Come Out and Play at L.A. Comic Con!

Hi all! It's been a little while since my last post, but it's also been a little over five years since I've started my blog! I am so pleased I've kept this blog going for five years. :) Today's post has been a very long time coming, and the reasoning for that can be seen in a past life update blog. Since Los Angeles Comic Con is about a month away, now's the best time to hype you up for the con with a comprehensive recap from last year's experiences and a future outlook of 2019's con!


Previously at LACC 2018:

I had the opportunity to attend the con for two of the three days as press. Typically, I have a game plan when I attend conventions: Scope out the vendor's hall, interact with con attendees, do free scheduled cosplay photo shoots and if time permits, attend panels that interest me. Unfortunately, I was unable to make any panels or the fashion show that year, but I was able to interact with both con attendees and vendors. Overall, the outlook of the convention was positive.  Also, can I just say that the mascot for the con is awesome looking. I am glad that they kept the same design for 2019.

In 2017,  the process was somewhat unwelcoming when I picked up my press badge. However, in 2018, this was quite the opposite and I felt very welcomed throughout the whole experience from bag check to badge pick up. The staff members looked happy and like they enjoyed their assigned shifts. As someone who does staff for a different convention, maintaining a pleasant guest experience is important. I am always very pleased to see when cons improve upon themselves. Even the convention security situation was a much more pleasant experience than 2017.

When I had discomforts about an uncomfortable situation at the convention and expressed them with a staff member, they did not disregard my concerns. The staff member took my discomfort seriously and notified security. I was extremely pleased to be taken seriously in regards to this situation, as that has never happened before at other conventions. So, for future con goers to Los Angeles Comic Con, please feel free to voice your concerns to staff members, if need be. Never feel like you cannot say anything to anyone. From my experiences, last year, someone will listen to you.

In 2017, I rated the con 8/10, but based on how well they improved upon themselves from 2017 to 2018, I believed that they deserved an increase in rating to 9/10.  I cannot wait to see what 2019 brings.

Peep some photos I took from last year's con:

@januarycosplay - Star Wars

@thebigloserqueen - Snow White

@miss_madra_rua - Gwenpool

I JUST LOVE THAT MASCOT

Coming soon to LACC 2019:

COSPLAY COSPLAY COSPLAY!

I really like that this year is very cosplay focused. Anyone who has followed my blog or either of my Instagram pages knows that I am both a cosplayer and a cosplay photographer. In 2019, Los Angeles Comic Con will have both The Dark Crystal Cosplay Competition and the Cosplay National Championship. Click the links to apply for both competitions, if you're interested in competing! There will also be a Kid's Halloween Costume Contest and Indoor Trick-or-Treating. I like the idea of indoor trick-or-treating because it's a safe alternative for children that might not be able to go out at night on Halloween . It's also reminiscent of what malls used to do in my childhood.  As for me, I was asked to participate in a cosplay group based off of Savannah Alexandra's Puppettes and Purrlesque's fan art, so I hope to be able to fulfill that request to the best of my abilities. I've never done a cosplay group before despite cosplaying for over 14 years. Also, I've been on a con hiatus essentially all summer due to personal reasons and am looking forward to getting back into it. Los Angeles Comic Con is a relatively good sized con where you can wear a more elaborate cosplay and not worry about it being ripped.

There are a lot of interesting guests coming in 2019 as well. Some are giving panels, such as Gerard Way, while others are going to be making appearances and doing autograph signings.

Tickets: If you don't have a full weekend free and are interested in attending Los Angeles Comic Con 2019, the one-day passes are rather affordable for the size of the con. Also, the three day passes are rather decent as well. Children under 12 are free with a paying adult badge too! Very few cons do that, so that's a great perk, if you would like to take your child with you to the con. :)

Anyhoo! That's all from me for now! If you do happen to go to LACC 2019, I hope you have a safe and amazing con experience!

I've also recently created a photography portfolio & post my favorite photos from various cons in there now as well, so check that out too.

