Emeline

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:11:04 GMT

So I just burnt the bejeezus out of my hand and wrist T__T I was making those glutinous rice ball thingys in the microwave (not mochi exactly because they're cooked, but I dunno the real name, go figure) and, like an idiot, I decided that I would be able to carry the SCREAMING hot bowl from my kitchen to my room. Halfway there and my fingers start to burn, so I tried to shift positions, only to have the bowl sway, water spill over onto my hands, at which point it was so hot basic common sense just shut down and I let go =_= The bowl smashed, water went everywhere, the rice balls split open. Being the mature adult I am, I left everything on the floor and went and cried. I like not having roommates.

In other news, I just got back from Oslo. Kind of disappointing, to be honest :/ I was really expecting it to be very nordic, but it was kind of just another city somewhere. There wasn't really even much snow, just sort of a packed down layer a few inches thick, which was basically the only reason I went (it was freezing cold though, go figure). And there were NO Christmas markets, another one of the only reasons I went. They all closed down the 20th, the night I got there...what kind of communist country is this?!?!! Even the ones in Caen, not a huge cultural capital, stay open into January! A lot of all the tourist exhibits were closed too, I guess they don't get a lot of visitors in the winter (which kind of makes sense, I guess, but still, if I go to a predominantly wintery country, I'd want to go in the winter, because I figure that's the most culturally accurate time to go, right? Like, that's where most of their culture comes from? Or maybe I'm just wrong?...)

I got to see the Royal Palace, though (didn't get to go in it though, closed, blah), and some pretty Christmas lights, and the cultural museum passed the time - most of the outdoor exhibts were sort of less exciting in the winter, but the section on traditional clothes was exactly what I was hoping for. My favorite part was the art museum - I saw a lot of beautiful Norwegian landscapes, as well as the original of The Scream, which, while I'm not super interested in, now I can be a snob and say I saw it hahaha. Some of Munch's other paintings were nice, too. I didn't take many pictures of anything, since my camera stopped working when it got to cold (I carried it around tucked into my armpit under my coat hahaha XD), but I got a few nice ones I hope.

In any case, there's one more city to cross off my list of places to visit. I hope I didn't miss anything too important there, I hope I experienced it fully...

On a happier note...OMGOMGOMGOMG I'M GOING TO GERMANY TOMORRRROOOWWWWWW AND SEEING HANNNNAAHHHHHHH FINALLYLYYYYYYY. It doesn't really feel like Christmas yet, even though I went to the Christmas market while I was in Paris yesterday. I think it's because I'm not with family. That's what it's about to me, anyway.

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:06:40 GMT

Speaking of loltia memes!!! So I remembered that within the first few months of discovering lolita, I also found another lolita meme....after some reconassiance work with Hannah, she found it in her old emails.

(I answered the questions again underneath each question heehee)

When did you first see lolita fashion?
I have no idea...it was sometime early this summer when I was looking at cosplay pictures, trying to figure out how to do my costumes...not sure when I first came across it, though.
*Yeah, still the same answer haha. And then we went to Otakon and were blown away by Nana Kitade in concert *u*

What was your first impression of it?
Pretty much along the lines of...wow...that's totally what I would love to wear every day! Alas, for I was born in the wrong century heehee.
*Yup, also the same ^^

What is your favorite aspect?
The cuteness! The petticoats, the lace, the curls, basically just making yourself look like a perfect little doll.
*Ditto, and also the delicacy, and fragility.

Least favorite?
Hmm...that's tough...maybe how it's so expensive? And so hard to do if you're not short, thin, and Japanese.
*Especially considering how much of a dive the yen has taken T______T And also, the attention you get from it >.<

What is the style that fits you the best/favorite style?
Obviously my favorite style is amaloli, but in terms of body build, I may be more suited to gothic aristocrat, because I'm so tall...uurgg! Curse you, American genes!
*Never gonna happen haha

Least favorite?
I'm really not a fan of erololi...some things just don't work together (lolita and trying to look sexy, for example XP)
*Untrue...the series of lolita pinup pictures that was popular like, a year ago, were amazing. I have all of the ones I could find saved on my computer XD But then, I've matured obviously since high school XP Now....I'm not sure....I kind of am a little peeved by casual lolita. How can you get into the lolita spirit if you don't go all the way?

Favorite brand(s)?
Oohoooh! Baby and Angelic Pretty! <3
*Always and forever <3

Favorite accessory?
I really want a parasol! Or some sort of stuffed animal I can carry around! Giant bows are good too!
*Parasol, check!! Stuffed animal, check and uncheck, I've moved on XD Giant bows, check!! Probably pearls are my favorite now, in any form.

Who's your idol for gothloli fashion?
Hmm...I don't really know any one except Nana Kitade, but she's a little too punk sometimes for me (not that she isn't completely adorable =^.^=). Maybe Kana? Can't remember her full name, I just know that she models a lot for G&L Bible and has some really pretty sweet lolita outfits.
*Nana Kitade is still an idol of mine for sure. Kana, not so much...she's cute sometimes, but also completely bizarre haha. And now I have the whole egl community to idolize (see question 2 of the other meme heehee)

Where do you get your ideas/inspiration?
The Gothic and Lolita Bibles, I guess...and stuff I see online.
*I haven't bought any Bibles in a while...brands and community members for the most part.

