Life and Times of SmallRiniLady

Farewell Latte

2010-11-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

To My Dear Latte,
You have been through 3 cons, several surgeries, and 2 amputations. But there comes a time in which I must put you to rest. Farewell my beloved, I will miss you.

Happy Kinect Day

2010-11-04T10:08:00.001-07:00

As a developer on the Xbox Live team I would like to take this opportunity to advertise about Kinect. Today it Launches!!!! The first Gaming Console to bring you Controller-less gaming. Wait that's incorrect. There is a controler and that's YOU, the human.

GO PLAY AND DANCE

it's been too long

2010-10-20T09:26:00.001-07:00

I feel the need to say something
because i've been to lazy to post here.

Posts that I have missed but may still do

New House

Trip to Europe I guess i'm ok with this one cause it wasn't too long ago and i'm still waiting for the photos to come to me from crystal

Moogle Hat

2010-06-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

I didn't know what to do with some of my Top Hats so I decided to make a Cosplay adaptation (since those darn fleece hats are so popular).

Here is my first Cosplay Adaptation Top Hat

I got my Wish

2010-05-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

Today is the launch of the new Microsoft KIN

http://www.kin.com/

It's a social networking phone, but I think it's a bit of a unit tasker. Anyways since I do work at the Entertainment and Devices group at Microsoft I decided to check out their launch party, to try out the Kin and see if there is any good swag or snacks. What presented to me was a Ball Pit (well besides other stuff). I wanted to play, but no one was playing and my friend said after her (30+ minute) wait for a t-shirt. Whatever back to work I go, until i heard. "Try to win a free KIN, gather around the BALL PIT" and U-turn i go.

One Two GO. Dive right into the ball pit with a skirt on (I mean head first, no toe jumping, just immediate) and find 1 of 5 balls. You can see where this is going. I got one of them, which lead to the second contest of find 1 of 2 balls (between the 5 contestants that one the first round). So once again ONE TWO GO, i did a twirl dive landing on my back (no worries no hurt when i fall into this pit) and well i didn't win, but I did win a 12 Month Subscription to the Zune Marketplace. I'll give that to BT since I gave him the Zune I won a few months back. They should match nicely.

Not that I wanted a Kin or a Zune pass, but I just got to play in the Ball Pit :)

Next Set of Ideas

2010-04-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, it's all over and I've already got so many new ideas?

TianZi from Code Geass (I hope she shows up in the third season, or i might just change it to something else even though i'm 70% done)

SailorV, the prequel to Sailor Moon

Belldandy in her battle outfit from the Ah My Goddess Movie

Clover

KagaMiku from Lucky Star when Kagami cosplays Volcaliod Miku

And of course to resuse the box I'm deciding between Hinaichigo and Suigintou for Rozen Maiden

I'll probebly do Hinaichigo, becayse Suigintou doesn't have a box in the anime (but apparently they speak of her box in the manga)

SakuraCon Cosplays

2010-04-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Case for Suiseki (Rozen Maiden)

Melin from Card Captor Sakura (and friend Sam as Syaoran)

SakuraCon 2010 Mascot (and original character designer)

Harley Quinn from Batman Arkham Asylum

Suiseki having lunch in her suitcase (Rozen Maiden)
Apparently this is a really popular picture cause it makes up 70% of all the pictures I can find of myself in any SakuraCon 2010 photo album

Serah and Snow from Final FantasyXIII

Cooking Mama and Harvest Moon (with friend Belinda)

Ciel (girl) and Ciel (Boy) from Kuroshitsuji
I made both outfits
with friend Belinda

Mario Maids
I made both outfits
Friend Belinda made the stuffed objects

SakuraCon 2010 SmallRiniLady Cosplay Awards

2010-04-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Sexiest duet

Best Pokemon

Best crossplay

Best vocaloid

Cutest lolita group

Best American Cosplay

Cutest chibi cosplayer

Sexist Cosplay

Coolest non-anime related cosplay

Most accurate cosplay

Funniest Cosplay (Lady Gaga)

