What I Wore Today, Weekend Edition

Hey there lovelies,

Sheesh, I am so friggin' exhausted. Right now I'm procrastinating when I should be packing to head back to Toowoomba. Also, my managers surprised me today when I dropped into tell them about an orthodontist appointment and they told me that their manager had told them I'm staying in Toowoomba for an extra week to help with a few shifts after the store is actually open. The only thing is, no one told me this! Oops. Also, I forgot to tell you all that yesterday I had my legs removed, and now just have part of my couch between my hips and feet. Check it out:

Outfit Rundown

"Help Me Paris" Necklace: Emily The Strange Pendant, $10, necklace made by The Boyfriend
Mens dress shirt: Garage sale, $8
Grey Singlet: yoinked from The Boyfriends drawers.
Black Cords: Kmart, $19
Boots: Kmart (Grosby), $30

People gave me alot of wierd looks in this outfit. I was all like "what you've never seen someone prepare for a show-jumping contest after just rolling out of bed with their boyfriend, while wearing a scared chihuhua on their neck?", and then I realised that even sounds a little wierd to me. I felt pretty damn rad anyway, so whatever. Obviously I'm still working out the settings on The Boyfriend's fancy SLR camera, but I assure you that I was kidding and do in fact still have legs. Enough crazy, onto todays outfit!

Outfit Rundown

Long-sleeved Shirt: Trade Secret (Sass), $12.95
Pants: Jay Jays, $10
Boots: Target, $40
Scarf: Made by me from two t-shirts!

I pose ridiculously, and this does absolutely nothing to rouse my cats from their deep sleep. All is well with the world. I actually started today wearing a train drivers cap, with the scarf tied around my waist, but this is what the outfit morphed into. I love it when outfits take on a mind of their own and force you to do things with them. What do you mean this is something else that only happens to me? Ok, maybe I'm a wierdo. What are you wierdos wearing?

Until next time, xo.

Kaiju Life - The Original Godzilla Suit Actor Haruo Nakajima

by Armand Vaquer

A new book is coming out July 16 by the original Godzilla suit actor, Haruo Nakajima entitled, Kaiju Life - The Original Godzilla Suit Actor Haruo Nakajima.

It is in Japanese, but reportedly has photographs included.

I have sent Mr. Nakajima's daughter Sonoe a message requesting more information. As soon as I receive it, I'll post it here.

Details:

単行本（ソフトカバー）
Publisher: 洋泉社 (2010/7/16)
Language: 日本語
ISBN-10: 4862485898
ISBN-13: 978-4862485892
Release Date: 2010/7/16

Price: ￥ 3,045

Here's the link for the book's listing at Amazon Japan.

Above, Armand with Haruo and Sonoe Nakajima in 2008.

I plan to be in Japan this Fall and I have invited Haruo and Sonoe Nakajima to lunch or dinner while there.

Best of the Interwebz

Heeey lovers!

Gosh, I'm so damn happy to be home after another week of work (slaving in a dark cold warehouse!). The Toowoomba Trade Secret store is starting to take shape though. There are actually racks, and clothes in there now. Toowoomba, get ready to get your shopping on - the store opens 22nd July. Anyway, in my absence the blogging world has kept soldiering on, so onto this weeks link round up.

Hurray for Max California, and hurray for these awesome bloomers that are the first sew-a-long object! Follow the link to find the instructions & patterns, and join in the freakin' sewing!

Drooling over Shoeturday on Haute Macabre. Skeleton stilettos? Yes please!

Cute story from Le Love, which is possibly the cutest blog ever. I love reading other peoples love stories, even if they aren't happy ones.

I love the idea of the 30 for 30 challenge - 30 days of outfits from 30 items of clothing (not including accessories). Will I give it a try? Let's just wait and see.

If you work in retail, or any other area of customer service then Not Always Right is the website for you. Go and laugh your asses off lovelies!

Negative Body Image: Who Are You Fooling? is a though provoking post from over at The Demoiselles.

