13 posts tagged “dollies”
So much has happened since I left for BlytheCon. I'm not sure I can go through every single thing I've experienced, but I'm definitely going to try. To sum it up in a sentence: BlytheCon was amazing. I can't believe how busy I was over the past few days!
When I arrived at Rebecca's house in Indiana, everything seemed to fall into place. All my insecurities disappeared... She made me feel so welcome and I'm really thankful for that. As soon as Shawn and Ryan left, Rebecca and I got down to some serious dolly business. We talked for a long time as we got ready for our trip to Atlanta the next day. I helped her make a sign for her booth while she cut up some business cards, and I showed her all the dollies and toys I brought with me. I really felt like we had known each other for years.
Sherri arrived early the next morning. Like I told both her and Rebecca, I was so nervous about meeting Sherri. O__O She's been one of my idols ever since I started collecting Blythes; her saran and mohair reroots are incredible-- one of the absolute best rerooters in the world! I felt intimidated before Sherri arrived, but as soon as she arrived, my nerves settled down. She was so down-to-earth and so much like me... I immediately felt like I could relate to her, and that doesn't happen very often when I meet new people.
Our ride to Georgia was extremely long: about nine hours. Surprisingly, I didn't fall asleep once. Haha, Sherri, Rebecca and I talked the entire time-- about dollies, Pet Society, our lives, and so much more. In fact, we talked about so much, I'm almost afraid I'm going to forget some of the details. A long car ride was the perfect way to get to know Rebecca and Sherri even more.
We were able to settle into Rebecca's mom's house really quickly. I think it's because we were all so tired and hyped up for the next few days. For a while, we sat around exchanging dolly clothes and stories about our girls. I've never had the chance to talk for hours on end about dollies in my pajamas before... I wish I could do it more often. I felt almost spoiled for having such a great vacation so far. My sleep was wonderfully deep and comfortable.
Friday was the day dedicated to the Georgia Aquarium. Sherri, Rebecca, Rebecca's mom and I all went. We were all a little disappointed at how little there was to do at the aquarium, but everything that was there was really beautiful. My favorite part of our visit was definitely the tunnel that's underneath water. To be surrounded completely by water, fish and sharks was incredible. We all loved that part so much that we decided to walk through the tunnel a second time before we left.
One of my other favorite things about going to the aquarium was how interested people were in the Blythes we brought with us. Sherri brought Penny (her @Nai custom); Rebecca brought Tallulah (Betsy's crazy cross-eyed custom); and I brought Nami. We not only had visitors coming up to us to ask us about our dollies, but the aquarium's staff expressed even more interest. A security guard wanted to hold one of our dolls. A few of the staff members in charge of taking photos asked me a bunch of questions about where Blythes could be found. And the absolute best Blythe experience was at the end of our aquarium trip. As we were paying for our items in the gift shop, cashiers started piling up behind the registers to ask us all questions about Blythes. They couldn't get enough of our girls and left customers waiting in line and at registers so they could see the dolls! Rebecca, Sherri and I all took turns showing them our dollies. They loved changing the doll eyes. Rebecca and Sherri got a few photos of all the staff people (like seven or eight, I think) asking us questions.
Dinner that night was fun. The four of us went to a restaurant where we had some delicious meals. I had a shrimp and alfredo meal. *drool* It was so delicious and it was a relaxing experience to have before the busy day ahead of us.
Finally. Saturday was BlytheCon. All of us were so antsy before we left! We had packed most of our stuff up the night before so we got to the con on time. Because Rebecca was a vendor so we could get into the building before any of the other attendees (which I was happy about because I didn't want to be stuck outside in the cold). The girl she was supposed to share a table with was sick so Rebecca had the entire table for herself. I helped her set everything up and went back-and-forth between the convention room and outside, where more and more people were starting to arrive. I switched between taking my three girls out; a lot of people seemed to already know who they were, especially Pigeon! I had fun posing for photos with my dolls and everyone was incredibly nice. <3
The convention was so much fun, but it all seems like a blur now. Everything was so fast paced. I somehow lucked out and was one of the first people to register. Because of that, I got into the con fast enough to check out all the vendors and their items. I snatched up everything I was instantly attracted to-- oh gosh, my loot is all so cute! I keep looking at all the clothes and accessories I bought.
I was constantly meeting new people. A lot of the people are friends I've had online for a few years. I felt like crying a few times because I was so excited to actually meet some of them in person. After all these years... finally! Pigeon's customizer, Megan, was there. She was one of the main reasons I knew I had to attend BlytheCon. She was such a sweet person and I feel like I know Pigeon more because of meeting Megan. I feel bad about not remembering every person's face; so much was happening at the time so I knew it would be impossible to remember everything.
One of the most exciting parts of the day was the raffle. I only bought five tickets but THREE of my numbers happened to get picked. O____O Because one of the items I won was a double, I only got two of the prizes-- I didn't mind though. The big prize I won was a free mohair reroot for a Blythe. The second prize I won was a free Blythe application for an iPhone. Because I don't have an iPhone, I gave my prize to Rebecca. I was so excited (and surprised) that I was shaking the entire time after my numbers were called.
Needless to say, the entire event was more fun than I could have ever imagined. Like I told Rebecca and Sherri later on, the BlytheCon trip was the best vacation I've ever had. Getting to know both of them is probably what I love most from the experience. Unlike the friends I had in high school and college, I connected with Rebecca and Sherri. They didn't make me feel socially awkward and we shared so many interests. I think it would have been impossible to not love those two girls.
All of my photos can be viewed on my Facebook BlytheCon 2009 album and in my BlytheCon 2009 Vox Collection.
Many thanks to Shawn and Ryan who drove me all the way to Indiana. Many more thanks to both Sherri and Rebecca for being the sweetest friends ever. And a lot of other "thank yous" go to those of you who followed my adventure on Twitter!
