Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Wonderful Wednesday #1

Welcome to the first Wonderful Wednesday post of "According to Mishi"! I've totally made this up on a whim as of right now (the name really, I had been contemplating this idea for a while now), but I wanted to make a sort-of "pick-me-up" post for each week that would inspire me and encourage me to keep updating more regularly and for me to recognize and appreciate the things in life that make me happy! So, basically Wonderful Wednesday posts will be just little snippets of things that I appreciate each week! So let's get started!





TOTORO COOKIES!!! and baking in general!!!! I've realized that I have become an avid lover and admirer of everything sweet and confectionary! I love to watch it being made, making it myself, and of course, EATING IT! :D I can't wait to start baking some things of my own! I hope to include some various cooking recipes here at According to Mishi. Baking really is another passion of mine! If you have a taste for baking too, check out the lj community; bakebakebake! they are always posting delicious and decadent creations!

♥ Super Junior's new album, BONAMANA [REPACKAGE]. <3 Every single song is beautiful and amazing! I've been non-stop listening to this soundtrack for about two weeks now! They really make me feel better when I'm down. Be sure to check it out and support Super Junior! Yesasia.com is a great place to buy Korean Pop CDs online!

Vampires Suck! The Movie!!! This looks SO FUNNY. Me, Andrew and Steven are seeing it today and I'll have to see if it stands up to its trailer! I think everyone knew this was coming sooner or later.

haha, well, that's it for now! The list could go on and on but I have to save for the upcoming weeks~! :D

~mishi

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Fashion Trend #1

So, I've decided that every now and then I will post "Fashion Trends" to keep updated on the latest styles from Japan, Korea, or America. Why those three countries? Because I love the fashion from those countries! Sometimes the posts will focus specifically on one country, or sometimes a combination of the three. So without further ado, I would like to introduce the first "Fashion Trend" Post of According to Mishi! :)




If there was a magazine I would pick that contains everything a girl would need to keep up with the gal/gyaru fashion scene; it's Popteen. I love everything in this magazine. Recently, I purchased the June issue of this magazine and I've compiled a list of some of the most popular trends that seem to be big for the summertime. Even as summer is slowly approaching, there are about two good months left and these tips are hot to know!

Usa-mimi or rabbit ear headband. These are totally cute and meant to look exactly like bunny ears. They come an array of colors, sizes and fabric choices and are a perfect accent to any hairstyle. They are usually fashioned from a regular light-weight scarf, ribbon, or fabric belt accessory and are really easy to style!


Jean Jackets My mom always told me that a jean jacket is the best piece of clothing that a woman could ever purchase. Why? Because they never go out of style and are really perfect all year round! The jean jacket matches with any outfit, regardless of the color and is also lightweight! They are timeless and will last an extremely long time!
Floral Print Dresses-Long or Short! I personally love this trend. Floral dresses are classy and at the same time they are comfy. They are the perfect feminine touch and represent everything summery and light!
Boater Hats Boater Hats are a great way to jazz up any old outfit and also keep you cool to beat that summer heat! One can either purchase a boater hat from an online store, or find one locally and customize it! If you find a boater hat that might not have the trim you like, they are super easy to fix on your own and really give that summer country girl feel.
Leggings and Tights-Printed or Plain! If there is one accessory I wouldn't live without, it's a good pair of tights. Tights are a great way to dress up your outfit and add a little edge. My favorite thing to do is wear a pair of shorts with tights underneath. Add a cute pair of flats or boots, and you are ready to go! If you have a dress that is just a tad too short and you would prefer to not show a lot of skin, settle for a pair of leggings and you'll look reserved and still stylish. Both leggings and tights are lightweight and are a perfect substitution for pants in the summer heat!
Cowgirl Boots I've noticed that the Japanese are very good at imitating the Wild West side of America and what's wild west without a cute pair of Cowgirl Boots?? Cowgirl boots are another great investment to your wardrobe and shoe collection because they too never go out of style! Pair them with a cute dress and maybe a boater hat and you are a self-made cowgirl, yeehaw!!! Liz Lisa came out with the cutest version of cowgirl boots with a little girly flair (a cute bow and some scallop edges add for a very gyaru approach!)




