2012 favorites ☆

I do realize it's already February, and this post is the kind of post that should have been posted in January, maybe. But I'm only four days late, so let's pretend like nothing.

Anyway, I thought it'd be fun to do a little summary of my favorite outfits from the passed year! After all I do have a passion for fashion, so you'll have to live with me blogging about it! Insert evil laughter.
Right! Let's start off early in the year. April, to be exact!

T-shirt: HELLCATPUNKS. Padlock necklace: Sex Pot ReVeNGe. Skirt: Second hand. Tights: Ebay. Shoes: Dr. Martens.

I think this is a favorite mostly because it was an outfit of many firsts. One of the first times I tried star eyebrows, first time I cut my fringe super short, first time I wore my beloved skeleton-tights, bought lashes and lenses. It's also around the time I started to abandon the whole oshare/visual kei thing I had going, and fell for more simple outfit-combos. 

Fashion started to become more and more fun for me around this time! Which is why I started to document and play more with what I wore day to day.

And - not to be forgotten - because that damn hair is probably the best hair I've ever had.
Dammit now I miss it. Insert keysmash. Moving on.

Wig: Ebay. Glasses: Åhlens. Padlock necklace: Sex Pot ReVeNGe. Hoodie: Second hand (I've seen it on Ebay though). Tights: "homemade." Creepers: Underground England.

Wig: Ebay. Devil horns: Homemade. Padlock necklace and tanktop: Sex Pot ReVeNGe. Tights: Taobao. Creepers: Underground England.

Top: Monomania. Headband: Homemade. Necklace: Vivienne Westwood. Yin Yang tights: Ebay.

Wig: Gothic Lolita Wigs. Headband: Homemade. Jacket: Taobao. Necklace: Ebay. Skeleton clips: Kreepsville. Lace dress: H&M. Shoes: Taobao.

Wig: Taobao. Hairbows: Kreepsville. Top: Monomania. Necklace: Glitter. Tights: Ebay.

Wig: Ebay. Hairclips: Kreepsville. Oversize shirt: SUPER LOVERS. Maxi-skirt: Ebay. Tights: Ebay. Shoes: Taobao.

The last picture is a combo I still really, really like... Which you may have already figured out if you follow me on tumblr, since my last outfit picture there is sort of extremely similar to this one. 

As you may also have noticed if you follow me on tumblr, lately more and more "fun" things have infected my outfits lately. Whereas before I was a complete sucker for clean things, black and white, not too many details... now I'm turning into a big-eyed monster jumping down a flowery meadow going "PATTERNS! COLORS! ACCESSORIES! HAIR BUNS! BOWS! FLOWERS!" 

Well, not literally, but you get the message. 

I mean. Like two days ago, I ordered a white shirt with two baby blue and baby pink ponies on. And a bunch of stars. And another sweater with cherries and stuff. Something is happening. 

I'm becoming cuter. 

Well if it get's too bad I can always make another post with the ugliest faces I can make. Problem solved, before there even was a problem. Phew! 

Well how about ending this post now? 

Everyone, long week ahead, but make sure to make it a good week. It's easy, and even if it isn't, buy some cookies and watch Parks and Recreation. I swear that makes everything better. Ok? Good girls and boys. Mama is proud. 

♥ Goodnight until next time lovelies ♥

People were calling me cute and stuff...

...so I had to do this. Good evening, dear blog. I have more serious and fashion-related entries coming up soon, but this was highly neccessary. 

Have some ugly pictures of me. 

No regrets. Kisses and hugs. 

GUIDE ☆ Taobao

I've already made a post that explained a little about Taobao, but since that post also included lots of word-vomiting and things about the order I made, I decided to make a new one that is only meant to be a guide. I thought it'd be helpful, since I was a wreck first time I made an order, and people have been asking me for help. So here it is!

Let's begin.

A guide to Taobao 

☆ Basics before you start:

1. Find a good shopping service. 
I can highly recommend kinalink.se. They're extremely helpful, very polite, and just overall the best Taobao agent you can find. You can send them an email to help you understand their order process and order form* if you don't understand it - which you of course can even if you go with another Taobao agent.

* Like with any shopping service, or in this case Taobao agent, you fill out this form so that your agent can order your things for you. You usually fill out things like product name, product link... the things that the agent can help you understand. I didn't understand it the first time, so don't feel bad if you're a little confused. 