Ever seen Kamikaze Girls? What did you think?
Ooh yes! Heehee that movie is hilarious...but still a little sad...yeah. Hannah, you should come over and watch it with me, if you haven't already seen it! (I doubt it, since it's kinda obscure and isn't anime =^.^=)
*And I had no idea how much that movie would become such a strong force in my life and how much it would shape who I would become, in and out of lolita clothes.

Do you own a dollfie?
Eeee no! Those things are really scary to me for some reason! Maybe just the idea of evil toy really creeps me out...that, and I'd much rather buy an expensive dress than an expensive doll =^.^=
*I'd still rather buy an expensive dress than an expensive doll, but I also have small dreams of owning a dollfie ^^;;;; Never going to happen, because I know that I wouldn't give her enough attention, so I'll just play with Hannah's :D

Have you read any of the G&L Bibles?
Yupyup!

Have you ever been to a tea party?
YES! Heehee Hannah that was so awesome! Even if I did have to sit next to Mr. I-don't-want-to-be-here-so-I'm-gonna-complain-and-make-you-not-want-to-be-here-either. We gotta do that again sometime! Maybe we should have a Christmas tea or something with Annica to exchange presents! OOOOhhhh that's such a good idea! We totally should! We can all dress up and have dainty little cakes and it'll be all snowy and gorgeous outside...ooh we gotta!
*Bahahaha funny story XD Basically we dragged along our guy friend and it was a disaster. But anyway....been to many more, hosted one, planning tons more in the future!!

Would/do you wear it in public? Why/why not?
Eh...I'm too afraid of people staring at me and extra attention...I'm just afraid of people, really. Just too self-conscious and concerned with how people see me I guess.
*I'm less concerned with how people see me, but I'm still afraid of people and attention :/ And now I sort of feel like lolita, to some extent, belongs inside anyway, in a world away from the eyes of anyone who wouldn't understand.

What is your favorite lolita style on the opposite sex?
Ouji-sama! I need a handsome prince to come sweep me off my feet and protect a poor lonely little doll =^.^= Or dandy..which is pretty much the same thing...either way...tall guys with shaggy dark hair, awesome outfits, nice manners and chivalry = Emma's dream =^.^=
*I could go for some punk boys, too >.>

If you had limitless resources, what kind of outfit would you buy/make?
I'd probably just buy out BTSSB or Angelic Pretty...specifically, you ask? Hmm...Baby's "Sleeping Beauty jumperskirts" are adorable, I'd need a blouse...one of the ones that can be long or short sleeved, Angelic Pretty's socks with the crown on them, and a random hair bow. Oh! And white rockinghorse shoes...but only if I could magically shrink like five inches...if not, Baby's white lace-up flats. But, then again, I might want to get a one-piece dress instead...hmm...decisions, decisions....
*I've given up on the rocking horse shoes by now. But slowly over the years I've gathered up pretty much everything else...including the She is Sleeping jumperskirt I so coveted >w< Now...my ultimate dream dress, Angelic Pretty's Rose Toilette jumperskirt or one piece in pink, plus the matching round hair accessory. Goooddddddd I want that dress so bad T____T Once I get back from France and have a job again, I'm going to save up the money to buy it at obscenely marked-up prices, because it's worth it to me.
Either that, or Angelic Pretty's Circus print skirt in wine and gold. Maybe the jumperskirt. But that one's NEVER going to happen haha.
And, I can always use more accessories. Ohohoh also this bag from Baby in white or pink...I've wanted it FOREVER but I cannot spend that much on a purse. And another parasol, because the one I have, while nice, has rashcel lace (Baby wtf) and I'd prefer one with the ruffles in the same material as the parasol. But my parasol is fully functional so realistically it's stupid to spend money on another one :/
Oh my god this is bad haha. The difference is that now, I can tell you EXACTLY which pieces I'm lusting after heehee

Why do you dress lolita?
Hmm...I dunno...I guess I never really thought about why it appealed to me so much... Maybe it has something to do with looking sweet and innocent and defenseless? Or maybe just wanting to just be a little kid again and have tea parties...never really thought too hard about the deep psychology of it heehee.
*I've definitely thought about it now...and I just want that world, all of it. That's what I want to be a part of. I can't really explain it any better than that....

Awwwwww cute widdle Emilyyyyy~ XD

Lolita Meme

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:11:18 GMT

1. Best lolita fashion advice you've ever received?
Pretty much anything Momoko ever said in Kamikaze Girls.

2. Style icons?
Many of the Swedish lolitas, Skye (fatalfille, even though she's not around the lolita community anymore)...although that's more because she writes beautifully and acts beautifully, mintymix, the Angelic Pretty girls, faunkegin because her coordinates are amazing, annnddd I think that's it?

3. Describe your personal style.
Lolita: Cavity-inducing X3
Everday: Lots of black, not because it's goth but because it's chic haha. I fit in well in France ^^

4. Favorite designers/brands?
Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Maaakkiiiiiiii <3

5. Most cherished items?
The She is Sleeping jumperskirt in blue from Baby (brought it with me to France!!), possibly the jumperskirt I just bought from Angelic Pretty (I want that in my hands naooooooo), my petticoat because it's PERFECT, and my wallet from Innocent World.

6. Most used item?
Not counting petticoats or shoes....I guess my pink pinafore/apron/jumperskirt thing from Baby...I sort of regretted buying it for a while but now it's, well, my most used item XDDD I rarely wear it out in public because it's too easily confused for maid cosplay/lolita done wrong, unfortunately.