Shawn and I have been trying to take it easy with our spending lately, especially with our plans to move into a new apartment next month. That said, the doll and toy collecting part of my life has slowed a little. Instead, I've been concentrating more on the things I already have.
Example A would be Elspeth. ^__^ She first joined my family around this time last year, and ever since then, she's been through a big transformation. A friend of mine offered to redo Elspeth's faceup with pink tones instead of her original peach colored tones. Because of her new colors, her wardrobe has taken on more pastels, like pinks and greens. I love her more now than ever.
I've been selling off a few of my other dolls so I don't have to feel too much pressure with money. So far, my one Pullip and a rare Blythe (Lamb) have been sold. I'm also in the process of selling my very first Lati, Laramie, to Mom. The money from those sales is being saved carefully, and a little of it is going towards smaller, less expensive, parts of my collecting. ^^
The last major expense I made on dolls was for a new sister for Elspeth. <3 With Shawn's help, I was able to buy a Lati dream doll a few months ago, one that is not yet complete. Once I complete her, I will be posting tons of photos!
I'm staying at the house for a few days because Shawn said he'd be busy working on some projects for work over the weekend. I thought it might be nice to spend some time with Mom. Whenever I wake up in the morning, there's this awesome nostalgic feeling of summer. It brings back good memories and makes everything seem simple and happy.
Even when I'm at my apartment, alone during the day, I've been experiencing sudden bursts of happiness. It's so weird! I've been trying to limit my time on the computer and watching TV, because I really want to start doing something more for myself lately. I've been feeling the need to enhance everything that I love doing, meaning that I'm focusing more on painting, photography, and spending time with my furries (kitties + hammy). Doing so has led me to some relaxing, more peaceful, days. I'm not really feeling that stress of needing to find work, which is such a relief now. I figured that I need to work on getting in the right mindset before I jump into the next phase of my life; after all, for the past 20+ years I've been in school working hard. It's time to let loose.
In photography aspects, I've been trying to work more on getting to know my camera better. I found that, after a while, I fell into such a routine with my camera that I didn't really explore all of the fun settings. I think my little experimentations have led to better, clearer photos, like the one above. (Yays!)
Also, on the photography home front, I've been trying to expand my photo subjects. I fell into a rut with that when I only took photos of Plum and a few other toys/dolls. I'm trying to appreciate everything else that I'm surrounded by, including other Blythes (like Utopia and Nami above!) and other little finds that I've been taking in.
This Alice necklace is one of my favorite recent finds to photograph. ^__^ Last weekend, I went on a little trip to Chicago with Shawn, Jeremy, and Kathleen. We went to one of my favorite urban toy stores, Rotofugi, and I picked up a lot of cute vinyls and a special art book signed by a favorite artist of mine. Then the three of us met up with another favorite artist of mine, Jeremiah Ketner, after Rotofugi-- we visited his studio (where I saw all of the amazing pieces he's currently working on) and went out to lunch with him.
Afterwards, Jeremiah suggested a bunch of cute stores that he knew I'd love to explore. In one of the little boutiques, I discovered the Alice pendant. I'm obsessed with everything and anything Alice in Wonderland, so I snatched it up. Later on, I went across the street where I had a chain made and fitted for me. I think the heart clasp (bottom right picture) is one of my favorite parts. Putting the necklace together was so much fun!
On an earlier trip to Chicago (April 10th), I was able to attend my very first Blythe meet. After six or so years of collecting them, I thought it was about time that I finally met more people who share the same hobby. ^^
We met up at a cute sushi bar (with really good fruit smoothies) and talked about Blythes the whole time. Because of other plans Shawn and I had in Chicago that day, I was only able to bring Plum (bottom row, fourth from the left). She was able to meet another Kozy Blythe, finally! Overall, the turnout was great and I was even able to meet Gina Garan, a very well known Blythe collector. In fact, it's because of Gina that Blythes exist today! It was such an honor to talk about Blythes, and tons of other stuff, with her.
So really, my "work" right now consists of working on myself and my life. I'm expanding every type of personal horizon possible, including my physical self. ^___^ I've been working hard at exercising daily so that I stay in shape. I'm feeling fit in every aspect possible!
After I wrap up this post, I'll continue to sit back in my parents' kitchen where the back door leading to the deck is open. The summer breeze is blowing in while I sip on my cinnamon white chocolate latte. Life is good.
Being away from Vox for so long has caused a very unnatural feeling to settle in. I don't know why, but I let the guilt consume me even when I know that I have a perfectly good reason why blogging has to be put on hold. Yet, through the weeks of extreme labor put towards projects, papers, my dreaded exam, and no blogging, I've survived. I think that all the panic and stress built up over the whole semester are the reasons why I feel like I almost don't exist anymore. My life for the past few months has consisted of two things, and two things only: school and work. In my mind, I keep thinking, "Am I really here right now? What work do I have to do next? What is going on?" In fact, I still feel somewhat confused about the sudden amount of time I have for myself for actual relaxation. And then the best part happens; I take a step back, just like Mom taught me to, and I let that ever-so-natural feeling-- the one I know I deserve-- take the place of that unsettling feeling. I'm finally, finally home.
Despite the stress, the last few weeks' worth of work I put into my classes paid off. I didn't think that I'd be able to keep my grade point average (GPA) as high as I normally do, but shockingly enough, it's about as high as I normally get it: three A's and one B. Needless to say, I'm relieved that I can multi-task up until a certain point. One thing I have learned, however, is that sometimes the job of multi-tasking means dropping one of the important tasks in order to really pull through. And you know what? I've also learned that not being perfect makes living life one step closer to perfection in happiness and satisfaction.