Me cosplaying as Blake Belladonna from RWBY (LACC 2018) - Photography courtesy of @jackofsometradesx11

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Let me tell you a tale of the Renaissance Pleasure Faire!

Greetings fair knights and ladies! It has been quite a while, hasn't it? First new post of the year too! I'll have to explain my absence for another time and also fill you in on my previous con adventures another time, as well. For today, I'm here to tell ye about my experiences at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. This particular Renaissance faire is quite possibly unlike any ren faire you have ever been to! Let me stress that there is something here for everyone!

I went on Saturday, April 27th - Renn Con weekend. As I had noticed, each weekend was designated a theme. Since I am both a cosplayer and a cosplayer photographer, I chose Renn Con weekend to attend the faire as press. This weekend was geared towards those who love cosplay and wanted to combine Renaissance styles within known cosplay fandoms. Also, Craft Beer weekend happened at the same time so beer enthusiasts came out to partake in delectible brews and enjoy the events This was also my first time ever attending the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.

The entrance into the event was pretty easy, a quick bag check and a ticket scan. Parking at the dam was only 10$, which is cheaper than pretty much every con I have ever attended. From scanning my ticket and onward, I was immersed within the Renaissance ages. I loved, and let me stress this again, absolutely loved the diversity of this con. I understand for some people, historical accuracy is more important, but for others, diversity can be just as important. Seeing individuals of varying ethnic origins, doing roles that would otherwise not have been assigned to them during this era made me so happy.

The events were pretty fun. The events I watched were dancing, swordplay, comedy, and jousting. Seeing the belly dancers be able to balance bladed weapons on their head and still move made me want to up my belly dancing game. I loved that the swordplay group by the maypole let both men and women fight together, regardless of size. I love swordplay as I was a kendo practitioner, myself for a few years. Jousting was also a good time; I cheered on the blue side. Even though we lost, it was exciting to see the fans taking the action seriously and how big the crowds around the arena got.

There was so much food to choose from as well, which is awesome for the diverse event goer. I opted for Caramel apples, and the workers at the booth cracked me up. I also watched my friend test his strength at a booth, as well, with the worker giving tips and encouragement along the way. If there is anything I can say about the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, they have amazing customer service at every turn. From the moment I got my ticket in the Will Call line to the moment I returned my media badge for the day, just about every worker I encountered was amazing. I only had one questionable experience the whole time with someone taking their character a bit too far in the jousting area causing a moment of discomfort, but everyone else's good energy dispelled that. For the most part, this event brought a very positive experience for me and I am very glad that I was able to attend. I hope to attend the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, next year and bring more of my friends with me.

Here are some photos from the event and when I finish processing other photos, I'll include a slideshow! :) As always, typically, I will post photos from any event I attend prior to writing about it in a blog on my photography Instagram.

Te Fiti by @adinn.cosplays

Daenerys by @kowaikohai

Maleficent and Princess Aurora by @criccicricci & @abracatrena

My event rating: 9.5/10 - would definitely recommend this event to others & want to return again

Pros:

• Diversity
• Themed Weekends
• Enthusiastic Workers
• Variety of Events
• Variety of Food
• Variety of Vendors
• Large event

Cons:

• Parking on grass/dirt
• Needs more Seated Spaces
• Some workers take roles too far - could lead to harassment
• A solution to that is a training weekend for preventative measures

My dear knights and ladies! The Renaissance Pleasure Faire is on it's last two weekends for the 2019 season! So if you can, get out there and go enjoy it! :)

Dr. Facilier - me ( Cosplay/personal - @bosshachi_08/ Photography - @himawarisayscheese)
Taken by @pyrozack & edited by me

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Happy Anniversary Long Beach Comic Con 2018! - Press Edition

