06-18-14 Outfit Of The Day and Mini Haul!

Hello Lovelies~

 Just the other day I caught a wonderful sale while out shopping with my friend Al. I love a good sale and I can never pass up clothes that are 50% off clearance! If you follow me on Instagram you'll remember having seen the new skirt I got a week or so ago and I finally got to wear it!

I didn't know how I was going mix it in with my clothes. I mean, most of the stuff I own just doesn't go with Hot Pink and Leopard Print, but I fell love with this skirt the moment I laid eyes on it and just had to have it.

 So before I show you what I got yesterday, I'm going to show off the evolution of my outfit!


If I hadn't been taking pictures, I'd have just settled with draft of the outfit. It's not bad, but Not good at all. I thought the pinks would go and be cute together and in the mirror it was! But on film....not so much. So off with the shirt.

 NEXT!

Then I thought a solid colored shirt would work well, but seems I've lost enough weight that this shirt now looks frumpy on me and tucking it in looked worse. Not to mention that it made the skirt, which I wanted to highlight, just ...There and rather be the star of the show, it looked out of place, so this too was rejected.

 NEXT!!!

Whoever 'They' are, they're right. Third time's a charm and I really loved this final product. In the beginning I was worried about mixing my patterns, seeing as the Putumayo top had pink and grey stripes and a decal, but the mixed well and I felt awesome.

 While it's not my normal frills, super dressy or casual, I loved it and even wore my Metamorphose headbow to tie it all together.

I truly felt like I could've been in a 'Kera' street snap yesterday. It's not pictured, but after I found the right outfit, I did do my makeup, but it's wasn't wild or crazy, just simple and done with pinks ^_~

Top: Putumayo
Skirt: City Streets
Pants: Yoga pants (No idea where I got them)
Shoes: Black Mary Janes (Got them at DSW)
Headbow: Metamorphose
Necklace: No idea (It was a gift)


 I don't have a lot of money coming in right now, so to feed my shopping habit, which I usually keep a very tight reign on, I have been shopping at the local 'Second Life' shop for 'On Trend' type clothing called 'Plato's Closet'.

When I first heard of them, years ago, I was much to big to even fit the occasional 2X the sell there, but No I am wearing 1X-2X and am very please with myself and can now browse with my friend and don't just dream of wearing the cute clothes I find.

 Here is what I found this time!

This Top is originally from Forever 21. It's a 3X, but their sizes run small and for $3, marked down from $6, I figured why not?

 It's soft and flowy. Half cotton, Half chiffon, and poka-dots! How cute!

My favorite part is the Peter Pan type collar and the gold rimmed buttons. This can be worn for casually, on an interview, or even a date. The designer of this shirt really did a great job.

Next is this super cute gold skirt. It's on an elastic band that's shot through with gold threads and the whole thing bounces and has great movement. I tried it on when I bought my pink skirt, but passed it up due to budget.

 This skirt was originally $8. I bought it for $4, only to find out it had it's original tag on it and was first bought for $44! This was an AWESOME deal!

And finally we come to my impulse buy. Anyone who knows me knows I carry my life with me in my purse. The bigger the better! But when checking out I looked over and saw this beauty and just knew I had to have it!

 Originally sold for $8, I bought it for $4 and it's so pretty! It'll go very nicely with a Hime outfit I've been buying pieces for for a year or so now.

 And that's it for my Mini Haul!

 All together I spent $11.45 and I think it was well spent. I am so excited to add these to my collection of Non-Lolita, But Still Cute! clothes.

Thanks for reading! Make sure to stay in touch!

Facebook : Kathleen Sweitzer
Twitter: Angelshinigami
Instagram : Rosesandcream
Tumblr : Livinglolita

Life Update and International Lolita Day rundown!

Hello Lovelies~

 May is gone, June is here, and things have changed once more for me, which is why I disappeared through the month of flowers. I have moved once more and am now living with a good friend of mine and watching her little girl for the summer. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you're sure to see her in the background of some on my pictures. The girl isn't just a Ham, she's the whole Christmas Dinner.

I'm writing again. I joined and RP last year and recently stopped lurking an joined in the fun. Now all of my literary creative juices are flowing and I feel so energized it's kind of crazy. But that might also be because Summer is here and I love summer.

 Swimming, sun, cooking out. What's not to love? This is the perfect season to scale back the layers and bean the rules till they melt in the heat. Casual Lolita is easier to do in the summer and it's even ok to rock the short styled skirt that AP promotes from collection to collection when the print suits.