I'm looking at this first look at Madonna's upcoming clothing line and saying yes please! This is because I am tragic, and believe there can never be too much 80's in the world.

The 44 Best Condom Ads Ever Created. Hahahaha!

Pale Is The New Tan by Sarah Hannah of Death Wears Diamond Jewellery. All I can say is word.

Lady Smaggle shows us how to DIY a slashy scarf. Awe. Some.

The Tummy Project is an ultra-cute idea for a tumblr. Described as "a blog about body empowerment and the sexiness of a beautiful natural tummy, no matter what size."

Finance and the Fashion Blogger: Ignore-ance is a really interesting article about the pressure fashion bloggers feel to "keep up", and how they can (or can't) afford it.

Whew, this week was full of just as many amazing blogs and bloggers as usual. Happy reading lovelies!

Until next time, xo.

P.S. I forget who it was that said there could never be enough 80's style in the world, but here you go.

DIY Madness!

Hello there lovelies!

Argh, once again there has been no time for internetting this week, as the wireless connection (which we discovered DOES exist) to our room is sporadic at best. Also, I'm pretty exhausted so you better be satisfied with this peek at my latest DIYing - complete with terrible pictures I took last weekend. Hooray!

I made this cardigan. It just needs a button or something at the neck. I'm thinking a huge safety pin. Ignore how wierd my belt is making my stomach look, focus on the sewing!


This cardigan makes me feel like a sci-fi show extra.

The long awaited dino-print pinafore dress, made from one of Max California's tutorials and a single quilt cover picked up from the op shop for $6.50.

Ignore the blurriness, and focus on how I got a smiling dinosaur onto each shoulder strap!

Eeek, I love the Batman dress. Made from a double quilt cover obtained from the op shop for $7, and inspired by a 50c op shop pattern. It is a work in progress - still too big, I need to put darts in the waist (as I made it a little big), and sew on the pockets and straps. The straps are ribbons, and the tops of the pockets have ribbons stitched onto them.

I'm so proud of this. And you know, I think Batman would be too. Gosh, ignore my terrible hair! Infact, ignore everything about this post except the sewing! Haha.

Well, there you have it. Those are my main crafty endeavours of late - other than a yet unfinished t-shirt reconstruction involving five Emily The Strange t-shirts, two long-sleeve t-shirts and a zipper. Stay tuned for more DIY action!

Until next time, xo.

Kyoto Station Spotlight

Above, Kyoto Station as seen from a window of a shinkansen train car. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kyoto Station Spotlight

Category: Japan Travel

by Armand Vaquer

The spectacular battle between Gamera and Irys in Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys (released by ADV as Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris) took place in the cavernous Kyoto Station in Kyoto, Japan.

It is Japan's second largest train station (after Nagoya Station). The station was built to celebrate the 1,200th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto. Kyoto Station opened in 1997. The station's construction cost was $1.25 billion.

Kyoto Station was conceived by architect Hara Hiroshi. The futuristic design was criticized when it was first announced as Kyoto is mainly known for its traditional Japanese architecture. The station is 70 meters high and 470 meters from east to west, with a total floor space of 238,000 square meters.

The enormous size of Kyoto Station's interior was big enough to fit both Gamera and Irys in the movie.

Returning from touring Miyajima Island and Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, 2004's G-TOUR members were in awe over the massive interior of the station upon entering it.

Kyoto Station is covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

For more information and photographs of Kyoto Station, go here.

New Viral Video And Images From Shinji Higuchi's MONSTER MAGNITUDE 9 (MM9)

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Undead Backbrain / MM9 Official Website / Avery Guerra

If J.J. Abrams, and now Steven Spielberg, have taught us anything is that the best way to promote any new movie, or television series in this case, is to launch some kind of 'viral' promotion. You know the drill, mystery trailers, video clips that turn to static just before the monster pokes his head out from behind a building. Stuff designed, on purpose, to provoke more questions than answers.

