"Gamer Girls"

Hello and good evening lovelies!

I apologize for missing my Monday outfit post, but I have a fantastic announcement!

Over the weekend, I auditioned for a Web Series called "Gamer Girls" and I got cast!

I'm so excited to be working on this production!

Here's a little back story:

"D&D isn’t just for guys. Join the Gamer Girls of UICC (University of Chicago) as they hack and slash their way through dungeons and get hyper on Mountain Dew until they pass out or lose all their health. However, having the double X chromosome isn’t always as pleasant as people think, especially when you roll dice for damage…"

And check out the trailer!

This Web Series is produced by Michaela Laws, who created "Seduce Me," a popular new visual novel that will be fully released to the public in just over 90 days!  She writes and produces for Seraphim Entertainment, and is a voice actor and producer for Voiceiyuu.  

She's also one of my best friends. xD  We met our Freshman year in college and we've been friends ever since.  I'm grateful that she's given me the opportunity to voice act again, since the last acting gig I had was two years ago before I changed major to Music Business.  It feels great to stretch my acting muscles again, and dust the cobwebs off of my condenser mic.

The content of this series is near and dear to my heart, since as a gamer myself, I have experienced some discrimination because of my gender.  I play the character Veronica, who is a bit of a tomboy and plays as a Rogue.  Outside of her gaming life, she has an older brother named Todd who doesn't like the fact that she prefers to game than study.

I can't wait to get started on this series, and I get to work with some fantastic voice actors, artists, and musicians!

I'll make sure to keep y'all updated on the production as it goes along.

I hope you're just as excited about it as I am!

Thanks so much for reading, and I'll see you next time!

xoxo

Martha

Outfit: Pastel Batty Girl

Hello again lovelies!

Another outfit post for you!

I think Mondays are pretty good days for postings, right?  I prep 'em on the weekend, then post 'em Monday morning!

Hopefully Monday postings will make your day a little brighter. ^^

Anyway, this outfit was inspired by all of the pastel spooky pixels I've seen on tumblr lately.  I love spooky-cute stuff!

Let's go!

Details from the top down:

Skull Ribbon Clips: Target

Sailor Moon Earrings: hobbit.town Jewelry

Jacket: Pinkly Ever After

Seifuku Top: Bodyline

Bow Ring: Love Culture

Shorts: Savers

Bat Tights: Holley Tea Time

Shoes: Bodyline

First off, I'd like to apologize for the lighting.  I have plenty of space in this area of my apartment to take full body outfit shots, but the lighting is definitely not the best.  I'm playing around with my tripod in different areas of my humble abode to make sure I get the best lighting possible, so don't be alarmed if the location for these shots changes in the next few posts!

So for this coordinate, I wanted to look like one of the bats on my tights.  A bit silly, but lots of fun!  The bat itself is lavender, so my lavender seifuku top worked perfectly!  The fact that it's also white fits in with the melty moons, eyeballs, bones, and such on my tights.  The pink jacket fits with the background of the tights, so I had a good color balance on top and bottom.  There was a bit of black in the outlines of the designs on the tights, so I paired everything with my favorite black high waist shorts.  The dark color and cut of the shorts also created a nice body shape and contrast to the light colors in my outfit.  For shoes, I went with my Bodyline ribbon shoes.  These are one of my favorite pairs of shoes because they're so comfortable.  Seriously, they're my most comfortable pair of stylish shoes that I own.  I think I'll have to get them in black as well. xD

As far as accessories go, I just wanted to use things that fit in with the color scheme of the outfit, so the pink bow ring and my pink and purple sailor moon earrings did the job.  The entire outfit itself is pretty loud, so I didn't want to pile on the jewelry.  

To top it all off, I tried to style my hair to look like bat wings.  I tied it up in twin tails and teased it to give it more shape.  Unfortunately, a big rainstorm hit after class that day, so by the time I took these photos, my hair had fallen considerably.  But all was not lost, as I had my super cute skull ribbons in!  I bought them in the dollar section at Target during the Halloween season, but I haven't worn them much in the past couple of years since they didn't seem to go with anything in my closet.  I was digging through my hair accessory bin (yes, bin) right before I had to run out the door, and at the bottom I saw these and knew they would work wonders with this coordinate.  

The many layers in this outfit kept me warm on a chilly Autumn day, and I was a little drop of color in the otherwise gray, gloomy day.  I had great fun sporting this look around campus, and the receptionist at the Student Service Center said I looked like a pink, fuzzy bunny!  Not exactly what I was going for, but pink fuzzy bunnies are super cute so it's still an awesome compliment!

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I'll have plenty more outfit posts to show you in the coming weeks!

If you like what you read, please consider following me here on Google or on Bloglovin!  I definitely appreciate your support.