As the exam period started to take over my life even more, I just knew that I'd need some time for myself. I decided to request for some time off as a little vacation reward for all the work I've put in to the last year of my life. There were some major landmarks that took place in 2007 for me, personally, and I thought that deserved some recognition. Here are some of the personal goals that I reached, ones that I'm totally and completely proud of:
- Shawn and I had our five year anniversary in September, and I've almost known him for half my life. I realize that not many couples are as lucky as we've been so I'm really proud of how far we've come.
- I finally got a job that I'm content with. I used to get "made fun of" (or teased, I guess) by Mom, Beth and Kathleen because of how, er, lazy I was with being responsible. I think I'm still considered the least mature out of my sisters, ironically enough. Either way, I have a job and I'm finally making my own money.
- I've chosen a major and a career path that completely suits my skills and passions in life.
- I found out when I'll be graduating college. *jumps for joy*
- I've maintained a blog (for the most part) that I'm happy with and pretty consistent with.
- Kitties have finally entered my family, after years and years of waiting and wanting.
- My toy army has grown to amazing numbers! It's made up of dolls, plushies, vinyl toys, plastic toys, paper products, oodles of Sanrio products.
Speaking of my kawaii army, its numbers have especially grown in the past few weeks. Thanks to the holidays and my birthday, I received some really awesome gifts from family and friends. I haven't been able to take photos of everything they gave me, but I did get the opportunity to capture a few. Shawn's family surprised me with a huge box stuffed with vinyl toys (Dunnys, toy ink cartridges, Moofia figures, etc.); Mom gave me ten Dunnys; Kathleen gave me six huge sheets of Sanrio wall decals (which now adorn my room) and a Gloomy Bear puppet; Shawn gave me ten more Dunnys and my new white fawn plushie, Purin; Beth gave me six Re-Ment sets (accessories for my dollies); Celena sent me two adorable Maffy figures and a bunch of clothes for quite a few of my Blythes. It's been an exciting few weeks!
Like I've mentioned in the past, I'm a firm believer in rewarding myself. (Everyone should feel that way once in a while. ^__~) I wanted to have something to look forward to so I decided to splurge on a huge birthday present for myself by using some of the money I received from Mom and Grandma. With their money combined, and a little of my own, I was able to buy a dream ball-joined doll (BJD). I've waited a couple weeks and I was just notified that she's on her way to me this very moment. I haven't looked forward to a new doll in such a long time. I'm anxious to see if the faceup I requested is done the way I'm hoping for. *crosses fingers*
Today was my last day of work for a whole week. It's the first time in about a year that I have more than a weekend to do anything I want. I don't have a schedule to live by or a deadline to get work done by. I just get to relax and spend time the way I want to. I think a lot of naps, reading and dollies will be involved. This is what life should always be like.
With the raffle going on, my work responsibilities changing, and a lot of personal things going on in my life in the past few weeks, I've had very few chances to keep up with Vox-- ironically enough. There's so much I want to just spit out into one entry, but there's a lot that's been happening that I feel I need to figure out myself right now, so I'll let some of that be. In the meantime, I've been trying to keep busy (like I need more to focus on!) with little side projects. Sidetracking is what I do best; it's one of my many hidden talents, heh.
I've been getting stressed over classes starting up in about two weeks. At this point in my life, I feel and I know that school is obsolete for me at this point. I'm going into my fifth year as a college student, and it's difficult facing the reality of an entirely new year when I know that I've already absorbed four years of information-- some helpful, some pointless. I started to get antsy last year with taking classes I found out I never even needed to take, so I'm hoping that being enrolled in classes that are mandatory for my English major (meaning, they'll apply to what interests me) will somehow give me the drive to push through all the stress and overcome... college altogether.
Shawn and I are in the same boat when it comes to how we feel. At this time, we both have good jobs that we're pretty happy with, and we know what we want to do with our lives. We keep telling ourselves and each other than one more year is nothing-- we can get through another year of classes. (I suppose another hidden quality in me is being revealed: impatience. Actually, I'll put a positive spin on this one and say that I'm eager to get out and do my own thing.)
Speaking of Shawn, he was recently offered a full-time position as a Computer Programmer for Kohl's for after he graduates. Until then, upper management offered to let him keep working there under an internship-type deal. Adult life is looking up for the both of us more and more every day. I seriously can't believe that just one year ago, we were so far from where we stand now-- without steady jobs, without an income, without that needed confidence to just move on through all the crap.
That's why side projects make the stress easier. I get a chance to focus on things that are important to me, yet don't require immediate attention. At the moment, I'm working on something for my friends at Vox and for anyone else that decides to join in. It's nothing official for Six Apart; it's just a Lauren fun thing, but I think it'll prove to be very helpful for all Voxers. I'm excited to work on it more. I've already gotten started on it, but I still need to tweak out some ideas.
Another little project I've started on has to do with one of my hobbies: Tamagotchis. I've been a fan of virtual pets ever since I was in sixth grade, and I've slowly adopted more cute pets into my digital family. Just the other day, I ordered two new Tamagotchis, versions 4.0 and 4.5. Bandai is getting more creative with every release, because the ones I'll be getting in the mail any day now will be even more interactive. Knowing this pushed me to get more active in the Tamagotchi community online, which of course means I joined and re-joined a couple of forums. ^__^ The project I started is another blog that is dedicated to keeping track of my Tama's growth. I needed something to take my mind off of things this weekend, so I decided to mess around with designing a layout for my Tama blog. Here's how it looks so far:
I worked a good chunk of my afternoon getting the coding to work. I forgot how challenging learning a new blogsite can be. I don't plan on posting a lot about my life there, but it'll be nice giving small updates about my Tamagotchi.