Big Belts (to accent dresses) Big Belts are a great accent to any dress. They help to make your outfit more formal and accentuate your natural figure. With the appropriate color and style, a big belt is the perfect thing for summer. If one is to wear a floral dress for example, a dark brown belt with a big square buckle is totally cute~! Have fun with belts and mix up your outfits!

Shoulder Bags/Pouchettes These days, the trend of big, almost duffle-bag sized purses have died down and girls are preferring lightweight shoulder bags in cute colors to hold their neccessities. I like this idea, especially since I get really tired of carrying my big white purse all the time. Sometimes girls carry WAY too much stuff when they are out and about and half of it they don't even need! Shoulder bags and pouchettes are great alternatives and force you to think small and bring only what you need while still being cute and fun.

Bandanas/Scarves wrapped around If you have decided that you would rather use your bandana or scarf for something other than the Usamimi, why not take them and fashion them onto your purse? or maybe around your neck? You could even tie them around your waist! These are really cute to embellish anything that you might think is a little too plain.

Big Glasses Being geeky is now fashionable! I personally love this trend, because I think that the glasses are really cute and it's fun too for the summertime! Don't worry, these glasses are not prescription, they're just for goofing off and being dorky!

Sparkle Sneakers The Japanese love to bling things up. Everything from phones to shoes and sparkle sneakers from Sketchers seem to be taking Japanese gyarus by storm! These cute sneakers have the entire toe area covered in rhinestones and usually have a sparkly glittery print on the side. These are fun and more comfy to wear with a cute pair of overalls of baggy jeans for a day of shopping-forgo the heels in this case!



~mishi

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

It's been quite awhile.

Well, here I am. The eighth month of 2010, and no post all year. I don't really know what prompted me all of a sudden to make an entry-I've felt no need to since I was concentrating on many other things happening in my life at the moment. I guess it was a sudden spark inside of me that pushed me to write this little recap.

Lately, a LOT has been happening to me emotionally and within my family. I had lost basically all of my love of lolita fashion, something that had been extremely important in my life for a long time. I guess you can say I practically gave up everything that made me happy as an individual young woman. I tried to have the enthusiasm I had before for the things I loved, but no matter how hard I tried, it seemed to be gone. I guess it was part depression, or part of my maturation, either way, I felt awful. A dear friend of mine, Avina, a lolita herself, who was in quite the same predicament as I am when it comes to the fashion has started what is called a "tumblog" on the popular site, Tumblr, called, "The Everyday Lolita" to help inspire her to get back into the fashion she so loves herself. The social world of lolita fashion is one that is very complex. Because it is such a specific niche, it's hard to find many that will share the same interests with you, and even then, it's hard to wear in public without strange looks. I "fell out" of lolita for reasons more than the drama. For one, it was too expensive. I hardly have a quarter of what most girls have and it is quite the hobby. In addition, with all the changes and pain I have been experiencing this entire 2010, I felt the need to start fresh-to let go, and to venture into new territory. I'm still not there, and in fact, it has been hard for me to completely stray away from what has been so dear to me. I have decided that at least for now, I'm going to do my own thing. I love lolita, but I'm still sticking to my guns and not losing track of what is really important and what is immediate to face in my life right now. Hopefully in the future I can branch off and mix styles and fashions. I like the cute, but I like the grown-up as well. I think that I have definitely become more mature after taking some time away from lolita, but my blog still won't be based off of lolita. It will be based off of me. I've realized through maturing bit by bit, I can still love the things I did if I have the desire to. I know that spark inside is that desire. But I guess I wanted to make some sort of physical documentation that lolita will always be apart of me-I would like to maybe try making some designs again. I'm that Lolita Enthusiast. I'll still look at the pictures-and maybe I'm doing a little of what Avina did with Tumblog here. I'm trying to regain that spark of my love of lolita fashion (and of fashion in general) and all things pretty and beautiful- to regain that lost part of myself that I haven't seen in almost a year and to write about it and have fun with it here on my blog while at the same time writing about the other side of me-the me that I'm constantly discovering as each day passes on and that has been developing since I last posted here.