2. Understand the value of google translate
Many people have asked me "do you understand chinese? How do you find things on Taobao when it's in Chinese?" and the answer is simple - google translate, or any other translating program. If you're looking for a dress, translate it to chinese. As simple as that.

Scroll down a bit to "useful keywords" in the Search guide-part.


☆ Search guide: 

First of all, this is the search field, in case that isn't clear.

Now, how do you find things? It's exactly the same as ebay, but with google translate, so here's a little searching-for-dummies in case it's your first time. Or just in case you're looking for some tips.

1. Combine your keywords
Type of clothing, or item, or brand. Color. It can be anything from one word to five, or more. Translate these words to chinese and press the orange button. If it's a brand or well-known word spelled with our roman letters, however, like for example Candy Stripper or Rilakkuma - you don't have to translate.

Combine the Chinese words with the English words when necessary. It can look like this "COSPLAY 假发" - "Cosplay wig".


2. Useful keywords
KERA is a good searchword if you want to find creepers and nice, punk-y shoes - you can combine it with the Chinese word for shoes too, but just KERA is fine. LOLITA is also a good searchword for shoes and other things. Definitely combine it with "shoes", though, a lot of dresses. Also good for nice wigs. COSPLAY is always good to find wigs. CANDY STRIPPER, other brands you like, Rilakkuma, and so on. And if you search for COSBUS you can find great, cheap kigurumis.


3. Once you find a product you like, you'll see this right next to the picture.

Price: It's pretty obvious, isn't it? The big orange numbers! Use a converter to see how much it is in your currency.

Shipping within China: Right under the price, 18 or 25.

Size: You see the part where it says "S" and "M"? There it is. It looks different from item to item, but it usually says S, M or L. Sometimes clothes are sized after how tall you are, which is weird, but heads up.

Color: You see all the little jackets? Yup, there it is. It's not always pictures, most often it's the Chinese words for different colors. Your browser should have a tool to translate the page, use this - or copy paste the words into google translate - to figure out which colors are which.

Shops: 

Just like with ebay, there are shops on Taobao. It's a little tricky once you visit one, since it's all in Chinese, but click around until you get the hang of it. Here's a great list with lots and lots of links to some different Taobao shops → Click me please. 


☆ Purchase guide: 

Go to your Taobao agent's homepage
Look for an "ordering procedure" page
Read it carefully
If there's something you don't understand, look up the address and send an email to support

Here's how the ordering process usually goes: 
Find the order form and download it
Fill out the order form
Save it under a new name
Use the email listed in the ordering process explanaition and send the new, filled out order form
Wait for a reply, and your agent will take it from there and update you as they move along


☆ General tips:

1. Seriously, don't be afraid to ask your agent for help.
2. Google. Look up guides and shop lists, link lists and anything you can think of. Really helpful.

3. I just have to say this as well: please don't ask me for links to things I've bought, because I don't have them. They're gone as soon as I've sent my order form. Sorry, but that's how it is ( ; ´ ω ` )

There ya go!

Easy, right? I hope this was a little bit helpful. Taobao is a cheap world of wonders (and fashion) and once you get the hang of it, it really is very simple. Take your time and you'll see.

Happy Taobao-ing!
Hugs and kisses, I hope you're having a great post-apocalypse day ♥

REVIEW ☆ Circle lenses, GEO Bella Grey, PinkyParadise

Lenses: GEO Xtra WBS 205 Bella Grey

Bought from: Pinkyparadise.com

I'm a part of PinkyParadise's affiliate program. So when you buy your lenses from them (which I think you should) enter coupon code irodohieru, and you'll get a free lens case and a mystery gift, courtesy of me!

 REVIEW 

First of all, I would just like to thank the guys at PinkyParadise for being so nice to me. They really are, super polite and cooperative. My emails were answered quickly, my questions and concerns were immediately answered and cleared up, and all communication worked very smoothly. 

I picked the lenses I wanted, got my tracking number, and bam, just a week later I had them in my mailbox. Along with a cute little animal lens case - hippos. I love hippos - and a little gift. 

Now, second of all; 

These lenses are so damn comfortable I am really tempted to keysmash my way through the rest of this review. 

My past experiences with lenses haven't been very good. My eyes have been itchy and red and I've sort of gotten used to crying a little throughout the day. I wore them anyways because I thought it was like that for everyone - at least my eyes looked nice. Now, I don't even think about the fact that I'm wearing lenses. They're just there, and it's brilliant.

I get why PinkyParadise is the biggest site for circle lenses. 