7. I feel best wearing?
Hmmm...probably my Sweet Check jumperskirt

8. The first thing I look for in another lolita's outfit...
Their hair. That or the details they added, like jewelry/accessories.

9. Lolita Fashion rule you never break?
I ALWAYS wear a petticoat, the fluffier the better!!

10. Never caught wearing?
Raschel lace. Straight up D:

11. Dress to impress who?
Myself, and only myself. Okay, maybe that's a lie....if I'm going to be around other lolitas, I definitely want to impress them.

12. Your next "must have" purchase?
Something from the Baby store in Paris omgomgomgomg kyyyaaaaa~~!!!

13. Favorite type of head accessory?
Fake hair. True story haha. Either that or rollers to give me perfect curls the next day heehee. Taking the questions as it was probably meant to be read...Alice bows.

14. Favorite cut of clothing (shirring, high waist, princess seams etc)?
I love high waist skirts in gothic outfits, but for me I prefer jumperskirts with gathered skirts (defitely not princess seams, they don't look good on me)

15. Current obsession?
Completely over-the-top outfits (hence the sortakinda impluse buy of that AP jumperskirt haha. I'm going to dress myself in cotton candy clouds!! >w< )

16. Best lolita fashion advice you can give to anyone:
Look in the mirror. Love what you're wearing. Take care of yourself, too. Make sure you're worthy of the clothes.

AND WEAR A PETTICOAT FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!

rantrantrant

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:50:50 GMT

Yesterday night I went for a run around the track and, tripping over a rock, did a spectacular air-summer-sault and collapsed in a heap on the ground. Being France, the medical building on campus was already closed and so were all the pharmacies, and there was no way I was talking the tram 15 minutes away to go to the huge, crowded mega-store for some sort of frozen vegetables...so I took some ibuprofen and curled up in my bed with my foot up and felt sorry for myself.

Also added to this story should be the reason why I went running in the first place since I'm usually one to avoid any sort of physical activity like the plague. We had a graded presentation today in my oral French class and it ended up already taking 5-10 minutes over the already THREE HOUR long class (without our usual break) to get everyone presented, and then she took a full 30 MINUTES more to go on a rant about how she was so disappointed. Apparently French teachers are big on public critique :/ According to her, my abilities in speaking and comprehension are rendered completely worthless by my pathetic grammar usage. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

I mean, trust me, I know I'm never perfectly grammatical. For two and a half out of my four years of French instruction, I have been in classes with both students AND teachers who could care less about the subject. So even though I DID care, it's not like I had much motivation to spend the time and study everything. Yes, I know you can really tell, but do you know how much I wish it were differently? Trust me, if I could go back to high school and tell myself to fight harder to be placed into French II immediately, believe me, I would. In fact, even better, I would tell my 6th grade self to take French, not Spanish (dear god why did I do that??). No one has to remind me. Instead of yelling at me, why don't you teach me? This is an oral class, no? So why don't we speak more? Why don't you correct me when I speak? You're the teacher, that's your job.

Also, on a good day, I have the best French accent in the class, I'm pretty sure I have the best oral comprehension, I know I am the best at reading comprehension...I really should be in a higher level but I realized it too late ("too late" being a mere week into classes) so they wouldn't let me move up. Already I feel like I'm wasting so much time here not knowing French. I'm never going to learn it unless I'm forced to speak it constantly, which is decidedly not the case. I emailed my advisor last night about possibly switching universities to one that doesn't have a foreign student program because it's impossibly to be around French students here. I doubt I'll be able to, but really, I desperately need to stop being around so many Americans and Asians who speak English anyway and be forced to listen and speak colloquial French (which, even though I understand almost everything my teachers say, is absolutely beyond my comprehension) with real French people. I'm lazy, I'm not going to do it unless I absolutely have to.

Which is why my raging bitch of a French teacher's rant is not going to help in the slightest, unless her goal was to get me to resent her even more. That's where the ill-timed run came in, to hopefully zone out and work off steam and stop thinking for a little while. And, pre-malevolent rock incident, I decided it is sort of my fault, too. I really don't understand why it is so easy for me to spend an hour a day teaching myself hiragana like I have been for the past week, a language I've never studied nor will probably ever have the opportunity for fluency in, yet it is next to impossible to get me to do my French homework, something that is actually of vital use to the country I am actually IN. So...maybe I should start studying more. I watched one of my movies with the French language option and felt like I was further along at the end than at the beginning, and maybe this weekend I'll actually look over my homework. It's just...so frustrating. I want to just be able to do it, and not think about it. In the meantime, I think I'm going to be looking at other schools in France.