Along with working on some blog projects, I've been sprucing up some of the Vox groups I host. I've been going through them and making sure that everything is working well. If anyone has any concerns, comments or suggestions for any of the groups they know I host, never hesitate to let me know.
The Kawaii Anniversary Raffle Event has almost reached its final stage. I still haven't mailed out the packages, but I plan on doing so tomorrow. Life kind of got in the way this past week with work scheduling between Shawn and me. Mainly, Shawn had to work around his own schedule so he could finish the <3 Vox bracelets according to the wrist sizes that all the winners provided me. He was finally able to finish all of them last night. (Whew!) I'll try to rush to the post tomorrow so everyone can receive their packages this week.
I've found that the best way to deal with stress is to reward myself every so often. A little present reminds me that, yes, there's still something to look forward to. I can work, but I can have fun at the same time. I bought Plum and Lamb a few new pieces of clothing, which has been tons of fun. I've been able to relax and know that my dolly family is comfy and fashionable all at the same time, tee hee.
My second treat to myself was a Nintendo DS Lite case. Shawn and I went to Toys 'R Us the other day, and I found the very last hot pink Princess Peach DS case there. The case is so, so cool-- seriously. There are so many little compartments that help me organize my DS life!
The case is wonderfully heavy, full of quality and fun places to put my games, stylus, DS Lite, and a card where I can put my Wi-Fi game codes. The best part is how perfectly all of my DS accessories and console match. I am the biggest fan of pink and Princess Peach, so having all these pink digital goodies makes me incredibly happy. I've been playing with the case alone for days. If a case can be this entertaining, why even bother having a DS Lite console? *grin*
And I think I'll save everything else I have on my mind for another future post. For now, it's time to sit back and relax. I hope everyone else can do the same. <3
Over 143 posts have been made, 488 photos have been uploaded, and 360 neighbors have been added to Kawaii in the past year. And in all the chaos of blogging, a lot of love has formed! Today (August 3rd) marks the one year anniversary of my Kawaii blog here at Vox, and to help celebrate the occasion, I've planned another fun event that any Voxer can join. ^___^ The event will take place from August 3rd to August 10th, so while the contest is running, I will not be making any new posts to my blog. In order to be eligible for this event, please read all of the rules provided below.
How to Enter
This is a raffle that I have put my whole heart into, so keep in mind that there is no cost or penalty to enter this event whatsoever. The only real "rules" for this event are that 1) you must be a Vox member, and 2) you must follow the steps below:
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Read the entire post over so you know exactly what's going on. ^^
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If you decide to participate, leave a comment in this post with your email address, and tell me that you're joining. (You can scramble your address if you want, since I know people worry about receiving spam mail.)
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Copy and paste this form and fill out the following information in an email to milkeyes@gmail.com
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Name (first and last):
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Vox URL:
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Are you in Kawaii's neighborhood?
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A raffle number (or numbers) will be sent to you, so keep track of what number(s) you have.
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Tell your friends about the raffle! (As more people enter the raffle, more prizes will be added to the first place winner's package.
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Watch for the results on August 10th.
I'll be keeping a list of those who enter with the comments that are left. (Please leave the requested comment. I want to make sure I get everyone's email and make sure none get sent into my junk box. I can keep a running tally this way.)
Every member of Vox may enter this raffle, whether he/she is in my neighborhood or not. Those of you who are in my neighborhood will have the special bonus of getting two raffle numbers entered just by following the directions. Even if you aren't interested in the prize itself, there's bound to be a relative or friend who would appreciate these gifts.
You will not be charged with any shipping. The only people who should be aware of putting money into this are those of you who are not within the United States. I am not responsible for any shipping taxes that outside countries give to those who receive packages. I will be shipping the prize out by Priority mail (if you're within the states) or EMS (if you're outside of the country). If you're not comfortable with accepting a gift that may hold you responsible for taxes, simply don't enter. ^_^
*Keep in mind that I will not ask for every person's personal address. I will only be asking for the winner's address and will contact him/her through email once the raffle is over. I am a respected and honorable member of the Vox community and I will in no way hand out your personal information to any other sources. I would never jeopardize my friendships with those here at Vox. Again, if you don't feel comfortable with the possibility of giving out your address, please do not enter. If you want some kawaii fun though, please read on!
What the Winners Will Receive
Unlike my past Kawaii at Vox events, this event has multiple winners. So, not only do you have a chance at winning free kawaii prizes with free entry, but you have an even better chance of winning because of the high number of winners there will be!
Every single winner will automatically win a <3 Vox hemp bracelet (handmade by Shawn himself ^_^). I will be asking the five winners their wrist sizes so I can tell Shawn exactly how big to make each bracelet. (The <3 Vox bracelets shown in the photos were made specifically for examples.)
The first place winner will not only receive every prize listed in the list below, but he/she also has the opportunity to get several other special prizes as more raffle participants submit entries into the event. For example, once I note that 75 people have entered, the first place winner will receive a very rare prize: a Tokidoki fan signed by the artist himself, Simone Legno. That's why it's important that you enter, but it's also key that you tell your friends about Kawaii's very first Vox anniversary-- the more, the merrier! ^^
Here's everything each winner will receive:
First Place:
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Blythe Petite Doll: Spring Chocolat
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Froggy photo album
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Short Cake + Cookie stationary set
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Happy!! Candy stationary book
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Mimippi bunny "checkbook" (notepad)
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Boo Boo Brothers piggy notepad
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Kawaii Boy sticker pack
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Blythe postcard
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Brown Sugar: Cute Girls tin case with goodies inside
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2 sheets of kawaii stickers
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Moo Stickers pack (NEW!)
