SURVIVING YOUR FIRST ANIME CONVENTION (FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT PLANNING TO COSPLAY)

Hi. ( ・_・)ノ

If you somewhat ended up here, chances are you’re going to your first convention soon. ⌒°(❛ᴗ❛)°⌒

I don’t know if all anime conventions work the same way as the ones held here in our country (PHILIPPINES), so I’m just gonna assume it does.

Here are some few things that might help you enjoy it more:

1. DETAILS

    - Know everything there is to know about the con. From the basics (place, date, duration), to the events that are gonna be held and so on. Some cons provide blueprints so you might wanna check that out to avoid going in circles trying to find the stage, booths and other stuff (It’ll make your life easier plus it saves energy, so you’ll have plenty more calories to burn on fangirling/fanboying…. Because you will, I guarantee). (´꒳`)

2. TICKETS

    - Speaking of basic, tickets! Some cons pre-sell them and usually, they’ll be cheaper and some might even offer promos that you’ll be thankful for. If ever a con have a pre-sell, I usually prefer it since I won’t have to wait in line to buy tickets in the actual convention. I just go straight in (and came out wrong. Lol. I just too much yaoi. Sorry. Not sorry.) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

3. BUDGET

    - This is probably the hardest part. MONEY. You think you have it all planned out until something catches your attention and your soul will not rest until you have that shite in your hands… and it’s outside your budget range. To avoid that, you might wanna stroll around the whole dealer’s room first before deciding what to purchase. Make a list (you don’t have to jot it down, you lazy hooman, but it’ll be ideal if you do), then know your priorities. Decide which ones do you really want and learn to resist (Seriously dude, resist. It’s gonna be hard but for the love of oppai, resist). It’ll be good if you could also squeeze some extra money for emergencies (Got that? It’s for emergencies. Don’t even think about spending it on another poster or doujinshi or whatever the hell there is that you want to buy. Again. RESIST.) (눈_눈)

4. FOOD

    - If you could, please do bring your own food. Sure, they’ll be food stands inside but, the prices of those shites double more than they originally do. So yeah… you might wanna bring your own snack (Plus you can save that money to buy more merch. Thank me later *winks*). I’m not telling you should, it’s just an option I prefer and also an option that you might like. Decide on whichever you’re more comfortable with. （⌒▽⌒）

5. GADGETS

    - Don’t forget your phone, especially if you’re planning to have meet-ups and stuff. You’ll also regret not having something to take a photo with if you bump with a cosplayer who nailed the character you like (They’ll be tons of them in the con and you’ll be running from one cosplayer to another, swallow your dam shyness and ask them to take a freakin’ picture with you… and then they’re gonna refuse because they’ve been standing for hours. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Sorry.) Kidding aside though, it happens and as offending as it may seems, try to understand their situation instead. You can always ask them again later (just don’t be creepy about it). Give them time to rest, that’s all. （＾ｖ＾）

6. ATTITUDE

    - Don’t be rude. Need I say more? Okay. More than anything, this applies when you’re trying to take a photo with a cosplayer. Ask nicely and if you wanna lean on them, act out a scene from the series they’re cosplaying or others, ask them first if it’s okay. Some cosplayers are cool about those but some are still sensitive and might find it surprising if you just act it out on your own. And don’t try those pervy ninja moves. You know dam well they’re wrong. Guys, be a gentlemen, and girls, do whatever the feminine equivalent of being a gentleman is (I don’t know the term. Sorry). 」(￣▽￣」)

7. HAVE FUN

    - And the most important of all. Enjoy every bit of it. Release that inner fanboy/fangirl and let the fun begin. ☚(ﾟヮﾟ☚)

I hope this will help. ヾ(＾∇＾)

Thank you for sticking till the end. ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/

Chocolates,

Potato Goddess

HOW TO START COSPLAYING

Hello there!

For everyone of you who wants to start cosplaying, here are some guide before you officially get started (⌒ω⌒)ﾉ

1. Choose the character you're going to cosplay ^^
    - this might seem simple but it's also very important. Cause base in experience, due to excitement, you might be jumping from one character to another until you can't decide anymore. My personal advice is that you choose the character you know the most. Chances are, the more familiar you are with the character, the better you're gonna portray him/her.