>w

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:38:28 GMT

Looklooklook what I just bought X3

So yeah it's Bodyline, but I'm not planning on wearing it for lolita, I'm planning on using it for maid cosplay, which is exactly what it is, so I'm in the clear haha. Once I get it I'm going to get rid of the random white ruffles in the front and make it just solid black, ditch the headdress and replace it with the general stand-up maid headdress, probably end up replacing a bunch of lace and bows and cut off the sailor collar (? at least I think that's what it is, all I can see is that there's an extra white collar other than the peter pan one, wtf). But either way...it was still so cheap and I was planning on making one pretty much exactly like it, so it's still worth it even if it just becomes a base for my own design heehee ^^ Too bad I'm not going to be able to wear it till I get back in June buuuuuuuu~

Speaking of cosplay, words cannot express how depressed I am about not being able to go to Bakuretsu Con this year T_____T I think my internal clock knows it's time because I've recently been feeling this irrepressible urge to dress up and go do something (hence why I had to convince myself out of the schoolgirl uniform on the Bodyline website as well...cheap, but I don't really need it and I'm on a budget ;_; ), preferably dressing up in something completely adorable ^3^ I guess I'll have to wait for Christmas and dress up with Hannah <3

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:52:30 GMT

After spending the last hour or so oohing and aahing over beyond cozy-looking socks on the internet, I have firmly resolved to knit a pair myself!! If I can hand-sew a duvet cover, who says I can't teach myself to turn a heel??? (lolomg this has such potential for failure XD) Does anyone know how to already and can ~~comfort me when I melt down~~ give me hints?

Because I've been in the mood for lists lately. My birthday is in one week exactly, here's what I want:

pale lavender nailpolish
sweet poems to read
cashmere blankets and snuggie soft pajama pants
drawer sachets
hot chocolate days and curl-up-by-the-fire books
a music box
Vermont leaves
pretty pictures for my corkboard
a pumpkin
warm socks and tights and big oversized sweaters and woolen mittens
fake eyelashes
a baby deer
(okay so the last one doesn't count XD)

Of course, in reality I'm just going to ask for money and spend it on things like traveling and food and museums and stuff. But it's simple things like that that I think make the best gifts ^u^ Of course I want a lot of big things, too, but those are no fun to write out and demand. What are everyone's petits vœux (little wishes, but it's cuter in French :p)?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:12:11 GMT

Things I love:

Listening, really listening to the background harmony of songs and suddenly realizing how beautiful all the little things are that you never noticed

Chick flicks and pear wine with my two France besties

Hot beef boullion, caarrreeefulllyyy sipped from a china bowl (because while I have no problem spending 30 euro on the perfect fabric for my comforter, a 2 euro mug is out of the question XD)

The girl on America's Next Top Model who looks like Bambi. No clue as to her real name, but she has the biggest, softest deer eyes i have ever seen >w<

This blog

Adorable, peppy French teachers

Softsoftsoft warm brown tights

Not having class tomorrow till 2:00 so I can stay up late and talk to my friends <3

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:40:43 GMT

I am currently obsessed with:

Baby deer...so cuuutteee!!! I am dying for a gold fawn pendant necklace now, I've been searching all over ebay, the French ebay, Etsy, the internet in general but I can't find one to my exact specifications *sulk*

This girl's blog....funnily enough, I stumbled across it was by searching for baby deer heehee. Even though I may not love absolutely everything on there, she seems so full of life and glitter and has a hilarious sense of humour ^^

Emu oil...seriously, this is a magical potion that will fix anything, I'm not kidding! And since I recently had a really nasty disagreement between my face and a street in France, I need all the help I can get >.>

Open markets and fresh produce....for some reason I've really been craving fresh fruits and vegetables recently and that's all I've been wanting to eat (except for chocolate croissants, but I'm blaming that on the fact that I had a really bizarre dream where I was at Hannah's house and took all her croissants and hid in the corner and ate them. Yeah, I don't even know XD)

My big, stretched out, worn in, grey cashmere sweater that was actually Hannah's but I blatantly and unashamedly stole from her...it's so warm and comforting and makes me feel loved ♥

Et vous? What are the things you're most excited about now?

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:48:25 GMT

internetinternetinternetinternetinternetinternetinternetinternetinternetYAAYYYYYYYY

It's a pretty decent connection, too! Not as good as my regular one at UVM, but better than my wireless at home. It gets stuck really easily, though, which is too bad because I'm a superfast!clicker and always have a bajillion tabs open at once, so I have to keep reminding myself to go slow and wait for things to load, but it's miinnneeeeeee.

Speaking of mine, my dorm room has started to smell like me now~ What exactly is that, you ask? Smells like perfume, mostly, Miss Dior or rose, and lavender now too because of my little lambie sachets I brought along with me, jasmine tea and face cream, a hint of shoe leather and fabric, and the wind coming in from the window and balcony door I always leave open. Home ^u^

We went downtown today to the most Frenchy market I have ever been to in my LIFE, it was HUGE and spilling over with cheese and bread and pastries (...and also small skinned woodland creatures, but I ignored those XD) and I bought crepes avec fromage et jambon and it was gooooddddd. I also bought another comforter for my bed because last night I was already cold and it's still the end of summer. I'll probably have to get another by the time winter rolls around haha. I've decided to buy some fabric in this kind of toile print for the duvet cover...it's not up to my usual standard of cute, but my dorm room is yellow and orangey-red and very 70s so I don't have much to work with ahaha. Yes, pictures eventually. But it's already reached it's equilibrium level of untidiness, as rooms I live in are wont to do, and I really would need to do something about that before I show anyone any pictures XD

Nothing much more for now, but I'm sure there'll be more later!!!