They have a lot of nice lashes and accessories too, so check that out in case you're looking for other things than just lenses! 

I have nothing bad to say about my experience, so this review will just have to be as extremely positive as it is. And now I will end this before it gets too long. 

PinkyParadise, end note; HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

Over and out for this time dearies, 

xoxo - ♡

☆ SWEET 18 ☆

So October 24 1994 was the day I was born, and that means October 24 2012 was my 18th birthday.

Still recovering from all the celebrating I've been doing.

My parents woke me at six o'clock in the morning with breakfast - coffee, my favorite sandwich, and a teeny tiny cake, all to myself. Or maybe not so tiny after all. It was supposed to be for two persons and I'm just one person. Yes, I ate it all. Not even sorry. It was delicious. Raspberry mousse with cream and jam, covered in grated white chocolate and topped with a cute lil' marzipan rose.

There it is! Looks yummy right? 

Anyhow. I took the day off and spent it... well I don't even remember what I did. Think I walked around the apartment in my PJ's, singing really loudly, to be honest. Then I realized my friends were supposed to come over in like an hour, so I made "fika" in full on panic mode. 

Took a lot of pictures ♪

 The cake was kind of messed up since my dad wanted a slice in the morning. So I filled the hole with "polkagrisar" (candy canes but small and not canes and swedish?) and meringue. But I actually think messy cakes are yummier than super tidy cakes. 

Here are some derpy friends: 

Emilia, Marijela (with a blurry Alex in the background) and Clara! 

I have friends, look!

I know Alex doesn't like to be in published pictures so I will keep him to myself. Alice showed up later, but I'd sort of forgotten about the camera (I'm sorry honey). And Jözz was supposed to be there too, but she was sick so she couldn't come. Anyhow, we had a great time! I love these guys ♥ 

And here's a bonus pic: 

Marijela put marshmallows on my headband... 

After dinner with my parents (where I got that yucky glass of wine. I hate wine. But it was kind of symbolic. Symbolic and disgusting. I really. Hate. Wine), Alice and I went to the movies and saw paranormal activity 4. Weird movie, by the way. I don't know if I can recommend it or not. Maybe if you've seen the others. 

Well, spending the rest of my birthday with my awesomest girlfriend was a great way to end it at least. 

Then there was the party with my huge family this weekend. 28 people (that's just my closest relatives, aunts and cousins, etc. Everyone couldn't even come). Alice and Alex were there too and everyone got kind of drunk and stayed really late, so overall it was a great party. 

That's about it! 

But wait a minute, I know what you're thinking.

What about the damn gifts?

For starters my grandmother gave me Photoshop Elements 11, which made my voice all high-pitched (thank you grandma). Then I got a gift-certificate for two piercings, so my mouth area will be punctured soon, another gift-certificate at H&M, money, a massage, that dotted shirt I'm wearing in the pictures, a bottle of strawberry wine...

Alex got me the book "Pawnee - the greatest town in America" by Leslie Knope - a character from the TV-show we're obsessed with, Parks and Recreation, and Alice made me a keychain. A little Rilakkuma wearing a rose headband. So cute ♥

But the best thing that happened that day;
my parents made me debt-free.

I almost started to cry. Seriously, I can't really describe how good it feels to have that weight off my shoulders. Now I can start over. Can't imagine starting my 18th year - my first "adult" year - in a better way. I love my parents so so so much.

I have nothing more to say about my Sweet 18 now!

So this was a really cheesy and overly happy entry.
I'M SORRY BUT MY BIRTHDAY WAS REALLY AWESOME, OKAY.

Thank you awesome friends and family for making it so great. Now back to being miserable. Kidding.

Over and out! Much love (ી(΄◞ิ౪◟ิ‵)ʃ)♥

"WHERE AND WHAT" INTERNET SHOPPING
Once and for all, this is a compilation of links to the shops where I buy most of my clothes and accessories.

TAOBAO INFO →
(At the bottom of the linked post I've written about shopping service, translating, etc)

∙ Wigs: Ebay, Taobao. I don't have a particular store I go to. I usually search for cosplay wigs.
∙ Clothes and accessories: Ebay, Taobao, Gina tricot, Cubus, H&M.
∙ Brand clothes: Cdjapan.co.jp/apparel
∙ Circle lenses: Pinkyparadise.com → enter coupon code "irodohieru" and receive a mystery gift!

∙ Favorite brands: Monomania, BOY LONDON, SUPER LOVERS, Listen Flavor.