Hi all! Things have been pretty busy since last time I have posted. I got a full time job! So exciting! I'm working with voice recognition software and programming it to understand human speech better! I love being able to utilize my Linguistics degree for what my interests lie in. So, yes posts might come slower than I would like because I also do photography as a side job, but the posts will certainly keep on coming! Anyhoo, that is not the reason for today's blog. Today's blog is all about Long Beach Comic Con! Last month, I had the pleasure of attending LBCC for two days as press. It was also their 10th anniversary, so happy anniversary, or how we con nerds call it - coniversary, LBCC! <3

Overall Con Breakdown:

The convention was not in the usual location facing the Pike Outlets, but on the side facing the fountain. While it was a minor inconvenience as some of the signs were slightly hard to tell where they were pointing to, this location was extremely ideal from an outdoor photography perspective. The bag check for the most part was rather acceptable.

 However, one problem that I can state that I had was borderline sexual harassment during Saturday of the con on the part of the security asking me to lift up my shirt after stating to prior security personnel that I had a corset under my cosplay. Cosplay is not consent, nor will it ever be. We must stand firm and call out all wrongdoers.  All of the other security personnel had accepted my statement about my corset (which is still noticealy visible under my cosplay), had just simply wanded me, and were going to send me on my way. However, this one particular security worker decided he would try and convenience me to lift up my shirt for him when my corset can be see through my shirt. By lift up my shirt, I mean my entire shirt, not just a little bit. To which, I promptly told him off and stated that the lining and busk was visible without the need to remove anything. That was an unfortunate mishap that in no way, shape, or form reflects on the convention or the convention center, but on the person, himself. I should hope, that they are dealt with after I gave my report. Unfortunately, that particular experience had me off to a bad start for the day on Saturday.

I was worried this bad mindset would continue; however, getting to the press check in process was great! The staff member that ran that section was extremely friendly and welcoming. That instantly boosted my mood and every other security team member was amazing and showed great professionalism in their duties. The vendor's hall has something for everyone too. They even incorporated wresting this year as that has garnished more interest at conventions in the recent year or two.  I got to meet and talk with various artists in the artist alley and see how their con experience was going and was even interviewed as well. I attended the Space Expo panel, "So you want to build an R2", which featured a group of panelists discussing how they built their own replicas of the iconic Star Wars character along with other droids.

Photography wise, I shot both indoors where the beautiful lights were and outdoors by the reflective windows near the fountain were. Depending on the aesthetics you're looking for, this convention center in particular is quite possibly the most aesthetically pleasing one to me. At this con, I cosplayed as both Velvet Scarlatina from RWBY and Rouge the Bat from Sonic the Hedgehog. One a faunus photographer another an international jewel thief. A fun fact about me, I connect better with non human characters.

Velvet Scarlatina

Rouge the Bat, photography courtesy of @yorkinabox

As stated many times in the past, I am a cosplaying photographer, so I happen to look at the con from the lens of both an insider and outsider's perspective. From an insider perspective, Long Beach Comic Con is such a welcoming and inviting con, that is why I always enjoy going to this particular con every year. They are a very cosplay friendly convention and do all that they can to ensure that the public remains safe, and that cosplayers are not limited in any way with what they can cosplay within reason. From an outsider's perspective, the con has grown so much over the years I have been attending it. I am so pleased and I can see why so many people are willing to purchase the lifetime pass to the con. I know a few that have it, and none of them regret it at all. The con continues to grow and thrive as a welcoming atmosphere to both new and old attendees. I am looking forward to Long Beach Comic Expo in February. Some of my happiest memories happened at this year's Long Beach Comic Con and I am looking forward to creating more in the years to come.
(all photos below taken by me)

Soldier 76 x Fallout 76 mashup by @alexdrastal

Cinder Fall - RWBY cosplayed by @kajicosplays

Psylocke - X-Men cosplay by @utahimecosplay

8.5/10 (honestly, this is one of my favorite cons, I would probably go to this con and Long Beach Comic Expo for as long as they run)
Pros:

• Friendly Staff 
• Considering that I am a staff member for other unaffiliated cons, we represent the face of the con. So I take professionalism and a good attitude to heart, this can make or break a con for so many people.
• Many things to do
• Interesting Panels
• I attended a panel on how to build your own R2D2, that was extremely cool as my old research lab tried to build a robot before
• One thing I like about the panels at LBCC is that there is honestly something for everyone. Some cons do not get very diverse in their panels, and more of them need to. 