P.S. I want this necckklllaaaccceeee

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:52:32 GMT

OMG BABY DEER TT_TT

Claire you're such a dear (kekekekeke I crack myself up >.O)

RAAWWWRRRRR

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:36:30 GMT

Still no internet. Seriously, wtf. Even though they gave me my password and account name, probably because they just haven't set it up =_= Why even bother if it's not ready yet? And orientation today was a little bit of a joke, although now I at least have my student card and am signed up for the last health insurance thing I need to do. But really, they're pretty cavalier about everything, so....yeah. I just asked my friend with me, "What do you think the campus will think about visiting people staying in our dorms?" and she said, and I quote, "They probably won't give a shit." I mean, really, that kind of sums up their attitude about everything important around here >.< I have never experienced this amount of pure unadulturated administrative FAIL in my entire life. The day I got here and had to wander around campus with FOUR suitcases and hovering on the verge of tears (pfffttt, what is this, "hovering"? tears were rapidly running down my face, that's what), absolutely NO ONE knew where to put me. Even people in the same department were like...you need to see this guy in this building. And then I'd go there and they'd be like...oh, his office is in this other building, and I'd be like....that's the one I was JUST IN and they told me to come here. I bought a box of tissues the next day XD It is much better now though that I've met some really nice girls to hang out with ^^ American, but I need some simple English in my life heehee.

In any case, I'm settled in now and truly can see myself living here and having an enjoyable, if at times frustrating, year here. Besides, I'm downloading episodes of Strawberry Panic on McDonald's free WiFi, so there XP

Hopefully real internet tomorrow *prays*

Dans la France

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:24:29 GMT

Okay, so I'm here *whew* I am bruised and sore from carrying all my luggage halfway around France, and absolutely exhausted in general from the time change, but I'm here. Other than that, I don't have much to say, my dorm room is cute, I am vastly unprepared for speaking French to actual French people, Thursday is orientation so maybe I can figure out my life. I'm content.

More later when I have my own internet connection to use ^^

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:44:44 GMT

UPDATTEEEEE

So one suitcase is ~~stuffed~~ packed (although not as bad as it could have been...I had to stop because I was getting too close to the weight limit. I've decided on this trip I'm going to weigh it in advance to minimize airport meltdowns XD) I have this sneaking suspicion that my carry-on suitcase will be filled only with shoes (oh hai, airline security's worst nightmare =_=) I thiiinnnkkk I might make it....I don't have too many more clothes to put in, plus all my toiletries which have to be checked anyway. I'll fill the second suitcase probably Saturday night/Sunday morning after I bathe and such. Oh, and I have to pack my Sleeping Beauty jumperskirt + blouse + bloomers too >.< I decided I'd limit myself to just one outfit, because obviously I have to have SOMETHING to wear when I go to the Baby store heehee.

In other news, I'm baking coookiieeeessss. I decided to be bold and experiment, so half of the recipe is flavored with springs of our lavender plant (after double-checking that yes, that plant in our yard IS lavender and I'm not going to poison my family with some sort of mystery-weed XD), and the other half flavored with a few bags of jasmine tea. That one, I'm not so sure about hahaha. The batter tasted good, though! A few minutes in the oven and they're already doing bizarre stuff, so I dunno if I can make any promises =_= It might have been the fact that I accidentally dumped more sugar in there than I had originally planned lol

Allrrigghhttt so the bizarro jasmine cookies are out, and yes, as expected, they're bizarro XD I think it must have been too little flour, although this recipe is always dicey because too much and they're just tough. All things considered, I think if I just served these up to someone they'd never know the difference....they're a pretty pale color, the spots of tea leaves a nice contrast, and they do actually taste very good and have a lovely fragrance. It's just.....they're not supposed to be flat haha

Time to go peek at the others!

Hmmm same issue on these, much too flat. I defintiely didn't have to worry about the flavor being too light, they've got just the right amount of lavenderyness, and smell really good too!

In case anyone's interested, this is the base recipe I used, adding 1 1/2 bags of jasmine tea to half of the recipe, and about oh, I dunno 2-3 tablespoons of chopped fresh lavender to the other half (I also didn't do the final toss in confectioners sugar because really, these cookies are fllaatttttt). It's also, coincidentally enough, the recipe I adapted (and then screwed up haha) to make Hannah's vegan cookies for the tea party. When they come out like they're supposed to, they're really lovely cookies, you should try it! And, all complaining aside, the variations I tried really came out wonderfully, so they're a nice base for things like that. I think I prefer the jasmine ones the most ^^

I should really probably get the heck off the internet and so something more practical buutttt I don't feel like it. I always have to listen to this song in the fall - for me it has such a beautiful autumn spirit. I'm not sure whether it's really trying to talk about winter, summer, or what, but it's beautiful. The band's (Malinky) lead singer, Karine Polwart, is absolutely an angel. I think she's left the band at this point and done some solo works - these two songs are some of my favorites of her's. I dunno though, I feel like she's not as eloquent by herself. Even though the songs themselves are beautiful, both of the songs' lyrics in particular just don't have the same beautiful crafting of language as Follow the Heron, or the other songs on the group's two cds, does. Her voice is still magical though. (speaking of, I would KILL for this woman's voice TT_TT)

I think if I had to pick one, Celtic music would be my favorite genre. There's just something about it that's so sweet and pure and so much of life, of the earth and the people and the sky. I'm big on storytelling, maybe that's why. I can honestly say that I genuinely like every genre of music out there (try me haha), but nothing makes me want to stop and listen and think about the beauty of the world so much as Celtic music does (rap, techno, not so much lol).

Okay, seriously. Back to work now.

