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

Watchuknow about Long Beach Comic Expo? - Press Edition

Hi all! Have you guys ever have instances of writer's block? That's what went on with me these past few months. Even though I had so much to write about, and so much to say, I couldn't motivate myself to put words on paper, so to speak. I cannot stand the feeling. It makes me sad to have so much to say, but just could not for the life of me find the drive to put words on paper. However, I am back and would much enjoy writing about the latest convention that I had the pleasure of being press for, last month. That convention is Long Beach Comic Expo, hosted at the Long Beach Convention Center by Mad Event Management!

I have been attending LBCE for the past three years now. I have been a regular attendee, a panelist, and now a member of the press. LBCE is a two day annual convention that happens in February. Before this convention, there is a smaller conference for Comic Creators called Comic Creator Conference or C3. At the end of this conference, they have an awards gala for the Dwayne McDuffie award for Diversity in Comics. I was lucky enough to be a guest to this gala. Us guests got to see some of the biggest names in the comic book and creative pop culture world give speeches such as: Don McGregor (Black Panther & Jungle Action) and Phil LaMarr (Static Shock & Samurai Jack). We also got to learn a little bit about the five finalists and see a video acceptance of the winner of the 2018 award. Afterwards, we were treated to hor d'ourves and drinks. This event also allowed people to networks after the conference from the afternoon prior.

I always go to both Long Beach Comic Con and Long Beach Comic Expo the entire weekend. These events are very diverse in that they are more than just comic book driven. They are a collaboration of artists, cosplayers, photographers, media, and other industry professionals. Since Black Panther had just came out, several panels about the character and his series were also happening. I like that the convention stayed relevant to the times in the pop culture realm. I also like that Long Beach Comic Expo has a Space Expo attached to it. It's a nice added addition. The bag checks and security screenings were very easy to go through and efficient. The convention felt very safe as local law enforcement were at the con as well to keep the peace. The food trucks were out giving attendees options outside of the restaurants and convention center dining. The staff actually looked like they wanted to be there, which is not the case at some conventions I have attended. The security workers had good vibes and positive attitudes, which made for a welcoming experience.

I had a blast at the convention for the most part. 9/10 stars (would always attend, if given the chance and opportunity) By the way, the dates for next year's Long Beach Comic Expo are : February 16-17, 2019. If you can't wait that long and want to enjoy another Long Beach convention, Long Beach Comic Con, also hosted by MAD Event Management is September 8th and 9th, 2018. Check them both out, if you can! :) This year is also Long Beach Comic Con's 10th show!

The only downside was, I have two convention creeps that follow me around most cons, and one creepy vendor that had previously sexually harassed me at LBCC, and encountered two of the three. One, I was able to get away from, and the other proceeded to push his boundaries by practically french kissing my hand after I said I wasn't comfortable hugging him. If I could ever get photos of the three, I would make sure they couldn't harass anyone else. They only seem to do it when security is not around. A possible solution to this is to have more security and make them roam the hall floors more often, as well as the outer limits of the con.

 If anyone in my viewership has ever been harassed or stalked at a con, concert, or other event, please go to someone trusted for help. It is not your fault, and never will be your fault. Cosplay or any type of attire worn is not consent for unwanted advances or sexual harassment. Be someone's advocate, or be your own, but most importantly be safe and aware.


I would normally post a bunch of photos from the convention, but unfortunately, Adobe Lightroom CC Mobile messed up on me and deleted all of my photos from the con. Luckily, I was able to upload a few cosplayer photos before this happened and those can be found on my photography Instagram page: @himawarisayscheese.


Let me know in the comments below what your favorite part of comic book, anime, or pop culture conventions is. My next major con that I will be writing about is Lvl Up Expo in Las Vegas, NV. Take care and treat each other with kindness.


Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Tisn't the Season to be in Debt

Hi all! With the holidays fast approaching, we run the risk of trying to purchase well above our means. That means we feel pressured and compelled to make credit card purchases for most of our gifts. While this seems like a quick and easy solution, credit card debt can definitely become overwhelming once the novelty has warn off. Now don't get me wrong, credit cards aren't inherently bad. They can even help you build up a credit score, but there are plenty of opportunities for pitfalls and misdirection when it comes to credit card usage. I will be discussing some lesser known credit card myths and do my best to debunk them.