Most prettiest cosplay

Coolest Sailor Moon cosplay

Cutest Pair

Best Photo Op

Best Cosplaying Cosplayer

Best Wig

cutest cosplay

coolest game character

Best Cosplay

Sakura Con Cosplay Ideas Revised

2010-03-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Because of ADNILEB bah, she's coming home to join me for SakuraCon she made my head explode. Bad thing to do cause i go crazy insane. SCARY suddenly my cosplay list ballooned, I have become a cosplaying sewer on crack, wait no on speed. Ideas bubbling out of my head through my hands. What does this mean? We might have more cosplays to cosplay than time to cosplay. WoHA HA HA HA HA AH AHA HA.

Ok revised list for

MY CHARCTERS I WILL BE COSPLAYING

Anime Series: Rozen Maiden
Character Name: Suiseiseki
Completion: 100%
Note: Prop is a suitcase

Anime: Cardcaptor Sakura
Character Name: Meilin Rae 李苺鈴
Completion: 100%
Note: Part of a cosplay group

Convention: SakuraCon
Character Name: Mascot 2010
Completion: 100%
Note: For the Deivant page for the artist http://chibi-rera.deviantart.com/

Game Series: Final Fantasy XIII
Character Name: Serah Farron
Completion: 100%

Anime Series: Kuroshitsuji
Character Name: Ciel Phantomhive (girl)
Completion: 100%
Note: Will be partnering with the boy version of this character

Game Series: Mario
Character: Lolita Maid Mario
Completion: 20%
Note: Original Parody of character

Picture: N/A

Game Series: Cooking Mama
Character Name: Mama
Completion: 10% (but I'm not taking care of this, someone else will)

Brand Series: Tokidoki
Character: Latte
Completion: 100%
Note: This will be a stuff animal backpack

OK SECOND LIST OF COSPLAYS MAKING FOR FRIENDS

Anime Series: Kuroshitsuji
Character Name: Ciel Phantomhive (boy)
Completion: 70%
Note: Will be partnering with the girl version of this character

Game Series: Final Fantasy XIII
Character Name: Lightning
Completion: 100% (may cosplay incomplete)

Anime Series: Xxxholic
Character: Rain Spirit
Completion: 90% (repairs to old cosplay need to be made)
Note: Repeat cosplay from last year

Anime Series: Moyashimon
Character: Yeast
Completion: 80%
Note: Making about a hundred of these characters and covering my friend in them

Game Series: Luigi
Character: Lolita Maid Luigi
Completion: 20%
Note: Original Parody of character

Picture: N/A

Brand Series: Tokidoki
Character: Rice Milk
Completion: 100%
Note: This will be a stuff animal backpack

Let's Bing Moyoshimon

2010-03-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

For SakuraCon my friend (who works at Bing) is going to be covered in Moyoshimon Yeast. We needed to get a t-shirt to glue all the characters on and thought of just using a Bing shirt. Well one idea lead to another idea and we ended up with this. This is going to be our t-shirt design.

Second Tokidoki Bag

2010-03-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

My friend told me that she's coming to SakuraCon (and is now my cosplay partner) so I had to make her a TokiDoki backpack to pair up with

Tokidoki Backpack

2010-03-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

So previously I was thinking of doing a Tokidoki cosplay for sakuracon, but it's too much work for a costume that won't be so impressive.

But I still made the sick kick, cause it was too cute to pass up, and I made him into a backpack so I can use it all the time instead of a mismatching purse.

So maybe it won't be matching of my cosplay but it will be so cute that people might want a photo of it anyways.

Look it even has a zipper so it reallllllly works for storage.

Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010

2010-02-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

Our Tickets, I bought them off a coworker who bought way too many tickets and only wanted to keep his Men's Hockey tickets. These are two Women's Hockey tickets and we were lucky for it to be later scheduled for a Canada game wohoo!

Went to visit my Aunt and Uncle before the game. My Aunt took my hat from me to try on.