Thank you so much for reading, and I'll see you next time!

xoxo

Martha

Fashion Loves: Glitters for Dinner

Happy Monday lovelies!

It's time for another Fashion Loves post!

This time, I'm talking about a shop called Glitters for Dinner!

I happened upon this brand while I was on Instagram.  I saw someone in my feed wearing one of their items and I had to check them out!

Glitters for Dinner is a handmade clothing label that is based in Melbourne, Australia, and ships its products from Bangkok, Thailand.  On their website it says "Unique and Affordable Clothing."  There isn't much available information on the brand other than that, and I don't know who the designer is because of the lack of information.  On their blog it states that Glitters for Dinner is run by "two lovers," and they only use one model for all of their products.  I guess it's a part of the marketing tactic, and it does make them a bit mysterious and interesting.  It also makes me think that the model may be one of the designers herself, which is pretty cool.

GFD takes a lot of inspiration from the 90's, and have clothing sets inspired by popular characters from the time, including Cher from Clueless and Sailor Moon. Their clothing reflects images of school girls, cheerleaders, and 90's era pop stars. The majority of their clothing is in matching sets so you can have a fully coordinated outfit very easily.  Of course, you can buy some pieces separately to mix and match, but they are also sold in their full set form.  GFD also uses interesting fabrics like faux fur, holographic fabric, PVC, and more, all in bright neon colors, with some black colorways as well.  

I've always enjoyed matching sets since I was young, since you have a full look that makes a statement whenever you wear one.  I was attracted to the fun, whimsical look of these clothes since they make you look like you popped out of another world.

Let's take a look at what they have to offer, shall we?

One of their most popular designs is the cheer set.  These are just a few that they have to offer, but they have so many more in lots of colors!

Out of the cheer sets, of course my favorite is the 'kawaii' set. xD  But I'd be happy with any of them!

If you'd like to do some shopping, check out the Glitters for Dinner store here!

If you want some super cute pictures and updates, you can also check out their Facebook and Instagram!

Just a note when shopping with GFD, they do not accept returns or refunds due to issues of size.  If it doesn't fit when it gets to you, you're stuck with it.  I'm not a fan of this policy, but it exists so I thought I would give you a heads up before you're stuck with something totally adorable that doesn't fit you.  Make sure to measure yourself accurately and compare your measurements to those in their shop before you make any purchases!

I hope you enjoyed reading about Glitters For Dinner, and I hope you look forward to the next Fashion Loves post!  If you know of any brands you'd like me to make a post on, recommend them to me in the comments below!

If you like what you read, I would appreciate it if you followed me here on Google, or on Bloglovin!

Thank you so much for reading, and I'll see you next time!

xoxo

Martha

Outfit: Orange and Black Candy Corn

Hello darlings!

Once again I'm back with another outfit post!

I'm trying my best to keep track of my daily outfits for y'all, so hopefully I'll keep up with it!

Here we go!

Details from the top down:

Candy Corn Earrings, Necklace, and Bracelet:  Claire's 

Minnie Mouse Top:  Target

Black High Waist Shorts:  Savers

This was a simple and fun outfit to put together!  I patiently waited until after September first to do Halloween things, and now I'm gonna start preparing!  I love Halloween so much! 

I haven't started decorating quite yet, but I put together this outfit for a good start.  Orange and black of course are Halloween colors, and I also think they go well together, especially the creamy dreamsicle type of orange that is in this top and the candy corn jewelry.  Speaking of the jewelry, I found all of these little candy corn accessories in a set at Claire's around Halloween-time a couple of years ago.  I'll have to go back again this year to see what goodies they have!

The top is very soft and comfortable, so it's good to wear for a long day in class, since Wednesdays are my busiest days.  The shorts are an item I've been into recently, and I've worn them a lot since I made them (from resale pants to cute shorts~) in July.  

I must apologize to you for not including shoes in my recent outfit posts...but I seem to be having a bit of a shoe problem.  I just don't seem to like most of the shoes that I'm coordinating to go with my outfits.  Either that, or they're not comfortable--but that's a completely different post.

Anyway, on to make up!

I'm just showing you my eye since the rest of my face was just a bit of concealer, blush, and lip gloss.  Unfortunately, I forgot to put on eye primer today, and I took this photo after all of my classes were over, so it's not at its best...but it looks pretty good after a long day I think!  I used the two gold shades from Maybelline's "Enticing Emerald" eye shadow palette to highlight the inner corners of my eyes, then used a brown eyeliner to make a nice pointed shape at the end.  I used Maybelline's stiletto liner in blackish brown, and it works better than other brown eyeliners I've used, but it still seems to flake off a bit on the bottom.  My pen precision liner from Maybelline has also done that recently.  I guess I'll start looking for a different brand of liquid eyeliner, or try some gel formulas to see if they work better.  