Myth 1:

• Using a credit card for all purchases will increase a credit score

This is a huge myth because while yes credit cards can help you credit score, they can also hurt it. If you are wracking up high rates of spending, and only paying the minimum, you risk your credit score dropping.  Essentially, you are spending more than you can pay.

Myth 2:

• Applying for multiple lines of credit at one time won’t hurt my score

Unfortunately, this hurts your score because for every line of credit you open, your average account age lowers. As a result, your score may potentially take a dive. It also makes you look like a risky borrower, if all the lines are new.

Myth 3:

• Closing the account with the highest credit allowance/limit is better for your score than closing a lower limit account

 The main issue with this is that say you have four accounts: Three accounts are a limit of $500 each and one of the accounts is a $1000 limit. If you maxed out the three cards at the $500 limit, but have paid off the $1000 card and closed it. Before, it looked like you owed $1500 out of $2500, which isn't very good, but compared to owing $1500 out of $1500, it wouldn't have hurt your credit score as bad. When in doubt, look at the amounts owed on all cards collectively before considering closing out a high limit card.

Myth 4:

• Closing the oldest account can help my credit score

The primary issue with closing out the oldest account is that it makes your credit history look shorter by lowering your account age.

Myth 5:

• Tossing out old cards will make your account disappear

This is a big myth in the sense that unless you actively work to close your own accounts, they will not close on their own. Be sure to pay off your balances, call the customer service department, and insist that they close your account. Typically, upon closing an account, you'll receive letter confirmation about the account closing within a week or so. If you don't get that confirmation, be sure to call the customer service line again.

Lastly, remember to monitor your accounts in order to notice and address unexpected or authorized activity that could seriously hurt your credit report. When it comes to disputing errors that appear on your credit report, always address discrepancies immediately to avoid lasting damage.

I hope that my debunking of myths was useful to you, and be sure to check out the following guide to learn more about how a poor credit score can affect your financial health!

Let me know in the comments below what tips you have for people using credit during the holidays.


Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Vancouver or Bust: A hypothetical, yet Strategically Planned Vacation

Hi all! I know summer is nearing its end, but that doesn't mean that planning out an ultimate vacation has to! Can you imagine if you had a budget of $10,000 to plan your dream trip? Think of all you could do and where you could go with that kind of money. While that seems like a lot compared to the lesser amount that I usually spend on a five day vacation or trip to a research conference, I decided that this will be a challenge accepted, courtesy of Earnest!

I decided I would base my hypothetical vacation off of a real trip that I have planned out for November. In November, I'll be flying to Vancouver, BC for a research conference. I might have mentioned in a previous blog that I do Psycho-linguistic research and enjoy presenting my research at conferences when I can. Anyhoo, let me see if I can make an itinerary that can get my to that $10,000 budget, or close to it. I feel like with the excessive amount of thriftiness in me, the princess of bargain hunting, I won't make it anywhere near that budget. If I am lucky, I will get to $5,000 with some cheating😉, but I feel it is worth a try.

Well the first decision I would make would be whether to fly or take the train. Flying would be the faster option, but if I have a good amount of free time before hand, I would also consider taking the train. Everything else follows after I decide how to get to Vancouver.

To and From Transportation:

Flight -

Date: During the middle of the second week of November 2017

Price: $267 round trip from SNA (John Wayne Airport - Santa Ana) to YVR (Vancouver).
This particular flight is also the fastest way to Vancouver from Orange County. However, the flight happens to have multiple connections as seen with cheap flights. In order to avoid connections, LAX is the closest option. I don't personally mind connecting flights as it gives me a chance to stretch my legs, so I will keep it for this hypothetical itinerary.


Train -

Date: During the end of the first week of November 2017

Price: Utilizing my AAA discount, I would have to take the train straight out of Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC, as no connecting train from anywhere in Orange County to LA Union Station would work for this particular mode of travel. The stressful part about this train is that it only leaves two times per day, 10:10 am and 3:10 pm and it is reserved travel. So if you miss your train, you might risk paying extra to catch another one. The cheapest train is $112 one way for a coach seat, but since I have "money" to spend, I would go for the sleeper car. My train riding goal is to go on a long trip in a sleeping car, but they are expensive that I haven't been lucky enough to do so yet. That sleeping car will set me back $361 one way. Taking the train requires a 34 hour one way ride too, so this is only useful if I had free time to leave earlier and return later.