2. Consider your budget
    - well, unless you're filthy rich and you can pretty much do whatever you want with your money. But for others like me who're in a budget, it's a good thing to know how much are you gonna spend. Canvass on how much this or that material you're going to need is gonna cost. Set a a budget range that is higher than what you're expecting to spend so that you won't be pinching for more money when something unexpected happened.

3. Mission or Commission?
    - decide if you're gonna make your costume/props or if you're gonna commission it. If you have a background in sewing, doing your own costume is not far-fetched. If you're artistic and skillful with you're hands, it'll be better if you make your own props. As for the rest of us who's overwhelmed with the presence of a sewing machine and lacks artistic skills:

    a. Choose the shop who's gonna make your costume
        - there are tons of cosplay dedicated shops out there. Choose the one that has a good reputation. If you're a Filipino, there's this FB page called CNPH: Are you a Legit Cosplay Shop/Seller/Buyer? and CNPH- Cosplay Market. You can try and ask for feedbacks and proof of legitimacy of certain shops in the first one. You can also ask the members for shop recommendations. The latter is for more cosplay related stuffs (make sure you read the rules because they can be pretty strict).
            Base on experience, it is better to commission with a shop that is near you. So what I do is I let a local shop handle my costume if it is a basic one.

    b. Ask for the fabric/material that they're going to use
        - you're not only gonna pay the labor but also for the quality of the costume. The fabrics that they're going to use is a crucial part of defining the quality of the work besides the sewing skill of the seamstress. So, make yourself familiar with the fabrics they're going to mention. Same with the props. The durability is as important as the accuracy so know everything there is to know about it.

    c. Ask how long it's gonna take
        - this is a usual issue in commissioning. The shops don't meet their deadlines and upset their customers (again, this is where asking for feed-backs comes in). If you're rushing, ask first if they accept rushed commissions so it won't be an inconvenience for both parties

    *know the other details like modes of payment, refunds, down-payment and the likes. Be respectful in every way even though you're a customer. Don't abuse the "customer is always right" tag line.

4. Lenses and Wigs
    -  In buying these, after making sure that the shop is legit, look for reviews on both. There are tons of wig and contact lens brand and google can be helpful to in making you decide which one is a good buy (for filipinos, CNPH is also a good place to ask)

5. Make-up
    - it's optional. I'm not saying you have to wear makeup but it really helps. Even though the character you're gonna cosplay has a plain face and looks like he/she isn't wearing any makeup, doing the same thing isn't the best option. Watch some basic cosplay makeup videos to know why ^^



7. Practice Poses
    - if you're gonna attend a convention in a cosplay, there's a huge chance that strangers would take pictures with you or pictures of you, so make sure you're ready. Know at least three different poses of your character. If possible, more. This is also one of the reasons why it is better to cosplay characters you're familiar with.

That's all I can cover for now but I'll update this soon (⌒_⌒;)

I hope this helped ヽ(*⌒▽⌒*)ﾉ
If you have questions, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer them (￣▽￣*)ゞ

with chocolates and potatoes,

Kuroshirou

COSPLAY FOR EVERYONE

Hello there! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ

So, yeah, I finally started COSPLAYING! ヽ(>∀<☆)ノ

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been huge fan of anime (though at that time, I never really cared about the difference between cartoon and anime). That’ll be a long argument so let’s not get into that topic.

I never really planned on cosplaying nor did it ever cross my mind to do so, because the first thing that immediately stops me from even considering it is that I don’t suit cosplaying. But sweetheart, sometimes, the things that hold you back is really just in your head.

“Comparing” is the thing that made me overlook the idea of cosplay. Looking at the high-quality, flawless pictures of celebrity cosplayers frustrated me. I mean, just look at that skin… they’re so freakin’ white, they’re almost transparent (XD); that face… how can it be so flawless. Have these humans ever experience suffering from acne? And that perfect body… damn. I wish I’m that thin but I love food more than anything in the world (XD).

I might be degrading myself too much and I know there are people who have it worse than I do, but I just can’t help it. Looking at those professional photos, then back on the mirror, I thought of the worst: My skin is too dark (well, morena); I’m too fat; my face is infested with acne; my nose is too big; (and then there’s the classic one) I’m ugly.

