Meeting Yuko Yamaguchi (again)!

Today is officially "International Lolita Day", but since I have a wedding to attend today I celebrated yesterday. I decided to go all out, and wear my Chess Chocolate bustier Jsk.

I don't usually wear sweet, so it was kind of odd. xD I got comments like "You look just like Cinderella", and "Are you an Angel?" My uncle also asked "Are you selling Swiss Miss or something?" Haha.

It happened to be the perfect time to dress up anyway, because Hello Kitty's lead designer from Japan, Yuko Yamaguchi was holding a meet-and-greet at Alamoana Center!

I met Yamaguchi-san about a year and a half ago, when she held a similar event at Sephora. (Read about it here!) That event was so crowded, uncomfortable and had a long line. Yesterday's event at Sanrio was much more personal, comfortable and fun!

Basically, all you had to do was spend $30 in Sanrio, and you could meet Yuko for her autograph. That $30 went quickly, getting my friends early Christmas Presents, and a new planner for myself. Once you met the $30, you could also purchase an autograph board, and Yuko would draw you an original illustration.

Yuko was cute as always, and she was wearing an Emily Temple Cute Jsk, just like last time! She must really love Emikyu. ^o^ I was also really surprised to see that she remembered me, all the way from last April at Sephora! 

My beautiful autograph, which I'll be framing next to my other one (wow, it sounds so snooty to say that, haha!)

After the autograph session there was still a lot to do in the store! You could create a Hello Kitty bento, and play games like making Hello Kitty's face on an onigiri. There were also manicurists on-site, who would paint Sanrio characters on your nails. It was so much more fun than the previous Sephora event!

On top of all this, I loved getting to talk with members of Sanrio who were at the store from the US and Japan. I ended up meeting one representative, who noticed my Spottie Dottie pins on my bag. He was so excited to see that I knew the character, and even more shocked to find out she is my favourite! Spottie Dottie has been basically fazed out over the years, with only an occasional appearance. But come to find out, she was the representative's favourite too, and he was so happy to find another fan! He took pictures of my pins and introduced me to the Vice President from Japan and several other people whose positions I forgot. 

After, a female representative from Japan was introduced to me, and she gave me a Hello Kitty keitai strap. I was beaming, and the US rep chimed in, "Small gift, big smile!" 

Though the event was much more intimate in the home boutique of Sanrio, they didn't cut all ties with Sephora. Since Sephora carries a line of Hello Kitty cosmetics, guests were given a free $5 Sephora gift card, good towards any Sanrio purchase, just for stopping by. (Limited to the first 50 guests). 

I hope that this is a good sign for Hawaii, and that we keep bringing back guests from Japan!

xoxo, Cherie

Loli Meet: Cream Pot, Waikiki

Cream Pot is notorious among my group of friends as one of the best places to eat on Oahu. 

It's a Japanese owned and operated cafe that's situated just along the Ali Wai canal, not quite submerged in the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, but over the bridge from the sketchier places surrounding Ala Moana mall. 

The outside looks like a Bed and Breakfast from a Mori Girl story book, the front porch decorated with hanging flower chandeliers, light blue benches and flowers of all varieties on every table. The inside looks like a dining room from a Studio Ghibli film. Lucky me, after living here quite a while, I finally got to go with some of the Hawaii Lolitas for our September meet-up.

We arrived at about noon and passed the time chatting while we waited for everyone to show up. It was a smaller meet up with only five people, but it was comfortable, especially in the charming little cafe. I loved getting to meet two girls who joined the community after I left for Japan.

The food was amazing! I'm not even a foodie but I was really excited about this dish. As a warning, it's a little weird sounding: Maguro Benedict.

It was maguro (high grade tuna sashimi) served on avocado, a soft-boiled egg and rice, with salad, and a citrus miso sauce.

I washed it down with their delicious strawberry and orange juice.

One thing that really surprised us, was when the owner came by and gave us free dessert! He gave us what I think is the house special... belgian waffles with salted caramel, whipped cream and bananas.

Salty and sweet is one of my favourite flavour combinations, and this definitely had it! I only had a bite, because I have to be ready for upcoming shoots, but oh I wish I could have had more. ; w ; 

After, we gathered around for a mandatory group shot!

I wore Honey Cake, Catherine wore Meta's new Dim Light Jsk, Cat wore a Miho Matsuda OP, Angelina wore ETC's Red Riding Hood OP (which I covet! haha), and Aileen wore AP's A La Carte Salopette. 

We all agreed, that if we lived in Waikiki we'd eat at Cream Pot every day. It was one of the best meals I've ever had out!

Oh, and while all was said and done, Aileen and I ended the day with a long overdue Purikura session. The local Purikura parlour moved when I was gone in Japan, from its Kalakaua location to the McCully shopping centre. But now it is bigger, air conditioned and has newer machines! Still not the same as Japan, but pretty darn close.

Xoxo, Feeling slightly more Darling than Darkly, Cherie.

(Overdue) Outfit Post~!

Hey Darlings!

I can't believe that my study abroad ends in one week. It feels like it can't really end... I can't wrap my mind around going home! But I still have to scrub my apartment floor to ceiling for inspection this weekend. I wanted a break from that nonsense, so started to go through my photos again.

Then I realised, even though this is sort of my "Lolita" blog, I never post my outfits. The truth is, I'm really shy and hate taking photos. I never post to communities and try to avoid the spotlight... ^^;

But, I just got some Purikura scans from my friend, so what the heck? Here are a few of my favourite outfits from the past year, some from really fun outings. 