We went to Vancouver Waterfront to go see the Olympic Cauldron, what an unpretty fence in the way.

On our way to the hockey game.

Ok can't skip the Mascots

I snuck a peak to see what the Media Seats look like (before the game started)

Oh the Slavoski team is coming out for their warm up period

That's the Vancouver Olympic logo, it's suppose to be rocks piled up to form a human shape

Canada warming up too

Olmypic Fags hang from above

Look the Players took a picture with me, well sortof

"With Glowing Hearts" the theme? base of Canada's anthem

Slavoski Lineup announced

Three nets?

Zambonis!!!!! they excite me

What a good gardener, he's watering the ice

Lineup / Faceoff

Wait for it . . . Wait for GO

Where's Quatchi?

Go Go Go

Who lost their hockey stick?

GOAL!

GOAL for the French Canadians

Go Go Go

7-0 First period. So sad, people started clapping for the SVK team by now when they made a good save or tried to score. "We applaud you for a Good Job for Good Effort"

Sea of RED fans

Canada's Goalie

Where's Miga

More Action

Final score 18-0

It was actually kinda a boring game, no competiton . . .

Good Job everyone

Look closely and you can see Quatchi on the SVK Goalie's helmet

McDonals Collectables!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Note to Self: Make Hat for Emily

2010-01-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

Occasionally you'll find these notes to self throughout my blog. These are basically as they claim to be, notes to self. Things that don't get lost on a specific computer and browser's Favorite's list, or in an email, or on a piece of paper.

Note to self. Make this hat for Emily, use the same coloUr scheme.

More information can be found at this site http://www.cute-plush.com/sadcathat.htm%22

Getting Ready for the Olympics

2010-01-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

I love the Olympics and the winter Olympics are only 3 hours away from me this year and from my home country CANADA!! So I've got tickets to go see the Women's Ice Hockey game Canada VS Sloviakia (where's that?). I'm geared up with the Mascot stuff animals, clothing, and now my home made fleece hat. It's going to be cold in the ice area.

Sakura Con Cosplay Ideas

2010-01-24T12:25:00.000-08:00

Original Design
Completion: 5%
Just an excuse to wear some AWESOME wings

Anime: Cardcaptor Sakura
Character Name: Meilin Rae 李苺鈴
Japanese Anime Release Date: 1998
American Anime Release Date: 1999
Age: 10
Completion: 0%

I've got the Height Covered, the Black Hair, and the Chinese appearence.
I'm doing her as part of a cosplay group

Game Series: Batman Arkham Asylum
Character Name: Harley Quinn
Japanese Release Date: Jan 2010
American Release Date: Aug 2009
Completion: 90% Complete
Prop: Gun, it will be steampunked for my own personal glee.

She's a villan that works for the Joker

Game Series: Final Fantasy XIII
Character Name: Lightning
Japanese Release Date: Dec 2009
American Release Date: March 2010
Completion: 90%
Prop: Blaze Edge that is a combination of a gun and a sword, I will be doing the sword version

Sakura Con Mascot 2010
Release Date: April 2009
Completion: 97%
I got 360 sketches from the original artist.

For the Deivant page for the artist http://chibi-rera.deviantart.com/

Anime Series: Rozen Maiden
Character Name: Suiseiseki
Japanese Manage Release Date: 2004
Prop: Giant Suitcase
Completion: 100%

NEW COSPLAY IDEA

Series: Tokidoki
Character Name: Mozzarella
Release Date: July 2008
Prop: Gun and Milk box side kick
Completion: 0%

Craft Tags

2010-01-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at Tags. I am quite proud of what I got. Because it was a part of a present and I had two ideas I really liked I ended up doing them back to back. I couldn't link the chain to the hole so I burnt the edges which ended up looking very cool.

Sadden by Bad Cosplay Pictures

2010-01-18T12:29:00.000-08:00

So through my 7 years of Cosplaying I have learned to make better and better outfits. May I say I've impressed myself, yea sure there's still a little duct tape here and there, but it's still hidden that people don't know. But even though I make these awesome Cosplay outfits, and have learned how much difference a good wig makes, I've yet to master the art of photography.