The Dark Eye Shadow Tutorial I promised is on it's way, along with a Makeup Brush Deco tutorial I promised a lovely reader who asked for it in the Comment Box on the side bar to the right. Though if you comment or ask questions with that, please remember to put the title of the post in there some how. I discovered the hard way that it is a direct link to me, but is an independent widget, thus it isn't connected to the Post at all, but to the Blog itself.

 ^-^; Silly me, but you live and learn.

Yesterday was International Lolita Day! (YAY!!!!) I hope ya'll had fun and did something to celebrate, even if it was just something small like wearing a bow and curling your hair or wearing Mary Janes when you usually wear sneakers or something.

 I happened to be invited to the Zoo though a strange conversation that started off as plans for other people, then morphed into combined plans, then different plans, then just all types of plans were made! But the Zoo plans fell perfectly.

When I got dressed I hadn't planned on rain, but by the time we got to the Zoo it was Pouring! It cleared up later in the day, but still. Rain on ILD.

  It was a good thing I brought one of my parasols. If you ever get a chance to get one, I recommend it. Especially one that can double as an umbrella. They are so useful for zoo trips. 7 hours in and out of the sun and I am not burned any more than I was the day before.

We didn't see everything, our Zoo is huge! But we got a good bit accomplished and even got to ride the carousel! No pictures sadly, my phone died in the middle of the trip, but I did get tons of pictures in the aquarium! FISH!!

 All of those will be a separate post. I took lots of pictures there. ^-^;

And we rode the train around the back half to see even more animals, because I don't think we'd have made it if we'd have been walking with four kids, a stroller and a wagon, each containing a child and food. o.o

 The day was finished off with an early birthday celebration for my lovely roommate. We had Pork Ribs smoked to perfection with mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, grilled Asparagus, and grilled pineapple (of which I only had one small square to try, but didn't eat more so I could avoid my stupid allergy from kicking in, despite the Grilled Pineapple being one of the more delicious things ever!)

I had a blast and it was a wonderful way to celebrate ILD. I now have wonderful new memories and stories to tell.

Now on to my outfit for the day!

I only got Selfies of myself through the day, so this photo was taken later.

Dress: Metamorphose
Socks: Metamorphose
Shoes: Off-Brand but Cute As Hell
Headbow: Metamorphose
Parasol: Metamorphose (Not pictured)

 Yes, this is an outfit you've seen me in before, but It's super comfortable for a day out and about and walking and this time, rather than adding the two Petticoats I usually wear with all of my dresses, I went without it as this dress has a built in petti.

This is an older dress, so it has a traditional Old School feel to it, shape and colors, but I love it. I have a large chest, 50" inches and it could go at least four inches larger. I love Meta dresses for this reason.


I've always had a thing for fish. Aquariums are my favorite attraction of anywhere I go, but after reading and watching 'Princess Jellyfish' I have come to appreciate Jellies all the more. So I took a picture with one!

More Jellyfish pictures later, but for now. Thanks for reading! Follow me on all of my social networking sites for more pictures, updates, and faster updates. I am even posting on my Tumblr now! But that is more for my Everything I think is awesome moods, including Shows I'm watching, Fics I'm reading, Geeky memes I find funny, Stuff like that.

 Let me know in the comments below what you did for ILD! (Even if you just took a Nap ^_^ ) Happy Monday!

Facebook: Kathleen Sweitzer (please message with 'Sweet and Simple' so I know to add you)
Instagram: Rosesandcream
Twitter: Angelshinigami
Tumblr: livinglolita

LBC : Next On Your Lolita Wishlist

Hello Lovelies~

 "What's Next on Your Lolita Wishlist?" Is this week's Lolita Blog Carnival topic. I wasn't going to participate this week, due to trying to finish up a DIY project for a Friday post, but I pushed the DIY post to Sunday and am excited to show ya'll the Print I'm so in love with.

From the wonderful mind of one of my favorite American Designers, Elegy from Elegyclothing.com, I present to you the Delicacy and Decay Print.

 This is a pretty basic White and Black or Black and White mirror print. It comes in both an OP and a JSK. I like the JSK version myself as I feel it gives more shape to the body.

Moths, rather than butterflies, gives this print a distinctly Classic Southern Gothic feel. And the raw rough edges to the ruffles is a nice touch. It feels both structures and deconstructed. It's so wonderful and I think this print would be a wonderful new touch to my wardrobe.