And… being a total jerk and being utterly clueless about cosplay, I’ve criticized cosplayers. I’ve bashed and said the most awful things about them. I may have not said those out-loud, but still, it doesn’t make it any better.

Then I attended my first convention. That... changed everything.

I met these amazing humans in an online chatting site based on an anime. I got close with some of them and decided to meet-up in an upcoming convention. Actually, I wasn’t even planning on going at that time because I was supposed to have summer classes. Things happened and the summer class plan was cancelled. So, I went to have my vacation in the city and since I have nothing better to do, I might as well attend ‘this’ convention.

Ah. My first convention… it was otaku wonderland and I couldn’t decide what to do first or where to look. It was overwhelming. What caught my attention the most were the cosplayers. Seeing them bring to life those awesome fictional characters… it’s just… amazing. Some have these cool armors on (I even took a picture with one of them! Bunny! From Tiger and Bunny!) And all I could think of at that time was “how the heck did they made that”? I saw my anime crushes one by one and my fangirl-mode was on full scale, I almost took them home with me (XD).

Of course not all of them were perfect but heck, that’s not the point. That’s when it hit that I don’t have the right to criticize them. Actually, no one has the right to do that. Cause even if you’re the best in the field, you’re not perfect either.

Their wigs might be tangled; their costumes might not be perfect; they might be too tall or too short for the character they’re portraying but I learned to forget those standards when I saw the look on their faces. They’re happy.

So, I decided, “why not join the fun?” (ノ*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)

And I did. (-‿‿-)

And I’ve never been happier ♡＼(￣▽￣)／♡

You’ll encounter people who’re just like me in the past or humans that find joy in making other people feel bad about themselves, but meh-

Shake it off ┐(￣∀￣)┌

There are no rules in cosplay and hell yeah, everyone can cosplay!

(Just make sure you get your basic needs first, because cosplay can get really expensive, ok? You’ll get there. Don’t rush ☆⌒(≧▽​° ))

And if you ever get into the limelight… don’t ever forget why you started cosplaying.

You never did it to be famous. You never did it to get a higher ranking in worldcosplay (XD). It’s a way of celebrating your fandom. You started because you liked it and you’ll continue because you love it. Don’t get to the point wherein your mindset says that you have to be better than *name of a famous cosplayer*. The only one you should best is yourself. Do better than you did yesterday but remember to not lose yourself in the process.

Rock that costume and have fun! (￣^￣)ゞ

with chocolates and potatoes,

Dyosa ng Patatas

Yep. That's my first official cosplay XD
(Yato from Noragami genderbent ver.)

P.S. Some might ask so answer is no, I can't sew yet. Though once I have the time to learn, I'll be the one making my costumes by then (￣ヘ￣) (hopefully).

Felt-tip Liner: Nichido 24 Hr Tattoo Effect Eyeliner Pen and Essence Eyeliner Pen Waterproof

Hi everyone.

I'm not really a make-up person. In fact, when I go to class, I only use Johnson's baby powder and tada~ I'm good to go.

The reason why I purchased these liners is because I'll be needing them for my cosplay.

So, on with the review...

.

ESSENCE- 10g
NICHIDO- 15g

The first one I bought was the Essence Eyeliner Pen. I was expecting so much with this because Essence is a drugstore brand raved by a number of beauty bloggers.

Nichido is bulkier compared to Essence and it contains more product but the most awesome thing about it is the fact that it's cheaper. I think this cost me Php239.00, while the Essence was around Php 260.00... I think. I've already forgotten but I can assure you that Nichido really costs less.

Comparing the applicator, Essence is relatively thinner and easier to work with if you're going with thin lines and delicate details. That was what I thought. True enough, the first time I used it, I was more than satisfied, but the tip suddenly dried out of product and doesn't deposit the right amount of product anymore.

Despite the fact that the felt of Nichido has thicker tip, I didn't find much difficulty on handling it, plus it deposits the right amount of product even on the top most tip which is what I love about it because I usually have to do thin lines to define the shape of my eyes and make it more anime-ish.

swatches

As seen, Nichido has better pigmentation.