Transportation During Stay:


Walking:

Vancouver is considered to be Canada's most walk-able city with a score of one, so I would probably just walk everywhere like I mostly do in San Francisco.


Housing:

Hotel:

Fairmount Waterfront Hotel

If I am really going "all out", I would have to pick this hotel because it boasts amazing views of the city and the harbor. It is also only $189 CAD/ $151 USD per night. This is actually far cheaper than any of the hotels I have stayed at during any of the research conferences. Based off of a five night stay, this would be $945 CAD +tax/ $755 USD +tax.


Activities:


The most exciting part of this hypothetical itinerary, because there is actually one thing I am definitely doing in real life while in Vancouver.

Conventions:

Fan Expo Vancouver: I was extremely excited when I learned that my research conference and this comic/pop culture convention were in the same location during essentially the same time. While, I am only intending to go one day in real life, for the sake of hypothetically spending money, I will go all three days and get the deluxe package. The price of this would be:$229 CAD/$183 USD. Now, if I was able to purchase comic books that I need to add to my collection, this price would jump up about $500-$1000 extra.

Other Activities:
Realistically, I would probably do primarily free events and activities like I do during most of my vacations. However, since I HAVE to spend money, I would go on to Vancouver's primer tourism website and sample from paid activities that pique my interests. My estimate is that I could try to spend about $1000 on activities in 5 days (that's if I picked mostly expensive activities and did them multiple times)

Food:

I have a funny feeling that my largest expense would be food, and that I would be able to eat somewhat extravagantly. I would push for trying the priciest meals on the menu at swanky restaurants and hope that can get me to spend at least $100-200 per meal . So if I ate 3 meals per day, that's $300-$600 per day, just by eating. That's another $1,500-$3,000 down the drain.

Stock photo of Vancouver from Patrick King

That's all for now, my friends! I knew I would fail this miserably, being as thrifty as I am, but it was still a fun thing to plan out. Ultimately, by train with sleeper car, the most I would have spent: $6,495 and by plane, the most I would have spent: $3,505. If you’re interested in planning a similar trip, budgeting and travel research is the way to go. It is definitely possible to make due on less if you have good money management skills. Let me know in the comments below where you would go and three main things you would do on vacation with $10,000. Hopefully, you guys are better at this than I am. 😅



Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Worried About Dormitory Decor? Well I Say, No More!

Hi all! Apologies for the delay in posting. I was on a brief three week hiatus for personal reasons, but am back now! I hope my fellow Americans enjoyed their 4th of July, this past Tuesday!

So it has been almost two years since I left the Inland Empire and moved to Orange County. This is my second time making a big city move since I first started college down in Southern California.  Something about living alone with your pets and having a new slate to work with seems magical in a way. However, it can occasionally be stressful when you have to think about how to decorate your new home. I have lived in over four different apartments and the college dormitories over the past nine years. So I have learned how to decorate for both limited space and seemingly unlimited space. Keeping up with the school theme, I would like to help you out with figuring out how to decorate your dormitory with the help of Aura Frames.

Dorm Living:

Dorms, they're pretty small. Typically, you share them with one other person, but sometime you might have two, or even three other people per dorm. A lot of big box stores will give you check lists full of the most unnecessary things ever to buy just to get you to spend extra money at their stores. My list of essentials would have to be the most basic and the most realistic from my own personal experiences.

Bed: Twin XL - Bed set (for most dormitories, the best are Twin XL -some times you can find bed-sets that fit both regular Twin and Twin XL). They are fairly cheap so feel free to buy more than one, you'll be in that dorm for at least one year.

Pillows - You can usually find some good pillows on deal from Macy's or J.C. Penny.

Under the Bed Organizers - Remember that you are sharing a very small space with other people. If you have two or three roommates, you might also be sharing a closet. Under the bed organizers helped me out so much as a Freshman in the dorms.

Full body Mirror - Not all dorms will come fully furnished aside from the bed and desk (I bought mine at Target for under 4$.)

Bundles of Hangers for Clothes - most dorms have closets and dresser-drawers

Laundry Essentials - Baskets, Pods/Detergents, Fabric Softener, Iron/ Iron Board- Look for coupon deals on laundry items, believe me, you can find so many.