(if anyone's interested, I have the rest of Malinky's two cds, plus tonnnssss of other Celtic music to share ^^)

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:28:10 GMT

I have been FAR to productive for only 10:00 in the morning =_=

I had to get up at 7 today to go to my physical therapy appointment (Hannah you would be so proud) and learn that apparently I'm all misaligned and my feet have no support so they wobble....which I believe 100% since I do seem to tip over quite a lot XD (then again, it could also have something to do with my 5'8 self and my size 6 1/2 feet lol). I got some exercises to do in France for my ankle, although the therapist seems to want to convince me that I should wear sneakers...to which I gave her a look of abject horror. Sneakers??! In France??!! Perish the thought!! I won't even wear sneakers in Vermont! Once I recovered I sort of smiled and nodded, but in reality, it's gonna be heels everyday all day, baby XD (and I wonder why I sprain both my ankles on a regular basis >.> )

Went to the bank, got my letter of recommentation to open a French bank account, got an outlet converter, tried to pick up some perscriptions but my doctor's office is the most inept group of people I have EVER met (and I've only been going here about three months...thank god I'm getting the heck out of there as soon as I get back!) and did something wrong AGAIN so I have to do it tomorrow. Picked up my contacts, got my glasses checked, grabbed some stuff from Rite Aid, picked up my most favorite (high heeled) black ankle boots from the cobbler, and now am back at my house with an omelet for breakfast (made Julia Child-style, actually, which works very well! only, because I'm me I put a few teaspoons of sugar instead of pepper and added some milk because I like my omelets sweet heehee)

Actually, I may be trying to wow you with my productivity, but really I'm just trying to procrastinate packing. I had a dream last night that everything fit perfectly, that my suitcases were really light and I had tons of extra space. BAHAHAHAHAHAHA yeah no. >.<

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:57:00 GMT

OMGOMGOMG two more days till Apple Pie Day YYYAAAYYYYYYYYYY.

Lol I am beyond excited about this XD Traditionally, this would be done the weekend of my birthday, and Hannah and I would go to the Harvest Market and Jericho and then pick apples at Chapin Orchard and come home and make piieeeesssssss with the smell of leaves and wind and crisp fall air (see October of 2007 haha) but we're kind of fudging it this year. It makes me a little sad. A lot sad, actually, that I'll be missing fall. I mean, okay, I'm sure they have fall in France, but I can't imagine it would even come close to comparing to fall in Vermont. Fall in Vermont is perfection...chill days that make you want to wear huge warm scratchy sweaters and knee high socks, the crunchcrunchcrunch and the whisperwhisper song the leaves make as you're walking to class, the blazing color that stays with you all through the cold of winter. Riding downtown today on the bus, I suddenly was swept by this wrench of nostalgia for waking up in my dorm room, tucked under my down comforter with the sun streaming in . I dunno, that seems like such a silly thing to miss, I guess.

Ah well, I'm sure I'll survive. And I'll pick out a couple of perfect leaves this weekend to bring with me, just in case.

BUT OMG SPEAKING OF THIS WEEKEND. So it will be Hannah's birthday instead, which I guess works. My grandparents are coming up tomorrow to say goodbye and I have to finish packing, which is terrifying, so I won't be able to meet Hannah for lunch and make her a cute magical bento, but that's okay because on Saturday we are going to the VERY FIRST DAY of Pick-Your-Own at Chapin Orchard, where I will pick the most perfect apples and pretend to be upset by the rule about not climbing the trees and then do it anyway and eateateat the crisp fruit till I am absolutely stuffed. And then we'll go home and order organic pizza and make apple pies (vegan this year!) and it will probably look miserable because it does every year, but will taste fantastic, just like always. And I'll pretend that in 12 hours I WON'T be getting on a plane to disappear for a year *shudder*

(oh, and Sunday morning we're going to Mirabelle's for breakfast ~~before I have to be at the airport at 12~~, one last tradition before I leave ^^)

Here's a picture stolen from Claire (you always have the best taste in artwork lovey) that almost brought tears to my eyes it was so perfect

(big version here)

God I miss fall. And it hasn't even come yet >.<

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:39:48 GMT

I am grouchy.

I went to get my haircut today and it is still obviously green even though I tried to dye it darker, apparently I did it wrong so it's still showing through and I have to get it done again, professionally this time. I really should have just known better. Why is it that no matter how hard I try I can never get it to look pretty, it never goes the way I want. It should be this difficult!

I also really dislike sales people. I am one of those people who you could really convince to buy anything, even if I really don't need it, and it makes me so. frustrated. when I get treated like some punk kid who isn't going to buy anything anyway so why bother. Oh miserable, stuck-up Bonton saleswoman, if only you knew that I spend literally hundreds of dollars yearly on fancy skincare products (a weakness >.>) and that when I ask to try a perfume that you have behind the counter I actually wanted to spend the $80+ on it, not just window shop and waste your time, but now I'm just going to buy it online instead. As if I needed another reason to feel like I don't deserve all the pretty things I like to have.

I really dislike packing. Somehow I have to put my entire life into a few suitcases and I don't even know where to start. I'm...not ready for this trip yet. I just wish people would shut. up. about it, it's just making me that much more stressed. I'm sick of planning and making lists and listening to my mother telling me how I will have to budget and be responsible and blahblahblah. Someday I will be older and sophisticated and be able to waltz into stores and buy whatever my heart desires, rude, condescending sales women be damned. Similarly, I will be self-possessed enough that I can just throw some perfect pieces into a cute valise and jetset off, elegant enough to pull off whatever I wear. Yeah, that will totally solve all my problems.