Cons:

• The parking situation was not ideal
• This was a complaint I heard from many that I asked about what was their least favorite part of the con. I think the Pike Outlet parking threw so many people off.
• Location change/ Signage
•  I didn't mind the location change all that much
• However, many people, myself included found the signage explaining where the new location was and how to get to it were completely thrown off by it.

Stay tuned for more posts! I still have to tell y'all about NerdbotCon, CBD Expo, and LA Comic Con!

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Not an Itty Bitty Waist of Time! - Orchard Corset Review

Hi all! I hope you've been well! Today's blog has been a long time coming. It's the first of two corset review blogs I am planning to do. How exciting, huh? My biggest issue when writing blogs isn't coming up with the context of a blog because I have plenty to say and write about. My biggest issue is writer's block. Losing the motivation to write on occasion even though I really want to. It also did not help that after posting my last con blog, that I and several other press members were subject to constant harassment. All is well and I am alright. As a result, that is also why the Lvl Up Expo blog has been delayed so long as well. It will be coming within the next couple of weeks or so. With that being said, away we go with today's blog!

So today I am reviewing the CS-426 Longline by Orchard Corset in Black Satin size 30. I received this corset after being featured on Orchard Corset's Waist Training Before & After Results for waist training in my CS-201 waspie corset. Although this corset was given to me for being featured, I always give completely honest reviews and will tell it like it is.

For those of you that don't know how corset sizing works, the size number is how small in inches your waist will be. My natural waist on a good day is 36" now, and with this corset, I can comfortably size down to 30" (It is actually too big for me now, and I will need to get either a size 26 or 28, depending on fabric). Yes, I can still breathe & eat, contrary to popular belief. I also do most of my photography in my cosplays while in this corset. I have been waist training for about two years now and have become quite adapted to life in a corset. People wear corsets for a multitude of reasons. Some people wear them for the dramatic hourglass aesthetic, while others may wear them for cosplay, pin up, and/or burlesque aesthetics or for medical reasons like bloating, posture, back pain, etc. The list goes on. My main uses for my corsets are cosplay, pin up, anxiety, and bloating. I also wear a corset about four days out of the week.

So, this is how Orchard sends their corsets to you, wrapped up like a burrito. I like their sticker because it reminds me a bit of the Tree of Life, but that is another story. Anyway, all of their corsets are already laced up for you, so you just slip it on, and let the seasoning begin!  You can also purchase new laces, and Orchard has many YouTube videos teaching you the way of the corset.

I was recently on a Cosplay and Corsets panel at Comic Con Revolution Ontario in mid May with my friend Crystal Rose Creations and a few other lovely corset wearing ladies and we gave tips and eased tensions about corset wearing during cosplay. My cosplay/personal IG is @bosshachi_08. On there you can find various pictures of me in my well seasoned corsets. Seasoning is the best way to get your corset to fit your body in a safe and proper way. Word to the wise, the proper way to season a corset is to have it feel like a warm hug, not like a vice grip or like someone is trying to squeeze the life out of you. If you feel pain, dizziness, or difficulty breathing, loosen up your corset, and discontinue usage in the meantime. Actually, the reason why I like wearing corsets is because that hugging sensation is calming for a person prone to anxiety. Also, consider inquiring with Orchard's sizing department to find a size suitable for your body type. Squishiness, along with torso length factors into a lot of how sizing works and how corsets will look on you as well.

Pre-opening

How it looks straight out of the wrapping paper

Never before worn and unwrapped!

