Welcome 2016

Now that we've said goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016 I am seeing a flood of updates from previous bloggers who pretty much went on hiatus mode mid year last lol. Its quite refreshing to see a more updated feed again but I wonder how long it'll last. I mean I guess I could say the same for myself LOL...not that I was ever the most active blogger either...and I'm not one for new year resolutions either...

but I guess what am I looking forward to for 2016?

Year end review of 2015

*warning super long post ahead*

We are definitely well into the way of the new year and I am still trying to play catch up on some old entries...whoops, but maybe all that will be nulled after I do this year-end review or recap of what happened n 2015. I feel I have a hard time remembering what has happened lOL and have to rely heavily on SM to remind me. Whoops. For that, I went to my twitter and IG for some good ol' recap reminders...

I feel like as with every year, when we get to the end of the year it feels like the year just flew us right by. To me, 2015 was no different. It kept me busy throughout the year with so many life events happening and a lot of waiting in preparation to bigger projects. It has definitely been a year of growth for me. I experimented and learned a lot in 2015 and have pushed myself further out to pursuing other projects and improving on my current skills and then some.

Its been a year of aesthetic discoveries and improvements if I say so myself! I spent the majority of the year glued to my sewing machine - which I felt has taken a hiatus and collected dust for the most of 2013-2014. I took up sketching even after my sketch classes finished. I probably spent more time in airports (independently) this past year than I have had in 2013-2014 combined.

I wouldn't want to say I discovered myself or anything to that extent, but it was definitely an eye opening year full of thanksgiving, long hours and gratification in the end. So lets begin with the recap!!!

Dead or Alive:: Ayane | Photoshoot

With 2015 finally coming to an end and were waiting for the big bang of 2016. I'm trying to catch up on all my post - which I might as well give up on TBH LOL

 

I don't even know if I'll be able to do a 2015 review. Though I WILL TRY ahaha. I'm definitely looking forward to 2016. Namely to a full booking for Katsucon. With this prospect looking good, I might try and head to Anime Weekend Atlanta next!

 

But before we digress any further, a throw back to the set from summer!

 

 

Lens shops that still takes Paypal!

With the sudden rise of many major circle lens store switching from NONE-paypal payment to direct credit card payment. Many people are weary about purchasing from these stores for fear of fraud charges on their accounts. And for many of us in the US our cards are held or suspended transactions until the bank hears from us saying - please process.

Heres a list of circle lens stores that still takes PayPal and I have bought from them before and haven't had any hiccups with their transactions.

 

Kawaii Love Beauty: One of the few sellers that's actually based in the US. Most of their plano lenses ship from their US warehouse but prescription lenses tends to take a while to process since they have are being shipped from another region and not in the US.

 

Limited selection of lenses but great for those who prefer gyaru style lenses. If your looking for cosplay lenses and are in a pinch, I suggest the geo tri-color series (or any of the tri color series which they do carry)

 

 

 

Kiwiberry1: I use to shop here a lot for all my lenses since their usually pretty good about promos (they do them quite often but it just basically negates the shipping charges for the most part)

processing time is average like most sellers. Same with shipping.

 

Has a good selection of lenses and carries a lot of the older lens series (staple geo series)

 

 

Love Shipping Holic: does a lot of promos and code promos if you google up bloggers.

I haven't ordered directly from them myself but have only done so through group orders.

So far so good. Has a wide selection of lenses, MAKEUP, lashes and etc!

 

Does promo for express shipping, they do ship from Malaysia I believe.

 



 

Uniqso: Another website that does alot of sponsorship with alot of bloggers, so if you just google real quick its pretty easy to find 10-15% off coupon codes from bloggers.

Another one that has a WIDE range of cosplay lenses, especially cosplay centric ones like Tokyo Ghoul and etc.

 

Also has wigs, wide range of makeup and lashes selection. Basically your one stop shop if your a cosplayer. I hear they ship faster to the EU region than they do the states. I ordered from them once and it took ave 1-2 weeks??? Shipping was DHL. 

Kantai Collection: Kancolle | Akagi 赤城 Photoshoot

 

Costume, props, photo & editing: Chris | Black Heaven
Worn by: Trish

 

Funfact: When I posted this set online, Ironically it was on 12/7...

which marked to be the 74th annv. on the attack of pearl harbor. The ship in question; the Akagi  赤城

was the flag ship that led the attack on pearl harbor.

 

Quickly following the Fire Emblem shoot we did, the girls quickly got out of costumes and switched to RWBY and League of Legends Heart Seeker Ashe but by the time they wrapped up and changed the sun had already set on us. This was a big learning curve for me to have to be forced to shoot in the dark. Again thankful to our helpers Trish and Anthony of Bits Photography for teaching me a thing or two about shooting in pitch darkness! 

C/N: xXSnowFrostXx 

We had to use our phones and flashlights to light the way for the shoot and use it to light a focal point in the cosplayers pose/costume and target our cameras at that, pray and hope we got the shot we want ahaha...trooper again to Cindy for climbing that tree trunk in heels!

I dont have any BTS to show for this one since it was nearly impossible to get any since everything was pitch black. We had 1-2 sets of slave flashes to help illuminate the set. 

 

Fire Emblem Awakening Cosplay Shoot

Its almost the end of the year and I'm trying to play catch-up to all the entry back logs I have...

Also yay updated the layout. Let me know if its annoying/bad since I know it does the pop-up thing now per page...But I digress, lets flash  back to the 'beginning of summer' LOL AKA July right after AX when my Florida bbs came and stayed with me for a few days and where we managed to do some on-location shoot for a few of their costumes. Yes!

All props and Costumes done by the lovely cosers!

Sumia - Cindy (XxSnowFrostxx @ Facebook)

Tiki - Mari  (Puri Puri Cosplay @ Facebook)

both fan-pages are linked on my FB album :D