That's all for today!

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I'll keep the outfits coming!

If you like what you read, please make sure to follow me here on Google, or on Bloglovin!

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next time!

xoxo

Martha

August Favorites!

Hello again everyone!

August has come and gone, which means it's time for a favorites post!

I have quite a lot of beauty products this month, but as always I have music, anime, and other things as well!

Let's go!

Beauty/Fashion:

Benefit's Coralista Blush

I bought this when I went and picked up Benetint at Sephora, but I didn't use it immediately so I couldn't review it at all.  Now that I've used it, I've fallen in love with it!  The only blush I had before I bought this was a bright candy pink, and that doesn't always work with every look.  This color on the other hand, works for just about any look you can pull together.  This blush is a lovely peach-y coral color with just a hint of gold shimmer.  Just putting a bit of this on your face makes you look wide-awake and glowy!

This product comes with a magnetic close box, and a small brush with a wooden handle.  Usually I'm not a fan of the brushes that come with blush, but I'm actually fond of this one.  This also has the lovely rose scent that the Benetint does, so I'm going to take a guess and say that most of their products smell like roses.  It's pretty awesome!

Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer

I've had this product for quite some time now, but I just started to use it regularly since I prefer not to wear a full face of foundation during the Summertime.  The Texas heat can melt make-up pretty quickly.  This concealer provides just enough coverage under my eyes and on my acne scars to give me a little confidence boost while letting my skin breathe and letting its natural glow shine through.  

This product has a liquid consistency with a sponge applicator.  You twist the red top, then the product will come out of the sponge when you apply it to your face.  It's very convenient to have the applicator attached to the product, so you can carry it in your backpack or your purse for touch ups if you need them.  

In the Winter season, you can wear this without setting it with anything, but in the Summertime, you'll need to set it with some powder so it doesn't melt off because of the liquid consistency.

OGX's Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco

I didn't really have to do much in the way of hair care before I bleached the ends and did the ombre pink style, but afterwards, I was trying different things to keep my hair healthy and soft, and nothing seemed to work.  Just about every YouTuber out there was talking about argan oil, so I decided to give it a try--and it worked!  I was a bit skeptical about putting oil in my hair, since I didn't want my hair to look greasy, but this product doesn't make my hair greasy at all.  After using this argan oil, my hair is much softer, I have less split ends, and it's much easier to brush through.  Anyone who has bleached their hair should definitely use this.  

I was worried that argan oil would be expensive, but I found these at my local supermarket for under $10 each.  I use the oil (on the left) after I wash my hair.  I put a few drops into my hands, then work it through my hair.  Afterwards, I take a comb and comb it through so it'll get even coverage.  I use the spray formula (on the right) before I put any heat on my hair, usually my straightener to do my bangs.  I hold the bottle away from my head, spray this on my hair, then style as normal.  The spray formula protects my hair from heat, and keeps it soft even after styling.  I also use this formula on dry hair every couple of days when it looks like it needs some extra moisture.

Garnier's Nourishing Cleansing Oil

I used up the last of my make up remover wipes, and needed another make up remover.  I was just going to buy the wipes again, but I decided to try something different--cleansing oil to be exact.  I've read plenty of articles about the benefits of oil cleansing, and how easily cleansing oils remove make up, so I went to look for one to try.  A lot of the cleansing oils mentioned by various YouTubers were very expensive, but I was able to find this Garnier cleansing oil for six dollars at Target.  Just as a warning, this product does contain mineral oil.  That doesn't bother me at all, but some people don't like using products with mineral oil in them, or it irritates their skin.  Make sure to read the ingredients on your products before using them!  Though like I said, the mineral oil in this product doesn't bother me at all.  Actually, this product has done great things for my skin!  Just one or two pumps of this removes all of my make up easily without too much scrubbing or pulling, and my skin feels incredibly soft.  After I use the oil, I use some water to emulsify it, then I use my Aveeno foaming cleanser for a good double cleansing.  If you want to try a cleansing oil for an affordable price, I definitely recommend this one!  One last thing--this cleansing oil has a strong fruity scent, so if you don't like scented products, you may not like this one.  But for people like me who like their products to smell great, you'll love it too!

Maybelline Eye Studio Enticing Emerald

I picked up this eye shadow palette on a whim because I liked the champagne highlight color in it, but I actually really like all of the colors in this palette.  All of the colors are so pigmented and have a lovely shimmer to them.  Most of the shadows I have are matte, and I wanted more shimmer shadows to play with, so I was glad that I could find this palette and pick it up.  The champagne and gold colors are great for everyday use, while the green shades are good to add a pop of color or go all out for a fully blended emerald look!  This palette could be fun to do an Emerald City Wizard of Oz look in the future. ;)

White Sunhat with Sequins

I've always wanted a sunhat with a wide brim, and I finally found one!  I took a friend to Wal Mart to pick up a few things, and while we were walking around I saw this hat and knew it would be perfect for some pool time at the end of the Summer!  I used it the other day when I went to swim, and it provided some good shade and great style as I read a book while lounging by the pool.  I love the silver sequins that are woven into the hat, as I think they give it a bit of fun.  You may see this hat in a few more outfit posts before the Autumn season fully kicks in.