D and D JSK ~ $185 - $200 (White or Black, I love both!)

Delicate Peignoir ~ $35 - $40

 

Darling Blouse ~ $65 - $70

Headbow ~ $25

So this is next on my Wishlist! I just love this print and can't wait to have it in my closet....at some point.

 If you liked seeing my Wishes, check out my Blogging Sisters from the LBC below ~

A Little Bit Of This.....

Northern Star

Buttcape

Lolita Glamour

Toothless Tigers

Mcduff's Auditorium

 

DIY Cute Studded Shorts (Tutorial sort of)

Hello Lovelies~

 I know it's November, but in some parts of the world it's warm and I'm dreaming of warm wind and sunshine. A friend of mine, while doing massive amounts of laundry, for a pair of old shorts and asked if I wanted them.

Free shorts? You Bet!

 Now I've had a bunch of light pink studs I've been holding on to since studding came into fashion, but I had yet to find just the right thing to use them on, until now that is.

Step one ~ Lay out your materials. All you need is what you want to stud and the studs. Super Easy!

Step Two~ Choose your design.

 I went with a heart on one pocket and I played around with designs for the other....

Step Three ~ Push the studs through the fabric of your chosen project and carefully fold over the prongs. This was the hardest part of the whole thing. To fold over the prongs, use something heavy and solid. I used a unopened soda can.

 I don't have pictures of this process because I honestly forgot to take them. But I'm sure Youtube has a few good videos on how to do it.

In the end, this is what I chose. The studding was very hard work, but it was well worth it. It's an adorable look that I feel great when wearing.

I really liked doing this. It was so much fun!

 Thanks for reading!!!

Gruesome Tooth-some! Welcome to Octomber!

Hello Lovelies~

 Welcome to October and the countdown to Halloween!!!!! This year I want to do one craft and one costume a week to celebrate! I may even throw in a recipe here or there.

This month is a bit hectic for me, personally, so I'm trying to set a blog schedule and Stick With It!.....But ya'll know how good I am at that ...>_>.....yeah....But! In Honor of it being the 1st, I thought I'd kick this month off right with a costume idea!!!

 Macabre Tooth Fairy

This is something I actually really want to do this year.

 Elegy, one of my favorite American Lolita Brands, has come out with a new print depicting Teeth! It's called 'Conncinous Crowns', and it's rather startling at first, but it calls to my inner goth girl who still loves Victorian medical drawings and anatomy sketches.

 

If I get nothing else from this collection, I need this tote. It's so creepy and cool! I must must must have it in my life!!! And for $50, I think I can swing it.

 But this is the outfit I would want to wear as the Macabre Tooth Fairy. Add to it the Tooth Badge and crown....maybe made of teeth.  o.o.... How cool would that be?

A good pair of wings, bloody gauze wrapped around your mouth with small drips trailing down your chin under it, as if all of your teeth had been pulled and you were now collecting teeth from other people to replace them or even out of rage for your teeth being taken, and a pair of lightly bloodied pliers.

 How awesome would that costume be?!

 Anybody already got their costume all planned out? If so, what are you going to be? If not, do you have a dream costume? I'd Love to hear all about them!!!

Thanks for reading!

 Kat


 

Pictures from My Birthday Party!!

Hello Lovelies~

 My birthday was this week and I had a lovely day full of Impressionist art and Dr. Seuss. My favorite artist has always been and always will be Degas. For the first time, I actually got to see a Degas close enough to see the lightening of the upward strokes on his sketches.

Romantic.....Elegant.....soft, but strong....I could've stared at those sketches and paintings for the rest of my life and still not seen enough of them. There were other artists represented there of course, but Degas was the main reason I wanted to see the Exhibit.

 It was amazing to see the what each individual was going though by just the stroke of the brush. The amount of paint used. Even by how many colors used within the composition itself.

I can't say this exhibit changed my life. But I can say that after seeing these amazing works of art, my world out look will never be the same. I hope to keep the lessons I learned from the quite whispers in my heart forever.

 Unfortunately, I can't tell you the secrets the canvases wrote upon my heart. You will simply have to see them for yourself and learn your own truths.

 Friday I held a party as my actual birthday fell of Tuesday and I know very few people who actually want to party and stay up late in the middle of the week.

The day started with my very dear friend coming over to help set up for the party. She wasn't able to stay for long, but I really enjoyed getting to spend time with her.