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<3 Vox hemp bracelet
20 raffle entries made: 3 small photo prints of mine, all signed
50 raffle entries made: Unipo vinyl figure
75 raffle entries made: Signed Tokidoki fan
Second Place:
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Blythe Petite Doll: Perfect Bohemian Beat
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Hamster photo album
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Cute Animals multi-sticker pack
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Power Girls notepad
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Kawaii kitty notebook (with handles that make it look like a shopping bag!)
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Apple Town item
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<3 Vox hemp bracelet
Every winner will also receive a handwritten letter of congratulations (for winning) and thank you (for participating in) the event. ^__^
Third-Fifth Place:
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<3 Vox hemp bracelet
For a better look at all of the prizes, check out the special Kawaii Event collection I made. I will be turning off comments on the individual photo pages, so please leave all of your comments/questions in this post.
When the Raffle Ends
Once again, the raffle takes place from August 3rd to August 10th (which is one week). At midnight on August 10th, the last day to enter the raffle, I will be closing down the event. Any entries that come in after that time will not be counted.
At noon on August 11th, I will be announcing the winner of the Kawaii at Vox event in a new post at my blog. The five winners will each receive an email from me to notify him/her of her placement. They will be expected to reply within at least two days after receiving the notification email. If they choose not to respond, I will be drawing new winners. (No worries, no prize will be lost!)
Depending on how long it takes for me to wrap up all the packages and when I have the time to send everything out, the packages should be on their way to the winners within a week of the raffle's end.
Thankies to You!
I would like to thank everyone who has left me comments, written me messages, and let me have the chance to get to know them. I feel honored to know so many sweet and gifted Voxers. Seriously, you guys-- you rock!
Good luck, and have fun! *pumps fist in the air*
Update
For updates on what's going on with the Kawaii raffle, check out the comments I leave with "Updates!" at the beginning. For now, I'd just like to thank everyone that has already signed up for the event. You've helped promote the event so much that this post landed a spot on the Explore page. =D *dances*
One thing that has always remained and been with me on that day is using sparklers. When I was little, I kind of felt like sparklers were mini fireworks that I could hold in my hands. I mean, seriously, those are even better than the real thing! Every time I hold one, a thrill goes through me-- the very idea that I'm that close to something that's seemingly "out of control" is exciting.
I surprised Mom and Kathleen on Tuesday night, figuring that Kathleen and I would be able to catch up by staying up a good amount of the night. I have the worst timing though, because when I got home, I found out that Kathleen had gone to Summerfest with her friends and wouldn't be back until midnight. When she got home, we were only able to talk for a little while until she fell asleep. I was disappointed, but we were able to talk and be crazy together the entire next day. After waking up at two in the afternoon (I needed to catch up on my sleep), I quickly got ready to head over to Kelly's house. Kelly and I rarely get a chance to just sit down and have some girl talk, so like I said in the card I gave her, seeing her on her birthday is like a birthday gift for me, not just her. ^__^
Kathleen and I danced around the front yard taking a good mix of funny and serious photos. The hardest part about taking photos of sparklers is getting them close enough to me without getting too burnt from all the sparks. I think Kathleen and I pulled that trick off pretty well, although, I did hear some complaining coming from Kathleen every once in a while. *giggle* I've never been able to photo log a nostalgic piece of my life like that before so I'm really happy with how they turned out. (The photo to the left makes me look a bit cheeky, but I love the angle-- Kathleen took that one.)
While Shawn had been grilling, I took photos of miscellaneous objects outside: orchids (that Mom made me photograph-- not my idea); Beth's Blythe, Jillian; and my little Laramie. I think taking photos while Shawn grills can be another new tradition that Shawn and I start together for this holiday. Now I have something else to look forward to every year on this day. ^^
I don't think I've ever been so thankful for the weekend to come. This week went pretty well, considering the last few days were filled with new classes and a new routine, but I think the change in my sleeping schedule, as well as the amount of work I had to complete, really took a toll on my physical self. I was extremely drained after only the second day of classes. My birth control pills are starting to affect me for the second time, and I'm hoping that my health won't go downhill again, especially since I'm still getting used to my new classes. There hasn't been too much pain lately, thank goodness, but my energy has been drained from me, so I'm constantly taking naps. Sometimes I wonder if days even exist anymore. They go by in slow motion throughout the day, yet when I sleep, it's as if I never experienced anything that had happened previous to the nap. It's a weird concept.
I know that I've mentioned Shawn being wonderful to me before, but sometimes I can't help but have everything good about him cycle through my entries. He's had a really rough week, too. We're both closing in on our last year of college, so the classes we're both in right now are getting more challenging by the month. The work load that he's taken on this semester is a little more than we can bear. We rarely get to see each other, and when we do, he's usually working on homework or sleeping on my couch. I think that a lot of couples would have trouble coping with the changes, but we're actually doing very well. I've been appreciating the time we do have together. It's a nice feeling.
I recently found out that I made the Dean's List. When I called Mom about something earlier this week, she excitedly told me about a letter she received in the mail. I've been working hard to get on the list for a long time now, and to know that my GPA has finally reached that peak (over 3.7 now) gives me more encouragement for this rough semester than anything else could. I think that because I did so well last semester, Shawn suddenly realized that he wants to do well, too. He's always tried hard at school, but I know that he has a rougher time taking in information than I do. He's been pushing himself so hard these past few weeks, and I don't think I've ever been more proud of him.
I was so mean to him yesterday. I hadn't eaten all day and I took out my low blood sugar on poor Shawn when we were talking online. What does he do when he knows that I have low blood sugar? He's nice to me. He's calm and tells me what I need to hear, even though I talk my horrible head off at him. Even though I criticized him (for who knows what), he told me that he was going to not only come over, but he was going to pick up some packages that had arrived for me at my house, and then he was going to pick me up some food. My response to this statement was, "But... I've been so mean to you. Why?" And then, his response, pretty much fixed the whole blood sugar problem. "Because I want to, and because I love you." Sometimes he leaves me speechless, and I really don't think I deserve such sweet temperment from my significant other. I've never met a guy more perfect than Shawn. Even his quirks are put aside most of the time, because of days like yesterday.