I've always been envious of good, no great cosplay photos. It's not just the photo but the background as well that is a part of the picture. It turns it from costuming to a story. It really hit me when I wanted to join this Deviant group TheCosplayGroup but reading through their rules it says that cosplayers may submit their "BEST" work. This means people have to self judge if their work is quality or crap. They can't flood the gates with photos just to get publicity but have to pick their prime photos to submit and go through an approval process.

That's when I look at my own pictures. My costumes look great, but

The Con people in the background
The bad photographer that just crops you out
Photos in the toilet room? what was I thinking?
Bad lighting
And Awkward poses, ok I don't know how to model, I need to work on this one

This is what I'm going after
Good Poses, Good Lighting, Awesome Background.

Something my friend Hannah tried to teach me last year, but I just didn't understand until she was gone and I saw the pictures she took of me. She annoyed the crap out of me when taking a million pictures, but now I understand how it was soooo worth it.

Playing with my Layout

2010-01-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

So I'm starting to customize my Blog to be more me, none of that template stuff. Ok so I"m working with a template to start but i'm adjusting the graphics and CSS (woo a coding term) so that it's more me. But I'm not for sure what kind of style I want it yet. I'm thinking Gothic Lolita, so pink with Black Lace feel. But I dont want to steal any graphics I want to make my own. Oh this is going to be an interesting challenge I haven't played with Graphics in quite a while. So I got this cute Idea but couldn't figure out which to pick. It seems the coloUr scheme for my gothic lolita gives a bit of a headache, the softer coloUrs look nicer. Although for now I"ll leave it this way and work on this more later.

This Blog editor is really bugging me, especially playing with the photos. I dont want to hand edit all the HTML though, too lazy.

Vancouver Eating Tour

2010-01-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

So a huge group of chinese friends from Seattle decided to go to Vancouver (Canada) for boxing day weekend and hang out. Well of course it turned into this giant eating fest with a bit of extra shopping and ice skating.

1 - We started off with Dim Sum in Richmond. A popular well known place of Sun Sui Wah. Some extra locals joined us for this meal. Rice noodle rolls, shirmp dumplings, BBQ pork steam buns, egg tarts, spare ribs, sticky rice, chicken feet, spring rolls,

2 - Costco, you'd be suprised about how many of us wanted to go to Costco. Ok besides the costco walking we did try the Poutine while there. What is this Poutine you ask? It's French Fries, with Gravy, and Cheese Curds (like fresh mozzarella). We wanted to order it to try since it's very Canadian and not American at all. LOL ok anyways half the people didn't eat it cause they were too full from Dim Sum. It was quite good except way to salty for my taste. We did have pictures of it but I"ll spare people from having to see John being Fed by Yu-Hong. Yu-Hong have to demonstrate the perfect way to eat Poutine. um yes it was a very humorous thing to watch.

3 - Headed over to Aberdeen Mall to kill some time and load up on that Tawainese popular drink of Bubble Tea from the food court. Ok not everyone actually got tea or bubbles in their drinks, but we all got things to drink. We were humoured by some of these ridiculous (and some times not funny) tops to the drinks.

3.5 - Being Sammy I went to the toy store and bought a blind box toy. Fitting the theme I got a Kirby with a chef's hat and fry pan.

4 - Hong Kong treat of Bubble Waffles (雞蛋仔) All crispy and hot. YUM. We also go deep fried chicken wings, but yea deep fried chicken wings all look the same (but do not all taste the same)

5 - So while ice skating, a few decided to go to Tim Hortons since I kept mentioning how it was Canadian. Did I forget to mention while at Tim Hortons you should try a Donut, or more specifically a TimBit. Whoops they came back with just coffee and no donut. No photo becuase I was busy Ice Skating. Oh ok I'll add a picture of me Ice Skating. OutDoors (covered). In Robson Square.

