Have you ever had one of those moments where you're just completely brought down by something? Maybe you were having an excellent day, and then you spilled hot chocolate on your new coat, or you were caught in a sudden downpour with no umbrella and your favorite print was ruined. Even something so simple as being caught without sunscreen on a trip to the beach can just put a total damper on your day- or week, or month (as you suffer with that sunburn or that chocolate stain!). So what can you do to fight it?

1. Buy yourself flowers that match your outfit
2. Have one piece that you absolutely adore, no matter how it fits or looks on you. Maybe it's a dress, or skirt, or headbow, or whatever, but it just makes you feel so amazing to wear it.
3. Buy a box of expensive truffles and a bottle of cheap white wine (/sparkling cider) and take a bubble bath.
4. Surround yourself with people who love you and who will do anything in their power to keep you out of the dumps. You know-the gal pals you can call up any day to make a sucky evening alone into a night of chick flicks or horror movies.
5. Find your "sick food." I have a certain brand of chewy chocolate chip cookies that I always buy when I'm feeling cruddy. I got a really awful cold a few years ago, and all I could drag my frilly rear out of bed for was Dimetapp, cinnamon tea with honey, and this huge bucket of cookies I got from the local supermarket. Now, whenever I'm ill or just feeling less-than-fantastic, those cookies are what I crave, and they always make me feel better about life.
6. Alternatively, learn a recipe for a baked good that you can share with people you love. Giving to others really is a fantastic mood-lifter.
7. Make yourself an "I Rock" folder on your computer. An idea I stole from my favorite business blog for crafty entrepreneurs, this is a folder on your computer that compiles all your best attributes: if I had one, it would be filled with pictures of my favorite coordinates, snapshots from outings with friends, articles that I was really proud of, and photos of my favorite creations for Amaranth Opulent. Maybe if you're an artist you could include your favorite pieces, or your favorite designs if you're a seamstress- whatever it is you do best, put it all into one place to remind yourself how much you rock.
8. Keep room in your budget for a bit of retail therapy every so often. This weekend I bought myself a cute little schedule book from Kinokuniya- it's light blue with a cute pattern on it, lots of space to jot down notes, and even a map of the Tokyo subway system, which I'm certain will prove indispensable this March!
9. Cull the unnecessary. You know what that means to you- the friend who only ever brings you down with her gossip, the slacker boyfriend, your own attempts to live up to others' expectations, or even the clothes you never wear from your wardrobe. Whatever it is that's cluttering up your mind, remove it from your life. Trust me, you'll feel so much freer after.
10. Be spontaneous. Surprise yourself. Do something on a whim that you never thought you would do. I've told the story of my tattoo a few times on here, but it dears repeating because it's the one thing I've done in my life to permanently alter it, and I couldn't be happier.

If you remember, on 12/11 I attended a vintage expo hosted by Brazen Betties Boutique as a vendor for my jewelry line. The event was wonderful! It featured a fashion show of vintage fashions/alterations and a Bettie Page look-a-like contest, and since Kayla and I were right next to the DJ's booth, we got the perfect view of everything!

Our table:

Say, Dolly!

The lovely Kayla:

Amaranth Opulent

A few of the items I sold aren't going to be actually sold at the shop- I wanted to have more things on the table that would appeal to non-lolitas, so I busted out some cute lavender-filled sachets (shaped like cupcakes and acorns) and rose rings.

What I wore:

Some of da Betties! Yep... best seat in the house... I guess not at all times! The Betties lined up right in front of our booth, completely blocking us from view for the 45 minutes or so until they got everything for the show sorted out, and they also seemed to think we were involved in the contest as they kept demanding technical answers from us. Sigh... but a few of them came back afterward to chat and look at our booth, and they were very sweet. Must have been just nerves, I guess!

A few other booths:

All in all, I'd say the vintage expo was great fun and a wonderful experience. Call me up for next year's show!

This post brought to you by Christina's apartment, Photoshop, and a lot of sugar.

On Sunday, 12/19/10,  I organized a potluck holiday crafternoon for the CT lolitas.We all arrived at my lovely ex-roomate Tina's centrally-located apartment for an afternoon of crafts, snacks, and frills. Our spread included salsa burgers, vegetarian chili (made by me!), and a crapload of sweets! I brought a bottle of sparkling apple cider, herb-infused hot apple cider, and eggnog cookies, as well as the veggie chili. There was also cinnamon-bun cookies, spice cakes, and Christmas-themed sugar cookies, as well as a few other treats. I think we ate more than we crafted, but that's kind of par for the course for me...