Shawn came over and I immediately gobbled up the food he brought me. I then opened my packages. One of Plum's presents arrived (yay!) for her birthday on Sunday, and then I opened the box I had been waiting for, the box that contained my Ginagirl. Ginagirls are new dolls made by the famous Gina Garan of the Blythe world. Because of Gina, Blythe dolls were put back into reproduction, and Blythe love has spread all over the world. I guess that's one reason why Lahlia, my new Ginagirl, means so much to me. Gina sent Lahlia to me herself, tee hee. I opened Lahlia's box and was surprised to find she was a bit smaller than I had though she would be. I wasn't disappointed though. She may have been more expensive for a plushie doll, but she was definitely worth it. The colors her dress fabric is made out of are gorgeous, and they were tons of fun to photograph this morning. Only four Ginagirls were released but the Violet release was my favorite, so I chose her. She reminds me of a little sixties gypsy, and I like that she's so small-- I can carry her around with me.
I took Lahlia around campus this morning. I woke up early so I could have the chance to photograph her in the beautiful natural light that today was blessed with. Once again, it was freezing outside, but the sunlight warmed my hands up after a while, so I could pose Lahlia any way I wanted. I love how flexible her arms are. I wish her legs would have wires in them, too, but I still have a little freedom with posing that part of her body, which makes me happy. Knowing that I have three days to just sit back and not have to worry about waking up for class is more than comforting. I don't think I've appreciated three days off for a very long time. ^____^
I've never had so many photos turn out just right before. In fact, I had some problems choosing which ones to post here at Vox. ^^
This post is dedicated to the questions that I'm most frequently asked in comments and private messages here at Vox. I figured that I'd compile all of the questions and answers together in one entry. This entry can then be used as a reference tool for any others that are curious about my life. To those who have asked, I hope this helps! I'll be adding more questions and answers as they arise. If anyone asks a question that has already been answered, I'll most likely give them the link to this post. ^_^
1. What camera do you use for all the photos you take?
All of the photos you see in my Vox are taken by me, with the exception of a few (that I note are taken by my sister). I've used three cameras to take my pictures, one that belongs to my whole family (that I have taken over, one that belongs to my sister, Beth, and a new one that belongs to only me.
My new camera is an Olympus C-7070 and is a complete dream. I received it at the beginning of 2007 and have been using it for my photography ever since then. So, the photos you see starting in January 2007 are most likely ones that are taking with my Olympus (which I've named Enzo).
My family camera is a Canon Digital Elph, SD100. It only has 3.2 megapixels, yet the clarity of the pictures it produces is pretty decent. I mostly used that one previous to 2007. Another reason my photos turn out so clear is because I use Photoshop to edit them. I think Photoshop is necessary to get the results that meet my personal demands.
I may use Beth's camera (another Olympus) from time to time, but very rarely. Now that I have Enzo, I have no need to borrow hers. Beth and I usually use our cameras for photoshoots between the two of us, and I've also used her camera to take photos of my Blythe dolls from time to time. In recent months, however, I have not used her camera.
2. So, what's with the dolls? Aren't they for, like, little kids?
Good question. I know that a lot of people have "concerns" for anyone that may step outside of the norm of adulthood, especially when toys are concerned. I think I'm a good example of a certain revolution that's taking place right now: The Urban Art Toys and Low Brow Art Revolution. I like to be different. I like the fact that most people I come across are shocked that a 23 year-old is obsessed with dolls and other toys. I use this to fuel me to be even more different and, in a way, outrageous. The thing is: the doll obsession is mostly only weird if you live in the United States. It's more accepted in places like Asia and Europe a lot more than it is in the states. In fact, if anything, the people within the states are outside the norm because they don't accept those who show an interest. That's not a bad thing-- it's just how life is.
I mostly collect Blythe dolls. Over the years that I've been collecting, I've had up to twelve or thirteen girls at a time. I've sold and traded many of my Blythes over the time. I just haven't bonded with many of them. The ones I have bonded with remain with me at either my apartment or my house.
Blythe dolls were originally made in the United States in 1972 but then failed to publicly lauch well. They were taken off the market for thirty years and then remade in 2001. Most of them are very pricey; they can range anywhere from $70-4000. I have never lost money when letting a girl go. In fact, I've only made profit because of them.
I don't think of my collecting Blythes as a money-making scheme. They're very real to me and I revolve my life around them to a crazy extent. Right now, I have seven girls: Poe (MRB), Gemma (custom SVB), Utopia (SM), Emilie (FT), Plum (Kozy), Pigeon (custom SS), and Nami (custom SM). Right now, I'm down to my core family of Blythes and I don't plan on letting any of them go. More information on Blythes can be found at these websites:
Other toys that I've been known to collect are: urban vinyl figures (including Dunnys, Tokidoki figures and Mad*Ls), Pinky Street figures, and anything kawaii related.
3. What nationality/ethnicity are you?
From all the photos I post of myself, I know that this question has come up a few times. I mean, am I Asian? Am I Spanish? What's going on here?
I'm actually half Filipino and half Polish. .tiff. was kind enough to let me know that the mix of culture and ethnicities makes me a hapa child. (I love that term!) My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and then came to the states for his residency. It was in the states that he met my mom. It's been difficult being raised by parents who rushed into marriage and then have to work to "share" the two differect cultures and lifestyles. I've learned that I have to depend on myself to define who I am, not my background, not my ethnicities. So now you know why I look Asian and why I look... something else!