She made cookies, chocolate doughnuts, and muffins. She even brought cream cheese frosted brownies! They were so yummy!

Mum and I made Cheeseburger balls. But they weren't so 'ball' like. But darn they were SO good!

 I missed pictures of people as they arrived, So I missed out on getting pictures of friends I hadn't seen is nearly forever! I'm sad I didn't but I know I'll have opportunities at another point in time.

(To everyone not shown who attended, I hope you know how much I love you! )

The next pictures are from somewhere in the middle of the night.

Look at this purse!!! I love it SO much!! Tabby, my darling friend above, got it for me and I have now transferred everything from my old purse into it.

Above is Al, she is so much fun and bubbly! I WISH I had gotten a picture of her outfit and her shoes. Oh my lord her shoes were amazing! Purple Suede four inch pumps paired with charcoal grey tights and a simple black sheath dress and black wool jacket with black leather accents. I loved it.

  Here she is modeling a pair of Gendo Ikari glasses I've had for about ever.

She got me the most adorable Teapot and yummy smelling Afternoon Tea blend.

And it was all wrapped in this Gorgeous pink shawl shot through with got thread.

Miss Jenee is the most amazing free spirit I've ever met. She is the one who encourages me to be more bold, even if she doesn't know it.  ^_^

Her hair was done so beautifully. I forgot to ask if her hair band was handmade, but it was very cute.

Below is the best gift!! The bow is not only a hair accessory, but a broach!

And inside was this SUPER cute bracelet she made herself! I love the large crystals. It's such a heavy bracelet, but it rattles and shakes and is so perfect.

Below is the Unforgettable C.J. . He's always the life of a party. He sure did bring something to the gathering!

C.J. Being evil about putting vegetables in Tabby's tea. It is one of my favorite memories!

 The vegetables in the tea happen to be Zucchini, Cucumber, Carrot, and a tomato. The tea itself is Pineapple and Blueberry. ....He said it was good. I didn't try it to find out.

And that was my birthday! I had so much fun and I hope the next year is full of just as much laughter and love.

Thanks for reading and sharing another birthday with me!

 

LBC : The Non Lolita Style I've Fallen In Love With

Hello Lovelies~

  I love the Fashion of Lolita. So do you, or you wouldn't have stumbled across my blog and kept coming back ^_~*  But while Lolita may consume most of our waking fashion thoughts it's not the only style between the glossy pages we flip though, no matter the language of our chosen 'zines.

I know girls who are hard core 'Lolita-is-my-life-nothing-else-matters-or-exists-in-the-whole-wide-world YAR~~~~!!!' types and good for them. But Me? Yes, I am a Lolita. It's who I am at my core. But that doesn't mean I'm going to spend my life wearing only over the knee socks and praying to the border print gods to grant me one more release of 'Sugary Carnival'.

I want to experience everything Fashion can hand up, from the insanity that is Alexander McQueen, to the elegant, kawaii, sensuality that is Liz Lisa!

 So without further Ado, here is the style I've been enthralled with lately!

Hime-Gyaru


I think the thing that draws me to this fashion is the hair. It's so.....big~! And no one looks at you weird for wearing a tiara.

 I think Hime Gyaru and Women from Texas have the same philosophy. The bigger the hair, the closer to whatever god you happen to believe in.

The dresses fall above the knees, the dresses are usually made in soft pastel colors or black and whites. Fur, Pearls, Lace, Chiffon, anything luxurious and over the top goes. Open toe shoes as low as mules and as high as stilettos are often seen on these girls feet.

The main brand catering to the Hime Gyaru girls is La Parfait. La Parfait is the brand you see in most of the pictures below.

If I were to ever wear another style other than Lolita, it would be this one!

 Enjoy the Pictures below. I found all of them on Google Images.

What's that you say? It's so close to Lolita there isn't much of a leap? Well. You'd be right. But what I love about Hime Gyaru is that it's feminine and sexy, but still cute and girly and makes you feel like a princess!

 So that's the Non Lolita Style I've fallen in love with lately. What styles have caught your attention? I'd love to hear about them below or Through Facebook where I can actually message you back ^_^

Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed this post, please check out the other articles from the other LBC girls.


ABC-Lolita

Derpland

Kira Kira Shoujo

Masquerade Doll

A Sweet Lolita's Disney Life

Lace-A-La-Mode

Her Curious Elegance