My first time wearing this corset! and one of the few times it was on the outside of my clothes :)

One thing about me is that I absolutely LOVE stealthing in my corsets. Stealthing involves wearing your corset under your clothes so that it is not visible. I will seldom wear this particular corset on the outside of my clothing because it's so long and it does not work well with much of what I wear as an "outside" corset. While I do not go to great lengths to hide that I am wearing a corset, I like the satin because it is smooth and the clothing clings to it well. I personally see no reason to hide the fact that I have a corset on, even if it is under my clothing, and will actively tell people I have one on.

Stealthing as Lucoa from Kobayashi's Dragon Maid at Los Angeles Comic Con 2017 - Photography courtesy of @jackofalltradesx11 :)

Cosplaying as Gijinka Butterfree from Pokemon at Anime Impulse 2018 - Photography Courtesy of @tammohawk.photography :)

Pin up Aesthetics for a photo meet (This look went on to be published in Sex Kitten Pin-Up Magazine)

Unfortunately, all good things eventually come to an end. After about six months of usage, my corset's boning started to come out of the fabric. This is the second corset by Orchard that I own that has had this problem. I think a simple solution is to use tougher fabric to hem the edges with because otherwise, it will keep coming apart like this. My other corset by them is the CS-201 in Grey Cotton, and it also came apart in the same fashion around the same amount of time - except at the closure hooks. It might be a coincidence, but it still makes me sad.

Boning coming out of the back of the corset :(

CS-426 Longline - 8/10 stars.
Pros -

• Natural hourglass (probably the thing I love the most about Orchard's line <3 )
• Great for Stealthing
• Comes in other styles: Leather, PVC, Cotton, Mesh, Brocade, with/without hip ties
• In fact, I would still love to get a mesh corset strictly for the hot California summer and those conventions that I cosplay at.
• Standard option for shorter waists
• Option for plus-sized women 
• Hashtag #orchardcorset and the name of the corset (#cs426 or #cs426longline) and they will feature anyone on their page, not just "famous" people like other companies.
• Orchard Corset also holds weekly, weekend contests to win a free corset on their facebook page - great for those that are frugal or cost-mindful like me to have a shot to win a corset. :)

Cons-

• Can be pricy - Ranges from $70-80$ for standard and $76-$86 for longline
• Boning comes out of the fabric after about half a year of continuous usage
• I have a long waist, but smallish hips, which somewhat made it look a little awkward in the back at times. 
• Can make your skin sweat, bruise, itch with certain bras regardless of tightness.
•  However, they have offered a fix for that with their new bamboo corset liners that go under the corset. I am curious to try one out since they are only $9.99 and I am cheap. :')

Anyhoo, that's all I got for you guys today! If you have any corset questions, or have any brands you would like to recommend that I check out in the future, let me know in the comments below. :)  I also have the patterns to make my own corset, I just need to the time and the money haha.


Till next time,

Hachi

Spring Favorites - 2017

I decided to do the Spring Favorites tag to mark the end of the first full month of my second favorite season! :)

Favorite Spring Lip Color: Mangoes Wild (Juicy Shaker) - Lancome
It took me a long time to make this purchase because I am one of those people that likes to try out a color multiple times to determine if I really want to buy it. It is a little bit on the pricey side at $22 (U.S. prices). However, you can get a lot of usage out of it. Less is definitely more. Using bi-phase technology, the Juice Shaker series mixes various oils with colored pigment. Occasionally, depending on the color, there might be more subtlety in display. For instance, many reviewers have stated that Mint To Be does not show up as blue on the lips despite the pigment being blue. My color, Mangoes Wild shows up quite noticeably on my skin tone and displays a decent amount of shine that is not overwhelming.