Well, now Japanese producer and special effects master, Shinji Higuchi (Heisei Gamera Series), has opted to pursue the same kind of marketing strategy for his giant monster filled late-night television series, "Monster Magnitude 9", by producing a series of 'mystery' video clips that are supposed to give clues to the origins of some of the series titanic terrors. Along with these rather brief images, several Japanese websites have posted sporadic verbal messages that also are designed to get amateur sleuths clicking their mouses to try and piece together tid-bits into tangible information about the show.

What fun!

Unfortunately for us English speaking types, all of this stuff is in Japanese, so unless you are fluent in that language, all of this stuff will be rather useless to you.

Sorry for the tease.

Just in case you missed my earlier article about "MM9" here is a recap:

Japanese special effects master, Shinji Higuchi (Heisei Gamera Series), has developed a brand new giant monster television series for late night television called, "MM9" (Monster Magnitude 9).

The series will take place in an alternate universe, where Japan is constantly attacked by monsters. MM9 is a special unit of Japan Meteorological Agency who's job it is to predict the arrival of these monsters in very much the same way that the National Weather Service predicts rain and snow.

When the monsters do show up, and you know that they will in every episode, a team of monster specialists called “Kitokutai” are dispatched to combat them. Only one problem, these specialists are not from the military, so they don't have any weapons. The group will have to rely on their skills, knowledge, and experience to prevent the monsters from reducing Japan to toothpicks.

"MM9" stars Anna Ishibashi as the teams rookie, Sakura Fujisawa, along with Machiko Ono as Sakura's mentor, Mikazuki. Rounding out the cast are Issei Takahashi, Yasuhi Nakamura, Satoru Matsuo, Sarutoki Minagawa, Takako Kato, and Yutaka Matsushige.

"MM9" also has a great list of directors lined up, including Tomoyuki Furumaya, Kiyotaka Taguchi and Ataru Oikawa. So far all of the shows episodes have been written by Kazunori Ito (Patlabor, Gamera).

The first episode of "MM9" is scheduled to air tonight.

Here is the trailer, all of those viral videos I mentioned above (pieced together by Robert Hood of the Undead Backbrain website), some photos from a press event, and a photo of a "MM9" themed iPad that will be featured on the show. From what I gather, these babies are also for sale in Japan as well.











See Also: Shinji Higuchi Bringing Monster Magnitude 9 To Television

Horrifying Trends That I Love #5

Hello there lovelies,

It has been a while since my last confession, although this one is not all that surprising. I have to admit it. I am obsessed with Doc Martens. Completely, utterly, unstoppably obsessed with Doc Martens. I think my pre-teen self cried with joy when they began to make their way back into fashion magazines and onto the feet of the "hip crowd". The return of good old Docs seemed to be rather polarising though - some people were singing their praises from the rooftops, and others desperately trying to fight them back into their coffins. I am one of the people who is going to be crazily trying to save enough money to buy a few of the crazy new pairs before they go out of style again. Currently my eyes are on a patent lime green pair, a tartan pair, and a floral pair (you know, in order to link two of the horrifying trends I love). You see, I am pretty sure that if I had a shoe wardrobe full of Doc Martens that I would never want for shoes again. This is because they are without a doubt the most versatile shoes in the universe. You don't believe me, check this out.

Going to a festival like Soundwave? This pair has your name all over them.

Are you Torrance Shipman, and in desperate need of shoes for your cheerleading tryouts? Go with this white and pink pair.

Going to a rave, or needing to entertain some small children/adults obsessed with shiny objects? Then these are the Docs for you.

In my opinion, these bony ones are perject for meeting your partners family. But if you're less crazy than me, you could just wear them to the shops and count all the strange looks you get.

Hello there, these are the perfect Doc Martens for space travel. Or, if you don't have a Paris-Hilton-sized bank account, you could don them whenever you feel like doing the moonwalk.

Well there, that brings you the main reason why I love Doc Martens - despite their humble origins, they are available in so many colours and styles that it will make your head spin. They are hard-wearing and a little bit badass, but also stylish. Plus, if you ever need to kick the crap out of someone they'll come in handy. What do you think lovelies? Are you Doc lovers or haters?

Until next time, xo.