Group shot:

Above photo, from left: Rebecca, Lindsay, Jesi, me, and Savannah

Random shot of some of the foods:

It was so nice to see girls I haven't seen in a while! Jesi and Lindsay both go to school in Georgia, so we hopped on the chance to see them while they were home for the holidays. We vegged out, knitting, deco-ing, or making jewelry while chatting about TaoBao and our boyfriends' money habits. It was so relaxing, just hanging out with the girls!

Here's what I wore:

Rundown:

• Headbow and OP: BABY, the Stars Shine Bright
• Blouse: Innocent World
• Socks: Betsey Johnson
• Boots: Bodyline

I wanted to go for a vintage-y look, so I put my hair up into some silly curls that reminded me of pin-up hairstyles. Here's a close-up:

Speaking of hair, say goodbye to my lovely colors! I need to return to my desk job over vacation and for some of next semester, so I'm going to have to go back to natural colors. Not sure what I'll do yet- probably a nice, deep auburn. Any suggestions?

So this is one of a few holiday celebrations I've attended this year! Seeing as it's Christmas and all, I figured now would be a good time to wish you....

One of the easiest things to get for someone one doesn't know well is a dessert of some kind. Of course, you should know these people well enough to know if they have allergies or dietary restrictions, maybe their favorite type of flavors, but in my opinion, a small platter or tin of sweets is one of the best ways to say "I'm interested in getting to know you better." Since personally I've met so many new lolitas in the past few weeks, I've been thinking of fun ways I can spread the joy of the holidays with these girls without breaking the budget. So I thought, what better way than homemade treats they can share with their family and friends? And yeah, anyone can just grab a box of brownie mix or make some cupcakes- everyone knows chocolate and cake are two of a lolita's favorite things. But of course, I'm too ~unique~ to resort to such common-place confections, so here are some of my ideas for lovely little treats that are simple to make or find, ultra-loli, and oft-overlooked.

An assortment of truffles: nothing says gourmand like a truffle assortment, homemade or store-bought. For store-bought, I have a fantastic chocolatier that I visit when I need a really beautiful gift, but those things aren't cheap. Another option? Make up a batch of chocolate ganache (I almost feel silly linking to a recipe for it, it's so easy! Switch out the rum for a bit of flavored extract or butter if you avoid alcohol, but it'd really all cook out either way). Let it cool until it's almost the consistency of clay. Take a small ice cream scoop or melon-baller and scoop a few out onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet or plate and roll them in your hands until they're little rustic spheres- think of actual truffles, which are similar to mushrooms and never perfectly rotund. Your hands will heat the chocolate a bit (this is a messy job- wear gloves!); this is okay, though, because it means they'll be wet enough to roll them in something. My favorite is a nice dark cocoa powder, but you could also do finely-chopped nuts, coconut, or sprinkles. This recipe for truffles disguised as cupcakes (picture above) is almost the same idea but a little less elegant, a tad more kitschy, and a great idea for the holidays! No time or effort? You can usually pick up a nice package of truffles at your local gourmet market or even some grocery stores.

Petit Fours: The classier but oft-overlooked cousin to the cupcake. You can buy these at some bakeries, but an easy way to make these teatime staples is to make a sheet cake (make cake batter, pour onto greased & floured sheet pan instead of a cake pan or cupcake tins), then cutting the large cake into small one-inch squares. Thin cakes can be layered two or three tall and frosted (it'd be especially tasty with lemon curd or jam between the layers), or thicker ones can be covered in icing or fondant themselves. I always think these should come in delicate flavors, like lavender or green tea, but a simple chocolate cake mix would be lovely as well.

Think past the macaron for exquisite french desserts. Palmiers are a relatively simple treat for beginner bakers, croissants aren't too hard, and for you pros out there, try dabbling in eclairs, cream puffs, or anything that uses Pâte à Choux. Not only will this be marvelously impressive for your new friends or meetup attendees, but it may be an excellent opportunity to learn and teach something new and fun about another culture, especially one so prominent in lolita as the French.