Grr.

Scents

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:16:36 GMT

I caused a scene in The Body Shop today.

Well, as much of a scene as I could bring myself to cause, since I am 100% anti-scene-causing (I get personally mortified when other people cause scenes even, that's how bad it is haha). I went in to replace the bottle of perfume that I broke in London, and was told that the company had discontinued the line. I let out a huge gasp and exclaimed, "OH NO!!!" I'm glad there was no one else in the store, it was practically a shriek x.X The shop girl tried to show me some other, similar lines, but to no avail...it had taken me years to find this scent; the vast majority of perfumes blend really strangely with my body chemistry and just smell ick, like old lady perfume. I was devastated. "Is there anywhere I could still find it?" I practically begged. But no, there was nothing, and I left the store close to tears.

Of course, the happy ending is that one can find anything online, and I just bought 5 bottles on ebay, and will hopefully win one more bottle in a few hours *deep sigh of relief* A little excessive, possibly...but I'm terrified this ever happening again. It makes me so sad when companies discontinue perfume lines. What about all those people out there, like me, who consider that their scent? It's like taking away someone's eye color, or their height, or something that makes them so uniquely them. I smell like rose...what happens when I don't anymore? I don't even feel like me. Don't they understand how much they are disrupting peoples' lives?

Yes, I will probably never get through those six bottles; I will probably grow up and out of it eventually, or put them somewhere and forget about them for a while, or whatever. But what happens when I'm 83, and come across an old bottle in a box somewhere, and am instantly transported to my college years? That is priceless. I have a little (completely empty) bottle of Bath and Body Works "Juniper Mint" hand lotion in my drawer, that every once in a while I stumble across...and it smells like 6th grade, going in to a new school, surviving the homesickness of moving into a new house, the excitement of falling asleep in my own room instead of sharing one with my sister...I never want to forget it. I can't even find that scent online anymore, that's how old it is....but if I ever did, I'd buy it all up in a heartbeat.

On a less serious note, what are everyone's "signature scents"?

Mine is rose, of course heehee. I have a bunch of different perfumes I've collected over the years, because no company's interpretation of rose ever quite smells the same~

The elusive Body Shop "Rose Cassis" perfume that caused oh-so-much personal drama today. It's very bright and floral, but heady at the same time, and, to be honest, sometimes doesn't even smell that much like rose haha. It's the kind of perfume that you put on and then forget about for a little bit...and then every once in a while you'll make the tiniest movement and the scent will burst forth. I wish it had a cuter bottle, though...

I wore this perfume, by Crabtree and Evelyn, everyday at the start of my sophomore year of college, and I had drawer liners and hand soap to match (and the talc powder, the bubble bath, and the hand lotion <3), so I will always be reminded of my dorm room that year when I wear it. It's strangely sharp for a rose perfume, not soft or extremely floral or dark like so many of my others.

A silly little roll-on perfume entitled simply "Rose" that I found at a home goods store in my town, this perfume is very deep and musky, like sleeping on a bed of roses, or laying in a rose garden on a warm night. I use it in the winter, and my leather gloves and cashmere scarf I wear will probably smell like that for eternity >w<

And also, though it's not a rose fragrance, on days when I am feeling high-class and young and beautiful, I wear Miss Dior Cherie by Christian Dior. I spent a long time deciding if I wanted to get it, if I liked it enough to spend the money on it...and it makes me feel so important and luxurious whenever I smell it. Exactement comme ça!

Hmmm...I think I'm forgetting a few little bottles I have kicking around or something, but those are the main ones ^^ If I ever lose track of any of those, I would be devastated!! People tell me that I smell like roses even when I'm not wearing any perfume...apparently I use it so much it's sunk into my skin or something XD It's fine by me, I wouldn't mind smelling that way forever~!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:14:17 GMT

I really do want to try and post as often as I can...but absolutely nothing happened today. I went to work (an hour early because Hannah's clock was an hour fast D:), worked a lunch, a disaster as usual, then went to a lame safety meeting where I spent the entire 4 hours making intensive and detailed lists about the things I would need for my tea party. OH! Did you know? I'm hosting a lolita tea party this Saturday, so far we have 4 confirmed guests ^^ I'm so proud of myself heehee. I'm going to work so hard to make sure everything is perfect!! I love being a hostess ♥ (but please everyone, pray for sun!!!)

Hannah's gone to North Carolina until Thursday, I miss her. I'm staying at her apartment to watch over her pets, and it makes me lonely. I am going to make sure our last two weeks together before I go to France are amazing. Dear god, don't remind me.

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:21:18 GMT

As much as I like to pretend otherwise, I am an utterly untidy person. Most of it has to do with my tendency to spontaneously change what I was looking for or what I was doing in the middle of the activity, my mind skipping so quickly to the next fascination that I hardly have time to put something down. So it is no surprise that I am sitting on an unmade bed, partially covered with lolita dresses I had been trying on this morning, a venetian mask perched on my nightstand because I was admiring it three days ago, and around my neck, despite the unbearable heat, is a fox fur collar that I plucked from where I had abandoned it hanging next to me on my bed frame because I am comforted giving it a little stroke now and again, feeling the softness on my cheek and smelling its slight musk.