Favorite Spring Drink: Strawberry Acai - Starbucks
I LOVE this drink a little too much. I even call it liquid gold. As someone, who has a big interest in healthy living, this drink is great. It's lower on both the carb level and calorie level for those who want to enjoy Starbucks, but don't enjoy the high calorie intake of the fraps or the "basicness" of iced coffee. It isn't too sweet, but not bitter like unsweetened tea. It has a good balance for those who aren't into sweet drinks, like me, but also for those with a slight sweet tooth. I recommend getting it without the dried strawberries because they can leave a bit of an odd aftertaste. Others also get it as "the pink drink" with coconut milk, or straight concentrate without water.

Favorite Spring Clothing: Superdry
I am obsessed with Superdry. It's a really nice brand from the U.K. and influenced by Japanese culture. I love the designs on the clothing and the usage of Japanese and English. I use almost all my super dry shirts as workout shirts. If you do #mysuperdry on Instagram, sometimes the company will like your posts and maybe even repost them.

Favorite Spring TV Show: Bomb Girls
I haven't got into any new TV shows lately, so I'll just mention one of my favorite shows that I watch over and over again. Anyone, who knows me well, knows that I am a huge WW2 history buff. I have seen most of the WW2 era TV shows and will always recommend shows to people. The one I am currently obsessed with is Bomb Girls. Bomb Girls takes place pre-bombing of Pearl Harbor. The show is set in Ontario, Canada, and revolves around the lives of women working in a munitions factory called Victory Munitions, which supplies bombs to the troops fighting against the Axis forces. This show has romance, topics about gender relations, sexuality, race relations, etc. It's an interest show to say the least. It's currently on Netflix and is two seasons and one tv movie (it unfortunately got cancelled, but the TV movie does it justice).

Favorite Spring Nail Color: Baby Blue
The last time I got my nails done was last spring. I don't typically get my nails professionally done, but sometimes I just have the desire to glam up. I got my nails done at Diamond Nails in Fullerton, CA. Cassidy is great when it comes to design work, so I recommend her.  On my Instagram, I have a photo of my nails from last year.  I am hoping to do a similar design again; it's so vintage and cute.

Favorite Spring Food: Grilled Shrimp Vermicelli Salad
I am really into light meals that fill you up, and vermicelli salad will definitely do that for you. Vemicelli salad usually includes: lettuce, cucumbers, bean sprouts, vermicelli noodles (not the standard Italian kind), peanuts, sweet and sour dressing, and whatever you would like to include in it ( shrimp, Vietnamese egg rolls, grilled chicken, beef, pork, etc). I really like the Pho Ha chain of restaurants in Southern California, but you could go to most Vietnamese restaurants and get it.

Me wearing the Mangoes Wild Juicy Shaker by Lancôme

I think that's all for my spring favorites list, but I'd like to do favorites for every season, and if any favorites change, I'll let you know.  What are your spring favorites of 2017? Let me know in the comments below. :)

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Hiatus is Over! Life Update

Hi all!

   I've had a very long hiatus from blogging! Pretty all summer I abstained from my blogging page. So sorry for that! I have been very busy and life gets in the way. Mostly all summer I just worked and did appointments. I didn't travel much at all during the summer, but I did move to a different county in Southern CA. It was a goodbye to the desert and hello to suburbia. I had a pretty successful move, but I also have been feeling a bit unmotivated since moving which accounts for part of the reason I haven't been posting much. Also, we had a family emergency back home ,which resulted in new living situations my family, as well and saying goodbye to my childhood home. :/ We still live in the same hometown though.
   Aside from the bad parts of the summer, I also had some good moments. This summer I went to San Diego Comic-Con as a volunteer for the third year in a row and even made a new friend. :) I also went to Long Beach Comic Con, and Touhou Con before the summer officially ended. I was able to have outing with a handful of my friends both from my hometown and from undergrad/graduate school.
   I have a couple of conventions coming up in the next few months and am looking forward to them. I have various cosplay ideas planned out and can't wait to show them. Until then, I will post photos of my two most recent cosplay projects below. :)
   Another great thing is that I have finally ended a one year writing hiatus on my novel and have so far added six new pages to it. I hope to continue this roll in both my novel and on my blog.  As a treat, I will be posting up at least one blog a week to get back into the swing of things and this can range from craft projects, restaurant reviews, cosplay creations, novel excerpts, recipes, product reviews, or almost anything that you request. It's my way of making up for my lack of attentiveness :)

   Without further ado, here are my cosplay photos from San Diego Comic-Con, and Touhou Con.