Bath Supplies - Flip-flops, Shower Caddy, Towels, and the basic shower essentials (body wash, soap, shampoo, conditioner. (The reason that I recommend the flip-flops is because you will be sharing those showers with several other men or women and can risk getting foot fungus.)

Frames for Photos - You can be low tech and get very simple frames to put up photos to combat homesickness, or you can be high tech and get some pretty neat digital frames like the ones that Aura Frames has.

Posters - Posters can be a cheap way to decorate your apartment as well, and it's also a good way to really personalize your space with posters displaying your interests.

Stuffed Animals or other comfort items - If you were like me and moved to a college far from home, then bringing moments with you can help combat homesickness as well. For me, it was old stuffed animals, but it could be something different for you. 

If you are artsy, I recommend that you draw some pictures or make some little decorations for your dorm side. Even have your friends help you!

*Desks are typically included and lamps/lighting as well. If I think of anything else to add, I'll let you know! Highly recommend a trip to Walmart and Target for some cheap dorm supplies. Good luck with your first year at the dorms!

A picture from my freshman year in my dormitory at UC Riverside - East Lothian ( Nine years ago).

If you guys have any comments on the items you brought with you to the dorms, feel free to let me know in the comments below!

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Time Travelling Letters

Hi all! Today's blog is a little bit different. I am teaming up with Earnest, which is a S.F. based tech-enabled student loan refinancing company, to reminisce about my college days in the form of a letter to my past self. It was almost 10 years ago since I was a freshman at UC Riverside, and now, in just 10 days, I will be participating in the hooding ceremony for my master's degree from Cal State Fullerton. I am both excited and nervous because I did not get the opportunity to walk with my friends for my undergraduate graduation. As a result, I did not participate in it. This time around, I get to walk with some amazing people from my graduate cohort. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my letter!

Dear 18 year old Dawn,

Hi there! Would you believe that you are almost 28 years old now?! Time sure flies! I cannot begin to tell you about all the interesting people you will meet and things you will do with your life. You will have many fun experiences in college, some of which will dictate how you live out your life until this very day.

You were never much of a party animal, but as soon as you turned 21, kickbacks with friends became a weekly thing. You would invite everyone over to your apartment to play Super Smash Brothers Brawl and drink blended margaritas. You really thought you were a good bartender/hostess those days. You went on road trips to Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and many other places. You saw Salvation Mountain with once close friends and visited their family.

Unfortunately, like many instances in your life, friends came and went, but you always cherished the good times despite that. Some of your friends you made in college, you still will spend time with.  Did you know that you took over two and a half years of Japanese classes as an undergraduate and grad student and picked it up pretty well? You also became a Conversation Partner and made many Japanese and Korean friends from this program as well that you still connect with. You're still as into anime and manga as always, and even got more into cosplay. Through this, you made life long friends that you meet up with at every convention. Also, can you believe that you have gone to FanimeCon over 12 years in a row, and that you would be volunteering for Comic-Con International going on 5 years now? I bet you didn't expect a hobby like that to extend throughout your young adult life.

You felt like you would be tired of school many times and that you would stop with just your bachelor's degree. Well believe it or not, you are now about to receive a M.A. in Linguistics with specialization in Disorders of Communication. Congrats to you! You persevered, changed majors once, stayed one extra year & a quarter, and still embrace the scientific/analytical side of your personality. You are a seasoned researcher that has both presented at and been invited to several different research conferences in many states and one country. You are a smart young lady! Never forget that! There were many challenging classes you'd take as an undergraduate and despite not having the ideal GPA, you still got into graduate school and thrived! You're in a prestigious international honor society and one of the top students of your graduating class of grad school. Be proud of all your accomplishments and all you have went through and will go through. You have the passion of a highlander with the strength of a titan and you will overcome all obstacles. Nothing can stand in your way.

With love,

27 year old Dawn

18 year old me vs present day me. Do I look that much different? Haha

I hope you guys like my letter to myself. This actually isn't the first time I have done this. If I remember correctly, one of my undergraduate classes had us do this as an assignment. It was either an English class or a Japanese class.  Have you guys ever written a letter to yourself? Let me know in the comments below. *Random factoid: Travelling is the British English spelling, while traveling is the American English spelling. I tend to write using both dialect styles.*

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

How to Survive the Con-pocalypse!

Hi all!