6 - Ok in the afternoon we hit Robson more for IceSkating. and JAPADOGs!!! Oh yea some people went to TIm Hortons cause they knew it was Canadian, yet they failed to try a donut. Whoops, I guess I should have told them before they headed off. Anyways JapaDogs are these Hot Dogs (sliced up to let more sauce oooze around) topped off with Japanese condimenets. Some people think it's just a tourist location cause lots of stars and travel show people have come by here, but I know a bunch of locals who do enjoy it as well. Ok it's a little expensive, and we did have to wait in TWO separate lines for over 10 minutes each line to actually get our dogs, but I thought it was yummy and well worth it.

7 - Ok I decided to explain Blenz to people as a Canadian Starbucks, ok it wans't quite, but it's trying to become one. Anyways hung out there for a while as we waited for more time to pass (since we were kicked out of the Apple store for loitering too long, ok no they were closing). Sadly no one ordered the Matcha (Green Tea) Latte.

8 - Guu, An Expensive Japanese "Tapas" dinning experiance. yummy, but expensive. Each order was about $5 and everyone shares so we each ended up with a small bite to try. That's all I have to say. Oh wait no that's not all. They scream your order to the chef as you order each item. So we had things like TakoYaki, Black Cod, Beef Carpacio, Chicken Knee, Sake Ice Cream, Stewed Pork Belly, Okonamiyaki, and other stuff. We left not full cause we didn't want to pay an arm and a leg, although we underdid it and our bill was suprisingly low.

9 - We went to Pearl Castle for a midnight snack (yes we went straight after Guu cause we weren't full from there). Once again more drinks but not everyone had bubble and not everyone had tea. Some of us also ordered these Mini Hot Pots (single serving) to share. This one is a milk hot pot. Yea I know it sounds gross but gah it's so yummy. Think more mushroom soup than warm milk.

DAY ONE ENDS

DAY TWO BEINGS

People slept in, no congee, no Tim Hortons (as originally suggested), but for a few a healthy morning of Bible preaching from an (East) Indian guy. Whoah that was interesting

10 - So back to Aberdeen Mall where we went to food court. This isn't one of those food courts that have your standard McD and Sabarros. No this has Japanese Osaka street food. Hong Kong Cafe style dishes, ShangHai appetizer treats. Japanese Crepes, Bubble Tea, Juice Bars, a place that only serves Cream Puffs, Korean Food, Ramen, the list goes on. It's like an Asian version of the CrossRoad's food court (this is a food court that is very popular after church in Bellevue that has foods from around the world and lacks the generic fast food giants we have come overly familiar with). I went with the Japanese Ramen with a side of veggie croquettes. Yummy

10.5- More Bubble Tea, I think. Wait I think that's just Milk Tea, with no bubbles. Oh and it's Hong Kong style, not Tawainese style.

11 - Ok I couldn't resist a dessert while I was here. Japanese crepes baby! Yumo, sorry french crepes, they stole your recipe and made it better. I had mine with Azuki (Red Bean), Matcha (Green Tea), and eh and um er what is it called, lik a unfilled mochi. I'm noticing it's becoming popular to not fold the crepes anymore but instead twist them into a cone. I prefer the old folds better, this way seems a little dense, ruins my light dessert feel.

Before 12 - We went for a round of SingK. What's that you say? It's the beloved Karoke! Impressive we had Mandarin, English, Cantonese, and Japanese all in one hour. Ok I'll leave it at that.

12 - To end the trip we go to none other than the awaited ShangHai restaurant for our beloved Soup Dumplings (小籠包). Three steamers (6 pieces a steamer) to start, plus another appetizer. Than another three along with our order of main dishes.. Oh man sooooo good, ok two more before we leave.

Weapon of Agony

2010-01-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

I asked what my friend wanted for Christmas, and she replied a gun. So this is what I ended up with. The real present is about 40+ steam punk craft items (cause she's always talking steam punk crafts). Each piece is wrapped up individuall (as I quote her "u were sadistic.") and tapped together into a shape of a gun.