Harley Quinn -1950s style

Genderbent Shizuo from Durarara

If anyone has suggestions for future blogs, please let me know in the comments below! :)


Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Cosplay Project Haul - Yoruichi Shihouin

Hi All! :) This is my first blog post of 2015! Happy New Year to you all, even though I said that on my Facebook page on New Year's Day. Today was a decent day for me. I went around to the shopping centers in search for cosplay materials. Currently, I am working on Yoruichi Shihouin (四楓院 夜一) from Bleach and Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop for Winter/Spring. I might add more projects if time allows though. So my first stop was Michael's. I didn't find anything I was looking for there, which came to be a bit of a disappointment. Afterwards, I went to JoAnn Fabrics, and found my safe haven. I was able to gather some cream white fabric, some soft'n flexible sew on Velcro, some purple ribbon, and some white thread. I had a good deal too. I bought the fabric at 3.695YRD for 28.78$ at 7.79$/YRD. Originally, this would have cost 48$ so I saved a little over 20$ on my fabric. Something that is AMAZING for cosplayers! I am thrifty and cosplay on the cheap, but I still make it look nice. That is key.:) I used a 50% off one regular priced item on Beep'n Go, which brought my Velcro down from 3.99$ to 2$. My ribbon was 3$ and my thread was 3.49. I also got my wig in the mail today! It is a little lighter than Yoruichi's hair, and a bit shorter, so either I will get extensions to add to the length, or just hope people get who I am cosplaying as, which they should from her outfit.

A small review on the hair: it was only 10.97$ on Amazon, yet this is one of the better quality wigs I have had in a long time. When I got my Mirajane wig from Cosplay Magic for almost 60$, it was falling apart completely from the moment I took it out of the package, a lot of hair came out and it was shaped awkwardly for the head. This hair, I have only seen two strands fall out, which I expected, but it wasn't tangled or matted up at all. Also, it was easy to run my fingers through and it is able to withstand heat. So far so good, 8/10.

I will do a blog post about my Faye Valentine cosplay once I start prepping for it. I am using an app recommended to me by my friend Taylor (you can find her cosplay page by clicking on her name) called Cosplanner. I recommend it. It saves paper, helps you keep track of percentages done, and of amount for the purchases. I will include a picture of how it looks. :) Without further ado, here are my purchases and viewing of the wig!

All of the purchases, including the wig

Fabric

Ribbon

 Velcro

Thread

This actually has nothing to do with anything, but I wanted to show how my TV stand is organized.

Cosplanner

This is the look I am doing for her cosplay, instead of the orange one.

The wig, and yes I did add purple eyeshadow to my eyebrows so it'd match the color lol Eyebrows on fleek! jk

The wig from the back. See why it seems a bit too short?

That's all for now! As stated earlier, this was only some purchases for Yoruichi's cosplay, when I start Faye's, I'll make a new one, and I'll keep you posted on my crafting process. Do any of you cosplay? We have such a wonderful community, a family full of diversity, if I have ever seen one. I will also reiterate that "cosplay is not consent" so please respect us, and we will respect you back.

Till next time!