Ok. I bought Essence first a week earlier than Nichido but still, this is a total disappointment. I still have both (two months later) and the results are still the same. Nichido still have a better pigmentation.

water testing

Both eyeliner pen claims to be waterproof and yes, they do stay there unless you rub it.

after rubbing

after more rubbing

As for the staying power, I only wore both for a maximum of 6 hours and they stayed on my upper lid without budging, except for a few fading on the outer and inner corner of my eyes.

FINAL VERDICT:

    ESSENCE- 6.5/10

    NICHIDO- 8/10

Again, I apologize for the LQ photos ^^"

...And I hope this helped :)

with chocolates & potatoes,

Kuroshirou

GEO Contact Lenses (Crazy & Animation Series review)

So... I finally got my first two pair of lenses! Yay!

After three days of waiting, I was finally able to pick it up at JRS Express. There was a bit of a problem at first but GEO Contact Lenses immediately fixed it for me.

They're costumer service is just amazing: friendly, accommodating and fast (exactly how I like a shop to be). They're trusted even by celebrities.

I ordered A22 and A6 from their Crazy & Animation Series

Each costs Php 499.00, if I'm not mistaken. Free shipping and lens case which is already hella affordable for such quality.

The packaging looks like this

Together with "Guidelines on Proper Contact Lens Use & Care", including the promised lens cases

The original containers that include the lenses contents

Contents:

    One(1)Sterile Hydrophilic Contact Lens (58% Phema, 42% Water) stored in buffered Saline Solution

*Manufactured by Color Vision

*Made in Korea

Lenses up-close

A6

A22

As you can tell from the water content, these little shites are so soft, it took me forever to put them on (added the fact that it's my first time wearing contact lenses, "forever" is an understatement).

After tearing-up and other beginner stuff, I finally got them on with the help of, dundundun~ Q-tips! It's not advisable but it's the easiest method that worked for me and so far, my eyes didn't fall off yet.

A22

A22 & A6 (I'm  sorry, I can't upload the one with only the A6 on because it's being corrected and ends up looking brown instead)

Even without the filter, these babies are pigmented (worth all the struggle of putting them on), I guarantee it. I intend to use these for my very first cosplay (hopefully I'll rock it).

Lenses Rating: 9/10 (just because they're hard to put on, though Q-tips really did solve my problem with that)

Shop Rating: 10/10

Again, I apologize for the crappy photos. I don't own a professional camera yet (not that my parents would allow me to have one XD).

A random photo of me and my friends
Makeup: courtesy of me

Hope this helped :)

Till next time ^_^

With Love.

Potato Goddess

Forless DirectSeller online shop Review

I've never bought stuff online before. I can be paranoid at times and all the recent news about scams didn't make things better. But quite recently, I made my very first online transaction with a shop called "FORLESS DIRECTSELLER" which I first encountered when I was trying to find a decent eye-shadow palette in www.olx.ph.

link to their Facebook page

They had a good first impression to me since it took them no more than two days to reply and answer my inquiries. They're formal though. Too formal for my own liking. It's not a bad thing to be business like and all but sending a smiley or some sort of welcoming won't hurt. It helps make a shop look more accommodating and friendly. But that's just me. They're sure are specific and clear when it comes to the transaction though.

The items I bought

They have tons of products and endless choices in a very affordable price. A one-stop-shop, indeed.

Prices:

•     Organizer- Php 90.00
•     Stila In The Know eye-shadow pallette- Php 200.00
•     Mac 24 Pcs Brush- Php 400.00
•     Benefit Cheeky Trio- Php 150.00
•     Givenchy Kabuki Brush- Php 70.00
•     Urban Decay 24/7 Pen Liner- Php 60.00

      *I've already forgotten what the other two are called, but they don't cost more than 300 together.

I had the products 5 days after I received my invoice and boy, was I excited... Haha.

When it comes to the quality of the products, don't expect to much. The organizer's holder snapped when i tried to fit in everything in it and carry it around. That didn't bother me though. It still is a pretty decent product for such an affordable price. My favorite purchase would be the pen liner and the brush set. 

Overall? 7/10

Will I purchase here again? YES

Will I recommend this? YES

If you have more questions about this shop, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer them or you can directly visit their Facebook page which I linked above.

Please bear with the quality of the photos (I'm only using my phone: Nokia XL) and all the typos I've made. This is my first blog ^^"

I hope this helped :)

Till next time ;)

With love,

Kuroshirou