This her playing with the gun to start

The benning of the journey to unwrap the gun

20 minutes later . . .

Her sticky fingers that's she's waving in my face to prove that it's disgusting to be sticky

Such Wasted Cilantro

2009-12-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

So this evening had some dinner with some Aunties (not really related) at a Chinese restaurant. I saw that one of the aunties was doing this kind act of removing the dish garnish that was in the way of everyone getting to the good food. Aww such love and care that she takes the effort to do it.

So that's how most people would take it. To me, I was in shock. Why, why did she do what she did? The poor cilantro. She took the the cliantro onto her bone pile (the place where you pile your chicken wing bones, chilli pepper, extra fat you sliced off a piece of meat,or the piece of food that fell onto the dirty table).

I wanted to cry for the next 5 minutes (I was really sad inside). She put it into the waste pile where it was now dirty, no longer for anyone to consume. ~pout~ But then for the rest of the meal I kept smirking. Why? I couldn't stop cracking up (once again this was inside me, i resisted in laughing out loud) about how this was consuming my mind "What a waste of the Cilantro"

Birthday Wishes

2009-12-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday To Me,
Happy Birthday to Me,
Happy Birthday to Meeeeeeee
Happy Birthday to Me

I have people sending me message via private messages on facebook, and people sending me messages via work email (although they found out via facebook), leaving me instant messages when I"m offline, and text messages. I"m soooo loved.

But there is something that really bothers me about 30% of the Happy Birthday messages I get on facebook. I feel they are fake, the simple post of 2 words "Happy Birthday" with the occasional added smily face from the person you haven't talked to in 4 years and doesn't reply to you when you try to start up a conversation with them. They all have a list of upcoming birthdays all nice and organized curtosey of facebook. They think they are so nice to wish someone a happy birthday but deep down inside they don't actually care about you.

But don't think my mind set is so narrow, I do love the wall posts that are unique, specialized to you; shows that they took real time to craft something special for you. Or from someone whom you haven't talked to in years but They are actually trying to start up a conversation with you. Those are very special to me too, it's always fun to catch up, talk to old lost friends.

Hmmm maybe I should start removing people from my facebook, people I dont really care about. . . . Nahh, I like to see where people are at in the world, even if we don't talk anymore.

P.S. Jesus's Birthday is in 15 days, don't forget to share with him a meaning full birthday wishes

Selling Lolita HeadBands

2009-12-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

I made this Japanese Lolita HeadBand a while back when I first got my sewing machine. And recently after starting up my Etsy account http://smallrinilady.etsy.com/ I wanted to make more and share it with the world. Ok so etsy ISN'T flooded with japanese lolita headbands, and I think I know why. No one is buying. ~sniff sniff~ Ok I don't really care that no one is buying, but no one is even looking and that's what makes me sad. I guess Etsy has yet to hit it off with cosplay stuff.

Oh well, I decided to post some up on the LiveJournal Cosplay community http://community.livejournal.com/cosplay/ , let's see if anyone is interested.

=====EDIT=====

I'm sad the new LJ moderator for the Cosplay forum not only deleted my post but immediatly banned me from their community because there are new rules say no selling lolita stuff (or anime fleece hats). I thought that was extremely harsh, and don't see why Lolita is bad since so many cosplayers are into it. In fact there is whole section of cosplaying for lolita cosplayers. Gah they are toooo technical I want to hit them with something hard. People were complaining about anime fleece hats? I saw they were popular (in comments as well) in the community. I dislike these new moderators

In the Beginning

2009-12-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

Although I already have a LiveJournal I decided to open up a new one.

I wonder what I'll write about in this blog. I dunno probebly anything that comes to mind

showing off my crafts
trip stories
funny things that happen
weird things that randomly pop into my head

I guess that's why it's a blog about my me

Meroko Hat

2008-04-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

From Full Moon o Sagashite, I introduce to you the hat I made for my Meroko cosplay.