Pinkly Ever After's Princess Crystal Ribbon

If you've been reading this blog for a while, I know you've seen these!  Pinkly Ever After's Princess Crystal Ribbons will always be one of my favorite things, but I decided to feature them in this favorites post because I wore them quite a lot in August.  They're big, whimsical, and they make people smile whenever I wear them.  You can wear just one or both, and they're sure to please!  As well as mint green, they also come in red, pink, and lilac.  

 Treat:

Almonds and chocolate are one of my favorite combinations.  While I was in Germany, there was a chocolate bar that I liked to eat called Ritter Sport, and they came in all sorts of flavors.  One of my favorites was the Alpine milk chocolate with almonds.  While you can find some flavors of Ritter Sport in the US, you can only find them in certain places.  Since the town I go to school in is a very small town, you can't find Ritter Sport anywhere, but I saw these at the grocery store and decided to give them a try.  They aren't exactly like the Ritter Sport, but they're still super tasty!  Sweet with a bit of a crunch in the middle from the almonds.  If you're in the mood for something sweet and have a taste for nuts, give these a try!

Anime:

AKB0048

I was a bit hesitant to watch this anime at first, since AKB48 is a bit of a controversial group because of its management.  I love the girls, but I don't like the way their management treats them and runs things.  A lot of my friends had watched this anime and fell in love with it, so one night I made some snacks and sat down to watch it--and I marathon-ed the whole first season in two days.  This anime is such a huge reminder of why I love to perform.  Here's a plot synopsis from Anime News Network:

"At the start of the 21st century, an interplanetary war broke out. Earth's ecosystem was damaged, and humanity was forced to flee the planet. In this new society, things that "disturb the heart" like music and art are forbidden. 48 years later, a legendary idol group is resurrected as AKB0048. Labeled as terrorists, they must take up arms to defend their careers and their fans."

This plot synopsis gives a good background of the world the anime takes place in, but not much about the characters.  The anime is centered around Nagisa and her friends Yuka, Orine, and Chieri who are inspired by an AKB0048 concert they saw as children, so they audition themselves, and become a part of the new generation of 0048 trainees.  The story follows them and the AKB0048 members as they perform concerts even against the anti-entertainment government agency, DESU.  

The journey that the girls go on is so much fun to watch.  You watch them work hard in lessons, get to know each other in the dorms, and go through various challenges that are involved in the idol industry, as well as the challenge of being entertainers against the law, even if some of their family members are against it.  The story is one that touches my heart as a performer, and it honestly makes me want to listen to AKB48 again...which was probably one of the goals of this anime being created anyway.  The music in the anime are AKB48 songs that I'm familiar with like Aitakatta, RIVER, Beginner, Shonichi, Heavy Rotation, and more.  

This series also inspired me to cosplay!  My favorite 0048 member is Nyan-Nyan, or 8th generation Kojima Haruna.  Her character is like a magical girl, and she carries a magical heart wand with her onstage while she sings to knock out those government issued robots and protect her fans!

She's so stinkin' cute!  She's whimsical, fun, but also cares a lot about her friends and trainees.  She has some very relatable moments throughout the series, but I can't tell you about them without spoilers, so you'll just have to watch the series for yourself!

Another one of my favorite members is AKB0048's manager, but if I show you a picture of her and talk about her, you'll immediately know her character twist and it'll ruin the surprise!  If you're an AKB48 fan, or a previous fan, you'll definitely enjoy this show.  Even if you're not a fan, you'll love the girls and the catchy music, and you'll learn some of the ins and outs of the idol industry.

Music:

Katy Perry's Prismatic Concert

My last favorite for this month is the Katy Perry Concert I went to see with my friend Kelly!  Katy has been an inspiration of mine since she came on the scene, and her albums are always in circulation on my iPod.  Her show was so much fun...almost indescribable!  She had the ability to connect with her audience even though there were thousands of people in the stadium--it was amazing!  She sounds great live, and her costumes were fabulous of course.  Seeing everything gave me so much inspiration for concerts that I want to put on with my music, and with my girls in Kira Kira Entertainment!

If you want to see some pictures from Katy's tour, check this out!

Click me!

I hope you liked this favorites post, and if you've tried any of these products, let me know how you like them!

Thank you so much for reading, and if you like what you read, please make sure to follow me here on google, or on bloglovin!

See you next time!

xoxo

Martha