-Hachi

Last Post of 2014~

Hi All~ It's been a while! I have been up north visiting family and friends. I am back in Southern CA now with my crazy cats lol. They really missed me; you never know how attached a pet is to a person until you leave them for a while. Anyway, it's time to reflect on 2014. The year itself was like any other year for the most part: school, work, making some new friends, losing some old, going to anime and comic book cons, playing new games. The main difference was having some family health scares, which put life into perspective for most. Especially when it's someone other than me for once. I am glad they are getting better and I hope 2015 is a better year for them. I am looking forward to the new year. New life changes, such as new school, making more new friends (I hope), finding love (I hope), getting a car, moving to a new city. Seeing old friends and family, who have stuck by me and continue to do so no matter where life takes us. I bravely anticipate whatever comes to me in 2015. I believe everything happens for a reason, so I will take it all with clarity and good reasoning. I wish that all of my friends, family, and readers have a happy and safe 2015 year, as well. Please keep each other close, hold each other tight, and keep the squabbles to a minimum. Life's too short to be lazy, remain sad, or be angry. Take each day one step at a time and think of at least one thing that makes you happy for that day. Instead of just 100 days of happiness, make it 364/5 days. Happiness is shown in many forms, just like many other emotions, use them all if you must. Just please be happy, please be kind, and please be healthy. I hope to interact with everyone more in 2015!

Till 2015 ;)

-Hachi

Stuffed Bell Peppers!

Hi All! So sorry that it's been a couple of weeks since I have blogged. Life gets in the way, as always. :/ I have a few upcoming blogs over the next week since I finally have free time, so stay tuned. :) Today's blog is a recipe I did last week of stuffed bell peppers with rice. As a kid, I was never that huge of a bell pepper fan, but now I like them. So I decided to make stuffed bell peppers, which was something I have not eaten in over 13 years. I was a bit apprehensive to how they might taste, but I must say they tasted ahmayzing (amazing)! So without further ado, here is my recipe. Partial credit goes to Betty Crocker as that is where I found the measurement amounts from. All of my adjustments are in purple font. :)

Stuffed Bell Peppers:

4       large bell peppers (any color)

1

lb lean ground beef (I use 93% lean ground beef for everything)

2

tablespoons chopped onion (brown onion)

1

cup cooked rice

1

teaspoon salt (or you can substitute for 1.5 teaspoons of taco seasoning)

1

clove garlic, finely chopped (or minced garlic)

1

can (15 oz) tomato sauce (any brand)

3/4

cup shredded mozzarella cheese (I used Cheddar Jack cheese and lots of it)

Step 1:
Wash and cut a thin slice from stem end of each bell pepper to remove top of pepper. Remove seeds and membranes; rinse peppers. If necessary, cut thin slice from bottom of each pepper so they stand up straight. Place them in a oven safe glass dish.

Step 2:
In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in rice, salt (taco seasoning), garlic and 1 cup of the tomato sauce; cook until hot.

 Step 3:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Stuff peppers with beef mixture. Stand peppers upright in ungreased 8-inch square glass baking dish. Pour remaining tomato sauce over peppers.

 

 

Step 4:
Cover tightly with foil. Bake 10 minutes. Uncover and bake about 15 minutes longer or until peppers are tender. Sprinkle with cheese.

  Step 5:
Remove from oven, and let cool a little bit before eating. Enjoy!



I hope you guys liked my recipe post. What is your favorite savory recipe? Let me know in the comments below!


Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Japanese Garden Clean-up (October)

Hi all! So sorry for the late blog! I have been so busy lately, that I basically get home from work and lounge around reading manga, but it's my usual 3-day weekend now, so I am here to write! Well in this blog, mostly show pictures. I'll write more in my next one and try to get back to biweekly. :)  A few weeks ago,  I helped the international relations council for the Tohoku, Japan area, I am a part of with the Japanese garden clean up. Here are some pictures of the garden. :)

Complete garden photo

Gazebo

 

Water Fountain

The opening gate - middle kanji means heart, but not quite sure what the first and last one are. I forgot them. :/

Clouds, palm trees, normal trees, and sun.

Maybe it's a mini pagoda?

Me in front of the gate, probably tanning.....

Lunch! Amazing salad, croissant sandwiches, and kettle chips

I was pruning the flowers.

Do any of you like to do community service projects? Or what kind of projects are you involved in? Let me know in the comments below.


Till next time!

-Hachi