Crafting times & piles of ribbons

Moving on from that rather embarrassing mental breakdown I last blogged about, here's a more positive post! Hello again, dear blog and dear readers. For weeks now, I've been trying to just blog about my everyday life. Thing is though, whenever I sit down to write something, I realize...

My life is so far from interesting it makes me want to punch my own face.

It's not like I don't do anything, I do get quite a lot done, but I haven't had any routines whatsoever and all days have just sort of merged together, so even though I know I do a lot of stuff, I don't really remember what I've been up to, unless I sit down and go "think, think" Winnie the Pooh style. So I figured, maybe it's a good idea to actually write more, so I don't end up in bed with midnight angst and questions about what I'm doing with my life. Things like that.

Now do you promise you'll do this Saga? Yes? Okay good. Let's start right away!

Recently I've been busy sending out my resumé to various different places, spent time with friends and so on. Apart from the friends-part this is really boring so not going to write about that. What I will be doing is more fun though~!

I see a lot of crafting coming in the future weeks, which feels really good ♪ I'm always in a good mood when I craft and spend time doing creative things (and sleeping a lot)! I have tanktops to print and headbands to make, also I'm going to start working on my very first cosplay. Now that's not really crafting, but it's creative work that will lead to crafting so it's worth mentioning. Maybe I'll do some knitting too now that I think of it? Hm.

I'll hopefully be crafting a lot with Emilia (at least she'll have to help me with my cosplay, I do know how to sew but I have a feeling I will end up bleeding and screaming if I don't get some guidelines from someone who really knows how to do it) which I did yesterday!

I helped her sew these awesome "Bubblegum bitch" and "Mahou shoujo"  pin badges for the Japanese flea market in May. She posted a picture of them on picture here → seriously look at them they're like heaven in a pin badge. 

Oh, and we randomly walked by this crazy store when out shopping for ribbons;

It was like this from floor to ceiling! A ribbon store that looks like it's located in Diagon Alley! 

There was only a square meter in the middle of the store that you could move around on, even the cash register was hidden under piles and piles of boxes with ribbons, so you had to walk behind it to pay for your things!

We had already bought a ton of ribbons at another store, but when we walked by and got a glimpse of the store through the window - which was also as packed with crap and tazzles as the rest of the wonderful store - we just had to go inside. We found some nice cross- and angel-print satin ribbons too, so it was all win win.

The rest of the day and evening we spent on Emilia's floor, sewing, drinking around 5 pots of tea, and being really bitter talking about bitter things. Not so very kawaii but oh my god, it's so nice to be bitter with people that wants to be bitter with you.

Bitter-chans for life.

Now I said this would be a positive post, so I'll suppress my bitter side and end this just in case. Not that I'm very bitter today, but still. Sitting in my sunny livingroom right now, feels like this will be a good day!

Oh that's right; Spring has finally come to Sweden. I can't even. The years of suffering is over.
Not kidding, when you live here "Winter is coming" is actually a real threat, every year.

Anyway, now I'll have my breakfast tea like the old lady I am.
Hope everyone will have a nice day, wherever you are!

Goodbye and hugs and kisses and you know the deal ♥ over and out!

A "thank you" and a "why I need to thank you"

I feel like I want to write something rather personal and emotional about what happened on ask.fm yesterday, and what happened after the first thing happened. Here, here and last but not least, here.

I know all of it was completely over the top, and I shouldn't make a big deal out of it. Today is a new day. But it was a big deal when it happened and therefore I just need to write this. Going to be completely honest because I'm not afraid to be honest.

Bear with me, it won't take long.

For starters, just let me say thank you to my friends and all of the sweet people who actually sat down and wrote me the nicest things, even though they certainly had no obligation to do so. Thank you. I really can't say how much it meant to me, I actually started to cry even more than before when I read through them. So I hope you know how much I love you, and that I have your back if anything bad ever happens to you.

With that said, I would just like to talk a bit about why I (over)reacted the way I did. I don't care at all about anon hate. I think it's ridiculous and cowardly, not worth any of my time or pain. When someone says I'm ugly or something about the way I dress, I just shrug my shoulders and laugh. You can't like everyone, so whatever. I don't think I'm ugly so they can say what they want. But the one thing I can't handle is when people comment on my body.

Like I wrote, that is the one thing that hurts. My weakest spot.

A relative once said ”wow, you've eaten so much! Are you really hungry already?” which had me crying right in the middle of IKEA - which happens to be my happy place. That's how quickly I snap when it comes to that subject. Yup. Not my proudest moment.

Now, don't get me wrong. My friends can assure you I'm a black food-hole, and it's not like I'm one of those attention-seeking people, you know the ”ew I'm so fat even though my BMI is 18 and oh my god I'm so huge please love me and tell me I'm pretty” kind of people. I really, really am not. I know I'm not extremely fat and I know I'm not ugly. I obviously wouldn't post fashion pictures if I thought of myself as a hideous monster. I'm confident in myself and I'm fine with how I look.

But without clothes (and sometimes with) I am a insecure about my body, and sometimes very insecure, I just prefer to keep that to myself and try to think that I'm wrong. It's how it is. Because we all have insecurities, that are very real, unlike constant public attention-seeking. It's human.

Although, people are ridiculously annoyed when people are actually honest about sometimes feeling bad about themselves. And well, I can see why attentionseeking on the level I described is annoying, because it kind of is, but a little insecurity is – like I sad – human.

I was afraid the long rant I gave in response would be interpreted like I actually was seeking attention.

No, I wasn't. I was just very upset, because it is such a horrible flashback of middle- and highschool bullying, and because I've had the problems I've had. I'm not going to go into detail, because I feel like that's not neccessary. I've been very ill, even though I hid it well and certainly don't look like it, and that's the past that has made me quite sensitive about those subjects. And besides, even without the past I've had, no one would be happy getting those kinds of comments. I spent my day crying and looking in the mirror, going through all my pictures, and behaving like a kid. I'm not proud of it. But that's what internet hate can lead to.

So please keep that in mind, if you ever write something nasty to someone online. The person doesn't only exist online, you know, and you don't know what kind of effect it might have on them.

I'm feeling a lot better today, and again, the people who wrote me has my heart and love. I was expecting hate, because I know how annoyed people are when it comes to people even making the smallest comment on their own looks, but instead I had gotten around 50 messages from people who understood me and tried to cheer me up. It was really overwhelming, it made me so happy.

Anyway, I'll stop writing now before someone misinterprets this as attention seeking as well. I just wanted to make a comment about it since it all was kind of overly dramatic. I'm sorry if anyone thought I was a complete asshole, but I snapped. Like people do sometimes.

Bottom line is I'm human, and I want to say thank you for accepting me for the human I am instead of only accepting that girl on the pictures.

Lots of love ♥

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)♥