This was around the start of Spring semester, and Nagoya was still freezing! My friend and I braved the frigid wind to twin in Angelic Pretty's Honey Cake series. This was the day we visited the "Kuma Cafe", a cafe all about Teddy Bears.

This is from around last Christmas. NUFS organised a field trip to the Linear Motor Museum, a museum all about trains. We got to explore old rail cars, play with displays, and eat eki bento.

Naturally, I wore Metamorphose's "Romantica Train" JSK. Unfortunately I forgot my camera on that day, so these were taken with my cellphone!

These are some of my favourites. My friend and I dressed in old-school/aristocratic outfits, sticking to a black and white colour scheme. I wore an older Metamorphose Jsk I found at a second-hand shoppe.

I also wore this butterfly, cross and chain ring by Ozz-On. It's so ridiculous and lovely, but it's kind of impractical, so I rarely get to show it off. 

About our hair... My friend loves Miku from Vocaloid, and I love Luka... we were both excited for an upcoming cosplay event, so decided to try out our Vocaloid wigs!

(Ironically, our plan was to visit a Butler Cafe called "Imperial Rose" that day, but it was closed for a different cosplay event.) 

... I'm not sure when this was. But I'm glad I didn't get a full outfit shot, I have no idea WHY I was wearing so many bright colours! xD

I don't think this is the most flattering picture, but I love this new Putumayo JSK. I just got it at the shop, and wore it to class one day...

(Can you tell, I really love those red Metamorphose shoes.)

And my most recent outing was yesterday! My friend and I were choco-twins, both wearing the Chocolate Chess bustier JSK in mint. 

As you can see we wear lolita together often, but yesterday people wouldn't stop ogling us! People even kept walking into things! xD Lots of people took their picture with us too, which I don't mind... but it's the weirdos video taping us on their phones as they walk by that bother me. :"| You really have to watch out. 

And afterwards, we got matching chocolate pancakes at one of our favourite cafes.

And well, now you can't say I never post outfits. xD Maybe I'll do this once a year or something. 

Hope you are all doing well! And don't forget, there are three days left on the Taiyaki Maker give away! Good look to everyone who has entered, and if you haven't, there's still time! 

Now, back to cleaning for me... I don't really like Cinderella, but I feel her pain now.

Till next time,

Cherie

My First Hanami

The tradition of cherry blossom viewing ('hanami') can be traced back to the Nara and Heian periods,  the 8th-12th centuries.

Today, television reporters give daily blossom forecasts for the height of flower viewing, starting late March and continuing through early April. The 'season' for hanami is short. But for that short time, everyone gathers with friends and family to enjoy a picnic under the trees.

Last weekend I headed out with my friends for a small Hanami picnic. We went to the neighbouring town of Nagakute, to a park with a large lake.

The wind was strong, but several families were also at the park; some with traditional bentos, others with brown paper Mc Donalds sacks. There were young couples, families of four with children, large gaggles of assorted friends and family.

We picked a spot on the bank of the lake, with our make-shift conbini lunch. Afterwards, we joked around, talked story, then took photos. 

A few days later the blossoms were in their prime; fluffy and white, like cotton wads. It was a beautiful sight, and when it rained, the scent of sakura stained the air. Now the blossoms are all ready reaching their untimely end, falling like snow flakes and building up on the street in the same manner. 

Sakura season was something I always wanted to experience, and once it began it all went too quickly. Now that it's ending I feel like I took it for granted, didn't carry my camera on me like I should have, didn't take enough digital photos. But the photos in my head are a brilliant memory I'll never forget; the dreamy scene I couldn't have imagined before. 

Since this entry is all about blossoms, how about some floral lolita coordinates?

I recently found the Angelic Pretty "Sugar Pansy" Babydoll Jsk, in lavender, a wish list item of mine. I've been dying to make pastel coordinates, but was waiting for the weather to warm up.

Here it is, paired with a pink blouse by "Kick Out Regrets", and pink tights from a shop in Harajuku.

And a second option, a purple blouse from "Kick Out Regrets", and mint tights from "Ichigo House" in Oosu. 

Get out there and enjoy the fresh Spring air!

Till next time,

Cherie

Vulpes vulpes.

Today, my Honey Cake Jsk came in! I was worried it would be too 'print overload' with my cream and brown polkadot blouse, but it's not so bad...

Honestly, I haven't had such great experiences with Angelic Pretty. Normally their items dont fit me right, or the material is too thin for my liking, but this is a seriously nice dress.
I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it on, for the most part. The print is adorable and full of details, without being overwhelming. The milk carton has the nutrition facts on the side, things like that.

I like how this print leans more towards Emily Temple cute's designs, which are a more 'demure' sort of cute to me. It's not radical/sugar high/in your face sweet, as AP tends to go.

AND I love bibbed Jsks. And it fits me well. So it passes. You win this time, AP. Now please direct me to that adorable matching Honey Bear jewelry...

Speaking of jewelry, here is another treasure I found, while wandering the local mall...

Fox earrings! I love foxes, but it's actually hard to find fox-themed things. In the spirit of rare fox items, I made an Etsy treasury celebrating my favorite member of the canine family.

Etsy is quite addictive. I never cared for it before, until I started adding people to my 'circle' and watching Treasuries. Then it became a treasure hunt for cool items.

Is anybody else on Etsy? I'm cherielavendre, I'll add you to my circle!