As promised, I am giving you all some pro tips on how to survive your first con! I've been attending cons consecutively since 2005, while cosplaying for the majority of them. I currently average at attending around 8 cons per year. Sometimes more, rarely less. I've volunteered for Comic-Con International for the past 5 years, and have been on panels for other cons.

I was tasked by Vegas.com to provide some tips to their viewers attending Lvl Up Expo in Las Vegas, NV. Lvl Up Expo is known as the ultimate gaming and anime convention of Las Vegas. It runs from May 12-14, 2017. If you'd like to go to this con, check out some of these nice travel deals! I've only been to Las Vegas one time as an adult, so I hope to go back soon! Another good website to use for registering for conventions is Eventbrite. Some conventions use this service as a quick and easy way to register for their events. I have primarily utilized the site for smaller cons, but big ones do use the service as well. Anyhoo, onto the tips, with a little bit of a twist!

Nurse Morrigan at Comikaze Expo/Stan Lee's L.A. Comic Con 2016  - courtesy of Novice Snapshots

Pro tips for attending your first con!

1. Remember cosplay is not consent.
• Never touch or photograph a cosplayer without their permission. 
2.  Stay hydrated
• Bringing your own water and refreshments is a good way to avoid sticker shock at the con.
• Some cons do allow hydration packs.
• As some cons have the tendency to draw large crowds, ie. San Diego Comic-Con, & Anime Expo, it can be easy to overheat, especially in cosplay. Drinking a decent amount of water can keep you cool and avoid heat exhaustion.
3. Utilize "Day 0" as often as you can. 
• Day 0 is meant for picking up your badge early. It helps you not miss out on those panels you'd like to attend by having to wait in line for your badge.
• Occasionally, day 0 has some early access perks.
4. Anticipate long lines, especially if you attend on the expected "busy" days of the con.
•  This is called "line-con" as a term of endearment. 
• Lines can get long for big panels, screenings, con exclusives, and badge pickups.
5.  Cosplayers:
• Anticipate that many people might ask for your photograph. 
• Never feel obligated to give a photograph, if you do not feel comfortable doing so.
• Unfortunately, some people at cons do not have the best of intentions.
• If you are cosplaying as a princess or superhero, expect kids to come up to you. Be polite to children and if possible, act in character. It really makes a child's day to see that.  
• To piggy back off that, most conventions are family friendly. Please consider that when you think about what you would like to cosplay as. 
6. Bring cash with you, not every vendor will have a POS (point of sale) machine or a Square reader.
•  Sometimes, vendors will give special deals for patrons using cash.
7.  Photographers: 
• Don't forget to ask permission to photograph a cosplayer.
• If you are worried about forgetting to credit the cosplayer, bringing blank pieces of paper, having the cosplayer fill out their information on it, and snapping that photo first before the shoot helps with combating that.
8. Bring a friend! 
• Cons are a lot more enjoyable when you have a buddy to go with.
•  However, if you do end up going alone, cons are a great way to meet people. I have made several friends from all of my con attendances.
9. Do the demos! 
• One of my favorite parts of attending video game expos is trying out all of the new games before my friends. 
• The lines don't take that long and you get a decent amount of game play time.  
10. Just have fun! 
• In the end, the con is what you make it out to be.  
• So try to make it one of the best experiences you will ever have and enjoy yourself! :)

So here's the twist, I've interviewed some of my friends and asked them to provide their own pro tips for attending your first con as well! Please take a look and enjoy! Links to their pages will be provided in their names, so please give them some love! :)

Provided by Queen Akemii & Taken by wafflopogusarts

Name: Shae - ( Queen Akemii  )
How long have you been attending cons?:
Ive been attending conventions since 2013, which is 4 years. 
What is your favorite thing to do at the cons?: My favorite thing to do at cons is going to panels, especially those crowd interacting ones. They're always fun to just watch, even if you're too shy to join in.
What role do you play at cons? (cosplayer, photographer, handler, or multiplayer mode):
I'm a cosplayer, but I casually take photographs of other cosplayers during my down time at cons. 
So, what's your pro tip?: 
A tip that I'll have for others that are interested in joining the community will be to just go with the flow. Majority everyone at the con scene are extremely nice. Don't be afraid to approach new people so you can gain friends. It's a welcoming community and we'll love to have you.