On a side note: I know that I tend to look sixteen or seventeen-- nowhere near 23. I think that my mom's good genes and the fact that I'm part Asian attributes to the whole young look. Plus, I don't smoke, drink or fake-bake so I'm not getting those early-aged wrinkles and tight skin. So keep in mind that I'm not a little kid, haha.
4. So what are you majoring in?
I'm majoring in English. I switched my major from Journalism to English my Sophomore year of college and then transferred colleges. The majors change and the transfer hit me hard when it came to when I would graduate, which caused me to be in college for about five and a half years instead of the (hopeful) four years.
Update: I will be officially graduating in December 2008!
One thing you should know about me is that I need creativity. I live and breathe originality and aesthetics. Although I would have loved to involve art (painting, drawing, etc.) into my career, I just didn't think that I'd be able to make it in that art field in college. I've taken my art classes over the years in order to maintain a connection to the artistic world. I plan on keeping it as a heavy hobby. Since art would be difficult, I leaned towards my other artisitc passion: writing. Writing has always come easily and with love throughout the years.
While I had no idea what I wanted to do with my English major for a while, I finally realized that my true calling was with Professional and Technical Writing. So that's what I decided to put my major's emphasis on. Since that decision, I was able to land a great job with Six Apart (a blogging company) and have had the privilege of working on Vox Support. ^__^ I love my life!
5. Wait, why aren't you going into graphic design or something like that?
I wish I were. I really do. I just don't have the background to go through with finding a job with computers and graphic programs. I use Photoshop (and now Illustrator) for fun in my down time, but I think that making a career out of designing fun graphics would somehow ruin my passion for creating them. I think I have the creativity and drive in me to go through with a career with graphics, but for right now, I have to focus my attention on my major.
6. What's with the bracelets? They're always on you in your pictures. Any reason why?
Jen actually brought this to my attention in one of the last photos I posted of myself. These bracelets do have a very special meaning to me, actually. (Good eye, Jen!) Right now, I have five bracelets. They were all made by my wonderful Shawn over the past few years. He usually gives me one when we have an anniversary or special day. They don't exactly mark that day in particular, but instead, they let me remember how wonderful of a life I have with Shawn. I'm very lucky compared to a lot of people I know. I don't need anything store-bought; these bracelets, handmade, old and perfect, represent everything Shawn and I are together. They're real. I also never take them off. Once they're on, they're on. Some people may find that "disgusting," but I keep them clean and take good care of them.
7. How long have you been dating Shawn?
Shawn and I have been together for over six years now. A lot of people I come across find this amazing, considering our age. We're both 23; our birthdays are only four days apart from each other. (I'm older! Ha.) We first met in high school during our freshman year and became best friends there. We were in several classes together, which made it easy for us to get to know each other. The first time we ever talked was because of a project we were both assigned to. I had been sick the day that the projects were assigned, so when I came to school the next day, the teacher let me pick which group I wanted to be in. Of course, being the geek I was born to be, I didn't take a look at the groups, but instead, I looked at the books that were available. (I've always been a bookworm.) I didn't know it at the time but I had picked the only group that was all guys. What does that mean? That means that I would have to be the ringleader and do most of the work. Well, little did I know that my future boyfriend (no, not Shawn) and my other future boyfriend (yes, Shawn) were both in that group. That's when I met him and that's how we first started talking. Little did I know that Shawn had a huge crush on me. I was obsessed with him. The shared feelings didn't come out until over a year later, but by that time, I wanted independence. It would take three years after that first year for Shawn and me to begin dating.
Shawn and I have had ups and downs throughout our relationship, but unlike other relationships that we've come across with friends, ours is extremely solid. We have a set understanding between us for almost every problem that could possibly strike us. Even if we don't have something planned out, our levelheadedness enables us to pretty much endure any type of trouble that comes our way. My mom said it best: "You two have a very unusual relationship. There's no one else like Shawn out there. He's so special, Lauren. What you have is real." I never let these thoughts go. I know that I will marry Shawn one day. It's a fact. It's a given. It's a dream of mine.
I think that because of our relationship, I've grown to be somewhat haughty towards other people in relationships. It's a vice of mine that I'd one day like to rid myself of because I have a very pessimistic outlook towards other people in relationships. I've seen the mistakes that people make and I see the mistakes that they're making now. Because of this, I have an innate sense of who will last and who will end. I plan on using what I've learned in my relationship with Shawn and what I've learned from others to make a website offering advice to those in need of it. Hopefully, I can share my thoughts about love and life and get some sort of sense knocked into those that are lacking the sense in the first place.
See? Haughtiness.
8. Is Beth your friend, your roommate or your sister? Oh wait, are you twins?
I giggle everytime I hear this because, to me, it's obvious. I know, however, that I never really talk about my relationship with Beth in a straight-out fashion. So here it is: Beth and I are sisters. I'm older by 20 months but many people assume that Beth is the older one because of her height and because of the way she carries herself. I've been known to be the immature one in the past, but I think that our levels of maturity are now matched, just in different ways. Beth and I are extremely close. In fact, we're most likely closer than most twins can get because of the way we were brought up. We didn't have a lot of friends growing up so we tended to depend on each other for moral support as well as every other factor a kid needs to have. She knows me better than any other person and I can't see that changing. Beth says it best: "We have the same mind. We aren't two people; we're one person."
And what about that other sister of mine? Kathleen is a lot younger than Beth and me. She's five to six years younger than me, which is a huge difference. Recently, reality hit and I realized that her maturity level is higher than most of my friends. We've grown closer because I've acknowledged what an amazing little person she's become. Even though Kathleen and I didn't bond the same way Beth and I did when we were growing up, I think our relationship is growing more so right now. I love my little Poofer.
