and I even got to dance on the stage (for the record: I don’t dance, so this was very special)! I rarely feel beautiful, so this was a very special night for me. I felt like a real princess!

Today we ate cake and my parents took me to a Japanese restaurant, where we ate delicious sushi and grilled food. When we got dessert, a couple of waiters started to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ for me and put a glass with a fireworkstick in it in front of me. It was so cool!

I’ve had a very wonderful birthday, I think one of the most amazing ones I’ve ever had. I’ll definitely remember the day I became an adult (although it still doesn’t feel like it)!

Saturday, December 04, 2010

International Lolita Day: '10 Winter Edition

Happy International Lolita Day everyone! ^^ I hope you all had a wonderful time! Don’t hesitate to tell me what you did, send a link or send pictures!

My day was not overly special, but I still had a wonderful time. ^^
I woke up at 8:30 am, my first words being: ‘Happy International Lolita Day!’ Outside it was snowing (maybe you’ve heard of the wintery weather in Western Europe?), but inside it was nice and warm. I made a bit more effort with my outfit than usual. I chose my favourite skirt, my second favourite skirt to put underneath it, warm black tights, a grey tanktop and a black vest and a big, black bow on my head. After cleaning up my room, I went to the local artschool for my rehearsal with the pianist for the performance on the 18th of December. While walking through the halls, I looked outside through one of the huge windows. Since the school is partially built above the water of a (fake) lake, you can look at the other side, but because of the snow, this wasn’t possible. The water was all frozen en covered in spots of white dust. It looked like a picture of a frozen ocean in a fairy tale book, it was so magical!

After the rehearsal, which went quite well, I walked back to the car. Because of the snow, everything was so quiet! For a moment, I felt like Red Riding Hood somehow (although my coat is black, and there were no forest or wolf XD).

At home, I made chocolate muffins, covered in pink hearts, balls and sparkly thingies. You can see them on the picture, naturally. I have some more pictures on my Flickr-account. The muffins were very sweet, but very nice! I spent the rest of the day doing homework, although the baking took me quite some time! I’m not a kitchen princess, so I am a bit slow.
I also watched the documentary LoliGirls, featuring two co-bloggers I sincerely love, for the first time. I’m considering to do a review about it later (although I’m not the first one, I noticed). I also watched Lolita In Translation, featuring another co-blogger I adore, for the third time.

Right now, I’m listening to my favourite music while eating a muffin. It’s getting late, so I should go to sleep in a moment.

I hope you all had a wonderful Lolita Day! ♥

I also really want to thank Reagan from Her Curious Elegance for her sweet Lolita Valentine. Thank you so much! I’m so touched..! Thank you! ♥

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Metamorphose, Changing Into a Little Girl


Even though I’m incredibly busy at the moment, I try to find some time for myself every day. Beside all the regular internet browsing I occupy myself with, I decided to try something new and refreshing.
‘But what could I do that I haven’t tried before?’ I thought, while scrolling through my Lolita folder, scanning over all the Angelic Pretty and Baby, the Stars Shine Bright pictures. That’s when I knew it!

As a Sweet-Lolita (-to-be, ahem) I only check out my favourite brand sites: AP and BtSSB. Some time ago I already decided those two to be my favourites, but what about the other brands? As a Lolita I think it is my duty to at least know how the other brand sites look, you may or may not disagree with me. ;) So in the upcoming weeks, or months, I’m going to check out the other brand sites, starting today with Metamorphose de temps de fille.

The first thing I noticed when I clicked the link on Google, is that I immediately get the English site. There is a a link, saying 'Planning to travel to Japan?' When I clicked it, I got information about their branch shop and their sale clerks. They don't speak very good English, but you can always ask them to call the woman that does. I must say that I really appreciated this: it shows they really care for their customers, on both the internet and in the physical shop.
I decided to check out their products and navigated to their Online Shop. A couple of big dots appeared, with clickable options. I chose ‘dresses’ and after that, ‘skirts’. The dresses are put into two long lists with clickable links, but I noticed that if you click one, all of them appear. At first this was a little confusing, but I got used to it pretty easily. The products are all single: you can get them in the colour you see. At Baby’s and AP’s site, when you click a product, the different versions of that product appear. With Meta, this is not the case: what you see is what you get. ^^ Some dresses were absolutely lovely! My personal favourites were the Blooming Garden High Waist Pinafore in yellow, the Perfume Bottle Skirt in white and the Honey Picnic Short Sleeve Dress in pale green.


The site also has a section called ‘Go! Go! Lolita-chan’. It’s a special section where you can click your country and see other Meta fans. I clicked my country and saw some lovely Lolitas!

My general opinion of Meta’s website is very positive! It’s easy to navigate, it’s fully in English and the clothes are very adorable! I’m very glad to see that they care about the communication with their costumers and the FAQ-section is very extensive. But I personally think they should take better pictures, to be honest. The simple white background and strange lighting can make the clothes look… I don’t know… a bit off somehow. But this is really my personal opinion.

Hearts: ♥♥♥♥/5