Derek is essentially my photography sensei (teacher), who gives me tips to use in my own photography

Name: Derek - ( Tammohawk Photography )
How long have you been attending cons?: Since 2014, AX (Anime Expo) was my first con.
What is your favorite thing to do at the cons?:
I like to check out the artist alleys. Outside of photography, I also like to draw. I enjoy supporting other artists.
What role do you play at cons? (cosplayer, photographer, handler, or multiplayer mode): Photographer! For now, I would like to start cosplaying soon.
So, what's your pro tip?:
For photographers, make business cards. It really helps cosplayers figure out where their photos are at after the con. Also, utilize bag check rooms, if provided. These help so that you aren't carrying heavy items around all day during the con.

Ezra's photography accounts for a majority of my con based posts on here. He's amazing, check out his work!

Name: Ezra - ( Novice Snapshots )
How long have you been attending cons?: 
I've been attending cons on and off since 2005.
What is your favorite thing to do at the cons?: Hit the dealer's hall, artist alley, food trucks, and most recently, hang out with friends. 
What role do you play at cons? (cosplayer, photographer, handler, or multiplayer mode): Photographer and handler. Plus, I always keep an eye out for con creeps.
So, what's your pro tip?:
Plan ahead for parking and be early.



That's all folks! I hope my friends and mine's tips and experiences have helped to make your first con experience more exciting! Let me know in the comments below how your first con experience was. :) Special thanks to Queen Akemii, Tammohawk Photography, and Novice Snapshots for being willing to be interviewed for my blog. :)


Till next time!

-Hachi

Wonder(con)ful Day for Some Cosplay!

Hi all!

Today, I'm going to show you some of the photography I did at WonderCon. I went for days 2 and 3 and cosplayed as two different characters. My character for Day 1 (2) is Atsuko Jackson from the anime Michiko to Hatchin, and my character for day 2 (3) was Morrigan Aensland from Darkstalkers/Marvel Vs. Capcom (and other Vs. Capcom games). During WonderCon, I worked with three photographers in particular for cosplay photoshoots: James Rulison of Rulison Photography, Ezra Ramirez of NoviceSnapshots, and Derek Tam of Tammohawk Photography. I did take photos for other photographers, but not actual photoshoots. I'll post a photo from their collection at the end, but first, a brief overview of my characters.

Atsuko Jackson:

Atsuko is a recurring character in the anime Michiko to Hatchin. This anime takes place in alternate reality Brazil and covers several topics. These topics include race relations, strong female characters, class differences, coming of age, and family dynamics. Atsuko is a sergeant of the police force tasked with capturing her childhood friend, Michiko Malandro. Throughout the whole series, Atsuko's past with Michiko comes to haunt her. She feels conflicted between doing her job and her feelings about her old friend. Atsuko's character is occasionally is considered to be a lesbian because of how she feels about Michiko and this is referred to within the anime. Atsuko's look is reminiscent of blaxploitation films of the 1960s and 70s. For this year's cosplay line up, I wanted to primarily focus on incorporating more POC characters in my cosplay. My reasoning is that representation matters.

Photography courtesy of  NoviceSnapshots

Photography Courtesy of Rulison Photography

 Morrigan Aensland:

Morrigan is a very popular character in the mainstream gaming world. Getting her start in the 1994 arcade game, Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, she has grown into a household name in the gaming community. Morrigan is considered an anti-hero character rather than a villain. Funny thing is, I almost solely cosplay as anti-heros and villains. Morrigan's backstory is that she is a Scottish succubus from the late 1600s and the head of her clan. She's silly, flirty, playful, narcissistic, and hedonistic.  The sole reason she is not considered a villain or evil is because she is both friendly and approachable.  This results from her constant adventures into the world of humans. Outside of the Darkstalkers series, Morrigan makes appearances in other games including the *insert company name* vs. Capcom games, and even an anime series, where she was the main antagonist. Another factoid about me is that most of the characters I cosplay as are the opposite of my personality, ie, flirty, sexy, overconfident, etc.

Photography courtesy of Tammohawk Photography

Photography courtesy of The Steel Shark with my good friend, Crystal Rose Creations

Stay tuned for my next blog where I give pro tips on how to enjoy and thrive at your very first convention! :)

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Gotta Go Fast! Gotta Go Far! I Got a Car!