9. Can/will you make a Vox banner for me?
I'd love to make a banner for you! I do have a few requests myself though. If you would like a banner made, please:
- Have an idea of what you would like done in mind, so when you message/email me, I'll be able to have an easier time gathering ideas of what should be done in order to make the banner just right for you. After all, I want to personalize it to your liking as much as possible. ^_^
- Have photos/images/graphics that I can use for the banner. If you don't, I might be able to take photos for the banner myself. Just make sure you specify what you would like.
- Be patient. I'm a full-time college student right now, and my first priority is my studies. I can usually complete a banner within a week's time, but sometimes I may take longer. I usually message you to give you updates as I make progress, just so you don't think I've forgotten about you!
- Allow me to give myself credit on the banner. I only use a small line of text (© kawaii.vox.com). I trust that you will honor this wish, mainly because I don't want other people to come across the banner, steal it, and then claim it as their own work.
And that's it! I appreciate any interest show in my work, and it's always a pleasure to make others happy here at Vox.
Update: Because of my hectic schedule, I can no longer guarantee to make banner for people. It really depends on the specific time and the type of request made. Please feel free to message and ask anyway. ^^ I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible!
10. You don't have your driver's license? Why?
This question not only pops up here at Vox, but in my daily life when I interact with "real, live people," too. I took a driver's ed course back in high school during the same time when all of my friends were taking the course. My friend approached me with a different driving course, one that was offered by the Sears Department Store at our mall. I thought that would be more fun than having to go through my school.
Well, I had some bad experiences in that course. A few classes in, my friend, who initially presented the idea of taking the course to me, dropped out because of a school sport she was in. By then, I was left with strangers and a crazy driving instructor. That driving instructor scarred me for life. He disregarded everything I said about not having any experience behind the wheel. On the first day out, he threw me into the middle of a busy highway and expected me to just "get the hang of it." I'm still alive-- I'll say that much.
Ever since that course, I have had a fear of driving. I haven't had any huge problems with getting from place to place though. Shawn and Kathleen are always willing to help me get somewhere if I absolutely need to go. I usually walk to places instead of driving, which makes me believe that I'm actually benefiting not only myself, but the planet as well. I'll probably get it one day after I gain a little more confidence in that area of my life, but for now, I'm perfectly happy not having a license. I just don't like it when people push the idea on me. It's a fear of mine. I would never want to push a fear on anyone I care about, so I expect people to respect me just the same. <3
11. How can I reach you? Do you mind if I message you?
Because of my relaxed schedule, I'm online a lot. There are several ways you can reach me.
- IM me on AIM (gimme dollies)
- Email me (milkeyes@gmail.com)
- Facebook me
- Add me on Flickr (milkdoll)
- Add me on Twitter (milks)
- Private message me here on Vox (kawaii)
- Private message me on the forums: TIB (porcelain), PS (porcelain)
If you only know me through the internet, then I'll most likely not give out my address, phone number or any other piece of personal information. I need my privacy and I expect all my online friends to understand that. I love, love, love talking with new people (and old friends) on AIM, just as long as you respect me and what I have to say in my journal. If I'm ever curt or answer slowly, it's only because I'm working on something else at the time. Never take what I do or say too personally. ^_^
Edits made:
121106 Flickr contact ADDED
121106 Is Beth your friend, your roommate or your sister? Oh wait, are you twins? ADDED
010307 Age changed from 21 to 22 EDITED
013007 Camera usage information EDITED
Can/will you make a Vox banner for me? ADDED
050507 You don't have your driver's license? Why? ADDED
071207 Twitter contact ADDED
091808 Replaced photos and adjusted photo sizes EDITED
091908 What camera do you use for all the photos you take? EDITED
So what's with the dolls? Aren't they for, like, little kids? EDITED
What nationality/ethnicity are you? EDITED
So what are you majoring in? EDITED
How long have you been dating Shawn? EDITED
Can/will you make a Vox banner for me? EDITED
You don't have your driver's license? Why? EDITED
I'm glad everyone liked my last video post! *dances* It's something I haven't really seen on Vox before so I thought I'd give it a "go." I'll make a new one every now and then, just because I like to keep in touch with the outside world. My dolly friends mainly know me through my Blythe and Pullip pictures, and my journal friends mainly know me through my daily stories/adventures. Hopefully, that last video broke the ice a little and I won't be so nervous next time. When I showed the video to Shawn, he commented on how I looked somewhat out of my element. Oopsie?
As of today, I am totally and completely procrastinating. I should be reading Spider, the next book on my Film and Literature class' list (that happens to be due Monday). It's extremely important that I read the entire book, for the quiz could turn out quite ugly if I ignore the reading. Why is it that I'd read 400 page books in a day when I was nine and now I can't bring myself to even hold a book when it's assigned for class? I guess it all boils down to that belief that when a person is TOLD to do something, rather than do it willingly, it just turns into a chore-- even if it's something enjoyable. I talked to one of my friends in that class and she said that it was really good. I refuse to read it today. My excuse? I'm home for the weekend and I want to spend time with my family and enjoy the new Autumn weather: cold and beautiful.
Which reminds me... Happy first day of Autumn!
I've been trying to soak up every chance I get when I talk to another dolly lover. I wish TIB had a chat room like before, but I understand that the drama caused too many problems. (Ugh, doll drama-- who would have figured?) I try to get my fix on the Pullip forum instead, even if I only have two girls, Alice and Hue. The sad thing is how I really don't know much about Pullips so when someone starts excitedly talking about a new girl coming out or a really specific question about a doll type, I rush to find the answer online because I honestly have no idea what they're talking about. I go to such greath lengths to talk dolly that, well, I get desperate.
Which reminds me... I'm thinking about selling Alice again. I'm more attached to Hue and I could use the money. I just don't want to get filled up with regrets about letting Alice go! She was a dream girl for a while. Mehhh. Too much stress is involved with life loves.