Not French? No problem! Ethnic holiday cookies such as Pfeffernusse or Chrusciki, of which my mother makes a Hungarian version every year, are great ways to share your culture or try out a new one. Almost every country that celebrates a winter holiday has a traditional cookie recipe- look one up and give it a whirl! Try to put your own spin on it, too- for example, I once had Pfeffernusse that were covered in powdered sugar that had been infused with chai tea, and my mother's version of Chrusciki (which has been handed down through the family and we all only call "Hungarian Cookies") uses a filling of apricot or prune jam, both of which are traditional flavors of the motherland.

Redefine a box of chocolates: Choices for this abound- either go to the store and buy a whole bunch of different candies like jordan almonds and other minis, or try to recreate your favorite childhood memory. Make homemade peanut butter cups, peppermint patties, chocolate-covered strawberries, nuts, or pretzels, cherry cordials, or caramels.  Protip: anything with chocolate will become rich and indulgent with a dash of instant coffee or espresso powder, and caramel goes amazingly with sea salt- fleur de sel if you can manage it!


Sweet treats as holiday gifts are really nothing new- my boyfriend's mother is notorious for making huge platters of Christmas cookies for everyone she knows (seriously, huge- at least two feet across, and usually way bigger! Her kitchen is a designated cookie factory starting this week). It's no surprise- the holidays are a time to show people you care about them, and what a way to show your love for a friend or your eagerness for friendship with a new acquaintance. Honestly, if I had the time, money, and skill to bake or cook all of my holiday gifts, I would be all over it, because I feel like it's such a thoughtful way to show someone you've been thinking of them. These also would make such a sweet contribution to a potluck holiday meetup! Either way, baking and creating comforting foods is so wonderfully suited to the holidays- especially in my area, where we're sometimes lucky if the temperatures get above freezing this time of year; nothing sounds better than spending the day in front of a warm oven or stove, sipping hot chocolate while icing petit fours or stirring ganache into concoctions to brighten the dark, cold winter of those I care about.

Mori-Girl is becoming a bigger and bigger obsession of mine now that the colder months are unarguably upon the Northern Hemisphere. All I want right now is... well, a mug of frothy hot chocolate, but fashion-wise, I would be ecstatic to be covered in furs, knits, and thick wool tights. Many lolitas also wear mori-girl style (in my opinion, because a fashion about comfort is a welcome break from petticoats and corsets), but for those of us who don't, never fear! Here are a few ideas on how to have a very Mori winter:

♥Instead of decorating your door with a wreath, tie some pine boughs together with twine and hang that out instead.

♥If you celebrate Christmas (or even if not!), surprise your family this year by baking a bouche de noel. It's a chocolate rolled cake usually filled with chocolate mousse and decorated like a log, complete with wood grain and often little mushrooms or leaves made out of marzipan or meringue.

♥When I think of the holidays, I think of things that smell delicious and remind me of Christmases past. Buy a wax or oil burner and a scent like pine or cinnamon to scent your whole house all season long.

♥Wear your hair in looped braids, or if that doesn't work, braid pieces of ribbon or twine together and wear them as accoutrements- belts, chokers, or bracelets.

♥Pin some pine in your hair like people do with flowers in the summer. A small twig would be very pretty and smell lovely, but be careful of sap!

♥Speaking of scents, switch out your perfume for something earthy or crisp, scented with musk, amber, or bergamot.

♥Mori-girl is inconic for understated makeup, so instead of pink lip gloss and porcelain-doll blush, try a berry-colored lipstain or lip shimmer, that will hardly even look like makeup - something that will make you look flushed, like you've just come from a snowy sleigh ride.

♥Please, give your numb toes a rest from over-the-top heels! Find yourself a nice pair of tall brown boots lined with faux fur. I got mine at a vintage store in NYC, and I basically live in them as soon as there's the slightest nip in the air.

♥Knit earmuffs are really big this season. I've seen them in plaid, heart-print, and even with huge 3-D roses attached to them! Get some in brown or beige, lined with fleece or faux fur.

♥Take a walk in the woods while reading Robert Frost, a perennial favorite here in New England. If you've never heard of him, he popularized the saying "the road less traveled by" in one of his famous poems. For winter, "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" is just too perfect.