Hi all! My apologies for the lack of blogging these past few weeks. I've been pretty busy for the most part. I have some updates for you, but I'll do two separate ones. Today's post is about my new car! Yes, I finally have one! Doesn't mean I'll never take the bus again though. I like talking with some of the drivers . Also, I go long distances weekly between work and school so it'd be better for me to save gas by taking the bus and trolley when travelling shorter distances. So a little bit about my car, and then some pictures! :) My car is a 2013 Kia Rio LX hatchback with a black exterior, beige interior. Some of my friends on one of the forums I have been a member of since high school told me I should call it "The Hachiback" haha. I was thinking of calling it "Ri-chan" even though Kia is a Korean car and not a Japanese car. Lol I would like to add some color to it, probably a lighter shade of blue to accent and over the years make the interior black and blue instead of solely beige. Without further ado, I'll add some pictures!

Hatchback side

Passenger Side

Driver's Side

Only my Photogrid has the picture of the front side lol

Ps.  If you have any street legal mod tips, 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

"Yes to." Product Review

Hi all!

Sorry it's been so long in between blogs, I have been rather busy this week with work, and an online class I am quite "over". Since I am due for another blog anyway, and I just tried out a product for the first time, I will give a product review on it.


So if you remember in my old blog about my Target Super Mini Haul, I purchased the Yes to. Cucumbers Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes. I haven't had a chance to test them out until today so I did and have a bit to say about them.

Stock Photo of Yes to. Cucumber Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes

Firstly, the moistness of the towels is really good. To reiterate, it didn't come out of the packet mostly dry after a while like some do when purchased.

You could also really smell the cucumber in it. Intensely. In fact, almost overpowering. For some, that might be pretty awesome, but for me, it was a little too much.

Finally, application of the towel in makeup removing. It removed make up quite well, but remember how I said this is supposed to be hypo-allergenic? The reason I bought it in the first place? Well unfortunately, I guess it wasn't hypo-allergenic enough for me because soon after I applied it to my face, my whole face started to burn and itch. Hopefully I don't get a rash, but I have Benadryl just in case. I was so disappointed with what happened, that I can't even use the other nine towels.

Rating: 1/10, point going for moistness. The smell and the itching/burning of my face made my rating go way down. I would like to try their other products, but now I am a bit worried the same thing will happen again. Hopefully not.


So I decided to check the product reviews on their actual website and I am not the only person who got mild skin irritation from this. Other reviews discuss redness, burning, itching, rawness. I hope if you have or will try this product that it does not happen to you as well. So far, thirty minutes have passed and my face still itches. Sigh.

Update: One full hour has went by and I have applied my anti-itch cream. It took some of the irritation away, mostly natural, as well. Maybe I'll do a review on it later.




Has this ever happened to you before? Where something hypo-allergenic caused minor, mild, or major skin irritation on you? Also, what hypoallergenic skin care products do you recommend? Let me know in the comments below.



Till Next Time!

Hachi

*Cough, Cough, I'm sick* Cold Remedies on the Cheap

Hi everyone! (Cough, cough, I'm sick.) Or at least, it seems like I might be getting sick. Tis the season though, and I do work at a community college after all. I don't typically take OTC medicine, but on occasion, as some happens to give me nightmares. So while I wait for a normal prescription to be filled, I am doing my typical remedies in the meantime. They do help lessen the blow, at least I have noticed. (I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be so do not attempt some of these remedies without a doctor's approval. Especially if you are already taking medicine.) Most are natural remedies anyway, but I just wanted to put that out there that you should always get doctor approval when doing new health related things. Regardless of how simple they are.

Stock Photo of a woman sneezing

Humidifier!

Humidifiers come in two types: warm mist and cool mist.  It's basically just heated water in a machine that comes out as steam to clear the airways and allow for restful breathing. I happen to use a Children's cool mist humidifier, that I purchased at Target, a few years ago for about 30$. I also add to it what I will mention in the next category.

Essential Oils!

Essential oils can be bought at most health stores, for relatively cheap. You only need a couple of drops at the most for usage in your diffuser or humidifier. Never handle them on your skin directly. Some do come diluted in a base oil like almond, or jojoba, however, many are pure oils. I do advise to dilute them in the water without touching it. Less is more. Too much and it will be very over powering. Oils that are good for colds include : Lavender, Mints (Rosemary, Peppermint, etc), Eucalyptus, and Camphor.


Lemon and Honey!