∙ My absolute favorite place to shop: EBAY. No particular shops. I see something I like - a piece of clothing, a print, a color combo, anything - and use keywords to hunt down something similar.

∙ Useful Ebay searchwords for not-really-knowing-what-you're-looking-for-just-windowshopping: KERA, lolita, cosplay.

I'm sorry for not answering this sooner, since you were wondering, dear readers, but now I have! I hope this cleared things up ♡ Now let's move on to the rest!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Amandanissen: What's some of your favorite places to shop, and do you have any tips for finding things on etsy/ebay which suits your style? 

Answer : Actually, the best tip I can give for ebaying is to take inspiration from other places - like tumblr, for example - and use that to find things you like. I find it quite hard to just casually windowshop on ebay. Like with my LSD galaxy cat shirt. I saw that on tumblr, "I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE", went on ebay, typed in "cat galaxy shirt", and found it. It doesn't have to be as specific as that, but knowing what you like is always good, right. Then it's just searchwords, searchwords and more searchwords until you track it down ☆

Anonymous: How do you shop things at Malkomalka and other non-english shops? 

Answer: I bought my MALKOMALKA from Taobao (got them with legit tags and everything, so they're not fake), but otherwise I use a shopping service! I've heard Celga is good ☆

Anonymous: I don't know if you answered this though, I'd really like a list of Japanese fashion brands you buy from? ` n `

Answer: My favorite japanese brands are; SUPER LOVERS, Listen Flavor, Sex Pot ReVeNGe, Candy stripper and Monomania ☆ !

Anonymous: Where do you get your wigs and what price are they around?

Answer: If I order wigs from Taobao, around 8 USD, if I order from ebay, between 18-20 USD ☆

Anonymous: Everyone has so many great questions but...
I would like to know what hair products you use. O.O
I have brown and light pink hair, but the pink part never went back to normal and since you are so used to all this I would really like to know the things you like to use/find good for damaged hair like shampoos, conditioners or even home made treatments and things like that. (:
And... Just wanted to say to you that you really are an inspiration to me and you you are a really beautiful and nice person! *-*

Answer: Agh thank you sweetheart ♡ I just want to hug you. Let me see if I can give you some pointers! If you want a good color result, avoid any hair product with silicone. I like schwarzkopf's products. Basically, avoid products that contain silicone. Look for shampoos and conditioners with keratine in - if possible, something with oil as well. Also, investing in an expensive argan oil can really be worth it. Buy argan oil and a good hair remedy from your hairdresser (if you can afford it, it's a good idea to buy shampoo and conditioner from them as well). 

If you want a good at-home remedy: Beer, two eggs, mayonnaise and olive oil. Divide it in your hair and wrap it in plastic, leave in for as long as you like (minimum 10 minutes). Hope this helped!

Anonymous: So when you order from Taobao, how much does the cost add up to (if you don't mind sharing >_<)? And the shipping? Also what shipping method do you use? Do you use any agencies? What are your favourite stores on Taobao?

Answer: I answered all of this in my Taobao post... oh well! My stuff were in total around 700-1000 SEK if I remember it right. The shipping was 700 SEK I think. I used kinalink.se, china airmail small and I don't have any favorite shops, I just browse around with random searchwords like "nebula", "KERA", "lolita", "MALKO MALKA"... and so on! ☆

That's it! 

Much love to those of you who asked me questions in the Q&A (not just the ones I published in this entry)! And to those of you who didn't as well, of course ♡ Once again I'm going to end this post by saying goodnight. Maybe I sleep a lot. Or just like writing when I'm tired. I don't know. Doesn't matter! At least I'm sick today so I have a legit reason...

Have loads of sweet dreams and happy Friday! 

xoxo 

Pics or it didn't happen...

Well here it is. That blonde thing, me when I was fifteen. 

In this picture I had already lost like 8-10 kgs. I've deleted all other pictures of myself from that time, unfortunately, so I don't have any earlier pics than this one, except for baby/kid-pictures. 

I told you I used to look different.
Just felt like posting this for some reason! 

Dear lord I'm happy my fashion sense has improved since then... 

Anyway, moving on to other stuff: this weekend I'll hopefully have time to make the Q&A video! Thank you so much for all the questions, I'm really grateful ♥ ! I'll answer as many as I can in the video, and all other questions will be answered in a post here, I promise. 

That's the end of this random post. Hope I didn't traumatize anyone. 

Sweet dreams and puss och kram!