When I am gone, I want my grandchildren to be able to open a box, a box filled with silly things; old rings and music boxes and pretty pictures that once caught my eye, and to breathe in the fading scent of roses and say to themselves, oh yes, this is grandmother. I want to have a presence that is left behind me – albeit one that can be packed up neatly in tissue and stored in the attic – but a presence nonetheless, to tempt those who stumble upon it every once in a while when it has been forgotten, with bits of lace and the promise of fairy tales told with my words. Nothing serious. Just a small memory of the simple things, the ones that meant, and mean, so much to me.

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:48:33 GMT

I just passed my mother in the hall on the way to my room. "Are you drinking wine?" she asked, shocked. "No," I replied. "I am drinking sparkling iced jasmine tea. Would you care for some?" She looked curiously at the wineglass I was holding in my hand and laughed, shaking her head and turning back to the kitchen. It's such a lovely color and scent, it's wasted on an boring glass.

Oh, and in other news: welcome back to me. It's nice to discover all the old and new things.

Cuz I said I would...

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:11:21 GMT

A lot of these people are just...people I know in real life - I don't have too many livejournal friends, so sorry to everyone who's like...I don't get it XD (lololol Claire you're the only one on here XD)

1. I dunnooooo...most, I guess
2. My friend Jamie (since 2nd grade!!)
3. Elise, my old private viola teacher and Hannah's brother's girlfriend
4. A whole lot of people I go to college with (haha...that's what you get from a college in Vermont X3)
5. My sister omg ;_;
6. That would be me XD
7. My roommate last year, Anne
8. Yep, definitely imuin <33333
9. Maggie
10. My grandmother
11. I'm not sure about this one...
12. This girl who used to be in my orchestra, she was (and is) the most beautiful person I have ever seen T_T
13. Maggie's mother, Sue
14. Me! XD
15. No one? o.O
16. My friend Chelsea
17. My friend Andrew
18. Maggie again
19. My mother
20. Sue again XD
21. Dunno what these two mean...
22.
23. My...boss? haha
24. My father seems like the type >.>;;;
25. Eep! I don't really know about this one...
26. No one, I'm way too self-conscious!!
27. imuin ~~~~!!! ♥♥♥
28. Hannahhannahhannah!!
29. Do they have to be real? How about someone in my head? :3
30. I told you this would be lame XD

Teaaaa Paarrrrttyyy~~~

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:38:04 GMT

I went over to Hannah's and made petite fours a little while ago, so of course we had to make a big production about it - what fun is a tea party if you don't wear a pretty dress?! :DDD

The petite fours were made with plain white sponge cake and strawberry jelly, and covered with vanilla icing. They didn't quite work out - the glaze we made was way too watery and didn't harden properly, so they melted if you didn't eat them fast enough XD But they were soooo sweet ♥

I think I wouldn't mind being a pastry chef as a job - just think, I'd get to make and decorate cute sweet things all the time!!

And a picture of meeeee

You'd think I didn't have any other lolita clothes...but this is my most favorite lolita dress eveeerrr~~

None of Hannah, unfortunately, since she was behind the camera *pout*

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:51:34 GMT

Tagged by imuin <3
List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.

1.) I have no willpower.
2.) Whenever I say the work "pizza," I always have to spell it out in my head.
3.) I'm a terrible driver, even though I got a good score on my license test.
4.) My dream job would be to work in a maid cafe.
5.) I'm willing to risk death by salmonella to eat raw cookie dough.
6.) I made my college decision based on a dream I had about it.
7.) I have to sleep with my down comforter even in the summer, because I can't get comfortable if I don't have the weight of it on me when I fall asleep.

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:37:51 GMT

Perfect!! Something to post, but not anything I actually have to write myself XD

Time meme from imuin
I always like to take quizzes more than once, because sometimes the answers are never quite right; this time I always got one of the following two:

You are darkness and moonlight and a sky full of stars. You're nocturnal, but not in a lonely way. You are the moment when an unbelievably good rock show goes into its third encore. Just when everyone starts to wonder if it's finally over, the band runs back on stage and starts another song. You are the time of night when everybody knows it's getting late, but nobody wants to go home. You are the smoke machines, still going strong, and the stage lights that make that smoke glow blue and red. You are the warm mass of people singing along in unison, the sweaty rockers, the guitar solo, and that split second when you could swear the lead singer looked in your direction.

Your exact moment of the day is always changing, because the sun never sets at exactly the same time. You are the romantic moments just after sunset when it's still light enough to see your way around outside, and the sky is a blend of reds, pinks, purples, and blues. At this time of day, the light has a special way of making even rundown buildings looks like works of art. You're like that, too – you're always finding beauty and magic in unexpected places. Not only will you wish on the first star you see, somewhere inside, you actually expect that wish to come true.

Both of them suit me very well, especially "You are darkness and moonlight and a sky full of stars...you are the time of night when everybody knows it's getting late, but nobody wants to go home." And as for "not only will you wish on the first star you see, somewhere inside, you actually expect that wish to come true"...I live on such wishes as those. I'm making some right now, actually. And I pray that they'll come true.

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:19:52 GMT

Quote for the day:

"Oh, mold? I love mold."
~Anne

Yup, that about sums it up. Please, ye gods of college dorms, guide us and protect us from any bacteria that may still be lurking despite our best efforts T_T