This combination is awesome! Honey is a natural antioxidant. Some people use it in salves, I use it as an antibacterial cough soother. It also helps with sore throats. To make a very thick cough syrup out of it, mix equal parts lemon juice and honey into a table spoon and take it like that. Some people (like me) find that to be too sweet and prefer to add it to hot water as a sort of tea. (I sometimes add a shot or half a shot of Brandy and turn it into a Hot Toddy (folk remedy), but I am of age. If you are not of legal drinking age, just don't. Seriously. lol)

Salt Water!

This combination can be used as a warm soothing rinse to aid in a sore throat's healing process, or as a nasal irrigation rinse. In both cases, do not ingest the salt water. I also hate netipots, might I add. I do use saline to moisturize the nose, but nasal irrigation makes me feel weird.

Chest Rub!

Vicks Vaporub is quite nice too, but it is really expensive, unless you find it on sale. Store brand chest rub works just as well.

Warm Moist Towels/Hot Packs!

If you have sinus pain, a warm towel or a warm hot pack can help relieve the pain in your sinuses. The hot pack will stay warm a lot longer than the towel by the way. Test the temperature, and do not leave it on for long periods of time.

Vitamin C!

You can take some tablets, multivitamins, or just eat or drink your vitamin C if you are very anti-pills.



That's all for now! If you know of anymore useful and relatively safe/legal remedies, please feel free to comment below.


Till Next Time!

Hachi

Sweater Weather Tag

Hi all!

So sorry for the delay in blogs, I have been so busy with work, traveling back and forth between Northern CA, and Southern CA. I am back though! So I will do something a bit different in this blog and do a tag. Also I will be tagging all of my readers, that are also bloggers to do this tag. :)


Sweater Weather Tag:



1. Favorite candle scent? 

I really like Vanilla Bean scents. They are usually subtle and considering most candle scents make me sneeze my head off, these are heavenly.


2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

I am not a big fan of chocolate, so that would be the lowest point on the totem. I would have to choose tea, hands down. I used to have fourteen different flavors of tea at one point, but drank most of them. Coffee is ok on occasion, but tea is still my love. Green tea, especially <3


3. What's the best fall memory you have?

I think my best fall memory was when I was a little kid in elementary school off on the countryside in my hometown in the Central Valley of Northern CA, and I would play with my friends on the playground. We would gather all the leaves up and jump and roll around in them. Good times, good times. I still jump in leaves, btw. I enjoy the crunching sound they make when I step on them.  :)




4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner? 


I would have to say winged eyeliner. Mostly because I don't wear lipstick all too often, and all my lipstick is rather dark.




5. Best fragrance for fall?




I don't like seasonal smells, it goes along with things always making me sneeze. I can tolerate some Victoria Secret sprays though. Sweet Daydream is my staple. 


6. Favorite Thanksgiving food? 

Ham, because I am not a fan of turkey, to be honest. I also love sweet potatoes and marshmallows. Cannot stand stuffing though.


7. What is autumn weather like where you live?

It is currently hotter than the blazes here in Southern CA. Today it was 103F degrees (39C). Normally it's windy, with mild weather in the 50s-70s, depending where you are in California. It can also rain, and we actually have four days of rain in this coming week's forecast. Everyone knows we need the rain here in California.


8. Most worn sweater? 

My Lucky Brand jacket with Japanese artwork and graffiti all over it with Osaka and Tokyo written on it. I have had it for years. It's always covered in holes that keep being sewn up, but it's cozy and nostalgic.

9. Must-have nail polish this fall? 

No go-to's but I do like blues and purples.


10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles?

I like both lol.


11. Skinny jeans or leggings?

Leggings, because I only like boot cut jeans.


12. Combat boots or Uggs? 

Not a fan of Uggs, my feet get hot enough in normal shoes. I don't need all that extra fur making me overheated. Cowgirl Boots would personally be preferable for me. Norcal countryside lady, I am.


13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype? 

No, but it's ok on occasion. I had a tall PSF today with soy. Not bad, but annoyingly overpriced.




14. Favorite fall TV show? 

Downton Abbey (since it originally comes on in the fall, although January in the US -_-)




15. What songs really gets you into the fall spirit?

All of the Nujabes beats because I love primarily instrumental music, and his music makes me feel at peace like fall does. "Horizon" is one of them :)



Hope you enjoyed my tag, and like I said I tag all of you readers to do it as well. :)



Till Next Time!

Hachi